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| Philippine structural reform requires interagency coordination, says official |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) Achieving an ideal ease of doing business structure in the country will take time and it needs cooperation among government agencies, an economic planning official said.
APEC ministers agreed on Tuesday to remove impediments on the ease of doing business (EoDB) to trade and commerce by lowering registration and trade actions costs in the APEC region through targeted and tangible programs.
In a press conference at Radisson Blu Hotel at the conclusion of the two-day meeting on structural reforms, NEDA Deputy Director General Emmanuel Esguerra said there has been some progress in the Philippines in terms of improving regulatory framework but there is a lot of work ahead.
"Certainly regulation and regulatory reform, particularly structural reform, requires a whole lot of government approach," he said.
"We need to do a better job of interagency coordination. Of course structural reforms, as we have been saying, is not a one-off process. It is an activity, an undertaking that requires some period of time to be able to yield results."
He said that aside from interagency coordination, establishing a coherent set of policies guided by an overarching vision is also very important.
At the end of the discussion on structural reforms, the ministers announced in a statement that they agreed to recommend to APEC economic leaders the new aspirational goal of 10-percent improvement by 2018 in the existing five priority areas.
These areas include starting a business, dealing with construction permits, trading across borders, getting credit, and enforcing contracts.
The ministers will also endorse to the leaders the APEC EoDB Action Plan 2016-2018 when they meet in Manila in November.
They also instructed the economic committee to draft and utilize the APEC EoDB Implementation Plan to guide capacity building over the next three years.
APEC member economies met in Cebu for the APEC Structural Reforms Ministerial Meeting to advance the economic bloc's reform agenda, find solution to avoid the middle income trap and continue the structural reform work program until Year 2020. PND (as) |
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| APEC targets 10% improvement in ease of doing business in Asia-Pacific region |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) Ministers from 21 member-economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have agreed to undertake reforms to improve the ease of doing business in the Asia-Pacific by 10 percent between 2016 to 2018, paving the way for greater economic activity in the region.
In a statement issued at the end of the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting Tuesday held here, the ministers said they will recommend to APEC Economic Leaders the 10-percent improvement goal by 2018, covering five priority areas for regulatory reform under the APEC Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Action Plan.
These priority areas include starting a business, dealing with construction permits, trading across borders, getting credit and enforcing contracts.
“This target aims to reaffirm APEC’s strong commitment to implement regulatory reforms to improve the business environment,” they said.
The ministers also recognized that EoDB reforms remain a high priority in APEC economies, and capacity building and technical assistance could help economies overcome constraints and challenges implementing such reforms.
APEC Secretariat Executive Director Dr. Allan E. Bollard believes that the 10-percent goal is reasonable considering the short timeframe.
“If we achieved this, or over achieve it, then we expect to see costs coming down for firms, prices coming down for consumers, and more exports,” Bollard said.
“And if we can get right in terms of the inclusive growth focus on these regulatory reforms, we should expect more women in business, more MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) working in the international arena and trading,” he added.
The APEC Policy Support Unit (PSU) conducted annual interim assessments that indicated APEC economies made continuous progress in the five areas from 2010 to 2014.
The 12.7-percent improvement during 2010-2014 may indicate that APEC may not be able to achieve the aspirational target of 25 percent by the end of 2015.
However, it still constitutes a significant progress towards producing tangible results while taking into account the challenging environment in which reforms were implemented.
“We note the uncertainty that continues to cloud the global economic scene. Although there are signs of recovery, the residual effects of the global financial crisis are still evident in many economies, even as new forms of trade and investment protectionism are on the rise,” the ministers said in the statement. (PNA) (ldv) |
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| Palace official acknowledges efforts of HPG, MMDA to ease traffic congestion |
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Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras on Wednesday acknowledged the “hard work and continuous efforts” of the Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for working together to address the traffic situation in the metropolis.In a statement, Almendras said the complex problem “requires the ‘whole of government’ approach”, which also involves other agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation and Communications, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Land Transportation Office.
“The past two days are proof that the initial steps being taken to ease the traffic situation were effective, and government will continue to strive to improve our interaction and interoperability among concerned government agencies,” he said in the statement.
The Cabinet Secretary also urged the public to follow traffic rules and regulations.
“We continue to appeal to the public for their cooperation in following traffic rules and regulations that greatly impact on traffic flow and management,” he said.
Almendras has been tasked by President Benigno S. Aquino III to coordinate with agencies to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila, especially along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. PND (jm) |
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| APEC members agree on renewed agenda for structural reform in next five years |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) Senior officials of member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) set forth this week the Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (RAASR) 2016-2020 to meet the needs and priorities of the economic bloc in the next five years and beyond.
"We invite leaders of APEC economies leaders to jointly pledge to undertake robust, comprehensive and ambitious structural reforms to reduce inequality and stimulate growth in their economies," APEC senior officials said in a statement issued on Tuesday after their two-day meeting on structural reform held here.
They said they hope that each leader's commitment could contribute to the APEC's overarching goal to promote balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secured growth.
This will be done through the following guidelines: having more open, transparent and competitive markets; deeper participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women, youth and people with disabilities as well as older workers; and putting up sustainable solid policies that enhance economic resiliency and growth.
Under the RAASR, each economy will develop an individual action plan, setting forth its structural reform priorities, objectives and policies starting 2016 until 2020.
"The inclusion of quantitative and qualitative indicators to demonstrate how progress will be monitored is strongly encouraged," the senior officials said in the statement.
Economies are also encouraged to nominate reform action under all guidelines and across all sectors, particularly services, to ensure individual action plans are suitably ambitious and comprehensive.
The APEC officials said they are carrying out the RAASR as a result of the Asia-Pacific region's slower global economic growth, slower potential growth, fiscal consolidation, and relatively weak private sector investment.
"In such environment, structural reforms are critical to boost growth through increasing productivity and addressing APEC's long-term development objectives of graduating to high income status and continuing improvement in living standards despite the ageing populations in some economies," they said in the statement. PND (as) |
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| Malacañang seeks public understanding on heavy traffic caused by flash floods |
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Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. has sought the understanding of the public who were caught in the heavy traffic caused by flash floods following heavy rains on Tuesday night.
"Government’s efforts to improve traffic flow along EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) and major thoroughfares were greatly hindered last night by heavy rains and flash floods that were experienced during the rush hour of homeward-bound commuting. These slowed down the movement of vehicles and resulted in gridlock in flooded areas with stalled vehicles. It was only past 11 p.m. when the flash floods subsided and normal flow of vehicles resumed,” Secretary Coloma said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
"We understand the plight of many who were stranded and delayed considerably in reaching their homes and destinations and we seek their kind understanding,” he added.
Coloma said that according to Secretary Rogelio Singson, the Department of Public Works and Highways is working on clearing and expanding the holding capacity of drainage systems, while Highway Patrol Group (HPG) Director Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao said that HPG personnel diverted traffic on flooded streets to alternate routes.
The Palace official also said that Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino deployed traffic enforcers even past midnight to assist in normalizing the traffic flow. PND (jm) |
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| APEC wants small businesses 'front and center' in global trade |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) They are said to be responsible for driving innovation and competition in many economic sectors. This is why a plan has been crafted to put micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the “front and center” of regional and global trade by making them direct exporters of goods and services.
This policy recommendation is part of the draft implementation plan for the Boracay Action Agenda to Globalize MSMEs (BAA-MSME) introduced at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 3rd Senior Officials’ Meeting held here.
This plan is called the APEC Implementation Plan for the BAA-MSME and it seeks to identify policies and reforms that would boost MSME integration in international trade.
According to the plan, APEC 2015’s agenda to make small businesses “front and center” in international trade can be achieved by making them part of the global value chain, that is, part of the end-to-end production of goods and services -- from conception to usage.
The plan is a “living document”, according to Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Ceferino Rodolfo, as this would guide officials in the implementation of BAA-MSME, which was endorsed by APEC ministers during the APEC Ministerial Roundtable in the island resort of Boracay earlier this year.
The proposal further demands that MSMEs should be afforded better access to information to open them up to global market trends and finance opportunities.
Micro, small and medium enterprises are businesses whose personnel numbers fall below certain limits. They are generally defined as one with at least 100 and fewer than 500 employees. Today, statistics show that MSMEs outnumber large companies by a wide margin.
But why should MSMEs be integrated in global trade?
Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Economics, Ramon Clarete, explained that such a move would bring “more exports, diversified products, and increased productivity, and increased firm competitiveness” in the Philippine economy.
“Like many developing countries, the Philippines will need to work to achieve the integration of MSMEs in global trade," said Clarete.
He noted that the meetings held here led to “specific, concrete, and practical initiatives” that member economies could implement to provide their MSME sector more opportunities to participate in the global trade.
Clarete explained that an MSME sector with a wider scope would bring a bigger variety of products, raise the average productivity of a country, and intensify competition in the global market.
He also said these would lower the average cost of products.
A modeling study published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on MSMEs’ effect in the overall economic welfare agreed with Clarete's analysis.
The ADB study said that having more MSMEs in the export market increases the opportunities for economic growth.
Ateneo de Manila University Economics professor, Dr. Alvin Ang, meanwhile, stressed that increased competitiveness in the market and lower prices of goods are long-term results of policy change.
Ang, currently a board member of the Philippine Economics Society, said that in the short term, there is no immediate difference because the MSMEs need to participate first, and they have to improve what they produce.
"They have to improve their cash flow,” he said, adding that the earliest changes could be felt within six months after the implementation of policy reforms.
Ang said the Philippines has not been remiss in crafting policies encouraging MSMEs to participate more in the economy.
“The challenge is that MSMEs are not doing their part," he pointed out.
"They are not participating. They are not producing new products. They are not inventing. We need something new in the market," he said. (acg) |
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| President Aquino lists major infrastructure projects in Misamis Occidental |
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(OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday enumerated the government’s major infrastructure projects intended to improve accessibility, create jobs, and boost economic activity in the province of Misamis Occidental.
President Aquino visited Misamis Occidental on Wednesday morning to update its residents on the infrastructure projects in the province, including the P5.1-billion Panguil Bay Bridge project.
In his speech, the President said the National Economic and Development Authority Board has already approved the Panguil Bay Bridge project that would connect Tangub City in Misamis Occidental to the municipality of Tubod in Lanao del Norte province.
President Aquino said that once completed, the proposed 3.6-kilometer two-lane bridge would reduce travel time between the two places from 2.5 hours to only seven minutes.
“Sa proyekto pong ito, magiging mas konektado ang mga bayan ng Ozamiz, Tangub, Oroquieta, sa mga sentro gaya ng Cagayan de Oro at Iligan, at maging sa ibang bahagi ng Zamboanga Peninsula,” he said.
“Isipin na rin po ninyo: Kapag nakumpleto na ang pagpapagawa ng mga daungan sa Plaridel, Jimenez, Oroquieta, at ang modernisasyon sa paliparan at daungan sa Ozamiz, asahan ninyong bibilis pa ang daloy ng komersiyo, transportasyon, at turismo sa buong Misamis Occidental, pati na rin sa inyo pong rehiyon,” he added.
The President said the bridge and the other ongoing infrastructure projects in the province aim to enhance connectivity and spur economic growth in the region.
It will also improve the lives of the people living in the area, he added.
“Siyempre, ang dulot nito: Aarangkada pa hindi lang ang negosyo at mga serbisyo sa inyong lalawigan, kundi maging ang mismong kabuhayan at kalagayan ninyo,” he said.
Aside from the Panguil Bay Bridge project, President Aquino also cited the improvement of a mountain road from Oroquieta to Calamba, which includes the rehabilitation of the Oroquieta City-Plaridel-Calamba-Sapang Dalaga Road.
Travel time along the road will be cut from two hours to one hour once it is finished, the President said.
Other projects are the construction of the slope protection of Migcanaway Bridge 1 along the Ozamiz-Pagadian Road in Tangub City, the upgrading of the Bonifacio-Don Victoriano Road, and the rehabilitation of the Ozamiz City Coastal By-Pass Road.President Aquino also mentioned that the construction of roads aim to boost tourism in the province, particularly the Ozamiz-Clarin-Tangub-Bonifacio-Don Victoriano Agro-Eco-Tourism Hinterland Projects, the Sta. Maria Hoyohoy Road going to the Hoyohoy Highland Botanical Garden, and the Gandawan-Lake Duminagat Road.
“Bukod pa sa mga nabanggit nating estruktura, ginagawa na rin ang Ozamiz City-Clarin Interior By-Pass Airport Link, na kapag natapos ay ibababa pa sa limang minuto ang dating dalawampung minutong biyahe papunta sa airport,” the Chief Executive said.
President Aquino also cited the rehabilitation of the Tangub City–Cabangcalan–Manga–Bongabong Road leading to the Watershed Park in Tangub, and the Tangub Small Reservoir Irrigation Project.
In his speech, President Aquino also noted that since 2011, the government’s budget for infrastructure projects in Misamis Occidental has already reached P7.24 billion.
“Ngayon nga pong nasa huling bahagi na tayo ng ating panunungkulan, balak pa nating paspasan ang paghahatid ng kalinga at suporta hindi lang sa inyong bayan, kundi maging sa kalakhang Mindanao at sa buong bansa. Ang pangarap po kasi natin, ay ang makitang umuunlad ang buong Mindanao para masagad ninyo ang potensiyal nito bilang ‘Land of Promises Fulfilled’,” he said.
The President however admitted that a lot of work still needs to be done.
“Pero ang kaya nating ipatupad, tinutupad na natin; ang kayang itama, talagang itatama natin. Sa atin pong panig sa mabuting pamamahala: ang mga inisyatiba, nakaangkla sa pangangailangan, imbis na sa politika o palakasan,” he said.
“Ang pag-unlad, nakabatay sa isang komprehensibo at pinag-aralang estratehiya. Ang resulta: Ang kaginhawaan, totoong abot-kamay, hindi lang ng iilan kundi ng mas nakararami, dahil sabay-sabay tayong nag-aambagan,” he added.
From Misamis Occidental, President Aquino proceeded to Davao. PND (co) |
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| Finance official underscores importance of implementing Cebu Action Plan |
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(LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu) A finance official on Wednesday underscored the importance of having coordinated efforts in implementing the Cebu Action Plan (CAP), once it is agreed upon by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministers late this week.
Delegates to the APEC meeting threshed out the details of the Cebu Action Plan on Wednesday. The plan will be presented to APEC ministers on Friday for signing.
Adoption of the CAP by APEC member economies is important because it could boost growth, shield the region from financial shocks, and prevent future financial crisis.
"We must remember that APEC is the largest economic grouping in the whole world. APEC member economies account for 57 percent of world GDP (gross domestic product)," Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said during a press conference here.
"They account for more than 54 percent inward FDI (foreign direct investment) and 56 percent of the outward FDI. And they also account for 39 percent the world's population."
These economies also account for economic dynamism in the Asia-Pacific region, he said, noting that if the growth rates of the member economies are viewed as a whole, they double that of the world's growth.
"So, we are growing faster than the rest of the world," Beltran said.
The adoption of the policies contained in the CAP will enhance their resiliency and inclusivity and this will also be a big boon to the world economy as a whole, he said.
This will also push growth rates up, and avoid the dampening impacts of disasters and volatilities, he added.
Beltran noted that the region has had several crises in the past, and member economies have learned from these crises and are trying to adopt policies that would help them avoid future instability.
Meanwhile, Director Fabier Roca Fabianis of Peru’s Ministry of Finance and the Economy, said they understand that the CAP will be the roadmap for the next 20 years for the APEC finance ministers to process.
He said all the pillars of the CAP must be implemented, considering the unity of the APEC economies. Among the pillars of the CAP are financial integration, fiscal reforms and transparency, financial resiliency, and infrastructure development and financing.
"We understand that not all APEC members are ready to implement in the short term but we must work with economies to try to implement this action plan, to work on the discussion on that instrument," he said.
Peru, which will host the APEC Summit next year, is planning a one-year, five-year and 10-year implementation strategy for CAP.
Fabianis indicated his country's commitment to implement or work on the Cebu Action Plan during their hosting.
"We will work on that and we will select doable action for Peru's hosting," he said.
Some 212 APEC delegates attending the meetings here in Lapu-Lapu City, will iron out the CAP before it is submitted to the ministers on Friday. For the meeting of chief executives officers, organizers expect 100 participants to attend the discussions. PND (as) |
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| Services sector a game changer in APEC economies |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) The services sector can be a game changer, not only in domestic and regional development but also in member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), business groups from the public and private sector across the Asia Pacific said at the culminating event of an APEC dialogue here Tuesday.
Delegates to the Regional Conference of Services Coalition thus urged the APEC to “take action to realize the transformative benefits" of this sector, which provides services ranging from restaurants, shipping, accounting, information technology, and entertainment, among other services-centered enterprises.
According to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), these benefits can only be enjoyed by making the services sector more competitive, and competitiveness can be achieved with “structural reform in APEC economies”.
“Competitive services help to create jobs, produce quality goods, widen choices for consumers, harness opportunities for businesses, improve living standards, and spur economic growth,” the ABAC said in a statement.
Reforms should include addressing behind-the-border barriers, such as business registration procedures, the council said, adding that international trade negotiations alone will not be able to fix them.
“Governments need to take unilateral action to encourage competitive services industries,” the ABAC said.
Opening and facilitating trade and investments in the services sector have significantly benefited micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) seeking to enter global markets, it noted.
Member of ABAC Hong Kong Anthony Nightingale also pointed out that an uncompetitive services sector means an uncompetitive manufacturing sector.
This has led to lower exports and higher prices for consumers, he said.
Representatives of both the private and public sectors meanwhile welcomed the development of an APEC Services Cooperation Framework, which APEC Leaders will consider at their annual summit scheduled in Manila on November 18 to 19.
The framework would signal the importance of services to APEC member-economies and introduce an action plan for the next 10 years on improving services competitiveness.
The ABAC and other businessmen also said engaging the business community is important in formulating meaningful domestic reforms.
Government policies need to “embrace the new global worker”, said Guillermo Luz, lead coordinator for the private sector in the APEC National Organizing Council.
The Regional Conferences of Services Coalition was held on the margins of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and the APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting here in Cebu City.
While a non-binding formation, the APEC meetings are able to set domestic, regional, and industrial policies to achieve free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific.
The APEC's 21 member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
The APEC Leaders established the ABAC in 1995.
This private sector body presents recommendations to APEC Leaders in an annual dialogue and advises APEC officials on business sector priorities and concerns.
The ABAC meets four times per year, and ABAC representatives also attend Senior Officials' Meetings, the Annual Ministerial Meeting, and the sectoral Ministerial Meetings.
The ABAC comprises up to three senior business people from each APEC economy and the appointments are made by the Leader of the member economy concerned.
The Chair of the ABAC comes from the economy that is hosting the APEC and therefore changes annually. The ABAC represents a diverse range of sectors and includes small and large enterprises. (acg) |
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| APEC to facilitate cross-border flow of investments to limit effects of market volatilities |
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(LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu) Finance ministers and officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are working on initiatives aimed at facilitating the cross-border flow of investments to mitigate the impact of market volatilities on member economies, as they finalize a roadmap for reforms for the region.
Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said during a press briefing here Wednesday that they have identified various measures to enhance financial resiliency, one of the pillars of the Cebu Action Plan (CAP).
“If you look at many deliverables under this pillar, you will see that it will hasten the flow of investments across the economies,” he said.
Beltran cited the Asia Region Funds Passport (ARFP), which will allow APEC economies to tap the excess savings of one economy and transform it into productive investments in another economy.
The potential benefits of the passport include more choice for investors, lower fees, a more competitive Asian asset management industry, deeper financial markets and improved access to capital, and improved regulatory standards across the region.
Beltran noted that the APEC is one of the regions with the highest level of savings in the world, accounting for a large percentage of foreign direct investments (FDIs) and investable funds.
“There are many pension funds in the region that can move their funds to where they are needed, to where the returns are much higher. By getting the policies coordinated with each other, we will hasten the flow from the ones with higher savings, with excess savings, to the ones with lower savings so that all economies will grow together,” he said.
Senior officials of the APEC gathered here Wednesday for the final drafting of the 19-page Cebu Action Plan, a development roadmap for the Asia-Pacific region, before its formal launch on Friday.
The roadmap was drafted by the Philippines, with inputs from other APEC member economies, multilateral organizations, and the private sector through the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
Apart from financial resilience, other pillars of the Cebu Action Plan are financial integration, fiscal reforms and transparency, and infrastructure development and financing.
“Several negotiations and discussions have been undertaken… Actually, there is a broad support for all the pillars because these are necessary to make APEC a rapidly growing and very resilient and inclusive region,” Beltran said. PNA (ldv) |
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| ‘Recovery through structural reforms’ against global economic crisis urged at APEC meeting |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) To overcome the lingering effects of the global economic crisis, ministers and other high-level officials of member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are pushing for “recovery through structural reforms”.
Delegates to the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting on Tuesday evening came up with a joint statement endorsing a five-year work program that seeks “to stimulate balanced and sustainable growth and reduce inequality”.
The APEC ministers said these goals could be achieved by, among others:
* Providing more opportunities to previously underrepresented groups, firms, and regions so that they can participate. These include micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), as well as the services sector.
* Making doing business 10 percent easier and faster in APEC economies.
* Giving incentives to innovation.
