PGMA hails private-public housing in Laguna for Metro
CALAUAN, Laguna – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo thanked on Monday the private sector and local government here for complementing her relocation program for Metro Manilas’ homeless and disaster- affected families with new housing sites free from pollution and congestion and which provides job and livelihood opportunities.
The Chief Executive visited this morning Calauan town where a model public-private housing project has been set up for the marginalized sector.
On board a tour bus, she conducted a windshield inspection of the Southville-7 housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in joint partnership with the BayaniJuan sa Southville-7 township program of ABS-CBN Foundation. The Foundation is headed by managing director and BayaniJuan president Gina Lopez.
The President was the guest of honor at the first anniversary celebration of BayaniJuan sa Southville-7 at the
In her speech, the President thanked Ms. Lopez, the local government of Calauan, Laguna and the private donors for the Southville-7 which offered decent living for the homeless and disaster victims from Metro Manila.
Since 2001, the President said more than 800,000 families are now homeowners under the government’s socialized housing and land tenure security program.
The President said an additional 300,000 low-cost housing units were built under her administration.
“So we have given more than a million families across the nation a chance to meet their goal of home ownership,” the President said.
The President earlier contributed P30 million to the ABS-CBN and BayaniJuan Foundation for the rehabilitation of 108 housing units and establishment of 100 solar street lamps in Southville-7. Also benefited by the funds was the rehabilitation and clean-up of the Paco market reportedly a major cause of garbage and sewage problems in the
During her visit, the President said she will try to provide more solar street lamps in Southville-7 to further preserve the peace and security in the area.
Among the ongoing and proposed projects the President inspected include the proposed sites of the BayaniJuan Livelihood Center, SM Foundation Health & Wellness Center, Lopez Group Training Center,
During the tour, Lopez told the President that some 4,600 families have been relocated to the BayaniJuan sa Southville7 most of them from danger zones in Paco including those affected by Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi last year in Metro Manila.
With the support coming from the government, non-government organizations and the private sector, the families in Southville-7 were also provided livelihood opportunities and trainings by the Technology Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
With the help of the NHA, Lopez said the
The President instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide families with vegetable seedlings and composting facilities such as shredders for the Gulayan ng Masa in the area.
Other donors recognized here are San Miguel Corp. (SMC) which donated P21 million to the ABS-CBN Foundation for the construction of 300 houses for relocated residents from the Estero de Paco in Manila.
The President personally checked the proposed market to be built thru the help of the private construction company, the DMCI, and a playground donated by outsourcing leader Telus International Philippines.
The President arrived here with Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. and former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.
They were welcomed by thousands of residents led by Laguna Governor Teresita Lazaro, Calauan Mayor George Berris, Barangay Dayap Chairperson Roberto Ramilo, NHA General Manager Federico Laxa, and officials from private donor institutions.
PGMA inaugurates P59.4-M Dasmariñas Community Affairs Building in Cavite
Joining the President for the inaugural activities that included ribbon cutting and inspection of building facilities were Press Secretary Crispulo Icban, Jr and local officials and staff led by Dasmarinas City mayor Jennifer Barzaga and Cavite 2nd Dist. Rep. Elpidio Barzaga.
Built at a cost of P59.4-million, the DASCA is the city government's response to provide equal representation for their constituents in need.
The DASCA is envisioned to redirect concern towards various sectors of society such as senior citizens, street children, children with autism and persons with disabilities.
The three-storey DASCA is equipped with the best safety and ergonomic features that include elevators, access ramps, a multi-purpose hall, a medical and dental center as well as a physical therapy center to bring greater medical accessibility to Dasmarinas residents.
Government offices such as the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Tourism Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Environmental Sanitation Unit and the City Disaster Coordinating Council are also located within the DASCA premises to bring government service closer to the people of Dasmarinas.
BAGUIO CITY, APRIL 19 - Acting Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary and concurrent Solicitor General Alberto Agra on Monday said that he respects the move of the government prosecutors in coming up with a manifesto opposing the resolution of the DOJ that cleared the two Ampatuans of any criminal liability in the Maguindanao massacre.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Govenor Zaldy Ampatuan and Mamasano town mayor Datu Akmad Ampatuan were absolved of involvement in the Maguindanao massacre based on weak evidence of conspiracy and strong evidence of alibi.
"I stand by my decision in whatever capacity as a lawyer as DOJ. The resolution was based on documents before me nothing else,"
The state prosecutors, numbering about 1,700 under the leadership of Chief State Prosecutor Claro Arellano, on Monday asked
"Under the law, I am given the power to review and modify the findings of the prosecutors,"
"I understand the sentiments of the prosecutors but I have to be impartial on my review of cases,"
Since 1986, there are now some 10,000 pending petitions for review before the DOJ, and
"I am not duty bound to inform the prosecutors on the result of my review,"
He said that the views of the other prosecutors may differ from his own view in the same manner that Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes had a different view as against the view of the DOJ when she dismissed the rebellion charges against the Ampatuans for lack of probable cause.
"Writing the draft resolution is internal on the DOJ,"
He assured the prosecutors that he was not vindictive and he would not take any action against them for as long as they don't violate the law and for as long as they continue to work in handling cases. (PNA)
May 2010 is National Census Month
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently signed Proclamation No. 2028 which declares May this year as National Census Month.
Citing Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 which provides for the taking of an integrated census every 10 years beginning in 1980 and the requirement for an up-to-date and comprehensive data of the population at the local levels in line with the national government's thrust to decentralize functions to the local government units (LGUs), President Arroyo enjoined all departments and other government agencies to implement and execute the operational plans, directives and order for the nationwide conduct of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH).
The National Statistics Office (NSO) is the lead agency in the conduct of the 2010 CPH that shall commence on May 17. The census will take an inventory of the total population and housing units in the country and collect information about their characteristics. The data that will be collected by the undertaking will be useful in the formulation of policies, plans and programs of the government relative to the delivery of basic health and social services to target beneficiaries and the general public, in determining business opportunities and industry status, in research and development, and in academic studies.
More specifically, data obtained from the census provides government basis for redistricting and apportionment of congressional seats, allocation of resources and revenues, and creation of political and administrative units.
The
The NSO will submit to the President of the
NEA Forges
Total electrification of the country needs the cooperation of all.
Thus, NEA has forged an alliance with a Multi-Sectoral Governance Coalition (MSGC) composed of associations which work for and with the Rural Electrification Program. This Coalition was organized to support the attainment of NEA’s vision of total electrification on an area coverage basis by 2020 and in line with its pursuit of excellence through good governance.
With the end-goal of providing adequate and reliable service to electricity consumers, the MSGC has developed its own scorecard specifying its Objectives, Measures, Targets and Initiatives.
The MSGC is comprised of the Electric Cooperatives Advocacy of the Philippines (Ecap), Multi-Sectoral Electrification Advisory Council (MSEAC), Philippine Association of Electric Cooperatives Internal Auditors (PHILAECIA), Philippine Association of Institutional Managers (PHILAIM), National Solidarity of Associations (NSA), National Solidarity of Unions (NSU), National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives (NAGMEC), Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) and Mindanao Institutional Managers.
The Coalition was formally recognized and affirmed in a ceremony held at the Taal Vista Hotel,
