PIA Dispatch - Monday, January 12, 2009

PGMA lauds DPWH, Cebu officials for completion of several infra projects

ALOGUINSAN, Cebu—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government executives of the province for the completion of several infrastructure projects, including a vital road section connecting four towns along the western coast of Cebu.

“Congratulations for a job well done,” said the President following the briefing by Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane on the concreting of the 2.8-kilometer portion of the Toledo-Pinamungalan-Aloguinsan-Mantalongon- Barili National Road here, some 73 kilometers west of Cebu City proper.

The concreting of the road section is expected to boost the economic and tourism development in the province.

Welcoming the President upon her arrival here today (Monday, Jan. 12) were Cebu Rep. Pablo John Garcia, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno and DPWH 3rd district engineer James Dellosa.

After the project briefing, President Arroyo made an inaugural drive-through of the P45.74-million road-concreting project which, according to Cebu Rep. Garcia, is the “first major step in the linking of the entire western side of the island of Cebu.”

“We are confident that with your continued support and generosity, we will accomplish the entire stretch before the year 2010,” Garcia told the President.

Engr. Dellosa, on the other hand, said the road network is expected to hasten and ease the transportation of goods and agricultural products from the interior areas of Cebu and from the neighboring provinces.

The President is on a two-day visit to Cebu to personally inspect various infrastructure projects.

Earlier today, the President first inspected the Cebu North Coast project in Pak-naan, Mandaue City; and then got a briefing on the completion of the Hagnaya Channel dredging project and the Antonio Y de Pio Highway section of the San Remigio-Tabuelan-Daan Bantayan Road project.

The President also inspected the Punta Engano Road, passing Abaca Resort and Aboitiz Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

The Arroyo administration is pouring billions of pesos to the various infrastructure projects in the Central Philippines super region as part of the country’s Medium-Term Public Investment Program from 2006 to 2010.

On various occasions in the past, the President had pointed out that for the Philippines to be globally competitive, the government must invest both in physical and human infrastructure to attract more investments and create more jobs.


PGMA checks on vital road and port dev't projects in Cebu

CEBU—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today checked on four vital road projects and a port development project in this province that are expected to spur economic development, especially in the coastal municipalities.

The President’s first stop was Pakna-an in Mandaue City where she inspected the P2.3-billion Cebu North Coastal Road project that will decongest the lone road link connecting Mandaue City to the municipalities of Consolacion and Liloan.

The road project, whose groundbreaking was led by the President in July 2007, is still incomplete, thus, the Chief Executive issued marching orders for the concerned agencies to fast-track its completion.

Enroute to Hagnaya in San Remigio town in northwestern Cebu, the President conducted an aerial inspection of the Antonio Y. de Pio Highway’s Layang-Victoria-Kinawahan section that leads to the Hagnaya Port.

The 2,793.36–meter road project that cost P30.4 million is now 100-percent complete.

The President’s second stop was at the Hagnaya Port in the third-class municipality of San Remigio, Cebu’s gateway to the scenic Bantayan Island which is famous for its fine, powdery sand and surrounding blue waters.

At the Hagnaya Port, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) General Manager Angelo Vendan briefed the President on the P36.252-million dredging of the Hagnaya Channel and the installation of solar–powered lighted markers.

The dredging project, which was completed in October last year, has shortened travel time from Hagnaya Port to Bantayan Island as roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels can now ply the Hagnaya Channel even during low tide.

The shallow channel has been deepened by five meters, the depth required by RORO vessels for safe passage.

The President had lunch at the residence of Cebu Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (4th Dist.) before she proceeded to the Municipality of Aloguinsan in southwest Cebu where she inaugurated the P45.74-million concreting of the Alonguisan section of the Toledo-Pinamungahan-Alonguisan-Mantalogan Road.

From Alonguisan, the President’s last stop was the Punta Engano Road project that passes through the Abaca Resort and the Aboitiz Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

The road projects are part of the President’s super regions economic development plan that entails a surge in vital infrastructure projects to spur economic development in the countryside, and to counteract the impact of the present global economic meltdown.


NFA assures enough rice supply for poor families

San Jose, Antique -- The National Food Authority (NFA) here assured beneficiaries listed under the Rice Allocation Ledger of enough supply of rice for poor families once the implementation goes full swing.

Gladdys Gallano, Information Officer of NFA said that they are currently undergoing validation of beneficiaries of the Rice Allocation submitted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Food Authority Administrator Jessup P. Navarro said that the Family Access Card for National Capital Region and Rice Allocation Ledger in provinces are big help for the low income group and underprivileged sector that gets the assurance of optimizing the benefits from the rice subsidies and other hunger mitigating programs of the government. "We can specifically focus our distribution efforts of the affordable rice to families who really need assistance from the government," he added.

In the provinces, the Rice Allocation Ledger shall be required from the Tindahan Natin(TN) and Bigasan sa Parokya (BP) operators prior to the acceptance of payment of their weekly rice allocation to NFA. The NFA, will strictly pursue the policy of "no rice allocation ledger, no rice allocation" to these outlets said Gallano.

