DPWH TO IMPLEMENT P2.9 B IN PUMP PRIMING PROJECTS IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY — To help stimulate the economy and generate more jobs in the countryside and mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now implementing some P2.9 billion worth pump-priming projects in Bicol for this year.

Orlando Roces, DPWH Bicol regional director, said that the amount will be used to fund some 87 projects in the six provinces of Bicol in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s P330 billion pump priming program for 2009.

He said the projects include road opening, road concreting, flood control structures, construction of new school buildings, and repair of roads and bridges.

He said initially some 360 workers have been hired since the launching of the job generation program of the DPWH two weeks ago.

Roces said a total of 742 applied for the jobs under the “Programang Pangtrabaho ni Pangulong Arroyo” job generation program of the government being handled by the agency.

Roces said the initial holding of the one-day jobs fair resulted in th eimmediate hiring of 360 workers by participating contractors who are undertaking pump priming infrastructure projects of the DPWH in the region.

He explained the role of DPWH is to match the available jobs with the skills of the applicants before they are recommended for hiring by participating contractors.

Roces said that similar jobs fair will also be conducted in the coming months to be able to hire more workers who were earlier retrenched by their previous employers.

He added that the jobs fair is being undertaken in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the National Constructors Association and the Philippine Constructors Association, Inc.(EDLeon, PIA V Release)


SMALLEST LIVING “BUTANDING” SIGHTED IN SORSOGON

LEGAZPI CITY — Environment activists rescued what they believe might be the smallest living offspring of the world’s biggest fish— a whaleshark (rhincodon typus) the size of a forearm.

The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature said maritime officials, along with the environment activists in Pilar, Sorsogon, a town in the eastern Philippines, rescued the 15-inch (38 centimeter) – long believed to be a newborn whale shark last week and released it in deep waters.

It’s tail was tied to small rope on a beach when the rescuers discovered the creature.

The group called it “arguably the smallest living whale shark in recorded history”

WWF said the discovery is the first ever indication that these parts of Sorsogon coastlines, which includes Donsol town known as the whale shark capital of the world, may really be their birthing ground

The group has encountered very few baby whale sharks and can only compare the size of its new discovery to embryos found in a dead female shark in 1996 – which measured 14.6 to 18.9 inches (37 to 48 centimeters), according to Elson Aca, project manager for the WWF whale shark tracking project.

The gentle creatures, which can grow to be as big as a bus, make regular stops along the Philippines’ eastern shores from December to May , attracting thousands of tourists. But little is known about where they breed as they cruise the world seas.(MALoterte, PIA V Release)


23 WORKERS RETAIN JOBS IN CATANDUANES

Catanduanes Province — They were hot-tempered, they were losing hope, and they may lose their jobs anytime. The tension between the workers and the management was mounting… This was the scenario DOLE Provincial Office chief Emma Acuna came upon at the Virac Eastern Hardware.

“Akala ko po sasalubungin ko ang taon ng wala akong trabaho. Hindi ko na nga alam kung anong gagawin ko..Salamat dumating ang mga taga DOLE…” shared by a worker requested anonymity.

Acuna related 23 employees of said establishment in Virac town here feared losing their jobs when the management submitted a retrenchment report to DOLE provincial office here last January 2009.

The retrenchment, management said, was due to the drastic slump of its business which, allegedly, is caused by the global economic recession.

“Business was down and continuous operation will pull down the establishment to deeper trouble. He wanted to terminate the employees in order to save.” she explained.

Following the retrenchment report, Acuna conducted an investigation and pushed for a dialogue between the workers and the management.

Initial findings prompted DOLE Catanduanes quick response team (QRT) to pursue an aggressive lobbying for the retention of the employees.

“Actually we became like an adviser to them just to save the employees,” she related.

Through the QRT, the management was provided with several options such as reduction of working hours, job rotation and reduction of working days to accommodate the employees and avoid termination.

“Within a couple of weeks, the management has decided to adopt a job rotation scheme wherein each of the the 23 employees were given a 3-4-day work schedule. Our efforts paid off. No one was laid of,”” she noted.

