Aquino receives United Nation’s Fund Representative at Malacanang
Maternal child health, population and development were among the concerns discussed during President Benigno S. Aquino III’s meeting with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the government in efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015.
The Chief Executive received UNFPA Representative to the Philippines Ugochi Florence Daniels on Tuesday at the Yellow Room of Malacañang Palace where they discussed concerns on population and development and the UNFPA’s support to maternal child health.
Accompanying Daniels during the call were Hendry Plaza of the National Programme Office for Reproductive Health; Pancela Marie Averian, national programme officer for gender; and Jaramia Amarnani, executive assistant to the country representative.
For the government side, also in attendance were Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad, Economic and Development Authority Secretary Cayetano Paderanga and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Brillantes.
“It was a presentation of the new UNFPA representative, we talked about population and development and the UNFPA support to maternal child health concerns particularly on lowering the rate of mortality of pregnant women and child birth-related deaths,” Soliman said.
“She (Daniels) also presented concerns about population and development. It’s really a discussion of the position of the President on Responsible Parenthood…,” Soliman stressed.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programs to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.
The UNFPA country office in the Philippines works hand in hand with the government at the national and local levels on AIDS prevention, the promotion of gender equality and safe motherhood, and reproductive health advocacy as stated in the MDGs.
Also discussed with the UNFPA country representative was the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program which provides financial support to the poor and underprivileged members of society in coordination with other concerned government agencies.
“CCT is one of the flagships that addresses the maternal child health. There is an education grant of 300 pesos per child up to three children and 500 pesos for the mothers, which is given every month as long as they go to the health centers. It’s a flagship too because it’s a coordination with DepEd, DoH and DSWD.” Soliman said.
The eight major concerns of MDGs focus are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality rate, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.
Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000 and set to be achieved by 2015, the MDGs provide concrete, numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many dimensions.
The MDGs also provide a framework for the entire international community to work together towards a common end – making sure that human development reaches everyone, everywhere. If these goals are achieved, world poverty will be cut by half, tens of millions of lives will be saved, and billions more people will have the opportunity to benefit from the global economy. (PCOO)
Nuclear emergency unlikely to hit the country—Malacanang
The Philippines is prepared for a “nuclear emergency” in the event of a meltdown in an earthquake-crippled nuclear facility in Fukushima, Japan.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Alumanda de la Rosa, in a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday, however, stressed that it is “highly unlikely” that radio activity deposition will reach the country.
The three officials said that there is no scientific and technical basis that radioactive plume or nuclear fall-out from Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants will hit the Philippines as wind projection heading east of Japan towards the Pacific Coast and is definitely going thousands of kilometers away from the Philippine territorial seas.
The Philippines lies south of Japan.
However, Montejo stressed that “we are prepared for any eventuality.”
De la Rosa said the Philippines National Radiology Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (RAD) is in place since 2000, and the National Risk and Disaster Management Council (NDRRMC) and the PNRI “can put into action.”
The RAD Plan establishes an organized emergency response capability for timely coordinated action of the Philippine authorities for radiological incidents or emergencies.
At the same time, the three officials said the DOST and the PNRI will issue regular updates on the situation in the Japanese nuclear plants.
Ona also said that in a worst case scenario, the DOH is ready to purchase large amount of iodine to counter the effects of radio active poisoning.
“We don’t see as yet the necessity of stocking on iodine but we know where to get it as well as the price,” Ona said.
De la Rosa said the PNRI’s website posts updates and measures being undertaken by the government.
The PNRI said it is continuously closely monitoring the situation of the Fukushima-Daiichi Power Plants and as of Tuesday, the IAEA Incident and Emergency Center said that all four units of the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants are still in shutdown condition.
PNRI also strongly advised the public to call the PNRI trunklines with Tel Nos. 929-6010 to 19 and 920-8787 or refer to the DOST PNRI website (www.pnri.dost.gov.ph) and STII (swww.stii.dost.gov.ph) for further advisories. It also advised the public to access the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) website for the latest development (www.iaea.org) of the incident.
The IAEA is considered the international watchdog which issues verified information about the events happening in Fukushima. (PCOO)
DOST, Philippines Nuclear Research Institute to issue regular bulletins on Japan’s nuclear accident—Malacanang
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippines Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) will issue regular bulletins on Japan’s nuclear accident to continuously inform the public and avoid widespread panic.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Alumanda M. dela Rosa, the director of the PNRI said they are currently gathering information on the latest explosion in one of Japan’s nuclear reactors and will come up with a report on their bulletin Tuesday afternoon.
Reacting to a hoax text message on Monday, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo said he couldn’t see now some universities cancelled their classes based on unverified information. He said these schools didn’t solicit information from the DOST, Montejo said.
“It’s outrageous, how can we suspend classes if classes in Japan are ongoing and normal? The offices in Japan are operating normally and they are on the site. How can they make a decision to suspend classes in the Philippines which is four hours by plane away from Japan? There is no basis,” he said referring to the suspensions.
Because of the bulletins that the DOST and PNRI are about to issue, Montejo said they believe the schools and the public will be more guided and informed about the developments in Japan.
“We will be issuing bulletins, we have issued our first bulletin last Sunday and everyday we will issue bulletins based on recent developments. There’s an incident in Japan this morning so we will talk again and we will prepare our latest bulletin based on current information that we have,” he said.
If the schools and universities disregard DOST’s bulletins, Montejo said they will talk to the Commission of Higher Education (Ched) and Department of Education (DepEd) to instruct schools under their control to follow recommendations of the department.
Asked about the effect of radiation on the Philippines in a worst case scenario, Montejo said they didn’t see direct physical harm to people but the country’s agriculture may be affected as well as the imports from Japan.
