3rd RDC FULL COUNCIL MEETING - Regional Development Council officials led by Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda (center upper photo) RDC chairman, NEDA 5, Dir. Romeo Escandor, RDC vice chair (left upper photo) and NEDA 5 OIC ARD Luis Banua, RDC OIC secretary and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, steer the committee into resolving urgent concern during its September 3, 2009 meeting held at Casablanca Hotel, Legazpi City. (Alex Cal/PIA)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
BICOL NO. 1 IN RICE PRODUCTION IN THE COUNTRY
PILI, Camarines Sur — Bicol now ranks first among the regions in the entire country in palay production growth rate based from the report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
Bicol posted a 17.3% palay production growth rate in the first semester of 2009 compared to the first semester of last year, the highest among the rice producing regions.
Camarines Sur, a consistent surplus rice producer, stood out among the provinces of Bicol in terms of volume in palay production which is an immense factor in the region’s number one ranking during the said period.
Ilocos region ranks second with 13.08 % growth rate for the same period, followed by Central Luzon which registered a 9.23 % net production growth.
Governor LRay Villafuerte has placed high premium on agricultural productivity, especially on palay production, because of his firm commitment that it is vital to the economic acceleration of the province.
The BAS report attributes the remarkable performance of Bicol to the use of quality seeds by most farmers, the additional use of inputs and better irrigation system. (LAGavino/SNieves, MMEC/PIA)
POLICE TO SEARCH HOUSES FOR GUNS
MASBATE CITY — In the event known politicians here failed to register their loose firearms under a new firearms amnesty program that began last Aug. 1, 2009, the Police Provincial Office here may embark on raids and search operations.
Chief Inspector Rodolfo Abella, PPO Masbate community relations officer aired this warning even as it urged owners of unlicensed firearms to avail themselves of the government’s amnesty on the registration of loose firearms.
“This is the ultimate amnesty for holders of loose firearms. After this, aggressive police operations will commence against firearms law violators and there will be no let up or sacred cows in this campaign,” Abella said, quoting from a press statement issued by PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa.
The amnesty program, approved by President Macapagal-Arroyo last month, aims to reduce gun-related violence in next year’s national and local elections. Part of the implementing rules incorporates a reward system to those who could lead police to anyone holding loose firearms.
Police pegged the number of loose firearms at 1.2 million, which are in the hands of organized criminals, the New People’s Army and civilians.
Although the final amnesty will be in October, Abella said the PNP opened the processing phase last Aug. 1.
The provincial command and police stations are all authorized to accept and process unregistered guns, he said.
Authorities here have noted that most crimes committed with firearms in the last few years involved loose guns.
In a recent forum, no less than Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Masbate expressed alarm at the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in the province and asked the PNP to step up its campaign to recover these guns which he said were mostly in the hands of political supporters.
“There are lots of unlicensed guns around,” the prelate said. “Halos bawat bahay ay may baril.” (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)
PHILHEALTH OFFERS EXTENSION SERVICES IN HONGKONG
LEGAZPI CITY — Mobile officers of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) were dispatched since August this year to Hongkong providing access and information to Filipinos on the agency’s membership updates and renewal, claims and benefits, and premium remittance concerns.
The task of PhilHealth mobile officers is to attend OFWs gatherings or meetings and coordinate with Filipino organizations in Hongkong to facilitate information drives promoting the agency’s programs and services.
They may also receive claim documents from OFWs admitted to any hospital in the country to help facilitate the processing of their reimbursements.
A confinement of an OFW shall be paid based on the benefit rates of a Level 3 hospital, with the validity period of his contribution being the eligibility requirement
For a start, mobile officers will be sent to Hongkong, for two weeks once every three months, to popularize PhilHealth programs and services as well as render assistance to various health insurance concerns of our members in the former Crown Colony.
Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth president and CEO, stated, “This is just the beginning, after Hongkong (which also extends services to nearby Macau), we shall replicate this project in other OFW-dense countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.”
PhilHealth, complementing its extension services overseas, also signed and entered into a Collection and Remittance Agreement with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Under the agreement, the two government banks were accredited as collecting partners for OFW premium contributions.
OFWs in Hongkong may pay their health insurance premiums through subsidiaries and remittance partners of the mentioned banks, ready to accept premium payments either for membership renewal, member re-activation or from new registrants.
Aside from Hongkong, DBP also has tie-ups in the Middle East, Singapore, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland, Ireland, Cambodia, Australia and Korea.
According to Dr. Aquino, PhilHealth management will continue to evaluate and accredit institutional applicants for our overseas collection efforts to enable our two million OFW members update their contribution payments.
“Through updated premiums, they are assured of claims and benefits of accredited facilities in the Philippines or in hospitals abroad. It is our ultimate goal to provide more payment windows, especially for our OFW members,” he said.
(PhilHealth V/PIA)
PHILHEALTH EXPANDS BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO OFWs
LEGAZPI CITY — As PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) moves towards Universal Coverage by 2010, the agency further expands its benefits and services to the Filipinos providing quality and affordable health care services to OFWs and their dependents through the Overseas Workers Program.
With only P900 as their annual contribution, OFWs and their dependents could enjoy the PhilHealth inpatient and outpatient benefit packages in accredited facilities.
However, to continuously avail of these benefits, OFWs should renew their membership annually with PhilHealth by paying the annual premium and by presenting the following documents:
1. Valid passport
2. Valid working permit/visa; Exit and Re-entry visa;
3. Overseas Employment Certificate
4. Any other equivalent documents proving that he/she is an active OFW.
a. Certificate of Employment for applicable period from employer
abroad
b. Valid Employment Contract
c. Valid Company ID issued by the employer abroad
d. Cash Remittance Receipt from member abroad at least 2
months prior the date of renewal/payment
The same documents also apply to new registrants to the Overseas Workers Program which are to be attached to the M1b form for membership registration.
(PhilHealth V/PIA)
TRAINING ON OFF-SEASON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION HELD
DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – Over 30 farmers from this municipality and Vinzons town attended the two-day training on off-season vegetable production held recently at Camarines Norte State College.
The training was conceptualized to introduce new technologies in producing off-season vegetables. It also aims to provide farmers with the knowledge and skills on how to produce quality vegetables even during off-season.
This activity is jointly sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Congw. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of Camarines Norte lone district.
Vinzons Mayor Oliver F. Ferrer said trainings similar to this are important as more farmers learn new technologies to increase vegetable production.
He added that if more people were given the opportunity to attend similar training, our problem on poverty may be addressed.
He cited that right in their backyard, farmers could produce vegetables and other crops not only for their consumption but also for sale.
He lauded the efforts of Chato for spearheading the activity and for choosing Vinzons as one of the pilot municipalities for her project.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA regional executive director, said that the agency is always on hand to provide technical assistance to interested farmers or vegetable growers.
With the collaboration and linkages of national and local agencies more farmers will be benefited and vegetable sufficiency can be attained.
He emphasized that it is important for participants to learn the right technologies for them to produce quality vegetable, which is vital in getting market channels.
In addition, it is necessary for the group to be organized in order to sustain the supply after marketing agreement has been forged.
Chato, on the other hand, said that it only requires positive attitude and discipline for one to succeed.
She challenged the group to give their best and learn the different techniques so they could also produce quality vegetables throughout the year.
She said that nothing is impossible if you give your heart in whatever you do.
She urged the group to share whatever skills, technique or knowledge they acquire out of this training.
In addition, after the training it is important to practice what they learn for a multiplier effect.
She added that her office is willing to provide their assistance like seeds so they could start a backyard garden after the training.
The trainers came from DA RFU-5 and East-West Seed Company Incorporated. A combination of lecture and hands-on or actual field work was the methodology used.
(MRIlan, DA/PIA)
DA BICOL TURNS OVER GRAINS CENTER TO TABACO CITY
TABACO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional office has recently turned-over the Grains Center to the city government here that will provide farmers in the first congressional district of Albay easy access to post-harvest facilities that will minimize losses and obtain quality rice.
Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA Bicol regional executive director, said the post-harvest facility is funded under the Bicol Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort Program (B-CARE) thru the efforts of Cong. Edcel C. Lagman.
The facility is equipped with a multi-pass rice mill with a capacity of 25 cavans per hour; a re-circulating mechanical dyer that can accommodate 120 cavans of palay per batch, drying pavement, and a concrete access road.
Dayao said that obtaining quality rice means better price. He urged the farmers to patronize the grains center to sustain its operation.
He added that the DA is still implementing the 50 per cent subsidy on certified seeds and also the premium subsidy on insurance coverage from August 1 to December 15 planting.
He encouraged the farmers to avail these programs for them to increase production and obtain better income.
Dayao also said that a biomass-fed flatbed dryer would also be installed in addition to the existing facilities. The dryer could also accommodate six tons of palay per batch.
Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro on the other hand is grateful that said project was established in Tabaco City as the city has current 1,065 hectares rice area.
She said that she is also campaigning on the planting of hybrid rice to increase production and obtain rice sufficiency.
She believes that going into hybrid rice production will not only increase yield but also the income of the farmers.
She also cited that the city is also a recipient of several FMR projects that would link production area to market.
She announced that she gives priority to agriculture and they are now implementing the plant now pay later for hybrid seeds and also the 50 per cent discount on fertilizer.
