Government allocates fund to help OFWs put up
businesses as Saudi Arabia's November 3 deadline expires Sunday, Palace says
The Aquino government has allocated P2 billion
fund to support Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia planning to put up
businesses as the Saudi Arabia government’s November 3 deadline against illegal
workers expires, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday.
"Naglaan po ng dalawang bilyong piso ang
Department of Labor and Employment, Development Bank of the Philippines, at
Land Bank of the Philippines para sa programang ito na maaaring magamit ng
ating mga kababayan sa pagpapatayo ng negosyo," Coloma said in an
interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The government is extending assistance to
undocumented OFWs in Saudi Arabia who are undergoing repatriation process,
Coloma said.
"Nitong mga nakaraang araw, puspusan po ang
pagkilos ng ating pamahalaan upang pangalagaan ang ating mga kababayan na
naghahanapbuhay sa Saudi Arabia sa harap ng pagtatapos ng palugit ng
Saudization policy ng pamahalaang Saudi," he said.
Coloma said Vice President Binay, concurrent
Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, had already sent a letter to Saudi King
Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to appeal that foreign workers be given another
extension to correct their working status in the kingdom.
"Kamakailan lamang lumiham ang pamahalaan,
sa pamamagitan ni Pangalawang Pangulo Jejomar Binay na siya ring Presidential
Adviser on OFW Concerns kay His Royal Highness King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al
Saud upang pormal na hilingin ang pagpapalawig ng palugit sa ating mga
kababayan upang maisaayos ang kanilang mga papeles at makapag-trabaho nang
legal sa naturang bansa," he said.
"Inatasan na rin po ni Secretary Albert del
Rosario si DFA Undersecretary Jesus Yabes upang personal na makipagpulong sa
mga kinatawan ng pamahalaang Saudi hinggil sa ibayo pang pagpapabilis sa
proseso ng repatriation o pagpapabalik sa Pilipinas ng ating mga kababayang
apektado ng patakaran," he said.
After the Nov. 3 deadline, the Saudi government
is expected to crackdown on illegal foreign workers.
The crackdown against illegal workers started on
March 28 because of the kingdom's Saudization policy, or nitaqat, that
encourages the employment of Saudi nationals in private firms.
]
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah stopped the
crackdown against illegal immigrants and foreign workers in April, giving them
three months to fix their status.
He deferred the deadline from July 3 to November
3, the end of the Islamic year, in response to requests made by Saudi companies
and employers, who reportedly cited the backlog in the processing of documents
in certain offices.
The Department of Foreign Affairs reported that
4,371 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia had been repatriated while 9,000 others have
been given travel documents, Coloma said.
About 1,500 others have been waiting to be
issued immigration clearances, he added.
"Makakaasa po ang buong bayan na patuloy
ang pagbibigay ng tulong legal at iba pang necessary assistance ng ating
pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan na apektado ng nasabing patakaran," he
said.
"Bukod po sa tulong legal na ipinapaabot sa
mga manggagawang ibig pang manatiling maghanapbuhay sa Saudi, meron din pong
naka-antabay na tulong pinansyal ang pamahalaan sa ilalim ng reintegration
program ng Department of Labor and Employment," he said.
"Sa pagsusuri ng DOLE at DFA, magiging
limitado ang epekto ng Saudization dahil nakapaghanda na ang pamahalaan ng mga
mekanismo na nagbibigay pagkakataon sa mga Pilipino na makalipat sa ibang
kompanya sa Saudi o pumasok sa ibang propesyon, lalo na sa mga trabahong hindi
nakalaan o natatangi sa mga mamamayan ng Saudi," he said. PND (js)
Concerned government agencies remain on alert to
ensure safety of people on their way
home after 'Undas 2013,' Palace says
Concerned government agencies are continuously
monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of people on their way homes
after the observance of "Undas 2013," Presidential Communications
Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Sunday.
In an interview aired over government-run radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Coloma said that concerned government agencies
remained on heightened alert for the safety and orderly travel of the public
following the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
The observance of the Undas 2013 was generally
peaceful, Coloma said.
"Samantala, malugod po naming ibinabalita
na sa pangkalahatan ay naging maayos at mapayapa ang paggunita sa araw ng
Undas. Liban sa isang pampublikong bus na nahulog sa isang bangin sa bayan ng
Carranglan, Nueva Ecija noong ika-30 ng Oktubre na ikinasawi ng dalawang
pasahero at pagkasugat ng 21 iba pa, walang iba pang hindi kanais-nais na
insidente ang naganap sa panahon ng Undas," Coloma said.
