Tuesday, April 28, 2015

9 Dispatch for April 29, 2015 ( Wednesday ), 3 PIA Calabarzon PRs, 2 Weather Watch, 13 Regional Watch, 10 OFW Watch , 1 PNOY Speech, 19 Online News (Apr.28 ) , 26 PhotoRelease (Apr. 28 )


  Issued at: 5:00 a.m. today, 29 April 2015
Valid Beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow Synopsis:

At 4:00 PM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was located based on all available data at 750 km east of Surigao Del Norte (09.5˚N, 132.3˚E). Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country.


 pressure.gif Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis 8 a.m. 29 April 2015  wind.gif Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis 8 a.m. 29 April 2015 satellite


Forecast:

Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, Caraga and Zamboanga Peninsula will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.


Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the east to northeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. 

PAGTAYA: Ang Silangang Kabisayaan, rehiyon ng Davao, Caraga at Zamboanga Peninsula ay makararanas ng maulap na kalangitan na may mahina hanggang sa katamtamang mga pag-ulan at pagkidlat-pagkulog. Ang Metro Manila at ang nalalabing bahagi ng bansa ay magkakaroon ng bahagyang maulap hanggang sa maulap na kalangitan na may pulu-pulong mga pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog.
Mahina hanggang sa katamtamang hangin mula sa silangan hanggang sa timog-silangan ang iiral sa Hilaga at Gitnang Luzon at mula naman sa silangan hanggang sa hilagang-silangan sa nalalabing bahagi ng bansa. ang mga baybaying dagat sa buong kapuluan ay magiging banayad hanggang sa katamtaman ang pag-alon.
OVER METRO MANILA:
Maximum Temperature: 04:10 PM yesterday ----- 35.2 ºC
Minimum Temperature: 06:00 AM yesterday ----- 25.6 ºC
Maximum Relative Humidity: 06:00 AM yesterday --------- 76 %
Minimum Relative Humidity: 02:00 PM yesterday --------- 47 %
High tide today : 05:10 PM ……… 0.71 meter
Low tide today : 01:26 AM ……… 0.09 meter
High tide today : 08:57 AM ……… 0.53 meter
Sunrise today: 05:34 AM
Sunset today: 06:12 PM
Moonrise today: 02:24 PM
Moonset tomorrow: 02:51 AM
Illumination today: 75 %
For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.


ABS-CBN: Pumasok na sa PAR kaninang umaga ang LPA na binabantayan ng PAGASA. Pero napakaliit ng posibilidad na lumakas at maging bagong bagyo ito. Asahan ang pag-ulan sa Eastern Visayas, Caraga, at Davao region simula mamayang gabi at magtutuloy hanggang Sabado. Mahinang pag-ulan ang itinatayang ibubuhos ng LPA. Ayon sa PAGASA, nananatiling napakaliit ng tiyansa na mabuo ito at maging panibagong bagyo. Samantala, sa Luzon magtutuloy-tuloy ang matinding init bukas. Muling pumalo sa 35 degrees Celsius ang temperature sa Metro Manila.



April 29, 2015 (Wednesday) as of 10:00 AM

PIA4A / PIA QUEZON    :  Partly Cloudy  in Lucena City



 





PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Nagsagawa ng pagsasanay ang Ibaan MSWDO ukol sa sustainable livelihood program para sa mga kababaihan mula sa barangay Sto. Niño, Catandala at Balanga upang mabigyan sila ng maayos na pagkikitaan at maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay.

PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Nagsagawa ang Provincial Health Office at Philippine Foundation for Vaccination ng libreng pagbabakuna kontra meningitis sa bayan ng Cuenca bilang bahagi ng World Meningitis Day at World Immunization Day.


PIA-4A/QUEZON: The provincial government of Quezon is finalizing agreement with Sutherland, a business process outsourcing (BPO) company operating worldwide for the proposed opening of 2,000 - seat call center branch in Tayabas City.



PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Binasbasan kamakailan ang two-storey eight classroom building sa Batangas National High School na inaasahang makapagbigay ng sapat na bilang ng silid aralan para sa libong mga estudyante dito.

Pia Quezon

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) launched yesterday the 'Accelarated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program' to promote and identify inclusive business/livelihood opportunities and constraints in Quezon Province.

PIA-4A/QUEZON: At least 100 students have been employed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the provincial government of Quezon through the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) this summer season. The students will work for 26 days with a daily wage of P409.09 . The SPES is a government 's initiative to help poor students earn during summer for their school expenditures.



PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Isang multi-purpose building at farm-to-market road sa Barangay Loma sa bayan ng Calaca ang binasabasan at inaasahang pakikinabangan ng mga mamamayan sa naturang barangay.



PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Nagsagawa ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Calaca ng programang "Nasa Nayon ang Serbisyo Barangay" na ginanap sa Brgy. Loma. Kabilang sa mga serbisyong ipinagkaloob sa mga residente ng barangay ay ang libreng medical dental, gupit at iba pa.



PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Nagsagawa ng bloodletting activity kamakailan ang Provincial Blood Council sa bayan ng Taysan bilang bahagi ng programa na makakalap ng sapat na dugo para sa pangangailangan ng mga Batanguenong maysakit.

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Laguna Provincial Gender and Development Focal Point System (PGFPS) has conducted benchmarking activity and learning visit to Quezon Province to see the best practices of PGAD-Quezon in the implementation of their programs and projects on gender and development.

PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Namigay ng 35 bags ng vermicompost ang Office of the Provincial Agriculture sa mga magsasaka sa lungsod ng Batangas upang magamit na abono sa kanilang mga pananim.



PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Mahigit 200 aso sa Barangay Alangilan, Batangas City ang nabigyan ng libreng anti-rabies vaccine ng Office of the City Veterinary and Agricultural Services kamakailan upang mapangalagaan ang publiko sa nakamamatay na rabies at maisulong ang pagiging rabies free ng lungsod.



PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Quezon Provincial Tourism Office and SM City Lucena will hold 'Hello Quezon, Hello World,' showcasing local festivals at SM City Lucena.



News Feed

News Feed


The Department of Foreign Affairs
STATEMENT ON THE STAY OF EXECUTION OF MARY JANE VELOSO
29 April 2015

The President had undertaken all avenues, including diplomatic and legal means, to do what he can for Mary Jane.
The President believes that every human life is invaluable.
At the last minute, a stay had been granted.
And as we conveyed this morning, we are all relieved by this welcome development.
The purpose of the stay is to allow Mary Jane to give testimony in connection with the complaint filed against the recruiters.
We would like to thank all those who stood in solidarity with the Velosos.
At the same time, we would also like to thank the Government of Indonesia for the favorable consideration of our request.
Finally, the Philippine Government reiterates its strong commitment to pursue full investigation of those accountable for the victimization of Mary Jane. END


DZIQ: Nagpasalamat si Celia Veloso kay PNoy sa mga nagging hakbang nito upang mailigtas ang kanyang anak na si Mary Jane. Aniya, agad na ipinalaam ni PNoy kay Indonesian president Widodo ang pagsuko ng recruiter ni Mary Jane na isa sa dahilan kaya nagbago ang isip nito.



Migrant Care executive director Anis Hidayah on ANC:
- We had a meeting with President Widodo yesterday. We told him that Mary Jane is a victim of human trafficking, which also happens with many Indonesian migrant workers abroad.
- We made sure Widodo had information about vulnerability of migrant workers, whether from Indonesia or PH, to drug smuggling.
- Widodo was worried many will claim they are victims. We told him about Indonesian workers who had same case with Mary Jane.

DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz on DZRH:
Re: Mary Jane Veloso’s case
-Malaki ang pasasalamat natin sa lahat, sa ating Pangulo, sa Indonesian gov’t, sa mga nanalangin.
-Kailangan rin palakasin yung preventive aspects laban sa drugs at human trafficking, illegal recruitment.
-Wakeup call sa ating lahat ito.
-On cases similar to Veloso: Namo-monitor po iyan ng DOLE pero ang naka-front diyan yung DFA.




DZRH: Pinaghahandaan na rin ng NCRPO ang posibleng mas malaking bilang ng raliyista sa May 1 na may kinalaman pa rin sa kaso ni Mary Jane Veloso. Panawagan ng NCRPO sa mga awtoridad, panatilihin ang maximum tolerance sa mga magkikilos-protesta.


DZBB: Patungo ang pamilya Veloso sa Yogyakarta upang magbakasakaling makita muli si Mary Jane.

 
DZBB: Hinihiling ni Rep. Colmenares sa pamamagitan ng House Resolution No. 2042 na nai-file rin ni Rep. Zarate na magpatawag kaagad ng hearing si Rep. Pacquaio at pangunahan ang imbestigasyon sa kaso ni Mary Jane pagkatapos ng kanyang laban kay Mayweather dahil ito ang vice chairman ng House Committee on OFW at siya rin ang tumatayong chairman matapos magbitiw ang chairman ng nasabing committee. Nais din ni Colmenares na silipin ang kaso ng iba pang OFW na nakakulong sa iba’t ibang bansa.