Philippine Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said participants in the meeting also discussed ways to overcome the “middle-income trap” that some APEC members are experiencing and are expected to experience.
Middle-income economies that cannot level up to become high-income economies are said to fall into the “middle-income trap”.
“For these economies, a wide range of reforms may be required,” the APEC ministers said in the statement.
“These reforms may include greater market access, increased market competition, improvements in the regulatory environment, protection of intellectual property rights, including trade secrets, and private sector participation in infrastructure,” they added.
These upwardly mobile economies need an environment that enables growth; they also need incentives to innovate.
In their structural reforms, governments can provide the environment and incentives by ensuring that state institutions are stable, predictable, and effective, said Balisacan, who also chairs the APEC 2015 Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting.
Embodied in the Renewed APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (RAASR), this work program until 2020 “strives to stimulate balanced and sustainable growth and reduce inequality”, Balisacan said during the press conference Tuesday that capped the meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel here. (acg) |
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| President Aquino inspects tourism road projects in Samal Island |
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(SAMAL ISLAND, Davao del Norte) President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived here Wednesday to inspect the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) circumferential road project aimed at enhancing Davao del Norte province’s tourism industry.
The P4.7-million Igacos road project is jointly developed and funded by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
It has a proposed length of 96.301 kilometers (km) covering the districts of Babak, Peñaplata, and Kaputian, and barangays of Caliclic, Kinawitnon, Camudmud, San Isidro, Libuak, Balet, Tagpopongan, Aundanao, Aumbao, Tagbaobo, Kanaan, Pangubatan, San Remegio and Libertad.
President Aquino inspected two sections of the circumferential road -- the 4.7-km Camudmud Section, which is under construction, and the completed 6.3-km Babak-Camudmud Section, where he conducted an inaugural drive-through.
With the improved accessibility through this particular infrastructure, DPWH Regional Director Mariano Alquiza said it would benefit not only the province’s tourism industry but also its agricultural sector.
“Hindi lang tourism ang (isinusulong) natin. They (Samal Island people) also have agricultural products. They are known to sell mangoes, especially, and coconuts,” Alquiza told reporters in an interview.
Igacos is being developed by the DOT as the primary gateway for tourism in Mindanao under the Philippine Tourism Master Plan and is considered one of the tourism priority areas in the Philippines.
Tourism Regional Director Roberto Alabado III said they are grooming Samal Island as an alternative to the famous Boracay Island of Panay for local and foreign tourists who are looking for a more suitable place to rest and relax.
“Ang pagtingin ko sa Boracay, it is a party place, very nice beach. Pero if you’re looking for some place to relax, to dive, to (see) corals (come to Samal Island). More on eco-tourism ang packaging natin dito, including culture, kasi mayroon tayong mga indigenous tribe din dito,” Alabado said.
More than 70 resorts are currently operating in this island city, serving an estimated half a million tourists every year, he noted.
Samal Island functions as the tourism core of the Davao region since it has vast potential for tourism industries and is endowed with many white sand beaches, marine and fish sanctuaries, coral gardens and islet excellent for scuba diving and snorkeling. PND (hdc) |
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| President Aquino joins tree-planting event of students in Davao City |
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(DAVAO CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday met with students participating in a tree-planting activity here.
The activity, dubbed as the "Treevolution of the Young", was held in Barangay Tigatto, Buhangin, Davao City by more than 500 students from Davao Central District to raise environmental awareness among people in Mindanao.
The project was spearheaded by the Supreme Pupil Government (SPG), led by sixth grader Jirojunn Juri Lopoz, and the SPG Federation of Davao Central District, which includes the Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School, Bolton Elementary School, Cesario Villa-Abrille Elementary School, Doña Pilar Marfori Elementary, Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School, Magallanes Elementary School, and Wireless Elementary School.
President Aquino's visit fulfills a commitment he made to Lopoz when the latter visited Malacañang last June 30 and personally handed the Chief Executive a letter of invitation to grace their future tree-planting activity.
Treevolution holds the Guinness World Record for the most number of trees planted simultaneously in multiple locations, surpassing the record set by India.
With the President were Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson Mary Ann Lucile Sering, Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School Principal Emerlita Mapula, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., and Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya. PND (ag) |
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| APEC Cebu Action Plan highlights resilience in face of financial crisis, natural disasters |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has laid out a roadmap for the Cebu Action Plan (CAP), giving special emphasis on ensuring the 21 member economies can adapt to economic shock caused by financial crisis and natural disasters.
During the Senior Finance Ministers’ Meeting here Wednesday, Philippine Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran and Peru's Ministry of Finance and the Economy Director Fabier Roca Fabianis identified four pillars of the action plan: financial integration, fiscal reforms and transparency, financial resilience, and infrastructure development and financing.
Financial resilience seeks to make households, communities, enterprises, and governments resilient to various shocks, including natural disasters.
One of the key features of the third pillar is the promotion of accessible and affordable insurance products.
Fabianis said both the Philippines and Peru have faced many natural disasters and "we need to cooperate and work on that issue".
Peru is next year's APEC host.
On November 8, 2013, super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name Haiyan), one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, left almost 10,000 people dead and flattened towns mostly across the Visayas region.
And while the death toll remained massive, the Philippine peso dropped by 0.3 percent against the US dollar and the Philippine stock market fell by 2.2 percent immediately after the weekend onslaught of Yolanda.
The agricultural sector, the backbone of Philippine economy, suffered the most, as Leyte region, one of the most badly hit, produces a high volume of rice and sugar.
Analysts said carryover effects of the super typhoon would cut about eight to 10 percent of the Eastern Visayas’ gross domestic product (GDP) in the next year, and about one percent from its overall growth.
Beltran, for his part, said that while all the pillars received broad support from the APEC ministers "because these are necessary to make APEC a rapidly growing and very resilient, inclusive region", another aspect of the action plan is to make economies "more resilient to economic shocks (due to) natural disasters".
"The measures that are included in this pillar will try to soften the impact of volatilities in the economies of the members," he added.
Doing so would "hasten the flow of investments across the economies", Beltran said during the press conference.
Philippine entrepreneurs to have easier access to foreign loans
Aside from financial resiliency, the APEC also seeks, in its first pillar, to ease trade and investment by rationalizing the rules on cross-border flow of funds.
This means Philippine entrepreneurs would have easier access to cross-border financing like loans or letters of credit issued by foreign lenders.
"The Cebu Action Plan is a very comprehensive action against not only (a) volatile market, but also to foster capital market development, to exchange information, to promote trade and investment through financial integration," Fabianis said.
In its second pillar, the plan is also pushing for fiscal reforms and transparency by promoting sound fiscal policy and accessibility of data on state revenues and expenditures.
Once there is higher accountability and transparency in the APEC economies, the action plan said governments "will be forced to improve the efficiency of public spending".
The fourth pillar refers to improving the mobility and connectivity in the region by developing the country's infrastructure through the promotion of more public-private partnerships (PPP) for public infrastructure projects.
Multi-year actions
Peru’s Fabianis said that although the CAP is a roadmap for the next 20 years, not all APEC members are ready to implement these in the short term, which is why the action plan has three timetables -- a one-year action, a five-year action, and a 10-year action.
Senior officials of the 21 member economies gathered on Wednesday at the Mactan Shangri-La for a whole-day session to produce the final draft of the CAP before it is formally launched on Friday.
The CAP is a development roadmap for the Asia-Pacific region that was drafted by the Philippines, with inputs from other APEC member economies, multilateral organizations, and the private sector through the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
The Philippines believes that the launch of the action plan is timely because of the pressing global economic challenges that raise the need to safeguard sustainability of growth in the region. (acg) |
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| Household consumption, an emerging driver of productivity growth in Asia-Pacific region |
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(CEBU CITY, Cebu) Asia-Pacific economies can capitalize on household consumption as an emerging driver of productivity growth amid slower trade growth due to rising uncertainties in global markets.
Trade growth that is the traditional engine of Asia-Pacific economies has now lagged behind gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region three years running, a new policy brief from the APEC Policy Support Unit reported.
The brief thus called on APEC member economies to undertake greater structural reform to boost household consumption and ensure resilient, inclusive growth across the region.
It was issued in conjunction with this week’s meetings of APEC Finance Ministers and Structural Reform Ministers here.
“Putting more money in people’s pockets encourages spending and lifts economies, which is what structural reform can help to make possible,” said Dr. Denis Hew, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit.
Hew said the APEC must prioritize the adoption of policies that promote the efficient use of resources within economies and support business development, job creation, and increase in wages.
“It comes down to lowering complex behind-the-border barriers to business and social mobility on which next generation growth in the Asia-Pacific greatly depends,” he noted.
Significant economic and employment inroads could be attained through stepped-up fiscal rationalization, financial reform, trade liberalization and development of institutions to improve the management of human, material and financial resources, the brief said.
Current efforts are focused on enhancing science and technology education, competitiveness in the services sector, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) participation in international production and supply chains, and infrastructure and connectivity across APEC economies.
The brief underscored the need for additional emphasis on policies that support social protection, innovation, entrepreneurship, career training, and skills development to help fuel new and under-tapped sources of growth. PNA (ldv) |
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| Ombudsman indicts local execs over fertilizer fund scam |
| Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph |
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The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict two former governors and other local officials of Rizal, Masbate, Butuan City, and Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, including private suppliers, for their involvement in the P728-M fertilizer fund scam.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales directed the filing of Informations for violations of Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and Sections 65.3(1) and 65.2 (d) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) against the following:
Province of Masbate
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Antonio Kho, ex-Governor
Roger Rapsing, ex-Provincial Administrator/
Bids and Awards Committee Chairman
Alex Rivera, President Hexaphil
Victoria Ajero, Area Agriventures, Inc
Manager and Collector .
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Butuan City
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Leonides Theresa Plaza, ex-Mayor
Salvador Satorre, City Agriculturist
Adulfo Llagas, City Treasurer
Arthur Castro, Assistant City Treasurer
Rodolfo Evanoso, General Services Officer
Bebiano Calo, Accountant
Danilo Furia, City Budget Officer
Melita Loida Galbo, Supply Officer
Lucio Lapidez, Representative of Feshan
Philippines, Inc.
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Buenavista, Agusan del Norte
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Percianita Racho , ex-Mayor
Lucio Lapidez, Representative of Feshan
Philippines, Inc.
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Province of Rizal
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Casimiro Ynares, Jr., ex-Governor
Danilo Rumbawa, OIC-Provincial Agriculturist and Bids and Awards Committee member
BAC members:
Romulo Arcilla
Eugene Durusan
Victorina Olea
Eduardo Torres
Danilo Collantes
Virgilio Esguerra
Mallyne Araos, representative of Feshan Philippines, Inc.
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Aside from graft charges, Ombudsman Morales also dismissed from the service Rapsing, Castro, Llagas, Furia, Galbo, Rumbawa, Almajose, Arcilla, Jr., Durusan, Olea, Torres, Collantes and Esguerra for Grave Misconduct, Dishonesty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and were meted out the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service.
The case stemmed from the unlawful disbursement of funds which formed part of the P728M fertilizer fund allocated for the implementation of the Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program (FIFIP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in February 2004 under Notice of Cash Allocation No. 222447-I.
Provincial Government of Masbate
On 22 April 2004, the provincial government of Masbate represented by Kho, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DA-Regional Field Unit V, as one of the beneficiaries of the FIFIP entitling the province to a P5,000,000.00 sub-allotment from the DBM.
Pursuant to the MOA, Kho approved two purchase requests for 7,143.33 bottles of Hexaplus (11-7-1) liquid fertilizers with a cost of P700.08 per bottle, or for a total amount of P5 million, procured through direct contracting in favor of Hexaplus as exclusive distributor.
The purchase order for 2,499 bottles of Hexaplus was issued and paid on 28 April 2004 while the remaining 4,642.33 bottles were paid on 29 December 2004.
Based on the investigation, several irregularities in the procurement were uncovered such as reference to specific brand names; no sufficient justification presented in resorting to direct contracting; and the eligibility requirements of Hexaphil were spurious as it submitted fake or expired business permits and licenses from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
City government of Butuan
Investigation found that the city of Butuan was also a beneficiary of P5,000,000.00 under the FIFIP. To facilitate the utilization of the fund, a MOA between the city represented by Plaza and DA-RFU XIII was executed on 12 April 2004.
Two days later, a purchase request for 3,333 bottles of liquid organic fertilizer atP1,500.00 per liter/bottle was approved by Plaza.
The contract was awarded to Feshan on 23 April 2004 after four local suppliers purportedly declined to submit quotations. Documents disclosed that the fertilizers were delivered and paid prior to the award.
The 15-page Resolution underscored that public respondents Plaza, et al.manifested partiality, evident bad faith or, at the very least, gross inexcusable negligence while discharging their official functions. The reference to a specific brand resulted to the disqualification of other suppliers as the product was exclusively distributed by Feshan.
Buenavista, Agusan del Norte
The municipality of Buenavista as FIFIP beneficiary received P3,000,000.00 through a MOA entered into between the municipality represented by Racho and DA-RFU XIII. Records show, however, that the transaction was made without any authority from the Sangguniang Bayan of Buenavista.
The amount was received by the municipality in two tranches: P1,950,000.00 on 31 March 2004 and P1,050,000.00 on 07 May 2004. Using this fund, Racho approved on 09 March 2004 the purchase request for 2,000 bottles of Bio-Nature at P1,500.00 per liter/bottle.
Racho subsequently approved the purchase order in favor of Feshan despite non-compliance with the technical specifications of the municipality. Notwithstanding the product specification discrepancy, the municipality issued two checks dated 06 April 2004 and 07 May 2004 in favor of Feshan totaling P2,880,000.00 and were encashed on the same dates.
The 2004 Annual Audit Report made by the Commission on Audit stated that the purchase of the 2,000 bottles of Bio-Nature organic liquid fertilizers was overpriced by as much as P2,750,000.00 as the cost of fertilizer per bottle in the market was onlyP125.00.
The 12-page Resolution stated that “the manner and speed by which the transaction was consummated show that Racho acted with manifest partiality and evident bad faith in conspiracy with Lapidez in causing undue injury to Buenavista, giving Feshan unwarranted benefits.”
It will be recalled that in April 2015, Racho was ordered dismissed from the service after she was found guilty of Grave Misconduct in connection with the anomalous procurement of fire hydrants in 2004.
Province of Rizal
The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict a former governor of Rizal province, including members of its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) involved in the fraudulent bidding and purchase of 2,455 bottles of liquid fertilizer in 2004 amounting to P3,682,500.00.
Records show that on 19 April 2004, the province of Rizal represented by Ynares entered into a MOA with the DA Region IV-A and received the amount of P5,000,000.00 under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program of the DA.
Ynares authorized the procurement of the fertilizers through direct contracting notwithstanding the presence of other suitable suppliers.
The 28-page Resolution pointed out that Ynares, et al. consummated the transaction despite badges of irregularities such as Feshan’s expired license to operate; the requirement for open competitive bidding was disregarded giving Feshan the opportunity to demand higher prices; and that there was overpricing by as much asP3,237,341.00 as the prevailing market prices of similar items ranged from P160 toP170/bottle only.
“The failure of the public respondents to conduct a public bidding and their adherence to Bio Nature Liquid Fertilizer violated procurement laws leading to a lost opportunity to get the most advantageous deal for the government,” Ombudsman Morales stated.
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| Former vice-mayor faces raps for gas expenses |
| Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph |
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The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to file multiple graft charges against former Vice-Mayor Arleigh Eisma of Lamitan City in Basilan for the unlawful disbursement of funds covering gasoline payments paid to a gas station he owned.
In an eight-page Resolution, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales directed the filing of several sets of Information for violations of Sections 3 (b), (e) and (h) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Section 89 (1) of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code), and Section 7(a) of Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
Investigation disclosed that from the period January 2012 to July 2012, Eisma facilitated and approved gasoline expenses for his private service vehicles amounting to P1,964,921.25. Records show that all trip tickets, purchase requests, purchase orders, inspection and acceptance reports, checks and disbursement vouchers were approved by respondent alone.
The Resolution stated that “respondent monopolized almost every aspect of the process, from requisition, to accepting the delivery, and up to approving the same.” It added that the requirements of competitive bidding or negotiated procurement for supplies were not observed and in the process, “Eisma allowed his privately owned Shell Station to benefit from the supply transactions undertaken, approved and intervened by his public office in an apparent conflict of interest and breach of public trust reposed on him.” |
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| Number of unemployed Filipinos down in July 2015 |
| Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph |
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MANILA—The number of unemployed Filipinos went down in July 2015 as the market continues to reflect the continued strength of the economy, but interventions in the agriculture sector must continue to protect El Niño-affected workers, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported today that unemployment rate further eased to 6.5 percent, lower by 0.2 percentage point (ppt) from last year’s 6.7 percent.
“The favorable economic growth of the country certainly drove an encouraging response from the labor market in July 2015. This follows a similar trend in January and April 2015 where unemployment also declined relative to 2014,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.
He added that for the rest of the year, the country is at par in terms of achieving the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) target of 6.6-6.8 percent for unemployment.
The services sector, which makes up more than half of the total employed, continues to be the top jobs generator. This is followed by the industry sector, backed by strong public and private construction.
A broad-based increase in the number of full-time workers was likewise observed across majority of the production sectors, coupled with a significant decrease in the number of part-time workers. More remunerative and stable wage and salary jobs also increased by 1.5 million of which, 1.1 million workers were from private establishments.
However, the Cabinet official noted that the stellar performance of the two sectors were not enough to offset the debilitating impact of El Niño to the agriculture sector.
“Partly affected by the prolonged dry spell and drought being experienced in some production areas, the sector recorded 877,000 net employment losses in July 2015,” said Balisacan, who is NEDA Director-General.
“The improvement however in the wage and salary jobs and in the number of full-time workers imply that previous agriculture workers may have obtained stable full-time, and mostly wage and salary employment for the period, mostly in services,” he added.
Meanwhile, underemployment increased to 20.8 percent relative to the 18.3 percent registered in the same period in 2014.
“The rise in underemployment for the period has been driven by full-time workers who still want additional hours of work, whereas the number of underemployed part-time workers actually decreased by 6.0 percent, accounting for 263,000 people,” said Balisacan.
Despite these challenges, positive shifts were mostly noted in the labor market. Mean hours of work significantly improved indicating that economic activity has picked-up for the period.
To sustain this, Balisacan said that government must ensure that the gains in raising both the level and quality of employment and gains are sustained. Citing the likely stronger impact on the economy of El Niño in the coming months, Balisacan stressed the importance of a well-coordinated, direct and proactive set of mitigating measures for affected workers in the agriculture sector.
The Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Nino (RAIN) is currently being drafted by NEDA as the lead agency in the Task Force on El Niño.
“Over the medium term, government efforts should help lift the constraints to sustained, decent and quality job-generating growth by increasing competition and reducing the cost of doing business,” said Balisacan . |
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| P15.5-B in BUB projects to benefit Northern Luzon; Abad: BUB meet to highlight program progress |
| Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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The Aquino Administration brought the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) Summit to Subic this week to showcase the progress of BuB projects worth P15.5 billion, which have benefited grassroots communities in Northern Luzon since the BUB was first implemented in 2013.
The northern part of Luzon—composed of Regions I, II, III—and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been part of the BuB program since 2013. Since then, a total number of 12,012 existing or proposed projects have gone to the region. Of this number, 3,987 BuB projects in Northern Luzon under the 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP) will be supported by a budget proposal of P6.41 billion.
“In 2013, BuB helped us craft a people-centric National Budget by identifying needs at the grassroots level. That was the first time that ordinary citizens were given a voice and role in the budget planning process. Since then, BuB has shown us that we can simultaneously promote honest, open leadership and ensure that crucial goods and services go to where they are needed most,” said Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.
“In this summit, we not only want to show how BuB has helped empower local communities in Northern Luzon. We also want to find better ways to capacitate our local governments in the region. More than this, this summit will show that the Administration is focused on bringing the benefits of good governance to Filipinos who need it most,” Abad said.
The following is the breakdown of the BuB budget allocation and number of projects for the Northern Luzon Cluster:
| Year | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 (proposed) | Total |
| Budget Allocation | P397M | P3.35B | P5.36B | P6.41B | P15.5B |
| Number of Projects | 298 | 3,976 | 3,751 | 3,987 | 12,012 |
Held on September 8-9 at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel in Subic, Zambales, the Summit brought more than 500 participants from civil society organizations (CSOs), national government agencies (NGAs), and local government units (LGUs). Convened by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretariat, the event was organized with the support of the departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Budget and Management (DBM), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Following the recent BuB Summit in Manila, this part of the Summit will focus on improving the BuB planning process, as well as speeding up its implementation. Likewise, it will discuss how to enhance the partnership between LGUs and CSOs and boost local government capacity to implement BuB programs. Stakeholders will also consider the appropriate way to communicate the goals of BuB to the public.
“Since 2010, we’ve worked to make the citizens our equal partners in reform. The people have already stepped up to make the most of this opportunity. It’s important now for our citizens to continue the demand for transparency, accountability, and openness. That’s how we can ensure the sustainability and further success of programs like BuB,” Abad said.
Under the 2015 budget, the BuB program covers 1,590 municipalities and cities across the country, with a budget of P20.9 billion. In 2016, the Administration is proposing a budget of P24.7 billion to support the implementation of more than 14,300 BuB projects nationwide. |
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| Education tops 2016 budget with P435.9-B |
| Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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With the Aquino administration intensifying its support of social services, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is proposing P435.9 billion for the country’s public education sector under proposed P3.002-trillion National Budget.
