STATE WORKERS START RECEIVING 2ND TRANCHE OF SALARY INCREASE

LEGAZPI CITY — All government workers are starting to receive their second tranche of salary increase under the Salary Standardization Law III effective June 24, 2010 pursuant to EO No.900 signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Assistant Regional Director Angelita Cells of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in Bicol has assured government workers in Region V that the corresponding cash requirement for their salary increase will be released as part of the cash program for the second half of the year.

Cells said that the SSL III, approved in June 2009, is a four-year plan to rationalize public sector pay through adjustments in the 33-grade government pay scale.

She added that the first tranche of the modified Salary Schedule and Base Pay Schedule have been implemented effective July 1, 2009 for personnel of national government agencies, government owned and controlled corporations, government financing institutions, and effective January 1, 2010 for personnel in local government units (LGUs).

Cells furthered that the implementation of the second tranche for LGU personnel, set to take effect on January 11, 2011, shall be determined by the local sanggunian, on the basis of the LGU income class and financial capability, provided that such salary rates shall not exceed the personnel services budget cap or limitation in LGU budgets as provided under RA 7160.

While all employees will benefit from the pay raise, higher rates of increase are given to certain professionals like teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and accountants who would enjoy some 54 percent to 77 percent increase in their salaries with the full implementation of the law.

Aside from increasing salaries, these positions were upgraded in recognition of their importance in society in the case of teachers and medical personnel, and their market demand in case of lawyers and accountants.

DBM said that a soldier with the rank of Private in the Department of National Defense or a Police Officer I in the Philippine National Police would be entitled to a monthly increase of P1,342 over their current base pay; while a Nurse I would receive a P1,451 monthly salary increase.

The second tranche implementation will not apply to officials and employees whose terms of office are co-terminus with the immediate past President of the Philippines.

Also excluded from receiving the salary increase are those hired without employee-employer relationships and funded from non-personal services appropriations and budgets. (MALoterte, PIA V)

DOLE TO LAUNCH DAMA-BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY – “It’s not a board game but an alliance aimed for a better Bicol,” Atty. Alvin M. Villamor, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol regional director, said over a media interview yesterday, here, on the much awaited project launching of DAMA-Bicol this July.

The DOLE and Media Alliance for Bicol codenamed “DAMA Bicol” is a pet project of the agency aimed to improve the Labor Relations Services by forging a partnership with the tri-media in gathering labor complaints.

“Let’s accept the fact that even if we want to, we cannot visit every establishment in Bicol. We only have about 13 inspectors covering the entire region and clearly it will not be enough. DAMA is our solution!” Villamor explained.

The DAMA project will give authority to radio, TV stations and other media outlets to receive labor complaints, whether anonymous or not, document it, and channel these complaints to DOLE Bicol for appropriate actions. Upon receiving the complaints, the agency will send out an inspection team the establishment for verification.

“This way, we will be saving on manpower and financial resources by going directly to the problematic establishment identified by the media rather than individually visiting each establishment like in a regular inspection. The response time will be much faster and the complaints will be accurate,” Villamor added.

DAMA will also address DOLE Bicol’s stalemate problem of having no complainant. Villamor relayed that in routine inspection, most of the time, the employees are hesitant to disclose information or open-up their complaints or query because of fear.

“The scenario is like this, we receive an anonymous complaint from the media, we go to the place then find nothing because the employees are afraid. With DAMA all this will be changed,” assured Villamor.

For checks and balances and to eliminate prank complaints, DOLE Bicol will provide a Two-fold Uniform Complaint Sheet Query Form, a.k.a. TUSOC-Q, which will be accomplished by the media practitioner or outlet who received the complaint and counter-signed by the media outlet’s station manager.

TUSOC-Q form will contain the complaint details like cell phone number of complainants, establishments name, major complaint/query, time the complaint was received and if possible name of the complainant. “This TUSOC-Q of the DAMA will be like a motu-propio of a wage increase.”

