SORSOGON MSMEs TO VENTURE ON PILI FOOD PRODUCTS

SORSOGON CITY — Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sorsogon province should venture on pili farming and product development due to its promising local and foreign marketability, according to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) branch here.

Eleanor A. Eco, DBP branch manager here, said the pili industry offers a very good opportunity for the locals, wherein they can avail of the credit facility under the One Town One Product (OTOP) supported by DBP that provides capitalization for the business.

Eco, however, recommended that it would be something original and of better value if business ventures will not focus on pili sweet products alone, rather develop products such as pili jelly roll, bread with pili spread or pili inspired filling, pudding, cake, pastries and even ice cream, among others.

“I observed in Sorsogon, that seldom such pili food products are made. In most cases, pili products are limited only to candies or other simple confectioneries”, she said.

Eco said DBP specifically promotes pili because it is one among the many indigenous product of Sorsogon with high nutritive value.

“Pili food products will surely be a ‘click’ to many especially that nowadays people tend to become more health conscious,” she stressed.

Pili is rich in magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, ascorbic acid, zinc, copper, iron, sodium and even in Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3 and Vitamin E.

“With the perseverance and proper management of MSMEs, the venture can significantly contribute to employment and quality life among Sorsoganons particularly that the Department of Tourism (DOT) is also promoting the “Kulinarya Tour” program as part of cultural tourism,” she added.

“Kulinarya Tour” introduces the Philippine flavors to domestic and international scene and promotes the country as a culinary destination by bringing in local and foreign tourist to areas where the cuisine or food product is most indigenous.

Sorsogon was included in the itineraries of “Kulinarya Bicol Tour” which will introduce the province as prime producer of high-quality pili nuts.

Eco also said that this program is a good step towards bringing food security and poverty alleviation among locals, adding that DBP is their partner in growing their business.

“DBP likewise assured its continuing support to small and medium enterprises through its retail and wholesale lending program, she added.

At present, DBP has P35 billion in capitalization and 80 percent of its borrowers are into MSMEs. In Sorsogon, four MSMEs has already been benefiting from the said program.

For those who want to avail of MSME loans and other DBP programs, they can visit their nearest DBP Branch nationwide.

“We also have five Super Region Management Offices and 16 Regional Marketing Centers , ready to assist the MSME sector across the nation,” said Eco.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture Bicol has recorded some 256 entrepreneurs in the region involved in pili industry. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


TESDA TO HOLD JOB BRIDGING FOR FOR 2,777 PGSP SCHOLARS IN MASBATE

MASBATE CITY— For the office here of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), it is not enough that it has sent at least 2,777 residents of Masbate province to technical vocational institutes.

It also wants to ensure that the beneficiaries of Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program (PGSP) would be able to find work at several companies based in Metro Manila, Cebu and overseas.

That’s why the office will launch next month the “Job Bridging Program,” which, according to TESDA Provincial Director Mildred Marcaida, is a little more “high tech version of a job fair.”

“TESDA has tie-ups with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for overseas jobs abroad and with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for local employment,” Marcaida said.

Marcaida said the 2,777 have finished various technical courses and have earned certificates of completion.

Getting the scholarship and schooling at the technical vocational schools is an attractive proposition to many residents since TESDA shoulders the expenses and provides allowance to the scholars.

The scholarship and job bridging programs are President Macapagal-Arroyo’s answer to the unemployment and access to education of cash-strapped citizens amid the difficult global economic situation.

Marcaida said the technical courses are viable alternative to a college education.

“It takes four years to finish a college degree. But here, our scholars finished a technical-vocational course in 1½ to 2½ months. And they can find work with that as well,” she said.

Marcaida added that the graduates have a better fighting chance of finding jobs within the country or abroad as TESDA has tie-ups with POEA and DOLE.

She said that the technical vocational schools that participated in the scholarship program will also take part in the job bridging that will be held on Sept. 14 in this city.

“Their participation will show that they also have deliberate efforts to link their students to employers,” she said.