The proposed budget for this sector will help widen access to and improve public education in the country.
Of the P1.11-trillion allocation to Social Services in the 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP), P435.9-billion will be given to the Department of Education (DepEd). This increase of 15.4 percent or P58.2 billion—as compared to their 2015 budget of P377.7 billion—makes DepEd’s proposed budget the highest among all departments and agencies.
“The previous years’ budgets successfully addressed our classroom and teacher shortages, and this year, we’re strengthening the implementation of the K-12 program. With the proposed 2016 budget, we can broaden the reach of our public education reform efforts. Ultimately, what we want is to give more Filipinos—especially our poorest—better access to quality education,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.
Aside from supporting the DepEd’s K-12 Basic Education Reform Program—including the implementation of the first year of senior high school in 2016)—the DepEd budget also includes allocations for their Basic Education Facilities program amounting to P82.3 billion for the construction of 47,553 classrooms and technical-vocational laboratories.
On the other hand, P16.9 billion of the education agency’s budget is set for the hiring of 79,691 teaching and non-teaching personnel.
The DepEd will likewise have a P4.2-billion budget for the provision of 103.2 million new textbooks and instructional materials, and P21.2-billion allocation to provide Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) to 1.81 million grantees of tuition subsidy.
“As the number of students increase every year, it’s also become more crucial for us to strengthen the capacity of our public schools. By investing on programs and projects that have a real and measurable impact on the lives of our people, we can ensure that the country’s economic growth will be wholly inclusive,” Abad said. |
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| Foreign Portfolio Investments decline in August 2015 |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
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Registered foreign portfolio investments for August 2015 declined from US$1.4 billion last month to US$1.1 billion. The level is also much lower compared to the US$2.1 billion recorded a year ago. Outflows grew by US$68 million from the previous month’s level due to profit taking.
Transactions for the month resulted in overall net outflows of US$543 million, more than thrice the US$160 million level in July. In contrast, net inflows of US$483 million were noted a year ago.
About 88.7 percent of investments registered in August were in PSE-listed securities (mainly pertaining to holding firms; banks; property firms; telecommunication companies; and food, beverage and tobacco firms); 10.8 percent were in Peso GS; while the rest of the investments were in Peso time deposits and other peso debt instruments (OPDIs) (total of 0.5 percent). Transactions in Peso time deposits yielded net inflows of US$4 million, while net outflows were recorded for PSE-listed securities (US$323 million), Peso GS (US$220 million), and OPDIs (US$4 million).
The United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong were the top five (5) investor countries for the month, with combined share to total of 82.3 percent. The United States continued to be the main destination of outflows, receiving 81.4 percent of total.
Registration of inward foreign investments with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is voluntary under the liberalized rules on foreign exchange transactions. The issuance of a BSP registration document entitles the investor or his representative to buy foreign exchange from authorized agent banks and/or their subsidiary/affiliate foreign exchange corporations for repatriation of capital and remittance of earnings that accrue on the registered investment. Without such registration, the foreign investor can still repatriate capital and remit earnings on his investment but the foreign exchange will have to be sourced outside the banking system. |
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| BSP warns the public on fake Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) documents |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued an Advisory to warn the public from engaging into commercial transactions with unscrupulous individuals or groups that use, as enticement, fake Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) documents. These documents may imitate the BSP letterhead, seal and signatures of BSP officials.
The public is advised that the BSP is a financial regulator and only transacts with financial institutions under its supervision. The BSP does not issue, secure or guarantee commercial documents such as certificates of deposit or investment in the name of individuals or private groups.
The public is further advised to immediately report this kind of scam to the BSP’s Financial Consumer Protection Department throughconsumeraffairs@bsp.gov.ph or telephone number (+632) 708-7087.
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| Bayanihan brings safer homes for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries |
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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Dingras, Ilocos Norte – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman lauded the bayanihan spirit of villagers in this town as they joined hands to construct safer homes for eight family-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Led by the Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC) composed of representatives of the local government unit (LGU) and other government agencies, the villagers of Dingras helped raise the needed budget for the construction of the houses. The MAC is a group that oversees the overall implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya at the municipal level.
Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides cash grants to beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).
According to DSWD-Field Office I Director Nicomedes Castillo, the MAC carefully planned income-generating activities that supported their Pabahay Project.
The group organized a Raffle Draw and a Run-for-a-Cause project where the participants contributed a certain amount of money.
With the approval of the Chairperson, Budget Officer Marianita Allado, the MAC agreed to build houses for 20 households who were identified to be most in need of safer homes.
Aside from providing better homes, the project also aimed to strengthen the collaboration and camaraderie of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries by tapping them to build the houses.
Dir. Castillo added that they also provided Emergency Shelter Assistance to augment the implementation of the project.
Bayanihan
The MAC members, public and private partners, barangay officials, and the beneficiaries themselves shared their resources and their technical expertise.
The Pabahay Project became a big collaboration of minds and resources by the community.
The Municipal Engineering Office (MEO), for instance, designed the houses and provided the estimated overall cost.
The school principals and other MAC members, on the other hand, distributed raffle tickets and encouraged others to join in the Fun Run. The Municipal Operations Office (MOO) encouraged interested groups to join and participate in their endeavors.
The DSWD Provincial Action Team (PAT) and its municipal counterpart also provided technical assistance in the liquidation process, proper documentation, records keeping, and proper disbursement of funds.
Proceeds
The Raffle Draw generated total proceeds of P154,960 of which P22,900 was utilized to buy the raffle prizes.
The remaining amount was deposited in the Community Rural Bank and was used to initially build the houses of three families.
Likewise, the Run-for-a-Cause raised a total amount of P218,711 which was used to construct another five houses.
Thankful
Today, the families can say goodbye to their old houses made of corroding materials, old bamboo poles, recycled sacks, tarpaulins, and posters. They can now rest easy in their safe and sturdy homes.
The family of Generoso and Merlita Bayeta of Barangay Parado is among the eight beneficiaries of the Pabahay Project. They used to live near the riverbank.
“Agyaman kami kadagiti timmulong a nangipatakder iti balay. Safe kamin, haanen a mai tip tippang. Sapay ta adu pay iti matulungan yo (Thank you to all those who helped us build our new home. We are now safe and free from the dangers of being washed away when the river swells. We hope that you will help more people like us),” the couple said.
To support the Pabahay Project, the municipal LGU passed an Executive Order that will allow for the continuity of the project to ensure that all needy families will be served.
“I hope that other LGUs will replicate this initiative to complement government efforts. This initiative indicates empowerment of our partner beneficiaries to attain positive changes in their lives,” Sec. Soliman said. |
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| No jobs for tourists in China |
| Source: http://www.poea.gov.ph |
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The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration yesterday warned job seekers, particularly Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong and Macau, to be cautious of recruiters who promise jobs in China using tourist or business visas.
Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the Department of Foreign Affairs has reported the increasing number of undocumented Filipino workers in China, most of them domestic workers who transferred to the Mainland after finishing their employment contracts in the two administrative regions.
Cacdac said foreign nationals cannot work legally as household service workers in China, as the country has not relaxed its immigration policy with regard to unskilled labor including nannies, caregivers, and household helpers.
“Most importantly, business and tourist visas cannot be converted to work visa, which is required of foreign workers before they can work legally in China,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac also warned teachers regarding offers of employment found in the internet supposedly for English language teaching positions in China.
“Some Filipino teachers were able to work in China but most of them were eventually deported because they were not given work visas by the Chinese government,” Cacdac said. |
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| Roadmap for resilient and inclusive Asia-Pacific readied in Cebu |
| Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph |
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MACTAN, CEBU, PHILIPPINES — Senior officials from the 21 member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gather here for the final drafting of the Cebu Action Plan (CAP) before its formal launch on Friday.
Delegates, who meet at Mactan Shangri-La, will sit down for a whole-day session of polishing the CAP.
Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima welcomed delegates saying, “We are running towards the final stretch in the finalization of the Cebu Action Plan. A roadmap for a more inclusive and resilient future is a hand. Senior finance officials from all 21 member economies will do well to remember that their work will be a lasting legacy etched in this beautiful island of Mactan. I look forward to the outcome of this meeting.”
It is a development roadmap for the Asia-Pacific region that was drafted by the Philippines with inputs from other APEC member-economies, multilateral organizations, and the private sector through the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
The Philippines believes the forthcoming launch of the CAP is timely, given pressing global economic challenges that raise the need to safeguard sustainability of growth in the region.
Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said that with the prudent measures proposed under the key pillars of the CAP, Asia-Pacific will have a greater chance of confronting external headwinds.
“Despite being a driver of the global economy, Asia-Pacific is vulnerable to risks. But with the measures proposed under the CAP, the region can be better guided on how to ensure sustainability and to improve inclusivity of growth in a coordinated manner,” Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said.
The four pillars of the CAP are the following: (1) financial integration, (2) fiscal reforms and transparency, (3) financial resilience, and (4) infrastructure development and financing.
The first pillar, financial integration, is aimed at easing trade and investments, such as by rationalizing and harmonizing rules on cross-border flow of funds.
The second pillar, fiscal reforms and transparency, promotes sound fiscal policy and accessibility of data on state revenues and expenditures. By allowing greater scrutiny, CAP proponents believe, governments will be forced to improve efficiency of public spending.
The third pillar, financial resilience, seeks to make households, communities, enterprises, and governments resilient to various shocks, including natural calamities. A key feature of this pillar is the promotion of accessible and affordable insurance products.
The fourth pillar, infrastructure development and financing, is geared toward improving mobility and connectivity in the region, such as by promoting more public-private partnerships for public infrastructure projects. |
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| PSA looks for young brainpowers on Statistics as 24th PSQ commences |
| Source: http://www.nscb.gov.ph |
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The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in partnership with the Philippine Statistical Association, Inc. (PSAI) announced the conduct of the 24th Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ), and encouraged all Filipino first time freshmen students currently enrolled during the second semester of the school year 2015-2016 in colleges and universities all over the country to join the contest.
According to National Statistician and PSQ National Steering Committee Chair Dr. Lisa Grace S. Bersales, this year’s regional championship is going to be held all over the country on November 10, 2015. All regional winners shall have the opportunity to compete in the National Finals on December 9, 2015.
The annual PSQ primarily aims to assess the competency and skills of students in statistics as acquired from the secondary education curriculum. It likewise hopes to promote, enhance, and instill awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics among the students. It also seeks to generate public awareness on the importance of statistics in all development-planning activities and win overall support for all government statistical activities. The PSQ was launched in 1992 by the former National Statistics Office (NSO) and the PSAI.
Each of the top five winners in the PSQ national finals shall receive a trophy and cash prize while all of the national finalists shall be given a medal and a Certificate of Recognition. Their coaches shall likewise be awarded with Certificates of Recognition. The college or university where the regional champions are enrolled, as well as the high school where they graduated, shall all be given Certificates of Recognition.
Interested students and coaches may register with the PSQ Regional Steering Committee through the Regional Statistical Services Office of the PSA for the regional championship. Other information can be obtained from the PSQ Secretariat at telephone number 462-6600 loc 827 or via email at PSQ-Secretariat@psa.gov.ph.
Please like the PSQ Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/PhilippineStatisticsQuiz or visit the PSQ website at : http://www.psa.gov.ph/events/psq for more updates. |
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| Roxas to discuss continuity of Local Governance reforms with Councilors |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
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Secretary of Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas will join municipal and city councilors hailing from all over the Philippines on September 9 at the Boracay Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center in Aklan for the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) National Executive Officers and National Board Meeting.
The event, which bears the theme “Instituting Good Local Governance Reforms and Innovations to Ensure Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth,” will be the third meeting the organization will hold this year.
The outgoing DILG Chief will discuss the continuity of reforms in local governance under Daang Matuwid, which began with the expansion of the Seal of Good Housekeeping to the Seal of Good Local Governance, as well as other DILG Programs. Programs like Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB), which allows regular citizens to decide projects their LGUs will spend for; the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipno Program (4Ps), which aids the country’s poorest of the poor through scholarship grants and other anti-poverty measuresl and the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program (SALINTUBIG), which has provided potable water to far-flung communities, are but a few of the DILG’s hallmarks under the current administration.
Despite these developments, the question of every progressive movement remains: What now? This question will be central to the discussion with those at the forefront of local government—the councilors. The PCL’s two-day event will focus on answering this question, as well as how to further improve the current reforms. |
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| Bangsamoro peace process takes centerstage in int'l peace meet |
| Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph |
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Tirana, ALBANIA – Peace advocates from all over the world once again lauded the Bangsamoro peace process as a model for peace building during the International Meeting for Peace in this southern European country.
In the panel discussing the deteriorating situation in Syria and the Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Bangsamoro peace process provided examples and hope of how peace can be made possible.
Government of the Philippines chief peace negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer underscored the role of trust and faith in the Bangsamoro peace process that led to the signing of the peace agreement between the GPH and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“What made the peace agreement that we are now implementing, possible? How did we get this far in our peace process despite the huge gap that divided us? [T]here were definitely two things that made the comprehensive peace agreement between us possible. Without these two, we would not have gone this far. These two elements are none other than trust and faith,” said Ferrer in her speech Tuesday, September 8.
Entitled “Peace is Always Possible - Religions and Cultures in Dialogue,” the three-day international meeting, which opened Sunday, was organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio in cooperation with the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and the Albanian Episcopal Conference.
Ferrer shared how “[i]t took 17 years of negotiations to get us that peace agreement. Many mini-wars before and even during the talks had erupted in the southern part of the Philippines, where the minority Muslims or Moros, lived. More than 120,000 people have died since the 1970s up to the 1990s. Millions have been displaced from time to time. Children missed school, properties were destroyed, and sickness haunted the evacuation centers.”
The government and the MILF signed on March 27, 2014 the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) to end the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao and to improve the lives of people in the conflict-affected areas through socio-economic interventions. The CAB also served as basis for the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) – a bill aimed at institutionalizing a parliamentary autonomous government to replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Ferrer has received international acclaim for her work for peace. She has been given the 2015 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Women in Peace and Security, which cited Ferrer’s historic role as the first female chief negotiator to sign a comprehensive peace agreement. A report released by the New York-based International Peace Institute (IPI) earlier this year also feted Ferrer along with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles as ideal women peacemakers. The report highlighted the breakthroughs in the country’s peace process from the time Deles, the Philippines’ first woman peace presidential adviser, took the lead in the peace talks in 2010, and underscored the critical roles played by Deles and Ferrer in the GPH-MILF peace negotiations.
Trust and faith sustain the Bangsamoro peace process
The chief peace negotiator together with MILF negotiating panel member Prof. Abhoud Lingga were joined in a panel discussion by Mario Giro, Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy; Mauro Garofalo of the Community of Sant’Egidio; Vidya Jain, Director of the Centre for Gandhian Studies of India; Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, a Catholic Archbishop from Nigeria; Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos from the Institute of Geopolitics in France; and Din Syamsuddin Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council Center.
“[The Mindanao armed conflict] is after all not a simple problem. There are many other armed groups and different stakeholders such as the migrants who have settled here, and the non-Moro indigenous peoples. Many see the complexity as reason to doubt the process, or any process for that matter, as all complexities cannot be solved by one process alone,” Ferrer shared.
“[T]rust alone was not enough to sustain our process. We needed to have faith because that trust is challenged by every difficult phase of the process and unwanted incidents. It can be challenged especially by those others who do not trust – politicians, other leaders, or ordinary folk who do not believe in giving this peace a chance.”
“Without the trust in each other and the faith that our good intentions will see us through, our process would not have withstood all the challenges. We would have doubted and wavered. Only with trust and faith can we have the generosity of spirit and the compassionate understanding that are essential to make peace in Mindanao, peace on earth possible,” she added.
International partners have also been helping in the conduct of the peace process; for instance, the International Contact Group, which observes the conduct of the peace negotiations between the government and MILF, is composed of Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Saudi Arabia along with four international non-governmental organizations such as the Community of Sant’Egidio.
Members of the international community are also providing valuable support for the Independent Decommissioning Body, which facilitates the turnover and decommissioning of MILF weapons and forces, and the Third Party Monitoring Team, which is tasked to monitor the compliance of the government and MILF to all signed agreements.
Back in the Philippines, members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate continue to work hard on the passage of the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), the amended version of the BBL endorsed by the House ad hoc committee on the BBL and the Senate committee on local government for debates in their respective chambers.
“Without trust in the other we become stingy – for instance in the kind of law that we will pass to institute the Bangsamoro autonomous government. Or even begrudge our patience, openness and understanding, and our financial resources,” commented Ferrer.
“We continue our efforts to build the trust and the faith in our peace process on the Bangsamoro, in Mindanao, before the greater Filipino public and the bigger community of nations,” she concluded. |
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| PDG Ricardo Cornejo Marquez, chief PNP visits Cavite |
| Source: http://pnp.gov.ph |
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Cavite – PNP Chief Director General RICARDO CORNEJO MARQUEZ welcomed by Hon Juan Victor “JONVIC” Remulla, Provincial Governor of Cavite who serves as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the Traditional Monday Flag Raising Ceremony together with PCSUPT RICHARD ALBANO ALBANO, RD, PRO4A and PSSUPT ELISEO DELA CRUZ CRUZ OIC, Cavite Police Provincial Office at Provincial Capitol Trece Martires City, Cavite.
In his message during the program (September 7, 2015), PDG Marquez emphasized in his Plans and Programs the downloading of all personnel in the streets serves as the frontline in preventing crimes. The PNP is fielding additional foot and mobile patrollers, the public must also be cautious to what is really happening in their communities and in the streets” the Chief PNP said as he urged the public to work with the police on its anti-criminality initiatives.
In addition, Marquez reiterated his instructions of going back to basics of policing which is patrolling. He also challenge all Chief of Police in Cavite to felt the community as partners in crime prevention and to avail the trust of the people to win the Unity, solidarity and safety of the province as his hometown.
After which, the Chief PNP moved to Maragondon, Cavite for attending the 288th year Founding Anniversary of the town and again serves as Guest of Honor and Speaker. Hon Reynaldo A Rillo Municipal Mayor of Maragondon welcomes the Chief PNP and the people of the town also excited to see, meet and inspire from the words of their townsman.
PDG Marquez challenges the people of Cavite to inform or even text the Chief PNP if some of the Chief of Police don’t follow his orders in putting all police in streets. And lastly, he focuses on the uprising youth of Maragondon to be part of the battle against criminality as being hope of the next generation.
He reminded also the Chief of Police to be vigilant in following his orders as the PNP organization comes back into basic function is to serve and protect. (CAVPPO-PIO) |
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| DOST, PLDT ink partnership for faster, more secure access to gov't websites |
| Source: http://www.dost.gov.ph |
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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company to help Filipino internet users in the country towards more secure, efficient, and faster access to various government websites. The signing was held last September 07, 2015 at Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Office in Diliman, Quezon City.
Said MoA defines the establishment of the fiber optic facilities that will link PLDT to the Philippine Open Internet Exchange (PHOpenIX) which is being operated by DOST’s Advance Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).
PHOpenIX, the first and only Exchange in the Philippine Internet industry operated by a neutral institution, was established by ASTI last 2007. It allows exchanges of Internet traffic in a free-market environment among local internet and data service providers.
Meanwwhile, PLDT will provide rack space with power in its VITRO Data Center facility, where DOST can set up and operate its third PHOpenIX node. The first two nodes are operated by ASTI in Diliman and Globe Telecom in Makati.
Through this, PLDT subscribers can experience better, faster access to government websites hosted in PHOpenIX.
DOST Undersecretary and ICT Office Executive Director Louis Napoleon Casambre admitted that the quality of the Internet in the Philippines relative to the rest of the world has been the subject of much criticism in the news, social media, and congressional hearings.
“One of the factors contributing to this negative observation is that our local providers are not peered with each other through a local exchange,” said Casambre. “Internet traffic from one provider to another still has to pass through international channels before arriving to its intended local destination, causing unnecessary congestion of our connection to the rest of the internet.”
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo said that DOST’s partnership with PLDT will allow the government over P21 million-worth of free use of the PLDT dark fiber for two years.
“Consequently, this will save the Filipino people significant time whenever they try to access government websites. This arrangement marks a stronger public-private partnership, especially in the field of connectivity,” said Montejo.
“The PLDT Group has always been one with the DOST in its mandate to uplift the Filipino’s quality of life, by leveraging the latest available information and communication technology capabilities that we have, and the resources that we can humbly contribute,” said PLDT Executive Vice-President and ePLDT President Ernesto R. Alberto.
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, who has been pushing for ICT connectivity, said they are not yet aiming for IP peering, but with a telco giant like PLDT as part of the PHOpenIX, it is now a step closer towards the goal.
In the same event also, DOST announced the designation of PHOpenIX as the government’s official IP Exchange network in accordance with Administrative Order No. 39.
Two years ago, amid of the spate of defacements of government websites, Malacanang issued AO 39, mandating government agencies to migrate to the government web hosting service of DOST-ICT Office.
