PIA Dispatch - Monday, December 8, 2008

Palace welcomes latest SWS survey

MANILA (PNA) – Malacanang on Monday welcomed the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey which showed an improved living conditions of Filipino families.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the SWS survey which indicated a drop of self-rated poverty among Filipinos is a result of the government’s efforts towards providing assistance to the poor.

However, Dureza acknowledged that there still much work to be done especially in the light of the global economic crisis.

“These are welcome developments, although we know that there is still work to be done," he pointed out.

He pointed out, "This is something that is a result of the work that had been given by President Arroyo towards providing assistance to the poor," he said.

"We also find significance in this as you know we are in the midst of a global financial crisis, and we are seeing now, a positive turn even on the data that has been," he stressed.

The survey, which was conducted from September 24 to 27, shows that self-rated poverty fell to 52 percent in September from 59 percent three months earlier.

The new self-rated poverty rate is seven points down from 59 percent (estimated 10.6 million) in second quarter, and six points above the previous low of 46 percent (estimated 8.1 million) in December 2007.

Improvements were also noted in terms of being food-poor with only 38 percent of Filipino families (estimated 6.9 million) as against 49 percent three months earlier (8.8 million estimated).

The SWS survey further showed that the one-quarter decline in self-rated poverty was steepest in Mindanao. It fell by 16 points, from 68 percent last June to 52 percent in September, returning to the level of December 2007 .

Self-rated poverty fell by seven points in the Visayas, from 66 percent to 59 percent, by three points in Metro Manila, from 51 percent to 48 percent, and by two points in Balance Luzon, from 53 percent to 51 percent.

It also fell by eight points in rural areas, from 64 percent to 56 percent, and by six points in urban areas, from 55 percent to 49 percent. (PNA)


PGMA leaves for Qatar this weekend on trade, investment mission

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave this weekend for Qatar to enlist support for her administration’s efforts to end the decades-old conflict in Mindanao and invite Middle East businessmen to invest in the Philippines.

In an interview this morning with UNTV’s Jay Sonza in Malacanang, the President said she will also meet with Filipino expatriate workers in Qatar and other countries in the Middle East.

Her Qatar visit, the President said, was planned as early as last January when she attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where she met the Qatari prime minister, who also attended the forum.

“Maraming dahilan ang pagpunta ko sa Qatar,” she said. First off, the Philippines must seek out investments from countries with no liquidity problems in the midst of the global financial crisis. Middle East countries, buoyed by their oil revenue, fit this bill, the President pointed out.

“Unang-una, sa ngayong mga panahon, nagkakaroon ng financial problems ang halos buong mundo, yung may liquidity ngayon because of the many years of high oil prices -- Middle East,” she said.

“In fact, duon sa Davos last January, gusto ng maki-pag-meeting sa akin yung prime minister noon. Kaya lang, my schedule was so tight, sabi ko ako na lang pupunta sa Qatar,” the President Said.

The Qatari premier “happens also to head the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).”

“Malaki ang pera ngayon ng Middle East, ng Investment Authority,” she said. Pushing inter-faith dialogue, one of her successful initiatives, is another reason for her Qatar visit, the President said.

“Pangalawa, dahil importante and inter-faith dialogue sa paghahanap ng kapayapaan -- ang Qatar maganda ang papel sa peace process sa Lebanon -- kaya baka makakatulong din sila sa atin.”

“Pangatlo, dumaan itong panganib o kinatatakutan ng ating mga overseas Filipinos,” said the President about fears of massive lay-offs because of the global financial crunch.

Thus, “pupuntahan din natin ang situation doon, sa Qatar, para tingnan ang kabuuan ng Middle East, so hindi lang sa Qatar,” she said, adding that the incoming Philippine ambassador to Nigeria would also check on the labor situation there.


Abandoned, abused and neglected children find a place in the sun

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead tomorrow (Tuesday) the inauguration of the Accelerating Minors Opportunity for Recovery (AMOR) Village in the town of Anao in Tarlac, a world-class facility for children who were abandoned, abused and neglected by their respective families.

The President, who is set to arrive at 4 p.m., will be met by local officials led by Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap and Tarlac 1st District Rep. Monica Prieto-Teodoro.

