CamSur execs avail training in Good Governance
by Lizel S. Macatangay

IRIGA City, (PIA) ---- The University of Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UPISSI), Small Enterprise Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (SERDEF) in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) conducted a three-day seminar for local executives in the province at the Iriga Plaza Convention Center here.

Now on its last day, the confab dubbed as TAGGED-LGU or Training on Good Governance, Gender and Enterprise Development for Local Government Units, was also made possible by the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) under the headship of UNEP President, Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda.

The gathering was attended by municipal and city mayors, DILG provincial directors, municipal government operations officers, barangay officials, provincial, municipal and city administrators, department heads, planning officers, development coordinators and other local executives personnel who are exercising administrative functions.

The confab aims to provide local government officials, elected or appointed, with an alternative learning experience that they can use to enhance their managerial skills and expertise, particularly in implementing various programs and services being pushed by the government. Moreover, the discussions are expected to boost the attendees’ proficiency as crucial part of their community’s economic growth.

Invited presenters were Professor O. Raneses Ms. Cecilia R. Pascual and Ms. Crispina B. Almonte both of UP ISSI Project Team and UNEP Team headed by Atty. Moraleda.

Significant topics discussed during the said gathering includes Local and foreign scenarios and Entrepreneurial Challenges under the Philippine Business Environment; Small and Medium Enterprise Development Plan which includes discussion of agenda and prospects, specifically for Region V and Entrepreneurship as an Economic Process.

Gender Mainstreaming in the local government units (LGUs) , including its issues and concerns, were also discussed by Ms. Almonte of the UP ISSI.

Aside from the discussions, the participants also conducted plenary presentations and integration process where they discussed the development concerns of Camarines Sur. (PIA Camarines Sur)

Int’l humanitarian organizations tender support to Sorsoganons
By Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) — Amidst test of patience and faith due to loss of livelihoods, angels are born to give hope so that one can start anew.

Just recently, two international humanitarian organizations visited Sorsogon to conduct assessment of the extent of damages brought by various calamities that hit the province, and identify what assistance can be extended to heavily affected areas.

These organizations were the Action Against Hunger (globally known as Action Contre la Faim or ACF International) – Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (ACF-AECID), an organization that develops a comprehensive strategy to put an end to hunger in countries directly affected by war and calamities; and the World Food Programme (WFP), the food aide branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization also addressing hunger worldwide.

Jose Lopez, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (PDRMO) said that representatives of ACF-AECID visited Juban town specifically Barangay Binanuahan to personally see the affected community and find out what assistance can be offered to them by their organization.

Binanuahan is the hardly flooded barangay in the province which records thousands of evacuees every time torrential rains occur.

Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPDMO) Executive Director Sally A. Lee in an interview with the “Sa Kapitolyo Week-end Report” radio program on Saturday said that the World Food Programme has immediately coordinated with her following the requested assistance from them by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Lee said that the WFP’s program is currently focused on the condition of lives and livelihood of families affected not only by the recent flooding but also by the restiveness of Mt. Bulusan.

“They said they are more than willing to give help particularly food assistance to affected residents especially in Juban and Magallanes towns as recommended by the DSWD,” she added.

Juban was declared under the state of calamity on January 10, this year, as it was at all times affected by lahar flows since Mt. Bulusan’s activities since November last year and was likewise heavily flooded due to torrential rains the past weeks.

Magallanes town, on the other hand, was identified because of its high vulnerability to landslides.

Both organizations assured affected LGUs that they will provide assistance to the flooded residents based from the result of their assessment. (PIA Sorsogon)

DepEd declares January 29 as ‘Early Registration Day’

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) has set January 29, 2011 as early registration day in public schools to ensure that all school-aged children are enrolled for school year 2011-2012 and achieve universal participation in basic education.

According to DepEd Bicol regional office here, the agency’s Department Order No. 2, the early registration targets all five-year old to be enrolled in kindergarten and all six year-old in Grade 1.

