Dispatch for september 20 , 2013 friday , 4 pia calabarzon prs , 6 weather watch,

Aguinaldo Shrine

Pagsanjan Falls

Taal Lake

Antipolo Church

Lucban Pahiyas Feast

Dispatch for September 20 , 2013 Friday , 4 PIA Calabarzon PRs , 6 Weather Watch, 4 OFW Watch, 11 Reg’l. Watch 1 PNOY Speech , 17 Online News , 7 Photonews

1. Weather Watch about an hour ago SEVERE WEATHER BULLETIN Number Thirteen Tropical Cyclone Warning: Typhoon #OdettePH (USAGI) Issued at 11:00 AM, 20 September 2013

TYPHOON “ODETTE” HAS ACCELERATED AND GAINED MORE STRENGTH AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO EXTREME NORTHERN LUZON Location of eye/center: At 10:00 AM today, the eye of Typhoon “ODETTE” was located based on all available data at 350 km East Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or at 360 km East of Calayan Island, Cagayan (19.5°N, 125.1°E).

Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

Movement: Forecast to move Northwest at 19 kph.

Forecast Positions: Typhoon “ODETTE” is expected to be at 90 km Northwest of Basco, Batanes or at 170 km North of Calayan Island, Cagayan by tomorrow morning. By tomorrow evening, it is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 290 km Northwest of Basco, Batanes.

• Public Storm Warning Signal No. 4 (Winds of more than 185 kph is expected in at least 12 hrs) Batanes Group of Islands • Public Storm Warning Signal No. 3 (Winds of 101-185 kph is expected in at least 18 hrs): Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands •Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 (Winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hrs): Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte •Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected within the next 36 hours) Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province and Ifugao • Estimated rainfall amount is from 10 – 20 mm per hour (heavy-intense) within the 900 km diameter of the Typhoon.

• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signals #4, #3, #2 & #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal #4, #3 and #2 are alerted against storm surges.

• “ODETTE” will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas. Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against flashfloods and landslides.

• Sea travel is risky over the western seaboard of Southern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and of Visayas.

• The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5 PM today.

For more information and queries, log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph or please call at telephone numbers 9271335 and 927-2877.

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2. Weather Watch 6 minutes ago DZBB Breaking: Isang bangka lumubog sa Dingalan, Aurora, 2 patay 2 nawawala.

3. Weather Watch about an hour ago DZBB: Ayon kay PAGASA weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio, hindi magla-landfall si Typhoon Odette pero malapit na malapit sa Batanes Group of Islands. Inaabisuhan ng PAGASA na mag-monitor ang mga taga-Northern Luzon partikular sa Batanes Group of Is., kasunod ng malakas na bagyong dadaan sa kanilang lugar. Kaugnay nito nasa signal no. 4 ang Batanes. Posibleng may panibagong LPA, pero sa ngayon wala pang nakikitang namumuong LPA sa loob ng PAR. Pinaka binabantayang dam sa ngayon Nag Magat.

For more information and queries, log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph or please call at telephone numbers 9271335 and 927-2877

4. Weather Watch about an hour ago

Super Typhoon Usagi, the equivalent of a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane, has intensified rapidly in the western Pacific Ocean and will threaten parts of Taiwan, the far northern Philippines and southern China through the next several days.

Super Typhoon Usagi Threatens Taiwan, Northern Philippines, Hong Kong - weather.com www.weather.com Usagi will threaten Taiwan, the far northern Philippines, southern China and Hong Kong through the weekend.

2Like 路 路 Share For more information and queries, log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph or please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877.

5. Weather Watch 7 hours ago PAGASA weather forecaster Samuel Duran on DZMM - Napanatili ng Bagyong Odette ang lakas nito habang patuloy na nagbabanta sa Northern Luzon.

- Huli itong namataan 410 kilometro silangan ng Aparri, Cagayan taglay ang lakas ng hangin na 175 kph malapit sa gitna at pagbugsong 210 kph.

-Nakataas na ngayon ang signal number 3 sa Batanes Group of Islands. Signal number 2 naman sa Apayao, Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands at Babuyan Group of Islands at signal number 1 naman sa IIocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Abra, Kalinga at Isabela.

-Linggo ng umaga pa ito inaasahang lalabas ng PAR.

6. Weather Watch 17 hours ago GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz: -Posibleng maging super typhoon ang bagyong Odette bukas, base sa datos ng Weather Central.

-Posibleng tumama ang bagyo sa Batanes sa Sabado at lalabas ng PAR sa Linggo.

-Mababa ang tsansa ng pag-ulan bukas sa Metro Manila.

-Magiging maulap hanggang makulimlim ang malaking bahagi ng Luzon -Sa Visayas, mas uulanin ang western section nito.

-Posibleng makaranas ng madalas na mahinang pag-ulan ang Zamboanga Peninsula dulot ng Habagat.

Weather Watch

September 20 , 2013 ( Friday )

CAVITE LAGUNA BATANGAS RIZAL QUEZON

PIA

: : : : :

as of 6:00-7:00 AM

Cloudy and Drizzling Cloudy Cloudy with Scattered rainshowers Fair Weather Cloudy and Drizzling

Regional Watch

1. PIA Regional Watch 3 hours ago near Quezon City PIA-4A/LAGUNA: The Committee on Welfare and Protection of Family, Women, Children, Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability of the San Pablo City Council has recently recommended the establishment of "temporary shelter" for street children to address the growing numbers of juvenile delinquents in the city.

2. PIA Regional Watch 20 hours ago PIA IV-A/CAVITE: A total of 61 inmates have been released from Cavite jails recently during summary hearings arranged by the Supreme Court in a bid to decongest jails. The project dubbed as "Judgement Day" is aimed at conducting speedy trial of cases to decongest jails nationwide. It is patterned after the "Enchanted Justice on Wheels", also a project of the Supreme Court.

3. PIA Regional Watch 20 hours ago PIA-4A/QUEZON: Representatives from the Department of Agriculture {DA} is scheduled to visit their completed satellite market projects in barangays Ibabang Dupay and Gulang- Gulang, Lucena City tommorow. They will interview also stall owners of said market. The projects would lessen traffic congestion in the city proper particularly in Lucena City public market.

4. PIA Regional Watch 22 hours ago near Quezon City PIA-4A/CAVITE: Some 300 students from Esperanza Elementary School in the town of Alfonso benefitted from the feeding program organized by the the Alfonso Municipal Police Station personnel under the leadership of Police Chief Inspector Romulo Cabalo Dimaya, Jr. Said activity is to help students who are in need of good nutrition and let them know that the PNP organization is sincere in giving services to the people.

5. PIA Regional Watch 22 hours ago near Quezon City PIA-4A/CAVITE: Representatives from Jeollabuk-Do Office of Education, Republic of Korea recently visited the province to strengthen ties and promote Information Communications Technology education in Cavite. For the past eight years, Jeollabuk-Do has been a partner of the provincial government in education development by promoting a collaborative relationship regarding education and information.

6. PIA Regional Watch

22 hours ago near Quezon City PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Australian government had donated communication equipment such as laptop, recorder, projector, camera in Lucena City last September17 to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council and Southern Luzon State University. Said equipment are intended for information dissemination to the public before, during and after disaster occurence.

7. PIA Regional Watch Yesterday near Quezon City PIA-4A/CAVITE: Approximately 569 jobseekers trooped to the General Trias Cultural and Convention Center last Sept. 11 to register and joined the job fair oganized by the local government of General Trias through Public Employment Service Office in cooperarion with the Gateway Business Park Human Resource Group. 76 applicants were hired by the end of the activity and the rest will undergo futher evaluation.

8. PIA Regional Watch Yesterday near Quezon City PIA-4A/QUEZON: The DTI, TESDA and PESO conduct today, Sept. 19 ) jobs fair at SM City Lucena. More than 2,000 applicants are expected to come to look fo rpossible jobs. Thirty (30) local and overseas employers are present to screen the jobseekers.

9. PIA Regional Watch Yesterday near Quezon City PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducts today, Sept. 19 the SME (small mediun enterprises) Roving Academy at SM City Lucena. According to Pablito Budoy, senior trade & industry development specialist the activity will benefit micro and small business enterpreneurs in product branding, wealth management and online marketing.

10. PIA Regional Watch Yesterday near Quezon City PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Isang career achievement orientation program ang isinasagawa ngayon sa Tipas at Palahananan National High School sa bayan ng San Juan.Layon nitong mabigyan ng tamang idea ang mga kabataan ng pagpili ng tamang kurso at karera sa kolehiyo.

11. PIA Regional Watch Yesterday near Quezon City PIA-4A/RIZAL: The Department of Agrarian Reform-Rizal recently conducted an inspection of lands of the Mascap Integrated Producers Cooperative at Mascap, Rodriguez, Rizal in line with the agency's ARCCESS program. Upon assessment of the agrarian group's capabilities, DAR aims to provide common service facilities for mechanized vegetable production.

1. PIA OFW Watch 17 hours ago DZBB: Halos 20,000 OFWs ang kinailangang ilikas ng pamahalaan sa nakaraang mahigit dalawang taon buhat sa mga bansang nagkaroon ng sigalot. Batay sa report ni DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario sa Senado, pinakamarami ang inilikas sa Libya na umabot sa bilang na 10,087. Buhat naman ng mag-repatriate ang gobyerno sa Syria noong December 2011 ay halos 4,800 ang mga OFW na inilikas at naiiwan pa umano roon ang halos 3,000.

2. PIA OFW Watch 17 hours ago GMA: Nakauwi na sa bansa si Dondon Lanuza, ang OFW na nakaligtas sa parusang bitay sa Saudi Arabia.

3. PIA OFW Watch 20 hours ago DZBB: Nakarating na ang OFW na si Dondon Lanuza sa kanyang bahay sa Sampaloc, Maynila.

4. PIA OFW Watch 18 hours ago

PIA-NCR: The Bureau of Quarantine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport has gone on alert after a 41year-old Filipino nurse working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia died last month of corona virus. Another Filipino is confined at the hospital after having been infected with the virus. Quarantine doctors are on the lookout for passengers coming from Saudi Arabia where the virus broke out. Workers coming from Saudi Arabia are advised to observe the following signs and symptoms within 10 days after arrival: fever, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty of breathing.

A. QUEZON

B. CAVITE 1. Local job fair nets 569 jobseekers BY: RUEL B. FRANCISCO Thursday 19th of September 2013 GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- Five hundred sixty nine jobseekers trooped to the General Trias Cultural and Convention Center to register and joined the job fair organized by the local government through Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in cooperation with the Gateway Business Park Human Resource Group.