Immediately upon her arrival, the President will cut the ribbon for the opening of the multi-million village with nine buildings, library, playground, bicycle lane, fishpond and other recreational facilities.

The Chief Executive will also inspect the facilities, particularly the dormitory building that will serve as temporary home for children with special needs.

After the inspection, she will witness the turnover of the AMOR Village to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Secretary Esperanza Cabral for the maintenance and operation of the said facility.

The village will be managed and run by the DSWD Region III in collaboration with the Tarlac provincial government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

It will primarily serve abandoned, abused and neglected children aged one month to 16 years, both male and female.

For the initial operation of the center, a total of 30 staff will man the center which will offer social, home life, educational, health, psychological/psychiatric, recreational/sports services.

It will also provide livelihood skills development, functional literacy and spiritual/religious activities.

The village was established through the efforts of Rep. Prieto-Teodoro who earmarked P60 million from her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the construction of the village, and another P3 million for the procurement of the 8,000-square meter lot.

Governor Yap, on the other hand, allotted P2 million for the acquisition of the additional 5,000-square meter lot.


PGMA distributes gift packs to her indigent Malacañang neighbors

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo brought early holiday cheers today to thousands of indigent residents of the 22 barangays within and around the Malacañang Complex by giving them gift packs as part of the “Pamaskong Handog ni PGMA” program.

The gift packs containing two kilos of rice, spaghetti noodles, sauce, coffee, sugar and assorted canned goods, were received by 22 families, who represented the 3,300 indigent families in the 22 barangays in the Malacañang neighborhood.

Joining the President during the gift-giving affair held at the Mabini Hall grounds in Malacañang were Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) spokesperson Dodie King and Department of Social Welfare and Development (SWD) National Capital Region (NCR) Director Thelsa Violena.

After the gift distribution, the President met with the residents who trooped to Malacanang and gamely shook hands and had her picture taken with them. She also spoke with her “kapit-bahays” (neighbors).

Now on its 10th year, the yearly gift-giving program was launched in 1998 when President Arroyo was Vice President and concurrent DSWD secretary.

Early this week, the President also brought holiday cheers to thousands of residents of Saranggani in Mindanao by leading the distribution of various livelihood, farm production inputs, irrigation wells and food packs to indigent families in the province.


President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Speech during the walk-through of EDSA-Quezon Avenue loading and unloading provincial stations and connecting footbridges
Quezon Ave. cor. EDSA, Quezon City
05 December 2008

Maraming salamat, Mayor Sonny Belmonte, at maraming salamat sa ginagamit mo yung pondo ng Quezon City para tumulong gumawa ng mga kalsadang kinakailangan ng national government. Maraming salamat doon.

Chairman Bayani Fernando, maraming salamat din sa iyong malasakit sa kalagayan ng mga commuters mula sa probinsya at patungong probinsya. Gusto ko rin batiin yung ating mga congresspersons ng Quezon City: si Mat Defensor, si Annie Susano, si Nanette Daza; yung ating mga gobernador mula sa Central and Southern Luzon: si Governor Tet Garcia, Governor Mendoza, Governor Umali, Governor Lazaro at Governor Yap. At nandito rin yung mga mayor ng Metro Manila na si Mayor Fernando saka si Mayor Ureta, si Vice Mayor Bautista, ating mga opisyal ng DOTC at saka ng MMDA, ating mga members ng transport sector, congratulations sa ating lahat!

Dumaranas ang daigdig ng isang krisis sa ekonomiya na naging dahilan ng pagtataas ng presyo ng pagkain, langis at bigas dito sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Dito sa Pilipinas wala tayong krisis, ngunit humaharap tayo sa mga malalakas na hamon. Sa maproblemang panahon tulad nito, tungkulin ng pamahalaan na tulungan mabigyan ng pananggalang ang sambayanang Pilipino laban sa nakakagulat na pagtaas ng presyo at mga pabigat.

Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng makakaya upang makapaglagay ng pagkain sa bawat mesa at upang proteksiyunan ang inyong kita laban sa matataas na presyo at inflation. That is why, yesterday, the LTFRB under the chairmanship of Tom Lantion approved the rollback of transport fares. Tama ba ito Tom, ikorek mo sa akin, mag raise ka ng kamay mo kung mali ha?
For taxis, it removed the 10 pesos add-on rate.

