PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

PGMA bares formula to attain peace in Mindanao

ILIGAN CITY---President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bared here today the government's formula to attain peace in Mindanao to be known as the Two Ps -- Peace Talks for all, and Projects for Peace.

''The start of 2009 should mark the renewal of sustained, intense and vigorous efforts to ensure the fulfillment of the government's Mindanao Agenda, an agenda of two main planks and anchored on two Ps -- Peace talks for all and Projects for Peace,'' the President said in her opening statement at the first full Cabinet meeting for the new year held at the Macaraeg-Macapagal ancestral home here.

The President stressed that the first plank, a long-lasting peace, must be put in place by ''stilling the guns of war, drawing the biblical theme of turning swords into plows.

''She added that efforts to attain the elusive peace for Mindanao must be an ''all-inclusive effort'' where all stakeholders must have one mindset -- a passion for peace. The stakeholders include local government units, non-government organizations, religious groups, separatists and federalists.

The second plank, projects for peace, involves increased government investments in Mindanao and fast-tracking on-going development projects in the area.

The development projects will fully exploit Mindanao's ''awesome asset'' of being typhoon-free, and will include the creation of agri-business processing zones.

The President said the government will also undertake a crash program to address the problem of illiteracy and poverty in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and give priority to the Mindanao provinces included in the list of the 10 poorest in the country.

''Our objective is to realize the century-old quest for lasting peace. From the wreckage of war, we will fashion implements for progress and lasting peace,'' the President said.

Immediately after Christmas, the President ordered all concerned agencies to prepare for the resumption of the stalled peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and to put an end to all hostilities in Mindanao.

The GRP-MILF informal talks may resume this month with consultations giving priority to the major stakeholders of peace in Mindanao which include the communities, according to Agrarian Secretary Nassar Pangandaman in an interview before the Cabinet meeting.

The peace talks suffered a snag after renegade MILF commanders Bravo, Umbra Kato and Pagalian attacked civilian communities in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato and Sarangani, killing about a hundred people and displacing thousands in protest against the non-signing of the MoA-AD.


Gov't ready to resume talks with the MILF “without preconditions”

ILIGAN CITY---The Arroyo administration is ready to resume the stalled peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ''without preconditions.''

Newly-appointed chair of the government panel Ambassador Rafael Seguis said the government has been preparing to ''move forward'' with the peace talks with the MILF in a move to re-enforce government commitment to peace through negotiations.

Seguis said the composition of the panel has been completed with Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman representing the Muslims, General Santos Mayor Adelbert Antonino representing the local government and the Christian community, and sectoral representative Ronald Adamat from Maguindanao to represent the lumads.

''But it takes two to tango,” Seguis stressed, adding that whatever are the five preconditions the MILF have before sitting on the negotiating table has to be taken up on the negotiating table and not released through media.

''Let them come to us to talk. We will deal with them on the negotiating table and we shall find a way,'' Seguis said.

Seguis added that there are still some ''kinks to iron out'' such as the composition of the International Monitoring Team and the role of Malaysia in the talks as mediator or facilitator.

Seguis said the President wants the GRP panel's ''strategy to be submitted on Jan. 20.


Gov't to create one million jobs in first six months of 2009

ILIGAN CITY--- The government is set to create at least one million jobs in the first six months of 2009 and step up livelihood and emergency programs to lessen the impact of the global economic meltdown on the Filipinos, especially the poorest of the poor.

National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Chair Domingo Panganiban said the President issued the directive to all government agencies during the full Cabinet meeting held today at the President's ancestral home in this city.

''The President has assigned all Cabinet members to handle emergency and livelihood programs over and above agency projects already in place,'' Panganiban said after the Cabinet meeting that lasted for more than five hours.

The NAPC chief said that the out-of-school youth serving towards economic recovery (OYSTER) project, an emergency employment program for the out-of-work, out-of-school youths, is expected to generate 700,00 new jobs.

Jobs under the OYSTER project include hollow blocks making and road maintenance jobs.

In terms of new jobs to be created under the various livelihood projects, some 150,000 of them are expected to be available within the next six months, Panganiban said.

He said that by July, that one million new jobs will be created, aside from the government’s goal of the one million new job opportunities.

As to the livelihood projects, the focal persons on the President's super regions were instructed to step up the implementation of the program countrywide.

