Wednesday, April 15, 2015

3 Dispatch for April 16 , 2014 (Thursday ), 2 PIA Calabarzon PRs , 3 Weather Watch , 3 Regional Watch , 4 OFW Watch , 1 PNOY Speech, 1 INTERVIEW OF SEC. COLOMA, 20 Online News , 40 Photo Releases,(Apr.15)


 

 Daily Weather Forecast

 
Issued at: 5:00 a.m. today, 16 April 2015
Valid Beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow

Synopsis:

Easterlies affecting the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas.


 pressure.gif Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis 8 a.m. 16 April 2015
 wind.gif Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis 8 a.m. 16 April 2015
satellite


Forecast:

The whole country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.


Moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to northeast with slight to moderate seas.

GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz:
-Patuloy na magiging mainit ang panahon sa ilang bahagi ng bansa bukas at patuloy ring bumababa ang tubig sa ilang dam. Gayunman, wala pa sa low water level ang Pantabangan, Angat at Magat Dam.
-Asahan ang mahinang ulan sa Cagayan Valley, Quezon at Aurora bukas ng umaga dahil sa Easterlies.
-Sa Visayas at Mindanao, uualanin ang eastern section sa umaga at sa hapon ay posible na rin ang ulan sa natitirang bahagi.
-Sa Metro Manila, magiging bahagyang maulap at may posibilidad ng ulan pagdating ng hapon.
 

DZIQ: Wala namang namamataang weather disturbance para bukas, ayon sa PAG-ASA. Patuloy pa rin naman tayong makakaranas ng bahagya at maulap na kalangitan para sa mga susunod na araw, dagdag pa ng PAG-ASA.
 
 

                                April 16, 2015 (Thursday) as of 10:00 AM


                     PIA4A / PIA QUEZON    :  Partly Cloudy  in Lucena City


 



PIA-4A/QUEZON: May 100 kabataan ang napili ng provincial employment service office para matulungan ng pamahalaang panlalawigan na makapagtrabaho ngayon bakasyon. Ito ay ipinatutupad sa ilalim ng programang Special Program for Employment of Students sa tulong ng DOLE para sa mga kabataang walang kakayahang tustusan ng mga magulang ang kanilang pag-aaral.



PIA-4A/RIZAL: The Antipolo City Government is set to conduct a job fair at the Robinsons Place Antipolo Activity Center on April 28 from 8am to 5pm. Locals are encouraged to bring their resumes and documents to participate in the said activity. Other government agencies such as the NBI, Philhealth, SSS, NSO and Pag-Ibig will be present to offer their services and provide documents during the activity.
 
 
PIA-4A/RIZAL: Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection Nereus Acosta, Rizal Governor Nini Ynares and former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando inaugurated the LRI-Teresa Horomill at Teresa, Rizal together with Mayor Raul Palino and other local officials during the opening of the new cement facility in the municipality.
 
 



PIA OFW Watch
3 hrs ·
DZBB: Nagpapatuloy ang repatriation program ng gobyerno sa paglilikas sa mga mangggawang Pinoy sa Libya. Kaugnay nito, bukas ng 4:00pm ay inaasahang uuwi ng Pilipinas ang panibagong batch ng OFWs na sumailalim sa repatriation program. Payo ni DFA Sec. Albert Del Rosario na huwag nang magdalawang-isip na sumailalim sa repatriation hanggang hindi pa hirap ang gobyernong mailikas sila. Sa ngayon, nananatili pa sa 4,000 Pinoy ang nasa Libya.

 
 
PIA OFW Watch
3 hrs ·
PIA-NCR: Nagbabala si Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda D. Baldoz sa mga OFW sa Libya at sa mga nurse laban sa mga Maltese recruitment agency na nag-aalok ng trabaho sa Europa lalo na sa Malta. Aniya, walang naprosesong aprubadong job order ang DOLE para sa trabahong nurse sa Malta.
PIA OFW Watch
14 hrs ·
GMA: Nagtipon-tipon ang grupong Migrante, Gabriela at KMU para maghayag ng suporta sa Pinay na si Mary Jane Veloso na nahatulan ng bitay sa Indonesia. Pupunta naman ang kapatid ni Mary Jane sa Indonesia para kausapin ang mga abogado nila roon. Ayon naman sa DFA, hindi nila pinababayaan ang kaso.


BULLETIN: DOLE Sec. Baldoz warned OFWs in Libya that there is no approved job order for nurses in Malta being processed by POLO in Rome. The warning followed reports received by the Philippine Embassy in Rome about a placement agency in Malta offering Filipino nurses in Libya with jobs in Europe's medical sector, particularly in Malta and London.
 
 








 QUEZON     
     

1K mag-aaral, nabiyayaan ng programang 'safewater system'

  • April 16, 2015
PAGBILAO, Quezon, April 16 (PIA) —  Mahigit 1,000 mag-aaral mula sa tatlong mababang paaralan ng bayang ito ang ang nabiyayayan ng programang “Safewater  System” ng Team Energy Corporation na siyang nagpapatako ng Pagbilao Power Station.
Kabilang sa mga benipisyaryo ng programa ay ang mga mag-aaral ng Malicboy West Elementary School, Polo North Elementary School at Bantigue Elementary School, Pagbilao, Quezon na nabigyan ng opurtunidad sa pagkakaroon ng malinis na tubig sa kani-kanilang eskwelahan sa pamamagitan ng  mga ipinagkaloob na  safewater system na mayroong  mechanical motor pump, hand-washing areas, drinking water station at water storage facility mula sa Team Energy Corporation.
Ang nasabing programa ay naisakatuparan sa tulong ng Department of Education (DepEd) at ng barangay government units sa bayan ng Pagbilao na nakakassakop sa nasabing mga paaralan.
Ito ay isang magandang ehemplo ng pakikipagtulungan ng pribadong sektor at ng pamahalaan para sa ikauunlad ng bansa. (Ruel Orinday/ may ulat mula sa Team Energy- Pagbilao Power Station) 
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/701428994704/1k-mag-aaral-nabiyayaan-ng-programang-safewater-system-#sthash.GiSLQYOl.dpuf
 













LAGUNA

1. DTI assures consumers of no increases in prices of school supplies

  • April 15, 2015
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, April 15 (PIA) — Trade and Industry Undersecretary Victor Mario Dimagiba reported in a meeting last week with manufacturers and traders, the Philippine School Pads and Notebooks Manufacturers Association, Inc., National BookstoreBridges Bookstore (formerly Goodwill Bookstore), and Morayta Bookstore (formerly Meriam and Webster Bookstore) declared that there will be no increases in the prices of their school supplies.

The DTI, through its Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG), has begun its campaign in ensuring ample supply and reasonable prices of school supplies, items that are in the list of basic necessities and prime commodities as described in Act 7581, or the ‘Price Act’.

Among the school supplies that are in the DTI list of basic and prime goods and are frequently being monitored on their supply and prices are crayons, notebooks (composition, writing and spiral), pad paper (grades 1-4, intermediate), ballpens, and pencils.

“The DTI will publish the price guide for school supplies between the end of April and the first week of May. We will request the cooperation of the establishments to post the guide in conspicuous places where the consumers can easily access and refer to them”, Dimagiba emphasized.

“Simultaneously, DTI will conduct monitoring activities to check not only referring to prices and the availability of supply but also for the compliance of said items with specific product standards and labeling requirements”, the undersecretary added.

The DTI monitors the retail prices of school supplies in the market while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that the distributed school supplies in the market are free from hazardous substances

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act 7394) specifies that any manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer found not complying with the requirements of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for school and office supplies shall be filed with administrative charges and imposed with a maximum fine of P300,000 for every count of violation.

The DTI-CPG, through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB), includes school supplies into the list among with the various non-agricultural products that are being monitored every week.

Last week, the DTI visited 40 establishments in the National Capital Region (NCR) and found all to be complying with the SRPs of basic necessities and prime commodities.

Consumers can report or file complaints against unsafe school supplies to the Department of Health’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and for overpriced or unlabeled school supplies to the nearest DTI office, or they can DTI Direct 751.3330 and 0917.8343330. (Charlie S. Dajao, DTI Calabarzon / DTI Consumer Protection Group-CPG/PIA-4A)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/631429072694/dti-assures-consumers-of-no-increases-in-prices-of-school-supplies#sthash.cepqrjYU.dpuf

 
















 

President Aquino seeks support of municipal officials in continuing his reforms
 
President Benigno S. Aquino III has called on municipal leaders to ensure the continuity of his reform programs.

Speaking before hundreds of members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, the President said an administration’s success or failure depends on the support of local government units for the national government.

"Batid ko po, malaking papel ang ginagampanan ng ating local government units. Kung ang pagpapalakad ng buong bansa ay tungkulin ng pambansang pamahalaan, kayo naman sa LGU ang direktang nakakasalamuha ng ating mga mamamayan,” the President said during the opening of the three-day LMP General Assembly, which carried the theme, “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.”

“Sa pamamagitan ninyo, nararamdaman ng ating mamamayan kung tumototoo ang gobyerno sa panata nitong maglingkod sa bayan. Kaya nga ang tagumpay o pagkabigo ng isang administrasyon ay nakasalalay sa pakikipagtulungan ng local government units sa pambansang pamahalaan.”

Highlighting the government’s social welfare programs and infrastructure projects, the President attributed the country’s ongoing transformation to good governance.

“Di po ba dati, ang laging bukambibig ng gobyerno, walang pera sa kaban ng bayan? Ngayon, napapatunayan natin na kung hindi nanakawin ang pondo, hindi ito magkukulang,” he said.

President Aquino thus called on the LGUs to continue the reform programs that his administration has begun.

"Kung magtutuloy-tuloy tayo sa tuwid na daan, lalo pang gaganda ang ating patutunguhan. Ang hamon sa atin ay siguruhin na magiging permanente ang bunga ng ating pagsisikap,” he continued.

The 1,490-strong LMP is lobbying for the approval this year of the "Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” bill authored by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.

The bill seeks to increase from 40 percent to 50 percent the LGUs’ share in the government’s tax revenues.

President Aquino said the national government acknowledges the funding problems faced by LGUs.

“Gusto ko man hong sabihing 'Oo,' sige, lakihan natin nang lakihan ang slice ng pie. Siguro kaya ko hong i-commit sa inyo, sa mga nagpapakitang-gilas nga ho, hindi mahirap dagdagan ang inyong pondo. Sa mga marami naman pong problemang naidudulot sa atin, medyo nag-iingat tayong dagdagan ang pondo. Nasa inyo po iyan. Magtulungan tayo dito. Success will breed success. Pasensiya nga ho, (dahil) failure will breed an orphan,” he said.

“Ulitin ko lang po, tanaw at dama namin, nakikita namin ang mga suliraning hinaharap ninyo, papel namin bawasan ngayon ang problemang kinakaharap ninyo,” the President concluded.

National President of the LMP, Javier, Leyte Mayor Leonardo Javier, Jr., delivered the welcome remarks.

Also present at the event was Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas. PND (jm)

Ochoa: New grads to benefit from country’s bright economic prospects
 
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Wednesday asked graduates of Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) to believe in the Philippines and take full advantage of the opportunities available in the country, one of only two Asian nations expected to grow 6 percent or more in 2015.

