SALCEDA RECOMMENDS POLICY REFORMS
TO SOLVE STATE CORRUPTION

LEGAZPI CITY— President Arroyo’s economic adviser, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has recommended the scrapping of the existing Bank Secrecy Law and the Confidentiality of Tax Returns and the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act in order to eradicate, or at least reduce, corruption in the country.

In his speech during the Citibank Forum of Presidential Advisers at Hotel Intercon, Salceda said his suggestions would solve prevailing corrupt practices in the country and would lay the foundation to attain the badly needed all-out campaign for financial reform.

“A study by Montes of UP (University of the Philippines) suggested that the most constraining variable to private domestic investments is corruption while political instability is the main factor that affects potential foreign investments. Corruption has a great deal to do with the system, the system and the system,” Salceda said.

He added: “Thus, we must decisively address such system like the necessary first step towards controlling corruption through Campaign Finance Reforms.

“But this must immediately be followed through with the repeal of Bank Secrecy Law and the Confidentiality of Tax Returns, enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, computerizing land registration, privatizing non-regulatory GOCCs and outsource non-critical public services and establishing the National Revenue Authority,” he elaborated.

Salceda also batted for creation of watchdog groups, improvement of standard of living of state officials, and more transparency in government transactions.

“We should also institute community governance groups and multi-sectoral watchdogs over each agency, district, province and city to directly provide the President with information on how well or how badly government projects are implemented. That said, we must also help improve the standard of living of our government officials. We have to make the rules reasonable and government processes more transparent,” he stressed.

As one of President Arroyo’s economic advisers for almost nine years, Salceda admitted his failure to eradicate poverty incidence in the country.

“My biggest frustration as a presidential adviser is that 34 quarters of uninterrupted expansion in the past nine years did little to reduce poverty and the number of poor people. Instead, profits of the Top 1000 corporations grew by 21% pa, ROE averaged a hefty 15.27% and total earnings mounted to P3.1-trillion, of which P2.1-trillion was dividend and only P1-trilion reinvested,” the Albay governor said.

He even mentioned the rolling out by May of the Credit Surety Fund to give small farmers and entrepreneurs in the province access to credit even without collateral.

“Thus, to practice what we preach in Albay, we are rolling out province wide by May the CSF or Credit Surety Fund in order to give our small farmers and entrepreneurs access to credit even without collateral while reinvigorating the impetus for the cooperative movement in our province,” Salceda said.

On other financial plans, Salceda said:” Higher economic growth up scaled and sustained at 7-8% and achieving MDG by 2015 are our twin principal national strategies to attain our goal of creating a dynamic middle class society – with poverty incidence reduced to 14% and middle class increased from 23% to 45% by 2016.”

Salceda also explained in details the things-to-do to attain economic growth in the country.
“We will balance the budget by 2015, reduce NG debt to GDP to below 50% and secure a credit upgrade by 2016,” he pointed out.

Salceda cited in order for the country to achieve this target, is through (1) higher economic growth that would increase organic growth in revenues by 12% per year or P110bn (2) expansion of tax base and (c) higher consumption taxes on sin products at a minimum of P5 per sin product, i.e. P5 per pack whatever brand, P5 per bottle of gin or beer.

Over the long term, Salceda intends to reduce income tax rates on working families and ordinary wage earners.

He explained that it must come with a better collection record from our business sectors – perhaps, sector by sector, we can we can introduce such lowering of the tax rates as we are able to reduce our fiscal deficit. Given the current problems of the economy, the most important priority is to make it grow by encouraging more investments in agriculture, in manufacturing.

The resulting increase in production and incomes will definitely help improve our tax effort,” he underscored. (CTDematera, BUCAL/PIA)

LAGMAN, RH ADVOCATES SUPPORT DOH’s FP MODERN METHODS

LEGAZPI CITY — Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said that he and his fellow reproductive health advocates in Congress unequivocally laud and fully support the initiative of Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral for government to “give contraceptive pills to interested couples.”

Lagman, the principal author of House Bill No. 5043 on Reproductive Health and Population Development, stressed that the plan of Cabral is consistent with the freedom of informed choice on which the RH bill is firmly anchored.

The RH bill provides that the State upholds and promotes the right to informed choice and that “the freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State.”

The Bicol solon also clarified that the initiative of Cabral will counterbalance the present flawed policy of the Commission on Population to promote only natural family planning methods even though only 27% of women acceptors employ NFP and traditional methods combined, compared to the 73% who use modern methods according to the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) Family Planning Survey 2006.

