PIA Dispatch - Thursday, January 8, 2009

PGMA orders immediate rehabilitation of flood-ravaged areas in Regions X, XIII

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night directed officials of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCCs) of Regions X and Xlll to start immediately the rehabilitation of the areas in the two regions hit by heavy flooding last Saturday.

She said it was imperative that immediate action be taken to bring back normalcy to the lives of the residents affected by flooding.

The President issued the directive during the meeting with the RDCCs in the regions that she convened Wednesday evening at the Camiguin Highland Resort in Barangay Soro-Soro here.

Region X is comprised of the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte that include the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Gingoog which were hit by flashfloods Saturday morning.

CARAGA region, on the other hand, is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur; and the cities of Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Butuan, Surigao and Bislig.

Siargao, a surfing paradise, was placed under a state of calamity because of the heavy damage wrought by the floods on the island’s agriculture and livestock.

In Region X, the President ordered the relocation of the residents in flood-prone areas, especially on Isla de Oro and Isla Bacsan, two islet barangays situated across Barangay Carmen and Burgos Street and Barangays Kauswagan and Consolacion, all in Cagayan de Oro City.

The President also stressed the need for the strong enforcement of the logging ban and serious reforestation efforts to prevent floods.

This, after RDCC officials reported to her that the flooding in the two regions was caused principally by the heavy siltation and unstable catch basins in the denuded mountains in the region.

As part of the Bantay Gubat program, the President had directed disaster agencies and local government units (LGUs) to hire indigenous peoples (IPs) to patrol the region’s forested areas and at the same time give employment the IPs in line with the administration’s emergency employment program.

Last year, the President authorized the release of P500 million to rehabilitate calamity-stricken areas in the country to bring normalcy to the lives of families affected by the floods.

Included in the program were the rehabilitation of damaged houses and infrastructures, livelihood and trainings, the provision of seeds, livestock, fingerlings and the establishment of hatcheries in the disaster areas.

In attendance during the meeting were Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, RDCC X chairperson and Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director P/Chief Supt. Teodorico B. Capuyan, RDCC XIII chairperson and PNP-Caraga Regional Director Jaime Milla.

Also present were the regional heads of government line agencies and local chief executives in the two regions, including Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Camiguin Lone District Rep. Pedro Romualdo and Mambajao Mayor Ma. Luisa Romualdo.

The President, who regularly presides over RDCC meetings nationwide, has always underscored the importance of disaster preparedness and timely reaction and advisories of government and local officials in a continuing effort to minimize the damage wrought by calamities.

Region X RDCC chairman Capuyan reported to the President that 1,690 families in 11 barangays were displaced by “Auring.” The total flood damage in the region was placed at P5.63 million.

In Cagayan de Oro, Capuyan said that 5,684 families were displaced in five urban and seven rural barangays, two teenaged girls were reported missing, while total damage was estimated at more than P7 million.

In Gingoog City, 1,061 families in four barangays were displaced, one casualty reported, while damage to crops and fishing boats was placed at almost P2 million.

Capuyan added that damage to agriculture and infrastructure in Balignasan, Misamis Oriental was estimated at P4.33 million.

On the other hand, RDCC-Caraga chairperson Milla reported to the President that the weather disturbance brought eight days of rain from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5.

Damage to infrastructure, livestock and agriculture in the Caraga region was placed at P23 million.


PGMA reaffirms commitment to Mindanao peace efforts

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today reaffirmed her strong commitment to a lasting peace in Mindanao before her term ends in 2010.

Notwithstanding the long impasse in the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), she remains steadfast in her efforts to bring to a an end the decades-old conflict in the region, the President said.

“The peace process in Mindanao was dealt a deep setback, but I am fully committed to working to reach as much progress as possible in the time I am still have in office,” the President said in a one-on-one interview with DXIF Bombo Radyo at Del Monte Lodge here.

The Chief Executive said her administration will pursue the peace process within the parameters set by the Constitution and by the Muslim and Christian communities who are directly impacted by the conflict.

