PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, March 31, 2009

NEDA Board approves new loan to North Rail – South Rail Linkage project
 
Government is pouring more investments on railways. 

Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said the National Economic and Development Authority Board approved a Php 645 million supplemental loan to the North Rail – South Rail Linkage Project Phase 1. 

Phase 1, Bello explained, will involve the fencing of the entire road right of way and the reconstruction of the Paco station building and other shelters within the area.

“This project will provide an efficient transport service between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon that will definite reduce traffic congestion in the Metropolis and encourage urban development,” Bello said.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde added that loan will also cover rehabilitation of 34 kilometer-track section from Caloocan to Alabang and track renewal from Caloocan to España.  

Meanwhile, government agencies managing water services assured uninterrupted distribution through out the hot season.

In cabinet meeting at Bahay Pangarap, Bello said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo tasked the Local Water Utilities Administration and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerages System to ensure that there will be no water supply interruption not just this summer but also next year.


Karagdagang pondo para sa North Rail – South Rail Linkage project, inaprubahan ng NEDA Board
 
Tuloy-tuloy ang pamumuhunan ng pamahalaans sa railway. 

Iniulat ni Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III na inaprubahan ng National Economic and Development Authority Board ang Php 645 million supplemental loan para sa North Rail – South Rail Linkage Project Phase 1. 

Kasama sa Phase 1 ang pagbabakod ng buong road right of way at ang pagsasa-ayos sa gusali ng Paco station at iba pang mga silungan malapit sa lugar.

Ayon kay Bello, hangarin ng proyekto ng magkaroon ng episyenteng transport service sa pagitan ng Metro Manila at ng Central-Northern Luzon para mabawasan ang bigat ng trapiko at makatulong sa pag-usbong ng kaunlaran.

Idinagdag pa ni Press Secretary Cerge Remonde na kasama sa paggagamitan ng loan ang rehabiltasyon ng 34 kilometrong track section mula Caloocan hanggang Alabang at ang track mula Caloocan hanggang España.  

Samantala, tiniyak ng pamahalaan na tuluy-tuloy din ang serbisyo ng tubig sa buong panahon ng tag-init.

Sa naganap na pulong ng gabinete sa Bahay Pangarap, sinabi ni Bello na inatasan ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang Local Water Utilities Administration at ang Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerages System para siguruhin na walang water supply interruption hindi lang ngayong bakasyon kundi hanggang sa susunod na taon.

NEDA approves Asean-Korea Free Trade Agreement

Manila, March 31 (PNA) - Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced today that the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has approved the Asean-Korea Free Trade Agreement. 

The agreement provides tariff elimination on 90 percent of lines in the normal track by January 1, 2009, Remonde said. 

An executive order implementing the tariff reduction schedule from 2009 to 2012 on 7,867 lines covered under the normal track of the Asean-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) will be issued shortly, Remonde said.

Sulu under state of emergency

Sulu is under state of emergency. 

Governor Abdul Sakur Tan ordered the Philippine National Police to impose measures to ensure the safety of citizens and the capture of Abu Sayyaf bandits.

The order also tasked the Armed Forces of the Philippines and civilian emergency force to assist the police in setting up check and choke points, in implementing curfew and in the search and seizure of the Red Cross workers’ kidnappers and their supporters.

Tan gave the order after the Abu Sayyaf deadline expired this afternoon.

The bandit group threatened to behead one of the Red Cross hostages if government fails to comply with its demand to pull out all government forces throughout Sulu. 

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno called the latest Abu Sayyaf demand is physically impossible to implement. 

As of this writing, there are no words on the situations of Mary Jean Lacaba, Andreas Notter and Eugenio Vagni.

But in an early evening TV interview, Tan said they received reports that hostages remained untouched since the expiration of the Abu deadline. 

Tan stressed ransom will not be paid in exchange for the hostages. 

To escape embarrassment, Tan said, the best thing for Abu Sayyaf bandits to do is to release the hostage so their sins against God and public will be reduced.  

In Malacanang, Presidential Management Staff Chief Hermogenes Esperon agreed with the decision made by the local government of Sulu. 

Esperon, who’s a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces, said government troops know what to do and they should not be stopped from conducting their operations against the bandits.


Sulu, isinailalim sa state of emergency

Umiiral ngayon ang state of emergency sa buong lalawigan ng Sulu.

Ipinag-utos ni Governor Abdul Sakur Tan sa Philippine National Police na magpatupad ng hakbang para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan at mapigilan ang pagtakas ng mga bandidong Abu Sayyaf.

Kasama sa mga inatasan ang Armed Forces of the Philippines at ang civilian emergency force para alalayan ang pulisya sa paglalagay ng check points at choke points, pagpapatupad ng curfew at sa paggsasagawa ng search and seizure laban sa mga kidnapper ng mga Red Cross worker.

Inilabas ni Tan ang kautusan matapos lumipas ang palugit na ibinigay ng Abu Sayyaf sa pamahalaan. 

Matatandaang nagbanta ang mga bandido na mamumugot ng bihag kapag hindi sumunod ang pamahalaan sa kagustuhan nitong mapaalis ang buong puwersa ng gobyerno sa buong Sulu. 

Walang pang balita kung anong kinasapitan ng mga bihag na sina Mary Jean Lacaba, Andreas Notter at Eugenio Vagni habang isinusulat ang balitang ito.

Pero sa isang TV interview nitong Martes ng gabi, sinabi ni Tan nakatanggap sila ng report na hindi pa ginagalaw ng mga bandido ang kanilang mga bihag magmula pa lumipas ang deadline ng Abu. 

Iginiit ni Tan na hinding-hindi magbabayad ng ransom ang pamahalaan. 

Para hindi na mapahiya at mabawasan pa ang kanilang kasalanan sa Diyos at sa bayan, pinayuhan ng gobernador ang Abu Sayyaf na palayain na ang mga Red Cross worker.  

Sa Malakanyang, sinang-ayunan ni Presidential Management Staff Chief Hermogenes Esperon ang desisyon ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Sulu. 

Sinab ni Esperon, isang dating chief of staff ng Sandatahang Lakas, na alam ng mga tropa ng pamahalaan kung ano ang kanilang gagawin sa mga sitwasyon gaya nang nangyayari sa Sulu kasabay ng pagsasabing hindi sila dapat mapigilan sa paglulunsad ng aksyon laban sa bandidong Abu Sayyaf.


Government never let its guard down vs kidnappers 

Law enforcers are doing everything to protect citizens from kidnapping 

In a recent TV interview, Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) Director Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said there are only two groups that continue to operate in the country.  
  
Contrary to claims of anti-crime groups, Espina said recent kidnappings are not motivated by the upcoming national elections based on the behavior shown by remaining kidnap for ransom groups. 

In some cases, Espina added, household helpers were involved.


Pamahalaan, tuloy-tuloy ang kampanya kontra kidnapping

Ginagawa ng awtoridad ang lahat ng paraan para maprotektahan ang mga mamamayan laban sa kidnapping.

Sa isang panayam sa telebisyon kamakailan, sinabi ni Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) Director Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina na dadalawa na lamang ang grupong nagsasagawa ng kidnapping sa bansa.

Taliwas sa mga pahayag ng ilang anti-crime group, sinabi ni Espina na walang kinalaman ang halalan sa susunod na taon sa kidnapping batay sa kanilang obserbasyon sa mga natitirang kidnap for ransom group.

Inamin ni Espina na may ilang mga kaso kung saan sangkot pati ang mga kasambahay.

