Cebu City (PND)---President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today asked the Kiwanis International to be the government’s partner in projects that will benefit the poor and the middle class especially at this time when people are already beginning to feel the impact of the global financial crunch.
In her message at the 34th Kiwanis Asia-Pacific Conference held at the Waterfront Hotel Lahug, the President noted that the government’s thrust to help the poor is in consonance with the Kiwanis way of life—to make life of the poor better.
She said that the government has embarked on several cost-saving measures so that those savings will be spent for projects that will benefit the poor who are the hardest hit by the present crisis.
``The government must pour all savings and revenue into programs that help the poor and the middle class. This includes more and more investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure, `` the President said.
``Since Kiwanis clubs are always open to partnerships with others, including governments throughout the world, I invite you to increase the reach of your civic projects by considering partnerships with our government in these important initiatives, `` the President added.
The President noted that education may be the program thrust that would be most interesting to Kiwanis clubs as the organization has a long history of supporting the growth and development, and especially the education of children.
She cited the Kiwanis Club of Cebu for running, for almost 30 years now, a successful collegiate scholarship program that has sent numerous poor students from Cebu to college.
The President also encouraged the Kiwanis to support feeding programs for schoolchildren as well as job training and opportunities for graduates.
``We must tackle many challenges at once to keep our economy and way of life going strong. On the part of government, we must live within our means and run a lean, efficient government. All the while, we must also simultaneously invest in people,`` the President said.
Due to the present global economic crisis that has resulted to retrenchment of workers, the President assured that no one in the government service will lose his job.
She said that with the implementation of the rationalization program of government, ``no one shall be dislocated.` `
She explained that if an employee occupying a position that has been declared redundant opts to stay in government service, the position shall only be abolished upon the regular retirement of the employee.
The President said the government and the Kiwanis Club can ``Together we can; together, we strive… this task to fulfill`` as she paraphrased a song at the Kiwanis Cebu website.
``Indeed, together we can make a difference, for we share a common passion: ``We will all be in service together,`` the President stressed.
BSP sees remittances to remain strong in `09
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo told reporters Friday that several banks have reported that volume of remittances is in double digits in the first two months of this year.
He said monetary officials consider this as a reason to believe that growth of remittances will be faster than the 0.8 percent month-on-month growth in December 2008, when the volume reached US$ 1.4 billion from the previous month’s US$ 1.3 billion.
In the whole of 2008, remittances sent by Filipinos abroad registered a 13.7-percent growth after it reached US$ 16.4 billion. This is higher than the central bank’s forecast of US$ 16.3 billion.
``We have enough reasons to expect that remittances will remain strong, probably beyond December growth,`` he said on the sidelines of the Chamber of Thrift Bank (CTB) national convention at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
Guinigundo said initial figures from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) showed that nearly 200,000 Filipinos have been sent to work abroad in the early part of this year.
He said more job orders are on the pipeline and once these are filled up, will continue to power remittance growth.
Remittance is among the major fuels of the economy’s growth in 2007 when the domestic economy posted a 7.2 percent growth.
Monetary officials said the current global economic situation will result in job loss of Filipinos abroad, thus, this will lower the volume of remittances sent here; but they also said that this will be offset by the fact that demand for highly skilled OFWs remains strong. (PNA)
DBP re-affirms commitment to corporate governance
Organized by the Department of Finance and conducted by the Institute of Corporate Directors, the program brought together members of the boards of directors of 38 GOCCs and GFIs. The program is in compliance with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s directive to all directors appointed to the Boards of Directors or Trustees of GOCCs and GFIs to take an orientation seminar on corporate governance as stated in Memorandum Circular dated April 10, 2007. It likewise helped participating GOCCs and GFIs to develop a better appreciation for corporate governance principles and translate these into best practices.
DBP president and chief executive officer Reynaldo G David said that as a GFI dealing with public funds, trust is of paramount importance to DBP. “The success of all our operations is predicated on our reputation, our credibility, integrity, and track record in managing these public funds and channeling them to their intended initiatives
countrywide,” he explained.
He noted that the institutionalization of the DBP corporate governance program has enabled the Bank to produce good financial numbers -- with its net income reaching P3.6 billion last year -- while remaining true to its developmental mandate.
David also said that good corporate governance in DBP starts with the Board of Directors, adding that the present Board works well with management to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the Bank over the years.
David enumerated some of the DBP’s corporate governance initiatives initiated in 2008 such as a risk assessment validation seminar for the DBP Board and senior management officers, and training programs to instill important governance values at all levels of the organization.
