DIONEDA LAMENTS SC DECISION TO CREATE NEW CITIES

SORSOGON CITY — The approval of creation of the 16 new cities would create budgetary problems to existing cities in the country, including Sorsogon City.

Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic Dioneda lamented that some P30 million will be cut from the city’s annual internal revenue allotment (IRA) the moment Supreme Court (SC) upholds the ruling for sixteen towns to become new cities.

It can be noted that in December last year, the high court approved the motion for reconsideration filed by the counsel of sixteen towns on SC’s earlier decision denying the petition of said towns for city hood.

The Supreme Court reversed its decision saying the sixteen towns have already met the legal requirements set by the law for city hood status.

Dioneda, however, clariefied that he does not object the conversion of towns into cities, he only would like concerned authorities to study the repercussions of the decision, specifically to existing cities after the approval.

“By conversion of these towns into new cities, the existing 120 cities in the country including Sorsogon City will likely to suffer an enormous annual cut from its IRA,” said Dioneda.

“This will affect some of the city’s programs and social services whose funding was already included in the 2010 budget which we have already passed last year,” he added.

As of press time, the Treasurer’s Office here averred that the expected cut in IRA for this city has not yet taken effect.

Nevertheless, it would learn of the cut in IRA once the amount will be deducted from the IRA it will receive from the national government on a monthly basis.

Some P2.5 million to P2.75 million can be slashed to its monthly IRA affecting the budget of city government this year.

Meanwhile, the former towns declared qualified to become cities by vitue of the recent Supreme Court decision are Batac in Ilocos Norte, Baybay in Leyte, Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, Bogo in Cebu, Borongan in Eastern Samar, Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte, Carcar in Cebu, Catbalogan in Samar, El Salvador in Misamis Oriental, Guihulngan in Negros Oriental, Lamitan in Basilan, Mati in Davao Oriental, Naga in Cebu, Tabuk in Kalinga, Tandag in Surigao del Sur and Tayabas in Quezon Province. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

BAROS RIVER IN IRIGA CITY CLASSIFIED AS “CLASS B”

LEGAZPI CITY— The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol on Friday included the Baros River in Iriga City in the list of classified water bodies in the country.

In Memorandum Circular No. 17, dated Dec. 23, 2009 signed by then DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, and which was published in the Dec. 30, 2009 issue of The Philippine Star, Baros River was among the 27 Rivers and 2 Bays officially classified pursuant to DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 34, series of 1990 and in accordance with the Manual of Procedure for Water Classification.

The circular said that the Baros River was classified as “Class B” and as such its beneficial use is primary contact recreation such as bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc. (particularly those designated for tourism purposes).

The Circular requires industrial establishments, business, commercial and agricultural firms, political subdivisions, government-owned or controlled corporations and other similar entities and instrumentality, including persons discharging liquid wastes into said water bodies to “observe and comply with the foregoing classification. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA)

MANTABAC IS CAMARINES NORTE’S CHILD-FRIENDLIEST BARANGAY

DAET, Camarines Norte — Mantagbac (Barangay IV) of this town notched the top place in the 2008 Search for Child Friendly Barangay in Camarines Norte province

Mantagbac bagged some P60,000 prize money and a plaque of recognition.

Barangay Calamunding of Labo town capped the second spot receiving P40,000; Barangay III in Vinzons won P30,000 for the third place; Barangay Capacuan in Paracale won fourth place winning P20,000; Barangay San Ramon in San Lorenzo Ruiz received P10,000 for the fifth spot; and Barangay Poblacion in Capalonga landed on the sixth place gaining P5,000 cash prize. A plaque of recognition was also given each to winners and participating local government units (LGUs).

Criteria for judging were based on the programs implemented in health, maternal care, education, child protection, children’s participation and family practices.

The awards program commenced in 2003, spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, in cooperation with the Provincial Evaluation Team composed of Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), Community Affairs Office (CAO), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Financial assistance were also given to the seven disparity barangays seriously affected by typhoon Santi, including Osmeña, P10,000; Parang, P20,000; San Rafael, P10,000, all of Jose Panganiban town; Bagumbayan, 15,000; Batobalani, P20,000; and Palanas, P15,000, all of Paracale town; and San Lorenzo of Sta. Elena town 10,000. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


PHILHEALTH ENLISTS 86 PERCENT COVERAGE NATIONWIDE

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) bared that 86 percent coverage among Filipinos has already been achieved, according to the agency’s top official during a press conference and meeting with stakeholders held here recently.

Dr. Rey B Aquino, PhilHealth president and CEO, said that the number exceeds the 85 percent target set on February 14, 2010, in time for the agency’s 15 years of service.

Aquino added that PhilHealth has also accredited some 1,500 hospitals and 20,000 doctors.

He explained that an average of 60 percent of the amount to be paid by a patient is being shouldered by the PhilHealth.