Meanwhile, Rep; Edcel C. Lagman lauded the efforts of the city mayor and announces he is also pushing House Bill 330, which give importance to post harvest facilities.
He emphasized that providing post harvest facilities to farmers organization to be paid on a long-term basis without interest would surely help them increase their income.
Another project that he is now giving priority is the FMR which would link production areas to market.
He disclosed that good irrigation, coupled with post harvest facilities and FMR would surely give agriculture an added boost.
He wanted the farmers to sell rice not palay as he saw the economic advantage of selling rice.
He also mentioned the P250 million funds released to DA for the development of indigenous products of Bicol, which include pili, abaca and coconut.
He sees also the potential of these indigenous crops especially pili in terms of providing additional income to the farmers.
He envisions the establishment of a plantation of pili in the region that could sustain the increasing demand of pili nuts for processing. (MRIlan, DA/PIA)
PGMA satisfied with San Carlos bioethanol plant
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through a message, expressed satisfaction over the launching of the P3-billion San Carlos BioEnergy Inc. plant, which, she said, is a realization of her dream to make the country less dependent on imported fuel.
The President was to lead in the groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s first bio-ethanol plant. She failed to make it though because of bad weather. Instead, she sent Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to represent her and deliver her message.
Reyes said the President hoped that more bio-ethanol plants would be put up in Negros’ sugar mills to feed the requirements not only of motor vehicles, industrial equipment and electrical appliances but also to supply power to the main electric grids of the country.
He said the President, who monitored the construction, is glad the plant has become operational to benefit the farmers and growers.
“She also directed me to ask your other concerns, and if I could resolve them at my level then I should do so and just keep her posted on whatever actions I have taken,” Reyes said.
Jose Mari Zabaleta, chairman of SCBI, reported that the plant is the first to get the approval for its carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.
The SCBI, which is funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines, buys sugarcane for ethanol conversion from planters in this city and surrounding areas.
With SCBI’s operations, plantation owners and farmers now get better prices for their produce. The city is now considered a “planter’s market,” with sugarcane price rising to over P1,700 per 50 ton cane from less than P1,500 per ton cane in the previous year.
In 1908, Reyes pointed out, the first sugar syrup factory was established at the San Carlos mill. “Now after 100 years, we are putting up the first bioethanol plant in the country right here,” he said.
Reyes said he shares the President’s hopes that the San Carlos bioethanol plant will be replicated all over the country so that “we can finally liberate ourselves from the uncertain fuel oil situation and promote cleaner energy in our local industries.”
“We’re (an ideal country) for renewable energy because we have abundant supply of geothermal, solar, wind, coastal and hydro power,” Reyes said.
“Nothing,” he said, “should stop us from going renewable. We have what it takes to fulfill this dream and our laws are there to support in this direction.” (PIA V Release)
Government assures sufficient funds for anti-poverty program
MANILA — The government expressed assurance on Friday that there are sufficient funds to support its anti-hunger and anti-poverty program which aims to benefit one million poor families throughout the country.
The assurance was made by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral who said in a press statement that more poor families are requesting to be included in the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps) of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The 4Ps is the country’s conditional cash transfer program, but currently the funds can accommodate 700,000 households, according to the DSWD head.
Cabral, however, added that President Arroyo has ordered the increase of the number of beneficiaries to one million to accommodate more poor families.
At present, 4Ps covers 255 municipalities and 15 cities in 17 regions of the country.
“With the new directive of President Arroyo, more poor families will be covered by 4Ps,” Cabral said.
“We will continue to identify beneficiaries according to the targeting system we have been using, but will now expand to provinces and cities with large pockets of poverty that were not previously included as target beneficiaries,” she added.
Cabral stressed that "the DSWD is always willing and ready to implement social service programs as long as we are provided the funds for it." For this year, 4Ps has a budget allocation of P10 billion for the 700,000 households. To be able to cover 300,000 more families, an additional P5 billion is needed.
“We thank President Arroyo for supporting the budget requirements of 4Ps. The President continues to look for more funds to expand the program,” Cabral said.
At the same time, the DSWD chief has expressed elation that the program is appreciated as evidenced by requests of local government executives to include their local government units to be part of the program.
“People now recognize the value of the program. The outpouring of letters from politicians, local chief executives and poor individuals only indicate that the program is effectively improving lives,” Cabral said.
With the favorable impressions on 4Ps, Secretary Cabral assured the public that “we will serve with utmost integrity and focus on those who really need the services regardless of their affiliations.”
The 4Ps is a social development and poverty reduction strategy that provides cash grants of as much as P1,400 monthly to poor households for health, nutrition and education needs, particularly for children 0-14 years old provided they comply with certain conditions.
The conditions are: Pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by skilled attendant; parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions; 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive check-ups and vaccines; 3-5 years old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the time; 6-14 years old must be enrolled in elementary and high school at least 85 percent of the time; and 0-5 years old must receive de-worming twice a year.
Earlier, Malacañang said it had endorsed a P5-billion increase in the budget of a conditional cash transfer scheme that would cover one million poor families within the year from an original target of 700,000.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has been directed to scout for sources to fund the additional outlay.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei C. Fajardo yesterday said the President decided to expand the coverage of the 4Ps to strengthen the fight against hunger and poverty.
The program, which involves conditional cash transfers for poor families, had an original annual budget of P10 billion for the 20 poorest provinces nationwide, including poor families in Metro Manila. (PIA V Release)
ALAY LAKAD 2009 slated on September 6
MANILA — The ALAY LAKAD FOUNDATION will hold its 37th annual walk-for a –cause
project for the out of school youth at the Rizal Park on Sunday, September 6, 2009.
This year’s theme would be “Lakad Kabataan, Ituloy ang Kaunlaran” in support of the government’s call for development anchored on the future of the youth.
Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District will lead this year’s annual walk, headed by its District Governor, Claudio B. Nadal Jr and Ms. Edna Garcia as Chair of the National Coordinating Committee.
According to ALFI President Frank Evaristo, Alay Lakad was born to raise fund for the benefit of out-of-school- youth and provide them opportunities to be self reliant through livelihood activities and gain access to education.
Organized in 1972 by then the Ministry of Social Services (now DSWD), alongside with different government and civic organizations, ALAY LAKAD is a nationwide, non stock , non profit organization committed to the development of the Filipino youth especially the out-of school youth through scholarships and livelihood programs. It was incorporated in 1978 and was recognized as a Foundation by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1997.
The annual walk is the ALAY LAKAD FOUNDATION’s principal fund raising activity to generate money to support its project for the youth.
Every first Sunday of September, close to million people from all walks of life join in this mass hike out. While these participants sacrifice on waking up before dawn to walk many kilometers, they also contribute to the collections during the walk. Business companies are invited to sponsor this event.
Everyone is welcome to join and participate to this annual walk-for- a cause project to help provide the out of school youths in our country all the assistance to help them alleviate their plight.
For more information, please call Ms. Esther Villanueva and Mr.Edwin Flores of Alay Lakad Foundation at tel nos. 523-1539/522- 6134. (PIA V Release)
PGMA assures war veterans of benefits
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday assured World War II veterans that her administration is continuously working to provide and secure their long-overdue benefits, including the US$ 190-million compensation package from the United States government.
The President made the assurance to some 200 war veterans during the Filipino World War II Veterans Assembly Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Among those present were National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, national president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Administrator and DND Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina of the Department of National Defense.
During her visit to the United States, the President said she told US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki that many Filipino veterans look forward to the speedy implementation of the $190-million compensation package, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama this year.
“And he (Shinseki) replied that his department, if needed, will hire additional personnel to fast track the claims,” the President said.
The US Embassy in Manila started accepting applications for the lump-sum payments of $ 15,000 for veterans who have become US citizens and $ 9,000 for non-US citizens.
The President noted that the first payment was already made last April 8 but more than 31,000 filed their claims at the PVAO compared to the US estimate that only about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible.
The President said Secretary Teodoro will follow up with Secretary Shinseki to expedite the processing of the claims of Filipino war veterans.
The President said Secretary Shinseki also told her that the U.S. government is already providing some $ 17 million a month to Filipino war veterans and their families.
“Outside of the new veterans’ benefits, his (Shinseki’s) department is also disbursing funds to veterans and their families, including death pensions totaling $ 17 million a month,” the President stressed.
She told the Filipino war veterans that the US government is also providing an MRI facility to the Philippine Veterans Hospital.
The President likewise instructed Secretary Teodoro to study the possibility of establishing vital medical equipment in areas where many war veterans reside.
According to the President, she has instructed Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to pay the total administrative liability, including pension arrears, to World War II veterans for this year.
In closing, the President thanked Shinseki, U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and everyone who made contributions to facilitate the passage of the $ 190-million lump sum package. (PIA V Release)
RP economy to grow 2.5% in Q3, FMIC-UAP says
MANILA — The Philippine economy, as measured by the country's gross domestic product (GDP), is likely to grow 2.5 percent in the third quarter and 4.5 percent in the last quarter of the year, according to First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific’s (UAP) Capital Markets Research.
GDP is the amount of final goods and services produced in a country in a given period.
"The relatively strong numbers in June and July confirm our expectation of clearly positive GDP growth figures for the second semester," the research note said.
The FMIC-UAP said remittances of Filipino workers overseas continued to provide the country with hopes of growth as flows continued its positive streak climbing by 3.3 percent in June.
