Dost_pagasa added 2 new photos.
24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST
Issued at: 5:00 AM 10 March 2015
Issued at: 5:00 AM 10 March 2015
SYNOPSIS: Northeast monsoon affecting Luzon.
Forecast: Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands will experience cloudy skies with light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds coming from the Northeast will prevail over Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Northeast with slight to moderate seas.
Pagtaya: Ang mga isla ng Batanes, Calayan at Babuyan ay makakaranas ng maulap na kalangitan na may mahinang mga pag-ulan. Ang Metro Manila at ang nalalabing bahagi ng bansa ay magkakaroon ng bahagyang maulap hanggang sa maulap na papawirin na may pulu-pulong mga pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog.
Katamtaman hanggang sa malakas na hangin mula sa Hilagang-silangan ang iiral sa Luzon at ang baybaying dagat sa mga lugar na ito ay magiging katamtaman hanggang sa maalon. Sa ibang dako, ang hangin ay magiging mahina hanggang sa katamtaman mula sa Hilagang-silangan na may banayad hanggang sa katamtamang pag-alon ng karagatan.
OVER METRO MANILA:
Maximum Temperature: 01:00 PM yesterday ----- 32.5 ºC
Minimum Temperature: 06:10 AM yesterday ----- 19.0 ºC
Minimum Temperature: 06:10 AM yesterday ----- 19.0 ºC
Maximum Relative Humidity: 06:00 AM yesterday --------- 77 %
Minimum Relative Humidity: 01:00 PM yesterday --------- 44 %
Minimum Relative Humidity: 01:00 PM yesterday --------- 44 %
Low tide today: 06:21 AM --------- 0.21 meter
High tide today: 12:45 AM --------- 0.70 meter
Low tide today: 07:25 AM --------- 0.11 meter
High tide tomorrow: 01:33 PM --------- 0.50 meter
High tide today: 12:45 AM --------- 0.70 meter
Low tide today: 07:25 AM --------- 0.11 meter
High tide tomorrow: 01:33 PM --------- 0.50 meter
Sunrise today: 06:08 AM
Sunset today: 06:05 PM
Moonset today: 08:52 AM
Moonrise today: 09:42 PM
Illumination today: 87 %
Moonrise today: 09:42 PM
Illumination today: 87 %
For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.
March 10, 2015 (Tuesday) as of 6:00 A.M. - 7:00 A.M.
PIA4A / PIA QUEZON : Sunny in Lucena City
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QUEZON
1. TESDA
has P41.5 M worth of scholarships for tech-voc training in Quezon
- March 09, 2015
QUEZON,
March 9 (PIA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) will grant P41.5 million worth of scholarships to young residents of
this province giving them the chance to get into technical vocational
education.
The said
scholarship would also enable the youth to expand their capability beyond
agriculture.
Quezon
which is apparently the “new axis of growth in the Southern Tagalog region”
leads in coconut production and other crops production including rice, corn,
bananas, mangoes and vegetables.
TESDA
Director General Joel Villanueva said having a skilled workforce will
contribute to the development of the province.
He pointed
out that there is a shortage of skilled workers for various local and
international jobs and companies are in the lookout to fill in the said gaps.
"We
need to develop the young men and women who would not only work in the fields,
but for the various companies and industries that are sprawling in the
province," Villanueva said in a press release.
Training
courses covered by the scholarship grant are mechatronics servicing, bread and
pastry production, shielded metal arc welding, electrical installation and
maintenance and automotive servicing.
The P41.5
million worth of scholarships will be made available through the various TESDA
programs such as Special Training for Employment Program (STEP); Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting Projects (GPBP); Training for Work Scholarship Program
(TWSP) and the; Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA). (TESDA/
FSC, PIA-4A)
- See more
at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2931425748158/tesda-has-p41-5-m-worth-of-scholarships-for-tech-voc-training-in-quezon#sthash.wjPw0h0f.dpuf
2. Tagalog news: Pagpapaunlad ng
palayan sa Quezon, patuloy
- March 07, 2015
LUNGSOD NG
LUCENA, Marso 7 (PIA) — Sumailalim kamakailan sa isang pagsasanay kaugnay sa
pagpapaunlad ng palayan ang mahigit 45 municipal agriculturists, technicians at
ilang kawani ng tanggapan ng Agrikultura ng lalawigan.
Sinabi ni
Provincial Agriculturist Robert Gajo, ang naturang pagsasanay ay kaugnay ng
programa ni Governor David C. Suarez sa ilalim ng Serbisyong Suarez sa
Agrikultura na ipinatutupad ng kanilang tanggapan.
Layunin ng
naturang pagsasanay na mabigyan ng pansin ang mga usapin tungkol sa crop damage
assessment at reporting system ng sektor ng agrikultura sa lalawigan.
Tinalakay
ni Raul Maximo Tolentino, Chief ng Philippine Statistic Authority ang tungkol
sa Concept of Damage Assessment and Reporting kung saan ipinaliwanag nito ang
tamang paglalagay ng datos lalo’t higit kung may kalamidad o masamang panahon.
Itinuro
din ni Tolentino ang tamang paraan kung paano itala ang mga datos upang
mabigyan ng agarang ayuda ang mga magsasaka kung sumapit man ang kalamidad.
Ipinaliwanag
naman ni Engr. Joseito Bunyi, Chief Extension Division at Provincial Rice
Coordinator ang kalalagayan ng programa ng pagpapalayan sa lalawigan ng Quezon.
Ipinarating
naman ni Corazon Gallego, APCO Quezon ang mga programa ng Department of
Agriculture kaugnay ng usapin sa pagpapalayan sa buong lalawigan ng Quezon.
(Reygan Mantilla-Quezon PIO/ OPA-Info. & Training Unit/ PIA-4A)
- See more
at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2931425725012/tagalog-news-pagpapaunlad-ng-palayan-sa-quezon-patuloy#sthash.FXpk52I1.dpuf
3. Tagalog news: Kampanya laban sa
droga paiigtingin, Implan ABKD inilunsad sa Quezon
- March 07, 2015
LUNGSOD NG
LUCENA, Quezon, Marso 7 (PIA) — Inilunsad kamakailan ng pamahalaang
panlalawigan ang Implan Ating Barkada Kontra Droga (ABKD)—isang programa na
naglalayong maiwas ang mga kabataan sa paggamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot.
Ang ABKD
na proyekto ng Quezon Provincial Police Office ay inilunsad bunsod ng tumataas
na kaso ng mga nahulihan ng ipinagbabawal na gamot sa probinsiya simula noong
nakaraang taon.
Layunin
din ng nasabing programa na maging kabahagi ang komunidad laban sa paggamit ng
ipinagbabawal na gamot sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng impormasyon sa mga
kinauukulan.
Sinabi ni
Gob. David Suarez, ang lalawigan ang may pinakmababang bilang ng drug dependents
sa buong rehiyon ngunit nakakaalarma na umano ang biglang pagdami ng mga
nahuhulihan ng ipinagbabawal na gamot.
“Ang
problema ng drugs ay problema nating lahat, hindi lang problema ng taong dapat
humuli sa taong gumagamit at nagtutulak; its not only affect peace and order,
its affect development and productivity,” dagdag ni Gob. Suarez.
Ilang
programa rin at isang task force ang nakatakdang ilunsad ng pamahalaang
panlalawigan upang mapaigting ang kampanya laban sa paggamit ng ipinagbabawal
na gamot.
Kabilang
sa mga programang ito ang pagsasama ng drug testing bilang requirement sa mga
sports activities ng pamahalaang panlalawigan at Serbisyong Suarez Caravans.
Hinikayat
din ng gobernador ang ibang hepe ng kapulisan sa iba’t ibang bayan sa lalawigan
na simulan na din ang programang ABKD sa kani-kanilang nasasakupan.
Base sa
ulat ng QPPO, noong 2014 ay nakapaglunsad ang kapulisan ng 492 operasyon na
nagresulta sa pagkakaaresto ng 368 indibidwal.
Mahigit
P11-milyon halaga din ng ipinagbabawal na gamot ang nakumpiska at 509 na kaso
sa korte ang naisampa ng QPPO. (Reygan Mantilla-Quezon PIO/ PIA-4A)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2931425723118/tagalog-news-kampanya-laban-sa-droga-paiigtingin-implan-abkd-inilunsad-sa-quezon#sthash.NgxbSdMW.dpuf
1. DSWD,
PPVR spearheads Pantawid Pamilya consultation forum
- March 07, 2015
DASMARIÑAS CITY, Cavite, March 7 (PIA) — At
least 120 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program here
addressed their experiences, problems and challenges in the program in a
consultation forum spearheaded by the People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR)
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently.
PPVR
Provincial Coordinator Neneth Talastas said that the consultation is one of the
ways to help the DSWD and the beneficiaries in improving the implementation of
the program.
“Dito,
pinakikinggan natin ang boses ng mga benepisyaryo para kung may problema ay
maayos nating maipaparating sa DSWD at mabigyan ng maayos na solusyon. Ang PPVR
ay tuloy-tuloy na magiging tulay ng mga benepisyaro sa DSWD at ng DSWD sa mga
benepisyaryo. Patuloy kaming magiging gabay, bantay at kaagapay,” Talastas
shared.
Some of the
concerns raised during the consultation forum include queries regarding
payouts, retroactive payments, assessment of potential beneficiaries and
updating new information in the database.
The DSWD
expressed its gratitude to PPVR for giving the beneficiaries the opportunity to
address their problems and challenges regarding the program.
The PPVR,
meanwhile, commits continuos supporrt to DSWD in resolving problems concerning
the poor families.
The DSWD
continuously engages civil society organizations like the PPVR in the
implementation of its different programs and services.
To date,
there are 41 active civil society organizations in the Calabarzon region
engaging in the conduct of FDS, provision of livelihood trainings, employment
facilitation and scholarship programs for the beneficiaries of different DSWD
programs. (DSWD-4A/ FSC, PIA-4A)
- See more
at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2931425735654/dswd-ppvr-spearheads-pantawid-pamilya-consultation-forum#sthash.fI1DsMDh.dpuf
2. 247 cadets to graduate from PNPA
- March 07, 2015
SILANG,
Cavite, March 7 (PIA) — At least 247 cadets of the Lakandula Class of 2015 will
be graduating from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) this March 26
at the grounds of Camp Mariano Castaneda here.
The
Lakandula Class of 2015 will be headed by 24-year-old Police Cadet Dennis M.
Yuson Jr. who is also the recepient of the prestigious Presidential Kampilan
Award and a Plaque of Merit for topping this year’s batch.
P/Cdt Yuson
Jr. is a son of PInsp Dennis Yuson, Deputy of Criminal Investigation and
Detection Team in Sultan Kudarat.
Following
P/Cadet Yuson Jr. is P/Cdt. Rod Kevin T. Placido from Nueva Ecija who is set to
receive the Vice President Kampital Award and also a Plaque of Merit.
Graduating
third, meanwhile, and to get the SILG Kamilan Award and a Plaque of Merit is
P/Cdt Marlon H. Landong of Negros Occidental.
Other
students who included to the top 10 slots are P/Cdt Raymund B. Caguioa (4th);
P/Cdt Michael Sula Sula Giner (5th); P/Cdt Nathaniel D. Faulve (6th); P/Cdt
Kenneth F. Lumbre (7th); P/Cdt Roel R. Bata (8th); P/Cdt Mark Jonathan Z.
Avillano (9th) and; P/Cdt Julie Anne L. Aguilar (10th).
At least 226
cadets or majority of the graduating class will join the Philippine National
Police.
A total of
10 cadets, meanwhile, decided to join the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP) and 11 cadets to Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Lakandula
Class of 2015 is composed of 227 male and 20 female graduates.
The
graduates will receive a degree of Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS)
and will enter as inspectors in their respective public safety bureaus.
(PNP-PIO/PIA-4A)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2931425707880/247-cadets-to-graduate-from-pnpa#sthash.zVdpqIXO.dpuf
3. APEC 2015: STG Tagaytay remains
at post
- March 07, 2015
TAGAYTAY
CITY, Cavite, March 7 (PIA) — The security components, emergency response teams
and other operational units of the Site Task Group (STG) Tagaytay will remain
at its post despite the closure of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting on Friday.
Ground
Commander Police Superintendent Ferdinand Quirante said that its security
coverage and all anti criminality measures are still in place to ensure
security of the delegates who will be extending their stay in this city. He
further affirmed that all activities including offsite tours will still be
closely monitored.
Police Supt.
Quirante added that all emergency response teams are still positioned in
strategic areas and fire strike teams are still alerted in case circumstances
beyond control arise.
The STG
Tagaytay has recorded zero untoward incident since the commencement of APEC
2015 Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting on Tuesday, March 3.
Police Supt.
Quirante said that the success of the APEC 2015 security coverage is the result
of their advanced security plans which they worked on since last year together
with other law enforcement and government agencies.
The STG
Tagaytay deployed at least 3, 137 PNP personnel to secure the area particularly
the Taal Vista Hotel where all the meetings and dialogues were held.
The said
task force is headed by Chief Superintendent Edwin Tapay Erni and is composed
of law enforcement and government agencies including Philippine National
Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Office of
Civil Defense, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippine Coast
Guard, Department of Finance, Department of Tourism, Department of Health, Department
of Social Welfare and Development, Metro Manila Development Authority and
Philippine Information Agency. (PIA-4A)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2931425655091/apec-2015-stg-tagaytay-remains-at-post#sthash.nA56facs.dpuf
LAGUNA
- DENR Region 4A to establish 8,588 hectares
forest plantation in Quezon
- March
10, 2015
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, March 10 (PIA) --DENR
Region 4A Calabarzon Regional Director Reynulfo Juan revealed during a National
Greening Program (NGP) management conference held recently at the regional office
in this city that more than 50 percent of DENR CALABARZON’s regional target of
rehabilitating 17,164 hectares of degraded forestland under the NGP will be
established in Quezon Province.
Juan further revealed that Quezon, the
biggest province, their office will take charge of greening 8,588 hectares in
2015, Rizal follows with 5,337 hectares, Laguna with 3,019 hectares,
Batangas, 200 and Cavite, 20.
Now entering its fifth year of
implementation, the National Greening Program is a priority program of
President Pnoy which started in 2011. The NGP targets to grow 1.5 billion trees
in 1.5 million hectares of public land from 2011 to 2016.
“We, in the Calabarzon region, are on
target. To date, 63,038 hectares out of 119,070 hectares have been planted with
39 million seedlings. 17,164 hectares will be planted this year, and the
remaining 38,868 will be done in 2016. That is our humble contribution to the
President’s target of 1.5 million hectares planted with 1.5 billion trees,”
said Juan
Forester Alfredo Palencia, Quezon Provincial
Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) chief affirmed, “Quezon is
tasked to establish 8,588 hectares new plantations within the province. That is
a little more than fifty percent of the total regional target.”
Palencia also said the locations and areas
have been identified. “We have also determined the suitable species to be
planted in the specific areas, as well,” he added.
He enumerated the municipalities to be
covered as Real and Gen. Nakar, and the municipalities in Pollillo
Island--Burdeos, Polillo, Patnanungan, Jomalig and Panukulan; and the
mainland’s Mauban, Tiaong, Sariaya, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Unisan, San
Antonio, Atimonan, Gumaca, Quezon, Perez, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan,
Calauag, San Francisco, Buenavista, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres,
Macalelon, and Catanauan.
“These areas will be planted with more than
9 million seedlings and mangrove propagules. We will use indigenous species of
forest trees, fruit bearing trees. We will also plant fuelwood such as
kakawate, and economically viable plants such as coffee, cacao, bamboo and
rattan,” he said.
“We have beefed up manpower facilitate
implementation and ensure accomplishment of the set target. We have the support
of 87 extension officers who are assigned in the Community Environment
and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs). They will assist the NGP Site
Coordinators in the establishment of new plantations, maintenance and
protection of the already established plantations,” Palencia added.
Palencia reported that from 2011-2014,
PENRO-Quezon contributed to about 2.13 percent and 38.08 percent of the
national and regional NGP targets, respectively. DENR Quezon established a
total of 31,999 hectares NGP plantations in the four years of implementation.
