ALBAY HAILED FOR “ZERO CASUALTY” DURING TYPHOON DANTE

LEGAZPI CITY— Despite having more flooding and landslides, triggered by tropical storm “Dante”, recorded all over the Bicol region, Albay was the only province that did not report any casualty mainly due to its preemptive evacuation system.

Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro, chair of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), cited Albay for its preparedness and readiness to disasters, adding to that the proactive measures the local disaster response and management office has been implementing to prevent casualties.

“Albay's disaster management operation is one of the best models on effective disaster management that enforces the preemptive evacuation scheme to attain zero casualty during natural calamities,” he said.

He said disaster operation involves identifying and moving out residents living in high risk areas similar to what happened in Magallanes town where 18 villagers were buried alive by landslides.

Albay Governor Jose Salceda stated that the province had "zero casualty" when “Dante” wreaked havoc in the Bicol region because local government leaders, from the city, municipal and down to the barangay levels, already evacuated residents in endangered areas.

Albay reported some 49,500 evacuees or 98 percent of the total in Bicol.

NDCC reported that "Dante" left a total 27 people dead, eight others missing, and more that P500 million damages combined on infrastructure, agriculture and fishery in Bicol region.

Mukami Kariuki, coordinator of the Local Government Program of the World Bank in the country, said that the Albay program and strategies should set an example to all local government units across the country, especially among areas prone to natural disasters.

“The provincial disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures carried out by Albay should be replicated in other parts of the region, which are perennially hit by typhoon or flooding and landslides,” she said.

During the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) meeting in Manila, Social Welfare Sec. Esperanza Cabral also hailed Albay province in carrying out proactive action ensuring the safety of the residents in times of disasters.

Galing Pook, Inc. director Eddie Dorotan said they were proven right in choosing Albay as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Governance Programs in the Search for Galing Pook 2008 for its innovative approaches in institutionalizing incentive mechanism to efficiently deliver services.

Albay created and institutionalizes the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Office (APSEMO), the first of its kind in the country to serve as the technical and administrative arm of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) due to the geographic and geologic location of the province highly vulnerable to various types of natural hazards like typhoons, flood, mud/debris flows, storm surges, tsunami, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. (MALoterte, PIA V)


OXFAM-GB DONATES EWS DEVICES TO SORSOGON

SORSOGON Province — The Oxfam-Great Britain will donate to the provincial government here a set of early warning system (EWS) equipment that will upgrade the capability the local disaster response team to provide fast services to the public, specially in times of natural calamities.

Gov. Sally Lee said “with the Oxfam-GB donations, we are optimistic that the different local government units (LGUs) would definitely become more ready and prepared in responding to natural disaster that may hit the province, much as in mitigating their adverse implications.

He added that the Oxfam-GB intervention can also be counted as a response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s recommendation to all LGUs to install and use rainfall measuring instruments and other community based-early warning systems in their areas.

Jose Lopez, officer-in-charge of the Oxfam-GB Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Project in the province, said that the donation includes ten units of rain gauges, one unit LCD, one unit laptop, an overhead projector, one unit portable generator and one unit of Global Positioning System (GPS).

He also said that Oxfam-GB country director Lan Mercado will turn-over the equipment to the provincial government, through its Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC),

He explained that the donation of hardwares is part of the Oxfam-GB’s interventions to the PDCC to strengthen the Provincial Readiness to Institutionalize and Mainstream Risk Reduction (PRIMRR), the province’s disaster response program,

PRIMRR is also implemented with the support of the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), through its Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO).

Lopez said the PRIMRR features mainly the setting up of a Disaster Management Office (DRMO), a permanent office in a local government unit that will manage and minimize the risks of disasters such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions and landslides, among others.

Oxfam-GB, meanwhile, has already identified barangays across the province with different categories of vulnerabilities for their pilot site.

Identified areas were the barangays of Cogon in Irosin town, which is highly vulnerable to volcanic eruptions and mudslides; Banuang Gurang in Donsol, being susceptible to flooding; and, Incarizan in Magallanes, which is prone to landslides.

Oxfam-GB is an international non-government organization that assists the provincial government here to lessen, if not put an end to, poverty and suffering brought about by various forms of disasters. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


AFP, ET AL HOLD OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR TYPHOON VICTIMS

CAMP SIMEON A OLA, Legazpi City — Residents of barangay Hubo in Magallanes, Sorsogon benefited from the medical and dental mission, relief distribution and engineering activities spearheaded by the 901st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.