The NSO’s 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) also shows that a total of 73% of married women have a demand for family planning but only 51% of this demand is met. The country’s unmet need for family planning has been steadily rising from 17% in the 2003 NDHS to 22% in the latest 2008 NDHS.

According to Lagman, this data is instructive because its shows that more women are now aware that they have the right to plan and space their children and are demanding that they be given the opportunity to fully exercise this right.

Lagman also said that under the bill government has to two principal responsibilities: (1) promoting a massive nationwide information campaign on the import and need for reproductive health and family planning and; (2) giving access to reproductive health supplies and services to acceptors without bias for or against natural or modern family planning methods.

Lagman likewise urged the leadership of the Department of Health to use a sizeable portion of the Department’s current P1.4 billion appropriation for family health and family planning to address the demands of couples and women for reproductive health supplies and services. (Office of Rep. Edcel Lagman, Albay I District/PIA)

MARCH IS WOMEN’S MONTH

LEGAZPI CITY — Recognizing women’s achievement paving the way for women’s advancement and empowerment amidst major challenges will highlight the celebrations of the National Women’s Month this March.

The observance, evolving on the theme: “Babae, Tagumpay ka ng Bayan”, also focuses on success of women’s commitment to pursue equality which resulted in the enactment of the Magna Carta of Women and the achievements in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), including those related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This year’s celebration aims to inspire and increase understanding of micro entrepreneurs, partners from government agencies, non-government organizations, academe and the private sector on micro enterprise development, government programs and services that response to the issues and concern of the Filipino women.

The advocacy also includes women’s rights, environment, family and work life balance to inculcate knowledge among partners from government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Magna Carta of Women; and to increase awareness of the general public on platforms of the presidentiables and other elective officials to advance the status of women.

All government agencies are enjoined to actively participate in the major activities lined-up for the Women’s Month celebration of the 2010 National Women’s Month.

In Albay, the Provincial Council of Women (ALPCW), the Provincial Women’s Network, Inc. (ALPWNI), National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP) Legazpi City Council and the local council of women of Legazpi City and state universities and colleges jointly spearhead the month-long celebrations.

It can be noted that Presidential Proclamation NO. 224 and 227, and Republic Act No. 6949 provide for the yearly observance of the moth of March as Women’s Month to recognize Filipino women’s contribution in the struggle for national independence, civil liberties, equality and human rights. (JSabio, Jr., PGCHS/PIA)

TRAININGS FOR ELECTION WORKERS FOR MAY 2010 POLLS ON STREAM

NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC), in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), successfully wrapped up a 3-day Field Personnel Training for the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) held over the weekend at the Regent Hotel, here.

Atty. Romeo G. Serrano, Camarines Sur provincial election supervisor, told PIA News Service the training intends to equip the BEIs with the basic know how on how to use the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine and the Consolidation Canvassing System in preparation for the May 10 automated polls.

Serrano said the training was participated in by election officers, election assistants and public school district supervisors (PSDS) from the thirty-five (35) towns and two (2) cities in the province.

Resource speakers were Director Esther Villaflor-Roxas of COMELEC Election Records and Statistics Department, Wilhelmina Asistores of the COMELEC Information Technical Department, and Alex Marpuri, election officer of Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

Serrano also bared that the participants performed hands-on exercise to operate the PCOS machine, familiarizing them on the scope and limitation of the said equipment and how the use of the PCOS machine fits into the entire automated process.

The PCOS machine is a ballot tabulator designed to scan marked paper ballots, interpret the voter marks, translate each vote, store safely each ballot and transmit the data.

It is also capable of rejecting a fake and ambiguous ballot.

The Consolidation Canvassing System (CCS), on the other hand, is a software program installed in a laptop that will consolidate and process data from the tabulated ballots entered in the PCOS machine.

Serrano further said that a series of re-echo seminar will also be held in the coming week by the first batch of trainees to the Board of Canvassers (BOCs) in their respective area of responsibilities, along with designated public school teachers who will also serve as BEIs, executive officers and treasurers who will take part in the upcoming elections.

The May 2010 polls will mark the country’s first nationwide fully automated elections, diverting from the age-old process of manually counting the votes from the voter’s ballot, shading and physical transportation of the results to the transmission and canvassing of votes via the PCOS machine and the Consolidation Canvassing System.