More details of the DAMA will be discussed during its launching on the second week of July. DAMA was conceptualized after DOLE Bicol received a handful of complaints from the media during radio program interviews. (RPEscalante, DOLE V/PIA)
NFA ENDS SALE OF RICE AT P18.25 PER KILO

LEGAZPI CITY --- The National Food Authority (NFA) in Bicol effected the transformation of all Tindahan Natin Outlets (TNOs) and Tindahan sa Parokya Outlets (TSPs) into Bigasan Sa Barangay Outlets (BBOs) and Bigasan Sa Parokya Outlets (BPOs) to distribute NFA rice at the regular price of P25.00 per kilogram effective June 24, 2010.

This was in compliance with the instruction of erstwhile Administrator Jessup P. Navarro received last June 23.

Until last June 23, TNOs and TSPs were selling rice to their respective target beneficiaries in the barangays at P18.25 per kilogram from their NFA rice allocations bought at P16.75 per kilogram

Due to the heavy subsidy given to the TNOs and TSPs, NFA borne the huge cost of social function serving the poorest of the poor which add up to its financial losses.

In line with this directive, BPOs shall maintain its name under the Community Based Outlets category and shall likewise be selling the same price as that of the regular NFA’s accredited regular outlets at P25.00 per kilogram.

All TNO and BPO operators are advised to see the nearest NFA office for further information and instructions on their new increased allocations and the replacement of their billboards and retailer’s passbooks. (NEAlcantara, NFA V/PIA)

SEARCH FOR TEN ACCOMPLISHED YOUTH ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED IN NAGA

NAGA CITY — The National Youth Commission (NYC), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has recently launched the 2010 Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) in Bicol.

TAYO Awards program is an annual search and recognition program for the outstanding contribution made by a youth and youth serving organizations nationwide.

Apolonio Maleniza III, NYC executive director and chief operation officer, explained that the TAYO award is given to the outstanding Filipino youth group in recognition for their exemplary performance in the implementation of any program or project that may help respond to a need or problem in the locality, promote positive changes or employ innovative solutions which the community will benefit.

In 2009, Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Municipal Federation of Pamplona, Camarines Sur was adjudged one of the Ten TAYO Awardees, with the winning entry was dubbed as “Dunong Kwarta sa Bio-Sand Filter Project”.

The project has provided Pamplona constituents especially the young children with safe drinking water.

Other finalists for Bicol were: “Anduyog” Youth Volunteers of Aquinas University, Legazpi City; College of Commerce and Accountancy Central Council, Mabini College, Daet, Camarines Norte (2006 finalist); Student Government Council, University of Northeastern Philippines, Iriga City (2004 finalist); and Center for Arts and Bicol Studies, Naga College Foundation (2003 finalist).

Meanwhile, Maria Corazon Pitero, DSWD OIC chief of the Operations Division, shared that the DSWD has focused in strengthening the organization of the Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) and in the implementation of the youth programs not only by the local government units (LGUs) but with the NGOs who cater for the youth welfare.

Pitero assured that as an ardent supporter of the TAYO the DSWD will continue to support youth organizations through technical assistance and partnership with LGUs and other partners.

Together with the NYC, the TAYO Foundation with Senator Francis Pangilinan as the prime mover, has emerged to be the country’s foremost award winning body for youth organizations. (EEJerusalem, DSWD V/PIA)

PNPA NOW ACCEPTS APPLICATION FOR CADET ADMISSION TEST

SORSOGON CITY — The Police Provincial Office (PPO) here has announced that the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) commences accepting application for the Cadet Admission Test for 2010.