 
Palace supports CHR’s inquiry into “unexplained killings” in Davao 

Malacanang stands foursquare behind the inquiry by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) into the alleged “unexplained killings” in Davao which victims now reportedly number 815.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, in her press briefing Monday afternoon said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has directed the Philippine National Police and the military to give CHR their full support to its investigation on the matter.

CHR investigators are now in Davao City for the inquiry and have already met with Davao City officials led by City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte, who has made known he has no patience with criminals, however, denied having anything to do with the alleged unexplained killings.

In a television report, CHR chairwoman Lilia de Lima said the unexplained killings, majority of the victims of whom were minors, “is unacceptable.”

Fajardo said the CHR investigation, aside from determining the correct number of cases and pinpointing criminal responsibility for the killings, should also give justice to the victims and their families.


BPOs to bring in more jobs in Mid-2009

The business process outsourcing sector continues to be the leading source of local employment. 

Based on the estimates of the Department of Labor and Employment, the industry can generate as high as 120,000 jobs within the year.

Convergys, for instance, will have three more branches located in Ayala Land TechnoHub in Quezon, Nuvali Technohub, in Laguna and Cebu Asiatown in Cebu. 

The new branches are expected to create 7,000 jobs openings. 

With the additional facilities, Convergys has 12 contact centers nationwide with employees numbering to 16,000. 

Reports say the company will add two more contact centers this year.


BPO, magbubukas ng karagdagang trabaho ngayong taon

Nagpapatuloy pa rin sa pagbubukas ng mga oportunidad sa trabaho ang sektor ng business processing outsourcing. 

Sa pagtaya ng Department of Labor and Employment, maaring umabot ng 12,000 trabaho ang maaring malikha ng industriya sa kalagitnaan ng 2009.

Ang Convergys, halimbawa, ay magkakaroon ng tatlong bagong sangay sa Ayala Land TechnoHub sa Quezon City, sa Nuvali TechnoHub sa Laguna at sa Cebu Asia Town sa Cebu. 

Ang mga bagong sangay ay inaasahang magdudulot ng 7,000 bagong trabaho.

Sa pagkakaroon ng karagdagang pasilidad, umakyat na sa 12 ang contact center ng Convergys sa buong bansa.

Tinatayang aabot sa 16,000 na ang empleyado ng Convergys.

Naiulat na magbubukas pa ng dalawang contact center ang kumpanya sa mga darating na buwan.


Incidence of retrenchments and job displacements is going down 

The Department of Labor and Employment is seeing a downward trend in job displacements and retrenchments.

DOLE said there are no new reports of job losses overseas and some sectors such as mining are starting to show some signs of recovery.

Reports reaching the labor department said there are seven mining firms that are expected to operate this year. 

The global recession, that has started last year, has affected more than 100,000 Filipino workers and some industries such as electronics and garment.

Tanggalan sa trabaho at displacement ng mga manggagawa, bumabagal na

May nakikitang pagbagal sa re-trenchment at job displacement ang Department of Labor and Employment. 

Ayon sa DOLE, walang mga bagong ulat ng kawalan ng trabaho sa ibayong dagat at ilan sa mga sektor na nalugmok dahil sa global recession ay unti-unting nakakabangon na.

Batay sa ulat na nakarating sa DOLE, na may pitong bagong mining company na inaasahang magbubukas ng operasyon ngayong taon. 

Mahigit sa isang daang libong manggagawang Pinoy at ilang mga industriya tulad ng electronics at garment ang naapektuhan ng global recession na nag-umpisa noong nakarang taon.

New overseas deployments to boost remittances 

Government is expecting to feel the impact of new deployments last January abroad in the coming months. 

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the 26 percent increase in overseas job deployments in January could be reflected in March. 

Remittance has gone down during the opening of the year due to job losses brought about by the global recession. 

Based on a BSP projection this year, remittances this year may reach US$16 Billion similar to the amount of remittance registered in 2008.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment is arranging a meeting with prospective employers next month in the Middle East.

DOLE is on a campaign to convince Middle Eastern employers to hire Filipino workers. 

The Middle East is seen as a region least affected by the global recession.


Mga bagong deployment noong Enero, palalakasin ang remittances

Inaasahan ng pamahalaan na mararamdam ang epekto ng mga bagong overseas deployment sa mga darating na buwan. 

Ayon sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), ang 26 porsiyento na pagtaas sa bilang ng overseas deployment noong Eneoro ay maaring makita sa mga reports na matatanggap nila nitong Marso.

Bumaba ang bilang ng remittances sa pagbubukas ng taon bunga ng pagkawala ng mga trabaho ng mga Pinoy sa ibayong dagat dala ng global recession. 

Sa pagtaya ng BSP, maaring pumantay sa US$16-billion halaga ng remittances na nairehistro noong nakaraang taon ang kabuuong halaga ng remittances ngayong 2009.

Samantala, nakikipag-usap ang Department of Labor and Employment sa ilang mga prospective employer para sa isang pulong sa Gitnang Silangan sa susunod na buwan. 

Nangagampanya ngayon ang DOLE sa Gitnang Silangan para kumbinsihin ang mga employers doon na kumuha ng mga manggagawang Pilipino. 

Ang Gitnang Silangan ang isa sa mga rehiyon na hindi masyadong apektado ng global recession.


Policy objective: To make overseas employment a career option and not a matter of necessity 

It remains a policy objective of government to build a strong domestic economy so that working overseas will just be a career option for Filipinos and not a matter of necessity.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has repeatedly stated this policy objective which explains why she is working very hard to create more jobs and employment opportunities even before the onset of the prevailing global economic crisis.

Fajardo stressed this point in her press briefing Monday afternoon partly in answer to questions on how the government is dealing with the insulting comments by writer Chip Tsao who called the Philippines a “nation of servants” in his column item in the recent issue of the HK Magazine.

This policy goal, the palace official said deserves to be recognized and appreciated so that later Filipinos don’t need to be domestic helpers anymore in another country,

Fajardo emphasized, however, that service, even domestic service is a noble task and if Tsao says service is a Filipino trait, “then we are proud to claim such because to serve even in the humblest capacity, I think, is a noble task. And we are proud of our Filipino workers . . .”

Fajardo said the government does not want to dignify Tsao by giving importance to his racist statements but said Filipinos in general, including herself, feel insulted by his comments for which he should apologize.

Many Filipinos, including Chinese Filipinos, have taken issue with, and are strongly demanding a public apology from Tsao who is now under pressure to do so after his HK Magazine editors made their own apology.


DOE to audit financial statements of oil firms

The Department of Energy (DOE) will be looking into the financial statements of oil companies. 

DOE explained that subjecting the 2008 books of oil companies to a new round of audit is part of the agreements made between the oil firms and government in a recent meeting to find out if the bases for price adjustments were reasonable. 

Consumer groups were present during the meeting initiated by DOE.

The oil firms are expected to submit the documents by next month. 

Information on importation such as prices and dates are expected to be included in the reports that will be submitted to DOE. 

Reputable auditing firms will be tasked by DOE to review the oil companies’ financial statements.


Kita ng mga kumpanya ng langis, sisiyasatin ng DOE

Sisilipin ng Department of Energy ang mga financial statements ng mga kumpanya ng langis. 

Bahagi ito ng mga napagkasunduan ng mga kumpanya ng langis at ng pamahalaan sa isang pulong kamakailan para mabatid kung makatwiran ang mga naganap na price adjustment sa mga produktong petrolyo.

Kasama sa mga dumalo sa pulo ang mga samahan ng mga consumer. 

Inaasahan na maisusumite ng mga kumpanya ng langis ang mga kinakailangang dokumento sa susunod na buwan.