The outreach program, dubbed “Operation Sagip Buhay; Serbisyong Kapatiran sa Sorsogon”, provided medical and dental services to some 188 patients, distributed 186 packs of relief goods to the residents of the said barangay, the worst hit area when tropical storm “Dante” wreaked havoc in the Bicol region.

The outreach program is also supported by the Provincial Government of Sorsogon, Municipal Government of Magallanes, Philippine National Police (PNP), Kabalikat, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol, ABS-CBN Bicol, Children World Aid Program Incorporated (CWAPI) and Bantay Bayan Foundation, Incorporated.

Army Captain Razaleigh G. Bansawan, public information officer of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said the inter-organizational humanitarian mission lend a hand to the less fortunate residents of barangay Hubo, especially to the victims of landslides killing at least 19 and displaced some 21 families.

He recalled that the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion Philippine Army was dispatched to the area taking the lead in the rescue operations to recover the missing and dead body of the victims and other survivors.

Magallanes Mayor Abelardo Arambulo, meanwhile, thanked the mission for providing immediate medical, relief , and engineering interventions to the victims in barangay Hubo.

“My appreciation and gratitude to the involved government agencies and non-government organizations for their concerted efforts in addressing the immediate concerns of residents in this part of his town,” he said.

Col. Marlou Salazar (GSC), commander of the Army’s 901st Inf. Brigade, said “the AFP’s outreach program in the area is part of its primary role as servant of the people as such the AFP will always respond to any types of disasters especially saving the life of the Filipino people”. (BARecebido/MALoterte, PIA Bicol)


DENR TO DISTRIBUTE MALUNGGAY SEEDLINGS

LEGAZPI CITY —Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol regional executive director Joselin Marcus Fragada has instructed his field officials in the provincial offices to distribute malunggay seedlings during the Independence Day celebration on June 12, 2009.

Fragada said that the malunggay seedling distribution project supports President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program to spur rural growth through job creation and food production to cushion the effects of the global economic meltdown and at the same time mitigating global warming and climate change.

Malunggay, scientifically known as Moringa Oleifera, is an important source of nutritional food. According to Mark Fritz, a writer of Los Angeles Times, every ounce of Moringa contains seven times the Vitamin C found in oranges, four times the Vitamin A of carrots, four times the iron of spinach, four times the calcium content of milk and three times the potassium of bananas.

Dr. Ann Hirsch, professor of Botany at University of California, Los Angles, U.S.A., reported that Moringa is packed with amino acids highly absorbable and crucial to good health.

“It has the full component of the essential amino acids that human beings need,” she said.

She pointed out that of the 20 different amino acids needed to build protein and utilized to grow, repair and maintain the human cells, only 12 types can be manufactured and synthesized by the body, while the other eight essential amino acids must come from a person’s diet, such as food derived from malunggay.

Experts agree that the long-term solution to malnutrition is to consume foods that are rich in essential nutrients often lacking in people’s diets. Modern scientific research proves that Moringa leaves are one of the richest sources of such nutrients.

There are other practical uses of Malunggay, one is the well-documented detoxifying effect on the human body, the ability of Moringais to purify water, attaching itself to harmful material and bacteria, and allowing them to be expelled as waste. The evidence points to the same process going on inside your body.

Other benefits from malunggay are as natural fertilizer, feeds and known to be effective in treating certain diseases and human illnesses. (AMContreras, DENR/PIA)


NYC INVITES YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR TAYO

NAGA CITY — The National Youth Commission (NYC) invites youth organizations to join the 7th Search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations.

The search is open to all groups (school-based, parish-based and community-based youth organizations) composed of at least 15 members who are 15-30 years old. The basis for judging is the project entry conducted by the organization that shows the efforts of the youth in contributing to the improvement of their community.

Interested youth groups should submit the following requirements in five copies: Accomplished Entry Form, List of Officers, Certification attesting to the existence and veracity of the information submitted, Application briefer and three-page project documentation.

A plaque of commendation and cash prize amounting to P50,000 awaits the winners. The deadline for submission of entry is on July 15, 2009. Join the search and be recognized.

Entry forms and the application briefer format are available for download through the TAYO Awards Foundation website (www.tayoawards.net) and the National Youth Commission website (www.youth.net.ph). For more information please contact the NYC Southern Luzon Area Office, 3rd Flr., Monzon Bldg., Elias Angeles corner Arana Sts., Naga City at telephone nos. (054) 811-5804/473-0435 and 09175800538.