He stressed that they have standards for hospital accreditation including the purchase of medicines and they will on watch on the alleged fraud of hospitals in claiming patient’s benefits.

He cited that benefits in PhilHealth are given equally among members even contributions are not the same.

PhilHealth members include employees, overseas workers, lifetime members, individual paying members and family health card identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and enlisted by the local government units.

Aquino announced that PhilHealth has a funding totaling to P105 million pesos to carry out is programs and service, adding that any centavo from the fund will never be used in politics as reported in 2004 and proven by the court wrong. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

CAMSUR CHOSEN BY PEOPLE ASIA “TOP DESTINATION OF THE YEAR”

PILI, Camarines Sur — The burgeoning stature of Camarines Sur as a popular tourist destination has been reaffirmed by the People Asia as “Top Destination of the Year”.

People Asia, on its “People of the Year” awards program, cited Camarines Sur for its outstanding achievements in tourism development during the magazine’s 10th anniversary celebration held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on January 21, this year.

It was deemed certain and indubitable for Camarines Sur to receive the special tourism citation in view of the recent rise in both domestic and foreign tourists arrival in the province, for certain periods even eclipsing the popularity of other established tourist destinations in the likes of Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Subic and Davao.

Camarines Sur ranked first among tourist destinations in the country for the first semester of 2009 and posted the most impressive overall tourists arrival growth as much as 163 percent and 29 percent growth in domestic and foreign tourists arrival, respectively, for the last quarter.

Camarines Sur’s popularity as a tourism site has emanated from the innovative development initiatives of Governor LRay Villafuerte, setting up the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC), now considered the best wake cable park in the world and now a center of extreme sports having been the venue nation of national and international wakeboarding, dragon boat and triathlon competitions.

The large-scale tourism development has been carried out in Caramoan Peninsula, showcasing Gota Village Resort where the franchise version of Survivor reality show series of the countries of France, Israel, Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia were shot on location in outlying islands.

International recognition of the province’s tourism magnetism was further bolstered by being selected as top tourism destination by Top Resa Paris, the biggest travel and tourism forum in Europe, and being chosen as the world’s best eco-tourism destination by Nature magazine.

The recent accolade as top tourism destination is expected to go a long way towards fortifying the province’s stature as the country’s premiere tourism site as well as a world-class, globally competitive spot in the tourism map of the world. (GBClaveria, MMEC/PIA)

DBP presents P2.5 B check to PGMA


MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received Monday (January 25) a ceremonial check of P2.5 billion representing DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) dividend payment to the national government for 2009.

Patricia Sto. Tomas and Reynaldo David, chairperson and president, respectively, of the state-owned bank presented the check to the President and Finance Secretary Margarito Teves during the bank’s 63rd anniversary celebration held at the DBP Head Office in Makati.

With the amount, the total dividend received by the national government out of DBP operation from 2001 to 2009 now stands at P11.4 billion.

According to David, 2009 was a banner year for the bank. It posted a net income of P6.09 billion then, up from P263.25 billion the previous year. He said DBP owes this achievement to the President’s support.

The President was presented a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between DBP and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which puts in place an integrated assistance program for overseas Filipino workers .

Being prepared under this program are mini gas station dealerships and other livelihood projects for OFWs and their dependents.

At the celebration, the President unveiled a scale model of the new DBP Green Building soon to be constructed at the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The builders will utilize eco-friendly architectural designs, thus the name. It will use solar power, for instance, for its energy requirements.

Also, President Arroyo was shown the gold trowel her father, the late President Diosdado Macpagal, used to lay the cornerstone of the present DBP building 46 years ago. She intends to use the same trowel to launch construction of the DBP’s future building.

The anniversary celebration highlighted the bank’s contributions to the Ten-Point Agenda of the Arroyo administration, particularly in four major areas---infrastructure and logistics; schools and hospitals; micro, small and medium entrepreneurship; and the environmental.

The bank traces its history to 1947 when it was established as the Rehabilitation Finance Corporation tasked to provide credit for the development of agriculture, commerce and industry, and the reconstruction of properties damaged by the war.

In 1958, RFC was renamed DBP and reorganized to take on activities designed to accelerate national development. (PIA V Release)

RP mission to Haiti calls on PGMA

MANILA — The Philippine medical team that will conduct a humanitarian mission in Haiti called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang Monday afternoon (January 25) before its scheduled flight this evening to the earthquake-ravaged country.

Dr. Emmanuel Bueno led the 21-member team, composed of five surgeons, two orthopedics, three general surgeons, two anesthesiologists, five nurses, three epidemiologists, and two engineers.

Joining the President were Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos, Jr.

In her brief remarks, the President thanked the members of the team for volunteering their services to help their unfortunate Haitian brothers and sisters.

“It is our obligation to help,” the President said. “We know how it feels to be stricken, having been hit by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, and Frank. We too received international humanitarian aid.”

The President said the country is short on funds, but it has good doctors and nurses willing to extend help to calamity victims.