However, she underscored the need to, first, bring back to the region, regain order and “be able to trust the MILF leaders and ensure that they truly represent their community.”

“The peace process must proceed and it must do so in an atmosphere of stability and order in the region and regained trust that the MILF has control of renegade elements,” the President said, stressing that “we also want to ensure that they truly represent their community before we can effectively reactivate the peace process again in earnest.”

“We all want to see peace and prosperity in the Philippines and I am confident it will happen,’ she added.

To show her administration’s seriousness in seeking a resumption of the stalled peace negotiations, the President said the newly-reconstituted government peace panel has already been directed to touch base with the facilitators and their counterparts in the MILF.

With the new paradigm on the peace efforts already in place, she said the government panel is ready to hold substantive discussions concerning the peace process, including ceasefire-related issues, the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and accelerated development efforts for Mindanao.

The peace process was disrupted after fighting broke out anew between government forces and Muslim rebels last Aug. 18.

The renewed fighting was initiated by three of the 19 MILF commanders after signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF was aborted.


PGMA orders military, police to ‘hit hard’ lawless Abu elements

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the military and police authorities to “hit hard“ lawless Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in a determined effort to put an end to their terroristic activities in Western Mindanao.

“My order to the military and the police is hit hard on the ASG terrorist group,” the President said, stressing that there is no justification for their lawless actions.

“We shall ensure that the full force of the law is applied to them to put an end to their terrorist activities,” the President said in an interview with DXIF Bombo Radyo at Del Monte Lodge here.
“All the people of the region, Muslim and Christian alike, want peace and order, and the main focus of military operations has been to support overall peace and order to allow people to get on with a normal life,” she added.

The Chief Executive also said that the military actions against lawless elements must be pursued without letup to ensure that those who are responsible for the crimes against innocent victims of the region are punished.

The ASG, which is believed to have links with the Al-Qaeda terror network and Jema’ah Islamiyah, has been tagged by authorities as the group behind the spate of kidnappings and bomb attacks in the region.

Reports say that more than a dozen people had been kidnapped by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists headed by Puruji Indama and Nur Hassan Jamiri in recent months, and that most of them had been freed in exchange for huge ransoms.

The dreaded ASG bandits have also reportedly ventured into “narco-terrorism” to raise money for their activities.
Last year, authorities raided at least three marijuana plantations of ASG elements.


PGMA lays out holiday schedule for 2009 thru Proclamation 1699

Tacloban City -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed on December 24, 2008, Proclamation 1699 that lays out the holiday schedule for this year.

Consistent with the President's advocacy of holiday economics to boost domestic tourism and to allow Filipinos to have more time with their families, there will be ten long holidays in 2009.

Holiday economics entails the transfer of some holidays to a Monday or a Friday so that Filipinos may enjoy longer weekends.

Malacañang maintained that consultations were made with all sectors concerned, including the business community, before issuing this year's holiday list.

The first is a three-day weekend before the Easter break, the observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9 which is a Thursday, was moved to the nearest Monday which is April 6.

Then this is followed by the four-day Easter holidays from April 9 which is Maundy Thursday, until April 12 which is Easter Sunday.

Four regular holidays fall on either Friday or Monday which results in a three-day week-end. These are Labor Day on May 1 which falls on a Friday; Independence Day on June 12 which falls on a Friday; National Heroes Day on August 31 which falls on a Monday; and Bonifacio Day on November 30 which falls on a Monday.

The other regular holidays are Christmas Day on December 25 which falls on a Friday, and Rizal Day on December 30 which falls on a Wednesday.

President Arroyo also declared the following as Special Non-Working Days: Ninoy Aquino Day on August 21 which falls on a Friday; All Saints Day on November 1 which falls on a Sunday and All Souls Day on November 2 which falls on a Monday.

Christmas Eve on December 24 which falls on a Thursday, has also been declared as a Special Non-Working Day this year.