The event which was held September 11 also served as a one-stop shop for essential government service applications and processes. Personnel from the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-Ibig Fund, and National Statistics Office set up their respective booths for clients. Community Tax Certificate issuance, free blood typing, and ECG services were also made available during the event.

In a statement released by the Local Communications Group of General Trias, out of 569 applicants who submitted their application forms, 76 of them were hired by the end of the

day while others will undergo further evaluation.

Aside from Gateway Business Park locator companies, Coca-Cola Philippines, Inc, Raquel Pawnshop, and JR&R were among the employers who joined the event. (RF/ PIA-Cavite/General Trias PIO)

C. LAGUNA

1. Tagalog news: NSO magsasagawa ng 2012 InputOutput Survey of Philippine Business and Industry Friday 20th of September 2013

LUNGSOD NG SAN PABLO, Set. 20 (PIA) -- Nais ipabatid ni provincial statistics officer Magdalena T. Serquena na ngayong buwan ng Setyembe 2013 ay magsisimula na ng pamamahagi ng questionnaires ang mga tauhan ng National Statistics Office (NSO) para sa 2012 Input-Ouput Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (2012 IOSPBI).

Ang 2012 IOSPBI ay ika-pito sa serye simula nang isagawa ito noong taong 1979. Ito ay malawakang isinasagawa sa buong bansa upang makapangalap ng komprehensibong estadistika na kinakailangan sa pagbuo ng impormasyon ng sukat, estraktura, daloy at napapanahong pang-ekonomiyang kabuhayan sa bansa. Layunin din ng 2012 IOSPBI na makangalap ng detalyadong tala ng kita, gastos at imbentaryo ng pangangalakal upang makabuo ng Input-Output Table.

Ang Input-Output Table ay isang komprehensibo, detalyado at may pagkakaugnay-ugnay na larawan ng daloy ng pangangalalakal o pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa loob ng isang takdang panahon. Ito ay nagbibigay ng basehan ng pagtataya kung anu-ano ang mga bagay o serbisyo na ginagamit sa pangangalakal sa loob ng isang establisyemento at daloy ng isang bagay o serbisyo hanggang sa makarating ito sa mga kinauukulang mangangalakal. Mahalaga ang talang ito sa mga nagnanais na mangalakal upang malaman nila kung anong uring produkto ang maaari nilang pamuhunanan at kung anu-anong bagay o serbisyo ang kakailanganin nila sa pagtatayo ng negosyo.

Sa Laguna, may kabuuang 676 na bilang ng establisyemento ang napiling pupuntahan ng mga tauhan ng NSO upang bumuo sa kinakailangan bilang na humigit-kumulang na 13,000 establisymento sa buong bansa na kinabibilangan ng mga nangangalakal sa agrikultura, forestry and logging, pangingisda, pagmimina, pagawaan, elektrisidad,

patubig, waste management, pagpapatayo ng bahay o infrastructure, pagtitinda, pangsasakyan, komunikasyon, akomodasyon o bahay kainan, pangkalusugan, edukasyon, pagbibigay ng kaalaman sa teknolohiya,pang sining at iba pang uri ng pangangalakal.

Hinihikayat ni PSO Serquena na maaari ding sumagot ang mga establisymento sa pamamagitan ng online sa NSO secured website: https://secure.census.gov.ph/itsd. Ito ay protektado na may SSL certificate buhat sa Norton Security at VeriSign.

Nanawagan din si PSO Serquena sa mga may-ari ng establisyementong napili na makipagtulungan at huwag mangamba sapagkat nasa mandato ng NSO na lahat ng impormasyong makukuha ay mananatiling lihim at ilalabas lamang ang tala sa pamamagitan ng statistical tables kung saan ay di mababanggit ang pangalan ng establisyemento o sino mang taong nagbigay ng impormasyon. (NSO-Laguna/PIA4A)

2. Tagalog news: PRC-San Pablo nanawagan sa mga residente na magbigay ng dugo BY: CARLO P. GONZAGA Thursday 19th of September 2013 LUNGSOD NG SAN PABLO, Laguna, Set. 19 (PIA) -- Nanawagan kamakailan ang Philippine Red Cross (PRC) San Pablo city chapter sa mga residente sa lungsod na magdonate ng kanilang dugo para sa mga nangangailangan.

Sinabi ni PRC-San Pablo city chapter administrator Dory Cabella na maaaring magbigay ng dugo mula tatlo hanggang apat na beses sa isang taon ang isang donor kung kaya’t nananawagan sila sa publiko na suportahan ang kanilang regular na blood-letting activity.

Nanghihikayat naman si PRC-San Pablo city board of director at barangay chairman Plaridel dela Cruz na suportahan ang monthly blood donation activity ng PRC-San Pablo.

“Mas marami ang nangangailangan ng dugo kumpara sa bilang ng mga nabibigay ng kanilang dugo kung kaya’t nanawagan kami sa publiko para sa kanilang kooperasyon at suporta sa blood-letting activity ng PRC-San Pablo,” sabi ni dela Cruz.

Samantala, iniulat ni Cabella ang ilang mga aktibidad nila sa PRC-San Pablo tulad ng pagpapa-igting ng kanilang membership at registration ng mga volunteers.

“May 455 trained volunteers na kami mula 78 mga barangay sa lungsod. Ngunit nangangailagnan pa rin kami ng karagdagang 24/7 responders na siyang tutulong sa mga aksidente na madalas mangyari sa mga barangay na binabagtas ng Maharlika highway,” sabi ni Cabella.

Idinagdag ni Plaridel na hinihiling din nila ang pakikiisa ng publiko sa kanilang iba pang mga programa kabilang dito ang disaster preparedness training sa iba’t ibang barangay, youth program sa mga paaralan at membership insurance para sa mga mag-aaral.

“Hinihingi rin po namin ang suporta ng mga residente ng lungsod na lumahok sa fun run na tinaguriang “Run for Humanity” na nakatakda sa Nob. 30 mula city plaza hanggang

SM City San Pablo,� ani Plaridel. (CPG, PIA4A at ulat mula sa CIO-San Pablo)

D. BATANGAS 1. Tagalog news: PNP nanguna sa paglilinis ng ilog sa Sto. Tomas BY: BHABY DE CASTRO Friday 20th of September 2013

STO.TOMAS, Batangas, Set. 20 (PIA) -- Pinangunahan ng pulisya ang paglilinis ng ilog na sakop ng barangay Poblacion I sa bayang ito, kaugnay ng pagdiriwang ng International Coastal Clean Up sa ika-21 ng Setyembre na ginagawa taon taon.

Sinabi ni PSupt. Barnard Danie Dasugo, hepe ng Sto. Tomas municipal police station, ang hakbang na ito ay isinagawa nila ng mas maaga sa nakatakdang araw upang ipaalala hindi lamang sa mga pulis ang kahalagahan ng kalinisan kundi maging sa mga mamamayan dito.

Isang paraan din ito upang maipamulat sa mga residente ng bayang ito na dapat iwasan ang pagkakalat ng basura o anumang uri ng dumi sa mga likas na yaman tulad ng ilog.

Ang International Coastal Clean Up day ay isang aktibidad na isinasagawang tuwing ikatlong Sabado ng Setyembre kung saan nagsasama ang lahat ng sektor, pribado man o gobyerno upang magtutulong tulong sa paglilinis ng karagatan at iba pang yamang tubig. Ipinapaunawa nito ang kahalagahan ng pagpapanatili ng kalinisan upang hindi makasira ng kalikasan.

Sa mga nagdaang pagsasagawa ng clean up ay marami na itong naidulot na magandang resulta tulad ng mas maayos na waste management plan/policies at pagkikintal sa mamamayan ng kahalagahan ng kapaligiran. (CPG/MPDC-PIA Batangas)

E. RIZAL

18 SEPTEMBER 2013.

1. Malacanang says President Aquino runs the country even if he oversees operations against members of the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City 2. Palace welcomes high government satisfaction rating in new SWS survey 3. President Aquino signs bill recognizing Philippine Statistical System into law to harmonize collection and compilation of data by government agencies 4. Government doing everything to ease miseries of Zamboanga City residents, says Palace 5. Aquino: MNLF factions may choose war or peace 6. Aquino dispels public fears of recurrence of Zamboanga City violence 1. Malacanang says President Aquino runs the country even if he oversees operations against members of the Moro National Liberation Front in Zamboanga City

President Benigno S. Aquino III still puts in a full day of running the country even as he personally oversees the operations against members of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari faction in Zamboanga City, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Thursday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Lacierda said the President, who has been in the province since Friday (September 13) undertakes a three-meeting schedule with security forces, members of his official family and local government unit where he issues his directives and instructions.

He said the meetings of the President would be held as early as seven in the morning and would end late at night. ―Just to give you an example of the schedule of the President: he normally has a three-meeting schedule on a daily basis. At seven in the morning, there‘s a meeting with security commanders and Cabinet Secretaries to discuss events of the previous night and then there‘s a midday meeting to discuss events that happened during the day and an evening meeting with security again and the Cabinet Secretaries to discuss a broad assessment of security and humanitarian concerns,‖ Lacierda said. ―So that‘s the regular schedule of the President in Zamboanga City and also he‘s met on several occasions, for instance he‘s met with the Zamboanga local government unit and the business and civic leaders of Zamboanga City.

It was a three hour meeting held last Friday night,‖ he added.

Lacierda also said that regular updates from Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II intimated that the President was in close coordination with Zamboanga Mayor Beng Climaco and Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Wilter Palma. ―And we understand, from Secretary Mar Roxas, that the President has also met with Mayor Beng Climaco and Governor Wilter Palma of Zamboanga Sibugay. So they met from around 9 p.m. til midnight of two days ago,‖ Lacierda said. ―And then last night, after the evening meeting with the security group and Cabinet Secretaries to discuss security

and humanitarian concerns, the President also called up Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad regarding rehabilitation and re-construction plans for Zamboanga City,‖ he added. PND (rck) TOP 2. Palace welcomes high government satisfaction rating in new SWS survey Malacanang welcomed the high satisfaction rating of the Aquino administration in a recent survey adding that it will continue to remain focused on attaining inclusive growth as well as fighting corruption.

In a press briefing in Malacanang Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said they are glad that the recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey result came out, noting the result was no longer news to the Palace. ―We have already said we were happy in June, we will always be happy if the numbers are up. But then this is a challenge for the government to always do better than what we did,‖ Lacierda said. ―Regardless of what the numbers will be, the government is focused on addressing inclusive growth and addressing corruption in the country,‖ he added.

