PGMA fetes agencies involved in anti-poverty programs
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awarded today Presidential citations to government agencies which have successfully implemented poverty alleviation programs that advanced the development and provided greater access to basic services particularly for the poor and marginalized sector of the populace.
The Chief Executive awarded the Presidential citations to the Department Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Technical education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).
Receiving the awards from the President at Malacanang’s Ceremonial Hall were Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Social Welfare Secretary Celia Yangco, DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, TESDA Director General Pastor Guiao, Philhealth executive vice president Melinda Mercado, DA Undersecretary Berna Romulo Puyat and NAPC Undersecretary Catherine Mae Santos.
One of the outstanding accomplishment of the DA is the sustained implementation of anti-poverty programs and projects under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).
These include the construction of 6,305 kilometers of farm-to-market-roads; generation of 23,390 hectares of new irrigation areas; rehabilitation of 261,811 hectares and restoration of 153,598 hectares of unserviceable and deteriorated irrigation facilities; and distribution of 41.4 million kilos of organic fertilizer and 3.56 million fertilizer discount coupons benefiting some 1.78 million farmers.
The DA also provided hybrid and certified seed subsidy for some 3.2 million hectares benefiting 2.23 million farmers; distributed 85,478 heads of various animals; 452 million fingerlings and 4 million pieces of broodstock which boosted production and enhance productivity of farmers and fishermen.
The DA also installed 2.016 flatbed dryers nationwide to help farmers minimize post-harvest losses and released P4.9 billion worth of loans to 141,916 farmers and fisherfolk to encourage and develop their capacity to invest more in agribusiness.
On the other hand, the Cheaper Medicines Act provided huge savings for the marginalized with the availability of generic medicines as the DOH established 15,024 Botika ng Barangays which provided affordable yet quality medicines to poor communities nationwide.
The DSWD was cited for the successful implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that improved the health, education and spending capacity of some one million poor Filipinos while providing community grants for the 200 poorest towns nationwide.
The DTI was cited for the continuing expansion and access to funds of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which continued to flourish even during the global economic crisis.
TESDA was recognized for the successful implementation of the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship Program which provided more than one million technical and vocational scholarships for the unemployed, underemployed, retrenched/displaced workers and returning overseas workers.
NAPC was likewise recognized for its sustained efforts in conducting local and national level consultations that improved the welfare of the poor and vulnerable sectors such as labor, urban poor, senior citizens, cooperatives, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Philhealth was cited for the enrolment of 85 percent of the population under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) with health insurance claims reaching P23 billion in 2009 from only P7 billion in 2000. (PND)
BPO continues to power growth of services sector -- Palace
Malacañang said today the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector in the country continues to flourish, contributing tremendously to the growth of the service industry.
According to Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza in a press briefing today, the BPO industry is “giving the glow to the 6.1 percent first quarter growth in the service sector compared to the 1.9 percent a year ago,”
Overall, first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) on total goods, services and products in the country grew by 7.3 percent, officials said, affirming the figure given by economic agencies
The BPO sector alone generated over $7.2 billion last year, approximating earlier projections which estimated the year end earnings within that range. In year 2000, BPO was a mere $24 million industry.
In the same press briefing, Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, chairman of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), said that despite the effects of the global economic crisis, the BPO industry grew by 19 percent and generated 440,000 employees despite recession last year.
In her 2009 State of the Nation Address, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave importance to developing the BPO sector, citing it as an engine of growth.
With the global economy recovered as of late last year, Chua is expecting an industry growth of 26 percent for 2010.
According to Chua, the country is building a name as a preferred off-shoring destination with the quality of service that the country provides.
He was optimistic that American businesses will continue outsourcing forays, despite attempts by
Chua said the government continuously monitors these developments in the
“We are constantly monitoring the situation and it is up to our bilateral relationship with US to avert any adverse effect of such a move,” Chua said, adding that the global demand for outsourcing services continues to grow.
He also said there are a lot of services that can be outsourced that has not been outsourced, He said the challenge does not lie in the demand but in keeping up the supply of personnel by developing new talents. (OPS)
RP looks at higher growth target in 2010
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) sees better economic growth for the country in 2010.
In a news conference in Malacanang today, Economic Planning Director Dennis Arroyo said the Philippines is looking at a "sustainable" increase in its economic growth target range this year of between 2.6 percent and 3.6 percent.
Most multilateral funding institutions like the World Bank and foreign banks have already upgraded the country’s growth target to as high as six percent.
Arroyo said growth is "looking good" and now "solid" mainly due to the booming global economy.
Arroyo said the government had "stopped being conservative" after the gross domestic product (GDP) rose to 7.3 percent in the first quarter this year. "We are now more confident in our growth estimates," he said.
"What pushed growth were manufacturing which grew by 20 percent and exports by 17.9 percent - the biggest export surge in 15 years," Arroyo explained. (OPS)
