PIA Dispatch - Saturday, July 16, 2011

Foreign investor confidence high – DTI

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says that investor confidence in the country is a direct result of concrete and tangible government reforms to weed out graft and corruption.

Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo echoed President Benigno S. Aquino III’s previous statements that this confidence has benefited Filipinos in terms of improved jobs generation and better quality of life.

He noted that the investors captured DTI’s tagline: Enabling business, empowering consumers. “It means their business will grow further,” Domingo said.

This view is supported by the statistics from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Board of Investment (BoI). The investments rose to almost P300 billion during the first five months of this year, up by 189 percent from P 90 billion last year.

Domingo urged the Filipinos to continue to support the administration of President Aquino until such time that all his reform measures through good governance are all implemented.

He added that business confidence is pouring in and the gross domestic product (GDP), foreign investment figures and export figures are continuously increasing.

Domingo said investment pledges at the BoI hit P191.35 billion in the first five months this year — a 338-percent surge from the previous year's P43.65 billion while investment commitments at the Philippine Economic Zones rose 48 percent as of May, to P68.59 billion, up from the P46.35 billion reported in the same period last year.

He said that the two investment promotion agencies have approved a total of 390 projects since May. Once fully operational, the projects are expected to generate 74,266 jobs.

Of the foreign investors, the Netherlands posted P7.44 billion investments in the first five months; Americans, P7.13 billion worth of investment pledges, while Japanese firms added P6.45 billion.

Domingo also said that the BoI and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) also had P3.79 billion in investment commitments from South Korean investors, P1.3 billion from Singaporean firms, and P1.12 billion from British groups.


DoLE backs revision of Labor Code, eyes provisions on tenure, contracting and subcontracting

Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz said the proposed amendment of the 36-year-old Labor Code is one of the priorities of the Aquino administration.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the proposal is included in the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan.

"Naka-agenda kay Presidente yung pag-aamend ng Labor Code. Ang pinag-uusapan lang ay kung ito ba ay through commission or yung regular na pagpapasa natin ng batas," Baldoz said during the Pilipinas Natin forum of the Cabinet’s Human Development Cluster.

"Posibleng through an executive order mag-create siya ng commission, just like the family code... and then gagamitin niya yung existing tripartite industrial peace council para dun kumuha ng mga miyembro," she added.

She said it is about time to revise the Labor Code to respond to the needs of the current labor market trends.

"1970s pa kasi yung Labor Code. The labor market realities now brought by globalization, hindi na 'yan sakop ng labor code noon (this is not covered by the labor code before)," Baldoz said.

Articles identified for revision are the sections on tenure, contracting and subcontracting of services.

Under the labor subcontracting system, a company hires another company to recruit workers on a temporary basis where workers are not paid the minimum wage or are entitled to benefits like social-security coverage, health insurance, and access to low-cost housing services.

Labor groups have long been pushing for the amendment of the outdated Labor Code.

Baldoz said reforms being initiated by the department have the support of the tripartite sector.
"Buhay na buhay ang tripartismo at social dialogue sa ating bansa... Kasama sila sa paggawa ng aming labor and employment sectoral plan," she said.

The Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016 was drafted in response to an order by President Benigno C. Aquino III that each government agency come up with a sectoral plan that supports the Philippine Development Plan in the next five years.


Children of conditional cash transfer beneficiaries now attend classes, says Education Secretary Luistro

Education secretary Armin Luistro said the government is trying to raise future society movers and leaders by implementing the conditional cash transfer program as a higher number of students are now attending classes.

"We're hoping that they will feel obliged to also contribute to the nation in the future," he said.

The Aquino administration had earlier expanded its World Bank-backed conditional cash transfer program, after the Congress approved a P21-billion budget for CCT this year, mainly to provide modest monthly allowances as incentives to households that can keep children in school and keep them healthy.

"We are monitoring their participation in schools...it is better to see them in schools, where we can find solutions to their problems," he said during the recent Pilipinas Natin forum of the Cabinet cluster on Human Development.

CCT beneficiaries has ballooned to three million students in June 2011, up from just one million last year, Luistro added explaining these students are children of CCT beneficiaries.

“Our measures are not only geared towards the opening of classes but also enjoin parents to send their children to school,” Luistro earlier said.

Luistro however debunked that CCT is just a band aid solution to poor students who choose to skip classes after receiving CCT benefits.

"We have to make sure that these children attend school, that is why they should maintain an 85 percent attendance," he said.

He said that the government has carefully planned the CCT, and assured it can accommodate higher number of enrollees in public schools despite the current shortage in classrooms, textbooks and teachers.

He said some 15,000 new classrooms have been erected, while some 15,000 new teachers were hired nationwide for the opening of classes last June.

Luistro likewise bared that the government anticipates the influx of children of CCT beneficiaries in public schools in the next two years, hence the plan to construct an additional 10,000 classrooms in those period.