The Aquino administration scored a high public satisfaction rating in the survey, with three out of four Filipinos satisfied with its performance. The survey was conducted in end-June by the SWS, and it noted improvements on several areas.

Seventy five percent of adults were satisfied, while 16 percent were ambivalent, and nine percent were dissatisfied with the government‘s general performance, according to the SWS. The SWS conducted the survey before the standoff in Zamboanga City between the government and Moro National Liberation Front forces, Misuari faction. PND (as) TOP 3. President Aquino signs bill recognizing Philippine Statistical System into law to harmonize collection and compilation of data by government agencies President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into law a bill aimed at reorganizing the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) to harmonize the collection and compilation of data by various government agencies.

The Chief Executive signed on September 12 Republic Act No. 10625 or "An Act Reorganizing the Philippine Statistical System, Repealing for the Purpose Executive Order 121, entitled 'Reorganizing and Strengthening the Philippine Statistical System' and for other purposes.‖ The Act is also known as the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013.

Republic Act 10625, which originated in the House of Representatives, was finally passed by the Lower House and the Senate on June 6, 2013.

The newly-signed law aims to promote the orderly development of a statistical system capable of providing timely, accurate and useful data for the government and the public, and support decentralization through the establishment of the statistical infrastructure necessary to service the statistical needs of local development planning.

Prior to the passage of the law, the National Statistics Office (NSO), the National Statistics and Coordination Board (NSCB), Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC), among others, separately conduct collections, compilations and other statistical operations.

With the passage of the law, the PSS shall consist of statistical organizations at all administrative levels, the personnel therein and the national statistical program.

"This includes a policy-making body, a coordinating body with primary data collection capability, a statistical research and training institute, and all executive departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the national and local governments and all government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries that are engaged in statistical activities either as their primary functions or as part of their administrative or regulatory functions," the President said.

The law mandates the creation of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), attached to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for purposes of policy coordination.

The PSA shall be comprised of the PSA Board and offices on sectoral statistics, censuses and technical coordination, civil registration and central support and field statistical services.

The NSO, the BAS of the Department of Agriculture, the BLES of the Department of Labor and Employment, and the

NSCB are hereby abolished and their appropriations, records, properties and personnel shall be transferred to the PSA. The Department of Economic Statistics of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will continue to take charge of banking and financial statistics, including the balance of payments and flow of funds.

The National Statistician, as head of the PSA, must possess experience in the management of data collection and at least a Master‘s Degree in Statistics. The National Statistician shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines from among a list of nominees submitted by a Special Committee.

The law seeks the transformation of the Statistical Research and Training Center (SRTC) into the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI). The new agency will be attached to NEDA for purposes of policy coordination.

Violators may face a penalty ranging from three months imprisonment to one year imprisonment and a fine of P5,000 to P500,000.

The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be taken from funds available to the NSO, BAS, BLES and NSCB. Additional requirements shall be charged to the appropriations under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The PSA Board together with the PSA, the PSRTI, the NEDA and other concerned agencies of government that may be determined by the PSA Board, shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days after its approval.

Such rules and regulations shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. PND (js) TOP 4. Government doing everything to ease miseries of Zamboanga City residents, says Palace Malacanang appealed on Thursday for fair coverage and reportage of the ongoing government relief efforts saying the administration is doing everything to provide the necessities needed by families affected by the ongoing Zamboanga City standoff.

There have been reports saying about families not receiving food provisions after they left their homes as Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members entered their communities. ―We have addressed and attended to so many families in Zamboanga City and we just ask for fair play, and for fair coverage, and not to emphasize those who were not fed—100 persons who were not fed,‖ Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.

The public must look into the thousands of people whom this government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has been attending to, he said.

As to the latest situational report from the DSWD, Lacierda said there is a total of 23,794 families with some 118,819 individuals that have been affected. Eighty nine percent of the affected families were displaced and are staying inside evacuation centers, while 1,790 affected families opted to stay with their relatives or friends in safer places, Lacierda reported.

There are 57 evacuation centers in Zamboanga City with the total number of families 21,261 or 112,961 individuals.

The largest evacuation center is the Joaquin F. Enriquez Sports complex, also known as the Grandstand, which holds 63 percent of the total number of families, he said.

The DSWD, through a number of food service providers, is providing 70,000 ready-to-eat packed foods for every mealtime: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Lacierda added.

The community kitchen of the City Social Welfare Development Office is providing 12,000 foods three times a day.

The Philippine Red Cross, International Community of the Red Cross, with the help of Western Mindanao State University also cook dinners for 10,000 individuals.

At the same time, he said the DSWD is also conducting a computerized profiling of displaced families using the DSWD Disaster Assistance Family Center, family access cards for validation, and profile generation purposes to extend relief assistance.

The Palace official also thanked the people from government and the private sector who help man the relief efforts to those affected by the ongoing violence. ―We‘d like to thank the many men and women who have served the evacuees, the men and women of the DSWD,

and also the men and women who have volunteered their services to help the evacuees inside the evacuation centers, and those who have volunteered to cook the foods that we have just mentioned for the evacuees,‖ he said.

PND (as) TOP 5. Aquino: MNLF factions may choose war or peace President Benigno S. Aquino III sent a strong message Thursday saying that it‘s up to Mindanao elements to choose between war and peace, and underscored the government‘s readiness to respond on whatever their preference may be. ―‘Yung patakaran natin, handang makipag-usap nang mapayapa at makipag-dayalogo, ay talagang haharapin natin at ini-encourage natin. Ang mga tao namang maglalagay sa lahat ng mga mamamayan sa panganib ay talaga namang haharapin din ng estado,‖ the President said in an interview during an assessment in Zamboanga City airport on Thursday. ―Kung mapayapa kang haharap, mapayapa kang haharapin ng gobyerno para magkaroon ng kaayusan—sa English ‗permanent peace‘. Pero ‗pag ang gusto mo naman ay pairalin lang ‗yung sa iyo at maghahasik ka ng lagim sa nakakarami, hindi rin papayagan ng gobyerno ‗yon.‖ The President, who has been staying in Zamboanag since last week to oversee the ongoing military operations and relief efforts, said his administration has not abandoned the peace discussions even to groups sowing terror in Zamboanga City.

He said his administration remains committed to the tripartite dialogue on the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) adding he encourages all the factions of the MNLF to participate.

But for those who will choose violence as a way to advance their interests, the President said his administration will always be willing to use the full force of the state to subdue any threat to regional peace.

The government and the MNLF was supposed to meet in Indonesia this week, but MNLF leader Nur Misuari pulled out of the talks, the President said, bolstering suspicions that Misuari really has a hand in the ongoing Zamboanga standoff.

Indonesia facilitates the tripartite talks between the Philippine government and the MNLF. Only one group of MNLF has spearheaded violent confrontations in Zamboanga, he said adding other factions of the MNLF have denounced the actions of MNLF-Misuari faction.

The President also assured the people of Zamboanga that the government will remain committed to extending assistance to the conflict-victims as well as to rebuilding the city once the standoff is over. PND (as) TOP 6. Aquino dispels public fears of recurrence of Zamboanga City violence President Benigno S. Aquino III said the government started rebuilding and reconstructing the communities affected by the attacks of forces loyal to Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari in Zamboanga City, dispelling public fears of recurrence of similar violence.

"Hindi na mauulit muli.... Syempre, pagbubutihin pa natin lalo na ‗yung intelligence services," the Chief Executive said in a media interview in Zamboanga City on Thursday.

President Aquino is presently in Zamboanga City to preside over a series of meetings with concerned cabinet secretaries and officials, assess the situation and provide the needs of displaced residents.

"I ask them what is needed, authorize the releases of funds; am talking to Bangko Sentral to ensure the cash supply, am talking to Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation and Communications, and Department of Agriculture to ensure that basic food stuffs are available from the time before I left Manila to the present—to include not just Zamboanga City but also BASULTA (Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi)," he said.

More than a week after the military launched its operations against the MNLF-Misuari faction, the President said the violence has dissipated.

"Nakita naman natin, imbes na mapalawak ‗yung teritoryong nababalot sa dilim ay napaliit nang napaliit mula ‗nung unang araw," President Aquino said.

He assured the Zamboanga City residents that the government continues to pursue peace and order, and provide assistance to the locals in the affected areas. The government has also prepared food packs for the displaced families.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is stepping up its operations against lawless elements and to secure the areas where skirmishes occurred.

He also said that he will remain in Zamboanga City until the crisis ends.

"I am both Commander-in-Chief and the President, therefore, at the end of the day, everything is my responsibility, so I am very involved—from everything to getting briefed and putting some of my inputs into the security operations," he said. PND (js) TOP

19 SEPTEMBER 2013.

1. Pinangangasiwaan ng Pangulong Aquino ang bansa habang sinusubaybayan ang operasyon laban sa mga tauhan ng MNLF sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga 2. Ikinatuwa ng Palasyo ang mataas na satisfaction rating ng pamahalaan sa SWS survey

3. Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat upang mapagaan ang pasanin ng mga mamamayan ng Lungsod ng Zamboanga 4. Aquinio: Makapipili sa digmaan o kapayapaan ang MNLF

5. Pinawi ni Aquino ang pangambang maulit ang kaguluhan sa Zamboanga

Pinangangasiwaan ng Pangulong Aquino ang bansa habang sinusubaybayan ang operasyon laban sa mga tauhan ng MNLF sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga Puspusan ang ginagawang pangangasiwa ng Pangulong Benigno S, Aquino III sa bansa kahit personal niyang sinusubaybayan ang operasyon laban sa mga tauhan ni Misuari na pangkat ng Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), sabi ng Tagapagsalita ng Pangulo Edwin Lacierda.

Sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Huwebes, sinabi ni Lacierda na ang Pangulo na nasa lalawigang ng Zamboanga sapul noong Biyernes (Setyembre 13) ay nagbibigay ng mga utos at tagublin sa mga alagad ng batas, mga kagawad ng opisyal na pamilya niya at sa mga pinuno ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Ayon kay Lacierda, ang Pangulo ay abala na sa mga pagpupulong ikapito pa lamang ng umaga at karaniwang maghahating-gabi na kung matapos sa mga gawain niya. ―Itulot ninyong banggitin ko ang halimbawa ng iskedyul ng Pangulo: Tatlong pulong ang karaniwan niyang ginagawa araw-araw. Ikapito ng umaga, kapulong niya ang mga security commanders at ang mga kagawad ng Gabinete.

