Monday, August 31, 2015

9 Dispatch for September 1 , 2015 ( Tuesday ), 4 Weather Watch , 6 Regional Watch , 2 OFW Watch, 2 PNOY Speeches ,2 Radio Interviews with Sec. Coloma, 20 Online News( Aug 31. ) 31 Photonews (August 31 )


DAILY WEATHER FORECAST

  Issued at: 5:00 AM today, 01 September 2015 
Valid Beginning: 5:00 AM today until 5:00 AM tomorrow

Synopsis: 

At 4:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 190 km northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.5N, 124.7E) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone affecting Visayas and Mindanao. 

 pressure.gifPredicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis 8 AM 01 September 2015
 wind.gifPredicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis 8 AM 01 September 2015
satellite



Forecast: 

Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Central and Eastern Visayas and Mindanao. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country. 


Light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Luzon and coming from the south to southwest over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. 



PAGASA:
-At 4AM today, the LPA was located at 190km northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte embedded along the ITCZ affecting Visayas and Mindanao.
-Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Central and Eastern Visayas and Mindanao.
-Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country.


GMA resident meterologist Nathaniel Cruz on 24 Oras:
-Dalawang weather system ang magpapaulan sa malaking bahagi ng bansa bukas.
-Apektado ng ITCZ ang Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas at Mindanao. Nakapaloob naman sa ITCZ ang LPA na namataan sa layong 170 Northeast ng Daet, Camarines Norte. Nananatiling mababa ang tsansa ng LPA na maging bagyo pero bukas ay magdadala ito ng maghapong ulan sa Bicol Region.
-Sa Metro Manila, may tsansa ng ulan sa susunod na limang araw.
-Posible ang maghapong ulan sa buong Visayas.
-Sa Mindanao, uulanin ang Zamboanga Peninsula at Davao Region sa umaga. Sa hapon, buong Mindanao na ang makararanas ng ulan.
-Sa Setyembre, dalawa hanggang apat na bagyo ang papasok ng PAR. Dahil sa malakas na El Niño, maaaring hindi mag-landfall ang mga bagyo. Sa halip ay lilihis ito papuntang Japan o China.


  • Pia Quezon
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Weather Advisory No. 5
For: Low Pressure Area (LPA)
Issued at: 11:00 AM, 01 September 2015
At 10:00 am today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) embbeded along Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) was estimated based on all available data at 150 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.3˚N, 124.3˚E). This weather system will bring light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms over Bicol region and the provinces of Quirino, Aurora and Quezon.
The general public and disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are advised to monitor for the next update to be incorporated in the public weather forecast at 5:00 pm today and for the next advisory to be issued at 11:00 am tomorrow.



 September 1 , 2014  (   Tuesday )     as of  9:00 AM

PIA4A / PIA QUEZON  :  Cloudy in Lucena City

NORTHERN

SOUTHERN

EASTERN

WESTERN




PIA-4A/Laguna: Twenty six (26) provinces, cities, and municipalities in Calabarzon will receive tomorrow, Sept. 2, 2015 the 2015 Seal of Good Local Governance from the DILG Region IV-A in a ceremony to be held at DAP in Tagaytay. Along with award are entitlement to the following incentives: financial incentives from the Performance Challenge Fund; access to program windows from DILG and other national government agencies; and authority to borrow.


PIA-4A/Laguna: The Department of the Interior and Local Government IV-A will award tomorrow, Sept. 2 2015, the Seal of Good Local Governance to 26 provinces/cities/municipalities in Calabarzon in a ceremony to be held at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay.
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PIA-4A/BATANGAS : Namahagi ng 10,000 coconut seedlings ang pamahalaang panglunsod ng Tanauan at Philippine Coconut Authority sa mga magniniyog sa layuning maisulong ang rehabilitasyon ng coconut industry ng lungsod.
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PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Muling hinikayat ng Comelec ang publiko ukol sa pagpaparehistro o pag-update ng kanilang mga datos upang makaboto sa darating na 2016 elections. Hanggang Oktubre 31, 2015 ang itinalagang huling araw ng rehistrasyon.
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PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Lalong pinaiigting ng Batangas Police Provincial Office ang pagsawata at paghuli sa mga nagbebenta ng ipinagbabawal na droga sa iba't ibang lugar sa lalawigan kung saan bukod sa search warrants ay nagsasagawa din sila ng buy bust operations.
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PIA-4A/QUEZON: The DOLE-Quezon recently held an orientation on skills registry system attended by public employment service office (PESO) managers from the different municipalities in Quezon province as part of the skills mapping program that aims to help investors in recruiting qualified and or skilled workers.



PIA-2/CAGAYAN: The POEA-2 warned the public against the operations of illegal recruiters like offering employment abroad without proper work documents. POEA Adjudicator Antonio Millanes advised aspiring OFWs to check if their recruiters have available records with POEA and are licensed or authorized to recruit and offer jobs abroad.
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PIA-9/ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR: Jayson Gregorio of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas said there are 7,732 registered Filipino migrants from Zamboanga del Sur covering the years 1988-2013.









President Aquino leads 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awards Ceremony
 
President Benigno Aquino III on Monday led the conferment of awards to the five recipients of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award this year.

In a ceremony at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, President Aquino along with the Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) handed the Magsaysay Award plaque to Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa (Philippines), Kommaly Chanthavong (Laos), Anshu Gupta (India), Kyaw Thu (Myanmar), and Sanjiv Chaturvedi (India).

In his speech, the President used the 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen titled "An Enemy of the People" to describe the lives of the awardees. The play tells the story of Dr. Thomas Stockmann who decided to speak the truth about the contamination of water at a town well-known for its spa despite strong opposition from town officials and being branded as enemy of the people.

"Our awardees here are the perfect examples of that. Each of them has transcended the “individual” perspective. Each of them has chosen to leave their comfort zones, and answer the call to serve more and more people, whether their immediate community, or all of society," he said.

"To our awardees: You have all faced formidable opponents, from corrupt employees and officials in government, to the phenomenon of widespread poverty and inequality, and even to the way that time erodes our most valuable traditions. But you were not daunted; you have persevered, and continued to persevere, in order to protect justice, basic human rights, and our cultural heritage," he added.

He recognized the contributions made by each awardee to their respective countries.

The only Filipino recipient of the award was Filipina Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa, who has been recognized for her crusade in preserving the endangered artistic heritage of the southern Philippines by teaching the dance style "pangalay."

Two of the awardees were Indian, namely Anshu Gupta, founder of Goonjl, an organization focused on empowering marginalized people through the redistribution and processing of cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor; and Sanjiv Chaturvedi, a public servant who has dedicated his life fighting corruption in their government.

Another female awardee was Kommaly Chanthavong who has been famous for silk-weaving in Laos, and known as the founder Phontong Handicraft Cooperative.

Completing the five was Kyaw Thu from Myanmar who has been recognized in addressing the fundamentals needs of both the living and the dead through his foundation that offers free burial services, medical assistance, vocational training and humanitarian assistance.

"None of our awardees embarked on these journeys out of a desire for fame and fortune; none of you chose to take on these responsibilities because you thought that they were simple or easy," President Aquino said.

"Real transformation requires real, backbreaking effort—and this is what you gave, willingly. In many ways, you are like the heroes that many of my countrymen remember on this day: those who struggled and endured hardship for a greater cause. It is only right that we are paying tribute to all of you on this occasion. You are the modern-day heroes that not only Filipinos, but all men and women all over the world need," he added. PND (jb)

 
 


President Aquino leads National Heroes Day rites
 
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday led the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a 21-gun salute. He then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

In his speech, President Aquino emphasized the importance of commemorating the heroism of those who had fought for the country.

"Taimtim nating ginugunita at tinitingala ang mga bantayog dito, bilang pagpupugay sa mga bayaning Pilipinong nanindigan, nagsakripisyo, at nag-alay ng buhay para sa kapwa at sa Inang Bayan. Lubos tayong nagpapasalamat sa mga kababayan nating buong-loob na sinuong ang panganib para ipaglaban ang tama at makatarungan; silang sinubok ang pananagutan at tinimbang ang paninindigan, at hindi nagkulang; silang mga humarap sa sangandaan, at piniling unahin ang interes ng mas nakararami, bago ang sarili," he said.

The President noted that according to American-Jewish writer Cynthia Ozick, there are three ‘participant’ categories of the Holocaust -- murderers, victims, and bystanders.

“Which are we most likely to become? When a whole population takes on the status of bystander, the victims are without allies; the criminals, unchecked, are strengthened; and only then do we need to speak of heroes," he said, quoting Ozick.

"Totoo nga po: Kapag may nangyaring karahasan—may gumawa ng karahasan at may biktima ng karahasan; at kung hindi ikaw ang salarin, at hindi rin ikaw ang inapi, ano ang ginawa mo? Sa mga pagkakataong ito raw kinakailangan ang mga bayani. Dito lumilitaw at nangingibabaw ang kadakilaan ng ilang mga indibidwal," he said.

He then urged the public to make a stand against unjust practices.

"Kapag may mali at di-makatuwiran sa lipunan—di ba’t kung manonood ka lang sa isang sulok, kung susunod ka lang sa dikta ng status quo, o magrereklamo nang walang inaalok na solusyon, di ba’t nakakadagdag ka lang sa problema, at pinapahaba ang pagdurusa ng iyong kapwa? Sa kabilang banda naman, kung may kahit isang taong titindig at haharang sa kanila para sabihing ‘Mali ang ginagawa ninyo. Hindi ako papayag na pagsamantalahan ninyo ang Pilipino,’ hindi po ba tiyak na mapapatid ang siklo ng panlalamang at kawalang-katarungan," said the President.

The Chief Executive emphasized that in Philippine history—from the 1896 Revolution, to the country’s liberty from Spain in 1898, to the independence gained from the United States in 1946, to the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986, and to the solidarity the nation displayed in 2010—many Filipinos have proven that they can create meaningful change.
"Kaya nating iangat at paunlarin ang ating bansa. Ang kailangan lang, isang bayan tayong magkapit-bisig, kumilos, at magbayanihan, nang sa gayon hindi na kakailanganin pang iatang sa iilang balikat ang mas mabibigat na pasanin ng bansa. Gagaan ang dalahin ng bawat isa, at hindi na magagawang ipasa pa sa mga susunod na henerasyon ang anumang suliranin ng kasalukuyan," President Aquino said.

Present during the ceremony were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Maria Serena Diokno, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, and members of the diplomatic corps. PND (ag)

Malacañang welcomes end of 'Iglesia ni Cristo' protest rally
 
A Palace official on Monday welcomed the decision of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members to end their five-day protest rally after a dialogue with the government.

Iglesia General Minister Bienvenido Santiago has issued a statement earlier, saying the dialogue had cleared up matters.

The five-day mass action was triggered by the illegal detention complaint filed by expelled minister Isaias Samson, Jr. before the Department of Justice against some members of the church council.

"Over the past few days, members of the Iglesia ni Cristo have gathered in key areas of Metro Manila. The mass action stems from their sentiments regarding a complaint filed by two of their members at the Department of Justice,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement issued on Monday.

Noting that their protests involved a disagreement, Secretary Lacierda said the question is whether calmer heads would prevail to resolve the disagreement peacefully through mutual respect.

"This was an important consideration for the government: Just as it was important to protect the rights of all, ensure public safety, and minimize opportunities for sowing mayhem, we knew that a truly long-term solution involved engendering an atmosphere of dialogue, which will result in deescalating the situation that created tensions in the first place. We were resolved not to inflame passions, which could have given an opening to those with selfish agendas to further exacerbate conflict. Diplomacy therefore was an important tool in avoiding unintended consequences,” he further said.

Lacierda said the government appreciated the INC leadership for telling their members to leave their gathering sites.

“Through good will and the convergence of efforts, the rule of law has been upheld. We appreciate the INC leadership’s directives for the withdrawal of their members from their gathering sites. We are thankful that no serious injuries came about these past few days, and that the public can now prepare to go to work and to school tomorrow (Tuesday) as the long weekend draws to a close,” he concluded. PND (jm)

People's mental well-being, a major factor in economic development, says Health Chief
 
(CEBU CITY) Health Secretary Janette Garin highlighted on Sunday the important part that mental health plays in driving economic development in the Asia Pacific region.

