President Aquino declares September 12 as
special non-working day in Siquijor in commemoration of its 41st year
anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 12, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working day) in the
municipality of Siquijor in commemoration of its 41st year anniversary as the
capital town of the province of Siquijor.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 649 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on September 4 to give the people of Siquijor municipality the full opportunity
to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Previously, the capital of Siquijor province was
Larena. In 1972, the municipality of Siquijor became the capital town by virtue
of Proclamation No. 1075. PND (js)
President Aquino enjoins all departments,
agencies of national and local government to support Task Force Pablo
Rehabilitation and Programs
President Benigno S. Aquino III has enjoined all
departments, agencies, and Instrumentalities of the national government and
local government units (LGUs) to actively support the full implementation of
the Task Force Pablo Rehabilitation Plans and Programs to restore to normalcy
the living conditions of the affected communities of typhoon Pablo.
The directive was issued by virtue of Memorandum
Circular No. 53 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on August
30.
Typhoon Pablo was considered as the strongest
typhoon to ever hit Mindanao in two decades.
Typhoon Pablo which made a landfall in December
2012 caused numerous casualties and severe damage to property, infrastructure,
and agriculture in Visayas and Mindanao, especially in the worst-hit provinces
of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.
In response to the widespread destruction caused
by typhoon Pablo, the national government has been providing assistance to its
victims to restore to normalcy the living conditions of the affected
communities at the earliest possible time.
Pursuant to the directive of the President, Task
Force Pablo was created to develop the comprehensive Pablo Rehabilitation Plan
(PRP) which aims to rationalize, harmonize, streamline, simplify, integrate,
and unify the efforts of government agencies mandated to rehabilitate the affected
areas and address the needs of the affected population.
He enjoined all officials and employees of
government agencies and instrumentalities, including Government-Owned or
-Controlled Corporations ' and LGUs, to fully support and cooperate with the
Task Force in the full implementation of the comprehensive plans for the
Typhoon Pablo affected areas.
The Office of the Cabinet Secretary was
designated as Chair of the Task Force to ensure proper implementation,
management, monitoring, evaluation and integration of the social services,
infrastructure, resettlement, and livelihood rehabilitation plans, policies,
and programs.
The President directed Task Force Pablo to work
with all concerned stakeholders, including the LGUs with jurisdiction over Compostela
Valley and Davao Oriental, in the full implementation of the Pablo
Rehabilitation Plan, and to regularly submit reports to the Office of the
President.
"Subject to the approval of the President,
and as reviewed and recommended by Task Force Pablo and the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) in accordance with the relevant guidelines of the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council whenever applicable,
the member-agencies of the Task Force and the Clusters are hereby authorized to
charge against their current appropriations such amounts as may be necessary
for the implementation of this Order," the Memorandum Circular read.
Budgetary requirements of the Task Force shall be subject to the usual
government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
Additional funds as may be necessary for the
implementation of this Order shall be identified and released by the DBM, in
accordance with the approved Pablo Rehabilitation Plan.
This Memorandum Circular shall take effect
immediately. PND (js)
Aquino signs Rural Farm Schools Act
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed two new
laws this week aimed at improving the health care and education systems.
The President signed on Tuesday Republic Act
10618 or “An Act Establishing Rural Farm Schools as Alternative Delivery Mode
of Secondary Education and Appropriating Funds Thereof.”
Republic Act 10618 will be known as Rural Farm
Schools Act.
Implemented by the Department of Education, the
new law aims to provide alternative mode of secondary education in rural areas.
Public rural farm schools will be free of charge but private rural farm schools
could collect minimal fee under the law.
Relatives of CARP beneficiaries however will be
exempted from payments if they enroll in private rural farm schools.
DepEd, being the implementing agency, will
institutionalize education standards in rural farm schools to maintain
credibility and academic integrity.
After one year of implementation, the DepEd is
expected to encourage the establishment of at least one public rural farm
school in every province in the country.
