World Health Organization needs 20 volunteer
nurses in Tacloban City
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) The World Health
Organization (WHO) is in dire need of 20 volunteer nurses to help in the
immunization of residents affected by Typhoon Yolanda in this city.
In an inter-agency meeting here Monday,
Department of Health assistant regional Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco said volunteer
nurses will be working for WHO for 10 days.
"WHO is starting to pull out their nurses
so they are needing volunteer nurses from our town," Sydiongco said.
Each volunteer worker will receive P1,500 for
their service.
The deadline for submission of application is on
Wednesday. Volunteers are expected to start right after the orientation on
Thursday.
Interested applicants can contact WHO
coordinator Maricel Castro at 0947-889-9177. PND (jb)
President Aquino receives six new envoys
President Benigno Aquino III on Monday received
six new ambassadors to the Philippines.
The six envoys presented their credentials to
the President at simple ceremonies in Malacañan Palace.
With the President in receiving the envoys was
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
Presenting their credentials to the President
were:
Austria: Josef Muellner, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Belgium: Ronald Van Remoortele, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Myanmar: U Ye Myint Aung, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Vietnam: Truong Trieu Duong, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Canada: Neil Reeder, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary
United States: Philip Goldberg, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. PND (jl)
President Aquino declares December 5 as special
non-working day in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija in celebration of its 48th
Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
December 5, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working) day in the
city of Palayan in the province of Nueva Ecija in celebration of its 48th
Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 687 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on November 20 to give the people of Palayan the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 19, 1965, the Congress of the
Philippines enacted Republic Act No. 4475 creating Palayan City as the new
capital of Nueva Ecija.
The city government of Palayan was constituted
on December 5, 1965 with then Governor Eduardo L. Joson as its Ex-Officio Mayor
while the Board Members Constituted its first City Council. PND (js)
DSWD clarifies: Vulnerable families will still
receive relief goods
(TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) The Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday clarified that distribution of relief
goods will continue for vulnerable families even beyond December 31, 2013.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Vilma Cheche Cabrera
issued the clarification, during an inter-agency briefing here, following
reports that the government will stop providing relief goods to typhoon Yolanda
affected families by December 31.
"I'd like to correct that. The government
would still continue (with the relief distribution) but in another
modality," Cabrera said.
She referred to the cash-for-work and
food-for-work programs the DSWD has launched to help Yolanda survivors to stand
on their own feet.
She said families with abled and adult members
will be obliged to participate in the two assistance programs and will no
longer be given relief goods.
Only those "highly-vulnerable"
families, meaning those with children, senior citizens and persons with
disabilities will be assisted by the DSWD.
"For those that have the capacity to engage
in either cash-for-work or food-for-work, we will be assisting them to be able
for DSWD to still continue with cash support for them," said Cabrera.
Cabrera said out of the reported 526, 289
affected population, the DSWD is still providing basic necessities of 273,782
vulnerable families.
As of November 30, the DSWD already distributed
2,322,051 food packs to the affected population.
Additional 42,191 food packs were delivered last
December 1.
The DSWD has also distributed 294,314 liters of
water and 244,444 packages of high-energy biscuits. PND (jb)
New US Ambassador assures Philippines of
continued support in 'Yolanda' rehab
New United States Ambassador to the Philippines
Goldberg on Monday reassured the Philippines of his country’s continued support
in efforts to recover from super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).
Goldberg, who presented his credentials to
President Benigno S. Aquino III, said that while there may be a decrease in
military presence, the US civilian presence will remain.
“I had a chance to make the same kind of expression
to President Aquino that the United States will remain with the Philippines as
you move from the relief period into reconstruction. And the United States will
take the lead of the Philippine government in areas that are most urgent for
rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he said at a media briefing.
He added the US has been "very
involved" in all aspects of the initial relief effort due to its unique
capabilities.
"But also our civilian efforts, which will
be ongoing and continue even with the decrease in our military presence, and we
take our lead from the Philippine government," he said.
He added he had seen for himself the extent of
the destruction when he visited some of the affected areas, including Tacloban
City and Palo town in Leyte, last week.
Goldberg also cited the people-to-people ties
between the Philippines and the US, which he said symbolize the relations
between the two countries.
He also vowed to work for a future "that is
also filled with cooperation for mutual prosperity, for mutual security, both
for this region and for the whole world because it is based on shared values
and people-to-people ties."
"We will work with the government of the
Philippines and the people of the Philippines as it becomes more competitive
and hopefully continues these great growth rates in its economy and be helpful
in any way we can," he said.
Meanwhile, Goldberg said the US will cooperate
with the Philippines not only in security but also on humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief.
He said his priority as ambassador to the
Philippines is "to broaden and deepen what has already been a very fine
relationship, a great relationship, a historic relationship in the economic and
commercial area, in the security, and in those people-to-people ties."
"We want to further that effort and be able
to help even more as we move towards a framework agreement where the United
States and the Philippines can move to the next level of its
relationship," he said. PND (jl)
US reaffirms support for code of conduct in
Asian region
The United States on Monday reaffirmed its
support for a code of conduct that will ensure free navigation in the Southeast
Asian region.
New US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip
Goldberg said that while the US does not take sides in disputes in the region,
such a code of conduct will ease tensions in the area.
“We don’t take sides and we are not a claimant
state on any of these territorial features. But at the same time, we strongly
support the countries of this region coming together for a Code of Conduct,
which will help set out the rules of the road or the rules of the sea, as it
will be a way for tensions to decrease,” he said at a media briefing, after
presenting his credentials to President Benigno Aquino III.
He said the same is true of “any legal recourse
that the Philippine government has taken.”
Goldberg said the US had expressed its concern,
both to the Chinese directly and through media, about China’s declaration of an
air defense identification zone.