Applicants for the cadetship program must have the following qualifications:
1. A natural-born Filipino citizen;
2. Of good moral character;
3. Male or female, single and with no legal obligation to support a child or children;
4. 17 to 21 years old (born between May 2, 1988-May 1, 1993);
5. Height of at least 162.5 cm (5ft 4in) for male, and 157.5 (5ft 2 in) for female;
6. Weight of not more or less than five (5) kilograms of the standard weight measurement corresponding to height, age and sex;
7. At least high school graduate;
8. Must be able to perform the following physical fitness exercises:
Exercises Female Male
Pull-ups 10
Full Arms Hanging 40 sec
2 min Push-ups 50 55
100 meter dash 20 sec 17 sec
1000 meter run 5:30 4:30
9. Physically and mentally fit for cadetship training;
10. No criminal, administrative, or civil case on file before any Prosecutor’s office or any Court of Justice and other derogatory record(s)
11. Not a former cadet of PNPA or other service academies.
Deadline for submission of application is on September 30, 2010.
Apply now: the PNPA Cadet Admission Test will be on November 7, 2010 (Sunday).

For more information visit Sorsogon PPO at Camp Salvador C. Escudero Sr. in PCR or Administration Office. (Sorsogon PPO/PIA)

DA, PHILRICE ARM FARMERS WITH ‘SUBMARINE RICE’ VS LA NIÑA
By Danny O. Calleja

PILI, Camarines Sur — The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are arming farmers in flood-prone areas of Bicol with submergence-tolerant rice varieties to combat the negative effects on rice production in the region of the looming La Niña phenomenon.

Government weathermen have forecast that a prolonged wet season would prevail over the archipelago starting by the third quarter of this year as an aftermath of the drought which recently hit most parts of the country.

The expected La Niña will certainly cause floods that would once again submerge vast rice fields in low-lying areas particularly those within the Bicol River Basin (BRB), a 312,164-hectare wetland covering 41 municipalities of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Albay, Marilyn Sta. Catalina, DA’s regional executive director for Bicol on Monday said.

Under normal condition, Sta. Catalina said this area accounts for about 40 percent of the region’s rice production but this output is reduced significantly during incidents of extensive rainfalls as the rice paddies go down under water destroying rice crops.

In most instances, floodwaters that end up in ricefields from swollen rivers with depth of about one meter submerge for a week or longer hence, transplanted seedlings are already rotten when the water subsides, she said.

Prone to the floods are low-lying areas in at least 30 towns of Camarines Sur, five in Albay and four in Camarines Norte and the DA Bicol chief, farmers in these areas may avail of the Submarino 1 seeds.

Submergence of rice fields in these areas have been a problem and yet, Sta. Catalina said farmers are left with no choice but plant rice during the wet season, hoping that they will be able to harvest something for their own consumption. In the very low-lying areas, farmers have to wait for the dry season to produce a successful crop.

She said “the low-lying rice areas are not productive with any crop as they are fully submerged during seasons with heavy rains. In low-lying areas with poor drainage, flooding with heavy rain starts in June or July and extends to November, but may vary from September to October when typhoons and floods usually occur.

“With two to three days of heavy rain or three to four days of moderate rainfall, fields remain submerged in August to October. With heavy rain and flood, water remains up to one month in the very low-lying areas. Sometimes, the very low-lying areas are submerged in December to January with very deep water, over a person’s height. The floodwater with mud called banlig is the most damaging to the crop,” the DA chief said.

Sta. Catalina said that farmers in the low-lying areas generally produce one successful crop in the dry season with a yield of 4-4.5 tons a hectare. Those who attempt to raise a wet season crop usually transplant several times during the submergence-risk period until a good crop is established in time with the recession of flood water.

When the paddies are submerged early in the wet season, farmers wait until the water recedes, and as soon as the soil becomes visible, they transplant rice even if it is already a month late, resulting in a late harvest in November, she said.

Sta. Catalina said that during cropping seasons starting 2008 until this year, the DA and PhilRice have expanded the area allotted for the propagation of the submergence-tolerant rice varieties called Submarino 1, Samba Mahsuri-Sub, Sub 1 lines Swarna and IR49830-7-1-2-3.