According to TESDA records, the 2,777 scholars graduated from 30 courses, which include shielded metal arc welding, household service, housekeeping for hotel, food and beverage services, carpentry and plumbing. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)


CAMSUR PDCC STRENGTHENS DRR MEASURES

PILI, Camarines Sur — The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, in partnership with Naga College Foundation Typhoon Prevention Center (NCF TPC), has recently launched the EWS program to reduce the risks brought about by calamities which frequent the Bicol region area.

Recently, representatives from the different local government units in the province convened for the 2-day orientation seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction and Typhoon Tracking Chart for Early Warning System (EWS).

The provincial government, through the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC), is mulling to install typhoon tracking charts on different localities most frequented and hardest hit by extreme weather conditions.

The orientation seminar organized by the PDCC featured lectures and workshops on disaster risk reduction and management as well as the operational details of the EWS.

EWS is a community-based system that will ensure preparedness and disaster risk reduction during typhoons. The EWS will utilize the weather tracking charts distributed to the 35 municipalities in the province through the PDCC.

Typhoon information will be transmitted by NCF-TPC to the PDCC Operating Center to be utilized by the system along with PAGASA forecasts. The data gathered by the province will be disseminated through mobile phones, CB radios and other mediums of communications to the municipal level who will then transmit the information to the barangays.

Weather and disaster management experts who facilitated the discussions and training exercises included Juan Blen Huelgas, United Nations Disaster Management Operations specialist and National Disaster Coordinating Council consultant; NCF-TPC director and seasoned weatherman Michael V. Padua; Dean Gerry Buenavente of the Engineering Department of NCF; and, Joannah Ramores and Edgar Ramores of NCF-TPC. (ANDujar, MMEC/PIA)


DFA MPS AND NSO SERVICES IN CAMSUR

PILI, Camarines Sur — The National Statistics Office (NSO) service unit detailed at the provincial capitol building here has achieved its initial 100 documents processed on its 3rd week of operations.

The services provided by the NSO have complemented the Mobile Passport Servicing (MPS) carried out by personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Office based in Legazpi City.

The MPS has laid the coordinative efforts in order for NSO to immediately address the common problem encountered by individuals bound for travel abroad who are unnecessarily delayed by flaws in their birth and marriage documents, these being indispensable requirements in securing a passport.

Nonetheless, the NSO service unit would serve as a service conduit for those with similar concerns with the agency.

The MPS is initiated by Gov. Luis Ray Villafuerte and now among the “frontline services” of the provincial government, through the Camarines Sur Employment Center (CSEC).

Slated every first and third Monday and Tuesday of every month, NSO personnel caters to locals who need authentication of their birth and marital documents at the provincial capitol building in a more cozy and relaxed condition, a far cry from the scenario at its Naga Office where a long line of people await their turn under the searing heat of the sun or inclement weather condition.

Thus, it is expected that more and more constituents of CamSur would opt to have their documents processed by the NSO at the provincial capitol building as more and more people come to know of its services, just as more and more people are availing of the MPS at the same venue

The DFA has processed a total of 1,931 passports from January to August, this year.

As an indispensable component of its program on providing assistance to its constituents in landing jobs either locally or abroad, the provincial government assures that NSO servicing here will be maintained. (CRFernandez, MMEC/PIA)


PGMA bares plan to develop world-class infrastructure system

MAASIN City, Southern Leyte--- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will remain “focused like a laser beam” on economic fundamentals so that the government can update and enhance existing infrastructure developments and create a world-class infrastructure system across the nation.

In her message during the launching of the National Youth Service Corps here and the celebration of Maasin City’s 9th Founding Anniversary, the President stressed anew the importance of investing in human and physical infrastructure for the country to be more competitive as an investment, business and tourist destination.

“As you know, investing in human and physical infrastructure is a central pillar of my economic plan. The tough choices we made to raise revenues and regain control of our fiscal condition after years of neglect is paying off,” she said.

The President said that through her Super Regions economic development plan, she can “build up our provinces to spread the economic benefits beyond Manila.” She said the super regions economic blueprint aims to fully develop the natural economic strengths of the regions to spur development in the countrysides.

According to her, that includes making sure that a sound, realistic and solid budget meets the needs of the people.

“Next year… we will continue to invest in critical infrastructure projects and social services such as education and healthcare so that our people will continue to reap the benefits of our reforms,” she stressed.

