President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has always been focused on governance and has never allowed survey results to distract her from her job.
"Sa totoo lang, si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, since the very beginning, has not allowed politics and ratings to distract her from her more important job of governance," stressed Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, even as he said he considers it a challenge to disseminate more effectively to the Filipino people the President’s many pro-poor projects.
"So, as she says nga, she (President Arroyo) is focused (on) the economy and especially right now (in) creating jobs for our people," said Remonde in an interview over DZXL this morning (Tuesday, March 16). "Ngayon nga, ang ginagawa ng ating Pangulong Gloria is pag-belt-tightening ," he adds.
"Pinapa-save niya ang gobyerno para iyong savings ng gobyerno ay mapunta, magamit sa taong-bayan, maitutulong sa taong-bayan. Ngayon ang focus talaga ng Pangulo ay ang paglikha ng trabaho para mabigyan ng trabaho ang ating mga kababayan."
The Press Secretary cited the President's launching of joint projects with religious organizations from various faiths "para po matulungan lalo iyong mga nagugutom."
"May mga feeding programs tayong ginagawa with various church organizations and the government cooperating together," he related about the joint church-state poverty-alleviating project which started early this year.
Remonde made the comments when asked about the supposed results of a survey conducted last month (Feb. 20-23) by a survey company, showing that the President’s satisfaction rating has once again gone down.
He, however, pointed out that "we consider that (the survey result) as a challenge although hindi kami masyadong na-sorpresa sa resultang iyan dahil nakikita namin na parang natural talaga iyan sa panahon ng krisis, ang gobyerno talaga ang palaging nabe-blame at saka ang Pangulo."
"So, (sa) amin lang ay we will consider that as a challenge for the government to work harder and for us to communicate better kung ano ang mga ginagawa ng Pangulo sa pagtulong sa ating mga mamamayan, lalo na sa panahon ng krisis."
Remonde pointed out that "Ironically, in the face of this crisis, a lot of people are saying -- even mga foreign observers -- na mas maganda ang kalagayan dito sa Pilipinas kung ikumpara sa kalagayan ng karamihan ng mga bansa sa buong mundo.
"At ito po ay dahil sa ang mga efforts ng ating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. So, siguro, we just have to communicate that better to our people. Not all people will be able to properly appreciate the hard work of our President." (PND)
Recto: Employment report shows RP better off than others
Of the estimated 34.3 million employed persons in January 2009, more than one-half (51.2%) worked in the services sector, with those employed in wholesale/retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods sub-sector comprising the largest sub-sector at 19.4% of the total number employed.
Workers in the agriculture sector accounted for 34.6 percent of the total employed, with those engaged in the agriculture, hunting and forestry sub-sector making up the largest sub-sector (30.5% of the total employed).
Only 14.2 percent of the total employed were in the industry sector, with the manufacturing sub-sector making up the largest percentage (8.3% of the total employed).
Among the various occupation groups, laborers and unskilled workers are registered as the largest group at 31.9 percent of the total employed persons in January 2009.
Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen were the second largest group, accounting for 17.3 percent of the total employed.
Recto said the unemployment rate in January 2009 was estimated at 7.7 percent, compared to 7.4 percent posted in January last year. Among the regions, the highest unemployment rate was recorded in the NCR at 14.0 percent.
"The NSO report's backdrop was the global recession, yet we fared better than the others," Recto pointed out. (PND)
Palace: RP-China relations remain strong
Manila - Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the country's diplomatic relations with China remain strong despite China's protest over the recently passed baselines law.
"Our diplomatic relations with China remain strong. As a whole, both China and the United States are among the country's biggest trading partners," Remonde said.
Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was scheduled to meet with Li Jiang Guo, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress tomorrow (March 18).
However, the meeting was postponed due to urgent matters that the Chinese official has to attend to in China.
"The visit has been postponed due to urgent matters at home. We believe the postponement has nothing to do with the baselines law," Remonde said.