Tinatalakay nila ang mga naganap nang sinundang gabi. Sinusundan ito ng miting sa tanghali na ang paksa ay ang naganap sa araw na nasabi at sa gabi naman ay ang security group at mga Kalihim ng Gabinete uli ang kapulong niya upang tayahin ang mga bagay na may kinalaman sa security and humanitarian concerns,‖ dugtong pa ni Lacierda. ―Iyan ang regular na iskedyul ng Pangulo sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga. Ilang ulit din siyang nakipagpulong sa mga pinuno ng lokal na pamahalaan, gayundin sa mga negosyante at mga lider ng Lungsod ng Zamboanga. Noong Biyernes ng gabi, inabot ng tatlong oras ang pagpupulong nila,‖ sabi ni Lacierda.

Inihayag din ni Lacierda na tumatanggap ang Pangulo ng mga ulat buhat kina Kalihim Manuel Roxas II ng Interyor at Lokal na Pamahalaan. Ang Pangulo ay kaugnayan din ni Alkalde Beng Climaco ng Zamboanga at Gobernador Wilter Palma ng Zamboanga-Sibugay. ―Nalaman natin kay Kalihim Mar Roxas na nagpulong din ang Pangulo kina Alkalde Beng Climaco at Gobernador Wilter Palma ng Zamboanga-Sibugay. Dakong ikasiyam ng gabi hanggang hating-gabi, dalawang araw na ang nakalilipas,‖ wika pa ni Lacierda.

Idinugtong ni Lacierda na pagkatapos makapulong ng Pangulo ang security group at ang mga Kalihim ng Gabinete, tinawagan ng Pangulo si Kalihim Rogelio Singson ng Pagawaing Bayan at Kalihim Florencio Abad ng Budget tungkol sa mga panukalang rehabilitasyon at pagbabagong tatag ng Lungsod ng Zamboanga. PND (rck/zaf) TOP Ikinatuwa ng Palasyo ang mataas na satisfaction rating ng pamahalaan sa SWS survey

Nagpahayag ng kasiyahan ang Malacanang sa bagong mataas na satisfaction rating ng administrasyon sa survey kamakailan kaya ipagpapatuloy nito ang pagtutuon ng pansin sa hangaring mapaunlad ang bansa at patuloy na bakahin ang katiwalian.

Sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Huwebes, sinabi ng Tagapagsalita ng Pangulo Edwin Lacierda na natutuwa sila na ang katatapos na resulta ng Social Weather Station (SWS) survey ay nagpahayag ng high satisfaction rating. ―Nasabi na naming natuwa kami noong Hunyo. Lagi kaming masisiyahan at matutuwa dahil tumataas pa ito.

Gayunman, ito ay isang hamon sa pamahalaan para laging sikaping mahigitan pa ang mabuting ginagawa para sa bayan,‖ dagdag ni Lacierda. ―Ano man ang magiging bilang, ang pamahalaan ay laging magsisikap na maisakatuparan ang hangaring laganap na kaunlaran at pagdigma sa katiwalian sa bansa,‖ dugtong ni Lacierda.

Sa survey, nakakuha ang administrasyong Aquino ng mataas na public satisfaction rating nang ang sagot ng tatlo sa apat na Pilipino na nasisiyahan sila sa ginagawa ng administrasyon. Ang naturang survey ay isinagawa ng SWS noong magtatapos ang Hunyo at nakita rito ang malaking pagbabago sa maraming pook.

Pitumpu‘t limang bahagdan ng adults ang nasiyahan, samantalang 16 porsiyento naman ang ambivalent, at siyam na porsiyento ang hindi nasisiyahan sa pangkalahatang nagawa ng pamahalaan, ayon sa SWS. Ang survey ay ginawa ng SWS bago nangyari ang kaguluhan sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga sa pagitan ng pamahalaan at ng mga tauhan ng Moro National Liberation Front na maka-Misuari.p PND (as/zaf) TOP Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat upang mapagaan ang pasanin ng mga mamamayan ng Lungsod ng Zamboanga Ginagawa ng Malacanang ang lahat ng makakaya sa pamamahagi ng tulong at pangunahing kailangan ng mga pamilyang apektado ng kasalukuyang ligalig sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga, kaalinsabay ng panawagang sana ay maging parehas ang pagbabalita sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap doon.

May mga ulat na nagsasabing hindi nakakakuha ng kailangang pagkain ang mga pamilyang nagsi-alis sa kanilang mga tahanan matapos pumasok doon ang mga tauhan ng Moro National Liberation Front –paksiyong Misuari. ―Inaasikaso at tinutulungan ang napakaraming pamilya sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga at ang pakiusap lamang namin, sana ay maging parehas ang coverage at huwag namang ang bigyang diin ay ang mangilan-ngilang hindi pa nakakukuha ng pagkain, sabi ng Tagapagsalita ng Pangulo Edwin Lacierda sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Huwebes.

Binigyang diin ni Lacierda na libu-libo ang taong inaasikaso ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Kaunlaran (DSWD).

Sa huling ulat mula sa DSWD, sinabi ni Lacierda na kabuuang 23,794 pamilya na kabuuang 118,819 katao ang apektado. Walumpu‘t siyam na porsiyento ng apektadong pamilya ang nagsi-alis sa kanilang mga bahay at nanunuluyan ngayon sa evacuation centers, samantalang minarapat ng 1,790 pamilyang apektado na makituloy sa kanilang mga kamag-anakan o mga kaibigang ang bahay ay nasa ligtas na mga pook.

Mayroong 57 evacuation centers sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga na ang kabuuang bilang ng pamilya ay 21,261 o mga 112,961 katao. Ang pinakamalaking evacuation center ay ang Joaquin F. Enriquez Sports Complex na kilala rin bilang "Grandstand" na may 63 porsiyento ng mga nagsilikas na pamilya, dugtong ni Lacierda. ―Binibigyan ng DSWD, sa tulong ng mga nagbibigay ng pagkain, ang may 70,000 ready-to-eat packed food tuwing oras ng agahan, tanghalian at hapunan,‖ wika ni Lacierda.

Mayroong community kitchen ang Tanggapan ng Kagalingang Panlipunan ng Lungsod na nagbibigay ng 12,000 pagkain tatlong beses isang araw. Ang Krus na Pula ng Pilipinas, International Community of the Red Cross, sa tulong ng Western Mindanao State University ay nagluluto rin ng pagkain para sa 10,000 katao.

Bukod dito, ang DSWD ay nagsasagawa ng computerized profiling of displaced families gamit ang DSWD Disaster Assistance Family Center para sa family access cards ng mga bibigyan pa ng tulong.

Pinasalamtan din ni Lacierda ang mga tauhan ng pamahalaan at ang pribadong sektor na walang puknat ang pagtulong sa mga pamilyang apektado ng pagsalakay na ginawa ng MNLF sa nasabing lungsod. ―Maraming-maraming salamat sa mga lalaki at babaing tumutulong sa mga lumikas, sa mga lalaki at babae ng DSWD, gayundin sa babae at lalaking kusang-loob na naghandog ng tulong para alalayan ang mga nagsilikas na nasa mga evacuation centers, gayundin sa mga naglu-luto ng pagkain ng mga nagsilikas,‖ sabi pa ni Lacierda. PND (as/zaf) TOP Aquinio: Makapipili sa digmaan o kapayapaan ang MNLF

Bahalang mamili ang mga elemento sa Mindanao kung alin sa digmaan o kapayapaan ang nais nila, sabi ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III kasabay ng pagbibigay-diin na nakahanda ang gobyerno na harapin ang ano mang ibig ng mga nagpasimula kamakailan ng kaguluhan sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga. ―Iyan ang patakaran natin. Handang makipag-usap nang mapayapa at makipagdayalogo. Talagang haharapin natin at hinihimok silang makipag-usap. Nguni‘t ang mga taong maglalagay sa lahat ng mamamayan sa panganib ay talagang haharapin din ng estado,‖ sabi ng Pangulo sa panayam sa Zamboanga City Airport Huwebes. ―Kung mapayapa kang haharap, mapayapa kang haharapin ng gobyerno para magkaroon ng kaayusan—sa Ingles ―permanent peace.‖ Pero, pag ang gusto mo naman ay pairalin lang ang sa iyo at maghahasik ka ng lagim sa nakararami, hindi rin papayagan iyon ng gobyerno,‖ mariing wika ng Pangulo.

Ang Pangulo na namamalagi sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga buhat noong isang linggo para tuwirang subaybayan ang ginagawang operasyong militar at pamamahagi ng tulong, ay nagsabing hindi tinatalikdan ng administrasyon niya ang usapan sa kapayapaan kahit sa mga grupong naghahasik ng sindak sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga.

Sinabi niya na patuloy na naninindigan ang administrasyon sa tatsulok na pag-uusap sa pagpapatupad ng Kasunduan sa Kapayapaan ng 1996 sa Moro National Liberation Front at idinugtong na hinihimok niya ang lahat ng paksiyon ng MNLF na lumahok dito.

Subali‘t, mariing wika ng Pangulo, para sa ang minamarapat ay ang karahasan para isulong ang ano mang interes nila, nakahanda ang pamahalaan na gamitin ang lahat ng lakas upang supilin ang ano mang banta sa pampurok na kapayapaan.

Ang pamahalaan at ang MNLF ay nakatakda sanang mag-usap sa Indonesia ngayong linggong ito, subali‘t umurong sa usapan si Nur Misuari, puno ng MNLF, wika ng Pangulo, na lalo lamang nagpatibay sa hinalang may kinalaman si Misuari sa kaguluhang nagaganap ngayon sa Zamboanga.

Ang Indonesya ang tagapamagitan ng tatsulok na pag-uusap sa pagitan ng pamahalaang Pilipino at sa MNLF. Isang pangkat ng MNLF ang nanguna sa marahas na sagupaan sa Zamboanga, dugtong ng Pangulo. Sinabi niya na ang ibang paksiyon ng MNLF ay tumutol sa hakbang na ginawa ng grupo ng MNLF-Misuari.