Addressing graduates at the 67th Commencement Exercises of MLQU, Ochoa said that the country has “100 million reasons to be optimistic about its future,” as foreign analysts have been bullish about the Philippines’ growing economy and its young, talented workforce.

“Our country is in the midst of steady economic growth, and that growth represents more opportunities for our citizens, especially young men and women like yourselves––who are now part of the one of the world’s youngest, best educated and most dynamic workforces,” Ochoa said.

The Executive Secretary cited a survey of economists conducted by Bloomberg which showed that the Philippines and China were the only two Asian economies forecasted to grow 6 percent or more this year. In the same survey, the Philippines was one of only five countries worldwide expected to grow 5 percent or more in the coming year, joining China, India, Indonesia and Kenya.

Quoting an article from business magazine Forbes, Ochoa said that foreign observers have high hopes for the country, which is “home to some of the most inspiring and promising talent in the world.”

“That talent is already demonstrated by Filipinos in companies around the globe and yet, it is only just a taste of what is possible and what is still to come,” Ochoa said.

“Believe in your country. Believe in yourselves. And believe that with the education you have received and the degrees you hold today, a bright future awaits you, your families and your country,” he added.

MLQU was established in 1947 to provide “ambitious but financially disadvantaged young people with the education and professional training needed to get ahead in life.” The university was founded by several prominent justices and lawyers who saw the need for a quality educational institution catering to the less privileged. Its founders include Leoncio B. Monzon, Sen. Lorenzo M. Tañada, Arsenio P. Dizon, Carmelino G. Alvendia, Justice Jose B. L. Reyes, Manuel O. Chan, and Anselmo S. Claudio.

Two secretaries in the Cabinet of President Benigno S. Aquino III are alumni of MLQU: Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Solar power technology gains ground among APEC member economies
 
(LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte) Energy experts from member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have reported that the Photovoltaic (PV) solar power technology has made inroads in their respective renewable energy (RE) programs.

The Philippines amended its installation target of solar energy generation from 50 megawatts (MW) to 500 MW last year, after seeing solar power generation as one of the most promising source of renewable energy.

Director Mario Marasigan of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Energy Deparment said on Wednesday that although it amended the installation target, the government remains careful so as not to hurt power consumers who do not get power subsidies from the government.

“For the Philippines, we have implemented the net metering for PV solar installations in academic institutions. This has encouraged the academe to build their own RE systems, such as the solar PV on their rooftops,” he said.

The sharing of experiences was part of the ongoing 44th Meeting of the APEC-Expert Group on New Renewable Energy (APEC-EGNRET44) being held at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel here.

Meanwhile, Gavin Yu of Korea noted a growing number of new renewable energy manufacturers as the RE sector develops.

He said that from 2007 to 2013, the number of manufacturers more than doubled, the employment figure more than tripled, while the revenue size increased sixfold.

Korea, he said, has a distinct microgrid system in small island areas instead of independent systems, which rely on fuel-fed generators.

The country piloted connection projects that generated energy from wind, PV solar and geothermal integrating with Energy Storage System (ESS), all in Ulleung Island, he said.

With its sound Renewable Portfolio Standard, the rooftop and parking lot of Renault Samsung Motors in Busan was converted into a Solar PV Power Plant, now the largest solar PV plant for the single factory and provides electricity to 7,300 households.

Korea’s PV Rental Program is also promising as it allows household owners to reduce their electricity bill to 80 percent, he added.

“PV rental companies earn rental fee and benefit from the Renewable Energy Point set by the government,” Yu said.

Chinese Taipei on the other hand has devised a solar PV mechanism that ensures fair participation of applicants and reveals the actual market value and costs of PV installation.

The country also convinced its banking institutions to provide financing support.

At least 26 banks have embraced green financing, with the green energy investment fund growing from US$1.6 million in 2011 to $222 million in 2013.

Japan is geared towards installing PV solar and wind power technologies because of its good wind resource.

Takao Ikeda of Japan said the government allocated more than 27 billion yen in 2014 for the research and development of a utility scale battery system.

By 2020, it targets to reduce the cost of Lithium batteries, Redox Flow battery, NAS battery and other existing batteries, he said.

The United States, for its part, conducted the 2014 SunShot Grand Challenge Summit and Peer Review in support of the ten-year SunShot initiative that began in 2010.

The SunShot initiative targets the production of grid connected PV power at 5 cents to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The result of the Ilocos Norte meeting will be presented to APEC energy officials in October during the Energy Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Cebu. PIA (Region 1)

 

15 APRIL 2015
Capiz towns get shelter aid
Verification and Assessment Report – Ceasefire Violations Mamasapano Incident January 25, 2015
Applications now open for Fire Officer Examination
Roxas, Bohol LGUs set up 'City of Lights' Monitoring Tool
Roxas, Bohol kids ‘happy” with new Day Care Center
ECOP credits two-tiered wage system to ‘less politics’ in wage fixing
PHL Envoy Lauds Launch of Multicultural Cub Reporter Corps in South Korea
DOT, PHL Embassy in Warsaw Strengthen Partnership in Tourism Promotion
Ombudsman suspends Mactan airport officials
Says program has inclusion and exemption: Baldoz allays fears of Filipino TFWs in Canada
Oil monitor as of 14 April 2015
DepEd, DavNor ensure safe Palaro
DAR Provides Women Group With Livelihood Project
The National Prosecution Service Warmly Welcomes the Appointment of Seventy-five (75) New Prosecutors
DENR fast tracks land titling for public schools
UMID Card Delivery Schedule
Galas Market Vendors join AlkanSSSya program
Philippines makes doing business easier
Pantawid Pamilya honor student urges fellow grantees to use grants wisely
Community empowerment one of the thrusts of Aquino administration, says DBM head

Capiz towns get shelter aid
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
Provincial officials of Capiz conveyed their gratitude to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for undertaking rehabilitation programs to support poor families affected by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

“In November 2013, ‘Yolanda’ devastated us,” said Capiz Governor Victor A. Tanco during the opening ceremonies of the ‘Capiztahan.’ “Today, we are deeply humbled, as one of the persons who supported us during those difficult times is joining us. We extend our special thanks to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman and to the members of her office for reaching out to Capizenos.”

During the said ceremony over the weekend, Gov. Tanco handed over a plaque of appreciation and a copy of the resolution to Secretary Soliman, who was in the province to check on the implementation of the DSWD rehabilitation programs for ‘Yolanda’ affected families.

Gov. Tanco stressed that the ‘Capiztahan’ is an opportune time to celebrate the “collective resiliency, perseverance and the attitude of the Capizenos to never surrender.”

“Gone are the days of ‘Yolanda’. As we celebrate ‘Capiztahan,’ our faith and our sheer will to live have shown what true Capizenos are,” he said.

Service with a smile

Meanwhile, Sec. Soliman expressed gratitude to Gov. Tanco, local goverment officials, and all Capizenos for recognizing the Department’s efforts in serving the people, particularly during calamities and disasters.

“Ginagawa po namin ito dahil kami ay lingkod-bayan tulad din ng ibang nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno. Pangalawa, salamat dahil ito ang pinagkukunan namin ng lakas upang tuloy -tuloy na makapaglingkod na may ngiti (We are just doing our duty as public servants. We thank you for this recognition because this gives us the strength to continue serving with a smile),” said Sec. Soliman.

The Secretary said that aside from rehabilitation efforts for ‘Yolanda’ affected families, the Department continues to implement the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Service-National Community Driven Development Program (Kalahi-CIDSS), Sustainable Livelihood Program, Supplementary Feeding Program, and Social Pension, among others.

Thankful ESA recipients

Aside from government officials, affected families of ‘Yolanda’ also expressed gratitude to the national government for providing them the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). The ESA was created to allow less fortunate families to have a chance to rebuild their homes.

Igleceria Bulquerin of Roxas City said, “Salamat po Sec. Soliman. Salamat sa DSWD sa pagtugon sa aming pangangailangan. Ginamit po namin ang P30,000 para muling itayo ang aming bahay (Thank you Sec. Soliman. Thank you DSWD for responding to our needs. We used the ESA amounting to P30,000 to rebuild our house).”

“Salamat sa pagtulong ninyo para muli kaming makabangon. Hindi lamang ninyo itinayo muli ang aming bahay, binuo niyo rin muli ang tiwala namin sa gobyerno. Dahil dito, muli kaming natutong mangarap (Thank you for helping us so we could recover from the devastation of the typhoon. You not only repaired our house, you also restored our trust in the government. We have learned to hope for the future again),” said teary-eyed Bulaclac Jardiolin of Panay, whose house was totally damaged by ‘Yolanda’.

ESA provides P30,000 and P10,000 financial assistance to ‘Yolanda’ survivors whose houses were totally and partially damaged, respectively.

The ESA is given to affected families who have no permanent sources of income or whose income is below the poverty threshold of the region (houses located in safe areas; listed in the Disaster Family Access Card (DAFAC); families whose heads are not permanent or regular employees and do not have access to housing loans; fixed monthly salary below P15,000 and have not received the same assistance from other agencies).

To date, the DSWD has released P1.9 billion for ESA in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

Of this amount, Aklan received P348.7 million; Antique, P213.2 million; Capiz, P798.2 million; Iloilo, P437.9 million; and Negros Occidental, P138.9 million.

Applications now open for Fire Officer Examination
Source: http://web.csc.gov.ph
Application for the Fire Officer Examination (FOE) is now open.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) administers the FOE in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Applicants should get and file their application forms at the CSC Regional Office (CSCRO), or at any of the CSCRO’s Field Offices where they intend to take the examination. Application form can also be downloaded from the CSC website: csc.gov.ph.
 All applicants must be (1) a Filipino citizen, (2) of good moral character, (3) mentally and physically fit, (4) must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude, or of disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness or addiction to drugs, (5) must not have been dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian positions in the government, (6) must possess a baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution of learning, and (7) must be 21 to 35 years old at the date/time of filing of application.
Deadline for filing of application is June 17. The FOE will be given on August 16. 

Roxas, Bohol LGUs set up 'City of Lights' Monitoring Tool
Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph
With a map and some LED lights, Boholanos can now monitor the developments in the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)'s Bohol Earthquake Assistance (BEA) repair and reconstruction projects.

Together with the Bohol provincial, city, and municipal governments, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas presented the so-called "City of Lights," a project monitoring tool that determines the status of various BEA projects in the province after a 7.2-magnitude shook it, along with parts of Cebu province.

Roxas unveiled the geographical representation during his visit in the municipality of Sagbayan where a public market was being reconstructed at P52 million, and a civic center was undergoing repairs at P23.4 million.

"Gusto nating makita ng taumbayan na nagagastos nang maayos ang buwis na ibinabayad nila," Roxas said.

Currently, 57 repair projects totaling P9.7 million are already finished. Three of those projects are in Cebu province, which was also partly affected by the earthquake.

Roxas also made it point that P327.75 million from the BEA-DILG fund will be spent to finish the remaining eight projects in Cebu, and 198 repair and reconstruction projects in Bohol, among others in the pipeline.