The modernization of the election process is considered as one of the greatest developments in the Philippine electoral process. (LS Macatangay, PIA CamSur)

FISHER FOLKS URGED TO SHIFT FISH HUNTING TO FARMING

PILI, Camarine Sur — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has urged the fishery sector to shift from fish hunting to fish farming in order to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Malcolm Sarmiento, BFAR Bicol regional director, said that climate change affects migratory patterns and spawning processes in the wild, making it hard for fisher folk to hunt.

On the other hand, hatcheries wherein the weather can be controlled and adjusted, will bring forth continuous breeding and more fruitful yield.

“We are thus teaching the most vulnerable sector – the marginal fishermen – how to adapt to changing weather conditions. We are also teaching them new trades because scientists say that climate change will mostly affect wildlife and its impact will hit food security on four fronts – availability, stability, access and utilization,” Sarmiento said.

To help fisher folk engage in fish farming where fish feed is a major component, BFAR chief said that they plan to import 500 pairs of cold tolerant tilapia from Israel and another 500 pairs of grass-eating tilapia which can help cushion to increasing prices of feeds.

As part of fish farming, fisher folk can also culture certain marine species like abalone, sea cucumber, sea urchins and other varieties of shells and fin fishes. According to studies, these marine species can adapt well to extreme shifts in weather patterns resulting to the rise of sea levels still brought by climate change.

Locally, BFAR has also been promoting mariculture parks and zone, Sarmineto explained that mariculture parks are patterned after industrial parks in the country.

Dennis del Socorro, BFAR Bicol regional director, said that in mariculture park or zone, the government sets a mooring system and other facilities in a typhoon-protected coastal area where investor could locate their fish cages.

“What we intend to do is to promote environment-friendly technologies in both fish farming as well as in fish capture,” Del Socorro said. (GFOgad, BUCAL/PIA)

DOH BICOL TO DISTRIBUTE OLYSET NETS TO FIGHT DENGUE

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol is set to distribute Olyset Nets to public schools and day care centers here and in Daraga town to intensify campaign against dengue.

Camilo Aquino, DOH Bicol program coordinator against dengue, said the nets will be used as curtains and window screen in the classrooms.

Aquino said LEADS’s National States and Marketing Management Albert Evangelista has turned over Olyset Nets (a protective gear against insects) to DOH recently

“The nets serves as a barrier in lowering the population of mosquito, and can also be used in repelling insects such as lice, cockroach and after a minute it dies once it get contact with the net,” he explained

Olyset net is a product of Sumitomo Chemical that contains 2% of Permethin (insecticide in the material attached in every fiber). In 2004 it was featured in Time Magazine for being the first net recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).

Olyset nets last from two to five years by using Perla when cleaning it. It is 1.5 meter thick and 1.5 meter long. Olyset net is available in any DOH Office with a ranging price of P7,400 per roll (25 meters).

Camilo related that the distribution of the nets forms part of the campaign of establishing dengue-free schools in the Bicol region.

He noted that dengue has always been a problem in Bicol region. It’s an endemic case caused by a virus with its viral agent called mosquito.

On June 2009, Olyset nets were distributed in Naga City with the coordination of DOH and Mayor Jesse Robredo. The number of dengue in the city slopes down base on the evaluation with the impact of these nets. (AOPacao, BUCAL/PIA)

SORSOGON RESIDENTS BENEFITS FROM UNDP, GOVERNMENT CORE SHELTER PROJECT

JUBAN, Sorsogon – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director Renaud Meyer, and Sorsogon Governor Sally Lee led recently the turn-over of housing units and community facilities to beneficiaries in Barangay Guruyan here.

Mitchell P. Duran, UNDP communications officer, said that the Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) is part of the UNDP-funded “Recovery Program for Typhoon-Affected Provinces of the Bicol Region,” which is being implemented by DSWD.

Duran added the program seeks to respond to the ongoing recovery needs of the Bicol region, whose some residents were displaced from their homes and communities, encounter disruptions in social and economic life due to several typhoons that hit the area every year.

“The recovery program includes gender-sensitive shelter and livelihood initiatives in the typhoon-affected areas in the Bicol Region. Under the program, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with DSWD to conduct 10 skills training programs to beneficiaries in 15 resettlement sites,” he said.

“At the same time, 172 beneficiaries from eight Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) groups, and 40 out-of-school youths from two NGOs have been granted seed capital for their individual livelihood projects,” Duran further added.

He explained that the program, likewise, implements disaster risk management interventions in partnership with Government, and UN agencies; and establishes a tracking and coordination mechanism for the UNDP and other UN Agencies, and Government and NGOs, civil society organizations on early recovery efforts in the typhoon-affected areas for recent and future emergencies.

