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)