Remonde said the President and Li Jiang Guo were supposed to discuss the dispute over the Spratlys, which is being contested by five other nations -- China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. (PNA)
PGMA presides over 27th full Cabinet meeting at Phivedec, March 17
Cagayan de Oro City – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided over the 27th full Cabinet meeting on March 17, 2009 at the Phivedec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Attended by some 70 cabinet secretaries, the theme of the meeting is the Mindanao Agri-Business Accomplishments and Initiatives of the Mindanao Super Region.
Secretary Jesus Dureza, Mindanao Agri-Business champion, reported on the status of the infrastructure and other projects undertaken in the island. Mindanao Agri-Business is one of the country’s four Super Regions which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has envisioned to enhance the competitive advantage of its natural resources.
The other Super Regions are the North Luzon Agri-Business Quadrangle, the Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, and the Cyber Corridor.
“When harnessed together, these major economic regions of the nation are larger than the sum of its parts,“ President Arroyo said.
Meanwhile, Secretary Arthur Yap reported on the rice situation, and secretary Avelino I. Razon, Jr., Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on the Mindanao peace situation.
Also discussed during the meeting are the different activities scheduled for this year’s 111th Independence Day in June and the assignments of the cabinet secretaries relative to the celebration.
Before the Cabinet meeting, President Arroyo visited Balingasag Mariculture Park (BMP) in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental to oversee the stocking of the bangus fingerlings in the area.
The first of its kind in Northern Mindanao, the BMP is a joint project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Region 10 and the local government of Balingasag that sits on a 195.07 hectare development area of the Balingasag Maritime Zone and covers five of the LGU’s barangays, namely Waterfall, Binitinan, Baliwagan, Hermano and Barangay 6.
The Chief Executive also dropped by Barangay Blanco, also in Balingasag, to interact with the rice farmers there on her way to Phivedec in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. (PIA-10)
Balingasag fisherman thanks Pres. Arroyo for rent-to-own fish cage
Cagayan De Oro City – “I am very thankful to the government, especially to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for this rent-to-own fish cage project.”
Thus said Ramon Tamayo, a fisherman from Hermano Barangay in Balingasag, one of the 10 beneficiaries of the fish cage rent-to-own project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at Balingasag Mariculture Park (BMP) in Misamis Oriental.
The President visited Balingasag on March 17 to oversee the stocking and distribution of bangus fingerlings at the BMP, and Barangay Blanco, also in Balingasag, to interact with the rice farmers in the area.
“I never thought that I could also become an owner of a fish cage considering its big capital but I think that if we only work hard, we will also get the same benefits that the investors do from these fish cages,” Tamayo said.
Currently employed by an investor, Tamayo takes charge of conditioning the fish cages and managing the people who do the counting of fingerlings and removing the buntings underwater and gets paid with P150 for a day’s work.
He now personally takes care of his rent-to-own fish cage on the side while he continues to work for this investor.
Measuring some 5m x 5m x 4m made out of net and bamboo structure, the fish cages are constructed by the beneficiaries themselves using the “Bayanihan” or “Pahina” system with the materials provided by BFAR.
Stocked with 5,000 pieces of bangus fingerlings for the first cropping under the BFAR input assistance program, the fish cage rental is payable within six cropping or approximately two years at P11,308.33 per cropping.
The first of its kind in Northern Mindanao, the BMP is a joint project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Region 10 and the local government of Balingasag that sits on a 195.07 hectare development area of the Balingasag Maritime Zone and covers five of the LGU’s barangays, namely Waterfall, Binitinan, Baliwagan, Hermano and Barangay 6.
Milkfish, commonly called “Bangus”, raised in a marine fish cage like those at the BMP, are white and shine, their gills free from mud, taste better, and commands higher price compared to those raised in fish ponds. (PIA-10)
DPWH's economic resiliency plan marches on
Manila - As more Filipinos benefit from the government’s infrastructure projects, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is continuously fast tracking the construction of new ones to interconnect the country’s Super Regions.
This undertaking will be financed through the DPWH’s Pump Priming Program (PPEP) budget of P62.54 billion for the first six month of 2009. This is part of the P300-billion Economic Resiliency Program meant to insulate the economy from the impact of the global economic crunch.
