PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, December 9, 2008

BSP chief cites RP’s growth drivers in ‘09

MANILA, Dec. 9 (PNA) – Philippines economic managers have continuously reiterated that improvements in the country’s fiscal position enabled the domestic economy to weather the global economic turmoil.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. told reporters Tuesday that for the banking sector in particular, the banking and monetary policy reforms they have instituted some years back placed the country “in a better position to weather further negative impact of the general global slowdown.”

He explained that after they adopted the inflation targeting framework in 2002 the Central Bank has focused more on its mandate of ensuring price stability.

“I believe we have been fairly successful at keeping inflation at manageable levels and this has engendered a stable macroenvironment for business and investment planning,” he said.

Inflation started to surge in the second quarter this year as prices of oil and food commodities reached record levels in the international market.

It peaked in the country at 12.5 percent last August but started to slow and stood at 9.9 percent last November as prices of oil and food continue to decline.

Tetangco said that “because of an appropriately prudent banking regulatory structure” the country’s domestic banks “are now well capitalized and have the healthiest balance sheets in at least 10 years.”

He said domestic financial institutions are now more capable of absorbing “further shocks from the current global financial stress.”

He also noted that the “phased opening up of the system to financial innovation has also resulted in banks that are less exposed to structured products of the troubled global financial institutions.”

“The relatively stronger external position has allowed us to be less dependent on the international capital markets for our financing requirements and provided some cushion against volatilities in the exchange rate that have resulted from risk aversion towards emerging economies, “ he said.

And as the global crunch worsens, the BSP chief said the country still has something to lean on like the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

“As companies become more conscious of cost, I believe our BPO centers will maintain their competitiveness,” he said.

Other growth drivers include the non-oil commodity sector and the high demand for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

“Finally, as in the previous crises we faced, I believe domestic demand will be a key driver for the resilience of growth this time,” he added. (PNA)


PGMA honors 31 outstanding overseas Filipinos, organizations Wednesday

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will honor tomorrow (Wednesday) 31 outstanding Filipino individuals and organizations all over the world for their exceptional achievements or humanitarian efforts that give form and substance to Filipino excellence and the time-honored values of humanity, cooperation and unity.

The simple ceremonies to be held at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang will also mark the opening of the celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos and the International Migrants’ Day (Dec. 10).

The awardees were evaluated by Philippine consulates and embassies prior to the final selection by the technical committee.

The Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas is a biennial event institutionalized in Dec. 1991 by virtue of EO 498.

The four awards categories are:

(1) ‘Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino’ Award conferred on Filipino associations or individuals for their exceptional or significant contribution to Philippine reconstruction, progress and development;

(2) ‘Banaag’ Award given to Filipinos whose contributions have significantly benefited a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced a cause of overseas Filipino communities;

(3) ‘Kaanib ng Bayan’ Award accorded to foreign individuals or organizations for their exceptional or significant contributions to Philippine reconstruction, progress and development, or whose contributions significantly benefited a Philippine sector or community, or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities;

and the(4) ‘Pamana ng Pilipino’ award conferred on overseas Filipinos who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.

The recipients of the ‘Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino’ Award are Tobias Enverga Jr., (New York); Laurence Ligier, (Toronto); Association of Philippine Physicians of America, (New York); Filipino Women’s Association United Kingdom, (London); and Stitching Kapatiran, (The Hague).

On the other hand, to receive the ‘Banaag’ Award are Alexander Asuncion, (Riyadh); Patricia Bernabe, (New York); Angeles Carandang, (Chicago); Mary Aida Casambre, (Hong Kong); Esperanza Derpo, (Abuja); Lamberto Garcia, (Seoul); Eleanor Ho, (Taipei); Joseph Magdalena, (Riyadh); Santiago Muzones Jr., (New York); Dr. Antonio Noblejas, (Wellington); Lilian Overs, (Toronto); Adelina Philipsen, (The Hague); Filipino Korean Spouses Association (Seoul), Philippine Community Council of New South Wales, (Sydney); Philippine Nurses Association of America, (New York); and United Filipino Council of Hawaii, (Honolulu).

