“BARAKALAN SA DALAN” SHOWCASES OTOP IN SORSOGON

SORSOGON CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office and the Office of the City Mayor here will hold the Sorsogon Summer Trade Fair set on April 15-21, 2009 along the streets going to this city’s mini-port.

The trade fair is in line with the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), being implemented by the national government providing doable and fundable livelihood projects among the locals.

Dubbed as “Barakalan sa Dalan”, the trade fair promotes products from Sorsogon to the “balik-bayans” and the “bakasyunistas” who will visit the province this summer vacation.

DTI provincial director Leah Pagao said that homegrown Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from the different municipalities in the province were invited to showcase the best products they could offer.

“It will be an exhibit of finest products from participating MSMEs such as wearables, giftwares and decors, processed foods, souvenir items, home furnishings and fixtures, holiday decors and other agricultural products,” she said.

Manufactured and handcrafted goods to be exhibited are made of buri, abaca, anahaw, karagumoy, gajo, nipa and tingting, among others including materials that are indigenous in the locality.

One Town One Product (OTOP) will also showcase locally produced items and services of the different towns of Sorsogon.

“Barakalan sa Dalan” will serve as an effective marketing tool for our local MSMEs for aside from they will be able to get inquiries through the fair even without going out of the province to promote their respective products, the exposure it will give them to enhance their entrepreneurial and business skills would be more than enough,” Pagao said.

DTI identified around 25 handicraft producers and food processors, furthermore, targets a combined domestic sales of close to P2,500.00 and above. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


CNWD ALLOTS P180M FOR WATER SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

DAET, Camarines Norte — Some P180 million has been allotted by the Camarines Norte Water District (CNWD) for the Mampurog Surface Water Development Project (MSWDP) phase I and rehabilitation and expansion of other water facilities in the province of Camarines Norte.

CNWD general manager Ma. Antonia B.F. Boma said the funding will come from the World Bank (WB) through the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), noting that P15 million of which in the form of a grant while another P15 million has been approved as a loan which will be paid by the water district office for the period of 30 years without interest and amortization will commence 5 years after the loan has been released.

She added that the project will start this coming June 2009 and is expected to be completed within a year.

She also said the funds will not only be utilized for the Mampurog project but also for the rehabilitation and expansion of other water facilities in Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, San Vicente, Basud and the re-routing of Boroboro line in Labo.

She stressed that the Mampurog project will not only serve the host and nearby barangays but also other consumers covered by the CNWD service areas.

“The project will yield an additional 6,000 cubic meters per day to augment the 14, 617 cubic meters daily water supply sufficient enough to cater to the needs of the consumers,” she noted.

CNWD records show that consumers, comprised of residential and commercial establishments, consume at least 16,393 cubic meters daily.

Boma, meanwhile, stated that the local water utility provider is mulling to increase in water rates in 2014 by 38% both in residential and commercial and by 6% in 2016.

“This is due to stimulate conservation, full cost pricing, to meet operating, maintenance and capital requirements, repair and maintenance, contingency, water treatment, debt service, administration and personnel, other operating expenses and extension and improvement cost,” she said.

She noted that CNWD last increased its rates in 1999 compared to other water districts in the region which now have higher rates.

However, she said that there might be an increase even before 2014 if prices of power, fuel, and labor continue to rise as well as implications of the movement of foreign exchange.

She added that there will be a public hearing for the increase in water rates on April 14-17 in the town of Vinzons, Talisay, Mercedes, San Vicente, Labo, Daet and Basud. (RBManlangit PIA Cam. Norte)


ABOITIZ POWER CORP. TAKES OVER TIWI GEOTHERMAL POWER NEXT MONTH

ALBAY Province — The Aboitiz Power Corp., the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s in power generation and distribution, is close to taking over the Tiwi geothermal power facilities next month following its down payment of 40 percent or P8 billion from the company’s internally generated funds.

Located in the municipality of Tiwi, this province, the Tiwi geothermal power facilities and assets were previously owned by the government-run National Power Corporation. The power plant can generate up to 289 megawatts (mW) of power.