“It is consistent with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as with the UN Development Assistance Framework, which targets and prepares the poor and vulnerable groups to cope with the impacts of environment emergencies,” he said.

Further, it is informed by the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (2004-2010), and the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (2004-2010) of Region V. (UNDP/PIA Sorsogon)

YAP CITES ANIMAL BUREAU’S EFFORTS TO BOOST LIVESTOCK, POULTRY PRODUCTIVITY & PROFITABILITY

MANILA — Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has commended the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for its sustained efforts to boost the productivity and profitability of the domestic livestock and poultry subsectors, which account for a fourth of the country’s total farm output, despite the major challenges these industries have faced over the years.

In a message of Yap read by Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla during the recent 80th BAI anniversary celebration, Yap noted that on the watch of Director Davinio Catbagan, total livestock and poultry industry production increased by 1.49% in 2009 compared to 2008, which is no mean feat given the bureau’s tasks in keeping the Philippines free of the dreaded avian influenza (AI) or bird flu virus, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other threats to the animal industry.

In 2009, livestock production increased by 1.20% from 2,327 thousand metric tons to 2,354 TMT, while poultry output increased by 1.82% from 1,713 TMT to 1744 TMT. For broiler production, supply is projected to be higher that the demand in the first semester of 2010.

Yap noted that on his watch as DA secretary, he had witnessed how the BAI “efficiently marshal all resources to prevail over the huge difficulties of two El Niño episodes; the series of powerful tropical cyclones; and the reemergence of diseases such as the Ebola Reston Virus.”

“Moreover, the BAI has successfully kept the Philippines bird flu-free, which has allowed the Philippines to export poultry meat and poultry products to Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East; as well as breeder chicks to Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Nepal and the Middle East,” said Yap in a speech that was read for him by DA Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla.

He said the BAI also maintained the internationally recognized freedom of Mindanao, Visayas, Palawan and Masbate from the FMD since 2001 & 2002 respectively, and the forthcoming declaration of Luzon as FMD-free by the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) or World Organization for Animal Health, which will add to the country’s attractiveness as a reliable source of high-quality livestock products, notably for the global Halal market that the DA is trying to develop.

Yap also cited BAI’s efforts in successfully eradicating the Rinderpest disease that threatened to decimate the country’s animal population; striking the right balance between local production and importation in ensuring ample food supplies for the people; and helping ensure the safety and quality of production inputs such as animal feeds, biologics/vaccines and veterinary drugs under its Comprehensive Enhancement and Production Support Program.

“We in the DA family take pride from this Bureau’s long history of meaningful service to the nation,” Yap said. “The Bureau deserves credit for steering the Filipino livestock industry into greater profitability and productivity over these years, supporting the livelihood of small livestock and poultry keepers, traders and laborers throughout the country.”

Yap pointed out that BAI was also able to:

1) eliminate non-effective imported drugs and biologics from the local market through field-testing and validation;

2) develop technologies on the production of local diagnostic antigens as alternative to expensive imported antigens;

3) implement a successful disease monitoring and surveillance system resulting in the non-entry of exotic animal diseases into the country;

4) develop and standardize practical diagnostic tests and protocols for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of disease outbreaks;

5) formulate and validate several cost effective control measures against several parasitic disease problems; and

6) transfer diagnostic technologies to upgrade the capabilities of the DA-Regional Diagnostic Laboratories.

“Today, on your 80th year, the men and women of the BAI must stand tall as a frontline agency of the DA, proud of the remarkably consistent growth and stability the livestock and poultry industry has achieved, even during the agriculture sector’s most critical periods,” Yap said.

Yap called on the BAI to continue in vigorously pursuing its commitment of keeping the animal industry “disease-free, productive and ready to compete globally,” by stepping up its timely delivery of quality services and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders, notably the local government units that directly supervise over the bureau’s veterinarians.

He said the DA fully supports the bureau’s current and future thrusts and the initiatives, which include undertaking an intensified livestock genetic improvement through the PL 480 – because animal genetic resources are the primary biological capital for livestock and poultry development, and are vital to food security and sustainable rural development.

It also supports other BAI projects like the Male Breeder Loan Program; its continuous upgrade of laboratories and personnel capabilities; and the development and implementation of specific technologies on breeding selection, improved feed resources and nutrition, animal waste management and improved utilization of meat, edible and non-edible meat products, he said.

“Such initiatives substantially contribute to the DA family’s efforts to mitigate hunger, bring progress in rural communities and build a climate change-resilient agriculture sector,” Yap said.

