PIA Dispatch - Sunday, November 16, 2008

Overpricing of gov’t papers thing of the past, says Dureza

The overpricing in the printing of ballots and other official papers is now a thing of the past after Press Seretary Jesus G. Dureza ordered a thorough “clean up” of the National Printing Office (NPO) upon the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Less than two months after he assumed his post as press secretary in mid-June this year, Dureza reported to the President the result of the investigation he ordered on the goings-on in the NPO which he described as “notoriously known as a hotbed of corruption.”

In his memorandum to the President which he coursed though Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Dureza said that when he “assumed office on 16 June 2008, and mindful of your instruction that I should clean up the mess in that office, I started reviewing the internal workings of the agency to institute reforms.”

“I was shocked to know, at the start of my work, that I was immediately confronted with a brazen attempt by some group to push for a highly excessive, overpriced and anomalous contract in the printing of ARMM Ballots for the 11 August elections,” he added.

He said that following his investigation, he ordered the reduction of the printing cost of the ballot from P27.18 to P4.50 apiece.

His “timely and decisive intervention” saved the government about P30 million, Dureza told the President.

Dureza described the foiled transaction as a “whopping… anomalous overprice.”

“The COMELEC (Commission on Election), pleasantly surprised perhaps at the quick and unprecedented action we did in preventing the overprice, wrote me a letter ‘extending (its) deep appreciation,” Dureza said.

At the same time, the Press Secretary also ordered the “leveling of the playing field to allow firms to participate in the NPO printing so we could dismantle the ‘syndicate’ that controlled and cornered juicy contracts for a long time.”

The next target of Dureza’s cleanup drive at the NPO is the APO Production Unit, a printing press along EDSA in Diliman, Quezon City which was placed under the oversight of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) in 2000.

In a letter, Dureza informed APO officials of his “desire that the Board of Trustees of the APO Production Unit initiate moves as soon as possible that would enable that office to submit itself to the auditorial authority of COA (Commission on Audit) on a regular basis.”

“It is my desire that the Board of Trustees consider reviewing the rates of remuneration, per diems, allowances, and honoraria provided to its members and officers, with the end in view of aligning these with the rates prescribed by the Department of Budget and Management for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations,” Dureza told APO officials.



PGMA to inaugurate upgraded Busuanga airport

BUSUANGA, Palawan -- In keeping with her State of the Nation Address (SONA) commitment of linking the various parts of the country through an efficient network of roads, ports and airports to spur economic growth in the countryside, President Gloria Macapapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate here tomorrow (Monday, Nov. 17), the newly rehabilitated Busuanga airport.

The President had announced the upgrading of the Busuanga Airport facilities as part of her administration's priority projects in her 2006 SONA after noting the huge economic potential of the airport to Palawan’s economic tourism programs.

The Busuanga airport serves as a jump-off point to the nearby Calamian Group of Islands and the rest of Palawan, considered as two of the country's major tourist destinations.

The upgrading of the airport will directly benefit the citizens of the main Busuanga Island towns of Coron and Busuanga, including the island municipalities of Culion, Linapacan, Magsaysay and Agutaya which have a total population of more than 120,000.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) put up $3 million for the project, while the local counterpart was P60 million.

The airport upgrading project involves the concreting of the remaining macadam runway, rehabilitation of the existing runway, provision of stop way, expansion/concreting of the apron, construction of a new passenger terminal, renovation of existing passenger terminal, completion of the administration building, improvement of fire fighting building;

Construction of new parking area, improvement of drainage system, rehabilitation of perimeter fence, provision of fire-fighting and rescue vehicles, and training of Philippine personnel on airport planning and design.

Aside from these improvements, the upgrading jobs will also enhance the safety of aircraft operation in accordance with international civil aviation standards and recommended practices.

Expected to join the President for the inaugural program are Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, Palawan 1st District Rep. Antonio Alvarez, Palawan 2nd District Rep. Baham Mitra, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes and Korean Ambassador Choi Joong Kyung.


PGMA to take cudgels for ‘downtrodden’ countries in APEC Leaders Summit in Peru

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will take the cudgels for developing and “downtrodden” countries in the Asia-Pacific region when she attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting in Lima, Peru later this month.

In an interview this afternoon over the Radyo ng Bayan program “Pilipinas, Pilipinas!” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the President has come to “symbolize emerging economies” in international forums, and her pro-poor programs that the government implemented long before the world-wide economic crunch are now being duplicated in other countries.