Funding for these projects will come from the savings of the different agencies concerned.

Panganiban said the President also directed the different agencies to exhaust their savings first before utilizing the P300 -billion resiliency fund.

He also said that a special program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who lost their jobs as a result of the economic meltdown, will be mapped out.

During the Cabinet meeting, the President also directed all government agencies to step up the food program, especially in the 10 poorest provinces of the country.


Cabinet approves emergency employment, livelihood programs

The first Cabinet meeting of the year focused on emergency employment and livelihood programs in the regions to be managed by Cabinet officials.

This was revealed by Press Secretary Jesus G. Dureza in a phone-patch interview with members of the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC).

“This is the first new year's full meeting with the President sa Iligan. Una sa pinag-usapan, hinimay ng Pangulo with the Cabinet yung part of the sustainability plan – yung emergency employment and livelihood programs, with Cabinet members assigned per region,” said Dureza.

“Hinimay-himay yung projects,” he added.

As to the government’s employment programs, Dureza said these were the programs presented by National Economic and Development and Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ralph Recto in an earlier Cabinet meeting.

“Ito yung na-approve na na na-present sa Cabinet meeting ni Recto. Part of that is yung emergency employment at livelihood programs to be implemented that are over and above agency projects,” he said.

Dureza said the Cabinet members were to oversee projects in specific regions.

The employment-generating projects include the production of organic fertilizers, bantay-dagat and bantay-gubat.

Also discussed by the Cabinet was the resumption of the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Napag-usapan yung peace talks with the MILF. Nag-report si (government peace talks panel chair) Rafael Seguis sa Presidente as to where we are right now.”

“There is now a directive that resumption of peace talks will proceed kaya the panel, according to Seguis, will meet to craft a strategic negotiating framework before the end of January,” he said.

No specific date was mentioned on the resumption of the peace talks as the panel still has to be convened. Dureza said the government panel will “discuss the framework for negotiation for submission to the Cabinet and the President before the end of the month.”


PGMA to sign law creating Mindanao Polytechnic State College in Oro City a state university

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will sign into law on Wednesday a bill converting the Mindanao Polytechnic State College (MPSC) here into a state university in response to demands of industries and business establishments in Region X as well in other parts of the country for high-level manpower.

Authored by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Cagayan de Oro City 2nd Dist. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the President will sign into law Senate Bill 1528 converting the MPSC into the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST).

The signing will be held Wednesday morning (Jan. 7) at the MPSC compound in Barangay Lapasan here.

The signing ceremony will be witnessed by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Cagayan de Oro 1st Dist. Rep. Bambi Emano and Rep. Rodriguez.

The President had stressed the need for a critical mass of R&D-capable manpower to make the Philippines a first-world country in 20 years.

The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) also defines a strategy to further S&T and accelerate economic progress by enhancing the competitiveness of human capital; develop a critical mass of scientists and R&D personnel; speed up knowledge creation and dissemination to push productivity; and improve the mechanisms that promote technology-based entrepreneurship.

As a state college, the MPSC is being run like a university at its main campus in Barangay Lapasan here and its satellite campuses in Jasaan and Alubijid in Misamis Oriental, Oroquieta City, and Panaon, Misamis Occidental.

Owing to its consistently high passing percentage in engineering board examinations, MPSC has been certified under Category A by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC). The college is one of the 14 SUCs in the country which was classified as Level IV by the joint evaluation of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The Philippines has a total of 110 SUCs.

The conversion of MPSC into the MUST is in response to Northern Mindanao’s need for a wider and more comprehensive higher-education provider to match demand of industries in the region for high level and research manpower in science and technology.

Named as a CHED Zonal Research Center in Region X and Region XIII (CARAGA), the MPSC was also recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for its extension services.

MPSC houses the DOST Provincial Science and Technology Center in Misamis Oriental, and the Oro Science and Technology Centrum that develops a science and technology culture.


PGMA, local gov’t officials to come to the rescue of 3 flood-ravaged cities

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will preside over a meeting here Wednesday with disaster officials of Regions X and XIII (Caraga) on anti-disaster and rehabilitation efforts and ensure that the needs of families affected by the Saturday flooding in the cities of Iligan, Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro are immediately provided.

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) meeting will be held at the Camiguin Highland Resort in Barangay Soro-Soro here.