Aside from TN and BP outlets only beneficiaries identified by DSWD through the Rice Allocation Ledger can avail of NFA rice at P18.25 per kilo, NFA rice is available at Bigasan sa Palengke at P25.00 per kilo.

Only those family beneficiaries listed in the DSWD-Rice Allocation Ledger shall be served by the TN & BP outlets, however, while the validation of beneficiaries is still ongoing NFA rice is still available at these outlets at P25.00 a kilo.

On the other hand, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office enjoins local officials to support the program and encouraged families to do their share in income generating activities to meet the other needs of the family. (PIA)


Gov't allocates P2.8 B for cost-sharing with LGUs' solid waste program

Tacloban City -- The National Government allocated P2.8 Billion for cost-sharing with local government units to facilitate the shift from open and and controlled dumpsites to sanitary landfills.

In a proposed financing scheme for solid waste management program that he presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a recent cabinet meeting, Secretary Atienza recommended the provision of a National Government grant of 40% for 1st- and 2nd- class cities and 25% to 3rd- and 4th- class cities.

It was also recommended that the LGU share be either sourced from local resources or from loans to funding agencies.

This is expected to facilitate the compliance of the local government units in the DENR's continuing directive for the eventual phaseout of all open and controlled dumpsites to shift to sanitary landfills.

The local government units have most often cited the lack of funding as barrier to compliance to the Solid Waste Management Act particularly the establishment of a sanitary landfill.

At present, financing of solid waste management activities are from internal revenue allotment, additional income sources from taxes, licenses and fines and loans from financing institutions.

The government continues to call for the establishment and sound management of landfill sites in the country in order to address the threats of waste to the environment and to human health.

Section 37 of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000said Act provided the deadlines on the shift from open dump to controlled dump by February 2004 and the phaseout of controlled dumpsite by February 2006.

Based on records of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), there are 16 existing sanitary landfills in the country. In addition, there are 19 landfill sites which have already been issued environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) and undergoing construction.

An updated report from the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) cites 931 "non-complying LGUS" nationwide that have been issued warning letters by the DENR.

The first notices have been sent out; two months after, the second letter has be sent. After four months, the final notice has been sent. If the LGUs have not complied yet, Secretary Atienza said that DENR will have to start filing charges. (PIA 8)


15 corn postharvest centers up

The Department of Agriculture is helping establish 15 corn postharvest processing and trading centers across the country in 2009 through the National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) as part of DA initiatives to raise rural incomes and increase corn production by establishing market linkages and reducing postproduction losses for corn farmers.

These corn centers, which are expected to be completed this February, are being set up in partnership with local government units or multipurpose cooperatives in the areas, according to Assistant Secretary Dennis Araullo, the national coordinator of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Corn Program.

Araullo said the corn centers are strategically located within the GMA Corn Program cluster areas or within GMA Corn Program new areas of at least 1,000 hectares, and are accessible to transportation, communications and market centers.

Seven of these centers are located in Luzon; two in the Visayas; and six in Mindanao .

These are in Rosales in Pangasinan, which has a total corn area of 41,558 hectares; Paracelis in Mt. Province , 6,466 ha; Bantay in Ilocos Sur, 11,797 ha.; Maddela in Quirino, 22,988 ha; Jones in Isabela, 255,870 ha; Sta. Marcela in Apayao, 7,994 ha; and Polangui in Albay, 17,311 ha.;

In the Visayas, these corn facilities are in Sagay City in Negros Occidental with 55,642 hectares of corn fields; Sara in Iloilo with 39,510 ha.;

In Mindanao, these facilities are in Ramon Magsaysay in Zamboanga del Sur with 88,209 hectares of corn lands; Liloy in Zamboanga del Norte, 49,975 ha.; Alamada, North Cotabato, 127,343 ha.; Tupi, South Cotabato, 141,163 ha.; Talakag in Bukidnon, 185,089 ha.; and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur, 36,940 ha.

So far, Nabcor and its joint venture partners are now operating four corn centers located in Kabacan and Banga in North Cotabato; Malungon, Saranggani; and Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte.

Araullo said the DA and Nabcor will continue investing in these facilities in 2009, with 15 priority sites being targeted.

These priority sites are in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental; Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Pangantucan, Bukidnon; Claveria, Misamis Oriental; Tabuk, Kalinga; Sablayan, Mindoro; Bayambang, Pangasinan; Maayon, Capiz; Mexico, Pampanga; and Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur.

Another five locations are also being considered in Narra and Brooke’s Point in Palawan ; Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; Tigaon, Camarines Sur; and Gamu, Isabela.

Araullo noted that investing in corn centers is part of the policy overhaul being carried out by the DA, which focuses funding on hard or “big-ticket” projects covering irrigation maintenance, postharvest facilities, farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and rural extension work, in lieu of “soft” projects like fertilizer support to farmers.

The corn postharvest processing and trading center project, Araullo said, is among the priority initiatives of the DA because corn is the second most important crop in the Philippines, where 20% of its arable is planted to the grain.