“Definitely, this ongoing project will hasten the economic progress of Pavia. With improved roads, transport of products from farm to market will be much easier and less expensive,” said small farm operator Aquilino Orquija of Pavia, Iloilo.
Taxi driver Marianito Costales noted that the 13.096-kilometer road widening will be the main access leading to the new Iloilo International Airport in the municipalities of Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan.
“The usual travel time of 35 to 45 minutes will be shortened to 15 to 20 minutes once completed at the end of 2009; this will be much comfortable for passengers,” he said.
At the Luzon Urban Beltway or industry and investment hub of the Philippines, which contributes 30 percent to the country’s economy, the P1.57- billion Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Aurora-Dingalan Port road project is scheduled for full completion by March 2010.
“Food transport to the cities and the provinces should never be hampered, so good roads are a must to spur trace and commerce everywhere for us to become more globally competitive urban, industrial and service center,” she said.
Aurora resort operator Joseph Hessel said the project complements the roll-on roll-off transport system that helps in promoting tourism, fast movement of agricultural products and industrial growth by generating more jobs and increasing income in and out of the provinces.
Governor Bella Angara Castillo said with the road project, Aurora is not only economically rising but it has also the “best record in peace and order” in Central Luzon.
“We have the lowest crime rate in the entire Region 3; all because of DPWH’s building the road network,” boasted Castillo.
“Samar is one of the poorest provinces in the country that’s why, most of our youth venture to other provinces and cities to look for jobs than stay to tend farmlands planted with coconut, rice or camote. Transportation used to be difficult that’s why, there are few businesses here,” said balikbayan Marie France Sombero.
“But with road construction going on, many of our locals are employed by DPWH even for emergency period. With nicer roads around, some investors are thinking of putting up small-scale industries here. I hope business will thrive here and those who have left will think of coming back for good either as an employee or much better-employer,” she added.
Apart from these projects, the DPWH’s economic resiliency plan also includes the implementation/overseeing of at least 2,959 farm-to market roads project of the Agriculture department and irrigation works in 125 hectares.
”DPWH is paying attention to country’s present concerns while keeping an eye for the future,” said DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. “Funds will be spent in strengthening the economy and creating jobs by building more infrastructure and increasing funds for social services to mitigate poverty and address the downward trend of the world economy.”
For job generation, the agency conducted a successful jobs fair at its headquarters, simultaneously with its 13 regional offices last February 23 in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and several contractor firms.
The one-day jobs fair netted a total of 13,348 applicants with 4,554 hired on–the-spot by 468 participating contractors. The rest are being processed for referrals to local and foreign firms looking for qualified and competent workers to hire.
It was meant to hire qualified workers for emergency employment and to fund and supervise livelihood projects in Super Region activities and cater to the needs of the poorest provinces.
Of the total P62.54 billion earmarked for the Pump Priming Program, the Department of Budget and Management has directly released P21.54 billion to Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to various implementing units to cover the total obligational requirement for SONA projects.
The Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) will receive P3.43 billion; Region 3, P2.50 billion; Region 5, P232 million; Region 8, P373 million; Region 9, P2.65 billion; Region 10, P1.83 billion; Region 11, P1.14 billion; Region 12, P150.1 million; Region 13, P1.89 billion; and Project Management Office-Philippine Japan Highway Loan of the Central Office, P6.32 billion.
The DBM is processing the SARO to cover the obligational requirements for other projects at the cost of P41 billion.
To ensure the implementation of the projects, contracts are awarded quickly to take advantage of opportunities like good weather when most road works and infrastructure building are accomplished without too much physical and natural disturbances.
“Projects that are difficult to implement due to lack of detailed engineering plans and right of way problems brought about by settlers and squatters are shelved. The budget is realigned to problem-free ones for faster accomplishment,” explained engineer Richard Estanislao of the Program Division, Planning Service.