“We tried to estimate the worst case scenario. This is a very rough and this will be part of our updated bulletin. In worst case scenario, Japan will be hit hard. Maybe there would be some… in the Philippines if it became worst but it is very remote. The impact may well be on agriculture,” he said.
Montejo also made an assurance that the nuclear fallout will not reach the Philippines because the current wind pattern is not moving towards the country. The wind is blowing eastward or towards the Pacific Ocean, away from the Philippines. This wind pattern will last up to the middle of May, Montejo.
Dela Rosa said they are continuously monitoring the environment to detect any rise in radiation level but they haven’t started checking on imports from Japan. The Philippine government will have to do extensive assessments and testing before coming up with a recommendation whether to impose ban imports from Japan or not.
“We increased the frequency of monitoring since Sunday. We have data to show if there is an increase in the level of radio activity in our atmosphere. We will have regular updates on the level or radio activity in the air,” Dela Rosa said. (PCOO)
PH rescue team ready to assist Japan
Upon the instructions of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the government has created a rescue team composed of military and health personnel ready to be deployed to Japan at any moment’s notice to assist Japanese residents affected by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the northern portion of the country last March 11.
The President made his instructions known in a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, extending his and the Filipino people’s “most profound condolences and sympathies” to the people of Japan for the tragedy.
The letter assured Prime Minister Naoto, that “the Philippine government stands ready to extend any support and assistance within its capability, as Japan strives to cope with the aftermath of this tragic event.”
Hours after the President sent the letter; Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said a crack Philippine rescue team that would be sent to Japan had been expeditiously formed.
In a message, Del Rosario said an Armed Forces of the Philippines “trauma team” had been created from the different service commands and the health sector.
He said that he had informed the Japanese Ambassador “within hours of the unfortunate events…of our readiness to provide an AFP trauma team (composed of): three (3) PN (Philippine Navy) medical teams, two (2) PAF (Philippine Air Force) medical response teams, a 30-man paramedic rescue team and a rescue team with five (5) sniffing dogs – all to be transported using our C-130.”
“All are on standby-basis should the Japanese government give its go-signal,” Del Rosario said.
Aquino leads the dedication of DBM Building II as Emilia Boncodin Hall
President Benigno Aquino III today led the dedication ceremony of the newly-constructed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Building II which was named Emilia T. Boncodin Hall in honor of the late Budget Secretary’s exemplary contributions to the government and for her being an honest civil servant.
The President unveiled the marker of the four-storey DBM Building II as part of the department’s tribute to the first death anniversary of the late Budget Secretary. The construction of the DBM Building II was completed on March 10, 2010.
Boncodin passed away on March 15, 2010 at the age of 55, due to complications arising from her body’s rejection of a kidney which was donated in 2005.
During a simple program, the President presented plaque of appreciation to Boncodin, which was received by her mother, Cristeta.
Dubbed as “icon of public service,” the President in his speech hailed Boncodin for her dedication to live simply adding that she left public service for almost 20 years but untouched by any whiff of scandal.
The President noted that as government official, Boncodin was also a professional lecturer of the National College of Public Administration and Governance at the University of the Philippines and Lyceum of the Philippines.
As his former budget consultant when he was a senator, the President recalled that Boncodin helped him to implement reforms to ensure that no single centavo will be diverted into the pocket of erring government officials. He said Boncodin also initiated the Philippine National Budget Monitoring Network that gave civil society organizations role to become watchdog of public funds.
He also recalled that as DBM Chief during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Boncodin disclosed the irregularity in the appropriations and use of “unprogrammed fund” in the national budget and the realignment of debt service appropriations to fund programs.
Along with nine other members of the Cabinet, Boncodin resigned from the government on July 8, 2005, in protest of the “Hello Garci” election fraud scandal, and joined calls for Arroyo to step down. They are popularly known as the “Hyatt 10.” (PCOO)
PHL, Taiwan to create legal aid mechanism
The Philippines and Taiwan have agreed to start consultation for the creation of a legal aid mechanism aimed at preventing a repeat of a recent diplomatic misunderstanding that stemmed from the deportation of Taiwan nationals to mainland China by Filipino authorities.
“Part of our discussion was the start of a consultation for a legal aid mechanism that will be done under MECO [Manila Economic and Cultural Office] and TECO [Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines]. Mar Roxas, the President’s “trouble shooter” said in a press briefing on Tuesday “There will be a mechanism in case thing happens or if there is conflicting claims of jurisdiction. The legal term is ‘notification process’ and consultation process.”
Roxas said both sides will also start tackling economic issues to build closer economic ties. This will involve the Philippines’ export of agricultural products which oftentimes encounter difficulties in entering the Taiwanese market.
Roxas said his second meeting with Taiwanese officials was very productive.
The former senator said Taiwan was elated over the appointment of former Armed forces chief of staff retired general Ricardo David as new head of the Bureau of Immigration.
“They are very happy. They welcomed it as a very positive development. What I told them is that the President will exercise and has exercised his prerogative to appoint people of his confidence in this sensitive position and whatever their interpretation it’s up to them,” he said.
Roxas also mentioned the recent decision of Taiwan to ease restriction on Filipinos wanting to work in Taiwan. Taiwan imposed stricter requirements for Filipino applying for jobs in Taiwan making it difficult for them to enter that state.
Taiwan officials may have realized that Filipino workers have significant contribution to their economy prompting them to ease the restrictions, Roxas said.
Citing Taiwan data, the former Senator said half of 90,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan are in electronics, semi-conductor and manufacturing sectors. Less than half of them work in homecare and caregiver sectors, he said.
“So a significant portion of Filipino workers really contribute to their economy especially semi-conductors and electronics. They accepted that we really contributed to their economy so they want this row to end soon,” he said. (PCOO)
