JICA'S GRANT TO ALBAY REACHES P1.28 BILLION

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay has received from Japanese government an additional grant of P944-million, now bringing to P1.284-billion the single-country total assistance intended for the establishment of calamity-control facilities in the province.

Albay officials and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had signed here Thursday (August 5) the memorandum of agreement (MOA) of some P944-million grant to be used in the construction of evacuation buildings and flood-forecasting facilities in the province's disaster-prone areas.

"In totality, JICA engagements in Albay already amounted to P1.284 billion, including the P480-million for 6 evacuation centers; request for Doppler radar worth P340 million now starting construction in Virac but a request of Albay in response to Reming/Milenyo; and P464 million Bicol River Basin flood forecasting center, including a mobile radar, a grant to PAGASA's Southern Luzon Regional Service Center here but the flood forecasting center will be established in Polangui, Albay (center of The Bicol River Basin ecosystem)," Salceda disclosed.

Salceda said six more multi-story buildings estimated to cost P80-million each, or a total of P480-million, would be constructed in the towns of Manito, Sto. Domingo, Oas, Libon, Polangui, and this city, areas which are potentially affected by typhoons and Mayon Volcano eruptions.

He said that the structures would be designed not only to house evacuees in times of calamities, but also to be used as classrooms during normal seasons.

The governor said that Albay's vulnerability to natural calamities and its officials' effective disaster management could be the two major reasons why JICA has chosen the province as recipient of this grant, considered as the biggest foreign aid to be received by a local government unit.

"I think our vulnerability to natural disasters coupled with our good house-keeping are the reasons why Japan grants us this assistance," Salceda told reporters here shortly after the MOA signing.

Masafumi Nagaishi, JICA's senior representative to the Philippines, said that, with the MOA already signed, they would immediately start with ocular survey of the sites of the evacuation buildings.

"Probably it would take us up to ten months to complete the survey. The actual construction works will immediately follow," Nagaishi said.

He also said that Albay is the only place in the country to receive such grant, and Indonesia in South East Asia.

Kobayoshi Chiaki, JICA's deputy assistant director, said he would personally oversee the construction works in close coordination with the Albay officials, particularly the provincial disaster coordinating council and the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo) headed by Cedric Daep.

Salceda said that JICA would also finance the construction of the modern flood-forecasting and warning facilities that would include mobile rainfall-measuring radar and other rain-gauge equipment.

He said that the flood-warning system would be based in Polangui, one of the towns most prone to flooding during rainy days, being part of the low-lying Bicol River Basin.

Once all the facilities turn operational, preemptive mass movement of people would be minimized, Salceda said.

At least 300,00 people are potentially affected and moved out to safer grounds during strong typhoons and volcanic eruptions in the province.

After the lashings of super typhoon Reming in 2006, at least 10 relocation sites and evacuation centers were already put up across Albay, particularly in this city, and the towns of Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Sto. Domingo and Tabaco City, some of them were also assisted by foreign countries and organizations. (MALoterte, PIA V)

NEDA PUSHES RDC REORGANIZATION FOR CRAFTING OF P-NOY’S DEV’T PLAN
By Danny O. Calleja

LEGAZPI CITY — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is pushing for the prompt reorganization of the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) in the country as part of the preparations for the crafting of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) under the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III.

Under established policies mandated under Executive Order 325, RDCs in all the country’s 15 regions excluding the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are reorganized every three years following the elections of the new sets of local government officials.

RDC is an organization provided under the Constitution composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other government offices and representatives from non-governmental organizations within the regions.

It was formed for purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of and accelerate the economic and social growth and development of the units in the region. It serves as the highest regional policy-making body that coordinates and sets the direction of all local economic and social development efforts.

Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Cayetano Pederanga Jr. told NEDA regional directors in a recent meeting in Bohol that the RDCs would spearhead the involvement of the private sector in line with the President’s goal for multi-stakeholder participation in the development process, Romeo Escandor, the NEDA regional director for Bicol said here on Monday.