"At sa inaasahang pagbabalik sa kani-kanilang
mga tahanan ng ating mga mamamayan, muli pong nakaantabay ang mga kawani ng mga
pangunahing ahensya tulad ng Philippine National Police, Department of
Transportation and Communications, at Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
upang tiyaking ligtas ang kanilang magiging pagbiyahe," he said. PND (js)
Commission on Audit wins Bright Spot Award at
Open Government Partnership Summit in London, Palace says
The Aquino government expressed elation over
reports that the Philippines won the Bright Spot Award at the Open Government
Partnership (OGP) Summit held in London, United Kingdom, from October 31 to
November 1, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma Jr. said on Sunday.
"Kapuri-puri po ang pagkamit ng ating
Commission on Audit ng Bright Spot Award mula sa katatapos na Open Government
Partnership Summit na idinaos sa London, United Kingdom. Ito po ay para sa
Citizens’ Participatory Audit o CPA project," Coloma said in an interview
aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) Project
won the British-led Bright Spot Award that recognizes “the most inspiring
examples of how open and accountable government is changing people’s lives. COA
Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, Director Aida Ayaso Talavera, and Vivien Suerte
Cortez received the award.
"Ang Bright Spots Award po ay nagpapakita
kung paano ang mga pamahalaan sa mga OGP countries ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga
mamamayan para mapahusay ang pamamahala, gumamit ng bagong teknolohiya,
palawakin ang kamulatan ng publiko, at pahusayin ang pagtugon ng gobyerno sa
pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan," Coloma said.
"Ang Bright Spot Award po ay ibinigay sa
kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa OGP Summit at ang Pilipinas po, sa pamamagitan ng
CPA or Citizens’ Participatory Audit project ng ating Commission on Audit ang
tumanggap ng pinakamataas na bilang ng mga boto mula sa mahigit sa 1,000
kalahok sa summit at ang general public," he said.
The other finalists were from Chile, Estonia,
Indonesia, Montenegro, Georgia, and Romania.
"Sa kasalukuyan po merong apat na pilot
audit projects under the CPA or Citizens’ Participatory Audit project na kung
saan ay lumalahok ang mga mamamayan. Ito po ay ang mga sumusunod: Ang CAMANAVA
Flood Control project ng DPWH; ang Department of Education public-private
partnership for school building phase one; ang Quezon City solid waste
management program; at ang operasyon ng mga barangay health centers sa lungsod
ng Marikina City," he said.
“The Philippines is much admired in the OGP
Summit. It was one of only six Asian countries invited to the summit. Our
delegation consisting of COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, DBM Undersecretary Von
Moya, and yours truly”—si Secretary Lacierda po—“were resource speakers and
panelists in different sessions during the summit," said Coloma quoting
the text message of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
"UK Prime Minister David Cameron cited the
Philippines’ good governance programs in his plenary speech, and a speaker from
South Africa spoke admiringly of the Philippine government’s performance-based
budgeting system. ‘Yan po ang pinadalang balita ni Secretary Edwin Lacierda na
lumahok po sa Open Government Partnership Summit sa London, UK," Coloma
said. PND (js)
President Aquino open to holding dialogue with
groups opposed to DAP, Palace says
President Benigno S. Aquino is open to holding a
dialogue with groups who are still contesting the administration’s Disbursement
Acceleration Program (DAP) despite his frequent explanations on the matter
these past few weeks, Malacañang said.
In an interview over government-run radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan Sunday, Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the President is willing to
take suggestions from concerned citizens anytime to address their issues on DAP
as he had already manifested in his televised speech last week.
“Bukas po ang Pangulo na makipag-diyalogo sa
ating mga mamamayan. Ang pagtatalumpati niya on nationwide television at iba
pang mga broadcast facilities ay pagpapakita ng kanyang pagiging bukas at ng
kanyang kahandaan sa pakikipag-diyalogo at pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga
kababayan. Siya po ay handang tumanggap ng kanilang mga suhestiyon at sa lahat
ng pagkakataon po ay nais niyang malaman ang saloobin ng mga mamamayan,” Coloma
stated.
Coloma, meanwhile, reiterated the Aquino
administration’s commitment to prosecute those involved in the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or ‘pork barrel’ scam even without the
so-called ‘100-day deadline’ being imposed by some sectors.
