DTI BICOL CLEEP ON STREAM

LEGAZPI CITY – The global financial crisis that has gripped most of the big economies in the world last year is now being felt in the country as indicated by massive lay offs of workers by companies which are either temporary or permanently closed.

Accordingly, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bicol regional director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco responded to the call of DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila to implement the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in the Bicol region.

Blanco said that as of April 2009, DTI-V has conducted 109 capability building trainings that benefited 5,273 clients/beneficiaries in the region, provided 50 business consultancy services that benefited 2,226 beneficiaries regionwide, and facilitated loans/grants in the amount of P25.34 million thru the loan windows of DTI, LGUs, DOLE, RuMEPP, and SB Corp. that benefited 2,819 clients across the region.

She added that about 10 per cent of the displaced workers in Bicol or 44 persons affected by the global financial crisis in the region, were provided emergency employment by DTI as follows: 31 price monitors; 4 CLEEP personnel augmentation, 7 financial analyst, and 2 CARP personnel.

She also said that with the launching of DTI’s Enhanced Price Monitoring Project to ensure safe, better quality and reasonably-priced products we also provide emergency employment to 31 workers as price monitors to conduct monitoring for six months from April 16 to October 16, 2009 region wide.

The hired workers will receive an average allowance of P1,019.00 per month for six months.

DTI Bicol also hired 7 workers for the financial analyst (FA) position as FAs.

Blanco explained that the workers will assist DTI regular staff and division/province where he/she will be assigned to and will focus on project identification and consultancy work, adding that each will receive P12,000/month plus P1,700/month as TEV for three months from May to July 2009.

For the personnel augmentation position, according to Blanco, DTI Bicol hired 4 workers who will prepare, evaluate and analyze project proposals, plans and programs under the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), noting that the hired workers will receive P9,000/month for three months from May to July 2009.

And finally, two positions for the DTI V Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), regional coordinator and DTI-CARP Provincial Officer were filled up.

She explained that the Senior CARP Staff will be in charge with the over-all supervision of the Department’s Small and Medium Industrial Technology Transfer Development Program (SMITTDP) under DTI-CARP, covering the six provinces of the Bicol region.

The Junior CARP Staff will prepare the provincial plans, targets and budget for programs, projects activities of the SMITTDP under DTI-CARP in the province where he/she is assigned and will receive P16,093/month plus P1,700 as TEV for two months from May to June 2009.

The total fund/budget allocated for the CLEEP in the Bicol region is P2.9 million. (ACBelleza, DTI-V/PIA)


IP PHILIPPINES OPENS LEGAZPI OFFICE

LEGAZPI CITY — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) has opened its fourth satellite office in this city as part of its continued effort to extend public outreach nationwide.

IP Philippines targets to open a total of five IPSOs until the end of 2009. Three IPSOs, including Cebu, Davao, and Angeles, have been established since the project kicked off in 2008.

IP Philippines Director General, Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. said that the intention for opening the satellite offices is to “encourage inventors, and entrepreneurs in the countryside to protect intellectual property (IP) creations by having them registered with IP Philippines”.

He added that by making its services accessible in the regions, IP Philippines can effectively harness the creative talents and innovative skills of IP generators.

He underscored that provincial businesses possess the capacity to become commercial successes and bring financial benefits to the country.

Provincial operations from August to December 2008 were positive, with 139 IP applications filed directly through the IPSOs.

IP Philippines also created a build-up of interest among small and medium enterprises and academic groups through the satellite offices’ intensive and business-focused programs and activities such as basic orientation seminars, consultative meetings, partnership and networking collaborations, and commercialization assistance programs.

Cristobal noted that in fact, a number of priority SMEs and industry groups have already forged partnerships with IP Philippines.

The establishment of satellite offices is aligned with IP Philippines’ three-year strategic plan which aims to accomplish the following goals: deliver quality and timely patents, deliver quality and timely trademarks, improve results-oriented technology transfer interventions, provide speedy and effective legal remedies, institutionalize copyright development and support services, and sustain dynamic leadership in the IP system.