Submarino 1 is a common rice variety called IR64 that is infused with submergence tolerance gene (Sub 1) which the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the University of California-Davis have discovered from an Indian rice variety called FR13A.

“Submarino 1 is a non-genetically engineered rice plant that can survive, grow and develop even after 10 days of complete submergence at vegetative stage,” according to Dr. Nenita Desamero, PhilRice plant breeder and team leader of the on farm testing of submergence rice here.

Normally, she said, rice submerged at tillering stage can only survive for one week, while seedling can only last for three to five days.

First introduced to farmers in flood prone San Antonio, Nueva Ecija during the 2007 wet season under a project called Implementation Plans to Disseminate Submergence-Tolerant Rice Varieties and Associated New Production Plans Practices to Southeast Asia, Submarino l showed the same yield performance of IR64 under favorable condition.

The project implemented by PhilRice and IRRI and was funded by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Desamero, the discovery has paved the way for the development of the submergence-tolerant rice lines such as IR64-Sub 1.

The situation in the Philippine’s low-lying areas however, is not an isolated case. Similar cases are found in Indonesia. Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos drawing IRRI scientists into an experiment that led to the breeding of a variety that can survive, grow and develop even after 10 days of complete submergence in murky and cloudy water.

Starting in the 2007 wet season, IRRI and PhilRice initiated collaborative efforts to test IR64-Sub 1 and three other submergence-tolerant cultivars at the PhilRice central experiment station in Maligaya, Munoz and in Barangay Papaya, San Antonio, both in Nueva Ecija.

“When we introduced the IR64-Sub 1 variety in our first consultation meeting and consultation on August 9 and 10,2007 in San Antonio, farmers, municipal agricultural officer and agricultural technicians got excited as they saw hope in turning their idle, less productive, and always-submerged paddies into productive paddies,” Desamero said.

Robert Ziegler, IRRI director general said he is excited about the dissemination of submergence-tolerant rice. “If these technologies get deployed, they can be our strongest weapons in our battle against food security,” he said. (PNA Bicol)

P-Noy cites People Power in first Palace flag rites

MANILA — President Benigno “P-Noy” S. Aquino III in his first flag raising ceremony with Malacañang employees Monday (July 5), called on Palace personnel to unite and support him to keep the spirit of People Power alive.

“Hinihiling ko sa inyo ang inyong pakikiisa upang lalo pang tumingkad at manatiling buhay ang diwa ng People Power. Ito po ang nagdala sa atin dito sa Palasyo. Inaasahan ko po na ito rin ang tutulong sa atin upang maisagawa ang ating mga tungkulin (I ask for your unity and cooperation so that the spirit of People Power will be enhanced and kept alive. This is what brought us here to the Palace. I expect that this (People Power spirit) will ever be there to guide us so we can fulfill our duties and responsibilities,” the new Chief Executive told some 150 Palace staffers, many of whom worked during the incumbency of her mother, the late President Corazon C. Aquino, from l986 to 1992.

Aquino said he did recognize the same faces that were of great help when the Cory Aquino presidency were hobbled by crisis.

“And you did not abandon us, “ he added.

Joining the President at the flag rites were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., and Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad.

In his speech that followed the singing of the National Anthem and the Pledge to the Flag, the President called on the employees to support him and his administration as it embarks on the task of nation building.

“Katulad po ng aking nasambit noong Miyerkules, ang pagtahak sa tuwid na landas ay hindi ko makakamit nang mag-isa,” the President said, adding, “Kinakailangan ko po ang inyong tulong, katapatan sa serbisyo at pag-unawa lalo na sa mga pagkakataong tila hindi na ako makausap sa dami ng iniisip.”

“Magtulungan tayo para sa ikauunlad ng sambayanang Pilipino at para sa magandang kinabukasan ng darating pang mga henerasyon,” President Aquino said.

Aquino then thanked the employees especially those who had served under his mother’s administration and now are working for him.