He said the DA will also continue to support BAI’s National Animal Disease Control Programs for Hog Cholera/Classical Swine Fever, Newcastle Disease, Rabies, Hemorrhagic Septicemia and other priority animal diseases of the bureau as well as its information drive on various aspects of livestock and poultry growing and keeping them disease-free. (DA/PIA V)

NIA IMPLEMENTS PROJECTS COVERING 200,000 HECTARES,
CREATES 100,000 JOBS

MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) completed in 2009 the rehabilitation and restoration of irrigation systems and facilities covering more than 200,000 hectares of farmland, which created close to 100,000 jobs in the countryside.

In a report to DA Acting Secretary Bernie Fondevilla, the National irrigation Administration (NIA) said that its programs benefited almost 80,000 farming households and brought to 456,251 hectares in the national irrigation systems.

“The target is to complete by 2010 the rehabilitation and restoration of 368,000 hectares non-functional area to increase the irrigated area in the country and so far 220,000 hectares have been accomplished,” said NIA OIC Administrator Alex Reuyan in a report to Fondevilla.

The NIA’s stepped-up implementation of its irrigation program is in step with the DA’s policy shift on the watch of Secretary Yap from soft initiatives like fertilizer subsidies to hard projects such as irrigation, farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and postharvest facilities.

Irrigation and other rural infrastructure such as FMRs are among the components of President Arroyo’s FIELDS initiative, which is her administration’s centerpiece program to attain food security and sufficiency over the medium term.

FIELDS stands for Fertilizers, Irrigation and other rural infrastructure like FMRs, Extension services and education for farmers, Loans, Dryers and other postharvest facilities, and Seeds and other genetic materials.

This year, under the Irrigation and other rural infrastructure component, the DA is targeting 16,358 hectares of new areas to be generated, while 92,255 hectares will be rehabilitated, and 108,000 hectares restored to increase production and meet the demands of a growing population.

The DA will likewise construct or rehabilitate 3,107 kilometers of FMRs to link production areas, fishports and fish landings to markets.

In 2009, the NIA completed the rehabilitation of facilities servicing 123,537 hectares and the restoration of others covering 89,638 hectares, generating 97,976 jobs and benefiting 79,758 farm households with a funding of P8 billion, Reuyan said. (DA/PIA V)

PGMA leaving RP mining sector a ‘legacy of growth’

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is leaving the country’s mining industry a legacy of sustainable growth, highlighted last year by a hefty 23 percent growth and $640 million investments inflow despite the global financial crisis.

The improved industry outlook will be enough to sustain another double digit growth this year, said Benjamin Philip Romualdez, president of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, after industry representatives joined the President in Malacanang Friday (February 26) on the awarding of the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA), given yearly to recognize mining companies with strong environmental protection programs.

In an interview, Romualdez said the President’s decisions and policies have helped in the unprecedented growth and sustainability of the industry.

“The mining industry continues to grow. In fact, it continues to be the star performer in the economy, growing double digit for a few years now. We expect that to continue to grow to 2010 and beyond,” Romualdez said.

In 2004, the President issued Executive Order No. 270/270A, or the National Policy Agenda on Revitalizing Mining in the Philippines, providing for action plans, in partnership with various stakeholders, to ensure environmental protection, equitable distribution of the benefits of mining operations, recognition of the rights of the indigenous peoples, transparency in government-private sector action plans, and community participation in decision-making processes.

The revitalization program promoted mining investments and streamlining of the permit process that led to higher investment inflows, bringing the total to $2.8 billion since 2004.

More mineral development projects are in the pipeline and investments are expected to reach $13.5 billion by 2013.

“We have to thank the President. Many people seem to criticize her for many things but she has made some very difficult decisions and, in many case, unpopular decisions. Because of those hard decisions, you can see a sector like the mineral sector continuing to grow,” Romualdez said.

With the revitalization program, the mining and quarrying sector increased its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) from P21.6 billion in 2000 to P100.5 billion in 2009, or from 0.6 percent to 1.3 percent of GDP.

“Its impact on GDP has been incredible. We continue to export over $3.6 billion worth and we have about $3 billion of investments thus far. We expect more investments this year, about $1.5 billion for 2010, and additional investments into the sector by 2013 of about $10 billion more,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez said the next administration “is going to be very lucky because a lot of the difficult issues, decision making and confidence building have been worked on during the past few years.”

“Now we are seeing a lot of investments coming in and we expect that to continue. And it should be beneficial to the economy and create more jobs and development in the rural areas where there is a lot of poverty,” Romualdez said.