In her keynote message during the opening the 5th High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy here in Cebu City, Garin said that mental health, like other chronic illnesses, is now being recognized in the region.

"Mental and physical well-being are now equal partners. Many mental health illnesses can be prevented, allowing a culture of mental wellness to emerge and flourish," Garin said.

"I am very pleased that the Philippines is taking a leadership role this year in promoting mental well-being. APEC has a very robust and innovative agenda to promote mental health and reduce stigma."

APEC's mental health meeting in Manila on August 25 assessed the needs and priorities of economies and paved the way for the launch this year of a digital hub to promote innovative collaborations between government, academia, and the private sector to address those needs, she added.

APEC member economies have a job to do, she said noting they must engage their finance and budget planners in their effort to mitigate the social and economic effects of ill health to society.

While economic planners regard health as cost, Garin said she believes giving attention to mental and physical well-being should be considered as investment.

Failing to do so would mean astronomical costs for the government, corporations and the people.

She pointed out that as more people are forced to retire early because of poor health, they become less productive and it impacts in a country's economy.

Social welfare budget will be severely strained and government initiatives to overcome poverty will be compromised, she added.

Aside from mental health, among the chronic illnesses that pose major challenges to APEC economies include musculoskeletal and cardio vascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

These diseases, she said, strip the people of their enjoyment of life, their families and their working potential. PND (as)
 

Philippines urges Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation to invest in health sector
 
(CEBU CITY) Diseases and illnesses cost the Philippines around 3 to 4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), highlighting the importance of investing in the health sector of the country and of other Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies in a bid to sustain economic development.

Peter Sheehan, research director at the Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies in Australia, cited the result of a study commissioned by the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF) indicating the Philippine economic loss due to non-communicable diseases and poor mental health.

“The loss is currently about at 3-4 percent. We projected this to rise to about 6 percent by 2030, this is on the rising trajectory,” Sheehan said on the sidelines of a press briefing, noting these are just losses associated with absenteeism and presenteeism.

Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin underscored the need for member economies of APEC to promote good health in order to stimulate and sustain economic and social development.

“Good health allows citizens to reach their full productive potential, and the innovations that drive good health provide an economic return that is astounding,” she said at the opening of the 5th APEC High Level Meeting on Health and the Economy held here Sunday.

Garin also cited the results of an earlier LSIF study that showed a return of $30 to $1 for investment in innovation and innovative approaches to maternal and child health.

The health chief thus urged APEC member economies to work engage their budget and finance planners in their efforts to mitigate the social and economic effects of ill-health.

“Economic planning and finance communities look at health as a cost. I would like to posit that mental and physical well-being should be regarded as investments, without which will result in astronomical costs to governments, corporations and our citizens,” she added.

Garin believed that investing in health is critical for reducing poverty and promoting inclusive growth.

“As more people are forced to retire early because of ill-health, the economy will become less productive, social welfare budgets will be severely strained and our work to alleviate poverty will be undone rapidly as significant segments of the population are thrown back into poverty,” she noted.

For his part, DOH Undersecretary Kenneth Hartigan-Go said the Philippines is embarking on a plan to develope health facilities based on the needs of people in both rural and urban areas.

“…We got the sin tax law passed (so) there is now a quite substantive amount of money at the disposal of our health department and other government agencies to come together and develop a meaningful use of that money in order to bring better health outcome to our people,” he said.

The APEC is holding its Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and Related Meetings here until Sept. 6. PNA (ldv)

APEC health ministers to endorse roadmap for ‘Healthy Asia Pacific 2020 Initiative’ to leaders
 
(CEBU CITY) Health ministers from the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are working to develop a roadmap for the implementation of a new initiative to promote a healthy Asia Pacific by 2020, to be endorsed to APEC Leaders this November.

“Implementation of this roadmap would go a long way to addressing the struggle we all are facing on infectious and chronic disease,” said Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin at the opening of the 5th APEC High Level Meeting on Health and the Economy held here Sunday.

Garin said health ministers will endorse the roadmap and identify key areas where each of APEC member economy can take a lead in collective implementation.

The Roadmap for the “Healthy Asia Pacific 2020 Initiative” covers the critical success factors and immediate actions to ensure that the initiative is implemented in a meaningful, sustainable, cost-effective way to mitigate threats to the region’s people, trade and economic security.

DOH Undersecretary Kenneth Hartigan-Go said the roadmap covers critical areas, including prevention and control of priority diseases such as non-communicable and infectious ones.

“If we significantly cut them (diseases) down, it will then rebound to a healthy population. That will cut the cost of government expenditures as well as out-of-pocket expenditures,” Go said.

Meanwhile, Garin said other new initiatives the health ministers will endorse to APEC Leaders this November are those on infectious disease, chronic disease and fiscal implications of ill-health.

To address the cause of a number of infectious diseases which is the lack of a safe blood supply, she said the APEC members are working to launch the APEC Blood Supply Chain Partnership Training Network.

This will help build the capacity of laboratory managers and blood bankers and help them achieve international accreditation, she added.

Garin said they also target to launch a digital hub this year to promote innovative collaborations between governments, academia and the private sector on advancing mental well-being.

The APEC is holding its Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and Related Meetings here until Sept. 6. PNA (ldv)

Importance of global value chain services in generating jobs highlighted in APEC meeting
 
(CEBU CITY, Cebu) Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) must take a deeper look at the role of services in global value chains (GVCs) due to their potential to become new sources of growth and jobs for the country and the region, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Monday.

“We would like to see greater participation of services in various GVCs that will increase productivity and add value to goods produced. In the process, these will create more jobs and make growth more inclusive,” said NEDA Deputy Director-General Emmanuel Esguerra.

Esguerra headed the Philippine delegation to the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting during the Joint Meeting of the APEC Group on Services and Market Access Group (GOS-MAG) on August 26.

In a paper for the APEC 2015 Research Project, the Philippine Institute of Development Studies explained that the value chain is the “full range of activities that firms and workers perform to bring a product from its conception to end use and beyond."

According to the paper, GVCs reflect the fact that activities that constitute a value chain have generally been carried out in inter-firm networks on a global scale.

Global value chains account for more than 50 percent of global trade. Their significant role in international services trade creates a sense of urgency to make the services sector more competitive, Esguerra said, underscoring the need to focus more in this area.

The joint GOS-MAG meeting showcased studies of how select APEC member economies opened markets for services in specific sectors to benefit from participation in GVCs.

“This initiative is definitely a progressive move towards creating a better understanding of how our economies can maximize GVC participation and how APEC can create the appropriate policy environment conducive to the growth of services value chains,” said Esguerra.

He also noted the importance of developing innovative services within GVCs and prioritizing services in the development agenda, addressing services and investment restrictions, and achieving balance in regulatory reform.

Last year, the 26th Ministerial Meeting in China adopted the APEC Strategic Blueprint for Promoting Global Value Chains Development and Cooperation as a mechanism to strengthen mutual economic cooperation within the global value chain network.


Esguerra added that they hope to hasten the process of developing innovative services within GVCs in line with the China blueprint.

The Philippines can take advantage of the recent enactment of the landmark Competition Act to boost its services value chains and attain a more productive, innovative, and competitive services sector, he said.

The Competition Act is seen to attract investments and improve economic activities in the country by prohibiting the abuse of dominant position and leveling the playing field among businesses.

Initiatives related to GVCs, along with appropriate legal instruments, will contribute to the work on structural reform, which will also be tackled in the upcoming Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting on September 7 and 8, where the services sector is one of the priorities, he said. PND (as)

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates well-secured in Cebu, says police official
 
(CEBU CITY, Cebu) No incident that threatened the safety of delegates attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings here has so far been recorded, a regional police official said on Monday.

"It could be because of the participation of not only all government agencies, but also the community. That's why we are thankful to the community for their support for our operations," chief of the Regional Directorial Staff in Central Visayas, Police Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, told reporters during a press briefing.

Lawas said they are heightening security in the province as more APEC delegates arrive in the coming days for high-level discussions.

"As part of the preparations for the whole APEC-related meetings in Cebu, and with the coming of more delegates, as well as high-level officials, we will also level up our security preparations," he said, adding that more police personnel will be posted in critical areas.

So far, 1,492 delegates have arrived in Cebu, 300 of whom are local participants and more than 1,000 came from abroad.

Noting that they have been monitoring the crime rate since the first week of July, Lawas observed a 6 percent decrease in crime incidence from the first and second week of August, especially in Metro Cebu.

"This is probably because more policemen have been deployed to the field," he said.

On the alleged anomaly regarding the food allowance of police personnel assigned to keep the peace and order, Lawas said they are willing to cooperate in the inquiry announced by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Based on the guidance of Task Force Cebu, the police command is ready to answer questions on the alleged anomaly, and the police leadership is ready to present documents, if necessary, he said.

"We have nothing to hide," Lawas said. PND (as)

Philippines raising energy efficiency, use of renewable energy in APEC Cebu
 
(CEBU CITY, Cebu) The Philippines will begin implementing next year a five-year action plan for energy efficiency and is increasing the use of renewable energy in a bid to address issues related to climate change.

Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos bared these Philippine initiatives during the opening of the 46th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (APEC EGEE&C) Meeting here Monday.

“I trust that APEC will tackle interventions to mitigate the effects of climate change through energy efficiency and push for an environment-friendly and developed economy,” he said.

For its part, the Philippines has come up with an Energy Efficiency Roadmap and its corresponding action plan, which the country will undertake from 2016 to 2020, Marcos said.

“This Roadmap is envisioned to be the master plan of the Philippines’ Department of Energy in achieving energy efficiency and conservation programs and activities to higher levels and define the role of the government in coming up with a range of measures aimed at improving energy efficiency, driven by legislative orders and decrees targeting energy-saving programs,” he noted.

Marcos said the action plan targets the energy-intensive transport, industrial, commercial and residential buildings, and the cross-sectoral sectors.

Moreover, the energy official said the Philippines is aggressive in the promotion and installation of renewable energy, as it recognizes the importance of addressing energy issues relevant to economic growth and development.

“As a matter of record, we rank second as the largest geothermal producer in the world with 1,868 MW (megawatts) installed capacity as of 2013, or equivalent to 10.78 percent of the total installed capacity of the country,” he pointed out.

For its energy efficiency programs, Marcos said, the country has generated energy savings of 1.6 million tons of oil equivalent for the same year.

“The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to the APEC’s unified goal of building strong partnerships towards economic development, as we are optimistic that with APEC support, our vision of harmonization and connectivity will come to excellent productive realization,” he further said.

The 46th APEC EGEE&C Meeting will discuss various priority areas, including energy efficiency policies and programs, and energy intensity and renewable energy goals. PNA (ldv)



 
President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech during the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awards
Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay Cit
31 Aug 2015
 
This is an extraordinary occasion. Exactly fifty-seven years ago, on August 31, 1958, the first Ramon Magsaysay Awards were given to five individuals. As we celebrate a long tradition of recognizing selfless service to the peoples of Asia here in these ceremonies, so too do we celebrate, fittingly, National Heroes’ Day here in the Philippines.

Year in and year out, the Filipino people pay tribute to the bravery of those who worked towards a better Philippines. The faces on the banners around the country, the names most praised today often come from the pages of our history books: people like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Marcelo del Pilar, hailed, and rightfully so, as heroes. Yet, the law that mandates the commemoration of National Heroes Day names no single person. Nowhere does it say that blood must be shed for one to be considered a hero. What matters most is the attention and care we give to the ignored and the oppressed; the courage to stand for what is right; and the constant, quiet determination to do our part in uplifting our fellowmen.

These, I believe, are the same principles that informed the leadership of Ramon Magsaysay, a true statesman and a renowned steward of the people’s trust, held in esteem not only in our country, but also in the rest of the world. Should we examine the Magsaysay Credo, we will find no allusion to news-making deeds. Instead, we see the promise of service, especially to the common man, and a moral code and style of governance founded on the very same. Should we examine the life of President Magsaysay, we will see all this, fueled by a dissatisfaction with the status quo and a resolve to bring change to the majority, as soon as possible—even if it means standing alone, against the greatest odds. As the saying goes: Heroes are ordinary people caught up in extraordinary times.