Kabilang sa mga ibibigay na impormasyon ng mga kumpanya ng langis ay ang mga detalye ng importasyon tulad ng petsa at volume. 

Kukunin ng DOE ang serbisyo ng mga kilalang auditing firm para pag-aralan ang mga libro ng mga kumpanya ng langis.

Crude oil tumbles below 49 USD on stocks, dollar 

New York, March 31 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Crude futures tumbled below 49 U. S. dollars a barrel on Monday as plunging stocks market and strengthening dollar let off the steam of oil's rally last week. 

Light, sweet crude for May delivery fell 3.97 dollars, or more than 7.6 percent, to settle at 48.41 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures dropped to as low as 48.11 dollars earlier in the session. 

Despite a build up in the stockpiles, crude oil staged a strong rally earlier this month supported by a recovery in U.S. stocks indicators. But Wall Street lost ground on Monday after the White House rejected the turnaround plans from General Motors Corp. and Chrysler. 

Meanwhile, the dollar strengthened against the euro for a third day as investors speculated that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates to the lowest since the euro's introduction in 1999. A strong dollar usually limits investors' appeal for commodities like crude as hedge against inflation. 

In London, Brent crude fell 3.19 dollars to settle at 47.99 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange. 

RP Consulate to keep an eye on Chip Tsao

Philippine Consulate in Hongkong is keeping an eye on columnist Chip Tsao who labeled the Philippines as a Nation of Servants. 

The consulate will place the columnist in its watch-list for his ‘abusive tendencies’ in case he engages Filipinos for household jobs. 
 
Philippine Labor Attache Romulo Carlos Salud said Tsao has no Filipino household helper contrary to what he said in his satiric essay last March 27 where he lambasted the Philippines for claiming Spratley Island. 

Instead, Salud said it was Tsao’s father who employs a Filipina named Luisa for more than a decade.

Despite the apology issued by his magazine, Salud said organizations of Filipino workers will be mounting protest rallies to condemn Tsao this weekend.  


Konsolado ng Pilipinas sa Hongkong, babantayan si Chip Tsao 

Mamatyagan ng Philippine Consulate sa Hongkong ang kulumnista na si Chip Tsao.

Si Tsao ang bumanat sa Pilipinas bilang isang bayan ng mga alila sa isang magasin sa Hongkong.

Ilalagay ng konsulado sa watchlist si Tsao dahil sa umano’y mga abusive tendencies nito lalo na kung kukuha ng mga Pilipino bilang manggagawa sa kanyang tahahan.

Ayon pa kay Philippine Labor Attache Romulo Carlos Salud, walang domestic helper na Pinay si Tsao taliwas sa kanyang ipinagyabang sa kanyang artikulo noong ika-27 ng Marso.

Sa nasabing artikulo, inupakan ni Tsao ang Pilipinas sa pag-angkin sa Spratly Island. 

Ang tutuo, ang tatay pala ni Tsao ang may domestic helper na nagngangalang Luisa.

Naiulat na si Luisa ay 14 na taon nang naglilingkod sa tatay ni Tsao.

Kahit humingi na ng kapatawaran ang magasin ni Tsao, sinabi ni Salud na magsasagawa pa rin ng demonstrasyon laban sa kulumnista ang ilang samahan ng mga Pilipino sa Hongkong darating na Linggo.

PIA Dispatch - Monday, March 30, 2009

Bilateral relations between RP and PNG reflects commitment to development

Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and visiting Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said existing bilateral relations between the Philippines and Papua New Guinea reflect the commitment of the two nations to pursue joint efforts towards sustainable development beneficial to both countries and their peoples.

Both leaders read statements on these bilateral ties during the state dinner tendered by President Arroyo at Shangri-la’s Boracay Resorts and Spa here. It will be remembered that President Arroyo also visited the island’s first international deluxe resort last March 3 to launch a campaign towards boosting the country’s tourism industry.

Somare and his party arrived in this world-famous “paradise island” March 29 to have a dialogue with President Arroyo on mutual areas of concern and signed today (March 30) a memorandum of agreement on fisheries. 

The head of one of the world’s most pristine countries landed aboard a chartered plant at the Caticlan airport in Malay, Aklan where he trooped the line.

On hand to welcome Somare were Congressman Florencio Miraflores of the Lone District of Aklan, Gov. Carlito Marquez, Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, AFP Chief of Staff, General Alexander Yano and other local officials.

Arroyo said the mutual ties binding the Philippines and Papua New Guinea and the pursuit of joint efforts towards development can be part of the solution to the current global economic slowdown.

Aside from the agreement on fisheries development, the two countries have been working together in other areas within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Forum, South-West Dialogue, and so-called coral triangle that also involve Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor and Solomon Islands.

Somare said he places high importance on the bilateral relations between his country and the Philippines as these have led to a fruitful exchange on mutual interests and concerns.

These are relations that have grown from strength to strength and enhanced friendship, he added.

Citing existing Filipino investments in his country especially in the fisheries sector, he said he welcomes more investments from the Philippine businessmen particularly in agriculture, forestry, petroleum and infrastructure.

This is Somare’s 3rd visit to the Philippines, the last of which was in 1996. 


PGMA fetes Papua New Guinea Prime Minister 

Boracay Island, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hosted a state dinner for visiting Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare at the beach front of the sprawling Shangri-La Resort Boracay here last night.

In offering a toast in honor of the PNG leader, the President extolled Somare as a “valuable friend of the Philippines and a good brother of ours in the Pacific.”

Somare, who is accompanied by Lady Veronica Somare, is Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving prime minister and the Commonwealth’s longest-serving politician with 40 years of service.

The President also lauded Somare for his “unwavering support” to the Philippines’ “initiatives and aspirations” in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.

“Sir Michael, my seatmate in the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)…is a valuable friend of the Philippines and a good brother of ours in the Pacific,” the President said.

“We invited His Excellency, even if he has been here before, to express our gratitude for Papua New Guinea’s unwavering support to our initiatives and our aspirations in the United Nations.

Papua New Guinea has not only been consistent and constant, often it has influenced the other Pacific Islands to support us,” she added.

Philippine-Papua New Guinea established official diplomatic ties in 1976, but the President pointed out that the friendly relations between the two countries go way back to the late 1800s when 14 Filipino lay missionaries accompanied European priests to PNG to teach catechism.

“These missionaries started a wave of cultural, intellectual and technical exchanges between our peoples that, 120 or so years later, still continues to this day,” she said.

She pointed out that Filipino firms in Papua New Guinea, such as the Kenmore Group of Lucio Tan, RD Tuna Canning company of Rodrigo Rivera and the Frabelle Fishing Corporation of Francisco Tiu Laurel, are testaments to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The President said the Philippines and Papua New Guinea are set to sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation tomorrow (Monday) that will concretize the two country’s “commitment to sustainable development” of the fishing industry.

“This commitment to sustainable development is made doubly significant, by Papua New Guinea’s being a partner of the Philippines and four other countries in the Coral Triangle Initiative, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor and Solomon Islands,” the President said.

The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), which is centered around high-level political commitments and proactive implementation by governments of the Coral Triangle area, and supported and carried forward by private sector, international agency and civil society (NGO) partners, provides a major contribution toward safeguarding the region’s marine and coastal biological resources for the sustainable growth and prosperity of current and future generations.

President Arroyo also mentioned the Pacific Islands Forum and the Southwest Dialogue of which PNG is a “leading member” and thus can be “part of the solution to current global slowdown.”

It (Pacific Island Forum) should be part of a larger Pan-Asia body in Asia that should include East, South and Central Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Oceania to which Papua New Guinea belongs,” she said.