DBP also conducted a risk management training series in compliance with Basel II requirements; a comprehensive service re-orientation program for employees; and an orientation program on the principles and best practices of good governance and the corollary demands of responsible citizenship.
Finance Undersecretary Jeremias Paul, Jr. said the orientation program is in line with the thrust of the Department of Finance to uplift the corporate governance standards of GOCCs and GFIs.
The orientation program discussed corporate governance principles, best practices, and finance in the corporate governance setting. It also gave insights into the functions and relationships of various board committees.
Some of the GOCCs and GFIs that were represented in the orientation program included the Philippine Ports Authority, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Home Development Mutual Fund, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation, Philippine Postal Corporation, Philippine International Trading Corporation, Laguna Lake Development Authority, and the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center.
Photo caption – DBP president & chief executive officer Reynaldo G. David discusses how DBP’s corporate governance initiatives have positively affected Bank operations before members of the boards of directors of various GOCCs and GFIs.
US lauds PGMA's efforts to resolve extra-judicial killings
Manila - Critics and detractors of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may raise their eyebrows or even raise a raucous dispute but efforts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resolve extra-judicial and unexplained killings in the country for the past three years have been gaining substantial grounds.
The latest United States' 2008 country report on human rights situation in the Philippines has reported that there is a substantial decrease in the number of cases of extra-judicial or unexplained killings and disappearances.
”We are pleased that the (US country) report continues to recognize the efforts of the Philippine government that deter the occurrence of unexplained killings. It, in fact, noted the continuing year-by-year dramatic drop in the number of these cases,” Ermita said.
Since its creation of TF Usig, the group tasked to look into cases of killings involving militant party list and media practitioners, there was an 85 percent decrease of cases in 2007 and 90 percent decrease in 2008.
He noted that some NGOs and CSOs may be averse toward government but still, “a greater number of their colleagues are supportive of government and its plans and programs that bear upon the promotion and protection of human rights.”
”There are always lines to government that are always accessible to these organizations for them to be able to air their concerns and grievances, rather than going through media,” Ermita said.
Also, the report recognized the government's respect for the freedom of assembly; protection of women's rights, and respect for the work of international non-governmental organizations investigating violations of human rights.
She also ordered both the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police to further intensify efforts to stop violence against media members.
These efforts show that the government, even though accused numerous times by its critics of tolerating unexplained killings in the country, continue to do its job and do it well. (PNA)
Or. Mindoro benepisyaryo ng P24 m farm-to-market road project
Mas mapabibilis na ang pagbibyahe ng mga produkto ng mga magsasaka patungo sa pamilihan oras na simulan ang pagpapagawa ng may mahigit sa11 kilometrong farm-to-market roads sa apat na bayan ng lalawigan.
Ito ang binigyang-diin ni DA Regional Director Antonio G. Gerundio sa isinagawang press conference noong Pebrero 26 sa El Pueblo Rhizort, sa syudad ng Calapan.
Kasamang humarap sa mga lokal na mamamahayag ni Dir. Gerundio sina Engr. Elmer Castillo ng RAED/DA-RFU 4-B, Mansalay Vice Mayor Renato De Lara, at City Agriculturist Carlos Domingo.
Ang nabanggit na proyekto ay bahagi ng may 2,000 kilometrong farm-to-market roads na isasagawa sa iba’t ibang bayan sa buong bansa. Ito ay itinataguyod ng pamahalaang nasyunal sa pangunguna nina Pangulong Arroyo at sa pangangasiwa ni Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap.
Ayon kay Dir. Gerundio, ang proyekto na nagkakahalaga ng P24 M ay isa lamang sa mga inisyatibang isinasagawa ng pamahalaang nasyunal upang malabanan ang nararamdamang global crisis.. Kasamahan ito, aniya, ng mga proyektong pang-irigasyon, water impounding, at bagsakan centers.
Ang mga barangay ng Malinao hanggang Sta. Isabel, Naujan; Leido hanggang Pakyas , Victoria , Maliwanag hanggang Roma, Mansalay; at Sitio Colo-colo, Bulusan sa Calapan City ang mga natukoy na lugar at magsisilbing pilot areas na pagsasagawaan ng naturang proyekto. Nakatakda namang lagyan ng bagsakan center ang mga bayan ng Victoria at Socorro kung saan sa Marso 10, nakatakdang isagawa ang public forum hinggil dito.