Another Special Non-Working Day is New Year's Eve on December 31 which falls on a Thursday.

So, there will be a longer Christmas holiday in 2009 and this will start on December 24, Christmas Eve. (PIA 8)


End to communist insurgency forseen by 2010, says PGMA

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon—With the recent successive surrenders of some members of the New People’s Army (NPA), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed confidence that the government is on track in solving the three-decade long communist insurgency by 2010.

“This clearly indicates that the national internal security plan is gaining much headway,” the President said in a one-on-one interview with DXIF Bombo Radyo at Del Monte Lodge here.
Data from the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process showed that a total of 225 NPA rebels returned to the fold of the law during the second half of 2008.

Ninety-nine of the returnees came from Mindanao, 68 from Luzon and 58 from the Visayas.
Each of the 225 rebel returnees were given P20,000 cash assistance upon their surrender for a total of P4.5 million.

The government disbursed another P3.163 million for the 149 firearms surrendered by the rebels.

A total of P18.813 million has been given by the government as livelihood assistance to the rebel returnees.

The livelihood assistance and cash grants to rebel returnees are part of the Social Integration Program (SIP) implemented by the government to reintegrate former rebels into the mainstream of society pursuant to Administrative Order no. 172 issued by the President on March 23, 2007.

Earlier, the President stressed the need to get rid of the communist rebels who impeded progress and development in some of the country’s rural areas.

“If we are to become a first world country in 20 years, meaning , we have to put a stop to their ideological nonsense once and for all,” she said earlier.


Philippines’ stimulus package – Recto bares RP’s framework for economic resiliency plan

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Ralph G. Recto today bared the framework for the PhP300 billion Economic Resiliency Plan which aims to pump prime the economy in 2009. The Plan, which is the country’s own stimulus package, was borne by President Arroyo’s desire for the country “to hit the ground running in 2009” in response to the global economic crisis.

“What we intend to do is upgrade infrastructure and capital stock and expand social protection at the same time,” Recto said.

The resiliency plan hopes to ensure sustainable growth and attain the higher end of the growth targets for the year. The Development Budget Coordination Committee has pegged growth for 2009 at 3.7 percent to 4.7 percent.

In particular, the Plan aims to save and create jobs, protect the poorest of the poor, returning OFWs and workers in export industries, ensure low and stable prices to support consumer spending, and enhance competitiveness in preparation for the global rebound.

Recto said that one of the components of the Plan involves spending 60-80 percent of the productive portion of the 2009 budget of implementing agencies during the first semester, with particular focus on the infrastructure sector. He said that in the first semester of 2008, the government which accounts for 20 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, spent only 30 percent of its budget. The planned frontloading and spending for the first half of 2009 is expected to boost private sector confidence in the economy.

The NEDA chief added that the government is accelerating spending for fast, off-the-shelf infrastructure which has simple engineering requirements and no right-of-way problems. “We are encouraging the government financial institutions (GFIs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to participate in these infrastructure projects,” Recto said.

“The government should also improve revenue collection through better tax administration,” he added.

Meanwhile to stimulate the exports sector, the NEDA chief said that the government has implemented various programs to encourage exporting firms to diversify, innovate and upgrade their products.

He added that “so far, we have provided tax relief for the private sector by reducing corporate income tax from 35 percent to 30 percent and exempting minimum wage earners from personal income tax and increasing in personal exemption of non-minimum wage earners,” Recto said.


Expanding social protection

Recto likewise said that the government is proposing to increase the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) allocation for conditional cash transfers or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program. About PhP5 billion will also be added to cover the additional 321,000 poor households giving them a maximum cash grant of PhP9,000 per year.

“We also want to add PhP1 billion for PhilHealth to ensure full national government contribution to the National Health insurance Program. We are also proposing to increase the allocation for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) by PhP5.66 billion to cover an additional 565,980 beneficiaries,” he said.