In the second quarter, the economy grew 1.5 percent from 4.2 percent in the same period last year. The government projected GDP to grow between 0.8 percent and 1.8 percent this year.
"Exports are also likely to post positive growth in the fourth quarter due to base effects and consistently rising monthly exports as East Asia (especially China) and the U.S. Recoveries gain traction." FMIC-UAP said.
FMIC-UAP also sees positive growth in the electricity, fast foods, retailers’ sales and residential property sales sectors and a "muted" inflation.
"These would tend to offset the still negative exports picture and a deceleration in National Government (NG) spending," it said.
FMIC-UAP projected a 0.9 percent inflation rate in September; 1.7 percent in October and 2.7 percent in November. "Inflation remains muted, as other prices other than petroleum products, have been quite stable in the last three months.
The only remaining risk is for a severe El Nino to hamper rice harvest in October to November, as crude oil prices are unlikely to make a strong upward move until mid-2010," the research note said.
For the full year, FMIC-UAP expects inflation rate of 3.3 percent. From January to July, inflation rate was 4.3 percent. FMIC-UAP said that government tax take would improve, as the economy turns more positive in the second semester, and fiscal discipline will enable the NG to meet its P250- billion deficit target. (PIA V Release)
PILI, Camarines Sur — Bicol now ranks first among the regions in the entire country in palay production growth rate based from the report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).
Bicol posted a 17.3% palay production growth rate in the first semester of 2009 compared to the first semester of last year, the highest among the rice producing regions.
Camarines Sur, a consistent surplus rice producer, stood out among the provinces of Bicol in terms of volume in palay production which is an immense factor in the region’s number one ranking during the said period.
Ilocos region ranks second with 13.08 % growth rate for the same period, followed by Central Luzon which registered a 9.23 % net production growth.
Governor LRay Villafuerte has placed high premium on agricultural productivity, especially on palay production, because of his firm commitment that it is vital to the economic acceleration of the province.
The BAS report attributes the remarkable performance of Bicol to the use of quality seeds by most farmers, the additional use of inputs and better irrigation system. (LAGavino/SNieves, MMEC/PIA)
POLICE TO SEARCH HOUSES FOR GUNS
MASBATE CITY — In the event known politicians here failed to register their loose firearms under a new firearms amnesty program that began last Aug. 1, 2009, the Police Provincial Office here may embark on raids and search operations.
Chief Inspector Rodolfo Abella, PPO Masbate community relations officer aired this warning even as it urged owners of unlicensed firearms to avail themselves of the government’s amnesty on the registration of loose firearms.
“This is the ultimate amnesty for holders of loose firearms. After this, aggressive police operations will commence against firearms law violators and there will be no let up or sacred cows in this campaign,” Abella said, quoting from a press statement issued by PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa.
The amnesty program, approved by President Macapagal-Arroyo last month, aims to reduce gun-related violence in next year’s national and local elections. Part of the implementing rules incorporates a reward system to those who could lead police to anyone holding loose firearms.
Police pegged the number of loose firearms at 1.2 million, which are in the hands of organized criminals, the New People’s Army and civilians.
Although the final amnesty will be in October, Abella said the PNP opened the processing phase last Aug. 1.
The provincial command and police stations are all authorized to accept and process unregistered guns, he said.
Authorities here have noted that most crimes committed with firearms in the last few years involved loose guns.
In a recent forum, no less than Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Masbate expressed alarm at the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in the province and asked the PNP to step up its campaign to recover these guns which he said were mostly in the hands of political supporters.
“There are lots of unlicensed guns around,” the prelate said. “Halos bawat bahay ay may baril.” (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)
PHILHEALTH OFFERS EXTENSION SERVICES IN HONGKONG
LEGAZPI CITY — Mobile officers of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) were dispatched since August this year to Hongkong providing access and information to Filipinos on the agency’s membership updates and renewal, claims and benefits, and premium remittance concerns.
The task of PhilHealth mobile officers is to attend OFWs gatherings or meetings and coordinate with Filipino organizations in Hongkong to facilitate information drives promoting the agency’s programs and services.
They may also receive claim documents from OFWs admitted to any hospital in the country to help facilitate the processing of their reimbursements.
A confinement of an OFW shall be paid based on the benefit rates of a Level 3 hospital, with the validity period of his contribution being the eligibility requirement
For a start, mobile officers will be sent to Hongkong, for two weeks once every three months, to popularize PhilHealth programs and services as well as render assistance to various health insurance concerns of our members in the former Crown Colony.
Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth president and CEO, stated, “This is just the beginning, after Hongkong (which also extends services to nearby Macau), we shall replicate this project in other OFW-dense countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.”
PhilHealth, complementing its extension services overseas, also signed and entered into a Collection and Remittance Agreement with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Under the agreement, the two government banks were accredited as collecting partners for OFW premium contributions.
OFWs in Hongkong may pay their health insurance premiums through subsidiaries and remittance partners of the mentioned banks, ready to accept premium payments either for membership renewal, member re-activation or from new registrants.
Aside from Hongkong, DBP also has tie-ups in the Middle East, Singapore, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland, Ireland, Cambodia, Australia and Korea.
According to Dr. Aquino, PhilHealth management will continue to evaluate and accredit institutional applicants for our overseas collection efforts to enable our two million OFW members update their contribution payments.
“Through updated premiums, they are assured of claims and benefits of accredited facilities in the Philippines or in hospitals abroad. It is our ultimate goal to provide more payment windows, especially for our OFW members,” he said.
(PhilHealth V/PIA)
PHILHEALTH EXPANDS BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO OFWs
LEGAZPI CITY — As PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) moves towards Universal Coverage by 2010, the agency further expands its benefits and services to the Filipinos providing quality and affordable health care services to OFWs and their dependents through the Overseas Workers Program.
With only P900 as their annual contribution, OFWs and their dependents could enjoy the PhilHealth inpatient and outpatient benefit packages in accredited facilities.
However, to continuously avail of these benefits, OFWs should renew their membership annually with PhilHealth by paying the annual premium and by presenting the following documents:
1. Valid passport
2. Valid working permit/visa; Exit and Re-entry visa;
3. Overseas Employment Certificate
4. Any other equivalent documents proving that he/she is an active OFW.
a. Certificate of Employment for applicable period from employer
abroad
b. Valid Employment Contract
c. Valid Company ID issued by the employer abroad
d. Cash Remittance Receipt from member abroad at least 2
months prior the date of renewal/payment
The same documents also apply to new registrants to the Overseas Workers Program which are to be attached to the M1b form for membership registration.
(PhilHealth V/PIA)
TRAINING ON OFF-SEASON VEGETABLE PRODUCTION HELD
DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – Over 30 farmers from this municipality and Vinzons town attended the two-day training on off-season vegetable production held recently at Camarines Norte State College.
The training was conceptualized to introduce new technologies in producing off-season vegetables. It also aims to provide farmers with the knowledge and skills on how to produce quality vegetables even during off-season.
This activity is jointly sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Congw. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of Camarines Norte lone district.
Vinzons Mayor Oliver F. Ferrer said trainings similar to this are important as more farmers learn new technologies to increase vegetable production.
He added that if more people were given the opportunity to attend similar training, our problem on poverty may be addressed.
He cited that right in their backyard, farmers could produce vegetables and other crops not only for their consumption but also for sale.
He lauded the efforts of Chato for spearheading the activity and for choosing Vinzons as one of the pilot municipalities for her project.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA regional executive director, said that the agency is always on hand to provide technical assistance to interested farmers or vegetable growers.
With the collaboration and linkages of national and local agencies more farmers will be benefited and vegetable sufficiency can be attained.
He emphasized that it is important for participants to learn the right technologies for them to produce quality vegetable, which is vital in getting market channels.
In addition, it is necessary for the group to be organized in order to sustain the supply after marketing agreement has been forged.
Chato, on the other hand, said that it only requires positive attitude and discipline for one to succeed.
She challenged the group to give their best and learn the different techniques so they could also produce quality vegetables throughout the year.
She said that nothing is impossible if you give your heart in whatever you do.
She urged the group to share whatever skills, technique or knowledge they acquire out of this training.
In addition, after the training it is important to practice what they learn for a multiplier effect.
She added that her office is willing to provide their assistance like seeds so they could start a backyard garden after the training.
The trainers came from DA RFU-5 and East-West Seed Company Incorporated. A combination of lecture and hands-on or actual field work was the methodology used.
(MRIlan, DA/PIA)
DA BICOL TURNS OVER GRAINS CENTER TO TABACO CITY
TABACO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional office has recently turned-over the Grains Center to the city government here that will provide farmers in the first congressional district of Albay easy access to post-harvest facilities that will minimize losses and obtain quality rice.
Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA Bicol regional executive director, said the post-harvest facility is funded under the Bicol Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort Program (B-CARE) thru the efforts of Cong. Edcel C. Lagman.
The facility is equipped with a multi-pass rice mill with a capacity of 25 cavans per hour; a re-circulating mechanical dyer that can accommodate 120 cavans of palay per batch, drying pavement, and a concrete access road.
Dayao said that obtaining quality rice means better price. He urged the farmers to patronize the grains center to sustain its operation.
He added that the DA is still implementing the 50 per cent subsidy on certified seeds and also the premium subsidy on insurance coverage from August 1 to December 15 planting.