IP Philippines promotes creativity and innovation through the country’s intellectual property system and grants patents and trademarks, supports the creative industries and advocates a vibrant IP culture. (PIA V Release)


DEPED WANTS LBC COMMERCIAL STOPPED

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) has already moved to stop the airing of “misleading” commercial advertisement in national television aired by a remittance company.

Dr. Amparo De Mata, chief of the Elementary Education Division of DepEd Bicol, stated in a radio interview at PIA Ugnayan sa Bikol that DepEd central office has already sent a formal letter to officials of the LBC as well as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to correct any misunderstanding or misinformation brought about by the airing of the said commercial.

She stressed that Education Department will ask LBC to review, consequently, terminate the airing of the firm to prevent confusion among school children.

Meanwhile, the provincial board of Catanduanes has also expressed its dismay and called the attention of DepEd to act on the ‘mistake’ of the advertisement.

The provincial board earlier passed a resolution calling on DepEd and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to order the correction or even the pull-out of the commercial ad which they said is not only “misleading” but also “improper.”

They warned that the ad sends the wrong message and might be misinterpreted by school children watching the ad being aired at TV stations.

De Mata thanked the board for its concern “as we are one with them in providing quality education to our children.”

She, however, stressed that DepEd is confident that teachers can handle the issue wrought by the commercial of LBC.

In the commercial, game show host, Edu Manzano, is shown asking a boy to spell the word “remittance”… and the boy answered “LBC.”

De Mata said “We assure the public that our teachers are well-trained and aware of how to handle this situation should it arise in the classrooms,”

Recently, a laundry soap company took the necessary correction after claiming in its commercial that one plus one equals three by stressing that this is only true when it comes to washing clothes using the laundry soap but not in addition or in mathematics. (MALoterte, PIA V)


MGB BICOL REPORTS ON “DANTE” AFTERMATH

LEGAZPI CITY — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office here has released the results of the investigation of the landslides in barangay Hubo in Magallanes, Sorsogon in the wake of tropical storm Dante that left 18 residents killed, destroyed several houses, school building, barangay hall, day care center, among others.

MGB Bicol regional director Reynulfo Juan said reports according to the bureau’s experts reveal that the continuous rains for four days spawned by tropical storm Dante caused the debris slump that occurred in the area around 2:30 a.m. on May 2.

Juan explained that the heavy rains saturated the soil with more than 300 millimeters of rainfall as shown by a rain gauge in Magallanes town triggering the debris slump.

Quoting from the same reports, he said that the landslides covered an area of approximately 200 meters wide and 25 meters deep, and the debris slump occurred in the Southern slope of a low hill facing barangay Hubo and slid 150 meters down slope carrying 75,000 cubic meters of silt and clay.

He said the bureau has already recommended to the Punong Barangay of Hubo and Magallanes Mayor Abelardo Arambulo to declare the areas surrounding the hill, where the landslide occurred, uninhabitable and to resettle the remaining threatened families.

It can be recalled that on November 4, 2006, the bureau warned the municipal government of Magallanes, through a written advisory, that the said barangay was already threatened by landslides. The warning was reiterated through the MENRO following a landslide that occurred on Februar 21, 2008

Furthermore, two barangay officials from the said barangay attended on October 15, 2008 the Capacity-Building Seminar on Geohazard Awareness and Disaster Preparedness spearheaded MGB Bicol in Magallanes where the specific hazards in the different barangays of the municipality were discussed.

The bureau also conducted rapid assessment on the effects of Typhoon Dante in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Results of the assessment showed barangays Gumapia, San Pedro, Buenavista, Gabao, Macawayan, Bagsangan and Tongdol in Irosin; San Vicente, Managa-naga, Aquino, Obrero and Somagongsong in Bulan; Sta. Cruz, Rizal, Burgos and Esecuala in Casiguran and Gadgadon in Matnog; Basud in Sorsogon City, all in the province of Sorsogon experienced heavy flooding.

Several barangays in Libon and Oas town in Albay; Baao, Nabua and Bato in Camarines Sur; Labo, Mercedes, San Vicente, Vinzons and Talisay in Camarines Norte were also affected by flooding.

