4 Dispatch for July 7, 2015 ( Tuesday), 2 Calabarzon PRs , 3 Weather Watch , 4 Interviews with SEc. Coloma,Jr. , 16 Online News ( July 6), 20 Photonews (Jun 6 )

http://pcoo.gov.ph/photo.htm

Daily Weather Forecast

Issued at: 5:00 AM today, 07 July 2015
Valid Beginning: 5:00 AM today until 5:00 AM tomorrow
Synopsis:

At 4:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Storm "EGAY" was estimated based on all available data at 260 km northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte or at 280 km west of Basco, Batanes (20.2N, 119.3E) with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move north at 7 kph. Southwest monsoon affecting western section of Luzon.

Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis 8 AM 07 July 2015

Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis 8 AM 07 July 2015

Forecast:

Rains with gusty winds and moderate to rough seas will prevail over Ilocos Norte, Batanes, Apayao and northwestern Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands. Moderate to occasionally heavy monsoon rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides will be experienced over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales and Bataan. Light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over Metro Manila, Mindoro, Palawan and Western Visayas. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over mindanao and the rest of Luzon and Visayas.


Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over the rest of the country with moderate to rough seas.

Weather Watch

8 mins ·

PAGASA weather forecaster Meno Mendoza on DZBB:
Re: Update kay Chan Hom (Bagyong Falcon)
-Binabantayan natin si Chan Hom. Inaasahang pumasok ito sa PAR ngayong hapon o mamayang gabi.
-Nakataas pa rin ang gale warning sa seaboards ng Northern Luzon at western seaboard ng Central Luzon
-May yellow rainfall warning sa Tarlac, Zambales hanggang sa susunod na dalawang oras.
-Asahang palalakasin ni Falcon ang ating Habagat.

Weather Watch

3 hrs · Edited ·

PAGASA weather forecaster Meno Mendoza on DZBB:
Re: Bagyong Egay updates
-Official na pong lumabas ng ating PAR ang Bagyong Egay patungong hilaga na kumikilos ng 7kph west southwest ng Basco, Batanes.
-Mararanasan pa rin ang Habagat sa Zambales, Bataan, Ilocos region.
-Maging alerto pa rin sa pagabaha at pagguho ng lupa.
-Inaasahang papasok ngayon araw si Cham Hom o bukas.
-Mga 8:00AM –9:30AM lumabas ng PAR (Egay)
-Sa ngayon ay wala na pong nakataas na anumang babala ng bagyo.

July 7, 2015 ( Tuesday ) as of 9:00 AM

     PIA4A / PIA QUEZON : Fair Weather in Lucena City

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SOUTHERN


EASTERN


WESTERN

 CAVITE

1.   Cavite's health workers and nutrition scholars, receive P8.1M incentives

• July 07, 2015

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite, July 7 (PIA) –The provincial government through the provincial health office (PHO) recently distributed a total of P8.11M quarterly incentive to the barangay health workers (BHW) and barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) in the province.

Of the total amount, P7,137,000.00 was handed out to the 2,379 BHWS while P975,000.00 was given out to the 414 BNS. Gov. Jonvic Remulla led the awarding of incentives held at the provincial gymnasium.  

Aside from the incentives distribution, the Governor also distributed multi-cabs for the use of health workers in their day-to-day activities in the six cities and 17 municipalities.

Governor Remulla in his message, expressed his gratitude to the BHWs and BNS for their dedication in their work. He assured them of his support and promised to provide smart phones to each health worker for fast dissemination of information to the public.

On the other hand, Dr. George Repique, provincial health officer encouraged the BHWs to actively participate in the major health services included in the Department of Health’s (DOH) High Impact 5 (Hi-5) campaign which include child care, maternal care and infant care, establishment of functional delivery service network and the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. (Ruel Francisco, PIA-Cavite/PICAD)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/671436091965/cavite-s-health-workers-and-nutrition-scholars-receive-p8-1m-incentives#sthash.r6YRCw88.dpuf

2.  Tree planting activity continues in Magallanes forest park

• July 06, 2015

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite, July 6 (PIA) – About 1,500  tree seedlings of caballero, guyabano, atis, rambutan, mango, langka and alibangbang were planted at the Buhay Forest Summit 3 in Barangay Ramirez in the town of Magallanes as part of the annual celebration of Arbor Day in the province.

The provincial government together with private companies, local government units, students and other volunteers took part in this important undertaking in compliance with Executive Order No. 26 signed by President Benigno S. Aquino or the Billion Trees Program Nationwide (National Greening Program) and Provincial Ordinance No. 2013-007 aims to attain climate change mitigation and adaptation.

In a statement from the Provincial Information and Community Affairs Department (PICAD) the PG-ENRO, PENRO and the local government of Magallanes with the support of all stakeholders will continue the rehabilitation and preservation of said forest park. In June 2014, PG-ENRO initiated the tree planting activity in the 15-hectare Buhay Forest with target of planting 10,000 seedlings in three years.

Magallanes Mayor Edwin Sisante and Vice Mayor Jasmin Angeli Maligaya-Bautista welcomed the guests and participants during the short program held at Magallanes covered court. Provincial Board Member Felix Grepo who graced the event expressed his willingness to support this kind of activity. Grepo is the current chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Environment.

Philippine Arbor Day is observed every June 25 throughout the nation by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities. The necessity to promote a healthier ecosystem for the people through the rehabilitation and regreening of the environment was stressed in Proclamation No. 643, Philippines Arbor Day that amended Proclamation No. 396 of June 2, 2003. (Ruel Francisco, PIA-Cavite/PICAD)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/671436092008/tree-planting-activity-continues-in-magallanes-forest-park#sthash.SrRh29oN.dpuf

06 JULY 2015.
	Health department ready to handle new MERS-CoV case, says Palace official
	No casualty so far from typhoon Egay, says Palace official
	President Aquino urges cabinet members to intensify implementation of programs to boost inclusive growth
	Malacañang suspends work in government offices, classes in National Capital Region

Health department ready to handle new MERS-CoV case, says Palace official

Malacañang on Monday assured the public that the Department of Health (DOH) is prepared to handle the newest case of the Middle East Respiratory Sydrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the country. “The Philippines, through the Department of Health, is fully ready and capable of detecting, isolating and treating any reported case of MERS-CoV in the country,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement. Health Secretary Janette Garin has reported that a foreigner who came from the Middle East has tested positive for MERS-CoV. “According to Health Secretary Garin, the patient remains in isolation while undergoing treatment at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City. She said that further test results indicate improvement in the patient's condition,” added the Palace official. Coloma said President Benigno S. Aquino III has instructed the DOH "to tighten surveillance and quarantine measures at ports of entry and to ensure the prompt reporting by all hospitals of patients who show symptoms of the disease for immediate isolation, treatment and contact tracing.” A Filipina nurse who arrived from Saudi Arabia had tested positive for MERS-CoV last February but she was cleared of the virus later that month. PND (jm)

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No casualty so far from typhoon Egay, says Palace official

Due to the effective coordination among national government agencies and local government units (LGUs), there has been no reported casualty so far from Typhoon Egay, a Palace official said on Monday. “As Tropical Storm Egay continues to affect the northern parts of the country, our national agencies are hard at work, coordinating with provincial and local governments to minimize damages and ensure the smooth flow of relief, rescue, and support operations,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement. “As a result of these coordinated efforts, there has so far been no reported casualties,” he said. Secretary Lacierda noted that even before the storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had already alerted the public on its projected path. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has likewise directed the affected regions to intensify their precautionary initiatives and preparedness measures, he added. Lacierda said the Department of Health has been coordinating with hospitals in anticipation of possible events, and has been prepositioning assorted medicines in its provincial offices, while the Department of Interior and Local Government has continued to advise concerned LGUs and has disseminated information about possible floods and landslides. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways has installed warning signs on flooded road sections and has deployed equipment and personnel for clearing operations. Lacierda further said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has readied an emergency fund amounting to P32.8 million and has prepositioned a stockpile of 288,540 family packs in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Viscaya, and other geographically isolated areas. The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Coast Guard are all on alert and have deployed teams for rescue operations, he said, noting that successful rescues have been carried out in several areas in La Union. “We advise the public to stay calm and alert, and to keep updated on weather advisories by tuning in to government websites and media,” Lacierda said. According to PAGASA, Tropical Storm Egay has slightly weakened and is slowly moving northward. As of 10 a.m. on Monday, its center was at 155 km northwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte. Public Storm Warning Signal Number 2 has been raised in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra; and Signal Number 1 in Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands, northwest of Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, La Union and Benguet. PND (ag)

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President Aquino urges cabinet members to intensify implementation of programs to boost inclusive growth

President Benigno S. Aquino III has stressed the importance of intensifying the implementation of programs to “further bolster the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth and progress for all Filipinos”. In a statement issued on Monday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said that “in a special cabinet meeting this morning, the President called the attention of the Cabinet on the recent sidebar report in the June 15, 2015 edition of TIME Magazine Asia, which showed the Philippines as having the highest number of citizens saying they were optimistic on finding jobs at 66 percent. The country was followed by the United States with 51 percent, India -- 34 percent, Venezuela -- 22 percent, Sudan -- 18 percent, and Italy -- 3 percent." "The report, which cited a Gallup poll covering 130 countries, asked citizens’ opinions on local job opportunities, mirrors a similar survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in March 2015, which shows that the number of Filipinos expecting their personal quality of life to improve or net personal optimism at a ‘very high’ rating of +37 percent – the highest since 1987. In the same survey, net optimism among Filipinos about the Philippine economy was recorded at a ‘high’ of + 6 percent,” Secretary Coloma added. "The President, who is known for his keen observation of the latest economic trends, said these surveys firmly attest to the efficacy of the economic and social reforms of the administration that have resulted to a rapidly expanding job market and a decline in unemployment rate, which was recorded at 6.6 percent as of January 2015,” he said. "In the remaining months of the Aquino administration, the President called on the Cabinet to intensify the implementation of programs that would further bolster the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth and progress for all Filipinos,” the Palace official further said. PND (jm)

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Malacañang suspends work in government offices, classes in National Capital Region

The Palace on Monday afternoon issued Memorandum Circular No. 77, suspending work in all government offices and classes in all levels, both public and private, in the National Capital Region. The suspension was made upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in view of the inclement weather due to Typhoon Egay. The work suspension however did not cover “agencies whose function involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disaster and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital public services.” PND (ag)

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06 JULY 2015 Ombudsman junks case vs 12 COA auditors for lack of evidence DSWD disaster teams ready to assist LGUs in ‘Egay’s’ path DOJ scores conviction of a Singaporean national who did a 'Dicaprio' for Estafa Agency loses license for multiple recruitment violations H.E.L.P. M.E. update: 53 barangays now child labor-free; 5,091 children no more child laborers—Baldoz In Mandaue City, DOLE stops construction project for OSH violations "Egay" update: 8 roads remain impassable DILG provides 7 new patrol jeeps to Dinagat Islands PNP accounts for 17,000 wanted person and 4,000 loose firearms in 5-month operations Brand new MRT-3 rails arrive for safer, smoother rides Native Swine Project for Quezon Province DAR issues new Guidelines for the issuance of the notice to proceed affecting landholdings which are subject of A case as of 30 June 2014 SSS opens third branch in Muntinlupa Bureau beefs up immigration service at NAIA3 PDIC advises borrowers of Siargao Bank (A Rural Bank), Inc. to pay their obligations Jobs await tech-voc trainees in Palawan