Earlier, DOLE Bicol regional director Ernesto C. Bihis directed all field offices to ensure and adopt all means necessary during QRT interventions to save jobs, adding that the main objective, in this time of crisis, is to safeguard employment and facilitate generation of more jobs.

“I commend DOLE Catanduanes for a job well done. Their effort means that 23 families would have food on their plates in the coming days. We are pushing for maximum tolerance on rotation and reduction of work hours just to save jobs” Bihis commented.(RPEscalante, DOLE Bicol/PIA)


TABACO CITY GETS P300,00 FOR EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

TABACO CITY - The city government here received a P300,000 grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol for the implementation of the government’s emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para Sa Ating Disadvantage Workers (TUPAD) program.

DOLE Bicol regional director Ernesto C. Bihis turned-over the check to Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro during the flag ceremony at the Tabaco City Hall last Monday (March 9).

The grant will be utilized to pay the wages of some 51 workers from the informal sector affected by the global financial crisis. Workers who will qualify will earn a minimum wage of P260.00 per day for a one (1) month work schedule.

The work program focuses on the rehabilitation of the Tabaco River which includes riverside clean and green maintenance, dredging, some street sweeping and some paint jobs.

“Mayor Krisel has lined up the work activities to be done by the workers on this emergency employment. We hope that we could at least supplement the needs of the affected workers through this program” Bihis explained.

It can be recalled that the TUPAD program of DOLE was launched late February to specifically address the aftermaths of the global challenges. The aim is to provide immediate job placement to affected workers in the area. “

We plan to implement all TUPAD programs within the 1st quarter. Even though Bicol is not so much affected by the GC, still we have workers who were affected which needs immediate job.” Bihis explained.

Since January, DOLE-Bicol has already released a total of P 2.4M for emergency employment. “We will be releasing more this month.” Bihis stressed.(RPEscalante, DOLE Bicol/PIA)


DAET HOLDS CHARACTER FIRST YOUTH LEADERSHIP SEMINAR

DAET, Camarines Norte – The municipal government here, under the leadership of Mayor Tito Sarion, opens today the Character First Youth Leadership Seminar at Daet Kalinangan Center with the youth sector convening to hone their leadership skills and pursue the advancement and welfare of the young generation.

Sarion said the 3-day, March 13-15, event to exploit the potentials, knowledge and skills on leadership of the young citizenry in this town and enhance good values among them by introducing the Character First Program of the local government.

Among the thrusts of the municipal government which will be discussed during the seminar include Daet on the Go: Direction of Governance, Go Green! Go for the Real Thing!, Community Service: Interpersonal Communication, Values Formation: You were Made for a Mission, Alternative Medicine, Good Governance: Using What God Gave You, The Youth Situation in the Country Today, Strengthening Drug Prevention Program, Youth Security Awareness, Youth Entrepreneurship and The BIDA Program in Daet.
Highlight of the activity is the awarding of the outstanding youth organization of Daet.

Invited resource speakers with great influence in the community will enlighten the youth participants are Speakers includes Commisioner Precilla Marie Abante the National Youth Commission-Commissioner at large, Usec. Edgar C. Galvante of Dangerous Drugs Board, Ms. Juliet Fortuna of A teacher Partylist, Mr. Allen Reondanga of Naga City Mayor’s Office, Mr. Benedict Ella of Nestle Philippines and the President of IMDM Ms. Corazon Tecson Jimenez.

Coinciding with the occasion is the launching of Daet Eco-Savers Movement (Adapting the Marikina Experience) as well as the turn-over and acceptance of Eco-Savers paraphernalia with the City Mayor of Marikina, Marides C. Fernando.(RCYu, LGU Daet/PIA)


KALAHI-CIDSS IS CORRUPTION FREE — BASMAYOR
By: Christian Martinez

MINALABAC, Camarines, Sur — Pre-school children in colorful dresses waved yellow and white banderitas to welcome guests for the inauguration of two sub-projects in barangay Sagrada Familia here.

Barangay residents, who live some 303 kilometers southeast of Manila, also joined the festive celebration to formally open the Day Care Center and farm-to-market-road (FMR) sub-projects constructed through the KALAHI-CIDSS “has made a difference” in his municipality.