Hinikayat din sa okasyon ang paglikha ng organic fertilizer, pagtatanim sa mga nakatiwangwang na lupa, pagko-compost, at ang pagbalik ng mga magsasaka sa organic farming.
Pasasalamat naman ang ipinaabot ni Vice-Mayor De Lara sapagkat ang proyekto aniya, ay magsisilbing daan ng unti-unting pag-angat ng kanilang kabuhayan partikular ng mga katutubo na may 25% ng kanilang populasyon sa naturang bayan.
Samantala, sinabi ni Dir. Gerundio na malaki ang posibilidad na malagyan din ng farm-to-market road ang lugar ng mga katutubo sa lalawigan dahilan sa regular na pakikipag-ugnayan ni Gobernador Arnan kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
P100,000 ipinagkaloob ni Gob. Arnan sa Naujan FARMC
Upang mas higit pang mabantayan at mapanatili ang masaganang huli sa karagatang sakop ng bayan ng Naujan.
Ito ang pangunahing layunin ng pagkakaloob ng suportang pinansyal ni Gobernador Arnan sa fisheries and aquatic resources management council o FARMC ng Naujan.
Sa isang simpleng seremonya sa kanyanga tanggapan sa Kapitolyo, ipinagkaloob ni Gobernador Arnan ang P100,000.00 suportang pinansyal sa mga kinatawan ng FARMC na sina Florencio Herrera, Fernando Malinao at Deo Malubag. Sinaksihan ito nina Municipal Agriculturist Raquelita Umali at PAGO-Coastal Resource Management Project Officer Marilyn Alcañises.
Ang nasabing pondo ay gagamiting pambili ng bangkang magpapatrolya at iba pang kagamitang kailangan sa fish sanctuary ng bayan ng Naujan.
Sotto launches DARE program on a nationwide scale to protect children
Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Vicente C. Sotto III has adopted and launched on a nationwide scale a program that would protect children from illegal drugs and intensify the preventive education strategy of the government against prohibited substances.
Currently, the DARE program is being successfully implemented in General Santos City by the group called PhilDARE headed by Bread of Life Pastor Efren Reyes. PhilDARE is short for Philippine DARE.
“It is indispensable that we must prevent our children from attempting to use illegal drugs and preventive education like DARE program is the answer to that,” Sotto explained.
Last March 4, Sotto witnessed the graduation ceremony of a total of 879 DARE graduates composed of grade V and VI pupils from 13 elementary schools in Tampakan town, South Cotabato.
The PhilIDARE program, now on its 12th year of implementation in General Santos City since it started in August 1996, has expanded to Sarangani province, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.
DARE was developed in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department in cooperation with the Los Angeles Unified School District as a comprehensive, long-term education approach to prevent substance abuse among children. It is a police and jail officer-led series of classroom lessons that teach children how to resist pressures to experiment with drugs and other harmful substances.
A long term study begun in 1985 conducted by the Evaluation and Training Institute (ETI), a Los Angeles-based independent research firm, shows that the DARE program has far exceeded its goal of helping students combat peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol. It has also contributed to improved study habits and grades, decreased vandalism and gang activity and has generated greater respect for police officers. Other evaluation studies in different areas in the US have shown similar results.
The program has been so successful that it has expanded to all states in the US. It has also been adopted by a number of other countries, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil. The Philippines is the first Asian country to adopt the program.
New Chinese Ambassador pays courtesy call on DFA Secretary Romulo
13 March 2009 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo received today H.E. Liu Jianchao, the new ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines.
Secretary Romulo and Ambassador Liu had a pleasant, meaningful and productive meeting wherein both sides reaffirmed the great importance they attach to Philippine-China bilateral relations.
Specifically, he expressed China’s desire to enhance trade and economic relations with the Philippines, notably in the fields of mining and infrastructure.
Ambassador Liu thanked the Philippines for hosting the recent visit of 100 school children from Sichuan province who suffered from last year’s massive earthquake. The warm reception was deeply appreciated by the children and their families.
He also expressed gratitude for the Philippines’ cooperation on the Taiwan issue.
For his part, Secretary Romulo warmly welcomed Ambassador Liu and reiterated that the Philippines values its relations with China.
The Secretary also hailed the continuing people-to-people exchanges that further promote friendship and understanding between the two nations.
The Foreign Secretary likewise reiterated RP’s strict adherence to the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and firm commitment to preserving the peace and stability in the region.