The President, Golez said, will be “the voice of the downtrodden – siya ang magiging boses ng mga naghihirap na mga nasyon” at the two-day APEC leaders’ summit on Nov. 22-23.

President Arroyo is very popular with fellow leaders of emerging and developing countries who consider her an “advocate” in getting wealthy nations to include poor countries in a common international agenda to weather the fallout of the global financial blowup, Golez said.

Only last month at the Asia-Europe Economic Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing, the President called on the “ASEAN + 3” countries to consider allocating a bigger chunk of the $80-billion Chang Mai Initiative (CMI) as a quick-disbursing fund for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) whose economies may suffer from the US recession.

The President’s initiative, which she wants to be dubbed Chang Mai Initiative II, will be discussed by leaders of the ASEAN and their dialogue partners -- Japan, South Korea and China – during the 2008 ASEAN Leaders Meeting in Chang Mai, Thailand next month.

In the home front, the unpopular expanded value-added tax (EVAT), which the President admits has dragged down her approval rating, has turned out to be the saviour of the Philippine economy, Golez pointed out.

“Pahirap ito (the EVAT) but, in the long term, ito ang nagpapa-survive sa ating bansa,” he said, pointing out that because of the EVAT, the Philippine economy will be “strong until 2009” while other countries are “lumulubog na.”

The President’s latest move to bolster her pro-poor program in the face of the global economic crisis is the emergency employment of the poorest of the poor in the country’s poorest provinces


Unanimous adoption of RP-initiated interfaith resolution caps two-day high level meeting of UN General Assembly

NEW YORK—The United Nations General Assembly capped its two-day meeting on interfaith cooperation for peace on Thursday (13 November) with the unanimous adoption of a Philippine-initiated resolution calling on member-states to take steps to further promote inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance and understanding.

In its report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations said the resolution entitled "Promotion of Inter-religious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace," tabled by the Philippines and Pakistan, was adopted by the General Assembly at the end of its plenary meeting with high level participation on Thursday evening.

The resolution was personally introduced by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the opening on Wednesday of the plenary meeting on Agenda Item 45: A Culture of Peace, which was also participated in by world leaders led by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of Jordan, United States President George Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that in addition to the Philippines and Pakistan, 76 other member-states, including China, Japan and Russia, co-sponsored the resolution, up from the 56 Member-States that co-sponsored the resolution last year and the 24 that co-sponsored the original resolution in 2004.

"Although it is the fifth resolution tabled by the Philippines and adopted by consensus by the General Assembly since 2004, the 2008 resolution is specially significant because it formally took note for the first time of the four major interfaith initiatives of the Philippines, outside the ambit of the United Nations," Ambassador Davide said.

These are the Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace at the international level and the Asia-Europe Interfaith Dialogue Forum and the Asia-Pacific Interfaith Dialogue for Peace and Harmony at the regional level.

"The resolution planted the seed for the eventual declaration of a United Nations Decade on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace from 2011 to 2020," Ambassador Davide said. "It also encouraged Member States to consider the idea of an enhanced process of dialogue among world religions," he added.

Ambassador Leslie Gatan, Philippine Deputy Permanent Representative, said these new elements were obtained after hard-fought negotiations steered by diplomats at the Philippine Mission.

"The Philippine interfaith initiative used to be sponsored only by developing countries," Ambassador Gatan pointed out. "After five years, other countries such as China, Japan and Russia have joined the group of supporters."

The Philippines first drew the attention of the United Nations on issues concerning religious in the secular affairs of the world body when it introduced the resolution in 2004.

The resolution, which affirms that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace, lauded the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as integral to building tolerant societies and durable peace.

It also reaffirmed the solemn commitment of the United Nations to promote universal respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, in line with the United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The resolution also encouraged the promotion of dialogue among media from all cultures and called on Member-States to consider initiatives that identify practical actions in all levels of society for promoting inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance and understanding.

The resolution mandates preparations for the 2010 International Year for Rapprochement of Cultures with interfaith dialogue at its core, under the leadership of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The co-sponsors of this year's resolution are Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait,

Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

China, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Grenada, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Macedonia, Peru, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Mali, Paraguay, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tunisia.