Ombudsman junks case vs 12 COA auditors for lack of evidence

Source: http://www.coa.gov.ph

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales dismissed criminal charges against the 12 Commission on Audit (COA) auditors in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) releases through the National Agri-Business Corporation (NABCOR) and Technology Resource Center (TRC) that went to questionable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) between 2007 to 2009. In a 62-page Resolution signed last June 22, 2015, Ombudsman Morales dismissed the complaints and all criminal charges against State Auditors Jerry A. Calayan, and Sylvia P. Montes (retired) who were assigned at the TRC, as well as State Auditors Annie L. Recabo, Rebecca B. Aquino, Diana E. Casado, Bella G. Tesorero, Susan D. Guardian, Elizabeth M. Savella, Merle M. Valentin, Aida S. Villania, Laarni Lyn E. Torres, and Herminia SD. Aquino (retired) who were assigned at NABCOR. The Ombudsman found no sufficient evidence to hold respondents either administratively or criminally liable. “There is no probable cause to prosecute the COA officials. The evidence do not suggest that respondent-auditors conspired with their co-respondents in the misuse of former Representative of 2nd District, South Cotabato Arthur Y. Pingoy’s PDAF,” the Ombudsman said. “On Calayan’s part, there was no showing that he was negligent in the conduct of his audit. In his 2007 audit findings, he revealed that PSDFI [Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc.] was one of the 28 NGOs which did not submit its corporate papers. He likewise indicated that two releases of Pingoy’s PDAF in 2007 for P10M and P5M remain unliquidated,” the Ombudsman said. As for Montes, “she was able to satisfactorily show that she did not participate in the audit of TRC’s transactions. A perusal of her list of tasks to different government agencies from 2007 up to the time of her retirement does not indicate that she was assigned as Supervising Auditor of TRC at any given time.” The Ombudsman ruled that COA auditors assigned at NABCOR did not appear to have conspired with their co-respondents in the misappropriation or misuse of Pingoy’s PDAF nor found to have been negligent in the performance of their duties. “Said auditors were able to refute complainants’ allegation of negligence as the records show that the audit of NABCOR’s operation for 2008 was conducted only on September to December 2009. As for the 2009 transactions of NABCOR, their audit started only in October 2010. It was further shown at that time in the course of their audit, 20 audit observation, and 13 Audit Observation Memos (AOMs) were issued by them for 2007, 54 AOMs for 2008, and 13 AOMs for 2009, all of which have been included in the Annual Audit Report,” the Ombudsman said. The case against the auditors stemmed from separate complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Atty. Levito Baligod in connection with the PDAF scam. The auditors’ reporting of the deficiencies and violations concerning NABCOR’s transactions including that of Pingoy’s PDAF convinced the Ombudsman that they neither conspired with their-corespondents nor been negligent in the conduct of their audit.

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DSWD disaster teams ready to assist LGUs in ‘Egay’s’ path

Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph

Some 100,125 family food packs are available at the Field Offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Regions I, II, and III and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), ready for distribution to local government units along the path of Tropical Storm Egay. To ensure that families affected by the tropical storm will immediately receive assistance, DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman assured that there are also family food packs prepositioned at the local level aside from those at the regional offices and at the DSWD National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City. “Prepositioning of relief supply at the provincial and municipal levels is already a regular disaster preparedness measure that we undertake to ensure that assistance is not delayed,” Sec. Soliman said. Aside from the food packs, a standby fund amounting to P12.3 million in the four DSWD-Field Offices is also ready to be used for the purchase of emergency relief supplies. In Regions IV-A and IV-B, V, and VI that are not along the path of TS Egay but are experiencing heavy rains, the DSWD-Field Offices also allocated 146,850 food packs including some 58,597 packs that are stored at NROC. To date, members of the DSWD Quick Response Teams continue to remain on alert status to assist LGUs in disaster operations and management of evacuation centers. As of press time, a total of 4 families with 19 persons evacuated in Benguet and Kalinga in CAR due to landslides. In Region I, a total of 1,603 families in the Provinces of La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, were reported evacuated but were still being validated by the Regional Response Cluster. Likewise, DSWD received reports involving 34 families or 157 persons who were affected by a tornado and big waves in Region VI. Sec. Soliman once again urged the residents in areas affected by TS Egay to heed the announcement of their local authorities to ensure their safety. - See more at: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/2015/07/dswd-disaster-teams-ready-to-assist-lgus-in-egays-path/#sthash.g2DRgAaq.dpuf

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DOJ scores conviction of a Singaporean national who did a 'Dicaprio' for Estafa

Source: http://www.doj.gov.ph

A Singaporean national who challenged authorities to “catch him if they can” is now behind bars after the prosecution team from the Dept. of Justice secured his conviction in an estafa case filed in Dumaguete City. Judge Rosendo Bandal, Jr. of the Dumaguete City Regional Trial Court Branch 34 found accused Jonathan Lee Seng Tan alias Jonathan Tan Lee Seng, , a retired computer engineer, 52, single, of 87 McPersian Road, Singapore, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Estafa (Art. 315 of the Revised Penal Code). In a 15-page Judgment, Tan was meted the penalty of imprisonment from four years and two months of Prision Correccional, to eight years of Prision Mayor as maximum. He was also ordered to pay Bethel Guest House, a hotel in Dumaguete City, P19,506.52, with legal interest of 12 percent per annum until fully paid. In the Information filed by Assistant City Prosecutor Alvin Aseniero, Tan was accused of “having obtained credit by way of accommodation, food and other services from the Bethel Guest House in the total amount of P19,506.52” from Aug. 19 to Sept. 1, 2013. The court said that according to the prosecution, Tan “was accommodated in the hotel after he was allegedly robbed of his belongings at Quezon Park, Dumaguete City at past 11:30 o’çlock in the evening of August 18, 2013.” He was also assisted by a hotel staff to contact his relatives in Singapore and the Singaporean embassy so he could replace his stolen passport and settle his financial obligations with the hotel. A hotel staff testified that she exchanged emails with Tan’s brother but no money was sent to pay Tan’s bills. On Sept. 1, 2013, the accused just left the hotel without paying his obligation. The prosecution also presented as evidence Tan’s Facebook account printout of text messages where he boasted his alleged other criminal activities in La Trinidad and in Iloilo City and challenging legal authorities to “catch him if they can.” The court stated that “the wilful and deliberate act of the accused in defrauding the hotel on the payment of his hotel bill is very manifest and evident.” It further stated that “it appears obvious that the allegation of the accused that the bag containing his money and personal belongings were stolen while sitting in the park is a mere concoction and fabrication on his part.” The Dumaguete City Jail Warden was directed to immediately transfer Tan to the New Bilibid Prison where he will serve his sentence. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima commended Assistant Prosecutor Aseniero for successfully prosecuting the case. “Let this be a warning to everyone. Our laws are enforced against anyone who is under our country’s jurisdiction, and foreigners are definitely not exempted,” De Lima said.

H.E.L.P. M.E. update: 53 barangays now child labor-free; 5,091 children no more child laborers—Baldoz

Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said there are now 53 certified child labor-free barangays in the country under the Cabinet Cluster convergence program, H.E.L.P. M.E., which provides interventions and monitors the government’s anti-child labor efforts. H.E.L.P. M.E. is an acronym for Health, Education, Livelihood, and Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution; and Monitoring and Evaluation. “There are 23 more barangays that have been declared as child labor-free as a result of intensified efforts to liberate barangays with high incidence of child labor and make them child labor-free by 2016,” said Baldoz, citing the report of Director Ahma Charisma Satumba of the DOLE’s Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns. “This brings to 53 the number of child labor-free barangays under the program and the number of children who are no longer child laborers to 5,091,” she added. Satumba, in her report, also said 231 barangays have been upgraded from “continuing” to “low-hanging fruits”, and 283 “new-frontier barangays have been upgraded to “continuing”. Under the H.E.L.P. M.E. program, barangays evaluated as “new frontier” are those which have not yet received interventions on the prevention and elimination of child labor, while “continuing” barangays are those where there are initiatives, interventions, or services already being provided, but which need enhancements to achieve the goal. “Low hanging fruits” barangays are those where services and programs are already in place and have been mobilized, but these need to be sustained and continuously monitored. Satumba also said in her report that 96 barangays under the H.E.L.P. M.E. program have now Barangay Child Protection Committees; six barangays have enacted anti-child labor ordinances; eight barangays have enacted anti-child labor resolutions; two towns have approved municipal anti-child labor resolutions; and one city, Quezon City, has issued an anti-child labor executive order. In Region 4-A and Region 7, the BWSC has initiated the formulation and adoption of Voluntary Codes of Conduct on the Elimination of Child Labor in the Sugar Industry. The 23 new barangays declared as child labor-free are as follows: National Capital Region—Brgy. 155 (Bagong Barrio) and Brgy. 176 (Bagong Silang) in Caloocan; Brgy. Almanza Uno in Las Pinas; Brgys. 91, 107, 109, and 410 in Sampaloc and Brgy. 649 (Baseco) in Manila; Brgy. 201 in Villamor Airbase, Pasay City; and Bgry. Pasong Putik Proper in Quezon City. Cordillera Administrative Region—Brgys. Pide, Ague, Fidelisan, Banga-an, Tanulong, and Madongo in Sagada, Mt. Province. Region 3—Brgy. Pulong Buhangin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan and Brgy. Pandacaqui in Mexico, Pampanga. Region 4-A—Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez and Brgy. Sta. Ines, Tanay, Rizal; and Brgy. Sta. Maria, Calauag, Quezon. Region 4-B—Brgy. Libas, Buenavista, Marinduque. Baldoz, who had visited most of these barangays during the last two years, said the DOLE, through its regional offices, has undertaken various initiatives that contributed greatly to the elimination of child labor in these barangays leading to their being declared child-labor free, among these, strengthening its partnerships with local government units, particularly at the barangay level; delivery of livelihood assistance to the parents of child laborers; provision of education materials and school supplies for the children; and conduct of job fairs. The campaign for child labor-free barangays, launched in 2012, seeks to contribute to the vision of a Child Labor-Free Philiipines and to influence change and obtain commitment and support from various stakeholders. Relative to this, Baldoz issued on 15 December 2014 Administrative Order No. 657 the Guidelines on the Certification of Child Labor-Free Barangay, containing the criteria for the selection of child labor-free barangay, documentary requirements, certification process, incentives and benefits, and grounds for de-certification, among others. “This certification requires a tripartite validation process,” she said. A barangay, to be certified a labor-free, must meet the following criteria: (1) has a profile of children in the barangay, including child laborers, regularly maintained and updated; (2) parents of child laborers freed from child labor have expressed commitment not to engage their children in child labor; heads of schools to monitor school attendance of children; and barangay officials to support child labor campaign; (3) barangay has enacted and implements an ordinance or resolution against child labor and immediately acts upon reported child labor incidents; (4) child laborers have access to health and education and their parents to livelihood opportunities; (5) presence of a functional BCPC or Barangay Council for the Protection of Children; (6) inclusion of child labor protection agenda in the barangay development plan with a corresponding budget; (7) barangay has partnership with government and civil society organizations; (8) and barangay officials participate in child labor capacity-building activities. “We will continuously exert efforts in efficiently and effectively delivering anti-child labor programs and interventions to identified barangays in accordance with the National Child Labor Program and through H.E.L.P. M.E. to achieve our goal of eliminating child labor in our midst,” Baldoz finally said.