Citizens’ arrest versus illegal loggers sought

“All logs transported from natural forests are illegal. Any citizen can confiscate the illegal logs,” said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

The categorical declaration by Paje is in line with Executive Order No. 23 issued by President Aquino on February 1, 2011, which declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests.

Paje also discussed the concept of “social fencing,” which Albay Governor Joey Salceda said “made its mark on me…when you involve the community, you don’t have to build a physical fence.”

Paje said social fencing refers to harnessing the help of the members of the local communities by educating and mobilizing them so that care for the forests begins at the inner and upland areas, instead of concentrating on just their outside perimeter and on the plains. The whole forest is thus protected and potential damage from illegal logging or natural disasters is checked both from the top or the forest core, he said.

Paje explained that this move was necessary to complement mere confiscation because even if there is 100 percent success through “citizens’ arrests,” it may not deliver 100 percent success in forest protection.

“A felled tree cannot be restored to its forest life. True forest protection thus is when you prevent a tree from being cut,” Paje noted.

All illegal logs confiscated, as per stipulation in EO 23, are to be used for building classrooms and desks.

“This is for the next generation. The present generation destroyed (these logs). At least, let the future generation sit on them,” the secretary stressed.

The DENR secretary said the country now has 15.8 million hectares of forest land, 7.6 million of which have trees for cover and 8.2 million bare – denuded and degraded. By 2013, it aims to reverse that ratio in favor of more hectareage with forest cover, supported by another executive order, EO 26.


Gov't strengthens OFW reintegration program

The government has strengthened the reintegration program for returning overseas Filipino workers that aims to bolster their entrepreneurial skills if they should choose to stay in the country.

Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz said OFWs and their families can avail from the array of services offered such as business counseling, financial management and business training, and referral for small business loans.

“The DOLE will equip them with entrepreneurial skills and expertise to enable them to craft their own business plans and realize their dream businesses and livelihood endeavors... we are more than ready to assist those who opt to embark on self-employment,” Baldoz said.

The department also provides livelihood packages to displaced OFWs due to political tensions in the Middle East and the new Saudization scheme.

While the new Saudi policy has no immediate impact to OFWs, Baldoz said those who will be affected would be absorbed in the country's labor force.

"'Wag kayong mag-alala dahil wala kaming nakikitang immediate na banta na ang ating mga kababayang nagtatrabaho doon ay uuwi sa atin," she said.

"Kung sila po ay maapektuhan, kayang kaya na po 'yang i-absorb ng ating local market dito," she added.

The P2-billion reintegration loan program is in line with President Benigno S. Aquino III's order to expand the program.

Returning OFWs may avail of loans from the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines.

Gov't urges deserving students to apply in special employment program

The government encourages poor but deserving students nationwide to apply in the special employment program to help augment their family's income.

Youth ages 15-25 years old may apply under the government's Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz said the SPES is a “bridge” towards formal employment and enhances students' skills through productive work.

She said 15 year old students can already be considered part of the labor force.

"Pagdating kasi ng 15 years old, pasok na 'yan sa labor force so yung matibay na pundasyon ng edukasyon simula nung maliit pa sila at lalo na kung akma yung kanilang mga kurso sa pangangailangan ng industriya, napakalaking tulong noon para mapataas ang absorption ng ating mga nakatapos at may mga skills sa ating labor force," Baldoz said during the Pilipinas Natin forum by the Cabinet’s Human Development Cluster.

Under SPES, the youth work during summer and Christmas vacations in private sector companies and government agencies.

The students may work as tax mappers, office workers, barangay survey personnel, encoders, and school assistants.

Under the SPES law, both the government and private sector share in the salary of a student-beneficiary, which should not be lower than the minimum wage set by law.

Baldoz said the SPES is in line with the 22-point employment agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

"Kung may mga working age na yung ibang miyembro ng pamilya, then diyan kami pumapasok dun sa tinatawag nating income augmentation, integrated livelihood program na base doon sa komunidad kung saan sila nakatira," Baldoz said.


Coloma underscores quality of service from LRTA personnel marking agency’s 31st anniversary

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. underscored the important factors that ensure success not only in work but also in every individual’s life.

In his motivational talk during the celebration of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) 31st founding anniversary at the LRTA Line 2 Santolan Depot, Pasig City Friday, Secretary Coloma said that as civil servants, LRTA personnel should always exercise the highest quality and standards of service to the people considering that the railway system is the most patronized mass transport system in the country since its inception in 1980.

“Tayo ay naitatag diyan para maglingkod… at ang inaasahan nilang paglilingkod mula sa atin ay no less than 100 percent service. Ang LRT o MRT ang pinakamatipid, pinakamabilis, pinaka-reliable na paraan ng public transportation, napakarami pong umaasa sa atin… sa serbisyo natin,” Coloma said.