According to him, facilities of the Department of Health (DOH) will also be increased by adding PhP1.97 billion for primary and secondary hospitals. Likewise, about PhP100 billion will be created with the private sector to lower borrowing or financing costs for capital expenditure (CAPEX) spending.


Package for OFWs

Recto also explained the strategies of the plan include putting in place programs to assist the vulnerable domestic workers and OFWs.

“The programs for OFWs abroad and those returning include redeployment to emerging foreign labor markets, development of new market niches, as well as repatriation assistance, when needed,” he said adding that enhanced reintegration services and livelihood assistance are also made available for returning OFWs.

Moreover, the government also created a “payback package” for OFWs who were retrenched due to the global financial crisis. This package includes the setting up of a PhP250-million support fund, skills training to avail of in-demand jobs in other parts of the world and setting up of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) desks in the provinces to match OFWs’ skills with available jobs, among others.


Gov’t team helping int’l experts in Reston study

The government has formed a local team to assist a visiting group of international human and animal health experts carry out a 10-day epidemiological investigation into the re-emergence of the Ebola Reston virus that was detected in a few hogs in two farms in Bulacan and Pangasinan late last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said yesterday.

Bureau of Animal Industry Director Davinio Catbagan, who heads the DA’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) on the Ebola Reston virus, said the local counterpart team comprise BAI Assistant Director Victor Atienza, Dr. Samuel Animas of the BAI-Animal Health Division; and BAI officials Dr. Emelinda Lopez, Dr. Laarni Cabantac, Dr. Rubina Cresencio, Dr. Ma. Gracia Flores, Dr. Magdalena Cruz, Dr. Rachel Azul, Dr. Reildrin Morales and Marites Gealone.

Atienza is also the assistant manager of the CMT, while Animas heads the Department’s Crisis Management Center on the Ebola Reston virus, which has proven to be not harmful to humans.

A team from the Department of Health (DOH) completes the local counterpart group that will assist the international experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or World Animal Health Organization in conducting the epidemiological study aimed at finding out the extent and possible source of the Reston virus and of other virulent swine diseases such as the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Circovirus.

The 15-man team of international experts, which is led by Juan Lubroth of the FAO, includes: Dr. Carolyn Benigno, Veterinary Epidemiologist, Dr. Kate Glynn, Risk Assessment Specialist (OIE), Dr. William White, FAO/seconded from USDA), Mr. Mario Musa, International Consultant (Crisis Communication), Ms. Elizabeth Christy, International Consultant (Operations) Dr. Romeo Gundran, National Consultant (Veterinary Epidemiology), Dr. Cesar Ballesteros, National Consultant (Pig Production ) and from WHO: Dr. Soe Hyunt, Dr. Julie Hall, Tony Hazzard, Caroline-Anne Coulombe, Boris Paulin, Pierre Formenty, Peter Ben Embarek .

As this developed, DA Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup noted that the joint DA-DOH move last Dec. 10 to inform the public of the resurfacing of the Reston virus has had no adverse impact on the consumption of pork during the last holiday season, as he noted that demand for the product remained high in that period.

“There were initial concerns raised by the hog industry on the effect of reports about the discovery of the Ebola Reston virus in swine. But contrary to that, a survey of the Social Weather Stations last Dec. 22 showed that the most demanded agricultural wage product before Christmas was pork,” Salacup said.

He noted that prices of pork even rose to P160-P170 a kilo due to high demand despite the government’s official disclosure about the Reston virus’s detection in a few hogs in one farm in Bulacan and another one in Pangasinan.

“The re-emergence of the Reston virus in hogs has had no impact insofar as the supply and consumption levels of pork are concerned,” Salacup said.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) reported that from Dec. 12-23, or right after the DA and the DOH disclosed the re-emergence of the Reston virus, the prices of pork even shot up by P10 a kilo due to the increased demand for the commodity, which is a staple in the Noche Buena fare of Filipino families.

