24-Hour Public Weather Forecast
Issued at 5:00 a.m., 22 April 2014Valid beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow
 Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis for 8 a.m., 22 April 2014 |
 Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis for 8 a.m., 22 April 2014 |
 Satellite Image |
At 4:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area
(LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 550 km east of Borongan,
Eastern Samar (11.5ºN, 131.0ºE). Ridge of High Pressure
Area (HPA) extending across Northern Luzon.
The whole country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over the eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon and over Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the east to northeast over the rest of Luzon and Visayas and from the northeast to northwest over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas
2. Weather Watch
PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang on
DZMM:
-Sa ngayon, hindi pa nakakaapekto ang LPA sa alinmang bahagi ng bansa. Maliit pa rin ang tsansa na maging bagyo ito.
-Huli itong namataan sa layong 55km silangan ng Borongan, Eastern Samar kaninang 4AM.
-Ang buong bansa ay makakaranas ng maulap na kalangitan na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan, pagkulog-pagkidlat lalo na sa dakong hapon o gabi.
-Samantala, ridge of HPA naman ang nakakaapekto sa Northern Luzon kaya magiging mainit ang temperatura doon.
-Sa ngayon, hindi pa nakakaapekto ang LPA sa alinmang bahagi ng bansa. Maliit pa rin ang tsansa na maging bagyo ito.
-Huli itong namataan sa layong 55km silangan ng Borongan, Eastern Samar kaninang 4AM.
-Ang buong bansa ay makakaranas ng maulap na kalangitan na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan, pagkulog-pagkidlat lalo na sa dakong hapon o gabi.
-Samantala, ridge of HPA naman ang nakakaapekto sa Northern Luzon kaya magiging mainit ang temperatura doon.
April 22 , 2014 ( Tuesday ) as of 6:00-7:00 AM
CAVITE : Sunny
LAGUNA : Sunny
BATANGAS : Sunny
RIZAL : Sunny
QUEZON
: Sunny
1. PIA Regional Watch
PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
Ayon sa pamunuan ng Batangas Port, maituturing na generally peaceful ang
paggunita ng Semana Santa sa lalawigan ng Batangas.Hanggang ngayong araw na
lamang tatagal ang helpdesk ng naturang pantalan upang umagapay sa mga
pasaherong magsisipagbalikan sa Maynila.
2. PIA Regional Watch
PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
May 10 pasahero mula sa flight EY 0424 ang mula sa pitong bayan sa lalawigan ng
Batangas at kasalukuyang sumasailalim sa pagsusuri upang masiguro kung positibo
sa merzcov virus na ikinamatay ng isang OFW na nakasabay ng mga ito sa eroplano.
3. PIA Regional Watch
PIA-4A/LAGUNA:
The City Government of Calamba launches today, April 21, 2014, the Buhayani
Festival in conjunction with the city's 13th cityhood anniversary celebration
held in front of the city hall over in Calamba, Laguna. The festival honors the
life of the city's greatest son, Dr. Jose Rizal and its living heroes, its
citizenry.
4. PIA Regional Watch
PIA-4A/LAGUNA: The City Government of Calamba is now celebrating its 13th anniversary of its cityhood in front of the City Hall with the officialdom of the city, socio-civic organization, the academe, various agencies in attendance
1. PIA OFW Watch
GMA:
Isang Pinay mula Riyadh at isang Pinay mula Abu Dhabi ang pina-quarantine dahil
may lagnat at sore throat ang mga ito pagdating nila sa NAIA kanina. Sa gitna
pa rin ito ng pagbabantay ng mga awtoridad sa MERS-CoV na pumatay na sa
dalawang Pilipino sa Gitnang Silangan.
2. PIA OFW Watch
ABS-CBN:
Dalawang pasahero mula sa Middle East ang dinala sa RITM ng NAIA kanina matapos
makitaan ng sintomas ng MERS-CoV. Ang isa sa kanila ay may lagnat habang ang
isa ay may sore throat.
3. PIA OFW Watch
DZMM:
Nakaantabay na ang DFA sa magiging resulta ng eksaminasyon ng mga doktor sa UAE
sa lima pang OFW na na-quarantine dahil sa hinalang nahawaan ng nakamamatay na
MERS-CoV. Sinabi ni DFA spokesperson Charles Jose na mahigpit ang ginagawang
koordinasyon ng embahada ng bansa hindi lamang sa UAE maging sa iba pang
Ministry of Health sa Gitnang Silangan para mabantayan ang sitwasyon ng
MERS-CoV.
BATANGAS
1. Tagalog news: Mga ipinanganak sa health facilities, tumaas ang bilang
Monday 21st of April 2014
LUNGSOD NG LIPA,
Batangas, Abril 21 (PIA) –Tumaas ang bilang ng mga ipinanganak sa mga health
facilities base sa resulta ng isinagawang 2013 National Demographic and Health
Survey (NDHS) ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Sa resulta ng 2013
NDHS, anim sa bawat 10 sanggol na inianak sa nakalipas na limang taon ay
ipinanganak sa isang pasilidad pangkalusugan o health facility. Masasabing mas
mataas ang bilang ng ipinanganak sa isang pasilidad pangkalusugan base sa
huling sarbey kumpara noong 2008 na may naitala lamang na 44 na porsiyento.
Sa Calabarzon, sinabi
ni Rosalinda P. Bautista, regional director ng PSA na dating National Statistics
Office (NSO), umabot sa 65
porsiyento ang inianak sa pasilidad pangkalusugan, mas mataas kumpara sa
porsiyento sa nasyonal. Sa loob ng limang taon, tumaas ng mahigit 10 porsiyento
ang bilang ng inianak sa mga pasilidad pangkalusugan kumpara noong 2008 na
umabot lamang sa 53 porsiyento sa rehiyon.
“Kung pagbabasehan ang
resulta, maganda ang naging bunga ng programa ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan
sa pakikipagtulungan sa Department of Health (DOH) nitong nakaraang 5 taon upang mahikayat ang mga mamamayan
lalo na ang mga ina na manganak sa isang ospital o iba pang klase ng pasilidad
pangkalusugan,” sabi ni Bautista. “Nakatulong din ang pagkakaroon ng gobyerno
ng libre o kaya ay mas abot kayang pagamutan para mahikayat ang panganganak sa
isang mas tamang pasilidad at maiwasan ang panganganak sa bahay.”
Base pa rin sa
nasabing sarbey, tumaas din ang porsiyento ng bata na ipinanganak ng isang
health professional tulad ng doktor, nars at midwife. Sa buong Pilipinas,
73 porsiyento ng batang inianak ay ipinanganak ng isang health
professional. Mas mataas ang porsiyento sa ating rehiyon na umabot sa 85
porsiyento. Kumpara noong 2008, mas mataas, sa ngayon, ang
porsiyento ng inianak ng isang health professional na noong 2008 ay
umabot lamang sa 62 porsyenteo sa nasyonal at 75 porsyento sa rehiyon.
Ang 2013 NDHS ay
pang-10 sa mga national demographic and health surveys na isinasagawa ng
National Statistics Office (NSO) kada limang taon simula pa noong taong 1968.
Layunin nito na mangalap ng datos na may kinalaman sa bilang ng ipinapanganak
ng isang babae (fertility), pagpaplano ng pamilya, at iba pang impormasyon
tungkol sa kalusugan ng ina at kanyang anak. Ang mga datos mula sa sarbey
ay basehan ng gobyerno sa kanilang pagpaplano upang mas mapaunlad ang kalusugan
ng bawat mamamayan.