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In Mandaue City, DOLE stops construction project for OSH violations

Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 7, headed by Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga, has issued a work stoppage order, this time, to a construction project in Mandaue City, for posing hazard to residents which is a clear violation of occupational safety and health standards. In a report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Director Sacauga said he issued the order to the Bamboo Bay Community Tower II Project located at Hernan Cortes Street, Mandaue City, Cebu and its general contractor, Devlarn Ventures and Development Corporation. “We immediately conducted an incident investigation at the site after receiving the complaint of a certain Laipo M. Tan who is residing adjacent to the site. She reported to us that her house was hit by falling debris from said construction project,” disclosed Sarcauga. The labor laws compliance officer (LLCO) assigned to do the incident investigation reported that a police blotter of the Mandaue City Police Office showed there were alleged falling stones from the Bamboo Bay Community Tower II construction behind the house of Mrs. Tan. A one- to two- meter orange metal beam was said to have also fallen down to the garage of the complainant which damaged her house’s gutter. The concrete debris found included a steel tape; a deformed bar; tie wires; and the metal beam. This was confirmed by Marsha Emile-Estroso, the Safety and Health Officer of Devlarn Ventures and Development Corporation. In the walk-through conducted by the LLCO, he noted a number of deficiencies under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards. “There were no safety nets and debris catcher. There were also no guard rails along the edges and in the wall openings and stairs of the building being constructed. Aside from this, our LLCO also found out that there were no sufficient construction safety signages and structural analysis of scaffolds used duly signed by a structural engineer,” said Sarcauga. According to him, the management of said project also failed to present not only their Construction Safety and Health Program (CSHP) but also their Health and Safety Committee. The administrative reports on Employer’s Work Accident or Illness Report; Annual Work Accident/Illness Exposure Data Report; and Annual Medical Report were also non-existent during the investigation. For more information on this report, you may contact Luchel S. Taniza- Regional Labor Communication Officer at telefax number (032) 266-2792 or you may send an email at dole_centralvisayas@yahoo.com

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"Egay" update: 8 roads remain impassable

Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph

Eight (8) road sections in Region 1 and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are still closed to traffic due landslide and flooding brought by tropical storm “Egay”. In the latest report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - Bureau of Maintenance, as of 6:00 a.m. of July 6, 2015, Monday, roads that are impassable include: CAR 1.Kennon Road, K0242+620, Camp 7, Baguio City; 2.Baguio-Bauang Road, K0299+(-150), Irisan, Baguio City; 3.Gurel-Bokod-Kabayan Road, KO315-KO316 , Barangay Bugao, Bokod, Benguet; 4.Gurel-Bokod-Kabayan Road, K0339+000 -K0340+000, Barangay Asokong, Kabayan, Benguet; 5.Gurel-Bokod-Kabayan Road, KO341+320, Bongis Section, Benguet; and 6.Baguio-Itogon Road, K0261+330, Goldfield Section, Barangay Ucab, Benguet. Region 1 1.Tagudin - Cervantes Road, KM333+500 - KM335+000 K0942+000 – k0943+000, Ilocos Sur; and 2.Manila North Road (MNR), Bangar-Luna, KM305+000 to KM306+000, La Union. Partial report of the DPWH-BOM shows cost of damages on roads in CAR amounts to P4.25 million, while the cost of damages in Region 1 is still being assessed. Concerned DPWH offices have already installed warning signs on affected road sections while manpower and equipment were already deployed for the on-going clearing operations.

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DILG provides 7 new patrol jeeps to Dinagat Islands

Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph

Progress has come slowly to the Dinagat Islands, a cluster of islands off the coast of Surigao. Roads have yet to be paved, cellphone signal is scarce, and electricity comes from diesel-run generators. Like most far-flung provinces, they are rarely brought to the forefront of national government attention. “Alam ko ‘yung pakiramdam na malimutan,” Secretary of Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas said to thousands of Dinagat-nons crowded inside the sports complex of Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands, on July 3. “Ako po ‘yung anak sa gitna. Kaya alam ko feeling ninyo. Kaya maasahan po ninyo na hinding-hindi po kayo malilimutan, hindi po namin kayo pababayaan.” Roxas reinforced his point by presiding over the distribution of seven patrol jeeps, one for each municipality of Dinagat Islands. “Absent o present, kakampi o hindi, lahat may patrol jeeps,” Roxas said. The recipients of the patrol jeeps were the seven mayors of the Dinagat Islands, Basilisa Mayor Alan Ecleo, Cagdianao Mayor Marc Longos, Dinagat Mayor Craig Ecleo, Libjo Mayor Lamberto Llamera, Loreto Mayor Nena Ladaga-Quijano, San Jose Mayor Allan Ecleo II, and Tubajon Mayor Romeo Vargas. Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka Bag-Ao joined Roxas after giving her State of the Province Address (SOPA), where she promised that the national roads of the Dinagat Islands would be paved by 2016. Bag-Ao also discussed other projects in conjunction with the local units of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Health (DOH). “Maganda ‘yung SOPA dahli nakikita n’yo kung no ginagawa ng kongreso,” Roxas said. “Hamon na rin ‘yun na siguraduhin na ang pera n’yo ay mababalik sa inyo.” Bag-Ao’s SOPA and the distribution of patrol jeeps was attended by Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Western Samar Representative Mel Sarmiento, Cavite Representative Blueboy Abaya, Bukidnon District 1 Representative Malou Acosta, Sarangani Representative Carol Lopez. This was the DILG Chief’s second visit to the province. “Hindi basta-basta na mababalewala ang buhay n’yo. Yan lang makikita no sa Daang Matuwid,” he reassured them. Dinagat-nons have also benefited from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) programs such as Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB), Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG), and the distribution of 77 “multicabs” for use of Dinagat-non barangay officials to deliver goods and service to their constituents. On the other hand, BUB allows citizens to identify and allot for projects for their own benefit. The SALINTUBIG project has provided potable water to the citizens of the Dinagat Islands.

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PNP accounts for 17,000 wanted person and 4,000 loose firearms in 5-month operations

Source: http://pnp.gov.ph

The Philippine National Police, under the supervision of Officer-in-Charge PDDG Leonardo A Espina, neutralized a total number of 17,098 wanted persons while accounted a total number of 4, 473 firearms from January to May 2015. On campaign against wanted persons, 16, 917 were arrested, 66 killed and 115 surrendered. Eight (8) of these wanted persons have monetary rewards. Significant accomplishment of the campaign against wanted person was the killing of international terrorist ZULFIRI BINHIR alias “Marwan” during a high risk operation through a service of warrant of arrest on January at Brgy. Pidsawan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao. On campaign against loose firearms, 3, 193 firearms were confiscated for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms Law) while 734 were recovered and 546 firearms were surrendered. Consequently, a total of 3, 286 persons were arrested and 2, 230 cases were filed in courts. While operations against organized crime group resulted in the disbandment of 33 gangs and arrest of 417 gang members, recovery of 177 assorted firearms and filing of 215 cases in courts. PDDG Espina said, “The PNP sustained its program in anti-criminality operations to keep the communities safer by deploying more uniformed personnel to carry out focused police operations. Patrolling and presence of the police officers assures law abiding citizen of their safety from any criminal elements.” "Through the sustained implementation of Oplan Lambat Sibat spearheaded by DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, the PNP intensified police presence on streets and anti-criminality campaigns with the primary goal of reducing crime and improving public safety" Espina added. Oplan Lambat Sibat is being cascaded in Region 3, Pro-4A and NCR that resulted in the downtrend of crime statistics as compared with the statistics before its implementation.(PNP-PIO)

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Brand new MRT-3 rails arrive for safer, smoother rides

Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph

Over 7,000 Meters to be Replaced Beginning Later this Year The rail rehabilitation project of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) is on track to ensure safer and smoother rides to the public, as 7,296 lineal meters of brand-new steel rails were delivered to the agency last week. These rails will be used to replace the line’s worn-out segments as part of the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) strong resolve to improve passenger safety on the metropolis’ main railway system. The DOTC and MRT-3 management already implemented several rounds of critical rail replacement works earlier this year, by making use of stabling rails – or the tracks located within the MRT-3 depot designed for parking purposes facilities but not in actual or regular use – to replace 348 meters between the Magallanes and Taft Avenue Stations and another 126 meters between the Santolan and Ortigas Stations. Scheduling for the installation of the recently-delivered rails will be prepared by MRT-3 management and will draw largely from the time-and-motion study of the replacement efforts done in previous months: works will more likely be conducted during non-operating hours in order to avoid any disruptions to the rail line’s services. Meanwhile, 6 new maintenance providers begin rendering services today for the following components of the MRT-3: (1) Rolling Stocks, Depot Equipment, and Signalling; (2) Rail Tracks and Permanent Ways; (3) Buildings and Facilities; (4) Power Supply and OCS; (5) Communications Systems; and (6) Ticketing Systems. This is expected to provide better reliability and convenience for riders within a matter of weeks. Rehabilitation works that will aid in shortening queues are ongoing, such as: the acquisition of 48 new train cars, with the prototype slated to arrive in August; and the new tap-and-go ticketing system, which will be available later this year. The first batch of conveyance facilities, covering 12 escalators, is set to be refurbished within the next six (6) months, and is expected to provide relief to commuters. The projects to rehabilitate the remaining 34 escalators and to replace 32 elevators are up for procurement. Other improvement projects are in various stages of procurement and implementation.

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Native Swine Project for Quezon Province

Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently conducted trainings on the swine project in Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) of Bulihan, San Antonio, Quezon. Regional Director Engr. Rodolfo S. Pangilinan said the project is under Agriculture and Agribusiness Development component of Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project III (ARISP III). He said the first round of training was conducted in 2014 dealing with the topic on construction of the housing and the establishment of forage farm, including feeding management.news 3 2 july 6 2015 Pangilinan added the final round of training concerns hands-on application on the preparation of organic feeds and pesticides. San Antonio Mayor Erick Wagan expressed his full support in the implementation of the project by donating Php 177,000.00 in behalf of the San Antonio municipal government for the construction of the required swine’s housing. It is envisioned that by 2016, Roxas Estate MPC, the ARB organization recipient will become the supplier of native swine in the municipality and the neighboring barangays of Tiaong. Likewise, an estimated 30% increase in income of the cooperative will be met according to Pangilinan. Part of the project implementation is the development of full time employees to become caretakers of the livestock in-charge of preparing organic feeds.