Maria Kristina Sergio, recruiter ni Mary Jane Veloso on DZMM:
-Hindi po ako mapalagay sa mga nangyayari, pinapanalangin ko na lang na maging okay ang lahat.
-Hindi ko kilala ang family nila (Veloso).
-Ni-refer lang sa akin si Mary Jane, hindi ko po siya kinakapatid.
-Hindi po totoo na binigyan ko ng $500 si Mary Jane.
-Hindi ako ang totally gumastos sa kanya, kasi dapat kami ng asawa ko yung magto-tour. Hindi nakasama yung asawa ko, kaya yung pera sa pagto-tour na para sa asawa ko ang hiniram niya.
-May return ticket ako, siya wala kaya ibig sabihin talagang gusto niyang magpaiwan doon.
-Hindi ko siya binigyan ng pambili ng damit. Hindi ko na alam (kung saan galing ang pera niya).
-Noong una ako ang kasama niya, nilibot-libot ko lang siya sa mall.
-Dito pa lang sa Pilipinas, umutang na siya sa akin ng P5,000. Pagdating sa Malaysia, pinautang ko pa rin siya ng P5,000. Pumunta kami sa money changer.
-Yung ticket niya P22,000, binigyan ko siya ng P10,000, yung binayad ko sa hotel at pagkain namin hindi ko na matantya kung magkano (total na pinautang ko).
-Hindi naman siya ganyan katanga, ex-abroad na po siya.
-Sabi niya sa akin, unti-unti niya akong babayaran.
-Nakasama ko lang siya sa Pilipinas, hindi ko siya gaanung kilala.
-Ipon po namin ng asawa ko yung pera na pinautang naming kay Mary Jane.
-Hindi po ako ang nagbigay ng maleta kay Mary Jane. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagbigay dahil noong umalis siya ng hotel, hindi ko alam.Madaling araw pa lang umalis na siya ng bitbit ng maleta.
-Sabi niya magt-TNT daw siya, doon na siya magi-stay.
-Sana po ipapakilala ko siya kay Cecile na isa ring OFW (sa Malaysia), gusto sana siyang ipalit sa pagiging domestic helper.
-Hindi ko alam lahat ng galaw ni Mary Jane.
-Ang sabi niya po Indonesia po, tumawag lang siya sa akin na nasa aiport na siya.
-Pagdating ko po doon (Talavera, Nueva Ecija), binigay ko sa mga in-laws niya (diapers at gatas na ipinadala ni Mary Jane) kasi nandoon ang mga anak niya at asawa.
-Nung umalis siya, wala naman siyang dalang maleta, ang dala niya ‘yung backpack lang.
-Hindi ko din po nakita ‘yung sinasabi niya na lalaki (nagbigay ng maleta).
-Siya po ang nakipag-transaksyon siguro kasi hindi ko naman nakita ‘yung sinasabi niyang lalaki.
-Alam ko ang nangyayari sa kanya pero ‘yung paglabas-labas niya ay hindi ko po alam.
-Hindi ko po alam kung paano siya nakapunta sa Malaysia.
-Basta ang sinabi niya sa akin may trabaho na siya.
-Ang sabi ko sa kanya, Mary Jane mag-ingat ka kung anuman iyang trabaho mo.
-Hindi po ako recruiter at that time, nagpasama lang siya sa akin.
-Tinulungan ko lang po siya, tulong pinansyal pero ‘yung ipahamak siya ay hindi ko po kaya iyan.
-Naninindigan po ako na wala po akong alam doon sa sinasabi niyang bag.



Marites Veloso, sister of Mary Jane on DZBB:
Re: Reaksyon sa pagpapaliban sa pagbitay kay Mary Jane
-Pinaalam sa amin na pupunta na kami at hihintayin namin yung mga labi ni Mary Jane, at pagdating namin doon ay naghintay na kami.
-Mga 12:15AM narinig na namin ang malakas na putok (ng baril) at nag-iyakan na kaming lahat.
-Maituturing pong himala (pagpapaliban ng bitay kay Mary Jane).
-Prosecutor po ang nagsabi sa Attorney General na ililipat na po sa kulungan sa Yogyakarta si Mary Jane.
-Makakatulong si Mary Jane na ituro yung talagang pinuno nito (sindikato ng droga).
-Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng taong nanalangin para mailigtas si Mary Jane, maraming maraming sa lahat. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat ng tumulong sa atin na abogado, DFA, PNoy, Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquaio, VP Binay. Kahit po huli ang tulong dapat nating pasalamatan sila. Kay President Widodo, pagpalain po ang kanyang pamilya.
-Tagumpay po ito ng buong Filipino.


ABS-CBN: Isang prayer of thanks ang inialay ng pamilya Veloso at Fiesta kasunod ng ipinagpalibang execution kay Mary Jane. Ang mga kaanak naman nila sa Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija ay magsasagawa ng salo-salo bilang pasasalamat sa pag-delay ng pagbitay.
ABS-CBN: Isang victory rally na ang isasagawa ng mga militanteng nagsagawa ng indignation rally sa Indonesian embassy matapos nga na ipagpaliban ang execution kay Mary Jane Veloso. Lilipat na sila sa Mendiola upang doon ipagpatuloy ang kanilang programa.
GMA: Bagama't nagpapasalamat ang Migrante para sa last-ditch efforts ng pamahalaang Aquino sa pagsagip kay Mary Jane Veloso mula sa parusang kamatayan ay umaasa sila na maging leksyon ito upang sa susunod ay mas tutukan ang kaso ng mga Pinoy sa ibang bansa.


DFA spokesman Charles Jose on GMA:
-God has answered our prayers.
-We are relieved that the execution of Mary Jane Veloso was not carried out.







































  

President Aquino saddened by Indonesia’s decision to push through with Veloso’s execution
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III is saddened by Indonesia’s decision to push through with the execution of convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Monday night.Coloma issued the statement upon being informed that the Indonesian Supreme Court has again denied the Philippine government’s second request for judicial review, rendering all the last-ditch efforts made by its officials -- including President Aquino –futile.
President Aquino personally appealed Veloso’s case anew to his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo when they met on the sidelines of the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held Monday morning in Kuala Lumpur.
In that meeting, President Aquino asked for “humanitarian consideration” for the 30-year old Filipina, who was apparently duped into being an unwitting carrier of illegal drugs by her recruiter.
Coloma said the President was of the impression that his Indonesian counterpart was “sympathetic” to Veloso’s plight and that he would consult their Attorney General on the legal issues of her case.
The succeeding development, however, did not favor the Philippines as Indonesia’s high court found no basis to reconsider the death sentence that was meted out against the Filipina.
“Following the meeting this morning between the two Presidents, President Widodo this evening instructed his Foreign Minister to convey to the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs the final view of the Indonesian Attorney General that there is no basis to reconsider the death sentence; that the execution will need to be enforced,” Coloma said.
“The President was saddened upon learning of the feedback from Jakarta on this morning’s meeting. He has instructed the Philippine ambassador in Indonesia to communicate with Mary Jane and find out what may be done to address her concerns for her family,” he added.
The government has carried out heightened efforts to help Veloso since the time of her arrest in 2010. The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided her legal assistance and has been actively monitoring the progress of her case.
“When the Indonesian Supreme Court imposed the death sentence in May 2011, President Aquino wrote then President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requesting clemency for Ms. Veloso, thereby securing a deferral of the implementation of the sentence for three years,” Coloma said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario was even dispatched to Indonesia to personally meet with Veloso and some Indonesian officials. Vice President Jejomar Binay also conveyed a letter of appeal from the President through his counterpart.
Veloso has been scheduled to face death by firing squad on Tuesday in the island prison of Nusa Kambangan, along with the infamous ‘Bali Nine,’ an Australian group also caught smuggling heroin into Indonesia.
Coloma said the government remains determined to prevent a recurrence of such situation by intensifying information and education efforts among Filipinos traveling and working overseas. PND (hdc)
President Aquino urges ASEAN to keep playing a positive role in resolving regional disputes
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday urged members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue playing a positive role in resolving territorial conflicts in the region.In his intervention during the 26th ASEAN Leaders’ Retreat at the Langkawi International Convention Center, President Aquino underscored the importance of promoting regional peace and stability with a "security architecture built on the primacy of the rule of law".
This is in relation to China’s illegal expansion in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), which is causing major environmental damage, and affecting the livelihood and food security of people living in the area’s coastal states.
The loss and damage of hundreds of acres of coral reefs in the Spratly islands alone are estimated to cost the fisheries sectors in the littoral states at least US$100 million per year, President Aquino told his ASEAN counterparts.
The Philippines has opted to maintain a diplomatic approach in handling the issue but needs strong backing from the ASEAN as China has kept on refusing to participate in a rules-based dispute settlement through international arbitration.
“For many years, ASEAN has tried to fully implement the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea or DOC and to negotiate a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea or COC,” President Aquino said.
“Unfortunately, the massive reclamation activities in the area undermine the relevance of both the DOC and of any eventual COC. This is a challenge to ASEAN centrality and to our capacity to shape the future of our own region," he added.
"ASEAN as a whole must continue to play a positive role in resolving this regional problem, which is multilateral in nature and therefore not resolvable through purely bilateral solutions,” President Aquino said.
He stressed that it is incumbent upon all ASEAN member states to "collectively speak with one voice" on this issue.

“All our efforts at regional community-building aim to promote and protect the future well-being of our peoples, and this can only be done in a secure and stable environment. If we continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder, I am confident our vision of an integrated ASEAN Community that is people-oriented, people-centered, and people-driven, is within reach,” the President said.
President Aquino travelled to this archipelagic Malaysian island from Kuala Lumpur on Monday afternoon for the continuation of the 26th ASEAN Summit.
He is scheduled to attend the 11th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area Summit here Tuesday before heading back to Manila. PND (hdc)
President Aquino details last-ditch attempt to save Veloso’s life
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday morning detailed the last-ditch effort he undertook to appeal the case of convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso, who was already scheduled to face execution in Indonesia. President Aquino played the ‘dying person’s declaration’ card and made a phone call to Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi to propose the idea of turning Veloso into a ‘primary witness’ that could help their government apprehend the 'bigger fish' behind Jakarta’s drug problem.
“Ang interes ng Indonesia is the drug issue, ‘di ba? So if this person can help uncover this drug syndicate, and it is of value to them, we can help, ‘di ba para bang extend her life at the very least. That’s the hope,” President Aquino told members of the Philippine media delegation at Four Points Hotel here.
President Aquino said it is important for the Indonesian government to keep the 30-year old Filipina alive if it is interested in taking down the African drug syndicate that has been trying to penetrate the Indonesian market.
“Kung ang habol is to solve the drug problem, there is a syndicate that targets Indonesia, her help in identifying all of these people involved can potentially help the Indonesians also with their drug problem,” he said.
President Aquino said Veloso might still have a chance to get a possible ‘reprieve’ from the Indonesian government now that she has decided to file a complaint against her illegal recruiters who duped her into smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
The opportunity presents itself as the only ‘window’ the Philippine government can capitalize on to serve its interests as well as that of Indonesia’s, given the latter's stern laws against illegal drug trafficking.
Pressed to explain why this particular theory was only brought up now, President Aquino said it was because of Veloso’s initial reluctance to reveal important details on the identity of her recruiters, probably out of fear.
“Of course, when I was talking to the Foreign Minister, they were asking the lateness of this suggestion, and I tried to explain as best as possible that all of these things have come to our knowledge—these particular details—only in the last few days, and some of these new avenues happened just today, especially the idea of ‘Isn’t it better to get the drug syndicate itself rather than the person who was used as a mule?’” he explained.
The President said Veloso’s testimony has to be reduced to an affidavit and must be perpetuated for it to be rendered admissible in court.
“She does present an opportunity right now to be able to uncover all the participants and start the process of bringing them to the bars of justice. But absent her, that becomes very difficult to cut an impossible proposition,” he said.
On Monday, President Aquino personally appealed Veloso’s case for the second time to his Indonesian counterpart, President Joko Widodo, when they met on the sidelines of the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
However, nothing significant developed in that particular meeting, as the Indonesian Supreme Court rejected anew Manila’s appeal for judicial review of Veloso’s case.
President Aquino admitted he was saddened by this development, but it apparently did not shatter his hopes to come up with other possible solutions, even at the last minute, to save Veloso’s life.
“I’ve directed the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to ensure that we get information as to the response to our proposal. And then can I stress? We have very, very good relations with Indonesia… I’m sure they are interested in maintaining very good relations with us and they will give a fair hearing to this proposal of ours. Now, whether or not they will subscribe to our idea that it’s important to keep her to be able to testify against the bigger fish, will be subject to their national interest,” he said. PND (hdc)
President Aquino wants Pacquiao to consider retirement after Mayweather fight
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III would like Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao to seriously consider retiring from boxing after his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

The Chief Executive made the statement on Tuesday during an interview with members of the Philippine media delegation covering his participation in the recently concluded 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here.