He encouraged the farmers to avail these programs for them to increase production and obtain better income.
Dayao also said that a biomass-fed flatbed dryer would also be installed in addition to the existing facilities. The dryer could also accommodate six tons of palay per batch.
Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro on the other hand is grateful that said project was established in Tabaco City as the city has current 1,065 hectares rice area.
She said that she is also campaigning on the planting of hybrid rice to increase production and obtain rice sufficiency.
She believes that going into hybrid rice production will not only increase yield but also the income of the farmers.
She also cited that the city is also a recipient of several FMR projects that would link production area to market.
She announced that she gives priority to agriculture and they are now implementing the plant now pay later for hybrid seeds and also the 50 per cent discount on fertilizer.
Meanwhile, Rep; Edcel C. Lagman lauded the efforts of the city mayor and announces he is also pushing House Bill 330, which give importance to post harvest facilities.
He emphasized that providing post harvest facilities to farmers organization to be paid on a long-term basis without interest would surely help them increase their income.
Another project that he is now giving priority is the FMR which would link production areas to market.
He disclosed that good irrigation, coupled with post harvest facilities and FMR would surely give agriculture an added boost.
He wanted the farmers to sell rice not palay as he saw the economic advantage of selling rice.
He also mentioned the P250 million funds released to DA for the development of indigenous products of Bicol, which include pili, abaca and coconut.
He sees also the potential of these indigenous crops especially pili in terms of providing additional income to the farmers.
He envisions the establishment of a plantation of pili in the region that could sustain the increasing demand of pili nuts for processing. (MRIlan, DA/PIA)
PGMA satisfied with San Carlos bioethanol plant
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through a message, expressed satisfaction over the launching of the P3-billion San Carlos BioEnergy Inc. plant, which, she said, is a realization of her dream to make the country less dependent on imported fuel.
The President was to lead in the groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s first bio-ethanol plant. She failed to make it though because of bad weather. Instead, she sent Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to represent her and deliver her message.
Reyes said the President hoped that more bio-ethanol plants would be put up in Negros’ sugar mills to feed the requirements not only of motor vehicles, industrial equipment and electrical appliances but also to supply power to the main electric grids of the country.
He said the President, who monitored the construction, is glad the plant has become operational to benefit the farmers and growers.
“She also directed me to ask your other concerns, and if I could resolve them at my level then I should do so and just keep her posted on whatever actions I have taken,” Reyes said.
Jose Mari Zabaleta, chairman of SCBI, reported that the plant is the first to get the approval for its carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.
The SCBI, which is funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines, buys sugarcane for ethanol conversion from planters in this city and surrounding areas.
With SCBI’s operations, plantation owners and farmers now get better prices for their produce. The city is now considered a “planter’s market,” with sugarcane price rising to over P1,700 per 50 ton cane from less than P1,500 per ton cane in the previous year.
In 1908, Reyes pointed out, the first sugar syrup factory was established at the San Carlos mill. “Now after 100 years, we are putting up the first bioethanol plant in the country right here,” he said.
Reyes said he shares the President’s hopes that the San Carlos bioethanol plant will be replicated all over the country so that “we can finally liberate ourselves from the uncertain fuel oil situation and promote cleaner energy in our local industries.”
“We’re (an ideal country) for renewable energy because we have abundant supply of geothermal, solar, wind, coastal and hydro power,” Reyes said.
“Nothing,” he said, “should stop us from going renewable. We have what it takes to fulfill this dream and our laws are there to support in this direction.” (PIA V Release)
Government assures sufficient funds for anti-poverty program
MANILA — The government expressed assurance on Friday that there are sufficient funds to support its anti-hunger and anti-poverty program which aims to benefit one million poor families throughout the country.
The assurance was made by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral who said in a press statement that more poor families are requesting to be included in the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps) of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The 4Ps is the country’s conditional cash transfer program, but currently the funds can accommodate 700,000 households, according to the DSWD head.
Cabral, however, added that President Arroyo has ordered the increase of the number of beneficiaries to one million to accommodate more poor families.
At present, 4Ps covers 255 municipalities and 15 cities in 17 regions of the country.
“With the new directive of President Arroyo, more poor families will be covered by 4Ps,” Cabral said.
“We will continue to identify beneficiaries according to the targeting system we have been using, but will now expand to provinces and cities with large pockets of poverty that were not previously included as target beneficiaries,” she added.
Cabral stressed that "the DSWD is always willing and ready to implement social service programs as long as we are provided the funds for it." For this year, 4Ps has a budget allocation of P10 billion for the 700,000 households. To be able to cover 300,000 more families, an additional P5 billion is needed.
“We thank President Arroyo for supporting the budget requirements of 4Ps. The President continues to look for more funds to expand the program,” Cabral said.
At the same time, the DSWD chief has expressed elation that the program is appreciated as evidenced by requests of local government executives to include their local government units to be part of the program.
“People now recognize the value of the program. The outpouring of letters from politicians, local chief executives and poor individuals only indicate that the program is effectively improving lives,” Cabral said.
With the favorable impressions on 4Ps, Secretary Cabral assured the public that “we will serve with utmost integrity and focus on those who really need the services regardless of their affiliations.”
The 4Ps is a social development and poverty reduction strategy that provides cash grants of as much as P1,400 monthly to poor households for health, nutrition and education needs, particularly for children 0-14 years old provided they comply with certain conditions.
The conditions are: Pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by skilled attendant; parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions; 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive check-ups and vaccines; 3-5 years old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the time; 6-14 years old must be enrolled in elementary and high school at least 85 percent of the time; and 0-5 years old must receive de-worming twice a year.
Earlier, Malacañang said it had endorsed a P5-billion increase in the budget of a conditional cash transfer scheme that would cover one million poor families within the year from an original target of 700,000.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has been directed to scout for sources to fund the additional outlay.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei C. Fajardo yesterday said the President decided to expand the coverage of the 4Ps to strengthen the fight against hunger and poverty.
The program, which involves conditional cash transfers for poor families, had an original annual budget of P10 billion for the 20 poorest provinces nationwide, including poor families in Metro Manila. (PIA V Release)
ALAY LAKAD 2009 slated on September 6
MANILA — The ALAY LAKAD FOUNDATION will hold its 37th annual walk-for a –cause
project for the out of school youth at the Rizal Park on Sunday, September 6, 2009.
This year’s theme would be “Lakad Kabataan, Ituloy ang Kaunlaran” in support of the government’s call for development anchored on the future of the youth.
Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District will lead this year’s annual walk, headed by its District Governor, Claudio B. Nadal Jr and Ms. Edna Garcia as Chair of the National Coordinating Committee.
According to ALFI President Frank Evaristo, Alay Lakad was born to raise fund for the benefit of out-of-school- youth and provide them opportunities to be self reliant through livelihood activities and gain access to education.
Organized in 1972 by then the Ministry of Social Services (now DSWD), alongside with different government and civic organizations, ALAY LAKAD is a nationwide, non stock , non profit organization committed to the development of the Filipino youth especially the out-of school youth through scholarships and livelihood programs. It was incorporated in 1978 and was recognized as a Foundation by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1997.
The annual walk is the ALAY LAKAD FOUNDATION’s principal fund raising activity to generate money to support its project for the youth.
Every first Sunday of September, close to million people from all walks of life join in this mass hike out. While these participants sacrifice on waking up before dawn to walk many kilometers, they also contribute to the collections during the walk. Business companies are invited to sponsor this event.
Everyone is welcome to join and participate to this annual walk-for- a cause project to help provide the out of school youths in our country all the assistance to help them alleviate their plight.
For more information, please call Ms. Esther Villanueva and Mr.Edwin Flores of Alay Lakad Foundation at tel nos. 523-1539/522- 6134. (PIA V Release)
PGMA assures war veterans of benefits
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday assured World War II veterans that her administration is continuously working to provide and secure their long-overdue benefits, including the US$ 190-million compensation package from the United States government.
The President made the assurance to some 200 war veterans during the Filipino World War II Veterans Assembly Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Among those present were National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, national president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Administrator and DND Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina of the Department of National Defense.
During her visit to the United States, the President said she told US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki that many Filipino veterans look forward to the speedy implementation of the $190-million compensation package, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama this year.
“And he (Shinseki) replied that his department, if needed, will hire additional personnel to fast track the claims,” the President said.
The US Embassy in Manila started accepting applications for the lump-sum payments of $ 15,000 for veterans who have become US citizens and $ 9,000 for non-US citizens.
The President noted that the first payment was already made last April 8 but more than 31,000 filed their claims at the PVAO compared to the US estimate that only about 18,000 Filipino veterans are still alive and eligible.
The President said Secretary Teodoro will follow up with Secretary Shinseki to expedite the processing of the claims of Filipino war veterans.
The President said Secretary Shinseki also told her that the U.S. government is already providing some $ 17 million a month to Filipino war veterans and their families.
“Outside of the new veterans’ benefits, his (Shinseki’s) department is also disbursing funds to veterans and their families, including death pensions totaling $ 17 million a month,” the President stressed.
She told the Filipino war veterans that the US government is also providing an MRI facility to the Philippine Veterans Hospital.
The President likewise instructed Secretary Teodoro to study the possibility of establishing vital medical equipment in areas where many war veterans reside.
According to the President, she has instructed Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to pay the total administrative liability, including pension arrears, to World War II veterans for this year.