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DAR issues new Guidelines for the issuance of the notice to proceed affecting landholdings which are subject of A case as of 30 June 2014

Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) released a set guidelines for the issuance of Notice to Proceed for landholdings which are the subject of a case as of 30 June 2014 through Administrative Order No.05, Series of 2015. Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Luis Meinrado C. Pañgulayan said that this amendatory Administrative Order has been issued to change the nomenclature of “Notice of Coverage” to “Notice to Proceed” in order to avoid any confusion on the nature of the notice. Pañgulayan said that upon receipt by the Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer of the directive to proceed with the preliminary processing, he shall immediately cause the issuance of a Notice to Proceed. He clarified that the Notice to Proceed shall be issued in the same manner and to the same persons as that of a Notice of Coverage. The purpose of the notice is to inform the concerned landowner that the DAR shall proceed with the preliminary processing of the acquisition and distribution of the land. He added that the Notice to Proceed must also state the non-extendible 30 day period for the landowner to file a Protest on Coverage, Nomination of Preferred Beneficiary/ies, Manifestation for Exemption/Exclusion, and Manifestation to Exercise the Right of Retention. The landowner must also submit a duly attested list of the agricultural lessees, farm workers, and/or tenants in his/her/its landholding. The landowner must state under oath his/her/its awareness of the consequences of the failure to exercise the rights during the said period. The same notice must state in bold letters that the act of the landowner to nominate preferred beneficiaries, exercise the right of retention, and to submit lists of tenants and farm workers shall not prejudice his/her/its legal position in the pending appealed case in the Office of the President.

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SSS opens third branch in Muntinlupa

Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph

The Social Security System (SSS) opened its third branch in Muntinlupa City at Estrellita Bldg., Tierra Nueva Commercial Complex, Alabang-Zapote Road, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Formally inaugurated on June 19, 2015, SSS Alabang-Zapaote Branch serves around 40,000 employees and 5,000 employers in the areas of Ayala Alabang, Cupang, Sucat and Almanza-Uno. The area is surrounded with Information Technology (IT) Hubs, Business Processing Outsourcing (BPOs), shopping malls, hotels and other business establishments. The branch offers issuance of SS number, registration and coverage of household helpers, acceptance and processing of loan applications and benefit claims, Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) data capture and E-center services. Tellering and Physical Examination facilities for disability benefit claims will be set-up soon. Photo shows SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros Jr. (right) with Estrellita Realty and Development Corporation Vice President Ms. Estrellita S. Santiago (left) and Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Hon. Artemio S. Simundac (center) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Behind them are (L-R) SSS Senior Vice President for NCR Operations Group Jose B. Bautista, Department Manager for Branch Evaluation Services Department Gloria Y. Cusia, SSS Alabang-Zapote Branch Head Catherine T. Gomez and Vice President for Public Affairs & Special Events Division Marissu G. Bugante witnessing the event. SSS has two additional offices in Muntinlupa namely: SSS-Alabang Branch located at Estrellita Bldg., 236 Montillano St., Alabang and SSS-Muntinlupa Branch located at Muntinlupa City Hall.

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Bureau beefs up immigration service at NAIA3

Source: http://www.immigration.gov.ph

Manila, Philippines, July 3, 2015---Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Elaine Tan says that they will implement a new deployment plan at the airport counters to avoid a repeat of the horrendous long queues which happened at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3 (NAIA3) last Thursday morning. Effective July 1, the Bureau implemented a new personnel deployment scheme in NAIA 3 with 7 shifts instead of the usual 3 shifts based on the expected volume of passengers. While July 1 was a transition period, all passengers were timely cleared and none missed their flights due to long immigration lines. With the new plan, expect a better waiting period at the counters, assures Tan. Tan admitted that the bureau failed to anticipate the unusual spike in tourist departures that day. Reports show that the long queue began at around 5 am when only eight Immigration Officers were left to process a total of 1,767 passengers for 11 flights. “More and more tourists are coming in and out of our country. For us at the bureau of Immigration, this adds to the challenge. In spite of our numbers, we will ensure a more efficient deployment of our people so that we are responsive to the increasing demands at the counters. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this incident may have caused to the travelers. We request for your kind understanding and consideration,” said Tan. Bureau chief Siegfred Mison have called on the terminal head and the duty supervisor for their explanation as to why they failed to manage the queue. “We are still getting all the facts from terminal head Chem Siguan and the duty supervisor. We apologize for this temporary inconvenience AND firmly commit to the public that such events, if inexcusable, will not happen again considering that we are MAXIMIZING the number of immigration inspectors during peak hours,” Mison adds. Due to the limited number of immigration officers, those assigned at the arrival counters are directed to augment the workforce at the departure area whenever possible. “However, due to the heavy passenger density at the arrival area, the scheme was not possible,” added Tan. Despite the limited resources, BI promised the public that the same incident will not happen again. The BI has formulated a new schedule to maximize its workforce during peak hours, by adjusting the duty shifts to seven instead of the existing four shifts, with overlaps between shifts. BI likewise reminded the traveling public to be at the airport at least three hours before their estimated departure time, and must be cleared at the immigration inspection at least 45 minutes before boarding time. “Our immigration officers call out passengers whose flights are about to depart, so it is best to approach the immigration duty supervisor if we know that we are about to be late,” advised Tan.”

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PDIC advises borrowers of Siargao Bank (A Rural Bank), Inc. to pay their obligations

Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), the Receiver of the closed Siargao Bank (A Rural Bank), Inc. reminded borrowers of the bank to continue to pay their loans and transact only with authorized PDIC representatives. Siargao Bank was placed under the receivership of the PDIC by virtue of Monetary Board Resolution No. 919.B dated June 11, 2015. In a statement, PDIC advised borrowers of Siargao Bank to pay their loans and other obligations directly at any Philippine National Bank (PNB) Branch under account name, PDIC FAO BURL (SIARGAO BANK, INC.). PDIC emphasized that it has not engaged any person, agent or agency to collect the loan payments for and in behalf of the bank. To ensure proper recording of their payments, PDIC further advised borrowers to keep copies of the PNB Deposit/Payment Slips. The PDIC emphasized that for payments to be valid, it must be supported by a machine-validated PNB Deposit/Payment Slip. Official receipts will be issued by PDIC upon validation of payments and will be sent through mail to the borrowers. For proper accounting of their payments, borrowers who do not receive their official receipts are advised to send a photocopy of their deposit slips by mail to the Deputy Receiver for loans Democrito L. Bitang at the PDIC Office, 5th Floor, SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City or send via e-mail to Ignacio M. Quintano at imquintano@pdic.gov.ph and to Ms. Thelma A. Peña at tbarias@pdic.gov.ph. Borrowers of the bank may also communicate with the PDIC-Loans Management Department I at (02) 841-4992 or 841-4766. Queries may also be sent through email at pad@pdic.gov.ph. Siargao Bank is a three-unit rural bank with Head Office located at 03406 Jose C. Sering Bldg., Borromeo St., Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. Its two branches are located in Dapa and Mainit, both in Surigao del Norte.

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Jobs await tech-voc trainees in Palawan

Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph

The trainees at the newly-inaugurated technical-vocation training center in Palawan are sitting in a sweet spot. Even before they graduate, they are already being hired. Of the 2,700 enrolled trainees at the Palawan Training Center, 1,500 will have a sure s?lot? for employment in Malaysia, according to ?Provincial Director ?Arnel Campued of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Palawan. The job openings are for those taking tourism courses, Campued said. "The employment was facilitated by Governor Jose Alvarez of Palawan. An employment team from the local government unit was organized for the purpose," he added. Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said the agency will continue providing quality skills training to the youth to give them a strong fighting chance when they get into the world of work. "Technical vocational education and training is a learning that works. I urge the youth to give it a try," Villanueva said. Visiting Palawan early this week, Villanueva, joined by Alvarez and local government officials, led the inauguration of the Palawan Training Center in Aborlan town. Saranggani Representative and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao also attended the event and expressed support for the promotion of tech-voc in the country. Villanueva also attended the ground breaking ceremony of the TESDA Assessment Processing Center in Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trades (PPSAT), which was donated by the provincial government, and the TESDA-PPSAT Contextual Learning Center. The TESDA chief also led the awarding of toolkits for the scholars under TESDA’s Special Training for Employment Program (STEP). The TESDA Assessment Processing Center will house the facilities and ?the qualified staff who will process documents from application to issuance of National Certificates. It will also provide rooms and facilities for orientation and conduct of written test. The center will cater to TESDA clients for its assessment and certification program, to include those who have ?complete??d the? tech-voc track of the K to 12 program, and PGP – JCA Scholarship Program (Programang Pang-edukasyon sa Palawan) and other graduates of TESDA Programs. The province of Palawan is not wanting in stories of graduates who have taken the tech-voc path and succeeded. Leaving the service after 34 years, Retired Master Sergeant Rodellin Carriedo of the Philippine Marine Corp. found a new career after getting the skills and the certificate for four courses -- Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII, Plumbing NC II, Tile Setting NC II and Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II. Jimuel Milano, 31, ?had a hard time looking for a job. He took up a tech-voc course and is now employed in a construction company. He carries with him ?N?ational ?C?ertificates ?i?n Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII, Carpentry NC II, Plumbing NC II and courses related to electrical repairs.

