Presidential directive strengthens alternative
dispute resolution mechanism in gov’t
In a bid
to further enhance the business environment in the Philippines and hasten the
resolution of cases involving government projects, President Benigno S. Aquino
III placed under the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) the
management and development of dispute resolution programs for the Executive
Department.
The
President signed Executive Order No. 97 on Oct. 18, giving the OADR all the
authority and functions previously being discharged by the Office of the
President (OP) over disputes filed with the courts, quasi-judicial bodies or
administrative offices, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on
Thursday.
According
to Ochoa, the presidential directive will complement Executive Order No. 78
issued on July 4, 2012, which provides for the mandatory inclusion of ADR in
all contracts and agreements for public-private partnership (PPP),
build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme and joint venture entered into between the
government and private entities and local government units (LGUs).
Ochoa
explained that both presidential directives were in line with the government’s
policy of providing a conducive business climate for private investments by
making the resolution of disputes less expensive, tedious and time-consuming,
especially for large-scale, capital-intensive infrastructure and development
projects.
“The use
of ADR will also allow government agencies to focus on other important tasks and
functions such as the delivery of basic services instead of attending to
disputes,” Ochoa said.
Under EO
No. 97, the OADR will oversee, monitor, coordinate and evaluate the development
of ADR programs and services in agencies under the Executive Branch.
Each
agency is directed to submit a status report to the OADR on the designation of
a senior official and an alternate responsible for its ADR programs and
activities, among others, within three months from the time the presidential
order took effect.
EO No. 97
is in effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general
circulation.
Based on
the President’s order, each government agency will submit every six months
reports and update about its ADR program to the OADR, along with specific suggestions
to cut down delays, changes to existing laws and practices, and enhancement
proposals.
The OADR,
on the other hand, is instructed by the President to regularly submit to him
through the Executive Secretary an annual report on the policies, programs and
activities pertaining to the implementation of EO No. 97.
According
to Ochoa, it became a policy of the government to actively promote the freedom
of parties involved to make their own arrangement in settling disputes for
swift and just solution of cases when ADR Act of 2004 was put in place.
In 2006,
Executive Order No. 523 was issued and instituted the use of ADR in the
Executive Department and directed the OP to manage the development of ADR
practice in executive agencies.
“EO No.
523 was issued pending the promulgation of the implementing rules and
regulations of the ADR Act and the full operation of the OADR. To date,
however, the OADR is fully operational with the needed staff support and
resources to perform its functions under the law,” Ochoa noted.
The
issuance of EO No. 97 by President Aquino revokes EO No. 523.
EO No.
97, however, states that it does not cover management, oversight and
implementation of the barangay justice system, and should not be interpreted to
repeal, amend or modify the jurisdiction of the Katarungang Pambarangay under
the Local Government Code of 1991.
President Aquino joins the nation in the
observance of All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day
President
Benigno S. Aquino III joined the nation in the observance of All Saints' Day
and All Souls' Day as he cited the traditional practice of the Filipino
citizenry in paying respects to their departed ancestors and love ones.
"Ang
pamilya ang matatag na pundasyon ng ating bansa. Maigting na binubuklod ang
pamilyang Pilipino ng paggalang sa ating mga ninuno at mga namayapa," the
Chief Executive said in his message on the occasion of All Saints' Day and All
Souls' Day.
"Ngayong Undas, isang bansa po nating
ginugunita ang mga yumao nating mahal sa buhay; dumadalaw sa kanilang mga
puntod, nagsasalo-salo, at nag-aalay ng panalangin," he said.
President
Aquino assured that the government will continue to work in ensuring the safety
of the public during the observance of the Undas 2012.
"Makakaasa po kayo na mananatiling alerto
ang inyong gobyerno sa pagbabantay at pagsisilbing gabay sa inyong paglalakbay
ngayong Undas," he stressed.
The
President also vowed that the concerned government agencies are on heightened
alert for the safety and orderly travel of passengers.
"Pinaigting natin ang seguridad sa ating
mga paliparan, daungan, at estasyon ng mga pangunahing trasportasyon sa
bansa," he said.
"Nagtalaga na po tayo ng karagdagang mga
pulis at sundalo upang matiyak ang maaliwalas na pagluwas ng ating mga
kababayan, at upang mabilis na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng
manlalakbay," the President said. PND (js)
Palace announces activation of PNP task force
SAFE 2013
The
Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated a task force that will address
the proliferation of loose firearms and dismantle private armed groups as the
country prepares for the 2013 mid-term election, Malacanang announced on
Thursday.
In a
radio interview over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the PNP leadership has already
activated the Task Force SAFE 2013 in preparation for the election. SAFE stands
for Secure and Fair Election.
Valte
said the task force started its work three weeks ago, which includes several
action plans to ensure a safe and orderly 2013 election.
She noted
that among the concerns of the task force is the identification of election
hotspots in the country, monitoring and neutralization of private armed groups
and the accounting of loose firearms, Valte said.
The
campaign has a three-pronged approach with major concentration on eliminating
private armed groups and accounting of loose firearms in the country.
According
to Valte, the PNP has confiscated around 4,000 firearms in the first semester
of the year through its “Kontra Boga” campaign.
