PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Ochoa: Palace to build 20,000 houses for PNP, AFP personnel

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday said the Aquino Administration will earmark P4.2 billion to build 20,000 houses for low-salaried members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) as part of improving the welfare of government employees.

Ochoa said President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 9 on April 11, creating the AFP/PNP Housing Project, which involves the provision of permanent shelters for soldiers and policemen who will qualify under the beneficiaries selection criteria of the program.

“It is the policy of this administration to improve the welfare of government employees, including military and police personnel,” the Executive Secretary said.

“Providing decent and affordable shelter to soldiers and policemen is one way to carry out such policy, as we are aware that despite sincere efforts there are still a large number of military and police personnel whose need for housing provision must be urgently attended to,” Ochoa added.

Through this affordable and decent housing program, the administration hopes to give the military and police personnel, who put their lives at risk to uphold the laws of the land and maintain peace and order in the country, what is due them, he said.

Under AO 9, the National Housing Authority (NHA) takes the lead in the implementation of the housing program, which funding will also come from the housing authority.

Executive Order No. 90, put in place in December 1986, designates the NHA as responsible for the implementation of the government’s socialized housing under the National Shelter Program.

In line with this, the President’s directive orders the NHA to formulate, implement and manage the housing program for low-income armed forces and police personnel. (PCOO)


Alcala optimistic about export potentials of PH

The Philippine government is negotiating for the export of meat products and vegetables to other Asian countries hoping that it could seal several deals soon, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said on Tuesday.

Alcala told reporters in a press conference in Malacanang that the Philippines and South Korea are currently finalizing a deal for the export of chicken meat after South Korea was hit by Bird Flu.

The Philippines also exports chicken meat to Japan, being the only country in South East Asia not affected by Bird Flu virus.

“We are Bird Flu-free so we have the capability to supply to other countries. For instance, most of the supply of chicken yakitori in Japan comes from the Philippines,” Alcala said adding that at present, the country’s meat production is already at the tipping point.

The hog raising industry also has very good export prospects, according to Alcala. He said he is about to receive a certification from a Paris-based certifying body declaring the country as FMD free (Foot and Mouth Disease) that could open up future shipments of pork overseas.

“I hope that I have the opportunity to receive the certification from Paris, France, certifying that the entire Philippines is FMD free without vaccination,” the agriculture chief said. “Again, this is a very good opportunity for the Philippines.”

But Alcala said there are challenges ahead to make the meat production industry in the Philippines competitive. He said he has to fix some problems between producers and food users to harmonize everything.

At the same time, Alcala said there must be an effective storage system in the country to stock file processed meats during peak periods in preparation for the lean months.

“During summer we should produce pork in a box so we could have stocks. The demand really wanes during summers because the people are in the provinces. So let us fix it, the government should help,” he said.

Aside from the export of meat products, there is also an on-going negotiation between the Philippines and Singapore for the export of vegetables to that country.

“I’m talking with some traders in Singapore and we hope that in three to four months we will be sending our vegetables to Singapore. They don’t have the capability to produce,” Alcala said.

He added they are also working with businessmen in Hong Kong for similar export, noting that the large number of tourists visiting the Chinese territory also needs huge food requirements.

“We have the capacity to produce. Let us make it so that we can improve the lives of Filipinos,” he said. (PCOO)


Farmers and fisherfolks now included in fuel subsidy – Alcala

After passenger jeepney and tricycles, the farmers and fisherfolk are now included in the fuel subsidy offered by President Benigno S. Aquino to cushion the impact of continuing price increases in imported oil products to transport sector and food producers, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Jr., announced Tuesday.

Alcala made the announcement at a press briefing in Malacañang this afternoon saying the lists of farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries are already submitted to the office of Energy Secretary Rene Almendras.

He said the lists of beneficiaries are gathered from the records registered at the Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) while the lists of tractors and water irrigation pumps are collated from the registered traders and different municipal agriculturists nationwide.

Alcala said he submitted the lists at the office of Secretary Almendras immediately after the proposal to provide fuel assistance to public transportation industry was presented to the Cabinet.

“Right after mai-present sa cabinet meeting ni Secretary Almendras ay may instruction na siya sa akin na ihabol yung listahan.kaya nag-collate na kami,” Alcala said.

“Nung mag-announce na magbibigay ng subsidy hindi naman kami (Department of Agriculture) pumayag na iwanan namin yung mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda,” he added.

On Tuesday, President Aquino hinted at expanding the fuel subsidy program for jeep and tricycle drivers to sectors involved in transporting food products.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. earlier said the Executive Department may tap "wealthy" local government units to help out with the contingency funds for the subsidy expansion.