All in all, more than P2.4 billion was allocated for the rehabilitation efforts for more than a thousand proposed repair and reconstruction projects that are already being processed and reviewed by the DILG.

The geographical representation will be brought to the provincial capitol, to make available to the general public.

Roxas, Bohol kids ‘happy” with new Day Care Center
Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph
Earlier today, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas shared the joy of pupils, parents, and teachers during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly repaired day care center in Barangay Cogon, Inabanga, Bohol.

More than a hundred and fifty children, parents, teachers, and local officials witnessed the ceremony, marking a new beginning for the young children of Barangay Cogon.

"Kayong lahat ang gumawa nitong ating day care center," Roxas said in his message.
During his speech, one of the children offered Roxas a drawing of a rocket ship, which he took as a metaphor for the kind of development that is at hand.

"Humaharurot, tuloy-tuloy na ito," he said.

The day care center was one of the 22 day care centers in Inabanga damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that shook the provinces of Bohol and Cebu in 2013.

Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto took the chance to express his profound gratitude both to Roxas and to President Aquino for the assistance that the national government was able to provide the province in order to recover from the 2013 quake.

Roxas in return saluted the spirit of Boholanons for their quick and effective recovery after the earthquake.

"Adversity brought out the best from the Boholanons," he said.

According to the latest update on the DILG’s Bohol Earthquake Assistance (BEA) fund, 57 repair projects totalling P9.7 million have already been completed by local government units (LGUs) in cooperation with the national government.

The repair of the Barangay Cogon day care center cost about P100,000.

Roxas viewed this success as an encouragement for local executives to also make sure that the P327.75 million allocation from the BEA DILG fund will be spent to finish the remaining eight projects in Cebu, and 198 repair and reconstruction projects in Bohol, among others in the pipeline.

"Inaasahan po na lahat ng programs of work ay lalo nating mapabilis para tulad ng day care center na ito, mapakinabangan na ng ating taumbayan," Roxas said.

After the brief ceremony, Roxas shared lunch with Gov. Chatto, Inabanga Mayor Roygie Jumamoy, DILG Region 7 Director Nani Villacorta, the parents, and the pupils at the day care center.

ECOP credits two-tiered wage system to ‘less politics’ in wage fixing
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Chairperson of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), yesterday noted the support of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines to the DOLE’s two-tiered wage system (TTWS) reform, which said the reform has led to the expeditious and non-adversarial consensual decision-making process in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs).

Commenting on a letter she received from ECOP President Edgardo Lacson on the newest minimum pay raise in Metro Manila which took effect this month, Baldoz said the ECOP has credited the two-tiered wage system for “introducing the most critical criterion in the reform, which was the use of the poverty income threshold in the first tier as a major indicator in setting the floor wage.”

“The best example of this is in the NCR,” said Lacson in his letter. “As it is, the NCR wage rate of P466 per day (was) double the NCR 2012 poverty threshold of P234 per day.

Lacson also said, without elaborating, that since its implementation, the two-tiered wage system has seen a “significant reduction in the politics of wage fixing”.

The TTWS, initiated by Secretary Baldoz in 2012, is a wage reform where the first tier is the mandated minimum wage, or floor wage, set by RTWPBs, while the second-tier is the non-mandatory component that provides workers’ pay increases and benefits based on productivity-based formulas contained in advisories also issued by the RTWPBs. The advisories guide industries in developing and implementing productivity improvement programs, productivity-based incentives, and profit- or gain-sharing schemes that workers and employers agree as basis for additional pay or incentives.

Under the reform, the minimum wage is viewed as a social safety net, as it is, to protect the most vulnerable sectors, while the productivity-based pay is regarded as the more appropriate mechanism of rewarding workers’ productivity as their progressive contribution to enterprise growth and competitiveness.

Relative to this, NWPC deputy executive director Patricia Hornilla said the ECOP will meet with the NWPC this week in a technical working group to map out support strategies by the employers’ group on advocating the TTWS more extensively with employers. Separate meetings are also planned for the unions.

“We need the support of the ECOP and the unions in raising knowledge and awareness that would lead to practice of the TTWs. This is a reform that everyone should embrace because it is appropriate for our current economic and labor market conditions,” Baldoz said.

PHL Envoy Lauds Launch of Multicultural Cub Reporter Corps in South Korea
Source: http://dfa.gov.ph
15 April 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez commended the launch of a news-gathering brigade composed of multicultural elementary school children from various countries, including the Philippines, for a youth-oriented Korean-language online newspaper published in collaboration with one of South Korea’s biggest media organizations.

“The increasing number of multicultural families is the outcome of globalized society; we want a society that has a positive image of multicultural children and to raise them as global leaders in South Korea,” said Tycoon Media Group CEO Choi Youngkyu, who opened the ceremonies with his welcome remarks at the Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel in Seoul.

In his congratulatory speech as guest of honor, Ambassador Hernandez commended the Tycoon Media Group and the Hankook Ilbo Media Group for launching the “Ssaeng Ssaeng Mujigae” (Flash Rainbow News) Reporter Corps as part of its corporate social responsibility in encouraging the participation of South Korean children with mixed parentage.

“The older members of this democratic nation have the civic responsibility to challenge and educate the younger members of society of the concepts of diversity and inclusiveness,” Ambassador Hernandez said. “This program will also be an opportunity for these children to instill in them a sense of nationalistic pride by inspiring proper views about their motherland.”

Some 100 elementary school children from 3rd to 6th grades who signified their interest to become cub reporters for the site and future leaders attended the event with their parents.

The event, which was sponsored by the Arts Exchange Association and the Multicultural Federations of Culture, was attended by Choi Shin-won, Chairman of a high-tech material producer SKC Ltd., and members of South Korea’s National Assembly. Ruling Saenuri Party’s Deputy Floor Leader Yoon Sang-hyun and Philippine-born Representative Jasmine Lee sent video messages.

The cub reporters of the “Ssaeng Ssaeng Rainbow News” will have a chance to meet and interview Seoul-based ambassadors, statesman, national leaders and South Korean celebrities for publication of their news articles in future editions of the online children’s newspaper.

DOT, PHL Embassy in Warsaw Strengthen Partnership in Tourism Promotion
Source: http://dfa.gov.ph
15 April 2015 - The partnership between the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw in promoting the Philippines as a tourist destination in the markets of Poland and the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania has been strengthened with the meeting between Tourism Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon and Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez during the International Tourismus Borse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany last March 04 and with the visit to Warsaw of Berlin-based Tourism Attaché Dakila Gonzales from April 08 to 09.

Tourism Undersecretary Bengzon, who requested for the meeting, expressed his appreciation for the Embassy’s pro-active campaigns in promoting Philippine tourism and disclosed that the DOT will now strongly pursue the establishment of a travel trade network with Polish and Baltic tour operators and other stakeholders in the tourism industry.

Undersecretary Bengzon and Ambassador Paez also met with the Head of the ITB Berlin Exhibition Director David Ruetz and ITB Berlin Product Manager for Asia Diane Klaue and discussed ways to better promote the Philippines.The DOT official invited Mr. Ruetz and Ms. Klaue to visit the Philippines. Ambassador Paez and Principal Assistant for Economic Diplomacy Attaché Evelyn Vega also met with several Philippine tour operators and with the representatives of Philippine Airlines (PAL) who participated in the ITB.

As a follow through to the meetings in Berlin, Tourism Attaché Gonzales visited Warsaw recently and met with Mr. Michael Cessannis of National Geographic Traveller, Mr. Arkadiusz Nowak of Nowak Adventure Travel, Ms. Barbara Grabowska of Singapore Airlines, and with Mr. Grzegorz Karolewski of Qatar Airways.

Ombudsman suspends Mactan airport officials
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the six-month suspension of former General Manager Danilo Augusto Francia and board member Ma. Lourdes Varga-Dedal, both from the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), in connection with the illegal grant of severance pay to board member Patria Aurora Roa, former Regional Director of the Department of Tourism.

In a 15-page Decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found Francia and Dedal guilty of Simple Misconduct for granting Roa severance pay amounting to P500,000 severance pay in April 2010. It was discovered that the disbursement voucher covering the grant was signed by Francia alone and without supporting documents in their obvious haste to grant Roa an undue benefit.

The Commission on Audit issued a Notice of Disallowance on the ground that the severance pay has no legal basis and is prohibited by DBM Circular No. 2002-02 dated 2 January 2002.

In finding Francia and Dedal administratively liable, Ombudsman Morales stated that despite the clear prohibition under the DBM circular, they still granted severance pay to Roa in obvious defiance [of] the DBM rules and regulation which they ought to consider in their decision-making as clearly instructed by their own charter.”

DBM Circular No. 2002-02 prohibits department secretaries, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries who serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors from receiving any remuneration in line with the Supreme Court ruling that their services in the board are already paid for and covered by the compensation attached to their principal office.

Says program has inclusion and exemption: Baldoz allays fears of Filipino TFWs in Canada
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday sought to allay the fears of Filipino temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada, particularly in Alberta, and their families in the Philippines by saying there is no immediate repatriation of them to the Philippines once their four-year stay in that country comes to an end. “There is no such thing as ‘mass deportation’ contrary to some news reports about it,” said Baldoz. Baldoz said she received a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Toronto taking note of the reports and saying that some workers will be exempt from the rule that TFWs will have to leave Canada at the end of their four-year stay. Introduced on 1 April 2011, the temporary foreign workers program allowed low-wage foreign workers to stay in Canada for as long as four years, and once this four-year period ends, the TFW will no longer be eligible to work in Canada under a temporary foreign worker permit for an additional four years. Baldoz said Labor Attache Leonida Romulo reported that not included in the cumulative four-year limit are any periods of more than one month spent overseas, or an authorized work break, such as parental leave and extended unpaid leave. “Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will exempt some workers from the cumulative duration regulation,” Baldoz said, quoting further the report. Labatt Romulo said TFWs in managerial or professional occupation are exempted. So are TFWs who have applied for permanent residence and have received a CSQ (Certificat de selection du Quebec) if applying as a Quebec skilled worker; a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) certificate, if applying as a provincial nominee; an approval in principle, if applying under the Live-in Caregiver Class; a positive selection decision, if apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Class; or a positive selection decision, if applying under the Canadian Experience Class. Also exempted are TFWs employed under an international agreement, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Seasonal Agricultural Program, or another agreement. Further excluded are those who are exempt from the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) process, including spouses and common-law partners of international graduates participating in the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program and highly-skilled TFWs; charity or religious workers; entrepreneurs, intra-company transferees, researchers, and academics; and others for purposes of self-support, such as refugee claimants, or humanitarian reasons (destitute students, and holders of Temporary Resident Permits valid for at least six months. Baldoz further said this reprieve, announced by the Canadian federal government, will allow employers to apply for renewed Labour Market Impact Assessments because their affected TFWs are waiting in a queue for their permanent residence applications to be processed. In addition, the CIC is providing a one-year bridging work permit to TFWs who are subject to the four-year cumulative duration limit. Labor Attache Romulo said that although Labor Minister Jason Kenney was quick not to call the measures as exemptions, he, however, said these are intended to “assist people who re in most cases going to get their permanent residency anyway” by allowing them “to stay in Canada until that decision is made.” Baldoz had instructed Labor Attache Romulo and Labor Attache Jaime P. Gimenez to monitor developments, gather more information to assess the impact, and ascertain the number of Filipino TFWs to be affected, just in case.