“I’m very confident that he will do our countrymen proud as he has always done. Of course, I go back to my perpetual message, continued fighting in the ring does not promote good health,” President Aquino said when asked to share his thoughts on the forthcoming fight.

He cited the case of legendary heavyweight fighter Muhammad Ali, who was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after years of enjoying a triumphant boxing career.

“Palagay ko, hindi naman niya hinihingi ang payo ko, pero sa akin, sa isang Pilipino na humahanga kay Manny Pacquiao... Marami ka nang nagawa. Siguro naman, dapat ulitin ko ang paalala ko... na huwag mo nang pasukan ang unnecessary risks, kung pwede,” President Aquino said.

He said Pacquiao’s bout against Mayweather may already be considered as his ‘crowning glory’ that he could definitely choose to spend more time with his family thereafter.

The Pacquiao-Mayweather boxing match is happening on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is considered as one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year.

President Aquino said he plans to watch the fight via delayed television broadcast at the comfort of his home -- after probably receiving text messages informing him of Pacquiao’s expected victory. PND (hdc)
ASEAN leaders vow to promote moderation in maintaining regional peace and stability
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III and other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have vowed to further promote moderation and enhance their cooperation to maintain regional peace and stability.

Members of the regional grouping gathered from April 26 to 28 for the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. At the end of the summit, the leaders adopted the ‘Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates.’

Under the declaration, the leaders vowed to “uphold the rule of law in the conduct of relations among states, including in the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law.”

Also contained in the declaration is the commitment of Southeast Asian leaders to strengthen ASEAN unity and solidarity and its central role in maintaining and promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The leaders also agreed to “enhance ASEAN’s common agenda for peace and prosperity, which promotes political and social stability, inclusive political processes; sustainable growth which provides opportunities for all and upholds dignity; and social justice with emphasis on mutual respect, balance and moderation”.

Moreover, the declaration stated that the ASEAN member states would "further enhance cooperation within various ASEAN-led mechanisms, aiming to drown out the voices of extremism."

They also agreed to conduct activities that further promote moderation, such as organizing outreach programs, interfaith and cross-cultural dialogues in various formats at the national, regional and international levels.

The ASEAN will continue to build on initiatives to share best practices on counter-radicalization and tackle the roots of extremism, and encourage more enhanced information-sharing on best practices on moderation among ASEAN member states.

They also committed to promote education as “an effective means of instilling respect for life, for diversity and the values of moderation, tolerance, non-violence and mutual understanding towards preventing the spread of violent extremism and addressing its root causes.”

The ASEAN leaders pledged to collaborate with dialogue partners, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to conduct seminars and workshops for the sharing of best practices that support the promotion of moderation. PND (co)
ASEAN member states commit to strengthen resilience by reducing disaster and climate-related risks
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) Leaders of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded their 26th summit here with a commitment to forge a more resilient future by reducing existing disaster and climate-related risks.

President Benigno S. Aquino III and nine other leaders adopted the ‘Declaration on Institutionalizing the Resilience of ASEAN and its Communities and Peoples to Disasters and Climate Change’ at the end of this year’s summit.

The declaration underlined the importance of producing coherence, consistency and alignment across the pillars and relevant sectors of the ASEAN by systematically mainstreaming disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, as well as the need for cross-pillar and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Under the declaration, the leaders will further institutionalize disaster risk management and climate change adaptation at the national and local levels by harmonizing them with existing and new policy and legal frameworks.

The ASEAN leaders will also urge all stakeholders to participate in the planning and implementation of the institutionalization of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation at the local, national and regional levels.

They will allocate resources to strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response and effectively support resilient recovery and rehabilitation.

President Aquino and his fellow Southeast Asian leaders also agreed to enhance cooperation and collaboration among the ASEAN member states for the implementation of the declaration.

The ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) has been assigned as the focal point for cross-sectoral cooperation on resilence building at the regional level, with the support of other relevant sectoral bodies. PND (co)
ASEAN says reclamation activities in South China Sea might undermine regional peace, security and stability
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) Leaders of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed “serious concern” over the land reclamation being undertaken in disputed areas of the South China Sea, saying the activity “may undermine peace, security and stability” in the region.

This was the statement released on Tuesday by the 10-member regional bloc at the conclusion of the 26th ASEAN Summit, which was chaired by Malaysia.

At the summit, President Benigno S. Aquino III and nine other leaders of the grouping discussed regional and international issues of common interest and concern, such as the South China Sea issue.

“We share the serious concerns expressed by some leaders on the land reclamation being undertaken in the South China Sea, which has eroded trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea,” said the ASEAN chairman’s statement.

The statement said foreign ministers of the ASEAN member states have been instructed to “urgently address this matter constructively, including under the various ASEAN frameworks”.

The Southeast Asian leaders also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

They also emphasized the need for all parties to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The ASEAN urged that consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) be intensified to ensure the expeditious establishment of an effective COC.

All parties concerned were urged to resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Philippines has been pushing for the full and effective implementation of the DOC and the early conclusion of a legally binding COC to properly manage tensions in the South China Sea.

In his intervention during the Summit’s Plenary Session in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, President Aquino called for a common stand to protect freedom of navigation and commerce in the South China Sea, especially in light of China's reclamation activities.

The ASEAN, established in August 1967, consists of 10 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. PND (co)
ASEAN talks on South China Sea dispute yield 'substantial progress, says President Aquino
(LANKAWI, Malaysia) The discussions on the conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea) within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have yielded “substantial progress,” President Benigno S. Aquino III said.

President Aquino, during the media interview here on Tuesday, said other ASEAN leaders voicing concern about the ongoing territorial disputes between China and its neighboring countries in the South China Sea is a 'healthy development.'”

Over the weekend, President Aquino flew to Malaysia to join his Southeast Asian counterparts in the 26th ASEAN Summit, which was held in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi from April 26 to 28.

The 10-nation bloc, in a statement released Tuesday, expressed serious concern over the recent developments in the South China Sea, particularly on the land reclamation activities being undertaken in the disputed area.

China is asserting ownership of almost the whole South China Sea. The Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan, also have overlapping claims in the disputed area.

“I think there was a very, very substantial progress from the time that we first started—or at least I first started—participating in discussions with regards to the issues of the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea,” the President said.

During an interview with the Philippine media delegation covering this year’s summit in Malaysia, President Aquino reiterated that the teritorial dispute is a global issue since 40 percent of world trade passes through the South China Sea.

“This is the common waterway for ASEAN to be dealing with each other to a large degree, let alone the rest of the world, where at least 40 percent of world trade has to traverse this water,” he said.

“‘Yung formulation of the COC was dormant from at least 2002 to 2012 when we raised the matter up in Phnom Penh, and there had been, I think, two or three preliminary talks to the formal talks, and before there was none. We are making progress, and hopefully, we will make parang more progress at a faster rate,” he added.

President Aquino has been pushing for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and the early conclusion of a legally-binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

ASEAN, established in August 1967, is made up of Brunei Darrusalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. PND (co)
Southeast Asian leaders adopts declaration on people-centered ASEAN
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including President Benigno S. Aquino III, on Monday committed to continue establishing a people-oriented, people-centered and rules-based ASEAN community.

This commitment was contained in the ‘Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a People-Oriented, People-Centered ASEAN' that President Aquino and other Southeast Asian leaders adopted at the conclusion of the two-day 26th ASEAN Summit.

This year’s summit was themed “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision.”

Under the declaration, leaders agreed to continue establishing a people-oriented, people-centered and rules-based ASEAN Community “where all people, stakeholders and sectors of society can contribute to and enjoy the benefits from a more integrated and connected Community encompassing enhanced cooperation in the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars for sustainable, equitable and inclusive development.”

The ASEAN Community comprises three pillars: ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

On political security front, the 10-member grouping agreed to continue to promote the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance, social justice, as well as to promote and protect human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms.

ASEAN leaders also pledged to “further enhance systems and legal infrastructure to maintain a peaceful and harmonious environment, as well as engagement between legislative and executive branches in the process of the establishment of a rules-based ASEAN community.”

Also, the leaders agreed to continue to preserve Southeast Asia as a peaceful and prosperous region, free of conflict, nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

On the economic front, ASEAN vowed to “promote an integrated, stable, prosperous and highly cohesive regional economy, which encompasses all sectors of society, as well as encourage the participation of women, the elderly and youth in building a competitive, innovative and dynamic ASEAN.”

Also, they agreed to promote the development of small and medium enterprises as a driving force for the ASEAN Economic Community. They will also continue capacity building initiatives to enable all ASEAN economies to fully participate in the integration efforts.

On the socio-cultural front, the 10-member grouping committed to promote and protect the rights of women, children, youth and elderly persons, as well as those of migrant workers, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, ethnic minority groups, people in vulnerable situations and marginalized groups and promote their interests and welfare in ASEAN’s future agenda.