In closing, the President thanked Shinseki, U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and everyone who made contributions to facilitate the passage of the $ 190-million lump sum package. (PIA V Release)
RP economy to grow 2.5% in Q3, FMIC-UAP says
MANILA — The Philippine economy, as measured by the country's gross domestic product (GDP), is likely to grow 2.5 percent in the third quarter and 4.5 percent in the last quarter of the year, according to First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific’s (UAP) Capital Markets Research.
GDP is the amount of final goods and services produced in a country in a given period.
"The relatively strong numbers in June and July confirm our expectation of clearly positive GDP growth figures for the second semester," the research note said.
The FMIC-UAP said remittances of Filipino workers overseas continued to provide the country with hopes of growth as flows continued its positive streak climbing by 3.3 percent in June.
In the second quarter, the economy grew 1.5 percent from 4.2 percent in the same period last year. The government projected GDP to grow between 0.8 percent and 1.8 percent this year.
"Exports are also likely to post positive growth in the fourth quarter due to base effects and consistently rising monthly exports as East Asia (especially China) and the U.S. Recoveries gain traction." FMIC-UAP said.
FMIC-UAP also sees positive growth in the electricity, fast foods, retailers’ sales and residential property sales sectors and a "muted" inflation.
"These would tend to offset the still negative exports picture and a deceleration in National Government (NG) spending," it said.
FMIC-UAP projected a 0.9 percent inflation rate in September; 1.7 percent in October and 2.7 percent in November. "Inflation remains muted, as other prices other than petroleum products, have been quite stable in the last three months.
The only remaining risk is for a severe El Nino to hamper rice harvest in October to November, as crude oil prices are unlikely to make a strong upward move until mid-2010," the research note said.
For the full year, FMIC-UAP expects inflation rate of 3.3 percent. From January to July, inflation rate was 4.3 percent. FMIC-UAP said that government tax take would improve, as the economy turns more positive in the second semester, and fiscal discipline will enable the NG to meet its P250- billion deficit target. (PIA V Release)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
SSC PROMOTES ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG STUDES, COMMUNITIES
SORSOGON CITY — Sorsogon State College (SSC), in all its three campuses here, in Bulan and Castilla towns, is putting its best foot forward in guiding the students and community’s consciousness in ensuring food security and beef up income-generating projects.
Dr. Antonio Fuentes, SSC president, said in a press statement that the city government here has positively responded to request of Lourdes Dy, SSC Soft Trades coordinator, and provided vegetable seeds to SSC campus here in support of the ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ project.
Fuentes said that ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ complements the city government’s ‘Luntiang Daigdig’, which also seeks to ensure food security and provide additional income for the local residents.
Dy said that the city government has initially turned-over seeds of sweet pearl, sitao, upo, squash, patula, upland kangkong, radish, pechay and eggplant to start up the project.
“SSC’s ongoing production project has multiple crop garden envisioned to be self-liquidating and self-sustaining,” she said.
According to her, the harvest will be sold at an affordable price to the students, faculty, employees, and interested individuals.
Meanwhile, the SSC campus in Magallanes town has been already reaping the fruits of investment from the P200,000 financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the school’s livestock project.
Augusto N. Calabines, SSC Magallanes campus director, said that the amount has been allotted for the fish processing project under the SSC-DOLE Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) program.
Calabines said that the student-recipients’ income-generating project is focused on tilapia-tocino and smoked fish production,”.
Income generating projects (IGP) of the SSC campuses have already posted revenues amounting to P513,206.45 from January to June, this year. (SSC/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)
CAMARINES NORTE REVIEWS CPC 6 IMPLEMENTATION
DAET, Camarines Norte — The provincial technical working group (PTWG) of the Sixth Country Programme for Children (CPC 6) recently convened to assess the Sub-Regional Multi-Indicator Survey 2007 on women and children in the province.
Madonna A. Abular, provincial planning and development officer/CPC 6 coordinator, said that PTWG members were provided baseline information for assessing the situation of children and women in the province; data in monitoring programs and projects geared towards the achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) as basis for future direction; and contribute to the improvement of data and monitoring system in the province.
Abular said that the data of the SR-MICS can be use by stakeholders in the planning and implementation of programs and projects concerning women and children in the province.
Meanwhile, group also discussed some of the plans for the coming Children’s Month celebration this October that will highlight the State of the Children Report.
The State of the Children Report will include the executive summary, situation of women of children, measures of implementation, highlights of accomplishments on health and nutrition, education, child protection, communication, and social policy and local development.
Also, the report will include the implementation issues, gaps and challenges and future directions, and the children’s statement. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)
PHILHEALTH SETS GUIDELINES FOR NEWBORN CARE BENEFITS
LEGAZPI CITY — Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in line with its Circular 29, series of 2009, has set the reimbursement limit for newborn screening test to only P550, including the collection kit, and the maximum allowable service fee is set at P50.
In its advisory, PhilHealth state that the directive will take effect for all claims with admission dates starting September 1, 2009.
It added that the Newborn Care Package (NCP) will cover reimbursement for the newborn screening fixed at P550, wherein the maximum out-of-pocket payment for members should only be P100
The advisory stressed that other newborn care services, such as eye prophylaxis, umbilical cord care, Vitamin K, thermal care, BCG and Hepatitis B immunization, should also be given as it is reiterated that partial provision of services will cause non-payment of claims for the NCP.
To achieve the 85 per cent target for newborn screening coverage by 2010, PhilHealth has reiterated that all newborns delivered in accredited facilities should undergo newborn screening tests, including sick babies who are not covered by the NCP.
The newborns are covered by the regular inpatient benefit package of PhilHealth, thus the cost for the newborn screening test should be charged against PhilHealth benefit earmarked for laboratory, x-ray, supplies and others.
PhilHealth warned that If an accredited hospital refuse to provide newborn screening and/or collect more than the maximum allowed newborn screening fee, complaints can be filed to the Department of Health and PhilHealth Legal Services Sector for investigation.
Republic Act 9288 (Newborn Screening Act of 2004) and Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2005-005 and 2008-026 guarantee that every baby born in the Philippines must be offered the opportunity to undergo newborn screening and thus be spared from heritable conditions that can lead to mental retardation and death if undetected and untreated. (MALoterte, PIA V)
POLICE SIEZED HOT LOGS IN IROSIN TOWN
IROSIN, Sorsogon — Elements of the Municipal Police Station (MPO) here apprehended last week an estimated 4,000 board feet of illegally-cut logs loaded in a ten-wheeler truck, with plate number RDP 710, reportedly bound for delivery to a client in Legazpi City, Albay province.
The contrabands were seized after the courier failed to present legal documents as required by existing laws and regulations to transport the forest products.
Apprehended were truck driver Mario Uno y Abayan, 45 years old, married and a resident of Navarro St., Makinabang, Baliwag, Bulacan; truck helpers Jeofrey Yarcia y pineda, 26, yrs. old, married and resident of Blk. 15 Lot 12 Phase 7 Toca tabang, Plaridel, Bulacan; Lino Caliuag y Cruz, 45 yrs. old, married and resident of 38 Paquito Ochoa St., Santo Cristo, Pulilan, Bulacan; and Quirico De Asis Jr. y Pantua, 28 yrs. old, married of Mondragon, Northern Samar.
Documents recovered from the courier showed the owner of the said logs was identified as Lito De Asis of Mondragon, Northen Samar.
The suspects were arrested for violating P.D. 705 and were appraised of their constitutional rights and put in jail for reglamentary period of detention.
Seized logs and vehicle are now under the custody of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (PPO). (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)
BFP, DTI TO STAMP OUT DEFECTIVE LPG IN THE MARKET
SORSOGON CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) city station and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here are doing rounds in all authorized dealers and outlets of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to stamp out defective LPG containers to ensure fire safety.
Alarmed by the reports that defective LPG tanks continue to proliferate in the country, the city council here passed Resolution No. 241, Series of 2009, authored by Ho. Pedro A. Ravanilla, prompting the two government agencies to conduct the inspection.
Findings of the monitoring government agencies revealed some authorized dealers and outlets of LPG failed to comply with existing laws or violated the Quality and Safety Requirements of LPG tanks sanctioned by DTI.
Defective tanks can be easily identified because it has no permanent mark on the collar, the tare weight or weight of the LPG tank was not properly placed, owner’s name was not properly embossed on the shoulder, no markings of the Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (IIC) on the tank’s footring, and some of the markings are not clear because of the corrosion on the tank.
The primary purpose of the inspection is to minimize the loss of life and destruction of properties thru the supply and usage of quality and safe tanks.
Records show that there are at least an estimated two million defective tanks that are distributed and sold throughout the country. It is also a public knowledge that defective tanks are identified as one of the main causes of fire accidents. (CDBanico, BFP Sorsogon City/PIA)
ADVOCATES SAY, STOP PUNISHING OUR CHILDREN!
MANILA — Amid reports that a large proportion of children around the world experiences physical and humiliating or degrading punishment, child rights advocates call on parents, guardians and other authorities to end corporal punishment.
In a media briefing on the Advocacy and Campaign for the Promotion of Positive Discipline and Prohibition of Corporal Punishment held here recently, Child Rights Network (CRN), highlighted the need for a law that will ban the corporal punishment of children in the homes, schools and other settings.