The Pacific Islands Forum, formerly the South Pacific Forum until a name change in October 2000, was founded in Aug. 1971. It is composed of 16 independent and self-governing states in the Pacific.

The Forum is the region’s premier political and economic policy organization. Forum leaders meet annually to develop collective responses to regional issues.

The President pointed out that “if we had this, Asia would be stronger with a more united region.”

“This large Asian community can strengthen our economy, security and prosperity. It can help us maximize growth, trade, investment, financial stability and regional confidence which is best suited to weather the global crisis and come up the strongest, compared to other regions,” the President said.

RP and Papua New Guinea sign joint venture agreement for fisheries cooperation 

Boracay Island, Aklan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare witnessed today the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries that manifests their strong desires to enhance and expand their existing friendly and cooperative relations. 

The document was signed by Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and National Fisheries Authority of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea Minister Ben Semri right after the bilateral meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and Somare at the Sagana 3 function room of Shangri-la Resort and Spa, here. 

“It is born of a shared desire to maximize mutual benefits from the implementation of joint undertakings in commerce, trade, investment, research and technical cooperation in the field of fisheries,” the document stated. 

Under the MOU, both parties committed themselves to secure a productive and sustainable future for their respective fishing industries through joint exploration, development and implementation of priority developmental undertakings. 

In essence, the document reflects the consensus of both governments to give emphasis to projects and activities that facilitate: 

1) Technology transfer, especially in the area of aquaculture development; 
2) Promotion of fishing ventures; 
3) Infusion of investments; 
4) Technical training; 
5) Joint research; and 
6) Strategic complementation of each country’s plans and programs in response to the challenges and opportunities presented by the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI). 

Earlier, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that the MOU is one of the top agenda in the bilateral talks between the President Arroyo and Sir Somare. 

Both the Philippines and Papua New Guinea are members of the so-called Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) countries and during the bilateral talks they discussed the joint venture for fisheries cooperation. 

According to CTI reports, the Philippines which is at the center of the Coral Triangle has richest concentration of marine life. The CTI is spearheaded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The coral triangle spans 6.5 million square kilometers and also covers Indonesia, East Timor, Malaysia, and the Solomon Islands. 

Reports also said the Coral Triangle which can sustain the lives of nearly 130 million people keeps key spawning and nursery grounds for tuna and other fish harvested for food. 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister cites strong RP-PNG relations 

Boracay Island, Aklan – Visiting Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said today his four-day official visit to the Philippines is a “clear testament of the high importance the PNG government attaches to our bilateral relations” that has been steadily growing stronger over the last 33 years.

“My decision to accept your kind invitation to visit the Republic of the Philippines is a clear testament of the high importance my government attaches to our bilateral relations,” Somare said, addressing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the state dinner she hosted in his honor thre visiting PNG leader at the Shangri-la Resort here last night.

Formally established in 1976, diplomatic relations between the Philippines and PNG have grown “from strength to strength over the last 33 years.”

“The value of our partnership in pursuit of common aspirations has not only paved the way forward for increased cooperation in economic, trade and investment relations but has also enhanced and consolidated our countries’ friendship as robust development partners,” Somare said.

Somare proudly pointed out that the two-way trade between the two countries, which centers mainly on fishing, has soared to K(ina)1-billion (about P1.6-billion) per annum.

“My country attaches great importance and highly values her current trade relations with the Republic of the Philippines,” Somare said. 

“Your country is our 6th major trading partner with total trade volume of just over K1-billion per annum,” he added.

He pointed out that four Filipino firms -- RD Group of Companies, Frabelle, Mar and Kenmore investments -- have greatly contributed to the growing economy of Papua New Guinea.

“They have created employment opportunities and spin-off benefits for Papua New Guinea’s economy,” Somare said.

He added that the government and the people of PNG “welcome new investors from the Philippines to important and key economic sectors in Papua New Guinea such as agriculture, forestry, petroleum, infrastructure, manufacturing and high-tech industries.”

He extolled the Philippines’ “aptitude and expertise in these areas” to complement PNG’s efforts in developing these sectors through “the medium-term development strategy.”

He added that “Papua New Guinea admires the Philippines’ achievements and progress in your human resource development and successes in agriculture, manufacturing, electronic and high-tech industries.”

“Papua New Guinea aspires to learn from your country’s experience as we move forward with our own development efforts in line with my government’s export driven policy which focuses on downstream processing and promoting exports,” Somare said.

“The main thrust of this policy is to consolidate and diversify Papua New Guinea’s relations with our close neighbors from the Asian region, including the Philippines as our primary focus and source of trade, investment and development cooperation,” he added.

RP eyes P182M surplus in Q4 ‘09

Manila, March 30 (PNA) -– The stimulus package of the government is eyed to help it achieve a P182 million surplus in the last quarter of 2009. 

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, in a briefing Monday, said they eye a budget surplus in the fourth quarter this year as they plan to frontload spending in the first half of the year. 

He said that of the P177.2 billion program deficit this year, P110 billion is eyed for the first quarter, P33.7 billion in the second quarter and P33.5 billion in the third quarter. 

In the first two months of the year, the government incurred a budget deficit of P67 billion, more than double than year-ago’s P32.9 billion because of higher spending and weaker revenue collection. 

“Hopefully things will be better in the second half,” he said. 

The Philippine government is firm on implementing its P330 billion fiscal stimulus package in the first half of the year to ensure growth of the economy amid the global economic and financial stress. 

Teves said they expect the external factors to bring positive developments to the domestic economy as governments around the globe implement their respective fiscal stimulus program to lift their economies. 

Action plans of government tax collection agencies, namely Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) are also eyed to augment government coffers, he said. 

Revenues from privatization of government assets are not expected in the first quarter, he said. 

The Finance chief said sale of big ticket items like the government shares in Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC) and the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) will not be done until the first half of the year. 

Relatively, Finance Undersecretary Crisanta Legazpi, during the same briefing, said they expect privatization proceeds in the second half to be small as only small real estate assets of the government in Makati are scheduled to be sold in the last six months of the year. 

DOLE sees 1.2 million new jobs

Manila, March 30 (PNA) -- The government estimates at least 1.2 million new employment opportunities will be available both in the local and foreign markets which could be availed by workers who lost jobs due to the global financial crisis and unemployed persons. 

Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz told an Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines-San Miguel Corp. seminar held in Clark Field, Pampanga that apart from the business process outsourcing (BPO), the mining and construction and real estate are the country’s another job generator sectors. 

Citing the BPO players’ projection, Baldoz said around 100,000 to 120,000 new employment will be created due to a reported demand among the industry’s clients. 

“Voice positions for call center agents remain to be the bulk of job vacancies but non-voice services such back-office processing in accounting and finance, engineering and software development, animation and graphics and medical transcription will continue to increase in demand,” she said. 

Baldoz said the sluggish performance of mining and construction sectors will bounce back, and employment in these sectors will remain stable in the next five years. 

She pointed out that the $ 17 billion new investments to be poured in the country by seven mining firms until 2013 would create new jobs for engineers, mining laborers and other related workers. 

“The increasing demand for housing will also make the real estate sector as another employment generator and with the anticipated need for more BPO facilities, the sector is expected as well,” she added. 

Aside from these buoyant industries, Baldoz said crisis-hit companies have also indicated plans to re-hire their workers as they receive new orders. 

“There are reports that some companies affected by the crisis and had to lay off workers are slowly recovering as new orders have started to come in,” she said. “Some ecozone locators have indicated that they may start recalling their workers as some of them are approaching some level of normalcy.” 

Baldoz said these firms include those operating in Calamba, Laguna and Mactan ecozones, among others. 