They will also “alleviate poverty and narrow development gap by increasing access to basic needs and work towards achieving adequate standards of living and thereby contribute to the ASEAN Community.”

ASEAN also agreed to “promote regional resilience by addressing socio-cultural and socio-economic issues that may result from climate change and other environmental impacts." PND (co)










 

28 APRIL 2015
Most outstanding athlete from NCR all geared up for Palaro 2015
Imports rebound, surge by 11.2 percent in February 2015
POEA warns about victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking used as drug couriers
Number of Filipino account holders increased, growth higher among low income and less educated
DSWD supports amendments to solo parents’ welfare law
OWWA undergoes 2nd Surveillance audit for ISO 9001:2008
PSA releases reports on the 25th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration
Blue chip companies among 15,733 establishments issued CoCs under new LLCS in 2014
Roxas inaugurates 'Pro-Poor' DILG projects in Legazpi City
OPAPP: All funds accounted for
‘No turning back in peace process’
Chair of PHL Government Panel discusses Mindanao Peace Process in Los Angeles
April 2015 Criminologist Licensure Examination results released in thirteen (13) working days
Approved applicants for Registration without Examination as Agriculturists
Ombudsman goes after Sorsogon execs for malversation
Environmental execs face graft charges
DA partners with WEF’s Grow Asia for wider support for PH agribusiness
PhilHealth to pursue negligent employers
MB places Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation under PDIC receivership, all valid insured deposit claims will be paid
Most outstanding athlete from NCR all geared up for Palaro 2015
Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph
Armed with clubs, hoops, ribbons and a ball, the Rhythmic Gymnastics team of the National Capital Region (NCR) rigorously trains at the gymnasium of Jose Abad Santos High School. Amidst them is a soft-spoken girl who has been the crown jewel of the team after bagging the title of “Most Outstanding Athlete” in last year’s Palarong Pambansa.

Meet Arielle Nichole G. Orella - a girl whose demure façade is not to be underestimated since she is a frequent in the first place-winners platform in every Palaro that she has competed in. At the age of seven, Arielle was enticed to enter the world of rhythmic gymnastics after watching older girls in her elementary school perform the graceful sport.

It takes Arielle three (3) months of intensive training to perfect a routine. “If we don’t have any classes, our training starts from morning until afternoon, 7am to 4pm. When there were still classes, training starts from 3pm to 6pm. Our only rest day is every Sunday, but when there is an upcoming competition, there is no such thing as a ‘rest day’,” she said.

Through the capable hands of her coaches, the dedication and determination that she has been giving out in her trainings, Arielle has been reaping gold after gold in the hopes of one day becoming the Philippine representative in international competitions. “I want to be part of the National team because I want to compete again internationally to represent our country.” said Arielle, referring to her experience in the recent ASEAN School Games.

In college, Arielle wants to take up Physical Education in preparation for a coaching career. “Gusto ko rin pong magturo din ng Gymnastics at mag-coach ng mga batang athletes. That is my dream.”

The champ’s message for inspiring gymnasts out there? - “Never be afraid to try the craft you really want, don't ever think of giving up and lastly, strive for your higher dreams to be an inspiration to others.”

She and the NCR team will be competing next week in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
Imports rebound, surge by 11.2 percent in February 2015
Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph
MANILA – Philippine imports surged by 11.2 percent in February 2015 as higher payments were recorded in raw materials, intermediate, capital and consumer goods, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

According to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), imports rose to US$5.3 billion in February 2015 from US$4.8 billion in the same month last year— a significant rebound from the previous month’s contraction of 12.4 percent.

The increase, primarily from capital goods at 21.5 percent, followed by raw materials and intermediate goods (16.7 percent) and consumer goods (12.2 percent) pulled merchandise imports up despite the drop in mineral fuels and lubricants.

“This good performance suggests robust economic activity in construction and manufacturing and is likely reflective of upbeat domestic demand particularly in private consumption and investments. We expect this to remain favorable over the near term,” said NEDA Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Deputy Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan.

“If a similar trend in importation for the succeeding month continues, it will secure government’s expectation of a strong GDP growth for the year,” he added.

Conversely, the 18.7 percent contraction from mineral fuels and lubricants in February 2015 marks its fourth consecutive drop. From US$819.6 million in February 2014, its outturns went down to US$666.7 million in the same period this year.

Tungpalan said that this current oil price trend should be seen as favorable and a good opportunity for businesses to expand investments.

“The persistent low oil price will further boost importation of petroleum crude and other mineral fuels for the succeeding period, which bodes well for the industry sector,” he said.

Also, the Philippines appears to have bucked the downward trend of the merchandise imports of most Asian economies which, according to Tungpalan, can be attributed to a strong consumer base and improved employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China remains to be the country’s top (16.3%) source of imported goods. It was followed by United States of America (10.7 %), Taiwan (8.4%), Singapore (8.2%), Japan (7.6%), Germany (6.7%), Thailand (6.4%), South Korea (6.3%), Malaysia (4.6%) and Indonesia (4.2%).

Tungpalan is OIC of NEDA while Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan is on official travel in Malaysia from April 26-28, 2015.
Number of Filipino account holders increased, growth higher among low income and less educated
Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph
The BSP estimates that over 3 million new accounts were opened between 2011 and 2014. This estimate is based on the latest edition of the World Bank Global Findex which reveals that 31.3% of Filipino adults own a formal account, up by 4.7 percentage points from the baseline figure of 26.6% reported in the 2011 Findex. Formal account refers to an account held in financial institutions such as banks, cooperatives or microfinance institutions and can be a mobile money account as well. Such account can be used to save money and send or receive payments and remittance.

Worth noting from the 2014 Findex is that there is growth in account penetration across income class, gender, age and educational attainment. The percentage of the poorest 40% of Filipino adults who own a formal account increased by 7.1 percentage points to 17.8% in 2014 from 10.7% in 2011. Account ownership in the richest 60% rose only by 3.4 percentage points to 40.6% in 2014. The increase in account ownership is slightly higher for men, although the percentage with account is still higher for women (37.9%) than men (24.4%). In terms of age, account penetration is higher for older adults (those aged 25 years old and above) at 35.9% compared to 19% among younger adults. While account ownership is higher for adults with at least secondary education (36.8%) than those with at most primary education (18.1%), it is interesting to note that growth is higher for less educated adults.

These gains are a result of continuing efforts in bringing the financial system closer to the people, especially to the disadvantaged segments. The BSP defines financial inclusion as a state wherein there is effective access to a wide range of financial services for all Filipinos.

Aside from account ownership, the 2014 Findex also provides insights on usage of other financial products. For loans, informal borrowing is still the most common practice in the country. The percentage of those who borrowed from family and friends in the past 12 months increased to 48.7% in 2014 from 39% in 2011. The Philippines is also one of the countries in the world where more than 10% of adults borrow money from private informal lenders. In 2014, 13.5% of Filipino adults reported sourcing credit from an informal lender, up by 0.8 percentage points from 12.7% in 2011.

A new feature of the 2014 Findex is the inclusion of additional survey questions on payments and remittance. This is in recognition of the potential of payment platforms in expanding financial access. Results show that only 4.2% of Filipino adults have a mobile money account while 3.5% used the internet to pay bills or make purchases. For domestic remittance, use of money transfer operators (MTOs) is more prevalent than sending or receiving remittances via banks or mobile phone. Around 71% of Filipino adults who reported sending remittance and 58% of those who received remittance said that they used MTOs. BSP data show that there are more MTOs than banks in the country – in 2014, there were 10,315 banking offices as opposed to 15,443 MTOs comprised of 6,621 pawnshops with remittance business and 8,822 remittance agents and money changers offering remittance services.

In comparison with other ASEAN countries, the level of financial inclusion in the Philippines as measured by the percentage of adults with account is lower than Malaysia (81%), Thailand (78%) and Indonesia (36%) but higher than Vietnam (31%), Myanmar (23%) and Cambodia (22%). Globally, the percentage of account holders is 62% with variation among high income (91%), middle income (58%) and low income (28%) countries.

The Global Findex is considered as the world’s most comprehensive database on financial inclusion. The indicators are drawn from survey data and based on interviews with more than 150,000 nationally representative and randomly selected adults in 143 countries representing more than 97% of the world’s adult population. The results of the 2014 Global Findex will be enriched by the BSP’s first ever nationwide survey on financial inclusion which will be released soon. Said survey has a more in depth look at the state of financial inclusion in the country to complement the high level cross country indicators of Global Findex.
DSWD supports amendments to solo parents’ welfare law
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
As the lead agency in social protection, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to support the amendments of Republic Act (RA) 8972 or the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman expressed the Department’s full support to the substitute bill that seeks to amend RA 8972 to further help solo parents and their children.

“Solo parents are considered a vulnerable sector of our society. Since child rearing requires both parents, and doing it on your own makes it doubly difficult, hence, they must be given special protection,” Sec. Soliman stated.

Leaders of various solo parents associations (SPAs) nationwide are lobbying for additional proposed amendments, such as: allocation of one percent from the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of LGUs for programs/services benefiting solo parents and their children; creation of an office of solo parents in every province, city, and municipality; provision of full scholarship up to the tertiary level to at least one child of a solo parent; and equal access to employment and educational opportunities.

Since solo parents are the sole breadwinners of their families, the SPAs are also strongly recommending the reduction of taxes for solo parents, provision of PhilHealth cards for solo parents below the poverty line, free legal assistance, and increase the age of a solo parent’s dependent from 18 to 21 years old in view of the implementation of the K-12 curriculum of the Department of Education which adds additional years to basic education.

Meanwhile, the DSWD proposes the following: decrease the waiting period from one year to six months before a solo parent can be allowed to avail of benefits and clarify the category of any other person who solely provides parental care and support to a child or children, specifying if he/she is a legal guardian, adoptive parent, or licensed foster family.

The Department is also recommending the inclusion of the issuance of IDs to solo parents, creation of the Special Review Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, and imposition of penalties for non-compliance to the amended law and budget appropriation for its implementation.

Based on issues raised by solo parents over social media and various consultations being conducted by the DSWD in the regions, the sector is also lobbying for additional benefits.