Members of the Council will be representatives of various sectors of the region such as farmers and fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, youth, women, children, workers, vulnerable groups, academe and business. The nomination process is targeted to be completed by the end of August, Escandor said.

NEDA regional offices are now starting the nomination of at least two local chief executives—either governor or mayor, who are ex-officio members and two private sector representatives from whom the President will select and appoint the chair and co-chair of the RDC.

In Bicol, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, based on the general sentiment of the Council is very likely to retain the chairmanship of the RDC, which he wrested from Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte following his first election as governor in 2007.

As RDC chair, Salceda was able to work for the approval of the establishment of the P600-million Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga, Albay whose construction is presently ongoing.

His RDC leadership is also behind several other gargantuan development projects that propelled the region into being one of the country’s fastest-growing regional economies which he attributed to the Bicol’s investment output in the field of agriculture, energy, mining and tourism.

In 2009, he estimated that the 2009 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of Bicol posted an 8.5 percent increase versus the national 1.1 percent real GDP. In nominal terms, Bicol probably grew by 12.7 percent to P215 billion as compared to 3.7 percent for the entire country, Salceda, a noted economist and financial analyst said.

He revealed that among the six provinces, Albay, whose annual output in 2009 is estimated at P85 billion led the growth in regional output, principally driven by the increased output of Tiwi geothermal power operations and full production at LG mining operations in Rapu-rapu, as compared to its sporadic operations in 2008.

Albay accounted for almost 48.7 percent of total industrial gross value-added of the entire region, Salceda said.

Another economic driver for the region was the tourism surge given the combination of Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) and the Donsol whale shark interaction in Sorsogon, he said.

Agricultural growth also made way with Albay submitting the best performance in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Fertilizer, Irrigation, Extension, Education and Training, Loans, Dryers and other Post Harvest Facilities, and Seeds (FIELDS) program in 2009. The region posted an estimated 18.3 percent growth in rice harvest, despite the El Nino.

Salceda said copra production also increased, boosting local trade due to strong copra prices and robust output. This is at the backing up of the two major coco oil mills, Legazpi Oil and Global, each producing 300 metric tons per day.

Tourism also got boosted by the Misibis Residential Island Resort in Bacacay, Albay and Embarcadero de Legazpi in gaining market attraction. Both world-class facilities are on its third year of operations today.

Another critical factor to sustain Bicol's growth, given its natural advantage in tourism, would be the completion of the SLIA in Daraga, Albay.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax collection performance report of 29 percent growth in Bicol tax collections in first half of 2010 versus 12.2 percent nationally, strongly imply that, for the second year in a row, Salceda said, Bicol is sure to retain its bragging right as the fastest growing economy of the Philippines.

Escandor said, the reorganized RDCs will immediately tackle the preparation of the Regional Development Plans that will outline in the 2011-2016 MTPDP Pres. Aquino’s six-year vision and programs for the regions’ socio-economic economic planning.

With this, the government is set to equalize opportunities geographically and across sectors for every Filipino in terms of employment, income opportunities, and human development in order to attain the national development objectives of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, he said.

Escandor said that Pederanga had also tasked the NEDA regional offices to convene the RDCs’ Advisory Committees (AdCom) that will advise, assist and support the Council in discharging its functions. Members of the AdCom are congressmen representing each congressional districts within the region.

In the meeting with NEDA regional directors, he said Paderanga, who is also the NEDA director-general tackled the preparation of the MTPDP anchored on the first State of the Nation Address delivered by Pres. Aquino last July 26.

“The main strength of the new administration is Aquino’s willingness to give attention to what the people in the government think,” Escandor quoted the NEDA director-general as saying.

As to what the basic task of the MTPDP would be, Escandor said that if the 2004-2010 MTPDP was to fight poverty by opening up economic opportunities, maintaining socio-political stability and promotion of good stewardship, the 2011-2016 would be perhaps to fight corruption to eliminate poverty.

