Tuesday 14 August 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, August 14, 2012


Ochoa presents OP’s P2.7-B budget for FY 2013

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday submitted to the Senate Committee on Finance the P2.7-billion spending plan of the Office of the President (OP) for fiscal year 2013, the bulk of which will cover funding for the wage adjustments of state workers under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) and Malacañang infrastructure improvements.

Ochoa told the committee hearing that the OP increased to P552.9 million the budget for personal services from P513.9 million to meet the funding requirements for salary increases under the fourth tranche of the SSL that was implemented starting June of this year.

The Executive Secretary, however, said that money earmarked for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) will be slashed by 4.1 percent to P1.88 billion from P1.96 billion, as a result of the improved system in the allocation of funds and enhanced expenditure assessment.

“Among these activities are the strict implementation of the Procurement Reform Law, the installation of energy saving devices, and the streamlining of processes within the OP,” Ochoa explained.

Capital Outlays for 2013, on the other hand, will be increased to P300.4 million from P150.6 million to finance major repairs, rehabilitation and improvement of various buildings and facilities, some of which were built over a hundred years ago, within the Malacañang Complex.


Aquino declares August 16 as special non-working day in Tuguegarao City in celebration of ‘Pav-vurulun Festival’

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared August 16 which falls on a Thursday as a special (non-working) day in the city of Tuguegarao in celebration of its 288th patronal feast dubbed as “Pav-vurulun Festival 2012.

The Chief Executive issued the declaration, through Proclamation No. 454 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on August 10 to give the people of Tuguegarao City the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

Tuguegarao City marks the celebration of “Pav-vurulun Festival 2012 with the theme "Day wat Tam y Tuguegarao" (Let us visit Tuguegarao on Aug. 16. Pav-vurulun is an Ibanag term that means unity.

Tuguegaraoeños celebrates the patronal feast in honor of St. Hyacinth, the Tuguegarao City's patron saint. (js)


Aquino to lead launching of Lucky Chinatown Center in Binondo

President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the grand launching ceremonies of the Lucky Chinatown Activity Center on Wednesday in Binondo, Manila, as part of a major plan to boost tourism and trade in the area.

During the launching rites, the President is expected to paint a red dot on the eyes of the dragon puppet. The sleeping dragon puppet will come to life and perform a dragon dance. After a confetti shower, the dancing dragon will go downstage and dance around the mall.

The Lucky Chinatown launching is part of the plan by Megaworld Corp., a leading real state developer in the country to revive Binondo, Manila.

Setting a new standard in lifestyle development, the Lucky Chinatown has five levels of shopping, dining and entertainment to offer.

Lucky Chinatown, the first full-scale luxury shopping center in Binondo, has an exciting mix of international and local brands.

Food lovers will have a feast over the extensive culinary offerings of Lucky Chinatown Mall. There are also state-of-the-art cinemas equipped with the latest technology for superb cinematic experience.

Completing the Lucky Chinatown experience is the Chinatown Walk reliving Binondo’s old roots and street concept recreating the famed Chinatown.

The entire project aims to reinvent the lifestyle of residents and tourists of Binondo, a tribute project to the Chinese community.

It is Megaworld Corp.’s vision to develop a heritage project in Manila. With the development of Lucky Chinatown, Megaworld Corp. is helping boost the country’s economy and tourism as well as providing employment for Filipinos.

One of the country’s leading property developers, Megaworld Corp. also focuses on building office spaces for the business process outsourcing sector.

Officials who are expected to accompany the President during the Lucky Chinatown launching include Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Megaworld chairman and chief executive officer Andrew Tan. (as)


DSWD has provided P41.66-million worth of relief assistance to flood victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided P41.66-million worth of relief assistance to families affected by flooding and torrential rains in the country, a Palace official said.

"The DSWD has provided a total of P41,662,152.48 million worth of relief assistance to National Capital Region (NCR), Region I, Region 3, Region 4-A, Region 4-B, and Region 6," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.

