MANILA (PNA) – The government will put budget-funded energy-independence and environment projects under its P330-billion economic resiliency package to create "green collar jobs."
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said a P2-billion reforestation fund will be put up to provide employment in the re-greening of logged-over uplands in the mountains of Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Sur and the regenerating of mangroves areas.
Under the Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco-Tourism (GREET), the President said, the government will hire workers for coastal clean-up and bay watch projects, the planting and replanting of coconut trees to ensure biofuel feed stock, refitting public utility vehicles and tricycles with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), re-electrification of barangays using solar panels and hydroelectric grids.
The President also said the government will provide jobs through the OYSTER (Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Resiliency) program like the designating of bike lanes and installing of solar-powered street lights and other clean energy initiatives.
"So, these are part of the Green Collar Jobs that are part of our Emergency Employment Program," the Chief Executive said during the multi-sectoral jobs summit in Malacanang.
Likewise, she said, some 6,000 short-term jobs have been opened up in the government's P650-million poverty mapping project.
She said the Department of Social Welfare and Development will undertake the program once the 2009 budget takes effect in about six weeks.
"Just in time when school is out," the President said, adding that the project will be a major component of the government's Youth Employment in Summer (YES) program. (PNA)
Govt to launch NARS program for untrained nurses - PGMA
MANILA (PNA) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday said the government will launch a program aimed to provide local employment as well as to sustain the demand of overseas workers abroad, particularly the Filipino nurses.
The President, in her speech during the multi-sectoral summit being held at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang, said the program called NARS (Nurses Assigned in Rural Areas) will not only provide jobs to nurses but also training which is necessary for employment abroad.
“Nurses who have low overseas demand for their services due to lack of training -- because there’s a big demand for trained nurses but those untrained that’s their problem -- they shall be mobilized in their hometowns,” the President said.
The Chief Executive said the nurses will be deployed in rural areas to do three I’s, which mean:
1. Initiate primary health, school nutrition, maternal health programs, first-line diagnosis etc.
2. Inform, inform about community water sanitation practices and do health surveillance;
3. Immunize children and mothers.
“They shall also serve as roving nurses for rural schools,” she said.
The nurses shall be provided with an allowance of P8,000 a month.
An estimated half a billion pesos will be spent by the government to pay nurses with an P8,000 a month in case of two six-month tours of duties of nurses and five nurses for each of the 1,000 poorest municipalities in the country.
The President also called on the attention of the Mayor’s League of the Philippines President Ramon Guico to ask host LGUs if they can offer for a counterpart of P2,000 as an additional allowance for nurses.
She also asked corporations to chip in as well – “shirts can come from manufacturers, insurance, vitamins from pharmaceuticals, cellphones that will make the program truly a national enterprise with private equity.” (PNA)
PGMA unveils measures to assist vulnerable industries, Filipinos in face of global crisis
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unveiled today several government initiatives to assist vulnerable industries and Filipinos who would be displaced as a result of the deepening global financial crisis.
In her keynote speech during the multi-sectoral jobs summit on "Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis" this morning at the Heroes' Hall of Malacanang, the President cited eight specific measures and actions in response to the concerns raised by various stakeholders during the tripartite meeting that started two weeks ago.
These measures include the condonation of penalties and surcharges on loans of members of the Social Security System (SSS), cutting down the cost of doing business and the establishment of a standby fund from which displaced seafarers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can draw startup capital for business ventures.
She noted that SSS members had appealed to the government to condone the penalties and surcharges imposed by the SSS on delinquent members.
"In response to this concern raised two weeks ago SSS is already implementing such a program for one year," the President said.
The President also directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to establish a stand-by fund that can be easily accessed to help capitalize startup businesses or finance further studies and training of displaced seafarers, land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) including workers being laid off in export-oriented industries.
"The DOLE is the lead in carrying out the government's program for the returning expatriates and the retrenched export workers. The first component of this program is an Expatriate and Export Workers' Livelihood Support Fund in the amount of one billion pesos financed by OWWA for the OFWs and supported by government lending institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Land Bank and the SB Corporation," the President said.