These were planted with more than 24 million mangrove propagules, and seedlings
of forest and fruit-trees species.
He said the DENR personnel, specifically NGP
implementors and extension officers, together with partner people’s
organizations join hands in conducting continuous monitoring, and maintenance
and protection activities to ensure 85 percent or higher survival rate of
planted seedlings in established plantations.
He said NGP adopts the social mobilization
strategy and emphasizes that participation of all sectors of society is vital
to the success of the program. The NGP, he added, also highlights that
community participation is key to sustainability.
Palencia issued an invitation, “We are
encouraging everyone especially those residing in the above-mentioned
municipalities and its adjacent towns to be a DENR partner in this noble
pursuit.”
2. RCC orients Batangas LGUs on
competitiveness survey
- March 06, 2015
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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, Mar 6 (PIA) --The
Calabarzon Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) is conducting a series of
orientation seminars about the survey on Cities and Municipalities
Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
The orientation held in Lipa City on March 4
was attended by business permit and licensing officers and planning officers of
the 25 local governments in the province of Batangas .
RCC Co-Chairman Director Donald Gawe said
that the objective is to orient local governments on how to accomplish the 2015
CMCI data capture sheets.
Gawe told participants that the survey is a
tool not solely for competitiveness but also a framework for planning and
benchmarking for which a city or municipality could tell where it stands.
Marilou Quinco-Toledo, Regional Director of
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Chairman of the RCC said that
the CMCI survey is using 28 indicators grouped into three equally-weighted
pillars: economic dynamism, governance efficiency and infrastructure
of which scores on each pillar are combined to form the overall score
used to rank cities and municipalities.
Toledo added that survey results will be the
diagnoses of the current states of local governments and will be the basis in
improving competitiveness.
Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) Regional
Director Rosalinda Bautista said that the RCC seeks to improve the
competitiveness of local governments through measurement.
“What can not be measured, can not be
assessed; thus can not be improved”, Bautista explained.
The Calabarzon RCC is composed of DTI, the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine
Statistics Agency (PSA) and is under the umbrella of the Calabarzon Regional
Development Council. (Charlie S. Dajao/DTI Calabarzon/PIA-4A
APEC member economies could learn from Philippines' financial system, says Central Bank official | |
(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) The Philippines has a lot to share in terms of best financial practices, with fellow member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) if they want to emulate those initiatives, Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said Friday. "I think we have distinguished ourselves in terms of undertaking initiatives in micro finance consumer protection and inclusive financial system," Guinigundo said during a press conference held at the Summit Ridge Hotel here following the two-day APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting. The initiatives under this umbrella include the tweaking of regulations to allow financial institutions to open up windows for micro finance, he said. He explained that micro finance allows micro enterprises to borrow funds without collateral and without credit history, although the amount of the loan may be limited. Other countries could also examine the Philippines' credit surety fund, which the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas has initiated. This is leveraging on the country's cooperatives that allows them to borrow 10 times of their minimum P100,000 contribution, he said. Under this set up, there is an oversight committee composed of cooperatives themselves, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Industrial Guarantee Loan Fund, and the local government units, he said, adding that more than P1 billion has been granted under this framework. The good combination of monetary policy and macro prudential policy is also something that the Philippines can share, he said. Guinigundo said that in some jurisdictions, particularly in advanced economies, macro prudential measures are still in their early stages of being considered, much less implemented. In the Philippines, these macro prudential measures serve as a means of ensuring financial stability in case of sector-specific shocks, particularly in asset markets, such as real estate properties, and at the same time on the conduct of monetary policy, he said. The kind of financial reforms that the Philippines has undertaken would also be a good example, Guinigundo said, noting that the Philippines had implemented Basel III earlier than 2019 and it is moving quite prudently across the various components of Basel III, first with capitalization, and second with stable funding ratio, liquidity ratio, and others. Basel III is a set of international banking regulations developed by the Bank for International Settlements to promote stability in the international financial system. The purpose of Basel III is to reduce the ability of banks to damage the economy by taking on excess risk. "This is being done in a sequential, very prudent manner and this is also something that we like to share with them," he said. Participants of the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting wrapped up their two-day discussion held at the Taal Vista Hotel here Friday, with meeting results to be included in the Cebu Action Plan that will be launched in September. PND (as) | |
APEC member economies to create public private partnership knowledge portal to speed up infrastructure investments | |
(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are gearing up to implement two initiatives that aim to leverage private funds towards public private partnership (PPP) projects, including the establishment of a regional PPP knowledge management portal. In a press briefing at the close of the two-day APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting here, Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo stressed that while many APEC economies and emerging markets have excess savings, financing for infrastructure development remains a problem. “While we have the savings, we do not have a sufficient number of bankable and credible infrastructure projects. If we are able to provide the member countries with a sufficient number of projects that are bankable, that which can be taken immediately, I think we would have a good use for our excess savings,” he said. Guinigundo said APEC finance and central bank deputies explored alternatives for financing infrastructure, including leveraging private funds to the PPP projects as well as the continuous disposition of public funds to advance the cost of infrastructure development in the region. He said the creation of the PPP knowledge portal hopes to address this problem, as this will provide basic information on the opportunities in the region in terms of infrastructure development. “It will provide the potential investors an idea of where the opportunities arise and are available and the kind of financing that is needed in the projects,” he added. Guinigundo pointed out that some of the key components of the portal have already been completed by the Philippines’ PPP Center. “What we want to do is also to link that knowledge portal with other PPP portals. So you will have an APEC PPP portal,” he said. Apart from this initiative, Guinigundo said the Philippines is also pushing for “standardized” PPP contracts, considering the differences in terms of legal framework across the APEC economies. “But the idea was to provide some kind of template, the key features of what a PPP contract should have. (This is) so that we can uphold good governance in conducting those PPP projects and in the process, encourage more interest in the PPP (program),” he said. The BSP official said standardizing PPP contracts would be very important in facilitating infrastructure investments. “Both (initiatives) are short term, so these will be done within one to two years. We will try to do these very quickly,” said Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran. PNA (ldv) | |
Malacanang joins the world celebration of Women's Day | |
Malacañang on Sunday joined in the celebration of the Women’s Day held every 8th of March around the world. “Nakikiisa ang pamahalaan sa buong mundo sa pagdiriwang ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihan. Kinikilala ng pamahalaan ang mahalagang papel at kontribusyon ng kababaihan sa ating lipunan, ‘di lamang bilang ilaw ng ating mga tahanan, kung hindi bilang isang matibay na haligi sa patuloy na pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. In 1990, Congress declared the month of March as the Women’s Month through Republic Act 6949. The same law designated March 8 every year as National Women’s Day, which is a Working Special Holiday. According to the Philippine Commission on Women, this year’s theme is “Juana, Desisyon mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa. Ikaw Na!” “Sa loob ng mahigit na apat na taon ng Aquino administration, higit pang pinaigting ng pamahalaan ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa na magsusulong ng malaya at bukas na pakikilahok at maayos na pagkakatawan ng mga kababaihan sa lahat ng aspeto ng pagbabalangkas ng mga desisyon at pambansang polisiya,” Coloma added. In the 2014 Global Gender Gap Report conducted by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranked 9th and the only country from Asia out of 142 countries surveyed regarding gender equality and promotion of women’s rights. PND (ag) | |
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Palace vows continuing assistance to Central Mindanao evacuees | |||
Aquino administration continues anti-poverty efforts, says official | |||
Official: Government committed to permanently solving port congestion problem | |||
APEC News Releases
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APEC member economies could learn from Philippines' financial system, says Central Bank official | |||
APEC member economies to create public private partnership knowledge portal to speed up infrastructure investments |
APEC member economies could learn from Philippines' financial system, says Central Bank official | |
(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) The Philippines has a lot to share in terms of best financial practices, with fellow member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) if they want to emulate those initiatives, Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said Friday. "I think we have distinguished ourselves in terms of undertaking initiatives in micro finance consumer protection and inclusive financial system," Guinigundo said during a press conference held at the Summit Ridge Hotel here following the two-day APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting. The initiatives under this umbrella include the tweaking of regulations to allow financial institutions to open up windows for micro finance, he said. He explained that micro finance allows micro enterprises to borrow funds without collateral and without credit history, although the amount of the loan may be limited. Other countries could also examine the Philippines' credit surety fund, which the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas has initiated. This is leveraging on the country's cooperatives that allows them to borrow 10 times of their minimum P100,000 contribution, he said. Under this set up, there is an oversight committee composed of cooperatives themselves, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Industrial Guarantee Loan Fund, and the local government units, he said, adding that more than P1 billion has been granted under this framework. The good combination of monetary policy and macro prudential policy is also something that the Philippines can share, he said. Guinigundo said that in some jurisdictions, particularly in advanced economies, macro prudential measures are still in their early stages of being considered, much less implemented. In the Philippines, these macro prudential measures serve as a means of ensuring financial stability in case of sector-specific shocks, particularly in asset markets, such as real estate properties, and at the same time on the conduct of monetary policy, he said. The kind of financial reforms that the Philippines has undertaken would also be a good example, Guinigundo said, noting that the Philippines had implemented Basel III earlier than 2019 and it is moving quite prudently across the various components of Basel III, first with capitalization, and second with stable funding ratio, liquidity ratio, and others. Basel III is a set of international banking regulations developed by the Bank for International Settlements to promote stability in the international financial system. The purpose of Basel III is to reduce the ability of banks to damage the economy by taking on excess risk. "This is being done in a sequential, very prudent manner and this is also something that we like to share with them," he said. Participants of the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting wrapped up their two-day discussion held at the Taal Vista Hotel here Friday, with meeting results to be included in the Cebu Action Plan that will be launched in September. PND (as) | |
APEC member economies to create public private partnership knowledge portal to speed up infrastructure investments | |
(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are gearing up to implement two initiatives that aim to leverage private funds towards public private partnership (PPP) projects, including the establishment of a regional PPP knowledge management portal. In a press briefing at the close of the two-day APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting here, Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo stressed that while many APEC economies and emerging markets have excess savings, financing for infrastructure development remains a problem. “While we have the savings, we do not have a sufficient number of bankable and credible infrastructure projects. If we are able to provide the member countries with a sufficient number of projects that are bankable, that which can be taken immediately, I think we would have a good use for our excess savings,” he said. Guinigundo said APEC finance and central bank deputies explored alternatives for financing infrastructure, including leveraging private funds to the PPP projects as well as the continuous disposition of public funds to advance the cost of infrastructure development in the region. He said the creation of the PPP knowledge portal hopes to address this problem, as this will provide basic information on the opportunities in the region in terms of infrastructure development. “It will provide the potential investors an idea of where the opportunities arise and are available and the kind of financing that is needed in the projects,” he added. Guinigundo pointed out that some of the key components of the portal have already been completed by the Philippines’ PPP Center. “What we want to do is also to link that knowledge portal with other PPP portals. So you will have an APEC PPP portal,” he said. Apart from this initiative, Guinigundo said the Philippines is also pushing for “standardized” PPP contracts, considering the differences in terms of legal framework across the APEC economies. “But the idea was to provide some kind of template, the key features of what a PPP contract should have. (This is) so that we can uphold good governance in conducting those PPP projects and in the process, encourage more interest in the PPP (program),” he said. The BSP official said standardizing PPP contracts would be very important in facilitating infrastructure investments. “Both (initiatives) are short term, so these will be done within one to two years. We will try to do these very quickly,” said Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran. PNA (ldv) | |
Palace vows continuing assistance to Central Mindanao evacuees | |
Malacanang made an assurance that it will continue to help more than 16,000 families affected by the ongoing conflict in central Mindanao until stability is restored in the area. In a radio interview Saturday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said 16,111 families in 59 barangays are affected by the conflict. There are 49 evacuation centers catering to 13,261 families, she added citing data from the National Disaster Risk and Management Council (NDRRMC). The national government has so far released P16.6-million worth of relief assistance, Valte told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan. Asked to comment on reports about the possible tactical alliance between groups that are not part of the peace talks like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group, Valte said the military will just do its mandate to neutralize other rebel and terrorist groups. “Ipagpapatuloy lang ng ating armed forces ang kanilang mga operasyon laban sa mga ganitong grupo,” she said. "At alam naman natin na hindi lang sila isang armed group, alam din natin ang mga activities nila. In the case of the Abu Sayyaf, obviously bandits ang mga ito; it’s a bandit group so tuloy ang operasyon ng ating AFP." PND (as) | |
Aquino administration continues anti-poverty efforts, says official | |
The Aquino government will continue pursuing anti-poverty initiatives to lift more poor people out of poverty especially after a report on rising poverty rate was released. A recent report said that the poverty rate in the country rose to nearly 26 percent in the first half of 2014 because of high food prices and the effects of typhoons that hit the country. But Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday that the scope of the study was in the last six months of 2013 and January to June of 2014. "Medyo iba ang mga kondisyon ng panahon na iyon at kahit sinabi naman ng NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) na may epekto rin ang pagdating ng bagyong ‘Yolanda’ dahil doon sa mga datos na nakuha nila," Valte told dzRB by Radyo ng Bayan. "I think between the time that the study was made and ngayon, medyo malaki na rin ang difference ng naging pagbaba naman ng mga presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin dahil na rin sa naging pagbaba sa presyo ng gasolina at ng krudo." Valte also said that although the government expanded the coverage of the conditional cash transfer program (CCT), the Department of Social Welfare and Development also carried out efforts to clean up its list of beneficiaries. The DSWD delisted beneficiaries that were not complying with conditions of the CCT program. "So nagkaroon ito ng epekto doon sa numero ng mga benepisyaryo na tumanggap ng mga grant para sa CCT—at least for the period that the NEDA studied," she said. "Ngayon na tapos na ang cleaning up and delisting ng mga hindi na eligible na mga beneficiaries, mas marami na rin ang nako-cover ngayon ng CCT." The Palace official also made an assurance that the government will continue to pursue efforts that would help alleviate poverty in the country. Among these initiatives include encouraging investors to put their money in the Philippines and made existing local industries to be competitive, she said. PND (as) | |
Official: Government committed to permanently solving port congestion problem | |
The Palace said the government is ready to work with private business groups to eventually solve the port congestion problem especially as imports pick up during peak months. The Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc., PhilExport, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and other business groups issued a statement saying the port congestion problem is not fully resolved. This contradicts the previous government statement that it was able to remedy port congestion problem in the ports of Manila. These business groups said this remains to be seen because the months of January, and February are lean seasons, the time government declared lesser volume. When the peak months set in, they doubt the current container volume could be sustained. In a radio interview Saturday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is aware that seasons change and that there are different needs depending on a particular season. "But we would like to assure them that we intend to have the situation to remain the same; una, ina-anticipate na natin ‘na in particular months of the year ay dadami ang volume ng mga dumadaan doon sa mga ports natin; at pangalawa, we do intend to sustain the current situation," she said. "We are always ready to communicate and to work with these groups to hear their suggestions as well as their concerns." PND (as) | |
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Good gov initiatives bolstered in 2015 GAA; Abad: Budget boost to strengthen public institutions, LGUs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
