Eligible civil servants assured of government positions
Civil Servants who are currently undergoing the process of attaining Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) eligibility are assured of worthy positions in the government upon completion of the process.
In an interview over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Monday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma assured that all government employees with CESO eligibility will be considered to occupy key positions in the government.
“Binibigyan naman po ng due recognition ang ating mga kapatid sa civil service na nagsisikap na mag-attain ng CESO rank”, Coloma said.
Coloma added that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. has already issued a memorandum last week directing all Cabinet Secretaries to consider CESO eligible employees to assume vital positions in the government that require such eligibility.
He further said that the memorandum covers all departments of the government and without discrimination, allaying fears from civil servants in the provinces that they are not given proper attention.
“Iyon naman pong mga memorandum circulars natin ay para sa buong pamahalaan po yan at sakop ang Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao”, Coloma noted.
“Kaya nga po noong nakaraang lingo ay nag-issue din po ng memorandum si Executive Secretary Ochoa sa lahat ng mga Cabinet Secretaries at mga departamento na nagtatadhana na bigyan ng konsiderasyon iyong mga career executive service officer or CESO”, he added.
Earlier, the President has issued Memorandum Circulars (MC) No. 1 declaring third level position vacant and directing all non-CESO occupying Career Executive Service positions to continue to perform their duties and responsibilities until July 31. This was followed by Memorandum Circular No. 2, amending the MC No. 1 extending the tenure of Non-CESO officials until October 31.
Coloma said the extension gave ample time for the heads of agencies to review and study those deserving officials to stay in their positions under the new administration. He said that it also emphasized the professionalization of the Civil Service.
“Hindi po naging padaskul-daskul ang ating administrasyon sa pagtanggal o pagpapalit ng maramihan o lahatan sa mga nakapuwesto sa ating pamahalaan”, Coloma stressed.
Coloma said that the Palace has given the department heads the authority to recommend based on their assessment on who shall stay in their positions.
“Kaya po noong malapit na ang October 31, iyong araw na itinakda ng MC No. 2 ay tinawagan po ang mga iba’t-ibang pinuno ng departamento at tanggapan at ipinaalala sa kanila na meron pong deadline na ganyan at binigyan naman po ng laya sila na mag-reappoint nitong mga affected na civil servants natin kung sa palagay nila ay karapat-dapat na manatili” he said. (PCOO)
Malacañang elated over release of Pinoy sailors
Malacañang today welcomed reports that Filipino seafarers held hostage by Somali pirates have been released.
In a press briefing at Malacañang, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is very happy over the release of the 19 Filipino seafarers who were abducted with five other South Korean seamen in April.
“We are very happy that they are safe,” “she said (adding that) they will go into a sort of debriefing.”
In a related development, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday commended the parties responsible for the successful release of the South Korean supertanker Samho Dream.
The DFA said it was happy that these courageous Filipinos will soon be in the company of their loved ones.
“The Philippine government will continue to closely coordinate and work with ship principals, manning agencies and other parties in securing the release of the other seafarers who are still in the hands of Somali pirates,” it added.
Ninety-two Filipino seamen are being held captive by pirates in the east African state.
The 300,000-ton Samho Dream was seized in the Indian Ocean in April as it was heading fully laden from Iraq to the US state of Louisiana with a crew of 19 Filipinos and five South Koreans.
Officials of Samho Shipping and the South Korean foreign ministry declined to disclose exactly how much ransom was paid. But South Korean media, including the Yonhap news agency, reported that a ransom of $9 million to $9.5 million was paid for the ship’s release.
Yonhap said the amount was the largest ever to be given to Somali pirates. The news agency cited Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program, as saying the pirates earlier demanded $20 million. (PCOO)
PNP to provide tight security for Clinton visit, says Palace
The Philippine National Police is ready to provide airfight security for former United States President Bill Clinton who is set to arrive Wednesday in the wake of a global terror alert.
In an interview this afternoon, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the PNP National Capital Regional Police Office is now coordinating closely with the US Embassy to provide appropriate security for Clinton, who will be a resource person at a Manila Hotel event entitled “Embracing Our Common Humanity.”
“Of course, we will provide the best security for former president Bill Clinton,” Valte said noting that the upcoming visit of the former US president shows that the Philippines is still safe despite the recent travel advisories issued by some countries.
Valte said the recently-concluded Robot Olympiad where 22 representatives from different countries and the upcoming visit of Clinton are signs that the Philippine government is “very committed” and “very resolved” in protecting them
“We have a beautiful country. We have taken measures to tighten security and we assure everyone that everybody not only our citizens are amply protected,” Valte added.
Meanwhile, PNP NCRPO Director Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome reported to Malacanang that policemen including covert personnel, will be stationed in the venue.
Route security, according to Bartolome, will be provided while K-9 units will also be deployed to detect any bombs.
Metro Manila has been on full alert since the annual celebration of the All Souls and All Saints Day, and will remain so up to December. (PCOO)
Palace asks public to remain calm amid impending fuel shortage in metropolis
Malacanang asked the public to remain calm amid reports an impending fuel shortage in Metro Manila due to the closure 10 days ago of an oil pipeline that transports around 60 percent of the city’s fuel needs from Batangas province to the Pandacan oil depot in Manila.