“We need to come up with progressive policies and legislative measures focusing on the evolving nature of the Filipino family that will acknowledge, recognize and respect the existence of alternative families and varying compositions of the family,” Sec. Soliman stated.

“In addition, we need policies that must address the issues of discrimination being experienced by children of solo parents from private schools thereby depriving them of their right to a quality education,” Sec. Soliman emphasized.
OWWA undergoes 2nd Surveillance audit for ISO 9001:2008
Source: http://www.owwa.gov.ph
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) went through the second surveillance audit for its ISO 9001:2008 Certification last April 14, 2015.

The scope of the certification includes the following core processes: Repatriation Assistance and Post-Repatriation Services, Membership Verification Process, Death Benefit Process, Arabic Language Training and Culture Familiarization for Household Service Workers (HSWs), and Education for Development Scholarship Program process. Included also in the coverage of the certification are eleven (11) support processes.

Among the processes enrolled in the said certification, 3 core processes and 7 support processes underwent surveillance audit conducted by the Certification International.

OWWA went through its first surveillance audit for the certification last December 5, 2014 and yielded positive results as the agency’s Quality Management System (QMS) was found by the Certification International to be maintained in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001: 2008. The 2nd surveillance audit was conducted to ensure continued ISO Certification.

The Certificate of Registration for the ISO 9001:2008 was officially conferred to OWWA last 2014 during its 32nd Founding Anniversary.

With this ISO Certification, each OWWA employee is challenged to be effective and efficient worker and to provide the best service to address the clients’ needs, thus, attaining total customer satisfaction.
PSA releases reports on the 25th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration
Source: http://www.nscb.gov.ph
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) releases the Report on the Highlights of the Observance of 25th National Statistics Month (NSM) in October 2014 and the Report on the 25 Years of NSM Celebrations. Since 1990, the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) annually celebrates the National Statistics Month (NSM) in October pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647 dated September 20, 1990.

The Report on the Highlights of the Observance of 25th National Statistics Month (NSM) celebration in October 2014, which can be accessed through the following link: http://nap.psa.gov.ph/nsm/25thnsm/Highlights of the 25th National Statistics Month.pdf, features the 25th NSM Opening and Closing Ceremonies, NSM Awards, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) – Department of Education (DepEd) Oratorical Contest, and Philippine Statistical System (PSS) activities conducted in line with the nationwide observance of last year’s NSM.

Meanwhile, the Report on the 25 Years of NSM Celebrations traces the milestones of the 25 years of statistical advocacy in the Philippines through the NSM. The report also includes an assessment of the relevance, effectiveness, use of resources, impacts and sustainability of the outputs and outcomes of the NSM celebrations. The report is available for download at: http://nap.psa.gov.ph/nsm/25thnsm/The 25 Years of National Statistics Month (NSM) celebrations.pdf.

In October 2015, the PSS will once again celebrate the NSM. The 26th NSM, which will be hosted by Department of Health (Opening Ceremony) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Closing Ceremony), will underscore a theme relating to health statistics.

Preparations for the 13th National Convention on Statistics (NCS) for conduct in October 2016 shall also commence this year. The NCS is a triennial event, which gathers statisticians and professionals in related fields from the government, academe and private sector to exchange ideas and discuss recent statistical challenges and developments in the PSS.

For the past years, the NSM and the NCS became key advocacy initiatives of the PSS to communicate official statistics to the general public. Thus the PSA would like to thank the various government agencies, private sector groups, academe and civil society organizations for actively and regularly partaking in the annual NSM celebrations, which paved the way for better quality and utilization of statistics in the country.

For inquiries on the 26th NSM and 13th NCS, interested parties can contact Interim Assistant National Statistician Regina S. Reyes at telephone number: 895-2439 or e-mail address: R.Reyes@nscb.gov.ph.
Blue chip companies among 15,733 establishments issued CoCs under new LLCS in 2014
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph
Large corporations with employees of 200 and above were among the 15,733 establishments awarded and issued Certificates of Compliance (CoCs) in 2014 under the new Labor Laws Compliance System.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said this yesterday in the DOLE press conference on the implementation review of the DOLE’s major reform on labor inspection.

“I can report happily that the country’s blue-chip companies—not all, but many—were among the 44,041 establishments who were found compliant with all labor laws and occupational safety and health standards during the first salvo of our joint assessment under the LLCS, so they were issued their CoCs,” said Baldoz.

“Another 7,528 establishments—part of the 23,865 establishments that were found to need corrective action—brought the total of compliant establishments in 2014 to 51,569 establishments,” said Baldoz.

Of the 51,569 establishments, 15,733 were issued CoCs last year, and, as Secretary Baldoz said, some of them were big names in Philippine business and she commended them for standing up as models to other business firms.

Citing some of these firms, Baldoz named 2Go Group, Inc.; Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company; Del Monte Fresh Produce Phils., Inc.; KCC Mall of General Santos City; Manila Electric Company; Marco Polo Hotel;

Norkis Distributors, Inc.; Optimum Security Services, Inc.; PhilSaga Mining Corporation, Nickel Asia Mining Corporation; Wyeth Philippines, Inc.; Team Sual Corporation; Ayala Seafoods Corporation; Universal Canning Corporation; Aquatic Food Manufacturing Corp.; Permex Producer and Exporter Corporation; and Jen Hotel, which is the first hotel to have received three CoCs—one each in Labor Relations, General Labor Standards, and Occupational Safety and Health.

She also cited Mercury Drug Corporation, whose workers are all regular employees; and Puregold, which voluntary approached the DOLE and sought for assistance so that all its branches in the country can become compliant.

She also singled out San Miguel Corporation, the diversified conglomerate, which had ordered all its subcontractors and supply-chain partners to comply.

“I commend these companies, veritably the ‘who’s who’ in Philippine business, for ensuring and promoting a workplace climate conducive to productivity, competitiveness, and decent work through labor laws and occupational safety and health compliances.

“Under the new system, DOLE innovates its role as labor partners and allow companies to see labor laws not as deterrent in doing business but as a reward. In turn, innovations in labor practices eliminate corruption. To be able to help ease doing business in the country, all companies are assessed for labor compliance. We make the system transparent for the business establishments,” Baldoz said.

She also cited Aquatic Food Manufacturing Corporation, Permex Producer and Export Corporation, Ayala Seafood Corporation, and Universal Canning Corporation in Zamboanga which, after joint assessment, regularized their 1,184 apprentices.

According to the results of the LLCS, 12,254 establishments have been issued CoCs on General Labor Standards, while 11,618 establishments were awarded CoCs in occupational Safety and Health.

As an incentive to the labor laws-compliant companies, they will receive DOLE productivity improvement services for free, as well as exemption from assessment for a period of two years.

“We will train, mentor, and assist these companies on specific labor programs and services at no cost to them.

The labor and employment chief added that the system allows companies to be good business citizens. “Companies which are labor compliant tend to be more productive. They enjoy good working relation with its employees,” she said.

“They get loyalty from their workers; they tend to be more productive. If companies are labor-law compliant, they and their workers benefits much and these companies have self-instituted that they are compliant, we made the industrial peace possible,” Baldoz said.

Regionally, the bulk of the companies which were awarded CoCs in Luzon are, as follows: Region 4-A, with 2,535; Region 3, with 1,949; CAR, 1,322; National Capital Region, with 702; Region 1, 657; Region 4B, 645; Region 2, with 340; Region 5, with 186;

In Visayas: Region 6, with 1,197; Region 8, 381; Region 7, with 359;

In Mindanao: Region 10 with 2,562 establishments; Region 11, with 1,179; Caraga, with 872; Region 9, with 590; Region 12, with 257.
Roxas inaugurates 'Pro-Poor' DILG projects in Legazpi City
Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph
A year after leading its groundbreaking ceremony, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas visited a renovated section of the New Albay Public Market in Legazpi City funded under the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF).

The P3-million project covers the improvement of the carinderia section of the public market and is expected to benefit at least nine concessionaires.

Roxas said, “Nakikita natin ito, totoo ito, hindi laway, hindi pang-tarpaulin lang. [We can see this. This is real, not just for show.]”

The PCF is a performance-based reform program of the DILG given as incentive to eligible local government units (LGUs) to finance high-impact local development projects. Legazpi City was named beneficiary of the fund after it was included in the 20 top performing cities nationwide.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal congratulated Roxas for the project, saying “’Yan ang kagandahan ngayon, hindi lang kailangan malapit sa Presidente. Dapat pumasa sa SGH (Seal of Good Housekeeping) [That’s what’s good nowadays, you don’t just have to be allied with the President. You have to pass SGH.].”

Roxas also inaugurated a rehabilitated day care center and Early Integration Program (EIP) Facility for Children with Disabilities (CWD) in the same city. The P5.7-million project was funded through the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) process.

According to City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) officials, facilitators, and physical therapists serve around 40 to 60 CWDs in the facility. The EIP building has a therapy, learning, and play areas to address the CWDs specific needs.

Roxas said, “Andito ako, tutulong sa inyo, walang iwanan, para bigyan ng fighting chance ang mga batang ito. Dehado na sila sa simula, at least maipapantay natin ang laban.”

Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay thanked Roxas for the BUB project. He emphasized that LGUs, particularly barangays lack the needed funds to finance their projects and when Congress allocates funds, the legislative body chooses where it should be spent.

He said,“Tayo po na maliliit ay hindi po tayo binibigyan ng kung anong kailangan talaga natin dito. Dito po sa grassroots, ito pong sinasabing Bottom-Up Budgeting o itong Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Program na nasa ilalim po ng DILG, na siya [Roxas] po ang nagpatupad, ay nakita natin na ‘pag ang programa ay galing sa DILG ay malinis at direktang nakakarating sa mga tao. [We weren’t given what we needed here. But with the grassroots, the Bottom-Up Budgeting or Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Program under DILG, which Sec. Roxas implemented, we saw that if a project is from DILG, people will directly benefit from it.”

Roxas said, “Ang mga kakulangan ay kongkretong natutugunan [The needs are met directly.],” emphasizing these projects accord with President Aquino’s “Tuwid na Daan.”
OPAPP: All funds accounted for
Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) assures the public that the funds allocated in 2013 amounting to PhP 1.14 billion for the government’s peace and development program, dubbed as the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, are all accounted for.