The labor official further said the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) projects could create 824,555 jobs, while the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) project will hire 10,000 nurses. 

Likewise, government agencies will absorb 180,000 workers in compliance with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order to set aside 1.5 percent of operating budget to hire employees, with priority given to displaced workers, the poor, the hungry and the out-of-school youths, she added. 

On the foreign job market, Baldoz noted that the demand for Filipino manpower still continues especially in the Middle East countries. 

She said the Philippine Labor Offices in the Middle East has monitored 106,000 new jobs in the region for first quarter of 2009, on top of the valid orders registered at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. 

Demand remains high for medical jobs, construction engineers, welders, pipefitters, maintenance employment in these countries, she noted.

We will not yield Jolo", Remonde says in interview.

With the Abu Sayyaf deadline for the government to yield to its demand for a complete military pullout from Jolo, Sulu just hours away, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said, :we will not yield Jolo to them.”

The bandit group holding three members of the International Red Cross (IRCC) have threatened to behead one of the three hostages unless the military pulls out completely from Jolo.

In a radio interview, Remonde appealed for calm and sobriety and asked the people to pray even harder so that the captors of the ICRC volunteers would listen to reason.

He also asked the people to leave the kidnap issue in the hands of the Local Crisis Management Committee (LCMC), “who know the situation on the ground, and with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

“Ang pamahalaan ay gagawin ang makakaya niya para sana ma-save itong ating mga hostages. Pero may limitasyon po diyan sana naman ay talagang panalangin na lang muna ang manalig sa ASG at sa ating lahat,” Remonde said.

He recalled that the Red Cross volunteers were offered escorts, after being warned against pursuing their planned trip to Jolo by the Armed Forces. “But that is water under the bridge now. Next time, the government will take extra caution” on people going to Sulu and other sensitive areas in the future to prevent a repeat of such kidnappings.

It was reported that Secretary Teodoro warned that future visitors to Sulu, Jolo and other critical areas will be made to sign a waiver so that government will not held responsible for their capture.

OPAPP Sec. Avelino "Sonny" Razon Jr. cites Japanese development projects 

Manila, March 30 (PNA) -- Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino I. Razon Jr. today thanked Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura for the continuing support of the Japanese government for development projects in Mindanao. 

Razon was at the grant contract signing of nine projects extended by the government of Japan for the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) in conflict-areas in Mindanao. 

Katsura represented his country at the signing ceremony at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Ortigas Center, Pasig City this morning. 

The grant contracts amounted to US $ 660,000 (P 31 million) for the construction of five school buildings, a potable water supply system, an education center, upgrade of a rural health unit, and irrigation system in conflict-areas in Central Mindanao. 

During the press conference, Razon thanked “Japan’s full support to the peace process,” which he said “has emboldened us all the more to call to the MILF leaders to return to the conference table at the soonest possible time to re-start the peace talks rolling.” 

“We will never give up on peace,” Razon said. 

“I know there will be obstacles along the way, but I am confident that we can resolve our differences,” he added. 

Knowing how the raging conflict in southern Philippines has affected the country, Razon said: “Let us bury our animosity for the sake of our children and our children’s children by working hand in hand towards a lasting and genuine peace in Mindanao.” 

He said that the call of Japan for both the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the MILF panels to resume the peace talks is most welcome.” 

“The GRP is ready (to resume the peace negotiations),” Razon said. 

“Let not history judge that we squandered the opportunity to achieve peace in Southern Philippines,” Razon said, adding that “Japan’s commitment supporting peace and development in Mindanao is a strong indication that Japan is ready to extend its helping hand for the reconstruction ...ravaged by war.” 

Peace talks with the MILF bogged down in August last year following the aborted signing of the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which the Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional. 

The renewed fighting in some areas in Central Mindanao has displaced over 300,000 people. 
Razon also thanked Japan for extending its helping hand to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) since August last year. 

Japan has extended emergency food aid amounting to 860 million yen or about US $ 9.2 million for the purchase of 7,500 metric tons of rice to the IDPs through the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP). 

In addition to this, Japan also donated thousands of sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, water containers and plastic sheets for tents. 

For his part, Katsura said that since J-BIRD was launched in December 2006, Japan has funded 23 grassroots projects totaling US $ 1.3 million or some P62 million as part of Japan’s “commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao.” 

Katusa said that Japan hopes that “these projects will help mitigate the current humanitarian crisis in Mindanao and I strongly look forward to a ceasefire and immediate resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.” 

Among the officials present at the signing were Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis who is also the chairman of the GRP panel that will negotiate with the MILF and Dr. Danda Juanday, chair of the Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA).

VACC hailed developments in campaign vs crime and corruption.

The national campaign against crime and corruption is gaining ground.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) said recent developments in high profiled cases such as the Baron Cervantes and the Dacer-Corbito Double Murder Cases restored public confidence in the criminal justice system. 
  
VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez said the conviction of former Police Superintendent Rafael Cardeno is a strong message that crime does not pay and elusive culprits will soon be caught by the long arm of justice.  

Cardeno was convicted to life sentence for masterminding the killing of Baron Cervantes in 2001.

Cervantes was the spokesperson for the Young Officers Union. 

Jimenez said VACC will also launch “Justice for Dacer –Corbito Movement” to help expedite the resolution of the twin killing of Publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

VACC hailed the filing of charges against Senator Panfilo Lacson who was allegedly involved in the Dacer-Corbito case.


Pag-usad ng mga malalaking kasong krimen, ikinatuwa ng VACC

Nagpahayag ng kasiyahan ang miyembro ng Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) hinggil sa mga pangyayari sa mga high profiled case.

Ayon kay VACC Founding Chair Dante Jimenez, ang pagpaparusa kay dating Police Superintendent Rafael Cardeno kaugnay sa Cervantes case ay isang malakas na mensahe na walang sinuman mangingibabaw sa batas.

Hinatulan ng habambuhay ng pagkabilanggo si Cardeno matapos mapatunayang naging utak sa pagpatay kay Cervantes noong 2001.

Si Cervantes ay dating tagapagsalita ng Young Officer’s Union.  

Samantala, ikinatuwa rin ng VACC ang mga huling pangyayari sa Dacer-Corbito Double Murder case.

Matatandaang sinampahan ng kaso ng pamilyang Dacer si Senador Panfilo Lacson na di umano’y sangkot sa pagkakapaslang kina publicist Salvador Dacer at Emmanuel Corbito. 

Kaugnay nito, ilulunsad ng VACC ang Justice for Dacer-Corbito Movement para makatulong sa agarang pagresolba sa kaso.


Malacanang remains hopeful for peaceful ending to Sulu hostage situation

Palace continues to hope that the local crisis committee will peacefully secure the release of Red Cross workers held hostaged in Sulu.

Although government has bent over backwards to the demands of Abu leader Albader Parad, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde stressed that it will not allow itself to be bullied by bandit group’s latest demands. 

Earlier, government pulled-out the Marines, police and civilian volunteers from their positions in Indanan town in exchange for the release of the one of the hostages.

However, Abu Sayyaf didn’t keep its end of the bargain and instead asked for the complete withdrawal of government forces in all Sulu towns.

Reports said Parad moved the deadline from 5 am to 2 pm tomorrow to allow government to carry out his demand.

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the newest demand is physically impossible and tantamount to abandoning the province in the hands of the bandits.


Malakanyang, umaasang mareresolba pa rin sa mapayapang paraan ang Sulu Hostage situation

Malakas ang paniniwala ng pamahalaan na mapapalaya ng local crisis committee ang mga Red Cross worker na binihag ng Abu Sayyaf sa Sulu.