Salacup said the government had correctly handled the Reston case, with international health experts led by Dr. Soe Nyunt-U, the WHO country representative to the Philippines, speaking earlier on behalf of his organization, FAO and the OIE, citing the DA and DOH for taking “appropriate action” in dealing with this animal health issue.

Earlier, DA Secretary Arthur Yap welcomed the arrival of the team of international animal and human health experts, saying the exhaustive tests it will carry out would help the government craft a national surveillance plan along with prevention and control programs to get rid of the Reston virus.

He noted that following the government’s disclosure of this virus’ return in December last year, the DA and BAI promptly asked the international health community for assistance in conducting a risk assessment, in testing the local swine population for the presence of the Reston virus and in drawing up diagnostics and disease prevention plans to prevent the spread of the infection.

Both Yap and Duque thanked the members of the international team last Wednesday and assured them of the government’s full cooperation in the conduct of the study.

Lubroth, the mission’s team leader, said that since learning about the existence of the virus in pigs in the Philippines ,”FAO, OIE and WHO have been fully committed to provide technical assistance to the Government of the Philippines .”

These experts arrived in Manila on January 6 and immediately started their mission, with the field investigation component beginning the following day, January 7. Lubroth said the mission will last 10 days with preliminary results expected “in a few weeks at the earliest.”

Catbagan noted that even before the arrival of the team of experts, the BAI already collected 110 blood samples from swine in a Reston-infected farm in Bulacan and another 55 samples from the affected farm in Pangasinan.

These samples, which were all collected last December 27, were sent for testing to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), which had received ELISA kits for antigen and detection from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control. The kits that were sent by the CDC are good for 8,000 blood samples.

ELISA stands for Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, which is a biochemical technique to detect the presence of an antibody or antigen in a blood sample.

This total of 165 samples was on top of the 129 samples earlier sent to the RITM, all which tested negative for this virus, which has proven to be not harmful to humans.

Catbagan said that alongside helping the DA craft a national surveillance and disease prevention plan, the results of the experts’ study would help the Department assess the public health risks of the Reston virus; evaluate its laboratory capabilities and needs; and work on its public awareness and risk communications campaigns.

He said that while the WHO has classified the Reston case as a “predominantly animal health issue,” the DA would still want to determine how the virus, which infected monkeys about a decade ago, has now jumped to hogs.

He recalled that after a series of tests undertaken by the RITM to prevent the spread of the virus and determine the extent of the infection, it found out that there were no sick pigs and no sign of illness even in the animal caretakers where the Ebola Reston was detected. (DA-PRESS OFFICE )


Puno orders PNP to intensify manhunt operations vs. Bravo, Iligan bombers

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno yesterday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to intensify manhunt operations against two identified suspects responsible for the deadly bombings in Iligan City last December as well as renegade commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), led by Commander Bravo, who were believed to have ordered these acts of terrorism.

Puno presented to the media photographs of Tangkoy Cabugatan y Alindo and Bocari Alindo Aliodin, who were identified by police investigators as among those responsible for the two successive bombing incidents in Iligan City last Dec. 18 at downtown Iligan, which occurred when thousands of residents were doing their Christmas shopping. The bombings killed six civilians and wounded 45 others.

He said that the regional trial court in Iligan City has already released warrants of arrest against Cabugatan and Aliodin as early as April last year in connection with other criminal acts. Another suspect in the Iligan bombings has yet to be identified, Puno said.

Puno said intelligence reports showed that MILF leaders Commander Bravo, along with Aleem Sulayman Pangalian and Umbra Kato had ordered the bombings in Iligan City as well as the other recent acts of terrorism in Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City .

“I have directed the PNP to intensify its efforts in serving the arrest warrants against these criminal elements to put a stop to their acts of terrorism and bring them to justice,” Puno said.

A “protective shield,” which is a defense unit composed of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the local government units, was recently set up in Iligan City to prevent MILF attacks on the civilian population, Puno said.