Speaking Out
By: Ignacio R. Bunye
November 16, 2008

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently issued an advisory urging the public to report unscrupulous persons involved in the illegal use of Philippine coins, stressing that the defacement, mutilation, or the smuggling of these coins are criminal acts
punishable by law.

The BSP's Cash Department Investigation Division said syndicates or individuals who engage in these illicit activities violate Presidential Decree 247 and BSP Circular 98, and could face up to five years imprisonment with a P20,000 fine.

According to the Bank's currency specialists based at the Security Printing Complex in Quezon City, there have been various (and appalling) offenses committed against Philippine coins through the years.

A senior currency specialist revealed that some opportunistic people even went as far as melting 25-centavo coins and combining the by-product with other metal components to make kitchen sinks more durable.

Fortunately, the BSP was able to address the problem. With the help of law enforcement agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), some of the perpetrators of this illicit scheme have been brought before the courts.

However, the smuggling of coins—which involves their defacement and mutilation to avoid detection at the country's ports—has yet to be permanently stopped. Just a few months ago, BSP and NBI agents intercepted 17.9 tons of P1 coins about to be shipped to Korea.

BSP currency specialists said Philippine coins were often smuggled into neighboring Asian countries to be made into computer parts, tokens, or even bullets.

This practice is not only illegal, it is also abhorrent and even unpatriotic. As the senior currency specialist handling coin smuggling cases said, "More than pieces of metal that we use to buy our daily needs, these coins represent our country and what we have experienced as a people."

I wrote in an earlier column that I personally saw, during a visit to the facility a few months back, how the BSP's Security Printing Complex takes pains to ensure the consistency of the Philippine bills and coins with the design approved by BSP experts and historians.Learning about what scheming people do to these works of art is truly saddening.

The BSP also has to deal with the recent use of coins as tokens in mall amusement areas and casinos. This is also illegal, according to the Bank's investigation division, because coins are not able to circulate and could lead to currency shortage.

Lastly, the BSP advisory warned the public against persons claiming that the central bank purchases certain coin denominations higher than their face value.

The advisory stressed that the BSP, which mints and circulates coins in accordance with its mandate to supply the currency requirements of the banking system and sustain economic growth, is the sole issuer of currency in the country.

It also determines the different denominations of Philippine money.The public should then accept peso bills and coins at face value.

We should always be on guard and immediately report to the BSP any sign of illegal activity involving our bills and coins. Doing so would be a patriotic act as it will help protect one of our country's most ubiquitous and enduring symbols.

Note: You may write us at totingbunye2000@gmail.com.



ASG member neutralized, another wounded in Sulu

ICC, Pagadian, Jolo, Sulu, Nov16- An Abu Sayyaf Group member who carries a P 300,000 bounty for his arrest was neutralized by military troops in the province of Sulu on Friday evening.

3rd Marine Brigade Commander Col Eugenio Clemen PN (M) named the wanted bandit as Faidar Hadjadi alias Abu Solomon who has standing warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

According to Col Clemen, Abu Solomon, who was aboard a motorcycle with another ASG member Jaiton Torsita Abubakar, engaged government troops at 7:45 PM in a military checkpoint in the vicinity of Ummul village, Brgy Kajatian of Indanan municipality. The Marines manning the said checkpoint are under 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team Commanding Officer Lt Col Jimmy Larida PN (M).

“Solomon resisted arrest by engaging the arresting troops. He got killed during the exchange of fire, while his wounded companion escaped,” he recounted. After the fire fight, AFP troops recovered .45 colt caliber, single motorcycle, and a cellphone. The cadaver was brought to the headquarters of Joint Task Force Comet.

Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Comet Commander Maj Gen Juancho M Sabban lauded his troops for their unyielding manhunt operations on the remaining ASG leaders and members.

“We ensure that our commitment to bring the terrorists to justice remains firm. We maintain our diligence on keeping a close watch on others on the loose,” he said.

In addition, he accentuated the significance of checkpoints as effective means to block wanted criminals.

“The success of this operation is not only attributed to the assiduous intelligence operatives and alert Marines, but is also owed to the support and cooperation extended by the local populace. Thus, this is an irrefutable sign of victory, not solely of the military, but also of the peace-loving and responsible citizens who volunteered information to the military,” he stressed.

Only a week ago, ASG sub-leader Sakirin Andalan Sali alias Kirih-Kirih who carries a P2-million bounty for his capture was arrested here by Marine troops. (42CRU, 4CRG, CRSAFP/PIA-BASULTA)