The curriculum of the rural farm schools will
follow the guideline set by the DepEd for secondary education with an addition
however focusing on agri-fishery arts.
Other supporting agencies will be the Department
of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Agricultur, the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority, and the Agricultural Training Institute.
Rural farm schools will receive funding from the
annual General Appropriations Act.
Also, the President signed on Tuesday Republic
Act 10619 or “An Act Amending Republic Act No. 6876, Entitled Barangay Si-it,
Municipality of Tanudan, Province of Kalinga Apayao, To be Known as the Tanudan
Municipal Hospital, and Appropriating Funds Thereof.”
The ten-bed Tanudan Municipal Hospital will be
supervised by the Department of Health. PND (as)
Aquino signs Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of
2013
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into
law a bill which seeks to protect children against toys considered hazardous.
The Chief Executive signed on September 3 the
Republic Act No. 10620 known as the "Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of
2013."
The Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill
No. 3367 and House Bill No. 6529, was finally passed by the Senate and the
House of Representatives on June 5, 2013.
The state shall ensure the protection of
children against potential hazards to their health and safety by requiring
special labeling of toys and games.
The law requires the labeling of substances or
mixture of substances which are considered toxic, corrosive, irritant, a strong
sensitizer, flammable or combustible, or generates pressure through
decomposition, heat or other means.
Such substances are usually the cause of
substantial injury or illness among children who accidentally ingest toy parts.
Under the law, all toys and games locally or
internationally manufactured that are imported, donated, distributed and sold
in the Philippines shall comply with the appropriate provisions on safety
labeling and manufacturer's markings found in the Philippine National Standards
for the safety of toys.
In the case of bulk sales of such product when
unpacked, the cautionary statement shall be displayed on the bin or container
used for the retail display of the product, and any vending machine from which
the unpacked product is dispensed and displayed, in English or Filipino or both
written in common language, in conspicuous and legible type in contrast by
typography, layout, or color with other printed matter on such package,
descriptive materials, bin, container and vending machine, and in the manner
consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7394, otherwise known as the
Consumer Act of the Philippines.
Any person who fails to comply with the
appropriate provisions on safety labeling and manufacturer’s markings faces a
fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P50,000 or a jail term of not
less than three months but not more than 2 years, or both , at the discretion
of the court.
Under the law, toys that are not properly
labeled shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government and shall
be disposed of by the Bureau of Customs.
The Department of Health (DOH) is mandated to
publish every six months, the list of all misbranded or banned hazardous
substances the sale, offer for sale and distribution of which shall not be
allowed under this Act.
The Department of Trade, in consultation with
the DOH, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the implementation of
the Act.
The DTI and the DOH shall include in their
respective annual budget the amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act.
The Act shall take effect 15 days after its
publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. PND (js)
Palace assures people: There’s enough rice
supply
Malacanang made an assurance Friday that there
is enough supply of rice in the market adding it expects the price of the
commodity to go back to normal as the country exits from the lean season.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday,
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she received word from the
Department of Agriculture assuring enough supply of the major staple and that
is has been monitoring supply and prices on the ground.
“Rest assured, nang nag-deploy ang DA ng mga
tauhan kanina doon sa mga Pamilihang Bayan natin ay okay naman,” Valte said.
“Ang sinasabi kasi ni Secretary Alcala ay
talagang patapos na… At least we’re out of the lean season and expected na
medyo mag-normalize na rin ang mga presyo.”
The Palace official also said the government had
expected rice prices to go up by around P2 but it’s unfortunate that some
traders have reprtedly seized the opportunity to jack up prices.
The National Food Authority (NFA) and the DA is
aware of these abuses and are carrying out appropriate measures.
Also they have coordinated with the National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to trace the source of the text messages that
circulated yesterday about the supposed "distribution of free rice."
The NFA is also verifying some tips of possible
hoarding being done by some suppliers, Valte said. PND (as)
Aquino accepts resignation of NBI Director Rojas
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he has
accepted the resignation of National Bureau of Investigation Director Nonnatus
Rojas who’s leaving the bureau due to health concerns.
