PGMA awards ancestral domain titles to Higaonon tribe
In commemoration of the 12th anniversary celebration of Indigenous Peoples Right Act (IPRA), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo distributed Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) to four village captains in a simple ceremony at the VIP Lounge of Cagayan De Oro City Airport.
The CADT for Higaonon tribe of Barangay Minalwang in Claveria town covers an area of
The CADTs were received by Higaonon leaders Datu Amumahan Pina-andil, Datu Ditumbagan Bio, Datu Dikno Mansumagan and Datu Maagsug Pina-ander.
Datu’s Pina-andil and Bio thanked the President for the CADTs, saying the future for the next generation of the tribe is now secure.
To support the Higaonon tribe, the President ordered Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral to bring the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to Barangay Minalwang.
In response, Secretary Cabral revealed to the President that for the next 300,000 family beneficiaries of 4Ps the Higaonon tribe is included in their list as recipient.
The Higaonon tribe of Minalwang applied for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim (CADC-114) on Oct. 21, 1997 and awarded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
After years of waiting, the CADC was converted into CADT-084 through the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) which covers
PGMA lauds plan to set up SME regional hub in RP
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded today the plan of the Development Financing Institutions in
In her inaugural speech read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde at the CEO Forum VI of the ADFIAP at the Dusit Thani Hotel, the President said that the regional hub for small and medium enterprises training will develop and promote training and capacity building in micro, small and medium sized enterprises.
She stressed that SMEs are the major engine behind the
The ADFIAP said that the regional hub aims to improve the knowledge and capability of SMEs and will lead to greater access to funds being eyed to spur economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Geneva-based International Trade Center (ITC) and the ADFIAP signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding to build a long-term strategy for a Regional SME Finance and
The ITC, a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations is extending a grant of $28,500 (about P1.4 million) to ADFIAP for the project.
Specifically, the Regional SME Finance and
PGMA sends off 100 vehicles for
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the send-off ceremony of more than 100 vans and trucks loaded with relief goods for the
The relief caravan is dubbed Sama-Samang Pagtulong Relief Caravan to pre-position relief goods in areas of
As early as
At exactly
The President smiled, waved and cheered all government workers and volunteers for their support to her initiative.
She stood with her cabinet to deploy all the 100 vehicles and waited for an hour until the last truck off to Bulacan had passed.
Together with 21 national government agencies and private and international organizations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will bring the truckloads of relief goods to 16 provinces in Regions I, III, IV-A and V which are most likely to be affected by the upcoming typhoon Santi.
In an interview, Cabral said the truckloads of relief supplies consist of food packs, potable water, mats, blankets and clothing.
We felt that it was better to advance the delivery of goods to areas likely to be hit by the typhoon, so we will start pre-positioning the relief supplies today, she noted.
President Arroyo ordered different government agencies to join the caravan and provide truckloads of relief goods as well as assist in the preparation of the typhoon.
The caravan is divided into 16 groups based on their provincial and regional destinations. The DSWD have already identified drop off points where Provincial Disaster Coordinating Councils (PDCCs) and local government officials will receive the relief goods. The DSWD will supervise and monitor the distribution of relief items.
The drop off points are in the following areas: Lingayen City; Pangasinan; San Fernando, Pampanga; Cabanatuan City; Nueva Ecija; Tarlac; Tanay; Rizal, Cavite; Sta. Cruz Laguna; Batangas; Lucena; Quezon; Daet; Camarines Norte; Naga; Camarines Sur; Sorsogon; Legazpi; Albay and Virac, Catanduanes.
Partners of the DSWD for the relief caravans include the departments of Education, Energy, Social Welfare and Development, Agrarian Reform, Health, National Defense, Finance, Public Works and Highways, Transportation and Communication, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, Environment and Natural Resources, Presidential Management Staff, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, National Disaster Coordinating Council, National Youth Commission, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Office of the Press Secretary, Bureau of Customs, National Food Authority, Philippine Health and Insurance Corporation, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, San Miguel Corporation, United Nations Childrens Fund and the World Food.