For jeeps, it further reduced the fare by 50 centavos for the first four kilometers and 10 centavos for succeeding kilometers. So, the new rate is P7.50 for the first four kilometers and P1.40 for the succeeding kilometers.

Metro Manila ordinary buses have a reduction of 50 centavos for the first five kilometers and 10 centavos for succeeding kilometers. The new rate is 9 pesos for the first five kilometers and P1.85 for the succeeding kilometers.

For airconditioned Metro Manila buses, the fare reduction is 15 centavos for the succeeding kilometers. So, the new rate is 11 pesos for the first five kilometers and P2.20 for the succeeding kilometers for the airconditioned buses.

Provincial buses reduction is 5 centavos per kilometer both ordinary and airconditioned. For ordinary buses, it used to be P1.40 per kilometer, now it’s P1.35. For airconditioned buses, it used to be P1.60, now it’s P1.55.

The effectivity is December 15. Congratulations sa DOTC at LTFRB! Ngunit maraming, maraming salamat sa ating transport sector sa inyong malasakit.

Ang modernisasyon naman ng ating mga kalsada ay naglikha ng bagong uri ng mga commuters -- mga taong bumabiyahe araw-araw sa pamamagitan ng Kamaynilaan at mga probinsiya ng Central Luzon at pamamagitan ng Kamaynilaan at probinsiya ng Southern Luzon.

Ang mga probinsiya ng Central at Southern Luzon na malalapit sa Metro Manila ay pwede na nating tawaging exurbs imbes na bagong satellite areas na namumulaklak dahil sa mabilis at maginhawang pagbiyahe na sanhi naman ng ating modernong road network -- yung mga expressway natin.

Itong mga estudyanteng nag-aaral sa iba’t-ibang unibersidad at kolehiyo; mga negosyante, mga aplikante ng trabaho sa ibang bansa na nagdadala ng papeles sa POEA o sa mga employment agencies; mga empleyado ng mga BPO sa iba’t-ibang lungsod ng Kamaynilaan, at pati na rin ang mga mamamayan ng aking probinsiya na araw-araw nagbabiyahe sa Metro Manila upang magdala ng iba’t-ibang maipagbibili.

Malaking pakinabang ang naidulot sa Kamaynilaan ng araw-araw na pagko-commute. Nababawasan ang mga saligang amenities na kinakailangan ihandog kung dumadayo lamang.

Pinasisigla din nitong mga commuters ang negosyo ng transportasyon at serbisyo sa Metro Manila at kanilang probinsya.

But without bus stops, imagine that a senior citizen from Zambales who wants to go to Megamall will have to stop at the terminal of Victory in Pasay, then take a Metro Manila bus or MRT to reach Megamall. Kaya gumawa si Bayani ng bus stop sa Megamall, di ba Bayani? Tapos na.

Maraming salamat.

An employee from Rustan’s, from say, San Fernando will have to disembark either at Pasay or Cubao provincial bus stations, then take the MRT or Metro Manila bus again to Makati. This is an additional expense. Kaya upang matulungan itong army ng commuters, dinadagdagan natin ang bilang ng mga provincial bus stop sa EDSA. At yun ang ginawang presentation kanina ni Bayani.

Inaasahan nating inayos ang mga paraan para sa mabilisang pag-akyat at pagbaba ng mga pasahero sa mga itinalagang ligtas na mga lugar. Bayani, hindi ba, penalty shall be imposed on buses that stray off from these bus stops.

The designation of the bus stops will end the “guerrilla” practice of picking up and unloading passengers along EDSA. And it will address the legitimate economic and safety imperatives that have been raised by provincial commuters and by the governors who have told us that their constituents were having a hard time. Kaya inimbita natin sila ngayon para maikwento nila sa mga commuters nila na nakita nila yung mga bus stop.

We will make sure our government is vigilant in bringing government services to the people.

Nawa’y makapagdulot sa ating kapwa Pilipino ang proyektong ito ng pangkabuhayang pagkakataon at makataong dignidad lalo na ngayong Kapaskuhan.