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INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR. Radyo Singko / All Ready by Orly Mercado 07 July 2015 ORLY MERCADO: Secretary Sonny, good morning. SEC. COLOMA: Magandang umaga, Orly, sa’yo at sa lahat ng ating tagasubaybay. ORLY MERCADO: Okay. Tatlong trilyon ito, gaano ba ang inilaki nito kung ihahambing sa budget ng 2015? SEC. COLOMA: Fifteen point two (15.2) percent increase, Orly, at ito ay halos 20% na ng tinatayang gross domestic product ng ating bansa. ORLY MERCADO: At ang nakalagay dito ano, as usual—well, of course, nasa Saligang Batas natin ito—iyong pinakamataas na allocation ay iyong para sa edukasyon. SEC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Orly. Iyong Department of Education ay tatanggap ng P436.5 billion, kasunod ang Department of Public Works and Highways, P401 billion para sa imprastruktura. At iyong combined budget ng DepEd at DPWH ay more than one-fourth or 25% ng total budget po natin. Pero ang pinakamalaking portion pa rin, Orly, katulad nung dati ay iyong pinagsamang budget sa edukasyon, kalusugan, paghahanapbuhay at pabahay. Iyan po ang— ORLY MERCADO: Kung pagsasamahin iyon, andoon lahat iyong ano, nandoon iyong (unclear), iyon pinakamalaking portion. SEC. COLOMA: At kung tutuusin, Orly, iyan ay iyong tinatawag nating ‘investment in people’. Kinakailangan po kasing mamuhunan tayo para sa kagalingan ng ating mga mamamayan, lalung-lalo na iyong kabataan dahil pumapasok din tayo doon sa tinatawag na ‘demographic sweet spot’. Pinakamarami po sa mamamayan natin ay nandoon sa productive working force— ORLY MERCADO: Labor force. SEC. COLOMA: —18 to 64 years old ‘no, iyon pong pinakamarami doon sa hanay ng kabataan. ORLY MERCADO: Iyan ang sinasabi ng lahat ng mga pantas at saka mga nag-aaral ng ekonomiya. Sinasabi nila na nandoon ang pinakaimportanteng investment sa atin, sa kanilang kaalaman at saka kalusugan ng work force na iyan. Pero importante rin iyong imprastruktura dahil iyan din ang isa sa nirereklamo sa atin, hind ba? SEC. COLOMA: Kaya nga, Orly, iyon atin pong aspirational goal ay five percent dapat ng GDP natin ay para sa imprastruktura. Sa ngayon ay hindi pa tayo umaabot sa ganiyang hanay dahil iyong ating DPWH budget ay wala pang 10% ng total budget natin, na iyon naman ay 19.5% ng GDP. So parang nasa two to three percent pa lang tayo. Kaya gusto nating palakihin pa iyong ating gross domestic products para iyan din iyong panggagalingan ng malaking bahagi ng pangtustos sa itatayo na imprastruktura. MERCADO: So, sa karanasan ng administrasyong Aquino, nagkaroon ng pagkukulang doon sa absorptive capacity, sa kapasidad na magastos iyong pera. Ano ang ginagawa ngayon kahit sa huling mga buwan ho ng huling taon ng pamamahala ng Aquino administration? SEC. COLOMA: Talagang tinututukan ngayon iyong mga administrative aspects diyan, Orly. At ang target at 95 to 100% disbursement para sa—dahil iyon lang namang mga long gestation projects ang usually ang nagki-carry over doon sa succeeding years. Pero hinuhusayan na iyong pagpapatupad. Maaga pa lang ay inaayos na iyong mga work and financial plans. Sa ngayon, Orly, tinanggal na iyong SARO. Ngayon ay— MERCADO: Ah, wala na iyong SARO? SEC. COLOMA: Oo, iyong mismong pinasa na GAA, iyon na iyong release document. Effective January 1, considered release na iyon pero kinakailangang magsumite ng work and financial plans para doon sa mga proyekto para namang tiyak na matututukan kung saan talaga gagastusin itong mga budget na ito. MERCADO: Malaking bagay iyan. Para kayong nagsyu-short circuit ng ano, ‘di ba? Mapapabilis iyong mga pagpirma. SEC. COLOMA: Kaya nga (unclear) para mas mabilis iyong implementasyon. MERCADO: Oo. Kasi ang—well, in the past, it was always SARO. SEC. COLOMA: Oo, parang maraming checkpoint ‘no – SARO, pagkatapos may NCA. Ngayon ay pinapabilis na. Iyong GAA mismo, iyong General Appropriations Act, iyon na rin mismo iyong release document. MERCADO: Secretary, iyong mga namumuno sa mga departamento ay talagang wala na silang dahilan upang sabihin, ‘Wala eh, naiipit kami doon sa DBM.’ Eh nakaano na eh … SEC. COLOMA: Hindi na puwedeng gawing (unclear), Orly. MERCADO: Wala na. Ang tanong sa’yo, ‘Bakit hindi mo magastus-gastos iyong pera, nasa iyo pa?’ Eh talagang makikita kung sino ang mabilis magtrabaho. SEC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Orly. MERCADO: So tingin mo, magkakaroon ng—this budget actually paves the way for the next year. Pero ang magiging epekto ng election activities? Matutuloy pa rin ba? Kasi minsan sa mga agam-agam ng ibang nababasa kong mga komentaryo, pagdating ng change of leadership [ay] mayroon eleksyon, parang mayroon silang agam-agam, ang mga commentators and those watching … iyong mga nagmamatiyag ng ating economic activities. Ano ba ang masasabi ng Malacañang dito? SEC. COLOMA: Committed po tayo na tiyakin iyong maayos at tahimik na transition ng kapangyarihan sa ating bansa dahil iyan ang pinakamahalagang aspeto ng ating demokrasya na nakapagdaraos tayo ng eleksyon, at mapayapa iyong paglipat ng kapangyarihan. MERCADO: Doon naman sa ano, mapunta naman ako doon … meron kaming question of the day, tungkol sa MERS-CoV at saka kung tayo ay handa. Ano ba ang posisyon ng Malacañang regarding itong pinakahuling isang pasyente na foreigner na although he was caught at the last stages of his 14-day watch period. SEC. COLOMA: Oo nga, Orly. Ang importante dito iyong pagiging maagap ng ating mga ospital. Kung tumanggap sila ng mga ganiyang kaso, dapat ay agarang i-report sa Department of Health para agaran din iyong isolation at iyong treatment. Sa lahat naman po ng entry points ay pinaiigting iyong surveillance at monitoring, pati po iyong pinanggagalingan mismo sa Gitnang Silangan dahil nga ito ay Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. Ito pong pinakahuling kaso, nanggaling din po talagan iyan sa Middle East. Kaya doon pa lamang sa Middle East ay pinag-iingat na rin iyong ating mga kababayan, lalung-lalo na iyong mga health workers na maaaring ma-expose sa ganiyang mga potential or actual carriers po ng MERS-CoV. MERCADO: Okay, Secretary, itatanong ko lang iyong posisyon ng Palasyo ukol dito kay Secretary Abaya dahil hindi siya kasama doon sa mga idinemanda. Nakausap ko siya kahapon. I was able to interview him, and he explained his particular position. Pero ano po ba ang posisyon ng Palasyo tungkol doon sa mga bumabatikos at sinasabi, sina Vitangcol lamang ang nademanda pero hindi isinama si Secretary Abaya? Iyon bang ang tingin nila parang merong pinuprotektahan ang Malacañang, iyon ang posisyon nila. SEC. COLOMA: Ang tanong nga kahapon, Orly, ay hindi daw ba untouchable o untouchable daw ba. At ang tugon ko naman ay wala naman po tayong konsepto ng untouchable dahil kabalintunaan iyon. Ang ating itinataguyod na prinsipyo ay hindi po untouchable kung hindi accountable. May pananagutan lahat po ng mga Cabinet secretaries at mga senior officials at lahat po ng lingkod bayan. Nandoon po sa ating Konstitusyon iyan – Public office is a public thrust. Kaya no one is above the law. Iyan pong paghahain ng sakdal ay isinagawa ng Office of the Ombudsman na isang independent constitutional body. Hindi po namin pinanghihimasukan dahil ginagalang po natin iyong atas ng Saligang Batas natin na ito ay independent body; hindi po iyan bahagi ng Ehekutibo. Marami po kasing nag-iisip na kasama po iyan sa administrasyon. Ay, hindi po dahil independent constitutional body po iyan katulad ng Commission on Audit. MERCADO: At ang sinasabi nga nila, well, dapat makita iyong kung … ng Ombudsman para makita kung ano, maybe para malaman natin kung ano ang pinagbabasehan. SEC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Orly. Batay sa naisalaysay sa akin ni Secretary Abaya, siya ay hiningan din ng paliwanag kaya siya naman ay nagsumite ng kaniyang pahayag at lahat ng mga dokumentong hinihingi sa tanggapan niya ay binigay naman. Kaya pinakamainam siguro, doon sa mga nagdududa ay basahin na lamang iyong resolusyon ng Ombudsman para po maunawaan natin kung ano ang naging batayan. At ang patakaran naman po ni Pangulong Aquino, dapat po iyong hustisya o katarungan sa ating bansa, katulad nang sinasagisag ng lady justice na blindfolded, wala po talagang sinisino, walang kinikilala iyan. Dapat ay mapanagot iyong lahat po ng mga responsable. MERCADO: Thank you very much, Secretary Sonny Coloma. Maraming salamat. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat sa pagkakataon. Magandang umaga, Orly. SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center [HOME]   INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR. DZXL / Straight to the Point by Rogie Sending and Lourdes Escaros 07 July 2015 SENDING: Sir, napatawag po kami kasi aprubado na ho pala sa Gabinete at maging kay Pangulong Noynoy itong ipapanukalang budget for 2016. Ano ho ang meron sa budget na ito, lalung-lalo na ito po iyong huling budget na ipapanukala ho ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Noynoy? SEC. COLOMA: Ang atin pong pambansang budget ay naaayon sa mga prayoridad ng ating Philippine Development Plan. Una po, iyong good governance and anti-corruption. Iyong pangalawa, iyong pagtamo ng inclusive growth na kung saan po ay wala pong maiiwanan, lalung-lalo na iyong pinakamaralita sa ating mga mamamayan. Ang pangatlo ay sustaining the growth momentum dahil nga po nakita natin na sa loob ng limang nakaraang taon, nag-average po ng 6.3% GDP growth ang ating pambansang ekonomiya na pinakamagandang performance for the last 40 years, gusto po natin itong maipagpatuloy. At ikaapat po, iyong pagsisikap na maibsan iyong mga panganib mula sa mga kalamidad katulad ng inyong kababanggit lamang bago ho ninyo ako natawagan. At ang ikalima ay hinggil sa pagkakaroon ng pangmatagalang estabilidad at kapayapaan, lalung-lalo na po sa Mindanao. Iyon po ang limang prayoridad na bumabalot sa mga programa ng 2016 national budget. ESCAROS: Kaya po 15.2% daw po ang taas nito kumpara noong 2015? SEC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Ka Loudes, 15.2% increase, at bubuuin nito ang halos 20% ng ating gross domestic product. ESCAROS: Secretary, napansin ho namin, nangunguna sa may pinakamataas na pondo ang Department of Education, sumunod po iyong DPWH, DILG at DOH. Bakit po mas mataas iyong sa DILG kung ikukumpara po sa Department of Health? SEC. COLOMA: Ito po ay tumutukoy sa mga programa sa ating walumpu’t dalawang (82) lalawigan at mahigit isanlibo animnaraan (1,600) na kabayanan. Kaya po malaking budget ito, malaki po rin ang sinasakop. Iyon pong mga local governments natin ay kasama po sa istraktura ng pamamahala sa ating bansa. Pero ang pinakamahalaga, Ka Lourdes, ay ito: Iyong binanggit mo na P436.5 billion para sa Department of Education, iyan ang pinakamataas, pinakamalaking budget at naaayon ito sa mandato ng Konstitusyon na pinakamataas na prayoridad dapat ay para sa edukasyon. At kapag pinagsama-sama natin iyong sa education, iyong sa Department of Health na P128.5 billion, Department of Social Welfare and Development na P107.6 billion, pati rin po iyong sa Department of Labor and Employment, isama n’yo na rin iyong TESDA at saka iyong sa National Housing Authority naman ‘no – iyong para sa pabahay – iyong social services sector na merong pangunahing responsibilidad para sa poverty reduction, iyan din po ang merong pinakamalaking bahagi ng ating pambansang budget. Kaya iyon po ang pinakamahalagang prayoridad ng ating gobyerno sa kasalukuyan. SENDING: Sec. Sonny, sir, alam naman natin na election year ho sa 2016, hindi n’yo naman maiaalis baka meron nanamang birada sa Malacañang, kaya tinaasan iyan, pati iyong DILG mataas ang budget dahil nga ho sa election year next year? SEC. COLOMA: Ka Rogie, ibang-iba na po ang gobyerno natin ngayon. Si Juan Dela Cruz po kahit anong oras, puwede lang po niyang buksan iyong computer, baka kung meron siyang smart phone na may internet, puwede rin po niyang puntahan ang website ng bawat government agency. Meron po tayong tinatawag na seal of transparency – required po ang lahat ng government agency ipakita nila iyon kanilang budget, ipakita nila kung saan sila gumagastos, ipakita nila iyong mga procurement nila na dapat ay sumusunod sa government procurement. Lahat po iyan ay hayag, bukas, transparent at may accountability po ang ating mga opisyal. Kahit sino pong mamamayan ay puwedeng magdulog sa Ombudsman. Kahit na anonymous letter, pakikinggan po iyon, iimbestigahan po iyon. Kaya iyan po ang mga safeguards at mga institutional mechanisms na nasa lugar po ngayon para maging tapat ang paglilingkod ng mga government employees, at para po matiyak iyong tamang paggugol ng kaban ng bayan. Kaya nga po ang tema ng pambansang budget ay ito: “Paggugol na Matuwid: Saligan sa Tuluy-tuloy na Pag-unlad.” ESCAROS: Dito ho sa DSWD na P107.6 billion, nakita ho ba ng Malacañang, ni PNoy, na effective ang CCT kaya nananatiling may pinakamataas na pondo po ang DSWD? SERC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Ka Lourdes, at hindi lang naman po tayo ang tumututok diyan. Iyon pong Asian Development Bank, iyong World Bank, marami pa pong mga multilateral aid organizations ang tumututok sa ating pagpapatupad ng Conditional Cash Transfer at iyong Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program na naiiba doon sa mga nakaraang programa. Dahil noon pong dati ay 800,000 lamang ang tuwirang pinagkakalooban ng benepisyo – 800,000 families – ngayon po ay lagpas na sa 4.4 million families ang tuwirang binibigyan ng benepisyo. At ang epekto po ay sinukat din sa pamamagitan ng mga pag-aaral ng PIDS (Philippine Institute for Development Studies). Ayon po sa kanilang pag-aaral, mas mataas ang posibilidad na makakakuha ng trabaho at mataas ang kikitain kung makakatapos ng high school. Kaya po iyong ayuda para sa mga benepisyaryong pamilya, in-extend na po doon sa mga pamilyang merong anak na nasa high school po – papasok po tayo doon sa bagong sistema natin hanggang Grade 12. Kasi kapag tinulungan po sila ng ganap at nakatapos ng high school ay mas maganda po ang kanilang tiyansa na makakuha ng trabaho. ESCAROS: Secretary, pero hindi po ba dapat mas bawasan na siya? Kasi sa report ng DSWD, may more than hundred thousand families na umalis na po sa CCT program kasi kaya na nilang mabuhay; hindi na nila kailangan ang tulong ng gobyerno. SEC. COLOMA: Iyon pong kakayanin na, tinatanggal na po sila. Pero pansinin natin, Ka Lourdes, ini-include din naman iyong mga homeless ngayon. Kasi iyong dating sistema ay batay doon sa National Household Targeting System. Kaya po ganoon ang tawag, siguradong mayroong address, may house number, mayroong street, mayroon pong barangay. Marami pa pong maralita sa ating bansa na homeless po. Iyan po iyong mga nakikita po natin sa seawall ng Roxas Boulevard, at wala po silang tirahan, gumagala po sila, kung saan-saan lang po sila natutulog. Isinasama na rin po itong mga homeless. Kaya po kung merong natanggal na dahil na-monitor na kaya na nila, meron din naman pong dinadagdag na higit pang nangangailangan. SENDING: Sec., dito daw ho sa budget na ito, iyang P3.002 trillion na iyan, meron daw hong, kumbaga kung iyong obligasyon sa mga ongoing programs and projects ay P2.4 trillion something, parang meron hong P580 billion na puwede hong galawin at gastusin po ng gobyerno sa gusto niyang paglaanan na bagong mga proyekto. May plano na ho ba kung saan ilalaan iyang halos kalahating trillion ho na iyan? SEC. COLOMA: Siyempre, Ka Rogie, dahil hindi naman po nagre-release ng pondo, hindi po iyan mapupunta