Such a move may not build confidence but may
instead create tension, he added.
“We believe in free navigation whether it’s in
the air or on sea. That’s where the United States stands, and we will continue
to press those beliefs, and we will support the peaceful and legal, diplomatic
efforts underway to resolve tensions,” he added. PND (jl)
Palace exec: No politics in Lacson appointment
as 'reconstruction czar'
Malacañang on Monday maintained there was no
political consideration in the appointment of former Senator Panfilo Lacson as
super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) reconstruction czar.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a
media briefing Monday afternoon the main goal is to bring back the affected
areas to their feet soonest.
“I think the whole drive towards reconstruction
is to bring back the affected areas on its feet. There’s no issue, there’s no
politics here. Gagawin ang lahat para maiangat uli ang kabuhayan at katayuan ng
mga naapektuhang lugar (We will do everything to restore the livelihood of the
people in the affected areas). I think this is something that we look forward
to in helping the affected citizens in those affected areas,” he said.
On Sunday evening, Lacson said he had accepted
President Benigno Aquino III’s offer to head reconstruction efforts in areas
affected by Yolanda.
Yolanda barreled through parts of Visayas and
Southern Luzon, leaving behind more than 5,600 dead and more than P30 billion
in damage.
Lacierda said the Palace needed someone to
handle the reconstruction efforts fulltime.
“What we need really is somebody to handle the
reconstruction efforts fulltime, given his national stature... and given that
he’s also a senator he knows how to deal with all the different building blocks
for reconstruction efforts,” he added.
On the other hand, Lacierda said there is no
expected major change in the functions of the Cabinet in the rehabilitation
work.
He said the Department of Energy will be in
charge of restoring electricity in the affected areas, while the Department of
Interior and Local Government will be in charge of local government and the
police.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development
will still be in charge of services such as stress debriefing and providing
relief and assistance.
“There’s no change in the situation. In fact
that’s the reason why we have to have a rehabilitation czar, so the Cabinet
secretaries could focus on their mandates,” he said. PND (jl)
Philippines will have more say on International
Maritime Organization's global program,
Palace says
Malacanang welcomed the International Maritime
Organization’s (IMO) move to give the Philippines greater influence in driving
the world program of the organization.
In a press briefing on Monday, Presidential
spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Filipino maritime seafarers would be benefited
by this development.
“This is an honor for the Philippines. We are
one of 40 elected member-states out of 170 member-states, more or less,”
Lacierda said.
Filipino seafarers comprise around 30 percent of
the total international maritime seafarers, or about almost 400,000 Filipino
seafarers, he said.
“Whatever the policy that the IMO Council will
adopt will greatly impact the Philippines,” Lacierda said.
The IMO is the United Nations’ specialized
agency with the responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the
prevention of marine pollution by ships.
The organization is also a forum that is
involved in the formulation and adoption of international standards for
maritime safety, maritime security, marine environmental protection, and
seafarers’ qualifications among others. PND (as)
President Aquino designates former Senator
Lacson as ‘Yolanda’ rehabilitation czar
President Benigno S. Aquino III designated
former Senator Panfilo Lacson as the ‘rehabilitation czar’ or the man in charge
to oversee the overall efforts being undertaken by the national government in
reconstructing the areas destroyed by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in the Visayas
region.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a text message that President Aquino thanked the
erstwhile legislator for accepting his invitation for him to assume a lead role
in overseeing the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of
the deadly storm.
“The full scope of his duties and
responsibilities will be embodied in an executive order that will be issued
shortly,” Coloma added.
In an interview over the state-run dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan last Sunday, Coloma said Lacson was qualified enough to take on the
responsibility given his track record in public service, which include a stint
at the Philippine National Police as director general and being a member of the
Philippine Senate for two terms.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda,
meanwhile, explained that Lacson’s designation as rehabilitation czar was
necessary given the magnitude of the disaster and the immense reconstruction
efforts that will be required.
“The President felt that there should be an
individual (working) full-time to handle the reconstruction efforts; hence,
there was a need to look outside the Cabinet and, for that reason, Senator
Lacson was offered the position of rehabilitation czar,” he told reporters
during a press briefing. PND (hdc)
President Aquino accepts resignation of Customs
Commissioner Biazon
President Benigno S. Aquino III accepted the
resignation of Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino ‘Ruffy’ Biazon after the two
met with respect to the latter’s inclusion in a graft case filed by the
National of Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Office of the Ombudsman
recently.
In a statement published in the Official
Gazette, President Aquino said Biazon submitted his “irrevocable resignation”
to him as he “believes that the proper thing to do is to defend himself without
compromising his past record or the ongoing reforms in the bureau.”
“In his letter to me, and in our conversation,
he explained that it would be best to provide the Secretary of Finance the
widest leverage and flexibility to steer the future direction of the Bureau of
Customs, in light of the controversy brought about by Commissioner Biazon’s
inclusion in the complaint of the National Bureau of Investigation before the
Ombudsman,” the President said.
Biazon, in his previous capacity as
representative of Muntinlupa City, was among the list of former lawmakers
facing charges of malversation, direct bribery and graft and corrupt practices
based on the Department of Justice’s investigation on the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
On dealing with this matter, President Aquino
said Biazon is “especially concerned with protecting his family, in particular
his children, from the effects of a public controversy.”
The President added that he has given Biazon
until the end of the week to wind up his affairs in the Bureau of Customs in
order to ensure an orderly transfer.
“I thank him for his years of service to our
administration and the nation. I wish him nothing but the best as he returns to
private life,” he concluded in his statement.
Biazon was appointed by President Aquino as
commissioner at the Bureau of Customs in September 14, 2011. PND (hdc)
