ALBAY HOLDS FIRST HEALTH FEST
…local government claims of partial victory in achieving MDG

LEGAZPI CITY — As health now becomes one of the themes of festivals in Albay, the provincial government staged a one-day Health Fest Thursday (August 12) to boost the province’s claim of partial victory in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set by the United Nations (UN).

In the forum, Albay Governor Joey Salceda has proclaimed the achievements of IMR, MMR, CMR targets 7 years ahead of deadline, citing programs, projects and policies, non-withstanding crediting the partners and stakeholders for their contribution and collaboration with the provincial government.

Salceda averred that highlights of the Albay health strategy that enabled such early MDG achievement include the increase of provincial health budget from P101 million in 2007 to P170 million in 2010.

“The provincial government was also able to cover from 18,010 in 2007 to 173,000 in 2010 membership in the Philipine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and effected the modernization of health facilities close to P300 million and P460 million utilized from mobilized AOP of P630million,” he elaborated.

Dr. Luis Mendoza, Albay Provincial Health Office (APHO) chief, meanwhile said “the new priorities the local health office is mulling at are to upgrade Ziga and Duran into tertiary hospitals, upgrade coastal hospitals Pioduran and Pantao into secondary hospitals, modernize 30 strategic barangay health stations to serve as first line health providers to barangay clusters, and establish an oncology center at BRTTH.

The one-day health fest was participated in by Albay’s development partners, including the Department of Health (DOH), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Agencia Española Por Cooperaccion Internacional Para El Desarrollu (Aecid), local health units, local chief executives and private health service providers.

USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele, here on her first out-of-town trip since assuming her post, and a huge contingent of program officers of USAID graced the event. (MALoterte, PIA V)

EMBRACING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR 4Ps

LEGAZPI CITY — Being a parent leader is not easy, it entails a lot of responsibilities and what makes it harder is the thought that one might not be able to meet the expectations.

Noda Rino, a parent leader of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from Barangay Hobo, Balud, Masbate, once contemplated along this line.

According to her, she would not believe that she could be a parent leader because for one, she considers herself shy.

Being a full time housewife, she would rather stay at home and do the household chores than go out and mingle with people. She believes that her family needs her more at home. She shared that above anything else, all that she wants is to make their house a cheerful home to welcome her three children and her husband after a hard days work.

Just like any other family however, they too have experienced difficulties. Her husband is a farmer, who barely earns enough to provide their family with the basic necessities. The El Niño phenomenon made their situation worse. Their crops dried up leaving them with no farm produce.

Fortunately, their family was one among the 3,222 families chosen to benefit from the 4Ps in Balud, Masbate.

4Ps is a poverty alleviation program of the government that provides cash assistance to extremely poor families to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of their children. Neda used this grant to augment their family’s resources. In this program, mothers are identified to receive the cash grants because they are considered as the most responsible person in the household. With this, Neda, was obliged to go out and interact with her co-beneficiaries, and luckily, she became a parent leader and later on became a active participant in every activity.

Being a parent leader brought many changes in her life. She became more knowledgeable with many things such as the proper use of 4Ps family booklet, a tool used for monitoring if the beneficiaries follow the program’s conditionalities.

Family Development Sessions which the beneficiaries are required to attend also enhanced their awareness in the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Law (RA 9262) so that quarrels or domestic problems were minimized. It was also remarkable that gambling in their barangay stopped.

Seeing the positive changes in her life and the beneficiaries’ life as well, brought about by 4Ps, she could now gladly say that she is now ready to embrace all the responsibilities of a parent leader.(AMayor, 4Ps-DSWD V/PIA)

TECH-VOC SCHOOLS ALL SET FOR 2010 CAMARINES SUR SKILLS OLYMPICS

NAGA CITY — The association of Private and Public Technical-Vocational Schools of Camarines Sur (APPTVICS), under the headship of Danny De Leon, is all set for the conduct of the 2010 Skills Olympics to he held here, on August 27, 2010.