He said the domestic corn sector can take advantage of the steadily increasing demand for the commodity due to the growth of the local livestock industry and the shift to corn as a biofuel feedstock. (DA-Press Office)


2009 civil service examination calendar releasedFiling of applications for March 29 exam ongoing

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced the calendar of national civil service examinations to be conducted in 2009.

The Commission will be administering three types of examination with the following schedule: Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional examinations (paper-and-pencil test) -- March 29, July 26, and November 15; and Local Scholarship Program-Master' s Degree Course (LSP-MDC) -- May10.

The Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional examinations are open to applicants who are at least 18 years old regardless of their educational attainment, and who have not yet met the limitation on the frequency of taking the career service exams, which shall be once in three months and up to four times only. Applicants who have failed the same level of exam for four times already can apply for the same level of exam only after two years from the date of the fourth failed examination taken.

Passing the career service exams would result in the conferment of either Professional or Sub-professional eligibility appropriate for appointment to corresponding positions in the government.

Filing of applications is now open for the first schedule of the career service exams on March 29. Application requirements include properly accomplished application form (CS Form No. 100, Revised 2008), four pieces of 1.5" x 2" I.D. pictures with hand-held full name tag, and original and photocopy of any valid I.D. card. Filing of applications will be until February 11, 2009.

Meanwhile, the schedule of career service exams via the computer-assisted test (CAT) in the CSC Central Office shall be announced later and posted in the CSC website at www.csc.gov. ph.

On the other hand, the LSP-MDC grants a one-year scholarship opportunity to qualified government employees to pursue master's or postgraduate studies.

Application forms are available at any CSC Regional or Field Office, or may be downloaded from the CSC website. Examination fee is P350 for the career service exams, while no fees shall be charged for the LSP-MDC.

Applications may be filed at any CSC Regional or Field Office. The CSC Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City does not accept applications for written exams. For details on application requirements and procedure, interested applicants may log on to the CSC website at www.csc.gov. ph.


Chief of Staff distributes “cash for work” to Mamasapano IDPs

MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao (12 January)- Newly appointed Chief of Staff of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Office Bai Rebecca Ampatuan distributed “Cash for Work” to 100 internally displaced persons (IDPs) on Saturday here.

Two hundred pesos were distributed to 100 IDPs sheltered at bunk house near municipal hall of Mamasapano. The IDPs cleaned their bunk houses and put-up gardens at the evacuation center.
The cash for work is part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s project, “Emergency Employment and Livelihood thru Cash for Work” through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the IDPs.

Chief of Staff Ampatuan also first lady of the municipality headed the distribution conducted at the municipal hall of Mamasapano in Maguindanao.

Zalika Kadatuan, one of the beneficiaries IDPs thanked the chief of staff for her effort. Kadutuan is from barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano sheltered at bunk house near Mamasapano municipal hall for two months now. At the height of fighting between the government troops and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, her family fled their community and sought refuge at Mamasapano Elementary School in poblacion. In November, they were transferred to a bunk house built by the DSWD-ARMM.

On January 09, ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan also distributed “cash for work” to 100 IDPs at ORG compound. (bpi-armm/PIA12)


Community vigilance leads residents to safety

MAASIM, Sarangani (12 January) – Community vigilance of Tboli families in barangay Lumasal has led them to safety by temporarily leaving their homes and seeking refuge in a nearby school.

Sightings by residents of armed men possibly consolidating in the hinterlands of adjacent barangay Pananag early morning Thursday (January 8) triggered their evacuation.

Their quick action preempted them to be caught in the crossfire. A chance encounter took place barely two hours later between patrolling government troops and scores of unidentified armed men.

Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon, commander of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, said he has been receiving information from the community since last week. He immediately ordered a long range patrol in the area.

"We suspect they came from adjacent towns of South Cotabato or Sultan Kudarat province, not from here," de Leon said. "They are possibly planning an attack.

"In the recent firefight, de Leon said there were no troop casualties. However, there were possible casualties at the enemy side as the soldiers traced footsteps and bloodstains after the encounter that lasted less than an hour.

Some 100 families, mostly Tboli natives, came down from their homes to seek refuge at Ireneo Lopez Elementary School in Lumasal to avoid being caught in the firefight.

In the afternoon, the province's quick response team and the town's social welfare and development office arrived with sacks of rice and medicines for the evacuees while the military continued hot pursuit operations.

Lumasal is located alongside Kiamba town's barangay Katubao and Pananag of Maasim. Both have Moro Islamic liberation Front (MILF) camps, according to Mayor Aniceto Lopez, Jr."It's now the people who give information to us regarding the presence of these unlawful armed men who would usually threaten them," Lopez said.

Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, who is Task Force Makima (Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum) director, emphasized civilians' safety depend much on their vigilance and participation."The composite partner of Task Force Makima is the community, and now they are playing their part by giving us information and defending their own barangays," Solon said.

A number of barangay defense force members oversee the evacuees at the school and are ready to defend them.

"The local government unit, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police augment their effort so we really have a holistic approach against further threats and disturbances," the vice governor said.

"We will not stop in improving our task force until the full support of the community is there," Solon added.

De Leon said residents can go back to their homes but he wants to assure their safety by continuing the long range patrols. (PIO Sarangani/PIA SarGen)