Oil monitor as of 14 April 2015
Source: http://www.doe.gov.ph
WORLD OIL PRICES (April 6-10, 2015 trading days)
Average crude prices last week were up by around US$2 to US$3 compared to previous week. Reports said, the price uptick was primarily due to a drop in the number of US oil rigs in operation, better economic data from Germany and easing expectations that Iranian oil would return to the market soon after a deal with Western powers over its nuclear programme.

However, increases in crude oil inventory in the US and the announcement of record output of crude by Saudi Arabia in March helped to limit gains in crude benchmark prices.

US inventories in the week ending April 3 reportedly surged nearly 11 million barrels to a fresh record high of 482.4 million, the US Department of Energy noted. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi announced that Saudi’s output hit a record of 10.3 million barrels a day in March.

Other factors that boosted prices early into the trading week were as follows:

Fighting in Yemen - Yemen accounts for only 0.2% of daily global oil production but the port city of Aden overlooks a major shipping channel between Europe and the Middle East.

News that Saudi Arabia jacked up prices for all May sales to Asia - The rise in Saudi prices signals increased demand in Asia, where Saudi and other Middle Eastern producers don't face as much competition from U.S. shale producers.

As regards the products market, Platts stressed that regional demand soaked up most of the surplus gasoline barrels in Asia, but supply was still heavy. Increased Indian imports over the last two-three months helped keep the market fairly balanced, it said. The rising Indian gasoline imports were due to heavy refinery maintenance, coupled with increased domestic demand.

Meanwhile, Asian gasoil market ended the week on a steady note, buoyed by slightly lower inventories in Singapore, and demand from Vietnam and Sri Lanka, Platts said. Commercial onshore stocks of middle distillates in the key trading hub of Singapore fell 290,000 barrels or 2.8%, from the previous week to stand at 10.162 million barrels in the week ended April 8, as disclosed by IE Singapore.

Overall, Dubai crude price increased week-on-week by US$1.40/bbl. MOPS diesel also increased by US$0.24/bbl; MOPS gasoline decreased by US$0.34/bbl.

FOREX: Peso per US dollar rate appreciated by P0.10 to P44.24, from P44.34 in previous week.

Other recommended reference sites: (1) http://www.aip.com.au/pricing (2) http://www.med.govt.nz/ers/oil_pet/prices/prices.html

DOMESTIC OIL PRICES
Effective 14 April 2015, most of the oil companies implemented a rollback of P0.20/liter for gasoline. No adjustments were made for diesel and kerosene.
Gasoline stands now at a year-to-date net increase of P0.92/liter, while diesel remains at net decrease of P1.19/liter.
As monitored, shown below are the retail prices in Metro Manila beginning 14 April 2015.
Products Price Range Common Price
P/liter
Diesel  23.40-29.95  28.95
Gasoline*  37.50-43.20  41.10 
Auto LPG  23.70-24.40  
LPG, P/11-kg cylinders  508.00-728.00  
 

DepEd, DavNor ensure safe Palaro
Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph
Less than four weeks before the 58th Palarong Pambansa kicks off in the beautiful southern City of Palms, the Department of Education (DepEd), together with the host province of Davao del Norte (DavNor), is calling on everyone to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the games.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro is reminding coaches and chaperones to ensure the safety of the student athletes and for regional officials to take into consideration the welfare of the “Stars of Palaro.” “From the time they leave your province, through Palaro, and until they return, they are under our care. Make sure that an adult is always present to supervise them, especially the young ones.” Luistro instructed.

Assistant Secretary and Palarong Pambansa Secretary General Tonisito Umali added that DepEd and the provincial host is working towards improving the safety of the athletes starting with the teachers and school administrators, making sure that the schools to be used as billeting quarters are safe for the students.

“The usual improvements that our schools undergo for Palaro are the installation of screens in classroom windows, as well as a renovation of the bathroom facilities. For schools in the host province, this is a quick ‘Brigada Eskwela’ that results in an upgrade of their physical facilities.” Umali said, referring to DepEd’s yearly school maintenance activity.

DepEd officials and sports coordinators from different regions already gave a “thumbs up” to DavNor during a technical inspection of the billeting quarters, playing venues, local transportation and medical and security concerns.

DavNor Governor Rodolfo del Rosario assures the security by having 1,500 military and police personnel deployed during the course of Palaro. “Our region is generally peaceful because we are located in the metropolitan area,” del Rosario added.

DAR Provides Women Group With Livelihood Project
Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph
Women farmers in Arakan, North Cotabato are looking forward to a brighter future after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) made them undergo training in jewelry-making to help them augment their income.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Marion Abella said the training program, given to the Ganatan Women’s Association (GWA), is part of the DAR-DTI-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DAR-DTI-CARP), which aims to help agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in establishing their own viable enterprises.

“The project is very suitable to the community since most of the GWA group members belong to the Manobo tribe and they are often idle for 5-6 hours a day. We want to capacitate them by grooming them to become business people. That is why we are training them with the necessary skills so they can generate income for their family,” said Abella.

In jewelry-making, the women were taught how to make fashion accessories such as rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces using plastic and glass beads.

In addition to skills training, the DAR and DTI provided equipment and start-up materials amounting to P10,000 to the participants through the GWA. The equipment and materials consisted of 20 ring sizer, 20 ring sticks, 20 jewelry pliers, 20 jewelry cutters, 20 rolls jewelry ordinary wire, and 20 sets of colored beads.

GWA president Rosario Votacion , assured DAR and DTI that they would manage the project well.

“I have high hopes to develop the project from micro to small and medium enterprise in the future. We will also strive to enhance our capability and skills so that we could produce quality beads fashion accessories that are competitive in the market,” Votacion said.

The Provincial Offices of DAR and DTI in North Cotabato announced that they would jointly conduct the same livelihood project and skills training in Barangay Tumanding, Arakan, North Cotabato.

The National Prosecution Service Warmly Welcomes the Appointment of Seventy-five (75) New Prosecutors
Source: http://www.doj.gov.ph
The National Prosecution Service warmly welcomes the promotional and original appointments of seventy-five (75) prosecutors by President Benigno S. Aquino III. Today, the appointment papers of the said prosecutors were received by the Department, to be transmitted to each of the appointees. It should be underscored that the President appointed in almost all of the offices of the National Prosecution Service.

This wave of appointments to key prosecutorial positions around the country is a promising sign of the administration's commitment to strengthen the prosecution service. With the fair, effective and efficient administration of justice at stake, we expect the appointments to ease and redistribute the heavy workload of our current prosecutorial force.

We eagerly anticipate the release of the other appointments of prosecutors, to enable the NPS to achieve the Department's Zero Backlog Policy, aimed at the expeditious resolution of cases.

DENR fast tracks land titling for public schools
Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued the guidelines aimed at fast-tracking the titling of lands occupied by public schools across the country.

The guidelines are contained in DENR Administrative Order No. 2015-01 signed by Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje on March 5.

Paje said the directive was in line with the Aquino administration’s twin policies of improving the public education system and reforming land administration and management in the country.

“Providing our public schools with a solid legal basis for land ownership is central to government’s effort to improve our public education system,” Paje said.

The environment chief noted that thousands of sites nationwide have been continuously occupied for decades by public elementary and secondary schools without appropriate land titles.

“This has been a nagging problem for decades and this must be resolved soonest as no less than the very existence of these schools is threatened,” he pointed out.

Paje said that titling of public schools will protect them from encroachment, segregation, illegal occupation and adverse claims of ownership by other individuals or parties.

He said the new guidelines are designed to speed up the processing and issuance of special patents initially for around 2,200 school sites within the year.

The Department of Education (DepEd) had earlier submitted to the DENR a list consisting of 15,581 school sites that have yet to secure title deeds for the lands on which they are erected.

Paje said the DENR’s Land Management Bureau has been reviewing the list to determine which of the schools fall under public domain, occupying private lands or covered by deed of donations.

He clarified that only properties classified as “alienable and disposable lands” will be issued with special patents under the name of DepEd, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10023 or the Residential Free Patent Act of 2010.

Under the new guidelines, superintendents of division schools may apply for special patents with the concerned community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO), who has 120 days from date of receipt to process the verification and endorsement of the application to the provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO).

The 120-day period may be interrupted in case an opposition is filed as the CENRO is given another 30 days to resolve the same or make a recommendation.

The PENRO, in turn, is given 5 days from receipt of the CENRO’s transmittal of the application to approve or disapprove the request for special patent.

Upon approval of the special patent, the PENRO will transmit the patent to the registry of deeds for registration and will inform the DepEd of the transmittal.

School sites in Metro Manila may file their application to the DENR National Capital Region office in Quezon City.

UMID Card Delivery Schedule
Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph
The Social Security System announces that SSS Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) card will be delivered to its member?s mailing address approximately two weeks from the date of card release for NCR residents and four weeks for areas outside NCR.

Members who will be unable to personally receive their cards upon mailing may authorize a representive who will be required to present the acknowledgement stub and authorization letter.

Expected delivery to mailing address for UMID card enrollments from June 22, 2015 onwards is approximately 3 to 5 weeks.

For more information please visit the nearest SSS branch or contact the SSS ID Center at telephone numbers 920-6401 local 5711, 5714-15, or email at idcpd@sss.gov.ph.

Galas Market Vendors join AlkanSSSya program
Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph
Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. (8th from left) led the mass launching of the AlkanSSSya Program in Quezon City on March 10 at the Quezon City Hall covered walkway.

One of the participating market vendors association is the Galas Market Vendors' Association under the SSS Cubao Branch which initially registered around 46 vendors. The first mass launching covered 40 tricycle operators-drivers associations (TODA), seven market vendor associations, one barangay unit and one pedicab-operators-drivers association (PODA).

Also present during the launching are (from left), Junior Member Services Representative Stephen De La Cruz, Senior Analysts Marie Ancel Habaluyas and Lita Jimenez, SSS Cubao Branch Officer-In-Charge Felipe Marcelo, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Senior Vice President for NCR Group Jose Bautista, AlkanSSSya Program Director Amalia Tolentino and Social Security Officer III Carmelita Rico. Photo also shows the members of the Galas Market Vendors' Association who attended the event.

 
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
 

 
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
 

 
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
 

 
 
 
 
 
Philippines makes doing business easier
Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph
Starting a business simplified to 6 steps and 8 days; payroll-related payments reduced from 36 to 13

14 April 2015 Manila, Philippines—The Philippines today unveiled reforms simplifying the process of starting a business to 6 steps and 8 days, down from the existing set-up requiring 16 steps and 34 days. The government also announced e-government initiatives for accessible and convenient online transactions for payroll-related payments to Philhealth and Pag-IBIG, reducing the number of payments from 36 to 13 per year.