She also directed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to implement training programs and interventions including the tapping of in-bound returning workers and domestic retrenched workers to become trainors in these trainings that would be initially implemented in the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) area, Subic, Clark and Mactan.
The President said government is also reducing the cost of doing business by providing fuel subsidy to firms in transporting workers in the export processing zones.
Additionally, the standardization of the city business registration and permit process would be launched on Feb. 18 by the League of Cities of the Philippines to reduce red tape and the cost of doing business.
The President said that government financial institutions (GFIs) would provide loan facilities, such as working capital, to creditworthy firms.
"We have requested the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) also through the national government's representative in the Monetary Board, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, to provide liberal terms for rediscounting windows and allow the banks particularly the GFIs some flexibility on regulatory financial ratio compliance," she said.
The President also asked the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Chamber of Philippine Industries headed by businessman Jess Arranza to become an integral part of the government's Anti-Smuggling Task Force to further stimulate domestic production and product demand and consumption by addressing smuggling.
She also said the concern raised over the possibility of imposing a moratorium on wages and other economic benefits for a limited period can be discussed by labor and management when wages are due for annual review between July and August.
She also directed TESDA to mainstream and expand training partnerships between government and private companies such as that being done in San Miguel and Max's.
Among those present at the jobs summit were top business leaders and other social partners and stakeholders representing the non-government organizations, labor, academe, church, and government organizations.
Also present were Vice President Noli de Castro, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila, Environment Secretary Jose Lito Atienza, TESDA Director General Augusto Syjuco, business leaders and Valenzuela 2nd District Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo, chairman of the House Labor Committee.
Unlike many countries, the President said her tax and other economic reforms have paid off with revenue for investments in human and physical infrastructure that made the Philippines weather "the worse of the global crisis thus far."
"Nonetheless, this is a time when government, business and labor must join hands against the global crisis so that it does not become a crisis in the Philippines. In doing this, we must not neglect those who feel the hardships of the global downturn, especially firms under strain and workers facing layoffs," she pointed out.
In order to come up with appropriate responses and interventions, the President said government and industries must share information on employment, number of companies and workers affected, and other related information in order to come up with an accurate and reliable picture of the actual impact of the global financial crisis on employment and business.
In contrast to news of huge number of retrenchments, Labor Secretary Roque said that reports from the business sector indicated that 30,000 jobs have been lost since October last year.
Infra agencies must show solid progress in bidding, implementation of projects - PGMA
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today government agencies in-charge of infrastructure and social programs under the P300-billion stimulus package must demonstrate solid progress in bidding out and implementing the projects.
In her speech during the multi-sectoral jobs summit dubbed, “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis” this morning in Malacanang, the President pointed out that the government would pursue its policy of massive investments in physical and human infrastructure to pump-prime the country's economy in 2009.
“I direct key agencies to show solid progress in bidding out and/or implementing major infra and social projects under the 300 billion pesos stimulus plan,” she said.
The economic stimulus package is intended to upgrade infrastructure and capital stock as well as expand social protection to ensure sustainable growth and attain the higher end of the growth targets for this year.
“We consider this the most important government initiative this year. And the agencies, you should start seeing the agencies rolling out tangible results. This will be part of our subject matter in our Cabinet meeting tomorrow,” the President said.
The components of the economic stimulus package involve huge spending government spending on infrastructure and social projects during the first semester.
The focus of the spending program is the infrastructure sector.
RP remains one of world's most attractive off-shoring destinations despite global economic crisis
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed today that the Philippines remains one of the most attractive off-shoring investment destinations in the world today despite the present global economic meltdown.
In her message at the 9th e-services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition today (Feb. 9) at the SMX convention center, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the President, who was introduced by Trade Secretary Peter Favila as the “original ICT (information and communication technology) brand manager,” spelled out to some 2,000 participants from all over the world the reasons why the Philippines still ranks among the most-favored destinations of business process outsourcing (BPO) in the world.
“Our BPO industry continues to boom as global cost-cutting is sent to outsourcing. The Philippines is ranked among the most attractive off-shoring destinations in the world because of cost competitiveness and more importantly the country’s highly trainable, English proficient, IT-enabled quality manpower,” the President said.