Bagamat, naparaya ang pamahalaan sa kagustuhan ng mga bandido, binigyang diin ni Press Secretary Cerge Remonde na hindi papayagan ng pamahalaan na ma-hostage ang sarili sa mga kapritsuhan ng Abu Sayyaf.

Matatandaan umatras sa kanilang mga posisyon sa bayan ng Indanan ang militar, pulis at mga civilian volunteer kapalit ng pagpapalaya ng mga bandido sa isa sa kanilang mga bihag.

Subalit, hindi tumupad sa usapan ang Abu Sayyaf at sa halip ay nagbaba pa ito ng panibagong demand.

Gusto ni Albader Parad na umatras ang buong puwersa ng pamahalaan sa buong lalawigan ng Sulu.

Iniatras din ni Parad ang schedule ng pagpugot sa isa sa mga bihag mula alas singko ng umaga sa alas dos ng hapon para magkaroon ng panahon ang pamahalaan na gawin ang kanyang hinihinging pag-atras.

Para kay DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, imposible magawa ng pamahalaan ang bagong kahilingan ng Abu Sayyaf sa napaka-ikling panahon.


Government supports CHR inquiry in Davao killings 

Malacanang supported the Commission on Human Right’s move to look into the unexplained killings in Davao City.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the protection of human rights is one of the priorities of government.

A report said more than 800 persons, most of whom have criminal records, were killed in the city since 1998.

There were suspicions that the killings were actually executions carried out by the Davao Death Squad.
 

DSWD generates jobs through 4Ps and household targeting system project

In compliance to the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to provide emergency employment to individuals affected by the worldwide economic crisis, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral said that the DSWD continues to hire fresh graduates, out-of-school youths (OSYs), unemployed, and laid off workers as enumerators and encoders for the Department’s anti-poverty programs, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR).

Secretary Cabral said that the DSWD started a nationwide hiring of qualified fresh graduates, OSYs, unemployed and laid off workers since June 2008 for 4Ps and March 2009 for NHTSRP.  

As of March 27, 2009, the DSWD has hired 3,194 individuals as enumerators and encoders. 

For NHTSPR, 1,378 enumerators were hired broken down as follows: 42 fresh graduates, 23 OSYs, 110 laid off workers, 1,200 unemployed, and 3 children of OFWs. 

Secretary Cabral disclosed that with the NHTSPR going full blast this year, 9,733 more will be hired as enumerators and encoders from April to December 2009. 

For 4Ps, on the other hand, the Department has hired 1,581 enumerators and 235 encoders broken down as follows: 167 OSYs, 206 fresh graduates, 136 laid off workers, 1,238 unemployed, and 69 children of OFWs.

As enumerators, their main task is to make personal  
 visits to the households covered by the NHTSPR and 4Ps and administer the Household Assessment Form (HAF). Their work contract is 30 working days. 
 
“The government is pouring in P157.04 million for the salaries and wages of the enumerators under NHTSPR while 4Ps has released P20.8 million for its hirees in 2008,” Secretary Cabral said.

The 4Ps is a social development and poverty reduction strategy that provides grants to poor households to improve their health, nutrition, and education particularly of children aged 0-14 provided they comply to conditionalities.

The NHTSPR, on the other hand, aims to generate a database of poor households using a transparent and accountable set of criteria for selection of the poor families to reduce leakage of social services to the non-poor and to minimize exclusion of the poor. 

Secretary Cabral said that interested qualified applicants may go to the nearest DSWD office or they may also log on to the DSWD website: www.dswd.gov.ph to apply. Other available positions are: 4Ps municipal links, social welfare officers, information officers, and information technology officers. 

Secretary Cabral added that aside from the hiring of enumerators for the anti-poverty programs, the Department also continues to implement other livelihood and employment activities as part of the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in the ARMM provinces of Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi and in the Cordillera Administration Region provinces of Abra and Apayao.

As of March 13, some 6,392 poor individuals had worked under the cash-for-work program in both regions and 1,131individuals have availed of livelihood programs.

“The DSWD has been launching programs and projects meant to alleviate the incidence of poverty and at the same time facilitate and fine tune the methodologies in the implementation of these measures,” Secretary Cabral said.

“The government will not rest until it exhausts all of its resources to assist our disadvantaged countrymen in the face of the growing problem of unemployment resulting from the global economic crisis,” Cabral said.

PIA Dispatch - Friday, March 27, 2009

PGMA inaugurates new government complex in Maguindanao

Government continues to invest in infrastructure in the provinces to support anti-poverty efforts.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated Friday a new provincial government complex in Maguindanao. 

The new complex will house the provincial building, sports and social center and other services.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the new structures are testaments to the President’s determination to promote national development especially in Mindanao.

PGMA pinasinayaan ang bagong government complex sa Maguindanao

Tuloy-tuloy ang pamumuhuhan ng pamahalaan para mapag-ibayo ang mga serbisyo sa mga lalawigan.

Pinasinayaan ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo nitong Biyernes ang isang bagong provincial government complex sa Maguindanao.

Sa loob ng complex, matatagpuan ang mga gusali ng pamahalaang panlalawigan, ang sports center, social center at iba pa. 

Ayon kay Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, ang mga bagong gusali ay testamento ng determinasyon ng Pangulo para magkaroon ng pambansang pag-unlad lalo na sa Kamindanawan.

GMA to LGUs: Adopt viable and affordable solid waste management systems 

Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, March 27 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today asked local government officials (LGUs) here to adopt more affordable and viable methods of implementing effectively the government’s solid waste management program. 

The President said there are cheaper and practical ways the LGUs can adopt to solve the garbage problem in their respective areas. 

During the joint briefing on Solid Waste Management and Climate Change here, the Chief Executive proposed the establishment of material recovery facilities (MRF) for areas, like Cotabato City, that do not yet have a sanitary landfill, to solve their waste disposal problems. 

“If you don’t have a sanitary landfill, I am proposing a big MRF as substitute compliance that can help sort out and process the garbage in the open dumpsite,” she said. 

“When there is no land for sanitary landfill, let us plan for barangay level MRF,” the President added. 

As proposed by the Cotabato City government, the setting up of a sanitary landfill type of solid waste management system in their area is estimated at P76-million. 

The MRF approach to solid waste management is much cheaper compared to sanitary landfill, the President said, citing as example the P10-million cost of Cotabato City’s MRF which can serve the city’s 37 barangays. 

Under the 60-40 LGU-national government sharing, Cotabato City will only shoulder P6-million while the national government will contribute P4 million. 

“That is cheaper,” the Chief Executive noted. 

The Chief Executive also proposed the use of charcoal briquetting machines as another solution to solid waste management. 

“With charcoal briquetting machine, it is easier to address the garbage problem rather than spending millions of pesos in dumpsites at the barangay level,” she said. 

Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi said one charcoal briquetting machine costs P63,500, much cheaper compared to other solid waste management systems. 

The briquetting machine is a simple energy- and money-saving device used in converting biodegradable waste and other organic materials into solid fuel briquettes. 

Aside from reducing the volume of wastes to be disposed, Gerochi said, charcoal briquetting also helps eliminate or at least minimize the use of forest products as raw materials for charcoal like wood. 

“Charcoal briquetting can also serve as an additional or alternative livelihood project to help alleviate poverty,“ Gerochi said. 

With a production capacity of 300 kilograms per day, he said, briquetting can generate substantial earnings. 

President Arroyo was also apprised on the bioreactor machine which costs P750,000. The machine converts biodegradable wastes into compost in just four to five days. 

“There are really a lot of inexpensive technologies. What is needed is the sharing of these technologies,” the President said. 

