Wednesday 11 July 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Wednesday, July 11, 2012


Malacanang says government now addressing PAGASA benefits that were suspended due to lack of funds

Malacanang assured that the government will continue to provide the additional benefits for science and technology experts in the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as provided under Republic Act No. 8439 also known as the Magna Carta for scientists, engineers, researchers and other science and technology personnel in government saying that its temporary suspension was due to lack of funds caused by the recent fund shortage in the weather bureau.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte gave the assurance during the regular press briefing on Wednesday in Malacanang, stressing that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is continuously exhausting all its efforts to address the issue.

Among the benefits that were suspended pending the availability of funds include the hazard and longevity pay of the employees.
“Hindi po ito tinanggal, unang-una, pangalawa sinuspinde lang ito pending the availability of funds dahil nagkaroon sila ng funding problem from last year. Ngayon nasa Department of Budget and Management na ito at ina-assess ang magiging savings ng ahensya para sa mga hazard pay from March onwards,” Valte said.

“We were informed by Director Liboro of the DOST na nakipag-pulong ang mga opisyal ng PAGASA kahapon sa mga opisyal ng DBM dahil nire-review na daw po ng DBM ang kanilang financial report of operations para naman mahanapan ng pondo ang kanilang hazard pay,” she added.

Valte also made it clear that during the discussions between the government and the weather experts in PAGASA, the latter made sure that they will not leave the agency nor launch a strike against the administration.

Recent reports claimed that the government weathermen’s group has been raising their concerns for the suspension of such benefits since March of this year. The benefits include subsistence allowance of P160 per day, hazard pay equivalent to 15% of their salary, as well as the longevity pay. (jcl/1:30 p.m.)


Malacanang hopes China agrees on ASEAN consensus for settling claims in West Philippine Sea

Malacanang says it hopes that the People's Republic of China agrees on a recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) consensus that the United Nations maritime convention must be the basis for settling competing claims in the West Philippine Sea.

ASEAN foreign ministers, meeting in Cambodia this week agreed on a draft document for a peaceful settlement in the disputed territory.

“In the first instance, China has also been of the position that it should be settled peacefully. Everybody is agreed on that. We hope that they will be receptive to the idea as well,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing on Wednesday in Malacanang.

“Let’s see kung sa November ita-target na mailabas yan. Hopefully, it will be received well,” Valte said referring to the November release of the draft.

Valte reiterated that the country’s position is to push for an ASEAN centrality and that the code has to be made before other parties are asked to join the Code of Conduct.

Asked if the Palace believes that a Code of Conduct would bolster the Philippines’s position on the West Philippine Sea, Valte said: “We have been firm that ‘yung claim natin doon is supported under international law and that we intend to pursue our claim under a rules-based approach.”

The draft document outlining the regional block’s position called on all sides to undertake to resolve territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea by peaceful means, in accordance with the international law including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

UNCLOS is an international treaty that sets limits on how neighboring nations consider their exclusive economic zones. China is a signatory to UNCLOS.

During the ASEAN Summit last April, the Philippines said the ASEAN must first agree among its members on the draft of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) before meeting China. The West Philippine Sea issue should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the international law, it said.

Taiwan and ASEAN members, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia all have claims on the West Philippine Sea. The disputed territory is home to vital shipping lanes and believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits. (as/2:06pm)


Aquino receives group of investors in Malacanang

President Benigno S. Aquino III received a group of investors led by Japanese businessman Toshimasa Iue, Chief Executive Officer of LIXIL Global Company, to discuss the company’s planned expansion in the country that will provide more economic opportunities for the Filipinos and further boost the country’s economy.

In a courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace on Wednesday morning, Iue met with President Aquino who exchanged pleasantries with the group that included Felino Bernardo, country manager of American Standard; Ken Ng, CEO of LIXIL Asia and Miho Watanabe.

Also present during the event was Presidential sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz.

In an interview following the call, Bernardo said that American Standard LIXIL Group is planning to expand its business in the Philippines. The group is engaged in the business of providing construction building materials such as doors, windows and other fixtures.

LIXIL Corporation, for its part, manufactures and sells building materials and housing equipment. It offers various bathrooms, windows, entrance doors, tiles, kitchens, curtain walls, and steel doors; sanitary fixtures, such as basins, faucets, and accessories; and interior furnishing materials, including interior doors, sliding doors, system storage systems, and flooring materials.

The company serves customers in Japan and other countries as well. It was founded in 2001 and is based in Tokyo, Japan with Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, Canada, the United States, Croatia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. LIXIL Corporation operates as a subsidiary of JS Group Corp. (jcl/2:00 p.m.)


Aquino appoints Cabotaje-Tang as Associate Justice of Sandiganbayan and other officials

President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Assistant Solicitor General Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang as Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday that Tang will replace Associate Justice Francisco H. Villaruz, Jr.

Tang obtained her Political Science degree from the Manuel L. Quezon University in 1975 and her Bachelor of Laws degree from the San Beda College of Law in 1979. She was admitted to the Bar in 1980 with a rating of 84.95%.

Tang worked as clerk in the Insurance Commission (1979-1980) and judicial/legal assistant at the Supreme Court (1980-1982). She served as trial attorney and solicitor at the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) from 1982 until 1994.

She also served as Assistant Solicitor General from 1994 an has been designated officer-in-charge of the OSG several times.

President Aquino also signed the ad interim appointment of lawyer Robert S. Martinez as Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), replacing Rasol L. Mitmug, according to Valte. Martinez will serve as CSC Commissioner until February, 2018.

Prior to his appointment, Martinez served as Deputy Administrator for Administration of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) since February 26, 2008.

The Chief Executive, likewise, signed the appointment letter of Enry L. Santos as member of the 4th District of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Bulacan, replacing Romeo Allan M. Robes; and Amado C. Vallejo Jr., as member of the 4th District of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Isabela, replacing Leoncio K. Kiat. (js)