To protect the general interest of its citizens, the National Government has increased funding for agencies that reinforce the government thrust for reforms, as well as for programs that strengthen public institutions and local governments. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said, “Good governance has been at the core of everything we’ve done in the past few years. As such, the 2015 National Budget prioritizes funding of agencies and programs that push the principles of participation, transparency, and accountability.” In support of the Administration’s anti-corruption drive and to strengthen the integrity of public institutions, the Office of the Ombudsman received a budget of P550 million—up from P529 million in 2014—for corruption deterrence services, including investigation, fact-finding, and prosecution. In addition, the Sandiganbayan was allocated P287 million for the adjudication of graft and corruption cases, slightly higher as compared to their 2014 budget of P283 million. As part of the Administration’s good governance push (especially with targeted frontline services), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was allocated P1.1 billion, up from P978 million in 2014. Of this amount, P193 million will be set aside for the processing of NBI clearance documents. On the other hand, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was allocated P10 billion for the provision of diplomatic and consular services—including the processing and issuance of 3.2 million e-passports—up from P9.2 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, the National Government will sustain efforts to simplify business transactions in the country with the Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS). To this end, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) received P9 million to raise the number of local government units (LGUs) compliant with the BPLS to 1,500. Another flagship initiative that received additional funding was the LGU Capacity Development Program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). This program—which was allotted P3.2 billion, up from P2.8 billion in the previous year—aims to improve the capacity and performance of LGUs, and assists them in implementing priority high-impact projects. Part of this program includes support for the implementation of the Seal of Good Local Governance (previously the Seal of Good Housekeeping), the Local Government Performance Management System (LGPMS), and the Performance Challenge Fund. In particular, the Performance Challenge Fund serves as a strong incentive to LGUs to perform well so as to achieve their objectives for their constituents. Lastly, the National Government has released P20.9 billion to various agencies for the implementation of 14,300 Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) projects in cities and municipalities nationwide to empower communities and strengthen local governments. Abad said, “Programs such as these need strong budgetary support so that the changes they effect in governance and service delivery can be institutionalized beyond the current administration. Our ultimate goal is a government that does everything in its power to extend to every Filipino the fruits of our economic growth.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Govt backs PNP with P2.83-B fund for facilities, equipment; Abad: Transformation plan to strengthen police capability | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P2.83 billion to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the improvement of the police force’s infrastructure, facilities, and equipment. Charged against the P22.47-billion Supplemental Appropriations for FY 2014, this release would cover the implementation of the PNP’s Operational Transformation Plan (OTP). The OTP’s requirements would need Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) amounting to P142.6 million as well as Capital Outlay (CO) expenses worth P2.69 billion. Budget and Management Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said, “We recognize that inclusive development would require a safe and secure environment where all Filipinos can benefit from the country’s economic growth. That’s why one of the priority projects funded by the 2014 Supplemental Budget was a program that would improve the capability of our country’s law-enforcement agency.” The fund would cover appropriations for mobility, firearms, communication, investigation, ISO equipment, and infrastructure facilities of the PNP. Of the P2.8 billion, almost half will be for the procurement of 218,790 firearms worth P1.04 billion. This is followed closely by the purchase of 945 motor vehicles, which would amount to P944.5 million. The breakdown of the release is as follows:
Lodged under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the PNP received a total appropriation of P70 billion in the 2015 National Budget. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DTI SSF Cavite bio-compost facility targets 5000 household beneficiaries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project rolled out a bio-composting facility to be operated by the Municipal Government of Mendez, Cavite which will produce 180,000 kilograms (kg) of organic compost and bio-liquid fertilizers for the year. About 50 members of the Modern Farmers Association of Mendez will be the direct beneficiaries of the Mendez Ecological Processing Center. Other sectors that would benefit from the project are vegetable, fish, and poultry vendors grouped into clusters; food service providers (carinderia, restaurants, etc.); the more than 5,000 households in Mendez; and traders of organic compost fertilizers. Mendez, primarily an agricultural town, is being considered for development prospects that would attract investors in leisure and entertainment and ecotourism. Faced with the challenge, the municipal government initiated programs among them eco-waste management to encourage farming especially to the unemployed youth. The aim of the eco-waste management program is to reduce solid wastes dumped and accumulated in the landfill, and at the same time produce organic compost which can be a source of alternative livelihood. The expected effort is multi-pronged: providing balance between economic growth and ecological stability; entrepreneurship; and creating jobs for 30 individuals mostly from the small-to-backyard farmers’ group. With its increasing population, Mendez generates 7 tons of garbage daily of which more than half is compostable. Currently, solid wastes are being collected and dumped in a sanitary landfill with no processes being done aside from the segregation. The bio-composting facility will reduce 56% of the solid waste and convert into organic compost fertilizer which can be used by local farmers at a more affordable price. Wastes of market vendors grouped in clusters will be processed, of which 50% of processed products shall be given back to the clusters satisfying to a certain extend the compost needs of those with agribusiness ventures. The remaining half will be retained at the eco processing center. Cavite Provincial Director Noly Guevara said that DTI is keen on the potential micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to be created as well as the benefits to the farmers who will use organic compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Mendez Mayor Fredderick Vida accepted the machinery and equipment from DTI offering as the Mendez Municipality’s counterpart the lot with the building yet to be completed to house the facility. He expressed an expectation for the project to restore the lost interest of the younger generation for farming, likewise, to strengthen the system being currently coordinated with the barangay officials for a full (100%) waste segregation. “This would be the start of a new partnership with various government agencies for a better Mendez. The SSF Program will definitely play a major role for us to achieve our goals for a safer, healthier and cleaner environment," Vida said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DTI urges investors to support growth opportunities in Agribusiness and Logistics in Northern Mindanao | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a meeting with Northern Mindanao business leaders discussed updates on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the country’s European Strategy. Close to 170 stakeholders attended the “Updates on the Philippine International Trade Strategy: Doing Business in Free Trade Areas (DBFTA) Dialogue with Business Leaders” held at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City on 5 March 2015. DTI Assistant Secretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo met with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and local industries in Region 10 to discuss mechanisms for assistance and development. “Opportunities abound for growth and investment in fields such as agriculture, food processing, service-related industries and trade infrastructure services. Moving forward, we need to entice more investors to come in and work closely with them so our local industries can provide the demand of our target markets abroad,” Rodolfo added. Rodolfo said that the Philippines has already created open market access for industries and SMEs through tariff free trading across the borders of ASEAN and for more than 6,000 products for export to Europe. He added that Northern Mindanao is at the cusp of a breakthrough in reaping the benefits of international trade. “Access to technology and more sophisticated equipment will aid SMEs in increasing their competitiveness and marketability,” DTI-10 Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Linda O. Boniao said. She further explained, “The ultimate goal of DTI is to increase the production capacity of SMEs because supplying the volume required by the domestic market alone has been a challenge.” The DTI has been working in partnership with other international organizations to identify specific interventions to assist the local SMEs in building capacity for production, packaging and promotion, among others. Northern Mindanao, composed of nine cities and five provinces, is the largest regional economy in the island of Mindanao. In Bukidnon, the DTI, through its Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project, partnered with the Hineleban Foundation, Inc. (HFI) to acquire post-harvest and processing equipment for their famous coffee produce. Even transnational corporations such as Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI) has set their sights on increasing their production. Eugene Gerong, DMPI’s Senior Manager for Pineapple Growing, said since Del Monte Philippines acquired Del Monte US last year DMPI is now expanding operations to increase output and remain competitive. A major element in preparing Region 10 for increased international trade is ensuring the efficiency of the region’s logistics network. The DTI also conducted an ocular inspection of the Mindanao International Container Terminal Services Inc. (MICT) in Cagayan de Oro. Even with its current capacity of 270,000 20-foot container vans, the MICT has plans to expand both its berth length and container yard to help ease port congestion in Metro Manila. “Other major ports outside of Metro Manila will be the gateway of our local SMEs and industries to their foreign markets, while at the national level, the continuing initiatives to ease port congestion will improve country productivity and allow us to deftly adapt to dynamic global market needs,” Rodolfo said, adding that “advancing logistics is one of the key factors to maximize the benefits of international trade. A predictable and secure logistics network will help us realize the gains from regional economic integration." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A baby from heaven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
“We prayed to God that He may bless us with a child and He surprised us with a calling for adoption. We obeyed Him and accepted for this is what He wants us to have, a baby from heaven.” This was how Marius and Angelene Calungcaguin described their 2-years and 4-months-old adopted boy, Pio. “Our favorite saint is St. Pio, so we wanted to name our baby boy after him. But it turned out that his original name is Piolo, so we just shortened it,” Angelene narrated. She added that Pio was proof of “divine confirmation” – that God intended them to adopt a child. Deciding to adopt “After being married for four years and going through a lot of medical tests, procedures, and medications, we just said, ‘Lord, ikaw na po ang bahala (Lord, we leave it all up to you)’ and He led us to Pio,” Angeline continued. Prior to their decision to adopt, the young couple was already exposed to children through serving as organizers of MAKE PEACE COOKIES.org in 2012, a project that focused on reaching out to children in orphanages and child-caring institutions. Serving as volunteers in orphanages and child-caring institutions bolstered their desire to have a child of their own. However, Marius admitted that he was hesitant at first. “I was reluctant to adopt a child because I still [had] doubts about my readiness to be a father. My experiences were limited to taking care of my nieces, nephews, and younger cousins, but it is not the same compared to bringing up your own child,” Marius candidly stated. While he was thinking things through, Angeline was quietly preparing the legal documents. “I prayed, Lord if this [adoption] is for us, You will give it to us,” she said. And it truly proved to be God’s will. “[When] my wife completed the papers, I felt I was ready,” Marius narrated. The young couple adopted their baby through the Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF), a child-caring agency licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). They went through the whole process of legally adopting Pio, from attending the adoption forum organized by KBF and preparing the documents, to finally meeting their baby boy. Angelene recalled the first time they saw Pio. “It’s as if the baby knew us. He smiled and immediately hugged my husband.” From then on, the three of them formed an unbreakable bond nurtured by love. “Having the cutest, sweetest, [most] hyper active, and most loving kid on the block is the best thing that happened to us. Our lives changed and it is all for the best,” the couple joyfully said. Advocating legal adoption As part of its advocacy on legal adoption, DSWD spearheads the observance of Adoption Consciousness Week every February. This year’s theme, “Legal na Ampon Ako: Anak na Totoo (A Child Finds Worth in Adoption),” emphasizes that there is no distinction between an adopted and a biological child because their rights are the same. DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman underscored the value of legal adoption. “Institutionalization should be the last recourse because there is no substitute for loving parents who will care for and nurture these children. Legal adoption serves to protect and promote the best interest of the child.” DSWD, in partnership with accredited child-caring and placement agencies like KBF and Norfil Foundation, Inc., seeks to find loving families and stable homes for abandoned, neglected, and surrendered children. To date, a total of 6,896 children have been placed for domestic adoption since 2009. Those who want to adopt should be of legal age, at least 16 years older than the adoptee, can assume all the rights and duties of a parent, of good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, and has undergone pre-adoption services as specified in adoption laws. For those who are interested to adopt, they may contact the DSWD Field Offices in their area and child-placing agencies, such as KBF and Norfil Foundation, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
OWWA Caraga opens 76 scholarship slots for OFW dependents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.owwa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Butuan City (March 3) – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office -13 is now accepting applications for OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFWDSP) for the school year 2015-2016. OFWDSP is offered to legal dependents of active OFWs who receive monthly salaries of not more than $400 US. Overseas Workers Welfare Officer II and Scholarship Coordinator, Rodel Deligero said “seventy-six scholarship slots are open this year for Caraganon OFW dependents. Of this number, twelve (12) slots are intended for the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Province. While twenty (20) slots for the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte respectively.” Qualified applicants for the program must be 21 years old below who have no units earned yet in college. “OFW dependents or beneficiaries who wish to apply for the scholarship program must submit their documentary requirements to the regional welfare office not later than April 30, 2015,” bared Deligero. Individuals who want to avail of the program should submit an accomplished application form; two copies 2×2 pictures (studio shot/white background); proof of relationship to OWWA member (birth certificate of applicant or birth certificate of both the single OFW and the applicant-dependent and certificate of no marriage duly certified by the Local Civil Registrar or NSO, if OFW is single, proof of OWWA membership; and form 137/High school report card. The scholarship program offers P20,000.00 financial assistance per school year leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university. Deligero opined that “the financial assistance covers the tuition fees of the scholars which are directly paid to the school and the remaining amount goes to the scholars upon submission of the required documents such as certificate of registration, official receipt and grades for the semester.” “In cases where a scholar has to pay in advance the school fees, they are advised to reimburse their expenses by presenting requisite documents and receipts,” Deligero added. As of this period, there are 148 scholarship grantees under OFWDSP and twenty-three (23) scholars have already graduated. For more information relative to this program, Deligero urged clients to visit OWWA regional welfare office 13 at Nimfa Tiu Building II at J.P. Rosales Avenue, this city. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
APEC finance and central bank deputies seek to boost region’s financial resiliency, infrastructure dev’t | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
TAGAYTAY CITY, PHILIPPINES — Deputies of finance ministries and central banks across APEC member-economies zeroed in on the agenda of achieving financial resiliency and infrastructure development, recognizing risks to the region’s growth prospects. While Asia-Pacific economies are some of the fastest growing in the world, threats to sustainability of growth and to the goal of accelerating poverty reduction in the region linger. These include external shocks, such as weak global demand, impact of monetary policies in advanced economies, and natural disasters. “The recognition of the need for financial resiliency and infrastructure development has put these on the APEC agenda. Boosting financial resiliency and infrastructure development poses the benefit of ensuring that economic gains of the region can be sustained. Also, it gives a better fighting chance for member-economies to enhance inclusivity of growth moving forward,” the Philippines’ Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said Friday, the last day of the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting, which runs from 5-6 March, 2015. Financial resiliency and infrastructure development are the third and fourth pillars, respectively, of the Cebu Action Plan, which is a medium to long-term development road map for Asia-Pacific economies, proposed by the Philippines. The third pillar calls for measures that will deepen financial markets in the region to strengthen the ability of economies to absorb shocks. With higher volume of funds and availability of more financial instruments in the market, sources of financing for development initiatives widen. Moreover, the third pillar requires governments to have sufficient fiscal buffers that economies may draw from in times of stress. In the case of the Philippines, for instance, efforts to trim the government’s budget deficit and bring down the debt burden over the past decade have given the economy ample fiscal space to respond to shocks. Expenses required for reconstruction and recovery of areas hit by natural disasters, for example, were partly accommodated by the national budget without causing fiscal woes. The fourth pillar calls for measures that will help increase sources of and ease accessibility to funds for infrastructure projects. In the case of the Philippines, it has strengthened its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program to allow the private sector to invest in more public infrastructure projects. Also, the government has been consistently raising the allocation in the budget for infrastructure. Despite existing efforts in the Philippines and other economies toward financial resiliency and infrastructure development, delegates still recognized the need to implement more measures. This is in recognition of the unpredictable nature and magnitude of external shocks. The two other pillars of the Cebu Action Plan are: (1) financial integration and (2) fiscal transparency and policy reform. These two were discussed on the first day of the APEC deputies’ meeting. In its hosting of the meeting, the Philippines shared its own efforts that are in line with the four pillars. Besides strengthening its fiscal position through tax and administrative reforms and increasing infrastructure investments to 5% of GDP by 2016, the Philippines also has made public vital fiscal data and has implemented reforms in the budget process. Moreover, it has also implemented measures that liberalized the financial sector, a move that serves as a prerequisite for financial integration in the APEC region. All these reforms and investments contribute to the virtuous cycle the Philippines is enjoying; with robust fiscal space to support even more growth. The Philippines’ Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima in a statement welcomed these developments as the Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting comes to a close. “As we know in very well here in the Philippines, shocks like natural disasters and volatility in the global economy seriously threaten our shared goals to make growth sustainable and translate these gains into reducing inequality and poverty. “Building structures and buffers through the Cebu Action Plan to buttress against these threats makes for a less vulnerable and more resilient Asia-Pacific region. Infrastructure development, on the other hand, is our region’s investment towards future growth. Enhanced connectivity and mobility to support our growing populations will allow economies in the Asia-Pacific region to capitalize on their demographic dividends. “I thank all the finance and central bank deputies of APEC member economies for coming together to build a more inclusive and resilient future for all our populations. I hope the scenic view in Tagaytay offered fresh perspectives and fond memories to the delegates as they return back home,” Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said. The discussions made during the meeting will be forwarded to the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting, which will be held in Cebu City in September. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOLE, IBPAP joint action plan moves BPO sector closer to culture of voluntary compliance with labor laws, OSH—Baldoz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday expressed confidence that the country’s burgeoning business process outsourcing sector will even more attract foreign investments that will create thousands of decent and productive jobs with the DOLE’s and Information Technology-Business Process Association of the Philippines’s partnership agreement and joint action plan moving at a faster pace. Commenting to the report of Executive Director Ma. Teresita Cucueco, M.D. on the progress of the DOLE-IBPAP joint action plan, Baldoz said: “It is heartwarming to know that the agreement of the DOLE and the IBPAP is right on focus: addressing the concerns of the BPO sector on Labor Laws and Occupational Safety and Health Standards compliance.” Director Cucueco reported the other day that DOLE-IBPAP technical working committee had conducted follow through activities to implement the action plan specified in the Memorandum of Agreement signed by Secretary Baldoz and IBPAP President Jose Mari Mercado last year. “We have already conducted six orientation sessions on general labor and occupational safety and health laws module for 146 IBPAP member companies since June last year, the latest of which was on 16 February where officers, human resource development officers, and safety officers attended. We have included in the orientation module a four-hour discussion on alternative dispute resolution system using industry-specific situational cases,” reported Cucueco. “The number is already 50 percent of the 288 IBPAP members,” she added. The DOLE-IBPAP agreement aims to build a culture of voluntary compliance with GLS and OSHS among the BPO sector by the end of 2015, and this, according to Baldoz, is right on target. Cucueco reported that satisfaction with the orientation sessions—which covered LLCS overview, General Labor Laws, Occupational Safety and Health Standards, and Alternative Dispute Resolution System—both in their value and effectiveness of the speakers were “very good”. To complement the orientation, the DOLE had also developed information, education, and communication materials on GLS, OSHS and labor relations, which have been distributed and shared with all IBPAP members. “These resources include many materials available in the DOLE website, including copies of the applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, templates, lists of consultants/accredited safety personnel, and the like,” Cucueco said. Another goal of the DOLE-IBPAP agreement is to develop a body of information on GLS, OSHS, and labor relations situations in the IT-BPM industry to serve as a baseline for future monitoring of progress of actions taken under the joint action plan. Another report of the Bureau of Working Conditions shows that as of December 2014, a total 171, or 70 percent, of 244 IBPAP members have completed joint assessment. Of the 171 members assessed, 96, or 56 percent, had no violations, and 30 IBPAP members have been issued certificates of compliance. “The joint assessment results for most of these companies are undergoing validation by DOLE-NCR,” said BWC Executive Director Catherine Legados-Parado. Reporting on the way forward, Director Cucueco said the technical working group will soon meet again to bring non-IBPAP members to the orientation sessions scheduled this year; to prepare other IEC materials for use by BPOs based on the needs gathered during the orientation sessions; and to develop BPO-specific, mandatory OSH training courses. Baldoz lauded the IBPAP for its serious and active partnership with the DOLE in implementing the agreement, and assured the industry that the DOEL will continue to assist companies that need to improve their compliances to GLS and OSHS until these companies are ready to be re-evaluated as part of the COC awarding process. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
After joint assessment of security service firm, 21 guards receive P722-K in monetary awards after corrective action | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
“Relieved.” “Happy.” “Grateful.” These were just some of the words of 21 security guards after they personally received their checks at the DOLE Regional Office No. 7 last week. The checks represent the monetary awards as a result of the corrections made by their employer after their security agency undergone joint assessment under the new Labor Law Compliance System and was found to not have complied with labor laws. Ricky Delfin of Guadalupe, Carcar City, head guard and leader of the 21 security guards of Probe Security Agency, was one of the recipients of the monetary award. He received P83,861.15 for having been underpaid of his wages and not paid holiday pay while he worked at at KRC Building Subangdaku, Mandaue City. Together, they used to work for La Nueva Supermart, Incorporated at Minglanilla, Cebu. Now a motorcycle-for-hire driver, Delfin said that the P83,861.15 award he received was a huge help to his family. “I thought that this time would no longer come. We lost our jobs after we pursued our claims,” he said, revealing how overjoyed he was that the DOLE acted fast upon discovering the labor standard violations committed by their employers. According to Delfin, the DOLE motivated them to pursue their claims. “We really deeply felt that our rights as workers had been violated. “The DOLE’s intervention was instrumental so we would finally get what we hoped for after we got fired.” The DOLE Regional Office No. 7 conducted a routine inspection, now called joint assessment (JA), at Probe Security Agency on 26 June 2013. “That routine inspection showed the security guards were not paid minimum wages; underpaid of their regular holiday pay; and were not premium pay for special holidays. There was also no night shift differentials pay, no overtime pay, and no service incentive leave pay,” said DOLE 7 OIC Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga. Apart from these, Sarcauga revealed there was also non-coverage or non-presentation of remittances of SSS, Philhealth, and Pag-ibig. He further said that these were clear manifestations that the rights of said workers had been violated. The regional office computed the entitlement of the affected workers, which reached P722,176.29, which amount was paid jointly by Probe Security Agency and La Nueva Supermart, Inc. “The award was distributed among the 21 security guards accordingly. On 3 February 2015, the affected workers came together and personally claimed their checks at the office of the DOLE 7. Assistant Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales congratulated the staff and personnel of the DOLE who religiously did their job and manned the summary hearings conducted at that time which led to the resolution of the claim. “We would like to reiterate that what we do now is no longer inspectorate in nature, but is something done in a developmental way through the conduct of JA. There is no need for any establishment to fear the DOLE. If there are deficiencies found during a joint assessment, the DOLE offers itself to assist the concerned establishment correct these deficiencies until such time that the establishment becomes labor laws compliant,” Gonzales said. “It is our vision that every Filipino worker attains full, decent, and productive employment, so we work hard to promote gainful employment opportunities and protect workers and promote their welfare,” Director Sarcauga, himself, said. For more information on this report, contact Luchel S. Taniza- Regional Labor Communication Officer, at telefax number (032) 266-2792 or send an email at dole_centralvisayas@yahoo.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Roxas: nation awaits BOI report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the interest of truth and accountability, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said that he, along with millions of Filipinos, is expecting the release of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident tomorrow. BOI Chairman Benjamin Magalong, Director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), earlier stated that they will submit their report on Monday to Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, in compliance with the latest deadline set for the investigating body. According to Roxas, he will immediately submit a copy of the report to the President upon receipt, as well as to investigating bodies such as the Senate and the House of Representatives. In an earlier statement, Roxas highlighted five questions that both he and the wider public expect to be answered by the report. 1. Matino ba ang plano? 2. Ginawa ba at nagawa ba ang lahat para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng ating mga tropa? 3. Nasunod ba ang atas at utos ng Pangulo? 4. Meron ba, at kung meron nga, ano ang partisipasyon ng mga Amerikano sa operasyong ito? 5. Sa equipment, gumana ba ng maayos ang mga radyo, vest, baril, at bala ng ating mga tropa? "Katanungan ko ang mga ito at palagay ko katanungan din ng ating mga kababayan," Roxas remarked. The Senate is expected to publish its own report this month before it adjourns whereas Congress deferred its hearings until the BOI report is released. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timeline to Peace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
It was in July 2010, or barely a month after he was sworn into office, that President Benigno Aquino III assembled a new panel to resume peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. A year later, in August 2011, Mr. Aquino met with MILF chair Murad Ebrahim in Tokyo to hash out the formal resumption of the peace process, which got underway in December of that year. It took about 10 months for the government and MILF peace panels to agree on a framework agreement that would govern the peace talks. The agreement, signed on Oct. 15, 2012, stipulated that the two sides needed to work on four major areas—transitional mechanisms, power-sharing, wealth-sharing and normalization—before a final peace document can be signed and the new political entity called Bangsamoro proposed by the agreement submitted to Congress for voting. It took another year and three months before the two panels signed, on Jan. 25, 2014, the normalization annex, the last of the four documents that make up the comprehensive peace agreement. The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law that would govern the new entity has since been submitted to Congress for deliberation; it remains pending in both the Senate and the House. Once it acquires congressional imprimatur, it will be subjected to a referendum in the areas in Mindanao covered by the new autonomous region. Why is it important to recall this timeline? Because, to hear it from the critics not only of the BBL but also of the government’s very tack of talking peace with the MILF, the current negotiations have been a hasty, reckless and careless process meant to secure “peace at all costs” so that, as the canard goes, Mr. Aquino can bid for a Nobel Peace Prize. The timeline—going for five years now—testifies otherwise, and highlights instead the measured and painstaking efforts that the two panels invested in the delicate work of forging peace for a region long in need of it. Before the Mamasapano debacle that left 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force dead when they raided a known MILF lair in pursuit of two terrorists (18 MILF fighters and at least five civilians were also killed), hardly a peep was heard from these now-rabid critics of the peace process. But now all gloves are off, with the war drumbeats by sundry keyboard warriors drowning out any rational discussion of the continuing need for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Mindanao. Former assemblyman Homobono Adaza has raised the argument to a more incendiary level by formally charging Mr. Aquino and his Cabinet with treason for having negotiated a peace agreement with the MILF and supporting the BBL which he calls, this early, an “unconstitutional” bill. Now, how fundamentally different is the Aquino-MILF peace process with the earlier one entered into by President Fidel Ramos with the Moro National Liberation Front? That one resulted in a final peace agreement in 1996 that saw the MNLF lay down its arms and Nur Misuari become head of the newly created Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The ARMM was itself created through an act of Congress in 1989, or about seven years before Ramos concluded a deal with Misuari. If talking peace with rebel groups is by itself a treasonous act, per Adaza, then Ramos must be guilty of it, too—along with everyone else who went along with the government-MNLF deal. Adaza also says the BBL is even more unconstitutional than the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain signed by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the MILF, which was struck down by the Supreme Court for being contrary to law. He conveniently leaves aside the fact that, while the Court slammed the process that led to the MOA-AD as “whimsical, capricious, oppressive, arbitrary and despotic,” it never declared as treasonous, or injurious to the interests of the republic, the very act of the government trying to explore peace with rebel groups. The Court’s message in its ruling was that any negotiation for peace should go through a thorough, transparent and extracareful process, vetted by all proposed stakeholders in it. The sober, deliberate and open manner that characterized the government-MILF discussions, leading to landmarks that no other negotiation before it has managed to do, indicates that the process was marked by sincerity and good faith on both sides. The serious, judicious work in trying to bring peace to Mindanao is not what is inimical to the country; it’s the act of recklessly demonizing the process and further poisoning the public discourse that is. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PHL Ambassador to South Korea calls on PHL Organizations to apply for accreditation for climate financing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
09 March 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez called on Philippine-based organizations on March 05 to immediately apply for accreditation with a South Korea-based United Nations fund to qualify for financing from the US$10 billion resource for adaptation and mitigation projects to cope with climate change in developing countries. Ambassador Hernandez made the appeal following a briefing made by Ms. Hela Cheikhrouhou, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), for Seoul-based ambassadors the previous day at the GCF main office in Songdo, Incheon. At the luncheon briefing on March 04, Ms. Cheikhrouhou said that GCF has tallied total pledges worth US$10 billion after recent commitments were received from the governments of Peru, Colombia and Austria. The GCF is meant to support those developing countries that are most vulnerable to the devastating impact of climate change. She also cited the importance of scaling up global climate financing by encouraging contributing countries to make more pledges and to convert into actual contributions pledges already made to enable the GCF Board to allocate resources for projects in developing countries coping with climate change. The GCF Board will start assessing project proposals in the second half of this year. Countries will have to interact with GCF through their National Designated Authority (NDA) or focal point who will work with the Fund in identifying the strategies by which it will address climate change and provide oversight to implement the GCF’s activities in recipient countries. Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) is the NDA or focal point for the Philippines. The CCC is tasked with coordinating, monitoring and evaluating government programs and ensuring the mainstreaming of climate change in national, local and sectoral development plans. Access to the GCF’s resources to undertake climate change projects and programs will be given through private and public organizations that get accreditation directly from the GCF or through UN agencies and financial institutions. They will be assessed against the Fund’s fiduciary principle and standards and environmental and social safeguards. Processing of accreditation will take three to six months, depending on the capability and preparedness of the organization. Applications are to be submitted online through www.gcfund.org/accreditation. In underscoring the need for timely decisions against climate change, Ms. Cheikhrouhou echoed the Manila Call to Action for Climate Change made by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and visiting French President François Hollande in Manila last February 26 for decisive action to reduce greenhouse gases in Paris later this year. This non-binding joint statement calls upon the international community to conclude a universal, equitable and ambitious climate deal, in line with the scientific recommendations set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, at a make-or-break conference in Paris in December this year to preserve our planet as a livable place for future generations. President Hollande will host the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in December 2015 with the aim of concluding an agreement that reduces greenhouse gas emissions as well as helps the poorest and most vulnerable nations mitigate or adapt to climate change. Since its inception, the GCF has sought to make a significant contribution to global efforts to combat climate change within the framework of the UNFCCC as a mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world in order to provide support to developing countries in climate adaptation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Filipino spirit displayed with youthful energy at Battle of the Barrios XI in New York | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
09 March 2015 – Jollibee, tinikling, turon, arnis, aswangs and dinuguan all collide with Harry Potter, Chipotle, hip hop dance and Twitter hashtags in merry mash-ups as Filipino-American student organizations competed at the Battle of the Barrios held in Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey last February 28. Twelve (12) schools participated in the Battle, each performing a 10-minute skit incorporating Filipino traditional art and music, historical tidbits, current socio-civic issues along with Western modern dance and pop culture. St. John’s University’s PARE was the big winner that evening, bagging the Best in Cultural Performance, and Best in Overall Performance, injecting Maglalatik, Tinikling, Sayaw sa Bulaklak in their Kapwa-themed skit. Stony Brook University’s PUSO performed a hilarious Harry Potter adaptation to win Best Skit. Newcomer to Battle, the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s SAMAHAN went home with the Best in Modern Dance trophy, after their street dance-inspired routine. Other school organizations who performed were New York University’s IFA, Bergen Community College’s PASALUBONG, Hunter College’s POH, and the host Rutgers University RAPS. Students from Montclair State University MUFASA, Kean University FUNK and Ramapo College FASA collaborated for a single skit, while members of Union County College TROPA and William Patterson University FACE worked for the second time together for their entry this year. During the intermission, volunteers from Legacy NY and UniPro presented a Consulate General-sponsored exhibition skit featuring the programs of the Philippine Consulate General in New York available to the second-generation (Second-Gens) Filipino-Americans. Immersion programs such as the Filipino-American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro) and Teach for the Philippines were cited during the “Alamat ng Lumpia” performance. In her remarks, Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz, whose portfolio in the Consulate General includes Community Relations with the Second-Gens expressed her pride in the students’ recognition of their identity and their desire to connect with the Philippines and anything Filipino. She further encouraged the almost 500 attendees to increase their involvement in the community and invited them to partner with the Consulate General to explore opportunities for collaboration on their interests and help raise the profile of Filipinos in mainstream American society. An invitation was announced for the 3rd Philippine Graduation (P-Grad) organized by the Consulate General, Legacy NY and UniPro. Vice Consul Corpuz hinted that the winning skit will get the opportunity to reprise their performance during the P-Grad, which eventually went to St. John’s PARE. Filipino-American YouTube pop star Megan Batoon gathered cheers at the end of the night for her dance number, and entertained some questions from the audience during the Meet and Greet session. She said that she is happy to connect with her fellow Filipinos through her dance. She added that everywhere she went, from her native Los Angeles, to the East Coast, the Filipino community is always warm and welcoming and encouraged the young participants to pursue their passion in life, whether in music, dance, or other forms of art. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Renovation of MRT-3 comfort rooms begins DOTC eyes completion of all 63 toilet facilities by September 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gov’t starts rehabilitating MRT-3 toilet facilities for passenger comfort and convenience Manila, Philippines – Passengers of the Metro Rail Transit III (MRT-3) system will soon experience better-functioning comfort rooms at each of the railway’s thirteen stations, as the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) toilet rehabilitation project is now underway. “One of the basic necessities of an MRT-3 rider are functioning and decent comfort rooms. Alongside our improvement projects for train operations is this toilet rehabilitation project, which responds to the call of our commuters for better passenger comfort and convenience,” said DOTC Spokesperson Migs Sagcal. This project began last Thursday, February 26, and is scheduled for completion in September this year. It covers all 63 comfort rooms of the MRT-3 line, and includes tile replacement, installation of new fixtures, ceiling improvements, repainting, electrical and mechanical upgrades, and plumbing and declogging works. The rehabilitation will be done in phases, starting with comfort rooms for male passengers and persons with disability (PWDs), which will take around four (4) months to complete. This will be followed by renovations to comfort rooms for female passengers, which will be completed in another three (3) months. Civil works are now underway at the North Avenue Station, while renovations at other stations will begin in the following weeks. Meanwhile, the replacement of 150 meters’ worth of worn-out rails was also carried out last weekend – from 9pm on Saturday to 12nn on Sunday – in order to enhance the train system’s operational safety. More early-close, late-open schedules will follow in the coming weekends to give way to more rail replacement works. The MRT-3 management asks the public for patience and understanding while these rehabilitation works are ongoing, citing that this is part of government’s commitment to improve the train system’s facilities and services. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paje bats for Ph accession to Nagoya protocol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje is pushing for the ratification of an international treaty that would allow the country to reap the benefits of its own genetic resources. The treaty, called Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, outlines measures on how countries can access genetic resources and share the benefits of the resources within the country of origin. At the hearing of the Senate committee on foreign relations on Thursday, Paje told senators that the Philippine accession to the Nagoya Protocol is a must in order to protect the nation’s rich biodiversity from the threat of biopiracy. “Acceding to the protocol would translate to directly benefitting not only the country, but local communities who use and care for our biological resources,” Paje said. Dubbed as one of the most important multilateral environmental treaties recently adopted, the Nagoya Protocol entered into force on October 12, 2014 or four years after its adoption. However, the Philippines has yet to ratify and accede to the treaty. Paje said the protocol could be the country’s shield against biopiracy, or the commercial exploitation or monopolization of biological or genetic material like medicinal plant extracts, usually without compensating the indigenous peoples or countries from which the material or relevant knowledge is obtained. He said the government needs to address the issue of biopiracy, where other parties unlawfully use biological and genetic resources “that have been with us for a long time but we are either not aware of or informed about it.” “The Nagoya Protocol would require countries using the Philippines’ biological and genetic resources to comply with our own national measures on access and benefit-sharing,” Paje explained. He added: “Without our accession, we cannot avail of its international tracking and monitoring mechanisms by which we can track the use of our resources.” Paje cited a number of resources found in the country but were “taken” by researchers, such as medicinal plants from Coron in Palawan, soil samples from Panay Island, and mollusk species from Balicasag Island in Bohol. Biopiracy, he added, also covers the documentation without due compensation of associated traditional knowledge owned or practiced by indigenous peoples with resources in their environment. Accession to the Nagoya Protocol would strengthen compliance by other countries that use such genetic resources (GRs) and their associated traditional knowledge (ATK) to existing Philippine laws such as Executive Order No. 247 issued in 1995, and Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. It would enable the Philippines to claim its rightful share in benefits from a wider range of activities related to GRs and ATK, such as tracking and monitoring research being done on them before and during their commercialization. These indigenous resources would also get the recognition and respect they deserve when utilized abroad and while products using them are being developed. The protocol also puts local and foreign researchers on equal footing while collaborating on studies using the country’s resources; and clarifies the rights of the country, researchers, and the IP and local communities, as well as secure benefits especially on new uses of traded commodities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zamboanga Sibugay mayor, 4 others face graft raps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of a criminal Information for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay Mayor Gemma Adana, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members Roland Grijalvo, Felix Timsan, Emmanuel Enteria and Jonathan Cartagena, in connection with the irregular procurement of heavy equipment from CVCK Trading in 2007. The Resolution found that Adana and the BAC members committed procurement violations in the acquisition of a road roller and road grader by changing the technical specifications of the equipment without complying with the requirements of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act). There was also no showing that the price of CVCK Trading was the most beneficial for the local government. The charges for Malversation and Falsification of Public Documents were dismissed for lack of probable cause while the charges against Community Affairs Assistant II Samuel Gealon were dismissed in view of his death. Similarly, the criminal charges against Municipal Accountant Manuel Cuevas, Municipal Treasurer Rodulfo Nercua, Revenue Collection Clerk IV Helen Trono, Revenue Collection Clerk II Ernesto Yu, casual employee Elvira Carumba, and Jose Ely Solivar of CVCK Trading were dismissed for lack of probable cause. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HCI Portal: Benefit availment made easier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes or No? This simple question can mean a lot of things, but for PhilHealth accredited health care providers with Health Care Institution Portal, a YES signifies only one thing – easier, faster, hassle-free availment of benefits for PhilHealth members and their dependents confined in their facilities. Last year, PhilHealth required its accredited health care institutions to install the HCI Portal. Serving as the electronic gateway, the HCI portal simplifies filing of PhilHealth claims and availment procedures by reducing documentary requirements. The PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Form (PBEF) which the portal generates, effectively replaces the Member Data Record, and ascertains the eligibility of the member or his dependent to avail of the benefits at point-of-service. How does the HCI portal work? With a reliable internet connection, the HCIs can access a member’s records through the PhilHealth Benefit Verification Module. Immediately, they can check if a dependent is qualified to avail of the benefits, if a member has sufficient premium contributions, or even verify the membership category to which the member belongs. Once a patient is admitted for confinement, a hospital staff member will ask the patient for vital information related to PhilHealth membership. If the PhilHealth Identification Number is not available, the patient may give his full name and birth date, the hospital staff member will key in the given information in the portal and verify the following: PhilHealth membership or dependency, premium contribution and compliance to the 45 days benefit limit. Once the portal yields a YES for an answer, the patient is eligible to avail of PhilHealth benefits for the said confinement. If the portal says NO, that doesn’t mean that the patient is denied of his privilege to enjoy his PhilHealth benefits. He will be asked to provide the PhilHealth Claim Form 1, MDR and proof of dependency for qualified dependents. These documents shall be attached to the PBEF and will be submitted to PhilHealth once the hospital files for claim reimbursements. The implementation of the HCI portal and PBEF also impacts greatly on PhilHealth’s operations. Non-requirement of MDR means less requests for printing, which translates to lesser member queues and savings in logistics and manpower in the Local Health Insurance Offices. “PhilHealth is committed to improving its business processes. I always reiterate that PhilHealth members are our primary and priority concern. With the implementation of the PBEF from the HCI portal we are making benefit availment more convenient for our members,” said Alexander A. Padilla, PhilHealth President and CEO. With eligibility checking already transferred to the hospital, the procedure somehow gives HCIs some form of assurance that the claimant is indeed eligible to be entitled to the health care benefits, since the transaction was already approved by PhilHealth through the PBEF. It also means faster claims processing, and since updates on new policies such as circulars and advisories are being disseminated through the HCI portal, it also serves as the hospital’s information source. “PhilHealth values its partnership with the healthcare providers. Now that the HCI portal is in place, we are looking forward to an even more transparent and harmonious relationship with them,” added Padilla. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kenyans Place 1-2 in male division of 20K leg in NCR PhilHealth run | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quezon City ---- KENYAN Jackson Chir-Chir won the male category of the 20 kilometer leg of the recently-concluded Simultaneous Nationwide Run of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). He won over his fellow Kenyan contender Elphil Kipgerich with a time of 1:03:01 while the latter recorded 1:04:51. Eduardo Buenavista, a 36-year-old long-distance runner and two-time Olympian from General Santos City, came out third with a time of 1:05:31. In the women’s division of the 20K category, 19-year-old Criselyn Jaro, the unstoppable native of Davao bagged the top spot. Currently residing in Sampaloc, Manila, Jaro is a consistent top runner in various categories in running events in the country. Jaro finished with a time of 1:20:30 beating Susan Jemutai and Janette Lumida with a time of 1:22:31 and 1:26:48, respectively. Completing the line-up of the female top three finishers in various distances were Cellie Rose Jaro (42:18), Janice Marquez (46:15) and Merlyn Lumagbas (47:28) for the 10K; Jenismyll Mabunga (21:78), Alysa Alison (23:28) and Marian Mera (28:47) for the 5K; and Mary Ann Sta. Cruz (10:08:18), Vilma Sta. Ana (10:18:72) and Ma. Angelica Gahulin (12:16:00) for the 3K. On the other hand, another Kenyan runner, Alex Molly made it to the top in the 10K male division with a time of 30:31 followed by Joackim Kembon (31:55) and Melvin Guarte (38:22). Likewise, Reggie Lumawag registered the fastest in the 5K category with 20:37 clocking while Jun Bacus (21:09) and Ronelio Solis (21:22) came out second and third, respectively. For the 3K distance, the top finishers were Elbren Neri (8:07:19), Wenlie Maulas (8:08:52) and Jojie Daga-as (8:16:73). A total of 9,987 runners joined the running event in the National Capital Region. Proceeds of the run will go to its chosen beneficiary, the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and other Special Cases in Quezon City. The simultaneous nationwide PhilHealth run was made possible by People’s Television Network, Inc., Pfizer Philippines, Nine Media Corporation, Tupperware Brands Philippines, Oishi and Smart Communications, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Air Juan, Maxima Machineries Incorporated and Land Bank of the Philippines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BSP hosts meeting of the Financial Stability Board Regional Consultative Group for Asia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hosted the eighth meeting of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Regional Consultative Group for Asia in Bohol last week (2-4 March 2015). A press briefing at the close of the meeting was conducted by FSB Regional Consultative Group for Asia (RCGA) co-chairs Masamichi Kono, Vice Commissioner for International Affairs at the Financial Services Agency of Japan (right) and BSP Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr., (center) with FSB’s Deputy to the Secretary General Rupert Thorne (left). Issues discussed during the meeting include the FSB’s policy priorities, work plan, and financial stability issues affecting Asia. They also discussed the implementation of international reforms and ways to strengthen cooperation among Asian financial authorities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gov’t-CSO tie-up project helps restore civil docs of ‘Yolanda’ survivors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tacloban City, Leyte – Some 2,110 partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and Eastern Samar received a free copy of their live birth registration certificate last February 23, 2015. In a Civil Society Organization (CSO)-led conference on Civil Registration held recently at the Ritz Tower de Leyte, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman commended the group behind the Mobile Civil Registration Project for helping Typhoon Yolanda survivors recover and reconstruct their civil records which were lost or damaged by the typhoon. The project, which was launched in April 2014 and is still ongoing, is spearheaded by the Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Legal Services (IDEALS) in partnership with the DSWD; Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); 20 local Civil Registrar’s Office of Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar; and various CSOs such as Plan International and Save the Children International. “This project is essential because you are providing the beneficiaries with vital documents that would establish their identity and entitlement to their rights and privileges. Without the birth certificate, you can’t have the death certificate and your right to anything from the government or from anyone,” Sec. Soliman explained. The project has two phases. Phase I, which is undertaken by the UNDP as lead CSO partner, has targeted to restore 83,790 civil registry documents of ‘Yolanda’ survivors in Eastern Visayas. To date, a total of 126,078 documents have been reconstructed. Of this, around 8,000 documents belong to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. On the other hand, a total of 10,061 legal documents were produced for some 3,723 households. This resulted in an estimated aggregate sum of P30.71 million worth of benefits accessed by the beneficiaries. For Phase II, which is implemented by UNICEF as CSO partner, a total of 43,266 civil registry documents were submitted to the local civil registrar’s offices, while 6,000 legal documents of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries were facilitated. Sec. Soliman added that civil registration does not just go beyond identifying people, but it also facilitates access to social and child protection programs and services. She also cited the importance of civil documents especially for the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya. “To help identify our Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, among the documents that we need are birth and marriage certificates,” the Secretary continued. The Secretary expressed optimism that this initiative will continue until all Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, whose documents were destroyed during the typhoon, will be provided with a copy of their civil registry documents. For his part, IDEALS Executive Director Egad Ligon said, “Since 2013 we have been trying to help disaster survivors to reconstruct or register their civil records and obtain copies of their birth or marriage certificates or the death certificates of their relatives.” He added that they have already assisted around 120,000 ‘Yolanda’ survivors since 2013 and that they are targeting to assist another 120,000 survivors for this phase. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries express support for campaign vs climate change | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guiuan, Eastern Samar ─ Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program vowed to support the call to action on climate change – launched by President Benigno S. Aquino and French President François Hollande – by taking a more active role in the cleanliness and development of their own communities. They expressed their commitment during the visit of President Hollande, who is a staunch advocate of environmental protection. “Pinaagi han amon tinalagudti na buhat, mabulig kami paghatag hin aksyon ha mga isyu parti han climate change, para han kinabubuwason han amun pamilya ngan bug- os na komunidad (In our own little way, we will help take action on the issues on climate change, for the future of our family and the entire community),” said Grace Rapada, 40, one of the parent-leaders of Pantawid Pamilya who attended the welcome activity for President Hollande. Rapada, a Typhoon Yolanda survivor, shared that Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are informed about climate change issues and taught about environmental protection and disaster preparedness during the conduct of Family Development Sessions (FDS). FDS is a venue where parents gather to discuss topics on home management and community participation. Rapada encouraged her fellow beneficiaries to take care of the environment through proper garbage disposal. She also urged them not to engage in illegal logging, fishing, and mining. “Magburubligay kita paglimpyo ngan pananum, ngan biskan hino ka man o hain ka man naukoy, kinahanglanon masunod kita han mando han gobyerno kay para man iton hit aton ikauupay (Let us help each other in cleaning and planting. Whoever you are, wherever you are, we should follow the government for our own safety and well-being),” she added. On the other hand, another Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, Letecia Salameda, 45, also pledged her support to the call to action saying, “Masosolusyunan an problema ha climate change pinaagi han pagbabag-o han aton mga gawi (We can help solve the problem of climate change if we reform our ways and attitude).” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman joined the state visit of President Hollande to Guiuan. They went to the municipal hall and to the Guiuan East Central School, where they expressed their solidarity with the townsfolk who welcomed them. President Hollande admired the bravery, strength, and resiliency of the people. The French President also stressed the need for stronger, more responsible, and more sustainable environmental programs. He added that what he has seen in the ‘Yolanda’-affected areas would be an important input to the Climate Conference in Paris this December. On the other hand, Mayor Christopher Gonzales expressed his gratitude for the momentous day and also conveyed his support to the Manila Call for Action on Climate Change. “All stakeholders, local government units, business or private sector, civil society organizations, non-government organizations, academe, and all citizens should play their roles in reducing the impact of climate-related disasters,” Mayor Gonzales stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TESDA goes all out with scholarships, tool kits for Negros Oriental youth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From their native land in Negros Oriental, Reynaldo Caseres and Dolrich Alpeche have traveled far and are now making a relatively lucrative living because of hard work and technical vocational education or tech-voc. Caseres finished an auto servicing course and was hired by the Automotive Holding Group in Perth, Australia. He now earns around P228,000 a month. Alpeche, a graduate of slaughtering operation course, currently works in Alberta, Canada, and is earning around P122,000 a month. Last March 3, Director General Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), welcomed a fresh batch of 1,000 tech-voc scholars in Dumaguete City who have graduated from their respective courses. "The success stories of the graduates show us that the tech-voc path can make us go a long way," Villanueva said. "The opportunities for a National Certificate are vast," he added. The Dumaguete scholars were part of the audience of 4,000 who graced the mass graduation and distribution of tool kits at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center. For 2015, the province of Negros Oriental has been allocated an initial amount of P10.97 million worth of scholarship for its three programs— Training for Work Scholarship Program, Private Education Student Financial Assistance and the Bottom-up Budgeting. The programs aim to help ease poverty in communities by making education, through technical vocational training, accessible to the people, especially the poor. Overall, Region VII or Central Visayas, which includes Negros Oriental, has a total scholarship allocation of P129.72 million that would benefit at least 13,120 students. Among the popular courses in the province are computer hardware servicing, finishing course for call center agents, housekeeping, shielded metal arc welding, bread and pastry production, automotive servicing and slaughtering operation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pagbuo ng Fire Inspection Plan krusyal sa pagiwas sa sunog – Roxas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inatasan ni Interior at Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas si Fire Chief Senior Supt. Ariel Barayuga na magsumite ng komprehensibong plano para sa Bureau of Fire Protection na magiging gabay sa pagpapatupad ng fire inspection. Ibinigay ni Roxas ang kautusan sa katatapos na kick-off ceremony ng Fire Prevention Month noong Martes, kung saan sinabi ng kalihim na inaasahan nito na isusumite ni Barayuga bago matapos ang buwan ang komprehensibong ulat. “Magandang pagkakataon ito na atasan si Chief Senior Supt. Barayuga at ang kanyang leadership team na gumawa before the end of this month ng isang malawakang programa,” pahayag ni Roxas. Ayon sa kalihim umaasa ito na ang ulat ay masusing pinag-aralan at hindi bara-bara, applicable sa lahat ng sangay ng BFP at magiging pang matagalan. Ito ayon kay Roxas dahil tuwing papasok ang Fire Prevention Month ay serye ng sakuna dulot ng sunog ang nagaganap hindi lang sa Metro Manila kung hindi maging sa mga lalawigan. Umaasa ang kalihim na kung magkakaroon ng komprehensibong gabay ang BFP sa pagpapatupad ng fire inspection maaring makabawas ito sa paglaganap ng sunog tuwing pumapasok ang buwan ng Marso. “Meron na tayong programa dito sa equipment, meron tayong programa sa training, magkakaroon tayo ng fire olympics at ngayon magkakaroon tayo ng programa sa fire inspection,” paliwanag ng kalihim. Tiwala din si Roxas na makakatulong ang fire inspection plan para maiwasan na malagay sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga kawani ng BFP at mga fire volunteers na buong tapang na sinunusuong ang apoy tuwing may insidente ng sunog. “Sinasaluduhan ko po kayo dahil bagaman may training at capacity, pero sa dulo nitong lahat ang bumbero, tinitignan niya at pinahahalagahan niya ang kayang obligasyon, ang serbisyo sa komunidad kesa sa kung ano pang konsiderasyon,” pagtatapos nito. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PNP, NAPOLCOM given 30 days to study SAF complaints | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) will immediately study the complaints aired by PNP-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers during their meeting with President Aquino yesterday (March 4). Roxas said the President ordered the PNP to submit the results of their study within 30 days, “ibig sabihin, nakadaan na ito sa PNP, nakadaan na sa Napolcom bago dumating sa tanggapan ng Pangulo within 30 days itong mga bagay na ito.” President Aquino met with SAF officers at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City before the turn-over ceremony for the installation of the new PNP-SAF Chief, PCSupt Moro Virgilio Lazo, who replaced sacked PNP-SAF Dir. Getulio Napenas. Roxas said during the meeting, PNP-SAF officials expressed to the President what their needs are, including training, equipment, hazard pay and vacation leaves, “kasi tumatagal ang mga SAF sa lugar na kinalalagyan nila. Nawawalan nang rotation. Ang SAF is 100% alert all the time. Ibig sabihin, walang leave, walang vacation, talagang walang stand down.” Roxas further assured that the President is committed to improve the plight of the SAF, being the PNP’s premiere task force. The DILG Chief also justified the appointment of Lazo as PNP-SAF Chief. He said, “ang Special Action Force ay isang unique and specialized unit—yung talagang pinakamaseselan, pinakamapanganib na mga misyon ang siyang ibinibigay sa kanila. So, hindi puwedeng basta-bastang opisyal ang ilagay dyan.” Roxas said Lazo was a former SAF trooper, who went up the ladder and was designated SAF Chief of the Directorate Staff until he became Chief of the PNP-Firearms and Explosives Division before being appointed to his new post. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
226 PNPA graduates to join PNP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.pnp.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A total of 247 men and women will be graduating from Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Lakandula Class of 2015 this March 26 at the grounds of Camp Mariano Castaneda in Silang, Cavite. Majority of the graduates or 226 cadets will join the Philippine National Police (PNP), while 10 have decided to go to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and 11 will join the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). Lakandula Class of 2015 is composed of 227 male and 20 female graduates. This year’s batch will be headed by 24-year old Police Cadet Dennis M. Yuson Jr., who will be the recipient of the prestigious Presidential Kampilan Award for topping the Lakandula class and a plaque of merit (1st Place). P/Cdt Yuson Jr. is a son of PInsp Dennis Yuson, Deputy of Criminal Investigation and Detection Team in Sultan Kudarat. Graduating second in his class is Police Cadet Rod Kevin T. Talplacido from Nueva Ecija who will receive the Vice President Kampital Award and a plaque of merit. Placing third and to get the SILG Kamilan Award and plaque of merit (3rdPlace) is Police Cadet Marlon H. Landong of Negros Occidental. Other students who included to the top 10 slots are Police Cadet Raymund B. Caguioa (4th); Police Cadet Michael Sula Sula Giner (5th); Police Cadet Nathaniel D. Faulve (6th); Police Cadet Kenneth F. Lumbre (7th); Police Cadet Roel R. Bata (8th); Police Cadet Mark Jonathan Z. Avillano (9th); and Police Cadet Julie Anne L. Aguilar (10th). The graduates will receive a degree of Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS) upon graduating, and will enter as Inspectors in their respective public safety bureaus. (PNP-PIO) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Congress can strengthen Bangsamoro Law -- Deles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MANILA – The Executive Branch fully respects Congress’ powers on deciding the final version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said today. “As I have always been saying, the fate of the passage of the proposed BBL is in the hands of our lawmakers. The proposed Bangsamoro law was submitted to them in recognition of their legislative power. They have the power to improve and strengthen the BBL in accordance with the Constitution that provides for the grant of meaningful autonomy to Muslim Mindanao,” Deles said. During the first public hearing on the draft law last September 24, 2014 by the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Deles has already emphasized that “certainly, we are open to the fact that the law can be improved." This has been reiterated by the peace adviser and members of the government peace panel in various forums and media engagements. No railroading On the timeframe of passing the BBL, Deles said that the Executive Branch trusts Congress to pass it on the proper time. She rejected insinuations that the Executive is railroading Congress into passing the law. The BBL is the enabling law of the signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro or CAB between the Government of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front. According to Deles, “There is seventeen years worth of diligent negotiations, from the time of President Ramos to the present, that birthed the BBL." "The draft law was founded on the work of previous negotiating teams that came before us over the years," government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said. "Their experiences, learnings and insights on their own negotiations during their time, enabled the current negotiating team to reach this far in the process." She also related that the draft BBL was also the product of rigorous consultations with various stakeholders, legal luminaries and solons. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International HR expert to speak in CSC Leadership seminar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.csc.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International leadership trainer, Dr. Peter Chee, will speak at the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) one-day seminar on “Mentoring and Coaching for Organizational Excellence” on March 18, 2015. Dr. Chee, President and CEO of the Institute of Training and Development World, is a leading certified trainer for Dr. John C. Maxwell programs and Zig Ziglar programs. The seminar is part of the 2015 Leadership Series offered by the CSC through its Civil Service Institute (CSI). It aims to address the rising need for mentoring and coaching skills among organizational leaders. The seminar is open to all government managers holding division chief positions and above. It will be held at the SEAMEO INNOTECH along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Seminar fee is P5,000. Local experts also join the roster of speakers including Mr. Manuel Tan of Human Capital Development Asia/Pacific, Ms. Elvira E. Ditching-Lorico of Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Mr. Conrado B. Roxas of Landbank of the Philippines, and Ms. Marilou Mateo of Bostik Philippines Inc. Registration is via online through csc.gov.ph (events calendar). For more details, contact the CSI through training@webmail.gov.ph or call 931-4182 and 931-8019. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VP Binay, Makati mayor, 22 others to undergo preliminary investigation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Office of the Ombudsman - Special Panel of Investigators filed yesterday a Complaint charging former Makati City Mayor (now Vice President) Jejomar Binay, Sr., Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., and twenty-two others with Malversation, Falsification, violations of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act, in connection with several alleged irregularities in the procurement and award of the contracts for the design/architectural services and the construction of the Makati City Hall Parking Building. Also impleaded in the complaint are former City Administrator Marjorie De Veyra, City Legal Officer Pio Kenneth Dasal, City Budget Officer Lorenza Amores, former Central Planning Management Office (CPMO) Chief Virginia Hernandez, former City Engineer Mario Badillo, former City Accountant Leonila Querijero, former Acting City Accountant Raydes Pestaño, City Accountant Cecilio Lim III, Acting City Accountant Eleno Mendoza, City Treasurer Nelia Barlis, CPMO Engineers Arnel Cadangan, Emerito Magat and Connie Consulta, CPMO Chief Line Dela Peña, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat Heads Giovanni Condes and Manolito Uyaco, Technical Working Group (TWG) Chairman Rodel Nayve, BAC member Ulysses Orienza, General Services Department (GSD) OIC Gerardo San Gabriel, GSD staff member Norman Flores, as well as private respondents Orlando Mateo of MANA Architecture & Interior Design Company (MANA) and Efren Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation (Hilmarc). In addition to the criminal charges, public respondents, except Vice President Binay, face administrative charges for Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service. The Special Panel of Investigators also prays for the issuance of an order of preventive suspension pending administrative adjudication. The Complaint was filed following months of case build-up and evidence gathering by the Special Panel composed of field investigators. The Complaint alleges, among other things, that public respondents awarded the P11,974,900.00 contract for the design/architectural services to MANA without public bidding, and that periodic payments were released to MANA without its corresponding deliverables under the contract. It adds that the bidding and the construction for Phases I and II (out of five phases) of the carpark building proceeded without a detailed engineering plan from MANA, contrary to procurement laws and regulations. The Complaint further alleges that the procurement and award of the construction contract to Hilmarc were marred by irregularities including the use of falsified documents showing the purported publications of Notices to Bid and the supposed participation of two losing bidders/companies, one of which categorically denied participation while the existence of the other cannot be established. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
More employers are joining, says Baldoz: 52 companies now JobStart partners for more employment for the youth and shorter job search | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After pilot-testing it in 2014 in San Fernando, Pampanga; Gen. Trias, Cavite; Taguig City; and Quezon City, where 430 participants have been placed in technical and on-the-job training and with additional 926 vacancies still to be filled up, the DOLE-ADB-Canada collaborative project to address youth unemployment, JobStart Philippines Program, is now being rolled out in several provinces and cities, with 52 employers as partners. “More employers are joining JobStart Philippines and we are very happy for it. That means they believe the program is really beneficial even to them and not only to the job seekers,” Baldoz said yesterday after the successful launching of JobStart in Bilar, Bohol, the first province where JobStart will be fully implemented. Apart from Bohol, JobStart Program will be implemented this year in Cebu, Davao, Tagum, and Palawan, plus in five Public Employment Services Office in the National Capital Region, with a target of 3,200 beneficiaries. The DOLE will continue to implement it in the four pilot areas. “JobStart partners with employers in providing a comprehensive and systematic approach in assisting young jobseekers, from planning their career paths all the way through acquiring the best-fit jobs,” said Baldoz. JobStart calls for employers to be selected through the signing of a memorandum of agreement. They, in turn, prepare a training plan and select from the JobStart youth participants and provide them with technical training and work experience. They receive the full cost of the technical training from the Bureau of Local Employment, the project management office. Youth participants are also paid an allowance to cover the employers’ administrative cost. In turn, employers pay the trainees an amount of at least 75 percent of the prevailing minimum wage in their region. Baldoz lauded the following companies for signing MOAs with JobStart: MKP Inc.; Carats Manufacturing; iGo2 Group Inc.; Tele Sight; Site Skills; Telford Svc. Phils, Inc.; CS Garments, Inc.; LA Bakeshop; LA Bakeshop and Grocery; Romac Group of Companies; Sankou Seiki Co. Ltd., Inc.; CGS Solid Aircon & Refrigeration, Inc.; IMES Global Inc.; P.IMES Corp.; Proserve Manpower, Inc.; GB Exprez; Aquino Basket; JobCrest Management, Inc.; Image Doctor's Clinic; Happy Haus Food Corp.; Interlink Manpower Development & General Services, Inc.; Purple Avatar Inc.; MB Garbez; PC Storage; Premium Burger and Foods; Savemore; Shimadzu Philippines Corporation; Fresh and Famous; Virtus Manpower Services; Serbiz Multipurpose Cooperative; Comark International Corporation; Lyric Piano and Organ Corp.; Innovatia Systems; SSECC; Datacom; Pampanga's Best; MLJL 368 Trading Inc.; TC-TESDA Women's Center; TKC Steel Corporation; Elixir Industrial Equipment, Inc.; Singangag Express; Enriquez Security Services, Inc.; Toyota Commonwealth; Interlink Manpower Development & General Services, Inc.; Grandis Jubilance Ventures, Inc.; Quali-Serve Manpower And General Services; Pacific Global Hospitality Institute; Jenra Incorporated; Sky Cable; Interlink Manpower Development & General Services, Inc.; and SFI Group of Companies. JobStart is a career coaching and training program intended to help young people jumpstart their careers by creating opportunities to improve their technical skills and develop the life skills necessary for success in today’s competitive workplace. JobStart starts with the provision of career guidance through skills assessment, career and self-awareness, and career coaching. Following the assessment of a participant’s job readiness, he or she is provided with an eight-day life skills training designed to holistically hone the attitude and behavioural skills of the youth into a person well-prepared to face the challenges of the world of work. “The completion of career guidance and life skills training enables the youth to be matched in jobs available in partner-employers for the technical training of up to three months, and an application of what has been acquired and learned through internship program for also up to three months,” Baldoz said. For more details about JobStart, contact the Project Management Office at the Bureau of Local Employment, 6th Floor, BF Condominium, Solana for. Andres Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila; tel. 527-2543 or 527-2539; email at jobstartph@yahoo.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bohol is first province to roll out JobStart—Baldoz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday announced the successful roll out of the JobStart Philippines Program in Bohol, and said this is a good preview of the pioneering program’s first, full-year of implementation. She cited the report of Undersecretary for Employment Reydeluz Conferido who attended the launching on her behalf. Conferido, in his report to the Secretary, said Bohol Governor Edgar M. Chatto had expressed his deep appreciation to the DOLE for having allowed his province to become the first to become a partner of JobStart. “Gov. Chato fully understands the value of our project in addressing the gaps in skills and attitude of the youth towards employability and the concerns of employers. We may recall that he was instrumental in getting the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) Law enhanced when he was a congressman and he has always been supportive of our youth-oriented employment programs,” Conferido said in his report. “He also promised to prominently feature JobStart in his own HEAT IT Caravan,” he added. Conferido was in Bilar, Bohol the other day together with Ruth Rodriguez, chief, Labor Market Information of the Bureau of Local Employment to attend the launching of the first full-cycle employment facilitation service in the Southeast Asian region that seeks to address youth unemployment. With them was Kelly Hattel, Financial Sector Specialist of the Asian Development Bank which is supporting the project, together with the Government of Canada. JobStart is a career coaching and training program intended to help young people jumpstart their careers by creating opportunities to improve their technical skills and develop the life skills necessary for success in today’s competitive workplace. “JobStart partners with employers in providing a comprehensive and systematic approach in assisting young jobseekers, from planning their career paths all the way through acquiring the best-fit jobs,” said Baldoz. JobStart starts with the provision of career guidance through skills assessment, career and self-awareness, and career coaching. Following the assessment of a participant’s job readiness, he or she is provided with an eight-day life skills training designed to holistically hone the attitude and behavioural skills of the youth into a person well-prepared to face the challenges of the world of work. “The completion of career guidance and life skills training enables the youth to be matched in jobs available in partner-employers for the technical training of up to three months, and an application of what has been acquired and learned through internship program for also up to three months,” Baldoz said. Piloted in San Fernando, Pampanga; Gen. Trias, Cavite; Taguig City; and Quezon City, the JobStart Program will be rolled out this year in Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Tagum, and Palawan, with a 3,200 target number of beneficiaries. During the pilot stage, 430 participants have been placed in technical and on-the-job training, with additional 926 vacancies still to be filled up. The JobStart launching in Bilar, Bohol, was highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between JobStart Philippines and the Bohol Provincial Government and the awarding of seed capital to beneficiaries of DOLE livelihood programs. “Especially grateful was Mrs. Prosperina who received P72,000 worth of livelihood assistance. She is the mother of one of the slain SAF 44 officers, PO2 Romeo Prosperina,” Conferido said. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Joel Villanueva also graced the occasion and promoted TESDA’s Abot-Alam campaign. He distributed livelihood starter kits to some of the 1,500 TESDA graduates of technical course who took part in the HEAT IT Bohol Caravan yesterday. Also in attendance in the JobStart launching were Vice-Governor Concepcion "Inday Conching" Lim; Rep. Arthur Yap (3rd District); Members of the Sangguniang Panlalalawigan and Pambayan of Bilar; Mayor Norman Palacio and Vice Mayor Calamba; and members of the Provincial League of Barangays. DOLE officials led by Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga, Assistant Regional Director Jong Gonzales, and DOLE Bohol provincial head Gerry Guidaben also were at the launching. For more details about JobStart, contact the Project Management Office at the Bureau of Local Employment, 6th Floor, BF Condominium, Solana for. Andres Soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila; tel. 527-2543 or 527-2539; email at jobstartph@yahoo.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Why the ‘unreachable’ matters to the Modified CCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the remote Singnapan Valley where caves become abodes during the rain, one can find the indigenous community of Tau’t Bato. A sub-group of the Pala’wan ethnic group, the Tau’t Bato is among the communities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) where even the delivery of basic services is a big challenge. However, the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) accepts this challenge.