In a press conference today, the Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and 9 other institutions announced the launch of the reforms—a product of continuing work under the NCC’s Gameplan 3.0 synergizing government processes related to easing the conduct of business in the Philippines. Gameplan 3.0 streamlines and simplifies government processes across 10 transactions related to the “Ease of Doing Business” as measured annually by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima welcomed the reforms saying, “We are proud to show how it’s clearly more fun, and way easier, to do business in the Philippines. This is a whole-of-government approach with 11 other partners—I thank all of them for their hard work in this continuous process of making the country a better place to do business in. Together, we are making the business of realizing dreams in the Philippines ever easier.”

The package of reforms involving starting a business included merging several steps together to create single-window applications powered by more interconnectivity across IT systems of different agencies, the removal of several outdated procedures, and the introduction of enhanced one-stop-shop procedures in local government units. These changes involved coordination and partnership across numerous government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), BIR, SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and local government unit Quezon City.

The net effect is that the time it will take to incorporate new corporations, partnerships, and non-stock corporations at the Securities and Exchange Commission will be reduced from 16 steps and 34 days to 6 steps and 8 days. Initial roll-out of the reforms will begin at the SEC’s Manila office starting this month, where most companies are incorporated. Roll-outs will continue in succeeding months across all SEC offices and a full on-line system will be made available next year.

Meanwhile, payroll-related payments to Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth are being moved online for companies employing more than 10 employees. Payments to SSS have already been moved online for companies with more than 10 employees since last year. Online banking facilities at Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines which require no minimum average daily balance for these transactions are being made available for enterprises. This will reduce the number of payments from 36 to 13 per year, representing major time and cost savings for businesses and entrepreneurs.

Trade and Industry Secretary and NCC Co-Chair Gregory L. Domingo said, “We continue to be encouraged by reforms that will make our business registration faster, simpler, more efficient, and more transparent. DTI is committed to sustaining the momentum to achieve improved competitiveness and encourage inclusive growth. This ties in nicely as well with our role to boost the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). These reforms will motivate SMEs to incorporate when they see the need to do so, as they start or run their businesses.”

In discussing the simplified processes, NCC Co-Chairman Guillermo M. Luz said, “These game changers are effective beginning this month in the head offices of the partner agencies and Quezon City and will soon spread across the country. These two sets of reforms are part of a broader game plan that the Philippines, already recognized as the most improved economy in major competitiveness reports over the last four years, will be implementing as we continue to introduce changes and improvements.”

The reforms were formalized in a series of memoranda of agreements and understanding involving the Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, National Competitiveness Council, and the Quezon City government. Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras served as official witness to the signing.

A full brief of the reforms, as well as the corresponding legal documents supporting the new policies, can be found on the websites of all partner agencies in the Ease of Doing Business initiative in the country.

Pantawid Pamilya honor student urges fellow grantees to use grants wisely
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
Topping his Grade 9 class at Bal-ason National High School, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, 15-year old Jachor McCollins Calvo Opaon, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary, cited the big role of the program in his academic success, and urged his fellow grantees to study hard and not waste the opportunity given by the government.

“What we are enjoying now is a gift that must be used properly. Once we waste this gift, there is no way to bring the past back. It is sad to look back on the opportunities wasted and linger on the what-ifs,” Jachor emphasized in his message for his fellow beneficiaries during the school recognition ceremony.

Jachor expressed his gratitude to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for promoting and implementing the program. He said that Pantawid Pamilya has helped him and his family pay for their basic needs.

“The meager income of my mother, a Barangay Nutrition Scholar, and my father, a farmer, is not enough to respond to all the needs of my family,” Jachor disclosed. “Now, with the cash grants, we have a budget for our education.”

Jachor said that he used the P500 monthly education grant he received for his school projects and daily allowance.

He also thanked his parents for pushing him to be the best that he could be, and for always reminding him of the importance of education.

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides cash grants to partner-beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

In 2013, the DSWD expanded the coverage of Pantawid Pamilya to include the 15-18 age bracket to ensure that the children-beneficiaries will graduate from high school, and have a higher rate of employability.

Academic Achiever

Aside from leading his class, Jachor was also awarded Best in English, Best in Science, Best in Filipino, Best in MAPEH, and Best in Arts.

The city government of Gingoog through Mayor Marie Guingona also recognized him as an outstanding Grade 9 student of the city.

Jachor was also active in extra-curricular activities. He participated in the Regional Press Conference as editorial writer, and became a quiz bee finalist. He also placed third in a Mathematics challenge organized by the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines.

Reiterating the message of Jachor to his fellow student-grantees, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said, “I agree with Jachor. The grants should be used wisely for their education. We know that the amount is quite small but if used the right way, it is a big help nonetheless.”

She added that DSWD continues to partner with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the private sector to provide additional opportunities to student-beneficiaries, especially those who have graduated from high school.

Community empowerment one of the thrusts of Aquino administration, says DBM head
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
 
“The Administration’s larger vision [is] to empower communities so they will no longer be passive beneficiaries, but will instead be co-implementers of government programs and projects.”

This was the statement given by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) head Florencio Abad during the second Asia Regional Conference on community-driven development (CDD), held last March 24-27, 2015 in Cebu City.

CDD is a development approach that puts power back in the hands of the people by giving them the voice and the vote to participate in the local development process and identify solutions that will address needs identified by communities themselves. Through CDD, citizens work hand-in-hand with government and non-government organizations to ensure that their needs are met and they become actively involved in local processes.

In the Philippines, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) represents one of the biggest CDD programs in Asia and the Pacific, targeting 847 poor municipalities in the scaled-up program, which was approved last January 2013.

The conference, which had representatives from 14 CDD-implementing countries, served as a platform for the participants to examine the gains and challenges of implementing and mainstreaming the community-driven development strategy in different contexts, including conflict- and disaster-prone areas. The event was sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the World Bank.

Empowerment, good governance, and transparency linked together

Secretary Abad, who opened the second day of the conference, discussed how CDD helps the government better address the needs of the people, especially the poor.

“When we involve citizens in governance – from the formulation of policies to ensuring that the Budget has impact on their lives – we are making the government more responsive to the needs of those in the grassroots,” he said.

He emphasized how empowering the citizens goes hand-in-hand with good governance, because it promotes transparency.

“In strengthening transparency, citizens can finally scrutinize government decisions and transactions,” he said. “This way, we’re giving our people, especially those in the margins, their rightful chance to not only to have voice but also vote in policymaking, and to subsequently take effective and meaningful action.”

“By strengthening public accountability mechanisms, we can deter abuses by those in positions of authority, besides ensuring that their actions and investments lead to more jobs and growth opportunities for the ordinary Filipino,” he continued.

Participation of LGUs

Secretary Abad also pointed out the important role of local government units (LGUs) in mobilizing citizens to become involved in the development process, emphasizing the importance of strategic devolution and local autonomy in developing the grassroots.

“Our LGUs are in the best position to know the needs of their constituencies, and they have the access to community perspectives that the central government does not,” he said.

“Even if we reform national government agencies and improve their ability to deliver services, we can only expand their absorptive capacity to a limited extent,” he continued. “If we are going to pursue sustainable solutions for our communities, we have to optimize the role of local governments and make viable arrangements so we can download more funds and responsibilities to them.”

Bottom-up budgeting and Kalahi-CIDSS

The devolution of responsibilities is one of the reasons for the bottom-up budgeting (BUB) initiative, a strategy of the Philippine government for the citizens, particularly the poor, to be able to participate in the local budgeting process to ensure that programs and services are responsive to their needs.

Secretary Abad said, “Bottom-Up Budgeting opens up a space within which government and citizens can interact meaningfully.”

He also discussed how BUB was developed partly because of the gains generated through the Kalahi-CIDSS, because the program showed the significance of community-level participation in local development planning, budgeting, and governance.

Aside from using Kalahi-CIDSS as one of the bases for the development of the BUB, Secretary Abad also said that the government is in the process of merging its processes with the CDD program. Part of this is the inclusion of Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers in the local poverty reduction action teams (LPRAT).

The LPRAT is tasked with developing the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP), in which the programs and projects that address the needs of the poor in the municipality are outlined. It is composed of representatives from the LGU, national government agencies, and civil society organizations.

Aside from the inclusion of Kalahi-CIDSS volunteers in the LPRAP in the 2016 BUB implementation, BUB funds can be used to support the implementation of CDD projects of Kalahi-CIDSS.

In an earlier session during the conference, Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of DSWD said, “With Kalahi-CIDSS and BUB, the space is opened up and expanded for the political participation of underserved communities. It is a process of leveling the playing field and providing equitable access to resources and opportunities, especially to those [who] once belonged in the margins.”

 
 
 
 
    
 
 

President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the League of Municipalities of the Philippines 2015 General Assembly
Manila Hotel, Manila
15 April 2015
 
Maganda ho concentration ko pagpunta ko dito. Akala ko kaya kong sagutin lahat ng tanong ninyo. Nakita ko na ho si George. Nasira ho ‘yung concentration ko. Matagal ko na hong kaibigan ito dahil nag-abot ho kami sa college niyan. Eight years ho kasi siya bago nag-graduate yata. Hindi, dahil ano ho may pagkarebelde noong araw ‘yan. Hanggang ngayon yata.

Kinakabahan ako ‘pag nakikita ko ‘to; parati hong matatawa tayo. Kung minsan lang “laugh at” hindi “laugh with,” pero hindi bale na lang ho–hindi ho iyon ang pakay ko ngayong araw na ito.

Mga kasama, bilang Pangulo, alam naman po ninyong talagang marami tayong isyung kailangang tugunan; bawat rehiyon, bawat lalawigan, at bawat munisipyong tulad ng inyong mga nasasakupan, ay may mga hamon at problemang kailangang pagtuunan ng ating atensiyon. Kung puwede nga lang po ay isa-isa kong dalawin ang inyong mga munisipyo upang personal na makinig sa inyo. Pero batid naman po ninyo, iisa lang ang katawan natin, at marami rin nga pong mga isyung pambansa at panlabas na kumakain ng ating oras. Mabuti na lang po at may mga kalipunang tulad ng LMP, kaya’t nabibigyan tayo ng pagkakataong magpulong sa iisang bulwagan, at sama-samang maglatag ng ating agenda upang maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng ating mga Boss. Sa mga mayor po na talaga namang bumiyahe nang malayo para makadaupang-palad natin ngayon, talagang maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. [Palakpakan]

Batid ko po, malaking papel na ginagampanan ng ating local government units. Kung ang pagpapalakad ng buong bansa ay tungkulin ng pambansang pamahalaan, kayo naman sa LGU ang direktang nakakasalamuha ng ating mga mamamayan. Kayo ang nagtutulay ng pambansang agenda tungo sa bawat sulok ng ating bansa. Kayo ang bukal, at ang pinatutunguhan ng ating ipinapatupad na proyekto. Sa pamamagitan ninyo, nararamdaman ng ating mamamayan kung tumototoo ang gobyerno sa panata nitong maglingkod sa bayan. Kaya nga: Ang tagumpay o pagkabigo ng isang administrasyon ay nakasalalay sa pakikipagtulungan ng local government units sa pambansang pamahalaan.

