AID, INVESTMENT PLEDGES ‘WORTH’ MASBATE GOVERNOR’S OVERSEAS TRIP
By Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE—Governor Rizalina ‘Dayan’ Seachon-Lanete returned home Monday after bonding with successful Masbateños in the United States and bearing promises of assistance and investments in their birthplace.

The governor’s close aides at the Capitol rated her first trip a success and well worth the unspecified amount spent for it owing to the meetings she was able to hold with prospective investors and the P50-million hospital equipment offered by Masbateño Association in America (MAA).

In dialogues between Lanete and MAA officers, the latter promised to donate the equipment to help upgrade the capability of government-operated charity hospitals to save lives.

Lanete told reporters that the equipment would be shipped from Stockton and expected to arrive here by February.

On top of this, the MAA was also keen on conducting a medical mission in Masbate by next year, she added.

The governor said she also received favorable response from the business-minded in the group when she invited them to make investments in the province.

She mentioned tourism, sea transport and processing of marine products and cattle by-products as among the revenue and employment generating industries being considered by MAA members. (PIA Masbate)

DOLE ALLOTS 11M FOR LIVELIHOOD AND JOB GENERATION IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY- Some P11 million has been earmarked by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to finance livelihood and job generating programs in Bicol this year, according to the agency’s top regional official here.

Atty. Alvin Villamor, DOLE Bicol regional director, said a total of P10 million has been allocated for livelihood grants and some P1 million for job-generating programs the likes of local Jobs Fair and Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

“The agency is setting sight to invest more on livelihood this year as New Year vision to dream for Bicol. We want to start the year with a bang providing livelihood assistance to our Bicolano constituents,” he said.

Villamor relatated that priority activities were identified based on the needs of the region.

“Upon assessment, our 2010 stint in livelihood turned out very well, so this year we will start early on it. Para mas maraming umasensong Bicolano, dahil yun ang kailangan dito (So the living conditions of more Bicolanos will improve),” Villamor said.

The P10-million livelihood fund will be distributed to the six provinces of the region, Albay and Camarines Sur getting the biggest chunk of the amount.

Vilamor explained that such arrangement was made considering that Camarines Sur is the largest province while Albay is the center of trade in the region.

Most livelihood grants will be given in the form of Livelihood Starter Kits or Trabaho Sa Bag and Nego-Karts (Negosyo Sa Kariton), the two programs of DOLE with the highest success rate in implementation and sustainability. (MALoterte, PIA V)

MT. BULUSAN VICTIMS BENEFIT ANEW
FROM GOV’T. EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

LEGAZPI CITY — More employment opportunities will be provided to families directly affected or displaced by the series of ash explosions of Mt. Bulusan, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here.

Atty. Alvin Villamor, DOLE Bicol regional director, said some P2 million has been allocated to provide extended emergency employment for 300 families in the municipalities of Casiguran, Irosin and Juban in Sorsogon province that will commence this month until June this year.

Villamor explained that the assistance forms part of the emergency employment program of DOLE to off-set the loss of income of the 300 families from said towns.

“A member of each family will be employed in canal dredging, de-clogging of dikes and coastal clean-up activities and they can earn around P200-250 day, meager enough to spend for their day-to-day living,” he said.

“These jobs are labor intensive and would not require a lot of skills. We have to give these victims immediate assistance,” he added.

In December last year, DOLE Bicol has already provided some P 400,000.00 funds also for the emergency employment of some 140 families in the same towns, with Irosin 80 beneficiaries, Juban 40 and Casiguran 40. (MALoterte, PIA V)

LAW ENFORCERS HELPLESS IN FIGHT VS PIRATED DVD’S IN LEGAZPI: ROSAL

LEGAZPI CITY — City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal expressed dismay over the dismal performance of various law enforcement agencies in fighting pirated Digital Video Disc (DVD) and other optical discs proliferating in various outlets in this city.

Rosal claimed that pirated DVD, CDs are everywhere in commercial stores, stalls.

“They sell like hot cakes, people by a lot of these pirated stuff at the expense of the original producers that invested millions film making and recording,’ she lamented.

As this developed, Rosal urged law enforcement agencies to be vigilant and to intensify campaign against the widespread piracy of foreign and local movie and music DVDs in the city.

The city’s business establishments data indicate that close to a hundred DVD stores are operating and mostly owned by Muslim traders are selling pirated DVD’s here.

Rosal, quoting a study, said that Filipino movie industry, as well as international film distributors are losing millions of pesos yearly to the pirates.

“Although the cost of movie and software piracy may be quantified in terms of millions of pesos lost, the real cost of movie and software piracy is in the taste of the Filipino people and their respect for the creativity of people who poured energy, resources and time just to produce such things,” she explained.