The President said the number of workers in the BPO sector has ballooned from only 4,000 in 2001 to 400,000 today, mainly due to government’s rational and strategic act to foster a digital culture that maximized the benefits of ICT.
She added that the government concentrated on three areas, namely, building of physical infrastructure that included telecommunications and network infrastructure; ensuring an appropriate policy and legal environment so as to create an environment to grow ICT; and, development of human capital to close the digital divide.
She said that the Cyber Corridor in her super regions economic development plan has been “lengthened” from Metro Manila, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu and Davao to include Baguio, Dagupan Tarlac, Pampanga, Metro Bulacan, Metro Rizal, Metro Cavite, Metro Laguna, Metro Batanagas, Dumaguete and Cagayan de Oro.
“BPO and e-services are key drivers of the economy, generating investments and jobs, alleviating poverty and improving the lives of the people. We are proud to be among the world’s leaders in these fields,” the President said.
Moreover, the President said the Philippines is in a better position to weather the current financial crisis because of the “rebooting” of the economy several years before there was a hint of a financial crisis.
She expressed confidence that with the reforms in revenue collection and generation, fiscal controls and banking now in place, she initiated, “we remain cautiously optimistic that our resources and plans will allow us to manage our way through this time.”
“The Philippines has been compared to an island of stability amidst the raging economic storm. That’s not just coming from me. Standard and Poor’s said it. Reasonably healthy, Fitch said it. Macroeconomic risks the lowest—Credit Suisse. Inherently strong, a potential beneficiary of the world’s financial woes—JP Morgan said,” the President said.
She added that the package of reforms has held the country in good stead” with an 8 percent growth in its gross national product (GNP) in 2007 and 6 percent in 2008, when almost a third of the world went into recession.
Add to that the government’s focus on reducing debt –to- GDP ratio and putting in place a program to cushion the impact of the global crisis on the poor, she said.
The President thanked existing investors “for being part of the country’s sustainable growth” as she told would-be investors that the Philippines remains “among the best (investment destinations) in the world.”
Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the conference was aimed at discussing the emerging issues and trends in Information and Communication Technology and the growing needs of corporations all over the world for solid IT skills and infrastructure.
E-Services is recognized as a high-profile meeting place in the Asia Pacific that attracts the brightest minds and the best players in the world of ICT and BPO.
Early this year, the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), the biggest organization of outsourcing providers in the Philippines, said it was expecting a "cautious" growth of 35 percent for 2009. By 2010, the organization said the outsourcing industry should earn about $12 billion to $13 billion.
RP - isa pa rin sa mahuhusay na destinasyon ng off-shoring
Ang Pilipinas pa rin ang isa sa pinakamahusay na destinasyon ng off-shoring investment sa daigdig sa ngayon. Ito ang ipinagmalaki ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sa kanyang naging pananalita sa ika-siyam na e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition sa SMX Convention Center.
Ang nasabing conference ay dinaluhan ng may dalawang libong participants mula sa iba-ibang panig ng daigdig.
Sinabi ng Pangulo na patuloy ang industriya ng BPO ng Pilipinas sa pag-unlad dahil sa cost competitiveness at kahusayan sa Ingles ng mga Pilipino. Idinugtong idinugtong pa niya na pinag-ibayo ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang imprastrakturang angkop para lalo pang mapalago ICT sa bansa.
Binanggit ng Pangulo na ang Pilipinas ay itinulad ng Standard and Poor’s sa island of stability sa gitna ng malakas na unos ng ekonomya at maging ang Credit Suisse ay nagsabing matatag ito at malamang pa, sabi ng JP Morgan na makinabang sa krisis ng mundo sa pananalapi.
Sa kasalukuyan ay umabot na sa 400,000 ang kawani ng sektor ng BPO ngayon mula sa 4,000 noong 2001.
Short-term Job programs para sa mga Nurses ilulunsad
Naglaan ang pamahalaang Arroyo ng Php.500-million upang pondohan ang programang magbibigay ng short-term jobs sa mga nakapasa sa kursong Nursing. Ito ang pahayag ng Pangulo sa kanyang pananalita sa Multi-Sectoral Jobs Summit na ginanap sa Malacañang.