Join the search and be recognized. Let your project be known, have the chance to win and the opportunity to encourage other youth groups to implement or continue their project that is helpful to our society. (NPDelfin, NYC/PIA)


LIVELIHOOD ROADSHOW HELD IN CAMARINES NORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here conducted the 2nd Provincial Livelihood Road Show for agrarian reform beneficiaries and displaced workers under the Comprehensive Livelihood Employment Program (CLEEP) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the wake of the present global economic crisis.

DTI provincial director Ernesto R. Pardo said that the recent road show was a follow through of the first one though held almost three year ago, with encouraging positive results.

He bared that the Dalandan Juice Processing Center and the Coffee Processing and Buying Station in Sta. Elena and San Lorenzo Ruiz towns, respectively, were the offshoots of the first staging of the livelihood road show.

The two establishments combined have generated an investment of almost P2 million and provided a direct and indirect employment opportunities for 37 individuals. Its combined sales for two years reached some P411,723.

In this year’s provincial road show, the participants were introduced to different livelihood opportunities, business concepts and ideas, and familiarization with the local financing requirements in establishing business..

Pardo said that the livelihood road show provided inputs and honed their skills in processing of food and non-food products, catering services, identifying risks and opportunities on off season vegetables, and microfinance programs of rural and cooperative banks.

The one-day caravan was made possible in cooperation with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Overseas Welfare and Welfare Association (OWWA). (RBManlangit, PIA Cam.Norte)


PGMA DEFINES HER DESIRED LEGACY FOR FILIPINOS

MANILA — What legacy would President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo want to leave behind for the country and the Filipino people when she bows out of office?

The President was asked this question during a media interview yesterday (May 12) at the brand new Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort in Lapu-Lapu City shortly before she addressed the “One Visayas Climate Change Summit” and the Cabinet meeting in the same venue.

Her answer: the continuity and completion of the many programs she has initiated in the economic and fiscal fronts.

The President also wants to see the continuation of what she has invested in the three E’s – education, economy and the environment.

In her inaugural address in 2004, the Chief Executive stressed that her principal responsibility was to keep the country on track and to focus on her vision of transforming the Philippines into a First World country in 20 years.

Her vision of a modern Philippines revolves around the components of free enterprise, modern agriculture, a social bias to balance the country’s economic development, and enhancing the rule of law and standards of governance.

It was apparently in accordance with this vision that her government focused on efforts to strengthen the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, strictly observed fiscal discipline, launched an aggressive campaign to re-engage with the world, and assiduously worked on the fulfillment of her ten-point agenda that puts premium on investing in the Filipino.

It may also be accordance with her governance orientation that she dared to sacrifice much of her political capital several times, making unpopular reform decisions that happily proved correct and beneficial for the long-term welfare of the Filipino people.

One indication of her success in economic governance is the country’s unprecedented record of 36 quarters of uninterrupted growth and a record-breaking 8 percent gross national product (GNP) growth in 2007. (PIA V Release)


RP IS OK THUS FAR, SAYS NEW YORK TIMES

MANILA — The Philippines, which lagged behind its more economically progressive neighbors in Asia in previous years, is now outperforming most of its East and Southeast Asian neighbors, and will continue to make headway at least for a couple more years.

This assessment appeared in the New York Times which cited the Philippines for its improved economic management amid the global crisis.

The article, written by Philip Bowring, said the Philippines’ expects a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 2 to 3 percent this year—a rate superior to its East Asian peers except China and Vietnam, and a sharp contrast to the negative growths elsewhere.

The Philippines registered an average growth rate of 4.5 percent in the past seven years.

The New York Times said the relatively strong performance this year of the Philippines will be due to its biggest long-term weakness—reliance on overseas workers’ remittances which account for 10 percent of GDP and the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings.

Though remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to weaken from $16 billion in 2008, the remittances have held up well thus far.

A second bright spot—in contrast with the woes of the Asian electronics manufacturing sectors — is in call centers and business process outsourcing (BPO) which should keep growing, albeit more slowly, it said.

Business outsourcing absorbs some educated labor but does little for the unskilled, the NYT article said.

Another boost will come from government spending in badly needed infrastructure, health and education which have been made possible by stabilizing fiscal position over several years that brought interest rates and the cost of debt servicing down, it added.

Even agriculture, long a drag on the economy, has been achieving steady growth of 3 percent a year with increased investment and higher prices, the NYT reported.

In his article, Bowring said the bottomline in the Philippines’ good economic performance is that it did not depend on export manufacturing, which, however, was also a weakness in that the country failed to use its abundant labor force.

Industry accounted for only 33 percent of output and has been declining for three decades. Philippine infrastructure is poor because of low budget revenues and the dominance of a few big groups in its commercial life has become a disincentive, the NYT report said.