It can be recalled that the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has declared AP Renewables, Inc., the corporate vehicle the Aboitizes used to bid for the Tiwi-Makban geothermal power facilities, the new operator of the two power plants in Luzon.

PSALM, the government’s power privatization firm, disclosed that the AP Renewables, Inc. offered a bid of $446.888 million, higher than the $368.44 million bid of the Lopez-controlled Energy Development Corporation.

The Cebu-based Aboitizes said the Aboitiz Power Corp. has funds from the IPO and issued fixed rate notes last December sufficient for the 40 percent down payment.

Aboitiz Power Corp. was able to raise P3.8 billion from the issuance of fixed rate notes in December.

The down payment, which includes money from the company’s market debut and issuance of fixed rate notes, has also secured the power corporation to run the Makban facility—situated at the boundaries of Bay and Calauan towns in Laguna and Sto. Tomas, Batangas—with a capacity of 458.53 mWs.

The remaining 60 percent will be paid for a period of seven years.

The Tiwi-Makban power plants would be the first geothermal facility in the Aboitiz Group’s portfolio. (MALoterte, PIA V Release)


RICE HULL AS ALTERNATIVE COOKING FUEL

SORSOGON CITY — The increasing prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and the prohibition of cutting of woods for fuel use, prompted the City Agriculture Office here to promote the use of rice hull, a farm waste common in agricultural areas, as an alternative cooking fuel.

Ms. Adeline Detera, city agriculturist, said that the common problem confronting the locals here is the need for readily available, cheap and alternative to LPG for cooking.

She related that the use of rice hull promises a substantial savings for households since this alternative source of cooking fuel is practically free and available in agricultural areas like Sorsogon.

”Oftentimes, our common practice is to burn or throw rice hull or husks in the field and we do not bother to see its potential,” she added.

It can be noted that several articles in the national dailies have already featured the numerous usage of rice hull.

According to Alexis Belonio, inventor of rice husk stove and was featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a ton of rice hull can replace 23 11-kg cylinder of LPG and at least P8,000 savings in a year using this alternative fuel compared to LPG.

The city agriculturist also encourages residents here to use rice hull as fertilizer, either raw or charred.

Charcoaled rice hull can be used singly or can be mixed with other compounds to produce soil conditioner. The raw materials can also be utilized in making fiber cement boards.

“Decaying rice straws, on the other hand, is used in preserving soil nutrients. That is why, we discourage burning of rice straws because aside from it is not environment-friendly, it also reduces or removes the richness of the soil, reducing agricultural productivity,” Detera explained.

She also said that if converting rice hulls into energy be studied well and its by-products be processed further into valuable building materials, we can contribute to the zero-waste management campaign of both local and national government. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


BIR SETS GUIDELINES TO SPEED UP PROCESSING OF TAX RETURNS

LEGAZPI CITY — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 10 here has set the guidelines to speed up the processing of tax returns and provide convenience to the public this filing season.

Atty. Diosdado R. Mendoza, OIC regional director of BIR RN 10, stated that banking hours by Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) will be extended up to 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon to accept tax payments starting from April 1 until April 15, 2009.

He added that all AABs, such as LandBank, DBP, PNB, UCPB, Chinabank and Veterans Bank will be accepting tax payments even after the close of the extended banking hours of 5:00 o’clock from April 13 to April 15, 2009, provided that the taxpayers are already within the bank premises before the cut-off time.

He said out-of-district tax returns, meanwhile, can also be accommodated for filing without imposing penalties for filing in the wrong venue; and that two or more checks can be accepted for a single tax liability provided that the guidelines under existing revenue issuances are complied with.

The use of photocopied, electronic/computer-generated BIR Forms will be allowed in lieu of the officially-printed BIR forms provided they are originally filled-up and payments are machine-validated, the director noted.

For inquiries, clarifications and assistance, the public may call the BIR office at 821-7950; 820-3150 or 820-5817. (RMPalmiano, BIR/PIA)


PGMA THANKS MIDDLE EAST EMPLOYERS FOR 200,000 NEW GULF JOBS THIS YEAR

MANILA — Here’s good news for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

More than 200,000 new jobs are available in the face of the global economic crisis for the country’s expatriate workers this year in the Gulf Region.