doon sa ahensiya kung walang work and financial plan. Linawin ko lang iyong sinabi mo ‘no, iyong sinabi na iyon ni Secretary Abad, iyong unang figure na mas malaki ay nakalaan para sa continuing and ongoing projects na sinimulan na po at umaandar na. Kasi marami naman po tayong programa sa pamahalaan na multi-year; hindi naman po sa isang taon lang tinatapos. SENDING: Kumbaga tuluy-tuloy ito kada taon. SEC. COLOMA: Halimbawa, mahabang highway po iyon, hindi naman kayang tapusin ng iisang taon. Kaya, kumbaga, continuing appropriation for the following year. Iyong sinabi po na mas maliit na bilang ni Secretary Abad, iyon po iyong bagong proyekto na nauumpisahan pa lamang. SENDING: Sa karaniwang tao ho, siyempre kapag may budget, ang tanong: Saan natin kukunin iyong ipangpupondo ho diyan? Ano ho ba ito, may sapat ho bang koleksyon ang gobyerno natin o kailangan uli nating mangutang para ho mapunan ito hong inilalaang budget na iyan para sa susunod na taon, Secretary? SEC. COLOMA: Okay, doon po sa budget na iyan ay ang koleksyon naman po ng—sandali lang po ‘no. Pinakamalaking bahagi po niyan, P2.697 trillion out of the 3.002 ay makukuha po sa revenue collection, koleksyon ng ating pamahalaan. Ang pinakamalaki po diyan ay iyong sa BIR, sumunod po iyong Customs. At iyong nalalabing P303 billion ay kailangan po iyan ay debt financing naman. Sa aspeto pong iyon ay mababa naman po ang interes sa international markets ngayon at dahil po sa ating investment grade rating ay nakakakuha po tayo ng pinakamababang interest. At hindi naman po iyan inuutang hanggang hindi kinakailangan ng cash position ng ating bansa. Simula po noong 2010 ay bumaba na iyong budget deficit natin. Nag-umpisa po tayo ng mahigit 7% of the GDP ang budget deficit; ngayon po ay nasa 2% na lamang po. SENDING: So mula ho noong umupo ang Aquino administration, iyan hong laging pinuproblema na budget deficit na iyan, naibaba na po natin iyan ng 2%, sir? SEC. COLOMA: Two percent na lang po. Halos maliit na halaga na lang po iyan. Hindi po katulad noong dati na malaki ang dependency sa pangungutang, ngayon po ay well in control na. Kaya iyan iyong tinatawag natin meron tayong fiscal space. Maganda po kasi iyong pagmaneho ng ating ekonomiya at maganda iyong balanse ng internal revenue at saka debt financing. SENDING: Para ho maunawaan ng mga tulad po naming karaniwang tao, sir, ang pagkakaintindi ho dapat dito, halimbawa, noong sa panahon po ni Pangulong Noynoy na kung dati-rati ang ipampupondo dito sa mga national budget natin ay kailangan po iyong malaking tipak niyan ay inuutang. Ang panahon po ng Aquino administration, taun-taon nababawasan at kinukuha ho sa utang ang ipampupondo sa pambansang budget. SEC. COLOMA: Tama iyon, Ka Rogie. Siguro para mas maunawaan, halimbawa, doon mismo sa tahanan natin: Kung may pamilya tayo na si ama, si ina at may limang anak, dahil sa suweldo o sa kinikita ni ama at ni ina at tatlo sa mga anak na nagtatrabaho na dati lahat nag-aaral siguro iyon, lumaki na iyong portion na kinikita po nila – internal revenue. Kaya kung sila ay mangungutang sa tindahan man o sa pagbili ng kotse o bahay, mas maliit na pong bahagi ito ng kanilang total income, ng total needs o total budget. Iyong pinakamalaking bahagi ay kaya nang sustentuhan ng kanilang internal revenue. Iyon po ang sinasabi natin dito, maliit na lamang iyong inuutang pa natin. SENDING: Kapansin-pansin din ho ‘no kapag pinagkukumpara iyong mga budget ng nakalipas ho ng halos limang taon, mukhang mas lumalaki na ho ang nailalaang pondo para ho sa mga social programs po ng pamahalaan at maging sa imprastruktura, Secretary? SEC. COLOMA: Ang ibig sabihin lang niyan, Ka Rogie at Ka Lourdes, ay nag-i-invest po tayo, namumuhunan po tayo para sa development ng ating mga mamamayan. We’re investing in people. Kasi po puro po para sa tao po iyan: Edukasyon, iyon po ang highest priority; tapos iyong kalusugan po at saka iyong hanapbuhay, at saka iyong pabahay, puro investment in people po iyan. ESCAROS: Ito ho para sa budget, panghuli na lang. Napansin ho namin, like sa DSWD pa rin and DILG, meron tayo diyang pabahay, palupa, tulong sa mga nasa squatters or iyong mga nasa tabing kalsada. Last year, kasama sila sa budget. Kaya lang ho last year, nakita pa rin namin sila sa kalsada at hanggang ngayon ay nakikita namin sila sa kalsada. Kasama pa rin sila sa budget for next year. Ano po ang nangyari sa mga programa na iyan, Secretary? SEC. COLOMA: Patuloy po iyong pag-implement niyan ‘no at tinutukoy naman po ito by name and by family name po iyan; hindi po iyan random. Puwede pong ma-monitor ng mga mamamayan kung paano po nagastos po iyan. Pansinin lang natin, Ka Lourdes, iyon pong informal settlers sa buong National Capital Region lamang ay mahigit sa limandaang libo. Kaya kung maka-sixty thousand po tayo o seventy thousand na natulungan taun-taon ay patungo pa lang po tayo doon sa ganap na solusyon,. Napakalaking bilang po iyon, Ka Lourdes – 500,000 families po iyon. SENDING: Sir, nandiyan na rin lang ho kayo, may reaksiyon ho ba ang Palasyo dito sa pahayag ng Chinese Ambassador na mas mainam daw ho na mag-usap, bilateral talks. Ginigiit pa rin nila, ayaw nilang tumuntong diyan sa International Tribunal kung saan ngayong araw nga ay sisimulan ho iyong posisyon natin para hingin ang hurisdiksyon ng tribunal. SEC. COLOMA: Wala naman po tayong sinasabing hindi dapat mag-usap at patuloy pa rin naman po iyong ating mga bilateral approaches. Kaya lang po, nakita natin na iba po iyong kanilang terms of reference kaya talaga pong mahirap magkaroon ng pagkakaunawaan. Ano po ang ibig nating sabihin? Ang ginawa po nila kasi, kung titingnan natin iyong mapa, iyong buong lugar ng South China Sea, iyong paligid po noon, nag-drawing sila na parang letter U na malaki at iyan ang tinatawag na 9-dash line, na lahat iyong karagatan na nasa loob ng 9-dash line na iyon ay sa kanila raw iyon. Sa atin naman po, hindi po tayo sumasang-ayon dahil katulad po nila, tayo ay signatory sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ayon po diyan sa nilagdaang kasunduan na iyan, meron pong tinatawag na Exclusive Economic Zone ang bawat bansa that extends up, up to 200 nautical miles from the … doon sa dulo po, doon sa baseline. Kaya doon po sa South China Sea, meron pong mga overlapping na expanded economic zone. Pero kung makita natin iyong kanilang sinasabing sa kanila din daw, ang layo po noon sa atin ay mayroong 124 nautical miles lang ‘no. Katulad ng Panatag Shoal ‘no, iyong Scarborough Shoal, 124 nautical miles po iyon mula sa Masinloc, Zambales. Pero mula sa kanila ay halos three or four times ang distansiyang iyon. Ang layo noon. Iyon pong sa Kalayaan, o iyong Pag-asa na meron po tayong settlement doon na mga Pilipino, 120 miles din lang po ang layo niyan sa Palawan pero 800 miles ang layo sa kanila. Dahil doon sa kanilang 9-dash line, sa kanila pa rin daw po iyon. Kaya po kahit na anong klaseng pag-uusap – bilateral, multilateral – kung ang point of reference po ay ganoon ‘no, polar opposite, wala pong kahihinatnan iyong usapan. Kaya minabuti po natin na dumulog doon sa Permanent Commission on Arbitration ng United Nations para po magkaroon ng linaw or ruling tungkol sa tamang interpretasyon ng United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea na siyang batayan natin ng ating posisyon hinggil diyan. Iyong lang po ‘no. Hindi po tayo umiilag o umiiwas sa usapin. Kinikilala po natin na bilang kapit-bahay, iyong China po ay matagal din nating kaugnayan. Marami pong Pilipino ay of Filipino-Chinese descent. Wala naman po tayong alitan sa kanila, maliban nga lang dito sa prinsipyong pinaglalaban natin hinggil sa ating mga maritime entitlements. SENDING: Salamat po, sir. At magandang umaga muli, Secretary Sonny, sir. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat sa pagkakataon, Ka Lourdes at Ka Rogie. ESCAROS: Secretary, pahabol. Siguro mga three years past na na nakausap namin si PNoy. Baka puwedeng maasistihan n’yo po kaming ma-interview namin ni Kasamang Rogie si Pangulong Noynoy Aquino nang marinig naman po sa lahat ng RMN station sa buong Pilipinas. SEC. COLOMA: Kung hindi ako nagkakamali noong pinakahuli ay doon mismo sa President’s Hall. ESCAROS: Opo. Kayo din po ang nag-assist sa amin noon, sir. SEC. COLOMA: Basta lang po sumulat tayo. Ang constraint lang sa ngayon ay medyo abala nga po doon sa paghahanda ng SONA. Pero siguro po maghain lang po kayo ng request, at titingnan po natin kung paano iyong latag ng schedule ng Pangulo, kung kailan o papaano ito mapapaunlakan. ESCAROS: Okay, Secretary Sonny Coloma, maraming salamat. Good morning. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat po, Ka Rogie, Ka Lourdes. Salamat po sa pagkakataon. SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center [HOME]   INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR. DZRB / Balita at Panayam by Alan Allanique 07 July 2015 ALAN: Secretary Coloma, sir, we understand na pinagpulungan na ng mga miyembro ng Gabinete at nai-finalize na itong ipapanukalang budget with the approval of the President para sa susunod na taon, sa 2016, Sec. Sonny, sir? SEC. COLOMA: Ganoon nga, Alan. Kahapon ay inaprubahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang panukalang pambansang budget para sa 2016 pagkatapos talakayin ito sa Gabinete. ALAN: Okay. Sec. Sonny, please paki-share n’yo naman po sa ating mga tagasubaybay ang ilan sa mga highlights nitong panukalang budget po para sa susunod na taon, sir? SEC. COLOMA: Unang-una, Alan, ito ang pinakamalaking budget. Lumampas na po tayo sa tatlong trilyong piso. Dati po ay P2.6 trillion, ngayon po ay P3.002 trillion na po ang ating pambansang budget – 15.2% increase po ito mula doon sa budget sa pangkasalukuyang taon at halos 20% ng ating kabuuang gross domestic product. At ang tema po ay “Paggugol na Matuwid: Saligan sa Tuluy-tuloy na Pag-unlad.” Nakabatay pa rin sa mga limang prayoridad na tinutukoy ng ating Philippine Development Plan. Una, iyong good governance and anti-corruption; ikalawa, iyong pagtitiyak na matamo natin iyong inclusive growth na kasama po ang lahat ng mga mamamayan sa pag-unlad, lalung-lalo na iyong sa hanay ng maralita; iyong ikatlo po ay iyong pagpapaigting doon sa pagunlad ng ating bansa o sustaining the growth momentum; pang-apat ay iyong pagharap sa mga panganib na dulot ng kalamidad; at iyong panlima ay iyong pagtatatag ng pangmatagalang estabilidad at kapayapaan, lalung-lalo na sa Mindanao. ALAN: Okay. So ang highlights pala talaga nitong budget na ito, Sec. Sonny, ay mga related sa serbisyo publiko at pagtugon sa kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan sa buong bansa, Sec. ano po? SEC. COLOMA: Tama iyon. Ang pinakamalaking bahagi ng budget ay doon pa rin sa social services at poverty reduction, kabilang na diyan iyong Department of Education na P436.5 billion, iyon pong Department of Health ay P128.5 billion at iyong Department of Social Welfare and Development [ay] P107.6 billion, kalakip na po diyan iyong Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at Conditional Cash Transfer. Iyon naman pong pinagsamang budget ng DepEd at iyong DPWH na P436.5 billion para sa imprastruktura ay higit na sa ikaapat na bahagi ng buong budget. Mahalaga kasi dito ay iyong investment in people at investment in infrastructure. Number one po iyong pamumuhunan para sa kagalingan at kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan. ALAN: Opo. And, of course, dahil ito ho’y kumbaga ay iendorso na ng Malacañang sa Kamara this early, ano ho – July pa lang – ay kung iba-base sa timetable, Secretary Coloma, ito ho ay maaaprubahan muli bago matapos ang taong kasalukuyan at on time, just in time para doon sa susunod na taon, Sec. Sonny, sir? SEC. COLOMA: Nakatakda itong isumite sa Kongreso isang araw pagkatapos ihatid o bigkasin ni Pangulong Aquino ang kanyang pinakahuling State of the Nation Address sa muling pagbubukas ng session ng Kongreso sa Hulyo 27. Ito ay didinggin ng Committee on Appropriation at tatalakayin sa plenaryo. Kapag naaprubahan na po sa Kamara ay iaangat sa Senado, at inaasahan nating magaganap ang paglagda ng Pangulo sa pambansang budget sa buwan ng Disyembre para effective January 1, 2016 po ang paggastos nang naayon sa General Appropriations Act. ALAN: Secretary, sa ibang usapin naman po. We understand na merong confirmation ang Department of Health ng isang MERS-CoV case na kasalukuyang naroon sa ating RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) diyan po sa Muntinlupa City, Secretary Coloma, sir? SEC. COLOMA: Ang good news hinggil diyan, Alan, ayon kay Secretary Garin ay nagpakita na ng signs of improvement iyon pong tinutukoy natin. Na-isolate na po iyan. At lahat ng mga may direct contact sa kaniya ay na-isolate na rin at ginagamot. At lahat din po ng mga nakasakay niya sa eroplano ay subject na to contact tracing, ibig sabihin, ipinaalam sa kanila iyong nangyari. At kung sila ay mayroong sintomas—pero patapos na rin naman ito, halos two weeks na simula noong na-detect o bumiyahe itong tinurang pasyente, Alan, kaya pahupa na rin iyong posibilidad na magkaroon pa ng nahawaang iba pang tao. ALAN: Doon naman po, sir, sa aspeto ng contract tracing na isinasagawa ng DoH at iba pang mga kasamang ahensiya, any update sa aspetong ito po, sir? SEC. COLOMA: Tinututukan nga lahat ng mga may contact sa kaniya pero iyong pinakamalapit at pinakamataas ang probabilidad ng transmission ay na-isolate na at under treatment. Linawin lang natin, Alan: Paano ba ito nakakahawa? Unang-una, hindi po ito airborne. Halimbawa, tayong dalawa ay magkasama sa elevator o nasa isang kuwarto tayo diyan sa radio booth, Alan. Hindi naman dahil magkasama tayo doon ay mahahawa na ako sa iyo o lahat ng taong kasama mo sa isang kuwarto, isang auditorium [ay] mahahawa na. Hindi po kasi airborne itong sakit na ito. Ang transmission po ay through droplet. Ibig sabihin, mapapatakan ka. Ibig sabihin, napakalapit mo at ibig sabihin ay napaka-close ng relationship mo doon sa tao parang napaka-close din ng proximity mo o kaya nandoon kayo sa isang siksikang lugar at nagkaroon ng droplets. Kailangang maunawaan natin iyon. Kung nasa normal lang na pagkilos at pag-iingat, hindi naman ganoon kadali ang transmission nitong MERS-CoV virus. Pero importante pa rin iyon pag-iingat at pagiging maagap kapag meron nang naramdaman na sintomas. At ang sintomas nito, Alan, ay parang trangkaso. Nandoon po iyong pag-ubo, sore throat, iyong mga panghihina na ng buto. Flu-like symptoms po ito. ALAN: Opo. Mahalaga hong nai-reiterate natin, Secretary Coloma, iyong punto na iyon kasi iyong iba, baka naman nag-aalala na wala naman palang basehan iyong kanilang pag-aalala o pagwo-worry dahil iniisip nila na airborne. Hindi ito airborne; ito ay may posibilidad na makahawa sa pamamagitan ng mga droplets. SEC. COLOMA: Kailangan ay nagpapakita ng sintomas. Kung ikaw ay may sintomas na flu-like, para kang tinatrangkaso, at dahil nakaniig mo o malapit ka doon sa isang taong galing sa Middle East. Kung hindi po galing doon eh, wala pong … hindi po iyon MERS-CoV. Para din po iyang Ebola. Kaya po tayo nag-iingat doon sa mga peacekeeper natin dahil doon po mismo sa kanilang pinagtalagahan, iyong sa West Africa, doon po mismo nanggagaling iyong virus. Kaya unawain po natin nang mainam para huwag po tayong maligalig. ALAN: Opo, okay. Well, Secretary Coloma, sir, muli, nais po naming magpasalamat sa mga updates mula sa Palasyo, sir. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat at magandang umaga, Alan. SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center [HOME]

INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR. DZRB / “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” kasama sina Albert Sebastian at Efren Montano 05 July 2015 MGA PAUNANG PAHAYAG Pagsubaybay sa Bagyong ‘Egay’ Patuloy ang pagsubaybay sa bagyong ‘Egay’ ni Pangulong Aquino at ng buong puwersa ng pamahalaan sa pangunguna ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) upang tiyakin ang kaligtasan at pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan na apektado ng bagyo. Zero casualty pa rin po ang layunin nating lahat. Ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng NDRRMC, namataan si ‘Egay’ sa lugar ng Divilacan, Isabela taglay ang lakas ng hangin na 95 kilometro bawat oras malapit sa gitna at pagbugso na 120 kilometro bawat oras. Inaasahang tutulak ang bagyo patungong hilagang-kanluran o northwest sa direksyon ng Aparri, Cagayan at Basco, Batanes bago tuluyang lumabas sa Philippine area of responsibility sa darating na Miyerkules ng hapon. Nakataas pa rin ang Signal No. 2 sa mga lalawigan ng Kalinga Apayao, Isabela, Quirino, Hilagang Aurora, Cagayan, kabilang na ang mga kapuluan ng Babuyan at Calayan. Samantalang nasa ilalim naman ng Signal No. 1 ang kabuuan ng mga lalawigan ng Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mountain Province, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra at Batanes. Patuloy ang pagpapaalala ng pamahalaan sa mga mangingisda at maliliit na sasakyang pandagat na huwag nang pumalaot at magiging mapanganib ang mga alon na dulot ng bagyo. Pinapayuhan din ang mga naninirahan sa mga mabababang lugar, lalo na daraanan ng bagyo na mag-ingat sa banta ng posibleng pagguho ng lupa o landslide bunga ng ulan. Hinihimok din namin ang ating mga kababayan na patuloy na maging mapagmasid at makinig sa mga inilalabas na abiso ng PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) at sa mga lokal na disaster risk reduction management council sa kanilang mga lalawigan, lungsod, bayan at barangay. Pagdinig sa The Hague Nagkakaisa ang tatlong sangay ng pamahalaan—ehekutibo, lehislatura, at hudikatura—sa pagpapakita ng kongkretong pagsuporta sa posisyon ng republika hinggil sa West Philippine Sea. Pormal na bubuksan na sa The Hague, Netherlands ang pagdinig ng permanent court of arbitration sa petisyong inihain ng Pilipinas upang maresolba ang mga maritime entitlement issues na sakop ang United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs, ipiprisenta ni Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, katuwang ang mga abogado mula sa Washington, D.C. law firm ng Foley Hoag sa pangunguna ni manananggol Paul Reichler ang mga argumento ng Pilipinas sa nasabing pagdinig na tutuon sa isyu ng hurisdiksyon at tatagal mula Martes (Hulyo 7) hanggang Hulyo 13 (Lunes). Namumuno sa delegasyon si Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa para sa ehekutibo, sina Senate President Franklin Drilon at House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte para sa lehislatura, at sina Supreme Court Justices Antonio Carpio at Francis Jardeleza para sa hudikatura. Kabilang din sa delegasyon sina Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin at Undersecretary for Security Cluster Emmanuel Bautista, at si deputy presidential spokesperson, Undersecretary Abigail Valte. Nananalig ang pamahalaan sa katuwiran ng posisyon nito na nakabatay sa mga prinsipyo ng UNLCOS. Kung maging pabor sa Pilipinas ang desisyon ng arbitral tribunal, bibigyan ng pagkakataon ang bansa na ihain ang mga oral arguments hinggil sa merito ng petisyon. MGA TANONG AT SAGOT Mr. Montano: ‘Yung binanggit po natin na pahayag kasama po diyan ‘yung tungkol dito sa persistent rains diyan sa Mindanao? SEC. COLOMA: Efren, ang pinagbabatayan natin ay ang latest situation reports ng NDRRMC patungkol lamang sa severe tropical storm ‘Egay.’ Mr. Sebastian: Sir, question po galing kay Jerry Esplanada, ang tanong po niya: Aside from the Interpol has the government tapped the country’s diplomatic missions, embassies and consulates abroad, as well as the network of overseas Filipino communities in the global manhunt for Vice President (Jejomar) Binay’s top aides Gerry Limlingan and Ebeng Baloloy? SEC. COLOMA: Kung maaalala po natin, ang Senado ang nag-utos ng pag-aresto sa 14 na indibidwal kabilang na ang inyong mga nabanggit ngayon lang—sina Ginoong Gerardo ‘Gerry’ Limlingan at Binibining Eduviges ‘Ebeng’ Baloloy—dahil po sa hindi nila pagsunod o pagtugon sa Senate subpoena kaya po sila ay cited for contempt ng Philippine Senate. Ang mga law enforcement agencies po katulad ng National Bureau of Investigation ay tumutulong sa sergeant-at-arms ng Senado, Jose Balajadia, sa pagpapatupad ng arrest warrant nito. Si Secretary de Lima po ay nagsabi na ayon sa mga record ng Bureau of Immigration na ibinigay sa kanya ni Commissioner Siegfried Mison, sina Ginoong Limlingan at Binibining Baloloy ay presumed to be still in the country, although idinagdag po niya it’s possible the two could have left the country using chartered aircraft. ‘Yon po ang pahayag ni Secretary de Lima. Ganunpaman, dagdag po ni Secretary de Lima, law enforcement authorities may seek the assistance of the International Police Organization (Interpol) para sila ay matunton o hilingin sa Department of Foreign Affairs na ikansela ang kanilang mga pasaporte. ‘Yan po ang latest situationer mula sa Department of Justice na siya pong nakikipag-ugnayan sa ating Senado hinggil sa bagay na ‘yan. Mr. Sebastian: Sir, may follow up din si Jerry ukol doon sa question, sabi niya: Is the government confident the two will be caught and brought home to shed light on the alleged irregularities involving the Binays? SEC. COLOMA: Lahat po ng hakbang na kinakailangan ay isasagawa ng pamahalaan para ma-enforce po ang proseso ng batas, kasama na nga po diyan ‘yung sa proceedings ng Senado at ‘yung pagpapasya nila hinggil sa contempt. Kasama po ‘yan sa proseso ng mga batas na ating ipinapatupad. Mr. Montano: ‘Yung tungkol lang po dito sa problema sa fake rice, ano po ‘yung ginagawa ng Palasyo o ng mga concerned agencies para ma-allay ‘yung pangamba ng publiko sa pagkalat nito? SEC. COLOMA: Nananawagan po tayo sa mga mamamayan na maging maingat at bumili lamang ng bigas mula sa mga accredited at reliable na nagbebenta nito, ‘yun po talagang authorized rice dealers o mga tindahan ng bigas na mayroong pahintulot mula sa NFA (National Food Authority) at sa mga awtoridad. Noon pong nakaraang Biyernes ay pinag-utusan ni Pangulong Aquino sina Secretary de Lima at DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary Mar Roxas na siyasatin kung saan nanggagaling ang tinatawag na fake or synthetic rice na napansin o natagpuan na sa ilang pamilihang bayan. Pati po si Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan ay sinisiyasat ang bagay na ito. Ang NFA sa pamamagitan ng kanilang Food Development Center ay nagsasagawa ng mga laboratory test ng mga sample na naisumite po sa kanila at ipapalabas po nila ang resulta nito sa lalong madaling panahon. Mr. Sebastian: Sir, on another topic, si DOJ (Department of Justice) Secretary Leila de Lima mayroon po siyang pahayag na sinabi niya ‘yung New Bilibid Prison ay 100 percent drug-free na. So has the Secretary made the report to the President regarding this? SEC. COLOMA: Regular naman po at kasama sa ordinaryong mga tungkulin (niya) ang pagsusumite ng mga update. Wala po akong partikular na impormasyon hinggil diyan sa kasalukuyan. Aalamin po natin kung naisumite na ang report hinggil diyan. Mr. Montano: On another topic po, may latest (information) po ba tayo tungkol dito sa appointment dito sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)? I understand July 11 po yata (magreretiro) itong si Chief (of Staff Gregorio Pio) Catapang at dito sa PNP (Philippine National Police) may latest po ba tayo? SEC. COLOMA: Makatitiyak po tayo na sa takdang panahon ay maipapahayag ang magiging susunod na Chief of Staff ng armed forces katulad ng naganap po sa lahat ng pagkakataon na naganap ‘yung pagreretiro ng isang outgoing AFP Chief of Staff. Ilalahad po ‘yan sa takdang panahon. Mr. Sebastian: Sir, maaaring maulit din natin kung kailan aalis po ‘yung delegation papunta po ng Netherlands sa The Hague? SEC. COLOMA: Binanggit na po ‘yan ni Undersecretary Valte sa briefing niya kahapon. Hindi ko po kaharap ngayon ‘yung detalyadong schedule nila. Maaari pong tunghayan ng mga kagawad ng MPC (Malacañang Press Corps) ‘yung transcript po ng ating talakayan kahapon. Mr. Montano: Okay po. Wala na po yatang questions galing diyan sa Sunday group ng Malacañang Press Corps, unless mayroon po tayong mga dagdag na pahayag, nasa inyo po ang pagkakataon dito sa Sunday habit, ‘Pilipinas! Pilipinas!’ dito lamang po sa Radyo ng Bayan. SEC. COLOMA: Ang mahalaga po nating panawagan ngayon ay doon po sa pag-iingat laban sa epekto nitong bagyong ‘Egay.’ Dapat po ay sundin natin ang lahat ng mga precaution na ibinigay ng ating pamahalaan, lalong-lalo na po doon sa mga lugar na kung saan nakataas ang typhoon signals no. 2 at no. 1, at kung maidadagdag po natin, nakapagpigil na po ng 40… As of 8:00 p.m., ito po ang report ng NDRRMC, a total of 990 passengers, 48 vessels, and 32 motor bancas are still stranded in ports in Regions II, IV-A, V and VII due to rough sea conditions caused by tropical storm ‘Egay.’ Ang pinakamarami po ay doon sa Coast Guard station Cebu, 451 passengers at 18 vessels; Coast Guard station Tagbilaran, 357 (passengers) po at 13 vessels; doon naman sa Coast Guard district Palawan sa Puerto Princesa ay mayroong 10 vessels po pero 20 pasahero lamang. Kaya lahat po ng precaution ay isinasagawa ng Philippine Coast Guard at ng mga awtoridad para maiwas po sa panganib ang mga mamamayan. Dito naman po sa Kamaynilaan, apektado rin po tayo ng habagat dahil sa bagyo at mayroon pong mga rainfall alert ang PAGASA. Pinag-iingat din po ‘yung mga nakatira sa mga mabababang lugar dahil sa posibilidad ng pagbaha. Mr. Sebastian: Sir, may additional funds po bang ini-release ang pamahalaan sa mga concerned agencies para dito sa bagyong ‘Egay’ po? SEC. COLOMA: Lahat po ng ating ahensya ay mayroong mga naka-preposition na mga kagamitan, relief goods at resources, mayroon din po silang quick release funds na available po sa kanila nang agaran. Kaya huwag po tayong mag-alala at mayroon pong sapat na pondo sa lahat ng mga kinakailangang gawin ng ating pamahalaan. Mr. Montano: Okay, so maraming salamat po. Mr. Sebastian: Thank you very much, sir, sa oras niyo na ibinigay sa bayan po. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat at magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. ***** SOURCE: Presidential News Desk (PND) [HOME]