The MTPDP is a detailed roadmap towards achieving the government’s six-year development goal using specific strategies and approaches, he added. (PNA Bicol)

BU LAUNCHES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS UNIT

LEGAZPI CITY— In an effort to manage an Intellectual Property System that stimulates creativity and innovation, Bicol University through the Research and Development Center (RDC) has launched the Intellectual Property Rights Unit (IPRU) on August 4, 2010 at the BUCS Auditorium, Legazpi City.

IPRU will be headed by Prof. Nestor W. Dullesco under the supervision of Dr. Arnulfo M. Mascariñas, Director of RDC. The BU-IPRU is the first IPR Office in a higher education institution in the Bicol Region, and the fourth in the country.

Atty. Ricardo Blancaflor, director general of the IP Philippines, keynoted the event while Dir. Tomas Briñas, Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol, Dir. Rodrigo Aguilar, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), IP Philippines officials, SUC Presidents, BU officials, personnel and students headed by Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, and media personalities attended the said event.

IPRU is an interim office created by virtue of Office Order No. 30 series of 2010 issued on January 8, 2010 on the subject reorganization of the BURDC and assignment of Staff to functional units and special committees. This unit assists and facilitates the preparation, filing and prosecution of application for the protection of intellectual properties (IPs) generated as an offshoot of Research and Development initiatives of Bicol University (BU Intellectual Property, Policy & Guidelines as per BOR Resolution No. 053, s. 2007).

The services offered by the IPRU are the following: 1) conduct IP Audit; 2) assist IP creators in doing Patent Search ad in determining the appropriate IP to be applied for protection; 3) take the lead in the preparation, filing, and prosecution of applications for legal protection; 4) conduct re-tooling activities for faculty and students along IPR through trainings/workshops; and 5) take the lead in negotiating technology transfer arrangements, e.g. Licensing Agreements.

BU-Intellectual Property Rights Unit (BU-IPRU) is located at the BURDC, 2nd Floor, BUREPC Building, Bicol University Main Campus, Legazpi City, Tel. No. 480-1325 or 820-6319. (ROBercasio, BU/PIA)

CAMARINES SUR JOINS OBSERVANCE OF WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

NAGA CITY –In line with the celebration of the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), the Bicol Medical Center conducted various activities aimed on raising the awareness of mothers on the importance of breastfeeding, not just for the benefit of their child but also on its over all impact on the wellness of the breastfeeding mother.

This was disclosed by Mrs. Rose San Luis, BMC Health Education Promotion Officer during the opening of the said celebration early this week. In the said interview, San Luis also stated that they are also strictly monitoring the implementation of the “twenty (20) -hour Training on Lactation Management”

“This is one of the policies being implemented by the management of BMC, and is being reiterated to all health care staff. This is to ensure that the new born baby will receive the proper amount of milk from their mothers. We are also implementing the Eight (8) –Hour Orientation on Lactation Management to all the non-clinical staff.”

Various activities were also conducted to build up the awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding. BMC personnel and staff joined the FunWalk which served as the celebration’s kick-off activity on the onset of the celebration. It was followed by a daily program sponsored by nursing students from University of Nueva Caceres , Naga College Foundation, University of Saint Anthony and Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges .

Patients admitted on the maternity ward were also given lectures pn specific topics concerning Breastfeeding, nutrition during pregnancy and baby care.

The awarding of Dakilang Ina, together with the selection of Best Exhibit, Best Slogan and Best Poster served as the event’s culminating activity, wrapping up the week-long celebration of the Breastfeeding Week.

Dr. Ruben Peñafiel, BMC Director said that BMC will continue to implement the breastfeeding program of the hospital, along with other mandatory regulations to ensure that both the health of the infant and the mother is given utmost attention.