Limang libong mga nurses ang inaasahang mabibigyan ng trabaho sa pamamagitan ng Nurses Assigned to Rural Areas, o NARS program, sa may isang libong pinakamahihirap na munisipalidad sa bansa. Ito ay bilang paghahanda na rin sa kanilang inaasahang trabaho sa ibang bansa.
Makakatanggap ang mga nurses ng Php. 8,000 buwanang allowance. Bukod dito, hinikayat din ng Pangulo ang League of Municipalities on the Philippines sa pangunguna ni Binalonan Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico na maglaan din ng dagdag na pondo, o counterpart funds na nagkakahalaga ng Php.2,000.
Ang programang ito ay isa sa mga ipinatutupad ng Pamahalaang Arroyo upang maibsan ang epekto sa Pilipinas ng nararanasang Global Financial Crisis.
Emergency Employment Program, isinusulong ng Pamahalaang Arroyo
Isinusulong ng Pamahalaang Arroyo ang Emergency Employment Program na naglalayong magbigay ng short-term jobs sa mga kabataang Pilipino.
Ito ay kaugnay ng proyekto ng pamahalaan na pinamagatang Youth Employment in Summer, at bahagi rin ng Php.330-billion Economic Resiliency Plan ng gobyerno.
Isa sa inaasahang proyekto sa ilalim ng nasabing programa ay ang paglikha ng mga ‘Green Collar Jobs’ kaakibat ng Php. 2 – billion reforestation program. Layunin ng Green Collar Jobs na bigyan ng short-term employment ang mga kabataang Pilipino para magtanim ng mga puno at halaman sa mga bakawan at mga kabundukan ng Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Sur at iba pang mga lugar.
Kasama rin sa proyektong ito ang pagtatanim ng Jatropha upang pagkunan ng bio fuel; ang pagtatanim ng mga punong niyog; ang paglilinis ng mga baybaying dagat para paangatin ang industriya ng turismo; LPG retrofitting ng mga public utility vehicles; at, ang pagkakabit ng mga solar panels para sa elektripikasyon ng mga barangay
Ang iba pang mga proyekto kaakibat ng programa ay ang mga sumusunod: Paglilinis ng mga baybaying dagat para mapaunlad ang turismo; Pagtatanim ng Jatropha at mga puno ng niyog; LPG retrofitting ng mga public utility vehicles; Pagkakabit ng mga solar panels at iba pang clean energy initiatives para sa elektripikasyon ng mga barangay.
U.S. extends $73-million grant to RP for energy, environment programs
The United States has approved a $73-million grant to the Philippines to support the country’s environment and energy programs over a six-year period.
The bilateral agreement on the US assistance was signed today in Malacanang by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ralph Recto for the Philippines, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Jon Lindborg for the US government.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney witnessed the signing of the “Affirmation of Commitment” between the two countries.
The NEDA and USAID will act as the principal organizations responsible for oversight of the agreement, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Finance (DOF) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) as the implementing agencies of the program.
Recto thanked the US government for its full support to “strengthen the government’s management of the natural resources down to the local level through ways and methods that are appropriate, effective and innovative.”
“Through this partnership, we shall be able to support the efforts of central and local government agencies to manage the resources in a sustainable manner, as well as support the development of clean and renewable energy sources, promote access to clean water and sanitation and help to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” Recto said.
Acknowledging that the results of decades of neglect and inefficiency of the country’s environment and energy sectors will not be easily resolved, Recto expressed optimism that through the new US-RP partnership “we can dare to achieve what the Principle of Seven Generations states, that the impact of our decision today will redound to the benefit of our children and their children’s children.”
Kenney, for her part, said “the American people are proud of their long history of support to the Filipino people in the areas of environment and energy.”
“With this new agreement, we usher in a new era of close collaboration between our two governments on these two timely and critical areas of mutual interest,” she said.
Under the new accord, USAID will support the Philippines’ efforts to conserve biodiversity and sustainably manage natural resources, promote clean and renewable energy, mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and improve access to water and sanitation services.
The US government is the largest donor to the Philippines environment and energy programs.