Kaya sa ating transport sector, salamat sa Christmas gift ninyo sa mamamayan. At sa MMDA, salamat rin sa Christmas gift ninyo sa mga taga Central Luzon at Southern Luzon.

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.


President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Speech during the Handog ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Para sa Economically-Displaced Overseas Filipino Workers
Rizal Hall, Malacañang
05 December 2008

Maraming salamat, Secretary Nitoy Roque sa iyong pagpakilala.

Ating mga iba’t-ibang opisyal ng pamahalaan na tumutulong sa ating mga bumabalik na expatriate Filipino workers; ating mga manggagawang bumabalik.

Ang pagtulong ng mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa na nangangailangan ng suporta ng pamahalaan ay patakarang di lalabagin ng ating pamahalaan. Kahit kailan, ‘di tayo tumatalikod na gawin ang lahat ng makakaya upang matulungan ang expatriate Filipino workers na dumaranas ng hirap.

Sa ngayong mga sumusubok na panahong para sa expatriate Filipino worker, hindi dapat nagpapabaya ang pamahalaan. Dapat suklian ang ating expatriate Filipino workers sa kabayanihang ipinapakita nila. Moral na tungkulin ng pamahalaan at inisyatiba ng patakaran ang mabilisang pagtugon sa agarang pangangailangan nila.

Sa ngayon, it is only a trickle of our overseas Filipino workers or expatriate Filipino workers that have lost their jobs because of the world financial crisis. In fact, some of these have already found new jobs. We have 200 Filipino workers on shipping companies coming back but they have left again or are leaving again because they have found new employment.

Nakikipagtulong tayo ngayon sa ilan, 100 plus, na nawalaan ng trabaho doon sa Taiwan upang mabigyan ng mga sumusunod na tulong. Nandito ang ating presidente ng PhilHealth dahil binibigyan sila ng PhilHealth card para sa medical insurance. Nandito ang vice president ng SSS dahil nagbibigay rin tayo ng SSS cards. At nandito ang ating chairman and director general ng TESDA, si Buboy Syjuco, na malaking-malaki ang approval rating, second to the highest, only a few points behind the highest sa TESDA. Congratulations, Buboy! At ang kanyang dala, na nandoon sa baskets ninyo, ay scholarship mula sa TESDA upang magkamit kayo ng bagong kasanayan at mahahasa ang inyong kagalingan, at nang maaari kayong makipagsabayan saan man sa mundo.

Ngayon yung mga tseke na binigay natin ay tseke para lang bayaran yung mga materials ng TRC -- nandito naman yung ating head ng TRC na magbibigay ng ensayo sa inyo. Hindi pa ito yung livelihood, iba pa ang livelihood check, at yun naman pagkatapos ay ia-assess kung ano ang balak niyong gawin para ganun matulungan kayo sa inyong bagong livelihood. At yung tsekeng yun, yung susunod na tseke, yun ang magagamit sa pagsimula ng mga gustong magnegosyo sa ilalim ng ating Emergency Livelihood Program.

Ang mga ito ay nagsisilbing programa na nagbibigay ng panandaliang tulong sa mga expatriate Filipino workers na nawalan ng trabaho. Napakahalaga ng nai-ambag ninyo sa ating bansa, kaya’t nararapat lang na maibigay sa inyo ang buo at walang alinlanang suporta ng pamahalaan. Habang isinasagawa natin ang mabilisang pagresponde sa inyong agarang pangangailangan, nagtatrabaho tayo sa mga patakarang mas malaki at may mas malawak na sinasakupan upang tulungan ang ating mga bagong bayani.

Mag-iiral tayo ng buong programang pagtanaw ng utang na loob sa expatriate Filipino workers para tulungan yung mga napipilitang umuwi dahil ang mga bansa kung saan nagtatrabaho ay kasalukuyang hinahagupit sa krisis sa ekonomiya na ang tindi at sakop ay hindi pa maarok.