“These funds were used to sustain the ongoing projects of the government in conflict-affected and conflict–vulnerable communities in different parts of the country. It was unfortunate that some of the funds were unused as of end-2013, or liquidation reports were incomplete by end-2013 because utilization of funds started late in 2013 as the use of these funds were stopped late 2012 during the Supreme Court’s deliberations on the case regarding the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP),” said OPAPP Assistant Secretary for Programs on the Bangsamoro Howard Cafugauan.

Prior to being a subject of a news report, OPAPP has been taking actions on the observations by the Commission on Audit.

“Funds that are not being used, such as the P250 million given to the AFP for the use of its AFP Engineering Brigade for road repairs and construction in Maguindanao province, are due to the implementing agency’s decision to ensure no controversy would affect the project because they are meant to benefit communities are conflict-affected. The funds remain intact with the AFP as of press time,” Cafugauan added.

OPAPP stressed that the COA observation on projects with no liquidation report or incomplete liquidation report, such as the P156 million allotted to Northern Samar provincial government are being addressed. Liquidation reports being completed and gathered by the implementing agencies for submission to OPAPP and COA. The same is also happening in the case of other provinces that received PAMANA funds and have yet to submit complete liquidation reports.

Cafugauan added: “Rest assured that the entire PhP 1.14 billon had been used to benefit the residents of the above-mentioned communities that are either affected by conflict or vulnerable to conflict because of the presence of rebel groups in those areas.”
‘No turning back in peace process’
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph
28 April 2015 - “We have gone this far in our peace process. There should be no turning back.”

This was the message that lead government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer gave after receiving the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security on April 22 at the Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

“The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro acknowledges a different narrative of our national being, one that would bridge our majority-minority divide toward a shared future where fellow-Filipinos live in peace under one flag in an undivided territory,” said Coronel-Ferrer as she expressed hope and optimism for the future of peace in Mindanao as well as for the Philippines.

Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the government peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), received the award from no less than former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Clinton cited Coronel-Ferrer as a concrete example of a woman who has brought to life UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security passed in 2000 by being the first woman ever to chair a negotiating panel on behalf of a government in a peace process. She also recognized women as agents of change, drivers of progress, and makers of peace.

“Peace and security are only possible when women have a seat at the table. I’ve seen this in so many different ways in so many different places,” said Clinton.

In her acceptance speech, Coronel-Ferrer also highlighted the important role women played in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which was signed in March 2014.

“Three out of six government signatories to the agreement are women, with myself as the chair. The MILF panel was all men. In all, just three of the 12 signatories are women. Still, it’s a big leap: nearly all past negotiations were exclusively done by men,” said Coronel-Ferrer.

“These three women were not alone. They were backed up by a strong and active contingent of women outside of the formal table. From them, we got the strength and fortitude to see the process through, a delightful dynamic of women inspiring fellow women,” Coronel-Ferrer added.

She also talked about how the peace process aims to protect women and advance their role in society.

“Our peace process, indeed, was informed by the very goals of this award: to protect women against all forms of violence and advance the role of women in attaining peace and security in and outside of their homes,” Coronel-Ferrer said.

“I speak especially of the women in the Bangsamoro, who have endured the burden of strife, and who must now secure their places in the public sphere as equal partners in peace and development,” she added.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. attended the ceremonies and extended his congratulations to Coronel-Ferrer for her contributions to lasting peace in the Philippines.

“I would like to congratulate Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer for bringing honor to the Philippines as well as the much needed hope and catalyst to achieve a lasting peace in Mindanao,” said Ambassador Cuisia.

“How fitting that former Secretary Clinton recognized women as agents of change, drivers of progress, and makers of peace,” he said, adding that Professor Coronel-Ferrer’s trailblazing efforts as chairperson and the signing of the peace agreement last year is a critical instrument of peace in Mindanao.

“I am confident that with her leadership and vision, our country will be able to achieve stability the Philippines so richly deserves,” Ambassador Cuisia added.

Aside from Professor Coronel-Ferrer, Staffan de Mistura, former UN special envoy for Afghanistan, was honored for his work to ensure inclusivity of women in Afghanistan. British Foreign Secretary William Hague was among those awarded in 2014 when the award was launched by Georgetown University.

Also present at the awarding ceremony at Georgetown University were Sheila Coronel, sister of Professor Coronel-Ferrer and Dean of Academic Affairs of the School of Journalism at Columbia University and other prominent members of the Washington, D.C. community, as well as other Georgetown University officials.
Chair of PHL Government Panel discusses Mindanao Peace Process in Los Angeles
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph
28 April 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General hosted a briefing by Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Chair of the Philippine Government Panel to the Peace Process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on April 17.

The meeting was attended by members of the media, leaders from the Filipino community in particular the Mindanao groups.

Philippine Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, as moderator remarked that the public can gain a more informed opinion if they themselves read the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). He cited Professor Coronel-Ferrer’s extensive experience in the Mindanao Peace Process and conflict resolution and management and her efforts to promote the BBL to the local leaders and the Filipino people, thus making her a credible authority to explain the complex issues surrounding the BBL.

He also urged the members of the Mindanao groups to be stakeholders in the peace process by getting involved in small projects such as micro-financing in Mindanao. He also encouraged active discussion in the political view of the BBL by expressing concerns through social networks.

Professor Coronel-Ferrer gave a briefing on the developments in the Mindanao Peace Process with the MILF and the BBL. She clarified contentious issues and events related to the Mindanao Peace Process and the BBL, and stressed BBL’s importance in bringing peace and genuine economic development in areas it will cover.

She ended her talk by saying that pragmatism and sincerity between both the government and MILF sides pervaded throughout the negotiation, which of late, has suffered a major setback after the Mamasapano incident where almost 70 Filipinos died.

After the meeting the audience thanked Professor Coronel-Ferrer for a briefing that enlightened them on the sensitive and controversial issues surrounding the BBL and the Peace Process.
April 2015 Criminologist Licensure Examination results released in thirteen (13) working days
Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 4,337 out of 14,696 passed the Criminologist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Criminology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this April 2015.

The members of the Board of Criminology who gave the licensure examination are Hon. Ramil G. Gabao, Chairman; Hon. George O. Fernandez and Hon. Ruben A. Sta. Teresa, Members.

The results were released in thirteen (13) working days from the last day of examination.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on May 7, 8, 11 and 12, 2015. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2015-2018. 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.
Approved applicants for Registration without Examination as Agriculturists
Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph
Manila, April 27, 2015 --- The Professional Regulation Commission announces the approved list of applicants who have qualified to be registered without examination as Agriculturists pursuant to Section 25, Article V of PRC Resolution No. 2000-663, Series of 2000 and Board of Agriculturists Resolutions approved by the Commission as follows:

RESOLUTION NOS. 4, 5
Ombudsman goes after Sorsogon execs for malversation
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
For irregularities in the cash advances and disbursement of funds, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing with the Sandiganbayan of two Informations for Malversation of Public Funds against former Mayor Alejandro Gamos of Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon. Aside from Gamos, Municipal Treasurer Virginia Laco also faces two counts of Malversation while Municipal Accountant Roselyn Gile faces one count of Malversation.

Based on the special audit conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA), several irregularities were uncovered in the grant of cash advances to Gamos from 2004 to 2007. Details of the audit reveal that 52 cash advances with no stated purpose were granted to Gamos from August 2004 to October 2007 totalling P2,770,589.60. In 2007, another cash advance with no stated purpose amounting to P400,000.00 was given to Gamos and from 2005 to 2007, another cash advance totaling P6.45 million was processed by Laco and Gile.

Despite receiving three demand letters from the COA, only P3,241,524.78 was duly liquidated and accounted for as of 2008.

In approving the criminal indictments, Ombudsman Morales stated that despite being “aware that the previous cash advances of Mayor Gamos were not yet liquidated despite which they allowed him to obtain subsequent cash advances in violation of COA rules and regulations.” The said acts of Laco and Gile “appear to have been in conspiracy toward the attainment of the purpose of Mayor Gamos in misappropriating public funds.
Environmental execs face graft charges
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
 Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the filing of charges against executives of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Cordillera Administrative Region on account of several anomalous transactions relating to the rehabilitation and improvement project of its office building in 2004.

Facing indictments before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Article 220 (Illegal Use of Public Funds) of the Revised Penal Code are EMB Regional Director Joel Salvador, Accountant II Asterio Tolentino, Jr., and Budget Officer Perlita Mauri. Aside from this, Tolentino faces three additional Informations for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge Rolando Reyes faces two counts of violation of Section 3(e), while Tolentino, Mauri and contractors David Dominong and Mariano Ang of Pyramid Hardware Construction Supply (PHCS) each face one count of violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019.

The complaint was filed by the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office of the Office of the Ombudsman on the strength of the audit report of the Commission on Audit.

In a 24-page Resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman stated that there was collusion between Salvador, Tolentino, Jr. and Mauri in carrying out the realignment of the earmarked funds for the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Project of the Municipality of Tuba, Benguet and instead used the fund for the building rehabilitation project.

The Office of the Ombudsman pointed out that “there is no showing that authority to realign the budget was secured by the management” thus, “their collaborative acts gave way to illegal expenditure of public fund intended for another purpose.”

In supporting the charges against Salvador, Reyes, Tolentino, Jr., Mauri, Ang and Dominong for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019, it was found that the award to Dominong of the construction contract for the regional director’s office and the purchase of construction materials from PHCS amounting to P758,998.07 were transacted without the requisite public bidding in violation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act). Moreover, the payment to suppliers Ang and Dominong were facilitated despite the non-performance of the contracted labor and deliveries of construction materials, lack of purchase orders, certificate of inspection and assessment, and the release of the retention money to the contractor was made despite the existence of defects in the construction project.

Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019 prohibits public officials from causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.

The charges against Acting Cashier Hermilina Lausa and Officer-in-Charge of the Administrative and Finance Division Ligaya Garcia were dismissed for lack of probable cause.
DA partners with WEF’s Grow Asia for wider support for PH agribusiness
Source: http://www.da.gov.ph
The Department of Agriculture has formalized its partnership with Grow Asia Agriculture Forum through the newly-minted Philippine Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA), which it hopes to become a venue to develop dynamic food and agribusiness ventures in the countryside.