The irony of which, she added, that the Optical Media Board (OMB), the agency responsible in curbing the existence of pirated optical and audio materials, could do less here because of the absence of office or personnel in this city, likewise other law enforcers like the Philippine National Police (PNP) the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are ineffective in the campaign against DVD piracy.

Piracy in the movie and music recording provides cheap movie experience as most pirated movie DVDs are taken fresh from movie theatres.

Piracy is killing the foreign and local movie industry but it can never deny that the Filipino movie industry is suffering because of pirates.

The money and profits that movie studios should have received for their efforts and for future films are being turned over to the hands of movie piracy proponents. (PNA Bicol/PIA/mal)

CAMARINES SUR REGISTERS HIGHEST FIRECRACKER INJURIES IN BICOL

NAGA CITY— The province of Camarines Sur tops the list with the highest number of firecracker incident. From eight (8) injuries last year, it almost doubled up with 24 confirmed cases recorded as of January 2, 2011.

Kwitis, which is allowed under the law, recorded the highest number of firecracker injury reported in six (6) cases here in the province. It was followed by piccolo, which consistently occupies the top cause of injury during Christmas celebration and New Year revelry in other parts of the country.

Other firecracker injuries were attributed to Lucis, baby dynamite, bawang, plapla, firecracker powder, baby rocket and whistle bombs. One stray bullet was also recorded by the Camarines Sur Provincial Health Office (PHO).

This year's campaign to lessen if not totally ban the use of firecrackers was ironically launched here in Camarines Sur, now recording the highest number of firecracker incident among the provinces in the region.

Dr. Nestor Santiago, Department of Health, Bicol Regional Director during the launching of Kontra Paputok here, said that their campaign is mostly focused in safeguarding the children.

"Through the years, children are the most vulnerable victims of firecracker injuries. That's why our campaign also goes with the parents to supervise their children, if lighting those prohibited firecrackers cannot be avoided, or totally abandon the idea of even lighting a wick of a firecracker."

As of January 2, there were five (5) firecracker injuries recorded covering children below ten (10) years old; eight (8) cases with injured victims aged 11-20 and eleven (11) cases with victim's age from 20 years old and above. Out of the 24 firecracker victims, 19 are male while 5 are female. (LSMacatangay/PIA CamSur)

OCHOA REORGANIZES OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS

MANILA — Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Monday (January 3) announced the organizational restructuring of the Office of the President (OP) to improve the operations and efficiency of the offices within Malacañang.

Ochoa told heads and chiefs of key offices under the OP during the workshop entitled “Improving the Operational Arrangements of the OES (Office of the Executive Secretary) for Better Efficiency and Effectiveness” that changes were necessary to help attain the goals of this administration.

“When I started conceptualization of the improvements we need to make, I was confronted with the old and the new. I recognized the wisdom of continuing the many practices that have been tested by time, but at the same time I saw the need to infuse new things,” Ochoa said.

Under the new organizational structure initiated by the Executive Secretary, five major units will report directly to the OES namely the Legal and Legislative Offices (formerly the Legal Office), the Government Affairs and Financial Administrative Offices (formerly the Finance and General Government and Administration Office), the Strategic Initiatives and Government Performance Monitoring Offices, the Internal Audit Office, and the Executive Secretary’s immediate staff and support offices.

Another key change under the new set-up is the adoption of a case decongestion and delay reduction strategy for the Legal and Legislative Offices to allow the OP to dispose of the pending cases of the recently abolished Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

A strategy that will “provide complete statistical analysis of our caseload by type of case, and the specific measures to remove backlog within a specified timeframe” will be adopted, Ochoa said.

At the same time, the Executive Secretary rallied Palace employees to show more initiative and commitment so they can “strategically contribute to the President’s goals for our country.”

Ochoa also told employees following the flag raising ceremony that love of country should motivate them to “do more than what is required of them.” (PIA V)

NO POWER OUTAGE IN METRO MANILA, PALACE ASSURES

MANILA — There should be no cause for concern about possible power outages this summer, specifically in Metro Manila, as there is sufficient power supply in the country.

This Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda assured Monday (January 3) as he allayed fears of possible brownouts in the metropolis.

In a press briefing, Lacierda explained that power outages could only happen in situations which could adversely affect the supply of power.

“We would like to clarify that there would be no power outages, the only time that it will occur, if some conditions would arise… for instance a power plant would go off its scheduled maintenance”, he said.

Energy Secretary Rene Almendras, according to Lacierda has already assured that there will be no power outages specifically in Metro Manila.

Almendras, in a separate interview, said that contingency measures are already in place in the event of power shortages.

The DOE, he said, has been in constant communication with several power-generating companies to ensure a sufficient supply of power especially this summer where the demand usually increases.

Almendras said that power-generating companies were encouraged to conduct preventive maintenance operations to prevent brownouts.