De Leon, who is also serving as chair of the Skills Olympics working committee, is positive that the said endeavor will bring out the best from each contender, adding that “We are looking forward to a healthy competition of mind and skills that would prove how proficient and competent Bicolanos are when it comes to showcasing their respective crafts.”

TESDA Camarines Sur Provincial Director Pascual Arriola also expressed his full support for the said activity.

TESDA’s Senecio Paladan, vice chair of the technical committee, will handle the technical concerns of the competition. He will closely work with other committee chairmen, particularly with the coaches, contest administrators and trainors who will handle the roles concerning the various competing categories during the event.

The contenders will compete under three major categories: Information and Communication Technology ( ICT), Tourism Hospitality and Construction Technology.

Under the ICT category, competitors will test their skills on Computer Programming, Computer Graphics, Web Design/ Programming, Computer Hardware Servicing and Consumer Electronics.

For tourism buffs, the tour-guiding and Tour Packaging contest is open under the Tourism Hospitality Category. Various fields of the contest include bartending, Food and Table Arrangement, Cake Decoration and Event Organizing.

Under the Construction Technology, contenders will show off their expertise on Welding, Plumbing, Building Wiring, Masonry and Carpentry.

De Leon said that in the next few weeks they will be conducting series of marathon meetings to ensure the success of the said activity.

TESDA also looks forward to the said event with great anticipation. Arriola said that this is also in line with their department’s directive to develop competency standards for students, who in turn can use their skills in applying for better jobs in the future.

TESDA is a government agency mandated to “manage and supervise technical education and skills development in the country.” It was created by virtue of Republic Act 7796, otherwise known as the Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)

BATANGAS, QUEZON FOLKS URGED TO OPPOSE TOLL RATE HIKE

LEGAZPI CITY– Albay Governor Joey Salceda has called on all users of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), especially those from Quezon province and Batangas, to oppose the 277 percent toll hike to save their economies and people's right to travel.

Salceda said the SLEX toll rate hikes would be another major net resource outflow from Albay economy.
He said that once the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is lifted, the fee hike could drastically drag the economies of Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Albay and other provinces.

Using vehicle registration, car ownership and trade patterns, Bicol originates only 15 percent of total vehicular traffic at SLEX and Albay is estimated at 4 percent. “That appears small for all the big noise we are making. Admittedly, it should really be Batangas and Quezon who should be at the forefront of this cause,” Salceda said.

However, that 4 percent actually translates to P400 million per year and becomes big when compared to the nominal aggregate household income of Albay at P18 billion,Salceda said, using 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES).

“This also represents a net resource transfer from our provincial economy of P400 million which again looks small but that is almost one half of our annual provincial budget of P920 million and that, to me as a governor mandated to manage local economic development effort to reduce poverty, is a huge resource outflow that could be saved and retained in our local economy to be used by our households for their basic needs and by small businesses to invest,” he said.

This P400 million resource transfer is "plainly a no-brainer because we only need to stanch their hemorrhage," said Salceda.

"We are all for infrastructure modernization. But for whom? And at whose expense? I am told (that)if TRO and SLEX go the route of NAIA 3, it would send negative signals on the country's policy predictability and undermine its attraction as an investment destination. But, it is not our doing that (a) the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA) joint venture was not subjected to procurement procedures- it was neither bid out or even Swiss-challenged and (b) the toll fee was not subjected to notice and hearing. It is the judgment call of the investor (there is such a thing called ‘due diligence’) to take the intrinsic risks as a consequence of such utter lack of transparency behind such shocking quadrupling of rates. Common sense would easily tell you that such lethal combination would trigger a public outcry,” Salceda said.

SLEX toll hike is an unavoidable burden of the viajeros, the lynchpin of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), he said.