In serving the Filipino people, Coloma stressed the importance of practicing several traits innate in Filipinos as well as their fear and faithfulness to the Divine being.

“Importante ang Panginoon, yung Diyos…kung anuman ang tawag natin sa Kanya, kung Allah, Buddha lahat po ng tao sa mundo ay may kinikilalang Diyos, at ang Diyos ang gumagabay sa ating buhay, mahirap ang buhay na walang Diyos,” Coloma said.

The PCOO chief also encouraged LRTA employees to maintain and apply honesty, righteousness, sense of fairness, discipline, selflessness, generosity and concern for others in the performance of their duties to the people.

Coloma urged them to continue being dedicated in their work and to help each other to attain LRTA’s goals as he congratulated them on their 31st anniversary. “Binabati ko po kayong lahat at umaasa ako na sa mga darating na taon yung inyong dedikasyon, yung inyong pagpupunyagi at lalong-lalo na yung inyong pagmamahal sa isa’t-isa bilang kasapi sa iisang samahan ay higit pang lalawig, higit pang titibay, higit pang lalakas sapagkat yan po ang ipinagkaloob sa ating biyaya…pagyamanin po natin yan at maging instrument po tayo sa pagpapaligaya at pagpapaunlad ng ating pamayanan,” Coloma noted.

The two-day celebration, anchored on its theme, “Tren-ta-Uno Anyos ng Serbisyong Ayos!” was highlighted by several activities that included Filipino games and awards for loyal employees, among others.

LRTA has been serving millions of commuters from different places for the last three decades. It was the first railway system in Southeast Asia even ahead of Singapore and Malaysia.

The country’s flagship railway system has dramatically reduced the traffic volume in Metro Manila and remained committed to improving further its services through fast, safe, reliable and responsive rail travel.


Palace shares public interest in finding truth over reported poll anomalies

Malacanang has the same interest like most of the Filipino public in finding the truth regarding the alleged rigging of the 2004 presidential election and the 2007 senatorial election, a Palace official said on Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that the Palace believes that the inquiry over the election cheating will proceed even without Malacanang’s support because Congress has shown interest in finding the truth.

“With or without our support, mangyayari po yan dahil kahit ngayon po yung lehislatura natin yan na po ang napag-uusapan kung saan ba dapat ang magiging imbestigasyon. So when all those questions are settled and with or without us, kaisa po kami doon sa mga maraming interesado na malaman once and for all kung ano ang nangyari nung 2007 at 2004,” Valte said.

Congressional leaders have expressed interest in reopening the 2004 and 2007 election anomalies after former Maguindanao election supervisor Lintang Bedol resurfaced alleging that massive cheating occurred in the 2004 presidential election won by now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bedol, who earlier revealed alleged polling irregularities in Mindanao during the 2007 mid-term elections, was mentioned several times in the “Hello Garci” scandal.

The revelation of wiretapped conversations between then President Arroyo and former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano regarding an alleged plot to rig the election results almost brought down her administration.

Bedol said he believes that the probe into allegations of fraud in the 2004 polls should be revived.

This week, President Benigno Aquino III said they are already in the final stages of filing corruption cases against the past administration making sure however that they build strong cases to ensure conviction.


Malacanang elated over completion of local debt swap

Malacanang is elated by the successful completion of P323.5 billion bonds swap Friday as it established a new 10-year and 20-year benchmark bonds under the Aquino administration.

In an interview aired over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the new development will strengthen the fiscal position of the government as short and medium term debts will be swapped for longer dated securities.

“It reaffirms the growing investor confidence to long-term prospects of the country. Talagang magandang balita,” Valte said.

In a statement, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said “the Republic will issue on July 19, 2011 P67.6 billion of 10-year benchmark bonds due January 19, 2022 and P255.8 billion of 20-year benchmark bonds due July 19, 2031 in exchange for P292.5 billion of eligible bonds tendered by investors.”

“The bond swap is part of the liability management program of the government to smoothen its debt maturity profile, extend the maturity of existing peso liabilities and establish liquid benchmarks at the long end of the yield curve,” he said.

The transaction, Purisima said, substantially reduces the bunching of the Republic’s debt maturities, particularly in the medium term, and significantly mitigates its refinancing risk.

“The transaction achieved cash flow and debt service relief of P152.6 billion in the medium term, which government may channel to its infrastructure and socioeconomic projects. The bond swap extended the average maturity of the portfolio of eligible bonds by 37.9 percent, or approximately 2.08 years, with the extension of the average maturity of accepted bonds from 5.48 years to 18.01 years,” he said.

He added that “the Republic set coupon rates for the long 10-year and 20-year Benchmark Bonds at 6.375 percent and 8.000 percent, respectively, which were the minimum coupons previously announced. These bonds together with the 25-year bonds issued last December 2010 will serve as benchmarks for long-term financing in line with the government initiatives to promote public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects and the development of capital markets.”