This brings to mind a play that I studied in English class, quite a few years ago: Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” The play is set in a town well-known for its baths, which attract many visitors and contribute a great deal to the local economy. In this fictional society, tourism serves as the lifeblood of the people. Dr. Stockmann, the medical officer at the Municipal Baths, has discovered that the water used is contaminated—and he is determined to make this information public. Throughout the course of the play, Dr. Stockmann faces intense opposition. He is called selfish; he is told that he should he reveal not this information, for he will be culpable, if he did so, for the ruin of the town. In spite of all this, Dr. Stockmann stands by what he has discovered—he speaks the truth, even if he is, at the end of the play, branded an enemy of the people.

In a very tangible way, each of us has been in Dr. Stockmann’s shoes—or that of Jose Rizal, or even of President Magsaysay. We are Dr. Stockmann when we face a fork in the road, whenever we confront the question, “Shall we choose the hard right, or the easy wrong,” and find in ourselves the strength to do that which is right. Our awardees here are the perfect examples of that. Each of them has transcended the “individual” perspective. Each of them has chosen to leave their comfort zones, and answer the call to serve more and more people, whether the immediate community, or all of society. To our awardees: You have all faced formidable opponents, from corrupt employees and officials in government, to the phenomenon of widespread poverty and inequality, and even to the way that time erodes our most valuable traditions. But you were not daunted; you have persevered, and continued to persevere, in order to protect justice, basic human rights, and our cultural heritage.

There is Anshu Gupta, who has proven that the key to combating extreme poverty and vulnerability in his home country, India, lies in the simplest of things: cloth. Realizing its intrinsic value for survival and human dignity, Mr. Gupta left a lucrative job and founded Goonj, an organization focused on empowering those at the margins through the redistribution and processing of cloth to fit all kinds of needs. Working in 21 of India’s states, Goonj has now helped a vast number of Indians to take stock of their own lives through the various initiatives under its Cloth for Work program.

From the utilitarian, but no less meaningful, use of cloth, we move to the example of one who has preserved its beauty, and used it to help others weave stronger, brighter futures: Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos. She turned her love for silk-weaving into the Phontong Handicraft Cooperative, covering 35 villages—and did not stop there. Today, the Lao Sericulture Company manages Ms. Chanthavong’s many initiatives: from the Mulberries Organic Silk Farm, to Camacrafts, which markets handicrafts, and even to Mulberries, which initiates livelihood projects from traditional arts and crafts. All these provided thousands of Laotians with dignified livelihoods, while preserving and honoring ancient cultural traditions.

Indeed: Our country holds the belief that if you forget your roots, you are bound not to reach your destination. Our own kababayan, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa, has lived by this code. She turned her appreciation of the arts into an advocacy, with the most important one being the study, practice, and teaching of the dance style, pangalay, from the southernmost part of our country. Mrs. Fernando-Amilbangsa refused to let this tradition be forgotten, believing that it is not only a unique manifestation of our people’s culture, but that it also links us to our brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia. In the face of indifference or perhaps even scorn, she persevered and even modernized the dance—ensuring that the tradition of pangalay becomes a living embodiment of Filipino progress.

From Myanmar, we have Kyaw Thu, an esteemed actor, who has chosen to make his mark beyond the silver screen, and work with the marginalized. In 2001, as we have heard, he founded a society to help the poor bury their dead in accordance with the proper Buddhist burial rites. Since then, their work has expanded to cover almost every aspect of life, including medical assistance, vocational training, and humanitarian assistance to victims of conflict and calamities. Mr. Thu has never just been a figurehead. He has helped to carry coffins during funeral services; he has lent material support to those protesting restrictive government policies; he himself has spoken out on social issues, even in the face of harassment.

There is also Sanjiv Chaturvedi (san-jeev cha-toor-vehdee), who has dedicated his life to fighting corruption in government. The idealism that paved the way for his entry into public service has spurred his investigations of corruption and determination to uphold integrity, even in the face of threats, humiliation, and harassment. Let us emphasize: Mr. Chaturvedi does not only strive to uncover wrongdoing, he also works to institute policies that ensure the transparency and accountability of systems and to implement meaningful projects. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges before him, he continues to work towards lasting reform. Such a situation, as you may well know, is very familiar to those working in this administration, who have spent the past few years struggling to uproot corruption and impunity, and institute good governance in its place.

None of our awardees embarked on these journeys out of a desire for fame and fortune; none of you chose to take on these responsibilities because you thought that they were simple or easy. Real transformation requires real, backbreaking effort—and this is what you gave, willingly. In many ways, you are like the heroes that many of my countrymen remember on this day: those who struggled and endured hardship for a greater cause. It is only right that we are paying tribute to all of you on this occasion. You are the modern-day heroes that not only Filipinos, but all men and women all over the world need.

This is the last time that I will be invited to the Ramon Magsaysay Awards to preside over it; I must say: It has been a distinct privilege and an honor. Each time I have seen the roster of awardees, I am reminded of what my mother President Corazon Aquino, a former Ramon Magsaysay Awardee herself, often said, quoting my father: “It only takes a few dedicated and courageous individuals to infect many, many people with the germ of courage.” Today, let me add the qualities of compassion, integrity, and determination to that. You are the individuals that my mother spoke of; and it is my deepest hope that you will continue your work—that you will continue to inspire us who wish you nothing but the greatest success, because we know that you share this success with tens of thousands, if not, millions of others.

Thank you, and good day.
 






 
President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech in Celebration of National Heroes Day 2015
Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City
31 Aug 2015
 
Ngayong pong narito tayo sa Libingan ng mga Bayani, naaalala ko po: Noong pumanaw ang aking ina, sila mismong kabaliktaran ang gawain sa kanyang ipinaglaban at ipinaglalaban ang agad-agad na nagmungkahing patayuan siya ng monumento. Dahil dito, bumalik din po sa aking isipan ang kasabihan noong ako’y bata pa: “Konting bato, konting semento, monumento.” Totoo naman po: Madali ang magpatayo ng rebulto; pero mababalewala ito at mawawalan ng saysay kung hindi natin isinasabuhay ang prinsipyo at ipinaglaban ng mga dinadakila nating indibidwal.

Ito nga po ang diwa ng taon-taon nating pagdaraos ng Araw ng mga Bayani. Taimtim nating ginugunita at tinitingala ang mga bantayog dito, bilang pagpupugay sa mga bayaning Pilipinong nanindigan, nagsakripisyo, at nag-alay ng buhay para sa kapwa at sa Inang Bayan. Lubos tayong nagpapasalamat sa mga kababayan nating buong-loob na sinuong ang panganib para ipaglaban ang tama at makatarungan; silang sinubok ang pananagutan at tinimbang ang paninindigan, at hindi nagkulang; silang mga humarap sa sangandaan, at piniling unahin ang interes ng mas nakararami, bago ang sarili. May bantayog man o wala, isinulat man ang pangalan sa mga pahina ng kasaysayan o hindi— taas-noo nating kinikilala ang ambag ng bawat bayaning nagtindig at nagpatibay sa pundasyon ng tinatamasa nating kapayapaan at kaunlaran ngayon.

Tinanggap din natin sa araw na ito ang kopya ng librong pinamagatang “Ang Mamatay ng Dahil Sa ‘Yo” mula sa National Historical Commission of the Philippines. Alay po ito sa mga martir at bayaning Pilipinong nanindigan laban sa diktaturya ng Martial Law noong taong 1972 hanggang 1986. Kabilang din po sila sa mga Pilipinong pinapasalamatan at kinikilala natin ngayon. Sabi nga po ng pilosopong si George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Tunay pong magandang pamana ang aklat na ito sa kasalukuyang henerasyon, gayundin sa mga susunod pang salinlahi, upang maiwasan ang kamalian ng nakaraan, at maging gabay sa mga hakbang sa kinabukasan.

Sa pagtitipong pong ito, naalala ko rin po sa mga sandaling ito ang pahayag ng manunulat na si Cynthia Ozick. Ukol po sa kabayanihan, ang sabi niya:

“Three ‘participant’ categories of the Holocaust are commonly named: murderers, victims, bystanders. Imagination demands a choosing. Which, of this entangled trio, are we? Which are we most likely to become?

…When a whole population takes on the status of bystander, the victims are without allies; the criminals, unchecked, are strengthened; and only then do we need to speak of heroes. When a field is filled from end to end with sheep, a stag stands out. When a continent is filled end to end with the compliant, we learn what heroism is. And alas for the society that requires heroes.”

Totoo nga po: Kapag may nangyaring karahasan— may gumawa ng karahasan at may biktima ng karahasan; at kung hindi ikaw ang salarin, at hindi rin ikaw ang inapi, ano ang ginawa mo? Sa mga pagkakataong ito raw kinakailangan ng mga bayani. Dito lumilitaw at nangingibabaw ang kadakilaan ng ilang indibidwal.

Kung iisipin nga po natin: Totoong-totoo pa rin ito hanggang ngayon. Kapag may mali at di-makatwiran sa lipunan— di ba’t kung manonood ka lang sa isang sulok, kung susunod ka lang sa dikta ng status quo, o magrereklamo nang walang inaalok na solusyon, di ba’t nakakadagdag ka lang sa problema, at pinapahaba ang pagdurusa ng iyong kapwa? Sa kabilang banda naman, kung may kahit isang taong titindig at haharang sa kanila para sabihing “Mali ang ginagawa ninyo. Hindi ako papayag na pagsamantalahan ninyo ang Pilipino,” Hindi po bang tiyak pong mapapatid ang siklo ng panlalamang at kawalang-katarungan.

Sa araw pong ito, pinapahalagahan at binibigyang-karangalan natin ang mga inialay na sakripisyo ng mga bayaning Pilipino. Kaakibat ng pagdakila natin sa kanila, tinatawag tayong makiambag at ipagpatuloy ang sinimulan nilang laban—sa maliit man o malaking paraan—para sa ikabubuti ng ating sambayanan.

Mayroon nga pong dahilan kung bakit nakapaloob ang “bayan” sa salitang bayani. Bawat isa sa atin, may kakayahang lampasan ang ating mga sarili para sa kapwa at bandila. Karaniwang tao man o may mataas na katungkulan, lahat tayo, may tungkulin at kakayahang makilahok sa pagpapabuti ng kalakhang lipunan—mula sa simpleng pagsunod sa mga batas at patakaran; sa pagbubukas-palad sa kapwa, lalo na sa mas nangangailangan; hanggang sa kahandaang ipaglaban ang tama’t makatuwiran nang walang pinipiling panahon at pagkakataon.

Sa kasaysayan ng ating lahi, napatunayan na ng napakaraming Pilipino—mula sa rebolusyon ng 1896, sa kalayaan mula sa Espanya noong 1898, sa pagkamit natin ng kasarinlan mula sa Estados Unidos noong 1946, sa EDSA People Power Revolution noong 1986, hanggang sa pagkakaisa ng sambayanan noong 2010—kaya nating gumawa ng makabuluhang pagbabago. Kaya nating iangat at paunlarin ang ating bansa. Ang kailangan lang, isang bayan tayong magkapit-bisig, kumilos, at magbayanihan, nang sa gayon, hindi na kakailanganin pang iatang sa iilang balikat ang mas mabibigat na pasanin ng bansa. Gagaan ang dalahin ng bawat isa, at hindi na magagawang ipasa pa sa mga susunod na henerasyon ang anumang suliranin ng kasalukuyan.

Ang sabi nga po ng aking ama: “We should not depend on one man. We should depend on all of us.” Sa ngalan ng bawat bayaning Pilipino: Sama-sama at isang bansa tayong magkapit-kamay. Tiwala naman ako, ngayong maganda na ang ating nasimulan, tuloy-tuloy lamang tayo patungo sa inaasam nating patutunguhan; maaabot din ng Pilipino ang pinapangarap nating magandang bukas para sa minamahal nating bansa.

Magandang araw po. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.
 




INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR.
DZRB / Balita at Panayam by Alan Allanique
01 Sept 2015
 
ALAN: Secretary Coloma, sir, good morning po.

SEC. COLOMA: Magandang umaga, Alan.