KALAHI-CIDSS, the national government’s poverty alleviation program implemented by DSWD started in Minalabac January of 2006. The World Bank-assisted project has funded subprojects ranging from health station to sea wall in 13 of its 25 barangays.

Mayor Basmayor said communities in his town “learned the transparencies of finances,” people were kept informed about how much money was used and what items were purchased.

“There exists no corruption (in KALAHI-CIDSS),” he testified.

Commitment to CDD

The mayor who received a Special Leadership Award for Local Chief Executives in the recent Gawad KALAHI-CIDSS also declared that he was determined “to sustain and adopt the Community-Driven Development (CDD)” of the project.

DSWD Bicol regional director Remia Tapispisan who attended the opening of the subprojects congratulated the barangay for “working together to complete and implement community subprojects under the KALAHI-CIDSS”

She also told the barangay that she hoped they will “continue to show their support and cooperation” in the last full year of the project.

Hungry for Projects

According to Sagrad Familia punong barangay Ceasar Frunguso, before KALAHI-CIDDS’s entry, they were “hungry for projects from the national government.”

Although “unsure” of how the Project would turn our, people “found” themselves involved in discussing their needs and making plans for the community,” he said.

“During the first cycle, this barangay proposed a FMR because the existing roads were muddy and narrow,” he narrated.

“On the second cycle, the community proposed for a Day Care Center. Children were losing interest to learn because the poorly ventilated bodega near the plaza that served as temporary center was not conducive for learning,” he added.

Showing their joy and appreciation, the Day Care’s pupils danced to a novelty song and were all smiles and motivated to go to the center.(DSWD V/PIA)


PALACE ASSURES OMBUDSMAN PROBE ON ALLEGED SEC BRIBERY CASE WILL NOT BE IMPEDED

MANILA — Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Ombudsman will be able to investigate Securities and Exchange Commissioner Jesus Martinez despite of his retirement from the service.

Aside from criminal and administrative liabilities, Ermita said Martinez stand to lose his retirement benefits and be disqualified from occupying any public office if the Ombudsman probe proves him guilty of charges.

Martinez has been accused of allegedly accepting bribes from the Legacy group.

In a press conference yesterday, SEC Chair Fe Barin guaranteed the commission’s full cooperation to all investigating bodies looking into the Martinez case.

The Department of Justice has already organized a panel tasked to probe Martinez ’ alleged fraudulent involvement with Legacy.(PIA V Release)


MALACANANG HONORS 2008 TOP CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo feted yesterday (March 12) five local government units for making their areas fit for children.

The Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities were held today at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang Palace .

New Lucena of Iloilo took the lead in the 4th-6th Class Municipality category while San Mateo of Isabela was the champion among 1st – 3rd class municipalities.

Meanwhile, Makati was declared the child-friendliest among other highly urbanized cities, Naga among charted cities and Vigan among component cities.

Each winner received trophy and Php 300,000 award.

According to the Council for the Welfare of Children, the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities was encourages LGUs to create a ‘child-friendly’ environment by protecting the rights of children by ensuring their survival, protection, development and participation.

Meanwhile, the number of abandoned, orphaned and neglected children to be placed for legal adoption may increase in the coming months.

The President has signed into law Republic Act 9523 otherwise known as “An Act Requiring the certification of DSWD to Declare a Child Legally Available for Adoption” which reduces and simplifies procedures of declaration of abandonment cases by transferring this function to the DSWD.

Under the new law, DSWD shall process within 3 months all petitions for declaration of children legally free for adoption.(PIA V Release)

PALACE CONDEMNS ABU SAYYAF DEMAND OF P50 MILLION RANSOM FOR ICRC

WORKERSMANILA — Press Secretary Cerge Remonde today condemned as “arrogance of the highest order” the declaration of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group that there are only two ways the government could secure the release of three kidnapped workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): the payment of a P50-million ransom, and through a military rescue operation.

The first condition would presumably lead to the safe release of the kidnap victims even as Abu Sayyaf warned that any attempt to rescue the hostages was fraught with ``danger.``

In a radio interview yesterday, Remonde assailed the pronouncement of the bandit group, saying it has no place in a civilized society.