The DSWD has extended P16,951,252.00 worth of relief assistance consisting of food and non-food items to the affected families in the NCR; P1,063,593.46 to Region 1; P10,670,733.22 to Region 3; P12,847,845.80 to Region 4-A, P100,000.00 to Region 4-B and P28,728.00 to Region 6.

The repacking of relief goods by the DSWD staff and volunteers is still ongoing at the department's National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City as relief distribution continues in areas affected by floods.

The NROC is the command center and national warehouse of the DSWD where disaster operations are monitored, and relief goods are stored and re-packed.

President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed on Sunday his deepest gratitude to the hundreds of students and professionals who willingly volunteered their time and industry by re-packing and distributing family packs to help families displaced by the recent floods. (js)


Malacanang says government is working on President Aquino’s directive for PAGASA to laymanize weather updates

Malacanang said that the government has been working on the directive of President Benigno S. Aquino III for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to use “layman-friendly” terms in their weather bulletins in efforts to let the people easily understand the present weather condition and prepare the dangers that it could bring.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Tuesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the President commended the state weather bureau for keeping up with their responsibilities of informing the public on the hourly weather conditions especially during the occurrence of weather disturbances.

“The President did commend … DOST-PAGASA for its effort to update and disseminate the weather updates from last week. The President did also ask them to further work on laymanizing the weather advisories,” Valte said.

“You have seen this happen already in the past week, meron pong concerns about the rainfall signals… nung una po kasi yellow, green and then red meron pong mga naging reactions from the public primarily through the social networking sites that were sent to us and sabi po baka pwedeng palitan yung green… kasi green exudes calm so hindi po siya appropriate and it was changed midway last week,” she added.

“So, now its yellow, orange and red. We continue to work with DOST-PAGASA on laymanizing their weather update,” Valte further noted.

Acting on the orders of the Chief Executive last week, PAGASA said that they will be using simplified terms in their weather updates. It added that the agency will be avoiding the use of unnecessary technical terms.

The DOST- PAGASA assured the public that the presentation of their hourly reports, particularly the amount of rainfall, can easily be interpreted by the common people. It further said that these reports will be focused not only to inform the people but also to emphasize the possible effects of the weather condition. (jcl/2:30 p.m.)


Palace says PhilHealth to cover cases of Leptospirosis in flood-affected areas

Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will cover cases of Leptospirosis in flood-affected areas to ease the burden of the poor communities, Malacanang said on Tuesday.

“Doon sa mga naapektuhan ng baha, effective August 7, all admissions of uncomplicated Leptospirosis shall be P11,000 for all member types,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in the press conference on Tuesday.

PhilHealth is also implementing the “no balance billing policy” in covering Leptospirosis cases especially for sponsored program members of PhilHealth.

For non-PhilHealth members who contracted Leptospirosis in disaster areas, Valte said, that they will be automatically enrolled as PhilHealth’s sponsored program members and will be accorded the benefits.

The premium payment shall be waived and membership validity period is from August 1, 2012 to July 31 of 2013, she said.

“That takes care of the problem of non-members of PhilHealth belonging to the lowest na naapektuhan ng pagbaha kung sakaling magkaroon man sila ng Leptospirosis. Mako-cover automatically, mae-enroll sila sa PhilHealth,” she said.

Also, the period for filing of benefits for PhilHealth members and dependents is extended to 120 days for discharges covering the dates June 8 to August 21, 2012.

For the accredited institutional healthcare providers whose claim documents may have been affected by the recent flooding, they are advised to contact the local health insurance office of PhilHealth for the necessary assistance, Valte said.

Healthcare institutions claiming for treatments and other services that are considered emergency maybe reimbursed by non-accredited facilities of PhilHealth as long as they are accredited by the Department of Health.

Valte said that the deadline for the payment of premiums has been extended to August 17, 2012. This is for the formal sector or the employed members of PhilHealth.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is caused by a bacteria of the genus Leptospira. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases. Without treatment, Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death, the CDC said. (as/2:54pm)