ALAN: Yes, sir. Meron pong report, actually, ang Philippine Statistics Authority at binabanggit nila na nitong second quarter nang taong kasalukuyan lumago by 5.6% ang ekonomiya ng bansa, second quarter. At ito ho ay ina-attribute nila dahil dito sa patuloy na paglago ng services sector dito sa ating bansa, Secretary Coloma, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Mainam na tunghayan natin iyan, Alan, dahil maganda ang takbo ng ating ekonomiya, bagama’t maraming hamon at bagama’t hindi kasing sigla noong naka-forecast ay isa pa rin tayo sa pinakamabilis ang pag-unlad sa buong rehiyon -- pumapangatlo tayo ngayon sa China at Vietnam. At kaya mahalaga ito para sa administrasyon -- sa mga susunod na buwan hanggang sa pagpapalit ng gobyerno sa June 30, 2016 -- ay puspusang ipapatupad ang mga nararapat na hakbang para pasiglahin pa ng husto ang ating ekonomiya at tumibay pang lalo iyong pundasyon na nilalatag para sa isang mas maunlad na Pilipinas.

ALAN: Ayon, okay. Pero base po sa mga records na hawak ninyo ngayon, maliban po dito sa sinasabi ngang services sector, ano pa ho iyong ibang sektor o ibang industriya na maituturing na prime movers ng ekonomiya for the second quarter, Sec. Sonny, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Marami namang mga bright spots sa ating ekonomiya, ‘no. Doon nga...ma-expand lang natin ng kaunti. Doon sa services, isa diyan iyong turismo at ayon sa ating Department of Tourism bagama’t hindi ganoon karami doon sa inaasahan ay mas mataas naman iyong pag gastos ng mga turista na nagpupunta rito. Kaya sa suma total ay malaki pa rin, nahihigitan pa rin iyong revenue target natin mula sa turismo. At iyong turismo ay mainam para sa ekonomiya dahil maraming saklaw na sektor diyan. Nandiyan iyong transportasyon, iyong mga restaurant, mga kainan, mga shops na pinupuntahan ng mga turista para mag-shopping. Naririyan din iyong construction, Alan. Kitang-kita natin iyong dami ng mga high-rise condominium, pati mga housing projects na isinasagawa sa buong bansa. Noong tayo ay nagpunta sa Iloilo para sa Independence Day ay massive iyong construction na isinasagawa doon. Parang mayroong isang bagong... mistulang bagong siyudad na umuusbong doon sa gitna ng Iloilo City. At marami ding ibang lugar sa bansa na ganyan. Sa manufacturing sector din ay umiigi iyong ating performance dahil mas marami sa mga kumpanya ang namumuhunan sa manufacturing. Katulad na lang noong naging karanasan natin sa pagdalaw ni Pangulong Aquino sa bansang Japan noong Hunyo. Karamihan doon sa nagpahayag ng interes na magsimula ng bagong negosyo ay sa mga manufacturing ng mga high-end medical instruments, halimbawa. Ganyan ang mga prospects sa ating ekonomiya na nagbibigay sa atin ng magandang outlook para sa mga susunod na buwan.

ALAN: Opo. Sec., ang isa rin po sa mga tinuturing na nagpa-pump prime sa economy ay iyong spending ng government, halimbawa, sa iba’t-ibang mga infrastructure projects at mga kahalintulad na proyekto o gastusin ano ho. Liban po doon sa aspetong nakakatulong siya sa pagpapabilis, halimbawa, ng galaw ng goods and services kung halimbawang mga thoroughfares, mga bridges. Eh kapag gumastos daw nga ho ang pamahalaan ay, of course eh, ang balik nito ay lalong lalago din ang ekonomiya at mararamdaman ng mga kababayan natin iyong pag-ikot ng pera, iyong pera na nasa sirkulasyon, Sec. Coloma, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Ang pamahalaan ang isang pinakamalaking gumagastos sa ating ekonomiya. Iyong pag gastos ng pamahalaan ay lumilikha ng mga trabaho, nagpapadagdag sa bilis ng negosyo. Kaya mahalaga iyong government spending sa paglago ng ating pangkalahatang ekonomiya o iyong gross domestic product. Kaya ito ay pinaghuhusayan, hindi lamang iyong mabilis, kung hindi iyong masinop at maayos na pag gastos ng pondo ng bayan. At isa sa dahilan kung bakit naisasagawa ito, Alan, ay mainam nga ang pagmamaneho sa ating ekonomiya. Di tulad noong dati na baon tayo sa malalim na balon ng utang. Ngayon marami na po tayong nabayaran na utang o kaya ay nai-restructure ito sa mas mahabang panahon, na mas mababa din iyong interes. At dahil nga sa ganda ng pananaw ng buong mundo sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, marami ang gustong tumulong sa ating bansa, maraming bansa ang nagbibigay sa atin ng mga development assistance na concessional loans, halos grant na nga na maituturing dahil napakababa nang interes at ito ang magpapalakas ng higit pa sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya, Alan.

ALAN: Opo, given this scenario, Secretary Coloma, sir. Ano naman po ang mga projections natin na tinatakda ng ating mga finance officers for the rest of the year. Halimbawa, ito pong paparating na fourth quarter of the year 2015, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Habang maganda ang ating pananaw, Alan, sa kabuan. Meron po tayong pinaghahandaan ngayon ng husto at iyon iyong napipintong pagdating ng matinding version nung El Niño na maaring magdulot ng tagtuyot sa maraming lugar sa ating bansa. Kung maalala natin -- nung ilang linggo ang nakaraan -- pinulong ni Pangulong Aquino ang Gabinete at ito ang main topic, ito ang main agenda. Binubuo na ngayon iyong mga konkretong hakbang at stratehiya para maging matibay iyong pagtugon natin sa inaasahang matinding version ng El Niño na sasapit sa ating bansa. Isa na sa pangunahing hakbang diyan, Alan, ay iyong mga water conservation measures natin at mismong iyong mga pamahalaang lokal na bumubuo nung Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council ang inatasan para tiyakin iyong pagiging sapat nang supply ng tubig para sa ating mga komunidad, dahil iyan ang dapat nating bantayan sa pagpasok ng El Niño o tagtuyot. Doon naman sa aspeto rin ng food security ay tinitiyak iyong pagiging sapat ng ating pagkain. Dahil talagang maapektuhan iyong produksyon sa agrikultura kapag sumapit na itong El Niño, at inaasahang ito ay mararamdaman sa pagpasok nitong last quarter hanggang sa first quarter ng isang taon, Alan. Sabagay kalakip na diyan iyong panalangin natin na hindi masyadong matindi, pero lahat po kasi nung siyentipikong forecast ay nagsasabi na mas malamang ay iyong matinding version o scenario ng El Niño ang sasapit dito sa Pilipinas at sa ating mga kapit-bansa. Kaya iyan ang pinaghahandaan ng ating pamahalaan.

ALAN: Opo. Well, Secretary Coloma, sir, muli nais po naming magpasalamat sa inyo for the updates from the Palace, sir.

SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat at magandang umaga, Alan.
 
SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center

INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR.
DZRB / “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” kasama sina Albert Sebastian at Efren Montano
30 August 2015
 
OPENING STATEMENT

On the Death of Education Undersecretary Francisco Varela

DepEd Undersecretary Francisco Varela served with distinction and contributed significantly in implementing reforms in the education sector anchored upon good governance and the judicious utilization of public funds.

He opted to join government at the start of the Aquino administration after carving an exemplary track record in the academic and investment banking sectors. His untimely death is a big loss to the public service and we extend our condolences to his bereaved family.

**********

Naglingkod nang mahusay si DepEd Undersecretary Francisco Varela at nagbigay ng makahulugang ambag sa pagpapatupad ng mga reporma sa sector ng edukasyon na nakabatay sa mabuting pamamahala at masinop na paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.

Tinanggap niya ang imbitasyong magsilbi sa pamahalaan pagkatapos makapagtala ng kahanga-hangang rekord sa akademiya at larangan ng pamumuhunan.

Ang kanyang pagpanaw ay malaking kawalan sa serbisyo publiko at ipinararating namin sa kanyang pamilya ang aming pakikidalamhati.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Mr. Allanigue: Secretary, bukas po (August 31) last Monday of August ay gugunitain muli ng sambayanan ang National Heroes Day. Ano pong mga expected na maging highlight dito po sa national celebration na ito bukas po, Sec. Sonny, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Pangungunahan ni Pangulong Aquino bukas ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan at kinatawan ng diplomatic corps sa pag-aalay ng bulaklak sa Libingan ng mga Bayani sa Fort Bonifacio. Nakikiisa si Pangulong Aquino at ang buong pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan sa paggunita ng Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani bukas, ika-31 ng Agosto.

Sa araw na ito marapat na bigyang pugay ang ating mga bayani na nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay upang ipaglaban, itaguyod, at itanghal ang ating kasarinlan na siyang naging pundasyon ng ating tinatamasang pag-unlad. Nawa’y patuloy silang maging bukal ng inspirasyon sa ating mga Pilipino at sa mga susunod na salinlahi na naghahangad ng magandang buhay sa kanilang mga pamilya.

Mr. Allanigue: Opo. Secretary, sa ibang usapin naman po, tungkol ito dito pa rin sa usapin ng balikbayan boxes. Mayroon pong survey na inilabas ang Social Weather Stations (SWS) na nagsasabing, base po doon sa sagot ng mga respondent, ang Bureau of Customs daw ang most corrupt government agency. Ano ho ang mga epekto o posibleng epekto nito, considering na nandiyan at patuloy pa rin ang kampanya ng pamahalaan para po masawata ang graft and corruption, Secretary Coloma?

SEC. COLOMA: Patuloy na itinataguyod ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng Bureau of Customs ang kampanya laban sa smuggling at pagtugis sa mga lumalabag sa ating mga batas na patungkol sa adwana o sa customs, Allan. Sinisikap na makakalap ng karampatang revenues dahil ito ang itinatadhana ng batas at tinitingnan nang mabuti ang performance ng mga opisyal at inilalagay sila sa mga lugar na angkop sa kanilang mga kakayahan. Nagpapatupad din ng mga hakbang para ma-modernize ang mga sistema at kagamitan doon at pati ang mga systems and procedures ay binibigyan din ng kaukulang pansin.

Doon sa binanggit mong SWS survey habang nananatili ang mababang pagturing sa performance ng Bureau of Customs ay nabawasan naman ang negatibong pananaw sa kanila at patuloy pa rin pong pinaghuhusay sa pakikipagtulungan sa business community at sa lahat ng stakeholders. Pinapahusay ang mga proseso hinggil sa pagdaloy ng mga produkto at kalakal sa Customs. Kasama po ito sa trade facilitation function ng ating Bureau of Customs.

Mr. Allanigue: Opo. Kanina, sir, nabanggit niyo rin ‘yung mga procedure at mga kagamitan. In fact, the President has directed na itigil na ‘yung pagbubukas actually ng mga balikbayan box at i-subject na lamang ito doon sa kaukulang mga x-ray test at maging ‘yung paggamit ng mga K-9 ng iba’t ibang mga government agency natin, Sec. Sonny?

SEC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Allan. Ang direktiba ng Pangulo ay ‘yung 100 percent x-ray at K-9 inspection sa mga container van na naglalaman ng mga balikbayan box na walang sisingilin na ano mang halaga sa nagpadala at wala pong sisingilin sa ating mga overseas Filipino worker, dahil kinikilala po ‘yung kanilang pagpupunyagi at pagsisikap na maitaguyod ang kanilang mga pamilya, at iginagalang ‘yung kahalagahan ng mga balikbayan box na naglalaman ng bunga ng kanilang pagpupunyagi at iniaalay po nila ito sa kapakanan ng kanilang pamilya.

Nakipagpulong na rin po ang Commissioner of Customs, si Commissioner Alberto Lina, at sila ay naghahanda ng mga mas malinaw na guidelines para po maiwasan ‘yung hindi pagkakaroon ng tamang impormasyon.