Meanwhile, the ‘Kaanib ng Bayan’ Award will be given to the Catholic Medical Mission Board, (New York); Children’s Chance NY, (New York); and Heetens Helpgood Center Philippines, (The Hague). The recipients of the ‘Pamana ng Pilipino’ Award are Amelita Besa and Romeo Dorotan, (New York); Bayani de Leon, (New York); Carlos Esguerra, (New York); Federico Hizon, (Singapore); Libertito Pelayo, (New York); Dr. Teresita Ramos, (Honolulu); and Engr. Nilo Villarin, ( Washington).


PGMA inaugurates on Wednesday TeleTech delivery center in Bacoor

BACOOR, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit this urban municipality tomorrow morning (Wednesday) to inaugurate another delivery center of TeleTech, one of the leading providers of customer management and business process outsourcing solutions worldwide.

The President will cut the ceremonial ribbon at the TeleTech’s office at the 4th level of SM City Bacoor to signal the start of its operation. This will be followed by the unveiling of the company’s marker, also by the President.

The President is also expected to conduct a quick side-tour of the company’s state-of-the-art 8,500-sqm. facilities, and interact with its employees.

Since its soft opening in July 2007, TeleTech’s Bacoor site has hired 2,136 employees for its 1,372 production seats/work stations.

Expected to accompany the President to the ribbon-cutting and unveiling rites are Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Lilia De Lima.

To lead local officials and the company’s clientele in welcoming the President here are Cavite Gov. Erineo Maliksi, Cavite 1st District Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla and Maulikh Parekh, TeleTech senior vice president and general manager for Asia, Jason Lock,TeleTech vice president for Asia, and TeleTech site director Geoffrey Domigpe.

With the formal opening of its Bacoor site, TeleTech will now have 13 delivery centers in the country with over 18,000 employees.

TeleTech, which started its operation in the Philippines in 2002, has branches strategically located in Pasay City, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Novaliches in Quezon City, Cainta in Rizal, Lipa City in Batangas, Dumaguete City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Clark in Pampanga, Sta. Rosa City in Laguna and Bacoor in Cavite.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, TeleTetech has 50,000 employees worldwide and operates more than 80 delivery centers in 18 countries located in North America, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, and South East Asia.

At present, the Philippines is the TeleTech’s largest delivery center in the Asia Pacific region.

Considered as one of the largest and most geographically diverse global providers of business process outsourcing solutions, TeleTech has an excellent 25-year record in designing, implementing, and managing critical business processes for Global 1000 companies.


Marines in hot pursuit against ASG in Basilan

(Isabela City de Basilan) - The 1st Marine Brigade under BGen Rustico O. Guerrero AFP intensified its pursuit operations against the ASG kidnappers in Basilan. The operations which started last week were launched against ASG Commanders Furuji Indama and Nurhassan Jamiri. The duo are the leaders of the notorious kidnap for ransom groups (KFRGs) that carried out series of kidnapping incidents in Basilan lately.

As a result of these relentless operations, the marines augmented by the members of the Citizens Armed Forces and Geographical Unit (CAFGU) had led to the several encounters in the different parts of the province.

The first fire fight broke last Nov 30, 2008 at the hill top of Magkawa, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan where the patrolling troops a group of unsuspecting armed men believed to be manning an ASG’s observation post.

As clashes between the military troops heightened, another engagement took place in Brgy Cabangalan, Unkaya Pukan municipality on 01 Dec 08 between the CAFGUs and a group of armed men believed to be led by MILF Commanders Asid Salih and Jul Polon Kulalun. Same group later on harassed a marine detachment at Brgy Lagayas also in Tipo-Tipo. While the security forces were tracking the armed groups; a large bond of terrorist was intercepted before Brgy Cabobo in Lamitan wherein they harassed a CAFGU detachment in the area.

These series of encounters resulted to the death of 6 rebels while 1 injured CAFGU on the military side.