The Chief Executive said this can be realized through the government’s commitment to fiscal reforms and deficit reduction that would ensure the country remains on the path of sustainable development in the longer term.

“We will balance the desire for fiscal prudence and a balanced budget with our need to also invest in the people,” she added. (PIA V Release)

RP looking into direction of China for more trade, investments

MANILA — The government must aggressively pursue more trade, investment and tourism with China for the Philippines to be ready for the upcoming global economic rebound.

In a report to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the first ever full cabinet meeting in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last July 21, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) noted that China continues to post strong growth despite the global economic crisis.

Against this backdrop, China posted a 6.1 percent growth in the first quarter this year, and a 7.9 percent in the second quarter.

President Arroyo had stated in earlier engagements that China is among the four economies to whom the world looks up today to stimulate economic recovery in lieu of traditional giants US, Japan, Europe.

The other countries are Brazil, Russia and India.

Thus, during the meeting, it was agreed that the Department of Agriculture look into its trade missions to China, specifically on the market access of the country’s agricultural products to Xiamen, China.

It was also agreed that the Department of Trade and Industry must engage in trade investment missions to China, specifically of mineral products, by tapping the assistance of Ambassadors Carlos Chan and Harry Angping, who are the Philippine Special Envoys to the mainland.

Moreover, the Trade Department must also carry out an electronics sales pitch to China in two weeks time, the result of which must be presented in the next cabinet meeting.

The Department of Tourism was tasked to vigorously promote Philippine tourism to China by engaging in more high level sales missions.


PGMA asks HUDCC to study India’s “slum program”

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) a marching order to study India’s “Rajiv Awas Yojana” and determine what could be replicated in the Philippines’ program of eradicating slums in the cities.

The go signal was given during the Cabinet meeting in Malaybalay, Bukidnon last July 2 where several agreements and policy guidelines were reached.

The “Rajiv Awas Yojana” is India’s pilot project aimed at providing affordable housing for its 62 million urban poor so it will be slum-free in five years.

The project focuses on according property rights to slum dwellers and urban poor.

It would as well provide basic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, internal and approach roads, street lighting and social infrastructure facilities in slums and low income settlements adopting a 'whole city' approach as well as provide subsidized credit.

A United States Agency for International Development (USAID) study revealed that shack dwellers or informal settlers comprise nearly a majority of urban dwellers in the Philippines.

At the same time, the President asked HUDCC to advise the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) to immediately frontload the balance of P85 billion fund contribution to the 2009 Economic Stimulus Package, instead of having it released by phase.

The Arroyo Administration has embarked on several programs to provide affordable housing for Filipinos, among which are its low-cost housing, and government housing programs, and recently, she signed into law the new Pag-Ibig Law that strengthens the housing fund. (PIA V Release)


PGMA: RP economy ready for rebound

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has declared that the Philippines is now ready for an economic rebound, citing the resilience of the country’s financial system.

Speaking before the 2009 Philippine-Russian Business Forum at the Cebu International Convention Center Friday (August 7), President Arroyo said that Philippines is a country that weathered a succession of global crisis in fuel, food, in finance and in economy brought by the global recession.

She, however, noted that her administration never lost focus and with the economic fundamentals in place, the country managed to buffer the effects of the global crisis.

“Last month, our credit rating is upgrading, citing the resilience of our economy. We’re one of the few nations in the region to have withstood the onslaught. Last year to the first quarter of this year, we kept our growth positive. So I would like to conclude that our economy is stable and strong. Inflation now is at the lowest in 22 years. And we are ready for the economic rebound especially with a new market, renewed ties and new ways of working together with Russia,” she told the participants of the said forum.

The Chief Executive added the past 12 months had been a year for the country’s history books with the financial meltdown of the Western nations spreading throughout the world where millions of people lost their jobs.

“Millions across the globe had been hurt –the poor always harder than the rich. No one was spared. We had learned a number of lessons as a result of this global economic crisis,” she said.

The Chief Executive pointed out that one of the lessons learned was getting the country’s fiscal house in order to prepare the nation to weather any crisis.