“ I am happy to announce that migration of government websites is more than 80 percent complete, with the other 20 percent expected to have migrated fully by the end of this year,” said Casambre. |
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| PHL Embassy in Oslo supports 2015 P-Noise Philippine cultural festival in Copenhagen |
| Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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09 September 2015 – A group of young Danish-Filipinos led by Ms. Jacqueline Hansen organized the 2015 P-Noise Philippine Cultural Festival in Copenhagen from August 25 to 30. The event is a platform for up-and-coming Filipino artists to showcase and express their vision and bring the diversity of Philippine culture to Denmark. It is the 2nd time that P-Noise was held in Copenhagen.
The festival sought to show the Philippine modern art movement as it is moving past its roots in the counter-culture revolution of the seventies, transcending borders and cultures to share the human experience through the lens of upheaval, displacement and understanding.
Over the course of five days, P-Noise showcased the movers and shakers in Philippine art, music, film and performance art.
The festival opened with a Filipino Film Festival, with acclaimed director Nick Olanda presenting his new film “Ronda” about a police officer played by renowned Filipino actress Ai-Ai de las Alas looking for her lost boy.
Sinosikat, one of the Philippines’ most beloved soul bands, presented their set at the Danshallerne on August 29 along with other Philippine singers and musicians such as former Dansk Melodi Grand Prix contestant Andy Roda who is also a proud member of the Filipino-Danish Community.
Also, presented were live performances such as an art piece from Russ Ligtas and a Filipino Martial Arts exhibition from Danish FMA.
In addition, works from a number of Philippine visual artists such as Rai Cruz and even posters from well-known artist and Manila guide Carlos Celdran were on display.
The Philippine Embassy in Oslo supported and sent Vice Consul Paolo Alix to this well attended event. It was also supported by the various Filipino community organizations in Denmark.
For more information on P-Noise please visit: http://www.p-noise.com/. |
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| PHL Embassy in New Delhi celebrates National heroes day with AFPCGSC class 60 |
| Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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09 September 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in New Delhi celebrated National Heroes Day with a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at the bust of Dr. Jose Rizal on August 31.
Embassy personnel and their families were joined by 34 participants to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff Course (AFPCGSC) Class 60 headed by Col. Isaias N. Espino, PAF (GSC). The contingent was composed of senior officers from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and the Technical Administrative Service. It also included a representative from the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and four international military students from Indonesia and South Korea.
Philippine Ambassador to India Ma. Teresita C. Daza welcomed the AFPCGSC participants, saying that their visit is doubly significant since they are the first group to call on her after the presentation of credentials on August 28 and also because of the celebration of National Heroes Day. She described soldiers as modern heroes who risk their lives for their country. Ambassador Daza encouraged the participants to maximize their academic tour by learning as much as they can during their visits to Indian defense establishments, think tanks and centers for peace-keeping.
AFPCGSC in India was organized by the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché headed by Captain Sean Anthony U. Villa, PN (GSC). The program will increase defense and military cooperation between the Philippines and India, as well as highlight the benefits of enhanced partnership and cooperation between the two countries. |
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| SSS extends coverage to 357 job order and contractual hires of three gov’t agencies |
| Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph |
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The Social Security System (SSS) has partnered with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) for the SSS coverage of job order and contractual personnel from the said government offices.
SSS Senior Vice President for Account Management Judy Frances A. See said job order and contractual workers in state-run institutions are excluded from the mandatory coverage of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). A total of 357 workers nationwide -- 220 of which are from DOTC, 50 from LCP, and 87 from PCUP -- are expected to benefit from these SSS partnerships to date.
“The GSIS mandate applies only to regular employees in the public sector. Hence, the SSS aims to fill in this gap in coverage through linkages with government offices to enable these workers to gain access to social security benefits even while hired as contractual or job order personnel,” See noted.
The job order and contractual workers are covered as self-employed SSS members, with no obligation on the part of their employer to remit counterpart contributions. Aside from SSS benefits, the workers can earn eligibility for SSS loan privileges such as salary and housing loans.
“Payment of contributions and loans is facilitated under an automated salary deduction scheme to make it easier and more convenient for these workers to maintain an active SSS membership. As part of the agreement, SSS has also committed to provide them with information seminars and on-site enrollments for the Unified Multipurpose Identification or ‘UMID’ card,” See noted.
The DOTC, LCP and PCUP accounts are handled by the SSS Mandaluyong, SSS Diliman and SSS San Francisco del Monte branches, respectively. The supervising branches are tasked to coordinate with the designated liaison officers of DOTC, LCP and PCUP to address their SSS concerns.
Other state-run organizations with similar agreements with the SSS include the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Metro Manila Development Authority, Manila International Airport Authority, and the Department of Interior and Local Government for the local government units.
“We urge other government institutions to likewise take the initiative to help their own job order and contractual personnel benefit from the social protection offered by an active membership in the SSS,” See said. |
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| TESDA launches TVET programs rating system |
| Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph |
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Executives of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), technical vocational institutions and other stakeholders have come together to talk about scaling up their programs to produce better graduates.
At the recent Quality Forum, TESDA also launched the TVET Programs Star Rating System to recognize the accomplishments, innovations and improvements that technical vocational institutions have instituted beyond the minimum requirements set in the UTPRAS.
This System will categorize TVET programs into good, better or best with corresponding stars.
TVET stands for technical vocational education and training, while UTPRAS is the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System, a quality-assured process implemented by TESDA to ensure compliance of training institutions with TESDA's standards.
The forum, held last September 9, was organized by the Cebu Association of Public-Private TVET Institutions, Inc. (CAPPTI) in collaboration with the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), TESDA Region VII Office and the Certification Office.
???Around 700 ?participants attended the forum consisting of representatives from training institutions, industry associations, TESDA officials and concerned stakeholders. It was held in Cebu City.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the gathering hopes to drumbeat the importance of Quality Management Systems (QMS) that can be adopted by schools to produce quality skilled graduates who can be assets to the workforce.
"TESDA is working together with training institutions and other stakeholders so that the country will have a more competitive workforce," Villanueva said.
"The reasons are urgent in the light of global challenges. Developing quality education policies, programs and structures is imperative," he added.
During the forum, the training institutions were oriented on the different QMS standards/awards they can adopt as they implement their programs. The goal is the development of the Filipino workforce with world-class competence and positive work values.
Among the topics discussed during the forum were the (1) Philippine Quality Award which adopts the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award of the U.S.A; (2) Philippine National Standard – 29990:2012 - Learning services for non-formal education and training – Basic requirements for service providers; (3) Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) - Accreditation and Certification of TVET Institutions ; (4) Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) - Accreditation of TVET Program; and (5) STAR Rating System of TVET Programs.
There were also sharing of TVET experiences from representatives of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), TESDA Women's Center (TWC), KorPhil Davao and APACC Gold Level Awardee from Malaysia. |
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| PDIC advises borrowers of Farmers’ Rural Bank, Inc. to pay their obligations |
| Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph |
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The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), the Receiver of the closed Farmers' Rural Bank, Inc., reminded borrowers of the bank to continue to pay their loans and transact only with authorized PDIC representatives. Farmer's Rural Bank was placed under the receivership of the PDIC by virtue of Monetary Board Resolution No. 1266.B dated August 14, 2015.
In a statement, PDIC advised borrowers of Farmers' Rural Bank to pay their loans and other obligations directly at any Philippine National Bank (PNB) Branch under account name, PDIC FAO BURL FARMERS' RURAL BANK, INC. PDIC emphasized that it has not engaged any person, agent or agency to collect the loan payments for and in behalf of the bank.
To ensure proper recording of their payments, PDIC further advised borrowers to keep copies of the PNB Deposit/ Payment Slips. The PDIC emphasized that for payments to be valid, it must be supported by a machine-validated PNB Deposit/Payment Slip. Official receipts will be issued by PDIC upon validation of payments and will be sent through mail to the borrowers. For proper accounting of their payments, borrowers who do not receive their official receipts are advised to send a photocopy of their deposit slips by mail to the Deputy Receiver for loans Josefina S. San Pedro at the PDIC Office, 5th Floor, SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City or send via e-mail to Keneth B. Flores at kbflores@pdic.gov.ph and to Ms. Thelma A. Peña at tbarias@pdic.gov.ph.
Borrowers of the bank may also communicate with the PDIC-Loans Management Department II at (02) 841-4774 or 841-4765. Queries may also be sent through email at pad@pdic.gov.ph.
Farmers' Rural Bank is a single-unit rural bank located in Rizal St., Lian, Batangas. |
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| Chairperson Aguinaldo lauds COA Region VIII for 100% accomplishment rate |
| Source: http://www.coa.gov.ph |
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Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo lauded personnel of COA Regional Office No. VIII for having one hundred percent accomplishment rate in Annual Audit Reports for 2014 despite constraints in physical and other support facilities resulting from destruction by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
The original regional office had six buildings but after Typhoon Yolanda struck the province, only two remained and only one has been refurbished. COA auditors there hold office in what used to be their canteen.
“Despite all the challenges, despite the fact that you have to work in a single building, despite the fact that some of you are working without computers or laptops because they were part of those that were damaged, you were still able to come out with your reports on time,” Chairperson Aguinaldo said.
“If people in that area who have suffered a lot were still able to do their jobs, then it tells that there is no reason for others not to be able to do their jobs as well,” he added.
Chairperson Aguinaldo and Commissioners Heidi L. Mendoza, and Jose A. Fabia recently visited COA Regional Office VIII, Candahug, Palo, Leyte to hold a Commission Proper (CP) meeting and dialogue with regional personnel.
Speaking for the first time to office personnel in Leyte, Chairperson Aguinaldo affectionately addressed everyone as “kapamilya” and “kapuso” and updated them on the strategic plan for the next seven years. Chairperson Aguinaldo said he expects auditors not only to recommend measures on the efficient use of public funds but also to educate agency personnel on the correct use of public funds.
Commissioner Mendoza encouraged auditors to look forward to the good things happening in COA instead of focusing on the negative aspect like lack of manpower. She advised auditors “na ingatan at iwasto ang paggamit ng kapangyarihan.” She likewise spoke about the sincerity of the new Chairman and went further by saying, “mabait si Chairman, dapat mas mabait kayo.”
Commissioner Jose A. Fabia, for his part, recognized the dedication to duty of Director Susan P. Donalvo who survived the onslaught of Yolanda while assigned at the Regional Office. He urged auditors to perform their duties and see to it that public funds are spent wisely in the face of whatever threats they are exposed.
Meanwhile, the CP with Assistant Commissioner Arcadio B, Cuenco, Jr. and other Central Office and Regional officials also inspected proposed sites of two Provincial Satellite Audit Offices (PSAO) in Catarman, Northern Samar and Catbalogan, Western Samar.
The CP and the Provincial Government of Northern Samar represented by its Governor, Jose L. Ong, Jr., signed a Deed of Donation for a parcel of land approximately 1,545 square meters in Brgy. Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar.
Regional Director Delfin P. Aguilar recalled that as a former auditor assigned in Northern Samar, he also dreamed of having a satellite office which auditors in Northern Samar can call home and he is happy to see the realization of this dream.
After inspecting the PSAO in Catarman, the Chairperson proceeded to Catbalogan and was warmly welcomed by Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan of Western Samar. The Provincial Government of Western Samar also donated a parcel of land to COA containing an area of approximately 1,000 square meters near the Provincial Capitol Building. - with report from Atty. Luisita A. Catalon, COA Regional Office No. VIII |
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| 168 aspirants battle with September 2015 nationwide CES WE |
| Source: Career Executive Service Board |
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One hundred sixty-eight (168) testees took the three-hour Written Examination (CES WE) last September 6, Sunday, which was held in Quezon, Cebu, and Davao cities.
The said half-day examination was done simultaneously nationwide in three testing centers - at the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) in Quezon City with 95 examinees; University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City with 44 examinees; and San Pedro College (SPC) with 29 examinees in Davao City. Twenty-seven test-takers failed to show up at the testing centers.
The exam covered error recognition, reading comprehension, data interpretation, logical reasoning, information, management concepts and problems, and essay.
"I found the exam surprisingly suited not only for managers but also for everyone. It showed how to be able to gauge common sense knowledge of managers. The exam was fair but difficult," said David Sih, 32, a technical assistant from the Office of the President's Legal Affairs Office.
Likewise, Director IV Alberto Kimpo, 40, of the General Administration Office under the Office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said: "It appears to be a true test of one's knowledge and one's abilities. It's a good measure of who should make it to the next stages of the process."
"It's a matter of answering questions in a short limited time," remarked a local government unit officer (name withheld upon request), 51, from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
A female OIC branch manager, 55, who has been with the GSIS for 23 years, found the exam an "enjoyable, but tiring battle" for three hours.
Marcelo Polig, 38, an assistant regional director of training of the PNP in Region I said, "The exam was very hard, especially in reading comprehension due to long paragraphs. It had a limited time frame."
"The examination was not the type and the degree of difficulty that gave pressures to the examinees but the amount of time given to us because of our ages. We're not young any more to be as fast as we used to be," laughingly commented a female supervisor from the Department of Education.
Results of the September 6, 2015 CES WE will be made known two months after the test's date. All examinees will be informed of their exam ratings via e-mail, regular mail or posting in the CESB website.
The CES WE is scheduled every three months. The next testing date will be conducted on December 6, 2015, Sunday, nationwide and the deadline for filing of application is on November 5, Thursday. |
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| LRT Line 4, Line 6 set for roll-out |
| Source: http://ppp.gov.ph |
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The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, headed by President Aquino, approved the implementation of two railway Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects last Friday, September 4, 2015.
The government is set to roll-out the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Light Rail Transit Authority’s (LRTA) LRT Line 4 and LRT Line 6 PPP projects after the Board provided the go-signal last week.
The Php 65.09 billion (USD 1.446 B) LRT Line 6 Project is a proposed 19-kilometer railway from Niyog, Bacoor (the terminus of the LRT 1 CAVEX extension) to Dasmariñas City. The proposed ROW alignment is along the Aguinaldo Highway with 7 stations, namely: (i) Niyog, (ii) Tirona, (iii) Imus, (iv) Daang Hari; (v) Salitran, (vi) Congressional Avenue, and (vii) Governor’s Drive.
This project will improve passenger mobility and reduce the volume of vehicular traffic in the Cavite area by providing a higher capacity mass transit system. It also aims to spur economic development along the extension corridor.
Meanwhile, the P42.89 billion (USD 913.75 million) LRT Line 4 project is a proposed 11.3-kilometer rail line running west from SM City in Taytay, Rizal to the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA in Ortigas. The proposed ROW alignment is along Taytay Diversion Road and Ortigas Avenue with six stations, namely: (i) EDSA (transfer station with the MRT) (ii) Meralco Avenue, (iii) Pasig, (iv) Bonifacio Avenue, (v) L Wood Road, and (vi) SM Taytay.
This project will provide improved local transportation solutions and a better link to Metro Manila for the large and growing population in and around Taytay.
The government now has three PPP projects for roll out including the newly approved LRT Line 4 and Line 6 and the Php 1.59 billion (USD 35 million) Civil Registry System Information Technology Project (Phase II). As of September, 13 PPP projects are currently being tendered. And one project is awaiting for the issuance of Notice of Award (NOA), the Integrated Transport System – South Terminal from the DOTC. |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the briefing on infrastructure projects in Misamis Occidental |
| Tangub, Misamis Occidental |
| 09 Sept 2015 |
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Mga hinugma kong kaigsuunang Misamisanon. ‘Yon ho ang version ng Bisaya ho sa Tarlac eh.
Para klaro lang ho ah, ‘yong Panguil Bridge, sabi ho kasi ni Babes [Singson], “pangil bridge.” Baka dalawa hong tulay ang hanapin n’yo sa akin. Actually, dalawa hong tulay iyon. Pero para klaro ha, “Panguil” hindi ho “pangil.” Walang part two.
Kanina ho noong pinapakinggan natin si kasamang Henry [Oaminal], binanggit niya kung ano ang napuntang pondo sa inyo hanggang huling sentimo. ‘Pag ganoon ho eh palagay ko masinop na masinop magbantay ng kaban ng bayan, kaya naman ho masisigurado nating wala tayong kaba dito sa Misamis.
Kapag tiningnan ho ninyo ang inihandang presentasyon ng ating butihing Secretary Babes Singson sa mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura dito sa Misamis Occidental, talaga namang gaganda ang inyong pakiramdam. Kongkretong patunay po kasi ang mga proyekto natin dito sa inyong probinsiya: Sa Daang Matuwid, walang maiiwan. Siyempre po, hinding-hindi natin makakaligtaang maghatid ng serbisyo sa mga minamahal nating Misamisnon. Tama ho ba ‘yon? “Misamisnon”? Kanina pa ho namin pinagdedebatehan ‘yan eh. Kayo pong patuloy na nakikiisa sa ating agenda ng malawakang kaunlaran.
Sabi ko nga po, magandang umpisa itong infrastructure briefing para sa dalawang araw nating pagbiyahe; una nga po rito sa Misamis Occidental, sunod sa Davao, at bukas naman po ay sa Cebu. Pero ang lalong nagbibigay-lakas sa atin ay ang napakainit po ninyong pagtanggap at ang suportang ipinapabatid ninyo simula pa noong taong 2010. Pinaalala nga pala sa akin pati ho panahon noong nanay ko. Alam ho n’yo kasi noong nangampanya ang nanay ko, sabi niya, “Maghati tayo. Ako na’ng bahala doon sa mainit ang suporta sa atin. Ikaw na’ng bahala doon sa baka hindi tayo susuportahan.” Ganoon ho talaga. Alam n’yo, ganoon ho talaga ‘pag favorite son kayo eh. Kayo ang pinapadala doon sa mga mabibigat. Tunay po: Maayo gyud kaayong makauban ang atong mga Boss diri sa Misamis Occidental.
At ‘pag humihingi nga raw ho ng suporta, sabihin ko raw ho… Sabi sa akin ni Jun eh… Jun, taga-Bisaya ka ba? Ilonggo. Mali, yata ang tinanungan ko. ‘Wag na nating gamitin ho iyon, baka magkahiwalay pa tayo.
Mahaba nga po ang listahan ng mga proyektong ipinapagawa natin sa inyong lalawigan; hayaan po ninyong banggitin ko ang ilan dito. Umpisahan natin sa mga kalsadang patungo sa Oroquieta City. Pinapaunlad na natin ang mountain road mula sa Oroquieta hanggang sa Calamba, pati na rin ang pagsasaayos po sa Oroquieta City-Plaridel-Calamba-Sapang Dalaga Road. [Palakpakan] Kapag nakumpleto ang kalsadang ito, ang biyahe dito na dating inaabot ng dalawang oras, tinatayang magiging isang oras na lang po.
Para sa ibang bahagi ng inyong probinsiya: nariyan po ang ginagawa nating slope protection para sa Migcanaway Bridge 1 [palakpakan] ng Ozamiz-Pagadian Road sa Tangub City. Bridge 1? Ibig sabihin ba no’n may Bridge 2? Sampung buwan na lang ho ang natitira atin, baka magkautang pa ako pagkatapos nito eh. [Tawanan] Ang pag-upgrade po sa Bonifacio-Don Victoriano Road, na pabibilisin ang biyahe mula sa dating dalawang oras, ang pangako po sa atin patungo sa 30 minuto; pati na ang pagsasaayos ng Ozamiz City Coastal By-Pass Road, na babaybay sa anim na barangay mula sa Malaubang hanggang sa lungsod ng Ozamiz. Meron din ho tayong mga ipinapagawang kalsada para lalo pang mailapit sa mas marami pang turista ang iba’t ibang destinasyon sa inyong probinsiya. Partikular na rito ang Ozamiz-Clarin-Tangub-Bonifacio-Don Victoriano Agro-Eco-Tourism Hinterland Projects. Andiyan din po ang Sta. Maria Hoyohoy Road papunta rin sa Hoyohoy Highland Botanical Garden. Mamaya ho siguro maa-upload ‘yan na kumakanta ako ng rap. Pati na rin ang Gandawan-Lake Duminagat Road, na gagawing dalawampung minuto ang dating dalawang oras na biyahe papunta sa lawa. Balita ko, unti-unti nang nakikilala sa labas ng inyong probinsiya ang Lake Duminagat; baka puwede na nating isama po ‘to sa listahan ng mga lugar na pagbabakasyunan natin pagbaba ko sa puwesto sa 2016.
‘Yun ho ba ‘yung lake na nasa taas ng bundok? ‘Yon ang feel na feel ko ho: may fog, malamig. Baka mag-asawa na ako, mag-honeymoon diyan. Baka magkaroon na kami ng angkan. Pero ‘yon na lang ho, sa ‘kin na lang pangarap po iyon.
Bukod pa sa mga nabanggit nating estruktura, ginagawa na rin ang Ozamiz City-Clarin Interior By-Pass Airport Link, na kapag natapos ay ibababa pa sa limang minuto ang dating dalawampung minutong biyahe papunta sa airport. Pero ‘pag dumagsa na po ‘yung mga turista sa inyo, baka aangat uli sa twenty minutes ‘yan dahil maraming gumagamit ng airport. Tuloy din po ang rehabilitasyon ng Tangub City–Cabangcalan–Manga–Bongabong Road papunta sa Watershed Park sa Tangub, na inaasahan ding makakatulong para mas marami pa ang maengganyong bumisita sa inyong probinsiya. Special mention na rin po ang Tangub Small Reservoir Irrigation Project, na maghahatid ng patubig sa 600 na ektarya at matutulungan ang 662 na magsasaka. ‘Pag naitayo ito, ito ang magiging pinakamalaking dam dito sa Misamis Occidental.