Ang Department of Labor and Employment at ang OWWA ang mangunguna sa pagpapatupad nitong payback program ng gobyerno para sa mga expatriate Filipino workers. Ang unang bahagi nitong programang pagsusukli ay ang pagtatag ng Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund sa halagang 250 million pesos mula sa OWWA at kung kailangan suportado ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno na magpapahiram ng pera. Ang mga expatriate Filipino workers na nawalan ng trabaho ay makakakuha sa pondong ito -- pautang para tumulong sa pagsisimula ng negosyo, pagpapatuloy ng pag-aaral o pagkamit ng kasanayan, o sa panimulang kapital sa anumang gawaing pangkabuhayan.

Dapat gawin agad ng DOLE ang Implementing Guidelines.

Kailangan simple lang ang mga alituntuning dapat upang makapangutang kaagad. Ang mga nagbabalik na expatriate workers ay hindi dapat mapapasa-ilalim sa mga masalimuot at walang katuturang regulasyon or red tape.

Inatasan ko ang DOLE at OWWA na makipag-ugnayan sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, kaya nga nakipag-ugnayan sa TRC para sa ekonomiya at pamumuhunan upang matukoy ang mga negosyo maaaring pasukin ng mga nagbabalik na expatriates.

Ang ikalawang bahagi nitong reciprocity program ay ang suporta ng pamahalaan, na ibibigay ng buong-buo, upang tulungan ang mga nagbabalik na manggagawang Pilipino sa paghahanap ng mga trabahong kumikita ng maganda. Dalawang patakaran ang nakapaloob sa bahaging ito:

Una, ang paglikha ng mga trabaho dito sa ating bansa na makakapagbigay ng magandang kita. Meron ilan sa inyo, sabi niyo naghahanap kayo ng trabaho dito.

Pangalawa, ang puspusang paghahanap ng mga bagong merkado sa ibang bansa para sa ating manggagawa, pati na ang mga nagtatrabaho sa mga barko.

At kanina masayang ni-report ni Secretary Nitoy Roque sa akin, 100 plus ang nawalaan ng trabaho doon sa... itong pabrika sa Taiwan, pero sabi ni Nitoy Roque, may 1,000 jobs available sa hotel and restaurant industry ng Bulgaria, kaya kaagad four times ang jobs available sa nawalaan ninyo.

So, upang makakuha ang mga serbisyong ito, inaatasan ko ang DOLE at OWWA na maglagay ng mga opisina sa lahat ng probinsiya o desk, na magbabagay ng trabaho sa kagalingan, kakayahan at experience ng nagbabalik na manggagawa. Dapat din magkaroon ng palagiang online information tungkol sa mga bakanteng trabaho, at dapat libre itong information sa mga nagbabalik na expatriates.

At para sa ating bumabalik na expatriate Filipino workers na gustong lumipat ng ibang mga bansa kung saan kailangan ang inyong kaalaman at kagalingan, inaatasan ko -- bukod pa dito sa Bulgaria na 1,000 jobs available kaagad sa hotel and restaurant industry -- inatasan ko, gumawa ako ng Administrative Order na ang Philippine Overseas Employment Administration ay dapat magtupad ng isang marketing blitz upang lumawak ang merkado para sa Filipino expatriates.

So again, the government, even if it’s only a trickle of our workforce that’s coming back, the government will not sit idly and do nothing for our modern-day heroes in this time of great economic uncertainty.

Hindi pababayaan ng pamahalaan ang ating mga bagong bayani sa panahong ito na walang katiyakan sa ekonomiya.

We assure you of full and unequivocal support.

Sa inyong lahat, ating returning expatriate Filipino workers, good luck sa inyong bagong hakbang ng inyong career path!

Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.


Young voters turning 18 by May 2010 can now register

Maasin City -- New voters will have no more excuses or alibi for not registering to participate in the national and local elections by the second Monday of May, 2010.

The reason? They have more than 365 days by which to go to municipal and city offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to register so their names will be officially included in the voters' list.

And they need not wait their for their 18th birthday to do just that -- as long as their natal day falls on the date of the 2010 elections, which is, again, on the second Monday of May; so right now they can go to the Comelec offices anytime during office hours, even tomorrow.

This much was revealed by a personnel at the provincial Comelec office here, adding that those turning 18 on such a date two years hence are already qualified to register.

The year-long Comelec listing, started on December 2, 2008, would be until December 19 only for this year because of the holidays, but it will resume by January 2, 2009, until the close of the working hours by the end of next year, it was learned.