The Chief Executive has committed to personally visit the regions, provinces, towns and cities every week to closely monitor the compliance by LGUs with Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. 

RP is recognized as 1 of best performing economies in Asia

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said this morning that the Philippines is now being recognized as one of the best performing economies of Asia because of President Arroyo’s economic and fiscal policies.

In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Remonde cited Business World’s report showing that “the peso has outperformed most emerging market currency so far this year and is likely to prove a strong value in 2009 as the Philippine economy is least vulnerable to the factors of hammering markets elsewhere.”

Remonde added that the Philippines will likely be the only nation in Southeast Asia to post a sharp pick-up on its balance of payment surplus in 2009, partly, the result of loans and privatized proceeds. So, talagang dapat din nating malaman na kinikilala talaga ang ating bansa ngayon bilang the best performing economy in Southeast Asia despite the global crisis.”

Reports said the U.S. is now showing signs of improvement and recovery from the crisis, which Remonde said will augur well for the Philippines and the rest of the world. As you know, “may kasabihan nga na that when America is sick, the rest of the world catches cold. And it is precisely that reason na noong nagkaroon ng pag-collapse iyong mga financial houses ng Amerika ang buong mundo ngayon ay naharap itong global economic crisis.”

“Buti na lamang dahil sa vision at determination ng ating Pangulo, we are not as badly affected as the rest of the world,” Remonde said. 

Besides, he said, during President Arroyo the Philippines diversified its export market and now “medyo iyong percentage ng ating international trade with the US has already gone down a bit compared to the previous years. So, we have become less dependent on the US for trade though the US remains our major trading partner and a world political and economic leader.”

Remonde repeated that President Arroyo has her plate full attending to her economic programs, creating jobs and addressing poverty and hunger rather than political issues like charter change. 

“As I have already pointed out, si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ay wala ng panahon diyan sa mga pulitikang usapin. Dahil siya po ay nakatutok po sa ating ekonomiya at sa paglikha ng trabaho,” Remonde stressed anew.

“By continuing investment in hunger mitigation programs, the President seemed to have succeeded in this area as borne by the Social Weather Station February survey showing hunger incidence dipping to only 15.5 percent, Remonde said.

“Ang sinabi nga ng Pangulo sa kanyang talumpati kahapon na patuloy ang investment ng ating gobyerno sa mga food for work program, food for school program, livelihood program at ipagpatuloy at i-eexpand po ang pakikipagtulungan ng ating gobyerno sa simbahan at iba pang mga faith-based organizations na magkakaroon ng mga joint projects like feeding programs and livelihood programs po diyan. 

Finally, he said, the Department of Public Works and Highways is now rushing its construction of a major road project that will link Surigao with Davao. This biggest road project for Mindanao was discussed in the Cabinet meeting in Misamis Oriental where the President tasked DPWH to work 24/7 to ensure its completion.

He added that the President inaugurates today the P218 million provincial government complex in Maguindanao which will house the provincial Capitol, sports and social center and other government offices. Of the P215 million, P25 million came from the President’s Social Fund. She will lead the ribbon cutting to be assisted by ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, the Maguindanao Governor, and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of ARMM, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and other top local officials. 

PGMA urges Prov’l Boards to help address economic crisis 

Davao City, March 27 (PNA) --President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today called on the country’s 980 provincial legislators to use their power and help address the disastrous effects of the deepening global economic meltdown. 

Keynoting the 18th National Assembly of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) at the Grand Ballroom of the Apo View Hotel here, the President urged the league members to use their power and initiate programs that will help cushion the adverse effects of the economic crisis. 

Under the Local Government Code, Provincial Boards, chaired by the provincial vice governors, solely possess the budgetary powers of provincial governments, including the allocation of the huge internal revenue allotment shares of provinces from national tax revenues. 

President Arroyo told the PBMLP members that their power of the purse and power to legislate play a significant influence in their provinces because no programs can be formulated and implemented without their blessings. 

She noted and thanked the league members for the support they gave her administration in previous crucial days and added she expects the same support during this time of crisis. 
“Now, your will in your provinces are being summoned to address the world economic crisis that is beating the world today,” the President stressed. 

She assured them the National Government is exerting all its best efforts to help cushion the impact of the economic crisis, especially on the poor and the most vulnerable sectors of society. 

“I hope you and your provincial governments are doing the same. We all have roles to focus at home on creating jobs and keeping prices low. Both the National Government and the provincial governments have to help the private sector to keep and create jobs,” she stressed. 

The President cited the steps the government has taken to help the electronics sector which was hardest hit by the crisis. 

She said the government and the electronic sector leaders agreed not to lay off workers -- to keep and pay them the minimum daily wage even if they are not doing real work, they are being trained by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for other skills demanded by industries. 

“This is something you (the provincial government) must look at also in your provinces,” the President said. 

At the same time, the President urged provincial governments to replicate the national government’s belt-tightening measures to save funds for programs for the poor and the middle class who are now feeling the impact of the global economic crunch. 

She urged the PBMLP members to legislate practical and doable programs that may include reducing by 15 percent their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), as well as cutting down on electricity and fuel consumption. 

The Chief Executive also cited the government’s program through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that involves the hiring of young graduates to do research and survey work. 

“Mobilize your young graduates,” she advised. 

President Arroyo expressed elation over the fact that for the past eight years, the national government and provincial governments have been partners in building a stronger Philippines. 

“Together we can achieve our vision of a strong and resilient Philippines if there is unity among us,” the President said.

GMA lines up biggest job fairs starting June 12

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Arroyo administration is lining up the biggest job fairs beginning Independence Day, June 12 and days after that to provide a chance to dislocated overseas workers and the unemployed to look for jobs and earn locally.

The theme for this year’s Independence Day celebration is job creation. “We are doing away with the usual and the center of our celebration is holding the biggest and widest jobs fair not just in Luneta but in every part of the country,” Remonde said.

Creating jobs is the priority of the President right now, Remonde said belying reports that she is behind the moves to push charter change in the lower chamber.

Published reports showed job watch and GMA lifeline training incentives for the jobless, which the executive is pushing hard to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis to the Philippines.

The President is pushing for incentives to be granted to workers displaced in the electronics sector, which is hardest hit by the global financial crisis, Remonde added.

On concerns raised about the Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of power rate hikes, Remonde said the public must understand that ERC is an independent division and the President cannot dictate on its policies.

“Gayun pa man ang magagawa ng ating Pangulo at ng ating pamahalaan na siya naman ginagawa ng ating Pangulo ngayon at ng ating pamahalaan ay ang paglikha ng mga oportunidad at pag-promote ng mga investments sa power sector in order to build capacity so that with more capacity, we will have more power sources to bring down the cost of power,” Remonde explained.

And that is exactly what the President is doing now, Remonde explained.

DOT reports 4.01% increase in Boracay tourist arrival

Iloilo City, March 27 (PNA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office 6 has recently reported an increase of 4.01% in the tourist arrival of the pristine Boracay island in Aklan province for the months of January and February 2009. 

The DOT regional office headed by Director Edwin Trompeta further reported that the increase was obtained because of the total registered arrival which is 99,939 as compared to the figure for the same months last year which was 96,085. 

The biggest contingent of foreign tourists who have come to Boracay island is still the Koreans with a total of 11,174 followed by the Chinese with 7,719, Taiwanese with 2,987, and Americans with 2,864 during the 2 previous months. 

Tourists from Hong Kong totaled 1,608; Australia 1,186; Germany 1,154, and United Kingdom, 1,113. 

There were also domestic and overseas Filipinos who have visited Boracay. 