He also assured that the ``government is on top of the situation, and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the defense establishment under Secretary (Gilbert) Teodoro are doing their job.``

Remonde was commenting on today`s headline story of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the bandit group was demanding a P50-million ``cigarette money`` in exchange for the freedom of the ICRC workers.

Remonde stressed that the government is sticking to its policy of leaving it to the Local Crisis Management Committee to resolve the matter.

The local crisis management group knows best how to deal with the problem involving the three kidnap victims, he added.

The Abu Sayyaf`s hardline stand on the release of the ICRC workers was revealed by Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Abdul Sahim, chairman and secretary-general of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the PDI report said.

Mary Jean Lacaba, a Filipino; Eugenio Vagni, an Italian, and Andreas Notter, a Swiss, were abducted by armed men last Jan. 15.

The trio had just inspected a water supply facility at the Jolo provincial jail when the kidnappers pounced on them.

Remonde reported that the crisis committee is handling ``many developments` ` involving the kidnapping case, ``but we cannot reveal this in public right now . . . for the safety of the hostages and for national security reasons.``(PIA V Release)


PALACE MAINTAINS NO RANSOM POLICY VS ICRC ABDUCTORS

MANILA –- Malacanang on Thursday reaffirmed its no ransom policy in exchange for the release of the three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers abducted on January 15 by suspected Abu Sayyaf Group bandits in Sulu.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the government will stick to its policy of leaving the matter to the local crisis management committee.

“We stick to our policy. We are leaving this matter to our local crisis management committee which we feel is the body that knows best how to deal with this situation,” Remonde.

Media reports quoted Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema as saying the that ASG is demanding P50 million ransom for the release of the ICRC workers Mary Jean Lacaba, Eugenio Vagni and Andreas Notter.

Remonde said the act of the ASG "should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.”

The Press Secretary, however, assured that the government is on top of the situation as the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is doing its job.

In fact, he said, there are many developments that are being handled by the local crisis committee but “we cannot reveal this in public right now, for the safety of the hostages and for national security reasons.”

Earlier, the ICRC abductors had demanded the pullout of government troops in the area.(PIA V Release)


RP ELIGIBLE FOR LARGE SCALE GRANT — MCC

MANILA — The Philippines has been selected by the Washington-based Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors as among the countries eligible for a large-scale grant that can be used as additional source of capital for investment in economic development.

``Congratulations to the Philippine government for its demonstrated commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of its people,`` MCC Ambassador John Danilovich said in a statement.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the MCC statement reaffirms the Arroyo government`s commitment in reducing poverty and focus on making the economy grow.

``This grant is a seal of the government`s good housekeeping, `` Remonde added.

At present, the Philippines enjoys a threshold program status, which means it is only receiving smaller grants designed to help improve performance on specific indicators.

With a compact assistance status next year, the Philippines will be eligible for full assistance from the US-based MCC.

Remonde said the MCC chooses its beneficiaries based on the measure of good governance, the country`s investment on people and policies that encourage economic freedom.

"Being selected as one of the countries given this means a lot and we should all be happy about it. This will be an additional source of capital for investment in economic development, both in human and infrastructure," he said.

Countries selected as eligible for a large-scale grant (compact status) have the opportunity to submit a proposal for five-year program to reduce poverty.

The MCC, a firm that works with among the poorest countries in the world, said the Philippines will be given a compact status starting next year.(PIA V Release)

RP TO HOST EAST-ASIAN SEAS CONGRESS

MANILA -- The Philippines will be hosting in November the East Asian Seas Congress 2009.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo discussed the preparations for the country’s hosting of the congress with Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza yesterday (March 12) at the Music Room of the Palace.

The Congress, which is held every three years, expects some 1,000 participants “from within and outside the East Asian Seas Region.”

“This year’s congress will focus on sharing local implementation and good practices in Sustainable Development and Integrated Coastal Management in the coasts and oceans of the region,” according to the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), an office under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

PEMSEA, which has former Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla as regional program director, has been hosted by the Philippine Government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) over the last 15 years.

In the same meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, UNDP Resident Rep. Renaud Meyer, PEMSEA Chair Dr. Chua Thia-Eng, and PEMSEA chief technical officer Adrian Ross, and Lotilla.(PIA V Release)