Malacanang to issue guidelines on excess NFA rice
Malacañang is now ready to issue the guidelines for the distribution of excess rice of the National Food Authority (NFA) to poor communities and the government’s feeding program nationwide.
President Benigno S. Aquino III will approve the guidelines for the rice distribution after his meeting this afternoon in Malacañang with NFA Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Budget Secretary Butch Abad and NFA Administrator Lito Banayo.
In a media briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda said that during the meeting, the President will thresh out the guidelines together with the Cabinet officials concerned.
“They will be discussing it this afternoon and hopefully the guidelines will be issued either today or tomorrow,” Lacierda said.
Earlier, Banayo said they are formulating guidelines for the President’s approval on how to dispose the excess rice stocks in their warehouses as a result of over importation during the past administration and in anticipation of the palay harvest season starting this October.
The DBM is expected to fund the acquirement of the NFA rice for the DSWD’s supplemental feeding program for malnourished children and the DILG’s food-for-work program.
Other local government units are also interested in acquiring the NFA excess rice stocks to be sold at cheaper prices to poor communities.
Due to over importation, the NFA currently has 41 million metric tons of rice stocked in their warehouses which is almost double their normal level.
Palace reaches “pragmatic decision” on Aug.23
President Benigno S. Aquino III was convinced by his Cabinet secretaries to “adopt a pragmatic” position on the issue of moving Aug. 21, a holiday to Aug. 23 as mandated by Republic Act No. 9492 or the Holiday Economics’ Law.
This was disclosed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda to Malacanang reporters on Wednesday during a press briefing in Malacanang even as he sought to first get the final order from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on the issue of Aug.23, which coincides with the celebration of the Cry of Pugad Lawin.
Asked if the public would be happy about the “pragmatic decision” reached on the issue, Lacierda said “it will be one acceptable to the public.
Lacierda explained that it was discussed yesterday that the law itself provides that the sitting president can amend it. “But we had no discussion on whether to amend or repeal it altogether,” he stressed.
In a related development, Lacierda said the President will re-define “private time” in his daily schedules because “some people think that because his official schedule states private time he will not do anything.”
According to Lacierda, “the President uses his private time studying and working on papers pending on his desk. He even showed us the huge pile on his desk which, he said, he was going to work on during his scheduled private time.”
The media also asked if the President’s inspection late afternoon Tuesday of the creek on P. Casal St. on invitation of ABS-CBN Foundation president Gina Lopez would be the signal for the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways to “inspect and declog all esteros, creeks and other waterways of debris that cause flash floods during downpours.”
“Being the head of the ABS-CBN Foundation, Ms. Lopez paid a visit to the President and invited him to inspect the estero as part of her Pasig River rehabilitation advocacy,” Lacierda said.
Palace supports ban on officials’ name, images on government projects
Like the no “wang-wang” policy initiated by President Benigno S. Aquino III, Malacanang today expressed hope that government officials will refrain from using the Chief Executive’s name or images in government projects.
“We hope that this would be another example where by the President’s own initiative, officials will also follow through” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing today.
Lacierda said the President, in trying to lead by example, initiated the no “Wang Wang” (siren) policy on the road upon his assumption in office, to show that it is not him but the people, who are the real boss.
He said that it is better for government projects to be highlighted as beneficial to the country.
Lacierda asked the private sector to cooperate with the President’s initiative, citing as an example the big billboard with the picture of the President erected near Shangri-La mall in Mandaluyong city, which, he said, should not be encouraged.
In line with the President’s memo to cabinet secretaries to refrain from using his name or his photograph on project site billboards, Secretary Rogelio Singson issued yesterday department order (DO) 37, banning the placement of names and pictures of politicians on government projects.
According to the order, project billboards should only contain the name and location of the project, name of the contractor, the date the project started, contract completion date, contract cost, construction consultant, implementing office of the DPWH, and source of fund.
Lacierda also said that the government, in principle, supports the bill filed by Senator Francis Escudero which prohibits the naming of government projects after officials.
Barangay elections to push through in October
President Benigno S. Aquino III wants the barangay elections to push through as scheduled this October.
Briefing mediamen in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President does not see any compelling reason to defer the barangay elections on October 25 this year.
“Regarding the barangay elections, the preference of the President is for the barangay elections to push through in October,” Lacierda said.
To save on funds, Lacierda said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is proposing the synchronization of the barangay polls with the national elections on May 2013.
The DILG is also proposing the election of only one Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representative instead of eight in the barangay council.
Senator Miguel Zubiri and House minority leader Rep. Edcel Lagman have filed separate bills seeking the postponement of this year’s barangay and SK polls to October 2012.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is earmarking at least P3.2 billion for the October 25 barangay elections in some 43,000 villages in the country.