He said Secretary Leila de Lima of the
Department of Justice is already preparing the necessary documents for the
second complaint or information to be filed against the concerned individuals
in the PDAF scam before the Office of the Ombudsman soon.
Even public officials who are allied with the
administration would not be spared from the process, Coloma said, as President
Aquino specifically instructed all agencies tasked to investigate the case to
“let the evidence point to the direction of the inquiry.”
“Ang pinagbabatayan po ng pagsasampa ng kaso at
ng impormasyon o ng complaint ay kung ano po ang isinasaad na ebidensya. At ang
konsepto po ng katarungan dito po sa administrasyong Aquino ay ‘yun pong
nakikita nating nakapiring na lady justice. Wala po itong sini-sino, wala po
itong kinikilala kung ano man ang political affiliation, ano man ang posisyon o
estado sa lipunan. Kinakailangan po ay pantay-pantay at patas ang paggawad ng
hustisya,” Coloma stated.
Coloma assured that the Aquino administration
will provide “equal application of the law” and will handle this matter with
utmost impartiality.
“Sa lahat po ng ginagawa at isasagawa, ito po
ang konsiderasyon natin: Ang equal application of the law at ‘yun pong kawalan
ng diskriminasyon. Kinakailangan po ay maging batay sa ebidensya, batay sa
katotohanan, katuwiran, at katarungan,” Coloma said. PND (hdc)
Government asks group to reconsider demand for
tax holiday, Palace says
The Aquino government called on business, civil
society and workers groups to reconsider their position for a three-month tax
holiday following the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance
Fund, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma
Jr. said on Sunday.
In an interview aired over government-run radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Coloma issued the statement after various groups
joined the “Million People March” advocates to demand for a three-month tax
holiday not only to business firms but also to ordinary workers due to pork
barrel controversy.
"Kailangan po sigurong pag-aralan nila nang
husto dahil hindi po ito magiging kapaki-pakinabang at ang masasaktan po rito
ay ang mga mamamayan ng ating bansa, lalong-lalo na po ‘yung mga dumaranas pa
ng kahirapan na siyang recipients or beneficiaries ng malalaking pondo mula sa
gobyerno na nanggaling din po sa taxpayers’ contribution," Coloma said
"Siguro po dapat pag-isipan mabuti ng mga
nagpapanukala ang idea na ito. Unang-una po, ang buwis po ang lifeblood ng
ating economy. Ito pong ating gastusin sa national budget, ang malaking
porsyento po nito ay pinopondohan ng mga buwis na binabayad ng mga mamamayan,
Coloma stressed.
The tax system in the Philippines appears to be
sound, said Coloma, adding that the current system serves to encourage even
greater interest and investments in our country.
"Ang pangalawa pong konsiderasyon ay ito:
Ang Pilipinas po ay meron nang isa sa mababang antas ng taxation as a
percentage of GDP. Kung ihahambing sa kabuuan ng ating gross domestic product,
maihahanay tayo doon sa mga bansang mababa ang porsyento o bahagdan ng GDP na
accounted for by income taxes," Coloma said.
"Kaya mas mainam siguro na mapataas pa
natin ang income tax collection ng ating bansa, kung gusto po talaga nating
mapahusay ang takbo ng ating ekonomiya," he said.
Coloma said the Aquino government remains
committed to uphold its good governance agenda. He said sound fiscal management
and integrity-based leadership has led to a resurgent economy in the face of uncertainties
in the global arena.
"Isa pa po, dahil sa mahusay na fiscal
management ng ating pamahalaan at sa ating tinatawag na sound macroeconomic
fundamentals ay nabigyan tayo ng investment grade rating. Ang investment grade
rating ay parang seal of good housekeeping para sa Pilipinas," he said.
"At kasama na po sa mga factors involved
diyan ang pag-reduce ng budget deficient and, in turn, the reduction of the
budget deficit ay dahil sa napataas ng Bureau of Internal Revenue at ng Bureau
of Customs, at ng iba pang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan ang ating
revenue-generating effort. Kaya dapat po tingnan natin ito sa pangkalahatang
perspektibo," Coloma said.
"Sa kabuuan naman po masasabi natin na ang
mga taxpayers’ money ay nagagamit para sa mga kapaki-pakinabang na mga
proyekto. Nagamit po ito sa imprastraktura, nagamit po ito sa school building
projects, nagamit sa pagsasagawa ng mga social amelioration and poverty
reduction programs, at marami pa pong mga programa," he said. PND (js)
