Dispatch for february 4, 2014 ( tuesday ) , 1 pia calabarzon pr , 3 weather watch ,

Aguinaldo Shrine

Pagsanjan Falls

Taal Lake

Antipolo Church

Lucban Pahiyas Feast

Dispatch for February 4, 2014 ( Tuesday ) , 1 PIA Calabarzon PR , 3 Weather Watch , 5 Reg’l. Watch , 3 OFW Watch , 1 PNOY Speech , 16 Online News , 20 Photonews ( Feb.3 )

1. Weather Watch 15 hours ago GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz: -Inaasahan ang mahihinang pag-ulan sa Kalakhang Luzon bukas, lalo na sa silangang bahagi nito.

-May tsansa naman ng pag-ulan sa Metro Manila pagdating ng hapon.

-Magiging maaliwalas naman sa western section ng Visayas habang posible ang mahinang pag-ulan sa eastern section nito.

-Posible naman ang mahinang ulan sa malaking bahagi ng Mindanao.

2. Weather Watch

Tropical Cyclone Update As of today, there is no tropical cyclone existing within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

3. Weather Watch shared Dost_pagasa's photo.

4 hours ago 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST (5AM, 04 February 2014) SYNOPSIS: Northeast Monsoon affecting extreme Northern Luzon. Easterlies affecting the eastern sections of Luzon and Visayas.

FORECAST: The whole archipelago will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over extreme Northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east to northeast with slight to moderate seas.

Maximum Temperature: 4:00 PM Yesterday --- 31.5 ยบC Maximum Relative Humidity: 6:00 AM Yesterday --- 92 % Minimum Temperature: 6:00 AM Yesterday --- 21.8 ยบC Minimum Relative Humidity: 2:00 Pm Yesterday --- 54 % For more information and queries, Please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 And 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.

Weather Watch

February 4 , 2013 ( Tuesday )

as of 6:00-7:00 AM

CAVITE : Sunny LAGUNA : Fair Weather BATANGAS : Sunny RIZAL : Fair Weather QUEZON : Partly Cloudy

PIA

Regional Watch

1. PIA Regional Watch 30 minutes ago PIA-4A/CAVITE: The Carmona Persons with Disability Affairs Office sent a total of 52 advocates in the recent annual Angels Walk for autism which was held at the SM Mall of Asia. This year theme " Katuparan ng Pilipinong may Autismo: Isulong Mo, Ngayon Na!" Said celebration aimed in promoting appropriate information about autism as well as accepting and understanding individuals on the autistic spectrum as part of the society.

2. PIA Regional Watch 17 hours ago PIA-4A/QUEZON: Thirty farmers of Guinayangan, Quezon completed the agri-eskwela on organic vegetable production. This is a joint project of the provincial government of Quezon and the municipal government of Guinayangan which aims to train the Guinayangan farmers on new techniques to increase organic vegetable production.

3. PIA Regional Watch 17 hours ago PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Patuloy ang kampanya kontra tigdas sa lalawigan ng Batangas kung saan nagkaloob ang DOH ng libreng bakuna kontra tigdas.

4. PIA Regional Watch 19 hours ago PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Magsasagawa ng local recruitment activities ang pamahalaang lungsod ng Lipa mula Pebrero 4 hanggang Pebrero 14,2014 bilang bahagi ng pagtugon ng pamahalaang lokal sa kakulangan ng trabaho sa lungsod.

5. PIA Regional Watch 19 hours ago PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Quezon Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) launched today 'oral health and healthy heart' month during the flag raising ceremony at provincial capitol, Lucena City. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Agripino Tullas encouraged the provincial employees to change their lifestyle in order to prevent sickness. Tullas also encouraged the public to have physical exercise everyday.

OFW

Watch

1. PIA OFW Watch 4 hours ago GMA News Online: At least 38 overseas Filipino workers who had problems with their employment in Kuwait flew back and landed in the Philippines early Tuesday. The OFWs' problems ranged from non-payment of salaries to maltreatment by employers. The workers, all of whom were women, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport aboard a Gulf Air flight and were welcomed by teams from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

2. PIA OFW Watch

20 hours ago PIA-6/ILOILO: Isang Ilongga domestic helper sa Honkong na nagmula sa Dingle, Iloilo ang nawalan ng trabaho pagkatapos hindi nito sinunod ang utos ng amo na maglinis bago ang pagsapit ng Chinese New Year. Nagkataon na day-off ng Ilongga OFW nang ito ay inutusan kaya hindi nito sinunod ang utos,ayon ky Bombo correspondent sa HK Merly Bunda. Humingi na ng tulong ang nabanggit na OFW na 1 buwan pa lamang sa amo sa OWWA.

3. PIA OFW Watch 20 hours ago PIA-6: Ini-ulat ni Merly Bunda, news correspondent ng Bombo Radyo sa HK na patuloy na umaasa ang OFWs sa HK sa agarang pagresolba sa tensyon sa gitna ng HK SAR at Pilipinas upang hindi na madagdagan pa ang sanction sa Pilipinas at para hindi na rin masangkot ang mga OFWs lalo na ang HSWs na nasa HK. Dagdag nito na hindi pa naman apektado ang mga Pinoy sa visa sanction at walang report ng pagmaltrato o abuso sa mga Filipino sa HK.

A. QUEZON

B. CAVITE

DepEd, DPWH address 2012 backlog in classrooms Monday 3rd of February 2014

CARMONA, Cavite, Feb. 3 (PIA) –The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presented 66,813 classrooms to President Benigno S. Aquino III to address the 2010 backlog.

“This is a collaborative work of private organizations and public institutions, showing commitment to quality education for Filipino learners,” Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said at the ceremonial turnover of classrooms at Carmona National High School (CNHS), one of the beneficiaries of additional classrooms.

In his speech, Sec. Luistro emphasized the significant role of the private sector and local government units (LGUs) in delivering the kind of education that every Filipino child deserved.

The education chief expressed his gratitude to the “partners in education” from the private sector, LGUs, and DPWH in fulfilling its promise to the Filipino learners. “Before, this is just a dream – a seemingly impossible dream – but with the help of our friends from different sectors, both public and private, we are able to carry on our commitment to address 2010 backlog in classrooms,” he said.

The classrooms, which range from one-story structures to multi-floor buildings, were constructed using national and local government funds and donations from the private sector. More than 35,000 classrooms were funded by the national budget; 13,189 classrooms built using LGU funds; 14,886 from local donations; 1,215 from foreign donations; and 2,242 from PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) I.

He also thanked Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III for his continuous and unwavering support to the education sector. “Through the support and trust of Pres. Aquino, we are able to accomplish this.”

“The DepEd will continue to provide basic inputs to address incremental enrolment, regular wear and tear, and senior high school (SHS) requirements,” Luistro said. He added that DepEd shall construct more classrooms in 2014 to prepare for the full implementation of SHS (grades 11 and 12) in 2016. (DepEd/PIA4A) - See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=631391413780#sthash.gSHo1b9Q.dpuf

C. LAGUNA

D. BATANGAS

E. RIZAL

03 FEBRUARY 2014.

President Aquino encourages responsibility in PHL media Department of Education achieves zero backlog in classrooms, President Aquino says Palace: President Aquino to have busy week leading to 54th birthday President Aquino says government is hiring professionals for 4,000 teaching positions Palace maintains PHL government continues to search for peaceful solution with HK Palace: Continued high satisfaction show Filipinos still one with government

Palace: Government forces making sure BIFF won't grow into major threat President Aquino encourages responsibility in PHL media President Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday evening made a new pitch for responsibility and discernment from the media through sober reporting.

In his speech at the 114th anniversary of the Manila Bulletin in Manila, the President frowned on what he called unnecessary speculation and negativity.

"This is what I have always asked of media: to raise the level of public discourse, instead of fueling unnecessary speculation and negativity that contribute to national apathy," he said.

He said that in the case of the Manila Bulletin, it has chosen not to trump up the worst news possible and cause despair among the public.

Instead, he said the paper has "consistently given them a true accounting of the facts, and reason enough to be optimistic."

But the President clarified this does not mean he wants media to report only the good news.

"The progress of our country can only be accounted for when it is measured against, and in spite of, the challenges that we have endured," he said, adding the Manila Bulletin has lived up to this by "exhibiting discernment and accountability through sober and responsible reporting."

On the other hand, the President noted the Filipino people have chosen the path of positivity and solidarity even in the face of negativity.

He said that in the wake of the devastation brought by super Typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) last year, Filipinos volunteered to repack relief goods and extend whatever help they can.

"The naysayers, the irrational critics, the vested interests who measure their success through their ability to sacrifice the well-being of the nation to pursue their own, selfish agenda—all of them have been left in the dust by a nation that no typhoon, no faction, and no irresponsible columnist can break," he said.

"Our people have proven themselves more united, more discerning, more cooperative, and in particular, more committed to making change permanent than those who once tried to take advantage of them," he added.

He added Filipinos made so much progress by working and studying hard, paying their taxes, following the rules, to "do their part in lifting our nation."

"They know that, not since 1986 have Filipinos been able to go anywhere in the world and hold their heads high, as we do today. They know this because they took it upon themselves to give us a mandate for change back in 2010, and they have stayed the course ever since," he said. PND (jl) TOP Department of Education achieves zero backlog in classrooms, President Aquino says (CARMONA, Cavite) President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Monday that the government finally achieved a zero backlog in classrooms with the construction of 66,813 classrooms.

In his speech during the ceremonial turn-over of the 66,813 classrooms at the Carmona National High School here, the Chief Executive said the Department of Education (DepEd) finally achieved its target of zero backlog last December, 2013.

"Nang maupo tayo sa puwesto, tumambad sa atin ang nakakalulang kakulangan sa sektor ng edukasyon. Kapos tayo sa libro, silya, at mga guro. Mayroon din tayong—eto na po ang pamosong numero—ng 66,800 na kakulangan sa silid-aralan," he said.

President Aquino said the government managed to mobilize partnerships with various government agencies, local government units (LGUs), the private sector and foreign donors to help meet the target.

The classrooms, ranging from one-storey structures to multi-floor buildings, were constructed using national and local government funds and donations from the private sectors.