Wala po sigurong tatanggi: Talagang napakahirap ng trabaho ninyong mga lokal na pinuno. Batid ko ang mga suliraning kinakaharap ninyo, na talaga naman pong nakababad, 24/7, sa lokal na konteksto. Bagaman hindi po ako naging alkalde, nakihalubilo rin tayo sa lokal na pulitika. Maaaring noong simula, pangiti-ngiti pa tayo. Pero sa paglipas ng mga araw, talagang ramdam na natin ang bigat ng ating tungkulin. Naikuwento ko na po sa inyo ito noon: Noong bagong-halal akong Congressman sa Tarlac, may konsehal na lumapit sa akin. Kailangan daw niya ng tulong sa pag-arkila ng orkestra sa aming piyesta. Ang tanong ko po, “Magkano po ang kailangan?” Ang sagot niya sa akin, “P40,000 kada isa.” Ilan ho ba ang kailangan natin? Sabi niya, “Kailangan natin ng dalawa, at iyan na ang pinakamura.” Ang hirit pa niya, para nga raw ho may relyebo, kailangan daw ng dalawang orkestra. Suma-total: P80,000. Sa loob-loob ko lang po, kahit doblehin pa ang suweldo ko noon na 35,000 sa gross, di pa rin po aabot sa request niya. Sa tugtugan pa lang, kukulangin na po ang ating pondo.

Isang halimbawa pa lang po iyan sa napakahabang listahan ng hinihingi sa atin bilang mga pinuno, mula sa pinakamaliliit hanggang sa pinakamalalaking hiling. Sabi nga ho ng iba, ang masaklap pa, kapag may humingi ng sampu at nabigay mo o nagawaan mo ng paraan ang siyam, ang tanging maaalala nila ay ‘yung isang hindi mo naibigay. Tama ho ba? [Palakpakan]

Di maiiwasan po, ang iba po sa atin, sa kagustuhang mapondohan ang mga ganitong hiling, natutuksong gumawa ng gimik o ng magic, para masigurong tuwing may makakasalubong na mag-uumang ng palad ay mapapagbigyan ito.

Ang resulta po: Isang sistema kung saan habambuhay na nakakaasa sa pabor ang ating mga nasasakupan, habang ang mga pinuno naman ay nakatali rin sa pagbibigay ng mga pabor. Sa sobrang tagal na nga pong naghari ng ganitong kalakaran, parang ang hirap nang mag-isip ng iba pang paraan ng pulitika. Ang tanong ng iba: Mayroon pa nga bang alternatibong landas?

Ang tugon po natin: Meron, at iyan mismo ang tinatahak natin sa tuwid na daan. Di po ba’t may kasabihan tayo: Sa halip na bigyan mo ng isda, turuan mo ang iyong kapwa na mangisda?

Pinapatibay natin ang ating mga pambansang institusyon, at binibigyang-lakas ang ating mga lokal na pamahalaan. Itinataguyod natin ang isang sistemang tunay na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan; kung saan ang ayuda ay hindi grasya o pabor, hindi nakukuha sa pag-umang ng palad sa padrino o sa koneksiyon, hindi nakasalalay sa kapritso ng mga nakaupo sa puwesto, kundi karapatang makukuha sa pagsunod sa tamang patakaran.

Naniniwala rin po tayo: Ang mga nagpapakitang-gilas sa serbisyo, marapat lamang na bigyan ng insentibo. Nagagawa po natin ito sa pamamagitan ng ating Seal of Good Housekeeping, na ipinatupad na mula 2011, at ng Seal of Good Local Governance nitong 2014. Ang mga nakatanggap po ng parangal na ito, nakakakuha ng Performance Challenge Fund, at nadaragdagan ang kakayahang tugunan ang mga suliranin sa kanilang nasasakupan. Dahil nga po rito, hindi na tayo magtataka kung sa mga susunod na taon, parami nang parami ang magpapakitang-gilas at higit pang mapapaunlad ang kanilang komunidad. Paalala lang po, may kasabihan nga ho ang mga nagsasalita ng Ingles, “Success has many fathers and failure is an orphan.”

At kung halimbawa nga ho na mahusay na pamamahala ang pag-uusapan, hindi na po natin kailangang lumayo. Nariyan po ang mabuting halimbawang ipinamalas ng inyong hepe sa League of Municipalities of the Philippines na si Mayor Sandy Javier. [Palakpakan] Sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno, mabilis na nakabangon ang kanyang bayan sa pagsalanta ng bagyong Yolanda. Pero sa halip na magrelaks na lang at makontento sa kanyang nagawa, pinangunahan niya ang paglilinis ng mga debris sa kalsada, maging sa kanyang mga karatig-bayan. Ang balita ko pa po: Sa loob ng 36 oras, puyat man, kumakalam man ang tiyan, non-stop pa rin siyang nagtrabaho at ang kanyang mga kasamahan para makatulong sa ibang mas matindi ang pagkasalanta dahil sa Yolanda. [Palakpakan]

Tunay nga po: Sa malasakit at tiwala natin sa isa’t isa, napakalaki na ng pagbabagong naisakatuparan sa ating bansa. Sa mabuting pamamahala, patuloy ang paglago ng ekonomiya, na siya namang nag-aangat sa ating kakayahang pondohan ang ating mga serbisyong panlipunan.

Sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program: Kung 800,000 lang noon, ngayon, 4.4 million na ang kabahayang benepisyaryo nito. Sa PhilHealth, napalawak na rin natin ang hatid na mga serbisyo. Sa edukasyon, napunan na rin natin ang mga minanang backlog sa silid-aralan, textbooks at upuan upang mas mapataas ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng ating kabataan. Talaga naman pong pinapabuti natin ang buhay ng napakarami nating kababayan; pinapalawak ang pagkakataong tumulak sa pag-asenso, at inaangat ang kanilang kakayahang makiambag sa pagpapaunlad ng lipunan.

Tuloy-tuloy din ang transpormasyong naisasakatuparan natin sa sektor ng imprastruktura. Kamakailan lang, pinasinayaan ang ipinagawa nating Lullutan Bridge sa Isabela. ‘Yung “Lullutan” po ay salitang Ibanag. Noong unang binanggit po sa akin, “lulutang.” Sabi ko, bakit naman kaya magpapangalangan ng tulay “lulutang”? Baka naman ‘yung tulay na ‘yan lulutang at lulubog. At sa totoo lang po, ‘yung tulay ho palang nandoon noong 1995 ay tinatawag na spillover bridge. Ibig sabihin po no’n, ‘pag malakas ang tubig, matatakpan ang tulay.

Noong 1995, nasira po ang tulay po ang tulay na ito, na nagdulot ng katakot-takot na pasakit sa ating mga kababayan doon po sa Isabela. Sa halip na ibalik ang tulay, niremedyuhan lang ito ng mga nauna sa atin. Ang resulta: Mas matagal na biyahe at mas malaking gastos sa transportasyon dahil kailangan pang gumamit ng barge para makatawid ang mga komunidad. Kung hindi ka gagamit ng barge, dagdag isa’t kalahati hanggang dalawang oras ang aabutin ng biyahe mo dahil iikot ka pa doon sa iba’t ibang mga bayan. Hindi tuloy natin maiwasang isipin: Bakit kaya hinayaang magdusa nang matagal na panahon ang ating mga kababayan, at ipagkait sa kanila ang nararapat na serbisyo? Twenty years po iyan, halos isang henerasyon ang dumaan, puwede naman palang matapos sa loob ng tatlong taon.

Isa pa hong halimbawa: Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II naman sa Iloilo, 1960’s pa raw po nang naisip gawin ito. Pareho ho kaming umusbong sa kaisipan ng tao noong 1960. Pero ngayon lang pong naisasakongkreto sa atin pong administrasyon. Bukod dito, nariyan din ang Aluling Bridge sa Ilocos Sur na 1978 pa lang inilatag na ang plano, pero tayo na po ang nagtapos. Kung iisipin nga po, kung naipagawa na ang mga ito noon pa lang, gaano na kaya kalaking pag-asenso ang nakamit ng napakarami nating kababayan?

Iilan lang po iyan sa mga halimbawa ng transpormasyong nangyayari ngayon sa ating mabuting pamamahala. Di po ba dati, ang laging bukambibig ng gobyerno, walang pera sa kaban ng bayan? Alam po ni Manong Hussin Amin ‘yan; magkasabay kami sa Kongreso noong panahon na iyon. Ngayon, napapatunayan natin: Kung hindi nanakawin ang pondo, hindi ito magkukulang.

Malinaw naman po: Pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin ang kapakanan ng mas nakakarami nating kababayan, at isinusulong ang mga inisyatibang pangmatagalan ang hatid na benepisyo. Ang dating mga proyektong dinadaan sa pulitika, ngayon inaayon sa tamang proseso; ang dating mga benepisyong piling-pili ang nakikinabang, pinipilit nating palawakin upang masaklaw ang lahat. May mga pulitiko nga pong hindi man natin kapartido ay nagpo-post pa sa social media, nagpapasa ng resolution, o naglalabas ng mga ad upang magpasalamat sa ating administrasyon para sa mga bagong gawang kalsada, tulay, iba pang imprastruktura, at iba pang tulong sa kani-kanilang mga lugar. [Palakpakan] Klaro po: Hindi pulitika ang batayan ng ating mga proyekto. Saanmang lalawigan o munisipyo, ano man ang apelyido o partido ng alkalde, ngayon, sinisikap nating makapaghatid ng agarang benepisyo. Sa lahat po ng ating napagtagumpayan, may makakapagsabi pa ba pong napabayaan sila?

Para sa atin, simple lang ang sukatan ng mahusay na pamumuno. Kung ang mga problemang minana natin ay nabawasan, o tuluyang nasolusyunan, masasabi nating tayo ay nagtagumpay. Kapag naman eksaktong problema o nadagdagan pa ang suliraning ipinamana sa susunod na salinlahi, malinaw pong tayo ay nabigo.

Kaya naman inaasahan ko po ang tulong ng ating mga kasamahan sa local government units, upang masigurong ang mga ipinupunla natin ngayon ay madidiligan sa mga susunod na panahon, at hindi matatabas lamang ng mga nais magbalik sa baluktot na daan. Makakaasa naman kayo: Kapag may dumating na mga lehitimong problemang hindi n’yo kayang tugunan, narito ang pambansang gobyerno, lalong-lalo na ako, bilang ama ng bayan, para gumawa ng hakbang upang tulungan kayong lahat. [Palakpakan]

Talaga naman pong kung magtutuloy-tuloy tayo sa tuwid na daan, lalo pang gaganda ang ating patutunguhan. Isipin po ninyo: Kung ngayon pa lang ay napakarami nang bagong kalsada, tulay, paliparan at daungang nagdadala ng oportunidad sa inyong mga munisipyo, paano kaya kung mas umarangkada pa tayo? Kung ngayon pa lang, lumalago na ang ating ekonomiya, gaano karami pang negosyo ang itatayo, gaano karami pang trabaho ang malilikha, kung sisiguruhin nating ang integridad at katapatang bukal ng kompiyansa ay patuloy na magiging haligi ng pamamahala? Kung ngayon pa lang, halos limang taon matapos manumbalik ang pag-asa ng ating mga Boss, ay napakalayo na ng ating narating, gaano pa kaya katayog ang mga pangarap na maaabot natin kung magtutuloy at dadami pa ang mga repormang ipapatupad ng susunod na magiging pinuno?