Ang isa pa pong good news: Aprubado na po ng NEDA Board ang konstruksiyon ng Panguil Bay Bridge, mula po sa Tangub papuntang bayan ng Tubod sa Lanao Del Norte. ‘Pag matapos ang proyekto, ang dating biyahe na inaabot ng dalawa’t kalahating oras, magiging pitong minuto na lang. Sa proyekto pong ito, magiging mas konektado ang mga bayan ng Ozamiz, Tangub, Oroquieta, sa mga sentro gaya ng Cagayan de Oro at Iligan, at maging sa ibang bahagi ng Zamboanga Peninsula. Isipin na rin po ninyo: Kapag nakumpleto na ang pagpapagawa ng mga daungan sa Plaridel, Jimenez, Oroquieta, at ang modernisasyon sa paliparan at daungan sa Ozamiz, asahan ninyong bibilis pa ang daloy ng komersiyo, transportasyon, at turismo sa buong Misamis Occidental, pati na rin sa inyo pong rehiyon. Siyempre, ang dulot nito: Aarangkada pa hindi lang ang negosyo at mga serbisyo sa inyong lalawigan, kundi maging ang mismong kabuhayan at kalagayan ninyo.
Walang duda: Hindi nga biro ang pamumuhunang ginawa at patuloy na ginagawa ng inyong gobyerno para sa inyong probinsiya. Mula nga po, nabanggit na kanina, noong taong 2011, ang ibinuhos nating pondo para sa inyong imprastruktura: halos P7.24 bilyon na po. Sa lahat nga po ng ito, siguro naman, wala pong makakapagsabing pinabayaan natin ang Misamis Occidental. Ngayon nga pong nasa huling bahagi na tayo ng ating panunungkulan, balak pa nating paspasin ang paghahatid ng kalinga at suporta hindi lang sa inyong bayan, kundi maging sa kalakhang Mindanao at sa buong bansa. Ang pangarap po kasi natin: Makitang umuunlad ang buong Mindanao para masagad ninyo ang potensiyal bilang “Land of Promises Fulfilled.”
Pero aaminin ko po: Marami pa tayong dapat gawin. Pero ang kaya nating ipatupad, tinutupad na natin; ang kayang itama, talagang itatama natin. Sa atin pong panig sa mabuting pamamahala: ang mga inisyatiba, nakaangkla sa pangangailangan, imbis na sa politika o palakasan. Ang pag-unlad, nakabatay sa isang komprehensibo at pinag-aralang estratehiya. Ang resulta: Ang kaginhawaan, totoong abot-kamay, hindi lang ng iilan kundi ng mas nakakarami, dahil sabay-sabay tayong nag-aambagan. Sa araw na ito, pinapatunayan po ninyong mga Misamisnon: Ingon ani ang tul-id nga dalan. Kamo ang naghimo ani nga pagbag-o, og kamo ang magpadayon ani.
Gusto n’yo ho bang ulitin ko ‘yung unang parte? Parang humina ang palakpak doon ah. Di na ho, baka magkamali pa lalo.
Gaya po ng nabanggit ko noong SONA: Inaani na natin ang positibong bunga ng mga repormang ating ipinunla sa nakalipas na mahigit limang taon. At simula pa lang po ito. Sa pagpili ng nararapat na pinuno sa susunod na taon, ang ating mga Boss—ang taumbayan—ang magtatakda ng direksiyong tatahakin natin. Nasa inyong mga kamay kung magpapatuloy ang pag-angat natin bilang bansa, o babalik tayo sa sistema kung saan muling maisasantabi ang kapakanan ng sambayanan; nasa inyong kamay kung magpapatuloy ang mga programa at proyektong maghahatid ng benepisyo sa karaniwang Pilipino o kung hahayaan nating mapatid ang transpormasyong tinatamasa natin sa kasalukuyan.
Gaya noong taong 2010, kompiyansa naman akong patuloy na papanig ang ating mga Boss, lalo na ang pinakamamahal nating Misamisnon, sa matuwid na pamamahala; na patuloy tayong titindig para sa tapat, tama, at makatwiran. Sa pakikiisa ninyo at ng buong sambayanan, pihadong mas maunlad, mas panatag, at mas marangal na Pilipinas ang ating makakamit at maipapamana sa susunod na salinlahi.
Gusto ko lang hong ipagdiinan ‘yung huli pong parte ng ating talumpati. Nakailang ulit na po tayong tinatanong, “Kami po beneficiary ng 4Ps. Paano n’yo gagarantiyahan na pagbaba n’yo sa puwesto, magpapatuloy ito?” Kahapon ho may nagtanong na naman. Halos araw-araw ho may nagtatanong, “Lahat ng nangyayaring pagbabago, paano ninyo gagarantiyahan?” Ako po ‘yung tinatanong, “na magpapatuloy ito pagbaba ninyo sa puwesto?” Siyempre ho kung ako ‘yung nakapuwesto, ito ho ‘yung plataporma natin, itutuloy ko ‘yan. Pero ‘yung mandato ko ho sa inyo tapos na next year, mga sampung buwan na lang ang natitira.
So ang tanong ho dito ngayon, lahat ng kakandidato naman–eleksiyon eh–magpapakilala sa inyo. Merong mapagkakatiwalaan, meron namang bahala na kayo. Pero ang dulo ho niyan, dito pa lang, masaya kayo sa 4Ps, may nagsabing “Itutuloy ko ang 4Ps,” may nagsabing “dapat imbestigahan ‘yang 4Ps.” ‘Yung imprastruktura ho dito, ewan ko, may nagagalit na maraming imprastrukturang kailangan n’yo na dumarating na at parating na.
Mahirap naman hong magtaas ng sariling bangko. Baka batukan ako ng tatay ko. Ang itinuro ho sa amin ay maging humble, huwag namang magyabang.
Ulitin ko lang ho: Lahat ng nagawa natin ngayon dahil tayo po’y nagsama-sama at nagtulungan. Binigyan ninyo ako ng pagkakataong maglingkod sa inyo at talagang karangalan po na nakapaglingkod sa inyo. Ito pong tinatamasa natin ngayon, galing sa inyo at umpisa pa lang ito, di ho ba? Kalsadang pagpapaganda papunta sa airport, o patungo ng lawa sa itaas ng bundok. Umpisa iyon, madali pumunta ang turista doon; pagdating ng turista doon, ikukuwento niya sa iba, parami nang parami ang turista. Sa bawat turistang dadating, isang trabaho daw ang nalilikha. ‘Yung 4Ps po–na umabot na sa high school ang tinutulungan natin ngayon–itong unang batch ho na nag-graduate itong taon na ito, lampas po sa labintatlong libo sa tatlong daang [libo] tinulungan ng 4Ps ang honor students, mga valedictorian, mga salutatorian sa kani-kanilang mga eskuwela. ‘Yung dalawa hong nakilala ko doon, natanggap daw po sa UP College of Engineering, na quota course. Isipin po ninyo, kung di sila naalalayan, nakapagtapos kaya ng high school? At ‘yang labintatlong libong ‘yan na honors, isipin ho ninyo kung ano ang itutulong sa ating bansa.
At ulit-ulitin ko lang ho, pasensiya na kung medyo makulit: Kayo ang gumawa nito, kayo ang magpapatuloy nito, at ako po’y–tulad ng dati–nakasandal sa balikat ng ating mga Boss. Tuloy-tuloy po tayo sa Tuwid na Daan.
Magandang umaga po. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the briefing on the DOT-DPWH Convergence Program |
| Bgy. Camudmud, Samal, Davao del Norte |
| 09 Sept 2015 |
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Dahil sa inyo po, napalapit na ako sa beach. Huling beses ko po dito sa Samal, wala ho akong nakitang beach. Ngayon nakita ko na ho at, at least, mga dalawampung hakbang na lang, tutungtong na ako sa beach. Kaya lang, di na ho yata pupuwede ngayon, babalikan ko ho kayo next year, mga July 5.
Noong nag-umpisa po akong congressman, 1998, ‘yan po ‘yung kakatapos ng kainitan ng tinatawag na “Asian Financial Crisis.” Bilang congressman, gusto nating mag-uwi ng proyekto sa ating distrito. Pagdalaw ko ho sa bahay ng isang barangay captain namin, may nakalista po doong “road.” ‘Yung “road” po, pagdating ko doon sa bahay nung barangay captain, kapirasong semento, eksakto po ‘yung sasakyan nung barangay. Parking lot pala ng sasakyan ‘yung “road.” At saka hindi ho dalawang… Di ba ho five meters… Ito ho kalahati lang, talagang five meters at talagang kasya lang ang isang sasakyan.
Ngayon ho, bakit ko nakuwento iyan? Kasi tingnan naman po ninyo, sa tourism projects at DPWH, pare-pareho ‘yung tinatawag na TRIP, Tourism Road Infrastructure Program. Pansinin po ninyo ‘yung mga numero, 463 tourism roads, 15 regions–siguro ‘yung National Capital Region, di na kailangan ng tourism roads, marami na siyang roads, iba ‘yung Metro Manila eh–75 provinces. Doon po ako napag-isip: 81 ang provinces sa Pilipinas. Kako isa yata doon sa anim na nangulelat, Tarlac. Kaya kailangan bumalik ako dito sa Davao del Norte. Dito sigurado ako may napala. Kasama sila sa 75 eh. Pero sabi ho ni Secretary Jimenez, hindi raw ho pala dapat provinces ‘yan: 75 clusters. So kumpol-kumpol. So malamang ho meron kami sa Tarlac kaya uuwi ako next week, hahanapin ko kung nandoon. Kung wala, may oras pa akong manlimos sa kanila.
Sa Filipino po, ang salin o ibig-sabihin ng salitang “convergence” ay “pagtatagpo.” At tunay nga po: Pinagtatagpo ng iisang layunin ang ating Department of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways Program (DOT-DPWH) Convergence Program—ang higit pang mapaarangkada ang turismo sa atin pong bansa, at makalikha ng mas marami pang trabaho para masiguro ang pag-asenso ng mas maraming Pilipino.
Madalas ko na pong nababanggit: Tinatawag na “low-lying fruits” ang mga sektor ng imprastruktura at turismo. Kumbaga ho sa prutas, madaling pitasin dahil low-lying nga po at puwedeng mapakinabangan agad—hindi bukas makalawa o sa malayong kinabukasan, kung hindi, ngayon na. Paano po natin nasabi ito? Sa imprastruktura pa lang, marami na ang nabibigyan ng trabaho sa konstruksiyon. Siyempre po, sa pagpapatayo ng mga kalsada’t tulay sa mga pili at estratehikong lugar, mapapadali ang pagpunta ng mga turista sa ating tourism sites. Pakipansin na rin po ninyo dahil parte na rin ng trabaho ko [ang] sales manager saka salesman sa dami ho nung sites na pupuntahan natin. Itong butanding ho saka ako di pa nagkikita. Malapit na ho.
Kung mapapaginhawa natin ang biyahe ng mga bakasyonista, natural po matutuwa sila, mas maeengganyo silang tumungo at bumalik sa ating mga destinasyon. At ang pinakaimportante pa po doon, ‘pag nakausap ang mga kababayan, “Pumunta kayo sa Pilipinas,” maeengganyo nang dagdag, hindi po ba? Malaking ambag po ito sa paglago ng ating lokal at pambansang ekonomiya. Hindi lang po iyan: Kada isang turistang dumarating sa Pilipinas, tinataya pong may nalilikhang isang trabaho para sa ating mga Pilipino. Mayroon pa itong tinatawag na multiplier effect. Sa pagbakasyon ng isang turista, di po ba, tutuloy siya sa hotel, kakain sa restaurant, sasakay ng taxi, kukuha ng tour guide? Ang resulta: Dagdag-kita at kabuhayan para sa ating mga kababayan.
Ngayon po, dahil sa benepisyong hatid ng turismo at imprastruktura, hindi lang sa paglago ng ekonomiya, kundi maging sa pag-asenso ng mas nakakaraming Pilipino, talagang tinututukan natin ito, at pinaglalaanan ng karampatang pondo. Tingnan na lang natin ang datos. Noong 2006 hanggang 2010, ang kabuuang pondong inilaan ng atin pong sinundan para sa Tourism Road Infrastructure ng bansa, nasa P13.79 billion. Sa atin po, mula 2011 hanggang 2015–dahil hinihintay pa po namin ang pahintulot ng kongreso para sa 2016, parte pa lang ho yan–pumalo na ito po sa P60.48 billion. Suma-total po, nasa 463 na tourism roads na ang ipinagawa, ipinapagawa, at ang nakapila pang ipagawa sa kalakhang bansa. Ang good news pa: Nagpanukala na tayo ng P24 billion na budget ng DPWH para sa 2016 upang makumpleto ang iba pang tourism roads na ipinatatayo natin ngayon. ‘Yung P24 billion po, hindi po kabuuan ng budget ng DPW. Pang-tourism-related projects lang po iyan. Medyo nakaka-distract ho talaga ‘yung dagat na kalmado.
Alam n’yo, bilang Pangulo ho, kung saan-saan tayo naiimbitang napakagandang mga tanawin, hindi ho ba? Bibigyan ka ng sampung segundo, “Ito po ang pamoso sa aming ganyan!” Tingin kang ganoon, tapos gaganyan naman. Minsan nga nababali na ang leeg ko kakalingon dahil ‘yun na ho ‘yung ten seconds: tumatakbo ‘yung sasakyan, eroplano, helicopter, kotse. Pero pagbalik ko ho dito, hindi na ako gaganyan dahil nakapirmi na ako diyan. Naalala ko kasi, noong isang araw, may kausap ako. “Kailan ka ba nagbabakasyon?” Kako “Noong araw, ‘pag Pasko, Holy Week, ‘di ba? Tulad ng karamihan. Nasa private sector ako, may two weeks guarantee.” Kailan ba tayo huling nagbakasyon? Basta noong last year ho, Holy Week, tanda ko sinagupa namin ‘yung MERS-Corona Virus. Pero 10 months na lang ho, kaya-kayang natin ito.
Suriin po natin ang epekto nito sa sektor ng turismo. 5 years ahead of schedule po tayo sa initial target nating 35.5 million domestic travelers sa ilalim ng ating termino. Ibig sabihin po noon, magkakaroon ng 35.5 million na turista. Ang masakit po–masakit na maganda, masakit para kay Mon Jimenez, maganda para sa atin–’yung target po ng anim na taon pumalo po tayo sa 37.5 million travelers noong 2011 pa lang. Kumbaga, nalampasan na po ang target niya sa isang taon pa lang. Siyempre, ayaw naman nating walang gagawin ang butihin Mon Jimenez, binago na po natin ang target at dinagdagan natin ng kaunti. Mula 30 ay gagawin na nating 51.7 million travelers. [Palakpakan] Hindi ho sa 2016 iyan, kailangan ho sa 2015. At mayroon pang ilang buwang natitira sa 2015. Balita ko po’y nalampasan na natin at nasa 54.6 million noon pang 2014. ‘Yung 30 naging 50; ‘yung 50 ho kaya dapat maging 80? Huwag naman ho, 10 months na lang. Puwede na ang 70 siguro. Depende rin ho sa inyo ‘yan, sa tulong n’yo sa aming pagdating ng turista, natuwa, hindi natakot.
Pagdating naman po sa international tourist arrivals, naiangat din natin ang average annual rate, ang pag-angat sa 8.3% nitong 2010 hanggang 2014. Mas mataas po ito sa itinalang 6.7% mula 2001 hanggang 2009.
Tingnan naman po natin ang datos dito sa inyo sa Davao del Norte. Mula 2011 hanggang 2015, umabot na sa mahigit P9 bilyon ang nailaan nating pondo para sa inyong mga kalsada’t tulay, farm-to-market roads, daungan, mga proyektong pang-irigasyon at flood control. At alam naman po ninyo, si [Manong Dolpo], kasamahan pa ng nanay ko, baka masumbong pa ako sa nanay ko ‘pag meron siyang binanggit. Uunahin natin sa pag-aaral ‘yan, kung kaya gawin na. Si [Anton] naman ho, kulang na lang mag-house-to-house kami noong takbo ko pa ng senador. Kaya ‘pag siya pa nagsegunda, talagang lalo hong nakikinig tayo, at lalong-lalo na sa inyo.
Sigurado po ako, kayo na mismong mga taga-Davao ang nakakakita at nakakaranas sa umuunlad ninyong probinsiya. Kanina lang po, nagkaroon tayo ng inspeksiyon sa ilang bahagi ng Igacos Circumferential Road Project. Alam ho n’yo kasi, hindi naman sa ano, ‘no, sana huwag ninyong mamasamain, malapit ho kasi ito [Igacos] sa Tagalog na “igapos” eh. Baka dapat baguhin natin nang konti. Sa gobyerno ho kasi, isa sa parati kong pinoproblema ‘yung acronym. Bawat unang letra, kinukumpol, gagawa ng salita. Eh katulad nung… ‘Yung PIA ang dami ho no’n, Philippine Information Agency. Mayroon pang ibang PIA. ‘Yung PSF, President’s Social Fund, bilang nating Price Stabilization Fund, ang dami ho. At ‘pag nag-uusap ho na puro acronym, sabi ko, “Sandali lang. Pinapadali natin sa acronym, pinapahirapan ninyo, baka iba na ang topic ng pinag-uusapan natin dito.” Kanya-kanya nga ang acronym, pero iba ho iyon. Pasensiya na ho kayo. Parang na-”at home” ako masyado dito.
Sa totoo lang habang tinitignan ko itong dagat na ‘to, iniisip ko ho kung may dala akong swimming trunks. Kaya nakakasira ho dito sa sasabihin natin. Kailangan ko hong magmadali nang kaunti. Susunod ko hong makakausap mga bata at saka mga [the young]. May eskuwelahan ho akong pupuntahan, at saka ‘yung young once. Once, O-N-C-E. ‘Yung young, ‘wag na natin pahintaying masyado. ‘Yung young once, puwede pa ho maghintay nang konti siguro.
Dumaan po tayo sa inyong Island Garden City of Samal Circumferential Road, kung saan pinalawak at sinemento natin ang halos 27 kilometrong bahagi nito. Mahigit 80% na raw pong complete ang proyektong ito; target makumpleto sa Enero–2016, Babes, para maliwanag–Enero, 2016. Baka ho ibig sabihin niyan Disyembre ng 2015. Kung Disyembre, Babes, o Nobyembre, hindi kami magtatampo sa ’yo, na hindi ka tumupad sa usapan na Enero. Okay lang sa aming mapaaga ito. Pagbukas po nito, giginhawa na ang biyahe ng mga nais tumungo sa Pearl Farm Beach Resort para mag-water sports, snorkeling, o scuba diving–scuba diving lang ho ako di puwede. Puwede rin po silang pumunta sa Tridacna Sanctuary, para makita ang pambihira ninyong Giant Clams; at siyempre sa Samal Botanical Garden, kung saan masasaksihan ang nakakamanghang ganda ng kalikasan. Alam ho n’yo, ‘yung kalikasan nga po, doon sa kabilang parte ng Samal, sabi kasi 90 kilometers away sa circumferential road mayroon hong grupong gustong i-preserve ang nature as is, kasama raw ‘yung kalsada. “Huwag kayo maglalagay ng kalsada dito, baka magkaroon ng threat sa nature ang tinatawag na sustainable tourism.” Dulo po niyan, kayo ang boss, kayo ang magdedesisyon. ‘Pag sinabi niyo gawin ito, o hindi gawin ito, kami naman ho ay nakikinig lang at inyong dakilang utusan. Tiyak po, kapag napapakinabangan na nang buo ang mga kalsadang ito, higit pang makukumbinsi ang marami na talagang “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” lalo na po sa inyo rito sa Davao.
Malinaw po: Kongkretong patunay ang ating DOT-DPWH Convergence Program sa transpormasyong hatid ng Daang Matuwid. Ang mga sektor na alam nating kapaki-pakinabang sa taumbayan, tinututukan natin at pinauunlad. Kakabit nito, kapag nahandugan ng tapat na serbisyo ang ating mga Boss, sila na mismo ang magkukusang tumulong upang panatilihing maayos at maganda ang ating mga destinasyon. Virtuous cycle po ito: Ang mga naiangat nating kababayang nasa laylayan ng lipunan, nakikiambag na rin sa paglago ng ating pambansang ekonomiya, at sa pag-unlad ng kalakhang lipunan.
Mga Boss, sa loob lamang ng mahigit limang taon, napakarami na nating napagtagumpayan, kabilang na ang kaliwa’t kanang imprastrukturang ipinatayo at ipinatatayo. At sa totoo lang po, sa pag-iikot natin sa kalakhang bansa, madalas nating marinig sa ating mga kababayan: “Mr. President, maraming salamat po; napakatagal na naming hinihintay ang mga kalsada’t tulay na ito.” Salamat daw po sa Dalican-Batad Road sa Banaue, Ifugao; salamat sa Taytay-El Nido Road sa Palawan; salamat sa Daanbantayan Road sa Cebu; salamat din daw sa Panglao Island Circumferential Road sa Bohol. Alam po ninyo, sa totoo lang, puwede naman nating angkinin ang papuri sa lahat ng ito; puwedeng magbuhat na lang ako ng aking sariling bangko. Pero hindi po natin ugali ‘yan; alam nating ang bawat tagumpay sa Daang Matuwid, gawa at mula sa atin pong mga Boss, ang sambayanang Pilipino. Sa loob-loob ko nga rin po: Hindi ba’t ganito naman ang talagang dapat ginagawa ng gobyerno? Hindi ba’t ang pangunahing layunin naman talaga dapat ng pamahalaan ay mapaginhawa ang buhay ng Pilipino?