In attendance are disaster officials led by RDCC X chairperson Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director P/Chief Supt. Teodorico B. Capuyan, RDCC XIII chairperson PNP-Caraga Regional Director Jaime Milla, and the local chief executives in the two regions that include Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.

“In times of calamities and other disasters, the President always sees to it that relief, rehabilitation and the immediate needs of affected families are immediately provided,” Governor Romualdo said.

Region X is comprised of the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte; and the three cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Gingoog which were inundated by flashfloods last Saturday morning (Jan. 3).

Caraga administrative region, on the other hand, is composed of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur; and the five cities of Cabadbaran, Bayugan, Butuan, Surigao and Bislig.

Prior to the RDCC meeting, the President will visit the evacuation centers in the cities of Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro to oversee the relief operations for the flood-affected families.

Earlier Tuesday (Jan. 6), the President visited the flood victims after the Cabinet meeting in Iligan City. Continuous rains spawned by tropical depression “Auring” inundated several barangays in Iligan, Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro, affecting more than 6,000 families.

The President regularly presides over RDCC meetings nationwide to ensure timely action by national government and local officials to minimize damage to lives and properties in times of calamities.


PGMA allots P5-billion for pro-poor program

Davao City- The Arroyo administration is putting in an additional P5-billion for pro-poor program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Conditional Cash Transfer.

According to Press Sec. Jesus Dureza the CCT will target more beneficiaries with its additional P5-bn budget. He said the Government is making sure that the funds will really go to the beneficiaries which are the poor and vulnerable.

He said the program is part of Government's mobilization to face the Global economic crisis. Dureza said that the Government must take the lead and be the stimulus for more investments which are sorely needed.

The Press Secretary hopes that the country will not be affected by then full brunt of the economic slowdown this year. But he said that the Government has already mobilized the executive crisis to meet the challenges of the economic crisis.

Aside from DSWD program, the Department of Trade and Industry under Sec. Peter Favila is also embarking on massive training and skills development programs particularly on entrepreneurship.

Aside from that new infrastructure programs to pump-prime the economy is in the pipeline under the P1.4 trillion 2009 national budget.

However the new budget has not yet been passed and presently the Government is operating under a reenacted budget.The Press Sec. Hopes it will be resolved as it is in the 2009 budget that the Government has taken into consideration the possible counter measures to mitigate the effects of the economic slowdown. (PIA)


41,900 children benefit from Food-for-School program

Davao City - Forty-nine thousand nine hundred day care children in at least 39 municipalities in Region XI have benefited from the Food for School Program, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

DSWD XI reported that the program is one of the successful projects handled by the department especially intended to mitigate hunger among the poor children.

Also, it has addressed the malnutrition problem in the provinces.

Region XI was allocated with P2.5 million for the Phase III implementation of the Food for School Program. The program entitles each beneficiary 1 kilo of rice for 45 days.

It is a hunger mitigation program aimed to prevent further decline of the nutritional status of disadvantaged families.

In Compostela Valley Province, about 11,644 children were benefited, 12,216 children in Davao Oriental, 11,535 in Davao del Sur, and 6,499 in Davao del Norte. (PIA)


PGMA lauds Misamis town for successful O.T.O.P. program

CLARIN, Misamis Occidental – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded yesterday (Monday, Jan. 5) the top officials of this town for their successful implementation of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program, a livelihood project of the national government to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.

The President made the comment after she formally opened the newly-constructed Clarin House of Suman and Pasalubong Center.

“Congratulations to all of you, may this national government project help our farmers improve their livelihood and bring development in your economy,” the President said in the Visayan dialect.

This town adopted the “OTOP Philippines” program with the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The OTOP program encourages micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMED) to manufacture, offer and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.

Clarin Mayor David Navarro earlier issued local government Executive Order No. 37 in June 2005 positioning the suman -- the native delicacy of the town -- as Clarin’s OTOP. This was followed by the creation of the Clarin Suman Task Force (CLASTAF) to develop, promote, popularize and increase the marketability of the suman.

Made of glutinous rice, suman (“pilit bugas” in the local dialect) is mixed with pure coconut milk and sugar, wrapped in banana leaves, then steamed. The popular delicacy is best served with a slice of mango and hot chocolate, and comes in four delicious varieties -- plain suman, balintawak, suman latik and ibus.