Barangays Osiao in Bacon district, Sorsogon City and Lahong in Juban, Sorsogon; Nagotgot, Inang Maharang, Cawayan and Manumbalang in Manito, Morera in Guinobatan, Salvacion in Sto. Domingo and Ligñon Hill in Legazpi City, Maynonong in Tiwi, all in Albay; Sta. Rosa del Sur in Pasacao, San Isidro and Poblacion in Libmanan, Guijalo and Becalen in Caramoan and Maangas in Presentacion, all in Camarines Sur were affected by landslides.

In Catanduanes province, several landslides occurred mostly along road cuts making most of its central and northern municipalities inaccessible from Virac.
(LDValdez, MGB-V/PIA)


SORSOGON BHW CONVENTION HELD

SORSOGON Province — Some 2,663 barangay health workers from all over this province took part in the 17th Provincial Barangay Health Workers Convention last May 12 at the Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium in Sorsogon City.

The event, focusing on the theme “Samasama sa Maunlad na Pamayanan”, was organized to renew the participants’ commitment to their roles as safeguards of health in their respective areas, especially in the light of new concerns affecting the province, such as the swine flu virus.

It also served to strengthen the camaraderie of the various BHW associations, “whose involvement in implementing health services is crucial”, according to Gov. Sally A. Lee.

The BHW associations are called upon by the Provincial Health Office to perform extension services especially in pushing through its key programs such as the Botika sa Barangay.

“Without their involvement, it would be impossible for our constituents to avail of the health services due to our scarce resources and health personnel,” the governor added.
As a manifestation of her appreciation for their hard work and cooperation, the Provincial Government donated various prizes for the raffle draw which included a 21 inch television, DVD player, cell phone, and assorted home products. (MFDeniega, MAIB Sorsoon/PIA)

DOLE ANNOUNCES JOB VACANCIES FOR JUNE 12 JOBS FAIR

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol, in cooperation with all the regional offices of national government agencies, will be conducting an Mega Jobs Fair on June 12 at Embarcadero here, in time for the 111th Independence Day celebrations,.

The mega jobs fair will be open from 8 a.m. up to 5 p.m..

DOLE Bicol regional director Ernesto Bihis said thousands of job vacancies from government and private sectors will be posted.

“To avoid the rush, applicants may pre-register at nearest PESO office in their area starting May 19. Applicants should bring all credentials,” he said.

Activities highlighting the Philippine Independence Day celebrations also include trade fair, livelihood and scholarship awarding which will also be held at the area.

Bihis also bared that the government agencies with confirmed vacancies as per EO 782 (Emergency Employment of Government Utilizing 1.5% of MOOE) and will join the jobs fair are as follows: DENR - 13, DA - 16, DTI - 30, TESDA - 11, DSWD - 274, DPWH - 103, DepEd - 4, SSS - 85, NEDA - 6, DOST - 20, PNP - 500 and DOLE - 11.

The agencies that confirmed their attendance but have not yet submitted a list of vacancies are as follows: DBM, DOH, Pag-IBIG, NFA, DAR, CHED, CSC, DBP, and DOT.
For private employers, there are at least 30 overseas recruiters and 10 local companies to join. (RPEscalante, DOLE/PIA)


All set for school opening on June 1

MANILA — Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said all is set for the school opening on June 1 despite the threat of the AH1N1 virus, which thankfully has not affected the Philippines at all.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan Sunday (May 17), Remonde thanked God Almighty for sparing the country from the dreaded virus. He also congratulated and thanked the different government agencies for doing their share in protecting the country from the AH1N1 virus which has affected many countries and claimed the lives of a number of people.

“Wala pang isang kasong confirmado sa AH1N1 virus” in our country, first because God has blessed and protected us well and we did all that must be done in government on orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to our health quarantine officers to stop its entry into the country, Remonde said.

“Having said that, there is no reason to postpone the school opening because of the flu virus,” he said.

Asked about the state of preparations for the school opening, Remonde said the government is better prepared this year than in previous years because investments made by the Arroyo administration to uplift the education sector, especially the public education system since 2001, have borne fruit.

On record, the Arroyo administration’s investments in the country’s education sector is unmatched, Remonde said.

With the huge investments she poured into school buildings, textbooks and the hiring of teachers, the President had made progress in an unprecedented way in addressing the long-standing problems of the public education system, the Palace official said.