"At ngayong araw nga po, nasaksihan natin ang ceremonial turnover ng 66,813 na bagong classroom, na bumura din sa ipinamanang backlog ng nakaraang administrasyon. Sa totoo lang po, gaya ng ipinangako ni Secretary Armin Luistro, natapos itong ipatayo noon pang Disyembre. Ang bonus pa nga: nalampasan pa natin ang ating target," the President said.

The President lauded Education Secretary Luistro for his commitment and dedication to provide the basic needs of students such as classrooms, chairs and books, among others.

"Makalipas ang mahigit tatlong taon ng mabuting pamamahala. Ang halos 62 milyon—ulitin ko lang po ‗yan ha—62 milyong kakulangan sa libro, burado na, 2012 pa. At nakuha po natin ‗yan, mas maganda pa ang presyo kaysa sa dinatnan—mga naitipid natin dito mga 40 porsyento, Brother Armin, kung tama ang tanda ko," he said.

"Ang dalawa‘t kalahating milyong backlog sa upuan, nairaos na rin po. Naggamit pa natin ang mga troso na iligal ang pagkakuha para siguradong wala nang makinabang sa iligal na gawain." he said.

The President expressed belief that education is the central strategy in reducing poverty and building national competitiveness.

"Ngayong napunuan na ang mga kakulangan ng nakaraan, kompiyansa tayong mas mapapaarangkada pa—hindi lamang ang sektor ng edukasyon—kundi maging ang pag-unlad ng kalakhang lipunan," he said. PND (js) TOP Palace: President Aquino to have busy week leading to 54th birthday President Benigno S. Aquino III will have a busy week leading to his 54th birthday on Feb. 8, Malacañang said Monday.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the ceremonial turnover of 66,813 classrooms in Cavite was only the first of several public engagements this week.

Lacierda said the President is also due to receive the Philippine Medical Association of Chicago (PMAC), whose members conduct medical and surgical missions in the Philippines annually.

For this year, he said the PMAC "continue their tradition of helping their countrymen this year by taking their operations to Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte," areas hit hard by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

At the end of the week, the President will witness the retirement ceremony of Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, along with the change of command ceremony.

The President will also be the guest of honor at the 50th anniversary and thanksgiving program of the Elsie Gaches Village in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Elsie Gaches Village is the first and largest government residential care facility for persons with development and learning disabilities.

President Aquino marks his 54th birthday on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Lacierda noted Monday's turnover, which wipes out the 66,800-classroom backlog "sets the tone for the rest of the official week, and in fact, of the year ahead."

"They underscore our administration‘s belief that despite the challenges that we have faced and continue to face, so long as we work together, our people can reach new milestones and open new chapters of service, all with the goal of uplifting our countrymen," he said. PND (jl) TOP President Aquino says government is hiring professionals for 4,000 teaching positions (CARMONA, Cavite) President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Monday that the Department of Education (DepEd) is presently hiring professionals for 4,000 teaching positions to address the backlogs in teachers in public schools.

In his speech during the ceremonial turn-over of the 66,813 classrooms at the Carmona National High School here, the Chief Executive said the DepEd has yet to fill up all the 103,000 new teaching positions created under his administration.

"Mula 2010 hanggang 2013 naman, nagdagdag tayo ng halos 103 libong posisyon para sa mga guro. Baka pansinin po n‘yo, ―posisyon.‖ Sabi ko, ―Bakit ‗posisyon?‘‖ May kulang pa raw ho kasi na apat na libong maha-hire," the President said.

"Dati nag-e-export tayo ng teacher, ngayon naghahanap tayo ng teacher—apat na libo, mga specialized po ito, baka may kakilala kayong naghahanap ng trabaho, kulang pa ho tayo ng apat na libo," he said.

The DepEd has hastened the recruitment and hiring process to fill up the positions.

The government finally achieved a zero backlog in classrooms with the construction of 66,813 classrooms, the President said.

"Mulat po tayong hindi pa tapos ang ating misyon, at mayroon pa rin tayong mga pagsubok na dapat lampasan.

Marami po ang winasak na paaralan ng mga nagdaang kalamidad, at bawat taon ay nadadagdagan ang mga magaaral," he said.

"Sa abot ng ating makakaya, titiyakin nating matutugunan ang batayang pangangailangan sa sektor ng edukasyon; at sisiguruhin nating pati ang magiging pagkukulang sa mga susunod na taon dahil sa K to 12 program ay mapapaghandaan din, matatapos, at hindi mapapamana ang pag-solve sa susunod na administrasyon," he said.

PND (js) TOP Palace maintains PHL government continues to search for peaceful solution with HK Malacañang on Monday maintained the Philippine government continues to search for a mutually acceptable solution with Hong Kong to provide closure to the row that stemmed from the Manila hostage crisis in 2010.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma Jr. said they continue to work toward an understanding, which he said is the key toward finally achieving the much-needed closure.

"We are still hoping both sides will be able to reach an agreement. Our approach is still to continue on the path of seeking a solution and that is where we continue to be until the present time," he said at a media briefing.

He said the Philippine government has been looking for the best "mutually acceptable" solution.

"Simula noon hanggang ngayon, patuloy nating sinisikap na magkaroon ng common position, ng ganap na pagkakaunawaan para matuldukan ang usaping ito (Since day one, we have been looking for a common position to give closure to this)," he added.

Coloma also said the Philippine government will not take any action that will make both parties stray from their goal of understanding. "(U)miiwas tayo sa landas na sa halip magkaroon ng pagkaunawaan ay lalayo tayo roon (We do not want to take actions that lead us away from an understanding)," he said. PND (jl) TOP Palace: Continued high satisfaction show Filipinos still one with government The Aquino administration's net satisfaction of +51 in the last quarter of 2013 shows the Filipino people remain one with the government in continuing to help fellow Filipinos affected by calamities, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said this is also a rebuff of those trying to convince the people that most Filipinos are not satisfied with the administration. "(The Filipino people) remain one with their government as we continue to work, as a people, to help those affected by the calamities of the past few months to get back on their feet and reassume authorship of the next chapters of their lives," he said in a statement.

In its fourth-quarter survey conducted last December, the SWS had noted 71 percent of respondents were satisfied with the Aquino administration's general performance.

Only 19 percent were dissatisfied while 10 percent were ambivalent, resulting in a net score of +51.

While the net score of +51 is down from the "very good" +56 in September, it was higher than the "good" +44 in May 2012.

But the SWS also noted a dip in the administration's scores on various key issues.

"To emphasize once more: In spite of the concerted effort of a few to convince the public that most of our countrymen are dissatisfied with how the national government has performed in the face of the many challenges in the past months, these results show that the Filipino were not misled," Lacierda said.

"Your administration, under the leadership of President Aquino, derives its strength from this unbreakable union of purpose with our people; and it is ultimately your continued belief and participation that gives us strength, and accelerates our country‘s journey on the straight path," he added. PND (jl) TOP Palace: Government forces making sure BIFF won't grow into major threat Government forces are taking steps to make sure armed groups trying to fight the government do not become a major

threat to peace in Mindanao, Malacañang assured the public Monday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma Jr. said the government's goal to attain peace for Mindanao remains unchanged.

"Masinsing tinututukan ng ating Armed Forces of the Philippines, particular ang intelligence operative natin, ang sitwasyon para tiyakin na kung anumang galaw ng kaaway ng Republika hindi ito makahadlang sa proseso ng kapayapaan (Our AFP particularly our intelligence operatives are keeping tabs on things to make sure any move by the state's enemies do not become a major threat)," Coloma said at a media briefing.

He said this includes the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari.

The BIFF and followers of Misuari are reportedly joining forces against the government.

Coloma said the government is taking proactive action via intelligence work, surveillance, and "decisive action pag kinakailangan (decisive action if needed)." PND (jl) TOP

03 PEBRERO 2014 Responsibilidad ng media, binigyang diin ng Pangulong Aquino Lutas na ng ang problema sa kakulangan ng mga silid-aralan - Aquino

Responsibilidad ng media, binigyang diin ng Pangulong Aquino

Inulit ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III Linggo ng gabi ang panawagan tungo sa responsebilidad at parehas na media sa pamamagitan ng parehas na pag-uulat.

Sa talumpati sa ika-114 anibersaryo ng Manila Bulletin ginanap sa Punong Tanggapan nito sa Intramuros, tinukoy ng Pangulo ang aniya ay hindi kailangang ispekulasyon at negativity. ―Ang lagi kong hinihiling sa media, itaas ang kaalamang pangmadla, sa halip na gatungan ng ispekulasyon at negatibong mga bagay na nakatutulong na umiral ang pambansang pagwawalang bahala,‖ sabi ng Pangulong Aquino.

Sinabi ng Pangulo na minamarapat ng Manila Bulletin na huwag bigyang diin ang masasamang balitang nagiging dahilan ng kalungkutan ng madla.

Sa halip, sabi ng Pangulo, minarapat ng pahayagang ito na ―ang laging bigyang pansin ay ang pag-uulat ng nangyari at ang dahilan upang huwag mawalan ng pag-asa.

Niliwanag ng Pangulo na hindi naman ang ibig sabihin nito ay nais niyang pawang magagandang balita na lamang ang ilathala. ―Ang pagsulong ng ating bansa ay masusukat lamang laban sa mga hamong ating kinaharap,‖ sabi ng Pangulo at idinagdag na ang Manila Bulletin ay sa ganitong simulain umaalin-sunod sa pamamagitan ng ‗pagiging makatotohanan at may pananagutan sa mahinahon at responsableng pagbabalita.‖ Sa kabilang dako, sinabi ng Pangulo na minarapat ng sambayanang Pilipno na taluntunin ang landas ng pagiging positibo at nagkakaisa sa harap ng negatibismo.

Tinukoy ng Pangulo ang ginawa ng mga Pilipino na boluntaryong magbalot ng mga tulong na ipadadala sa mga biktima ng malawak na pinsalang ibinunga ng napakalakas na bagyong Yolanda noong nakaraang taon. ―Ang mga laging pasalungat ang sinasabi, ang mga walang ginawa kundi mamintas, ang vested interests na ang panukat sa tagumpay nila sa kanilang kakayahang magpakasakit sa kapakanan ng bansa ay kung paano maisusulong ang kanilang pansariling adyenda—lahat sila ay natabunan ng alikabok ng isang bansang hindi binagyo, walang paksiyon at walang sino mang iresponsableng kolumnista ang makawawasak,‖ pahayag pa ng Pangulo. ―Pinatunayan na rin ng sambayanan na higit silang nagkakaisa, higit na mapanuri, higit na nagdadamayan at higit sa lahat, ibayo ang kanilang malasakit na magkaroon ng palagiang pagbabago kaysa sa mga nagtatangkang

magsamantala sa kanila,‖ dugtong pa ng Pangulo.