Sa kabuuan, ayon kay
Bautista, masasabing gumanda ang kalidad ng pangangalaga sa kalusugan ng mga
ina at kanyang anak sa nakaraang limang taon. Subalit ang Millenium Development
Goal (MDG) target ng bansa na kailangang lahat (100%) ng ipanganganak na bata
ay sa isang pasilidad pangkalusugan ianak at mga health professionals lamang
ang magpapaanak ay hindi maabot sa taong 2015. (Charity Bautista, PSA
Region 4A/PIA 4A)
|
 |
|
 |
| PRESS BRIEFING OF PCOO SECRETARY SONNY COLOMA |
| Press Briefing Room, New Executive Bldg., Malacañang |
| 21 April 2014 |
|
OPENING STATEMENT Good afternoon. Happy Easter sa inyong lahat. President Aquino has directed the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force MERS Coronavirus to intensify its efforts in locating and contacting more than 200 passengers of Etihad Airlines flight EY0424 that landed in the country last April 15. As of 8:00 a.m. today, 173 out of 414 passengers or 42 percent have been contacted. Of this number, 100 passengers or 24 percent have been tested. We are awaiting results of the test on the 73 other passengers. All 100 passengers tested negative. The President instructed the DOH to ensure that all the passengers undergo a free nose and throat swabbing tests for the MERS Coronavirus in all public hospitals or DOH-accredited medical facilities. We reiterate our call for the more than 200 other passengers of Etihad Airlines flight EY0424 to coordinate directly with the DOH through its 24-hour hotlines. Landline numbers are 711-1001 or 711-1002 and mobile telephone numbers: 0922-884-1564; 0920-949-8419; and 0915-772-5621. ON PULSE ASIA SURVEY RG CRUZ (ABS-CBN): Sir, I understand Pulse Asia released the latest survey on the trust (ratings) of the top five officials of the government. Insofar as the President is concerned, I think he remained statistically where he was last December, so what is your reaction to that? SEC. COLOMA: The President and the Cabinet remain focused on the priority programs of the Philippine Development Plan. We are gratified that the President continues to enjoy a high trust rating. I think the Pulse Asia result shows that the number that has remained statistically the same. Whereas before the 74 (percent) that found him to be trustworthy, there are now 69 percent that have the same assessment, and the five percent went to the undecided column, not to the no trust column. So, if at all, this is to be considered as a reminder for the national leadership to intensify its efforts to deliver the reforms that were promised because we are aware that our people have high expectations. Mr. Cruz: Sir, do you feel vindicated by the surveys insofar as critics who have been going after the President in terms of his handling or the administration’s handling of the recent natural calamities? SEC. COLOMA: We have always remained open to criticisms and we have always welcomed suggestions from all concerned sectors of society. It is not our concern to be unduly worried about those that criticize us because this is an important element of the democratic dialogue. And it is essential that there are people who may express dissenting views because of their sincere desire to help our country move forward and that is also appreciated. ON THE RETURN OF GIGI REYES JOYCE PAÑARES (Manila Standard Today): Sir, Senator Miriam Santiago said that she sees the Palace’s hand in the return of Gigi Reyes to the country. SEC. COLOMA: Parang hindi yata ganoon ‘yung pagkaunawa ko doon sa nabasa kong mga situation report, ano. Ganunpaman, palagi naman nating ipinapaliwanag na wala namang specific focus ang ating administrasyon. Ang mahalaga lamang dito ay malaman ng sambayanan ang buong katotohanan dahil ang pinag-uusapan ay ‘yung paggamit ng pondo ng bayan. At mahalaga rin na magkaroon ng pananagutan o public accountability ‘yung lahat ng mga dapat managot kaya ‘yan ang pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin. Ms. Pañares: Sir, just for the record, walang kumausap kay Gigi Reyes from the side of the administration to try to convince her to come back here? SEC. COLOMA: Natunghayan ko na ang pahayag ni Secretary (Leila) de Lima, ngunit hindi ko pa siya mismo nakakausap, at ayon sa kanyang naipahayag ay walang pag-anyaya o pakikipag-usap na ginawa ang Kagawaran ng Katarungan kay Atty. Gigi Reyes. Ms. Pañares: Sir, would you say that the administration is on top of the situation insofar as the people who are coming back to the country are concerned? I mean, would you say that there’s enough level of confidence on your part na alam ninyo what their next move would be? SEC. COLOMA: Baka kailangan linawin ‘yung ibig mong sabihin sa ‘on top of the situation’. Ms. Pañares: Not necessarily that you were the ones behind Gigi Reyes returning to the country, but it’s more of parang since you wanted to push the case to move forward na itong mga pagbalik nila will not be a hindrance to that goal of pushing the case forward. SEC. COLOMA: Ang mahalagang layunin dito ay matunton ng Department of Justice ‘yung mga kinakailangang ebidensya, ano, na makakatulong sa pagsulong ng mga gulong ng katarungan. Kagaya ng aming paulit-ulit na sinasabi, wala namang partikular na focus ito. Kung saan man manggaling ‘yung kaukulang impormasyon na makakatulong sa pagsulong ng kaso ay isasama ito ng DOJ sa kanilang case buildup at sana’y makatulong ito sa pag-alam natin sa buong katotohanan. PAUL ATIENZA (Daily Tribune): Hi, sir, magandang hapon po. SEC. COLOMA: Magandang hapon, Paul. Mr. Atienza: Sir, we know for a fact that Gigi Reyes is a lawyer, a graduate of UP. Now, by that, alam natin na ‘yung katauhan niya ay may kalidad at kalibre. Do you think the Department of Justice is not hallucinating that Gigi Reyes would cooperate with the investigation on the case of the P10-billion pork barrel fund scam? SEC. COLOMA: Ang importanteng perspektibo rito ay ‘yung the perspective of justice. Ang kinikilala nating simbolo ng katarungan ay isang babaeng nakapiring ang mata at may hawak na timbangan na patas ang posisyon ng mga timbangan. Kaya ‘yon ang pinaiiral nating prinsipyo rito, Paul, na walang kinikilala, walang tinuturing, walang binibigyan ng espesyal na pabor o pagkilala, sapagkat ang hustisya ay dapat na bulag o blindfolded at gagawin lamang ang tama at nararapat na naaayon sa batas. Mr. Atienza: So as of this time, when we are discussing this matter, Secretary De Lima has not yet or do we have any information that she had a talk with Atty. Gigi Reyes from the day, from the time, the moment that she arrived in the country? SEC. COLOMA: Sa ating pagkaalam at ayon na rin sa kanyang mga nalathalang pahayag ay walang contact na ginawa ang Department of Justice at hindi sila nakikipag-usap sa kanya on their initiative. Walang ganoong pangyayari. Mr. Atienza: So we are not that confident that Gigi Reyes would execute her affidavit or anything of that sort that would somehow help the case, to bolster the case of the administration against the three senators, including Senator (Juan Ponce) Enrile? SEC. COLOMA: Ang batid natin ay umiiral ‘yung proseso ng pagsusuri ng Office of the Ombudsman, ano. Hindi ba’t pagkatapos nilang maglabas ng resolusyon, nagbigay sila ng panahon para mag-file ng motion for reconsideration ang mga pinangalanan doon sa kanilang resolusyon, at ganyan ang pag-andar ng usapin sa kasalukuyan. Mr. Atienza: Kasi, sir, right now the court has no jurisdiction over the person of Atty. Gigi Reyes and even the respondent senators and others. So kung si Gigi Reyes ‘yung tinitingnan ng administrasyon, ng Department of Justice (as) the link, the direct link to pin down Senator Enrile, how confident are we that Gigi Reyes would tell tales on this matter? SEC. COLOMA: Hihintayin natin na umiral ang mga [kaukulang] proseso ng batas hinggil diyan. Wala tayong proyekto na pasalitain siya o anyayahan siyang gumawa ng anumang bagay na hindi naman nanggagaling sa kanyang sariling inisyatiba. Mr. Atienza: So there would be no forced or undue influence that Gigi Reyes would execute an affidavit under duress, in the presence of the NBI [investigators] or the Ombudsman? SEC. COLOMA: Walang ganyang… Walang ganyang bagay sa programa ng administrasyon. JOEL SY EGCO (Manila Times): Good afternoon, sir. SEC. COLOMA: Good afternoon, Joel. Mr. Egco: Follow up lang po doon. Kasi po siguro ang speculation na parang may agreement na prior to Gigi Reyes’ return (stemmed from) the fact na malakas (ang) loob niya talagang bumalik. I mean, (despite) being one of the co-accused in the pork barrel scam, and she is definitely facing the problem of, if ever she decides to leave again, would the government allow her to do so? I mean, ang lakas ng loob niya kasi na ‘balik ako dito, I’ll face the charges.’ Hindi na niya naisip na kung gusto niyang umalis ulit, hindi na siya makakaalis. Would the government allow her to do so if ever she changes her mind and leave the country again? SEC. COLOMA: Balikan natin ‘yung narinig kong sinabi mo. Ang narinig kong sinabi mo, ang iyong pasimunong salita ay ‘speculation’, kaya hayaan na lang natin kung ano man ‘yung speculation mo. Hindi namin layunin na mag-dwell sa speculation, Joel. Mr. Egco: But if ever nga po, sir. Halimbawa, ngayon, tutal isu-submit ko na ‘yung affidavit, and then I’m going back to wherever I went during the past eight months. Can she do that? Would you allow—would the government allow her to do that? SEC. COLOMA: May mga umiiral na batas at proseso hinggil diyan. Nakita naman natin ‘yung mga mambabatas na pinangalanan din doon sa resolusyon ay nakapagbiyahe nang malaya dahil wala namang restraint sa kanilang movement na naaayon sa batas. Batas lamang ang susundin natin dito. Hindi na kailangang pag-usapan pa ‘yung highly speculative matters. Mr. Egco: Yes, sir. So do we see the prospect of, well, having an HDO or a hold departure order on Atty. Reyes? SEC. COLOMA: Walang umiiral ngayon na kapangyarihan ang Department of Justice na mag-issue ng HDO dahil ni-restrain ito ng Supreme Court. Mr. Egco: Okay, so that answers my question. Thank you. SEC. COLOMA: Salamat. Mr. Cruz: Sir, how valuable do you think is Gigi Reyes in the prosecution of the three senators? SEC. COLOMA: ‘Yung pagbigay ng opinyon hinggil sa kanyang testimonya ay nasa kamay na ng Office of the Ombudsman na siyang may kapangyarihan at tungkulin na gawin ‘yon. Nagawa na ng pamahalaan ang dapat na gawin nang isinama ng Department of Justice ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng mga inaakalang may kinalaman doon sa mga usaping ‘yon. Kaya hindi para sa atin ngayon na mag-kuro-kuro pa o magbigay ng opinyon dahil nasa ilalim na ‘yan ng proseso ng Ombudsman. Mr. Cruz: I don’t know if you have spoken to the President about Atty. Reyes’ return but how does he feel? How does the President feel about Atty. Reyes’ return? SEC. COLOMA: Hindi pa po namin napag-uusapan ‘yan dahil nitong mga nakaraang araw ay maraming prayoridad na pinagtuunan ng pansin ang Pangulo at hindi po ‘yan isa doon. ON OBAMA VISIT Mr. Cruz: Sir, do we have more details on the visit of President (Barack) Obama? For example, do we have his itinerary already and his other activities here on the 28th and the 29th? SEC. COLOMA: Hintayin natin ang opisyal na pahayag ng Department of Foreign Affairs dahil ‘yan ang magiging authoritative source. Sa ating pagkaalam ay pinag-uusapan ng DFA at ng State Department ‘yung mga detalye katulad niyan at hindi pa handa ‘yung final itinerary. Dito naman sa ating bahagi, nagsasagawa lamang ng mga [kaukulang] preparasyon hinggil sa pisikal na pagpunta ni Pangulong Obama dito sa Palasyo ng Malacañang para sa kanyang pag-uusap. Mr. Cruz: Sir, can you give us an idea doon sa preparations na ‘yon, at least on the Palace side? SEC. COLOMA: ‘Yung usual naman na preparation ang mga involved diyan ‘yung Protocol dahil nga doon sa mga events na magaganap simula doon sa pagdating niya sa paliparan at ‘yung transit from the airport to the event venues. Syempre, nandiyan din ‘yung Presidential Security Group na nakikipag-ugnayan naman sa Secret Service. Nandiyan ‘yung media aspects. Our Media (Accreditation and) Relations Office under Usec. (Renato) Marfil is also making arrangements to assist the media contingent that will be joining the visit of their President. Kaya maraming aspeto na involved sa pagdalaw ng sinumang head of state or foreign dignitary at lahat ng mga prosesong ‘yan ay umaandar na sa kasalukuyan. Mr. Cruz: Is the government already ready with the agreement on Enhanced Defense Cooperation? SEC. COLOMA: Sa aking pagkaalam ay tinatalakay pa ito, ano, isinasapinal pa. Noong huli tayong nagbigay ng update, ang sinabi ng Philippine panel ay it’s undergoing inter-agency vetting from both sides, dahil ‘yung kasunduan na ‘yan ay magkakaroon ng mga implementation aspects na kung saan specific agencies of the government ang mayroong gagampanang papel. Kaya importante rin naman na kasama sila sa pagsasabi kung naaayon sa mga batas at patakaran ‘yung mga nakasaad doon. There are implementing aspects that affect agencies of government across the executive department and we will have to get their sign off bago tayo pumayag doon sa final draft ng agreement. Mr. Cruz: Aabot po ba sa pagdating ni President Obama sa Monday? SEC. COLOMA: Alam niyo na ‘yung kasagutan sa tanong na ‘yan, ano, Dahil wala namang linkage ‘yung visit, therefore, there is really no deadline or pressure. Ang mahalaga sa lahat, kung ano man ang magiging laman nitong kasunduang ito ay dapat na naaayon sa pambansang interes ng Pilipinas. Mr. Atienza: Sir, relatedly doon sa visit ni President Barack Obama, is this coronavirus not part of the security plan of the visit of the US President in the Philippines by checking the inbound passengers coming from the Middle East? SEC. COLOMA: Liwanagin lang natin. Ang title ay hindi coronavirus. Ang title ay MERS-Coronavirus. Ano ibig sabihin ng MERS? Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus. Kaya importante ‘yung Middle East, doon tinutukoy kung saan nanggagaling ‘yon, at ang tinutukoy natin para mas precise kaysa sa salitang Middle East— although ‘yun na ‘yung na-adopt na protocol na pangalan—ay Arabian peninsula. May pitong bansa sa Arabian peninsula namely Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates. Meron nang Bureau of Quarantine alert bulletin. Lahat ng mga Pilipino at lahat ng mga foreign nationals na magbibiyahe patungo sa ano man o isa man sa pitong bansang ‘yon sa Arabian peninsula na lalapag sa ating paliparan ay kinakailangang mag-fill up ng detailed contact information form at kailangang basahin nila ‘yung pamphlet, information pamphlet, hinggil sa sintomas ng MERS-Coronavirus. Bakit? Dahil ito ay isang communicable or infectious disease, ibig sabihin, nakakahawa. Nakakahawa upon exposure to a positive carrier or through close contact. Kaya ganoon na lamang ang ating pagtitiyaga na matunton ‘yung lahat ng mga naging kapwa pasahero ‘nung Pilipino na nag-test positive noong April 6 sa UAE na sa hindi pa naipapaliwanag na dahilan ay nagkaroon ng kaparaanan na makasakay doon sa EY0424 at dumating sa ating bansa at nakapagbiyahe na nga pauwi sa kanilang bansa. Ang protocol kasi ng WHO hinggil dito dapat ay matunton ‘yung lahat ng mga carrier through active surveillance and they should undergo testing dahil may 14-day incubation period ito. Mr. Atienza: So this has— SEC. COLOMA: Ngayon, nasa sa iyo na ‘yon kung paano mo ili-link ‘yung pagdalaw ni President Obama doon sa aking ipinaliwanag… Mr. Atienza: So this has nothing to do with— SEC. COLOMA: …dahil ikaw ang nagpapanukala niyan. Mr. Atienza: No, sir, I just had a thought on that when I read the transcript over the weekend. So this has nothing to do with the security plan of the visit in relation to terrorist threat? SEC. COLOMA: Nothing to do. I think that is a logical inference. Mr. Atienza: Thank you, sir. TERESA ANDRADA-ISLA (GMA-7): Sir, good afternoon. SEC. COLOMA: Good afternoon, Tere. Ms. Andrada-Isla: Your comment lang sa sinabi ni Senator Santiago on President Obama’s visit. She said Obama is swinging through their strategic countries that he thinks will be part of the defense strategy of the US if China makes a move. Your thoughts on this? SEC. COLOMA: Ang ating strategic partnership sa Estados Unidos ay matagal nang umiiral at bahagi ng ating strategic partnership sa kanila ay ‘yung defense and security. Kaya ‘yung mga nabanggit niyang kuro-kuro ay naka-linya naman doon sa big picture na ating pinag-uusapan. ON MRT COMMUTERS’ WOES Ms. Pañares: Sir, ang dami lang kasing nagpo-post sa Facebook na nasira na naman daw ‘yung MRT-3, tapos nawalan ng aircon ‘yung LRT line 2 kanina, and this is coming on the heels of the supposed maintenance ‘nung MRT-3 during the Holy Week. Ano po ba ang magagawa ng gobyerno tungkol dito? SEC. COLOMA: Kailangang mapanumbalik sa regular at normal na operasyon. Kung ano man ‘yung aberyang nangyari ay kinakailangang mahanapan o magawan ng lunas at maibalik sa normal dahil napakahalaga ng maayos na pagdaloy ng operations ng MRT at ito ay umaapekto sa libu-libo nating mga kababayan na umaasa rito para sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na transportasyon. Binibigyan ‘yan ng pinakamataas na prayoridad dahil hindi maaaring magkaroon ng interruption ‘yung daloy ng kanilang serbisyo. INA ANDOLONG (Solar News): Good afternoon, sir. Sir, just a follow up on the MRT. Isn’t the Palace disappointed that the supposed maintenance operations done during the Holy Week parang walang nangyari dahil pagpasok pa lang po naaberya na agad ‘yung mga commuters sa MRT? SEC. COLOMA: Well our concern, Ina, is to restore the service and to ensure that there will be minimal or there will be no further interruption. So it’s not a matter of being disappointed or being… Ang pinaka-importante diyan ‘yung maibalik kaagad ‘yung serbisyo kaya doon muna ang pokus ng ating atensyon. Ms. Andolong: Sir, you just mentioned that there would be no further interruption and yet ito na po agad ‘yung nag-welcome sa commuters pag-resume ng trabaho. Wala ba tayong advise sa MRT, sa contractors natin, or kung sino man ang nag-handle ‘nung maintenance operations? SEC. COLOMA: Kung maaalala mo ‘yung nauna nating ugnayan hinggil dito, mayroong panukala na magtakda ng performance targets on maintenance, at kasama dapat diyan ‘yung pagkakaroon ng higher reliability, greater availability of coaches para ma-increase ‘yung kapasidad na available para sa mga commuters dahil ‘yan ang backbone ng ating daily commute along the longest and busiest main artery, which is EDSA. What I mentioned earlier was that the objective is to have minimal or no interruption. Ms. Andolong: And so at least for now, sir, these contractors are meeting their performance targets. Is that what the Palace is saying? SEC. COLOMA: Ang aking pagkaunawa ay ‘yon ang ipinapatupad sa kanila para maging karapat-dapat sila sa kontratang umiiral. Dapat ay maging responsive sila doon sa performance targets dahil serbisyo publiko ‘yung kanilang ginagampanan. Ms. Andolong: Sir, lastly, na-delay din po yata ‘yung target completion ng road re-blocking along EDSA. What message again—sorry—message (do you have para) sa drivers, commuters, who were burdened by this this morning? SEC. COLOMA: The MMDA is doing what it can in order to minimize the inconvenience of motorists and also our general public that are commuting along EDSA. Together with the DPWH, they are working out solutions that will minimize further inconvenience. Alalahanin lang natin na matagal nang naantala, ano, ‘yung schedule ng pagkukumpuni at pag-ayos sa EDSA kaya humihingi ng pang-unawa ang ating pamahalaan. Sinikap ng DPWH na tapusin ito. Ngayon at meron pang mga portions na tila hindi pa completely natuyo ‘yung semento ay kinakailangan lamang ng dagdag na pag-unawa. ON VIOLENCE OVER THE HOLY WEEK Ms. Pañares: Sir, on another issue. During the Holy Week parang a lot of the commuters have observed that the PNP parang deployed several of their personnel to secure ‘yung mga dinadaanan ng mga sasakyan. However, nalusutan po yata sila ‘nung sa Cagayan Valley. The mayor was shot dead during the flag-raising ceremony and ang escape car yata na ginamit was a police car pa. SEC. COLOMA: Sinisiyasat na ‘yan Joyce, ano, at kinakailangang mahanapan ng agarang solusyon dahil hindi dapat mangyari na isang lingkod-bayan pa ang magiging target o biktima ng karahasan. Binibigyan ‘yan ng prayoridad ng ating Pambansang Kapulisan. ON MILF Mr. Egco: Sir, on the MILF (issue) naman po. Because yesterday peace panel chairperson Miriam Coronel-Ferrer came out with a statement asking the MILF leadership, well, to sort of discipline their ranks. Because, according to her statement, there were MILF—alleged MILF members who were even killed in an anti-kidnapping operations yata recently. So this gives, this bolsters fears, and this bolsters, well, the apprehension of some people or some critics that