Moreover, another fully armed men believed to be lawless elements of the MILF group under unidentified commander harassed and looted Brgy Pali, Maluso, Basilan last 02 Dec 08. The bandits in which some of them were minors seized the firearms of the CVOs and carted away assorted goods from a sari-sari store and undetermined amount of money from the civilians.

The most alarming scheme is the reported presence and participation of the MILF leaders like Satar Alih, Hud Limaya, Muktar Mingkong, Asid Sali and among others. The leaders’ involvement in these encounters only proved the earlier reports of conspiracy between the MILF in Basilan and the ASG in their criminal and terroristic activities.

The military under BGEN GUERRERO are committed to pursue lasting peace in Basilan through relentless pursuit operations and other security measures against lawless elements and the ASG. (4CRG-CRSAFP/PIA-BASULTA)


14,000 OSY from Pampanga, Tarlac will be employed this Christmas – Lapus

MANILA, Dec. 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said that Christmas will be brighter for out-of-school youth (OSY) of Pampanga and Tarlac this year as the government undertakes a massive P56.5-million employment and livelihood program that is expected to benefit some 14,000 OSY.

Under the Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER), OSYs are given employment in schools and livelihood opportunities to ease their financial needs.

"This program will have a multiplier effect on the local economy as it will lead to the creation of more jobs and the generation of additional income," said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assigned Lapus as steward of Region III.

DepEd employed nearly 14,000 OSYs beginning Monday last week. More than 12,300 of them were employed in soap making and another 1,500 will be deployed as utility workers in public schools.

Under the cash-for-health-care livelihood project, 12,300 OSYs are trained in producing bars of citronella, acapulco/guava and calamansi soap. Each OSY is expected to produce 2,000 bars of soap per day and will be paid P2.00 for every bar or about P200.00 pesos per day. The 20-day production period will put out about 24.6 million bars.

The soaps produced will be given to public elementary school pupils who will receive their year's supply of four bars of citronella soap for their head lice, four bars of acapulco or guava soap to combat skin diseases and 20 bars of calamansi soap for personal hygiene.

Each bar will cost the government only P7.00 compared to existing market price of pharmaceutical products.

"We are hitting two birds with one stone here," said Lapus.

"We provide income to out-of-school youths and at the same time address the health and hygiene needs of our schools and students. There is great possibility of sustaining this livelihood project, considering the minimal cost to keep our school children free from head lice and skin diseases and the opportunity to develop hygienic habits among them," he added.

Meanwhile, under the emergency employment program, one utility worker will be hired for elementary schools with less than 1,000 students, two for schools with population of between 1,000 to 2,500 and three for those with above 2,500. The program has been earmarked a budget of P7.5 million.

In secondary schools, two additional workers will be hired in schools with 1,500 to 2,500 enrollees and three additional workers for those with enrolment above 2,500.

The workers who will be paid P200 per day will be hired from within the districts or barangays where the schools are located.

The utility workers will be deployed in 1,200 elementary and secondary schools under the Divisions of Angeles City, Pampanga, San Fernando City, Tarlac and Tarlac City.

Studies showed that 46 percent of the more than 1.2 million children in Region III have pediculosis or head lice while 40 percent of them have skin diseases.

The OYSTER program of President Arroyo is implemented by Cabinet Secretaries in the regions where they are assigned as stewards. (PNA)


UN Security Council lauds RP's children protection program

MANILA (PNA) -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has cited the Philippines for its high standard of legal framework and policies for the welfare and protection of children, especially in armed-conflict areas.

A copy of report of the UN Security Council dated October 3, 2008 was handed over by a UN mission led by Under-Secretary General Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN special representative for children and armed conflict, to Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. during a meeting in Malacanang on Monday.

"The Government of the Philippines was commended for its cooperation with the United Nations in the establishment of a monitoring and reporting mechanism, and for its cooperation with the Working Group," the report said.

The report also cited other steps taken by the Philippine government in addressing the issue of children in armed conflict communities.

The UN stressed the need "to pursue the efforts with a view to ensure that those frameworks are fully known and implemented at all levels and by all actors."