Mr. Allanigue: Okay. Secretary Coloma, sir, sa isa pang usapin. Ito hong mass action na isinagawa ng Iglesia nI Cristo dito sa EDSA. Mayroon po bang mga dagdag na direktiba ngayon ang Malacañang kaugnay ng pangyayaring ito, Sec. Sonny, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Patuloy na sinusubaybayan ng ating mga awtoridad ang mga kaganapan diyan, Allan, para matiyak na manatiling tahimik at maayos ang ginagawang pagpupulong; na ang pagpupulong na ito ay sumusunod sa ating mga batas at hindi sila nakakaabala sa mga mamamayan na ginagampanan ang kanilang pangkaraniwang aktibidad, lalong-lalo na at ngayon ay isang weekend na may holiday pa kinabukasan.

Ang mahalaga rito ‘yung pagkilala natin na ang paggamit ng kalayaan, katulad ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag, ay may kaakibat itong responsiblidad na obserbahan ang mga batas at maging magalang din sa karapatan ng ibang mga mamamayan. Kaya, ‘yon po, ang pokus ng ating pamahalaan ay ang pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng publiko at kaayusan ng ating kapaligiran.

Mr. Allanigue: Opo. Secretary Coloma, sir, salamat pong muli nang marami for the updates from the Palace.

SEC. COLOMA: Sige, Allan. Kung mayroon pang ibang katanungan ang ating mga kagawad ng Malacañang Press Corps ay maaari naman nila itong ipaalam at tutugon po tayo sa mga tanong nila for the rest of the day.

Mr. Allanigue: Opo. Sec, salamat po nang marami, sir.

SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat, Allan, at magandang umaga po sa ating lahat.
*****
 
SOURCE: NEWS AND INFORMATION BUREAU


31 AUGUST 2015
Baldoz reminds employers of pay rules on National Heroes Day
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Cable news network puts BBL, Bangsamoro peace process in the spotlight
DAR Launches Farm Business School In Bicol
13,602 food packs arrive in La Union
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Pasuguan, Ipinulong Ang Mga Pilipino, Nirebisa Ang Contingency Plan
POLO Malaysia first to come up with short-list of model OFW employers
PHL to advocate SME Growth through Inclusive Business in the APEC Investments Experts’ Forum
96 flood control projects completed
NPO officials liable for bidding fraud
Bangsamoro peace process takes center stage on National Peace Consciousness Month
DA-PRDP sub-projects soared in the last eight months
Newborn baby on viral video cleared for discharge – DSWD
DFA-OVS, ABS CBN’s The Filipino Channel Partners To Enhance Overseas Voting Awareness
Domestic Liquidity continues to expand in July
Bank Lending continues to grow in July
Traffic Plan dry run for LRT-2 project set tomorrow
Kalahi-CIDSS, Pantawid Pamilya among the showcased programs in Galing Pook governance fair

Baldoz reminds employers of pay rules on National Heroes Day
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph
 
Monday, 31 August, is National Heroes Day and a national holiday, so yesterday Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz reminded private sector employers to observe proper pay rules for their workers on this day.

“I wish to remind—and I urge—private sector employers to abide by the pay rules for their employees on National Heroes Day,” said Baldoz in a press statement.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, in Proclamation No. 831, Series of 2014, declared 31 August as regular holiday.

“Proper observance of the pay rules on this day will lead to more productive and competent employees. Voluntary compliance with labor laws, including payment of correct wages on a holiday, is good for business,” she said.

For 31 August, the following pay rules will apply:

• If the employee did not work, he or she shall be paid 100 percent of his or her salary on this day [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 100 percent];

• For work done during the regular holiday, an employee shall be paid 200 percent of his or her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 200 percent];

• For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day [(Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked];

• For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his her daily rate of 200 percent [(Daily Rate + Cost of Living Allowance) x 200 percent] + [30 percent (Daily Rate x 200 percent)]; and

• For work done in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a holiday that also falls on his or her rest day, he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day (Hourly rate of the basic daily wage x 200 percent x 130 percent x 130 percent x number of hours worked).

On 13 August, Baldoz issued Labor Advisory No. 10 Series of 2015 spelling out the above-mentioned details of the pay rules. Labor Advisory No. 10 can be downloaded from the website of the DOLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions at www.bwc.dole.gov.ph.

Growth of services value chains, critical for job creation and inclusive growth – NEDA
Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph
 
CEBU CITY – The critical role of services trade in global value chains (GVCs) must be further explored as it can provide potential new sources of growth and jobs for the country and the entire APEC region, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“We would like to see greater participation of services in various GVCs that will increase productivity and add value to goods produced. In the process, these will create more jobs and make growth more inclusive,” said NEDA Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra, head of the Philippine delegation to the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting during the Joint Meeting of the APEC Group on Services and Market Access Group (GOS-MAG) on August 26.

In a paper for the APEC 2015 Research Project, the Philippine Institute of Development Studies explained that “the value chain is the full range of activities that firms and workers perform to bring a product from its conception to end use and beyond…GVCs reflect the fact that activities that constitute a value chain have generally been carried out in inter-firm networks on a global scale.”

“GVCs now account for more than 50 percent of global trade. The significant role of GVCs in international services trade creates a sense of urgency to make the services sector more competitive. So it’s very important for us to do further analytical work in the area,” said Esguerra, who is also the APEC GOS Convenor.

The joint GOS-MAG meeting showcased studies of how select APEC economies opened markets for services in specific sectors to benefit from participation in GVCs.

“This initiative is definitely a progressive move towards creating a better understanding of how our economies can maximize GVC participation and how APEC can create the appropriate policy environment conducive to the growth of services value chains,” said Esguerra.

He also noted the importance of developing innovative services within GVCs and prioritizing services in the development agenda, addressing services and investment restrictions, and achieving balance in regulatory reform, among others.

Last year, the 26th Ministerial Meeting in China adopted the APEC Strategic Blueprint for Promoting Global Value Chains Development and Cooperation as a mechanism to strengthen mutual economic cooperation within the global value chain network.

“We hope to be able to hasten the process of developing innovative services within GVCs in line with the China blueprint. The Philippines can take advantage of the recent enactment of the landmark Competition Act to boost its services value chains and attain a more productive, innovative, and competitive services sector,” Esguerra said.

The Competition Act is seen to attract investments and improve economic activity in the country by prohibiting the abuse of dominant position and leveling the playing field among businesses.

According to Esguerra, GVC-related initiatives along with appropriate legal instruments will contribute to the work on structural reform, which will also be tackled in the upcoming Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting on September 7 and 8, where the services sector is one of the priorities.

Cable news network puts BBL, Bangsamoro peace process in the spotlight
Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph
 
MANILA – The cable news network ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) is set to put the Bangsamoro peace process and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the spotlight as it hosts “Peace and Justice: A Beyond Politics Special on the BBL” which will be aired live on September 1 at 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

Anchored by veteran journalist Lynda Jumilla, the hour-long forum will discuss the current status of the BBL in both chambers of Congress and what steps the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels are taking to ensure the peace while deliberations on the proposed bill are ongoing. It will likewise touch on the public and local sentiments about the BBL, and the way forward for the landmark measure.

Present during the forum will be Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, the government’s chief negotiator; Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, representative of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and the MILF as well as Mindanao civil society leader Gus Miclat. Also invited are the chief movers of the BBL in both chambers, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Chair of the House Ad Hoc Committee on the Bangsamoro, and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government. Present in the audience will be members of civil society organizations, members of the security sector, and other stakeholders of the peace process.

Both committees have drafted their respective substitute bills—House Bill 5811 or the Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Senate Bill 2894 or the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Differences between the bills—the Senate substitute bill, the House substitute bill, and the original draft BBL prepared and submitted by the BTC and the Office of the President—are also expected to be tackled during the forum.

Ferrer enjoined the public to watch and participate in the forum, saying “it will be a good opportunity for the broader public to be educated more and share their sentiments about the peace process and the BBL.”

The public can ask questions during the forum by following the official twitter account of ‎ANC (@ANCNewsAlerts) and using the hashtag #BeyondBBL.

ANC is the Philippines' only cable news network running 24/7. It is the country’s first all-news network, and it has a strong presence online.

DAR Launches Farm Business School In Bicol
Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph
 
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently launched its first Farm Business School (FBS) in San Antonio, Ocampo, Camarines Sur tap farmer-beneficiaries’ entreprenurial ability.

The FBS, implemented under the project “Capacity Building of Small Farmers in Entrepreneurship Development and Market Access”, is a collaboration of the DAR, Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), and the local government units concerned.

OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Maria Gracia Sales said the business school expects to help family farms to access new markets and respond to ever-changing market demands.

“Initially, a total of 35 farmers-members of Ayugan San Antonio Agrarian Reform Cooperative (ASAARCO) in San Antonio, Ocampo will undergo a series of group-based experiential learning activities or a 25-day training sessions,” Sales said.

Sales said that after the training sessions, the participants would learn and develop their capacity in running a profitable farm business for long-term sustainability.

Aside from Sales, DA-ATI training superintendent Vivien Carable, DAR regional and provincial personnel, and local officials of the municipality of Ocampo graced the occasion. (GCBuensalida/DAR)

13,602 food packs arrive in La Union
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
 
Personnel of the Philippine Navy unload the family food packs from the two Philippine Navy Ships, (BRP) Ivatan AT928 and BRP Batak AT299, which arrived last week at the Poro Point City in San Fernando La Union.

The two ships carried 13,602 family food packs or 2,267 sacks of relief goods from the National Resource Operations Center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to families affected by Typhoon Ineng in Ilocos Norte and Abra.

DSWD launches youth dev’t sessions for high school beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
 
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Department of Education (DepEd), launches the Youth Development Session (YDS) today at the Tandang Sora National High School.

The YDS is a modular session for the high school beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program commonly known as the country’s version of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program.

“We recognize that the youth of today are faced with various challenges and some of them do not have the appropriate skills and proper attitude to face these challenges. Through the YDS, we are hopeful that we will be able to save our children from the many ills of our society such as drug addiction and early pregnancy,” shared DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman.

The YDS is one of the interventions similar to the Family Development Session (FDS) given to the parents/ guardians of the beneficiaries. Through the sessions, the youth will be molded to become productive members of the society capable of helping their own families. This will also serve as venue for the youth to foster relationship creating peer support group.

“Around 150 student-beneficiaries from the National high school will participate in today’s YDS. Topics to be discussed include Changing Body, Teenage Pregnancy, and Substance Abuse. We are grateful that we have the NYC who is helping us roll-out this initiative,” added Sec. Soliman.

“The NYC, together with the DSWD, gives great value to the ability and experiences of our Filipino youth,” said Usec. Gregorio Ramon A. Tingson, Chairperson of the NYC. “But more importantly, we believe in their hopes and dreams. This is why we are giving them the spotlight today – National Heroes’ Day – to celebrate the heroes they are and aspire to be.”

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 0-18. The program seeks to break the vicious cycle of poverty.

As of 29 July 2015, there are 4.3 million households enrolled with 1.8 million children enrolled in secondary education.

“Bayanihan” spirit leads to the longest human chain in Kalahi-CIDSS history
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
 
In the early morning of August 20, people began showing up at the Municipal Hall of Besao, Mountain Province. By early morning, around 400 people coming from 13 barangays of Besao started to gather in front of the Municipal Hall.

Their purpose: to create the longest human chain of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), with funding support from the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Their goal, however, goes beyond merely setting a record as they aim to help construct a school building for high school students in one of the town’s barangays.

Using the vehicles lent by several barangays – 4x4s, trucks, and jeepneys – the volunteers, most of whom are from the 13 barangays of Besao, proceeded to Barangay Tamboan, where the school building will be constructed, heedless of the fact that Typhoon Ineng was threatening to batter Northern Luzon with strong winds and rain.

Undaunted

Besao is considered one of the best-performing communities in Kalahi-CIDSS, a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Tamboan, one of its barangays, is bounded by Quirino, Ilocos Sur and some villages in Tubo, Abra.

With the implementation of the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd), schools with limited classrooms needed to expand to support the larger number of students. Tamboan National High School is one of these, particularly since some students coming from Quirino and Tubo also go there because of the barangay’s proximity to these towns.

One of the buildings used in the campus was old and decrepit, putting the lives of the students at risk.