Seventy-four percent of the Philippine poor is rural. And Bicol accounts for 9 percent of this poor, the second highest pool of poor among regions. “As a practitioner of rural development strategy since I entered local politics in 1998, I have witnessed the critical role of two key players in the rural markets- lowly viajeros and the compradors (Copra, Coconut farmers)- in the viability of farmers, small agroprocessors, coop-owned firms, household-based business or negosyo and entrepreneurs.

Micro and small enterprises account for 99 percent of total businesses in Bicol, just like the national average. And, viajeros and compradors are the lynchpins or binding forces in rural markets, he said..
They play significantly in the provision of informal financing, in taking risks in price and volumes as an aggregator and in making rural products reach urban markets.

Typically, a viajero would have an Izuzu Elf probably acquired through in-house (casa) installment financing and a house serving as warehouse as their main physical assets. But, accounts receivables and advances would be a bigger item in their balance sheet.

Thus, understanding their operations is central to any rural development strategy as they either you displace them with alternative institutions, fortify them by enabling them to go formal or mainstream through easier access to bank financing or supervised credit programs or increase their numbers to foster competition through a more expansive macro policies.

“This is the context for our strong opposition, as Albay governor and Regional Development Council (RDC)-Bicol Chairman, to the abrupt quadrupling or 277 percent of SLEX toll fees because of their impact on the cost structure of viajeros.

Fuel is their main variable cash expense - computed at an average P1,348, i.e. 586 kms divided by 15km/liter x P34/liter. Thus the P232 toll would repesent 17 percent of their fuel expense, increase their costs by 13 percent. And there is a risk that they find no backload in Divisoria to carry to Polangui, Albay. The toll then exaggerates their costs. Bicol relies on the rest of Luzon for inputs to their businesses and consumer commodities. Again, the toll fee hikes would be passed on to ordinary consumers.

“Verily, the Bicol viajero has no choice but to use SLEX unlike their counterpart in the north - there is MNR for TPLEX, Gapan-Olongapo Road for Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Macarthur for NLEX. The vehicular traffic in Alabang-Calamba section of the MSR is just too heavy due to the rapid industrialization and massive residential development of Calabarzon. In effect, the monopoly position of SLEX as a provider is quite elevated, virtually making the toll fees a major unavoidable cost item for the viajeros. In short, they are likely to more risk averse in their trade transactions given the upward shift in their cost structure," Salceda said. (PNA Bicol)

BIR CAMNORTE INTENSIFIES COLLECTION TO HELP ACHIEVE NATIONAL TARGET

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) district office here has collected P295 million compared to target goal of P209 million for the period January to July this year.

Revenue District Officer Marcelino Quito said that the agency has posted P85 million or 40.79 percent increase in the collection for the first six month this year.

Quito said that at least P400 million increase in the collection for the Bicol region was noted compared to target goal for the said period.

He cited that Camarines Norte was second in the Bicol region in highest collection efficiency and ranked eight in the whole country.

He said that for this year Camarines Norte target goal is 410 million to help achieve the national target of 860 billion.

He explained that they started implementing the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) being one of the program of President Noynoy Aquino.
In the RATE at least one tax evaders will be caught every month but in the province at least one every 6 months.

He explained that they will also intensify tax mapping operation in the province.

Quito urged business establishments to issue receipts to avoid punishment through Oplan Kandado or closure of their ventures.

He added that taxes provide funds for the Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) of the local government units and other programs and projects of the government. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

AFP CHIEF TELLS SOLDIERS TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS

PILI, Camarines Sur-- AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr. said over the weekend respect for human rights, internal security operation (ISO), capability building and soldiers' welfare are among the policy thrusts the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would be doing under his watch.

David, during his sorties at 9th Philippine Army Infantry Division at Camp Elias Angeles here, said these policies that the AFP is expected to carry out is in line with President Benigno Aquino’s directives to maintain peace in the country, justice for all and good governance.

David reminded his men that while the AFP is continuously intensifying its internal security operation against the communist movement, respect for human rights should always prevail.