talagang may mga elements down the line who are not following the MILF Central Committee. So this may jeopardize, of course, the peace process. So what is the government’s take on this? SEC. COLOMA: We remain focused on the objectives of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which is to be able to establish by 2016 the Bangsamoro Political Entity. If there are any efforts to derail that process, then both sides continue to be firmly committed to do what is needed in order to make sure that those efforts do not stand in the way of the ultimate objective. Mr. Egco: But wouldn’t you be alarmed that these things are happening now? Parang ‘yung mga kidnapping groups ang mga members nila MILF? SEC. COLOMA: Kung pwede lang… I’m sorry, Joel, paki-linaw lang ‘yung enunciation kung MN or MI. Mr. Egco: MI po. MI. SEC. COLOMA: Thank you. Mr. Egco: MI po. So may ganoong incidents na nangyayari po na nangyayari na ngayon, sir. Even MI members ay alleged members na rin ng mga kidnapping groups doon. And would you support the call for the MILF leadership (that it) has to, ‘yun na nga po, police their own ranks and to avoid similar incidents in the future? SEC. COLOMA: Ang ating pinagbabatayan dito ay ‘yung dekalarasyon ng ating Pangulo at ang deklarasyon ng tagapangulo ng MILF na malinaw na narinig ng sambayanan at ng buong mundo noong ika-27 ng Marso ‘nung ating nasaksihan ‘yung lagdaan ng Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. Sa bahagi ng ating Pangulo, sinabi niya na hindi tayo dapat maligalig ng pagkatakot o ng kawalan ng katiyakan. We should not allow fear or uncertainty to affect our resolve to bring about the fruition of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. And the chairman of the MILF made the same call, and he was very emphatic also in his declaration that the MILF shares the firm determination of the Philippine government, kaya ‘yon ang ating pinagbabatayan. Ang bawat panig, ang magkabilang panig ay patuloy na pinagsisikapang tukuyin ‘yung mga nagiging hamon diyan, pero hindi naman tayo natitinag doon sa layunin na matamo ang hinahangad na kapayapaan. Mr. Egco: Okay, sir, thank you. ON PACMAN’S COURTESY CALL Ms. Andolong: Sir, may we just get the likely talking points during the President’s meeting with Mr. Manny Pacquiao this afternoon? SEC. COLOMA: Ang alam ko doon sa title ng event ay courtesy call. Ewan ko kung merong gumawa ng talking points. Hindi naman yata… Magkaibigan naman si Pangulo at saka si Congressman Manny Pacquiao. Usually ‘pag sinabi nating talking points it’s a business meeting. Meron talagang naka-set na agenda. Sa aking palagay ito ay pagkikita lamang ng dalawang magkaibigan at pagpapalitan ng paghanga at pasasalamat. Ms. Andolong: Nothing on the tax issue, sir? SEC. COLOMA: ‘Yon namang tungkol doon ay tinutukoy na ng Bureau of Internal Revenue at marami na ring naging pahayag at paliwanag si Commissioner Kim Henares tungkol diyan. At batid na rin naman natin simula ‘nung nag-umpisa ‘yang usapin na ‘yan ay nagkaroon na ng friendly engagement between Commissioner Henares and Congressman Pacquiao. Nililinaw lang natin: There is no ill will or animosity that is present in all of these conversations. |
| SOURCE: Presidential News Desk |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRC postpones May 2014 Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Manila, April
21, 2014 --- The Professional Regulation Commission announces the
postponement of the Board Licensure Examination for Certified Public
Accountants (BLECPA) originally set on May 11-12 and 18-19, 2014. The Board of Accountancy recommended the postponement and rescheduling of the licensure exam due to the vacancies in the board leaving only two active members of the seven-member board therefore rendering the Board short of the requirement for a quorum to validly perform its duties and functions, specifically in the formulation and extraction of test items, conduct of the examination proper and releasing of the results. PRC Resolution No. 832 series of 2014 sought to indefinitely postpone and reschedule the BLECPA until the new members of the Board have been duly appointed and qualified. Republic Act 9298, otherwise known as the “Philippine Accountancy Act of 2004”, provides that the attendance of four (4) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to officially transact business. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yolanda-affected farmers reap P1-B in gov't aid | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In line with
the government’s continuing post-calamity rebuilding and
rehabilitation efforts, the Aquino administration—through the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM)—has released P1.05 billion
to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to support various projects
under the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) program,
particularly those that will help affected farmers recover from the
super typhoon.Sourced from the FY 2013 Supplemental
Appropriations, the fund release will allow the DA to implement
clearing and desilting operations in Yolanda-stricken regions, as
well as provide farm tools, seeds, tractors, fertilizers, and farm
machinery fuel subsidies to farmers in Regions IV-B (MIMAROPA), V
(Bicol Region), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), and IX
(Zamboanga Peninsula). The breakdown of the program components are as follows:
“The Administration and affected local governments are thus working together to ensure that we make a good deal of progress in our post-calamity efforts in Yolanda-stricken areas. With the fund release, the DA can give our farmers the help they need in recouping their losses and successfully rebuilding their livelihoods,” he added. According to the DA, damages to the agriculture sector amounted to P31.1 billion as of March 2014. This includes production losses of P27.07 billion in crops, fisheries, and livestock, as well as infrastructure losses—including irrigation systems and facilities—of P4.06 billion. “We know that there is much work to be done, however, in restoring normalcy and economic stability in agricultural communities destroyed by Yolanda. Through RAY, the Administration can mobilize the necessary post-disaster aid to affected regions to complement our disaster preparation initiatives. “Ultimately, we also hope to reinforce a culture of social and economic resiliency in the face of calamities. We can’t control the fact that the country will always be prone to severe weather disturbances. We can, however, take concrete steps in improving our disaster risk and climate change management strategy. We’re doing exactly that,” the budget chief said. To date, the DBM has released a total of P5.21 billion for the agriculture component of the rehabilitation program. The budget department also reported that as of March 10, P26 billion has already been mobilized for post-disaster projects and activities in areas affected by typhoon Yolanda. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| GSIS reduces paper requirements for claims | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Members,
pensioners and other claimants of the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS) will now find it easier to comply with documentary
requirements in filing for their social insurance benefits after the
pension fund reduced the number of forms that have to be
accomplished and submitted. Around one to seven documents were weeded out from the previous set of GSIS requirements for retirement/separation benefit, life claim, funeral benefit, survivorship benefit, preneed claims, employees' compensation, request for check replacement, check releasing and over-the-counter (OTC) loans granting. "For instance, we no longer require three separate clearances from the Office of the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission and Office of the President from the retiring member," GSIS President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara explained. Individually securing clearances from the said government offices proved to be burdensome to the retiring member, both physically and financially. At the Civil Service Commission alone, an estimated 14,000 retiring government employees lined up to request for clearances in September 2013. The revised guidelines of Republic Act 10154 also known as "An Act Requiring All Concerned Government Agencies to Ensure the Early Release of the Retirement Pay, Pensions, Gratuities and other Benefits of Retiring Government Employees" addressed this by having retiring members submit a single document called the Declaration of Pendency/Non-Pendency of Case. Retired members who submitted their fully-accomplished retirement application forms are required to submit the Declaration of Pendency/Non-Pendency of Case after receiving a call from the GSIS requesting them to do so. The declaration serves as the requirement for the release of retirement proceeds through eCrediting. It must be dated or notarized on or after the date of the call from GSIS. For life claim and survivorship benefits, the same set of clearances was also eliminated. "Filling out excessive forms is time-consuming and most of the time, costly. Reducing the required documents is one way of curbing red tape that slows down the processing of claims," Vergara said. "For the GSIS, the reduced list of documentary requirements also means fewer documents to review and records to store," the pension fund chief added. Claimants may file at any GSIS branch nationwide. Only original copies of the documents will be accepted and processed. Here is the revised list of documentary requirements. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| GSIS extends H.E.L.P to 5 more Yolanda-hit areas | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced today that GSIS members
either living or working in Escalante City in Negros Occidental,
Malay in Aklan, Dingle in Iloilo, Mahaplag in Leyte, and Sta. Rita
in Samar may now apply for the Home Emergency Loan Program (HELP)