Part of the contingency plan he explained is the preparation of a diesel and bunker fuel fired plant and the issuance of a circular directing power plant operators to notify the government if their preventive maintenance operations will not be finished on time.

Almendras said that brownouts could only happen if the maximum energy requirement will hit over 7,900 megawatts and in the event of a power plant failure. (PIA V)

P-NOY, ECONOMIC TEAM TO DISCUSS PUBLIC TRANSPO FARE HIKE

MANILA — A Palace official on Monday (January 3) said President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and his economic team will discuss the effects of toll fee adjustments and public transport fare hikes.

At a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Pres. Aquino and the economic team will meet on January 6 to discuss options to mitigate the impact of fare hikes to consumers.

“We want to make sure that while it is important to honor our contractual obligations, kelangan din natin tignan ang comfort ng riding public [we also need to look at the welfare of the riding public]... We expect the increase to be manageable,” he said.

Over the weekend, the North Luzon Expressway and the South Luzon Expressway implemented an adjusted toll fees.

Meanwhile, the flag down rates of taxis have been increased from P30 to P40 starting January 15 on certain conditions that must be met my taxi operators.

Bus operators are also asking for a fare hike. The Department of Transportation and Communication is also mulling at possible fare hikes in metro rail transits. (PIA V)

GOV’T TO RAISE LANDMINE ISSUE IN PEACE TALKS WITH REDS
By Ben Cal

MANILA — The government will stick to its promise of not making any precondition for the resumption of the stalled peace talks with communist rebels scheduled in Norway next month but will raise the continued use of anti-personnel landmine by communist rebels despite a ban imposed by the United Nations (UN) prohibiting its use because of its indiscriminate dreadful effect to non-combatants.

Prior to the reopening of formal negotiations, Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla, chairman of the government peace panel, and Luis Jalandoni, chair of the communist National Democratic Front (NDF), will meet for their second-round of informal talks in Oslo, Norway on Jan. 15-17.

Their initial meeting was held in Hong Kong last month. Both agreed to hold a second round of informal talks before formal negotiations take place.

The Royal Norwegian government has remained as the third party facilitator of the talks.

As third party facilitator, Norway has been urging both the Philippine government and the NDF to resume the peace talks which bogged down in August 2005 after the United States tagged the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), as a terrorist organization.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said the issue on the use of anti-personnel landmine will be raised in the forthcoming talks because of the NPA’s continued use of the prohibited weapon in combat, the latest of which was the killing of 10 army soldiers and a nine-year-old boy when the NPA detonated a landmine in an ambush in Las Navas, Samar on Dec. 16, 2010.

The UN has banned the use of antipersonnel landmines because of their horrendous and indiscriminate destruction to lives, including civilians who may happen to pass an area where anti-personnel landmines are planted.

The Human Rights Watch says “The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty comprehensively bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel mines, and requires states to destroy their stockpiles within four years and to clear all mined areas within 10 years. The treaty also contains provisions to assist landmine survivors and to support mine risk education programs.”

Since assuming as chair of the government peace panel, Padilla expressed the hope that “now is the best time to find a peaceful solution” to write finis to Asia’s longest running insurgency.

Negotiations between the government and the NDF have been off-and-on the past 24 years. (PNA/PIA V)

PHL GOV'T REITERATES ITS RIGHT TO OPERATE NAIA-3

MANILA -– Malacañang on Monday (January 3) said the Washington decision on the disputed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 does not affect the Philippine government's right to operate the facility.

”We maintain and we continue to possess NAIA 3. It will not affect our right to operate NAIA 3,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.

Lacierda said that while they have not yet seen the copy of the Washington decision on the issue, he said the decision would not affect the Philippine government’s right to operate the disputed NAIA-3 terminal.

Last year, the government won the arbitration case filed by German airport operator Fraport AG and Piatco (Philippine International Airport Terminals Co., Inc.) -- the builders of NAIA-3 -- with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Singapore.

”We won already. The Singapore decision has not been reversed,” Lacierda said.

The Singapore decision was “final and executory”, that allowed for the full operation and grant of legal right by the Philippine government to airport terminal concessionaires.

Due to clash between parties, NAIA 3 only opened in 2008 after six years of being idle.
Lacierda said the government is expecting to fully operate NAIA Terminal 3 this year after finishing some repair works.

”We’re in the process of repairing some areas found to be detective. We have to ask [DOTC] Secretary Ping De Jesus for the time table on that. Hopefully, [it would be fully-operational] this year,” he said.

In 1997 and 1998, the Philippine government awarded Piatco the right to build and operate NAIA-3 by way of several concession contracts.

It finished construction in 2002 but, the following year, the Philippine government said the concession agreements were null and void.

Fraport AG and Piatco filed an arbitration case before the ICC, which the Philippine government eventually won. (PIA V)