The DO 2 provides that early registration is also mandated in public secondary schools to guarantee the enrolment of incoming first year students in their preferred high school.

With early registration, the department will also have enough time to come up with education interventions and prevent students from dropping out of school, the order stated, the directive stated.

It further cited that the early registration has a special emphasis on Kindergarten because DepEd wants to ensure that every child gets all the support needed to create a head start in education.

As the Order requires, children who are born on October 31, 2006 or earlier shall be eligible for early enrolment in Kindergarten. Those who are born on October 31, 2005 or earlier, with or without Kindergarten experience, shall be eligible for early enrolment. The birth certificate of the child shall be the documentary basis. This document can be submitted either in June or within the school year.

Students who are not presently enrolled in Grade Six but have completed this grade level and who want to be enrolled in first Year High School shall present their Grade six card to the teacher-in-charge of the registration.

The directive stressed that if the report card is not available, a signed Certification Report by the parent/guardian could be presented.

While high school principals and staff shall work with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons to locate elementary graduates who have not enrolled in high school or those who dropped out from first year high school and make sure they register early so that appropriate program interventions could be planned. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)

Rep. Gonzales II assists anew Bato town, home of wife’s family
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – House of Representatives Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II of Mandaluyong personally attended the ground-breaking of the P12.5 million multi-purpose building in Bato, Catanduanes, the hometown of the congressman’s wife.

Funds for the structure which will be erected at the public school Bato Rural Development High School was obtained through the efforts of Representative Gonzales.

Said ground-breaking that marks the construction of the building was attended in full force by Catanduanes officials. Joining Representative Gonzales, aside from his wife, were co-member of Congress, Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, Gov. Joseph Cua, Vice Governor Jose Teves, Jr., Bato Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez and Department of Education Division Superintendent Artemio Rivera, among others.

In an interview via PIA Bikol’s radio program Ugnayan sa |Bicol, Thursday, January 13, Representative Gonzales said that his assistance to Bato town is mainly because his wife is from the place.

“Pinalad po tayo na makpangasawa mula sa baying ito, kaya ako po ay naririto,” Gonzales said.

He added that there is no political stance as he is not planning to run for a post in the Senate come election time.

Other than the ground-breaking rites, the congressman donated a sound system, who according to him is similar to those he is distributing in Mandaluyong and five computers for use of the local government unit amounting to P250,000.

In past year, Gonzales donated a fire truck and a patrol car for the town which he said cost some P750,000.

Representative Gonzales also promised Bato townsfolk that he will look for funding for a ten-classroom building badly needed by the BRDHS. (PIA V/Albay)

DOH Cam Sur speeds up distribution of Philhealth cards
By Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, (PIA) -- In compliance to the directive of President Benigno Aquino III to buoy up programs that will alleviate poverty, the Department of Health (DOH) here, together with PhilHealth personnel has dispatched its members in various municipalities in Camarines Sur to speed up the distribution of PhilHealth Cards to eligible beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program otherwise known as 4Ps Program.

4Ps is a poverty reduction program of the national government covering the poor sector of the society.
It principally aims to provide conditional cash grants to its recipients. The amount will be used to augment the beneficiaries’ immediate needs on health, nutrition and education, specifically children whose ages range from 0 to 14. The program also seeks to break the intergenerational poverty cycle by investing in human capital.

Here in Camarines Sur, there is a total of 24, 653 recipients selected thru the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD.

As of January 2011, , DOH has already distributed a total of 5, 142 cards to recipients coming from the municipalities of Cabusao, Libmanan, Goa, Buhi and Calabanga.

Scheduled for Philhealth card distribution for the last quarter of this month are the municipalities of Tigaon, Balatan, San Jose and Siruma.

Dr. Arnulfo Carandang, DOH Medical Specialist IV and currently the Team Head of the PhilHealth Task Force said that he has already assigned various teams to simultaneously work on the distribution.