Reaching Sitio Singnapan – the gateway to the Tau’t Bato community – requires a day of hike up and down the rough and steep landscape of Mount Mantalingahan. Because of the isolation of the valley, the Tau’t Bato community runs on simple, if not scanty, living conditions. Their houses are made of bamboo and rattan straw only while the caves up the basin serve as their houses during rains. Their diet consists mostly of root crops, wild leaves, and bats. Diarrhea and measles are among the most common diseases that plague the community. In addition, malaria risk is very high year-round. Under the governance of the municipality of Rizal in Palawan, the community receives occasional services from the local government such as medical missions and civil registration. However, because of the challenge of reaching the community, even the local government agrees that the Tau’t Bato deserves more. Paving the way The Tau’t Bato is one of the indigenous cultural communities being catered to by the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples in GIDA (MCCT-IPs in GIDA) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is part of the efforts of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to include the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors such as homeless street families, families in need of special protection, and IPs in GIDA. Dormin Tamu, a Panglima or a member of their tribal council, shared how the inclusion of their community in the program allowed them better access to local government services. “Noon, wala pang serbisyo ng gobyerno ang nakarating dito sa amin. Simula nang dumating ang programa, dumating na rin ang iba’t-ibang tulong (Before, government services did not reach us. When the program came, other types of assistance started to arrive as well),” Panglima Dormin narrated. MCCT for IPs in GIDA aims to facilitate the establishment of accessible and suitable delivery of healthcare and alternative educational services to extremely remote communities. Using the conditional cash transfer scheme, the program encourages indigenous cultural communities to avail of health services and alternative modes of learning. This, in return, urges the local government to provide such services. Embracing the changes Literacy is low among the Tau’t Bato. Jonathan Daklay, one of the two persons from the community who finished high school with the help of missionaries, serves as the teacher to the community. He teaches literacy and non-formal education not only to children but to willing adults as well. “Dati, akala ng mga kapwa ko katutubo ay nakakasira ng kultura ang pag-aaral. Pero simula nang pumasok ang Pantawid, hindi na ako nahihirapang ipaintindi sa kanila na mahalaga ang pag-aaral dahil nirerespeto ng programa ang mga kaugalian namin (Before, my fellow IPs believed that education destroys our culture. But when Pantawid came, it’s no longer hard for me to make them understand that education is important because the program respects our heritage),” Jonathan shared. Jonathan also shared that since the community does not have a school, he conducts his classes inside their house. This changed one day when the parents in the community helped hand-in-hand to build a classroom with bamboo roofing and nipa walls, tied only with rattan straw, for the community to have their own school. This, for him, is the turning point in the community’s acceptance of education. Now Jonathan knows that he is not alone. Manglino Laan, one of the beneficiaries of MCCT in the community, also shares how happy they are that the program reached the Tau’t Bato. He shared that being one of the few who know how to read and write, he teaches abakada to the children. With MCCT around, encouraging them to study became easier. “Nakikita na namin na importante sa aming mga katutubo ang makapag-aral ang aming mga anak para matuto silang makabasa at makasulat (We now see the importance for us IPs that our children become educated so that they would know how to read and write),” Manglino shared. The community’s perception of healthcare has also changed through time. Pregnant mothers are now willing to be checked-up by the municipal midwife who frequents the community. More children also undergo regular health monitoring and avail of immunization. This, according to the barangay health workers and their Panglima, could be attributed to the joint efforts of MCCT and the local government to encourage the Tau’t Bato. ‘No one left behind’ According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, it is important that the indigenous cultural communities in GIDA are included in the program because it enables the beneficiaries to have access to health and educational services despite geographical challenges. “Conditional cash transfer is proven to be among the most effective poverty alleviation strategies in the world, and including the most vulnerable sectors such as IPs in far-flung communities would mean that the program will leave no one behind no matter how challenging [the situation]. It makes the CCT work for them,” she added. MCCT now has 218,377 household beneficiaries nationwide, 163,950 of which are indigenous peoples in GIDA. The Tau’t Bato community, once regarded as unreachable, now believes that the day will come when every child and every Tau’t Bato would no longer need to walk for hours to get the services they deserve. As MCCT for IPs in GIDA extends a hand of service to them, the community extends theirs wide open – with their culture and heritage still intact. - See more at: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/2015/03/why-the-unreachable-matters-to-the-modified-cct/#sthash.tQJIcWVT.dpuf
In the remote Singnapan Valley where caves become abodes during the rain, one can find the indigenous community of Tau’t Bato. A sub-group of the Pala’wan ethnic group, the Tau’t Bato is among the communities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) where even the delivery of basic services is a big challenge. However, the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) accepts this challenge.
In the remote Singnapan Valley where caves become abodes during the rain, one can find the indigenous community of Tau’t Bato. A sub-group of the Pala’wan ethnic group, the Tau’t Bato is among the communities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) where even the delivery of basic services is a big challenge. However, the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) accepts this challenge.Reaching Sitio Singnapan – the gateway to the Tau’t Bato community – requires a day of hike up and down the rough and steep landscape of Mount Mantalingahan. Because of the isolation of the valley, the Tau’t Bato community runs on simple, if not scanty, living conditions. Their houses are made of bamboo and rattan straw only while the caves up the basin serve as their houses during rains. Their diet consists mostly of root crops, wild leaves, and bats. Diarrhea and measles are among the most common diseases that plague the community. In addition, malaria risk is very high year-round. Under the governance of the municipality of Rizal in Palawan, the community receives occasional services from the local government such as medical missions and civil registration. However, because of the challenge of reaching the community, even the local government agrees that the Tau’t Bato deserves more. Paving the way The Tau’t Bato is one of the indigenous cultural communities being catered to by the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples in GIDA (MCCT-IPs in GIDA) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is part of the efforts of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to include the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors such as homeless street families, families in need of special protection, and IPs in GIDA. Dormin Tamu, a Panglima or a member of their tribal council, shared how the inclusion of their community in the program allowed them better access to local government services. “Noon, wala pang serbisyo ng gobyerno ang nakarating dito sa amin. Simula nang dumating ang programa, dumating na rin ang iba’t-ibang tulong (Before, government services did not reach us. When the program came, other types of assistance started to arrive as well),” Panglima Dormin narrated. MCCT for IPs in GIDA aims to facilitate the establishment of accessible and suitable delivery of healthcare and alternative educational services to extremely remote communities. Using the conditional cash transfer scheme, the program encourages indigenous cultural communities to avail of health services and alternative modes of learning. This, in return, urges the local government to provide such services. Embracing the changes Literacy is low among the Tau’t Bato. Jonathan Daklay, one of the two persons from the community who finished high school with the help of missionaries, serves as the teacher to the community. He teaches literacy and non-formal education not only to children but to willing adults as well. “Dati, akala ng mga kapwa ko katutubo ay nakakasira ng kultura ang pag-aaral. Pero simula nang pumasok ang Pantawid, hindi na ako nahihirapang ipaintindi sa kanila na mahalaga ang pag-aaral dahil nirerespeto ng programa ang mga kaugalian namin (Before, my fellow IPs believed that education destroys our culture. But when Pantawid came, it’s no longer hard for me to make them understand that education is important because the program respects our heritage),” Jonathan shared. Jonathan also shared that since the community does not have a school, he conducts his classes inside their house. This changed one day when the parents in the community helped hand-in-hand to build a classroom with bamboo roofing and nipa walls, tied only with rattan straw, for the community to have their own school. This, for him, is the turning point in the community’s acceptance of education. Now Jonathan knows that he is not alone. Manglino Laan, one of the beneficiaries of MCCT in the community, also shares how happy they are that the program reached the Tau’t Bato. He shared that being one of the few who know how to read and write, he teaches abakada to the children. With MCCT around, encouraging them to study became easier. “Nakikita na namin na importante sa aming mga katutubo ang makapag-aral ang aming mga anak para matuto silang makabasa at makasulat (We now see the importance for us IPs that our children become educated so that they would know how to read and write),” Manglino shared. The community’s perception of healthcare has also changed through time. Pregnant mothers are now willing to be checked-up by the municipal midwife who frequents the community. More children also undergo regular health monitoring and avail of immunization. This, according to the barangay health workers and their Panglima, could be attributed to the joint efforts of MCCT and the local government to encourage the Tau’t Bato. ‘No one left behind’ According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, it is important that the indigenous cultural communities in GIDA are included in the program because it enables the beneficiaries to have access to health and educational services despite geographical challenges. “Conditional cash transfer is proven to be among the most effective poverty alleviation strategies in the world, and including the most vulnerable sectors such as IPs in far-flung communities would mean that the program will leave no one behind no matter how challenging [the situation]. It makes the CCT work for them,” she added. MCCT now has 218,377 household beneficiaries nationwide, 163,950 of which are indigenous peoples in GIDA. The Tau’t Bato community, once regarded as unreachable, now believes that the day will come when every child and every Tau’t Bato would no longer need to walk for hours to get the services they deserve. As MCCT for IPs in GIDA extends a hand of service to them, the community extends theirs wide open – with their culture and heritage still intact. - See more at: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/2015/03/why-the-unreachable-matters-to-the-modified-cct/#sthash.tQJIcWVT.dpuf Reaching Sitio Singnapan – the gateway to the Tau’t Bato community – requires a day of hike up and down the rough and steep landscape of Mount Mantalingahan. Because of the isolation of the valley, the Tau’t Bato community runs on simple, if not scanty, living conditions. Their houses are made of bamboo and rattan straw only while the caves up the basin serve as their houses during rains. Their diet consists mostly of root crops, wild leaves, and bats. Diarrhea and measles are among the most common diseases that plague the community. In addition, malaria risk is very high year-round. Under the governance of the municipality of Rizal in Palawan, the community receives occasional services from the local government such as medical missions and civil registration. However, because of the challenge of reaching the community, even the local government agrees that the Tau’t Bato deserves more. Paving the way The Tau’t Bato is one of the indigenous cultural communities being catered to by the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples in GIDA (MCCT-IPs in GIDA) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It is part of the efforts of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to include the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors such as homeless street families, families in need of special protection, and IPs in GIDA. Dormin Tamu, a Panglima or a member of their tribal council, shared how the inclusion of their community in the program allowed them better access to local government services. “Noon, wala pang serbisyo ng gobyerno ang nakarating dito sa amin. Simula nang dumating ang programa, dumating na rin ang iba’t-ibang tulong (Before, government services did not reach us. When the program came, other types of assistance started to arrive as well),” Panglima Dormin narrated. MCCT for IPs in GIDA aims to facilitate the establishment of accessible and suitable delivery of healthcare and alternative educational services to extremely remote communities. Using the conditional cash transfer scheme, the program encourages indigenous cultural communities to avail of health services and alternative modes of learning. This, in return, urges the local government to provide such services. Embracing the changes Literacy is low among the Tau’t Bato. Jonathan Daklay, one of the two persons from the community who finished high school with the help of missionaries, serves as the teacher to the community. He teaches literacy and non-formal education not only to children but to willing adults as well. “Dati, akala ng mga kapwa ko katutubo ay nakakasira ng kultura ang pag-aaral. Pero simula nang pumasok ang Pantawid, hindi na ako nahihirapang ipaintindi sa kanila na mahalaga ang pag-aaral dahil nirerespeto ng programa ang mga kaugalian namin (Before, my fellow IPs believed that education destroys our culture. But when Pantawid came, it’s no longer hard for me to make them understand that education is important because the program respects our heritage),” Jonathan shared. Jonathan also shared that since the community does not have a school, he conducts his classes inside their house. This changed one day when the parents in the community helped hand-in-hand to build a classroom with bamboo roofing and nipa walls, tied only with rattan straw, for the community to have their own school. This, for him, is the turning point in the community’s acceptance of education. Now Jonathan knows that he is not alone. Manglino Laan, one of the beneficiaries of MCCT in the community, also shares how happy they are that the program reached the Tau’t Bato. He shared that being one of the few who know how to read and write, he teaches abakada to the children. With MCCT around, encouraging them to study became easier. “Nakikita na namin na importante sa aming mga katutubo ang makapag-aral ang aming mga anak para matuto silang makabasa at makasulat (We now see the importance for us IPs that our children become educated so that they would know how to read and write),” Manglino shared. The community’s perception of healthcare has also changed through time. Pregnant mothers are now willing to be checked-up by the municipal midwife who frequents the community. More children also undergo regular health monitoring and avail of immunization. This, according to the barangay health workers and their Panglima, could be attributed to the joint efforts of MCCT and the local government to encourage the Tau’t Bato. ‘No one left behind’ According to DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, it is important that the indigenous cultural communities in GIDA are included in the program because it enables the beneficiaries to have access to health and educational services despite geographical challenges. “Conditional cash transfer is proven to be among the most effective poverty alleviation strategies in the world, and including the most vulnerable sectors such as IPs in far-flung communities would mean that the program will leave no one behind no matter how challenging [the situation]. It makes the CCT work for them,” she added. MCCT now has 218,377 household beneficiaries nationwide, 163,950 of which are indigenous peoples in GIDA. The Tau’t Bato community, once regarded as unreachable, now believes that the day will come when every child and every Tau’t Bato would no longer need to walk for hours to get the services they deserve. As MCCT for IPs in GIDA extends a hand of service to them, the community extends theirs wide open – with their culture and heritage still intact. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pantawid Pamilya boosts self-esteem of partner-beneficiaries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Street vendor Gilbert Ramos never imagined that he would one day be a decision maker in his barangay. An active member of his community, Gilbert now allocates the budget for priority projects in their area. Gilbert was one of the parent leaders who were invited to share their stories of change during the Parent Leader’s Dialogue with Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held last February 19, 2015 in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. “Bilang isang Parent Leader, natuto akong mag ayos ng aking sarili. Dati, kung ano na lang ang maisuot ko kung ako ay magtitinda. Pero dahil sa Family Development Session (FDS), natutunan ko ang kahalagahan na maging presentable kahit na ako ay isang hamak na tindero lang. (As a Parent Leader I learned how to fix myself. I was not really concerned before about what to wear whenever I went out to sell. But because of the Family Development Session, I learned the importance of being presentable even if I was just a humble vendor),” Gilbert shared. The FDS is a monthly session where the partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program are required to attend as part of their co-responsibilities. Through the FDS, parent/s or guardians are educated about personality development which includes proper grooming and hygiene; strengthening family relationships; and fostering respect by inculcating one’s rights, roles, and responsibilities within the family and their community. Parents also discuss disaster preparedness, financial literacy, and other topics that may be helpful to the family. Apart from being a parent leader, Gilbert is also part of the community health teams. On the other hand, fellow parent leader Magnolia Robina shared how the program has empowered her as a wife. “Dahil sa programa, tumaas ang aking self-esteem. Hindi na ako mahiyain ngayon. Kung dati, ang asawa ko lang ang nagdedesisyon, ngayon kasama na ako sa nagdedesisyon sa bahay namin (Because of the program, my self- esteem increased. I am no longer shy now. Before, my husband is just the one deciding, but now, I am now involved in the decision-making inside the house),” Magnolia said. Amelia Lopez, a parent leader from Labrador, Pangasinan, recalled how the program transformed her into a more responsible citizen and productive member of their community. “Dati hindi ako tumutulong sa barangay lalo na ‘pag nagpapatawag ang kapitan. Hindi naman ako ang sumasahod, bakit ako tutulong? Mas madalas nasa kapitbahay ako at nakikipag-chismisan. Pero ngayon sumasama na ako sa mga gingawang barangay clean-up drive. Ngayon, chismosa pa din ako pero nag level-up na. Ang chismis ko na ay tungkol sa programa at kung paano kami natutulungan lalo na ang aking mga anak (Before I do not help in our barangay, especially if it’s the barangay captain who is asking for our help. I don’t get paid so why should I help? Most of the time, you will see me with my neighbours gossiping. But now I am part of the barangay clean-up drive. I still do gossip but it has levelled- up. I talk about the program and how it is helping us especially my children),” Amelia testified. The families of Gilbert, Magnolia, and Amelia, are just some of the 4,442,781 households nationwide whose lives have been transformed by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households’ primary of children aged 0-18. It utilizes the conditional cash transfer scheme where the partner-beneficiaries receive their grants provided that they fulfill their co-responsibilities, including sending their children to school, availing of health services, and attending the monthly FDS. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
