Palace: Asian Development Bank fund for Albay, a
boost in government’s anti-poverty fight
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s anti-poverty
initiatives received a boost recently after the Asian Development Bank approved
the release of P480 million for the province of Albay.
The amount that Albay will be receiving from the
ADB will be for the implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
(KALAHI-CIDSS) program.
In explaining the release of the money, Deputy
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the KALAHI-CIDSS program is in
line with the implementation of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Ito ang mga ka-tandem na programs ng DSWD para
maturuan ang mga beneficiaries kung paano magpatakbo ng kanilang maliit na
negsoyo, saan maglalagay ng kaunting kapital,” Valte said.
Also, Valte mentioned the release of P318.5
million for the enhancement of a hospital facility for the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao. The Department of Budget and Management has already released
the amount, she said. (PCOO)
.
Palace expects parents to support K+12 program
Malacanang hopes that parents, showing
reluctance to adopt the K+12 program, would eventually support the new
initiative aimed at improving the country’s educational system.
In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on
Saturday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace
understands the reaction of the parents regarding the program.
“Sana patuloy na po ang ating maging pagtanggap
doon sa K+12 program. Naiintidihan natin na kapag nagkakaroon talaga ng
pagbabago, nagkakaroon din ng kaunting resistance, ng kaunting reluctance,” she
said during the interview.
“But hopefully, makita naman ng lahat that the
program really aims to give our children a better education,” she added.
The K+12 program will add two years to the
country’s basic education and increase the capabilities of students who would
opt to work after graduating from high school. The program is part of the
Aquino administration’s efforts to reform the educational system in the
country.
The K+12 begins with kindergarten, six years of
elementary education, four years of junior high school, and two years in senior
high school. The program will be implemented in all public elementary and high
schools nationwide this coming school year.
After the Aquino administration assumed power,
Valte said it focused on addressing wide-ranging concerns plaguing the
education sector.
It has so far addressed the shortage of
classrooms through the public-private partnership program, as well as shortage
of textbooks and schoolbooks.
Armchairs and desks were also mass produced out
of confiscated illegal logs in Mindanao with the help of TESDA, Valte said.
With regards to government’s preparations for
the school opening in June, Valte said government agencies, particularly the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is in the look out to protect consumers.
“Nagpaigting po ng ating Department of Trade and
Industry ang kanilang monitoring...over the past week, there are reminders from
the DTI kung ano ang mga safe na school supplies na dapat bilhin para a
mag-aaral na babalik ng paaralan,” Valte said.
The government wants to ensure that quality
standards are followed and that consumers are protected from overpriced school
products, she added. (PCOO)