Tiniyak din ng Pangulo sa mga mamamayan ng Sambuwangga na ang pamahalaan ay patuloy na tutulong sa mga biktima ng kaguluhan, gayundin sa pagbabagong tatag ng lungsod sa sandaling matapos na ang ligalig doon. PND (as/zaf) TOP Pinawi ni Aquino ang pangambang maulit ang kaguluhan sa Zamboanga

Tiniyak ng Pangulong BenignoS. Aquino III na hindi na mauulit ang kaguluhang tulad nang nangyari sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga matapos salakayin ng mga tauhan ng Moro National Liberation Front na matapat sa lider na si Nur Misuari kaalinsabay ng pagsasabing sinimulan na ng pamahalaan ang pagbabagong tatag ng mga pook na apektado ng kaguluhan. ―Hindi na mauulit. Siyemp0re, pagbubutihin pa nating lalo ang intelligence services,‖ sabi ng Pangulo sa panayam ng media sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga Huwebes.

Nasa Lungsod ng Zamboanga sa kasalukuyan ang Pangulo at nakipagpulong sa mga Kalihim ng Gabinete at mga pinunong tutugon sa mga tulong na kailangan ng taong bayan. ―Hiningi ko sa kanila ang kailangang pahintulot sa paglalabas ng pondo. Nakipag-usap ako sa Bangko Sentral para matiyak na patuloy na may salapi doon, gayundin sa Kagawaran ng Kalakal at Industriya, Trasportasyon at Komunikasyon at Pagsasaka para patuloy na magkaroon ng pagkain ang mga mamamayan bago ako umalis sa Maynila hanggang ngayon para isama hindi lamang ang lungsod, kundi pati ang Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi,‖ dagdag ng Pangulo.

Sinabi ng Pangulo na isang linggong mahigit makaraang ilunsad ng military ang operasyon laban sa MNLF-paksiyong Misuari, nabawasan na ang karahasan.

―Nakita naman natin, imbes na mapalawak ang teritoryong nababalot ng dilim, napaliit nang napaliit mula noong unang araw,‖ wika ng Pangulo.

Tiniyak ng Pangulo sa mga taga-Lungsod ng Zamboanga na patuloy na isinusulong ng pamahalaan ang kapayapaan at kaayusang pambayan at ang pagtulong sa mga taong nasa pook na naapektuhan ng kaguluhan. Naghanda rin ang pamahalaan ng mga pagkaing ipinamahagi sa mga nagsilikas na pamilya.

Pinag-iibayo pa ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas ang operasyon laban sa mga pook na kinaganapan ng labanan.

Binigyang diin ng Pangulo na mananatili siya sa Lungsod ng Zamboanga habang hindi natatapos ang krisis na ito. ―Ako ay Commander-in-Chief at Pangulo, samakatuwid, ako ang may pananagutan sa lahat, kaya nga ako ay sumangkot dito—buhat sa pagkuha ng mga kaalaman sa pangyayari at paglalahad ng sarili kong inaakalang makatutulong sa operasyong pangkaligtasan,‖ sabi pa ng Pangulo. PND (js/zaf) TOP

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Affected families staying with their relatives, friends should register with district welfare offices Philippine nominations open for Innovators under 35 Singapore ASEAN Report: A larger proportion of Filipinos now have access to improved drinking water, sanitary facilities Gov’t choral groups display musical prowess BIR nets consulting firm for tax evasion BIR raps Novaliches businessman for tax evasion BETP to conduct DBFTA information session in Legazpi City with focus on AEC 2015 DTI taps first-rate rubber consultant for its invest-in-rubber seminar DepEd welcomes anti-bullying law GPH addresses release of alleged NDF consultants through legal processes Filipino Films featured in Moviemov in Rome 2013 Phl Commission on Human Rights attends annual meeting of South East Asia Human Rights Forum Philippine Bureaucracy celebrates 113 years Eco-system valuation kicks off in the Philippines BI seeks courts' help on HDOs Isabela eyes bumper rice harvest PhilHealth Z benefit saves lives!

1. Affected families staying with their relatives, friends should register with district welfare offices Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) exhorts all families in conflict-affected barangays in Zamboanga City but are not staying in evacuation centers to register with the district social welfare office in their area to ensure that they will also receive assistance.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman pointed out after meeting with the local government of Zamboanga City that the Local Social Welfare Office which has district offices in key areas in the city should start to register families outside evacuation centers to ensure that these families are also assisted.

The DSWD appealed to the public not to flock into the JFE Sports Complex or Grandstand for registration as the district welfare offices are open to assist them.

Meanwhile, Secretary Soliman, during a briefing with DSWD staff, emphasized that families inside and outside evacuation centers should be continuously provided with family food packs.

The Secretary also instructed DSWD social workers to continue to provide Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) to individuals needing therapy and counseling. CISD is a psycho-social intervention to help individuals cope with their traumatic experiences. |TOP| 2. Philippine nominations open for Innovators under 35 Singapore Source: http://icto.dost.gov.ph Nominations for Philippine entries in the MIT Technology Review‘s Innovators Under 35 Competitions (TR35) is now open. This was announced by the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology.

The competition is open to all Filipinos under 35 who have developed innovative solutions in the areas of Biomedicine, Computing, Communication, Energy, Materials, Web and Transportation.

Since 1999, MIT Technology Review, the world‘s oldest and most respected technology publication has identified the top young innovators under the age of 35. The group includes many of the most famous people in technology such as Facebook‘s Mark Zuckerberg and Google‘s Larry Page and Sergey Brin. TR35 nominees are recognized annually for their contribution in transforming the nature of technology in industries such as biotechnology, computing, energy, medicine, transportation and the web.

The competition this year for Asia-Pacific region will be held in Singapore, and will include entries the rest of Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The 10 selected TR35 Singapore finalists will be celebrated in person at the EmTech Singapore conference on January 20-21, 2014 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. They automatically become candidates and potential finalists for the global TR35 list celebrated in the fall of 2014 in Boston. MIT Technology Review also showcases these global winners in the September/October issue and online at www.technologyreview.com/tr35.

Interested parties can contact Ms. Karla Legaspi of the DOST-ICT Office at +639200101 loc. 1201 or (+63)917-8562403 or karla.legaspi@icto.dost.gov.ph or visit http://www.emtechsingapore.com/tr35-awards. Deadline for submissions is 27 September 2013.

For more information please click here.

About DOST-ICTO – The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology is the Philippine Government‘s lead agency on ICT related matters. Its primary thrusts are in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all and Cybersecurity. |TOP| 3. ASEAN Report: A larger proportion of Filipinos now have access to improved drinking water, sanitary facilities Source: http://www.nscb.gov.ph Welfare and living standards are typically measured in monetary terms such as income or expenditure per capita of households, but there are non-monetary dimensions to welfare and these have to be monitored across time and space.

According to the 2012 ASEAN Community Progress Monitoring System (ACPMS) Report released today by the ASEANstats, the proportion of Filipinos with access to safe drinking water increased to 82.5 percent in 2010 from 78.7 percent in 2000. Similarly, the proportion of Filipinos with access to improved sanitary facilities rose to 91.9 percent in 2010 from 79.0 percent in 2000.

The ACPMS Report is a statistical report containing outcome indicators of progress towards the envisaged characteristics within the ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community pillars of the ASEAN Community. Among these indicators, the Report reflects favourable developments in the economic and socio-cultural areas indicating the convergence of markets and improved trends of poverty incidence and overall human development.

8 out of 10 Filipinos in 2010 had access to improved drinking water The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target set for the Philippines is to reduce by half, between 1990 and 2015, the Filipinos without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Specifically, it targets the provision of access to improved drinking water to 86.5 percent of Filipinos by 2015. The latest figure, for 2010 at 82.5 percent falls short but is on track to achieve — possibly even surpass — the target by the 2015 MDG deadline.

The ACPMS Report indicated improvements across all ASEAN member states (AMS) on this indicator. Each member state recorded an increasing trend from 2000 to 2010 in terms of the percentage of population with access to improved drinking water. These improvements refer to both the development in infrastructures and the sustainability of the environment where water can be used more efficiently.

Both Singapore and Brunei Darussalam ranked first in this indicator with 100 percent of their population having access to safe drinking water, followed by Thailand with 99.1 percent, Malaysia with 94.2 percent, Vietnam with 90.5 percent, and the Philippines with 82.5 percent. On the other hand, Cambodia and Indonesia ranked lowest in this indicator with 48.2 percent and 44.0 percent, respectively. Myanmar has no data for 2010, although in 2009 it recorded 82.3 percent.

The Philippines, with 82.5 percent, belongs to the upper half among AMS in 2010. Furthermore, this figure is slightly higher than the 82.3 percent average of all AMS recorded in the same period.

In addition, the 2010 figure is 3.8 percentage points higher than the 2000 figure of 78.7 percent. It is also 9.5 percentage points higher than the 1990 figure of 73.0 percent.

9 out of 100 Filipinos in 2010 now have access to improved sanitary facilities The Philippines‘ MDG target for sanitation is to provide 83.8 percent of the population with access to improved sanitation facilities by 2015. The Philippines has already exceeded this target in 2002 at 86.0 percent and as of 2010, 91.9 percent of Filipinos had access already to improved sanitation facilities.

The ACPMS Report indicated an increase across all AMS on this indicator. Each member state recorded an increasing trend from 2000 to 2010 in terms of the percentage of population with access to improved sanitary facilities. In 2010, ASEAN, on the average, had 76.3 percent of its population with access to improved sanitary facilities. This is a significant increase from the 2000 average of 68.9 percent.

Singapore ranked first in this indicator with 100 percent of its population having access to sanitary toilet facility, followed by Thailand with 99.3, Malaysia with 98.4, and the Philippines with 91.9 percent. On the other hand, Lao PDR and Cambodia ranked lowest in this indicator at 49.0 percent and 40.0 percent, respectively.

The Philippines with 91.9 percent belongs to the upper half of all the AMS in 2010. This figure is significantly higher than the ASEAN average of 76.3 percent in 2010. In addition, the 2010 figure is 12.9 percentage points higher than the 2000 figure of 79.0 percent, and 24.3 percentage points higher than the 1990 baseline figure of 67.6 percent.

The full 2012 ACPMS Report is available at the ASEAN website (http://www.aseansec.org) and the NSCB website. A snapshot article on this topic is also available for download at this URL: http://www.nscb.gov.ph/asean/ snapshot0913.pdf |TOP| 4. Gov’t choral groups display musical prowess Source: http://excell.csc.gov.ph ―It will be a showcase of musical talents of the lingkod bayani we do not get to see every day in the conduct of our duties as public servants,‖ says Civil Service Commission Chairman Francisco T. Duque III of the Government Choral Competition Grand Finals.