Binigyang diin ng Pangulo na ang mga Pilipino ay higit na sumulong sa pamamagitan ng pagtatrabaho at pag-aaral na mabuti, pagbabayad ng mga buwis, pagsunod sa mga tuntunin at ―gampanan ang kanilang mga sagutin upang maiangat ang bansa.‖ ―Alam nila na mula noong 1986, ang mga Pilipino ay nakapunta saanmang panig ng daigdig at taas-noo sila, tulad natin ngayon. Alam nilang sila ang nagsikap para tayo mabigyan ng mandato noong 2010 para matamo ang pagbabago at namalagi sila sa pagtahak sa landas na ito mula noon,‖ dugtong pa ng Pangulong Aquino. PND (jl/zaf) TOP Lutas na ng ang problema sa kakulangan ng mga silid-aralan - Aquino

(CARMONA, Cavite) Sa wakas, lutas na ang problema ng pamahalaan sa mga silid-aralan ngayong nagawa nang lahat ang 66,813 silid-aralang kailangan, sabi ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III Lunes.

Sa talumpati ng Pangulo sa ceremonial turn-over ng 66,813 silid-aralan sa Carmona National High School dito, sinabi ng Pangulong Aquino na sa wakas nalutas na ng Kagawaran ng Pagtuturo ang kakulangan ng silid-aralan noong Disyembre 2013. ―Nang maupo tayo sa puwesto, tumambad sa atin ang nakalululang kakulangan sa sektor ng edukasyon. Kapos tayo swa libro, silya at mga guro. Mayroon din tayong—eto na po ang pamosong numero—ng 66,800 silid-aralan,‖ wika ng Pangulo.

Binigyang diin ng Pangulo na nagawa ng pamahalaan na makipag-ugnayan sa iba-ibang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, mga pamahalaang lokal (LGUs), pribadong sektor at foreign donors para matugunan ang ―target‖ na ito.

Itinayo ang mga silid-aralan, mayroong isang palapag na istraktura hanggang sa mga gusaling maraming palapag sa pamamagitan ng mga pondo ng pamahalaang pambansa at lokal man, gayundin ang donasyon ng pribadong sektor. ―At ngayong araw nga po, nasaksihan natin ang ceremonial turnover ng 66,813 na bagong mga silid-aralan na bumura rin sa ipinamanang backlog ng nakaraang administrasyon. Sa totoo lang po, gaya nang ipinangako ni Kalihim Armin Luistro, natapos itong ipatayo noon pang Disyembre. Ang bonus pa nga , nalampasan pa natin ang ating target,‖ sabi ng Pangulo.

Pinuri ng Pangulo si Kalihim Luistro sa pagtupad sa pangako at pagsisikap na mabigyan ang mga mag-aaral ng kanilang pangunahing kailangang tulad ng mga silid-aralan, upuan at mga aklat na gamit sa pagtuklas ng talino. ―Makalipas ang mahigit na tatlong taon ng mabuting pamamahala, ang halos 62 milyon, uulitin ko lang po iyan—62 milyong kakulangan sa libro, burado na noon pang 2012. At nakuha po natin iyan, mas maganda pa ang presyo kaysa sa dinatnan. Mga 40 porsiyento ang natipid natin, Brother Armin, kung tama ang tanda ko,‖ dugtong ng Pangulol. ―Ang dalawa at kalahating milyong kakulangan sa upuan, nairaos na rin po. Nagamit pa natin ang mga troso na ilegal ang pagkakuha para siguradong wala nang makinabang sa ilegal na gawain,‖ mariing wika ng Pangulong Aquino,.

Ang lahat nang ito, ayon sa Pangulo ay dahil sa matapat niyang paniniwala na ang edukasyon ang susing magiging daan para mabawasan ang karalitaan at magtamo ng pambansang kakayahang makipagkompetisyon. ―Ngayong napunan na ang mga kakulangan ng nakaraan, kompiyansa tayong mas mapaaarangkada pa, hindi lamang ang sektor ng edukasyon, kundi maging ang pag-unlad ng kalakhang lipunan,‖ sabi ng Pangulo. PND (js/zaf) TOP

President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the Ceremonial Turnover of 66,813 Accomplished Classrooms Carmona National High School, Carmona, Cavite 03 Feb 2014 Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat.

Bagama‘t hindi pa ho tayo gaanong matanda, noong mas bata tayo, ‗pag nagagawi tayo, lalo noong panahon ng Martial Law dito po sa Cavite, bandang Silang raw ho yata, mayroon silang tinatawag na ―Kubeta Village.‖ At papunta ho dito ngayon, ‗yung aking pong nagmamaneho ng sasakyan, sinabi niya sa Antipolo rin daw ho, o bandang Antipolo, ay mayroon din silang ―Kubeta Village.‖ Parang nagtatanong ‗yung mga mas bata sa akin, o nagpapanggap na mas bata sa akin, ano ba ‗yong ―Kubeta Village?‖ Mayroon rin kasing housing na ginagawa noong panahong iyon. At ang pangako ng gobyernong noon panahon ng Martial Law na housing—at ewan kung bakit nauna sa plano eh ang pagtatayo ng mga kubeta, susunod na lang ho ‗yong bahay. Ang problema ho, naubos ho ang pondo dahil ang natira ho kubeta, wala ho ang bahay. Eventually ho, pati ang kubeta tinanggal na rin at nagkaroon ng ibang—mga factory na ho yata ang nandoon ngayon eh.

Siguro kaya ko lang naibahagi sa inyo ‗yan, dahil noong araw ho, uso ‗yong nangangako na parating napapako. At itong araw pong ito, ikinagagalak ko po na sa pangunguna ng ating butihing Brother Armin Luistro—nakita naman po n‘yo nakasaklay pa—‗yung pangako ng administrasyong ito, hindi po napapako, nadadagdagan pa, kaya ulit: Napakagaling trabaho. Maraming salamat Brother Armin.

Sa ngayon po, malinaw na sa nakakarami, lalo na sa Gabinete, ang estilo ng ating pamamahala. Ang proseso po natin: Tukuyin ang tunay na problema upang makarating sa tamang solusyon; bumuo ng consensus tungo sa kongkretong mga hakbang na dapat isagawa; maglatag ng target na pagbubuhusan ng pondo, husay, at pagsisikap upang maabot. Alam po ng ating mga Kalihim iyan: Hindi lista-sa-tubig ang ating mga target; sineseryoso ko ito. Kapag dumating na ang itinakdang panahon, asahan mong hahanapin ko sa iyo ang ipinangako mo. Kailangang mayroon kang maipapakitang resulta sa ating mga Boss. Sabi po ng aking ama, ―‗Pag nagbitaw ka ng salita, mahirap man o madali, kailangang tuparin.‖ Aaminin ko pong minsan ay nagi-guilty rin ako; may mga pagkakataon na kahit holiday o espesyal na okasyon, kailangan kong ipatawag ang ating mga Kalihim o kausapin sa cellphone. Isa na nga po sa aking mga naging New Year‘s Resolution: huwag nang masyadong i-pressure ang ating mga kasamahan. Mas maiging bigyan sila ng espasyo upang makahinga naman sila, kahit paano, sa mga bagahe ng trabaho.

Alam n‘yo po, kahapon medyo na-violate ko ‗yan. Nagkamali pong i-text ako ni Secretary Dinky Soliman. Sinamantala ko

na rin po at kinamusta ko ang epekto ni Basyang. Sabi niya, ―Sir, babalik po ako sa inyo para maibigay ang datos,‖ at pagbalik po niya, kakaunti lang ‗yung evacuation center na bukas pa. Pagkatapos ko pong siyang nakausap, naalala ko, Linggo nga pala. Kaya sabi ko, ―Sana makapahinga ka ngayon, Dinky.‖ Ito nga pong si Kalihim Brother Armin Luistro naman, kilala na rin ang aking pagiging metikuloso sa detalye. Hindi na po ako magugulat kung isa siya sa mga nakukulitan sa akin. [Laughter] Ang masasabi ko po sa kanya, at sa mga kawani ng DepEd: Salamat at maraming salamat sa isang job well done. [Applause] Talaga pong hangang-hanga ako sa inyong pagpapakitang-gilas: Sunud-sunod na binura ng DepEd ang mga backlog na minana ng kanilang sektor. Ngayon nga po, sa wakas, abot-kamay na ang ating pangarap na magkaroon ng pampublikong edukasyon na tunay na manganganak ng pagkakataon para sa ating mga kabataan.

Nang maupo tayo sa puwesto, tumambad sa atin ang nakakalulang kakulangan sa sektor ng edukasyon. Kapos tayo sa libro, silya, at mga guro. Mayroon din tayong—eto na po ang pamosong numero—ng 66,800 na kakulangan sa silidaralan. Siguro ho dapat tayo magpasalamat sa ating pinalitan, at hindi po nilang ginawang 66,666. Buti nalang ho binuo na. Ang masaklap pa: ang gagastusin para sa isang classroom, tinataya na nasa P800,000. Kayo na po ang magcompute: 66,800 times 800,000. Baka kulangin po ang espasyo ng calculator sa suma-total nito.

Ang tanong nga po: Saan naman tayo huhugot ng napakalaking halaga para tustusan ang backlog na ito? Sa tantya po namin sa ating budget noon, nasa walong libong classroom lang ang kayang mapondohan kada taon. Samakatwid, sa anim na taon natin sa termino, 48,000 lang ang magagawa, aalis ako malaki pa ang utang; bitin pa rin para tugunan ang 66,800 na kakulangan. Dagdag pa rito, patuloy na lumolobo ang ating populasyon, kaya‘t tulad po ng aking assistant na si Asec. Delantar, bagong kasal po ‗yan, at ang kontribusyon po niya sa ating populasyon kaagad, twins. Kaya dumarami rin kada taon ang mga kabataang pumapasok sa eskuwela. ‗Yung sa kanya po, hindi pa pumapasok sa eskuwela.