Recently, the President has issued Executive Order No. 32 instituting the Public Transport Assistance program (PTAP) known as the Pantawid Pasada program of the government that initially allots P450,000 million to assist transport groups in the country.

The program partially subsidizes the average consumption of identified public transport group provided that they have legitimate franchises under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and they will be using “smart cards” to be issued soon by the Department of Energy to ensure the integrity of the program. (PCOO)


Alcala allays fears over shrinking rice supply

The government is confident that there is sufficient supply of rice in the country belying earlier reports to the contrary that could allegedly lead into a national security concern.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the country has enough supply of rice allaying fears of a possible shortage that could trigger panic and can be considered an issue of national security as allegedly reported by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

“Sana po ay makatulong namin kayo (media) para sabihin po sa ating mga kababayan na huwag silang mag-alala sapagkat wala pong mangyayaring pagkukulang ng butil na bigas sa ating bansa…” Alcala said.

Alcala said that they have not received any report (from NICA) adding that upon verification, the NICA has denied issuing such statement putting to rest the alleged shortage in rice supply.

Alcala said, as compared in last year’s dry season cropping of 6.6 million metric tons, the government is targeting at least 7.6 million metric tons this year or 15 percent increase in harvest.

The dry season covers only two quarters of the year. Alcala said that the total projected cropping for 2011 is 17.46 million metric tons or even higher anticipating the increase of production during the dry season. (PCOO)


Gov’t steps up campaign to eliminate rice wastage

The government is stepping up a media campaign to eliminate staple wastage, an official of Impact Assessment Policy Research and Advocacy of Philippine Rice Research Institute said on Tuesday.

This was bared by Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, program leader for Impact Assessment Policy Research and Advocacy of Philippine Rice Research Institute, as she raised concern over the information that every Filipino is said to be wasting 14 grams of milled rice per day.

“Probably, many of you have not known that every Filipino is wasting about 14 grams of milled rice per day or it is equivalent to about three table spoon per person per day,” she said in a regular press briefing at Malacanang on Tuesday.

She further said: “That if there are 94 million Filipinos who are wasting this (rice), then we are wasting about 480, 000 metric tons of rice which can already feed about 4 million people for the whole year.”

Elimination of wastage, Bordey noted, is one way to manage consumption. Aside from elimination of wastage, she cited two other ways - diversify staple and encourage consumption of unpolished rice to promote responsible consumption pattern for better health and nutrition.

“One of the strategies that are not well-explored by the previous administration is managing of consumptions. It’s like we are trying to keep on increasing our production but then our consumption side is increasing and increasing because, one, of the population growth and second, of the increasing per capita rice consumption,” she said.

Bordey said that “from 106 kilograms per person per year in year 1998, 1999 our rice per capita consumption rose to 119 kilograms per person per year in 2008-2009.”

To address the concern of increasing number of rice per capita, Bordey said they would do extension education and information dissemination to encourage the people to consume alternative staple food.

“So, how do we manage consumption? It’s not like telling the people not to eat rice but we intend to promote responsible consumption pattern for better health and nutrition,” she added.

According to Bordey, one way to do this is to diversify the sources of staple or carbohydrates. “So, rice is not the only source. Some parts of the population are eating white corn as their staple. Some are eating sweet potatoes, cassava especially in the country side,” she said.

Bordey said they will be able to make prices relatively cheaper by increasing the supply of this alternative staples as well. “And therefore, we induce substitution from rice towards these crops in the process,” she said.

“Another one was the consumption of unpolished rice or better known to many as brown rice. So, this brown rice is not only more nutritious than the white rice but it also has this property of higher milling recovery. So, for example, a one hundred (100) kilogram of palay, we can turn it into about 70 kilogram of unpolished rice or brown rice whereas if we convert it to white rice we will only be able to recover about 65 kilograms of white rice,” she said. (PCOO)


Palace urges JBC to begin selection process for next deputy Ombudsman for Luzon

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday urged the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to expedite the selection process for the replacement of Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni after President Benigno Aquino III accepted his resignation.

“This is to inform you that the President accepts your resignation as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon effective immediately,” the Executive Secretary wrote Jalandoni.

The Palace received Jalandoni’s irrevocable resignation letter dated April 7, 2011 with immediate effect late Tuesday afternoon, which was sent via registered mail. He also thanked the President “for having been given the opportunity to serve the country.”

Ochoa earlier said that Malacanang would respect Jalandoni’s decision to step down from office, saying it was his prerogative.

Jalandoni was appointed deputy ombudsman for Luzon in March 2010 and headed the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office prior to his appointment.

He was state prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and program director of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program under the DOJ before he joined the Office of the Ombudsman and once served as undersecretary of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.

Before Jalandoni’s resignation, there were three complaints filed against him last week with the Office of the President, which accused him of usurpation of authority, among others. (PCOO)