Coomaraswamy, special representative to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is currently visiting the country to have a first-hand observation of the country's program in the protection of children in conflict-affected areas.

She is accompanied by Ms. Vanessa Tobin, Alec Wargo, Ms. Laurence Gerard and Ms. Lara Scott.

The Philippines has repeated said it is determined to fully cooperate with the UN in the protection of children.

Esperon told Coomaraswamy during a briefing in Malacanang on Monday that protection of children "is a top priority concern of the State as laid down in various policy milestones that mark the past three decades."

Giving out statistics, Esperon said that as of 2007, there are about 34 million Filipino children whose ages range from 17 and below, comprising 38 percent of the total Philippine population.

Of this number, 50 percent are children who are male of which 18 percent are in Luzon, seven percent in the Visayas and 25 percent in Mindanao, of which 1.2 million are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). (PNA)


RP puts up 'trauma shield'

Roxas City -- Government agencies in the Philippines are adopting child-friendly facilities and procedures to protect victims of abuse.

According to Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral in the DSWD online news, the country has set up the Child-Friendly Investigative Studios and Protocol on Child Friendly Investigative Interview.

Said facilities and procedures aim to shield victims from the trauma of recalling their horrible experiences.

The establishment of said facilities is part of the Philippine government program initiatives to prevent, protect and reintegrate children who are at risk of abuse.

Cabral disclosed Republic Act 9208 and RA 9231 are also put in place to further protect children and adolescents against sexual exploitation.

Last year, the DSWD has recorded a total of 8,151 cases of child abuse, Cabral said, adding that globally, there is an increasing cases of sexual exploitation of children based on a United Nations Study on Violence Against Children issued in 2007.

In Capiz, the Provincial Government here, in partnership with the Fifth Country Programme for Children (CPC6) of the United Nations Children's Fund, has also been stepping up their effort to curb cases of sexual exploitation, especially on children.

In particular, the Provincial Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking has been conducting series of advocacy campaign at the municipal and barangay levels to ensure the protection of children against abuse.

Meanwhile, Cabral recognized the multi-sectoral efforts, particularly government agencies, non-government organizations and the civil society, in curbing cases of commercial sexual exploitation in the country.

Cabral also vowed that the Philippine government will ensure that children's welfare will be a top priority in the legislative and development agenda.


PAGASA warns of more landslides, flashfloods

MANILA, Dec. 9 (PNA) -- The state weather bureau warned of landslides and flashfloods in disaster-prone areas due to downpour in the coming days and possible development of a weak La Nina in the latter part of the year until first quarter of next year.

"Some models suggest the development of a weak La Niña during December to March 2009," Prisco D. Nilo, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Director said.

Experts have recorded cold phase over the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) region, but it's too early to say if there's going to be a La Nina this soon.

"These indicators still fall short of the La Niña threshold," he said.
Meanwhile, the past days saw continuous rains over the Visayas and Palawan provinces brought by two low pressure areas.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported flooding in Las Navas and Catubig towns in northern Samar and Jipapad and Oras in Easten Samar.

Two people were reported dead in northern Samar, due to drowning. The weather disturbances also stranded 371 stranded passengers in Sorsogon, and Masbate.

The LPAs also dumped rains in Samar, affecting 516 families in northern Samar and 3,200 families in 30 barangays that were flooded in eastern Samar.

As of 2:00 a.m. today, PAGASA spotted an LPA about 800 kms East of Northern Luzon and another LPA some 220 kms South Southwest of Puerto Princesa City.

Southern Palawan and Bicol region will experience heavy downpour which can trigger landslides and flashfloods, the advisory said.

Southern Luzon and Visayas will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA also alerted the shipping industry against rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Luzon and eastern seaboard of Visayas due to the surge of northeast monsoon.

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger vessels are alerted against big waves, PAGASA said.

Weather systems that are expected to bring rains on December are the northeast monsoon, the tail-end of the cold front, intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), ridge of High Pressure Area, and one tropical cyclone.