According to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Corporal Punishment are cases where physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light.
It also includes other non-physical forms of punishment that are cruel and degrading.
In the World Studies of Abuse in the Family Environment conducted by the World Health Organization presented by Ms. Hope Tura, CRN Co-Convenor, showed that severe physical punishment is commonly used as means of discipline in the Philippines.
Said study cites “21% of children are hit with an object in other parts of their body, 6% are kicked, 3% are beaten, while 1% is threatened with a knife or a gun, and another 1% is choked.”
“Unfortunately, here in the Philippines, we learn to tolerate a not so child-friendly society,” lamented Ramon San Pascual, executive director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD).
“As a legislative advocacy institution, we put this challenge in legislation,” he added.
“That is why we are pushing for the passage of a law that will institutionalize mechanisms to educate the general public on effective non-violent forms of discipline and change the norms about the acceptability and use of corporal punishment,” he stressed
House Bill 6699 or the “Anti-Corporal Punishment Act of 2009” now pending for plenary deliberation at the House of Representatives is authored by Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro of the 1st District of Tarlac.
Meanwhile, Child Rights Ambassador of PLAN International Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski expressed support for a law that will protect children. Reacting to a comment that corporal punishment is sometimes brought about by poverty, Ms. Jaworski said, “no amount of poverty is a justification for corporal punishment.”
Wilma Banaga of Save the Children, on the other hand offered positive discipline as an alternative approach to discipline children.
She stressed that positive discipline is a process, takes time and needs family support.
Child Rights Network (CRN) is a network of organizations advocating for the passage of national laws that will protect and fulfill the rights of Filipino children. (PLCPD/PIA)
“100 PERCENT IN ONE DAY“
A nationwide medical, dental, feeding and information gathering mission
MANILA — Two million patients. 100,000 volunteers. 2,000 medical mission sites.
On September 6, 2009, Sunday, more than 100,000 doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, health workers, medical professionals and concerned Filipino citizens from the government and private sector leave the comforts of their home to perform the biggest act of charity in the country, so far.
These Good Samaritans, in a massive display of collective volunteerism, offer their services for free as partners of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in providing medical and dental services to more than two million Filipinos— all in a single day.
Dubbed as the “100 Percent in One Day” project, the PCSO’s nationwide medical, dental and information- gathering mission aims to cover all of the country’s 41,995 barangays.
“This is a first-of-its- kind project in the Philippines that provides fast access to medical and charity care from PCSO and its partners to poor Filipinos all over the country in one day,” explains PCSO General Manager and Vice Chair Rosario Uriarte.
The project is envisioned to be both a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of PCSO, and a window for marginalized Filipinos from all over the country to access medical care and organized charity assistance.
For the medical and dental missions, the PCSO expects to cover 25,197 barangays in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, representing 60 percent of the total number of barangays in the country.
There are more than 2,000 medical mission sites to be set up all over the country on September 6, each site capable of providing service to 1,000 to 1,500 patients.
A medical mission site is manned by four doctors, two dentists, four nurses and one pharmacist. These health professionals are assisted by 30 to 40 volunteers who are in-charge of physical set-up and security.
Aside from general checkups, minor surgeries like the removal of cataracts and lumps, dental services, eye examinations, bone scan and ear check monitor will be available in selected medical mission sites located in government hospitals and rural clinics.
Medicines to be distributed free to patients at the sites include amoxicillin drops, capsules and suspension; metropolol tablets; mefenamic acid, paracetamol drops and tablets; and ascorbic drops, tablets and syrups.
“PCSO has been doing monthly medical and dental missions for several years now,” says Uriarte. “But this is the first time we’ll hold it in large scale in one day, targeting more than two million patients.”
In Metro Manila alone, more than 150,000 beneficiaries are expected to avail of free medical and dental services offered in some 100 mission sites spread throughout the National Capital Region.
The medical sites in Metro Manila are manned by volunteers from the seven Catholic diocese affiliated with Caritas, which mobilized lay leaders and church workers to assist the health professionals in the medical mission sites.
The information- gathering mission, on the other hand, is expected to cover 100 percent of the 41,995 barangays.
Under this component, barangay health workers and residents are encouraged to send to the PCSO through Short Messaging System (SMS) or text message the name and profile of a patient in their community who intends to seek financial assistance from the charity agency.
This would allow the PCSO to maintain a database of prospective beneficiaries whose cases would have to be evaluated to determine who may qualify for the medical assistance.
The feeding missions would be conducted in selected barangays, mostly in depressed areas, in coordination with church-based groups and civic organizations.
The “One Hundred Percent in One Day” project, according to Uriarte, is envisioned to be an annual activity that will serve as a vehicle for spreading the “charity virus,” and make organized and systematic sharing coupled with volunteerism as a way of life for Filipinos. (PIA V Release)
PGMA mourns Ka Erdie’s demise
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joins the Filipino nation in mourning the passing of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Erańo (Ka Erdie) G. Manalo Monday afternoon.
President Arroyo likewise extends the condolences and prayers of her family and Cabinet members to Ka Erdy’s son, Deputy Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, and to all pastoral leaders and members of the INC.
INC, which celebrated its 95th anniversary last July 27, is the larget independent church in Asia.
With a membership of millions, it is politically influential.In a statement, Executive Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Eduardo R. Ermita said “this country and the world have lost yet another great leader in this generation, (one) who has touched the lives of multitudes by his life and his teachings.”
Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez, on the other hand, described Ka Erdie a “giant in the social religious and political life of the country.”
He added that the INC’s late leader guided millions of Filipinos on the path of righteousness and attended to social and economic needs of his flock.
Asked if the President, who is currently in Libya, will attend Manalo’s funeral, Golez said the Palace needs to check first on President Arroyo’s schedule when she comes home.
Manalo took over the church upon the death in 1963 of the founder, his father Felix Manalo. Manalo was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child. (PIA V Release)
PGMA hopeful stalled talks with CPP-NPA-NDF will resume soon
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope that peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will resume soon.
In her message for the celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month this September, the President vowed to continue exerting efforts to achieve lasting peace for the Filipinos.
“I welcome the observance of the Peace Month with a happy note regarding the progress of our peace process. Peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are on track while our negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF have suffered some kinks, which, hopefully, can be ironed out. These are indeed breakthroughs in our determined efforts to achieve a just and enduring peace for all Filipinos,” she said.
“At the same time, we continue to engage stakeholders in the communities through dialogues and collaborative endeavors to ensure that our peace agenda is reflective of the sentiments, aspirations and values of our people,” the Chief Executive added.
Stressing that peace remains a top priority of her administration, the President also called on everyone to support and cooperate so that gains in peace and development could be sustained.
The resumption of the peace talks stalled after the CPP-NPA-NDF demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against the rebels’ negotiators and consultants.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Avelino Razon Jr. said the government will exhaust all legal means to allow the rebels’ negotiators to attend the scheduled Oslo talks on Sept. 5. (PIA V Release)
RP to train Somali coast guard
MANILA — Economic and cultural relations between the Republic of the Philippines and Somalia may soon include naval and civil service training after leaders of the two nations discussed the possibility of undertaking these types of “institution building” measures to address the occurrence of pirate attacks off the coast of the African nation.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told members of the Filipino Community in Libya that she had met with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at the sidelines of the African Union’s Special Summit on the Settlement of Conflicts in Africa to discuss ways to once and for all rid the region of pirates.
In a pre-departure statement before boarding a chartered flight bound for Tripoli, Libya Monday, the President cited the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Africa, saying this has a direct impact “on our energy security, but more importantly, on the safety and welfare of our overseas Filipinos, including our seafarers.”
According to the President, the occurrence of pirate attacks, specifically off the coast of Somalia at the end of the East African monsoon, has been a source of concern. She expressed confidence, however, that “this is an issue where Africa’s collective efforts to bring stability and order to the affected areas will be crucial.”
“Kanina, nakipag-usap ako sa Pangulo ng Somalia na abala din sa mga teroristang gingugulo ang mga barkong dumadaan sa Suez Canal,” “ Earlier I talked the President of Somalia who was also busy with the terrorista attacking Ships that passes through the Suez Canal,” the President said.
“Isa sa paraan kung papaano sagutin ang problema (of pirate attacks) ay institution building – halimbawa, palakasin ang kanilang civil service at Coast Guard,” “One of the solutions to solve the problem of pirates attacks is institution building. An example this is to strengthen the Civil Service and the Cost Guardshe added.
“Dahil mahalaga ito sa ating mga seafarer, pinag-usapan namin kanina na tutulong ang Pilipinas sa pag-train sa kanila,” “Since this is very vital among our seafarers, we discuses earlier that the Philippines will help in giving them training the President said. (PIA V Release)
Palace assures SSS will be run well whoever sits as its leader
MANILA — Funds managed by the Social Security System (SSS) will be well-protected and managed well, whoever sits as its leader as pensioners’ welfare is the government’s primary concern.
The government assured that any transition in SSS will not adversely affect its funds’ status as this has been secured by the government since the start of the present administration in 2001.
“SSS will not be affected. Whoever sits will only improve SSS,” Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez Jr. said.
While the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of graft charges and the imposition of a six-month suspension against SSS administrator Romulo Neri, Golez said it is unfair to already “float names” on his replacement.
“He’s been very loyal to the President, and he (in turn) enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” he said.