Making home-based suman is now the major source of livelihood among the Clarinians. The famous suman has reached foreign markets as large volumes have been shipped to the US and other countries as “pasalubong” by Pinoy balikbayans.

Earlier, the President inspected the historical Clarin Bridge which was reinforced by building a parallel new bridge at the cost of P13.4 million.

The pre-war Clarin Bridge and the new span are now a major link along the Ozamiz-Oroquieta-Dipolog Highway which connects to the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

Completed on Dec. 15, 2007, the Clarin Bridge’s steel components were supplied through the assistance of the United Kingdom government.

The new bridge provides easy and convenient access in the transport of agricultural and aquamarine products, and plays a big role in boosting the local tourism industry in Northern Mindanao.

Accompanying the President in the inspection were Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Ocampos, Misamis Occidental 2nd Dist. Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Public Works Undersecretary Romeo Momo, Clarin Mayor David Navarro and Vice Mayor Emeterio Roa.


Small forum town in far away Misamis gets President's attention

BONIFACIO, Misamis Occidental – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed today the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to speed up the rehabilitation of the Salug irrigation system, an essential component of the national government’s program for increased agricultural development, productivity and food security.

The President issued the directive to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap when she inspected this morning the irrigation system at Barangay Tiaman, here. Some 430 farmers will be benefited by the project.

Welcoming the President upon her arrival at the irrigation site were Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, Bonifacio Mayor Samson Dumanjug, 2nd District Rep. Herminia Ramiro, Tiaman Brgy. Capt. Elverito Evangelista, Liloan Brgy Capt. Peregirno delos Reyes, Linconan Brgy. Capt. Rene Tangis, and Presidential Assistant for Northern Mindanao Jojo Pupos.

During the briefing, Yap told the President that the Department of Agriculture has allotted P15 million for the repair and rehabilitation of the Salug irrigation system. The rehab works include the construction of irrigation canals, roads and drainage canals. The project, is scheduled to be completed in June 2009.

Yap told the President that the repair/rehabilitation of irrigation canals, canal structures, roads and drainage canals at Barangays Liloan, Lower Usugan, Tiaman and Linconan in the town of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental are part of the Salug River Irrigation System in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur which covers some 2,165.2 hectares of rice lands.

Included in the P15 million irrigation upgrading project are the rehabilitation of some 300 hectares, restoration of some 150 hectares, upgrading of 6.5 kilometers of drainage canals, and the rehabilitation of some seven kilometers of farm-to-market roads.

Meanwhile, Bonifacio Mayor Samson Dumanjug thanked the President for going out of her way to rehabilitate their irrigation system and for visiting their small town in her first official working day in 2009.


PGMA opens P8M Marine Finfish Hatchery

SINICABAN, Misamis Occidental – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today the P8-million Marine Finfish Hatchery of the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), a priority project designed to promote the agriculture and aquatic products of this province.

From Bonifacio town, the President motored here to grace the ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony signaling the formal opening of the MOAP hatchery.

Assisting the President in the ribbon-cutting were Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Ocampos, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith, and Misamis Occidental 2nd Dist. Rep. Herminia Ramiro.

Also present were Sinacaban Mayor Delio Lood, Misamis Occidental Vice Gov. Francisco Paylaga Jr., and Minister Counsellor of the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) Titon Mitra.

After the ribbon cutting, the President toured the breeding and hatchery pens at the second floor of the MOAP Hatchery Area.

During the project briefing, Governor Ocampos informed the President that the marine finfish hatchery is a tangible manifestation of the provincial government’s vision to become a major provider of agri-aqua products in the region.

He said the facilities were constructed in joint partnership with the Australian government through the Philippines-Australia Local Sustainability (PALS) program which allocated P5.56 million for the project.

The Misamis Occidental provincial government put up a P2.44 million counterpart fund for the project.

The MOAP -- through its famous Dolphin Island, the hatcheries, a resort and the mangrove forest -- is now the major Eco-Tourism Project of this province.

The President also visited the Dolphin Island some five minutes by banca from Sinicaban, where she led the release of two rescued dolphins.


PGMA to visit Oro flood victims Jan 7

Cagayan de Oro City (06 January 2009) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday, January 7 to personally see the condition of the victims of the recent flash floods that hit the City.