Provinces to receive above normal rainfall are Western and Central Luzon and Southern Leyte for December, it said. (PNA)


Gov't exhorts consumers to buy only CFC-free vehicles, aircons, refs

Tacloban City -- Consumers intending to buy new cars, new refrigerators and home airconditioning units must make sure that these are Chloroflourocarbons (CFC)-free.

This is the advice given by the Land Transportation Office and the Environmental Management Bureau.

By the year 2010, airconditioning units of cars or refrigerants using Freon, a brand of chloroflourocarbons, will already be phased out. The same is true with the refrigerators and the airconditioning units in the homes.

The Department of Transportation and Communication - Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) - Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are implementing a regulation under the DOTC-DENR Joint Administrative Order No. 3 series of 2006, to inspect car aircon systems as a requirement for renewal and registration starting the year 2006.

This means that all vehicles with model 1999 up to present should have HFC-134a (R-134a or non-CFC) airconditioning system. Any vehicles from among the said models found to have been converted back to Chlorofluorocarbon-12, also known as R-12 or Freon, system shall not be allowed to register or renew registration with LTO unless airconditioning system is changed back to non-CFC system.

When buying new cars, make sure that the airconditioning system is CFC free already. CFC-12 or Freon, an ozone depleting substance, is widely used as cooling agent in car airconditioning. CFC-12 or Freon is set for total phase-out (zero importation) by year 2010 in the Philippines, being one of the 189 country signatories to the Montreal Protocol on the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

Vehicles with HFC-134a aircon system are restricted to convert back to Freon. This restriction is to discourage the practice of back-conversion or the charging of a non-CFC aircon system (R134a) with Freon, which is commonly practiced by vehicle owners to save on the cost of their refrigerant. It is also a way to encourage vehicle owners to use environmental-friendly refrigerant such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC-134A or R-134A) and other blends.

Older models (1998 and below), with CFC-12 or Freon-using airconditioning system will still be allowed to register until the phase-out year of 2012. However, they may opt to retrofit their airconditioning system with alternative refrigerants, such HFC-134a, which is more ozone-friendly. He said that the LTO maintains a database to determine the volume of vehicles that uses CFC and non-CFC airconditioning system.

The phase-out of CFCs is also covered by DENR Administrative Order 2004-8 (Chemical Control Order [CCO] for Ozone-depleting Substances), under Republic Act 6969 (Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act). The CCO includes provisions against back conversion and venting, which is the intentional release of CFC when servicing air-conditioning systems.

Chlorohydrocarbons are any of several organic compounds composed of carbon, fluorine, chlorine, and hydrogen. CFCs are manufactured under the trade name Freon (q.v.). Developed during the 1930s, CFCs found wide application after World War II. These halogenated hydrocarbons, notably trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11, or F-11) and dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12, or F-12), have been used extensively as aerosol-spray propellants, refrigerants, solvents, and foam-blowing agents. They are well-suited for these and other applications because they are nontoxic and nonflammable and can be readily converted from a liquid to a gas and vice versa.

Notwithstanding its commercial and industrial value, CFCs have been found to pose a serious environmental threat. Studies undertaken by various scientists during the 1970s revealed that CFCs released into the atmosphere accumulate in the stratosphere, where they had a deleterious effect on the ozone layer.

Stratospheric ozone shields living organisms on Earth from the harmful effects of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation; even a relatively small decrease in the stratospheric ozone concentration can result in an increased incidence of skin cancer in humans and in genetic damage in many organisms. In the stratosphere the CFC molecules break down by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation and release their constituent chlorine atoms. These then react with the ozone molecules, resulting in their removal.

Because of a growing concern over stratospheric ozone depletion and its attendant dangers, a ban was imposed on the use of CFCs in aerosol-spray dispensers in the late 1970s by the United States, Canada, and the Scandinavian countries.. In 1990, 93 nations agreed to end production of ozone-depleting chemicals by the end of the century, and in 1992 most of those same countries agreed to end their production of CFCs by 1996. (PIA 8)