Ang hamon sa atin ngayon: Siguruhing maging permanente ang bunga ng ating mga pagsisikap. Kung naniniwala tayong naghahatid ng pakinabang ang landas na ating tinatahak ngayon, makatwiran lang na ipagpatuloy natin ito. Bilang mga pinuno, tinatawag tayo sa bawat sandali ng pamamahala: Tumototoo tayo sa ating salita, piliin natin ang tama, at unahin natin ang kapwa. Ipamana natin sa susunod na mga henerasyon ang isang bukas na di-hamak na mas maganda kaysa sa atin pong dinatnan.

At bilang tugon po doon sa hinihingi ni Kagalang-galang Sandy Javier–bagama’t ngayon ko lang ho narinig ‘yang kanyang mungkahi–meron na po tayong sagot sigurong dapat ibahagi sa inyo. Pinaalala ho sa atin na puwede kayong magtaas ng local taxes, pero huwag na ho nating pag-usapan iyan lalo na’t malapit na’ng eleksiyon, baka maraming magalit sa inyo. [Tawanan] Pero dahil gumanda na ho ang ating ekonomiya, gumanda pa ho lalo ang ating tax collection. Sa totoo lang po, ‘yung pie na pinag-uusapan, o greater slice of the pie, eh ganito po ang nangyari: Noong 2010, ang share po sa IRA ay P265.8 billion. Ito pong 2015, ang tinataya po ay P389.86 billion, puwera pa ho ‘yung Performance Challenge Fund at saka ‘yung Bottom Up Budgeting na atin pong pinag-usapan. Bago pa ho naparating itong sinasabi ninyong lakihan ang slice, mukha hong lumaki na iyong slice maski na hindi pa natin ini-slice ulit ‘yung pie. [Palakpakan]

Alam n’yo, bigyan ko kayo ng sampol ng problema ko. Baka mapansin n’yong lalo ho lumalago ‘yung buhok ko. Iyong sa ating pong unipormadong hanay, malaki ho ang ginugugol natin sa kanila lalo na sa retirement at sa pension. Siguro two years ago, lampas P50 billion na po. Next year, tinataya po nasa P80 billion ang pambayad doon. Ang problema po niyan dalawa: Una po, walang pension system talaga doon sa ating unipormadong hanay, puro galing sa budget. Iyong pangalawa po, nagkaroon ng tinatawag na “indexing.” ‘Pag tumaas ang sahod ng aktibo, tataas rin ang benepisyo ng retirado. Kayo, naiintindihan naman ho nating lahat, meron kang obligasyon, wala ka namang pagkukunan. At kailangan nating ayusin ‘yung sistema.

Pinag-aaralan ho, paano ba natin maiwawasto ‘yung sistema? Ang kakailanganin hong pondo para maitayo ‘yung kanilang pension system–halos dalawang trilyong pesos. Ulitin ko lang po, ‘yung isang estimate po, nasa 4.3 trillion; ‘yung isang estimate po, 1.7 trillion. Iyung budget po, 2.6 trillion. Ipasok natin ‘yung buong budget, kulang pa. Ang dulo po niyan, gusto ko man hong sabihing umoo. Sige, lakihan natin nang lakihan ang slice ng pie. Siguro kaya ko hong i-commit sa inyo, sa mga nagpapakitang-gilas nga ho, hindi mahirap dagdagan ang inyong pondo. Sa mga marami naman pong problemang naidudulot sa atin, medyo nag-iingat tayong dagdagan ang pondo. Nasa inyo po iyan. Magtulungan tayo dito. Success will breed success. Pasensiya nga ho, failure will breed an orphan. Ulitin ko lang po, tanaw at dama namin, nakikita namin ang mga suliraning hinaharap n’yo, papel namin bawasan ngayon ang problemang kinakaharap n’yo. Iyan po, umasa kayo.

Magandang araw po. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.
 



INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR.
DZRB / “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” by Josette Rivera
16 April 2015
 
JOSETTE RIVERA: Magandang, magandang umaga po sa inyo, Secretary Coloma.

SEC. COLOMA: Magandang umaga din po.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Yes, Secretary. Kaugnay po ng mga nabanggit ng Pangulo kahapon, ano po, kung saan ay nakausap niya—o doon po sa kaniyang talumpati kaharap ng mga local chief executives, ano po iyong masasabi natin tungkol dito?

SEC. COLOMA: Ang mahalagang mensahe ng Pangulo sa ating mga mayors doon sa kaniyang talumpati sa League of Municipalities kahapon ay iyong kahalagahan ng kanilang mahusay na pagganap ng tungkulin dahil sila iyong nasa harapan, sila iyong nasa frontline ng pagsisilbi ng gobyerno sa mga mamamayan. Lahat ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan ay idinudulog nila sa munisipyo o sa city hall, kaya kailangang maging maagap at ganap iyong pagtulong ng ating mga lingkod bayan at the local government level. Iyan iyong pinakamahalagang mensahe niya sa kaniyang talumpati kahapon.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Opo. Secretary Coloma, ito pong pinag-aalala natin ngayon ay ito pong nahuli ng ating mga awtoridad, itong bagong kumakalat na droga, ang tinatawag na “liquid ecstasy”. Kaya nga po sinasabi ng ilan sa ating mga mambabatas at ilan nating mga mamamayan na sana’y maibalik na daw ang bitay dahil nga po mukhang lumalala itong sitwasyon po ng ipinagbabawal na gamot. Ano po ang masasabi ninyo tungkol dito po?

SEC. COLOMA: Patuloy na pinaiigting iyong kampaniya laban sa mga illegal na gamot dahil nakakapinsala ito sa ating mga kabataan at sa ating mga mamamayan, bukod pa doon sa ligalig at takot na nagiging resulta ng paggamit ng illegal na droga sa ating mga kumunidad.

Iyon namang kaparusahan ay hiwalay na usapin iyon. Ang mahalagang focus ng pamahalaan ngayon ay iyong pagsupil at pagtigil sa paggamit ng illegal na droga. At sa aspetong ito ay mahalaga rin ang pagkalinga ng mga magulang sa kanilang mga anak para huwag malulong sa masamang bisyong ito, at iyon ding kooperasyon ng mga mamamayan para hindi maging talamak iyong paggamit ng droga para magkaroon ng isang drug-free environment sa ating mga kumunidad.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Mr. Secretary, tungkol naman po dito sa mga—bago lang po, nalipat na po si Janet Lim-Napoles, ang sinasabing PDAF Scam Queen. Napakarami pong natuwa tungkol dito. Sa inyo pong palagay ay mapapabilis na po ba itong mga paglutas ng kaso o pagbigay ng hatol ng ating hukuman, bukod pa kay Ms. Napoles, sa iba pa pong sangkot dito sa katiwalian dito po sa ating bansa?

SEC. COLOMA: Kaisa tayo ng mga mamamayan sa pagnanasa at sa pagkakaroon ng pag-asa na bibilis ang pag-usad o pagsulong ng mga gulong ng hustisya, hindi lamang sa mga kasong nabanggit mo ngayon kung hindi sa kabuuan – iyong pagkakaroon ng patas na hustisya at iyong paggawad nito nang mas mabilis kaysa doon sa nakikita natin noong nakaraan. Meron ngang kasabihan, “Justice delayed is justice denied” at dapat lang na maging efficient ang ating legal system sa pagresolba sa mga usapin dahil ito ang magiging sanhi ng kaayusan sa ating lipunan.

Iyon namang paglipat kay Ginang Napoles, iyan ang probisyon ng batas. Dati kasi siya ay detainee habang siya ay akusado; ngayong siya ay nasintensyahan na, ayon sa batas ay kinakailangang mapiit siya sa Women’s Correctional. Kaya pinapakita rin iyong pagtalima natin sa tinatadhana ng batas.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Opo. Kaugnay pa rin po sa pagbibigay ng hatol. Marami pa rin po sa kasalukuyan ang naghihintay dito po sa kahihinatnan nitong mga akusado doon sa Maguindanao massacre. Sa inyo pong palagay – dahil next year na po, matatapos na po ang termino ng ating Pangulo – ito po ba ay may posibilidad na bago matapos iyong termino ni Pangulong Aquino ay maibibigay na po iyong katarungan para po sa mga biktima?
SEC. COLOMA: Katulad ng aking nabanggit, lahat naman ng mga mamamayan ay umaasa na ang paggawad ng hustisya sa ating bansa ay mapapahusay. At isa sa aspeto ng pagpapahusay ay iyong magawaran ng katarungan iyong katulad ng mga biktima ng Maguindanao massacre na naganap noon pang 2009. Sa ating pagkabatid, iyong prosekusyon na hinahawakan ng ating pamahalaan ay nagpahinga na ‘no. Mayroong kasabihan diyan, “The prosecution has rested its case” kaya torno na ngayon ng defense na salagin o magbigay ng kanilang sariling ebidensiya laban doon sa inihain ng prosekusyon.

At mula sa iisa, sa atin ding pagkabatid, tatlo nang hukom ang naatasan ng Korte Suprema para tukuyin iyong lahat ng mga usapin na patungkol dito sa Maguindanao massacre. Kaya umaasa tayo na sa pamamagitan nito ay mas magiging efficient iyong pag-usad ng gulong ng hustisya. Kaya lang, hind natin talaga masasabi na kung kailan ito tatapusin dahil meron din tayong prinsipiyo sa ating Konstitusyon na separation of powers. Independent po iyong hudikatura, meron silang sariling galaw, at mga kapantay at hiwalay na kapangyarihan mula sa Ehekutibo.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Yes, Mr. Secretary, may iba pang balita dito sa K to 12 dahil isa nanamang petisyon ang iniharap doon sa Korte Suprema ng mga tumututol sa K to 12 Program. At lumulitaw po na talagang marami po iyong kulang sa kaalaman kung bakit kinakailangan po tayong magdagdag ng dalawang taon pa sa high school. Ano po iyong masasabi ninyo tungkol dito po?

SEC. COLOMA: Kailangan pong maunawaan ng lahat ng ating mga mamamayan iyong kahalagahan ng K to 12 Program. Kailangan po natin ito dahil ang Pilipinas ay iisa na lang sa kakaunti – tatlong bansa na lamang yata ‘no ng ito ay ating isinabatas – na kulang ang basic education. Sampung taon lang tayo; sa buong mundo, labindalawang taon na. At mahalaga iyong paglalagay natin sa tama ng ating sistema dahil kinakailangan natin ito para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan at kinabukasan ng ating bansa na magkaroon tayo ng isang kumpleto at competitive na basic education system.

Ang pinapangamba ng mga apektado nito ay iyong dislocation ng mga guro na nagtuturo doon sa first two years of college dahil nga nadagdagan ng dalawang taon iyong high school. Kaya marami ng hakbang ang isinasagawa ng pamahalaan. Unang-una, nagbibigay ang Department of Education ng special permit para mag-operate ng senior high school iyong mga kolehiyo na mababawasan ang intake ng kanilang estudyante dahil nga dito sa transition period ng K to 12. At dahil dito, iyong mga dating nagtuturo sa first year college ay puwede namang magturo sa senior high school ng mga pareho ding mga subjects o kahawig doon sa mga tinuturo nila. At naghahanda rin naman ng iba pang assistance and transition measures ang ating pamahalaan para maibsan iyong magiging transition problems ng mga guro at iyong mga nangangamba para doon sa kanilang mga trabaho.

