GMA, Uriarte may be liable for malversation

LEGAZPI CITY, July 11 (PIA) -- Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Uriarte and former Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) general manager Rosario Uriarte may find themselves liable for malversation for using the agency’s intelligence funds for other purposes.

In last week Senate hearing on PCSO fund mess, Uriarte admitted to dipping her hands into the intelligence funds of the charity agency to pay for “blood money” of incarcerated overseas Filipino workers as well as cover expenses for relief operations during calamities.

Escudero, who was surprised at the way the PCSO’s intelligence funds were approved and disbursed without regard to the proper procedure, said Uriarte’s admission to misappropriating the agency’s intelligence funds could be used as basis for filing malversation charges against her.

“Under oath at the Senate, she readily admitted to using the intelligence fund to offset other requests for funding like blood money and relief operations. And under oath, she also said that former President Arroyo was knowledgeable and approved all of these transactions. No matter how noble the intentions were, these still do not justify the misappropriation of the funds intended for what they claimed to be for intelligence operations,” Escudero pointed out.

The senator said the approval itself of an intelligence funds for a charity institution is already suspect given the fact that the military intelligence funds pale in comparison to the amount the PCSO received at that time.

Uriarte told the Senate panel that she was able to get approval for the release of the intelligence funds by personally handing the requests to the former president, thus avoiding the lengthy bureaucratic process.

The former PCSO executive said they have appropriated intelligence funds for the agency for the roll out of the state-approved small town lottery (STL) in a bid to stamp out illegal numbers game operations in the country.

Under heavy questioning by senators, Uriarte failed to present a solid program and list of expenditures to justify the appropriation of intelligence funds.

Uriarte, however, admitted that part of the funds for intelligence operations was spent for relief operations and “blood money” donations with the full knowledge of the former president.

Escudero said that under the law, any public officer who misuses or misappropriates public funds is guilty of malversation and could face life imprisonment under the Revised Penal Code.

Number 4 of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code states that “the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium and maximum periods, if the amount involved is more than 12, 000 pesos but is less than 22, 000 pesos. If the amount exceeds the latter, the penalty shall be reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua.” (MAL/Office of Sen. Escudero)

UN Habitat-Philippines pilots elementary school as safe relocation area

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, July 11 (PIA) -- The Sorsogon Pilot Elementary School (SPES) here has been piloted by the United Nations Habitat Philippines (UNHP) as a school mitigating , adapting risk and threat (SMART) school.

SPES, has been identified to serve as evacuation center, with some modification in the edifices and facilities to ensure a safe relocation area and can withstand the effects of typhoons, floods, erosion and other natural calamities.

"Investing in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (CCMA) is investing in the future" Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda, of this city said in his opening message here last week during the training of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) in time for the observance National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

Dioneda explained that this city has been a recipient of the the UNHP assistance for technical training and facilitation of fund sourcing specially in programs regarding CCMA implementation.

"We have identified SPES as our SMART school here, one of the most used evacuation centers that through the years as a place for people to go during natural calamities", he said.

Recently, representative from UNHP explained the need to identify and establish a SMART school in this city.

"Based on the UNHP requirements, the evacuation center has to undergo retro-fitting and be water- fit so that It can withstand the effects of typhoons and other natural calamities to ensure that evacuees are housed in very safe centers and provided also the needed basic amenities," according to Dioneda.

The two-day seminar workshop has identified the participation of people from the engineering departments of the city government and other government entities together with some non-governmental organizations that provide coordination, facilitation and camp management.

The engineering department of the city has conducted the ocular inspection, evaluation and validation of SPES. They will submit the design for renovation following the guidelines or criteria set by UNHP for safe and sustainable evacuation centers.

"We have to make the school as a safe evacuation center that can withstand the wind strength , volume or amount of water and also consider its location since it is near Sorsogon Bay," Engr. Onofre Jordan from the city government planning division said.

"There are still other criteria to be considered based on the UNHP guidelines for safer cities which we have to take into consideration, that is also the establishment of permanent evacuation centers aside from schools so that disruption of classes will also avoided", he said.

The putting up of a SMART schools evacuation centers is now one of the main concerns of the CCMA's mechanism.under the UNHP thrusts.

Interventions are being provided now to Sorsogon province because it is one of the identified areas most vulnerable to Climate Change.

Its topography and location according to Jordan as to the CCMAC report has to be closely watched and monitored specially those areas along the coast.

Sorsogon province is surrounded by two bodies of water, the China Sea and Pacific Ocean and with the constant sea level rise some coastal areas will experience erosion or inundation according to the findings of the UNHP.

The constant earthquakes experienced in Japan, Netherlands, Indonesia will also impact in areas considered to be in the Pacific Ring of Fire so that the global trend today done by UNHP is to identify areas vulnerable to such impacts and do some mitigation and adaptation measures specially the establishment of SMART schools..

The two-day seminar workshop also trained the sectors in-charge of camp management and coordination so as they can also train those communities who will be directly affected with such circumstances. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

DPWH celebrates 113th Anniversary

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 11, (PIA)-- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Catanduanes Engineering District commemorated the department’s 113th anniversary last June 23, 2011 with the theme: “ DPWH: Kaisa sa Tuwid na Daan sa Pag-Asenso.”

The theme of the celebration is in time in addressing the pressing challenges affecting the infrastructure network. It also underscores the need for the DPWH to be one in unity with the public-private sector going towards a righteous direction.

This was also in line with DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson’s policy direction of ensuring of “doing the right project at the right cost and right quality” for the various programs and projects implemented nationwide.

During the celebration, a thanksgiving mass was held at the Virac Cathedral at 7:00 AM right after the mass, District Engineer Ignacio T. Odiaman gave emergent instruction consequently activated the disaster risk and reduction management team in view of the prevailing bad weather situation brought about by tropical depression “Falcon”.

A short program was also held and a little “salo-salo” was made with parlor games.

Present in the said occasion were the DPWH-Catanduanes personnel and invited guests. (EAB, PIA Catanduanes)