until April 30, 2014. HELP, a one-time special loan program, aims to enable GSIS members to rebuild their homes in communities that were hardest hit by super typhoon Yolanda. Under the program, the maximum loan amount that members may borrow is based on their total length of service. Those with less than five years of service may borrow Php30,000; while those with five years but less than 10 years of service may borrow up to Php100,000. Members who have been serving in government for 10 years or more are entitled to a loan of Php200,000. The loan is payable in 10 years and bears an interest rate of six percent. The approval of the agency authorized officer (AAO) is required to process the loan. For more inquiries on HELP, members may call the GSIS contact center at 847.4747. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal remittances increase to US$4.0 billion in first two months of 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal
remittances from overseas Filipinos (OFs) amounted to US$2.0 billion
in February 2014. This brought the cumulative remittances for the
first two months of the year to US$4.0 billion for a year-on-year
growth of 6.4 percent, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando
M. Tetangco, Jr. announced today.1 Personal remittances continued to
draw strength from the steady rise in transfers from land-based
workers with long-term contracts (4.3 percent), and sea-based and
land-based workers with short-term contracts (10.3 percent). Meanwhile, cash remittances from OFs coursed through banks increased in February 2014 by 5.6 percent year-on-year to US$1.8 billion. For the period January-February 2014, cash remittances grew by 5.8 percent to US$3.6 billion, compared to US$3.4 billion registered in the same period last year. Cash transfers from both land-based (US$2.7 billion) and sea-based (US$903 million) workers expanded by 4.3 percent and 10.3 percent year-on-year, respectively. The major sources of cash remittances were the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, and Canada.2 The continued demand for skilled OF workers contributed partly to the steady flow of remittances. Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated that in January-February 2014, approved job orders totaled 75,064, of which 33.2 percent (or 24,895) were processed job orders intended for manpower demand for service, production, and professional, technical and related job categories in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Kuwait and Qatar. Reports from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showed that the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania remain possible employment options for OF workers. Likewise, the continued efforts of bank and non-bank remittance service providers to expand their international and domestic market coverage through tie-ups and establishment of remittance centers abroad to capture a larger share of the global remittance market provided support to the sustained flow of remittances. -------------------- 1 The BSP started to release data on personal remittances in June 2012. As defined in the Balance of Payments Manual, 6th Edition (BPM6), personal remittances represent the sum of net compensation of employees (i.e., gross earnings of overseas Filipino (OF) workers with work contracts of less than one year, including all sea-based workers, less taxes, social contributions, and transportation and travel expenditures in their host countries), personal transfers (i.e., all current transfers in cash or in kind by OF workers with work contracts of one year or more as well as other household-to-household transfers between Filipinos who have migrated abroad and their families in the Philippines), and capital transfers between households (i.e., the provision of resources for capital purposes, such as for construction of residential houses, between resident and non-resident households without anything of economic value being supplied in return). 2 There are some limitations on the remittance data by source. A common practice of remittance centers in various cities abroad is to course remittances through correspondent banks, most of which are located in the U.S. Meanwhile, remittances coursed through money couriers cannot be disaggregated by actual country source and are lodged under the country where the main offices are located, which, in many cases is in Canada. Therefore, the U.S. and Canada would show up to be the main sources of OF remittances because banks attribute the origin of funds to the most immediate source. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caibaan warehouse cited by TV5, not DSWD’s – Sec. Soliman | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon
Juliano-Soliman reiterates that the unkempt warehouse being referred
to by TV5 in its report aired on March 26 newscast and posted on its
news portal is not the DSWD Relief Hub in Tacloban City. This developed as the network issued a statement that it stands by its story on the unkempt warehouse with rotten goods and aired the same story again on April 14 over its radio station. TV5 has said that the warehouse they have been featuring is located in Barangay Caibaan, Tacloban City. Sec. Soliman sent a team to said area and found that there is a warehouse which is being occupied by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Program (WFP). WFP confirmed to the DSWD Field Office in the region that they are the ones maintaining the said warehouse. Contrary to the TV5′s claim that there was a signage “Task Force Yolanda-DSWD Hub,” the team did not see one that would attribute to the DSWD warehouse. “Attributing the Caibaan warehouse to the DSWD by showing the signage is creating a wrong public impression and misinformation,” Sec. Soliman stated. She clarified that the DSWD warehouses are located in Barangays Apitong and Abucay in Tacloban City with the Task Force Yolanda-DSWD Hub banner prominently displayed on the façade. In the same compound in Brgy. Apitong is also the warehouse of the National Food Authority. Misleading Sec. Soliman said that the TV5 news report was misleading when it aired footages that showed the ‘Yolanda’ relief hub in Tacloban and segued to snapshots of scattered and unkempt relief goods including ready-to-eat food and cup noodles, without getting the explanation of the Department. “That makes the video more misleading as the DSWD has no stockpiles of ready-to-eat food and cup noodles because these are not part of the DSWD food packs,” Sec. Soliman pointed out. She added that DSWD has not also received any donations of such as shown in the video news clip of TV5. In an incident report submitted to Sec. Soliman by Christian Cabrigas, caretaker of the DSWD Hub in Tacloban, he said that on March 26, a female reporter with her cameraman came to the warehouse looking for Assistant Regional Director Virginia Idano who was out to meet UN Dignitaries. Then without informing Cabrigas, the two suddenly went inside the NFA warehouse and took a video recordings of the area. Cabrigas further said that there were indeed piled trashes, but not a decomposing chicken as shown by the TV5 network, because the NFA warehouse personnel just started to clean the area, as they regularly do. He also explained that the repacking of 50-kg rice sacks into 3 or 6-kg rice bags resulted in the unintentional spilling of rice grains, and at different times of the day, these rice grains are swept up and placed again in rice sacks, which are then sent to the NFA warehouse for re-milling to separate the rice grains from sand and dust particles. DSWD has reminded the NFA to arrange the rice sacks for re-milling to avoid impression of inefficiency. Not in disarray Sec. Soliman said that the DSWD hub is strictly maintained as international and local donors usually visit the area anytime. She said that media persons are welcome to see all DSWD hubs including its main warehouse, the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City. Sec. Soliman even conducted her latest press conference at NROC to show that DSWD warehouses are well-maintained. Recycled issues Sec. Soliman also expressed disappointment over the network’s “recycling” of issues like the rotten goods being buried in Palo and distributed in Barangay Gacao, which they continue to air in their newscasts. “We have already clarified these issues several times and for the last time let me reiterate our side,” Sec. Soliman remarked. “Based on the certification of the Municipal Health Officer of Palo, the goods that were buried in the town only comprised of one sack of assorted biscuits, 10 cups of instant noodles, ½ sack of wet rice, and one sack of used clothing that came from ‘various agencies’ which she can no longer remember,” Sec. Soliman reiterated. On the other hand, Sec. Soliman said the rotten goods in Brgy. Gacao were not distributed when the village chair learned that these were already spoiled. The village head reported the incident to the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office which ordered for the immediate retrieval of the goods that were donated by a private organization which directly gave these to the local government unit. “We provided technical assistance to the local social welfare office on handling and storage of goods to avoid similar incidents,” Sec. Soliman stated. Veracity of reports Sec. Soliman is urging the TV network to validate the veracity of the news of their reporters. She is demanding for a public clarification on why the reporter spinned her story to imply that the Caibaan warehouse was DSWD’s by showing a footage of the warehouse with the DSWD banner. Sec. Soliman said that there seems to be an intention to manipulate information and video clippings. The news report and the video have provided a totally different picture of how the DSWD works. “These are causing psychological stresses to the DSWD colleagues in Leyte and Samar who continue to provide public service despite their houses not having been fixed yet and they live in difficult situations too,” Sec. Soliman ended. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best Easter gift: Release all kidnap victims | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
GPH chief
negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer today asked the assistance of all
sectors including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to give