Pero heto po tayo ngayon, makalipas ang mahigit tatlong taon ng mabuting pamamahala. Ang halos 62 milyong—ulitin ko lang po ‗yan ha—62 milyong kakulangan sa libro, burado na, 2012 pa. At nakuha po natin ‗yan, mas maganda pa ang presyo kaysa sa dinatnan—mga naitipid natin dito mga 40 porsyento, Brother Armin, kung tama ang tanda ko. Ang dalawa‘t kalahating milyong backlog sa upuan, nairaos na rin po. Naggamit pa natin ang mga troso na iligal ang pagkukuha para siguradong wala nang makinabang sa iligal na gawain. Mula 2010 hanggang 2013 naman, nagdagdag tayo ng halos 103 libong posisyon para sa mga guro. Baka pansinin po n‘yo, ―posisyon.‖ Sabi ko, ―Bakit ‗posisyon?‘‖ May kulang pa raw ho kasi na apat na libong maha-hire. Dati nag-e-export tayo ng teacher, ngayon naghahanap tayo ng teacher—apat na libo, mga specialized po ito, baka may kakilala kayong naghahanap ng trabaho, kulang pa ho tayo ng apat na libo.

Kung isasama pa rito ang 43 libong volunteers sa kinder at ang mga gurong empleyado ng mga LGU, napunuan na rin natin ang humigit-kumulang 146 na libong kakulangan sa guro noong 2010. At ngayong araw nga po, nasaksihan natin ang ceremonial turnover ng 66,813 na bagong classroom, na bumura din sa ipinamanang backlog ng nakaraang administrasyon. Sa totoo lang po, gaya ng ipinangako ni Secretary Armin, natapos itong ipatayo noon pang Disyembre.

Ang bonus pa nga: nalampasan pa natin ang ating target. Kaya ulitin ko lang po, sa mga nakikinig na miyembro ng ating gabinete, kapag nangako kayo at dinadagdagan n‘yo po ang resulta, hindi po tayo magagalit, ikinatutuwa natin ‗yan.

Ang tagumpay po nating ito ay hindi bunga ng milagro, o ng dinoktor na mga numero. Kongkretong bunga ito ng pagkakaisa, dedikasyon, at propesyunalismo ng DepEd, ng DPWH, ng ating economic team na buong sigasig na pinapalago ang ekonomiya, at ng matuwid nating paggugol ng pondo. Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa pakikipagtulungan ng lokal na gobyerno, ng mga nagbigay ng donasyon sa loob at labas ng bansa, at sa pribadong sektor, upang makumpleto ang pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan. Maraming salamat po sa paglalatag ng magandang kinabukasan para sa ating kabataan.

Marami po sa inyo sigurong batid na ako po‘y nag-aral sa Ateneo de Manila, ang butihing kaibigan ng mga taga-De La Salle University. Siyempre, si Brother Armin po, hindi lang produkto, namuno pa ng De La Salle. Si Secretary Singson ng DPWH, galing rin sa La Salle. Si Secretary Purisima, galing rin sa La Salle. Kaya siguro, itong araw po, mapapatawad ng aking kapwa mga Atenista kung sasabihin kong, ―Animo La Salle!‖ Malamang hindi na naman tayo maiimbitahang magsalita sa Ateneo. Baka sa La Salle na lang.

Siyempre, top one pa rin po sa mga dapat kong pasalamatan, ating butihing kalihim, Armin Luistro. Isipin po ninyo: puwede namang tanggihan ni Secretary Armin ang alok nating maglingkod sa gobyerno. Matagumpay at tahimik ang kanyang buhay sa kanyang bokasyon. Sa gobyerno, nag-aabang sa kanya ang sakit ng ulong hatid ng mga problemang ipinamana po sa atin, pati ng mga pambabatikos ng ilan na naging trabaho na ang magkalat ng negatibismo. Hindi po nagpasindak si Brother Armin: Pinili niyang tumaya at higit na makapaglingkod. Hindi siya nagpakahon sa mga limitasyon, at hinigitan pa niya ang husay at pagsisikap na naging kakabit na ng kanyang pangalan. Muli, maraming salamat, Secretary Armin.

Mulat po tayong hindi pa tapos ang ating misyon, at mayroon pa rin tayong mga pagsubok na dapat lampasan. Marami po ang winasak na paaralan ng mga nagdaang kalamidad, at bawat taon ay nadadagdagan ang mga mag-aaral. Sa abot ng ating makakaya, titiyakin nating matutugunan ang batayang pangangailangan sa sektor ng edukasyon; at sisiguruhin nating pati ang magiging pagkukulang sa mga susunod na taon dahil sa K to 12 program ay mapapaghandaan din, matatapos, at hindi napapamana ang pag-solve sa susunod na administrasyon. Ngayong napunuan na ang mga kakulangan ng nakaraan, kompiyansa tayong mas mapapaarangkada pa—hindi lamang ang sektor ng edukasyon— kundi maging ang pag-unlad ng kalakhang lipunan.

Ibang-iba na po talaga ang Pilipinas ngayon. Sa pagtahak sa landas ng katwiran at pananagutan, nagawa nating posible ang dating imposible. Kompiyansa po tayo sa kakayahan ng lahing Pilipino—basta‘t nakikiambag ang bawat isa, basta‘t sabay-sabay tayong humahakbang pasulong, tunay nating maihahawan ang magandang kinabukasan para sa atin pong bayan.

Siyempre, pasalamatan ho natin, hingi po ako ng kaunting palakpak sa inyo, sa mga miyembro ng kongreso na talaga naman nakiisa sa atin para matagumpay para makamtan ang tagumpay na iyon. Sa mga local government units rin po, na nakakarami po sa ating bansa, ang nakiambag rin tungo sa solusyon at hindi sa problema.

Siguro sa pagtatapos: Noong nag-uumpisa po kami, lalo na ‗yong unang apat po na buwan, isipin ho n‘yo, tulad nitong problemang ating sino-solve ngayong araw na ito, 66,800 ang kulang. Tinanong ko si Secretary Abad, ―Ano ba ang kaya nating suportahan malamang?‖ Sabi niya, ―Walong libo.‖ Paano gagawin natin ito, 66,000, eh hindi equivalent to 48,000, at gumawa nga ho ng iba‘t ibang paraan, nag-enganyo ng mga nag-donate, hinanap lahat ng puwedeng donors, may PPP pa tayo dito, dulo po nito, hindi solusyon sa edukasyon ang dahilan; ang solusyon dapat, tunay na maipakita sa mga kabataang may utang tayong magandang kinabukasan.

Magandang araw sa inyong. Maraming salamat po.

[HOME]

INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR. Umagang Kay Ganda / Punto por Punto by Anthony Taberna February 03, 2014 SEC. COLOMA: (recording cut) … na nais po nating bigyan nang katanggap-tanggap na closure ang bagay na ito.

ANTHONY: Pero for the record po, Secretary, ano po ba ang opisyal na paliwanag ng Malacañang kung bakit po ayaw pong maghingi ng public apology?

SEC. COLOMA: Ilinaw na lang natin, hindi siguro tama na sabihing ayaw mag-apologize o ayaw humingi ng apology dahil may konteksto naman lahat iyan, Tunying, at isa iyan sa mga pinag-uusapan at patuloy na pinaguusapan pa. At tayo po ay nais pa ring humantong sa katanggap-tanggap na sitwasyon nito, kaya kung maari lamang ay huwag na munang palawigin iyong pagtatalo tungkol sa isyu na iyon. Nais pa rin po nating magkaroon ng kasunduan.

ANTHONY: I‘m sure lahat po ng mga kababayan natin ay ganoon po ang direksyon. Puwede po bang i-disclose ninyo sa amin kung—baka naman hindi lang sorry ang hinihingi ng Hong Kong, kasi iyon po ang lumulutang, sa totoo lamang. Iyon po iyong nangingibabaw sa usapan na ito, ayaw daw po nating mag-sorry. Ano pa po ba iyong iba nilang hinihingi?

SEC. COLOMA: Naresolba na naman lahat ng iba pang usapin, Tunying. By mutual agreement, ang termino na ginagamit ng magkabilang panig para diyan ay Articles of Solidarity. Iyong mga konkretong manipestasyon ng pagkalinga at pag-unawa sa sinapit ng mga namatay at nasugatan doon sa insidenteng iyon. Iyong Articles of Solidarity, naresolba na lahat iyong mga tungkol sa usaping iyan, Tunying.

ANTHONY: Opo. Tama po ba ang pagkakaintindi ko, talagang iyong—bagama‘t nabanggit ninyo na po iyong Articles of Solidarity, iyong konteksto ng lahat ng ito—hindi pa rin po talaga tayo magso-sorry? Iyon po ang lundo ng usapan.

SEC. COLOMA: Sabihin na lang natin na nandoon tayo sa punto doon na pinag-uusapan na lang kung ano ang pinakamainam at pinakakatanggap-tanggap na paraan ng pagkilala doon sa ating pag-unawa sa sitwasyon nila.

Hindi po tama na sabihing ayaw nating magpakita ng ating posisyon diyan ‗no, ayaw mag-sorry, ayaw magapologize. Parang masyado ho kasing absolute iyong mga ganoong klaseng salita ‗no dahil sa katotohanan naman ay nagkakaroon ng pag-uusap kung paano ito pinakamahusay na puwedeng maging katanggap-tanggap, na sabihin na magiging acceptable to both parties. At iyan po ang sinisikap pa rin nating matamo hanggang ngayon. Kaya‘t hindi po tayo nababawasan sa ating determinasyon para sa kapakanan din po kasi ito ng ating mga kababayan at sa kapakanan ng buong bansa PROFESSOR: Puwede bang magtanong kay Sonny. Estudyante ko ito dati eh. Sonny, natandaan mo ang cosmology ng mga Chinese. Cosmology is a world view. Hindi ba sa kanila, when you‘re talking of closure, tuldukan mo na, kailangan talaga sa dulo noon, forgiveness. Iyon lang naman ang hinihingi nila eh. Why are we quibbling about all other actions na ginagawa pa ng gobyerno, eh isang hininga na lang, iyon na lang hinihingi nila, ‗di ba? So, if you are talking about deep understanding, let‘s also have a deep understanding from their standpoint, ‗di ba?