This was announced during the first “Employment and Business Opportunities: The Middle East Forum” at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel in Dubai, UAE where the key players discussed, among others, how the Philippines can accelerate the filling up of this large share of job orders in the region within the year.

The President, upon hearing about the new employment opportunities awaiting expatriate workers, thanked the employers during her visit in Dubai for supporting the Philippine government in identifying employment and business opportunities amidst the global challenges.

“Thank you for your manifesto of support that will provide more than 200,000 new jobs aside from those already in the roster of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Maraming salamat sa inyo,” the President said.

The key players in the forum included employers, manpower providers, and officials of the Philippines and Gulf cooperating countries.

Among the big companies participating in the forum are Bechtel Company, Saudi Oger, Consolidated Contractors International Company, Mohmad Al-Mojil (MMG), Nesma, Al-Suweidi, AYTB, Atlantis Hotel under Kernzer International Management, and Daewoo Engineering and Construction.

Also joining the forum are associations of manpower agencies, namely, the Association for Professionalism of Overseas Employment (ASPROE), the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) and the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters (FAME).

The 200,141 new jobs in the Middle East in 2009 does not yet include substantial new work opportunities in Qatar.

These new Gulf region jobs are spread in the following countries: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), 107,525; Kuwait, 39,169; United Arab Emirates (UAE), 39,128; Libya and Algeria, 21,527; Oman, 11,356; and Bahrain, 3,446.

The new job orders include posts for professionals; administrative personnel; clerical workers; sales personnel; service workers in the hotel, restaurant, tourism and hospitality sectors; agricultural workers; and production process workers.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Libran Cabactulan said the demand for Filipino manpower in the region manifests the optimistic outlook in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf region which is known as the region of stability in the midst of the current financial crisis.

“The employers, employees and workers and the host and the labor- supplying countries like the Philippines, if we work together, we can contribute immensely to overcoming quickly this global economic slowdown,” Cabactulan said. (PIA V release)


PGMA: “OFW PAYBACK PROGRAM” RECIPROCATES EXPATRIATE EFFORTS

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated Sunday (April 12) that the government will not sit idly and do nothing to protect the welfare of the country’s expatriate workers in the midst of the global economic crisis.

Addressing the participants of the first Employment and Business Opportunities: The Middle East Forum at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel in Dubai, UAE, the President said it is now the Philippine government’s payback time for the modern-day heroes in this time of great economic uncertainty.

“The heroic efforts of the OFWs will not go unreciprocated,” the President said, adding that a program of full reciprocity is being carried out to help OFWs in host countries that are now being buffeted by the economic crisis.

The Chief Executive said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is taking the lead in carrying out the government’s payback program for the OFWs.

One of the components of the government’s full support for OFWs is helping returning OFWs find remunerative jobs.

For OFWs who want to cross over to other countries or companies that are in need of their skill and talent, the President said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is carrying out a marketing blitz to expand the market for expatriate workers.

The Chief Executive added that the government is taking the licensure examinations of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to selected international locations where large expatriate worker populations are present “so that they can prepare for higher paid and more secure employment.”

The President also took pride in the continued double-digit growth this year in the number of Filipino workers deployed abroad.

“The market for Filipino workers remains high and resilient,” she said.

While noting that there are some challenging spots, including Dubai, where some expatriates have lost their jobs, the President stressed that employment overseas is holding steady, with new jobs being created at the same time.

With the country’s expatriate workers becoming increasingly skilled and diversified in their fields, the President said bilateral discussions with other countries are expected to open up new employment opportunities abroad for Filipinos in a wide range of skilled sectors.

She said the world economy continues to challenge developed and developing nations alike, and this is the reason why she and other government officials traveled to Dubai to promote the interests of the country’s expatriate workers here.