“New projects without Investment Coordination Committee -National Economic Development Authority (ICC-NEDA) board approval are deferred to avoid waste of time,” Estanislao added, “and everything is transparent. (PNA)
EC lauds RP's "active role" on ASEAN mechanism for human rights body
Manila — The European Commission (EC) has lauded the "particularly active role" of the Philippines in the mechanism for a human rights body (HRB) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and forthwith announced a grant of 900,000 Euros (about P57 million) for a human rights website launched here on March 16.
She called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "to wield her influence and certify the urgent passage of these important legislative measures on human rights, saying that by so doing, the Philippines demonstrates its sincerity and seriousness in responding to the issues of impunity and human rights violations haunting the country today."
Of the 10-member ASEAN, only the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have so far established their respective human rights institutions (HRI), with Cambodia expected to become the 5th country joining the regional effort.
The ASEAN has been working on the establishment of an ASEAN Human Rights Body (AHRB), a commitment specified in the recently-enforced ASEAN Charter, whose Terms of Reference (TOR) is being readied for possible adaption by Foreign Ministers in July and for launching at the ASEAN Summit in October.
"The Philippines has played a particularly active role in the fruition of the AHRB and I would like to express my appreciation for that," MacDonald said.
The launching of the website came just days after the passage of "Anti-Torture, Anti-Enforced Disappearance and Internal Displacement of Persons" measures by the House of Representatives of the Philippines. De Lima said her commission is "euphoric" over the passage, which, she said, "marks a milestone in Philippine legislative history." The Senate version is being awaited.
Expressing elation over Cambodia's anticipated joining, MacDonald said, "Welcome to the club," referring to how Europe's own human rights evolved through the decades.
He promised support to the improvement of human rights standards in the four participating countries and their role at raising awareness among ASEAN governments and civil society of the importance of establishing a specific AHRB.
Furthermore, MacDonald encouraged the four to "share best practices among existing national human rights institutions.
The three-year project is implemented by the four ASEAN national HRIs under the chairmanship of the Philippine CHR, headed by Atty. Leila de Lima.
Diplomats and civil society groups on human rights were among those attending the launching on Monday and listened to MacDonald heap praises on the leadership of the Philippines.
MacDonald also expressed understanding of the regional and individual-country trait of consensus and expressed hope that cross-ASEAN promotion and protection of human rights would soon come to be.
"Of course there have been difficulties along the way, and it is clear that not all ASEAN countries are quite as committed to this idea as are the four pace-makers present here today. But even allowing for the traditional ASEAN spirit of consensus, I understand that significant progress is being made, and that the AHRB is likely to be given a mandate which will address protection as well as promotion, and which will underline the universality of human rights."
In a statement, de Lima said "these (recently-passed House) human rights measures have languished in the halls of the Legislature for the longest time with the Anti-Torture Bill staying the longest having been filed since the Eighth Congress (1987-1992)."
She called on the Senate "to demonstrate the same level of commitment as their counterparts in the House of Representatives for the immediate passage of these landmark measures and compel the Executive branch to perform its mandate by signing these measures into law.
"It bears to stress that the Philippines, whenever it ratifies or accedes to international human rights treaties, obligates itself to translate the same into national legislation, " she said, thanking the Lower House legislators who pushed the bill to passage.
"The Commission on Human Rights has called on Congress to enact measures as prescribed in its Human Rights Legislative Agenda to ensure the respect, protection and fulfillment of human rights in the Philippines.
"The failure to legislate these landmark measures will be taken as a sign that pressing human rights issues, such as the prevalence of torture, extra judicial killings and the negative impact of internal displacement, are not being fully addressed," she further said.
De Lima recalled that "The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), in particular, entered into force for the Philippines on June 1987."
She scored the State for "continuously failing" to implement its obligation to enact a law criminalizing torture in accordance with the standards and principles set forth in the human rights instrument, 22 year since it was passed.
In April, the Philippine Government’s report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment will be considered by the Committee Against Torture.
The CHR will be present in the UN deliberations to continue its call to government to make good its commitment as a State Party to the Convention, de Lima said. (PNA)