“Our pursuit to fill-up our combat scoreboard should be done not at the expense of civilians -- let us ensure that minimum collateral damage occurs in every engagement,” he said.

David warned his men that the he will not tolerate abuses committed by members of the AFP as he reiterated to strictly follow the AFP’s rules of engagement and respect for human rights.

While the AFP is winning the war against terrorism, the AFP is in the process of making a comprehensive review of the military’s ISO to further improve its performance.

David commended the 9th ID for an outstanding work in dismantling several communist guerrilla fronts in many parts of the region.

Maj. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan at the command conference told the AFP Chief of Staff that the ISO operation in Bicol has gained grounds dismantling several NPA Guerrilla fronts, camps, safe houses in the provinces of Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur.

Pabustan said that during the May national election, the military played a pivotal role in the creation of Task Force Masbate (TFM) wherein they were able to dismantle four private armed groups operating in the island province of Masbate.

The Philippine Army in Bicol was able to seize from NPA rebels during engagements a total of 68 high and low caliber firearms of various types, including improvised land mines and subversive documents.

David said he has lined-up priority programs that would build the soldiers' morale and welfare which include the fast processing of retired soldiers benefits, the immediate issuance of financial benefits to combat casualties, combat incentive pay, health benefits, improvement of military’s training institutions.

As for the soldiers' pay, David emphasized that he will strictly pursue the directive against the using of soldiers Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards as collateral in getting in advance the soldiers' salary.
“We will not allow loan sharks to enjoy the practice of using soldiers' ATM as collateral that yields high interest rates on the loan. Soldiers found out loaning their ATMs would be severely dealt with administratively. (PNA Bicol/PIA Bicol)

PALACE OPENS NEW INTERACTIVE WEBSITE

MANILA — Malacanang has opened a new interactive website which provides the public updates on the official events of President Benigno S. Aquino III and at the same time serve as a constructive feedback mechanism using the digital media.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma launched the Palace’s official website “www.president.gov.ph” during a media briefing this afternoon (Monday, August 16) in Malacanang.

Coloma said, the one launched today is Phase I of Malacanang’s new media communications infrastructure which features three banner statements—“Piliin Natin ang Daang Matuwid; “Kayo ang BOSS Ko;” and Iba na tayo ngayon, BAGONG Pilipinas.”

Coloma said the first banner statement represents the public’s commitment to follow the new path that the President has set forth while the second statement mirrors the President’s personal commitment expressed during his first State-Of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last July.

“The third banner statement ‘Iba na tayo ngayon, Bagong Pilipinas,’ represents the commitment of our national leadership towards rebuilding trust in government, weeding out corruption, and ushering in a new era in a new culture of good governance,” Coloma said.

Aside from viewing the latest news, photo and video releases, Coloma said the public can now also air their views and concerns using social media links such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Friendster and Multiply which can be acted upon immediately by concerned government agencies. (PIA V Release)

P-NOY TO PUT UP E-CENTERS NATIONWIDE

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III plans to establish an e-center in every barangay nationwide to ensure that even citizens in the remotest barangays will have access to his website and be able to share their views and concerns with him.

In a press briefing after today’s (Monday, August 16) launching of the President’s website, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said the Aquino Administration will bring the government closer to the people through the use of traditional, new media and social networking sites.

Coloma said the President intends to reach out to the 42,000 barangays all over the country through his website www.president.gov.ph and through the use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and Multiply among others.

“This is an effective means by which the President can get the sentiments of the people and have them as partners in good governance,” Coloma stressed.

He said this will be realized with “no extravagant expenditure” as Netopia, an internet cafe network operating in the country, has “formally signified making available all their sites nationwide to provide access to our people.”

According to Coloma the local government units (LGUs) will also be encouraged to set-up barangay e-centers.

“We will also evoke civil spiritedness so that concerned citizens may donate computers and connectivity,” Coloma said. (PIA V Release)

PRESIDENT AQUINO SUSPENDS VAT ON TOLL

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III said Monday (August 16) that he has suspended imposing additional taxes on toll fees pending further discussions on the issue.