The source at the provincial Comelec told PIA that new registrants would bring only an identification card, such as a school ID, and a birth certificate in going to the nearest Comelec office for the registration process.

At the City Comelec office, an observer informed PIA that by his own estimate, more than one hundred young, new voters had showed up to register since the poll body announced last week that its doors are now open for the continuing registration.

The early listing was meant to avoid rush during registration deadline, including the listing of transferees or transferred voters, but many still had to cram up at the last minute, prompting the polling offices to extend the time.

The Comelec had hoped to reverse this trend by campaigning and encouraging new voters early on to make use of the long time allotted for voters' registration. (PIA-Southern Leyte)


All school-age Filipinos must be in school – DepEd

Iloilo -- Despite Philippine public education being free and compulsory, there are still so many school-age children and youth who are out in the streets, vulnerable to exploitation.

According to the records of the Department of Education (DepEd), there are about 5.6 million children and youth who are not in school, hence, they run the risk of compromising their future.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said they have embarked on project REACH (Reaching all Children) to bring to school these children.

DepEd said that as of school year 2007-2008, some 2.2 million children aged 6-12 years old and 3.4 million 12-15 years old out-of-school youth or a total of 5.6 million are reported not to be in school.

Lapus said Project REACH relies on the support and partnership[ps with sectors to "find these children, reach them and keep them.

He said that getting children to school is already a big challenge and keeping them in school is even more challenging.

Project REACH has two major components, namely Child Find and Innovative Interventions.

Child Find will be initiated by the principal in collaboration with barangay councils who will conduct community assembly, family mapping, school-barangay posting and stakeholders assembly.

Lapus said community involvement is critical in identifying school-aged children in each family and in bringing educational intervention right at the barangay level.

The second component identified innovative intervention programs to find and keep children in school.

DepEd launched Project REACH during the National Educators Congress at Baguio Teachers' Camp, in its target to achieve its Education For All Goals.

Project REACH embarks on a combination of strategies for networking and linkages employing creative "catch and hold" interventions, capitalizing on strong stake-holders partnership. (PIA 6)


Drop on medicines prices to be felt soon – DOH

MANILA (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) assured that the drop on prices of medicines will be felt by the public soon with the full effect of Republic Act (RA) 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 and its implementing rules and regulations.

DOH Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said the effects of the Cheaper Medicines Act include the release of a price control list next month which include some 25 drug categories among which are medicines for hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

Padilla said the DOH is on the process of reviewing and identifying the drugs that will be included in the price control list.

He also said the department is studying the possibility of importing drugs which are scarce locally, particularly those for cancer treatments. He also admitted that since the IRRs of the new law took effect, more generic medicines are now entering the country.

Padilla said the new law has also required manufacturers who hold drug patents to make generic counterparts or equivalents of their patented products.

A provision in the law requires the manufacturers to make generic equivalents after their patent expires. There is also a provision on the act for parallel importation of patented drugs in other countries.

“This means that medicines in other parts of the world can be introduced here,” Padilla said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier admitted the drop in prices of medicines sold in local markets will be gradual pending the full effectivity of the IRRs of the Cheaper Medicines law.

Duque said the public should not expect a sudden price drop as the IRR of Republic Act 9502 only took effect late November this year.

He said the benchmark for the drop in prices is expected to be up to 50 percent compared to their prices in 2001.

Duque has asked the Congress to complete the list of medicines covered by the law, and their respective retail prices. He also asked lawmakers to approve the drug price ceiling once they have drawn up a list.

The Cheaper Medicines law IRR is composed of 90 rules and over 100 provisions.

RA 9502 was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 6 to strengthen the parallel importation, competition and trade flexibilities of drugs sold in the country.

According to Duque, if the goals of law will not take effect immediately, the DOH is mandated to conduct a price regulation on the maximum retail prices of drugs under the said law.

Further, the law will strengthen the Bureau of Food and Drugs’ capabilities and improve its facilities through income retention. (PNA)


DA upgrades 4 abattoirs

The local governments of Mandaue City and of three municipalities are revving up their respective slaughterhouse in tandem with the Department of Agriculture as part of the DA’s Meat Establishment Improvement Program (MEIP) that aims to upgrade existing abattoirs to national standards and transform the country into a major producer of meat and meat products in Southeast Asia .