“ We are fast tracking the coordination and subsequently the distribution of PhilHealth Cards to our target beneficiaries and hopefully we can cover all of them before the end of February. We have already scheduled the towns of San Jose, Baao, Bula,Tinambac, Ragay, Bato , Del Gallego and the rest of the municipalities for the upcoming weeks. “

Under the sponsored program, registered families will be given cards valid for one year. Each beneficiary will receive Php 1,400.00 per month to cover the health and education needs of their children.
Compliance to the guidelines issued by DSWD is a must for the family to continue receiving the said cash grant for the next five years.

Compliance of the said program is also in line with the country’s commitment to meet the Millenium Development Goal (MDG) specifically in eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health. (PIA Camarines Sur)

Provincial rabies control committee reorganized

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA)- The Provincial Rabies Control Committee (PRCC) was reorganized recently pursuant to Memorandum of Agreement signed by the different department Secretaries concerned and representatives from non-govenrment organizations; and in effort to prevent and control Rabies in the province of Catanduanes.

The PRCC shall be composed of the following:

Chairman: Hon. Joseph C. Cua- Provincial Governor’s Office
Co Chairman: Dr. Jane C. Rubio – Provincial Veterinary’s Office
Dr. Lubella M. Sanchez- Provincial Health Office.

Members:
Dr. Artemio Q. Rivera- Department of Education
Atty. Arnaldo E. Escober Jr. – Department of Interior and Local Government
Pol. Sr. Supt. Lito B. Pitallano- Philippine National police
Ms. Edna A. Bagadiong- Philippine Information Agency
Hon. Wilfredo P. Snatelices- SP, Committee, Chairman on Health SP
Hon. Nel B. Asanza- SP, Committee, Chairman on Agriculture SP
Hon. Gregorio E. Angeles- SP, Ex. Officio Liga ng Barangay
Dr. Asuncion V. Astere- Catanduanes State Colleges
Mr. Benjamin J. Medel- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources
Engr. Fernan A. Gianan- Catanduanes Press Radio Club
Dr. Danilo Silva- Rotary Club of Virac
Ms. Soledad S. Eugenio- PHT, Department of Health
Mr. Edgar V. Ollet- Department of Agriculture
Ms. Zeny S. Vargas- People’s Organization
Ms. Arlene O. Bagadiong- Radyo ng Bayan

The PRCC shall exercise the following function to wit: provide a forum for inter-agency coordination on rabies control and prevention program, to provide mechanism for linkages with the different Rabies Control Consultative Committees;

to provide a medium of involvement of all Local Government Units in the control of rabies in the province, to collate, consolidate and submit all necessary reports as required by higher authorities and to perform such other functions as may be necessary in the prevention and control of rabies in the whole province. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)

Aquino assures GOCC dividends will be given back to the people
MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III assured on Friday (Jan. 28) that the P29.25 billion dividends and other remittances turned over by 19 government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) will be given back to the people in the form of social services, including anti-poverty programs.

“As you can see, we are working overtime to bolster our abilities to give back to the Filipino people what they have given us, the President said. “Uulitin ko po: Sila ang boss natin. We will do this, not only because this is what we are mandated to do, but more importantly, because this is the right thing to do.”

In his message at the ceremonial turnover of GOCCs check dividends and remittances at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang, the Chief Executive said dividends and other remittances from GOCCs will allow the government to frontload its expenditures and speed up the implementation of anti-poverty programs, among others.

He reminded the GOCCs that the money belongs to the Filipino people, who he said are the government’s shareholders, and not to the Board of Directors of GOCCs nor to officials of his administration

“The people are our shareholders. It is their interest that we have been tasked to protect. We give them what they own, and we give them the government they rightfully deserve: one that works for the public interest. It is in their trust that we hold our respective offices. Sila ang boss ko. Sila ang boss ninyo. We must always remember that,” he said.