Mga Boss, mula nang bagtasin natin ang Daang Matuwid, napatunayan natin ang kapangyarihan ng pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan. Alam nating kapag nagtagpo ang kolektibong hangarin ng Pilipino, at sama-sama itong ihakbang sa iisang direksiyon, kayang-kaya nating magtagumpay sa pagsusulong ng positibong transpormasyon. Mga Boss, maayo na ang atong nasugdan, gunitan nato ang positibong transpormasyon nga atong nasinati; ipadayon ug iabante nato ang Tul-id nga Dalan.
Para bang ‘yung kalsada n’yo, 80 percent pa lang. [Tawanan] Pero sa totoo lang po, sana tingnan natin ‘yung kabuuan ng estratehiya. Hindi tayo magpapalagay ng kalsada na ibig sabihin pala parking lot para kay Barangay Captain, tapos darating tayo nagmamadali para may photo opportunity, tapos maglalagay ako doon ng “Kita n’yo, mahal ko kayo.” Hindi ho. Importante ho dito, buuin natin. Kayo, ano ba potensiyal n’yo? Tourism, malaki. Paano natin mapaparami ang turista? Siyempre, padaliin natin ‘yung pagbiyahe nila diyan. Pagdating naman ho dito, kayo na bahala sa kanila. Siyempre, ‘pag natuwa sa inyo, magbabalik-balik. Kapag hindi naman ho natuwa sa inyo, siyempre tagilid tayong lahat. Ngayon, kailangan ng mga skills na tinatawag para makibahagi doon sa pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya. Dito ba, bahala na kayo mag-aral para makuha ‘yung kakayahan? Hindi ho. Dumoble na po sa budget ng DepEd, mula nag-umpisa tayo. Ang laki ng nilaan natin sa TESDA, pati na ho sa CHED. Sa 4P’s ho last year, mayroon tayong tinulungang lampas sa 300,000 fourth year high school students. Nasabi ko na po sa inyo sa SONA, mahigit sa 13,000 of the 300,000 [ay] honor students. Sila ho, sa palagay ko, nasa iba’t ibang kolehiyo na tinutulungan naman ng ating pondo ng CHED.
Madaling salita po, kanina ho kasi naulit naman, nagsabi na sa akin: Ito pong proyektong ‘to, sampung taon na namin hinihintay; sa ibang lugar, dalawampung taong hinihintay, tatlumpung taong hinihintay, limampung taong hinihintay. ‘Yung isang napuntahan nating proyekto sa Iloilo, ‘yung Jalaur Multi-Purpose, naisip po nila ‘yon noong taon na napanganak ako. Sa bagay, hindi pa naman ako ganoon katandaan. Pero hindi ako ganoong kabataan. ‘Yung tulay doon sa Isabela, Lullutan Bridge, 1995 nasira, 2015 namin nabuo. Every time hong nakakarinig tayo ng deka-dekadang pangangailangan na hindi natutugunan, ano ba’ng pinagkaiba namin na kaya namin gawin ‘yung sana nagawa na ng iba. Dahil, siyempre po, ‘yung dekadang paghihirap, pagtitiis, paghihintay, puwede namang naibsan sana. Ngayon ho, next year may eleksiyon na naman tayo, ako naman po’y tapos na ang ating kontrata… Para maliwanag ho, June 30 bago 12 noon, kailangan sumumpa na ‘yung bagong Pangulo. Ibig sabihin ho, retired na ako bago noon.
Ngayon, ang punto ko lang ho dito: May nangyari, walang nangyari. Referendum next year; saan ba tayo tutungo? Mas abante o babalik tayo sa dati? O version ng dati? Kayo gumawa nito, kayo magpapatuloy nito. Kaya ako po’y parati namang nakasandal sa taumbayan katulad ng aking mga magulang. Palagay ko po, tama ang gagawin ninyong desisyon para talagang di-hamak na mas maganda ang iiwan natin sa mga susunod sa atin kaysa po sa ating dinatnan. Nasa kamay po ninyo iyan.
Magandang hapon. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions during his visit to the Treevolution of the Young Participants |
| Teodoro Palma Gil Elem School Gym, Elpidio Quirino Ave., Poblacion District, Davao. 09 Sept 2015 |
| 09 Sept 2015 |
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Q: Ano po ang ginawa ng gobyerno tungkol sa maruming hangin sa mga lansangan?
PRESIDENT AQUINO: Babatiin ko lang ho ‘yung nandito sa gilid na mga kabataan; dito ho ‘yung ‘young,’ tayo ho mga ‘young once.’ Ginawa sa kalikasan? Alam mo, mayroon tayong mga batas… (Pwede ba bumaba na lang ako rito?) For instance, may mga kasamahan tayo sa Liberal Party, si Neric Acosta isa sa principal author ng Clean Air Act. Pero, ‘yung diretsuhang ginawa natin, nandito si Mon Paje na siyang naging katuwang natin para… Una, pagpipigil ‘nung tinatawag na ‘illegal logging.’ Siyempre, ‘yung puno nag-co-convert ng carbon dioxide at carbon monoxide para maging oxygen. Pasensya na kayo, ‘nung grade school kasi ako mga 10 years ago na ‘yon, kaya hindi ko na maalala lahat ng ating chemistry lessons.
Itigil ‘yung illegal logging para mapanatili ‘yung kakayahan ng mga puno na pasariwain ‘yung ating kapaligiran. Ngayon, nagtanim din tayo at kasalukuyang nagtatanim ng hindi bababa sa halos isang bilyong puno. Next year matatapos natin ‘yung target nating magtanim ng one-and-a-half billion trees at malalampasan ‘yung hectarage. Ngayon, ‘yung sa pagpapatupad ng Clean Air Act, kunwari ‘yung smoke emission testing. Isa sa mga ginawa ni Secretary Mar ‘nung siya ay nasa DOTC, mayroong mga smoke emission testing centers na sinasabi mga 600 hanggang 800 sasakyan ang na-te-testing nila. E iisa ang makina, so isipin mo ilang minuto o minuto na lang ‘yung pag-te-testing, talagang hindi pwedeng mangyari ‘yon.
So ‘yung mga nagpepeke ng mga certification na nag-co-comply sa emission testing isinara at talagang ni-recertify ng lahat itong mga emission testing center ‘yung pagtulak doon sa ating mga… ‘Yung paggamit ng mas tamang mga fuel, ‘yung tinatawag na mga incentive para sa renewable energy… Actually, ang dami pong ibang nasa listahan, ‘di ba. Pero madaling salita, lahat ng pagkakataon para mapanatili natin o mapaganda ang kaayusan ng kalikasan na pinipilit nating gawin, at gusto ko lang bigyang-diin at pansin, na si Lucille Sering ng ating Climate Change Commission talagang isa sa pangunahing tagatulak ng pagtataguyod ng maayos na kalikasan. At, siyempre, nandito tayo para mag-apela sa inyong lahat na kayong nakababata sa amin, importante na kayo ‘yung maging matatag as prime mover. Dahil ‘pag pumangit nang pumangit ang lipunan natin, siyempre, mas matagal kayong magtitiis. Kaming mga nauna sa inyo hindi na kasing tagal magtitiis. Importante na sa henerasyon ninyo kayo ang manguna para mapaalala ninyo sa mga nakalimot na kung paano nga ba pahalagahan ang ating kalikasan.
Q: Ano po ang maaari naming gawin para sa kalikasan?
PRESIDENT AQUINO: Nandiyan yata sa t-shirt mo marami na e. Mamaya ‘pag nag-tuck out ka medyo importante ‘yung nandito sa baba, ‘yung [paggamit] ng tabo, ano. Pero seryoso po, ano, hindi lang ‘yung mga scientist natin pero maging sa buong mundo nagsasabi na baka severe ‘yung El Niño ngayon. At actually nasa El Niño na tayo pero ‘pag nag-Disyembre talaga madadama natin. Pero ang pinakamabigat na parte ‘yung Enero at saka Pebrero sa susunod na taon. So isa sa mga ginagawa natin, nagkakaroon tayo ng cloud-seeding para magbuhos ng ulan at sana maipon ng ating mga dike, mga dam, at saka pumunta sa aquifers.
Pero ‘yung isang magagawa natin nang diretsuhan, kaya nga sabi ko nandoon sa—number ano nga siya ulit? Number 12. Kunwari, ano—naghahanap ako ng ehemplo para sa’yo. Sa akin kasi ‘pag mag-aahit ako, tumatakbo ‘yung tubig; may parteng pangbanlaw ‘nung razor, panlagay ng sabon sa mukha; ‘pag hindi ko pinatay ‘yung gripo maraming natatapon din. So ‘yung ginagamit natin ngayon, hindi natin magagamit ‘pag dumating ‘yung El Niño na malalang-malala Disyembre, Enero, Pebrero. Kung mababawasan natin ‘yung paggamit natin ngayon, may magagamit tayo doon sa panahon na below 40 percent ng annual rainfall natin ang mapapala sa malaking bahagi ‘yan.
Dito sa inyo sa Mindanao, parang nag-umpisa na tayong—gumanda na ‘yung power situation, ‘yung kuryente. Pero ang problema rin niyan, malaking porsyento pa rin ng kuryente ninyo galing sa hydroelectric resources. So, ulit na naman, bawas tayo ng gamit ng tubig baka tumagal ‘yung kontribusyon ng ating ating hydropower plants sa pagkakaroon ng kuryente. ‘Yung pagtitipid ng kuryente nasabi na rin siguro sa inyo ‘yon, pero ‘yung isa sa tip, hindi mo gagamitin ‘yung appliance naka-off; maganda naka-unplug na rin. Maski na naka-plug nang hindi ginagamit kumukuha rin ng elektrisidad.
Pero ang pinaka-importante, ‘yung mas aral kayo e, mas bago ‘yung kaalaman ninyo kaysa sa aming mga nauna sa inyo at nakakausap ninyo ‘yung mga magulang ninyo. Maibabahagi ninyo ‘yung natutunan ninyo para ‘yung kanila ring kaalaman maging makabago at pinakabagong datos para lahat tayo magtulungan sa problemang pare-pareho nating haharapin.
Q: Mahalaga ba ang pagdami ng mga nangangalakal sa ating bansa at hindi po ba maapektuhan ang ating mga lokal na mga produkto?
PRESIDENT AQUINO: Importante ba? Alam mo naman mayroon pa rin tayong mga kababayan na tinatawag na unemployed, walang trabaho, saka kulang ‘yung trabaho. Lahat ng nangangalakal gusto niya malaki ang merkado niya, ‘di ba? Siyempre, kung ang populasyon ng barangay mo sasampung katao, walang dahilan na maglalagay ka ng… May sari-sari store ka doon, hindi ka bibili ng 100 instant noodles dahil sasampu lang ‘yung bibili. ‘Yung gumagawa naman ng instant noodles ang ipadadala sa’yo hindi rin lalampas ng sampu siguro. Pero ‘pag ‘yung barangay ninyo naging 20, may karatig na barangay na naabot na, parang lumalaki ‘yung merkado, nagkakaroon ng insentibo sa lahat ng nangangalakal na magpalaki nang magpalaki ng kanilang mga pabrika at saka mga tindahan. So bawat paglaki ‘non nagkakaroon ng oportunidad ‘yung mga kababayan natin na magkaroon ng trabaho. Kung tayo mananatili lang sa merkado ng Pilpinas, ang merkado natin 100 million Filipinos. Sa ASEAN na kabahagi tayo, 600 million na katao ‘yon, so times six kaagad ‘yung merkado mo. ‘Pag pumunta naman tayo sa buong mundo, ‘di ilang bilyon ‘yung potensyal na merkado.
Makakaapekto ba sa lokal? Siyempre, magkakaroon sila ng dahilan para pagandahin ‘yung produkto nila at saka maging mas efficient na tinatawag para makalaban doon sa merkado. Imbes na… ‘Di ba parang… Sorry ha, medyo nahirapan akong i-translate ‘yung economic theory dito ngayon, pero ang punto nito ‘yung… ‘Pag wala kang kompetisyon, kung ano ang nakagisnan, ‘yon na lang. Tapos ang tinatawag sa economics parang hindi maganda ‘yung ganoong klaseng kalakaran dahil nagiging mas mahal kadalasan ‘yung bibilhin mo. ‘Pag mayroon siyang competitor, pagandahan sila ng produkto, pagandahan ng presyo. Makikinabang ‘yung namimili. Tapos ‘pag pahusay nang pahusay ‘yung efficiency nila, mayroon tayong kakayahan na pumunta sa iba pang mga negosyo, iba pang kalakal.
So ang punto nito, lumaki ang merkado, dumadami ‘yung nagbabayad ng buwis, dumadami ‘yung kakayahan ng gobyerno sa imprastruktura at saka sa social services na pangalagaan ang ating mga mamamayan, na magpapahusay naman sa kaalaman ng ating mga mamamayan na magtatataas sa kanila sa tinatawag na value chain. Parang ‘yung suweldo ng walang kaalaman, biglang may kaalaman siya, siyempre mas mataas ‘yung may kaalaman. Tataas nang tatataas ‘yon, ‘di ‘yon ang magiging tulay para gumanda nang gumanda ang pag-asenso ng ating mga kababayan, at baka lumapit tayo nang lumapit doon sa lahat ng may trabaho at sapat na trabaho. So mabuti na dumarami ‘yung nangangalakal na dumarating sa ating mga baybayin para mapalaki ang ekonomiya natin para dumagdag ang oportunidad ng lahat.
Q: Salamat po.
PRESIDENT AQUINO: Dapat doon ako nag-umpisa ng sagot. ‘Pag hindi ninyo ako naintindihan, bilib na bilib ako sa mga guro ninyo, ipapaliwanag nila sa inyo ‘yan.
Q: Bakit po patuloy pa rin ang illegal logging sa bansa kahit po ipinagbabawal mo na ito?
PRESIDENT AQUINO: ‘Di ba parang bakit nagkaroon ng hindi maayos na kasamahan si Abel sa Eden? Bakit si Hesukristo may kasamang naghudas sa kanya? Mayroon talagang pasaway e. Pero ang punto ho nito, at marami sa Mindanao, ano—hindi maraming pasaway, maraming insidente ng illegal logging. May mga liblib na lugar na mahirap bantayan, okay. Alam ninyo parang isa sa ginawa natin diyan, dati kasi may gimik diyan ‘yung mga illegal logger. Puputulin, ‘pag nahuli, mag-bi-bidding para mapunta rin sa kanila. Tapos nagkakaayusan ng bidding para mura daw ang kuha ng estado.
Ang ginawa natin ngayon, habang may pakinabang ‘yung mga nagpuputol ng kahoy, tuloy-tuloy. ‘Di ba, mamumutol maski iligal, so ang…Ilan na ang nakumpiskang trak ng DENR? Over 400 na trak na ang nakumpiska ng DENR. ‘Yung mga pasaway ayaw nang angkinin ‘yung trak dahil aaminin nilang sila ‘yung illegal logger. Ngayon, anong gagawin doon sa kahoy lalo na ‘yung mamahalin? Gumawa tayo ng patakaran, hindi na pwedeng i-bid, hindi na pwedeng ibenta. ‘Pag may kahoy na nakumpiska ang gobyerno na illegally cut—siyempre, hindi mo na maitatanim ulit ‘yan, ano—gagawin na kaagad silya at saka mesa ng public school system natin.
Sa Davao raw ho naka-donate na ang pinagsamang puwersa ng TESDA at DENR, pati PAGCOR yata kasali diyan, ano. Basta ‘yung pinutol ninyong akala ninyo maipupuslit ninyo, mabibili ninyo, hindi na pwede ‘yon. ‘Pag pinutol ninyo, sisiguraduhin naming hindi kayo makikinabang, puro gastos lang ang napala ninyo at tuloy-tuloy na hinuhuli natin lahat ito, okay. So ang punto nga ho niyan—sa akin, ano—‘nung 2011 nagkaroon ng mga bahang matindi at ‘yung dahilan… Isang malaking dahilan ‘non ‘yung mga troso. Mayroon na tayong mas maraming ulan, pinakawalan pa ‘yung troso ‘nung kasagsagan ng ulan, ‘yung troso nag-ipitan dito sa mga imprastrukturang tulad ng tulay, sinira lahat ng mga tulay na ‘yon. So sinira na ‘yung kalikasan, sinira ‘yung imprastruktura natin, patung-patong ang gastos na sana hindi na natin ginastos at napunta sa mas may kabuluhan at iilan ang nakinabang at talagang nilalabanan natin ‘yan.
So, ulit, ‘yung sentrong istratehiya natin diyan, putulin mo nang iligal, pipilitin naming hindi mo mapakinabangan dahil hindi mo makukuha ‘yung kahoy—‘yon ang hinahabol natin. At saka kung tutulungan ninyo kami, or may mga kaibigan kayong makakatulong, may nakita kayong troso… Halatang-halata naman kasi ‘yung legal na galing sa farm, ano, ‘yung parang… ‘Yung talagang sila ang nagtanim, sila ang pwedeng pumutol. ‘Yung tinatawag na old-growth, malalaking troso kaagad ‘yan, hindi galing sa mga farmland. ‘Pag may nakita kayo i-report niyo kaagad para matulungan natin ang ating kapulisan saka DENR para masigurado nating tumigil na sila nang tumigil dahil huhulihin natin nang huhulihin.
Q: Paano po makakabuti sa amin ang K-to-12?
PRESIDENT AQUINO: Siguro ‘yung isang madaling sagot diyan, ‘pag mayroon kang test o quiz kinabukasan, ‘di ba nagmamadali kang maalala lahat ‘nung leksiyon? Tama ba o hindi? Hindi mo na kailangan. Dahil ikaw ‘yung secretary baka mahusay ‘yung memory mo e. Pero madaling salita lang, sa buong mundo tatatlong bansa ang 10 taon o 10 baitang ‘yung basic education. Ngayon, kailangan nating makipagsabayan sa merkado ng buong mundo. ‘Yung kailangan ninyong matutunan sa Pilipinas at saka ‘yung dalawang ibang bansa pang ‘yon, sampung taon, ‘yung… Alam ninyo ‘yung embudo? ‘Yung parang pinipilit ipalunok sa’yo lahat ng kaalaman sa sampung taon.
‘Yung mga counterpart naman natin sa ibang bansa, maliban doon sa tatlong binanggit ko nga, ‘yung tatlong natira, sila 12 years na maaaral ‘yan. Siguro naman, ‘pag bibigyan ng mas mahabang panahon para matutunan ‘yung dapat matutunan, mas matututo nang madali. ‘Nung panahon namin kasi mayroon ‘yung tinatawag na rote learning e. Para bang ‘pag may sinabi ‘yung teacher, mememoryahin mo word-for-word, maski hindi mo naintindihan pasado ka. Ulit lang nang ulit dahil nga kailangan maalam na kami lahat, kailangan paspasan. Ang masakit nito, ‘nung pagpasok namin kasi, ‘yung grades one to six ang ating elementary. Pagdating ng first year high school, parang may kinukulang daw sa grades one to six, pupunuin ng first year high school. ‘Yung apat na taon ng high school naging three years na lang.
So pagpunta ng college, ‘yung natutunan nila ng three years, may kulang dahil kinain ‘nung remedial class ‘nung first year sila. First year ng college parang may remedial class na naman. So ‘yung four years ng college nagiging three years na lang. So madaling salita, ang mungkahi dito bigyan ‘yung bata ng sapat na panahon para matuto nang buong-buo para kayang makipagsabayan sa kaalaman ng maski sino man sa buong mundo. Ngayon, ang problema natin sa kasalukuyan, mayroong mga bansa tinatanong na kung ‘yong diploma natin may saysay dahil kulang daw ‘yung mga subject o kulang ‘yung taon na nag-aral.
So may nangyari na katulad ng ibinalita sa akin sa Gitnang Silangan, matagal na sa isang kompanya itong Pilipino, kung tutuusin nag-su-supervise, pero ‘yung dumating sa kanyang nahuli mas parang walang kuwestiyon ‘yung kanyang mga diploma. Pagdating ng promotion inuuna ‘yung nahuli kaysa doon sa nauna maski mas magaling ‘yung atin dahil kinukuwestiyon nga ‘yung kanyang mga titulo at saka mga diploma. So siguro parang… Alam ninyo, pag dumating kayo sa edad ko na mga plus 10 years sa inyo, talagang hahabulin ninyo ‘yung…
Ngayon, baka pilit na pilit tayong nag-aaral e, pero darating ‘yung panahon malalaman ninyo ‘pag hindi ka tumigil mag-aral, talagang ‘yon ang susi para umangat nang umangat. Pero the minute na sabihin mo ‘alam ko na lahat ng dapat kong matutunan,’ doon ‘yung umpisa ng paglubog dahil parating nagbabago ang kaalaman ng dumarami. So, ulitin ko, mabigyan kayo ng pagkakataon na isagad ‘yung oportunidad niyo para umasenso kayo. ‘Yon ang habol natin doon sa K-to-12. |
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| SOURCE: Presidential News Desk |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech during a Gathering of Friends in Davao City |
| Function Room 1, SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave., Agdao District, Davao City |
| 09 Sept 2015 |
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Mabuhay kayo, panahon pa lang ng nanay ko nandiyan kayo tumutulong, at sa lahat ng mga kasamahan natin.
