President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved Thursday the 2009 Investment Priorities Plan under Memorandum Order (MO) No. 299.
The MO takes effect 15 days upon publication in a nationally-circulated newspaper.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said MO 299 implements Article 29 of the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987 and enjoins all government agencies and entities not to adopt any policy or take any course of action contrary or inconsistent with the IPP.
Article 27 to 31 of the Omnibus Investment Code of 1987 defines the list of investment priorities that are based on long-term comparative advantage, taking into account the value of social objectives and employing economic criteria along with market, technical and financial analysis.
Palace creates Task Force on Emergency Employment
A task force on emergency employment was created to generate jobs to reduce the impact of global recession.
The Presidential Task Force on Emergency Employment will be headed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the following members: Labor Secretary Marianito Roque; Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); Administrator Carmelita Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); and the presidents of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one organization of recruitment agencies, and a representative of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
The President said creating employment and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable groups is one of the best ways of preparing the country to withstand the impact of the worldwide economic slowdown.
DOH: two more suspected H1N1 cases under observation
The total number of cases under observation (CUO) now stands at 12.
Five of these 12 cases are Filipinos, the others are foreigners.
The countries of origin of these cases are as follows: Switzerland (1), USA (2), Ireland (1), UK (1), Republic of Korea (3), Canada (2), and Italy (2).
Worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US CDC have already reported 1,893 cases with 31 deaths from 23 countries with reported cases. The countries include: Austria, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Hong Kong (China), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland, UK, USA, Guatemala, and Sweden.
Malacanang urges LGUs to have rain gauges
Local government units should use rain gauges and other community based-early warning systems in their areas to reduce hazards, a ranking Malacanang official said Thursday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the President wanted LGUs to work closely with PAGASA and encouraged them to install rainfall measuring instruments to lessen impact of hazards such as landslides in their areas.
Citing Sorsogon as example, Golez believed that the devastation brought about by landslide if appropriate warnings were issued.
He said appropriate warnings could be done if instruments such as rain gauges were available in the communities.
Golez explained that rainfall varies in every region which is why having rain gauges will be useful for LGUs in making decisions and issuing warnings.
He said a rainfall level beyond 150 millimeters in 24 hours could cause landslide: the landslide in Sorsogon was triggered by heavy rainfall at 300 mm in 24 hours.
RP to boost campaign against terrorists
Government will be relentless in its drive against terrorists.
Despite a favorable evaluation from the US government, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita assured that government will use all its forces to “degrade the operational capabilities of terror groups, deny them safe havens in Mindanao and capture their leaders and members.”
“We will not sit on our laurels yet in our efforts against the Rajah Solaiman Movement, the Abu Sayyaf Group, the Jemaah Islamiya, the New People’s Army and other armed groups,” Ermita said in a press statement.
Ermita said the annihilation of terror groups is the over-arching national security objective and the US government has helped the country to building its remarkable counter terrorism campaign through the logistical support and technical assistance it has provided.”
PGMA names Caviteño vet as National Scientist
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday named veterinarian Teodulo Masanga Topacio Jr. as National Scientist.
Topacio of Cavite has largely contributed in expanding information on leptospiral disease of domesticated animals.
Born on November 30, 1924, Topacio earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Dr. Topacio is now entitled to privileges and emoluments based on the recommendations of the National Academy of Science and Technology and the Department of Science and Technology.
Under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, persons who excelled in science and technology and have contributed to the progress of the country and humanity will earn the title and rank of national scientists.
PSALM optimistic about selling Limay combined-cycle plant
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) is optimistic it will successfully sell the 620-megawatt (MW) Limay Combined Cycle Power Plant as it continues negotiations with two prospective buyers.
In a pre-offer conference held last Thursday (30 April 2009), PSALM discussed the negotiations procedures for the Limay plant’s sale with the interested buyers.
PSALM President Jose C. Ibazeta, who presided over the conference, told the two negotiating parties that the Corporation would still employ the same two-bidding envelope system it uses for its regular biddings to determine the winner.
The bid submission deadline for the Limay bid is on 19 June 2009, while the submission of documentary deliverables will be until 15 May 2009. The two investor groups have until 17 June 2009 to conduct their due diligence on the Bataan-based asset.
Mr. Ibazeta informed the representatives of the two groups that PSALM had extended its Operations and Maintenance (O&M) agreement with Alstom Philippines Inc. to ensure the maintenance of the plant until its eventual turnover to the winning bidder. The winning bidder will have the option to pre-terminate the O&M contract without incurring penalties so long as it can assure PSALM of the closure of the Limay plant sale.
In 1992, the government, through the National Power Corporation, entered into an O&M agreement with ABB Power Generation Ltd. for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the Limay plant. In 2000, Alstom became the counter-party of National Power to the O&M agreement, which expired in April 2008 for Block A and in October 2008 for Block B.
Commissioned in 1993, the Limay power plant comprises two 310-MW modules, Blocks A and B, which consist of three 70-MW gas turbines and a 100-MW steam turbine, respectively. Located in Limay, Bataan in Central Luzon, or approximately 145 kilometers west of Manila, the plant is designed to meet the base-load demand of the Luzon grid.
Prior to the negotiated sale, the Limay plant underwent two unsuccessful biddings in April and September 2008. On both occasions, only one bidder submitted documentary deliverables.