Also present during the awarding rites were Presidential Adviser on Climate Change Secretary Heherson Alvarez, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio Ramos.

The three PMIEA were Sagittarius Mines, Inc. based in Tampakan, South Cotabato; Silangan Mindanao Mining Co., Inc. located at Tubod, Surigao del Norte; and Holcim Phils. Manufacturing Corp. located at Lugait, Misamis Oriental.

Secretary Ramos said the biggest legacy of the President is the way she balanced environmental protection and economic development, and the advocacy of sustainable development.

“This legacy has been institutionalized in the industry already. Many of our investors have now been proceeding towards not purely profit-oriented but also somehow established a precedent in environmental protection and social responsibility in the various projects particularly in the natural resources sector,” Ramos said.

Ramos said the President signed and issued many environmental regulations, including the Clean Air Act, the Forestry Act, and the Solid Waste Management Act.

Since 2001, Ramos said the country’s forest cover increased from five million to seven million hectares, and the President declared 34 protected areas, an effort that earned the recognition of the environmental watchdog, Conservation International.

In today’s event, the President also awarded the Most Environmentally Compliant Industries to eight companies which excelled in environmental management in their areas of operation. (PIA V Release)

PGMA fetes top environment-conscious industries

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo honored eight companies for their exemplary environmental performance during an awards ceremony at Malacanang’s Kalayaan Hall Friday (February 26).

Honored for qualifying as top performers in the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) were Absolut Distillers, Inc.; Analog Devices Gen. Trias; Nestle Phils. Inc. – Cabuyao Factory; Nestle Phils. Inc. – Lipa Factory; ON Semiconductor; STMicroelectronics; and PSI Technologies for Region 4 A and Vishay Phils. Inc. from the National Capital Region.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio C. Ramos said these companies qualified to the Track 1 Category of the PEPP program and were awarded the DENR Seal of Approval last Dec. 16 by then DENR Secretary Lito Atienza.

“These companies have no cases against them with the Pollution Adjudication Board for three years prior to the date of application; they are in full compliance of all applicable environmental laws and were proven to show superior environmental performance by a third party auditor,” he said.

The PEPP, with industries, aims to support industry self-regulation towards improved environmental performance, Ramos said.

“By providing a package of incentives and reward mechanisms to industries, DENR hopes to assist business establishments, particularly small and medium enterprises to adopt pollution prevention and cleaner production processes,” he explained.

Taking care of the environment has been one of the priorities of the Arroyo administration along with education and the economy (3 Es) which she vowed to focus on for the remainder of her term. (PIA V Release)

No Filipino casualties in Chile-epicentered massive quake

MANILA — The Philippine community in Chile and the few Filipinos in its neighboring country of Argentina are apparently safe as the Philippine embassies in both south American countries reported no deaths or serious injuries from the post-dawn massive quake of 8.8 magnitude that hit the area Saturday.

Philippine Ambassador to Chile Consuelo Puyat-Reyes reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that “no Filipino was hurt, except for an ankle injury sustained by a husband of a Philippine embassy personnel,” among the 75-something community. A piece of wood fell on the man inside his bedroom.

The community is composed mostly of Filipino Catholic clerics engineers, businessmen and spouses of Chilean nationals, and no overseas workers. The embassy consists of seven officers and staff members, headed by the ambassador.

Puyat-Reyes was quoted by the DFA as saying that Chile is still experiencing aftershocks, but “there is little flooding due to the tsunami.” Electricity, water and communications facilities are still down in the capital city of Santiago, where the Embassy is located.

The main quake lasted about 15 seconds, causing much damage to interiors of apartments and toppling household fixtures and other items, Puyat-Reyes reported. Emergency services from the Chilean government have gone into full gear to attend to those affected and to restore basic services.

The Philippine Embassy in Argentina also reported that the quake in Chile was felt in Buenos Aires and in other Argentinean provinces, especially those along the long border with Chile.

DFA quoted Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang as reporting there were no Filipino victims. There appears to be no damages to structures despite the strong aftershocks which continue to be felt at reporting time.

The only known Filipinos in the provinces near the Chilean border are in a town called Mendoza. They are four priests from the Society of the Divine Word and a Filipina married to an Argentinean national. Most Filipinos live in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.

Priest Rupert Solis reportedly assure that he and his companions are safe and appreciated the ambassador’s call of concern. The Filipino-Argentine family is on holidays in the Philippines. (PIA V Release)