SEC. COLOMA: Hindi naman po quibbling ‗no. Sapagka‘t noong nag-usap si Pangulong Aquino at si Chief Executive Leung, nagkaroon naman po ng sharing ng kanilang world view. Siyempre din po, kailangang ipahiwatig

din natin sa kanila kung ano rin naman ang world view natin. Hindi naman pupuwedeng iyong sa kanila lang ang iiral dito. Pero hindi po quibbling, iyon lang po ang masasabi ko, Professor (unclear). Hindi po quibbling.

ANTHONY: Okay, Professor, thank you po sa tanong ninyo. Salamat po. Secretary Coloma, marami pong salamat sa inyong oras at magbabantay po kami sa development sa isyung ito. Magandang umaga po sa inyo.

Professor, sino po ba ang matatalo kapag po, halimbawa, nagmatigas po tayo—gagamitin ko na po iyong salita ninyo, quibbling, hininga na lang … SORRY, five letters.

PROFESSOR: Actually, ginamit ko iyon hindi naman in a pejorative sense, kasi in-enumerate ni Sonny lahat ng ginagawa. So, we‘re really just a breath away from iyong hinihingi nilang formal apology. So, that‘s what I‘m saying. Practically, all your actions are leading to that direction, di ba. ‗Di ba, as they say, if it walks like a duck and it looks like … it must be a duck, something like that ‗no. So, anong punto ‗no? Tulad ng ano, kaninang tinanong mo kay Sonny – wala naman ding direct na answer – is what‘s the point? What are we losing if we make that formal apology should also be the question. Ano ang mawawala sa atin?

ANTHONY: Ano ang mawawala sa atin, sa tingin ninyo wala?

PROFESSOR: Wala. In fact, alam mo, there is pride in humility ‗no. There is victory in humility, ‗di ba, lalo na ang daming mga pagkakamali na nangyari. So, iyon na nga, tapusin na natin ito dahil iyong mga iba nga dinudugtong pa ito sa contested area sa South China Sea. ANTHONY: Actually po, narinig ko nga iyon. Sa tingin ninyo, walang kinalaman din iyon?

PROFESSOR: No, meron because Hong Kong is part of China.

ANTHONY: So, sa tingin ninyo, maaaring ginagamit ng mainland ang Hong Kong para gipitin tayo?

PROFESSOR: Well, if you have sinister thoughts, then you will think along those lines.

ANTHONY: Professor, maraming salamat po sa inyong oras. Umagang Kay Ganda po, baka mapunta tayo sa West Philippine Sea sa susunod.

SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center [HOME]

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Ex-Deputy Ombudsman and Ex-Assistant Ombudsman face criminal raps before Sandiganbayan Philippine Financial Stability Coordination Council launched File formal opposition to alien employment permit applications, Baldoz tells TUCP POEA bans deployment of OFWs to selected Thailand areas UK delegation boosts biz ties in PHL P-Noy urges Transition Commission to fast-track Basic Law drafting; assures full support DepEd recovering damaged school records in Yolanda-hit areas Philippines, New Zealand to launch working holiday scheme Philippine Council of Engineers and Architects, Saudi Council of Engineers sign Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate and exchange Information GSIS sells two Davao lots to the Office of the Ombudsman for P35M DAR says land acquisition and distribution to continue beyond June 2014 DOTC awards its first PPP project: AFCS to modernize rail ticketing experience in 2015 TESDA, Coke program empowers more women Statement of the Vice President on the celebration of the 26th Constitution Day PDIC files charges against former bank President, Manager for P2.6-B fictitious loans PIDS resource expert tackles mining issues in Palawan forum

Ex-Deputy Ombudsman and Ex-Assistant Ombudsman face criminal raps before Sandiganbayan Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved the filing of Informations against former Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark E. Jalandoni and former Assistant Ombudsman Nennette M. De Padua for tampering with official documents.

Jalandoni and De Padua face thirteen (13) counts of Falsification of Public Documents under Article 171, par. 6 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and fifty-six (56) counts of Infidelity in the Custody of Public Documents through Concealment under Article 226 of the RPC. The Informations are expected to be filed with the Sandiganbayan tomorrow.

In two separate Orders signed on December 5, 2013, Ombudsman Morales approved the Internal Affairs Board (IAB) recommendation affirming the July 25, 2013 Resolution and denying the Motions for Reconsideration filed by Jalandoni and De Padua.

By Order approved on January 22, 2014, Ombudsman Morales granted the motion for reconsideration filed by former Executive Assistant Rosalyn D. Martinez who, after agreeing to become a prosecution witness, was accorded conditional immunity pursuant to Section 17 of Republic Act No. 6770 (The Ombudsman Act of 1989) that vests the Ombudsman with the power to grant immunity to material witnesses in graft and corruption cases.

The case arose from a complaint filed with the IAB in June 2011 by former Overall Deputy Ombudsman (ODO) Orlando Casimiro who discovered the tampered decisions, resolutions, orders and other official documents which respondents committed during their tenure in the Office. ODO Casimiro was then the Acting Ombudsman after Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned in April 2011.

After the proceedings, the IAB found that there was systematic tampering with official documents that were already reviewed and signed by approving authorities (including former Ombudsman Gutierrez), by superimposing or ―patching‖ the signatory portions thereof with pieces of paper bearing Jalandoni‘s name, making it appear that Jalandoni was the approving authority.

In at least 56 cases, the release of already-approved documents was delayed because it was made to appear that Jalandoni has yet to act on them. In at least 13 cases, the ―patches‖ were signed by Jalandoni, making it appear that he was authorized to sign the documents, when in fact they were already signed by various approving authorities.

Ombudsman Morales expressed hope that the filing of criminal cases against two former top Ombudsman officials will underscore the seriousness of the anti-corruption campaign. ―The Office shall continue to run after and prosecute all – even our own people – found to be involved in shenanigans that compromise the integrity of public service. We shall continue cleaning our own backyard,‖ she added.

In the July 25, 2013 Resolution, the criminal complaint as against other respondents Amie Lou Fernandez, Associate Graft Investigation Officer; Grace Anne Arnan, Graft Prevention and Control Officer; and Ruby Ann Medallada, Administrative Aide, were dismissed for lack of probable cause.

Administrative Aspect of the Case In a separate Decision dated July 25, 2013, Ombudsman Morales found Jalandoni administratively liable for Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, and imposed upon him the penalty of dismissal from service with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and bar from taking civil service examinations. In lieu of dismissal from the service, which principal penalty can no longer be implemented since Jalandoni resigned in April 2011, Ombudsman Morales imposed the penalty of fine equivalent to his salary for one (1) year. The accessory penalties remain, however.

The administrative complaint as against De Padua and Martinez was dismissed for lack of administrative disciplinary jurisdiction, the two coterminous officials having separated from service in good faith prior to the filing of the complaint.

Fernandez and Medallada were found administratively liable for Simple Misconduct and were meted the penalty of suspension for one (1) month and one (1) day, while the administrative complaint against Arnan was dismissed for lack of substantial evidence.

Jalandoni elevated the administrative decision to the Court of Appeals where it is now pending appeal. |TOP| Philippine Financial Stability Coordination Council launched Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph The Financial Stability Coordination Council was launched this week by five government institutions to foster a strong and resilient financial system that supports market innovation and mitigates any build-up of systemic risks. The Memorandum of Agreement for the FSCC were signed by, from left: Insurance Commission (IC) Commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc; National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon representing the Department of Finance (DoF); Bangko

Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor and FSCC Chair Amando M. Tetangco, Jr.; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Teresita J. Herbosa; and Philippine Deposit and Insurance Corporation (PDIC) President Valentin A. Araneta. The members of the council will collaborate and coordinate to identify, manage, and address external and internal risks to financial stability to protect financial consumers and our economy. |TOP| File formal opposition to alien employment permit applications, Baldoz tells TUCP Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph Saying published allegations about illegal foreigners working in the construction sector in the country has been investigated as early as September 2013, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said any one, including the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines which had raised the issue, can file formal opposition to alien employment permit applications which are public documents.

This was Secretary Baldoz's response to the TUCP which again yesterday raised the issue, expressing fear of Chinese and other foreign workers "slowly taking over the country's labor market".

"Applications for the issuance of alien employment permits are published in newspapers of general circulation.

Anyone who opposes the issuance of an AEP to a foreigner-applicant can file an opposition with our regional offices.

That is the process. I hope the TUCP and all stakeholders will file their opposition, if they have concerns, to help the government weed out illegal foreign workers in the country," said Baldoz, adding: "The publication of an AEP application is a labor market test requirement of the Labor Code. Its purpose is to let the public know that a company is hiring a foreigner with a particular skill which may not be available locally. Anyone who can prove otherwise should come forward and file an opposition."

Baldoz said the AEP guidelines authorizes representatives of DOLE regional directors to conduct ocular inspection to verify legitimacy of employment of foreign national and a verification inspection of the establishment employing foreign nationals within 30 days after issuance of the AEP. The penalty on foreign nationals working without AEP is a fine of P10,000 for every year, or a fraction thereof.

"The regional director can also deny an AEP application, or revoke an issued AEP. This is also in the guidelines," Baldoz said.

She explained that as a matter of procedure, DOLE regional directors also check the employment contracts of these foreign nationals, mayor's permit to operate the business, and certification from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, if the company is located in an economic zone.

The DOLE, according to Baldoz, has been successful in weeding out illegal foreigners in the local labor market, saying that in Central Luzon for instance, 10 Chinese workers are awaiting deportation by the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) after they were found to have no AEPs. "The BID is also conducting investigation of 70 Chinese workers said to be hired by a company called Scitel Customer Care Phils., Inc. who were issued visas but allegedly there were misrepresentation of information in their application," said Baldoz, quoting a report of BLE Director Dominique Rubia-Tutay.

She also said for its efforts to strictly enforce the AEP law, the Philippine Overseas Construction Board (POCB) commended it in December. The commendation was in the form of a resolution thanking the DOLE for its immediate response to the call of the Philippine construction industry to check the working permits of foreign workers in local construction projects.

"The POCB has learned from foreign contractors, who are also working in projects they are involved with, that they are now more cautious in employing foreign workers and now ensure compliance with the requirements of Philippine laws, particularly the AEP," said POCB Chairman Isidro A. Consunji in a letter to Secretary Baldoz transmitting the resolution.

