Government underscores use of ‘Juan time’ in effecting change for the better
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. underscored the importance of material time in pursuing the Aquino government’s thrusts to effect change that will benefit the Filipinos and the country as part of its social contract with the citizenry.
In his brief message during the launching ceremonies of “Juan Time, the New Filipino Time” at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Friday, Coloma stressed the need to maximize every second of time in pursuing reformative steps as he urged the Filipino people to observe the new Philippine Standard Time (PST), which is always punctual in consideration of the interest of others.
“Bawat buwan, bawat linggo, bawat oras, bawat minuto, bawat saglit ay mahalaga…. Kaya dapat po ay nasa oras tayo palagi… dapat alalahanin natin yung ‘Juan time, the New Filipino Time’ ang magiging Philippine Standard Time at ito ay oras ng pagbabago,” Coloma said.
He also cited the government’s all out efforts to effect reforms in the country within President Aquino’s six year term of office. He encouraged the people to let go of the habit of being late.
“Sa akin pong palagay ang pinakamahalagang oras ngayon na dapat nating isa-isip, isa-puso at isa-diwa ay ito: ngayon po ay oras ng pagbabago… kailangan po na magbago ang ating pananaw hinggil sa oras. Kaya po pinaaalala ko sa aking sarili, labin-limang buwan na po ang lumipas, limampu’t pitong buwan na lamang ang nalalabi sa pamahalaan ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino para tuparin ang mga pangako sa Bayang Pilipinas, apat na taon na lamang at siyam na buwan ang nalalabi,” Coloma said.
Also present during the event were other government officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in cooperation with several partners in the government and the private sector, the event aims to sync all time pieces in the country’s more than 7,100 islands to promote the nationwide use of PST, the new Philippine Standard Time.
The campaign theme “Juan Time” comes from a word play on “One Time” – with “Juan” referring to the common name for Filipinos.
DOST Secretary Mario Montejo highlighted the importance of time as a resource but often overlooked. He said that “Juan Time” also reminds people that keeping to the PST avoid the difficulties of having confusing, unsynchronized time.
Established decades ago, the PST is set by the DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 8.
The Philippine Standard Time is set through DOST-PAGASA’s timing system that consists of a rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.
The system automatically calculates its time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.
The Philippine Standard Time is available online at the DOST-PAGASA website: http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph. (PCOO)
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Coloma urges interfaith groups to contnue supporting the President, his vision for the country
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma called on the participants of the Balangayan conference on Saturday to continue supporting the vision of the president so that Filipinos may reach their “promised land.”
Coloma, in his message to the participants of the Balangayan conference held at the University of Santo Tomas on Saturday, said that it is a divine will for President Benigno Aquino III to become the country’s leader who pledged of fighting corruption and poverty. Coloma also encouraged the people to follow the righteous path that the President champions.
Other Asian countries have overtaken the Philippines in terms of progress because of corruption and mismanagement of the government. Coloma also noted the very large number of poor people with insignificant middle class as a result of these problems.
“Kahit po mahirap yan, yan naman po ang magdadala sa atin sa kaunlaran,” he said referring to the righteous path that the administration spearheads. He added that in the social contract of the President with the Filipino people, the President’s vision is to have society with people having “sense of right and wrong from the living example of their highest leaders.”
“Kaakibat po doon ang realization that doing what is right... yung pagsunod sa daang matuwid does not only make sense morally but also translates into higher economic value,” he said.
In fact, in 15 months of the Aquino administration, the country received several upgrades from rating agencies resulting to significant savings in interest payments. Most of the savings went to the pro-poor programs of the government, Coloma said.
“Dahil dun sa daang matuwid mas madaling natutugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan at mas nakakaangat tayo sa kahirapan, mas nakakausad tayo sa daang matuwid tungo sa kaunlaran.”
At the same time, Coloma led the reaffirment of everyone’s commitment to their fellow citizens saying everyone must join in community action to achieve a better Philippines.
“You cannot be just a successful individual Filipino, you must relate, you must find meaning in community,” he said.
The Balangayan conference, held at the College of Medicine auditorium of the University of Santo Tomas, is a meeting of several faith-based groups discussing faith and patriotism to achieve national unity and progress.
The conference is part of a series of activities of Pilipinas Natin, a volunteer movement that the President launched in June intended for nation building through volunteerism. The conference became a venue for Filipinos of different faiths to unite in manifesting their common values and love for the nation.
Participating groups include the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies, Buddhist Light International Association, Tuklas Katutubo, The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, The Focolare Movement, representatives from Hindu community, The National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Theology professors, students from seminaries and Catholic universities, representatives from student councils and youth organizations, the National Youth Commission, and the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation. (PCOO)
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Malacanang open to lower house probing management of dams in recent typhoon
Malacañang will not block any attempt from its legislative counterpart should there be an investigation on the issue of whether dam managers followed proper protocols when they released water from their gates during the onslaught of typhoon ‘Pedring’ (Nesat) in the country early this week, a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued this statement on Saturday in reaction to an insinuation that a legislative inquiry into the flashfloods which engulfed Central Luzon and whether dam operators may be held responsible is unlikely because most of the lawmakers are allied with President Benigno S. Aquino III.