It said that Philippine labor will continue to be sought overseas—particularly in East Asia, which is aging fast. The country may be able to build on gains in fiscal stability and balance of payments equilibrium.

Remittances will remain less vulnerable than manufactured exports to global developments, it said. (PIA V Release)


PGMA: WORST IS OVER FOR ECONOMY

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said yesterday (May 12) that the worst for the world economy is over, and the problem now is how to accelerate the recovery from the deep slump.

The President made her “light at the end of the tunnel” assessment of the economy during a one-on-one interview with a representative of the regional media before the Cabinet meeting held at the Imperial Palace Resort and Spa Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The worst is over but the problem now is how soon we can recover. My concern is to accelerate recovery,” she said.

The President said among her principal concerns is creating more jobs, especially for those affected by the economic recession.

At the Cabinet meeting, a report on the improving world economy was presented to the President. The report expressed optimism that the economies of the US and Europe would recover by 2010.

Japan is expected to climb out of the slump by the end of 2009, ahead of the US and Europe.

“Put together, while we are not affected, they (US, Europe, Japan recovery) do give signals for markets of our exports,” said Rolando Tupalan, deputy director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Tupalan pointed out that the Philippines is “seeing resilience in various industries and sectors,” adding that instead of contracting, remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) would most certainly grow as thousands of jobs for Filipinos are available in the Middle East.

The labor department has reported that there are 15,000 to 20,000 jobs available in Guam; 60,000 in Saudi Arabia and 20,000 in Qatar.

“Of the 6,695 who lost their jobs, this is offset by the volume of workers we dispatch daily,” Tupalan said.

He said remittances from OFWs for the year would be at least on the same level as 2008 at $16.4 billion.

He said inflation is subsiding and this augurs well for consumer spending for the remainder of the year.

Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed a rapid decline in inflation. The Aug. 2008 inflation rate of 12.4 has been steadily decreasing to only 4.8 in April 2009, the lowest in 16 months.

NEDA said inflation will continue to decline, averaging 3.5 percent for the whole year. This, in turn, will boost personal consumption which constitutes 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

In the Cabinet meeting, it was noted that stock markets around the world have manifested gradual recovery as the global economic crisis shows signs of abating.
The latest trading day data showed that the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 30.97 percent, the Nikkei 225 is up by 33.70 percent, and the FTSE 100 by 27.05 percent.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), following the global trend, was up 28.02 percent. (PIA V Release)


MALACANANG JOBS FAIR SET ON MAY 16

MANILA — Some 70 private corporations seeking new recruits will participate in the annual jobs fair organized by the Office of External Affairs (OEA-Office of the President) on Saturday, May 16, at the Mendiola Parking Lot inside Malacañang Complex in Manila.

Dubbed as Trabaho Fair 2009, the whole-day event is co-sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and is expected to gather thousands of jobseekers around Metro Manila and nearby provinces for local and overseas employment.

“What could be a better way to spur economic growth than to increase employment,” said OEA Chief of Operations, Undersecretary Danilo Consumido. “Although the Philippines remains outside the scope of the global recession, we are joining the private sector in fighting the effects of the global economic crisis by providing jobs to our people,” he added.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Public Employment Services Offices (PESO-Manila) will bring in selected employers to man their respective booths and process application papers during the event.

As added benefit, several government agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Statistics Office (NSO), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will also set-up their own kiosks with Internet access to process documentary requirements.

Other participating government agencies to the one-day jobs fair are the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)

On the other hand, apart from the PCCI member firms, private corporations joining the event include San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Nestle Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corporation and Zesto Corporation.

Trabaho Fair 2009 runs from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. (PIA V Release)


PGMA ORDERS TOUGHER ACTION VS. PRE-NEEED COMPANIES

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered yesterday (May 12) the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to take tougher action against erring pre-need companies.

The President issued the directive to SEC Chairperson Fe Barin during a Cabinet meeting held today at the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa IN Lapu-Lapu City.

“The President expressed her deep concern over the plight of plan holders especially those whose plans have been fully paid and matured,” Barin said in a handwritten note Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Conrado Limcaoco Jr. read in a media briefing.

“She directed the Cabinet members concerned and the SEC to exert their utmost and do everything that can be done within the bounds of the law to protect and assist plan holders,” Barin said.

Barin said the President ordered that “appropriate action, including criminal prosecution if warranted, be taken against erring firms.”

The President ordered the SEC to “determine, within the shortest time possible, the financial condition of the pre-need companies to ensure that those companies can meet their obligations as they fall due.” (PIA V Release)