Aquino declares November 2012 as ‘Civil
Engineering Month’
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared November 2012 as "Civil Engineering
Month" to underscore the need to focus national attention on the
importance of the civil engineering profession and highlight its role in nation
building.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration by
virtue of Proclamation No. 439 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa
Jr. on July 24.
"The Philippine Institute of Civil
Engineers, Inc. (PICE) is an organization composed of more than 71,900
registered civil engineer-members in 97 chapters and some 25,390 civil
engineering student-members in 174 student chapters throughout the
country," President Aquino.
The PICE’s celebration of the "Civil
Engineering Month" is in conjunction with its 75th Year Anniversary and
38th National Convention on November 22-24, 2012 at the Cebu International
Convention Center in Mandaue City, Cebu.
The President called on all civil engineers and
students to give the observance of the “Civil Engineering Month” their full
support.
The history of civil engineering as a profession
dates back to 1920 when the Philippine Society of Civil Engineers (PSCE) was
founded by a group of civil engineers mostly in government. In 1937, a group of
civil engineers from the private sector organized the Philippine Association of
Civil Engineers (PACE).
Realizing that the two organizations shared the
same objectives of raising the standards of the profession, encouraging
research and engineering knowledge and technology, fostering fellowship among
their members, and promoting interrelation with other technological and scientific
societies, the PSCE and PACE merged in 1972 to form what is now known as the
Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers or PICE. PND (js)
Aquino appoints Padaca as Comelec commissioner
President
Benigno S. Aquino III appointed former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca as
commissioner of the Commission on Elections with a term expiring in February
2018.
In a
letter dated September 28, 2012, President Aquino asked the Commission on
Appointments to immediately confirm Padaca as Comelec commissioner.
Born on
October 25, 1963, Padaca became a Certified Public Accountant after graduating
magna cum laude from the Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila.
Although
stricken with polio at an early age paralyzing both her legs, Padaca became an
influential broadcaster in Isabela, inspiring the local people to understand
civil and political issues and fight for what is right and just.
Padaca
rose to prominence in 2004 when she defeated governor Faustino Dy Jr., a member
of a political dynasty that ruled Isabela for 40 years. In May 2007 she was
re-elected as Isabela governor after beating former governor Benjamin Dy.
Among the
awards she received were the Ramon Magsaysay award for Government Service (2008),
the United States Department of State Woman of Courage award (2007), the
Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Fellowships for Professional Development award (2006),
and the First CEO Excel Awards (2005).
She also
co-founded with then Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio and then Naga City Mayor
Jesse Robredo the Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership called
KAYA NATIN. PND (as/2:50pm)
Government committed to protect rights of Radio
Philippines Network employees to be affected by retrenchment program next month
Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. assured that the government is
committed to uphold and protect the rights of some 200 employees of Radio
Philippines Network (RPN) following the implementation of a retrenchment
program next month.
In a
press conference in Malacanang, Tuesday, Coloma said that even if the
government’s involvement in running the network would be limited to the
functions of two government-nominated directors, the PCOO will continue to
monitor the developments to ensure the strict observance of the provisions of
the Labor Code.
“The PCOO
continues to supervise the operations and management of RPN and as we have
declared in all of our appearances and statements before both Houses of
Congress, government is committed to protect the rights of the employees of
RPN. We continue to monitor the developments in RPN to ensure that all the
rights of the employees under the labor code are adequately protected. Ang
tinitiyak namin ay iyong pagsunod o pagtalima sa probisyon ng Labor Code…
malinaw naman po ang definition doon, ang sinasabi ko po dito kung anumang
hugis o anyo ng kanilang retrenchment program, that will have to be fully
compliant with the provisions of the Labor Code and that is what we have
committed to uphold,” Coloma said.
“Our
participation in the management of RPN has been limited to the participation of
the two government-nominated directors and our constant and periodic monitoring
by way of requiring management reports and reports of all significant actions
taken including this decision to implement a retrenchment… iyon po ang extent
ng government participation in the management of RPN,” he added.
The two
government-nominated directors are former Press Undersecretary Lourdes ‘Deedee’
Siytangco and Antonio ‘Tonipet’ Albano, who served as president of RPN until he
resigned effective August 31. A third seat remains vacant, according to
Secretary Coloma.
When
asked on updates concerning the privatization of the two government-sequestered
television networks RPN and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation (IBC),
Coloma said that the proceeds from the two networks will be allocated to the
revitalization of the government-owned Peoples Television Network (PTV).
“On
February 29, 2012 the Economic Development Cluster of the Cabinet approved the
revitalization of PTV consisting of fresh capital infusion in the amount of P5
billion and amendments to the law allowing the network to collect commercial
revenues. The policy adopted by the Economic Development Cluster is that
approximately half of the fresh capital of five billion will be taken from the
proceeds of the privatization of both RPN and IBC and the other half will be
accounted for by spectrum management fees collected by the National
Telecommunications Commission from broadcasting and telecommunications
companies,” Coloma noted.
Radio
Philippines Network is one of the media organizations under the supervision of
the PCOO in Executive Order No. 4. In July of 2010 the Supreme Court ruled with
finality that 32 per cent of RPN is owned by Far East Managers and Investors
Incorporated or FEMI, an investment group associated with the late Ambassador
Roberto S. Benedicto.
In
October of 2011, the new composition of the RPN Board reflected the equity
structure as follows: 34% Solar Entertainment Group; 32% FEMI or Roberto S.
Benedicto Group; 20.8% Government of the Republic of the Philippines and 14%
individual private stockholders.
Based on
the said structure, the Governance Commission for Government Corporations (GCG)
declared that RPN is no longer a government corporation.
On
Monday, RPN acting president Robert Rivera announced that it will cut at least
200 jobs with the closure of its central office in Quezon City by November of
this year.
The
network said the retrenchment program would provide separation packages to a
certain portion of the workforce and will take effect on Nov. 15.
It added that the move would ease and provide
relief to employees as well as resolve the issues of the network, including its
P3-billion outstanding debt. PND (jcl/3:00 p.m.)