He explained, however, that all the problems of the country’s education system cannot be resolved in just one generation.

There may still be shortages of school buildings, especially in calamity-stricken areas, textbooks shortages, and lack of school teachers, he added.

But “overall, we are better prepared for the school opening this year under the leadership of DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, than in previous years,” Remonde said. (PIA V Release)


Rice problem is less serious now than in previous years -- Remonde

MANILA — Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Sunday (May 17) the problem of high rice prices and the supposed tightening of supply of the staple food is “less serious now than in previous years.”

The problem of rising rice prices is nothing compared to the rice crisis the country faced a year or so ago, he said.

“I am positive that this problem is going to be addressed very soon by the Department of Agriculture under Secretary Arthur Yap,” Remonde said.

He explained that in Cabinet meetings and other sessions, food security is always high on the agenda.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Remonde pointed out, keeps on reminding members of the Cabinet, especially Secretary Yap, to ensure that the country has always enough rice buffer stock through domestic production and importations.

On another topic, Remonde said he is certain that the issue of fare hikes, which will be heard by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) starting Monday, will be properly resolved “with due consideration to all sectors concerned.” (PIA V Release)


Palace acts to stop deficit from growing

MANILA — Malacañang said over the week end that the administration is keeping its expenditures at manageable levels to keep the deficit from getting bigger.

This, in view of reports that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has failed to meet its target collection of P100 billion which could trigger a bigger deficit this year.

Presidential Spokesperson on Economic Affairs Gary Olivar said revenue collections are affected by the current global economic conditions, “but we are doing our best in the face of that (reality).”

He said the government is more realistic about its deficit projections for the year “recognizing the fiscal stresses created by the global recession and by our efforts to maintain the economy stable amid that recession will have a cost in terms of the size of the deficit.”

“What we are shooting for is that the cost remains manageable and that we are taking the appropriate steps to resolve the problem with the deficit as soon as we can go ahead with that in terms of the recession starting to move away,” Olivar said.

Reports said that economic managers were already looking at the possibility that deficit might shoot up to P250 billion by yearend, the same level that President Arroyo inherited in 2001.

Olivar said “if the deficit she inherited in 2001 was P250 billion people should remember that at that time we did not have a global recession. We also did not have the US and major export markets sliding the way they are doing now and we did not have even the possibility of a threat to our labor and export markets, an environment totally different 2001 compared to 2009.”

“So the way she ought to be judged is against the global environment that she has to run an economic policy within,” Olivar said.

There is need to maintain infrastructure spending (through pump priming) and to provide direct support to our people through programs like conditional cash transfers, the need to maintain that service when a currency is not depreciating as a result of global conditions all of these leads to deficit issues, Olivar said.

The important thing is to look at the backdrop against which deficit is taking place, and to look at what government is doing now not only to mitigate the problems but to prepare for eventual recovery, Olivar pointed out. (PIA V Release)


RP economy remains resilient despite global recession

MANILA — The Philippine economy continues to enjoy a favorable outlook for its resiliency in the midst of the global recession, Presidential Spokesman on Economic Affairs Gary Olivar said today.

Olivar was reacting to speculations on the possible downgrade of the country’s credit rating by Standard & Poor’s, a leading international ratings agency.

He described a rating downgrade as a “remote possibility.”

Olivar said this is part of S&P’s “stress testing of their credit judgments on countries and borrowers.”

“In fact their view was that the Philippines was doing fairly well relative to its neighboring countries. So this is a worst case scenario that is even remote in S&P’s own words,” Olivar said, referring to the possibility of a credit downgrade.

Another international investment analyst, Nielsen Ratings, said that consumer confidence in the Philippines ranks sixth highest in a sample it made involving 50 countries.

“This information tells us that the economy continues to be resilient and continues to do well despite the global recession,” Olivar added.

All of the policies and programs being implemented by the administration are precisely intended to maintain economic stability and resiliency in the face of the recession, he said.

“This is what the various agencies see even in the case of S & P when it mentioned the worst case scenario like that it considered it only a remote possibility,” he said .

“Our moves continue to enjoy the endorsements from independent analysts and observers abroad,” Olivar said. (PIA V Release)