In separate Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) signed recently, the DA committed to assist Mandaue and the municipalities of Pili in Camarines Sur, San Francisco in Agusan del Sur, and Bustos in Bulacan, in improving their slaughterhouses under the MEIP, which is being implemented for the DA by its National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

Signatories to the separate MOAs were Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Mayors Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City, Alexis San Luis of Pili, Carlito Reyes of Bustos and Elias Carl Lademora of San Francisco.

Under these MOAs, the NMIS will provide technical and financial assistance to these local government units (LGUs) to help them improve their slaughterhouses so that they can comply with Good Manufacturing Practices and Sanitation Standard Operation Procedure (GMP-SSOP) set by DA.

These MOA signing between Yap and the mayors were witnessed by NMIS officer-in-charge Executive Director Jane Bacayo.

Under the MOA with Mandaue, which was signed at the DA-NMIS Central Office in Quezon City , the LGUs will shoulder the initial 50% for the slaughterhouse improvement project.

The DA will then pay the final 50% cost of the project. DA has allotted a total of 11.5million for the final cost of the four projects. The DA has also committed to assist the local governments in the preparation of engineering plans and design, scope of work and equipment listing; and monitor and evaluate the joint undertaking through the NMIS Project Monitoring Office.

Other provision of the MOA says that the MEIP recipients will submit their technical plans, design and cost estimates for DA approval prior to the conduct of public bidding, hold the bidding in coordination with the NMIS regional technical director, and create a Special Implementing Unit attached to the Office of the City Mayor that will oversee the implementation of the project.
“The MEIP is designed to assist LGUs in rehabilitating or completing their existing slaughterhouses and poultry dressing plants to comply with Class ‘AA” requirements under the NMIS accreditation system,” Yap said.

He noted that Republic Act No. 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines calls on “LGUs to improve existing meat facilities to comply with the national standards, and the national government shall allocate funds as incentive, equivalent to the funds available from the LGUs for this purpose.”

This law envisions the Philippines “to be a major producer of meat and meat products in Southeast Asia from established and rehabilitated abattoirs that fall within prescribed standards of the competent authority,” he said.

In a report to Yap , Bacayo said the NMIS is strengthening its partnership with LGUs to spell the more effective regulation of the meat industry via a closer watch on the country’s meat processing plants and public markets along with 426 accredited slaughterhouses and more than 2,000 unaccredited slaughterhouses nationwide.

Because of NMIS’ limited personnel, he said the agency has been partnering with LGUs “to ensure effective regulation of the meat industry. At present, the NMI has only 328 employees who are spread all over the country, keeping watch over 426 accredited slaughterhouses, meat processing plants and more than 2,000 unaccredited slaughterhouses in the regions. There are also the public markets where meat is sold.”

“We must coordinate with the LGUs, and try to convince them that the obligation to provide clean, safe and wholesome meat to their constituents is their primary obligation, and that we, in the national government, could only provide guidance and assistance,” he said. “That is why we always have to conduct seminars and advocacy campaigns on food safety, trying to convince them that they should do their share in the food safety campaign of the government.”

The NMIS will also conduct necessary trainings like the Slaughterhouse Operation and Management Orientation Seminar for the slaughterhouse operators along with the Butchers Training and Basic Meat Inspection Training Course for local government unit personnel who will be assigned at the slaughterhouses.

Bacayo said that aside from providing financial aid to LGUs for slaughterhouse improvement under a counterpart arrangement, the NMIS has also been conducting food safety seminars and advocacy campaigns for local governments, and running after “hot” or double-dead meat being sold in wet markets in coordination with LGUs and the Philippine National Police.

Last year, the NMIS was able to identify and help five municipalities upgrade their meat processing facilities under the MEIP. These are the LGUs of Lal-lo, Cagayan; Moncada, Tarlac; Nabunturan, Compostela Valley ; Tampacan, South Cotabato; and Baybay City , Leyte .

Yap had cited current NMIS efforts to help sustainably develop and modernize the country’s meat industry with an eye on the production and supply of quality, safe, nutritious and affordable meat products.