But
because of the All Saints Day observance this week, Valte said, the PNP has
concentrated on ensuring the peace and order situation in the country but will
soon resume the campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms once
the observance is over.
“After
nitong Undas magre-resume na ang focus ng PNP on Task Force SAFE 2013.
Ini-expect lang that the assets are now being used to ensure security because
of the exodus that we have for Undas that they will revert to their
concentration on Task Force SAFE after matapos na ‘yung Undas activities,”
Valte said. PND (as/1:31pm)
Malacanang says government to extend assistance
to United States after it was badly hit by Hurricane 'Sandy'
The
Philippine government will extend assistance to the United States of America
(USA) after Hurricane ‘Sandy’ -- the largest Atlantic tropical hurricane on record
-- battered New York and surrounding cities last month, a Palace official said
on Thursday.
In an
interview aired over government-run radio-station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on
Thursday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Foreign Affairs Secretary
Albert del Rosario has conveyed to U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K.
Thomas, Jr. about the government's message of sympathies and support to the
American people.
"This was communicated by Secretary Del
Rosario to Ambassador Thomas Wednesday at magbibigay po tayo ng tulong through
the American Red Cross. Yung figure po diyan that will be around 250,000 (US)
dollars. Valte said.
According
to Valte, the Philippine embassy officials based in the US are closely
monitoring the situation of the Filipinos who are living in the East Coast
which was battered by Hurricane Sandy.
"Nagmo-monitor po ang ating embahada sa
Estados Unidos. Bukas po ang mga linya nila. Kung makatatawag po kayo, if you
(can) manage to contact, if you need help you can contact our embassy and they
will be ready to provide assistance," Valte said.
Recent
reports noted that Hurricane ‘Sandy’ was one of the biggest storms that ever
hit the United States. Over three million people were left without electricity
due to the rise of floodwaters in several areas.
Last
Tuesday, Malacanang issued a statement to express its sympathies to the
American people, especially to the Filipino-American communities, who are being
seriously affected by Hurricane ‘Sandy’.
Valte
said that Filipinos are one in offering prayers for the safety of those who are
presently being hammered down by the natural calamity.
“As
Hurricane ‘Sandy’ batters the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, we extend
our sympathies and support to all those affected by this calamity. Our thoughts
and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who are facing these
difficult times, among them the Filipino-American community,” Valte said.
“The
devastation caused by the storm continues to unfold, but we are confident that
the resolve of the American people to overcome this catastrophe remains
steadfast, strong, and unbending,” she said. PND (js)
Government doing everything to address concerns
of aviation industry, Palace says
The government
will continue addressing the concerns of the country’s aviation industry for it
to pass the final assessment of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) next year, Malacanang said on Thursday.
Recent
reports said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will remain
in Category 2 status after ICAO found two major concerns during its review.
The ICAO
inspectors said they found two “significant safety concerns (SSC) during their
10-day evaluation. ICAO said The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
must address “aircraft registration and flight safety inspection.”
Reacting
to the recent ICAO assessment, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a radio interview over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Thursday that
despite the shortcomings, the important thing is that the government is
addressing the problem and expects to solve it prior to ICAO’s final audit in
2013.
“Nakipag-coordinate na tayo kay DOTC Secretary
Jun Abaya and I think the more important issue is not whether we are
disappointed pero kung ano ang ating ginagawa,” Valte said.
“Ang
feedback is we have made significant progress on some of the areas of concern
pero meron pa ring kailangang gawin.”
CAAP will
undergo the final audit in the first quarter of 2013 and Valte said CAAP and
the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) are optimistic that
the country would eventually pass ICAO’s evaluation.
The
Philippine Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, hopes that the Philippine
aviation industry would be upgraded to Category 1 status so that its new fleet
could fly to new routes in the United States and Europe.
The
then-Air Transportation Office (ATO) was downgraded from Category 1 to Category
2 status in 2007 after an ICAO review found 89 significant concerns during an
inspection.
The
downgrade compelled the government to abolish the Air Transportation Office and
replace it with CAAP through Republic Act (RA), 9497. PND (as/2:35pm)
Aquino administration assures passage of sin tax
reform bill would help increase income of farmers
The
Aquino administration assured that the Malacanang-endorsed sin tax reform bill
when passed into law would provide funds for Filipino tobacco farmers to help
them increase their income.
In an
interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on
Thursday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte made it clear that the
passage of the sin tax measure would provide safety nets for the farmers to
ensure a better income for them.
"Part of the revenue that will be
collected will go into a safety net for tobacco farmers precisely because meron
mga concern na ‘yung iba daw po sa kanila madi-displace," she said.
Valte
stressed that the sin tax measure would not only generate revenues for the
government to strengthen the country’s health care system but also level the
playing field that could increase the income of local tobacco farmers.
"However, when it comes to the particular
point on taxes, hahayaan na lang po natin ang lehislatura kung ano ang actual
na buwis na ipapataw dahil ngayon nga po pending pa rin sa Senado ang panukala
sa sin tax," Valte said.
Last May,
President Benigno S. Aquino III certified as urgent House Bill 5727 or Sin Tax
Reform Bill that seeks to increase taxes on cigarettes and alcohol products.
The House
Bill, authored by Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, will restructure
alcohol and cigarette taxes. PND (js)