Baldoz reiterated that DOLE regional offices, notably DOLE National Capital Region and DOLE Regional Office Nos. 3 and 4-A, had conducted investigation of the allegations immediately after the TUCP raised the matter in September last year.

"In fact, DOLE Regional Office No. 4-A Director Zenaida Angara-Campita, acting on an official information, conducted an investigation even before the TUCP allegation came out, and had found out that 13 Chinese nationals have been working for a large construction company in Batangas without any AEP. She ordered the company employing the Chinese workers to comply with the AEP requirement," Baldoz recalled.

She further said the DOLE's Bureau of Local Employment had met with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) on the matter to improve mechanics of coordination in the grant of working visas to foreign nationals.

"This is about strictly enforcing the revised rules for the issuance of alien employment permits (AEPs) which our regional offices have direct responsibility. I have already instructed the two regional directors concerned--and in fact this goes true with the other DOLE regional directors--to look into this matter and, if found to have basis, act to strictly

enforce the rules," said Baldoz.

She said her order to the regional directors include the inventory check of the data bases of foreign nationals issued the AEP and cross-checking this with the companies that applied for the AEPs in their respective areas of jurisdiction. |TOP| POEA bans deployment of OFWs to selected Thailand areas Source: https://www.dole.gov.ph More job applicants are looking up to Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) to help them find jobs, as the number of these people who trooped to the City PESO of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, showed in 2009. ―This indicates the trust that job applicants repose in the PESO,‖ Ms. Aileen Cynthia Amurao, City PESO manager said after the Puerto Princesa City PESO was adjudged to the have the biggest number of applicants registered at the 9th National PESO Congress in Tagaytay City last October. Some 8,842 job applicants registered with the PESO office last year.

The Puerto Princesa City PESO bested other PESOS in well-developed cities of the National Capital Region (NCR) and other prime regions all over the country. For the feat, Ms. Amurao brought home a trophy and cash award of P50,000.00. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz personally handed out to Ms. Amurao the prizes. ―Puerto Princesa City PESO being a recipient of one of the most prestigious awards in the 9th National PESO Congress is one of our top achievements for 2010,‖ said Josefino Torres, director of the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 4B (MIMAROPA Region), based in Calapan City. ―All through the years, as the Public Employment Service Officers of the Philippines (PESOPHIL) assembles at its annual Congress and recognizes top employment performers, the PESOs in our region have not been nominated nor given citations. This is the first and it feels great,‖ he added.

Torres said that it was only in 2008 when PESOs in the MIMAROPA region started getting recognition and reaping honors and citations for exemplary performance.

He admitted that the DOLE Regional Office No. 4B and the PESOs have worked together for the achievement. ―We have endured a lot and overcame the challenges of the skills registration process before we were given the said honor,‖ Torres said, adding that ―we broadened our partnership with concerned local government units (LGUs) by reaching down to the barangay level and provided technical and logistics support in order to achieve our employment facilitation objectives.‖ Torres said the DOLE‘s Regional and Palawan Field Offices, in partnership with the City PESO of Puerto Princesa, utilized all means as effectively and efficiently possible to assist the public to explore various employment options, fulfilling the DOLE mandate of facilitating the perfect match of employment opportunities and employment seekers.

Ms. Amurao recalled that she was there at the inception of the Puerto City PESO, which was established by virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement signed on March 4, 1994 by then DOLE Secretary Nieves Confesor and Mayor Edward Hagedorn, with the DOLE Director Romeo Young, now labor attaché to Oman, as witness.

It was institutionalized by virtue of City Ordinance No. 146 entitled, ―Creating the City PESO and five regular positions, Supervising Labor Employment Officer, Labor and Employment Officer III, Labor and Employment Officer I, Labor and Employment Aide, and Manpower Development Assistant on September 11, 2000.

The City PESO, said Ms. Amurao, is also active in Career Guidance, as each year, its staff visit all secondary and tertiary schools, both private and government institutions to conduct career coaching to all third and fourth year students.

Ms. Amurao also said that through the help of the DOLE, it has institutionalized a Special Credit Assistance for Departing OFWs, a lending program for qualified overseas applicants from the City which charges just a 12 percent interest rate per annum. The city government has allocated an amount of P1 million for the start-up of the special facility. ―This PESO program, started in 2003, is now very popular,‖ Director Torres said. ―As of today, we have released more than P9 million in credit assistance to 721 deployed overseas applicants. The repayment rate was at 96 percent,‖ Ms. Amurao added.

Currently, an ordinance for the creation of Barangay PESO is underway with the City Council to further bring down the employment programs of the government to the barangay level.

Questions about this news release? Please contact DOLE- Region 4B at telephone number (043) 288-1667.

|TOP| UK delegation boosts biz ties in PHL Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently welcomed a trade and investment mission of British companies that intend to expand their businesses and ramp up their presence in the Philippines.

During the investment briefing for the mission members, Trade Undersecretary Ponciano C. Manalo Jr. conveyed his appreciation of the delegation‘s presence in the country as this highlights the strengthening of bilateral trade and investment relations between our two countries. Manalo further invited the delegation members to explore potential business opportunities in the country and encouraged them to invest in light of the positive economic developments in our country.

This business mission is the eighth group from the UK for this year. It is a follow through from the high-level trade and investment mission of the Philippines, as well as the PEZA Roadshow, both of which took place in London last October.

The delegation is composed of British companies seeking potential joint venture partnerships, investments in manufacturing, product distributors, and product sources in the Philippines.

In partnership with DTI‘s Philippine Trade and Investment Center in London (PTIC-London) and UK-ASEAN Business Council, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UK Trade and Investment (North West England) organized a two-day visit including a number of activities for the delegation. These activities aim to highlight and reiterate the positive economic developments and high investor confidence in the Philippines. ―The current investment climate in the Philippines is strong, and gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate hit 7%,‖ Manalo said.

Manalo said the primary factor that contributes to this positive development is good governance that the country is having under the present administration.

Manalo added that when locating in a country, businesses seek for stability and predictability of investments through good governance and a stable banking system.

In 2012, the United Kingdom (UK) surged as the seventh top source of approved investment amounting to P6.7B or a 293-% increase from the previous year‘s P1.7B. Manalo noted that trade in service is one of the areas to develop with the UK. This includes voice and non-voice business process management (BPM).

Aside from BPM, other priority sectors offered to British companies are public-private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure, aerospace, and manufacturing in agribusiness, food processing, automotive electronic parts and components.

Thirteen companies joined the delegation. These are Arup, AWW Architects, Deemak International, Duke‘s Court Travel, Energy Island, GIG Productions Ltd., Hoshin, Human Elemental Ltd, Medikit Ltd., Sterling Sensors Ltd., Tree Communications, Tudor Export Ltd., and UK Trade and Investment.

London Chamber of Commerce Senior International Business Executive Ruma Deb said that they expect enduring business relations with the Philippines. Likewise, Asia Pacific Development UK Trade and Investment (North West Team) Head Philomena Chan noted there are a lot of synergies that both countries can partner and cited the creative sector in particular. |TOP| P-Noy urges Transition Commission to fast-track Basic Law drafting; assures full support Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph Manila – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday urged the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to "fasttrack the completion of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to ensure its passage and ratification with enough time to complete the transition tasks in time for the 2016 elections."

In a statement released by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, she relayed that the President met with the members of the BTC who paid him a courtesy call in Malacanang.

"The meeting, which took place in a warm and relaxed atmosphere, gave the BTC the opportunity to update the President on the work they have been doing and the concerns they were trying to address," said Deles who was also present in the meeting.

The BTC is the body created THRU EO 120 issued in December, 2012 to draft the BBL that will pave the way for the establishment of the Bangsamoro region in 2016. It is composed of a total of 15 members appointed by the President, eight were recommended by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and seven were recommended by the GPH. "To ensure the broadest possible support for the passage of the law, the President stressed the need for the BTC to be transparent in its work and to reach out to the different sectors, including those initially resistant to the new political entity," added Deles.

Led by its chair Mohagher Iqbal, who also sits as chief negotiator of the MILF, the BTC members have been conducting consultations with various stakeholders.

Other commissioners include Maulana Alonto, Abdula Camlian, Raissa Jajurie, Said Shiek, Ibrahim Ali, Melanio Ulama, Hussein Munoz, Akmad Sakkam, Asani Tammang, Pedrito Eisma, Froilyn Mendoza, Johaira Wahab, Talib Benito, and Fatmawati Salappudin.

Full support Deles also related that the President "assured the BTC of the full support of the national government in terms of technical and political support, guidance and advice as well as budget."

"He (Aquino) said he would give as much of his own time as necessary to gain support for this undertaking," she stated.

"He expressed full confidence that, with everyone's hard work and due diligence, the vote for the new law would be won," added Deles.

Once drafted, the BBL will be certified as an urgent bill by the President, submitted to Congress for passage, and subjected to a plebiscite in the envisioned core territory of the Bangsamoro. |TOP| DepEd recovering damaged school records in Yolanda-hit areas Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph The Department of Education (DepEd) is continuing efforts to recover and reconstruct school records damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in affected divisions of Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas. DepEd began the assessment in December 2013 and mapped out a strategy in recovery and reconstruction of select school records given the constraints in the area. ―Records that have been partially damaged were digitally captured and sent to division offices. Those that were lost or totally destroyed are being reconstructed using other available documents,‖ said Rogelio Morales, DepEd Director for Technical Services.

In the four divisions of Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Ormoc City and Leyte alone, records of 78,000 learners in elementary and high school have been affected. The students' permanent school records contained in Form 137 was identified as a priority. In these areas, around 41,627 were deemed intact, 9,669 had partial damage, and 7,297 were lost or totally destroyed.

Partially damaged forms were photo captured and then reproduced on new forms. Tablets donated by the Turkish relief agency helped hasten the process of restoration of permanent school records. To date, more than 10,500 school records have been digitally captured; 45000 copies of blank form 137s as well office supplies were also sent to both regions needed for school records recovery operations. |TOP| Philippines, New Zealand to launch working holiday scheme Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph 03 February 2014 - Another significant milestone in Philippines-New Zealand bilateral relations has been reached with the launch of the Working Holiday Scheme (WHS).