Breastfeeding Week is being celebrated all over the world, supporting the fact that breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. (LSMacatanga/PIA CamSur)

DOLE DISTRIBUTES WELDING KIT;NEGO CARTS ALSO UP FOR DISTRIBUTION

LEGAZPI CITY — Welders in the province of Sorsogon are more than grateful after receiving their welding starter tool kits from DOLE Bicol following the turn-over of a total of 10 welding machines, complete with tools and other welding gears.

The welding kits were distributed by DOLE Bicol last week as part of the Livelihood Starter Kits or “Trabaho sa Bag” Program and aimed at providing livelihood they can manage and operate by themselves
.
The welding kits were distributed to beneficiaries identified by Technical Education and Skills Development Auhtority (TESDA) and the City Government of Sorsogon.

DOLE Bicol’s “Trabaho sa Bag” program since its start in early 2009, has produced a total of 200 independently-earning livelihood workers throughout the region.

Meanwhile, some 83 Nego-Carts or Negosyo sa Kariton are set for release this October after Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) approved the production and distribution of which to selected beneficiaries across the region.

The carts will be released on first week of October in Albay cities, including Legazpi City, with 9 carts and Tabaco City, 25; Iriga City in Camarines Sur, 25 carts; Sorsogon City in Sorsogon, 12 carts; and Masbate City, Masbate, 12 carts.

The 2010 Model Nego Carts will have a different design from the 100 carts released last year, a 4-wheeler cart, stainless steel sleek design and comes with a bicycle ready for the vendors’ pedal power.

The 2010 Nego-Cart Model has a total budget of P935,000. (RPEscalante, DOLE/PIA)

8,097 BICOLANOS ENJOY NEW JOBS

LEGAZPI CITY — New job, new life.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol has placed a total of 8,097 Bicolanos into new jobs even before the end of the first quarter of 2010.

This, according to DOLE Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor, was due to the continuous jobs fair and job solicitation efforts conducted by the agency’s provincial offices and various Public Employment Services Offices (PESO) across the region.

The placement figure scores an 80 per cent accomplishment from the regional target job placement of 10,0940.

“I am positive that we can hit the 10,000 Bicolano jobs even before the end of the year. Rest assured that we will do everything we can to give more jobs to the Bicolanos,” Villamor said.

In other developments, eight labor inspectors of DOLE Bicol joined forces with other inspectors in Metro Manila last week for the implementation of the Project Labor Enforcement Action Plan (LEAP) in the metropolitan area.

“The labor inspectors from DOLE Bicol regional office will be temporarily deployed to Metro Manila to augment DOLE-NCR in the latter’s one month massive inspection throughout Metro Manila,” explained Villamor.

The move, according to Villamor, is part of the project LEAP in response to the directive of President Benigno C. Aquino III maintain a stable and secured labor force.

Similar with DOLE’s previous Inspection Blitz Program, Project LEAP intends to assess every establishment in the country focusing on problematic sectors like security agencies, malls and food chains. LEAP is conceptualized by Hon. Sec. Rosalinda D. Baldoz. (RPEscalante, DOLE/PIA)

PMA EXAMS SET ON AUG. 29

LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will conduct its Entrance Examination for PMA Cadetship in this city and Naga City on August 29, 2010.

The examinations will be given in 35 examination centers nationwide.

Basic requirements for applicants are the following: natural born Filipino citizen of good moral character; single and never been married; 5’4” in height if male and 5’2” if female; 17 to 21 years old (not a day older than 22 years old and not a day younger than 17 years old on April 1, 2011 or born on or after April 1, 1989 and on or before April 1, 1994); at least a high school graduate with a general average of 85 percent or higher; for 4th year high school students, 3rd year general average of 85 percent or higher; and physically fit for cadet training.

Application forms are available in all AFP units nationwide.