Eight choral groups, namely, Bangko Sentral Singers; City Choir of San Fernando, Pampanga; Coro de la Laguna; DSWD Chorale; Naga City Hall Chorale; National Power Chorale; Ozamis LGU Choristers; and South Cotabato Division Teachers Choral will vie for the top spot of the choral contest on Sept. 18, 3 p.m. at the UP Diliman Theater.

Grand champion shall receive PHP100,000. First, second, and third runners-up shall receive a cash prize of PHP70,000, PHP50,000, and PHP30,000, respectively. There will be special awards for Best Arrangement of Competition Song and Best Conductor.

The contest, held in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Choral Directors Association, is one of the major events lined up for the 113th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA). ―This year‘s anniversary celebrates the greatness of the lingkod bayani. Harnessing talents in culture and the arts is part of encouraging employee morale and wellness,‖ says Chairman Duque.

Laguna 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones and Batangas Vice Governor Marc Leviste will serve as masters of ceremonies. |TOP| 5. BIR nets consulting firm for tax evasion Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) today filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against EVALUE PHILIPPINES, INC. (E-VALUE), together with its responsible corporate officers President JESUS N. NUQUI and Treasurer MARK N. PINGUL, for willful failure to file its corporate income tax return for taxable years 2009, 2010 and 2011 and to pay the corresponding taxes due thereon provided for under Sections 27, 75, 76 and 77, in violation of Sections 254 and 255, of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code).

E-VALUE is a domestic corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whose primary purpose is to engage in appraisal and consultancy services with registered address at Unit 303, 3rd floor, Summit One Office Tower, 530 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City.

The case against E-VALUE stemmed from a third-party information denouncing the subject corporation of not paying its taxes correctly.

In the course of the investigation, data and information were gathered from government offices on the registration details and activities of E-VALUE, including financial statements of the said corporation filed with the SEC for taxable years 2009, 2010 and 2011 which bear the receipt stamp of Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 41, Mandaluyong City making it appear that the same were filed with the BIR on 15 April 2010, 15 April 2011 and 16 April 2012, respectively.

A perusal of the said statements showed that E-VALUE earned income during the said years. Despite receipt of substantial amount of income, verification with the said RDO of the company‘s compliance, however, revealed that the latter has not filed any Annual Income Tax Return for taxable years 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Consequently, E-VALUE failed to pay the correct amount of income taxes amounting to P4.71 million, including surcharges and interests, broken down into: P1.79 million in 2009; P1.46 million in 2010; and P1.46 million in 2011.

Under the Tax Code, the fraudulent act of E-VALUE of deliberately failing to file the necessary returns and paying the correct taxes for income earned is a clear evidence of fraud tantamount to tax evasion that is criminally punishable.

The case against E-VALUE PHILIPPINES, INC., together with its President JESUS N. NUQUI and Treasurer MARK N. PINGUL, is the 189th filed under the RATE program of the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares. It is likewise a RATE case of Revenue Region No. 7, Quezon City. |TOP| 6. BIR raps Novaliches businessman for tax evasion Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) today filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against LAMBERTO T. OBOGNE (OBOGNE) forwillful attempt to evade or defeat tax and deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in his Income Tax Return (ITR) for taxable years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, in violation of Sections 254 and 255, of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code).

OBOGNE is the sole proprietor/owner of BENTOY ELECTRICAL REWINDING SHOP (BERS) and BERTMOND ENTREPRISES (BERTMOND) with registered address at No. 1151 Quirino Hi-way, Kaligayahan, Novaliches, Caloocan City.

The case against OBOGNE arose from the data furnished by the BIR‘s Information Systems Group extracted from the Alphalist of various withholding agents of subject taxpayer. A comparison of the said income payments of OBOGNE‘s various withholding agents with his declared sales per Returns Processing System (RPS) generated Annual Income Tax Return from 2009 to 2012 disclosed discrepancies.

To ascertain the true income of OBOGNE, access letters were sent to various companies/entities that engaged his services. Replies to said access letters revealed that OBOGNE earned P40.47 million from 2009 to 2012. However, he only declared in his ITR for the said years P9.96 million; thus, substantially underdeclaring his income by P30.51 million.

For taxable year 2009, OBOGNE earned income amounting to P5.44 million. He only declared P1.12 million in his ITR, thus underdeclaring his income by P4.32 million or 386%. In 2010, OBOGNE earned income amounting to P12.55 million. He only declared P1.26 million in his ITR, thus underdeclaring his income by P11.29 million or 900%.

In 2011, OBOGNE earned income amounting to P14.11 million. He only declared P1.77 million in his ITR, thus underdeclaring his income by P12.34 million or 696%. Finally in 2012, OBOGNE earned income amounting to P8.37 million. He only declared P5.81 million in his ITR, thus underdeclaring his income by P2.56 million or 44%.

Under Section 248(B) of the Tax Code, an underdeclaration of taxable sales, receipts or income by more than 30% of that declared per return constitutes a prima facie case of fraud tantamount to tax evasion.

Consequently, OBOGNE failed to pay the correct amount of taxes amounting to P18.4 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests, broken down into: P2.97 million in 2009; P7.12 million in 2010; P7.0 million in 2011; and P1.31 million in 2012.

The case against LAMBERTO T. OBOGNE is the 188th filed under the RATE program of the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares. |TOP| 7. BETP to conduct DBFTA information session in Legazpi City with focus on AEC 2015 Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph The Department of Trade and Industry‘s (DTI) Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP) in partnership with DTI Region 5 and Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) will conduct a series of information sessions in Legazpi City about the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 and Philippine Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) through its ―Doing Business in Free Trade Area‖ (DBFTA) program.

The DBFTA is a massive advocacy campaign for businesses, industry groups, the academe, and other stakeholders to increase their awareness as well as foster appreciation for the benefits of free trade agreements (FTAs), and how they could avail of these benefits.

The DBFTA information sessions will be held on September 25, 2013 at the Amphitheater of the Bicol University and on September 26 at Daragang Magayon Hall of Aquinas University from 8:30am to 12 noon.

Resource speakers include DTI Region 5 Director Jocelyn Blanco, DTI Albay Provincial Director Rodrigo Aguilar, PTTC OIC- Deputy Director Nestor Palabyab, Vice Dean of the College of Law of the De La Salle University, Atty.

Jocelyn Cruz and representatives from Bicol University and Aquinas University.

As of May 2013, Region 5‘s merchandise exports totalled USD 106M. These exports include chemicals, fashion accessories, minerals, oils, fats, waxes, pet foods, animal feeds, garments and textiles.

The DBFTA information sessions will discuss how businesses could increase trade with Philippine FTA partners.

FTA benefits include preferential tariff rates, harmonization of standards and more liberal regimes in trade, services and investment.

The AEC hopes to further integrate the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) into the global economy.

ASEAN has its own free trade agreement (AFTA) among its member countries as well as with China (ACFTA), India (AIFTA), Korea (AKFTA), Japan (AJCEPA), and Australia and New Zealand (AANZFTA). ASEAN is also working on the ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (ARCEP) involving all six ASEAN partners. The Philippines is a signatory to all the six ASEAN FTAs plus one bilateral FTA with Japan, the Philippines Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA).

The BETP has been conducting DBFTA info sessions since 2010, reaching out to stakeholders in various regions in the country. |TOP| 8. DTI taps first-rate rubber consultant for its invest-in-rubber seminar Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph The Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office 9 (DTI-9) is tapping the services of Engr. Alfonso Jack Fran Sandique, an acknowledged top-notch rubber expert in the country for the Rubber Investment Opportunities Seminar it will be conducting in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on September 27, 2013. ―This seminar is actually part of the second phase of the SME Roving Academy that we are conducting throughout the region, the first phase of which included a seminar in abaca production and processing conducted at Roderick‘s Resort and Pension House in Ipil last July,‖ Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, Assistant Regional Director of DTI-9 said. ―We are encouraging our stakeholders in the rubber industry not to miss this opportunity to learn first hand from Engr. Sandique all there is to know about modern rubber farming and processing,‖ Dr. Jain who is also DTI‘s National Coordinator on the Rubber Industry Cluster said.

Engr. Sandique, according to Dr. Jain is the chief executive officer of the Platinum Rubber Development Corporation (PRDI) in Makilala, Cotabato He is at the same time serving as the rubber industry adviser of the Cotabato Provincial government.

Though a mechanical engineer by profession, his experience in the industry stretches several decades, He is responsible for the modernization of PRDI in adopting the latest technology learned from his extensive trainings and exposures in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand – the leading rubber producing nations in the world. ―While we pride ourselves as the top rubber producing region in the country, we are not really harnessing the full potentials of this industry because many of our farmer-producers in Zamboanga Peninsula still use low-yielding clones and antiquated production and processing methods,‖ Dr. Jain said.

―We want more private and public sector investments towards this industry that is why this seminar. But we want these investments to yield the biggest ROIs (return on investments) for them. Through seminars such as this, we advocate to investors to employ new and better technologies such as the ones adopted by Sandique‘s PRDI,‖ Dr. Jain said.

When asked why this special attention given to rubber, Dr. Jain replied that rubber is one of the five priority industry clusters - the so called champion products- that had been identified by the Regional Development Council (RDC-9) for promotion by DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA) and other concerned agencies. The others are seaweed, processed fish, mango, coconut, and abaca.

Going back to rubber, Dr. Jain said that this industry is one of the biggest generators of employment in the region.

Figures in 2011 estimates over 165,000 individuals found gainful employment in this industry, not to mention the thousands of others employed in rubber‘s allied and ancillary industries such as in budwood gardens, nurseries, farm inputs and implements, trading, and processing. ―Along the rubber industry‘s value chain can be found myriad of investment opportunities,‖ Dr. Jain said. ―So we encourage those already in the industry and those who want to go into the rubber business to come and take part in this rubber investment seminar which we are conducting in partnership with DA-9. It will be held at the ZAMPIARC Complex in Sanito, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on September 27,‖ Dr. Jain said.

It is free, but strictly on a first come, first served basis. Those interested should make their reservations soonest by contacting Mr. Cesar Galvez at telephone nos. 955.3237, 991.3238; fax no. 991.3232, or via e-Mail at dti09@yahoo.com. |TOP| 9. DepEd welcomes anti-bullying law Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph PASIG CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomes the signing of the anti-bullying law (RA10627) which protects students from bullying and other forms of violence that may be inflicted by adults, persons of authority as well as their fellow students.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said the landmark piece of legislation further enhances the DepEd‘s existing Child Protection Policy which puts primacy on the well-being of children. ―The anti-bullying law is a big boost in our continuing push to develop our schools into safe and caring, learner-centered institutions,‖ he added.