At least nine people were reportedly missing and some five thousand families were displaced when floodwaters and huge waves caused by heavy rains struck Cagayan de Oro over the weekend affecting 12 barangays (villages).

The President, who earlier ordered all concerned government agencies to extend immediate assistance to the victims, will be met by local chief executives led by City Mayor Constantino Jaraula, who will give a briefing on the extent of damage and status of the on-going relief operations.

President Arroyo is also expected to visit two evacuation centers, namely, the West City Central School at barangay Carmen and the Macasandig Covered Court at barangay Macasandig to distribute food packs to at least 600 flood victims.

The People's Government Mobile Action (PGMA) of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) under the Office of the President (OP) will also conduct a medical-dental outreach in both areas to ensure the delivery of government assistance to the victims.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), Department of Health (DOH), Department Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, the local government units of Carmen and Macasandig, along with other partner agencies will also be mobilized to extend further assistance to the victims.

The President is also scheduled to visit the Mindanao Polytechnic State College (MPSC) to sign the bill converting the MPSC into the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST).
President Arroyo’s arrival in Cagayan de Oro City is part of her four-day visit to six provinces in Western and Northern Mindanao beginning January 5, namely, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Bukidnon. (Brent M. Bravo/PIA-10)


PGMA prioritizes RP economy in 2009

Tacloban City -- The country's economy is the priority of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2009.

Early in the year, President Arroyo has mobilized the entire Executive branch of government in a move to address the global economic crunch and ensure that Filipinos, particularly the poorest of the poor, are sheltered from the harsh impact of the crisis which is threatening to affect them.

President Arroyo has mobilized all the Departments to implement programs and projects that will generate employment.

Already, President Arroyo has already allotted an additional P5 Billion for the Conditional Cash Transfer program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila expressed confidence that the underground economy will sustain modest gains in crisis, thus, DTI is now mobilizing the machinery to embark on a massive training and development programs on 'how to start a business.

'The 'how to start a business' training will include instructions on how to write financial statements for those who lost their jobs because of the world economic crunch.

The Arroyo Administration's programs to help the country's wage earners include exemption from withholding tax for those earning P200,000. or less per annum.

Furthermore, if Congress will approve the 2009 Budget as soon as possible, the Government will be able to immediately implement its programs to pump-prime the economy.

Until such time that Congress is able to pass the 2009 Budget, the government will have to operate on re-enacted budget.

It is therefore, prayed that Congress will pass the Budget soon and help President Arroyo in gearing up the whole government machinery to be able to face the economic problems the country will meet in 2009. (PIA 8)


DOLE revives assistance package for displaced workers, OFWs

MANILA (PNA) -– The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has debunked claims that unemployment rate in the country could balloon to 11 million even as it revived employment assistance package for the workers to be displaced due to global economic slowdown.”

I don’t know how former (Budget) Secretary (Ben) Diokno came out with that figure but it’s really a big number, considering our unemployment rate now is only 2.6 million,” DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque clarified in a press conference held Monday afternoon at the DOLE headquarters in Intramuros.

Roque did not give an exact figure as to how many workers will lose their jobs but “DOLE has already revived our assistance package” to ease the possible effect of the world financial crisis.”

We have already directed our regional offices nationwide to conduct surveys so that we will be able to know how many workers will be displaced and we expect the results before January ends,” he said.

The DOLE chief said the employment assistance package also covers the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will also be affected by the global economic recession.

Roque said, right now a total of 3,500 OFWs lost their jobs mostly from Taiwan but the official said the figure still below the 3,647 Filipinos who left daily to work abroad.”

The figure is not alarming, although the government has prepared contingency plans to address more problems that might arise due to global financial crisis,” Roque said.

Under the revived employment assistance package, Roque said the labor will provide temporary employment, say, through the business process outsourcing (BPO) which, he said, remains up despite the present world economic situation.”

We in the labor department will also provide technical expertise for those who will go into business sector and cooperative industry,” Roque added.

Roque is fresh from business trip in Qatar where he talked with various foreign executives to create “new markets” for OFWs.”

We are also seeking to create new markets in other countries like Australia, New Zealand, Finland, France and even Canada,” he said.

At present, Roque said some 4.1 million of the 8.7 million Filipinos outside the country are working under contract employment. (PNA)