“Next is that we make a conscious decision to bring increasing balance to the economy. We worked to expand and diversify our trading partners,” she said citing the importance of new trading partners such as Russia and building of new industries such as the business process outsourcing (BPO).

President Arroyo added that one of the major lessons about the global financial crisis is that countries must work together to forge stronger relations to keep trade open and make greater strides in integrating the global economy so countries can emerge from the crisis stronger and ensure that such problems will not happen again. (PIA V Release)


SPECIAL REPORT:
Education for All is the great equalizer -- PGMA

MANILA -- Saying "Education for All is the great equalizer," President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to implement various highly-funded educational programs aimed at brightening up the future of the country's children.

In her ninth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) at the joint opening session of the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City last July 27, the President cited the importance of the administration's “Education for All” program for poor but deserving Filipino students.

"Education is the great equalizer" that will allow young Filipinos a chance to realize their dreams, the President stressed.

Many students, including high school students from St. Alphonsus Liguori Integrated School in Bacoor, Cavite, said they are thankful for enjoying the benefits of the EFA program of President Arroyo.

Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) in an interview that the Education for All (EFA) program is an international commitment first launched in Jomtien, Thailand in 1990 to bring the benefits of education to “every citizen in every society.”

Program partners comprise a broad coalition of national governments, civil society groups, and development agencies such as the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the World Bank (WB).

In response to slow progress over the decade, the commitment was reaffirmed in Dakar, Senegal in April 2000 and then again in September 2000, when 189 countries and their partners adopted two of the EFA goals among the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The six EFA goals are as follows:

--Expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

--Ensure that by 2015, all children, particularly girls, those in difficult circumstances and those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality.

--Ensure that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life-skills programs.

--Achieve a 50 percent improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.

--Eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and achieve gender equality in education by 2015, with a focus on ensuring girls' full and equal access to and achievement in basic education of good quality.

--Improve all aspects of the quality of education and ensure excellence of all so that recognized and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills.

True to her words, President Arroyo has worked hard for the implementation of various highly-funded educational reforms that have started to brighten up the horizon for Filipino children.

Secretary Remonde said the Arroyo administration has been investing heavily in critical learning resources since 2001.

These include the construction of more than 95,000 classrooms, surpassing the yearly target of 6,000; procurement of over 135.6 million textbooks; installation of computer laboratories in 4,019 public high schools; improvement of welfare arrangements for teachers (e.g., salary increases, reduction to only six teaching hours a day); training of school managers, and provision of scholarships and related educational assistance to aggregate total of about 11.9 million grantees from 2001 to June 2009 in high school, technical-vocational and higher education levels.

”Curriculum restructuring was implemented from pre-school to higher education through the harmonization of preschool and daycare curriculum; adoption of Basic Education Curriculum which focused the learning areas into five: Filipino, English, Science, Math and Makabayan; and the establishment of the Ladderized Education Program (LEP), which provides equivalency pathways from technical-vocational education to higher education,” Remonde said.

All these helped draw significant results, among them, the doubling of enrollment in preschool to more than 1.1 million students in School Year 2008-2009; the one million increase in enrollees in public elementary and secondary schools from SY2001-2002 to SY2008-2009; the growing number of students in school, as cohort survival started to pick up from SY2005-2006; and, the improvements in achievement levels, as evidenced by the results of the National Achievement Tests in elementary and high school levels starting in SY2005-2006.

More students are now staying in school and dropout rates have lessened.

The Philippines Main Education Highway has also been launched. This envisions that every Filipino child will have the opportunity to get high-quality education through reforms in the continuum or a "seamless education," tighter linkage of tertiary education with industry, and provision of lifelong learning mechanisms and interventions.

The President stressed in her latest SONA that one of the most difficult Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is Education for All by 2015, meaning universal primary education. She noted that almost no country will achieve it, "But we are still trying." And based on her achievement report, she certainly is, indeed, trying very hard.

Achieving the Education for All (EFA) goals is critical for attaining all the MDGs — in part through the direct impact of education on child and reproductive health and environmental sustainability and by creating a body of experience in multi-partners collaboration toward the 2015 targets. (PNA Feature/PIA)