PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Press Sec. Remonde declared dead at 11:51 a.m. Tuesday

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde was declared dead by his attending physician around 11:51 a.m. Tuesday, Undersecretary Butch Junia confirmed.

Remonde was earlier rushed to the Makati Medical Center where doctors tried to revive him after he was found unconscious at the bathroom of his residence in Bel-Air Village, Makati City this morning.

He was 51 years old.

RP donates US$ 50,000 to Haiti recovery efforts; 65 more Filipinos accounted for

The Philippine government has approved the release of US$ 50,000 as humanitarian assistance to quake-ravaged Haiti, where at least 165 of the 450-strong Filipino community had been confirmed alive and safe, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA0 announced today.

The cash donation is in on top of a 22-person medical humanitarian mission being dispatched this week through the Department of Health.

DFA said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the release to assist ongoing recovery efforts mostly in the capital of Port-au-Prince  on the recommendation of DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo.

The earthquake of magnitude 7 struck Haiti  last January 12.

Six Filipinos, including peacekeepers of the United Nations mission in Haiti, are still missing and hopes are dwindling that they might not be found alive.

Today, 65 more Filipinos were confirmed in safe condition in the Petionville residential area of the capital, on top of the 100 from the Delmas district, raising to 165 the number of Filipinos already accounted for into the 7th day since the quake struck.

Godofredo "Godo" Edquiban, a Filipino community leader, relayed the information to the DFA.

Those accounted for today were: SURNAME NAME NICK NAME 1. Paglomutan Alvin Alvin 2. Protacio Angelita Lita 3. Perea Anita Nitz 4. Edquiban Annelli Annie 5. Sastrillo Antonio Jun Jun 6. Duran Antonio Tony 7. Edquiban April Anne April 8. Abenuman Arcenito RC 9. Paglomutan Caimile Caimile 10. Dublois Candelaria Sheila 11. Protacio Carmelito Lito 12. Manalili Cecille Cecille 13. Usana Cheryl Che Che 14. Sason Cholly Cholly 15. Lim Consolacion Ching 16. Bosi Czar Czar 17. Diamante Edgar Ed 18. Arbis Edna Edna 19. Manalili Elenita Lenie 20. Guinchoma Emelita Emay 21. Lim Fernando Toto 22. Esquibel Florentina Poroy 23. Paglomutan Fred Fred 24. Bolante Gerry Gerry 25. Lalican Gherwell Gherwell 26. Villagracia Gilberto Butch 27. Edquiban Godofredo III Don Don 28. Edquiban Godofredo Jr. Godo 29. Villena Grace Grace 30. Santos Honey Cris HiC 31. Unica Jerome Jerome 32. Macario Joel Joel 33. Sason Jose Leo Leo 34. Dequito Leslie Leslie 35. Lalican Lowell Lowell 36. Piedad Luisa Luisa 37. Manalo Marilou Marilou 38. Garcia Marites Tess 39. Caponpon Michael Mac 40. Malbacias Michael Michael 41. Santos Mikaela Myka 42. Bautista Morris Albert Morris 43. Segubre Nestor Nestor 44. Decano Nilo Nilo 45. Agda Orlando Orly 46. Sedano Oscar Oca 47. Villagracia Perlita Perlie 48. Villena Rafael Raffy 49. Consul Roldan Dang 50. Santos Rosario Charette 51. Paglomutan Rosemarie Rose 52. Malbacias Samantha Louis Samantha 53. Unica Sharon Joy Sharon 54. Malbacias Sheryl Che Che 55. Vidallo Teody Teody 56. Macario Teresa Tere 57. Duran Tony Rose Neneng 58. Elorde Tristan Tristan 59. Maning Vener Vener 60. Duran Vicente Vic 61. Lalican Welldine Welldine 62. Decembre Leila Leng leng 63. Caluya Teresita Tikya 64. Baylon Ingracia Lei 65. Lizardo Roland Richard Pong. (PNA)

DPWH Caraga completes 216 vital infra projects in 2009

MANILA, Jan. 19 - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Tuesday a total of P4.74 billion worth of public works projects were completed in 2009 at the CARAGA region.

Otherwise known as Region 13, CARAGA is composed of five provinces --Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Director Evelyn T. Barroso of DPWH Region 13 said 216 road projects and seven bridges totaling 63.519 lineal kilometers were completed, including the five road sections of Surigao-Davao Coastal Road Project; the Dinagat Islands Road Network, San Jose, Loreto and Dinagat sections and the construction of Hawilihan-Salug-Sinakungan Road Bolo-Sinakungan section at Esperanza, Agusan Del Sur.

Barroso reported that based on the directive of Secretary Victor A. Domingo to fast track all pump priming and State of the Nation Address (SONA) projects, Region 13 has posted an actual accomplishment of 93.98 percent for SONA projects and 86.9 percent for the 2009 regional implemented projects.

Under the SONA projects program, 148.997 kilometers of national roads and bridges were constructed, improved and rehabilitated in the CARAGA Region.

Region XIII has also accomplished 25 farm-to-market roads or posted an accomplishment of 98.53 percent and 100 DepEd schoolbuildings with 97.75 percent.

"These projects will pave way to economic development in CARAGA to generate more job opportunities as well as cater to the progress of agricultural business sectors in this part of Mindanao," Barroso said. (PNA)

PGMA names Limcaoco as Acting Press Secretary

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed on Tuesday Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Conrado A. Limcaoco Jr. as Acting Press Secretary after the demise of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

In a statement, Ermita said President Arroyo is deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely passing away of Secretary Remonde.

Ermita added, to assume Remonde’s position, the President has designated Secretary Limcaoco as Acting Press Secretary.

”As one of the Cabinet officials who worked directly and closely with the President, Secretary Remonde was one of this Administration’s most competent, faithful and loyal stalwarts. His demise is indeed greatly felt,” Ermita added.

Remonde’s remains will be brought to Heritage Park in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, where he will lie in state today and tomorrow. On Thursday, Remonde's remains will be brought to the Palace and, on Friday, his body will be brought to Cebu  for final interment.

Limcaoco was also appointed by President Arroyo on November 7, 2007 as supervising Secretary of NBN-4, IBC-13, RPN-9, BBS, BCS and the Philippines News Agency.

Limcaoco was a graduate of AB Political Science from the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU). (PNA)