Interested applicants may also download application forms or apply online on the PMA website (www.pma.ph). For more information, write: Office of Cadet Admission, Philippine Military Academy, Fort del Pilar, Baguio City or call (074) 446-8002 or 0918-587-2384 or 0927-381-0493 or email: oca@pma.ph. (PIA V Release)

PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE FORMED

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed Executive Order No. 4, renaming the Office of the Press Secretary as the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and creating the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO).The order was signed July 30, 2010.

A copy of the order was formally transmitted last Aug. 5, 2010 to PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma by Director Marianito Dimaandal of the Office of the President, Malacanang Records Office.

The order reorganizes and renames the OPS to PCOO to be headed by the PCOO head which shall have the rank of a Cabinet secretary with all corresponding salaries, emoluments and benefits.

Aside from developing and implementing the necessary guidelines and mechanisms to deliver and disseminate information regarding the policies, programs, official activities and achievements of the President and the executive, the PCOO will also develop, manage and operate viable government owned or controlled information dissemination structure/facilities to provide OP and the executive branch access to the people as an alternative to the private mass media entities.

The order also sets up and maintains local and international field offices, where necessarily, to ensure that accurate information from the President and the executive branch is promptly and efficiently relayed, delivered and disseminated to intended target audiences.

PCOO will also coordinate and cultivate relations with private media as well as manage and administer the OP website and the web development office.

The PCOO shall have an undersecretary for administration and finance; undersecretary for operations, chief of staff, an electronic data processing division chief and assistant secretary for legislative affairs.

The agencies attached to PCOO under E.O No. 4 are the News and Information Bureau; Philippine News Agency, Philippine Information Agency, IBC 13, RPN 9, NBN-4, PBS-Radio Television Malacanang; Bureau of Broadcast, Bureau of Communication Services, National Printing Office, APO Production Unit and OP Web Development Office.

The order defines the functions of PCDSPO as:

a) Coordinate the crafting, formulation, development and enhancement of the messaging system under the OP;

b) Design and recommend responses to issues that arise on a daily basis; ensure consistency in the messages issued by the Executive Department;

c) Assist in the formulation and implementation of new media strategies for the OP; assist in research and development of new media instruments;

d) Liaise with the Malacanang Records office

e) Control and supervise the conduct of market research, monitoring public opinion and gathering, use and analysis of other relevant data as may be necessary;

f) Formulate editorial guidelines and policies for state media;

g) Ensure consistency in the implementation of the corporate identity of the Executive Department;

h) Actas custodian of the institutional memory of the OP, which includes the supervision and control of the Presidential Museum and Library and liaison with the Malacanang Records Office;

i) Perform editorial functions for the Official Gazette;

j) Perform such other functions as may be directed by the President.

The PCDSPO shall be managed by a head with Cabinet secretary rank and salaries, benefits and emoluments due and will be assisted by an undersecretary, a chief of staff, assistant secretary for messaging and EDP chief.

Agencies attached to PDSPO are: the Presidential Message Staff; OP Correspondence Office (previously under the Office of Communications Director from the Presidential Management Staff); Media Research and Development Staff; Presidential Museum and Library; Official Gazette; Speech Writers Group (previously under the Office of Communications Director, PMS).

The budget of the offices reorganized and created shall be sourced from the remaining budget of the OPS and OP for the current year subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. The succeeding years’ appropriations shall be prepared in accordance with regular budget procedures.

In signing E.O. No. 4, President Aquino said it is the avowed policy of this administration to ensure transparency and full and appropriate disclosure of policies, programs, official activities and achievements of the Office of the President and the Executive Branch, which are of public concern.

According to the President, the task of informing and communicating to the Filipino people the policies, programs, official activities and achievements of the Office of the President and the Executive Branch presently involves aside from the Office of the Press Secretary, several offices and agencies the functions of which overlap.

He said there is vital need to reorganize and effect functional changes within the OPS and create an office to systematize, rationalize and complement the existing structure to achieve a more efficient and systematic interaction between the people, the OP and the executive branch.

