Palace welcomes Philippine ranking by Economist
Intelligence Unit as one of the best places for micro-financing in the world
Malacanang welcomed the recent ranking made by
the international think tank, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), naming the
Philippines as one of the best places for micro-enterprises in the world.
“That’s good news for us. Ang micro-financing
kasi is very important in the way that it helps our small and medium start-ups
to be able to get their business off the ground,” Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over state-run dzRB Radyo
ng Bayan on Saturday.
“That’s good na at least na me-maintain natin
‘yung ating ranking," Valte stressed.
The country was again named one of the countries
with the most favorable environment for micro enterprises, ranking 4th among 55
countries surveyed by the EIU. This is a two-notch improvement from the 6th
place that the Philippines had in 2011.
In its report entitled “Global Microscope on the
Microfinance Business Environment 2012," the EIU said that regulations
imposed by government entities like the Central Bank helped the Philippines
remain in the top 10 countries with the most micro business-friendly
environments.
Regulations supportive of the development of
micro enterprises in the Philippines include the increase in loan amounts
extended by banks to micro enterprises and the wholesale lending of
government-owned banks to benefit micro-enterprise borrowers.
The country scored 63.3 points in the overall
micro business environment. Outperforming the Philippines were Peru (79.8
points), Bolivia (71.8 points) and Pakistan (67.4 points). PND (as/1:12pm)
Malacanang says Aquino government continues to
carry out programs to help youth get gainful employment
The
government continues to carry out programs that give young people the skill and
opportunity to find gainful employment, a Palace official said on Saturday.
Reacting to a report by the National Statistical
Coordination Board (NSCB) that the government must address the country's youth
unemployment problem, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a
radio interview over government-run radio station dzRB Rdyo ng Bayan that there
are programs being implemented by the government such as the internship, skills
training and the K+12 to address the problem.
One of the government’s thrusts is to start
on-the-job training for the youth so that they can work as interns at
government offices, Valte said noting that the government issued a report a couple
of months ago about the program.
The Palace official said that the internship
programs continue to be available at least for the 15 to 18 age bracket.
At the same time, she said that there are
available training programs being implemented by the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the youth to get the vocational skills
they need in order for them to enter the work force.
The Department of Education’s K+12 program is
also geared towards giving young people get immediate employment if they opted
not to continue studying in college.
“Kapag naka-graduate ng K+12 meron na silang
employable skill para kung hindi tumuloy ng kolehiyo o kaya napilitan sila na
hindi mag-kolehiyo ay meron na silang pinanghahawakang galing at talino para
makakuha ng trabaho,” Valte said.
The NSCB said in a report covering Years 2006 to
2009, young people make up the bulk of poor Filipinos without jobs that the
government must address.
NSCB’s data show that about three in five
unemployed people are aged 15 to 24. PND (as/1:37pm)
Malacanang says preparations for the observance
of 'All Saints Day' already in place, advises Filipinos to be extra careful
when traveling
Malacanang advised the Filipino people going
to the provinces to exert extra precaution while traveling and always keep in
touch with concerned government agencies in case there are emergencies.
In a radio interview Saturday over
government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said the police and other concerned agencies already
made the preparations in anticipation for the large volume of people visiting
the provinces for All Saints Day.
Among the agencies that will work together
include the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine
Coast Guard, the Department of Transportation and Communication, the Land
Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board and
the Philippine National Police, Valte said.
“Ang PNP will be on hand to make sure that trips
going out of Manila and going back to Manila will be as uneventful as
possible,” she added. “Siguraduhin lang natin na meron tayong listahan ng mga
emergency numbers kung kakailanganin natin and sundin natin ang mga precautions
na ibinibigay ng ating Philippine National Police.”
Valte also advised the public to secure their
homes before leaving adding that Malacanang will continue to monitor the
situation in the country’s bus terminals, airports and seaports. PND (as/2pm)
