PGMA REMAINING MONTHS IN OFFICE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION, PEACE, CIVIC DUTY

LEGAZPI CITY— The remaining months in office of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo will be devoted to education, peace talks and call for civic duty, according to Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

Salceda, who is also a senior economic adviser of the President, said the Arroyo administration will focus on upgrading the educational system in the country, including the hiring of additional teachers, construction of more classrooms and other school facilities.

“We can expect the administration to pour in more money on education and pursue the establishment of regional universities based on the recommendation for Philippine Main Education Highway,” he noted.

He said the administration is also determined to reopen and pursue peace negotiations with the National Democratic Fronts (NDF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts (MILF).

“Talk is cheap… but in the peace process, talk is very critical. So, this is the only instance where talk is not cheap. At least in talking, it will put us back in the peace process,” he stressed.

Salceda further said the President will encourage more involvement from the civic society to share the burden of nationhood, especially a call for civic duty among the youth.

“Such may be the main theme of the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President on July 27,” he averred.

As to the achievements of the President in 2008 alone, Salceda said he gave President Arroyo a passing grade of 92 percent for handling very well the national economy, adding that she was able to overcome all crises, especially the economic slowdown.

“We are one of only nine countries that did not contract, we were still able to produce a lot more jobs,” he stressed.

“Also in 2008, the Arroyo administration devoted more on social welfare programs and services in response to fuel crisis, food, crisis, financial crisis, and then later the global economic crisis,” he added.

Salceda further stated “as far as her performance from 2001 to 2009 is concerned I will give her 82 percent and my basis was the target goal set by the President herself.”

He said President Arroyo had set her own goal for the country, wherein she was somehow able to achieve a balanced budget, automated election, and developing Subic and Clark into a world class and revenue generating economic zones.

“On education, decentralization, peace process, healing the wounds of EDSA, water and electricity, job generation, and decongestion of Manila, “all these are conditional, which means the administration needs more efforts to achieve these goals,” he averred.

He, however, noted that the administration has achieved 70 percent of the 1 million jobs target per year, wherein each year at least 700,000 jobs were generated; much has also been done to keep the prices of water and electricity stable; more infrastructure projects were completed and some are underway for Metro Manila.

In President Arroyo’s almost nine years in office, she has accomplished the much needed fiscal reforms of the government, including the P300 million additional revenues from the R-VAT, the EPIRA Law which opens the power sector from monopoly and oligarchy, and strengthening of the Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) especially in Subic and Clark economic zones.

Salceda stressed the present administration has solid achievement in terms of pursuing its goal in setting the thrust “BEAT THE ODDS” in consonance with the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010,

“The President wants to leave a legacy of a strong economy that works for the poor, secures peace, invest in the future—basically on education, and a lot more about on education reforms,” he concluded. (MALoterte, PIA V)


4 RORO PORTS OPENED IN MASBATE; ANOTHER NEARS COMPLETION FOR THE NAUTICAL HIGHWAY LINKS

MASBATE CITY—Four key infrastructure projects in Masbate province have been completed including the roll on-roll off (RO-RO) type of ports in the towns of Aroroy, Cawayan, Esperanza and San Pascual.

As part of the nautical highway, the ports, located in barangay Poblacion in Aroroy, Mahayahay in Cawayan, Poblacion in Esperanza and Poblacion in San Pascual, are expected to cut travel time and costs and boost the province’s tourism.

The Aroroy port will mean shorter travel for people bound for Sorsogon in Bicol mainland, while the Cawayan port will cut travel time for those going to Cebu and Mindanao.

On the other hand, the Esperanza port will reduce travel time for travelers going to Biliran, while the San Pascual port will mean shorter travel time for those bound for Camarines Sur in Luzon mainland.

Masbate Governor Elisa T. Kho and Rep. Rizalina Seachon observed businessmen and other stakeholders in this island-province of Masbate have started to feel economic growth spurred by the RO-RO system.