kidnap victims their best Easter gift ever: freedom from captivity. “This year alone, 23 kidnapping cases were recorded in Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga and Lanao provinces involving around 30 victims,” said the panel chair. “Let us join hands in redeeming them from a most terrible fate of being held hostage.” “In the last three years, there were nearly 100 cases of abductions of children as young as a year old, students, businessmen, foreigners, journalists, senior citizens, barangay officials, and teachers. Many of these kidnap victims are still in captivity while some have been killed,” Coronel-Ferrer said. On 11 April 2014, military operations were undertaken in Brgys. Silangkum and Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) believed responsible for the recent abduction of a 21-year old female from Zamboanga City. The same bandit group has been extorting money from the contractor building the circumferential road in the province. MILF-ASG connections According to AFP reports, nine ASG members were killed during the firefight. Among them was a certain Nur Espital who has been identified as a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Three other alleged MILF members, including a certain Imamul Mande, were wounded. Said MILF members are connected by affinity to Furuji Indama, the top leader of the ASG and one of the most wanted men in the country, said Coronel-Ferrer, citing reports from the government’s ceasefire mechanisms. Furuji is charged with several cases of murder and kidnappings. The four casualties affiliated with the MILF closed ranks with their family members in the ASG during the firefight. Stop impunity “As an organization that signed the peace agreement, the MILF must not tolerate the criminal acts of any of their individual members” said Coronel-Ferrer. “They must do their part in arresting the impunity long enjoyed by these unscrupulous individuals.” Asked what the MILF can do, the government negotiator said that the MILF leadership should ask their supporters who are intricately involved with the ASG to choose between war and peace. “They should expel from their ranks those who reject peace and are directly or indirectly abetting the hostage-taking and preventing development to set in,” she said. “The peace process should not be used to shield criminals from their accountability for their crimes against innocent civilians.” Renewed commitment Tipo-Tipo, Basilan has been the site of many horrendous encounters between government forces and armed groups. Many lives have been lost on all sides. Several infrastructure projects are ongoing in the area but these have been hampered by the volatile situation. A meeting among the ceasefire bodies and the Ad-Hoc Joint Action Group charged with coordination in criminal interdiction is reportedly scheduled to be held after the Lenten holidays. “We expect both parties to renew their commitment and to come up with concrete operational guidelines that would allow them to effectively work together in securing the people’s safety and wellbeing in Basilan and elsewhere in Mindanao,” said Coronel-Ferrer. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| DFA to launch Regional Workshop on Trafficking in Persons for PHL foreign service posts in the Middle East and Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
21 April 2014 -
Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) officers from the Philippine Embassies
and Consulates General in the Middle East and African region gather
in Ankara, Turkey this week to participate in the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional Workshop on Trafficking in Persons
for Foreign Service Posts (FSPs). The Workshop, which will be held from April 22 to 27, is spearheaded by the DFA's Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) and the Philippine Embassy in Ankara. It is the first Regional Workshop to be organized in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Workshop aims to enhance the institutional capacity of the twenty (20) FSPs in the Middle East and Africa to assist Filipinos who are victims of or vulnerable to human trafficking. It is designed to provide ATN Officers with adequate legal, psychological and practical training that will enable them to properly identify situations of trafficking, and render appropriate assistance with due regard to the victims’ rights, safety and special needs. The resource speakers are drawn from a pool of experts from DFA-OUMWA, UNODC, IOM and the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Justice (DOJ). In 2013, Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the Middle East and Africa reported a total of 551 Filipino trafficked victims and 1,835 smuggled migrants – the highest compared to other regions. The region remains the most popular destination for job-seeking Filipinos who are highly vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. "This [Workshop] is in line with the third pillar of Philippine Foreign Policy and our country’s international commitment under the United Nations Convention on Transnational Crime and its Protocol on Trafficking in Persons," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said in his pre-recorded message to the participants. "Trafficking in Persons is considered as a contemporary form of slavery. It is an insidious crime that targets the most vulnerable members of society, robbing them of their inherent dignity. With this workshop, I am confident that we will be able to make great strides in addressing this very important concern," the Secretary concluded. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| DENR urges renewed commitment to protecting the environment on Earth Day | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on Filipinos
to renew their commitment to protecting the environment as the
country joins the rest of the world in observing Earth Day on
Tuesday, April 22. Together with the Earth Day Network Philippines Inc. (EDNPI) and the Quezon City government, the DENR has lined up activities to mark the world’s single biggest environmental celebration. A hold-over from last year, the theme for this year’s Earth Day festival is still “Earth Day every day, everywhere, for everyone.” This is to emphasize that caring for the environment must be the concern of every member of the human population and he or she should make every day Earth Day. DENR Undersecretary Demetrio L. Ignacio Jr., Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and EDNPI country coordinator Roberto Guevara are expected to lead the national celebration of the Earth Day 2014 at the Quezon Memorial Circle Tuesday afternoon. The program will begin with an interfaith prayer to be participated in by representatives from various Christian groups, namely: Roman Catholic, Ananda Marga, Shumei, Iskcon Hare Krishna, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Protestant, Islam, Iglesia ni Cristo, Brahma Kumaris, Bahai Faith, Jewish, Zen Center, Pranic Healing, and Kapatirang Bromoki- Mother’s Brookshide Haven. Dance presentations dubbed “Sayaw ng Bagong Babaylan” and “Sayaw ng Sambayanan” will immediately follow before the main event, which is the “State of the Philippine Environment Address” to be delivered by Usec. Ignacio. After Ignacio’s speech, the civil society – represented by Guevara – will make a response. Miss Earth 2006 Catherine Untalan-Vital will host the event and the all-male group “Harana Boys” will give special numbers during intermissions. Other highlights of the program include recognition of partners on environmental initiatives, the awarding of winners for the 3-dimentional Street Painting Contest organized by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, and the turnover by the EDNPI to the DENR of the completion report on the National Greening Program Partnership in Tagkawayan, Quezon. The celebration will end with a special program called “Isang Diwa sa Pagdiriwang ng Kalikasan” to be hosted by PTV 4 weatherman Harry Bayona. During this, the audience will be treated to cultural and religious presentations meant to spark their environmental consciousness. Earth Day is celebrated every year on the 22nd of April. The first Earth Day, conceived by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Today, 44 years later, Earth Day is celebrated by over 190 countries worldwide, including the Philippines by virtue of Proclamation No. 553 issued on April 16, 1990 by then President Corazon C. Aquino. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDIC to pay depositors of the closed Gulf Bank (Rural Bank of Lingayen) starting April 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Philippine
Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will start servicing the
deposit insurance claims of depositors of the closed Gulf Bank
(Rural Bank of Lingayen, Inc.) on April 25, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. Servicing of claims for the bank’s Head Office will be conducted on April 25, 28 and 29, 2014 at its premises located at No. 3 Avenida Rizal East St., Lingayen, Pangasinan. Meanwhile, servicing of claims for the bank’s Alaminos Branch and Dagupan Branch will be on April 25 and 28, 2014 at the premises of the Branches. Servicing of claims at the Baguio Branch and Mangatarem Branch will be held at the premises of said branches on April 25, 2014 only. Depositors with validated deposit balances of P50,000.00 and below, with complete mailing address found in the bank records or updated through the Mailing Address Update Form, and without any outstanding obligation with the bank do not need to file claims. Depositors whose accounts have balances of more than P50,000 and who have outstanding obligations with the closed Gulf Bank regardless of type of account are required to file their deposit insurance claims. The announcement on the claims settlement operations of Gulf Bank is posted at the Head Office and the branches and on the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. When filing deposit insurance claims, depositors are advised to personally present their duly accomplished Claim Form, original copy of evidence of deposit such as Savings Passbook and Certificate of Time Deposit, and original copy of two (2) valid photo-bearing IDs with signature of the depositor. Depositors may also file their claims through mail and enclose the same set of document requirements. Depositors who are below 18 years old should submit either a photocopy of their Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly certified copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional requirement, with the Claim Form signed by the parent and the other requirements. Claimants who are not the signatories in the bank records are required to submit an original copy of a notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA). In the case