DepEd will begin drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Law in consultation with stakeholders from other sectors.

Under the measure, public and private elementary and secondary schools are required to address bullying and provide a safer environment for students. Schools that fail to impose such measures will face administrative sanctions from the DepEd. Under the DepEd‘s current Child Protection Policy guidelines, all public, as well as private, elementary and secondary schools should create a Child Protection Committee, composed of school officials, teachers, parents, students and community representatives.

However, DepEd officials reminded teachers that the anti-bullying policy also applies to them. Under DepEd Order Number 40 series of 2012, teachers who humiliate students face administrative sanctions.

Considered as bullying are practices once considered by teachers as appropriate and necessary for discipline such as scolding students in front of classmates and punishing misbehaving students by requiring them to stand and face the wall. ―Bullying and other forms of violence in schools should be viewed not just a school problem but as a societal problem as well,‖ Luistro explained. |TOP| 10. GPH addresses release of alleged NDF consultants through legal processes Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph Manila – Chief negotiator Alexander Padilla said that the Government of the Philippines (GPH) has been conducting an internal review process to recommend for the possible release of alleged National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants according to Philippine laws.

The panel chair reiterated this amid NDF‘s repeated demands for the government to free prisoners whom the latter claims as protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

Leftist groups, such as Karapatan, Selda, Bayan Muna, Bayan, Makabayan, among others, held a protest rally outside of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on Wednesday in Pasig City. They called for the release of political detainees alleged to be protected by JASIG. JASIG is the agreement signed by both parties in 1995 to allow those involved in peace negotiations to freely discuss and move without any threat of being arrested. Consistently, the NDF has asserted that their alleged consultants arrested by the government are protected by this agreement. ―Since the verification mechanism has failed due to the NDF's fault, there‘s no way to prove if these alleged consultants are indeed covered by the Agreement,‖ Padilla said. ―It is only operative for those who are identified by the real names in the JASIG list and those who have been duly identified as consultants to the NDF Panel,‖ Padilla said while stressing the government‘s commitment under JASIG. In July 2011, representatives from both sides met in The Netherlands to verify whether the NDF‘s detained alleged consultants were protected by JASIG. They agreed to open a sealed envelope stored by the NDFP in a safety deposit box kept by the parties eight years ago in a bank. But the envelope, which was supposed to hold the photos and real names of NDF consultants using aliases, did not contain actual photos but only diskettes that could not be decrypted by them.

In a previous statement, the GPH said it has released eight of the 18 NDF personalities under proper court proceedings as part of confidence-building measures. These include Angelina Ipong, Jovencio Balweg, Maria Luisa Purcray, Edwin Brigano, Glicerio Pernia, Randy Malayao, Danilo Badayos, and Jaime Soledad (who was re-arrested in May 2012 due to double murder charges). ―To our disappointment, three (Pernia, Purcray and Brigano) of these NDF personalities have returned to active underground activities. With respect to the remaining 11 alleged NDF Consultants, whom Mr. (Louie) Jalandoni also demands to be released, their names do not appear in the JASIG list. Hence, they are not covered by the Agreement,‖ it stated. |TOP| 11. Filipino Films featured in Moviemov in Rome 2013 Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph 19 September 2013 – Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. graced this year‘s Moviemov in Rome 2013 at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni which ran from September 13 to 15. The Opening Night was dedicated to an impressive and well-regarded Filipino film entitled ―Boundary,‖ by world-renowned Filipino filmmaker Benito Bautista.

Mr. Benito Bautista is the man behind award-winning documentary films like ―The Gift of Barong: A Journey From Within and ―Samuel over the Rainbow.‖ His latest project, ―Boundary,‖ was awarded Best Film at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in Manila. It is inspired by true stories of taxicab drivers in the roadways of Manila.

The main characters, Limuel, the taxicab driver and Emmanuel, the mysterious passenger, journey together from Manila to the foothills of Antipolo. Their seemingly endless ride becomes the focus of the film intended to evoke mixed emotions of drama, comedy and suspense.

Another Filipino film featured was ―Kumusta Kayo, Dr. Jose Rizal?‖ a film collaboration of the Philippine Embassy in Rome and the artist Count Federico Wardal together with Filipino-American Director Jason Zavaleta. It is a recording of Dr. Rizal‘s ―Mi Ultimo Adios‖ in Italian, a masterpiece of poetry and feeling.

During the Ambassador‘s closing remarks, he described ―Kumusta Kayo, Dr. Jose Rizal?‖ as the type of film which the Embassy is endeavoring to promote, to balance the somewhat negative image projected by recent films featured in movie festivals which tend to focus on the seamy and sordid side of Philippine life.

The Ambassador also announced that the Philippine Embassy in Rome will have its own film showings of movies of Cannes awardee Lino Brocka, as well as Eddie Romero, Ishmael Bernal and Peque Gallaga. |TOP| 12. Phl Commission on Human Rights attends annual meeting of South East Asia Human Rights Forum Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph 19 September 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in Dili reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that two officials of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) attended the 10th Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institutions Forum (SEANF) held in Dili, Timor-Leste from September 10 to 11.

The delegates from the Philippine side were Atty. Jacqueline V. Mejia, CHR Executive Director; and Ms. Ma. Nerissa

Navarro-Piamonte, CHR Director for Strategic Planning and Development.

Comprised of the human rights institutions of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and TimorLeste, the SEANF aims to promote and advance human rights both at the domestic and regional levels.

Timor-Leste‘s Provedoria dos Direitos Humanos e Justica (PDHJ) or the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice served as the host and chair for this year‘s SEANF meeting. PDHJ is currently headed by Dr. Sebastião Dias Ximenes.

Before their departure from Dili, the CHR officials called on and apprised Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste Maria Aileen H. Bugarin on the current thrusts and programs of the SEANF. Noting that capacity-building is one of the centerpiece programs of SEANF, the Ambassador expressed her optimism that the bloc would also provide a platform to boost the existing technical cooperation between the CHR and PDHJ. In addition to regular exchange of visits, several staff of the PDHJ went to the Philippines for further training. Earlier, the CHR had also sent some of its officials to Timor-Leste to train the PDHJ staff on human rights investigation, surveillance and public information dissemination. ―Being an acknowledged leader on human rights issues in the region, the Philippines has a lot of best practices to share with Timor-Leste on the promotion, protection and management of human rights,‖ Ambassador Bugarin said. |TOP| 13. Philippine Bureaucracy celebrates 113 years Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph Happy Civil Service Day! The Philippine Civil Service celebrates its 113th anniversary today, Sept. 19.

Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Francisco T. Duque III reminds civil servants that the celebration is not solely CSC‘s anniversary, but is the anniversary of the entire bureaucracy. ―113 years ago, on this day, a law was enacted that established the Philippine bureaucracy. Act No. 5, or ‗An Act for the Establishment and Maintenance of an Efficient and Honest Civil Service in the Philippine Islands‘ was issued on Sept. 19, 1900. This law professionalized the bureaucracy with the concept of appointments and promotions in government to be made according to merit and fitness,‖ Chairman Duque states.

The celebration aims to promote, showcase, and celebrate heroism in public service, and to highlight stories of triumph and sacrifice among public servants as reflected in this year‘s theme, ―Tatak Lingkod Bayani: Isabuhay, Ipagmalaki at Ipagbunyi.‖ It encourages public servants to cross the line between being ordinary civil servants to being servant heroes orlingkod bayani. ―Always keep in mind that each one of us embodies a government that is doing its best to gain and maintain the trust of every Filipino,‖ says Chairman Duque.

Anniversary Perks Every September, CSC leads the month-long celebration. All government agencies are enjoined to participate in the events lined up for the anniversary.

Special treats are also available for the lingkod bayani courtesy of Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), National Museum, Jollibee Foods Corporation, and SM Department Stores.

Civil servants will get to enjoy free train rides at the MRT and LRT today. Free MRT-3 ride starts at 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and will resume at 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free LRT Lines 1 and 2 rides may be availed at 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Only bonafide government employees with valid IDs may avail of the free rides.

The National Museum offers free entrance to government workers for the whole month of September. Free entrance is granted at the National Art Gallery, Museum of the Filipino People, Planetarium, and in the 14 branch museums nationwide upon presentation of government ID. Jollibee branches in Metro Manila offer free creamy macaroni soup for a minimum purchase of food products worth PHP300 from Sept. 19-21.

SM Department Stores will conclude its three-day sale for civil servants today. For a minimum purchase of PHP500, 5% discount will be granted on all regular items upon presentation of government identification, while a 10% discount will be granted to those who will be able to present their SM Advantage Card, SM Prestige Card, MOM Card, or BDO Reward Card, along with their government IDs. The special promo excludes purchases at Snack Exchange, Camera Shop, Customer Service Counters, and items like chemical, toiletries, diapers, pharmacy, small appliances, business machines, and other promo items.

|TOP| 14. Eco-system valuation kicks off in the Philippines Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) hosted its first public consultation on Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystems or WAVES, a global partnership that promotes natural capital accounting as an integral part of sustainable development.

National government agencies including the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), representatives from the Local Government Units of Southern Palawan, business sector, environmental NGOs and academe, were among the attendees of this first public consultation. The participants shared their own experiences and insights on environmental conservation in Palawan and other studies on environmental accounting.

Natural capital accounting recognizes that a country‘s natural resources are a source of its wealth, and provide both tangible and intangible benefits that are essential for human survival and economic activity.

However, traditional economics does not account for the benefits of ecosystems such as clean air, clean water, or the protection from flooding mangroves provide; these do not have a price tag. WAVES, using the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA) as an internationally accepted accounting methodology, factors in the value of these natural assets. ―It is easy to take our natural resources like clean air for granted because we do not yet know how to account for it.

With WAVES, we will have a scientific basis for the valuation of our natural resources that will help us plan for its judicious use,‖ said Edwin Domingo, Director of the DENR-Foreign Assisted Special Projects Office (FASPO).

The Philippines has been chosen as one of the five core implementing countries for the WAVES Global Partnership Program (WAVES-GPP). Two ecosystems have been identified as Phil-WAVES sites: the Laguna Lake Basin and the Southern Palawan region. It is hoped that the results of the pilot project will lead to the institutionalization of natural capital accounting in policy and decision-making.

WAVES: A tool for sustainable development Maya Villaluz, World Bank Representative and Phil-WAVES Co-Task Team Leader, explained that GDP is not a solitary indicator of growth since it does not take into account whether income initiatives are drawing down national wealth such as minerals. This emphasizes the need for natural capital accounting. ―Natural capital is a critical component of wealth, especially for developing countries where natural resources make up a significant share of total wealth, but is largely unaccounted for,‖ explained Villaluz, who also shared examples of how WAVES was implemented in other countries like Botswana and Madagascar.