Before the four ports started their operation, the RO-RO port here had served as the province’s main gateway to Luzon and Visayas.

No less than President Macapagal-Arroyo graced the opening of the P42.95-million RO-RO port in Cawayan in April last year.

Only last April 16, the President was scheduled to lead in launching the P96.47-million RO-RO port in Aroroy and the multi-million peso port in Esperanza.

However, the deaths of an advance party of eight aides in a helicopter crash in Ifugao a week before prompted the President to send Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza to grace the opening of the ports.

The fifth RO-RO port in Masbate, located in the town of Claveria in Burias island, is on its way to completion, according to local journalists who had gone to the site.

The five projects were started in 2007 immediately after they were identified in the State of the Nation address of the President. (E.A.Delgado, PIA Masbate)


DISASTER AUTHORITIES SECURE MAYON’s DANGER ZONES

LEGAZPI CITY -- Disaster authorities heightened security measures by setting up police and military check points in designated danger zones around Mayon volcano to ensure the safety of residents in case the volcano erupts.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chairman at Sunday's council meeting, said the measure would prevent people to trek the volcano's surrounding, the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the 7-km extended danger zone at the southeast quadrant of the volcano.

Salceda said “we have to enforce the off limits rule to prevent any untoward incidence that might occur once the volcano goes at an eruptive stage.”

“The rule will apply to all residents and visitors including media reporters covering the Mayon eruption event, reinforcing the long standing policy of a 'Zero Casualty' objective of the province in times of disasters," Salceda said.

Army Col. Marlou Salazar, commanding officer of the 901st Army Brigade here, said he has set up checkpoints in 12 villages surrounding the PDZs around the volcano covering Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Polangui towns and the cities of Ligao and Legazpi.

Salazar said the brigade has deployed a battalion of soldiers to man the checkpoints and maintain security in times of evacuation.

He also reported that 15 (6X6) Army trucks and several light vehicles are on stand by for dispatch when disaster authorities declares mass evacuation procedures. The trucks can load 30 people, Salazar said.

Aside from the check points, soldiers are also holding dialogues with village officials and residents concerning rescue and evacuation procedures in times of eruptions, he said.

Salceda said under Alert Level 3 disaster authorities will have to evacuate over 8,000 people or 1,785 families living near the 6-km PDZ and under Alert level 4 around 75,144 people or 15,243 families in 39 villages around the volcano have to be move to safer grounds.

As this developed, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon's alert status remains at level 2, meaning the volcano is on a moderate stage of unrest. (PNA/PIA)

CAMSUR CITED FOR LOCAL MSMEs ADVANCEMENT

PILI, Camarines Sur – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred to the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur the prestigious 2009 Presidential Citation for Best Practice in Business Investment and Enabling Environment recognizing the innovative tourism initiatives of Governor Luis Ray Villafuerte.

The award was conferred during the formal ceremonies at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City as part of the celebration of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Week (MSMED Week) last July 6 to 12 as mandated by RA 9501, the amended Magna Carta for MSMEs.

The recognition specially cited Camarines Sur tourism development projects for creating a business investment and enabling environment that have paved the way for economic opportunities significantly contributing to the development of MSMEs.

This year’s MSMED Week celebration with the theme NEGOSYO, KAYA MO features for the first time the granting of Presidential Awards and Citations for best practices in MSME promotion and development.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), under the stewardship of Secretary Peter Favila, and GO NEGOSYO of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, headed by RFM top honcho Joey Concepcion, jointly spearheaded the MSMED Week.

The annual celebration of MSMED Week mandated by RA 9501 is designed to inculcate a continuing awareness of the primacy of small businesses in nation-building and people empowerment.