The President also thanked the employers here for supporting the government in identifying employment and business opportunities amidst the global challenges. (PIA V release)


US$ 120-BILLION ASEAN EQUITY FUND HOPED TO BE LAUNCHED BY MAY – Remonde

MANILA — The US$120-billion ASEAN Equity Fund which members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will tap to help themselves tide over the global economic crisis is hoped to be launched by next month, according to Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

The Press Secretary -- who was one of the Cabinet members who accompanied President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Pattaya, Thailand for the suspended 14th ASEAN Summit and Other Related Summits – said the summit was nonetheless able to move the Equity Fund project “a step forward.”

“Medyo nag-step forward yung US $120-billion multi-lateral equity fund,” Remonde revealed over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan at past noon Sunday (April 12).

The Press Secretary -- who proceeded with the presidential party to Dubai -- said the ASEAN-Plus members managed to agree on how to raise the money for the fund, with the ten ASEAN member countries agreeing to contribute a total of $24 billion.

In his earlier statement, Remonde said the balance of $96 billion will be contributed by the ASEAN’s dialogue partners -- China, Japan and South Korea – with the latter committing to match the ASEAN contribution of $24 billion, while the $72-billion balance will be shared by Japan and China.

“Yung balance, mag-hahatian yung China and Japan; and, hopefully, the Equity Fund will finally be launched by May…” said Remonde.

The Press Secretary said the other “significant developments” in the ASEAN summits include the ASEAN leaders’ agreeing to create by 2015 the ASEAN Political Stability Community; and the members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives finally holding their initial meeting. (PIA V release)


PGMA TO CONTINUE PROVINCIAL VISITS DESPITE AIDES’ FATAL HOLY TUESDAY CHOPPER CRASH

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will continue with her regular governance activities in the Philippine countryside despite the unfortunate helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Palace aides and crew on Holy Tuesday (April 7).

In an overseas phone interview aired over Radyo ng Bayan’s “Pilipinas, Pilipinas” program Sunday afternoon (April 12), Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President “will continue working as hard as she used to” despite the tragedy that has brought a pall of gloom over Malacañang.

The victims of the helicopter crash in the mountainous hinterland boundary between Benguet and Ifugao in the Cordilleras belonged to the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the elite Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Later canceling her Ifugao trip at the insistence of her Cabinet, President Arroyo had first honored her late aides with an overnight vigil at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang last Thursday (April 9) before going abroad the following day (Friday, April 10) to attend the 14th ASEAN Summit and Other Related Summits in Pattaya, Thailand.

With the suspension of the summits following the declaration of a state of emergency in Pattaya, President Arroyo proceeded to Dubai a day ahead of schedule to attend several employment-generation activities, among them an important Jobs Summit.

Scheduled to return to the Philippines with her lean delegation early morning of Tuesday (April 14), the President is already set to traverse the Visayas immediately the following day (Wednesday, April 15).

The President’s inspection of the latest improvements in the country’s cross-country Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) sea transport system will first take her to the island of Leyte, particularly to Southern Leyte, and then on to Tacloban City.

The following day, Thursday (April 16), the President shall visit Naval in Biliran, Leyte; and then proceed north-westward to check on the RORO connection in the island province of Masbate. (PIA V Release)


MOODY’S POSITIVE OUTLOOK WILL KEEP INVERSTORS IN HIGH SPIRITS

MANILA — Moody’s positive outlook on the Philippines will bring in cheers to investors.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Astro del Castillo of Association of Security Analysts of the Philippines (ASAP) said the credit rating organization’s appreciation of the country’s sound financial fundamentals would boost investor confidence.

Castillo said the positive rating reflects confidence on the ability of the country to fulfill its obligations and on its capacity to spend as well.

Moody’s Investor Service maintained its positive outlook on the Philippines for keeping a strong position its external payments despite the global recession.

Moody’s attributed this strength to a good inflow of OFW remittances, a flexible exchange rate policy and a strong domestic financial system.

Meanwhile, Malacañang “felt wonderful and flattered “with the positive rating the country received from Moody’s

“This is a resounding praise for the President’s policies…we still have the confidence of the international community,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo,” the rating shall serve as inspiration (to government) to work even harder.” (PIA V Release)