Stressing that good governance is the cornerstone of his administration, the President said he is working on achieving a transparent and accountable government, worthy of the people’s trust thus the need to undertake reforms to enhance the ability of GOCCs to act as stewards of the people’s resources.

These reforms, according to the President, will be implemented with the help of Congress.

He noted that GOCCs have weak board governance, lack of transparency and disclosure practices, poor oversight and multiple and conflicting mandates.

Early on in his administration, the President, having discovered that GOCC board of directors receive exorbitant allowances, issued Executive Order No. 7 directing the rationalization of the compensation and position classification system in GOCCs and Government Financial Institutions.

“GOCCs will no longer be milking cows for politicians and their wards,” he said, adding that competent CEOs and Directors were chosen and they are expected to deliver improved services and finances in the GOCCs.”

The President said GOCC directors will soon be required to sign a performance contract with the Office of the President and their supervising secretaries so there will be basis to remove non-performing board members.

Moreover, the Department of Finance is developing an IT-based reporting system that will require full disclosure of several aspects of GOCC operations so the public will have access to the financial and operational results, renumeration policies, related party transactions, governance structures and policies, among others.

“Make no mistake about it: our positions are not our privilege, but an obligation placed by the people upon us. We promised to do, not only everything we can, but that we do it with honesty and with only the people’s welfare in mind. We pledged to serve them with commitment to professionalism and integrity, and they expect no less than this. We must not fail them,” he said.

A thorough review of GOCCs will be conducted during the first quarter of this year with the Department of Finance convening a strategic planning workshop with key GOCCs to strengthen coordination, and improve the oversight capabilities of the Government, and to draft a roadmap for the entire system of GOCCs.

The President added that in line with government’s zero-based budgeting, the continued operation of a GOCC has to be justified once the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, introduced by Senator Drilon, has been enacted into law.

“The time for patronage is over; now is the age of professionalism, meritocracy, and government institutions that are committed to the people… We will leave a country less poor, easier to invest in, and where people trust their government and all of its entities to work for their interests,” the President added. (PIA V Release)
Aquino offers P1 million for arrest of bus bombers
MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III has offered P1 million for the arrest of the perpetrators of the Jan. 25 bus blast that killed 5 passengers and wounded 13 others on EDSA in Makati City.

In an ambush interview in Malacañang after the ceremonial turnover of dividends from the Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC), the President said the reward will be increased if necessary to show government resolve to solve the case.

He said his decision to put up a bounty was made during a meeting with various intelligence services Thursday afternoon. He added that the money will be sourced from the Office of the President contingency and intelligence fund.

During the security cluster meeting, he ordered a review of all plans, travel advisories and potential threats to make sure that every detail of the potential area of concern would not be missed.

The President said the security cluster approved the maximization of security guards, barangay tanod, barangay chairmen and other community-based peace and order personnel in helping and coordinating with the Philippine National Police.

These community-based personnel he said will be tapped to provide a monitoring arm for the government in its fight against terrorists.

GOCCs turn over P29.25 B in remittances
MANILA — A total of P29.25 billion were remitted by 19 government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to the national government (NG) on Friday (Jan. 28).

The checks, representing prior year dividends, the balance of the 2009 cash dividends following the completion of the Commission on Audit reports, and 2010 partial dividends pursuant to President Benigno S. Aquino III in ceremonies held at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas topped the list with a total of P14.23 billion in remittances representing prior year dividends of P9.31 billion and the balance of 2009 cash dividends of P4.92 billion.

The Land Bank of the Philippines remitted P4 billion representing the balance of 2009 dividends and partial dividends of 2010.

The Development Bank of the Philippines, turned over P2.8 billion while the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. handed P2 billion representing payments for guarantee fees due and other payables.

The Bases Conversion Development Authority turned in P1.8 billion representing the government’s share in the sale of assets, and the Manila International Airport remitted P1.49 billion, representing P1.21 billion dividends and P292 million representing government share.