“Yung VAT (value added tax), I’ve actually put it on hold as of last week (as) this is still subject to a lot of discussions,” the President told reporters in Malacañang this morning.

The Chief Executive pointed out that the discussions centered on two important points namely: the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) franchise and the possible effect of the actual imposition of VAT on toll which, he said, “might deter economic activity.”

According to the President, the issue on the PNCC franchise, whose extension beyond its expiration 2007 is being questioned in court, has to be addressed as the revenue generated from this entity can be used to recoup the investment of those who built the South and North Luzon Expressways.

He said the imposition of VAT on toll fees and the subsequent reconfiguring of toll fee amounts may have implications on future investments in the country.

“There is a study on-going on the implications as far as SLEX is concerned: the increase in toll rates, the increase in transportation, and of course VAT is another cost that might deter economic activity,” the President said.

“There is an ongoing study on the effect of all these increases in toll rates and transportation, and of course Vat is another cost that might deter economic growth,” he said. (PIA V Release)

PRESIDENT AQUINO TO EMBARK ON US ROAD TRIP NEXT MONTH

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III confirmed Monday (August 16) that he will be embarking on a United States “road trip” next month to invite potential investors to the country.

In an interview, President Aquino said he will be meeting with Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima “who just came back from setting the ground work for the US trip” to discuss the particulars on how “to make the country even more attractive to all of these investors in the hopes of generating all of those jobs.”

The President said that he was informed by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas upon their first meeting that “there is a serious interest on the part of investors to know what’s in store for them if they invest in the Philippines.”

“So you know that job generation is the first priority and America is still the biggest (of our) trading partners therefore we are called upon to go there and try to make the country even more attractive to investors in the hopes of generating all of those jobs,” the President said.

The President also said that aside from pushing for the Philippines as an investment haven, his other itinerary for the US trip will include his attendance to the United Nations General Assembly, witnessing the signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact granting $434-million to the country and meeting with the Philippine Development Foundation (PDF).

He said his meeting with the PDF was to discuss ways of “growing our information technology base of people, engineers and scientists.”

“Because there are Filipinos and Americans of Filipino descent who are into venture-capital industries and they are movers and shakers of that industry. They find it difficult to invest in the Philippines primarily because we lack the human resources to meet the needs of industries in that category,” the President said.

When asked if he would hold talks with US President Barack Obama, President Aquino said that the details were “still being finalized.” (PIA V Release)

PRESIDENT AQUINO SWEARS-IN SC ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SERENO

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oath of office of newly appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno in simple ceremonies held in Malacañang Monday (August 16).

Sereno was appointed to the position vacated by then Associate Justice Renato Corona who now sits as the 23rd Chief Justice of the High Court.

In an interview immediately after the oath-taking, the President said he chose Sereno over other Associate Justice candidates recommended by the Judicial and Bar Council for her “awe-inspiring” resume which included her being instrumental in winning the PIATCO and FRAPORT cases in favor of the Philippines.

He added that Sereno and he shared the same view when it came to his “centerpiece” program of reforming the judiciary.

Sereno, who is currently the executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines’ College of Law in 1984, and was the class valedictorian.

She holds a degree in economics from the Ateneo de Manila University and a master’s degree in law from the University of Michigan Law School.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona witnessed Sereno’s swearing-in which was held in Malacañang’s Rizal Hall at around 11a.m. Also present were the other SC Associate Justices: Antonio Carpio, Conchita Carpio Morales, Presbitero Velasco, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo Brion, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Roberto Abad, Martin Villarama, Jr., Jose Perez and Jose Mendoza.

In a statement, Sereno thanked President Aquino for the opportunity to serve the country as a member of the Supreme Court and vowed to work “to help fulfil the Filipino’s quest for true justice.” (PIA V Release)