It is also imperative for government to redefine its efforts to integrate and harmonize its message conceptualization, formulation and development policies and programs in order to fully utilize the opportunities arising from the rapid development of existing and emerging media. (PIA V Release)

P-NOY VOWS RP'S COMMITMENT TOWARDS ACHIEVING ASEAN'S COMMON GOALS

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed confidence that the Philippines will be a good neighbor, productive partner and a consensus builder towards achieving the aspiration of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) of becoming a fully integrated regional community by 2015.

In his Speech during the ASEAN’s 43rd founding anniversary celebration on Monday (August 9) at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) along Roxas Boulevard, Manila, the Chief Executive said that under his administration the Philippines will be more investor-friendly and deeply committed towards achieving ASEAN’s common goals.

“In my administration, we will be more conscious of our commitment to fostering improved ties with our ASEAN neighbors. We will be a good neighbor, a productive partner and a consensus builder as we work towards our common goals,” he said.

The President pointed out that his administration will do its part in creating a more binding commitment towards regional integration by 2015 through the three key pillars of political-security, economic and socio-cultural participation.

On peace and security, the President noted that the Philippines will continue to actively participate in regional security discussions and abide by the ASEAN declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the Philippines will continue to discuss security issues with its ASEAN neighbors including China for the possible signing of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

“We now have a declaration of conduct in the China Sea. What the ASEAN countries hopefully want to happen within the next few years is not only a declaration of conduct but a code of conduct itself. We will have to talk about it within ASEAN and of course China,” Romulo said.

The President also said the second area of the country’s contribution to integration is to continue and ensure that current free trade agreements increase employment and expand the market of ASEAN goods within the region.

He said the Philippines will likewise continue to support the ASEAN Connectivity Project which hopes to create an ASEAN connectivity masterplan in transport infrastructure, information and communications technology (ICT, energy power grids and tourism).

“The Philippines has major interests here with its existing nautical highway, the RO-RO (roll-on roll-off ferry) project. Once it is implemented, ASEAN connectivity will bridge our nation to our neighbors, shorten transfer distances and open more economic opportunities for more people,” the President said.

According to the President the Philippines can also foster the success of integration through cooperation in culture and the arts, “the greatest antidote to war and the most effective instrument of peace and mutual understanding.”

With strengthened cooperation on political, economic and social fronts, the President emphasized that improved integration will reinforce ASEAN’s capacity to deal with the rest of the world.

“In the coming months, I look forward to meeting many of my regional counterparts. The Philippines looks with confidence to a regional celebration of our collective success in 2015. That will surely be a historic year: the year of fulfillment, the year of a truly people-centered ASEAN community,” he said.

During the occasion, the President received a copy of the ASEAN Charter in Filipino which, he described as a “necessary step in growing the Filipinos’ awareness of their identity as a member of the regional grouping.”

The ASEAN Charter, originally signed by the member-states in Singapore on November 2007, has been transforming ASEAN into a more effective and rules-based and rules-bound organization which is now closer to integration since its establishment with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.

ASEAN is composed of 10-member-states namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (PIA V Release)

P-NOY OFFICIALLY INFORMED OF $434-M MCC GRANT

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III was officially informed Monday (August 9) by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of its approval of a $434-million compact grant to the Philippine government to reduce poverty in the country.

The President received a call this morning from MCC chief executive officer Daniel Yohannes during the ASEAN’s 43rd founding anniversary celebration at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila.

In an interview, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the President was officially informed by Yohannes a week after the MCC announced the approval of the grant to the Philippines in recognition of the Aquino administration’s sincerity in pursuing poverty alleviation and anti-corruption programs.

“The call was to tell the President that the MCC has unanimously approved the MCC grant of $434 million. It is a five year program. On behalf of the government, the President said he will see to it that the grant is implemented,” Romulo said.