Effective 05 February 2014, Filipinos and New Zealanders, ages 18 to 30 years, will be able to apply for the WHS visa allowing them the opportunity to stay for one year in New Zealand and the Philippines, respectively, for leisure, holiday or temporary work. WHS participants may enroll in training or study for a maximum period of three months or work for one year with a limit of three months per employer. They will have to leave the country at the end of the temporary 12-month entry visa. A quota of 100 WHS visas per year will be issued to successful Filipino applicants and the same number to successful New Zealand applicants.

The arrangement on the WHS, the first of its kind for the Philippines and one of 34 arrangements with other countries for New Zealand, was signed between Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully and witnessed by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime Minister John Key in Wellington

on 23 October 2012.

The implementation of the WHS is expected to generate closer people-to-people understanding and goodwill through tourism, cultural and educational exchanges and short-term employment and allow young participants from the Philippines and New Zealand to experience first-hand the thriving way of life in the communitiesand engage more closely with the local people in each other‘s country.

Interested applicants from the Philippines may contact the Embassy of New Zealand in Makati (http://www.nzembassy.com/philippines) while those from New Zealand can get in touch with the Embassy of the Philippines in Wellington (http://www.philembassy.org.nz/) for the requirements and relevant details of the WHS Arrangement. |TOP| Philippine Council of Engineers and Architects, Saudi Council of Engineers sign Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate and exchange Information Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph 3 February 2014 – The Philippine Council of Engineers and Architects (PCEA), led by Chairman Engr. Mario Balboa and the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE), represented by Chairman Arch. Hamad Al Shegawi, signed on January 30 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework of cooperation to enhance the engineering profession and exchange expertise and information.

The signing ceremony was held at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. It was graced by Consul General and Minister Marshall Louis M. Alferez and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairman Teresita Manzala.

PRC Chair Manzala expressed hope that the MOU will be a living document that will evolve into more areas of cooperation for the PCEA and the SCE. SCE Chair Al-Shegawi noted that Filipinos have been close to and a part of Saudi Arabia for so long. He said that there are 12,500 Filipino engineers accredited with the Saudi Council of Engineers and of all foreign nationals, they are the best in terms of skill and competence.

Minister Alferez congratulated both parties and encouraged other Filipino professional organizations to explore the same institutionalized partnerships with Saudi professional associations to improve their fields and develop their talents. He said that agreements such as this MOU will be mutually beneficial to the economies of the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. |TOP| GSIS sells two Davao lots to the Office of the Ombudsman for P35M Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) recently sold two parcels of land located in Matina, Davao City, to the Office of the Ombudsman. The properties have a combined lot area of 2,798 square meters. In the photo, GSIS President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara receives the P35-Million check from Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera and Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang (third and fourth from left) witness the sale. |TOP| DAR says land acquisition and distribution to continue beyond June 2014 Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph The Department of Agrarian Reform today allayed fears that the program to distribute land to landless peasants will end with the CARPER law, which expires on June 2014.

In a statement, the DAR reassured various quarters in civil society, including some bishops who wrote President Aquino to ask for his support for an extension of the CARPER law until the end of his term in 2016.

The bishops allege that the sluggishness of land distribution by the present DAR administration raised fears that the remaining balance of land would not be distributed to the farmers within the timeframe set by the CARPER law.

DAR Undersecretary Anthony Paruñgao said that the bishops may want to look at Section 30 of RA 9700 which states that land acquisition and distribution may proceed for landholdings with pending proceedings even after the June 2014. He added that there is a DOJ opinion which concurs with this view. Furthermore, the 2014 General Appropriations Act bolsters this view.

In connection with this, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations, Jose Grageda, assured the bishops that the

issuance of Notices of Coverage (NOCs) for landholdings to be acquired under Compulsory Acquisition is proceeding apace. A Notice of Coverage initiates the compulsory acquisition and distribution of private agricultural lands and is considered by DAR as one such proceedings referred to by CARPER. DAR had begun fast-tracking the preliminary work leading to the issuance of NOCs in 2012 leading in a substantial increase in NOCs issued to landholdings above 10 hectares. But because of limitations placed by RA 9700, NOCs for small landholdings 10 hectares and below began to be issued only starting April 2013. ―In 2012, the DAR was able to issue 25,841 NOCs covering 239,337 hectares for landholdings above 10 hectares.

For 2013, another 18,460 NOCs were issued covering 210,655 hectares for these bigger lands. In April 2013, the DAR started issuing NOCs to small landholdings below 10 hectares. Some 12,098 NOCs covering 70,538 hectares for these small landholdings were issued in 2013. Thus, for 2013, some 30,558 NOCs were issued covering 281,192 hectares‖, Grageda said.

Among those not yet issued NOCs are some 4,397 landholdings covering 43,676 hectares for which DAR has already requested certified true copies of title from the Land Registration Authority. In addition, there are 7,058 landholdings covering 69,339 hectares which are problematic and thus, no NOC has yet been issued. These are the lands for which DAR has encountered problems like missing titles, unreadable titles, chop-chop titles, etc. Grageda gave the assurance that all measures are being taken to address these problems. NOCs for around 80,000 hectares more, mostly for the small landholdings, are currently being prepared.

Grageda also noted NOCs already issued can be found in the DAR website. Anybody can check whether a particular landholding has been issued an NOC. In this same web page, anybody can report a landholding that he/she thinks should be covered by CARP. Grageda also said that the DAR has asked for the assistance and support of the various civil society organizations in identifying CARPable lands so that they can be served NOCs. So far, more than a thousand landholdings covering about 20,000 hectares have been added for compulsory acquisition.

Undersecretary Paruñgao also noted that there are legislative initiatives for CARP extension that will remove any and all doubts on the legal basis land acquisition and distribution after June 30, 2014.

As regards the perceived ‗sluggishness‘ of the distribution of land, Paruñgao said that they have communicated to the various stakeholders, the bishops included, on several occasions the state of the land acquisition and distribution balance (LAD). He said that presently the DAR is primarily distributing private agricultural land, most of which have to be acquired through compulsory acquisition.

He added that distributing private agricultural lands requires more time and is more contentious. Titles of private lands have to be procured. These titles have to be traced backward or forward to ensure that the owner on record is indeed the current owner. Landholdings identified for distribution has to be projected in the land classification map to ensure the landholding in question does not, for example, encroach into timberlands.

The technical description in the title has to be checked; titles with defective technical description would need further research and/or correction. In a significant number of cases, titles can turn up missing or the title or destroyed by floods or fire; some titles have been defaced making it unreadable. Again these would need further research and in a number of instances, have to be reconstituted by the courts.

Landowners can object to CARP coverage and can file petitions for exemption or exclusion. In the process of identifying beneficiaries, conflicts among potential beneficiaries may arise necessitating inclusion/exclusion proceedings.

He said that these factors impose themselves on land acquisition and distribution such that they impede the process of distributing land as the Department has had to undertake other steps in order to proceed with its mandate.

Paruñgao added that in the middle of all these, the DAR‘s Rationalization Plan was implemented. ―The rationalization plan that was put in effect hopes to address precisely these problems and make the Department more able to take on its tasks of distributing private agricultural land‖, Parungao said. ―We have always been upfront with the many stakeholders of land reform as regards the situation obtaining on the ground so that we can work together in distributing the remaining land. They are familiar with the situation the DAR finds itself in because we‘ve communicated this several times over‖ said Paruñgao. |TOP| DOTC awards its first PPP project: AFCS to modernize rail ticketing experience in 2015 Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph MPIC-Ayala Consortium Bags Contract for LRT-MRT Tap-and-Go System The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) awarded the first of its many projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program to a joint venture led by the Ayala and Metro Pacific groups last Thursday, 30 January 2014. ―We are pleased to announce that a modern ticketing system is on its way for our train riders. This is part of the

DOTC‘s effort to improve our services at the LRT and the MRT. The AFCS will provide passengers with more comfort, convenience, and efficiency in their daily commute, at no cost to government or to the passengers,‖ said DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.

The Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), a tap-and-go ticketing scheme for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) rail systems, is envisioned to improve passenger comfort and convenience by cutting queuing time and allowing seamless transfers from one rail line to another.

The AF Consortium was awarded the concession after having made the most advantageous offer to the transport agency. It proposed not only to undertake the modernization project, but also to make premium payments to government in the amount of P 1,088,103,900.00.

As a result, the DOTC will be able to implement this common ticketing system and generate revenues for government at the same time, without passing any cost on to passengers.

This was made possible by the way the transport department structured the project, which allows the winning concessionaire to expand its business beyond the LRT and MRT lines. Thus, the AF Consortium will be able to promote the use of the smart card-based technology to other transport modes such as buses, as well as to retail outlets such as mall and convenience stores, among others.

Under the concession agreement, the AFCS ticketing scheme will be fully integrated at the LRT and MRT systems

by September 2015. ―This shift to a modern fare collection system is only the beginning of several rail improvement projects in our pipeline. We are increasing the capacity of MRT-3 and buying out its private owner, extending the rail lines of LRT-1 and LRT-2, and building a new one called MRT-7,‖ remarked Abaya.

In addition to these projects, the DOTC will also construct a Common Station in the EDSA-North Avenue area to connect the LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7 lines. It will also transfer the operations and maintenance of LRT-1 and LRT2 to the private sector through the PPP program, in order to improve services for the public.

As for the MRT-3 buyout, government has already begun the process to acquire the urban railway‘s facilities and to end government‘s obligation to pay exorbitant rental fees to the private owner until the next decade. |TOP| TESDA, Coke program empowers more women Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph The Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program launched two years ago to help women retailers succeed in business has now a total of 7,986 graduates.

The program, a joint undertaking of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and CocaCola Bottlers Philippines, targets to empower 200,000 women sari-sari store owners and operators all over the country by 2020 by giving them skills training in managing their business.

Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA director general, said the program continues to hone not only the women beneficiaries, but also the trainers and program implementors, who are at the forefront managing and delivering the program's package of assistance.

Recently, a total of 26 employees from TESDA's central and field offices took a four-day training on gender and development to make them more responsive to the needs of their clients.

"Our staff constantly needs capability build-up in order for the program to be more effective," Villanueva said.

"After all, this program is all about empowering women, redefining their roles from being mere household names into active participants in their respective businesses, which in turn contributes to the local economy," he said.

The training on gender and development was embedded in the STAR program, which is part of the Millenium Development Goal on empowering women.