Noteworthy among tourism-related projects in Camarines Sur are the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) that is now a world-renowned extreme sports attraction and the Gota Village Resort that has virtually placed the province at a very prominent spot of the most favored eco-tourism destinations of the world. (DCAbad, PIA CamSur)


SEARCH FOR 200 LRAY DANCE SCHOLARS ON

CAMARINES SUR Province — Some 200 talented local dancers selected from various state universities and colleges in this province will be awarded college scholarships by the Provincial Government here as part of Gov. Luis Ray Scholarship Program.

Dubbed “Search for LRay Dance Scholars”, the program is geared towards assuring continuing college education for currently enrolled college students as well as for those graduating high school scholars under the aforementioned scholarship program with talent and potential in dancing.

According to Manny Nierva, head choreographer of the Cultural Development Office (CDO), 50 students from all four congressional districts of the province will be awarded with said scholarship.

Schedule for screening is on the following dates and venues:
1. July 27, 2009 at the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) Nabua for the 4th district
2. July 28, 2009 at Partido State University (PSU) for the 3rd District

3. July 30, 2009 at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) Naga for the 2nd district.

Nierva meanwhile said that for the 1st district schedule, we are still negotiating with school administrators of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Ragay and Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC) Sipocot.

He further said that announcement of the results of the screening as well as the award of scholarship will be held on August 3, 2009 at the Provincial Convention Center here.

He noted that admitted dance scholars will be required to maintain a minimum average of 85% and will be required to attend practices with their respective dance groups. DCAbad, PIA CamSur)


SUPER BATANG KALASAG OLYMPICS HELD
…highlights observance of NDCM 2009 in Camarines Norte

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – Some 580 Super Batang Kalasag joined the 1st Super Batang Kalasag Disaster Preparedness Skills Olympics last week held in Labo town in connection with the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

Carlos C. Galvez, Municipal Civil Defense deputized coordinator of Labo town, said the contest areas and coverage of the Olympics focused on First Aid and Basic Life Support.

Galvez said the participants, comprised of 460 pupils from the elementary level and 120 high school students, showcased their knowledge and skills on rescue breathing, cardio pulmonary resuscitation, bandaging relay, victims carry and transport relay.

He added their skills were also put to test with the scenario problem solving on fire rescue and evacuation; fire control technique (bucket) relay; typhoon plotting/tracking relay; disaster quiz relay, problem solving/games and disaster incident reporting.

He said that a total of P127,000 cash prizes and participation incentives were given to the participants.

He explained that the Super Batang Kalasag (Super BK) is the youth version of the Barangay Emergency Response Teams wherein the Super BK insures sustainability and continuity of the BERTs project since when Super BK members reached the maturity they automatically qualify to be a BERTs member.

The activity was spearheaded by the Municipal Government of Labo headed by Mayor Winefredo Oco, in cooperation with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol, Department of Education (DepEd) Labo East and West District, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Labo and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Camarines Norte Chapter.

This year’s theme for the NDCM runs “Pag alerto, malayo sa peligro”. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


SONA SECURITY UP

MANILA — “Everything is now being put in place,” so said S/Supt. Leonardo Espina, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson, in an interview.

Espina issued the statement in relation to the security plan being implemented by the PNP, including the installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic areas in Metro Manila in coordination with the PNP – National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on July 27, 2009.

The PNP spokesman said that aside from the installation of CCTV cameras, the PNP, the rally organizers and Quezon City Mayor Belmonte will meet on July 22, 2009 to iron OUT matters that may cause security concerns during the event.

He explained that the PNP is doing this to install peace, security and road traffic ease for the general public despite rally groups’ protest actions.

In a related story, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Leila De Lima said that emotions are expected to rise because this is the last SONA of the incumbent President.

She pointed out that protest actions should be given leeway as this is a way for people to express themselves to the government. (PIA V Release)


PGMA ENVISIONS LASTING PEACE IN RP
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is determined to eradicate terror and pursue a lasting peace throughout the country.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez, in a radio interview Sunday (July 19), said that one of the major priorities of President Arroyo is to promote peace by keeping all Filipinos safe.