“Ako po’y lubos na nagagalak na makasama kayo lalo na po ang ilan sa inyo na nakilala ko na noong manungkulan ang aking ina at ngayon ay makakasama kong muli,” he said.

“Marami po akong alaala mula sa panahong namalagi kami sa palasyo. Marami kaming naging kaibigan kahit marami kaming naka-bangga,” he added.

“Sa lahat ng pagsubok, nagbantay kayo at nag-aruga. Hinding-hindi ninyo kami pinabayaan,” the President said. (PIA V Release)

P-Noy to PAF: Follow professionalism, utilitarianism

MANILA — President Benigno “P-Noy” S. Aquino III urged Monday (July 5) the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to follow the concept of professionalism and utilitarianism in its endeavors and use of resources to promote the good of the greater number.

In his speech at the 63rd anniversary of the PAF at the Jesus Villamor Air Base, the President said the reforms to be undertaken by his administration will have to take into consideration this concept due to the limited resources at its disposal.
“The foundation of all these is the goal of our administration to improve the economy where we need an improved peace and order situation,” he said.

President Aquino pointed out the two-pronged duty of the PAF which include territorial defense and disaster response. “We need to review and plan how to strengthen our facility readiness,” he said.

The President commended the PAF for doing its job well during the last May 10 polls, noting that despite the many challenges, it was able to do its tasks.

“On this, your anniversary, what I want you to know is this: Your president and your countrymen are proud of the work you are doing. Sa eleksiyon, ginampanan ninyo ang inyong tungkulin ng walang pamumulitika. Kung anong kagitingan ang ipinapakita ninyo sa mga combat operations, yun din ang pinapakita ninyong malasakit sa panahon ng kalamidad. Keep it up,” he said.

The Chief Executive said the whole military, including the PAF, has to be modernized in order to do its task of maintaining peace and security.

For the PAF, the President said there is an urgent need to upgrade machines and equipment, procurement of new air assets and surveillance equipment.

“For you to perform your tasks well, there is also a need to provide you what you lack in logistical and maintenance requirements so you can achieve your mission and needed flight hours, “he said.

He expressed confidence that through the able leadership of PAF Chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, these plans for the PAF will able realized.

Moreover, the President said he believes that the “effectiveness of any military organization is dependent on officers and men and women having full faith and confidence that they will be provided the means to do their job: from arms and equipment to homes and health care. The proper relationship between civilians and the military exists where there is trust, and that trust depends on strategic harmony.”

“My fundamental philosophy is there cannot be right solutions without the corresponding correct identification of the problems. (Defense) Secretary Gazmin is undertaking, at my direction, a comprehensive review of the many aspects of our national defense with this orientation in mind. I want you to know that if my expectations of you are high, it is because I know that our people’s expectations of all of us are the highest. I will not make false promises to you or tell you things simply for the sake of making positive headlines,” the President added. (PIA V Release)

Palace eyes envoys' 3-month term extension

MANILA — Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., and Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo have jointly recommended to President Benigno “P-Noy” S. Aquino III a three-month extension of the term of all ambassadors whose appointments are co-terminous with that of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and therefore deemed to have expired last June 30.

The move, announced by Ochoa in radio interview, sought to maintain the status quo in the country’s foreign service which had started recalling the so-called “political appointees” in the diplomatic posts abroad, and to finally resolved the question on whether or not their ambassadorial posting are considered automatically terminated, and that they should immediately return home following the June 30 change of government.

The recommendations are now at the President’s desk.

“Secretary Romulo and I have been conferring and we agreed to recommend that they be extended for a few more months because we don’t want to disrupt diplomatic relations with other countries,” Ochoa said.

“There are many pending transactions, pending concerns that are needed to be addressed and should not be disrupted by simply recalling them,” he stressed.

The three-month extension expires on September 30 by which time the affected diplomatic officials are expected to have wound up their tasks.