of a minor depositor, the SPA must be executed by the parent. The procedures and requirements for the filing of deposit insurance claims are posted in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. The Claim Form and format of the Special Power of Attorney may also be downloaded from the PDIC website. Depositors who are not able to file their claims during the claims settlement operations period may submit their claims either through mail to PDIC or personally at the PDIC Office, 4th Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City starting May 8, 2014. In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC Charter, the last day for filing deposit insurance claims in the closed Gulf Bank is on April 4, 2016. After this date, PDIC as Deposit Insurer, shall no longer accept any deposit insurance claim. The PDIC said that all valid claims will be paid. For deposits to be considered valid, it must be recorded in the bank’s records and must have evidence of inflow of funds, based on the results of PDIC examination. PDIC, as Receiver, has the authority to adjust the insurance rate on the unpaid interest offered by a bank if this is deemed unreasonable. For more information, depositors may contact the Public Assistance Department at telephone numbers (02) 841-4630 to 31, or e-mail at pad@pdic.gov.ph. Depositors outside Metro Manila may call the PDIC Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342). |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amendment of cabotage law eyed to bring down domestic shipping cost | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.pids.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
High local
shipping costs may be attributed largely to the absence of
competition in the local shipping industry, thus the need for a
comprehensive review and amendment of the Philippine cabotage law.
This was according to a recent study published by state think tank
Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). Authored by Drs. Gilberto Llanto, PIDS president, and Adoracion Navarro, senior research fellow, the study argued for a well-planned review and lifting of cabotage restrictions to bring down the high cost of domestic shipping rates in the country. Under the present cabotage law, only domestic shipping lines can serve domestic routes. The absence of competition has resulted in "high cost of transporting raw materials to manufacturing sites, finished products and agricultural goods to various destinations, and imported products to distribution areas, thereby increasing operational costs that are passed on to consumers as high prices," the study noted. The study recommended a serious review of lifting cabotage restrictions, especially in the light of the planned Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Single Shipping Market. It cited a study of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines (JFCCP), which showed the high cost of domestic shipping compared with the cost of shipping via foreign transshipment. "It is cheaper to send a container from Manila to Cagayan de Oro via Hong Kong or Kaohsiung (in Taiwan) than to simply transport the cargo directly from Manila to Cagayan de Oro." A 40-footer container domestic shipping, from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, costs USD 1,860, which is a lot expensive than foreign transshipment via Hong Kong (USD 1,144) and via Kaohsiung (USD 1,044). A local trader could save approximately 43 percent in shipping costs via transshipment to Kaohsiung than by directly availing of domestic shipping services. The ageing domestic fleet of the maritime transport industry is also a cause for concern. "Domestic vessels for cargo in 2007 were generally 20 years old. Moreover, average age of passenger vessels in 2012 is higher compared to the average age of 5 to 10 years old in the late 1990s." "Even though the Philippines is the world`s fifth largest ship building country, domestic shipping lines continue to use smaller and even older vessels in transporting cargo, which are uncompetitive compared to those used by their foreign counterpartsthe small capacity of cargo vessels implies longer transit and more turnaround times in ports, resulting in higher shipping costs." For comparison, the study cited that the domestic shipping is dominated by vessels that have a capacity of 200-300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared with those of foreign container ships that can carry as much as 5,000 TEUs. Thus, it underscored the need for the Maritime Transport Authority to examine very closely the likely effects of the removal of cabotage restriction on domestic shipping, trade, and movement of passengers and cargo. Several developed countries have moved toward a more liberal cabotage regime. In New Zealand, for example, 21 vessels were engaged in coastwise trade in 2000, 19 of which were flying foreign flags. Policymakers should seriously review and consider lifting cabotage restrictions, but in a phased-in and well-planned approach, the study emphasized. Fears of foreign players immediately dominating the local shipping industry may be unfounded. The lack of familiarity with domestic markets may not allow foreign shipping companies to do business in all sectors of coastwise trade. "The need for market adjustments by foreign competitors interested in engaging in coastwise transport will also give domestic shipping operators ample time to modernize their fleet and operations to be more competitive," the study said. "Competition provides a credible threat to those who refuse to modernize and maintain efficient operation." |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government inflation target ateady at 4 + 1 percentage point for 2014 and 3 + 1 percentage point for 2015 - 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In line with
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ conduct of monetary policy based on
inflation targetting, the Development Budget Coordination Committee
(DBCC) through its Resolution No. 2014-2 dated 3 February 2014,
decided to maintain the inflation targets at 4.0 percent ± 1.0
percentage point for 2014 and at 3.0 percent ± 1.0 percentage point
for 2015 - 2016. Based on the most recent assessment of current inflation developments, evolving economic and financial trends as well as indicators of the public’s inflation expectations and the BSP’s emerging forecasts, the current 4.0 percent ± 1.0 percentage point target for 2014 of the Government remains appropriate for the Philippine economy. The Government also decided to maintain the medium-term inflation target of 3.0 percent ± 1.0 percentage point for 2015 – 2016 as it continues to be consistent with the country’s current inflation dynamics and outlook for the next couple of years and the expected higher potential capacity under a low inflation environment. The announcement of these targets is in line with the BSP’s commitment to greater transparency and accountability in its conduct of monetary policy. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philippines grants visa-free entry to 7 more countries | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.immigration.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Philippines
has opened its doors to the citizens of seven more countries who may
enter without an entry a visa and stay for 30 days. The addition of seven countries makes a total of 164 the countries granted visa-free entry into the Philippines, pursuant to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Foreign Service Circular (FSC) No. 95-2014 and Executive Order no. 408. Immigration Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison disclosed that the seven countries whose nationals have been granted visa-free admission into the country are: Belize, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. To be granted a visa-free entry and 30-day initial stay, Mison said the citizens of the seven countries only need to show their passport which must be valid for at least six months and must possess a return ticket to the country of origin or onward ticket to the next country of destination. The executive order provides for a more expeditious system and simpler forms for the encouragement and facilitation of foreign tourist travel to the Philippines. “This move will hopefully encourage more tourists and investors to visit and stay in the Philippines”, Mison said. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philippines, Japan Hold 7th Political-Military Meeting | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
16 April 2014 –
The 7th Philippines-Japan Political-Military Meeting was held today
at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). DFA Assistant Secretary
for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro led the
Philippine delegation to the meeting along with Department of
National Defense (DND) Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessment
Raymund Jose G. Quilop and officials from the DFA, DND, Armed Forces
of the Philippines, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council, and the Philippine Coast Guard. The Japanese delegation was represented by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Defense and the Embassy of Japan in Manila. It was headed by MOFA Deputy Director General Kenji Kanasugi. During the dialogue, the delegations exchanged views on their respective countries’ national security policies and current regional issues. Further cooperation on maritime security as well as humanitarian assistance/disaster response were discussed. The Political-Military and Military-to-Military (PM/MM) Meeting was established in 2006 and is one of the annual bilateral mechanisms between the Philippines and Japan. The last PM/MM Meeting was held in Tokyo in May 2013. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| SG delegation visit: start of bigger biz relations | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The recent
visit of the 19-member Singaporean business delegation to the
Philippines is seen as the start of bigger trade and investment