When asked about the recent lifting of the suspension of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), Golez pointed out that when two opposite groups sit together to discuss an agreement, it is already “a first step towards peace.”

Golez noted that President Arroyo is hopeful that the problem with the communist rebels will soon be over and that peace will reign all over the country.

The lifting of the suspension of JASIG allows communist rebel negotiators to prepare for the resumption of formal peace talks to be held in Oslo, Norway next month.

It can be recalled that peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) collapsed in 2005 after the United States tagged the NPA as a foreign terrorist organization.

Negotiations with the MILF also bogged down in August 2007 following the aborted signing of the controversial memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain (MOA-AD) that triggered renewed fighting between government forces and the MILF.

However, during that period, the government continued its efforts to conduct back-channeling negotiations for the resumption of peace talks. (PIA V Release)


PALACE: VOTERS SHOULD BE MORE DISCERNING IN CHOOSING CANDIDATES

MANILA — A Palace official on Saturday (June 17) said that Filipino voters should be more discerning in choosing the candidates that they are planning to support in next year’s polls.

In a radio interview, Deputy Spokesperson Lorelie Fajardo pointed out that Filipino voters should look into the political platforms of the presidential aspirants, their backgrounds as well as their performances in their current posts since most of them are incumbent officials holding various positions in the government.

Fajardo challenged the candidates eyeing the presidential post in 2010 to present their platforms to the Filipino people so the voters may have more time to carefully study their plans for the country.

When asked if she thinks that Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio is a formidable candidate for next year’s elections, Fajardo said that the former priest is indeed popular to the masses but it is only up to the voters to discern who they think is the best candidate for the position.

Fajardo added that she is happy for her “kabalen” since he has many supporters and this would be the good start for him to present his agenda for next year’s elections.

The Deputy Spokesperson also reiterated the statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that elections will push through next year as planned.

President Arroyo made this assurance on Friday -- first, during her regular regional media interview by Ms. Ethel Cantor-Constantino of NBN-4 and second, at the culmination of the Zero Basura Caravan 2009 of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City.

The Chief Executive pointed out that those who questioned the certainty of next year’s polls undermine the government’s commitment to vibrant democracy. (PIA V Release)


DOH TO SUBMIT EO DRAFT FOR LOWERING PRICES OF DRUGS

MANILA— Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the Department of Health (DOH) is set to submit a draft Executive Order to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this coming Wednesday that will bring down the prices of drugs.

Duque, in an interview over the radio Monday, said the draft EO will recommend the maximum retail price (MRP) of some 21 sensitive drugs which will take effect on August 15 this year after pharmaceutical companies failed to comply with the deadline to lower the prices of the said drugs.

The drug manufacturers during the weekend submitted a proposal and list to the DOH to bring down prices of a list of medicines that address major public health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes, common infections, and cancer, among others.

The list was transmitted by the Executive Director Reiner Gloor of the Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) where it contained a summary of the medicines being offered and their respective price reductions. It carried the proposals of both PHAP member companies and some non-PHAP members.

The PHAP met the deadline given by Malacañang for them to submit a proposal on how to make commonly prescribed medicines cheaper to the people.

The drugs covered by PHAP's proposal include: amlopidine, telmisartan, irbesartan, which are anti-hypertensive drugs; clopidogrel, an anti-thrombotic drug; the anti-cholesterol drug, atorvastatin; the anti-diabetic drug, gliclazide; piperacillin + tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, metronidazole and co-amoxiclave, which are anti-biotic drugs; bleomycin, carboplatin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, doxorubicin, etoposide, mercaptopurine, methotrexate sodium and mesna, which are anti-cancer drugs.

The DOH and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reviewed the list over the weekend. However, Duque said drug manufacturers failed to lower the prices of the said 21 drugs so they will submit an EO as a recommendation to President Arroyo to bring down their prices by August 15.

Duque said the government made sure that the price reductions for the 21 drugs are consistent with the 50% price reduction policy that has been adopted. (PIA V Release)