As envisioned, the partnership will bring together players in the agricultural value chain – including government, domestic, regional and multinational companies, multilateral and civil society organizations, farmers, consumers and entrepreneurs – to support existing and new rural-based enterprises and related endeavors.

“Our goal is not merely to survive and endure during these challenging times, but to flourish and sustain – for the prosperity of the sector, notably smallholder food producers,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said in his remarks during last week’s Grow Asia Agriculture Forum in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The DA chief said the collaboration is timely and necessary given that the government looks to private local and foreign enterprise for much of the capital and initiative in opening up rural enterprises and new lands for cultivation.

Initially, DA and Grow Asia are looking at coffee, cassava, corn, coconut and fisheries as focus commodities, said Alcala. Companies that conveyed their interest to take part in PPSA included Syngenta and Nestle Philippines thus far.

“Which is why we welcome Grow Asia and the New Vision for Agriculture of the World Economic Forum, and their help for us to come up with a Philippine model similar to that of Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia,” Alcala said in his remarks, referring to the earlier partnerships created under the auspices of Grow Asia.

Grow Asia is an adjunct event of the World Economic Forum on East Asia, in which Alcala is also a participant.

Groundwork already started for the new collaboration. A consultation meeting cum briefing with stakeholders and possible investors was held on April 13 in Quezon City.

Among the agreements were the creation of a national secretariat that will coordinate all efforts and plans for PPSA, as well as a core committee to represent various stakeholders. Initial screening of applicants for the national secretariat – which will be based at DA’s central office in Quezon City – is ongoing.

Alcala was one of the resource speakers during Grow Asia’s open plenary on 19 April 2015 along with Vietnam’s Minister Cao Duc Phat of Agriculture and Rural Development and other government and business leaders.

In his remarks, Alcala shared the Aquino administration’s milestones in the agri-fishery sector, including unprecedented harvest of rice and corn, and more sustainable fishing grounds through the implementation in 2011 to 2014 of closed season to regenerate fishery resources.

“In fact, Grow Asia’s goal of transforming the lives of 10 million smallholders in Southeast Asia by 2020--through improvement in income and productivity--echoes the Philippine government’s strategies to attaining inclusive prosperity,” he said.

Alcala likewise took part in Grow Asia’s breakout session on the Philippine partnership as well as on inclusive financing, along with other members of DA’s delegation for the two-day event.

The delegation included Undersecretary for Field Operations Emerson Palad; Assistant Secretary for Planning and Project Development Orlan Calayag; Director Shandy Hubilla of the Philippine Rural Development Project Luzon-B Cluster; Special Agriculture Attaché Ana Gracia Maria Abejuela; and Department Legislative Liaison Specialist Mc. Bien Saint Garcia.
PhilHealth to pursue negligent employers
Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently announced that it will run after employers who have failed to fulfill their obligations to their employees and to the state-run health insurer.

“We do not want any employee or their dependents to experience non-availment of PhilHealth benefits because of the employers’ negligence,” said PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla, “that is why we are issuing this reminder for the benefit of over 13 million employees, both in the public and private sectors.”

Reports have reached PhilHealth about erring employers who either do not remit the premium contributions deducted from a member’s monthly salary; do not remit the correct amount promptly; or do not submit the required remittance reports on schedule, thereby causing anxiety among employees who expect to avail themselves of the benefits at point-of-service.

According to Padilla, failure of employers to remit the required contributions and submit remittance reports shall make them liable for reimbursement of payment of a properly filed claim of their employees, as prescribed under Section 18(d) of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the National Health Insurance Act of 2013.

Through Circular No. 003, s-2015, PhilHealth stressed its authority to recover the full amount of claim payments from employers for properly filed claims by employed members and their dependents who were later found out to have no qualifying contributions.
These erring employers shall also be penalized with a fine of not less than P5,000 multiplied by the total number of employees for failure or refusal to register or deduct PhilHealth premium contributions. In the same manner, a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P10,000 multiplied by the total number of employees shall be applied for employers who refused or failed to remit and report contributions.

Delinquent employers are those who have missed monthly premium contributions in behalf of its employees for at least one month within a six-month period. Under-remitting employers, on the other hand, are those who remitted and reported contributions that are less than the prescribed amount or those who remitted accurate contributions but did not include all its employees.

The circular also defines non-remitting employers as those who have not remitted any premium contributions to PhilHealth from the start of its operations or for six months or more, while non-reporting employers are those that may or may not have remitted premium contributions and have not submitted any report for at least one month within a period of six month. (Michelle S. Nisperos)
MB places Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation under PDIC receivership, all valid insured deposit claims will be paid
Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph
The Monetary Board (MB) placed the Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation under the receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) by virtue of MB Resolution No. 634 dated April 23, 2015. As Receiver, PDIC took over the bank on April 24, 2015.

Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation is a 10-unit rural bank with Head Office located at Cor. Rizal and Gimena Streets, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. It has branches in Tacloban City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City and Butuan City; and five branches in Surigao del Norte namely: Dapa, General Luna, Placer, Surigao City and Tubod. Based on the Bank Information Sheet filed with the PDIC as of December 31, 2014, the bank is owned by Alfredo T. Bonpin (53.3%), Michael Anderson D. Bonpin (14.79%), Lamberto T. Go (8.49%), Rudy G. Medina (5.17%), Willie A. Gan (4.22%), Paz S. Go (4.22%) and Edward L.R. Tiu (3.64%). Its Acting President is Margarito C. Bulaga and its Chairman is Rudy G. Medina.

Latest available records show that as of December 31, 2014, Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation had 13,184 accounts with total deposit liabilities of P265.3 million. Total insured deposits amounted to P249.4 million or 94.0% of total deposits.

PDIC said that during the takeover, all bank records shall be gathered, verified and validated. The state deposit insurer assured depositors that all valid deposits shall be paid up to the maximum deposit insurance coverage of P500,000.00.

Depositors with valid deposit accounts with balances of P50,000.00 and below need not file deposit insurance claims, except when they have outstanding obligations with the Surigaonon Rural Banking Corporation or acted as co-makers of the obligations, and have incomplete and/or have not updated their addresses with the bank. PDIC targets to start mailing payments to these depositors at their addresses recorded in the bank by the second week of May, 2015.

Depositors may update their addresses until May 4, 2015 using the Mailing Address Update Forms to be distributed by PDIC representatives at the bank premises. For depositors that are required to file deposit insurance claims, the PDIC targets to start claims settlement operations for these accounts by the third week of May, 2015.

The PDIC also announced that it will conduct Depositors-Borrowers Fora on May 7-8, 2015 to inform depositors of the requirements and procedures for filing deposit insurance claims. The time and venue of the Forum will be posted in the bank premises and announced in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. Likewise, the schedule of the claims settlement operations, as well as the requirements and procedures for filing claims will be announced through notices to be posted in the bank premises, other public places and the PDIC website.

For more information, depositors may communicate with PDIC Public Assistance personnel stationed at the bank premises. They may also call the PDIC Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342), the PDIC Public Assistance Hotlines at (02) 841-4630 to (02) 841-4631, or send their e-mail to pad@pdic.gov.ph.
                                       
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Statement after his arrival from the 26th ASEAN Summit, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia
NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
28 April 2015
Kakagaling lang po natin ng Malaysia matapos dumalo sa ika-26 na ASEAN Summit. Gaya ng lagi, bitbit natin sa ating pag-uwi ang mga positibong bunga ng pakikipag-usap sa mga pinuno ng ating karatig-bansa. Inihayag natin sa kanila: Sa pagkakaisa, higit na natutugunan ang mga hamon sa rehiyon, mas nakakaarangkada sa kaunlaran ang mga bansa, at nabibigyang-lakas at kakayahan ang mamamayang umasenso.

Lalong naging makabuluhan ang summit na ito dahil ngayon pong taon itinakda ang pagpapatibay ng binalangkas na ASEAN Community—ang integrasyon ng mga bansa sa Timog Silangang Asya tungo sa katuparan ng ating kolektibong mga hangarin. Isinantabi natin ang pagkakaiba, upang nagkakaisang solusyunan ang mga suliranin sa rehiyon, lalong-lalo na ang mga kinakailangan ng agarang tugon.

Kung titingnan po natin ang mapa, ano ba ang nag-uugnay sa mga bansa sa Asya? Ito ang dagat na may iba-ibang katawagan: South China Sea sa karamihan, East Sea para sa Vietnam, at sa bahagi naman ng Pilipinas, ito ang West Philippine Sea. Sa kasalukuyan, lalong tumitindi ang usapin ukol sa pag-angkin sa nasasakop nitong teritoryo dahil sa mga aktibidad ng bansang Tsina. Kaya naman isa po sa naging pakay natin sa ASEAN summit ay ang publikong maihayag ang ating saloobin ukol sa nasabing isyu. Binalikan natin ang puno’t dulo ng usapin at inilatag kung ano ang maaaring gawing tugon bilang isang komunidad.

Marami na pong dekada na pinagtatalunan ang pagmamay-ari sa mga features tulad ng Spratlys Island. Noong 2002, nagkaroon ng pag-uusap ang mga miyembrong estado ng ASEAN at ang Tsina upang ayusin ang tensiyon, ngunit nabigong magkasundo sa mga isyung legal. Ang resulta: bigo rin silang makabuo ng tinatawag na Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Nagbunsod ito sa pagkakaroon ng Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, sa pagitan ng Tsina at ng lahat ng miyembro ng ASEAN. Nakasaad sa DOC na ito ang pag-iwas sa anumang gawain na lalong magpapakomplikado sa sitwasyon at lilikha ng gulo sa mga bansa. Dito po naipapamalas ang prinsipyo ng ASEAN Centrality, o ang pagtataguyod ng isang pananaw na pinagkasunduan ng lahat ng kasapi ng ASEAN para sa kabutihan ng buong rehiyon. Kaya naman ‘pag nilabag ang DOC, nilabag na rin ang kasunduan sa ASEAN.

Sa ginagawa ngayong malawakang reklamasyon ng bansang Tsina, masasabi ba nating tumutupad ito sa mga nakasaad sa DOC na kanila mismong nilagdaan? Malinaw na nagdudulot ang kanilang mga aktibidad ng banta sa seguridad at estabilidad ng atin pong rehiyon. Nakakaapekto din ito sa malayang kalakalan, at nagbubunsod ng pinsala sa ating kalikasan at sa kabuhayan ng atin pong mga mamamayan.