“Iyong Grade 7 at Grade 8 na mga estudyante namin, doon sila sa lumang building. Dilapidated na at unsafe na, lalo na ‘yung foundations ng building. Makakatulong talaga ito sa mga bata (Our Grades 7 and 8 students use the old building. It is already dilapidated and unsafe, especially its foundations. The new building will really help the children),” said Teacher Gwen, who teaches at the school. At present, Tamboan High School has more than 30 grade 7 students in the old building.

In the recent cycle of Kalahi-CIDSS in Besao, the community of Tamboan proposed the construction of a one-unit two-classroom school building, amounting to P1,222,826, for their high school. Of this amount, P780,426 will be funded by Kalahi-CIDSS and MCC, P337,000 by the local and barangay local government units, and P105,400 through the in-kind counterpart of the community, majority of which will be for 60 cubic meters of sand that will be used during construction.

Unfortunately, the proposal of Tamboan was not prioritized during the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum for Participatory Resource Allocation (MIBF-PRA), the activity in Kalahi-CIDSS which provides communities within the municipality the opportunity to prioritize the projects that will receive funding from the program. Undaunted, Mayor Wellington Pooten requested for, and was granted, additional funding to accommodate Tamboan and Agawa, the other barangay that was not prioritized.

As the community committed in their proposal, they needed to provide sand as part of their counterpart for the project. Their closest source for this is Basa River, located about 1,500 meters from the project site. Through a community assembly, the residents of Tamboan decided to mobilize people for a Men Og-ogbo Tako ay Men Galatis activity, or a work-for-a-cause activity, in which og-ogbo means “bayanihan” vernacular, and Galatis “free labor”. Og-ogbo and Galatis is still being practiced by Besao communities – their successful implementation of Kalahi-CIDSS is proof of this, as the program strongly relies on community volunteers for the implementation of its sub-projects – but this was their first attempt to do this as one municipality. Their goal was to mobilize at least 500 participants for the activity, in which a person passes a sackful of sand to the next individual until it reaches the project site at the Tamboan National High School from the Basa River.

Longest chain

By mid-morning, more people joined the activity. When Typhoon Ineng made good on her promise and brought the rains, some began distributing large plastic bags to the volunteers of all ages and backgrounds – students, parents, tribal elders, LGU officials, police officers, and others – so they can use these as makeshift raincoats.

“Hindi na po namin naisip kung malapit na ba naming maabot ‘yung 60 cubics [meters] na buhangin, o kung mabigat ‘yung sako dahil sa ulan, o kung madulas na ‘yung daan. Ang naiisip po namin habang nagbubuhat kami, malapit nang magkaroon ng bagong classroom ‘yung mga anak namin (We were not thinking about whether we could reach 60 cubic meters of sand, or that the sacks were getting heavy because of the rain, or that the path was getting slippery. All we thought about while lifting was that our children will finally be able to have a new classroom)”, shared Isaias Palonga, the leader of the Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers of Tamboan.

At some point, however, the rain became too strong and the road too slippery, forcing the volunteers to stop hauling. By the time they ended, 721 people joined the Men Og-ogbo Tako ay Men Galatis activity, who helped haul nearly half of the required amount of sand for the sub-project.

Even though they were not able to reach their target, the volunteers nonetheless were happy about the turnout of their hard work, so much so that they danced in the rain to celebrate their success – represented by each sack they brought to the project site.

“Masaya po na sa ganitong edad po, may nagawa po akong malaki para sa Tamboan, lalo na sa mga susunod pang generations ng mag-aaral dito sa school namin. Sabi po ng teacher namin, ang tamang edukasyon po ang mag-aangat sa amin sa kahirapan. Pakiramdam ko po ngayon, worthy yung sacrifice namin ngayong araw dahil ilang bata po ang makakapag-aral, ilang pamilya po ang unti-unti maaangat sa kahirapan dito sa amin (I am happy that even at my young age, I was able to do something big for my community, which the next generations of students will benefit from. Our teacher said that good education will help us lift ourselves from poverty. I feel that our sacrifice today is worth it; because more students will be able to study, more families will be able to slowly lift themselves from poverty),” shared Roan Milan, a Grade 10 student.

Isaias was emotional at the end of the activity because of its successful turnout. He said, “Kami po, lalo na at hindi kami nakapag-aral, nakikita po namin na balang-araw ang project na ito ang magtatawid sa amin sa kahirapan. Mabibigyan po ng tsansang makapag-aral nang maayos ang mga anak namin. Inulan po ‘yung activity natin ngayon, pero nakita ko pong sobrang dami pa rin ng pumunta at tinuloy pa rin magbuhat kahit sobrang lakas na ng ulan (We, especially us who were not able to study, envision that this project will help us get out of poverty. This will give our children the chance to study well. Even though our activity got rained on, I saw just how far we have come, and that we continued to work even when the rainfall got stronger).”

He revealed that others were already asking when they will continue their project. He said, “Natapos na ‘yong activity pero may mga nagtatanong pa po kung kelan ulit ang susunod na schedule. Yung sinasabi po nila na “faith in humanity,” napatunayan ko po iyon ngayon (Our activity may have ended, but there are already those asking when we can continue. We proved today that ‘faith in humanity’ is true).”

Today, these people have set a record – they now bear the title “The Longest Human Chain” in the history of Kalahi-CIDSS. More than that, however, these people realized they were able to do something more important – they were able to bring hope to future generations who will benefit from the school building in this remote village.

Pasuguan, Ipinulong Ang Mga Pilipino, Nirebisa Ang Contingency Plan
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph
 
Ika-28 ng Agosto 2015 – Sa pangunguna ni Career Minister at Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo, inilatag ng Pasuguan sa mga bagong-halal na pinuno ng Pilin@s.MM, ang organisasyon ng mga Pilipino sa Myanmar, ang binalangkas nitong Contingency Plan para sa Myanmar noong ika-23 ng Agosto.

Ibinahagi ni Career Minister at Consul General Salcedo ang mga paghahandang ginagawa ng Pasuguan sakaling magkaroon ng sakuna o gulo sa Myanmar. Hinikayat niya ang mga pinuno ng Pilipin@s.MM na magpatala sa Pasuguan at tumulong sa pagkalat ng impormasyon ukol sa naibalangkas na Contingency Plan.

Ani Gng. Olivia De Guzman, ang bagong-halal na Pangulo ng Pilipin@s.MM, tutulong ang organisasyon sa pagpili ng mga area coordinators na maaaring tawagan sakaling magkaroon ng sakuna o kaguluhan sa Myanmar. Kanya ring ibinahagi ang kanyang naging karanasan noong magkagulo sa bansang kanyang pinagtatrabahuhan.

Taunang nirerebisa ng Pasuguan ang binalangkas nitong Contingency Plan. Hinihikayat ang mga Pilipino sa Myanmar na magpatala sa Pasuguan at subaybayan ang social media account ng Pasuguan kung saan ibinabahagi ang mga mahahalagang abiso galing sa Pasuguan.

POLO Malaysia first to come up with short-list of model OFW employers
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph
 
Kuala Lumpur—Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday commended the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Malaysia for having been the first of 36 POLOs that have come up with a short-list of nominees for the DOLE’s International Employers’ Awards.

Baldoz, who came to Malaysia on a two-day visit as part of her inspection and observation tour of POLOs in the ASEAN, witnessed the recognition by the POLO and the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia of 13 nominated Malaysian employers of OFWs during a breakfast meeting held at the Royal Chulan in the Malaysian capital.

Members of the Association of Malaysian Agencies and the representatives of nine of the 13 Malaysian employer-nominees attended the meeting, highlighted by the distribution by Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya and Labor Attache Elizabeth Marie Estrada of certificates of commendation to the 13 companies.

Members of Secretary Baldoz’s delegation, namely, Undersecretary Reydeluz Conferido; Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the POEA; Administrator Rebecca Calzado of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; Director Saul de Vries of the DOLE’s International Labor Affairs Bureau; and DOLE Communications Director Nicon Fameronag, were also present at the breakfast meeting.

“I am very pleased that our POLO in Malaysia headed by Labor Attache Estrada, in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy, is the first to come out with its own list of exemplary principals and the first to publicly recognize and acknowledge them for the International Employers’ Awards,” Baldoz said in her message at the meeting.

The 13 Malaysian companies that the POLO has recommended for nomination to the Secretary’s Award, the first of two categories of the Awards—the other one being the Presidential Award—are Renesas Semiconductor KL Sdn.; Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn. Bhd.; iTac MSC Outsourcing Sdn. Bhd.; Encora Technologies Sdn. Bhd.; Genting Malaysia Bhd. (Resorts World Genting); Technip Geoproduction Sdn. Bhd.; Schlumberger Business Support Hub Sdn. Bhd.; MMC Oil & Gas Sdn. Bhd.; KNM Process System Sdn. Bhd.; Boustead Heavy Industries Corp. Bhd.; Sapura Kencana HL Sdn. Bhd.; Jabil Circuit Sdn. Bhd.; and AIG Shared Services Sdn. Bhd.

Together, these companies employ a total of 1,554 OFWs in various occupational categories, such as technical operators, oproerations specialists, IT and other professionals, consultants, service workers, engineers, procurement workers, accountants, executive managers, analysts, design engineers, and technicians.

Labor Attache Estrada said the Malaysian company-nominees have been carefully chosen and their credentials vetted. According to her, the POLO included in its selection criteria such factors as the non-charging and non-collection of placement fees and the living conditions of the companies’ Filipino workers which the POLO found to be excellent.

“These companies have no pending cases in the POLO and the POEA and they have an array of support programs and services to enhance the welfare and promote the interest of their workers,” she said.

Secretary Baldoz said the awarding of recognition certificates to the 13 Malaysian companies was part of the DOLE’s incentives and rewards system for compliant principals and employers which she started when she was still POEA administrator—a post she held for eight years.

“We have already recognized good employers of OFWs twice, the first in 2002 and the second in 2005, and we are reviving the International Employers’ Awards to give due and proper recognition to employers of OFWs who have demonstrated preference and active/continued hiring of OFWs; complied to laws, rules, and regulations (no pending and adverse case based on POEA, NLRC, OWWA, and POLO data); excellent terms and conditions of employment; and have provided OFWs with welfare services and CSR programs,” she said.

“For the Presidential Award, we would look to consider extra-ordinary acts of assistance to OFWs, in addition to the achievement of the criteria for the Secretary’s Award and also the non-charging or non-collection of placement fee from the workers either by the principal or by its recruitment agency even if there is no prohibition for such in the host country,” she added.

A package of incentives awaits recipients of the DOLE Secretary’s Award and the Presidential Award, consisting of the following: (a) automatic renewal of registration/accreditation of principals; (b) six-year validity of registration/accreditation for Secretary’s Award winners and seven years for Presidential awardees, instead of four years, unless cancelled in accordance with the POEA Rules and Regulations; (c) open job order system for the principals; (d) priority documentary processing for newly-hired and returning workers; and (e) priority processing of the enrolment of vessels of principals, in the case of sea-based overseas employment.

The POEA may also waive the Special Recruitment Authority (SRA) for the agency of principals recruiting workers outside of the DOLE, POEA, or PESO offices, provided the POEA is informed in writing prior to the conduct of the special recruitment activity. It may also prioritize the issuance of Letters of Acknowledgment to representatives of the principals who come to the Philippines to conduct interview and/or selection of workers; offer agencies of awardees the privilege to access the POEA manpower registry; and provide assistance in sourcing manpower for the principals.

“We will also post in the POEA website the profile of all awardees and link to it the website of the principal,” she said.

PHL to advocate SME Growth through Inclusive Business in the APEC Investments Experts’ Forum
Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph
 
The Philippines will spearhead a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) entitled “Fostering SME Growth through Inclusive Business” on 27 August at Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City. The dialogue will happen at the margins of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings. The PPD is aligned with the 2015 APEC theme of “Building Inclusive Economies for Building a Better World” and also with APEC Leaders’ Declaration made in Yokohama in November 2010.

This PPD aims to raise awareness through exchange of information and best practices on Inclusive Business (IB) models in agribusiness, manufacturing and services. It would stress the importance of developing SMEs through inclusive business to create jobs, increase income and improve quality of life.