PGMA orders speedy implementation of P330-B economic stimulus package
Manila -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday directed the government agencies in charge to hasten the implementation of the infrastructure and social programs under the P30-Billion stimulus package to cushion the impact of the global financial crisis on the Filipino people, particularly the marginalized sector of the society.
In her speech during the multi-sectoral jobs summit held in Malacanang, President Arroyo stressed that the government would pursue its policy of massive investments in physical and human infrastructure to pump-prime the economy in 2009.
The agencies should start rolling out tangible results, President Arroyo said as she described the Economic Resiliency Plan as the "most important government initiative this year."
"Under this Economic Resiliency Plan which is our stimulus program, we will continue our unprecedented investments. I direct key agencies to show solid progress in bidding out and/or implementing major infra and social projects under the P300 billion stimulus package," the President said.
President Arroyo's directive to expedite the spending of the economic stimulus fund is intended to upgrade the country's infrastructure facilities and provide social safety nets in the midst of the global economic crisis.
A big portion of the P330-billion package will be spent on infrastructure projects in the first half of the year.
The economic stimulus package is intended to upgrade infrastructure and capital stock as well as expand social protection to ensure sustainable growth and attain the higher end of the growth targets for this year.
The components of the economic stimulus package involve huge spending government spending on infrastructure and social projects during the first semester.
The Chief Executive also said part of the resiliency plan is the putting of all budget-funded energy-independence and environment jobs under the Emergency Employment Program, in one box called "Green Collar Jobs."
"Among other items of the resiliency plan, we will put all budget-funded energy independence and environment jobs in one box called "Green Collar Jobs," the President said.
She said this includes those who will be hired under the P2- billion reforestation fund, "whether in the re-greening of logged-over uplands like the mountains of Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Sur or in the regeneration of mangrove areas."
Under the Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco-Tourism (GREET) program of the Department of tourism (DOT), the government will hire workers for coastal clean-up and bay watch projects, the President added.
Included in the program are jatropha planting and the replanting of coconut farms to ensure stable and sustainable biofuel feedstock; LPG retrofitting of tricycles and public utility vehicles (PUVs); barangay electrification using solar panels or connecting them to hydroelectric powered grids.
The President said that Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Resiliency (OYSTER) would be tapped to designate bicycle lanes, install solar-powered street lights, and other clean energy initiatives under the newly signed Renewable Energy Act.
She added that some 6,000 short-term jobs have been opened under the P650-million poverty mapping project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which will take off once the 2009 budget takes effect in about six weeks, just in time when school is out, as the project is a major component of the government's Youth Employment in Summer or Yes program.
The economic stimulus package is intended to upgrade infrastructure and capital stock as well as expand social protection to ensure sustainable growth and attain the higher end of the growth targets for this year.
The components of the economic stimulus package involve huge spending government spending on infrastructure and social projects during the first semester.
The Chief Executive also said part of the resiliency plan is the putting of all budget-funded energy-independence and environment jobs under the Emergency Employment Program, in one box called "Green Collar Jobs."
"Among other items of the resiliency plan, we will put all budget-funded energy independence and environment jobs in one box called "Green Collar Jobs," the President said.
She said this includes those who will be hired under the P2- billion reforestation fund, "whether in the re-greening of logged-over uplands like the mountains of Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Lanao del Sur or in the regeneration of mangrove areas."
Under the Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Eco-Tourism (GREET) program of the Department of tourism (DOT), the government will hire workers for coastal clean-up and bay watch projects, the President added.
Included in the program are jatropha planting and the replanting of coconut farms to ensure stable and sustainable biofuel feedstock; LPG retrofitting of tricycles and public utility vehicles (PUVs); barangay electrification using solar panels or connecting them to hydroelectric powered grids.
The President said that Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Resiliency (OYSTER) would be tapped to designate bicycle lanes, install solar-powered street lights, and other clean energy initiatives under the newly signed Renewable Energy Act.
She added that some 6,000 short-term jobs have been opened under the P650-million poverty mapping project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which will take off once the 2009 budget takes effect in about six weeks, just in time when school is out, as the project is a major component of the government's Youth Employment in Summer or Yes program.
The planned front-loading and spending for the first half of 2009 is expected to boost private sector confidence in the economy.
