Malacañang assures contingency measures for
victims of flashfloods in Mindanao
Malacanang assured that the government has laid
down the necessary contingency measures for the victims of flashfloods in the
island of Mindanao that was hit by an abrupt rise of water due to the
continuous heavy rains last Tuesday.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that all the various
concerned government agencies led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD), Philippine Navy and Philippine
Coast Guard have been focusing on their responsibilities to attend to the needs
of the victims and contain the effects of the flooding in the affected areas.
“The NDRRMC is on top of it, the DSWD has
provided 350 food packs in Sultan Kudarat area… 53 food packs in Kidapawan. In
Sarangani there were two people missing, and the NDRRMC has rescued 40
individuals from flooding,” Lacierda said.
He added that apart from the assistance of the
national government, the local government has also exerted efforts to help the
affected residents in the area.
“Governor [Miguel Rene] Dominguez and Mayor
[Victor James] Yap have provided relief goods..., the PDRRMC Sarangani and
NDRRMC Glan together with the Office of the Civilian Defense Region 12,
Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guards are monitoring the situation. They
have conducted ocular surveya and damage assessments, as well as needs analysis
in the area,” Lacierda noted.
“We are on top of it, the DSWD has prepositioned
those goods as early as June 11,” he added.
In the morning of June 12, floods inundated
three barangays that include Barangay Big Margus, Barangay Pangyan and Barangay
Cross in Glan, Sarangani province affecting at least 568 persons and damaging a
total of162 houses, while 111 were partially damaged.
The two casualties were identified by the NDRRMC
as a certain Sagapo Cabigding, 63 years old of Purok 5, Brgy. Cross, Sarangani
and 40-year-old Rolando Mata of Brgy Saeg Calumpang General Santos City.
Fifteen-year-old Rani Pregoner of Kabatiol,
Maasim was still missing as of this morning.
The Small Margus Bridge and Pangyan Bridge were
partially damaged by the flashfloods. (jcl/1:40 p.m.)
Palace says education department prepared to
carry out K+12 program
Malacanang allayed public fears on Wednesday
about the implementation of the K+12 program saying the Department of Education
made an assurance that necessary preparations were made for the successful
implementation of the program this year.
A lawmaker is pushing for the deferment of the
implementation of the program citing lack of proper preparation of the
education department particularly the shortage of books, classrooms, and
training for teachers.
In a press conference in Malacanang,
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said he was able to discuss the K+12
program with some Bulacan school officials who said they are excited about it
and the DepEd has successfully trained teachers for the program.
The K+12 is an innovation from the Department of
Education primarily to comply with certain accords, Lacierda said as he cited
the Washington accord, which requires the country to have a 12-year basic
education.
Filipino professionals wouldn’t be accepted to
enter the work place if the Philippines failed to comply with this requirement,
Lacierda said. He also mentioned the Bologna accord that also calls for a
similar compliance.
“These two treaties are international treaties.
We are not signatories because we have not complied with the requirements
provided in those accords. Kaya mahalaga po sa atin to come up or comply with
international standards and for purposes also of employment abroad. should
someone decide to seek employment abroad...,” he said.
Currently, there is a shortage of 50,000
classrooms in the country and Lacierda said the 20,000 will be built by the
local government units, and the 30,000 will be bidded out by the government
through public private partnership (PPP) under DepEd.
Aside from complying with the international
standards, K+12 is important because it gives students options to immediately
find employment should they choose not to enroll in college, Lacierda said.
The government inked several agreements with
business organizations through the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
intended to absorb graduates under the K+12 program, he added. (as/1:52pm)
Aquino declares June 19 as special non-working
day in Laoag City in celebration of it's 47th Charter Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 19 which falls on a Tuesday as a special (non-working day) in Laoag City
of in the province of Ilocos Norte in celebration of its 47th Charter Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 400 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 11, 2012 to give the people of Laoag the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Laoag was organized as a town in 1585, becoming
the first parish and first town in the northern portion of the old Ilocos -
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union.
On June 19, 1965, Laoag became a city by virtue
of Republic Act No. 4584. It has remained the capital city of Ilocos Norte up
to the present time. (js)
2012 Global Peace Index cites Philippines among
five most improved countries
The 2012 Global Peace Index citing the
Philippines as among the five most improved countries is proof of the Aquino
administration's continuing commitment towards improving peace and promoting
amity in the country, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement following the release of the 2012 Global Peace Index (GPI), an
annual report on the state of peace in the world by the Institute for Economics
and Peace (IEP).
Rising two notches to rank 133rd this year from
135th in 2011, the organization said that the Philippines "showed a robust
rise across a number of indicators."
"The report noted that these gains stem
from improvements in four indicators: the homicide rate, the number of deaths
from internal conflict, the likelihood of violent demonstrations, and the
incidence of terrorist acts," Lacierda said.
The 2012 Global Peace Index affirms the report
of the Philippine National Police showing the 24% decrease in crime volume in
2011 compared to 2010, according to Lacierda.
The PNP has also noted a further decline in the
total crime rate by 16.77% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same
quarter last year.
Aside from the Philippines, also in the list of
top five countries that registered "improvements in peacefulness" in
the 2012 Global Peace Index are Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bhutan and Guyana.
"This is international recognition of our
collective effort to address the safety and security of our people,"
Lacierda said. (js)