Sec. Ochoa also said all ambassadors, either career or political appointees, should stay put in their foreign postings until Sept. 30, unless recalled earlier.

“Everybody stays until they are replaced or until the agreed period, whichever comes first,” Ochoa added.

He said there are 21 political ambassadors who are still in active service. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, a handful of these diplomatic officials have already come home. Among them were Ambassador to Iran retired Gen. Generoso Senga, Alejandro del Rosario (Warsaw), Acmad Omar (Oman), Masaranga Umpa (Nigeria), Alexander Yano (Brunei), Rigoberto Tiglao (Athens), Antonio Villamor (Riyadh), and Domingo Siazon (Tokyo).

One school of thought that will probably be cleared out of the Ochoa-Romulo reommendation is the issue of whether diplomats should not vacate their posts without replacements because it is considered a violation of the rules in diplomatic relations.

Also expected to be cleared is the issue of whether the “political” ambassadors should have come home voluntarily because their respective charge d’affairs can tentatively take over their functions until their replacements have been appointed. (PIA V Release)

Pres. Aquino orders two-week Cabinet familiarization activity

MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III is giving his Cabinet members two weeks to familiarize themselves with their respective offices.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Mr. Aquino gave this order so the Cabinet members can gain knowledge that will help them better identify measures that will further boost the performance of respective offices and of government in general.

"During the Cabinet meeting, the President said all officials concerned must know respective departments within the next two weeks," he said.

Lacierda noted such knowledge will also help generate inputs for President Aquino's first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) this July 26.

This SONA is the new President's first official crack at seeking Congress' support for initiatives of his administration.

Among such initiatives is instituting reforms for fast-tracking resolution of court cases nationwide.

Lacierda assured earlier the administration is bent on keeping its election campaign vow to fast-track resolving as many cases as possible.
He raised urgency for implementing the reforms, noting it takes an average of nearly two decades for a case to be resolved.

Aside from such period of waiting and agony, he said, the Department of Justice (DOJ) conviction rate for cases nationwide is below 20 percent.

Lacierda said President Aquino wants the judicial reforms instituted as early as possible, particularly since the Constitution calls for provision of speedy justice. (PIA V Release)

P-Noy issues 22-point labor policy agenda

MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III is keen on creating jobs in the country. He said so in not so many words in his inaugural address wherein he underscored the need to provide an environment conducive to business in the country so that Filipinos will no longer feel the need to look for jobs abroad.

President Aquino has basis to make the statement. He has a 22-point labor policy agenda for the Department of Labor and Employment to implement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said in a interview over national television station.

The strategies include addressing the labor-mismatch, investing in skills training, promoting the rights of workers and involving them in the policy-making process, strengthening tripartite cooperation, and streamlining procedures and removing red tape.

The Aquino Government will also seek to align the country's labor policies with international treaties and international labor organization conventions, review the continued deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), facilitate their re-integration, address the social cost of migration, and improve coordination with aligned agencies to ensure the well-being of workers in the Philippines and in other shores.

President Aquino has expressed his desire to provide an ideal environment for business in order to make more quality jobs available to Filipinos so that they can make genuine choices and so that they will choose to stay in the country, the Labor Secretary said, citing her interview with the President days before his inauguration.

President Aquino has also tasked the DOLE to review and evaluate a department ruling, allowing the Philippine Airlines management to outsource its critical operations, resulting in the possible mass layoff of some 3,000 employees. Aquino wants the labor dispute resolved to see how the outcome may serve as a litmus test of his administration's handling of labor management issues.

Citing the low number of strikes due to the country's very effective conciliatory machinery, the Labor Secretary said industrial peace comes from mutual cooperation of labor and management, where the parties are not adversarial and engage in a voluntary settlement of dispute.

The Aquino administration also wants to evaluate the minimum wages of workers in Metro Manila as it is no longer competitive with the country's Asian neighbors. (PIA V Release)