May nagmumungkahi po na ang tugon sa problemang ito ay isang diyalogo sa dalawang bansa lamang. Ang problema po, sa ASEAN pa lang, apat sa 10 miyembro nito ang claimants ng Spratlys, idagdag pa rito ang dalawang hindi miyembro ng ASEAN na ang bansang Tsina at Taiwan. Batid naman natin: Anumang kasunduang naabot ng dalawang panig, hindi nito maoobliga na sumunod ang karagdagan pang apat na hindi bahagi ng pinag-usapan ng dadalawa lang.

Kaugnay nito, naglabas ng pahayag ang Chairman ng katatapos lang na ASEAN summit na si Prime Minister Najib Razak ng Malaysia. Dito, sinegundahan ang ating pananaw na kailangang isabuhay ng lahat ang mga prinsipyong nakasaad sa Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Sa pamamagitan nito, masisiguro na ang mga pagkilos ng mga bansa ay may paggalang sa karapatan ng bawat isa. Talaga naman pong ikinalulugod nating dumadami na ang nagpapahayag ng kanilang paninindigan ukol sa pinagtatalunang teritoryo, hindi man sila claimant. Patuloy po nating isinusulong ang mahinahon at mapayapang paraan, upang matupad ang matagal nang inaasam na Code of Conduct.

Kaakibat ng pagsasaayos sa mga gusot sa ating rehiyon, isinasagawa din natin ang mga hakbang upang mapalakas ang samahan at ugnayan ng ating mga bansa. Kapag sinuri natin ang mabibigat na problema na ating hinaharap sa kasalukuyan, gaya ng banta ng terorismo, epekto ng climate change, ang mga nagbabantang pandemics, mas nagiging madali ang pagtugon sa mga ito kung mas marami ang nag-aambagan at nagtutulungan. Isa nga po sa napag-usapan sa summit: imbis na isa-isang mag-abot ng ayuda, kolektibong maghahatid ng tulong ang ASEAN sa Nepal matapos itong yanigin ng malakas na lindol. Di po ba’t kapag pinagsama ang kakayahan ng bawat bansa at nagbuklod ito para sa isang adhika, di-hamak mas malaki ang magagawa?

Pagkatapos ng ASEAN summit, nakilahok naman tayo kaninang umaga sa Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit. Pinag-usapan dito ang mga paraan kung paano pa mapapaunlad ang rehiyon. Mayroon tayong tinatawag na focus areas sa bawat bansa na di-gaanong nakakasabay sa kaunlaran. Sa halip na tingnan ito bilang problema, itinuturing natin itong isang oportunidad sa pag-asenso. Magkakalapit lang ang lokasyon ng nasabing focus areas, kaya’t praktikal lang na ikonekta at paunlarin ang mga ito. Sa ganitong paraan, mapapalawak ang merkado na higit sa sakop na teritoryo, at mapapabilis ang pagpapalitan ng kalakal, teknolohiya, at kaalaman sa rehiyon.

Habang nasa Malaysia, nakipagpulong po tayo din sa Prime Minister ng Vietnam na si Kagalang-galang Nguyen Tan Dung para mapalawig ang ating bilateral relations. Kabilang dito ang pagpapalakas ng defense at maritime cooperation, at pagpapaunlad ng kalakal at pamumuhunan. Nagpasalamat din tayo sa kanila sa pagsagip sa anim na mangingisdang Pilipino nang lumubog ang kanilang bangka sa Southwest Cay Island nitong Enero.

Nabigyan din po tayo ng pagkakataong makausap doon si Pangulong Joko Widodo ng Indonesia upang umapela sa kaso ng ating kababayang si Mary Jane Veloso. Matagal na nating ginagawa ang lahat upang tulungan si Mary Jane, kabilang na ang pagsigurong maiibsan ang agam-agam niya at ng kaniyang pamilya. Patuloy ding sinisikap ng inyong gobyerno na maglatag ng mga hakbang upang maiwasan ang ganitong mga kaso na nasasangkot ang ating Overseas Filipino Workers. Maigting nating isinulong ang halaga po ng pagkakaroon ng ASEAN Instrument for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. Sinuportahan din natin ang pagtangkilik sa ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons at ang Regional Plan of Action tungkol dito. Kasabay nito, todo-kayod tayo sa pagpapalawak ng oportunidad sa ating bansa upang marating natin ang bukas kung kailan hindi na sapilitan ang pangingibang-bayan.

Sa pakikipagpulong sa ating mga kapwa pinuno sa Malaysia, isinalaysay natin ang transpormasyong tinatamasa na ng ating lipunan. Sa bawat repormang ating ipinupunla, binibigyan natin ang ating mga Boss ng kakayahang umasenso at makiambag sa pagpapaunlad ng lipunan. Gaya ng lagi ko pong idinidiin: Hindi magiging posible ang pagbabago kung wala ang pakikiisa ng bawat Pilipino, sa loob man o labas ng ating bansa.

Tunay po: sinasagad natin ang pagbiyahe sa ibang bansa upang makapagbukas pa ng pinto ng pagkakataon sa ating mamamayan. Muli’t muli nating pinapatunayan sa mundo: maaasahan na tayong katuwang sa pag-unlad ng lahat. Sa nalalabing panahon ko sa termino, tuloy lang tayo sa pagsisikap at pagtatrabaho, alang-alang sa kapakanan ng mas nakakarami. Walang pagod nating isinusulong ang pagbabagong kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Taas-noo nating ipapamana ang maunlad na bukas sa susunod na salinlahi, na kinikilala hindi lamang sa Timog Silangang Asya, kundi maging po sa buong daigdig.

Magandang hapon po. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.



 
Last Updated: 28 APRIL 2015
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(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III reviews his documents during the 11th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit at the Grand Ballroom 2 of the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Tuesday (April 28). Also in photo are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Valerie Jude Escalera / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III reviews his documents during the 11th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit at the Grand Ballroom 2 of the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Tuesday (April 28). Also in photo is Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) chairperson Luwalhati Antonino. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Valerie Jude Escalera /  Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III joins his counterparts during the 11th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit at the Grand Ballroom 2 of the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Tuesday (April 28). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Valerie Jude Escalera / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Republic of Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Malaysian Prime Minister The Honourable Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak for a snap shot during the 11th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit at the Grand Ballroom 2 of the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Tuesday (April 28). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Valerie Jude Escalera / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III joins fellow regional leaders during the 26th ASEAN Summit closing ceremony at the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Monday night (April 27). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III links arms with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kala for the traditional group photo opportunity during the 26th ASEAN Summit Retreat Session at the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Monday night (April 27). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(LANGKAWI, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kala for the traditional group photo opportunity during the 26th ASEAN Summit Retreat Session at the Langkawi International Convention Centre on Monday night (April 27). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III takes a breather during the plenary of the 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Monday, April 27. (Photo by Gil Nartea)
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino gets a chance to confer with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Monday, April 27. (Photo by Gil Nartea)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III joins his counterparts for the traditional group photo opportunity during the opening ceremony of the 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Monday (April 27). Also in photo are Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister The Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesia President Joko Widodo. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III links arms with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Indonesia President Joko Widodo for the traditional group photo opportunity during the opening ceremony of the 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Monday (April 27). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III links arms with Republic of the Union of Myanmar President Thein Sein, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Kingdom of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo for the traditional group photo opportunity during the opening ceremony of the 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Monday (April 27). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor upon arrival at the Park Entrance of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre during the opening ceremony of the 26th ASEAN Summit on Monday (April 27). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, President Benigno S. Aquino III (left) and Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong (right) are among the ASEAN Leaders present at the gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. --(handout picture: foto BERNAMA (2015) COPYRIGHT RESERVED
(KUALA LUMPUR) (from left) President of Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsein Loong and Prime Minister of Thailand General Prayut Chan-O-Cha are among ASEAN leaders present at a gala dinner for the 26th ASEAN Summit 2015 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today. (handout picture)-- foto BERNAMA (2015) COPYRIGHT RESERVED
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a bilateral meeting at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday (April 26), at the sidelines of the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a bilateral meeting at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday (April 26), at the sidelines of the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III joins his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a group photo souvenir during the gala dinner hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister The Honourable Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor for the 26th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday night (April 26). Also in photo are, Republic of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Kingdom of Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha,Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Republic of the Union of Myanmar President Thein Sein, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Kingdom of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Republic of Indonesia President Joko Widodo. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor upon arrival at the Park Entrance of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday night (April 26). (Photo by:Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III upon arrival at the Park Entrance of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Sunday night (April 26) to join his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the Gala Dinner for the 26th ASEAN Summit. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to participate at the 26th ASEAN SUMMIT being held in Malaysia on Sunday (April 26). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his departure statement during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Sunday (April 26) to join fellow ASEAN Leaders in attending the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., review the honor guards during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Sunday (April 26) to join fellow ASEAN Leaders in attending the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his departure statement during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Sunday (April 26) to join ASEAN Leaders in attending the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III prepares to board the plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Sunday (April 26) to join fellow ASEAN Leaders in attending the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (Photo by Robert Viñas/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 20th Anniversary Celebration and Investors’ Recognition of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) at the World Trade Center in Gil Puyat Avenue, Pasay City on Thursday (April 23). Also in the photo are TESDA Director Joel Villanueva,Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, PEZA Director General Lilia de Lima, Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras. (Photo by Lauro Montellano Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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‪#‎Philippines‬ makes doing ‪#‎business‬ easier http://t.co/ztUaq2Ew5R http://t.co/A1r8kopku9


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The cost of war—in terms of casualties and economic loss—in Mindanao. http://t.co/ZVWMdTmOpn ‪#‎Bangsamoro‬ http://t.co/g5wvDTGKHQ | via @govph


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April of every year is declared as National Literature Month (Buwan ng Pantikang Filipino) as per Proc. No. 968. http://t.co/09jKCtY4ln


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No turning back in ‪#‎peace‬ process
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PIA | No turning back in peace process
This was the message that lead government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer gave after receiving the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security on April 22 at the Georgetown University in...
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Planting trees? Make sure you're not doing it near power lines! ‪#‎PowerSafety‬ http://t.co/UQjT903PAE | via @CebuInfocen ‪#‎NGCP‬
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