The grant is intended to be used for a road project in Samar province, curb corruption through the modernization program of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Romulo said the Philippines has only to sign the acceptance of the grant from the MCC which was established to help countries lead the fight against global poverty.

“Once we sign it and the Congress is notified, then it is already in the budget,” Romulo said.

The MCC, an independent United States aid agency, gives five-year compact grants for countries that pass MCC’s eligibility criteria in poverty alleviation, and threshold grants which are smaller grants awarded to countries that come close to passing these criteria and are firmly committed to improving their policy performance.

In 2006, the MCC also awarded the Philippines a $21-million threshold grant to eradicate corruption and attract international investments through the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program (MCATP). (PIA V Release)

PALACE SAYS PAGCOR PRIVATIZATION NEEDS THOROUGH STUDY

MANILA — Malacanang expressed interest in the possible privatization of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) but stressed that the matter needs thorough study, including the assessment of its assets and existing contracts.

“There are so many concerns that have to be studied,” Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda, said in a press briefing.

Lacierda said the $10-billion offer of businessman Ramon Ang to buy-out PAGCOR, is quite an interesting proposal.

He cautioned however that it has many assumptions that need to be determined or studied. Among these, he said, is whether $10 billion is the fair valuation of PAGCOR.

Ang’s statement that the infusion of that amount to the local economy would strengthen further the peso to between 35 to 30 pesos per dollar and saving the cash-strapped government some P440-billion to P 640-billion in principal and interest payments on debt according to Lacierda, also needed thorough study.

“It would be good for the nation when you get $10-billion and it will lower the value of the dollar. That has consequences on the export sector and the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In short, we are saying that they are all under study… those things have to be studied from a macro perspective and from the point of view of the government, we will look at it from a bigger perspective rather than from a perspective of a businessman,” the Presidential Spokesperson said.

Lacierda expressed gratitude to businessmen, specifically Ang, about their bullish perspective on Philippine business opportunities under the Aquino Administration.

“Like you said, the Aquino Administration is still very new, very young so, we are very bullish as well and we thank Mr. Ang’s bullishness on the economy under the Aquino Administration,” he said.

Meantime, Lacierda said newly-appointed PAGCOR Chairman Bong Naguiat will study all existing contracts of PAGCOR to establish the best price value of the gaming corporation.

Reports said that the government is only getting a quarter of what it should be getting from PAGCOR.

”We are reviewing it right now. So, there is due diligence going on, first of all, to determine whether the government was disadvantaged in those contracts,” he said. (PIA V Release)

PALACE HOPEFUL UK TRAVEL ADVISORY TO RP REVERSED SOON

MANILA — Malacañang expressed confidence that the United Kingdom would reverse its travel advisory issued against the Philippines in the wake of a bomb blast that ripped through the Zamboanga International airport last Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, in a press conference in Malacañang this afternoon, said he was hopeful the UK travel ban would be lifted since the Philippine National Police had deemed the explosion more political than terrorist in nature.

“Hopefully mag-bago yung UK advisory because based on the investigation of the PNP, this is not a case of a suicide bomber or terrorist (attack),” Lacierda said, adding that “its primarily a politically-motivated bombing.”

“So, sana makita ng embahada ng UK na ito po ay walang kinalaman sa tourism at baguhin po nila ang kanilang advisory (We hope the UK, through its embassy here, will see that the bombing has nothing to do with the tourism upswing in the province and promptly reverse its travel advisory), he added.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued Friday a travel advisory warning its nationals against travel to some parts of Mindanao after the bombing incident.

It further noted that a British national was among those injured in Thursday's blast and indicated that terrorists may attack at any time.

"We advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao. This is because of ongoing terrorist activity there have been a number of terrorist attacks against civilian targets, the most recent on 5 August 2010 at Zamboanga airport where an explosion injured 15 people including a British national," it said.

"We advise against all travel to specific areas of the Philippines and against all but essential travel to other specific areas of the Philippines," it added. (PIA V Release)