PCOO partners with advertising industry to promote ‘Makabayang Pilipino’ program
The government has joined forces with the advertising industry to promote a long-term advocacy program for values orientation and transformation by highlighting positive Filipino values along nation-building goals.
The partnership was formally announced during the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperative Undertaking between the Presidential Communications and Operations Office led by Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. and the Advertising Foundation of the Philippines represented by its chairman Ruperto Nicdao, Jr. at the Bahay Ugnayan in Malacañang on Tuesday.
Dubbed Makabayang Pilipino, the program hopes to foster the values and virtues of nationalism, honesty, discipline and respect for laws and authority, concern for the environment, the spirit of bayanihan, and the excellence for global competitiveness among people and communities.
It is an integrated marketing communications program consisting of multimedia advertising campaigns, special events, and other social marketing projects on values promotion and the development of a Makabayang Pilipino movement.
Launched last October 21, 2010, the Makabayang Pilipino will harness the initiatives and resources of the private sector, government and civil society towards values transformation of the people for peace, progress and sustainable development of people and country.
Present also during the signing ceremony were Johnip Cua, Ad Foundation immediate past president, Luis Morales, Oversight Chairman, Makabayang Pilipino and Eric Canoy, vice-chairman, Makabayang Pilipino core group. (PCOO)
Aquino government set to privatize RPN9, IBC 13
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma stressed on Tuesday morning that the Aquino administration is committed to privatize broadcast networks RPN9 and IBC 13 and retain only People’s Television 4 as mandated by law.
In an ambush interview at the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum of cooperative undertaking at Bahay Ugnayan between PCOO and the Ad Foundation chaired by Ruperto Nicdao Jr. of the Makabayang Pilipino campaign, Coloma said the Privatization Council headed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima is now working out the sale of the government’s stake in these broadcast networks in keeping with the President’s desire to privatize them. The Council is composed of the Department of Finance, the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry and the Privatization Management Office (PMO).
The privatization program for these networks, he said, will be done through competitive bidding and will be done as soon as possible.
The networks have been sequestered and were put in the auction block since 1986, when the Presidential Commission on Good Government took over. But this has not proceeded as fast and the President wants to dispose of them the soonest time possible, Coloma said citing that government is only mandated to operate one broadcast network, the People’s Television 4.
He said Solar Entertainment, which owns 34 percent of RPN9, is just going to change the programming of the network into its ETC (Entertainment channel) but will offer this cable program in free TV. Solar will have to honor the collective bargaining agreement reached with the union to the extent the resources will allow. But nobody is being asked to resign, Coloma explained as he added that government, for its part, has been respecting the CBA with the RPN9 union all these years.
Coloma explained that from 1986 to 2009 the government has owned 86 percent with 14 percent held by private stockholders. In March 2009 the government approved, through the PCGG with the concurrence of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) and the Office of Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) the conversion into equity of the advances made by Solar Entertainment. So from 86 percent, less the 34 percent equity of Solar, the government’s stake has been reduced to 52 percent.
Then in July 2010, the Supreme Court decided with finality and with a writ of execution to recognize the shareholdings of Far East Managers and Investors Inc. (FEMI), an organization affiliated with the estate of the late Ambassador Roberto S. Benedicto. The SC awarded to FEMI 22 percent. So 52 percent (equity left with the government) less 22 percent of FEMI, what remains with government is 30 percent.
“We can look at the privatization in three phases: Phase 1 is the advances turned equity of Solar; Phase 2 is the awarding of 22 percent by SC to FEM and the Phase 3 involves the remaining government share will be privatized through the Privatization Council headed by Purisima,” Coloma said.
Coloma said the government is now drawing up the terms of reference for the privatization program, which is long overdue.
After Channel 9 we will work on the privatization of Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp.’s Channel 13, which is still wholly owned by the government.
Coloma said a significant asset of Channel 13 that in effect has been privatized because the network entered into a joint venture agreement with Prime Realty, associated with the R-II Builders Group of Reghis Romero Jr.
Under the agreement signed in March 2010, 3.5 hectares of Broadcast City is to be developed into a real estate project and the entire project is valued at P780 million, of which P280 million has been paid out in cash to satisfy the claims of the employees in terms of the contractual benefits owed to them by the network, in accordance with the CBA.