In press briefing on Monday at Malacanang, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, there is no cause for panic even as she made an assurance that the Department of Energy (DOE) is on top of the situation.
“Contingency measures are in place,” she stressed.
Valte said the DOE has asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to exempt oil tankers from the number coding scheme and truck ban to prevent a possible fuel shortage in the metropolis with the closure of the country’s biggest commercial pipeline in Makati City.
The 40-year old pipeline, owned by the First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC), transports crude and refined petroleum needs of Metro Manila. It was shutdown due to gas leakage.
Several gas stations in Metro Manila have reported a fuel supply shortage since the oil pipeline was shutdown.
The FPIC has two main pipelines transporting petroleum products from oil refineries in Batangas to terminals in Pandacan, Manila. The damaged pipeline is FPIC's 117-kilometer “white line" that carries gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel and other refined petroleum products. Its other pipeline, called the “black line," transports heavier petroleum products. (PCOO)
Dolphy gets Grand Collar Award from Aquino
Even as he was to accept the highest award given to a private citizen from no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III, comedian Dolphy couldn’t help but put everybody in stitches in Malacanang Monday.
The 82-year-old Dolphy feigned falling when the President was putting the Grand Collar (Maringal na Kuwintas of the Order of the Golden Heart) on him that elicited the familiar laughter from guests including members of the Quizon family.
“I will treasure this award… until my memorial park,” Dolphy said in his short acceptance remark which drew another round of laughter.
The President conferred the award for Dolphy’s distinguished career in show business and high standards during his more than 60 years in the entertainment industry.
The award also recognized his charity works and other philanthropic projects under the Dolphy Aid Para sa Pinoy Foundation that gives scholarships to deserving children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The Order of the Golden Heart was established in 1954 by the late President Ramon Magsaysay to recognize individuals who had rendered distinguished services or material aid to improve the condition of the masses.
The last person to receive the Grand Collar award on May 20, 1955 was Helen Keller, who, despite losing her hearing and vision at the tender age of 19 months, overcame overwhelming odds and grew into a highly intelligent and sensitive woman who wrote, spoke, and dedicated a lifetime work to help the less fortunate particularly the deaf-blind persons in several countries including the Philippines. (PCOO)
Aquino inducts 22 newly-appointed officials
President Benigno S. Aquino III today inducted 22 newly-appointed officials including those in government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) in ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang.
Among those who took their oath were Deputy Executive Secretary Teofilo Pilando Jr., Assistant Executive Secretary Michael Alimurung, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Undersecretary Ferdinand Cui Jr. and Assistant Secretary Jose Emmanuel David Eva of the Office of the Executive Secretary.
Also inducted were Dr. Jose Eliseo Rocamora, Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission; Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe, president and CEO of the Home Development and Mutual Fund (HDMF); Gemiliano Lopez, Chairman and CEO of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC); Government Corporate Counsel Raoul Creencia; and Emmanuel Borlaza, vice chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTCRB);
National Dairy Authority Administrator Grace Cenas; Deputy Executive Director Augusto Canlas of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority; National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Senior Deputy Administrator Antonio Galvez; Acting Administrator and CEO Edgardo Zaragoza of the National Tobacco Administration; Acting Executive Director Atty. Jane Bacayo of the National Meat Inspection Service; Atty. Jovy Bernabe, acting president of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation; and Acting Executive Director Manuel Jarmin of the Livestock Development Council.
Others who took their oath were Department of Education (DepED) Assistant Secretary Atty. Tonisito Umali, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente Kabigting, Department of Finance (DOF) Acting Deputy Commissioner for Revenue Collection Monitoring Group Peter Manzano, Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Lucas Cauton Jr., and OTS Executive Director Pedro Galero.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Alicia Bala also took her oath as Philippine Representative for Children to the ASEAN Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women and Children.
The President swore into office the newly elected officers of the Congressional Spouses Foundation led by its president and chairperson Quezon City vice Mayor Josefina Go-Belmonte and executive director Paula Camille Bondoc. (PCOO)
Clinton visit a sign of confidence in PHL - Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said today that the upcoming visit of former US President Bill Clinton is a sign of confidence in the Philippines despite the spate of travel advisories issued by several countries due to the global terror threat.
“I would assume that it would be a vote of confidence,” the President said referring to Clinton’s visit on Wednesday.
The President pointed out that Clinton has a secret service detailed to him and, in case, there was a realistic and imminent terrorist threat, his security will object to the visit.
On a possible meeting with Clinton, the President said that due to his hectic schedules, it would be impossible for him to meet Clinton.
“There is no such meeting at this time, I’m preparing for APEC (to be held in Japan),” the President said.
He expects to be discussed during the APEC meeting the issue on the volatility of the international financial market especially the instability of exchange rates affecting the entire global community.
Before his departure for Japan on Thursday, the President is scheduled to visit Cebu on Wednesday to inaugurate a hotel and to launch a ship that would further enhance tourism and job generation in the Central Visayas region. (PCOO)