Si Angel kailangan ko ring batiin nang husto, ano. Si Angel Amante po, pati ang tatay niya. ‘Yung tatay niya… Uumpisahan ko sa tatay po niya: [Palakpakan] Si Manong Edelmiro hindi naman ho talaga kakilala ng nanay ko. Pero noong presidente po ang nanay ko, nasabi niya–congressman ho noon si Manong Edelmiro–sabi, “Congressman, how is your hospital in your district?” “Ma’am, it’s like Mona Lisa.” [Tawanan] Nanay ko po’y marami namang titulong natanggap na, hindi niya naintindihan bakit naman Mona Lisa. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand it. Why is it Mona Lisa?” “Well, you just lie there and you die there.” [Tawanan at palakpakan] Ganun ho si Manong, magaling. Hindi nang-aaway pero pinadamang “Nakalimutan po kami.” Wala pa atang dalawang linggo, pinadala ‘yung gamot. Tapos sumunod noon lahat nung kasangkapan. Ganun ho ang style. Kako mukhang okay to ah. Natutuhan ho natin diyan.
So noong tayo po ay tumakbong senador, isa rin ho sa mga unang tumulong sa atin, lalo po dito sa Mindanao, at lahat ng kasamahan natin dito sa entablado, nandiyan ‘yan. Maganda na nakikita ko po kayong lahat.
Meron ho akong unang problemang gustong ibahagi sa inyo. ‘Yung ubo, mawawala rin ho ‘yan. [Tawanan] Ganun din ho ‘yung pagiging binata. Next year ho. [Palakpakan] Next year gumanda ang pag-asa ko doon. Hindi naman ho ako nakakasigurado. Ngayon pa lang ho hindi ko kayo kayang imibitahin lahat kung saka-sakaling matuloy ‘yun. [Tawanan] Dahil wala pa ho ngayon. Isama n’yo ‘yung dasal na lang.
Ito ho ‘yung problema at balikan natin–baka narinig n’yo na ho ito sa akin noong araw pero totoong nangyari ito sa Cebu. Pagkatapos ho nito, tutungo ako ng Cebu. Noong panahon po ng diktadurya, mayroong isang senador. Senador siya bago ‘yung Martial Law. Dumating po sa rally, may pagka-late. Nanggigising tayo ng taumbayan. Pagdating niya doon, ang dinatnan niya tatatlong tao. Napatingin siya, “Tatatlong tao na lang pala ang nandito.” Lapit doon sa emcee. Sabi niya sa emcee, “Magsasalita pa ba ako, tatatlo tao na lang nandito?” Ang sagot ho sa kanya ng emcee, “Mukha hong hindi pa kumbinsido ‘yung tatlong ‘yan. [Tawanan] Bakit hindi ho natin subukan, baka kayo ang makakakumbinsi?”
So noong nagsalita po at noong nagsalita siya hindi naman, hindi ba, tatlong tao, pang-apat siya, puwede namang apat na silya na lang. Eh sumampa ho ng entablado, ginamit ‘yung mic at saka ‘yung loud speaker. Maraming loud speaker. Nagsalita doon sa plaza. Kalahati na ‘yung talumpati, tumayo yung isa doon sa tatlo. Umalis, umuwi. Paglingon niya sa emcee, sabi ng emcee, “Ang galing n’yo. Dalawa na lang ang kailangan nating kumbinsihin.” [Tawanan] Matatapos na lang po ‘yung talumpati, tumayo na naman ‘yung isa. Lingon na naman siya sa emcee, “Lahat ho ng nauna sa inyo hindi kayang makumbinsi ang dalawang iyan, kayo ho lang pala ang susi. Ituloy na po n’yo. Isa na lang, isa na lang.” [Tawanan] Natapos ho ‘yung talumpati, hindi naman umalis ‘yung pangatlo. Bumaba siya sa entablado, nilapitan niya, kinamayan niya. Sabi niya, “Siguro naman pare, kumbinsido ko na kayo.” Sagot po ng tao, “Alam n’yo ho talaga pong kumbinsido ako. Bago pa ho kayo dumating, kumbinsido na po ako. At ang pruweba po niyan, ‘yang loud speaker na ginagamit n’yo, akin po ‘yan. Pinahiram ko lang. [Tawanan at palakpakan] Sabi ho niya kasi, kailangan ko kayong mahintay matapos para maiuwi ko na ‘yung aking system. [Tawanan]
Ito ang problema, pupunta ako dito para kumbinsihin kayo, eh nakadilaw na kayo. [Tawanan] Si Lou, hanggang sapatos, nakadilaw. [Tawanan] Sabi ho sa akin naubusan na raw ho ng panindang dilaw dito sa pagkalaki-laking mall na ‘to. Eh mukhang dapat ho yata magpaalam na ako. Baka mawala pa kayo sa pagkakakumbinsi. Pero hayaan n’yo ako magdadag ngayon, kaya naging one and a half pages na lang.
Siguro umpisihan ko ho kay Binibining “G Funny” at lahat ho sila na nagsalita kanina. Sabi ho nila, salamat sa akin. Palagay ko mali ‘yon. Bakit kayo nagpapasalamat sa akin? Nangako ako sa inyong maglilingkod sa inyong lahat, hindi ba? Para magkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na ito, nagmula rin sa inyong lahat. ‘Yung natatamasa ng buong bansa na pagbabago, kayo ang gumawa, ako lang siguro naging mukha. Sabi nga ho ng kritiko, ako raw ang unang ibabala sa kanyon. Pero ang punto ho nito, uulit-ulitin ko, hindi ako magsasawang sabihin ito: Maski anong ambisyon ko, kung hindi n’yo ako tinulungan, may magagawa ba ‘ko? [Palakpakan] Sa lahat ho ng pagtakbo sa National Election, parati kong naririnig ‘yung “anyone but.” Ibig sabihin, manalo na maski sino basta ‘wag lang daw ako. Kako, pasensiya na kayo. Ako nakasandal ako sa mga boss ko at matibay ‘yung mga boss ko. [Palakpakan] Kaya iyan po, itong lahat na binanggit nila, nagmula rin sa pagtitiwala po n’yo.
Siguro, at wala nga akong teleprompter, ano, dahil mas gusto kong mas diretso ‘yung sasabihin sa inyo. Nag-graduate this year ‘yung unang batch ng mga tinulungan ng 4Ps para sa high school–in-expand natin ‘yung program. Sa unang batch po, lampas sa 300,000 estudyante ang tinulungan sa high school nationwide. At doon sa 300,000 ‘yun, mahigit sa 13,000 po ay ‘yung mga valedictorian at saka ‘yung iba, honor students. Dalawa ho na kumatawan para sa buong grupo, hinarap ko po ‘yung 15,000 ho yata dito sa National Capital Region. ‘Yung dalawang humarap po sa akin na kumakatawan sa kanilang lahat, natanggap–ang pagkaintindi ko po–sa UP at sa College of Engineering sa University of the Philippines po. [Palakpakan]
‘Yang kursong ‘yan, ang tawag ho nila quota course. Mahirap pasukan. Pero maganda ang test results. Hindi tiyak na makakaabot sa college. Tinulungan po ninyong lahat. Tinulungan ng atin pong gobyerno, ng atin pong bansa. At isipin po n’yo, pagtapos ng apat na taon–o engineering, baka limang taon tapos ‘yung kanilang exam. Ilan ho kayang Pilipino ang matutulungan nila dahil natulungan sila?
Balikan ko po: TESDA. Ang laki na ho ng expansion. Si Joel pagpunta dito sasabihin sa inyo kung ilang milyon na ang nakadaan sa mga kurso niya. Ilang beses na rin n’yo akong narinig siguro binabanggit ko na pagka-graduate sa TESDA, nag-umpisa tayo mga 28% ang placement rate, ‘yung nakakakuha ng trabaho within six months. Ngayon po, mga lampas sa 70% na po ang nagkakaroon ng trabaho. [Palakpakan]
Ilang beses na po n’yo ho akong narinig kung ano ang ikinaganda ng buhay nila. ‘Yung isa kong ginamit na ehemplo, kasi sinabi ko nga ho pagkatapos niyang nag-graduate, mekaniko po siya, nasa ibang bansa na siya. Sumulat ho sa amin na kung puwede huwag na raw siyang gawing example. Tapos akala ko nagalit. Noon pala sabi niya, kasi nabanggit ko ho ‘yung sweldo niya kasi ngayon doble na ng suweldo ko. Kaya dapat yata nag-aral akong magmekaniko kung ‘yun ang pakay ko talaga.
Ngayon ho, meron naman hong isang sari-sari store. Tinuruan paanong gawing mas propesyonal ‘yung pagpapatakbo ng sari-sari store. P800 daily income, ‘yung profit actually. Ngayon po, dumaan dun sa programa, may P4,000. Meron hong nag-times five, mag nag-times three, may nag-times ten. Umabot na ho parte nung kurso [kung ano’ng gagawin dun sa dagdag na kita nila.
Ulit-ulitin ko lang ho, ano. Ano ba’ng punto nito? Lahat sila nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Lahat sila umunlad. ‘Yun lang naman ho ang pangako namin eh: Kaya namin kayong bigyan ng pagkakataon. Uunlad ka ba o hindi? Aba, depende kung anong gagawin mo dun sa oportunidad.
Ngayon ho, lahat ng pulitiko ho siguro, panahon pa ni Mahoma, bago pa nagkaroon ng katagang pulitiko, nangako na, “Ihalal, ‘di ba, suportahan n’yo ko, sagot ko kayo. Suportahan n’yo ko, maglilingkod ako sa inyo. Suportahan n’yo ko, magbabago ang buhay n’yo.” Tama ho ba? Gaano karami ho kaya ‘yun?
Siguro ngayon, magtanungan tayo. Ilan kayang pulitiko ang narinig n’yo sa buong buhay n’yo na nangako at napako? Di ho ba?
Ako ho tinuruan ng tatay ko: ‘Pag nagbitaw ako ng salita, madali o mahirap, kailangang mangyari ‘yan. At ‘yun po ang pinilit natin. [Palakpakan]
Ngayon ho, dapat ba nating ipagpatuloy ‘yung mga ginagawa natin sa ngayon? Sasabihin, ang sa akin, bakit hindi? Kunwari dun sa mga natulungan kanina. Dahil ba may malasakit tayo sa kanila, tutulungan natin? Alam n’yo, sa malasakit maganda nang dahilan eh. Pero dadagdagan ko pa ho. Tinatawag nga ho, logical.
‘Yung pinag-aral natin sa TESDA, ilan ho ba ang may alam sa atin dito ngayon na within one year, lampas lang ng minimum wage, at wala naman hong ga-graduate dun na minimum wage ang tatanggapin.
‘Pag nag-graduate sa programa, unang buwis na babayaran niya sa income tax yung pinuhunan natin para makapag-aral siya, bayad na. Anong ibig sabihin no’n? Hindi naman isang taon lang magtatrabaho ‘yung taong yan. Kada taon na magbabayad siya ng buwis, meron namang pagkakataon na ipagkakaloob sa ibang tao. Sabihin natin na isang tao lang, bawat buwis ang binayad niya. Sabihin natin 30 taon siya nagtatrabaho, 30 tao dahil tinulungan natin ‘yung unang isa, di ba? [Palakpakan]
At ganun ho, ‘yung hinahabol natin: walang maiiwan, mabigyan ng oportunidad. Dito po sa inyo sa Mindanao, bakit ko ba isinusulong ‘yung Bangsamoro Basic Law? Importante maisulong natin. Importante may katahimikan kayo. At ano ba talaga ang mapapakinabangan ng lahat kapag naging tahimik na ang atin pong Mindanao? Tingnan po ninyo ‘yung mapa. Sino ang karatig ng Malaysia, ng Indonesia, ng Brunei? Kayo ang pinakamalapit. Alam ba ninyo na mas malapit pa ‘yung isang parte ng Australia bumiyahe sa Mindanao kaysa sa kabilang bahagi ng Australia?
Ano ba’ng ibig sabihin niyan? ‘Yung BIMP-EAGA na tinatawag–ilang dekada na nating naririnig ‘yang BIMP-EAGA–hanggang ngayon kokonti ang nilaga, di ba. ‘Pag tahimik ho tayo rito, kabahagi ng Pilipinas, ang Mindanao ang ating tulay para magpalawak ng ating mga merkado. [Palakpakan]
Babalik ho ako sa problema ko. Bakit ko nga kayo kukumbinsihin, hindi naman kayo pupunta dito kung hindi kayo kumbinsido na? [Palakpakan] Pero importante ho siguro, hanapin natin ‘yung hindi pa kumbinsido. At ito ang itutulong ko sa inyo.
May nagtanong sa akin, bakit si Mar Roxas ang dapat nating tulungan? Tingnan natin ang pagkatao ni Mar. Noong 2010, pagkatagal-tagal na Partido Liberal, siya ang tinutulak namin na kandidato. Pero dumating, nagsalita ang taumbayan, hiniling tayo. Ako ba pinilit ko si Mar? Ako ba, di ba, kung ano ang ginawa namin para magbigay siya? Hindi ho. Kusang-loob siya ang nagpasimuno na ito ang tawag ng sambayanan. Ambisyon kong personal, puwedeng isantabi para sa bayan. At talagang nagbigay nga ho sa atin si Mar, di ho ba. [Palakpakan]
‘Yun ho ang baliktad ng pulitiko na kapag humarap sa taumbayan puro umpisa ng salita, “Ako.” “Ako ang magdadala ng tulay sa iyo. Ako ang magbibigay ng eskuwelahan sa iyo. Ako ang gagawa ng trabaho. Ako.” Dapat kabahan ho tayo kapag puro “ako.” Ako siguro kapag nagsalita ‘yung ‘ako, ako’, sasabihin ko, eh kaya mo naman pala lahat eh, huwag mo nang kunin ‘yung boto namin. Gawin mo na lang. Pero alam naman ho natin ‘yung masyadong nagsasalita ng ‘ako’, nakasentro sa sarili. Ang trabaho hong ito, nakatutok sa iba eh. Wala hong mangyayari kung hindi nakatutok sa iba. [Palakpakan]
Sa kanyang trabaho bilang ating kalihim, ilang pagkakataon na isinugal niya ang buhay niya para totohanang matutukan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan kaagad-agad? Sa Zamboanga, noong krisis, nauna siya sa akin. Nauna na siya sa akin, nahuli pa siyang umalis sa akin. Ako labing-isang araw pong nandoon. Sinuog niya lahat ng lugar doon, pinuntahan ang mga nasunugan nating kababayan, dinamayan, nagdala ng relief, at hindi umalis hanggang na-normalize na po ‘yung sitwasyon doon. Tapos ng Zamboanga, papahinga nang konti. Hindi ho napahinga. Napunta ng Bohol at Cebu. Tuloy na naman ang kailangan na maisaayos ang ating mga komunidad na sinantala ng ating earthquake. Tapos nakapahinga na ho nang konti, mga one days, [tawanan] tapos ang dumating ay, di ba, si Yolanda naman.
Ano ba ang pinagkaiba ni Mar sa mga ibang masasabi nating naghahangad ng puwesto? Si Mar ho nagbabad. Bago dumating si Yolanda, nandoon na hanggang nakalma ang sitwasyon, hanggang napanumbalik ‘yung mga tinatawag basic services tulad ng tubig, tulad ng kuryente. Hindi ho dumating, nagdala ng ilang pirasong relief goods, nagpalitrato, nagpa-video, “May malasakit ako.” [Palakpakan] Wala akong pinapatamaan. Bato-bato sa langit na lang.
Basta ang punto ko, simpleng-simple: Noong aking sinuri, siyempre alam naman po n’yo nung nag-umpisa ako nung 2010, di-hamak mas makapal ‘yung buhok ko. [Tawanan] Ngayon makapal na lang. At siyempre noong tinatanong ho ako, ilang buwan ang lumipas, “Sino ba ang dapat nating suportahan?” Kada mapuntahan kong lugar, ganoon ang itatanong sa akin. Meron pang, “Obligasyon mo na hanapan kami ng tamang kapalit at pagkatapos mong nahanap, siguraduhin mong manalo.” Sabi ko, tanda ko ho pareho lang ho ang boto natin. Sa Daang Matuwid, ang bilangan ho ng boto tig-i-tig-isa lang. Paano ko ba gagawin lahat ‘yan?
Lately ho, parating tinatanong ako, “Beneficiary ako ng 4Ps. Paano ho n’yo magagarantiya na magpapatuloy ito?” “Benepisyaryo ako ng iba pang programa, paano ho n’yo magagarantiyang magpapatuloy ito? Paano n’yo magagarantiya na lahat ng ginawa n’yo itutuloy pagbaba n’yo sa puwesto?” Siyempre pag-uwi ko, paano ko nga ba magagarantiyahan ‘yan kapag ako ay bumaba na sa puwesto? Pero puwede hong sagutin ng “oo” eh. At paano ho, saan nagmumula ‘yung tapang na ‘yun, saan nanggagaling ang lakas ng loob na ‘yun? Eh nandiyan kayo. Kayo at ako pagtutulungan natin ito, magagarantiya magpapatuloy lahat ‘yan. [Palakpakan]
Merong bumubulong sa aking likod, mukhang ginaganahan ka, sabi mo pa naman tatlong pahina lang ‘yung talumpati mo. Siguro tapusin ko lang sa isang matinding pakiusap. Meron ba tayong mahalagang bagay sa buong buhay natin na nakuha nating hinulog lang mula sa langit o may nagbato lang sa atin? Talagang lahat ng may halaga sa atin pinaghirapan natin. Kung tayo’y may titulo ngayon, nakapagtapos tayo. ‘Yung mahuhusay na titser natuwa tayo. ‘Yung mga titser na hindi masyadong mahusay, ipagdadasal natin. [Tawanan] Ano mang larangan ng buhay n’yo na naabot n’yong tagumpay ay talaga namang hong pinaghirapan, ‘yung may saysay.
Dito ho, ‘wag na tayong magkumbinsihan. Palagay ko kumbinsido na tayo. Hanapin natin ‘yung hindi pa kumbinsido at itanong: Ano ba’ng masama na ipagpatuloy natin na kalingain ‘yung 20 milyong Pilipino na tinutulungan ng 4Ps? Ano ba’ng masama na ‘yung 84 to 89 percent na nasa PhilHealth na, na pinalawak na nga ‘yung membership, pinalawak pa ‘yung coverage, ano ba’ng masama na ituloy natin ‘yan? Ano bang masama na lalo pa nating bigyan ng pagkakataon ‘yung mga gustong pumunta sa technical vocation sa TESDA? Or bigyan ng iba pang mga scholarships, palawakin natin ‘yung nasa college? Bakit masama na ituloy lahat ng nangyayari ngayon? Bakit masama na ‘yung pinangako sa inyong pagkatagal-tagal na imprastrukturang kakailanganin n’yo, ngayon marami na pong imprastrukturang ipinangako 20 years ago, 30 years ago, kanina hong pinuntahan ko 50 years na ho naming hinihintay ‘yan? Sabi ko ho sa kanila, ‘yung isa nga ho, sabay iniisip ‘yung sa Jalaur River Project sa Iloilo. Nung napanganak ho ako, inisip na rin nila ‘yung proyektong ‘yon. Hindi ko naman akalain ako ho pala magkakautang doon dahil nung napanganak po ako, nilabas ako sa nanay ko, siyempre hindi ko pa alam na mayroong Jalaur river.
Pero babalik ako: Bakit tayo kailangang magtiis? Bakit kailangang manatili ang palagay nating mali? Bakit masama na bigyan ang lahat ng lahat ng oportunidad para iangat ang sarili? At babalik tayo doon. Si Mar kadamay natin pagkatagal-tagal, nung nasa oposisyon pa ho kami, habang nakaupo na ito, tulad ko, katakot-takot na panlalait ang naabot. Katulad ko, hindi mahilig magtaas sa sariling bangko. Kung ako tumapat sa inyo ng aking pangako, okay na sa akin ‘yun. Hindi ko kailangang ilagay sa kaliwa’t kanang TV advertisement kung ano ang accomplishment ko. Hindi ko kailangang magpagawa ng kilo-kilometrong tarpaulin para ipaalala sa inyong may ginawa ho ako para sa inyo. Hindi ho. Kung may ginawa akong totoo para sa inyo, hindi ko na kailangang sabihin sa inyo dahil malalaman n’yo po iyan. [Palakpakan] Kung mahiyain ho kami, imbes na–di ba ang baliktad sa Tagalog ng mahiyain ay makapal? Wala akong sinasabi. Kayo ‘pag may naisip na naman kayong makapal, ako, hindi ako nakikipag-away. Sinasabi ko lang ‘yung totoo.
Balikan natin. Next year, sinasabi ko nga paulit-ulit, referendum. Ano ba ‘yung referendum? Gusto ba n’yo ang napala natin sa loob nitong magiging anim na taon? Palagay ho ba ninyo nalampasan na natin ‘yung inasam-asam natin noong tayo’y nag-umpisa sa pagtahak ng Tuwid na Daan? Kung ang sagot po doon ay oo, sino ho ba ang magpapatuloy dito?
