Gov’t to create joint investigative panel to probe carjacking, killing incidents
The government is creating a joint investigative panel that will look into the alleged involvement of some personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the carjacking and killing incidents last month.
In a media briefing at the Palace on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ramon Carandang said that the joint investigation panel will be composed of representatives from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that will conduct a probe on the claims from some groups that there were some police officials involved in the killing and carjacking incidents last month.
“As you know there have been allegations that some police officials might be involved in the carjackings… the DOJ and the DILG has set up a panel to investigate, specifically the allegations that some officials might be involved in that,” Carandang said.
“The joint panel will consist of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the PNP and the National Prosecution Service as well as the DOJ and the DILG,” he added.
Carandang said that the creation of the panel was on the initiative of both agencies concerned.
“The specifics was up to them but the President did express the desire for that to be looked into, the actual forming of the panel might have been the idea of the DILG and the DOJ,” Carandang noted.
Two car dealers were killed last month after meeting with unidentified persons that posed as buyers.
The victims Venson Evangelista and Emerson Lozano and his companion Ernane Sensil, went missing after meeting with the clients. (PCOO)
Malacanang says government’s Conditional Cash program gaining ground
The government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program is gaining ground as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is rigorously imposing transparency, stringent evaluation and on –the- spot checks on the beneficiaries to ensure that the real beneficiaries-- the genuine poor, are indeed the recipients of this pro-poor program.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said that as of December 2010, the government served more than one million families.
She noted that due to the complaints and grievances mechanism that was put in place for the CCT program, some 20 thousand families were delisted.
Soliman explained that the agency receives some 600 text messages everyday and that these messages range from complaints on inclusion or exclusion error.
Beneficiary selection, according to Soliman, is based on the National Statistical Coordination Board’s statistics adding that a poor family does not have to pay any amount to anybody asking for membership fee to be included in the CCT program.
President Benigno S. Aquino III has said that the effective implementation of the CCT program is critical to addressing the extreme hunger and poverty suffered by some four million Filipino families.
The CCT program or 4Ps empowers extremely poor families to seek access to the government’s health and education services, which in the long run can lift them up from abject poverty.
The CCT, in essence, helps the country fulfill its commitment to the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that include eradication of extreme hunger and poverty, access to maternal and child health care, and universal access to primary education.
Countries that have successfully implemented CCT programs to address poverty include Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.
The CCT program requires beneficiaries to comply with the conditions by having their children complete school days and undergo regular health services.
Some of the immediate outcomes include the increased number of education years for children of poor families, increased nutrition and health outcomes, reduced child labor, and increased labor force participation of women. (PCOO)
Ochoa gets CA’s unanimous nod
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Wednesday easily breezed through his confirmation after the Commission on Appointments (CA) unanimously approved his nomination to the post.
In the plenary session, Ochoa received the swift confirmation of the CA with no opposition from members of the powerful body.
According to the CA Secretariat, the endorsement of Ochoa in the committee level was the “fastest confirmation hearing in 10 years.”
“The Office of the Executive Secretary is no place for lightweights and mediocre public servants. The outstanding performance of the Quezon City government is eloquent proof of the appointee’s professional competence, administrative expertise and personal integrity,” said Rep. Rosendo Labadlabad, chairman of the committee on government corporation and other offices.
Ochoa used to be the administrator of Quezon City from January 2003 to June of 2010.
According to Labadlabad, as executive secretary, Ochoa wields tremendous powers, directly assisting President Benigno Aquino III in managing the affairs of the government.
“But we have no reason to be apprehensive. For being not only an Atenean but also a Thomasian, Attorney Ochoa Jr. must have already internalized the now famous Spiderman theme: with great power comes great responsibility,” the lawmaker from Zamboanga del Norte said.
Labadlabad expressed optimism that Ochoa will prove equal to the challenges confronting the day to day operations of the office.
At the CA panel’s hearing in the morning, Sen. Joker Arroyo, himself a former executive secretary, did not object to the nomination of the “Little President.”
Arroyo recognized President Aquino’s overwhelming trust and confidence in Ochoa that the latter can effectively and efficiently carry out the duties and responsibilities of an executive secretary.
Asked by reporters whether he was surprised by the quick confirmation process, Ochoa said he was elated by the vote of confidence of the bicameral commission to President Aquino and his governance. (PCOO)
Aquino to inaugurate Maynilad’s Water treatment plant in Muntinlupa
President Benigno S. Aquino III will inaugurate the newly-constructed water treatment plant of Maynilad Water Services, Inc.’s (Maynilad) in Putatan, Muntinlupa City on Thursday, Feb. 3.
With its completion, the state-of-the-art treatment plant will now provide fresh, safe and potable water to Maynilad customer-residents in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa City.
The treatment plant, the first water treatment facility that taps into Laguna Lake as an alternative water source to Angat Dam uses a multi-stage process of dissolved air flotation, microfiltration, reverse osmosis and chlorination to rid water of impurities and organisms harmful to health.
It is the largest membrane-based water treatment plant in the Philippines and is a vital part of Maynilad’s plan to develop alternative sources of water and ensure long-term water security for its customers.
Joining the President are Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, and Maynilad Chairman Manuel Pangilinan. (PCOO)
Attempt to revive culture of corruption will not be allowed by the Filipino people, says Aquino
Biñan City, Laguna: President Benigno S. Aquino III is confident that the Filipino people will not allow the attempts of some group to revive the culture of graft and corruption in the public service.
“May mga nagnanais mang bumalik ang katiwalian at kurapsyong lumaganap sa ating bayan nang mahabang panahon, hindi ito magtatagumpay kung ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagkakaisa at pagtitiwala natin sa isa’t isa,” the President said.
Speaking at the first cityhood anniversary celebration of Biñan and the inauguration of the newly-constructed four-storey City Hall annex building at Barangay Zapote here, the President stressed that his administration would unearth irregularities that occurred in the previous administration.
He noted that the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) uncovered anomalous transactions in different departments and offices, practically every week in the past 7 months of his administration. He said the PMS is now consolidating all these cases before these are submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal proceedings.
In his speech, the President also announced that the city of Biñan is now ready to compete with other developed and progressive cities, not only in the Philippines, but also in other countries, by providing basic social services to its constituents.
He said in 2010, Biñan generated P770 million for its revenues compared to P600 million in 2009.
“At sa loob lamang ng isang taon, ipinakita ninyo na ang sipag at galing ng mga taga-Biñan ang pangunahing puhunan ninyo sa pag-asenso. Sa pamumuno ni Mayor Len (Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat), hindi na ako magtataka kung lumampas sa isang bilyong piso ang inyong kikitain ngayong 2011,” he said.
The President pointed out that the continued success of Biñan’s economic conditions help fuel the improvements in the province of Laguna, and the entire country as a whole.
“Ngayong hawak na ninyo ang dagdag na kapangyarihan at yaman bilang lungsod, inaasahan kong lalo pa ninyong mapapangalagaan ang pamumuhay ng mga taga-Biñan,” he added.
For her part, Biñan Mayor Marlyn “Len” Alonte-Naguiat thanked the President for his support and assistance especially during the time when the cityhood of Biñan was discussed for passage at the Senate.
Immediately upon arrival, the President led the unveiling of the building’s marker signaling its formal opening. Mayor Naguiat also presented to the President the signed memorandum of agreement of Biñan city government and Sun Power Corporation for the solar-powered street lighting project along the main thoroughfare of the city, as well as the city hall premises. (PCOO)