Last Updated: 06 JULY 2015 Alternative photo archive with high resolutions Please click on thumbnails to magnify President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the Cabinet Budget Presentation meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace Monday (July 6). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III joins his official family in prayer before presiding over the Cabinet Budget Presentation Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace Monday (July 6). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III acknowledges the men and women in uniform participating in the pass-in review during the 68th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Robert Viñas/ Rey Baniquet - Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III is received by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.; and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado upon arrival for the 68th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) The Aerobatic Demonstration and Opener Pass of the PAF during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947, two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. Also in is photo Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 68th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. Also in photo are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.; and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the singing of the Philippine National Anthem during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. Also in photo Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado. (Photo by Rolando Mailo / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, reviews the troops during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III checks the scale model of FA 50 aircraft frpom South Korea as part of the exhibition during the celebration of the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III checks the newly acquired choppers as part of exhibition during celebration of the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a coffeetable book presented by PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, presents the command plaque and streamer during the awarding ceremony for the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Haribon Hangar of the Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga on Wednesday (July 01). This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Matatag na Bagwis, Dangal ng Bayan, Lakas ng Sambayanan”. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947- two years after the end of World War II. It traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corps, which was established in 1941. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III talks with Ana Theresia Hontiveros Baraquel after administering the oath as Philhealth Director in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Ana Theresia Hontiveros Baraquel after administering the oath as Philhealth Director in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Amelia Guanzon after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Sheriff Abas after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Health Secretary Janette Garin after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (June 30). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) Please email us at pcoo.edp@gmail.com if you need a copy of last week's photo releases of PNOY

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One Luzon E-NewsMagazine 7 July 2015 Vol. 5 No. 131

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