relations for both countries. “As we sustain economic growth, we are able work and talk with you in terms of areas for Singapore and Philippines to expand, invest in infrastructure, and focus on connectivity in our regions,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ponciano C. Manalo Jr. said during the recent trade and investment briefing for the Philippines-Singapore Business Council (PSBC) business mission. Manalo mentioned investments in areas such as health, resilience to natural disaster, shipbuilding, business process management (BPM), information technology (IT) services, electronics manufacturing services, aerospace development and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. “The business community in the Philippines and Singapore can work strongly to provide outside investments for Singapore. At the same time, it is our goal to provide inclusive growth to Filipinos,” Manalo said. He noted that Philippine exports are mainly electronics, accounting for 40% of the country’s total exports. In the last two months, Philippine electronics exports grew by 24% from USD 2.95B in the same period last year. The business delegation’s visit is in line with the 4-day state visit of Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam to the Philippines to meet with President Benigno S. Aquino III as well as Filipino and Singaporean businessmen. “We are confident that our trip will contribute towards strengthening economic ties between the two countries,” said PSBC Singapore co-chair and head of business delegation Loh Chin Hua during the briefing. “This trip is also timely since the Philippines is in a robust growth phase. The World Bank has acknowledged that in the past few years the Philippines economy has outperformed the rest of East Asia and its Southeast Asian neighbors of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand,” Loh said. Loh added that driven by rising domestic demand, robust government spending, and political stability, the Philippine economy continues to be resilient amidst uncertain global climate. “Moving forward, I am confident there will be more opportunities for collaboration across different business sectors between our two business communities,” Loh said. The PSBC was launched in Singapore in October 1994. The council’s objectives are to identify and develop areas of cooperation between both countries’ private sectors; to encourage and develop further investment in both the Philippines and Singapore; to encourage and develop the trade links between both countries; to encourage joint exploration of business opportunities in third countries; to identify business opportunities, particularly at the level of small and medium sized enterprises; and to enhance networking, contacts, and exchange between the private sectors of both countries. In 2013, Singapore was the Philippines’ 4th largest trading partner, 5th export market, and 6th import source. It was also the Philippines’ 5th source of investments, and 7th source of remittances. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
Last
Updated:
21 APRIL 2014
|
|
| Google+ Photo Releases of PNoy | |
| Please click on thumbnails to magnify | |
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino lll welcomes Representative Manny Pacquiao during his courtesy call at the Music Room in Malacañang on Monday (April 21). Manny Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion, regained the WBO welterweight belt from American Timothy Bradley Jr. by unanimous decision after their fight Saturday, April 12, 2014 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, USA. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes World Boxing Organization’s welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao during a courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace on Monday (April 21). (Photo by Rey Baniquet / NIB) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III checks the situation outside SM North in EDSA Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) with Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima, Quezon City Police District Director PCSUPT Richard AlbanoI during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Atty. Winston Ginez, Pangasinan Five Star Bus Company, Inc. vice president Katrina Hernandez-Cauton and Five Star Bus operations supervisor Modesto Mendoza, Jr. upon arrival at the Five Star Bus Terminal in EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo is Communications Seretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives at SM North Edsa in Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) to check the situation at the mall during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino, and Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the ticketing and pre-boarding facilities at the JAC Liner Kamias Bus Terminal in Mapagmahal Street corner EDSA, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
|
|
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Atty. Winston Ginez, Pangasinan Five Star Bus Company, Inc. vice president Katrina Hernandez-Cauton and Five Star Bus operations supervisor Modesto Mendoza, Jr. upon arrival at the Five Star Bus Terminal in EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo is Communications Seretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III greets passengers at the JAC Liner Kamias Bus Terminal in Mapagmahal Street corner EDSA, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III greets passengers at the Five Star Bus Terminal in EDSA, Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the security, ticketing and pre-boarding facilities at the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex of the Manila North Harbour in Tondo, Manila City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) (Photo by Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Philippine Ports Authority general manager Atty. Juan Sta. Ana, Maritime Industry Authority administrator Dr. Maximo Mejia, Jr., Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. chairperson Dr. Michael Romero, MNHPI chief executive officer Richard Barclay, 2Go Group president and chief executive officer Sulpicio Tagud, Jr.; Philippine Coast Guard Commandant V/Adm. Rodolfo Isorena and PNP Maritime Group Director P/Supt. Noel Lazarus Vargas, upon arrival at the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex of the Manila North Harbour in Tondo, Manila City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III personally inspects the operations and security set-up at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr.Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and NAIA Terminal 3 manager Engr. Octavio Lina. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is briefed on the status of passenger volume and traffic, airport security and assistance measures by Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr.,during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila at the Departure Lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo is Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by NAIA Terminal 4 manager Enrico Gonzales upon arrival at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by NAIA Terminal 4 manager Enrico Gonzales upon arrival at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16) during the Inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr.Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr., Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, NAIA Terminal 3 manager Engr. Octavio Lina upon arrival at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr., Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino, NAIA Terminal 3 manager Engr. Octavio Lina and Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima upon arrival at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo is Communications Seretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the security, ticketing and pre-boarding facilities at the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex of the Manila North Harbour in Tondo, Manila City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and PNP Chief Alan Purisima. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the security, ticketing and pre-boarding facilities at the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex of the Manila North Harbour in Tondo, Manila City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in Photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the security, ticketing and pre-boarding facilities at the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex of the Manila North Harbour in Tondo, Manila City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III greets passengers at the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex of the Manila North Harbour in Tondo, Manila City on Wednesday (April 16) during the inspection of major passenger terminals in Metro Manila. The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the operations and security set-up at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16). The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) OIC, General Manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr. (Photo by Rey Baniquet/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by NAIA Terminal 4 manager Enrico Gonzales upon arrival at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16). The President wants to make sure that all security preparations are in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo-PCOO) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the operations and security set-up at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16). The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr., Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and NAIA Terminal 4 manager Enrico Gonzales. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the operations and security set-up at the Departure Area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16). The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo is Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
 |
President Benigno S. Aquino III is briefed on the status of passenger volume and traffic, airport security and assistance measures by Manila International Airport Authority OIC, general manager (Ret.) MGen. Vicente Guerzon, Jr., during the inspection of the departure lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Wednesday (April 16). The President wanted to make sure that all security preparations were in place to ensure safe travel during the Holy Week. Also in photo are Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and NAIA Terminal 3 manager Engr. Octavio Lina. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
No comments:
Post a Comment