“Hindi po magiging balakid kung kaalyado po ni Pangulong Aquino ‘yung mga nasa lehislatura dahil makikita n’yo naman po marami hong mga imbestigasyon sa mga sinasabi po nilang anomalya na natutuloy naman po at nagpa-participate po ang ating mga opisyal ‘pag pinapatawag ng Mababang Kapulungan o mismo kahit po ng Senado,” said Valte over Radyo ng Bayan.
Most residents in the flooded areas of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Tarlac are reportedly blaming dam managers and their local officials for allegedly not giving enough warning with respect to the volumes of water that would be released from their gates at the height of the typhoon’s assault.
Quoting a report from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Valte said residents were given enough information by the local authorities but some of them just refused to flee from their homes.
“Nagbigay po ng sufficient warning at ngayon nga po ‘yung DILG is coordinating with the local government to ensure that the warnings are getting through... are being carried out... and are being acted upon,” Valte said.
“Upon checking with the LGUs, they (DILG) got the notice that the dam gates will be opened but according to the LGUs, there were people who refuse to evacuate. So magsu-submit po sila ng report on the flood’s impact on the ground,” she added.
Valte said Malacañang is still waiting to be furnished with copies of the complete reports from the DILG, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and representatives from the National Power Corporation (NPC) which held an emergency last night to assess the flood situation in Central Luzon.
NDRRMC has reported that six of the major dams in Central Luzon opened their gates as the waters reached spilling levels and they include: (3 gates/3.8 m), Angat (3 gates/3m), Ambuklao (2 gates/2 m), Binga (5 gates/3m), Magat (7 gates/7m), and San Roque (1 gate/ 0.5m).
Valte said Malacañang has to be apprised on the full report of the flood’s impact on the ground to determine whether the DILG’s statement pertained to the entire community that the LGUs said refused to be evacuated right before dam gates were opened.
Malacañang, nonetheless, vowed “to get to the bottom” of this particular flood situation to find out who should be held liable as to why residents were not able to escape the tide despite receiving adequate warnings from the government agencies concerned. (PCOO)
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Palace appeals for preparedness in wake of new typhoon 'Quiel'
Malacanang appealed to residents in low-lying, mountainous and coastal areas under public storm signals to evacuate as typhoon "Quiel" made landfall over Dinapigue, Isabela, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In an interview aired over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte made the appeal after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Department of Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST) Service Insitutes alerted residents in low-lying and mountainous areas against possible flashfloods and landslides.
The PAGASA-DOST Service Institutes, likewise, alerted those living in coastal areas against possible big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.
Under public storm signal number 3 (100-185 kph winds) are Isabela, Northern Aurora, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Under public storm signal number 2 (60-100 kph winds) are Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bulacan, Northern Quezon and Polillo Island. Under public storm signal number 1(45-60 kph winds) are rest of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Rizal, Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Lubang Island, Babuyan Island, Calayan Group of Island, and Metro Manila.
The onslaught of typhoon Pedring caused floodings in several barangays in Bulacan, Pampanga and other areas. Some residents claimed that they were not given early notices about the release of water from dams.
"According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) upon checking with the LGUs, they got the notice that the dam gates will be opened. But according to the LGUs, there were people who refuse to evacuate. So magsu-submit po sila ng report on the flood’s impact on the ground," Valte explained.
In response to the appeal of President Benigno S. Aquino III to Filipinos to keep the spirit of "bayanihan" in time of disasters, Valte said several civilians started coordinating with concerned government agencies and media networks to extend help for those affected by the typhoons Pedring and Quiel.
"Sinabi nga din ng Pangulong Aquino ‘yung bayanihan po natin talaga comes alive tuwing nagkakaroon po tayo ng ganitong sitwasyon," she noted..
Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) started repacking relief packages for typhoon victims and invited the public to extend help. "Sa makakapagbigay po ng tulong—kahit po anong tulong, magkakaroon po sila ng repacking ng relief packages sa DSWD warehouse, sa chapel road po ‘yan sa Pasay, malapit sa NAIA. Pumunta lang tayo doon kung gusto n’yo pong mag-volunteer."
She said the Aquino government has enough stand-by funds for the continued search-rescue and relief operations for affected areas. She said the repair and rehabilitation of damaged bridges and roads are now being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
"We continue to extend assistance doon sa mga kababayan natin sa Bulacan, Nueva Ecija at sa Pampanga na nabaha dahil sa bagyong ‘Pedring,’" Valte said.
Valte added, "So far, okay naman ang mga preparations for ‘Quiel’. Naka-preposition na ang mga relief goods, nakahanda ang mga evacuation centers, nandyan na mga gamot na galing sa Department of Health at, of course, naka-red alert pa rin po ang National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council," she said. (PCOO)