Since this is a joint venture agreement for a real estate development, the remaining .5 hectares will be used for the broadcast facilities of IBC 13.
“But we will privatize the broadcast facility so whoever buys the network will operate the facility,” Coloma said.
The value of IBC 13 will be based on the facility plus the .5 hectares of its current site. But the final value will be made by the Privatization Council of Purisima. (PCOO)
Aquino swears in 20 new government officials
President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oath of office to 20 new government officials including former Central Bank Governor Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. as Philippine Ambassador to the United States in ceremonies at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall on Tuesday.
The Chief Executive signed Cuisia’s appointment papers in December 2010 to replace outgoing Ambassador Willy Gaa.
The President also swore in former Philippine Ambassador to Canada Ambassador Jose Brillantes as Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns.
Brillantes was Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia from 1996 to 2002 and had served in various capacities in Philippine diplomatic missions in Ottawa, Germany and Washington D.C.
Retired Armed Forces Vice Chief Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa and Ambassador Evelyn Austria-Garcia also took their oath of office as Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam and Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic, respectively.
Garcia has been posted to Kuala Lumpur, The Hague, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York and Paris.
Ambassador Bienvinido V. Tejano, the 7th Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand was sworn in as the new Philippine Ambassador to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. Other officials who also took their oath of office included Florencia Dorotan and Patrocino Jude Esguerra III as Undersecretaries of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Nabil Tan as Undersecretary at the Office of the President, Gina Cantano- de la Cruz and Lila Shahani as Assistant Secretaries also at the Office of the President,
Atty. Bienvinido Benitez as Member, Board of Directors of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority representing the National Government, Antonio Gallardo as Presidential Legislative Assistant for the Senate, Karen Singson as Dept. of Finance Chief Privatization Officer at the Privatization and Management Office, and Nathaniel Servando as Acting Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric , Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration..
The President also swore in the new officials of the Department of National Defense- Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation-Industrial Authority, namely, Triunfo Agustin as Chairman of the Board of Directors; Leo Tereso Magno as Administrator and Member of the Board of Directors; and Romeo Alamillo, Vicente Buenaventura, Cesar Pobre and Jose Castellano Lapus as Members of the Board of Directors. (PCOO)
Aquino cites loyal, valiant services of PSG
President Benigno S. Aquino III extolled the loyal and valiant services of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) as he announced the government’s plan to provide a housing program for its members.
In his message keynoting the 25th Founding Anniversary of the PSG at the PSG Grandstand in Malacañang Park on Tuesday, the President said that talks are underway with the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the proposed housing program.
The Chief Executive said that necessary measures are also being processed for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He said that the Executive Department is pushing to strengthen the Department of National Defense (DND) to ensure the nation’s security and its territories. He also vowed to penalize those who will be proven guilty in the controversial AFP fund scam.
This year’s celebration theme “Dalawampu’t Limang Taon, Tapat at Marangal na Panunungkulan” connotes the PSG’s 25 years of dedicated service to the country and people.
Part of the celebration is the awarding of outstanding members of the PSG and recognition of unwavering support and immeasurable contribution from past PSG members and the private sector.
Among the awardees include SSg Dominador Dela Cruz PA who was given a medal of merit for honesty, Cpt. Francel Margareth Taborlupa PA, PSG Best Organic Officer of the Year 2011; PSI Jerrold Jake Manguerra PNP, PSG OPCON Officer of the Year 2011; MSg Lauro Quismundo PA, PSG Best Organic Enlisted Personnel of the Year 2011 and Ms. Yolanda Escano CE, Civilian Employee of the Year 2011.
A Plaque of Recognition was awarded to DND Secretary Voltarire Gazmin in acknowledgment of his dedication and untiring efforts in the activation of the PSG.
Other awardees who were likewise given plaque of appreciation MGen Jose Angel Honrado AFP (Ret.), Margarita Juico, Chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Ramon Ang, president of San Miguel Corporation, Atty. Juan Sta. Ana, general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Wilson Young, president and CEO of Tanduay Distillery, Inc.
The PSG came into existence on March 1, 1986 after President Corazon C. Aquino disbanded the Presidential Security Command (PSC) and replaced it with a leaner Presidential Security Group with then Army Colonel Voltaire Gazmin as its first chief. (PCOO)