Southern Palawan, an area known for its rich biodiversity and protected areas, is one of the two pilot sites for PhilWAVES. The policy issues raised by participants included mineral extraction, conflicting and overlapping land claims among the different users and uses (protected areas, ancestral domain of Indigenous Peoples, among others) and conversion of forests into industrial plantations for palm oil and rubber.

WAVES complements the Strategic Environment Plan (SEP) for Palawan which serves as the framework to guide government agencies in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects affecting the environment and natural resources in the province. The PCSD is the government agency tasked with overseeing the implementation of the SEP. In addition, WAVES also supports the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016 and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), which underscore the significance of resource accounting and valuation.

Training on ecosystem accounting In addition to the public consultations, DENR held a two-day launch and and training workshop where technical experts from the World Bank and the Australian Bureau of Statistics as well as academe from the Philippines shared their experience on accounting and valuation systems.

Inspired by the earlier planning consultations, various stakeholders from the local and national government, environmental NGOs, private sector and indigenous peoples‘ groups attended the workshop held in Manila. The Assistant Secretary for the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO), Rommel R. Abesamis, welcome the participants and underscored during the opening day of the launch and training workshop the importance of integrating natural capital in the wealth accounting of the nation specially when sustainable development is being tackled.

Michael Vardon of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) gave a presentation outlining the basic concepts of environmental accounting, while Torsten Bondo of the European Space Agency (ESA) gave an orientation about capturing images of the earth‘s topography via satellite. The ESA will be providing assistance to the WAVES program through geographical images of the Philippines taken from space satellites.

―There is no perfect value that can be attached to our nature resources; it is all about utility—how can we use our resources efficiently? For us decision-makers, WAVES is a welcome initiative that will help us meet our goal of intergenerational sustainability,‖ said Manuel Gerochi, DENR undersecretary for planning and development.

As a next step, the Phil-WAVES Team led by Task Team Leader Stefanie Sieber will enter into discussions with the government on institutionalization of ecosystem accounting and finalize what type of accounts are to be constructed.

Apart from the Philippines, the other WAVES core implementing countries include Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Madagascar.

The WAVES partnership includes the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations Development Program, and the United Nations Statistical Commission; as well as financial or technical support from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, and several civil society organizations. |TOP| 15. BI seeks courts' help on HDOs Source: http://immigration.gov.ph The Bureau of Immigration (BI) again appealed to clerks of the different regional trial courts nationwide to immediately furnish the bureau copies of orders cancelling the HDOs of persons acquitted of cases to prevent inconvenience to the traveling public.

BI Officer-in-Charge Siegfred Mison reiterated the appeal in view of the perennial problem of passengers being stopped from leaving at the airports because their names are still in the Immigration hold departure list even if the cases against them were already dismissed by the courts.

Mison cited a Supreme Court circular directing that when a person in the HDO has been acquitted or the case against him was dismissed, the judgement of aquittal or dismissal order must include the cancellation of his HDO. ―The same circular also enjoins the courts to furnish the BI and Department of Foreign Affairs copies of said court orders within 24 hours from the time of the promulgation of judgement,‖ he added.

Mison also advised persons acquitted of criminal cases to make sure that the HDO previously issued against them were already removed from the database of the BI before they travel out of the country.

He cited the many instances wherein passengers were prevented from boarding their flights because the BI was not served copies of the court orders dismissing their cases and cancelling their HDOs. Ma. Angelica Pedro, BI spokesperson, also advised former court defendants to ensure that court orders dismissing their cases specifically direct the lifting of their HDOs and such orders are duly received by the BI for appropriate implementation.

She explained there are administrative procedures that should be followed before an HDO is deleted from the BI database. ―Such orders will first be verified by the BI with the issuing court before the lifting of the HDO is implemented by the bureau,‖ Pedro added. |TOP| 16. Isabela eyes bumper rice harvest Source: http://www.da.gov.ph Isabela farmers, despite experiencing adverse weather conditions, expect to reap a bumper harvest starting this month until October.

This September, they will harvest an initial 167,700 metric tons (MT) of palay (paddy rice), comprising 63 percent or nearly two-thirds of the total expected harvest of Cagayan Valley region for the third quarter, estimated at 264,700 MT, said Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

Last year, Isabela produced a total 1.22 million metric tons (MMT) of palay from 283,150 hectares, for an average of 4.3 MT per hectare, placing second behind Nueva Ecija (1.59 MMT) in total palay output, according to the DA‘s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

The DA chief visited Isabela, September 13, 2013, to oversee ongoing harvest, and even took a ride on a combine harvester, along with DA Undersecretary for field operations Dante Delima, who also serves as the national rice program coordinator.

Secretary Alcala assured Isabela farmers and local government officials of the Aquino government‘s continued

support to modernize their farming operations, including the provision of postharvest machinery like combine harvesters and rice processing facilities, to increase their productivity and incomes, and contribute to achieving national rice sufficiency.

During a farmers‘ dialogue, he raffled off 600 bags of certified rice seeds, 110 bags of registered seeds, 29 mini threshers, 11 rice reapers, and 15 head of draft carabao, including plow and harrow, to several irrigators‘ associations (IAs) and farmers‘ groups. ―We are expecting the bulk of the palay harvest to come now until mid-October,‖ Secretary Alcala said. He added that aside from Cagayan Valley, farmers in other major rice producing regions like Western Visayas (Region 6), Davao (Region 11), and Soccsksargen (Region 12) have also started harvesting.

In anticipation of the bumber harvest, National Food Authority Administrator (NFA) Orlan Calayag said that NFA buying stations in the towns of Alicia and Ramon in Isabela are ready to buy palay at a maximum price of P17 per kilo.

For his part, Undersecretary Delima urged the IAs, farmers‘ groups and LGUs to actively participate in the DA‘ farm mechanization program to avail of needed modern machinery and postharvest equipment like threshers and combine harvesters to supplement the decreasing number of farm workers and laborers.

The DA chief, together with Philippine Crop Insurance Company (PCIC) President Jovy Bernabe, also distributed crop insurance indemnity checks totaling P822,000 to farmer-beneficiaries affected by the recent ‗Typhoon Labuyo.‘ -- References: Undersecretary Dante Delima - 0917-8695698 DA Regn 2 Dir. Jun Alviar - 0917-5754603 |TOP| 17. PhilHealth Z benefit saves lives!

Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph These are the very words of Ms. Lucia D. Josol, 43 years old and a resident of Davao City in a letter she sent PhilHealth. She is a member of PhilHealth under the Employed sector and an employee of a private school in the said city.

When she was diagnosed of breast cancer sometime in June 2012, the thought of leaving her son and a pastor husband made her decide to undergo medication. Despite her financially-challenged condition she opted to undergo treatment because according to her "money should never be a hindrance in my desire to go through medical procedures". In her hope to lengthen her life for her family and free herself from worries, she submitted herself patiently to the doctors of Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC), a government hospital in Davao and one of the 20 PhilHealth-contracted hospitals countrywide with proven expertise in treating the disease.

Fortunately for Ms. Josol, the PhilHealth Type-Z Package was launched in July of 2012. The said package includes treatment for breast cancer amounting to P100,000.00 just in time for her medication. The said benefit aims primarily to assist members with illnesses that are considered economically and medically catastrophic.

Despite some implementation glitches, Ms. Josol was among the 85 patients nationwide who benefited from the said package. From the P 41,215,000 benefit payment for PhilHealth Type Z Packages covering prostate cancer, acute lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer and kidney transplant, 6% or P 7,000,000 is paid for breast cancer claims. It was in August 28, 2012 when she had partial mastectomy on her left breast. She started her 6-cycle chemotherapy in October of the same year and finished the same in February 2013. To this date she religiously attends to her check-up every two months.

According to the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, breast cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the most prevalent form of cancer in the country. The Philippines is now the leading country in Asia with the most number of breast cancer cases. Statistically, three out of 100 Filipino women will get breast cancer before the age of 75 and one out of 100 Filipino women will die before the age of 75.

This is why PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla, in a statement, said that, "We encourage all members and dependents with early stage breast cancer to avail of the P100,000 benefit package under our PhilHealth's Type Z- package. The amount shall cover the cost of treatment, hospitalization and professional fees."

Breast cancer management requires submission of members to treatment as well as its early detection. Also, members in the far-flung areas need not go to Manila as there are 20 PhilHealth-contracted hospitals countrywide where people can seek treatment. Further, other breast cancer cases that will not qualify under the PhilHealth Type Z Package shall still be paid under a different payment mechanism.

"I really appreciate and thank you so much for the Z Package Program because you have eased the burden of so many Filipinos and patients undergoing the same illness as me. God bless and may you continually serve

wholeheartedly" added Josol. |TOP|

Last Updated:

19 SEPTEMBER 2013

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President Benigno S. Aquino III assures that the government have sufficient funds for the rehabilitation of Zamboanga City damaged by the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces during the media briefing at the Zamboanga City Airport on Thursday (September 19). The President reiterates the government’s prime objective in safeguarding the life of remaining hostages of the MNLF. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III assures that the government have sufficient funds for the rehabilitation of Zamboanga City damaged by the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces during the media briefing at the Zamboanga City Airport on Thursday (September 19). The President reiterates the government’s prime objective in safeguarding the life of remaining hostages of the MNLF. Also in photo is Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III assures that the government have sufficient funds for the rehabilitation of Zamboanga City damaged by the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces during the media briefing at the Zamboanga City Airport on Thursday (September 19). The President reiterates the government’s prime objective in safeguarding the life of remaining hostages of the MNLF. In photo are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman and Education Secretary Armin Luistro. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes passengers at the arrival area of the Zamboanga City Airport during the inspection on Thursday (September 19). The airport resumed operation after it was shut down at the start of the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces last week. Also in photo is Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the facilities of the Zamboanga City Airport on Thursday (September 19). The airport resumed operation after it was shut down at the start of the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces last week. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes passengers at the arrival area of the Zamboanga City Airport during the inspection on Thursday (September 19). The airport resumed operation after it was shut down at the start of the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces last week. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malaca単ang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the facilities of the Zamboanga City Airport on Thursday (September 19). The airport resumed operation after it was shut down at the start of the standoff between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and government forces last week. Also in photo is Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malaca単ang Photo Bureau)

Thank You and God Bless !!!!