Si Noynoy Aquino po, one vote. Wala hong mananalo sa one vote. Kaya kailangan natin makuha ang mandato. Una, makuha ang sagot. Tama ang nangyari. Pangalawa, dapat ituloy ito. Pangatlo, tayo nagtatrabaho tungo sa kaganapan ng inaasam-asam nating lalo pang pag-asenso. [Palakpakan]
Naubos na po ‘yung aking three pages. Pero ulit-ulitin ko lang ho talaga, mga kapatid, ‘no. Nung tinatanong ako, kasi umpisa noong ano, “Sino’ng papalit sa’yo?” Nung natapos ‘yung tanong, “Buti pa para sigurado tayo, ikaw na lang magpatuloy diyan.” Kaagad ho nakita ko ‘yung mga mukha ng kapatid ko na hindi ho lang umiiyak, humahagulgol na. Sa amin ho parang bihira umiyak ‘yung mga kapatid ko. Sumunod, lalong hahagulgol ‘yung mga pamangkin ko. Pati ho si Yolly, sa aking tahanan, nag-aasikaso sa atin, umpisa pa lang ‘yun, “Yolly, magtutu–” “Tutu” pa lang ‘yun, hindi pa “Magtutuloy tayo”, palagay ko eh umiiyak na rin ‘yun. Kadamay ko ho sila sa lahat na nga ng hirap na dinaanan natin dito. Sa palagay ko parang mali ata ‘yan. Iaasa natin sa isang tao, isang grupo. Paano ‘pag nawala itong taong ito? Paano ‘pag nawala itong grupo? Hanggang doon na lang? Mali yata ‘yan. Tapos bibigyan pa natin ng tulay o pagkakataon ‘yung iba na tulad na noong 1972, di ba? Natapos na ‘yung dalawang terminong puwede niyang takbuhan, nagkaroon ng Martial Law. ‘73 ho pala matatapos, kaya inunahan na niya. Bago ma-time’s up siya, nagkaroon tayo ng Martial Law. Nagkaroon siya ng plus 14 years.
Kayo rin, hindi ba? Parang may tatakbo diyan, naghahanda na ng hahalinhin sa kanya. Maganda na yata one term. Gawin mo ‘yung dapat mong magawa at ‘yung kaya mong magawa, tapos ipasa mo ‘yung renda para mapakita naman na kaya ng sambayanang Pilipinong magpatuloy sa tamang direksiyon. [Palakpalan]
Dapat ho yata ako’y nagsasalita na sa Cebu ngayong oras. Buti na lang maunawain ho sila. Basta uulit-ulitin ko lang ho, wala akong ipinagmamalaki kung hindi lakas na pinagkakaloob n’yo po sa akin. Kayo talaga ang lakas ng Tuwid na Daan. Ituloy po natin ang laban tungo sa tagumpay. [Palakpakan]
Magandang hapon po. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. |
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INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR.
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Radyo Singko / Punto Asintado by Erwin Tulfo & Martin Andanar
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10 Sept 2015
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ERWIN TULFO: Secretary Coloma, sir, good morning.
SEC. COLOMA: Magandang umaga sa inyo, Erwin at Martin. At magandang umaga sa lahat ng ating tagasubaybay.
ERWIN TULFO: Sir, kahapon ay humingi po ng paumanhin ang Palasyo doon sa naabala doon sa ika nga ng Philippine Daily Inquirer “carmageddon” na nangyari po noong isang araw, noong Tuesday night. And bagama’t hindi po ninyo naman kasalanan iyon, humingi kayo ng pang-unawa pa rin. Bakit, Mr. Secretary, sir?
SEC. COLOMA: Marami talagang naapektuhan diyan, Erwin at Martin, at hindi rin naman biru-biro iyong dinanas ng ating mga kababayan. At kung inyong papahintulutan, ako mismo, naranasan ko dahil—
ERWIN TULFO: Natrapik din kayo, sir.
SEC. COLOMA: Oo, meron akong—umalis ako sa Greenhills ng 8:30, hoping to be able to catch up with a speaking engagement sa Makati. Pumayag naman iyong nag-imbita sa akin, hintayin daw ako kahit na late. Pero hindi na talaga ako nakaabot doon dahil doon sa … kahit saan eh. Kahit iyong mga parallel at alternate route sa EDSA ay napaka-heavy ng volume. Dahil nga din doon sa flashflood ay mayroong mga nai-stall na sasakyan, mayroong gridlock sa ibang mga intersection. Ang suma total, nakauwi ako doon sa neighborhood namin ni Martin ay mga 12:30 na ng madaling araw. Kaya ramdam na ramdam ko rin po iyong naramdaman ng ating mga kababayan, at—
ERWIN TULFO: Pare-pareho tayo, Sec. Aba’y naramdaman ko rin ho iyan. Ako’y papunta ho ng Pasay sana, galing lang po ako dito sa Reliance, nag EDSA po ako. Naku, Diyos ko po, Panginoon ko, aba’y dalawang oras po akong nai-stuck diyan. Iyong paakyat po doon sa Magallanes Flyover, south bound, dahil iyong mga bus [ay] nandito na lahat sa kaliwa parang akala mo papuntang Pasig, iyon pala naghihintay na makaakyat dito sa tulay. Mabuti na lamang po, sir, may tatlong magigiting na mga reserve non-commissioned officer -- ito po ay sila Sgt. Trosio(?), Sgt. Corpuz at saka iyon isa po ay—tatlo ho sila na mga reserve officers. Tinanong ko, “Bakit kayo nagtatrapik?” Sabi nung isa, “Sir, kailangan ho talaga. Hindi naman gagalaw dito.” Bumaba itong mga ito sa kanila pong sasakyan at nag-trapik kasama po iyong kanilang Master Sergeant Fontillas(?), nag-trapik ho sila noong isang gabi. Kaya ako po ay Nagpapasalamat ho sa kanila.
But anyway, Sec., may isang grupo po kahapon na nagpo-propose -- dahil talagang parang wala na pong solusyon itong trapik -- sinasabi nila na kailangan sigurong magdeklara na, sang-ayon sila na magdeklara ang Palasyo ng state of emergency para maibsan itong trapik – dito lang naman po sa trapik. Ano hong tingin ninyo, Sec?
SEC. COLOMA: Well, nagpapasalamat kami sa lahat ng mga grupo na may kagandahang loob na nagmumungkahi ng iba’t- ibang solusyon na kung tutuusin mayroon namang merito ang karamahin sa mga pinapanukala. At mahalaga rin kasi iyong pinagtutulung-tulungan natin ito. Lahat nang mayroong panukala ay dapat mapakinggan dahil importante iyong pagkaisahan natin kung ano iyong puwedeng maging epektibong solusyon. Hindi talaga kakayanin ng gobyerno lamang. Ang importante, sabi ni Pangulo, maunawaan ng mga mamamayan, matanggap nila na iyon ay tugon sa isang konkretong problema. At kapag tinanggap nila iyon, malaking bagay na iyon sa pagiging epektibo nung solusyon. Kaysa iyong mag-aakala tayo na, halimbawa, Solution A ang pinakamainam tapos hindi naman pala ito katanggap-tanggap, ipinilit natin, hindi nakisama, hindi nag-cooperate ang mga mamamayan, eh failure ang siguradong patutunguhan noon.
Kaya importante itong nag-uusap-usap, nagkukonsultahan. At the end of the day, at some point, hindi naman natin patatagalin pa, kailangan ay kumilos na tayo at humanap ng mga epektibong solusyon.
ERWIN TULFO: Alam ko, sir, the President is on top of the situation hinggil dito sa problema, although ito’y confined lamang sa Metro Manila, pero siyempre parang nagiging national problem na rin ho ito kapag hindi naayos. Sa mga discussions po ba, sa mga pulong, may nag-raise na po ba sa inyo na why don’t we try this state of emergency para maibsan ang trapik, sa Metro Manila lang naman po?
SEC. COLOMA: Hindi naman nabi-bring up iyan, honestly, Erwin. Kasi lang, ang problema sa atin, iyon ngang … para bang nirireserba din naman natin iyan para doon sa kalamidad o iyong sa talagang naka-specify sa batas. Dahil hindi rin natin maaalis, marami din sa ating mga mamamayan, merong hindi magandang memorya iyang konseptong iyan – nalalapit tayo sa September 21. Hindi lahat ay pumapalakpak sa idea na ganiyan.
Pero I think, iyong sinasabi mo lang ay kinakailangan iyong strong will-power, ‘di ba, ng pamahalaan na makapagpatupad ng mga epektibong hakbang. At sa ngayon, hindi naman tayo tumitigil doon sa deployment lamang ng HPG o sa rerouting lamang ng mga southbound buses sa C-5. Mayroon pa pong mga ibang mga solusyon pero sinasala muna at dinadaan muna nga to the filter of stakeholder acceptance para po mas maging epektibo.
MARTIN ANDANAR: Okay. Secretary Sonny Coloma, sir, good morning po. Si Martin po ito, sir.
SEC. COLOMA: Good morning, Martin.
MARTIN ANDANAR: Sir, ganito po, sir, madali po kasing, you know—‘pag tinitingnan natin iyong isyu ng traffic, sisihin natin iyong volume ng sasakyan. Pero let’s not forget na iyong dahilan ng traffic two days ago was because of the sudden rain, ‘no.
SEC. COLOMA: Oo, tama iyon – heavy rains at flashflood.
MARTIN ANDANAR: Therefore, sir, the first thing that comes to mind – sa akin po, ‘pag flashfloods – ay iyong drainage system.
SEC. COLOMA: Tama, tama rin, Martin.
MARTIN ANDANAR: Yes, sir. So ano po ba iyong improvement nung drainage system sa Metro Manila mula noong pumasok si PNoy?
SEC. COLOMA: Maganda’t brining (bring) up mo iyan dahil two weeks ago, doon sa Rizal Technological University, pinaliwanag ni Secretary Babe Singson, from 2012 mayroon na tayong ipinapatupad ngayon na long-term Metro Manila and neighboring regions. Kasi up to Batangas … up to Laguna yata ito in the south, up to Bulacan in the north. Mayroon tayong pinapatupad na Comprehensive Flood-Control Project.
Para maunawaan natin iyan, iyong tubig kasi, iyong tubig ulan ay nanggagaling sa itaas, ‘di ba, sa bundok. Halimbawa, doon sa atin, iyong mga nanggagaling na tubig ulan from Sierra Madre, bago dumating iyan sa Marikina, meron munang Montalban. Doon pa lang mayroon nang ginagawa o sisimulang gawin na ‘catchment area’ ng ulan para hindi na umabot pa doon sa ibaba, dahil iyan iyong ating hindi magandang karanasan noong Ondoy, talagang puno kaagad iyong kapasidad.
Pangalawa, doon naman sa mga urban … halimbawa, España nga, mayroong kinu-construct ngayon na malaking catchment basin doon sa area ng Blumentritt para iyong biglang buhos ng ulan ay maipon at hindi umapaw sa kalsada kaagad in terms of flashflood. Sabi nga ni Secretary Singson, marami doon sa existing drainage ay kinakailagan ding linisin dahil mayroon tayong mga kababayan na nagku-contribute doon sa pagbara noon – alam na natin kung paano iyon. Iyong carelessness na pagtatapon ng mga basura ay nakakatulong din iyan doon sa pagbara ng kanal, estero at iba pang dinadaluyan ng tubig. Kaya’t sabay-sabay namang tinutukoy iyan. Kaya lang ay pinakita ng karanasan natin, isang oras lamang ng malakas na ulan ay hindi talaga kaya ng capacity, plus sabi pa nga ni Secretary Singson nagkataon ding high tide noong Tuesday evening.
ERWIN TULFO: Sir, mayroon ho bang nailatag na na plano ang HPG, ang MMDA at iyong iba’t ibang ahensiya under dito sa mina-manage ngayon ni Secretary Almendras na kung ano ang gagawin? Because wala pa ngang—bagama’t ‘ber’ months na tayo, pero alam natin na kapag nagbigayan na po ng bonus, nag-sale na ang mga department stores, ang mga malls, diyan na ho lalo titindi ang trapik. May mga nakalatag na po ba na ibinigay po kay Secretary Almendras, ipinakita na sa Pangulo, kung ano na po ika nga ay actions na gagawin kapag Christmas rush na, sir?
SEC. COLOMA: Isa iyan sa mga na-bring up, Erwin. Halimbawa, iyong sa EDSA isa sa pinakamalaking shopping ano diyan iyong mga SM malls, at mapapansin iyong pagbabago. Sa halip na sa service road naglu-loading and unloading, mismong SM mall ay ginawa ng loading bay iyong looban nila. At iyan iyong ipapanukala din sa ibang mga mall owners -- katulad ng Robinson’s at iyong iba pa -- para maging konsepto na ito dahil limited talaga iyong road space natin, hindi tayo makakapag-afford na ma-aggravate pa niyang mga events na iyan. Siguro kasama na rin diyan iyong close coordination kapag nagkaroon sila ng mga big events katulad ng mga binanggit mo.
ERWIN TULFO: Panghuli na lamang, Secretary Sonny. Marami hong naka-monitor, Secretary Sonny Coloma. Sir, palagay ninyo ay may pag-asa pa itong traffic? Bago bumaba ang Pangulo medyo makikita natin na mababawasan ang traffic diyan sa EDSA? Ano ho ang tingin ninyo? Base doon sa mga pag-aaral ninyo, ibinibigay sa inyo na report ng HPG, MMDA at iba’t ibang mga sangay po.
SEC. COLOMA: Meron namang pag-asa. At kinakailangan na tumigil na pagtulungan itong problemang ito dahil kahit naman mga incremental o maliliit na improvement puwedeng maging makabuluhan. Halimbawa, kung iyong travel time natin na isang oras along major segments of EDFSA mabawasan natin iyan ng ten minutes man lang, ‘di ba malaking bagay na rin iyon dahil sa dami ng mga maaapektuhan.
Isa pa, doon sa ating pagpunta doon sa Japan noong Hunyo, sa state visit, inulit ng ating mga kaibigan mula sa JICA na siyang gumawa ng ating road map for decongesting Metro Manila, na-experience din iyan ng mga major metropolis katulad ng Tokyo, pati rin iyong Seoul, Korea. Pero nakahanap naman sila ng solusyon. Huwag lang daw mag-give up at kinakailangan ay maging bukas, tinawag nila iyon “creative improvisation”. Mayroon daw mga ganoong klaseng hakbang na puwede namang magawa, hindi naman masyadong big time iyong mga solusyon na iyon, pero kung pagtutulungan—sila mismo, in their most challenging period, nakahanap sila ng solusyon. Kaya’t iyon din ang ating pinagpapatuloy na hanapin, Martin at Erwin.
ERWIN TULFO: Sir, I’m sorry, I lied to you, sir. Pero mayroon po akong pahabol baka puwede ninyong ibulong po sa Pangulo. Ito pong Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, itong CEZA, sir, it was created para nga po dito sa pagpapatakbo ng Cagayan Freeport Zone. Ang problema, sir, mukhang masyadong nakatuon na itong CEZA sa pagbibigay po ng mga online gaming licenses sa mga foreign investors po natin, nationals. Ang problema, parang hindi naman po napapakinabangan nang husto ng bansa dahil iyong mga license na ibinibigay po sa mga online gaming operators, iyong kanilang hina-hire po ay pawang mga foreigners din naman. So wala po, hindi nakakatulong sa ika nga ay labor force natin.
Ikalawa, wala rin po yata silang access para matignan iyong mga libro ng mga online gaming companies na ito kaya hindi malaman talaga kung magkano ang kinikita nila kaya ganoon-ganoon na lang ang pagbabayad ng tax. Siguro, sir, maganda ay masilip na rin po ito kung may pagkakataon pa ang Pangulo, ang kaniyang mga bataan diyan o grupo na masilip itong operations po ng CEZA sa ilalim ngayon ng pamamahala po nitong si Administrator Jose Marie Ponce, sir, baka puwedeng masilip lang?
SEC. COLOMA: Well, salamat sa pagtawag ng aming pansin, Erwin. Mayroon po kasi tayong mga batas at regulasyon na pinapairal hinggil diyan. At sabi nga ng Pangulo, lahat ng pagpapatupad ng batas, lahat ng pagsunod sa mga regulasyon, overall po siya iyong tagapagpatupad niyan kaya wala siyang palalagpasin kapag ang isyu ay iyong paglabag sa batas. At tiyak na susuriin po at sisiyasatin iyong binanggit mong iyan.
ERWIN TULFO: Alam mo, sir, kasi po may mga reports na hong natatanggap, reklamo, na the CEZA has been besieged by corruption and inefficiency. Alam ko na ayaw ng Pangulo na iyong kaniyang mga ahensiya sa ilalim ng kaniyang pamumuno ay mapasok po sa korapsyon, ika nga, at pagiging inutil. Kaya nga po we’re bringing it to your attention baka masilip lang po ng Pangulo kapag may time pa po ang Mahal na Pangulo.
SEC. COLOMA: Salamat sa inputs, Erwin, at ipararating ito sa atensyon ng mga kinauukulang awtoridad.
ERWIN TULFO: Maraming salamat po, Secretary Sonny Coloma. Magandang umaga. Mabuhay po kayo, Sec.
SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat at magandang umaga sa inyo. |
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| SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a warm reception from the locals during the briefing on the major infrastructure projects in the Province of Misamis Occidental at the Sinanduloy Cultural Centre in Tangub City on Wednesday (September 09). (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III poses for a selfie with Misamis Occidental Governor Herminia Ramiro and Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan during the briefing on the major infrastructure projects in the Province of Misamis Occidental held at the Sinanduloy Cultural Centre in Tangub City on Wednesday (September 09). (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the briefing on the major infrastructure projects in the Province of Misamis Occidental held at the Sinanduloy Cultural Centre in Tangub City on Wednesday (September 09). Also in photo are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III attends the briefing on the major infrastructure projects in the Province of Misamis Occidental held at the Sinanduloy Cultural Centre in Tangub City on Wednesday (September 09). Also in photo are Lanao del Norte Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, Misamis Occidental Governor Herminia Ramiro, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya; and Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing on the major infrastructure projects in the Province of Misamis Occidental held at the Sinanduloy Cultural Centre in Tangub City on Wednesday (September 09). Also in photo are Lanao del Norte Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., Misamis Occidental Governor Herminia Ramiro; Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Abaya, Misamis Occidental 2nd District Representative Henry Oaminal, Tangub City Mayor Philip Tan, and Misamis Occidental 1st District Representative Jorge Almonte. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing on the major infrastructure projects in the Province of Misamis Occidental held at the Sinanduloy Cultural Centre in Tangub City on Wednesday (September 09). (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III gamely joins Inquirer employees for a selfie following the Multimedia Forum at the Inquirer Office in Makati on Tuesday (September 8). (Photo by: Joseph Vidal/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III during the Multimedia Forum with Inquirer editors, columnists, and reporters on Tuesday (September 8) at the Inquirer office in Makati. Also in photo are Communication Secretary Sonny Coloma and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III during the Multimedia Forum with Inquirer editors, columnists, and reporters on Tuesday (September 8) at the Inquirer office in Makati. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a memento from the executives of the Philippine Daily Inquirer following his exclusive interview with the Inquirer editors, columnists, and reporters on Tuesday (September 8). Also in photo are Communication Secretary Sonny Coloma, Inquirer Editor Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, Sandy Prieto Romualdez, Marixi Prieto and Paulo Prieto, and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III tours the Philippine Daily Inquirer office in Makati before the start of his exclusive interview with Inquirer editors, columnists, and reporters on Tuesday (September 8). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with outgoing Switzerland Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo Sieber during the Farewell Call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 07). With the Ambassador is his Deputy Mission Head Raoul Imbach. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Joseph Vidal/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III greets outgoing Switzerland Ambassador to the Philippines Ivo Sieber during the Farewell Call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 07). Also in photo are Swiss Deputy Head Mission Raoul Imbach and Philippine Foreign Affairs Assistant secretary Ma. Cleofe Natividad. (Photo by Joseph Vidal / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (September 4). The meeting is to review the Public-Private Partnership projects of the present administration. Also in photo is PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III and the rest of his cabinet present pray before the start of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (September 4). The meeting is to review the Public-Private Partnership projects of the administration. Also in photo is PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III with RMAF chairman Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J. presents the medal and certificate to Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from the Philippines as one of the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay Cityon Monday (August 31, 2015). Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees (from left) Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from Philippines, Anshu Gupta and Sanjiv Charturved from India, and Kyaw Thu from Myanmar for a group photo during the presentation ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday (August 31). Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation 2015 Presentation Ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday (August 31). Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from the Philippines as one of the 2015 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday (August 31, 2015). Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) 2015 Presentation Ceremonies at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City on Monday (August 31). Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III visits the wake of DepEd Undersecretary Francis Varela in La Salle Greenhills Chapel Monday (August 31). Varela died Saturday morning from a motorcycle accident along the highway in Baras town, Rizal. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Joseph Vidal / Malacanag Photo Bureau)
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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) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 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) |
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| |  | | President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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| |  | | 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) |
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!['[Adm-02] President Aquino graces the Treevolution of the Young at the Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School in Davao City.'](https://m.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-h.ak/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/12002205_1438339502865459_2945706438159073874_n.jpg?oh=8003788f03f6c35ab985c41735050a24&oe=56A6E123&__gda__=1449317512_a1db3ea1a4d61c261a1856bc4f70c075)
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