The other GOCCs that turned over their dividends included the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (P2 million); National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (P3 million); National Electrification Administration ((P14.5 million); Cebu Ports Authority (P40 million); National Development Company (P49.4 million); Clark Development Corporation (P100 million); Philippine Leisure and Retirement Authority (P140.6 million); Trade Investment and Development Corporation (P150 million); Philippine Economic Zone Authority (P221 million);

Philippine National Oil Company (P452.9 million); Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (P500 million); Philippine Reclamation Authority (P335 million); and Philippine Ports Authority (P650 million).

“This is a good start for the government but I believe this can be further improved,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, in a press briefing in Malacanang, said.

He added that beginning this year, GOCCs will give their performance report to the President every January. This is similar to a stockholders meeting in private corporations.

He added that a good governance agenda for GOCCs will soon be implemented to further improve their performances and be at par with private companies.

He noted that GOCCs hold a total of $141 billion in government assets while equity amount to more than $41 billion or more than P6 trillion.

According to the records from the Commission on Audit (COA), there are 89 existing GOCCS.
Under the Dividends Law of 1994, GOCCs and GFIs are required to remit to the national government half of the income earned in each fiscal year. The remittance should be in the form of cash or in unencumbered or real estate properties with clean titles. (PIA V Release)
GOCC governance act among gov’t priority bills
MANILA — Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima on Friday (Jan. 28) said the Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC)Governance Act of 2011, a bill that will reform the structure and operations of GOCCs, is among the priority bills the Aquino Administration will ask Congress to pass.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Purisima said the Aquino Administration wants to imitate Singapore 's and Malaysia's utilization of their GOCCs in the creation of opportunities for the people.

Senator Franklin Drilon, principal author of Senate Bill 2640 or the proposed GOCC Governance Act of 2011, said that there is a need for much-needed reforms in the government corporate sector to make it an effective vehicle in achieving social and economic progress.

“The days when the GOCC boards can act independently of the national government are over. We are confident that once this bill becomes a law, the excesses and abuses we saw in the operation of the GOCCs will be a thing of the past," Drilon said.

The bill proposes the creation of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) whose main task will be to conduct regular assessments and evaluations of the state firm's performance.

The GCG will also recommend to the President whether a GOCC should be reorganized, merged, streamlined, abolished or privatized.

The GCG will develop a new compensation and position classification system for all officers and employees of the GOCC. It will put a limit on the compensation of directors who had enjoyed excessive bonuses in the past, he added.

The bill makes it clear that directors are not entitled to compensation as directors but may be entitled to reasonable per diems only and emphasizes that directors are not entitled to retirement pay as seen in other GOCCs.

The GCG will also review the qualifications of individuals appointed as directors or elected as chief executive officer of the GOCC and disqualify those found unfit. (PIA V Release)
Ochoa: Gov’t coordinating efforts in the war against terror

MANILA — Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Thursday (Jan. 28) assured that the government was doing every effort to keep the public safe and urged the people to do their share by staying vigilant.

“While we are seriously concerned about the bombing, which definitely by design or not is terrifying, the Philippine National Police together with other agencies concerned like the intelligence community and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are already on top of the situation as they have been in the past,” Ochoa said.

“Rest assured that these will be resolved with reasonable dispatch and expediency. No cause for panic. Our citizens should be more vigilant though in assisting in every way the government in these efforts,” Ochoa added.

Ochoa said the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), which he chairs, had been updating policies since the Aquino Administration took over last year to better address the current terror threats, as well as the historical facts that prompted these activities.

The Executive Secretary also disclosed that he had started the reorganization and reengineering of ATC offices to conform to a program-based approach and enhance the performance of the agency’s mandate under the Human Security Act.

Under the new setup, ATC will be managed by a program management center headed by an executive director, whose primary task is to focus on “enhanced intelligence fusion, target hardening and consequence management,” Ochoa said.

The council will have a lean structure and will be composed of key program offices, where specific government agencies shall coordinate all government efforts in the war against terror, he said. (PIA V Release)