In a statement issued Friday, the President said
that since the appointment of Rojas to the bureau on July 20, 2012, the NBI
Director was able to manage the transformation of the NBI from a controversial
agency to an effective investigative arm of the Department of Justice.
“He did not fail us. Director Rojas excelled in
his assigned tasks, and was instrumental in restoring the credibility of the
NBI,” the President said.
The President said he has deep regrets in
accepting Rojas’es resignation considering his part as a role model in the NBI.
In the meantime, the President said he expects
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to directly supervise the NBI, including the
appointment of an officer-in-charge to ensure the effective continuation of the
bureau’s tasks.
Rojas was expected to serve as NBI OIC when
former Director Magtanggol B. Gatdula was dismissed over allegations of
kidnapping and extortion attempts by NBI agents.
But Rojas gave up his career as a prosecutor in
the Department of Justice to become the NBI director. PND (as)
Aquino appoints new government officials and
judges
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials in various government agencies and in the courts, a Palace
official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced the appointments during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Friday.
Valte said the Chief Executive signed the
appointment letters of 22 judges to the lower courts.
The newly-appointed judges were Judge Catherine
Calumba Fabian as presiding judge of Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur Regional
Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16; Judge Felix Rodriguez Jr. as presiding judge of
Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Norte RTC Branch 18; Judge Cherry Joy Concha-Ageas
as presiding judge of Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte RTC Branch 10; Judge
Anthony dela Torre Isaw as presiding judge of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay RTC
Branch 24; Judge Magnolia Cassion Velez as presiding judge of Digos City, Davao
del Sur RTC Branch 20; Judge Gay Marie Lubigan-Rafael as presiding judge of San
Jose, Mindoro Occidental RTC Branch 46; Judge Jacinto Fajardo as presiding
judge of Talisay City, Cebu RTC Branch 66; Judge Cesar Bordalba as presiding
judge of Dapa, Surigao del Norte RTC Branch 31.
The other presidential appointees were Judge Kit
Enriquez as presiding judge of Boljoon-Alcoy, Cebu 9th Municipal Circuit Trial
Court (MCTC); Judge Alnaiza Tungupon Hassiman as presiding judge of
Katipunan-Sergio Osmena Sr, Zamboanga del Norte 5th MCTC; Judge Alvyn R. Lopena
as presiding judge of Aloran-Panaon, Misamis Occidental 3rd MCTC; Judge Stephen
Ian Belacho as presiding judge of Calamba-Baliangao, Misamis Occidental 1st
MCTC; Judge Jerlie Luis Requerme as presiding judge of Impasugong-Sumilao,
Bukidnon 3rd MCTC; Judge Susan Son Azares as presiding judge of
Kibawe-Damulog-Kadingilan, Bukidnon 6th MCTC; Judge Sabrina Balbon Lagamon as
presiding judge of Initao-Libertad, Misamis Oriental 8th MCTC; Judge Nanette
Gustillo Lemana as presiding judge of Davao City, Davao del Sur Municipal Trial
Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 6; Judge Alelie A. Briones Garcia as presiding judge
of Polillo-Panukulan, Quezon 5th MCTC; Judge Ingrid Anne Riola-Bermido as
presiding judge of Padre Burgos-Agdangan, Quezon 3rd MCTC; Judge Noel Sermense
as presiding judge of Calbayog City, Samar MTCC; Judge Julieto Bajan as
presiding judge of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte MTCC Branch 2 ; Judge Arnel
Amparo Zapatos as presiding judge of Glan-Malapatan Sarangani 1st MCTC and
Judge Osop M. Palagawad Abbas as presiding judge of the Wao-Bumbaran Lanao del
Sur 9th MCTC.
The President also appointed Zenaida Arevalo and
Priscilla Razon as Director IV and Acting Director IV of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development, respectively.
He, likewise, appointed Geraldine Yumul as
Acting Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer 1 of the Department of Agrarian Reform.
PND (js)