The total receipts generated by the tourists in the resort island amounted to P1,837,218.612.60 for the months of January and February.

Power rate adjustment ng Napocor, inaprubahan ng ERC

Inaprubahan ng ERC ang power rate adjustment ng Napocor na magtaas ng 1.40 piso per kWh pero dahil sa privatization ng 2 power plants sa Visayas, bumaba ito sa 83 sentimos.  

Ayon kay ERC executive director Francis Juan, hindi napapanahon ang power rate adjustment dahil sa krisis wala silang magagawa dahil kailangan ding i-sustain ng Napocor ang serbisyo sa mga customer.


Church, state call on public to support Earth Hour

As part of the celebration of Earth Hour, Cardinal Rosales calls on the public to turn off electricity tomorrow from 8:30 to 9:30 PM not only to save energy but to lessen effects of global warming.

The Environmental Management Bureau and environmental experts urged the public to heed the call on the improvement and effect of climate change

Palace denies any role in House Cha-Cha moves

Malacanang categorically denied today any role or complicity in the reported bid by its House allies to revive their Charter Change (Cha-Cha) initiatives when Congress resumes session after the Holy Week break.

In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President is not even thinking about Charter Change, and rather than waste her time in never-ending partisan politics she is keenly “focused on the economy, development, creating jobs and putting food on the table particularly for the less fortunate.” 

The House initiatives include a resolution authored by House Speaker Prospero Nograles seeking to make the country’s business climate more investor-friendly by amending before June this year certain economic provisions of the Charter.

A similar measure by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte is seeking to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly to propose amendments to the Constitution. 

“The President is not thinking about that and I think all the political observers agree that there is simply not enough time for that issue. I agree with that observation and I also agree with the pronouncement of Secretary (Gabriel) Claudio that definitely there will be elections in 2010,” Remonde said.

“The President’s actions speaks louder than words,” Remonde said, as the President has already approved poll automation and the 1987 Charter, even in its transitory provisions, clearly prohibits the term extension of elected officials.

“There is nothing in the 1987 Charter to show that the term of office of elected officials can be extended beyond Cha-Cha or in its transitory provisions. Walang chance na magkaroon ng Cha-Cha to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or any elected official whose terms specifically is set to expire in 2010. 

Remonde said no amount of Cha-Cha can extend the term of the President or any elected officials for that matter.

“Otherwise, all elected officials in the future will just amend laws or the Charter to extend their terms making it a vicious cycle,” Remonde said. 

Remonded added that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has already stated that there is no budget for such exercise just like in cases of recall elections.

He said it seem that critics of the President are just out to exploit the Cha-Cha and term extension issues which amount to senselessly whipping a dead horse like what Cha-Cha has become.

Remonde said these critics should better involved themselves “on things that would improve the conditions of the people particularly at these difficult times.”

As Speaker Nograles pronounced the House would be pushing Cha-Cha before June this year, Remonde said Nograles also said that the President is not behind such move.

“It is the same Speaker Nograles who also said that while they are administration allies, they are not necessarily the President’s lap dogs. So this means that these people cannot be dictated upon,” Remonde said.

Remonded said Charter Change has not even been discussed during Cabinet meetings and her critics are just out “to discredit and demonize our hardworking President.”

Dacer's 4 daughters file double-murder raps vs. Senator Lacson

Manila, March 27 (PNA) —- Four daughters of slain publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer filed double-murder charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday against an opposition senator whom they perceived as one of the "brains" in the gruesome killing of their father and his driver eight years ago. 

The complaint was filed by legal practitioners coming from Ongkiko Manhit Custodia & Acorda Law Office in behalf of Dacer’s daughters -- Carina, Sabina, Emily and Amparo -- who are all residing in the United States. 

Named respondent in the 10-page complaint affidavit of Dacer's daughters was Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Others facing charges in connection with the case include former PNP and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force Force (PAOCTF) Sr. Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino, Glenn Dumlao and Cesar Mancao II. 

”We are filing the complaint in view of the recent development where former PAOCTF Senior Supt. Cezar Mancao II, one of the accused in Criminal Case No. 01-1911969 entitled People vs. Michael Ray Aquino, et al, now pending before Branch 18 of the (Manila) Regional Trial Court, had executed last February 13, 2009 an affidavit disclosing his knowledge as to the participation of Senator Panfilo Lacson in the Dacer-(Emmanuel) Corbito double-murder case,” the complainants said. 

The affidavit Dacer’s daughters were referring to was Mancao’s sworn statement “disclosing all that he knows of the circumstances that led to the killing of our father and Mr. Corbito (in November 24, 2000).” 

Mancao, in his February 13, 2009 statement, positively said that Lacson ordered Aquino and other PAOCTF members to liquidate former PNP Supt. Reynaldo Berroya, the senator’s known nemesis, in October 2000. 

”Aquino responded to Lacson that he intends to neutralize or liquidate Delta (Dacer) first because Erap (former President Joseph Estrada) was already peeved at him (the publicist),” the former PAOCTF senior officer further said. 

”It is clear from the afore-quoted paragraph that Senator Lacson ordered the killing of our father. It also can be gleaned from the same paragraph that Senator Lacson ordered the killing of Berroya. Moreover, it is apparent from Mr. Mancao’s affidavit that PAOCTF, which Senator Lacson headed, conducted ‘special operations’ that did not follow the normal channels of command and did not come under the purview of the (PAOCTF’s) mandate,” Dacer’s daughters 10-page complaint affidavit pointed out. 

The complaint affidavit added that the complicity of Senator Lacson in the murder of Dacer and his driver could be further shown by the latter’s temerity in appointing Mancao as the head of the team tasked to investigate the abduction and subsequent killing of the two victims so that the crime could be covered up. 

Dacer's daughters also stated that Lacson’s guilt could be further attested by his order to Mancao and Aquino to flee the country shortly after the burnt remains of Dacer and Corbito were discovered in April 2001. 

”Senator Lacson even consistently met with Mr. Mancao and Mr. Aquino in the United State from October 2001 to September 2003 and provided for them. This makes Senator Lacson criminally liable for violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1829, Section 1 (harboring, concealing and facilitating the escape of any person he knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect, has committed any offense under existing penal laws),” the affidavit further said. 

The slain publicist’s daughters also claimed that the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now incumbent senator had an axe to grind against their father as the former (Dacer) strongly opposed the latter’s appointment as head of the national police force. 

They also stated that their father even told them a few months before his abduction and death that “there should be no one to blame but (Senator) Lacson.” 

”Based on the foregoing, and considering further that a new personality has been implicated in the murder of our father and Mr. Corbito, it is apparent that there is a need for a reopening and reinvestigation in order to determine whether probable cause exists to hold Senator Lacson for trial as a conspirator in the murders of our father and Mr. Corbito. 

"In light, it is respectfully requested that the appropriate action be taken by this Honorable Office (DOJ) insofar as this newly-discovered evidence, i.e., Mr. Mancao’s affidavit dated February 13, 2009 is concerned,” they further stated.

Mancao, uuwi na raw sa Martes

Dating Police Supt. Cesar Mancao, inaasahang darating sa Pilipinas sa araw ng Martes

Inaasahan ni Sec. Gonzalez ang pagdating ni Mancao sa bansa sa darating na Martes ngunit sinabi rin niyang nasa US authorities pa rin ang desisyon lalo’t wala pa itong pinadadalang official notice sa Pilipinas.


PNP, to file charges vs Gabriel for using children in Anti-US protests

PNP to file criminal case against Gabriela for using children in rallies and protests especially rallies infront of the US Embassy on Nicole’s rape case.