Neri announced last week that SSS has been able to reverse a potential reduction in revenue, particularly from members’ contribution of the pension fund. Contributions totaled P36.3 billion as of the first half of the year, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year, despite some factory shutdowns and retrenchments.
This still outpaced benefit payments amounting to P35.65 billion during the same period. SSS’s investment income also grew in the first half to P11.18 billion, which is higher by 24 percent compared to the targeted investment income for the same period.
During the term of President Arroyo, SSS has been able to reverse a potential depletion of the pension fund through an intensive revenue collection effort and a minimal increase in members’ contribution.
This extended the life of the pension fund. As of 2001, SSS’s pension fund was projected to have a life of just 10-15 years. As of 2007, its life span has doubled to last up to 2038. (PIA V Release)
SORSOGON CITY — Sorsogon State College (SSC), in all its three campuses here, in Bulan and Castilla towns, is putting its best foot forward in guiding the students and community’s consciousness in ensuring food security and beef up income-generating projects.
Dr. Antonio Fuentes, SSC president, said in a press statement that the city government here has positively responded to request of Lourdes Dy, SSC Soft Trades coordinator, and provided vegetable seeds to SSC campus here in support of the ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ project.
Fuentes said that ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan’ complements the city government’s ‘Luntiang Daigdig’, which also seeks to ensure food security and provide additional income for the local residents.
Dy said that the city government has initially turned-over seeds of sweet pearl, sitao, upo, squash, patula, upland kangkong, radish, pechay and eggplant to start up the project.
“SSC’s ongoing production project has multiple crop garden envisioned to be self-liquidating and self-sustaining,” she said.
According to her, the harvest will be sold at an affordable price to the students, faculty, employees, and interested individuals.
Meanwhile, the SSC campus in Magallanes town has been already reaping the fruits of investment from the P200,000 financial assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the school’s livestock project.
Augusto N. Calabines, SSC Magallanes campus director, said that the amount has been allotted for the fish processing project under the SSC-DOLE Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) program.
Calabines said that the student-recipients’ income-generating project is focused on tilapia-tocino and smoked fish production,”.
Income generating projects (IGP) of the SSC campuses have already posted revenues amounting to P513,206.45 from January to June, this year. (SSC/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)
CAMARINES NORTE REVIEWS CPC 6 IMPLEMENTATION
DAET, Camarines Norte — The provincial technical working group (PTWG) of the Sixth Country Programme for Children (CPC 6) recently convened to assess the Sub-Regional Multi-Indicator Survey 2007 on women and children in the province.
Madonna A. Abular, provincial planning and development officer/CPC 6 coordinator, said that PTWG members were provided baseline information for assessing the situation of children and women in the province; data in monitoring programs and projects geared towards the achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) as basis for future direction; and contribute to the improvement of data and monitoring system in the province.
Abular said that the data of the SR-MICS can be use by stakeholders in the planning and implementation of programs and projects concerning women and children in the province.
Meanwhile, group also discussed some of the plans for the coming Children’s Month celebration this October that will highlight the State of the Children Report.
The State of the Children Report will include the executive summary, situation of women of children, measures of implementation, highlights of accomplishments on health and nutrition, education, child protection, communication, and social policy and local development.
Also, the report will include the implementation issues, gaps and challenges and future directions, and the children’s statement. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)
PHILHEALTH SETS GUIDELINES FOR NEWBORN CARE BENEFITS
LEGAZPI CITY — Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in line with its Circular 29, series of 2009, has set the reimbursement limit for newborn screening test to only P550, including the collection kit, and the maximum allowable service fee is set at P50.
In its advisory, PhilHealth state that the directive will take effect for all claims with admission dates starting September 1, 2009.
It added that the Newborn Care Package (NCP) will cover reimbursement for the newborn screening fixed at P550, wherein the maximum out-of-pocket payment for members should only be P100
The advisory stressed that other newborn care services, such as eye prophylaxis, umbilical cord care, Vitamin K, thermal care, BCG and Hepatitis B immunization, should also be given as it is reiterated that partial provision of services will cause non-payment of claims for the NCP.
To achieve the 85 per cent target for newborn screening coverage by 2010, PhilHealth has reiterated that all newborns delivered in accredited facilities should undergo newborn screening tests, including sick babies who are not covered by the NCP.
The newborns are covered by the regular inpatient benefit package of PhilHealth, thus the cost for the newborn screening test should be charged against PhilHealth benefit earmarked for laboratory, x-ray, supplies and others.
PhilHealth warned that If an accredited hospital refuse to provide newborn screening and/or collect more than the maximum allowed newborn screening fee, complaints can be filed to the Department of Health and PhilHealth Legal Services Sector for investigation.
Republic Act 9288 (Newborn Screening Act of 2004) and Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2005-005 and 2008-026 guarantee that every baby born in the Philippines must be offered the opportunity to undergo newborn screening and thus be spared from heritable conditions that can lead to mental retardation and death if undetected and untreated. (MALoterte, PIA V)
POLICE SIEZED HOT LOGS IN IROSIN TOWN
IROSIN, Sorsogon — Elements of the Municipal Police Station (MPO) here apprehended last week an estimated 4,000 board feet of illegally-cut logs loaded in a ten-wheeler truck, with plate number RDP 710, reportedly bound for delivery to a client in Legazpi City, Albay province.
The contrabands were seized after the courier failed to present legal documents as required by existing laws and regulations to transport the forest products.
Apprehended were truck driver Mario Uno y Abayan, 45 years old, married and a resident of Navarro St., Makinabang, Baliwag, Bulacan; truck helpers Jeofrey Yarcia y pineda, 26, yrs. old, married and resident of Blk. 15 Lot 12 Phase 7 Toca tabang, Plaridel, Bulacan; Lino Caliuag y Cruz, 45 yrs. old, married and resident of 38 Paquito Ochoa St., Santo Cristo, Pulilan, Bulacan; and Quirico De Asis Jr. y Pantua, 28 yrs. old, married of Mondragon, Northern Samar.
Documents recovered from the courier showed the owner of the said logs was identified as Lito De Asis of Mondragon, Northen Samar.
The suspects were arrested for violating P.D. 705 and were appraised of their constitutional rights and put in jail for reglamentary period of detention.
Seized logs and vehicle are now under the custody of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (PPO). (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)
BFP, DTI TO STAMP OUT DEFECTIVE LPG IN THE MARKET
SORSOGON CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) city station and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here are doing rounds in all authorized dealers and outlets of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to stamp out defective LPG containers to ensure fire safety.
Alarmed by the reports that defective LPG tanks continue to proliferate in the country, the city council here passed Resolution No. 241, Series of 2009, authored by Ho. Pedro A. Ravanilla, prompting the two government agencies to conduct the inspection.
Findings of the monitoring government agencies revealed some authorized dealers and outlets of LPG failed to comply with existing laws or violated the Quality and Safety Requirements of LPG tanks sanctioned by DTI.
Defective tanks can be easily identified because it has no permanent mark on the collar, the tare weight or weight of the LPG tank was not properly placed, owner’s name was not properly embossed on the shoulder, no markings of the Philippine Standard (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (IIC) on the tank’s footring, and some of the markings are not clear because of the corrosion on the tank.
The primary purpose of the inspection is to minimize the loss of life and destruction of properties thru the supply and usage of quality and safe tanks.
Records show that there are at least an estimated two million defective tanks that are distributed and sold throughout the country. It is also a public knowledge that defective tanks are identified as one of the main causes of fire accidents. (CDBanico, BFP Sorsogon City/PIA)
ADVOCATES SAY, STOP PUNISHING OUR CHILDREN!
MANILA — Amid reports that a large proportion of children around the world experiences physical and humiliating or degrading punishment, child rights advocates call on parents, guardians and other authorities to end corporal punishment.
In a media briefing on the Advocacy and Campaign for the Promotion of Positive Discipline and Prohibition of Corporal Punishment held here recently, Child Rights Network (CRN), highlighted the need for a law that will ban the corporal punishment of children in the homes, schools and other settings.
According to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Corporal Punishment are cases where physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light.
It also includes other non-physical forms of punishment that are cruel and degrading.
In the World Studies of Abuse in the Family Environment conducted by the World Health Organization presented by Ms. Hope Tura, CRN Co-Convenor, showed that severe physical punishment is commonly used as means of discipline in the Philippines.
Said study cites “21% of children are hit with an object in other parts of their body, 6% are kicked, 3% are beaten, while 1% is threatened with a knife or a gun, and another 1% is choked.”
“Unfortunately, here in the Philippines, we learn to tolerate a not so child-friendly society,” lamented Ramon San Pascual, executive director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD).
“As a legislative advocacy institution, we put this challenge in legislation,” he added.
“That is why we are pushing for the passage of a law that will institutionalize mechanisms to educate the general public on effective non-violent forms of discipline and change the norms about the acceptability and use of corporal punishment,” he stressed
House Bill 6699 or the “Anti-Corporal Punishment Act of 2009” now pending for plenary deliberation at the House of Representatives is authored by Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro of the 1st District of Tarlac.
Meanwhile, Child Rights Ambassador of PLAN International Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski expressed support for a law that will protect children. Reacting to a comment that corporal punishment is sometimes brought about by poverty, Ms. Jaworski said, “no amount of poverty is a justification for corporal punishment.”