Such “shields” had helped prevent attacks in the coastal areas of Lanao del Norte and the towns of Kauswagan and Aleosan, he noted.

Puno said he has also ordered PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to come up with a new operational plan “to bring Bravo and his cohorts to justice.”

The DILG chief said what was “disturbing” were reports that these MILF commanders are now ordering even ordinary members of their group to carry out acts of terrorism, which used to be exclusively the work of specialized units within their commands.

Of the 11 bombing attempts perpetrated by these criminal elements, Puno said the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) averted eight of them.

Puno reiterated his call for MILF central leadership to take action against these criminal elements within its organization, by making Bravo, Kato and Pangalian and their cohorts account for their terrorist acts.

“If the MILF is true to their vow of, and desire for, peace, then they should not countenance these acts of terrorism,” Puno said. “I hope the MILF will not pretend that nothing is happening.”


Agreement to address vision improvement for public school kids inked

MANILA (PNA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) and its private sectors partners under the Adopt-a-School Program recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for free eyeglasses and vision improvement activities which will be made available to public schools.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said "more and more private sector groups are contributing to the cause of education. More importantly, these groups are recognizing the vital link between academic performance and health.

"This joint initiative involves JG Primelink, Optical International, Plastilens, Optimate, Kraktek and Civitan Philippines.

Under the Vision and Mind Skills Program, the "I Care" and "Sight Care Program" will focus on the development of a Vision Perception Clinics where students found to have eyesight problems will receive free eyeglasses.

Civitan will develop the facility and pilot the program in selected public elementary schools in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Lapus said these clinics will be located in public schools. Together with the Eye Health and Safety Foundation, Civitan will administer the implementation of the Sight Care Program.

Optimate and Optical International will provide frames for the eyeglasses, together with ophthalmic lenses that will be provided by Plastilens.

JG Primelink, meanwhile, will provide five units of eyerelax device. Eyerelax is clinically programmed to improve shortsightedness commonly caused by tired eyes. Its safety as a non-medicinal device has been established.

Kraftek Trading, a company that specializes in the production and distribution of educational materials, will be in-charge of distributing cognitive and motor skills development tools packages.

Each package contains "manipulatives" or educational toys that aid vision therapy for children, such as shape sorters for pattern-making and color matrices that enhance color perception.

The DepEd Chief praises these groups for providing the equipment that will give public school pupils better eyesight.

Furthermore, he encouraged other private sector partners to "support DepEd's Adopt-a-School Program and work with us as we provide training to our teachers, books and sturdier school buildings to our students, and produce healthier and brighter students.

"Under Republic Act 8525, private companies and individuals under the Adopt-a-School Program may avail themselves of tax incentives up to 150 percent.


Secretary Teves is “Finance Minister of the Year in Asia”

Re: Award to Secretary Teves as “Finance Minister of the Year in Asia” by prestigious London-based magazine, The Banker, citing significant fiscal reforms that have lessened the Philippines’ economic vulnerability.

“We congratulate Secretary Teves for the prestigious citation. This is in recognition of the economic team’s collective effort and especially that of President Arroyo under whose leadership economic reforms have been instituted that thankfully have prepared us to face the global economic crisis with some amount of confidence.

Secretary Teves’ citation can well be shared with the DOF family, Congress, the local and international business and financial community, the media and the general public for their collective effort & support.

This award should be an inspiration to all to even work harder. This is a challenge for all of us to strive more.

While difficult days are expected ahead, we are in a better position to weather them as long as we keep the course and be united as a nation. Together we all can do it.”


Evacuation of Filipino nationals from Gaza is on

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today that the concerted evacuation of foreigners from Gaza is now underway. He said the ICRC-led convoy of six buses, with 250 foreigners, including 17 Filipino nationals, has just arrived at the Erez Crossing. He added that Philippine Ambassador Petronilla Garcia and embassy team are at the Gaza-Israel border to meet the evacuees and ferry them to the Allenby Crossing at the Israel-Jordan border.