The training modules also included a session on Database Management to equip the program implementors on the basics of handling, storing, and presenting information and data, which they could use in the monitoring and evaluation of program implementation and tracking the status of their beneficiaries.

At the core of the STAR program, the training on gender and development also complements the Philippines' status as one of the best performers within the Asia Pacific region when it comes to gender equality, according to Villanueva.

The country has improved as well its global ranking to fifth place from eighth in the 2013 Global Gender Gap Report.

"As we engage in skills training to hone our human capital, women will always be at the forefront, bearing greater

roles in development," Villanueva said.

The STAR program was initially implemented in Manila, Pasay, Makati, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and was later expanded to include Cagayan, Tuguegarao, Bukidnon, Bohol, Aklan, Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, Albay, Batangas, and Baguio. The TESDA Women‘s Center, on the other hand, will be the center of excellence to showcase the STAR program. The center will start training sari-sari store owners next month. |TOP| Statement of the Vice President on the celebration of the 26th Constitution Day Source: http://ovp.gov.ph 27 years ago, we as one nation ratified the 1987 Constitution and swore allegiance to it. Our Constitution embodies our fundamental rights as citizens, and represents our sovereignty and freedom.

Today we are reminded that our present Constitution is a product of a hard-earned democracy – borne of the blood, sweat, and tears of the brave men and women who fought tyranny and oppression during the dark days of Martial Law. As such, it is our collective responsibility as citizens of this great nation to protect and defend the Constitution from abuse, and ensure that truth, justice, freedom, equality, and peace always reign. |TOP| PDIC files charges against former bank President, Manager for P2.6-B fictitious loans Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), statutory receiver of the closed Rural Bank of Subangdaku, Inc. (RBSI) in Cebu, filed on January 13 with the Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal complaint against the former President and the former Loans Manager of the closed bank for the creation of fictitious loans and for conducting business in an unsafe and unsound manner. The RBSI was placed under PDIC receivership by the Monetary Board on January 8, 2009.

In its complaint, PDIC alleged that respondents Paz Radaza (President and Member of the RBSI Credit Committee) and Julius Eullaran (bankwide Loans Manager) conspired and caused the creation of 6,051 fictitious loans amounting to almost P2.6 billion from 2004 to 2008 and comprised about 97% of all the loans supposedly released by the RSBI – Head Office during the said period.

The complaint further stated that the respondents orchestrated the creation of official receipts and made it appear that payments were being made to the Bank, when in fact, no payment was being received. These supposed payments were used to provide the purported source of the fictitious loan proceeds.

Based on the sworn affidavit of the Bank‘s former Loan Officer, respondents Eullaran and Radaza ordered their subordinates to create fictitious loans, ―no questions asked‖ based on the list that respondent Eullaran provided, which contained information to be used in creating the fictitious loans. This claim was supported by the findings of the expert forensic accounting team from Alba Romeo & Co. that PDIC engaged to assist in the investigation.

Results of the forensic investigation showed that 5,470 of the 6,051 fictitious loans did not contain the required credit information. In addition, 581 of these loans did not have any supporting documents. Consequently, demand letters to the named borrowers of these loans were returned because of unknown addresses or because the borrowers did not exist.

The Corporation continues to pursue legal actions against bank officials and personnel who have been found to have engaged in unsafe and unsound banking practices. These activities pose grave threats to the stability of the country‘s banking system. As co-regulator of banks, deposit insurer and receiver/liquidator of closed banks, the PDIC is authorized to conduct investigations and file appropriate cases against erring bank officials and individuals who are found to have violated banking laws. The pursuit for justice against erring bank owners, officers and employees is an important undertaking of PDIC to protect the Deposit Insurance Fund, PDIC‘s funding source for payment of insured deposits, as well as to maintain financial stability. |TOP| PIDS resource expert tackles mining issues in Palawan forum Source: http://www.pids.gov.ph "The voice of the people is the voice of God." For a natural resource expert of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the people of Palawan, particularly those directly affected, should have a huge say on whether mining activities should continue in what is considered the countrys last frontier.

Researchers should investigate whether majority of the people of Palawan and majority of the people in the provinces mining areas are really against mining, said Dr. Danilo Israel, PIDS senior research fellow, during the seminar-forum titled The Philippine Mining and Minerals Industry: Development Issues and Recommendation for Research last January 27 at the Palawan State University (PSU) in Puerto Princesa City.

Israel pointed out that the mining sector in Palawan is hounded by issues of non-renewability, environmental protection, indigenous peoples rights, benefit-sharing, political wrangling, as well as minings impact on the provincial tourism industry. Empirical data will help the province shape its plan for the future of Palawan, the PIDS economist said.

He noted that the minerals industry has little value addition and tax revenues generated from mining and quarrying are low. Revenues from mining contributed only 0.66 percent to the total revenues of the government. Excise tax from mining contributed only 0.07 percent of the total excise tax collected by the government, Israel said before a packed audience at the PSU Hostel.

Data from the National Statistical Coordination Board showed that in terms of economic performance, mining and quarrying accounted for only 0.91 percent of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) from 1998 to 2012. By employment, the industries share for the period 2011-2012 was at 0.42 percent, based on data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Gold contributed the most to metallic mineral production with an average share of 72.24 percent from 1998 to 2012, followed by nickel with 15.16 percent and copper with 11.27 percent. However, gold is being smuggled out by smallscale mining operators, with such activities increasing since 2011 when the national government imposed a 7 percent tax on gold sold to the Central Bank.

Thought-provoking views were expressed by forum participants representing the academe, local government agencies, civil society, and the business sector particularly mining companies. One of the discussants, Jose Bayani Baylon, vice-president for communications at Nickel Asia Corp./Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp., suggested there was no need to choose between tourism and mining.

Palawans northern part, with its nice beaches, is ideal for eco-tourism, while the southern part has areas suitable for mining. Responsible mining is the key, he said, and this is something that large mining firms can do as they can be easily monitored by the provincial government. He also argued that large firms also pay taxes and take care of the environment as opposed to small-scale mining operations and smugglers. The problem is that taxes go to national agencies and not to the local governments hosting the mining areas, Baylon said.

Atty. Grizelda Mayo-Anda, executive director at the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, called for amendments to the mining law, arguing that the mining policy is structured to favor the requirements of the foreign market. Still, the government provides many fiscal incentives and other benefits to mining firms exploiting mineral and other resources.

She also stressed the need to look at abandoned mines. Aside from environmental and health risks, taxpayers are burdened as the government is footing the bill. The government loaned PHP 34.7 million from the World Bank for the rehabilitation of the Bagacay Mines in Bagacay, Samar. Government is paying the bill using taxpayers money now and also from the future generation the lawyer said.

Speaking for the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, John Francisco, who serves as chief of the Environmentally Critical Areas Network Policy and Research Division, asked what could be the reason for the limited economic and fiscal contribution of mining and quarrying industries. It could be because of a limitation in the policy and development agenda on the part of the national government. One strategy is to pursue the value addition stages instead of being limited to the extraction process, he said.

Israel recommended further research on efficient and effective ways to address smuggling, how to raise tax revenues and achieve equitable sharing, and how to make small-scale mining more beneficial to operators and less damaging to the environment.

PIDS President Gilbert Llanto echoed this and called for an analytical framework that would assess minings costs and benefits.

This is not exact science. In quantifying cost, you only look at the economic benefit and cost and disregard the social cost which is very important to consider and in fact, a very challenging area of research. It is important to have a comprehensive framework of analysis that would lay down all the private and social benefits and costs of mining in Palawan. In the end, it is the polity who will make the decision, and the sharing of proceeds should be in favor of the people who live here, Llanto said.

PSU also became host to the 23rd PIDS Corner, which was inaugurated on the same day at the PSU main library.

The PIDS Corner, one of the Institutes dissemination strategies, makes available for free to students, faculty, researchers, and local policymakers copies of PIDS publications such as books, policy notes, research papers, newsletters, and the peer-reviewed Philippine Journal of Development. |TOP|

Last Updated:

03 FEBRUARY 2014

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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the ceremonial turnover of 66,813 Accomplished Classrooms at the Carmona National High School in A.B. Rosario Street, Barangay 8, Carmona, Cavite on Monday (February 03). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a replica of a school building from CNHS students during the ceremonial turnover of 66,813 Accomplished Classrooms at the Carmona National High School (CNHS) in A.B. Rosario Street, Barangay 8, Carmona, Cavite on Monday (February 03). Also in photo is Education Secretary Armin Luistro. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a replica of a school building from CNHS students during the ceremonial turnover of 66,813 Accomplished Classrooms at the Carmona National High School (CNHS) in A.B. Rosario Street, Barangay 8, Carmona, Cavite on Monday (February 03). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the facilities of newly constructed school buildings during the ceremonial turnover of 66,813 Accomplished Classrooms at the Carmona National High School in A.B. Rosario Street, Barangay 8, Carmona, Cavite on Monday (February 03).

(Photo by Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 114th anniversary celebration of the Manila Bulletin at its main office in Intramuros, Manila Sunday (February 2). In photo with the President are Gen. Proceso Almando, VP for Administration (L) and Dr. Emilio Yap III (R), President for Advertising. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacananag Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 114th anniversary celebration of the Manila Bulletin as Guest of Honor, at its main office in Intramuros, Manila Sunday (February 2). In photo with the President are Manila Bulletin Chairman Emilio Yap and former president Fidel Ramos.

(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacananag Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 114th anniversary celebration of the Manila Bulletin as Guest of Honor at its main office in Intramuros, Manila Sunday (February 2). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacananag Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the full cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo are Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the full cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo are Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Luwalhati Antonino, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the full cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo are Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III leads his official family in prayer before presiding over the full cabinet meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo are Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Luwalhati Antonino, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges token with Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives from Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal a replica of the Bangsamo Transition Commission Official Seal during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of Malacañan Palace on Thursday(January 30). (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges token with Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo is Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives from Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal a replica of the Bangsamo Transition Commission Official Seal during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday(January 30). Also in photo are Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives from Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal a replica of the Bangsamo Transition Commission Official Seal during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday(January 30). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with the Transition Commission, headed by chairman Mohagher Iqbal, during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal, during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo are Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

(Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Transition Commission chairman Mohagher Iqbal during the courtesy call at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (January 30). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges views with Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Abdul Ghafar Tenku Mohamed during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malaca単an Palace on Thursday (January 30). Also in photo is Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malaca単ang 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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