Sunday 1 July 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Friday, June 29, 2012


Palace assures everyone being safeguarded as tropical storm 'Dindo' makes an exit

Malacanang assured that necessary efforts are being done by the Aquino government to ensure the safety of the people as tropical storm “Dindo” leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) adding that all concerned agencies are focusing on another low pressure area which is expected to enter PAR for proper coordination and preparedness.

In a regular press briefing in Malacanang, Friday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that as soon as the typhoon left the country, clearing operations, re-routing schemes and other safety precautions are being done by various concerned entities, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), especially in areas that were affected by the typhoon.

“As reported to us by the NDRRMC, Tropical Storm "Dindo" was expected to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility this morning, na-lift na po yung mga public signals po natin, ang binabantayan po ngayon yung mga status ng mga roads and bridges in CAR, Region 1 and Region 2,” Valte said.

“We continue to conduct the clearing operations kasi merong mga roads and bridges that were affected. Yung iba nagkaroon ng muddy road surface and the other roads were rendered impassable because of the strong water current. Clearing operations are now underway, pina-fast track na iyan, but just the same re-routing schemes have been implemented by the DPWH in order to make sure na hindi magkakaroon ng aksidente sa mga bridges na ito,” she added.

Valte further said that apart from the post-typhoon initiatives, the government is also preparing for the possible effects of another looming typhoon that could hit the country.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the DPWH are in constant coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for the contingency efforts of the government.

“We have also been informed that they are watching another low pressure area that is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday... at this point hindi pa po firm yung dadaanan niya. Normally once the NDRRMC gets the projected track from PAGASA, naghahanda na ang DSWD natin, DPWH and yung DOH natin as well as ina-alert ana po natin ang mga local government officials para ma-activate na po yung mga DRRMCs nila,” Valte noted.

On Friday morning, PAGASA bared that Tropical Storm ‘Dindo’ (international codename: Doksuri) which entered the Philippine area of responsilityiR on Thursday evening, particularly over the Islands of Calayan, has moved out of the Philippine territory and headed towards southern China.

As of 10 a.m. Friday, "Dindo" was spotted at 380 kilometers west northwest of Laoag City, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. (jcl/2:30 p.m.)


Aquino leads 12th Cabinet meeting, discusses 2013 national budget

President Benigno S. Aquino III met Friday the members of his official family for the 12th Cabinet meeting to discuss the proposed 2013 national budget.

In a media briefing in Malacanang, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was to present the P2.006-trillion national budget for next year.

During the presentation, the secretary of budget was expected to highlight the budgets of each department one by one and the President usually gives his observations on what should be revised.

According to Valte, the President usually asks questions on the amounts, figures, and computations, as well as the projects involved. The President also gives his observations, and if he has questions the Cabinet secretaries answer the questions.

If the President asks for amendments or things that need to be addressed, the budget secretary would do the revisions, Valte said.

The priority areas of the 2013 national budget will be social services, health, education, and poverty alleviation, Valte said. Infrastructure development remains the major priority of the administration on varying degrees, she added.

“We will be able to give you the usual pie chart when the final proposed budget is approved by the President. Also we are targeting for the 2013 national expenditure program---that’s the budget---to be passed to Congress a day after the President delivers his SONA. So that will be on the 24th of July,” she said.

The Cabinet is scheduled to meet again on July 5 on the country’s thrust in promoting the tourism sector, Valte said. (as/3:03pm)


Palace announces joint naval and coast guard exercises of US-Phl troops set on July 2 to 10

The Philippines and the United States (US) will hold joint naval exercises from July 2 to 10, 2012 in Mindanao to improve the defense capabilities of the two countries, a Palace official said on Friday.

During the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said US Naval and Coast Guard troops started arriving in the country for the bilateral naval exercises billed as “Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2012.”

"This bilateral naval exercise is part of the Mutual Defense Board exercises. It will take place from July 2 to July 10 somewhere in Eastern Mindanao. On the part of the Philippine Government, ang participants po natin ay Philippine Navy at Philippine Coast Guard," Valte said.

The at-sea activities under Carat 2012 will be held at the Mindanao Sea, according to Philippine Navy (PN) spokesman Col. Omar Tonsay, adding that the exercises aim to improve RP-US combined planning, combat readiness, and interoperability and enhance security relations to respond to threats or deal with natural disasters. (js)


Philippines sends military observers to largest-ever military drill in Hawaii

The Philippines will not participate in the actual Rim of the Pacific naval exercise in Hawaii but the country has sent observers to the largest-ever naval drill in the region participated by 22 countries, the Palace said on Friday.

“We are not participating in the actual naval exercises. We have sent, however, observers to be part of the multinational staff,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

The county isn’t joining the actual drill because it has separate schedule of military exercise with the US under a defense cooperation agreement, Valte said.

“Meron tayong bilateral naval exercise on July 2 to 10 so doon ide-deploy ang mga ships natin. This bilateral naval exercise is part of the Mutual Defense Board exercises,” she said.

The military exercise is under CARAT or Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training Exercise, she said. Among the participants will be the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and on the US side, the US Navy and the US Coast Guard.

This year’s war games, the 23rd in a series that began in 1971, are scheduled last until Aug. 7. Some 42 surface ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are taking part in military drill.

Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore and the United States are among the nations joining this year’s military exercise.

Military personnel from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Republic of Philippines, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom are also taking part.

Russia, India, Mexico, the Philippines, New Zealand, Norway and Tonga are participating for the first time, according to the US Navy. (as/3:54pm)