Through the MEIP, Yap said the NMIS has been “assisting and enhancing the capability of LGUs to put up and efficiently operate their respective modern, clean, safe and quality abattoirs and meat processing facilities.”

He directed the NMIS to continue strengthening its partnership programs with LGUs as the DA sustains such “joint efforts to effectively implement mandated policies, laws and rules and regulations that govern the post-production, processing and marketing of both locally produced and imported meat and meat products—to adequately protect the interest, and ensure the health and well-being, of all consumers.” (DA PRESS OFFICE)


Esperon assures UN official RP has program protecting children in conflict-areas

MANILA (PNA) - Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. today assured a ranking official of the United Nations (UN) that the Philippines has put in place an extensive program to protect children in conflict-affected areas in the country.

Esperon told Radhika Coomaraswamy, special representative for Children and Armed Conflict of the UN Secretary General, on the various program undertaken by Arroyo administration during a briefing held at the Premiere Guest House in Malacanang.

Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, newly named chairman of the government peace panel that will negotiate with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and other ranking officials attended the briefing.

Esperon said that protection of children, especially in conflict-affected areas is not only enshrined in the Philippine Constitution but also in five landmark legislations such as Presidential Decree 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code); Republic Act 7610 (providing for special protection of children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination); Republic Act 8371 (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act); Republic Act 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, declaring as unlawful the recruitment, transport or adoption of a child to engage in armed activities in the Philippines and abroad); and Republic Act 9344 (the Juvenile and Welfare Act).

"The government recognizes the need to include child protection in peace processes with rebel groups," Esperon said.

He enumerated the various programs of the government designed to enhance access of Filipino families to basic social and humanitarian services to include child-focused programs.

One is the GOP-UNICEF Sixth Country Programme for Children (2005-2009, which involves provision of basic services for over 20,000 children in 64 conflict-affected barangays; and emergency relief and psychosocial support services for internally displaced persons affected by armed conflict.

Another is the Comprehensive Program on Children Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC) launched in 2001, to address the CIAC issue and to promote children as zones of peace.

There are 18 government agencies implementing the program.

A program called "Days of Peace Project" is being undertaken under the auspices of the UNICEF that provides basic services for children in conflict areas.

"The first phase of the project involved the provision of essential health services, such as immunization, micronutrient supplementation, de-worming, and breastfeeding counseling," Esperon said.

He said that since the project was launched it has benefited more than 300,000 children and 60,000 mothers in 70 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) areas.

The second phase expands to Luzon and the Visayas and involves birth registration and distribution of basic school supplies for pupils through the so-called Early Childhood Care and Development Program.

"The Philippines is committed to uphold the high standard of its legal framework and policies for the welfare and protection of children," Esperon said.

The briefing also touched on the peace process undertaken by the government.

For her part, Coomaraswamy said she found the briefing "very interesting" and the "information very useful."

Coomaraswamy and her party will go to Mindanao to find for themselves the ongoing economic development and welfare programs of the government designed to protect children in conflict-affected areas. (PNA)


Women's groups to push for Magna Carta for Women

Iloilo City -- The Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Center, PILIPINA and CEDAW-Watch Network will push for the passing of House Bill 4273 or the Magna Carta for Women which has already passed through second reading in the House of Representatives.

Ugsad GRC coordinator Rosario H. Asong said the Magna Carta for women is a proposed national legislation being pushed by a broad group of women's organization to further advance women's rights and substantive equality.

In pushing for this and advocating for stronger support, Ugsad will spearhead the holding of a forum revolving on the theme "Making CEDAW a reality in Filipino women's lives through the Magna Carta of Women."

CEDAW is the acronym for the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The forum will be on December 11, at 1:00 P.M., at the Regional Development Council (RDC) Conference Room, NEDA Regional Office VI, Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City.

The forum will be followed by a 45-minute musicale entitled "Ang Ibat-ibang Mukha ni Misty" by the Teatro Akebono, which explores issues of migration and trafficking and the plight of women OFWs in Japan.

This will serve as jump-off point for question and answer session with the audience.The musicale will also be on a road show in Antique, on December 15, 2008. (PIA 6)