Wilma Banaga of Save the Children, on the other hand offered positive discipline as an alternative approach to discipline children.
She stressed that positive discipline is a process, takes time and needs family support.
Child Rights Network (CRN) is a network of organizations advocating for the passage of national laws that will protect and fulfill the rights of Filipino children. (PLCPD/PIA)
“100 PERCENT IN ONE DAY“
A nationwide medical, dental, feeding and information gathering mission
MANILA — Two million patients. 100,000 volunteers. 2,000 medical mission sites.
On September 6, 2009, Sunday, more than 100,000 doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, health workers, medical professionals and concerned Filipino citizens from the government and private sector leave the comforts of their home to perform the biggest act of charity in the country, so far.
These Good Samaritans, in a massive display of collective volunteerism, offer their services for free as partners of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in providing medical and dental services to more than two million Filipinos— all in a single day.
Dubbed as the “100 Percent in One Day” project, the PCSO’s nationwide medical, dental and information- gathering mission aims to cover all of the country’s 41,995 barangays.
“This is a first-of-its- kind project in the Philippines that provides fast access to medical and charity care from PCSO and its partners to poor Filipinos all over the country in one day,” explains PCSO General Manager and Vice Chair Rosario Uriarte.
The project is envisioned to be both a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of PCSO, and a window for marginalized Filipinos from all over the country to access medical care and organized charity assistance.
For the medical and dental missions, the PCSO expects to cover 25,197 barangays in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, representing 60 percent of the total number of barangays in the country.
There are more than 2,000 medical mission sites to be set up all over the country on September 6, each site capable of providing service to 1,000 to 1,500 patients.
A medical mission site is manned by four doctors, two dentists, four nurses and one pharmacist. These health professionals are assisted by 30 to 40 volunteers who are in-charge of physical set-up and security.
Aside from general checkups, minor surgeries like the removal of cataracts and lumps, dental services, eye examinations, bone scan and ear check monitor will be available in selected medical mission sites located in government hospitals and rural clinics.
Medicines to be distributed free to patients at the sites include amoxicillin drops, capsules and suspension; metropolol tablets; mefenamic acid, paracetamol drops and tablets; and ascorbic drops, tablets and syrups.
“PCSO has been doing monthly medical and dental missions for several years now,” says Uriarte. “But this is the first time we’ll hold it in large scale in one day, targeting more than two million patients.”
In Metro Manila alone, more than 150,000 beneficiaries are expected to avail of free medical and dental services offered in some 100 mission sites spread throughout the National Capital Region.
The medical sites in Metro Manila are manned by volunteers from the seven Catholic diocese affiliated with Caritas, which mobilized lay leaders and church workers to assist the health professionals in the medical mission sites.
The information- gathering mission, on the other hand, is expected to cover 100 percent of the 41,995 barangays.
Under this component, barangay health workers and residents are encouraged to send to the PCSO through Short Messaging System (SMS) or text message the name and profile of a patient in their community who intends to seek financial assistance from the charity agency.
This would allow the PCSO to maintain a database of prospective beneficiaries whose cases would have to be evaluated to determine who may qualify for the medical assistance.
The feeding missions would be conducted in selected barangays, mostly in depressed areas, in coordination with church-based groups and civic organizations.
The “One Hundred Percent in One Day” project, according to Uriarte, is envisioned to be an annual activity that will serve as a vehicle for spreading the “charity virus,” and make organized and systematic sharing coupled with volunteerism as a way of life for Filipinos. (PIA V Release)
PGMA mourns Ka Erdie’s demise
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joins the Filipino nation in mourning the passing of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Erańo (Ka Erdie) G. Manalo Monday afternoon.
President Arroyo likewise extends the condolences and prayers of her family and Cabinet members to Ka Erdy’s son, Deputy Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, and to all pastoral leaders and members of the INC.
INC, which celebrated its 95th anniversary last July 27, is the larget independent church in Asia.
With a membership of millions, it is politically influential.In a statement, Executive Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Eduardo R. Ermita said “this country and the world have lost yet another great leader in this generation, (one) who has touched the lives of multitudes by his life and his teachings.”
Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez, on the other hand, described Ka Erdie a “giant in the social religious and political life of the country.”
He added that the INC’s late leader guided millions of Filipinos on the path of righteousness and attended to social and economic needs of his flock.
Asked if the President, who is currently in Libya, will attend Manalo’s funeral, Golez said the Palace needs to check first on President Arroyo’s schedule when she comes home.
Manalo took over the church upon the death in 1963 of the founder, his father Felix Manalo. Manalo was born on Jan. 2, 1925. He was INC founder Felix Manalo's fifth child. (PIA V Release)
PGMA hopeful stalled talks with CPP-NPA-NDF will resume soon
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed hope that peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will resume soon.
In her message for the celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month this September, the President vowed to continue exerting efforts to achieve lasting peace for the Filipinos.
“I welcome the observance of the Peace Month with a happy note regarding the progress of our peace process. Peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are on track while our negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF have suffered some kinks, which, hopefully, can be ironed out. These are indeed breakthroughs in our determined efforts to achieve a just and enduring peace for all Filipinos,” she said.
“At the same time, we continue to engage stakeholders in the communities through dialogues and collaborative endeavors to ensure that our peace agenda is reflective of the sentiments, aspirations and values of our people,” the Chief Executive added.
Stressing that peace remains a top priority of her administration, the President also called on everyone to support and cooperate so that gains in peace and development could be sustained.
The resumption of the peace talks stalled after the CPP-NPA-NDF demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against the rebels’ negotiators and consultants.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Avelino Razon Jr. said the government will exhaust all legal means to allow the rebels’ negotiators to attend the scheduled Oslo talks on Sept. 5. (PIA V Release)
RP to train Somali coast guard
MANILA — Economic and cultural relations between the Republic of the Philippines and Somalia may soon include naval and civil service training after leaders of the two nations discussed the possibility of undertaking these types of “institution building” measures to address the occurrence of pirate attacks off the coast of the African nation.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo told members of the Filipino Community in Libya that she had met with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at the sidelines of the African Union’s Special Summit on the Settlement of Conflicts in Africa to discuss ways to once and for all rid the region of pirates.
In a pre-departure statement before boarding a chartered flight bound for Tripoli, Libya Monday, the President cited the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Africa, saying this has a direct impact “on our energy security, but more importantly, on the safety and welfare of our overseas Filipinos, including our seafarers.”
According to the President, the occurrence of pirate attacks, specifically off the coast of Somalia at the end of the East African monsoon, has been a source of concern. She expressed confidence, however, that “this is an issue where Africa’s collective efforts to bring stability and order to the affected areas will be crucial.”
“Kanina, nakipag-usap ako sa Pangulo ng Somalia na abala din sa mga teroristang gingugulo ang mga barkong dumadaan sa Suez Canal,” “ Earlier I talked the President of Somalia who was also busy with the terrorista attacking Ships that passes through the Suez Canal,” the President said.
“Isa sa paraan kung papaano sagutin ang problema (of pirate attacks) ay institution building – halimbawa, palakasin ang kanilang civil service at Coast Guard,” “One of the solutions to solve the problem of pirates attacks is institution building. An example this is to strengthen the Civil Service and the Cost Guardshe added.
“Dahil mahalaga ito sa ating mga seafarer, pinag-usapan namin kanina na tutulong ang Pilipinas sa pag-train sa kanila,” “Since this is very vital among our seafarers, we discuses earlier that the Philippines will help in giving them training the President said. (PIA V Release)
Palace assures SSS will be run well whoever sits as its leader
MANILA — Funds managed by the Social Security System (SSS) will be well-protected and managed well, whoever sits as its leader as pensioners’ welfare is the government’s primary concern.
The government assured that any transition in SSS will not adversely affect its funds’ status as this has been secured by the government since the start of the present administration in 2001.
“SSS will not be affected. Whoever sits will only improve SSS,” Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez Jr. said.
While the Ombudsman has recommended the filing of graft charges and the imposition of a six-month suspension against SSS administrator Romulo Neri, Golez said it is unfair to already “float names” on his replacement.
“He’s been very loyal to the President, and he (in turn) enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” he said.
Neri announced last week that SSS has been able to reverse a potential reduction in revenue, particularly from members’ contribution of the pension fund. Contributions totaled P36.3 billion as of the first half of the year, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period last year, despite some factory shutdowns and retrenchments.
This still outpaced benefit payments amounting to P35.65 billion during the same period. SSS’s investment income also grew in the first half to P11.18 billion, which is higher by 24 percent compared to the targeted investment income for the same period.
During the term of President Arroyo, SSS has been able to reverse a potential depletion of the pension fund through an intensive revenue collection effort and a minimal increase in members’ contribution.
This extended the life of the pension fund. As of 2001, SSS’s pension fund was projected to have a life of just 10-15 years. As of 2007, its life span has doubled to last up to 2038. (PIA V Release)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Newly installed PRO5 Regional Director P/CSupt Reuben E. Padua give his message during the joint celebration of 109th Philippine Civil Service with a theme: “Honoring Our Heroes in Republic Service, Responsive, Ethical Public Servants with Visions, Impact, Commitment and Excellence.” and 15th National Crime Prevention Week’s theme: “Labanan and Krimen, Pamilya Patatagin” held at Peñaranda Park, Old Albay District, Legazpi City last September 1. (Alex Cal/PIA)
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