End-February 2015 GIR level rises to US$81.3 billion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preliminary data showed that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) rose to US$81.3 billion as of end-February 2015, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Officer-in-Charge Vicente S. Aquino announced today.1 This level was higher by US$0.6 billion compared to the end-January 2015 GIR of US$80.7 billion. The GIR level can cover 10.4 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income. It is also equivalent to 8.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 6 times based on residual maturity.2 The increase in reserves was due mainly to the National Government’s (NG) net foreign currency deposits and the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and income from investments abroad. These were partially offset by revaluation adjustments on the BSP’s gold holdings arising from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market as well as on its foreign currency-denominated reserves, and payments made by the NG for its maturing foreign exchange obligations. Net international reserves (NIR), which refer to the difference between the BSP’s GIR and total short-term liabilities, also increased to US$81.3 billion as of end-February 2015, compared to the end-January 2015 NIR of US$80.7 billion. -------------- 1 The final data on GIR are released to the public every 19th day of the month in the Statistics section of the BSP’s website under the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS). If the 19th day of the month falls on a weekend or is a non-working holiday, the release date shall be the working day nearest to the 19th. 2 Short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February inflation rises slightly to 2.5 percent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Headline inflation increased slightly to 2.5 percent year-on-year in February from 2.4 percent in January, but was within the BSP’s range forecast of 2.2-3.0 percent for the month. This brought the year-to-date average inflation rate to 2.4 percent, within the Government’s inflation range target of 3.0 percent ± 1.0 percentage point for 2015. Similarly, core inflation—which excludes certain volatile food and energy items to better capture underlying price pressures—rose to 2.5 percent in February from 2.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, on a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, inflation eased to 0.1 percent in February from 0.2 percent in January. The higher February inflation reading was driven largely by the higher prices of selected non-food items. In particular, non-food inflation increased as a result of upward adjustments in electricity rates as well as higher prices for transport services. In contrast, food inflation decelerated on ample domestic supply of key food items such as rice, corn, meat, fruits, vegetables, and sugar. Officer-In-Charge Vicente S. Aquino said that the actual inflation in February continues to affirm the BSP’s assessment of a manageable inflation environment over the policy horizon. Going forward, the BSP will continue to closely monitor developments on both the domestic and global fronts to ensure price stability conducive to balanced and sustainable economic growth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DTI crafts high quality construction projects to deliver better roads to Filipinos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
“It is expected that more quality construction roads will be delivered to Filipinos, thus empowering and making them competitive,” Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) Supervising Undersecretary Prudencio Reyes Jr. emphasized as more and more government infrastructure agencies including local government units (LGUs) express their desire and need to undergo a seminar workshop on Construction Performance Evaluation System (CPES). The CPES is a rating system developed by the Philippine Domestic Construction Board (PDCB) of CIAP in cooperation with various government infrastructure agencies to monitor and evaluate the constructors’ project performance. CPES aims for the early detection of problem areas encountered in the project and to determine appropriate actions. The Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte, a recipient province of the Australian Aid’s Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF), requested PDCB to conduct a seminar-workshop on CPES to its Provincial Engineers’ Office personnel at Tubod, Lanao del Norte on 10-12 March. It will bring to a total number of 34 agencies implementing CPES, according to Engr. Leilani d.L. del Prado, PDCB Officer-in-Charge (OIC). “The Philippines' PRMF is a combined initiative of the government of Australia and the government of the Philippines in coordination with PDCB to strengthen the capability and capacity of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the provincial LGUs to deliver better roads to the Filipino people," Reyes added. Del Prado reported that based on PDCB records, there are 998 accredited evaluators as of 26 February 2015. The accredited CPES evaluators conduct an assessment of constructors’ projects performances with the aim to improve the quality and timely delivery of infrastructure projects in different places of the country. CPES Evaluators can also be tapped as trainers and resource speakers of future CPES seminar workshops receiving honoraria allowed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). They can also serve as third party CPES evaluators of construction projects of other infrastructure agencies aside from their own agency projects sharing expertise and experiences with them with the utmost aim to improve the quality of work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PHL Consulate General in Sydney hosts DFA Finance Officers' Training Workshop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06 March 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney hosted the Finance Officers’ Training Workshop on Financial Management Reporting for Asia-Pacific, Libya and Brazil from March 02 to 05. The training workshop aimed to equip the Finance Officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with knowledge on the new standards and reportorial requirements set by the Philippine Government's Public Financial Management reforms roadmap. The topics discussed included updates on public financial management reforms, an overview of the Unified Accounts Code Structure (UACS), procurement planning, budget process, internal control policies, guidelines on government expenditures, revenues and collections, and the Commission on Audit revised rules and procedures. The resource persons for the training workshop were DFA Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Administration Arvic Arevalo, Commission on Audit (COA) Director Marietta Lorenzo, DFA Office of Financial Management Services (OFMS) Acting Director Laarni Gandarosa, and DFA Resident Auditor Pearl Ramos. During the opening of the workshop, Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis welcomed the participants to Sydney and wished the Finance Officers a successful and fruitful four-day training that would further enhance their knowledge and skills on financial management. In her message, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen F. Anota encouraged the participants to be open to learning and to practicing the new systems and processes that form part of the Philippine Government's thrust towards transparency. She cited the pronouncement of President Benigno S. Aquino III that “Good governance is good economics.” Ambassador Anota said that despite the learning curve that such changes entail for the finance officers, their efforts would be a significant contribution towards the government’s continued path to good governance. Twenty-nine (29) Finance Officers from the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in Asia-Pacific, Libya and Brazil participated in the Workshop. Consul General and Minister Nina Cainglet of the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, Trade Assistant Luningning Smith of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney (PTIC-Sydney), and Administrative Officer Ernesto Teston of the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in Sydney (DOT-Sydney) also attended several sessions of the workshop. The training workshop, thus far, was the biggest in terms of the number of participating Finance Officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PHL Ambassador explores shared PHL-Mexico history at National Museum of Vice Royalty of the New Spain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06 March 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., together with Communications Officer Don S. Elacion, visited the Museo Nacional del Virreinato del Nuevo España or the National Museum of the Vice Royalty of the New Spain in Tepotzotlán, State of Morelos, Mexico on February 28. The visit was in line with the Philippine Embassy’s cultural awareness program in order to add to its knowledge of the shared historical identities between the Philippines and Mexico. The museum is housed in a former school and convent complex where Jesuits took residence in the 16th century. In 1964, part of the complex was transformed into a museum and is now home to the National Museum of the Vice Royalty of the New Spain. Numerous religious artworks and artifacts from the Spanish colonial era are found in its collection. Non-religious articles like cutlery, metals, textiles, silver, silk, porcelain and ceramics coming from Asia also form part of the museum’s exhibit. Majority of these items were transported during the Manila-Acapulco galleon covering the period 1565 to 1815. The tour was given by well-respected Mexican archeologist, architect, and expert on Philippine-Mexican history, Dr. Juan Antonio Siller Camacho. He is also a professor and member of the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia y Historia (INAH). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MB places Rural Bank of Magsingal (Ilocos Sur), Inc. under PDIC receivership, all valid insured deposit claims will be paid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Monetary Board (MB) placed the Rural Bank of Magsingal (Ilocos Sur), Inc. under the receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) by virtue of MB Resolution No. 331.B dated March 5, 2015. As Receiver, PDIC took over the bank on March 6, 2015. Rural Bank of Magsingal is a single-unit rural bank with Head Office located in San Vicente, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. Based on the Bank Information Sheet (BIS) filed by the Rural Bank of Magsingal with the PDIC as of December 31, 2014, the bank is owned by Felicisimo P. Gorospe (19.15%), Mario Rosalino U. Gorospe (15.77%), Rolando Ramos (12.77%), Valentin G. Preza (10.64%), Luzanta U. Gorospe (10.21%), Leonilo F. Ines, Jr. (9.57%), Ma. Teresa U. Gorospe (7.45%) and Leonilo Sean Ines III (2.26%). Its President and Chairman is Mario Rosalino U. Gorospe. Latest available records show that as of December 31, 2014, Rural Bank of Magsingal had 458 accounts with total deposit liabilities of P17.4 million, all of which are insured. PDIC said that during the takeover, all bank records shall be gathered, verified and validated. The state deposit insurer assured depositors that all valid deposits shall be paid up to the maximum deposit insurance coverage of P500,000.00. Depositors with valid deposit accounts with balances of P50,000.00 and below need not file deposit insurance claims, except when they have outstanding obligations with the Rural Bank of Magsingal or acted as co-makers of the obligations, and have incomplete and/or have not updated their addresses with the bank. PDIC targets to start mailing payments to these depositors at their addresses recorded in the bank by the second week of March. Depositors may update their addresses until March 10, 2015 using the Mailing Address Update Forms to be distributed by PDIC representatives at the bank premises. For depositors that are required to file deposit insurance claims, the PDIC targets to start claims settlement operations for these accounts by the third week of March. The PDIC also announced that it will conduct a Depositors-Borrowers Forum on March 12, 2015 to inform depositors of the requirements and procedures for filing deposit insurance claims. The time and venue of the Forum will be posted in the bank premises and announced in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. Likewise, the schedule of the claims settlement operations, as well as the requirements and procedures for filing claims will be announced through notices to be posted in the bank premises, other public places and the PDIC website. For more information, depositors may communicate with PDIC Public Assistance personnel stationed at the bank premises. They may also call the PDIC Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC(7342), the PDIC Public Assistance Hotlines at (02) 841-4630 to (02) 841-4631, or send their e-mail to pad@pdic.gov.ph. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PDIC urges banks to avail of its bank strengthening programs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) President Cristina Que Orbeta rallied members of the rural banking community to take advantage of PDIC's bank strengthening programs to help address the challenges brought about by the changing financial landscape. She said that while rural banks can rely on their inherent strength which is the trust and confidence of their respective communities, in the face of greater competition both from domestic and international banks, this competitive advantage must be combined with capital, good governance, good service and innovative and responsive banking. Speaking before the Annual Management Conference of the Confederation of Central Luzon Rural Banks (CCLRB) held on February 6, 2015, the PDIC President emphasized that PDIC and BSP have put in place strengthening programs to encourage mergers, acquisitions, and consolidation among rural banks and thrift banks to address their capital requirements. "Once a bank is closed, the chances for its rehabilitation becomes very minimal, almost nil, thus we need to face the problems while the bank is still open and come up with solutions early enough to avoid a closure scenario," President Orbeta said. President Orbeta told the rural banking community that she sees opportunities for PDIC to be a partner in the banks' journey to change through the Strengthening Program for Rural Banks Plus (SPRB Plus), a joint program of the PDIC and BSP; the Strengthening Program for Cooperative Banks Plus (SPCB Plus) of the PDIC, BSP and Land Bank of the Philippines; and PDIC's Investor-Investee Helpdesk. Under the SPRB Plus, rural, thrift, universal and commercial banks, as well as non-bank corporations that qualify as strategic third party investors or so-called "white knights" may be granted financial assistance for the acquisition of thrift or rural banks. On the other hand, the counterpart program for cooperative banks, the SPCB Plus aims to encourage mergers, consolidations and acquisitions of cooperative banks to strengthen the cooperative banking sector. SPCB Plus has been extended until September 2015, while SPRB Plus will run up to the end of December 2015. Aside from financial assistance, banks availing of these programs are also granted regulatory relief/s, branching and other incentives by the BSP. "These are facilities and incentives which may be tapped by banks, who are in investment or expansion mode, to acquire, merge or consolidate with banks that have problems," President Orbeta said. To facilitate the matching process, PDIC has developed the Investor Investee Helpdesk. The Helpdesk is an electronic match-making facility that aims to identify possible partners for merger and consolidation for all types of banks. It has been designed to preserve confidentiality for all registrants whether as investors or investees. Banks interested to apply as Investor must not be under the BSP's prompt corrective action and should not have been previously cited for violation of PDIC Regulatory Issuances. Meanwhile, to register as an Investee, or a bank looking for an investor, one should also be compliant with all PDIC regulations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Last Updated: 06 MARCH 2015
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Delegates attending the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting in Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City, Cavite gather for a group photo at the hotel's open terrace overlooking Taal Volcano on Thursday (March 5). | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Assumption of Command Ceremony of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Wednesday (March 04). Also in photo are PNP-SAF OIC P/CSupt. Noli Taliño, Deputy General Marcelo Garbo Jr, chief of the PNP directorial staff, PNP Deputy Chief for Operation and OIC Chief PDDG Leonardo Espina and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Assumption of Command Ceremony of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Wednesday (March 04). Also in photo is Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III is introduced to PNP-SAF OIC P/CSupt. Noli Taliño (second from left) by the newly newly installed PNP-SAF Director Chief Superintendent Moro Virgilio Lazo (left), as Deputy General Marcelo Garbo Jr, chief of the PNP directorial staff, OIC Chief PDDG Leonardo Espina and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas look on during the Assumption of Command Ceremony of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Wednesday (March 04). Lazo is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Maharlika” Class of 1984. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates the newly installed PNP-SAF Director Chief Superintendent Moro Virgilio Lazo as PNP-SAF OIC P/CSupt. Noli Taliño (left) and PNP Deputy Chief for Operation, OIC Chief PDDG Leonardo Espina and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas look on during the Assumption of Command Ceremony of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City on Wednesday (March 04). Lazo is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Maharlika” Class of 1984. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
Group Photo Caption: Delegates from APEC member-economies, and multilateral and international institutions gather in Tagaytay City, Philippines for the 2015 Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion. The Forum, which runs from 3-4 March 2015, seeks to discuss initiatives that may push forward the agenda of making financial products and services accessible to a wider range of people across the Asia-Pacific Region. | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III bids farewell to The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing during the Departure Honors at the Malacañan Palace Main Lobby on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr./ Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III and The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing troop the line during the Departure Honors at the Malacañan Palace Main Lobby on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III bids farewell to The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing during the Departure Honors at the Malacañan Palace Main Lobby on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III and The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing troop the line during the Departure Honors at the Malacañan Palace Main Lobby on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Raja (Grand Collar) on The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace during the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III receives from The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing the symbolic key of 700 newly constructed houses in Basey, Samar and Bantayan Island, Cebu donated by the Sovereign Order of Malta during the ceremonial turn-over at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III shakes hands with The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing sign the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace during the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III and The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing lead the ceremonial toasts during the Official Luncheon at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing delivers his message during the Official Luncheon at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III and The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing arrive for the official luncheon at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace during the Official Visit to the Philippines of on Tuesday(March 03). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of the Sovereign Order of Malta) Fra’ Matthew Festing delivers his remarks during the joint press statement with President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday(March 03). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prince and Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing of the Sovereign Order of Malta share a light moment following the conferment ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace during the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as The Prince and Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing of the Sovereign Order of Malta delivers his message during the Official Luncheon at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines on Tuesday (March 03). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the Official Luncheon at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace for the Official Visit to the Philippines of The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing on Tuesday (March 03). This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and SOM. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | |||
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