Make development banking an instrument to uplift the poor—PGMA
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo challenged today the Association of Development Financing Institutions in
In her inaugural speech read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde at the International CEO Forum VI at the Dusit Thani Hotel in
“These are trying times, indeed, but these are also times that create great opportunities for those who are prepared for challenges. As development financiers, you are all in your element whenever a significant amount of risk is involved. You must know that, in these times of great risks and greater gains, your sector will be called upon to increase its contribution to
The Chief Executive pointed out that development banking can play a very significant role “not only for economic rebound but more importantly, for equitable economic development.”
She said the reforms instituted must lead to economic growth that is “inclusive, inclined towards the most vulnerable sectors, and inspired by the proposition that development is sustainable and meaningful only if it uplifts the poorest in
In the case of the
“Our reform agenda enabled us to lay out a strong safety net for our most vulnerable sectors and spread the benefits of our growth equitably by creating more livelihood opportunities,” she said.
According to the President, the same reforms enabled small and medium business enterprises to grow.
“They are the main clients of development banking in our country,” the President said. She said that bulk of loans go to agribusiness and agrifisheries, especially small farmers and fishermen.
The ADFIAP is a 35-year-old umbrella organization of 108 member-institutions in 41 countries and territories whose advocacy is financing sustainable development.
The CEO Forum is an annual event that serves as a venue for chief executives and senior officers and partners to stay abreast of current issues and challenges in financing sustainable development.
Cruise ship CEO pledges to hire more Filipinos
During his courtesy call this morning on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Pier Luigi Foschi, president and CEO of Costa Crociere (Cruises), expressed his company’s support for the President’s goal of bringing in 20,000 tourists to the country next year.
Foschi informed the President of his firm’s plans to help the country by hiring more Filipinos and by bringing in foreign tourists.
“Next year we expect 20,000 tourists coming to the
Filipino workers, who he said exhibit a great ability to learn, are hardworking and loyal. He added “they set a good example for other employees and crew, so we are very happy with them.”
He pointed out that 8,000 of the 20,000 Costa Crociere employees are Filipino.
“We expect to have some 10,000 Filipino workers on the rolls by 2012, Foschi said.
PAGASA to Central Luzon,
“Santi is slowly moving towards
Santi is expected to dart fury on Saturday with heavy rains and forceful winds in the
As of
It is forecast to track westward at 24 kph.
The Pagasa said only one of the seven major dams is releasing water, the Ambuklao Dam in Benguet, where five gates are open and releasing minimal amount of water.
Santi is seen to be a ‘well-behaved’ storm, compared to previous storms, Pepeng and Ramil, which baffled local and international weather agencies with its erratic behavior.
“Right now, Santi is affected by only one weather system: the ridge of high pressure area in south China which steers the typhoon southward, preventing it from moving to the north,” Nilo said.
Still experiencing generally good weather except for cloudy skies on Thursday afternoon, Nilo warned the public not to underestimate Santi because of the rains and wind it carries.
He noted Santi will dump an average of 10-
Santi’s rainband can reach
Santi is still churning in the Pacific hence, may further intensify, fuelled by the warm atmospheric conditions over the ocean, he said.
Nilo said the possibility of raising signal number
He said there is 30 percent probability that Santi will directly hit Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Nilo advised travellers to postpone their trip, particularly those travelling by sea, because of inclement weather and rough sea conditions Friday until the weekend.
“My advice is, it is very dangerous to travel especially those going to Visayas and
The Pagasa advised disaster officials particularly in Nueva Viscaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Pampanga, Tarlac, Quezon, Laguna, Bulacan, Zambales and Pampanga to be ready of possible flashfloods, landslides and storm surges.
Signal number 2 is raised over
Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signal number 2 and 1 are urged to take all the necessary precautionary measures against flashfloods and landslides, the Pagasa said.
Those living along the coast in areas under signal number 2 are asked to be on alert against storm surges and big waves generated by the typhoon, it added.