IB as defined refers to profitable business activities that deliberately target the low income segment as part of their value proposition in doing business. Local and international speakers from APEC member economies are invited to share own experiences on IB and IB-related activities and programs. Experts from Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme, World Economic Forum, Kennemer Foods International, Dow Chemicals, Cemex Philippines and Indonesia Business Council will also share their insights about IB and IB-related activities and investments in the APEC region

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, Gregory L. Domingo has been invited to deliver the Opening Remarks for the PPD, while the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Jose Rene D. Almendras will deliver the keynote address focused on “Building Inclusive Businesses – The Role of the Private and Public Sector.” Experts from Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Economic Forum (WEF), Kennemer Foods International, Dow Chemicals, Cemex Philippines, and Indonesia Business Council will also share their insights about IB and IB-related activities and investments in the APEC region. The results of the PPD will be reported by the Philippine Delegation and discussed by the APEC Investment Experts’ Group (IEG) meetings on 28-29 August.

96 flood control projects completed
Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph
 
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed 96 structural and non-structural flood-mitigating projects for National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 3 and 4A, amounting to P4.9 billion.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the completed projects are part of the P5-billion Priority High-Impact Flood Control Projects for Metro Manila and its neighboring regions in the Flood Management Master Plan.

Among the 96 completed projects are the 46 contracts for Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan (VOM) Project which is composed of construction and improvement of flood control and river walls, desilting, and installation of pumping stations. It also includes the 16 projects completed for Kalookan-Malabon-Navitas Area Project Phase 1 composed of the rehabilitation of Catmon Creek, riverwall along Malabon-Tullahan River and construction of pumpings stations and flood gates.

Two (2) contracts involving the strengthening and restoration of seawall of Roxas Boulevard were also completed under Manila Bay Seawall Project while six (6) concrete slope protection, parapet and gravity wall projects along Nangka River were finished under the Department’s Upper Marikina River Improvement Project.

Construction of eleven (11) new slope protection, spillway, and river control structures were likewise completed under East Side of Manggahan Floodway Project, Mitigation Measures for Breaches in the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike, and DPWH-Laguna Lakeshore Development Authority Flood Control and River Protection Project.

In addition, four (4) rehabilitation and restoration projects were finished for San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike and Del Carmen-Balimbing creek in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Several dredging activities that are part of the flood control plan were also completed covering the Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway in NCR, the Labangan Channel, Hagonoy Bulacan and Orani Channel, in Region 3.

Under the Flood Management Master Plan composed of 11 multi-year projects with estimated cost of P351 billion for long-term structural mitigation measures, nine (9) are on-going which includes San Juan River improvement and the Pasig Marikina River Improvement Project Phase III. Two (2) other major on-going projects include the 3.3 kilometer Blumentritt Box Culvert which is expected to be completed on the first quarter of 2016 and the Maysilo Box Culvert which is expected to be completed on the second quarter of 2016.

NPO officials liable for bidding fraud
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph
 
For not complying with procurement regulations, an acting director of the National Printing Office (NPO), including the members of its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), were ordered dismissed from the service after the Office of the Ombudsman found them guilty of Grave Misconduct in connection with the anomalous procurement of printing services worth P1.9M.

In a 12-page Decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales axed NPO Acting Director Emmanuel Andaya, BAC Chairman Sylvia Banda and BAC members Josefina Samson, Antonio Sillona, Bernadette Lagumen, and Ma. Gracia Enriquez.

They were also meted out the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and bar from taking civil service examinations.

Aside from dismissal, Ombudsman Morales also directed the filing of an Information for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against Andaya, Banda, Samson, Sillona, Lagumen and Enriquez.

The case emanated from the procurement of 1,000 boxes of Travel Clearance Certificates (TCC) as requested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in 2010. Andaya approved the BAC resolution resorting to emergency procurement of the TCCs at a price of P1,900 per box. On 30 November 2010, the contract was awarded to Advance Computer Forms, Inc. (Advance) with the lowest calculated and responsive bid of P1,899.95/box. It was also found that respondents authorized the advance delivery of the TCCs prior to the issuance of a Notice of Award.

The Resolution stated that Andaya, et al. acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence when they awarded the contract to Advance without the benefit of a public bidding as required by the Government Procurement Reform Act. It was also established that the conditions for the resort to the alternative mode of procurement were not present to justify the absence of public bidding.
The Office of the Ombudsman emphasized that “the conditions to resort the alternative methods of procurement are not empty words but were specifically crafted to guarantee that no personal preference is given to any supplier and that the government is given the best possible price for its procurement, especially since no public bidding is involved.”

Bangsamoro peace process takes center stage on National Peace Consciousness Month
Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph
 
Manila – The Bangsamoro peace process will serve as the lynchpin of the country’s 12th National Peace Consciousness Month, with the two-pronged objective of encouraging Congress to finish the work on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) while at the same time continuing to raise awareness and understanding on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Government chief peace negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said this year’s observance “comes at a most opportune time as the leadership of both Houses of Congress are eyeing a September passage of the BBL.”

On separate occasions, both Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. made public pronouncements that there was still time to pass their respective BLBARs (Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region), the amended version of the BBL, in September.

“September has always been an important month for us in the peace process. This year will be extra special and memorable if our esteemed lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate will finally finish their work on the Bangsamoro law,” commented Ferrer.

The chief negotiator also shared that the OPAPP was planning several activities for the month-long commemoration.

OPAPP has been leading the annual celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 675 series of 2004. The highlight of last year’s celebration came when the Office of the President transmitted the original BBL which was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

Focusing on the Bangsamoro, Ferrer added that the agency would be launching a series of exhibits around Metro Manila and parts of Mindanao with the assistance of several government agencies, major shopping malls, and universities. “Beyond just calling for the passage of the bill, the purpose of these exhibits is to bring closer to the Filipino people the stories and dreams of our fellow Filipino brothers and sisters in the prospective Bangsamoro.”

Ferrer commented that the “exhibits will hopefully enable and empower the general public to engage in continuing dialogue on the Bangsamoro and the legislative process involving the BBL.” She said there are plans to put up information and education materials in public spaces to increase awareness on the peace process.

Accordingly, the said exhibit will first grace Miriam College and the TriNoMa Mall on 1 September and will stay there until the 5th and the 6th respectively. Starting 14 September, the same exhibit can be viewed at the College of Arts and Science, University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) and the Philippine Normal University (PNU). U.P. Manila agreed to host the exhibit for four days while the PNU have offered a duration of two weeks. The House of Representatives will also serve as another venue for the Bangsamoro exhibit starting from 14 to 17 September. ?The exhibits will focus on providing information and clarifying misconceptions on the draft law.

This September, the general public can also expect to spot public utility vehicles in Metro Manila and Mindanao carrying messages on the BBL. Various tricycle drivers and associations have agreed to carry the said advertisements, pointing out the need to bring closer to the public the Bangsamoro message of peace and social justice.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping the Bangsamoro peace process in the consciousness of the public because the best opportunity to end the decades of alienation and hostility is now with us,"explained Ferrer.

Ferrer also invited everyone to keep an eye on the official OPAPP website as various activities and contests were also being planned. “We are bringing the peace month to the social media. The OPAPP will be launching several online-only events aligned with the objectives of the Bangsamoro peace process.

DA-PRDP sub-projects soared in the last eight months
Source: http://www.da.gov.ph
 
The amount of sub-projects approved under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) increased by up to 1,212% in the last eight months, according to PRDP data.

Based on the report, sub-projects approved for implementation and are currently on-going implementation under the Infrastructure Development (I-BUILD) component of the PRDP have increased to P3.02 billion (B) from P230 million (M) in closing of December, 2014.

Meanwhile, the amount of Enterprise Development (I-REAP) sub-projects approved for funding doubled in the last eight months — have reached P78.65-M for 10 sub-projects from P35.88-M for two sub-projects before the end of 2014.

In a status update presented by PRDP National Project Deputy Director Arnel De Mesa, the total portfolio for I-BUILD is pegged at P37.39-B from P10.98-B with 240% increase. Meanwhile the overall I-REAP portfolio has increased 354% translating to P1.64-B in funds.

De Mesa added that majority of Local Government Units (LGUs) are keen on participating in the PRDP. Seventy-five out of 80 provinces in the country have already forged memorandum of agreement with the Project, from 58 as of December, 2014 data.

There are now 69 approved Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIPs) from only 28 in the last eight months.

A PCIP is a strategic plan that rationalizes the interventions within the various segments of the value chain of commodities significant to the province and will contribute to the national goals of the agriculture and fishery sector.

The approved Value Chain Analyses (VCAs) under the PRDP doubled from 16 last December to 33 as of date.

The VCA is a tool used to assess the status of a particular industry, the linkages and interplay of the different value chain players and identify upgrading strategies and interventions that could contribute to the development and strengthening competitive advantage of the industry.

Some of the approved VCAs are ampalaya for Region 3, seaweeds for Regions 4-B, 6, 7, and Mindanao cluster, dairy cattle for region 4-A, abaca for Region 5 and 13, and cacao for Region 11 and Mindanao cluster.

While the PRDP has shown an impressive portfolio in its first year of implementation, Secretary Proceso J. Alcala still urged project implementers to always put the farmers in the center of every sub-project.

“PRDP is committed to deliver critical infrastructures and establish actual enterprises benefiting farmers and fishers,” explained Alcala.

“It is important that the roads we approved are connected to national roads and other roads that will change the lives of our farmers,” he added.

Currently, a delegation from the WB, together with PRDP team visits various projects around the country to review and assess the implementation of sub-projects on the ground.

PRDP is a six-year national project that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented, and climate resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. It is implemented through the partnership of the DA, the WB, and Local Government Units.

Newborn baby on viral video cleared for discharge – DSWD
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
 
After coordinating with the Pasay City General Hospital (PCGH) on the condition of the newborn baby seen on a viral video being slapped by his mother, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) confirmed that the baby has been cleared for discharge on August 26..

“The Medical Director of the hospital relayed to us about the negative results of the blood culture test of the newborn, hence, a pediatric clearance was already issued,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said.

While exploring possible maternal relatives who can take custody of the baby, DSWD-National Capital Region facilitated his admission at the DSWD-managed Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) for the provision of temporary shelter upon discharge from the hospital.

Meanwhile, the mother will remain in the hospital pending blood transfusion and while waiting for the result of her counseling session with the psychologist of the Pasay City Social Welfare and Development Office (PCSWDO).

The PCSWDO will also provide appropriate after-care support services to the mother.

DFA-OVS, ABS CBN’s The Filipino Channel Partners To Enhance Overseas Voting Awareness
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) on August 27 at Eugenio Lopez Communications Center, Mother Ignacia Street, South Triangle, Quezon City to enhance overseas voting awareness for purposes of the 2016 National Elections.

This agreement between DFA-OVS and TFC could further boost efforts to inform the public on the overseas voting procedures and system as well as the importance of politically empowering Filipinos here and abroad.

All Filipino citizens who expect to be abroad during the 30 day (09 April – 09 May 2016) overseas voting period for the 2016 Presidential Elections, at least 18 years old on 09 May 2016, and not otherwise disqualified by law, may personally register as an overseas voter in all Philippine Foreign Service Posts (FSPs) including the three Manila Economic and Cultural Offices (MECO), 15 Overseas Voters Registration Centers in the Philippines and in other Commission on Elections (COMELEC) approved field/mobile registration centers. For an updated list please go to www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph or www.comelec.gov.ph.

Overseas Filipinos in the Asia Pacific (except China and Taiwan), Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa region may now go to irehistro.comelec.gov.ph/ov to access the iREHISTRO On-line system to register as an overseas voter. The voter registration period ends on October 31.