Kaya lahat naman po nito ay tinutukoy ng pamahalaan. Ipapabatid po sa mas malawak na madla ang mga partikular na aksyon ng ating pamahalaan. Kaya’t umaasa po tayo na mauunawaan ito ng ating mga mamamayan, at kikilalanin nila iyong kahalagahan ng K to 12 Program. Ito po ang pinakamahalagang reporma sa sistema ng edukasyon na ating isinagawa sa ating bansa dahil matagal na pong binabalak, ngayon lang po natuloy iyong pagsasaayos ng ating educational system para maging kahambing ng educational system sa lahat ng bansa sa mundo.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Opo, kasi sa pagkakaalam ko po, talagang napaka-importante dahil mukhang nahuhuli na tayo. Kabilang tayo doon sa tatlong mga bansa na tayo na lang po ang may 10 years basic education. At isipin sana ng ating mga mamamayan ay kasama tayo doon—kasi ang Angola po ay isa yata sa 10 years basic education, kaya sana naman ay maunawaan po nila. At natutuwa po kami talaga, Mr. Secretary, dahil sa ginagawang repormang ito sa edukasyon ng administrasyon ni Presidente Aquino.

SEC. COLOMA: Magbigay tayo ng isang halimbawa para mas maunawaan. Halimbawa, dahil sa kahusayan ng mga Pilipino, nag-qualify as engineer or architect, nakakuha ng magandang trabaho. Although, puwede ring makakuha ng trabaho dito, in-offer-an ng magandang trabaho sa ibang bansa. Pagpunta niya sa ibang bansa, kikilatisin iyong academic record at titingnan kung iyong academic degree na natanggap o iyong educational background ay kahambing doon sa educational background na pinapairal doon sa ibang bansa. Diyan magtutuos kung kahambing nga ba o hindi. At dahil nga kulang ng dalawang taon iyong ating basic education, isa iyan doon sa mga magiging balakid sa pag-asenso ng ating mga propesyunal.

Kaya mahalaga po iyong ating isinasagawa ngayon, at dapat tignan ng ating mga mamamayan iyong mas malaking larawan. Maaaring doon sa first two years ng implementasyon ay magkaroon ng konting dislokasyon ng mga nagtuturo pero ina-address po iyan ng ating pamahalaan at meron pong mga konkretong solusyon na ihahain at ipapabatid sa mga apektado.
JOSETTE RIVERA: Okay po, Mr. Secretary. Baka mayroon pa po akong hindi naitanong sa inyo na importanteng malaman po ng ating mga tagasubaybay ngayon.

SEC. COLOMA: Siguro ay sapat na para sa ngayon ‘no. Patuloy lang po iyong panawagan natin sa ating mga kababayan na tignan po natin sa bawat pagkakataon iyong mas malaking larawan. Huwag po tayong magpu-focus lamang doon sa mga maliliit na gusot o mga inconvenience ng mga reporma na isinasagawa natin dahil malaki po ang posibilidad hinggil sa mas maunlad na Pilipinas sa kinabukasan kung tayo po ay magkakabuklod at pagkakaisahan po natin ang layuning ito.

JOSETTE RIVERA: Okay, salamat po sa inyo, Mr. Secretary.

SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat. Magandang umaga po.
 
SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center
Last Updated: 15 APRIL 2015
Alternative photo archive with high resolutions
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    (LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte) Governor Imee Marcos, along with Dr. Chung-Hsien Chen, chairman of the APEC Expert Group on New Renewable Energy Technology  and his co-chair Director Mario Marasigan of the Department of Energy, and Vivien  Hsien of the secretariat meet with members of media covering the event at Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel here on Wednesday (April 15). (Photo by Marcelino Pascua)
       
    (LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte) The delegates to the 44th Meeting of the Expert Group on New Renewable Energy Technology of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation gather for a photo souvenir at Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel led by DOE Director Mario Marasigan. (Photo by Marcelino Pascua)
       
    (LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte)  Director Mario Marasigan of the Department of Energy and co-chair of the APEC Expert Group on New Renewable Energy Technology delivers his opening remarks at the 44th meeting of the group held at Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel here on April 13-15. (Photo by Marcelino Pascua)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the League of Municipalities of the Philippines General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15). This year's gathering carried the theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the officers and members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, headed by its national president Mayor Leonardo Javier, Jr. for a photo souvenir during the General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15). This year's gathering carries the theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15). This years gathering carries the theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
   
Dr. Chung-Hsien Chen (left), from the Ministry of Economic Affairs-Bureau of Energy of Chinese Taipei, is chairman of APEC Expert Group on New Renewable Energy Technology. Director Mario Marasigan (right) of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy, is co-chair.
       
    Director Mario Marasigan, of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau of the Department of Energy, and co-chair of the APEC Expert Group on New Renewable Energy Technology, said it is important for member economies to share their roadmap for renewable energy so that other members may learn from their experience.
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the bell ringing ceremony at the  Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). Also in photo are Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and PSE chairman Jose Pardo. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the bell ringing ceremony at the  Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by PSE chairman Jose Pardo; San Miguel Corporation vice chairman, president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang; and Ayala Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala upon arrival for the bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor  in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14, 2015). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the  bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, leads the bell ringing ceremony at the  Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). Also in photo are PSE chairman Jose Pardo; PSE director Eusebio Tanco; and BDO Unibank, Inc. chairperson Teresita Sy. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, leads the bell ringing ceremony at the  Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). Also in photo are PSE chairman Jose Pardo; BDO Unibank, Inc. chairperson Teresita Sy; PSE president and chief executive officer Hans Sicat; Ayala Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; and San Miguel Corporation vice chairman, president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, leads the bell ringing ceremony at the  Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). Also in photo are PSE chairman Jose Pardo; PSE director Eusebio Tanco; and BDO Unibank, Inc. chairperson Teresita Sy. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, leads the bell ringing ceremony at the  Philippine Stock Exchange trading floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). The PSE has broken past the 8,000 level on March 30, and has since then extended its winning streak to finish at an all-time record of 8,127.48 last Friday (April 10), the 27th time the PSEi closed at an all-high since the start of the year. Also in photo are PSE chairman Jose Pardo; BDO Unibank, Inc. chairperson Teresita Sy; PSE president and chief executive officer Hans Sicat; Ayala Corporation chairman and chief executive officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; and San Miguel Corporation vice chairman, president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. bell ringing ceremony at the PSE Ayala Trading Floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). The PSE has broken past the 8,000 level on March 30, and has since then extended its winning streak to finish at an all-time record of 8,127.48 last Friday (April 10), the 27th time the PSEi closed at an all-high since the start of the year. Also in photo is Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
   
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. bell ringing ceremony at the PSE Ayala Trading Floor in Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (April 14). The PSE has broken past the 8,000 level on March 30, and has since then extended its winning streak to finish at an all-time record of 8,127.48 last Friday (April 10), the 27th time the PSEi closed at an all-high since the start of the year. (Photo by  Benhur Arcayan / Gil Nartea / Rey Baniquet / Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the meeting on the Yolanda Updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (April 13). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads his official family in prayer before presiding over the meeting on the Yolanda Updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (April 13). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Awarding of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Nationwide ISO 9001:2008 Certification at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palaceon Monday (April 13). Established in 1947, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certifies a government or private enterprise’s adherence to worldwide industrial and commercial standards of excellence. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Awarding of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Nationwide ISO 9001:2008 Certification at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (April 13). Established in 1947, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certifies a government or private enterprise’s adherence to worldwide industrial and commercial standards of excellence. Also in photo are TUV SUD Philippines general manager Femelyn Lati, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, TESDA director-general Emmanuel Joel Villanueva and deputy director-general for Policies and Planning Irene Isaac. (Photo by Ryan Lim / by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as TESDA director general Emmanuel Joel Villanueva receives the ISO 9001:2008 Certificate from TUV SUD Philippines general manager Femelyn Lati in a ceremony at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (April 13). Established in 1947, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certifies a government or private enterprise’s adherence to worldwide industrial and commercial standards of excellence. Also in photo is Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with TESDA director general Emmanuel Joel Villanueva during the awarding of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Nationwide ISO 9001:2008 Certification at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (April 13). Established in 1947, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certifies a government or private enterprise’s adherence to worldwide industrial and commercial standards of excellence. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla ang Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Ryan Lim / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a wreath in front of the stained glass mural at the Colonnade of the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan during the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on Thursday (April 09, 2015). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a wreath in front of the stained glass mural at the Colonnade of the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan during the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on Thursday (April 09, 2015). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09, 2015). This year’s theme: “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III honors the Colors while singing the Philippine National Anthem during the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." Also in photo are Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.; Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa; US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg; and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III troops the line upon arrival at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan for the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on Thursday (April 09, 2015). This year’s theme: “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." (Photo by Ryan Lim / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a warm reception upon arrival at the Dambana ng Kagitingan, Mt. Samat Shrine in Pilar, Bataan for the 73rd Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on Thursday (April 09). This year’s theme is “Ipunla and Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan." (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III; Isabela Vice Governor Antonio Albano; and Isabela 1st District Representative Rodolfo Albano III, distributes financial assistance to family beneficiaries during the inauguration of the Lullutan Bridge in Barangay Lullutan, City of Ilagan, Isabela on Tuesday (April 07, 2015). The 500.6 lineal meter Lullutan Bridge is considered one of the longest bridges that crosses Cagayan River connecting Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay Lullutan in the Cagayan Valley Region. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    (ILAGAN CITY, Isabela) President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the inaugural drive-through at the completed Lullutan Bridge during the inauguration ceremony in Barangay Lullutan on Tuesday (April 07, 2015). The 500.6 lineal meter Lullutan Bridge is considered one of the longest bridges that crosses Cagayan River connecting Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay Lullutan in the Cagayan Valley Region.  Also in photo are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson; Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III; Isabela 1st District Representative Rodolfo Albano III; City of Ilagan, Isabela Mayor Jose Marie Diaz; Isabela Vice Governor Antonio Albano; and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    (ILAGAN CITY, Isabela) The newly constructed Lullutan Bridge in Barangay Lullutan is considered one of the longest bridges that crosses Cagayan River connecting Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay Lullutan in the Cagayan Valley Region. President Benigno Aquino graced the inauguration of this bridge on Tuesday (April 7). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
    President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a warm welcome from the locals during the inauguration of the Lullutan Bridge in Barangay Lullutan, City of Ilagan, Isabela on Tuesday (April 07). The 500.6 lineal meter Lullutan Bridge is considered one of the longest bridges that crosses Cagayan River connecting Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay Lullutan in the Cagayan Valley Region. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
       
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RTVM added 12 new photos to the album: LMP General Assembly.
21 hrs ·
Manila Hotel
15 April 2015


'President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as LMP national president Mayor Leonardo Javier, Jr. delivers the welcome remarks during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15, 2015). With theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)'
'President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15, 2015). With theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)'
 'President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15, 2015). With theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)'
'President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel in Manila City on Wednesday (April 15, 2015). With theme: “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)'





 







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