For his part, Conejos informed the President that as of now, the first batch of OFWs in Haiti is arriving on Friday. He said 67 out of 290 Filipinos in that country want to come home. (PIA V Release)

JBC tacitly recognizes PGMA’s right to appoint CJ’s replacement

MANILA — The Judicial and Bar Council has impliedly recognized the authority and obligation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the replacement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno when he retires on May 17.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the JBC has done so by opening the nomination process to prepare a shortlist of possible replacements.

“The JBC is chaired by no less than the chief justice of the Supreme Court,” Bello pointed out in an interview on DZRB, a government–owned radio station. “So when it submits to the President the list of nominees, which is an implied recognition of the authority and power of the President to make the appointment.”

Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez had disclosed that JBC, in an en banc meeting on Jan. 18, unanimously voted to open the nomination for the still-to-be vacated position of chief justice.

Under the Constitution, Bello stressed, the President has the power and obligation to appoint the chief justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan. (PIA V Release)

PGMA assures foreign media there will be no failure of election

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has assured foreign correspondents there will be no failure of elections in May.

In a dinner she hosted for the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at the Palace Friday (January 22), the President said she was assured by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that it is doing its best to complete the automated poll system before May. She said all the funds necessary for holding the national elections have been disbursed.

The President also said she will continue to focus on her 3Es—education, economy and environment –-program for the rest of her term.

The President added the country will maintain its stimulus program this year “as no other country in the world has scrapped its stimulus program.”

Last year, government’s P330 billion stimulus program helped the economy post positive growth and escape recession. This year, government is expected to spend at least P100 billion but not more than P300 billion to stimulate the economy.

The 22 FOCAP officers and members described the dinner as very relaxed, with discussions wide-ranging. “The President did not obviously look at any timepiece, which is her trademark,” remarked FOCAP president Jim Gomez, who writes for the Associated Press.

Talks mainly dwelt on her life in Iligan City where she grew up, her three years as a professor, and her two years as a classmate of former American President William Clinton.

Prior to the dinner, the President had French wine and cocktail canapés with her guests and she spoke lengthily about the late Cerge Remonde, recalling her most recent conversations with her eighth press secretary.

The President was candid about her feelings over the loss of Remonde and told the FOCAP that she is flying to Cebu tomorrow, Sunday, to attend the burial of Remonde.

The President deftly parried questions on politics, saying that she wanted the dinner to be light and easy as possible.

On whether a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is forthcoming, the President said negotiations are ongoing and “we are hopeful to reach an agreement very soon.” (PIA V Release)

Cerge laid to rest in hometown

ARGAO, Cebu -- Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was laid to rest here Sunday (January 24), in his hometown, thus closing the final chapter of the storied career of a poor country boy who achieved his dreams through hard work, perseverance, and, most of all, faith in God.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined Marit Remonde, nee Stinus of Denmark, family members, friends, provincial and town officials, and people of all walks of life in the funereal march to the public cemetery this afternoon.

Interment took place after the 12:30 afternoon mass at the St. Michael Archangel, a church built in the 15th century.

The late Press secretary had been given full military honors and welcomed to the church with the tolling of the bells. He was earlier conferred the rank of lieutenant colonel in the reserve force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The officiating priest, Msgr. Cris Garcia, recalled that for the past 20 years he and Cerge had ridden the galleon float together in the procession on the eve of the feast of the Señor Sto. Nino de Cebu.

According to the priest, he could observe the man’s devotion and strong faith in God as he intently prayed every time.

At the mass, Mrs. Remonde, spoke to tell her husband’s townmates and friends that the man she met and married 17 years ago, "was then broke but had strong conviction to attain his dreams."

“And he shared his dreams with me. I know Cerge was able to live all those dreams. Whenever he went, whatever he did, whatever conviction he held, he always did it differently than anybody else. He always made an impact. He always touched more lives than anybody else,” the widow said.

For his part, Hemres Alburo, thanked the public for the outpouring of love and support and the President for trusting his half-brother enough to make him a member of her Cabinet.

Among those present at the mass and interment were Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, and Cebu officials led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu congressmen and Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos.

It was Gen. Victor Ibrado, AFP chief of staff, who entered the name of the deceased in the roster of reserve officers in ceremonies held at the President Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo Sports Complex.

Mrs. Remonde and Alburo received the uniform and insignia.

At the necrological rites on Saturday night, Mayor Edcel Galeos, a childhood friend, said “the people of Argao will always remember Cerge as a humble and hard working man who did not let poverty get in the way.”

“Although the people of Argao are in deep mourning, they at the same time are celebrating the wonderful and exemplary life of Cerge, who serves as a beacon of hope to future generations,” Galeos said.

The 200 students who received scholarships through the intercession of the late press secretary promised to work just as hard to finish their college courses.

“Your success is our inspiration,” said Rebekah Navales, one of the students. (PIA V Release)