CCT program has enough safeguards to prevent
abuse, says Palace
Malacanang allayed public fears after issues
were raised that the conditional cash transfer program being carried out by the
Aquino administration may be used by local politicians in advancing their
political interest in the 2013 election.
A church leader warned that the CCT program may
become a political tool by politicians running for the 2013 local election.
In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on
Saturday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said local leaders
don’t have a hand in carrying out or selecting the beneficiaries of the CCT.
“That was the system under the previous
administration. But under the Aquino administration, the beneficiaries are
selected by conducting the National Household Targeting System [NHTS].
Sinu-survey ‘yan,” Valte said.
“Hindi ito magagamit sa 2013 elections primarily
because the system as we have designed it ay hindi dumadaan sa local officials.
Walang input from the local or the provincial officials kung sino ang dapat
isama sa CCT program.”
Valte further explained that even if the NHTS
recommends particular beneficiaries, if they are found not qualified for the
program they are immediately delisted.
Even beneficiaries correctly identified by NHTS
as qualified to benefit from the program may be removed if they failed to
comply with government requirements, she added.
Asked by reporters how confident the government
is that the program would be free from the influence of local politicians,
Valte said the program isn’t perfect but the government has placed safeguards
that would prevent abuses and misuse of the CCT funds.
“We are confident that there are enough
safeguards. The National Household Targeting System may not be perfect... but
we have adapted steps to be taken to ensure na nare-refine ang mga mistakes na
nangyayari,” she said.
The Aquino administration plans to widen the
coverage of the CCT program to achieve a long-term impact on the government’s
fight against poverty asking the public to give the program a little more time
for it to take effect.
The government is looking at covering more
beneficiaries, from 3.1 million families this year to 3.8 million families next
year. (as/1:43pm)
Aquino declares July 23 a special non-working
day in the province of Bohol and Tagbilaran City
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 23 which falls on a Monday as a special (non-working) day in the province
of Bohol and the city of Tagbilaran in celebration of the 158th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration through
Proclamation No. 431 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on July
12, 2012 to give the people of Bohol and Tagbilaran City the full opportunity
to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Bohol and Tagbilaran City mark the commemoration
of the 158th Foundation Day on July 22 which falls on Sunday.
The Chief Executive granted the request of the
Office of the Governor to declare July 23 as non-special working day in Bohol
and Tagbilaran City instead of July 22.
Bohol is a first class province in the Central
Visayas region while Tagbilaran City serves as the province's capital. (js)
President Aquino closely monitoring impending
power rate adjustment
President Benigno S. Aquino III continuously
monitors the energy sector particularly the impending electricity rate increase
this month putting public interest first, a Palace official said on Saturday.
“That is something that is continually
discussed. The President does make it a point to see pero hindi sa hindi
pinapansin... it is just that the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission] is the one
that determines the rate hikes and not the DOE [Department of Energy],” Deputy
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
“And the Energy Regulatory Commission, of
course, as we know is not under the DOE. Pero binabantayan din natin ‘yan,” she
added.
Valte was responding to calls to the President
saying he should give some attention to the high cost of power in the country.
The Palace hopes that in considering the pending
application for power increase, the ERC will be vigilant and make any
adjustment reasonable, Valte added.
The Manila Electric Co., or Meralco, the country’s
biggest power distributor, will be increasing its power rates this month as the
generation charge component rose by 32 centavos per kilowatt-hour to P6.4549
per kWh.
Meralco said the increase in the generation
charge this month was due to the spike in the cost of power sourced from the
wholesale electricity spot market. (as/2:07pm)
Palace to release weekly price monitoring charts
online to serve as guide for consumers
Malacanang announced that various government
agencies will start releasing weekly price monitoring charts to serve as guide
for consumers regarding prices of basic commodities and goods.
The Department of Energy (DOE), the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the
Department of Health (DOH) developed the project in collaboration with the
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO),
according to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail during an interview aired
government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
"The five agencies and departments agreed
to release a weekly price monitoring chart to be uploaded online para mapakita
ang mga changes sa prices, if any, ng mga basic goods and commodities,"
Valte said.
Valte noted the DTI, through its regional and
provincial offices, regularly monitors the prices of basic and prime
commodities. The department also releases its price watch regularly.
With the new joint project, the public will be
regularly updated of the prices of medicines as well.
"Gumawa na ng information graphic mula sa
mga ahensyang nabanggit. So we now have one document in one site instead of
multiple sites para ma-access ng mas maraming tao," she said. (js)
Recognition of Boracay as 'best island,' a big
boost to country's tourism promotion, says Palace
A recent recognition of the Boracay Island as a
top destination by an international travel magazine is a big boost to the
country’s tourism promotion, a Palace official said on Saturday.
International magazine, Travel + Leisure, have
chosen the Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan, in its Annual World’s Best Awards as
the “World’s Best Island” for 2012.
“That will certainly be a good boost to our
tourism lalo na sa Boracay. There are some concerns because the local
government says meron daw pagbabawas doon sa kanilang arrivals but we sincerely
hope that this new recognition of Boracay will support our tourism campaign and
will attract more visitors to the island,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson
Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“Not just to the island [Boracay] but we have
more than seven thousand islands that are equally beautiful, so we hope... and
we are confident that this will surely be a boost to our tourism as well.”
Known for its crystal blue waters and white,
powdery sand, Boracay got a score of 93.10 to top the 10 Best Islands list this
year.
The recent recognition is the second time
Boracay Island made it to the Travel + Leisure list. The first time Boracay was
recognized was in 2011 when it was ranked as the fourth "best island"
in the world.
Other Travel + Leisure top destinations this
year include Bali, Indonesia; Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia; Galapagos,
Ecuador; Maui, Hawaii; Santorini, Greece; Big Island and Kauai in Hawaii;
Sicily, Italy; and Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
These destinations will be honored during a
ceremony to be held in New York City on July 19. (as/4:07pm)