Domestic Liquidity continues to expand in July
Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph
 
Preliminary data show that domestic liquidity (M3) grew by 8.5 percent year-on-year in July 2015 to reach P7.7 trillion. This was slightly slower than the 9.3-percent expansion (revised) recorded in June. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 increased by 0.7 percent.
Money supply continued to expand due largely to sustained demand for credit. Domestic claims grew by 11.0 percent in July from 10.8 percent in June. Credits to the private sector increased at a slightly slower pace relative to the previous month. The bulk of bank loans during the month was channeled to key production sectors such as real estate activities; electricity, gas, steam, and airconditioning supply; wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; financial and insurance activities; and manufacturing. Meanwhile, net public sector credit rose by 6.5 percent in July, faster than the 1.1-percent growth (revised) a month earlier.
Net foreign assets (NFA) in peso terms grew at a slower pace of 6.8 percent in July from 8.0 percent in the previous month. The BSP’s NFA position continued to expand during the month on the back of robust foreign exchange inflows coming mainly from overseas Filipinos’ remittances and business process outsourcing receipts. The NFA of banks likewise increased as banks’ foreign assets expanded at a faster pace relative to that of their foreign liabilities. Banks’ foreign assets increased due largely to the growth in their investments in marketable debt securities, while banks’ foreign liabilities grew mainly on account of higher deposits and placements made by foreign banks with other banks.
The continued expansion of domestic liquidity during the month indicates that money supply remains sufficient to support economic growth. Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor monetary conditions closely to ensure that liquidity in the financial system remains consistent with the BSP’s price and financial stability objectives.

Bank Lending continues to grow in July
Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph
 
Outstanding loans of commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the BSP, expanded by 13.5 percent in July from 14.5 percent in June. Similarly, bank lending inclusive of RRPs grew by 13.4 percent from the 14.2 percent growth in the previous month. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, commercial bank lending increased by 1.0 percent for loans net of RRPs and by 1.1 percent for loans inclusive of RRPs.
Loans for production activities—which comprised more than 80.0 percent of banks’ aggregate loan portfolio—grew by 13.4 percent in July from 14.5 percent in June. The expansion in production loans was driven primarily by increased lending to the following sectors: real estate activities (16.4 percent); electricity, gas, steam and airconditioning supply (27.8 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (15.2 percent); financial and insurance activities (10.7 percent); and manufacturing (4.5 percent). Bank lending to other sectors likewise expanded during the month except for transportation and storage, and other community, social and personal activities, which declined by 4.5 percent and 15.1 percent, respectively.
Loans for household consumption grew by 13.7 percent in July from 14.9 percent in June due to sustained growth in credit card loans, auto loans and salary loans.
Going forward, the BSP will continue to ensure that domestic credit and liquidity conditions will keep pace with overall economic growth while remaining consistent with its price and financial stability objectives.

Traffic Plan dry run for LRT-2 project set tomorrow
Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph
 
DOTC, LRTA Target Start of Construction by End of September

Aiming to start construction works for the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) Masinag Extension project before the end of September, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will conduct a dry run of their proposed traffic management plan (TMP) tomorrow, August 29.

“Mass transportation is a major solution to traffic, because it moves people more efficiently. The LRT-2 extension to Masinag is one of our many railway and bus modernization projects which are precisely designed to ease congestion in and around Metro Manila, so we are eager, and likewise it is imperative, to start works immediately,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

Once the project is completed in the third quarter of 2017, travel time from Masinag to Recto will be down to only thirty-six (36) minutes, a considerable cut from present conditions which require taking a jeepney or UV Express ride plus a transfer to the LRT-2 Santolan Station in order to reach Recto, the total travel time of which normally takes over an hour to 1.5 hours.

Project Background

The LRT-2 Masinag Extension project covers the construction of a 3.9-kilometer fully-elevated viaduct along Marcos Highway and two (2) additional stations — one to be situated in front of the Robinsons Metro East and Sta. Lucia East Grand Malls, and a second one at the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City.

The project will be operational in the third quarter of 2017 and is projected to cater to an additional 75,000 daily passengers, easing traffic in the area.

Proposed TMP During Construction

Project contractor D.M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI) has begun initial test pitting, spanning a 300-meter section along the center island of Marcos Highway. Actual construction works targeted in September will begin near the Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, and will be executed by two teams working in opposite directions towards the Masinag Junction and the Santolan Station, respectively.

Once construction is in full swing, the entire 3.9-kilometer stretch will have reduced lanes for traffic: the current 5 lanes per direction will be down to 4 lanes each, as the innermost lanes of both directions will be closed down.

Under the TMP, sections of the outermost lanes of each side will be used for loading and unloading bays for public utility vehicles (PUVs). The remaining three lanes will be used for regular traffic, with the innermost open lane for U-turning vehicles, and the next lane for fast vehicles.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will deploy personnel to help enforce road discipline, such as proper loading and unloading at designated stops only, during construction.

Three (3) intersections along Marcos Highway will be opened for motorists: Felix Avenue Extension, Amang Rodriguez Intersection, and De La Paz Intersection. For each U-turn slot that is closed for construction works, another U-turn slot will be opened nearby, to ensure that traffic flow is not disrupted.

Traffic signages will be put up and 132 flag men will be deployed to guide motorists. Movable waiting sheds which may be transferred as construction progresses will also be provided for commuters at designated loading and unloading areas.

Six (6) alternate routes have also been identified, in order to give motorists other options: Sumulong Highway, A. Rodriguez to J. Rizal, Felix Avenue to Fernando Avenue, Calle Industria, Kaginhawaan, and Ortigas Avenue Extension.

Marcos Highway accommodates a volume of 5,172 vehicles per hour on the westbound lane and 705 vehicles per hour on the eastbound lane during morning peak hours. For the evening peak, there are around 4,219 vehicles per hour on the westbound lane and 3,157 vehicles per hour on the eastbound lane.

The TMP is under review by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and part of its approval process is the conduct of a dry run.

Dry Run Starting on August 29

For the dry run which will begin at 4:00am tomorrow, the Marcos Highway-Felix Avenue intersection will be opened to allow left turns for vehicles. Flag men will be deployed and signages will be installed to assist motorists.

Adjustments will be made as necessary, depending on its effect on traffic. Should this scheme prove to be successful, the same system will eventually be used for the Amang Rodriguez and De La Paz intersections.

Kalahi-CIDSS, Pantawid Pamilya among the showcased programs in Galing Pook governance fair
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph
 
MANILA – Two of the programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are slated to be showcased in the local governance fair organized by the Galing Pook Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization that commits to promote innovation and excellence in local governance. The fair will be held on August 30-September 1, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) will be among the programs that will be featured in the said activity as good governance and citizen empowerment initiatives.

The fair, entitled “Mamamayan, Mamamayani,” is intended to recognize the good governance initiatives of civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), national government agencies (NGAs), and local government units (LGUs) from across the country. In particular, it seeks to acknowledge the efforts made by the said organizations in promoting citizen participation in local governance.

The DSWD seeks to promote people participation and empower citizens, particularly those who are poor, marginalized, and vulnerable, through its programs such as Kalahi-CIDSS and Pantawid Pamilya.

As a community-driven development (CDD) program, Kalahi-CIDSS seeks to help alleviate poverty by capacitating people so they will have the opportunity to identify, implement, and manage community projects and resources that will address their most pressing needs. Through CDD, residents learn how to work together so they can manage the problems affecting their villages.

The community projects identified by the citizens usually come in the form of small-scale infrastructure projects that address basic social service needs, such as school buildings, day care centers, health centers, pathways, rice or corn mills, or electrification projects.

Kalahi-CIDSS also seeks to improve local governance by tightening the ties between LGUs and communities so that they can work together to ensure sustainable local development, even after the program leaves the area.

Meanwhile, Pantawid Pamilya empowers communities primarily through the Family Development Sessions (FDS), which trains parents in how to manage their families effectively.

Some of the gains of the two programs will be presented during the governance fair in a session entitled “Stories of Change: Panibagong Kuwento, Kuwentong Pagbabago” on August 30 at 1:30 p.m.

This session will look into the changes that have happened in the lives of the partner-beneficiaries of these two programs since they became involved in Kalahi-CIDSS and/or Pantawid Pamilya. Among those who will be featured are villages from Ajuy, Iloilo and Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, in which residents served as Kalahi-CIDSS community volunteers to help protect their families from poverty. Also to be featured are Alyannah Terite, Allaine Marie Billoan, and Mark Joseph del Prado, Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries and student achievers who recently graduated from high school.

According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, the “Mamamayan, Mamamayani” local governance fair provides the Agency the opportunity to show how the programs do not only seek to promote improved governance, but also aim for sustainable change within poor communities.

She said, “Kalahi-CIDSS and Pantawid Pamilya are more than just short-term responses to poverty. We hope to empower citizens from poor communities and train them so that they can learn to invest in health and education in Pantawid Pamilya, and later, so they can participate in local development issues through Kalahi-CIDSS.”

She continued, “Through their participation in these programs, they get to learn that they can do more for their families and their communities, and even for themselves.”

Sec. Soliman also mentioned how the Sustainable Livelihood Program, the third major program of the DSWD, provides economic opportunities for people affected by poverty, thereby providing another safety net that will help support the changes happening in their lives.

Aside from the DSWD and the Galing Pook Foundation, the other agencies that will participate in the fair include the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Yapak ni Jesse, CODE-NGO, Synergeia, Action for Economic Reform, and the World Bank.



Last Updated: 31 AUGUST 2015
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  President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff, General Hernando Iriberri, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo is Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III receives the copy of a book “Ang Mamatay ng Dahil sa Iyo” presented by National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo is Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the singing of the Philippine National Anthem during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano, National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff, General Hernando Iriberri. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo is Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff, General Hernando Iriberri. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, troops the line during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, troops the line during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 31). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino Noon at Ngayon: Ang Simula at Tagapagpatuloy ng Malawakang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  Amb. Angie Sta. Catalina, APEC 2015 National Organizing Committee Deputy Director General provides media details on APEC's 25-year history during a briefing on Saturday ( August 29) held at the APEC International Media Center at Bayfront Hotel in Central Cebu City. (Rey S. Baniquet)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III exchange views with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, during the expanded bilateral meeting at the Aguinaldo State Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III shakes hands with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28, 2015). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014.  (Photo by Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, sign the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. Also in photo are Madame Naraporn Chan-o-cha and Presidential Sister Maria Elena Balsy Aquino Cruz. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III and General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, arrive for the state luncheon at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace during the Official Visit to the Philippines on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, delivers his message during the state luncheon at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Joseph Vidal/ Robert Viñas/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the state luncheon at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the official visit of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III and General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, lead the ceremonial toasts during the state luncheon at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Joseph Vidal /  Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III and General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, enjoy the cultural presentation during the welcome ceremony at the Malacañan Palace Grounds on Friday (August 28, 2015). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand shake hands after delevering their  statements at the joint press conference held at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand during the joint press conference at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III and General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, greet Thai officials during the welcome ceremony at the Malacañan Palace Grounds on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Joseph Vidal/ Robert Viñas/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III shakes hands with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III and General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, honor the colors during the welcome ceremony at the Malacañan Palace Grounds on Friday (August 28, 2015). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first official visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014.  (Photo by Joseph Vidal/ Robert Viñas/ Malacañang Photo Burea
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, upon arrival at the Malacañan Palace Grounds for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, delivers his remarks during the joint press conference with President Benigno S. Aquino III held  at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his statement during the joint press conference held at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, share a light moment during the joint press conference at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Joseph Vidal / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, signs the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (August 28, 2015). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. Also in photo are Madame Naraporn Chan-o-cha and Presidential Sister Maria Elena Balsy Aquino Cruz  (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
  President Benigno S. Aquino III introduces to His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, members of his official family during the welcome ceremony at the Malacañan Palace Grounds on Friday (August 28). This is the Thai Prime Minister’s first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in August 2014. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
    
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‪#‎Comelec‬ looking for ways to use old ‪#‎PCOS‬ machines, save on costs for 2016 elections http://t.co/HrGjGfMhQ4 http://t.co/1C8NPcwWy7
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NEWS: No security threat, APEC-related crime reported in ‪#‎Cebu‬ - PNP - See more at: http://t.co/IF3Qr0Gfc6 ‪#‎APEC2015‬
CEBU CITY, September 1 (PIA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) here reported that no APEC-related incidents were reported since the Asia...
NEWS.PIA.GOV.PH/ARTICLE/VIEW/2…



Filipino ‪#‎Overseas‬ voter reg is also ongoing in PH embassies, consulates & Sat offices until 12Oct 2015. ‪#‎NoBioNoBoto‬ http://t.co/B2TMkzxqdm
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