Tacloban residents benefit from cash-for-work
programs
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Thousands of survivors of
super typhoon Yolanda have benefited from cash-for-work programs being
conducted by the government and international non-government organizations
here.
Around 200 residents have been hired by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development to help in the clean-up efforts
and distribution of relief goods.
"We have more or less 200 volunteer workers
participating in the cash-for-work program in Leyte and Samar," Department
of Social Welfare and Development Assistant Secretary Wilma Cabrera said
Saturday.
Cash-for-work system has helped this city not
only in improving its economy but also in lifting the morale of the people
battered by Yolanda, the strongest storm to ever hit land.
Some international non-government organizations
also have launched cash-for-work programs for residents who want to earn money
while rebuilding their lives.
Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines is paying
residents P500 per day to help in the clearing operations.
The Buddhist relief foundation has so far helped
at least 21,000 survivors to get back on their feet and to start cleaning up
their communities. They are targeting to augment their work force to up to
30,000.
United Nations Development Programme, meanwhile,
has at least 250 workers in the cities of Tacloban and Palo, Leyte.
"We are now expanding here and the other
remote areas to scale up to 200,000 people in total throughout the whole
process," said Lesley Wright, spokesperson of UNDP in Tacloban.
French aid organization ACTED is also paying
P300 per volunteer worker who will distribute relief goods in far-flung areas.
ACTED also hires people to conduct damage
assessment in every municipality.
One worker of ACTED Steve Renomeron, a typhoon
victim himself, said the cash-for-work program has been a lot of help for his
family after losing everything in the calamity.
He has been working as volunteer for two weeks
distributing hygiene and water kits to two worst-hit towns in Samar - Marabut
and Basey. PND (jb)
President Aquino boosts transparency and
accountability in mining sector
President Benigno S. Aquino III has intensified
government efforts to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the
country’s mining sector, signing Executive Order No. 147 that creates the
Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI), Executive
Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. disclosed on Saturday.
The institution of the PH-EITI is a requisite to
complete the EITI process to make the Philippines a “compliant country” in the
international undertaking to bring about transparency and accountability in the
extractive industries and in government.
Established in 2003, the EITI is a global
coalition of governments, companies and civil society collaborating to improve
honest and responsible management of revenues from natural resources,
particularly oil, gas, metals and minerals.
“Joining the EITI is among the Aquino
administration’s measures to ensure greater transparency and accountability in
the mining sector, including the way the government collects as well as in the
way the companies pay takes from mining,” Ochoa pointed out.
“Measures and activities geared towards
Philippines compliance with the requirements to join EITI should be given full
support in order to improve the mining sector and spawn better governance and
regulation of the industry,” he added.
Based on EO 147, the PH-EITI will be implemented
and operational through a multi-stakeholder group (MSG) and decision-making
body referred as PH-EITI-MSG, which will be headed by the Finance (DoF)
Secretary and will have, as members, the following: five Government
Representatives chosen by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), five
Business Group Representatives, and five Civil Society Organization (CSOs)
Representatives. All members will serve for a term of three years.
Aquino leads commemoration of Andres Bonifacio’s
150th Birth Anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the
commemoration Saturday of the 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio in
Caloocan City asking the nation to unite, move forward and continue the fight
for a meaningful future.
In his message during the event, the President
likened the heroism and dedication of Filipinos who fought the Spanish rule
during the 1896 revolution to the courage and nationalism displayed by
Filipinos from different sectors who helped their fellowmen after the Typhoon
Yolanda hit the Philippines this month.
Speaking with the Bonifacio monument in the
background, the President said the monument represented the ordinary people,
ready to respond to the call of times and any challenge.
“Kung mapapansin, sila ang kumakatawan sa
karaniwang Pilipino—nakayapak, nakarolyo ang manggas, at hitik sa pawis ang mga
bisig—sila ang tumugon sa panawagan ng Inang Bayan upang magkaisa at maghatid
ng makabuluhang pagbabago sa bansa,” the President said.
“Hindi nalalayo sa bantayog na ito ang mga
Pilipinong tumindig at nag-alay ng kanilang bisig para sa kapwa nitong nagdaang
bagyo,” he said.
Soldiers, policemen, firemen, nurses and doctors
joined hands and risked their lives to help fellow Filipinos affected by the
typhoon, the President said. At the times that the country has been facing
difficult challenges many have shown their deep sense of nationalism, he said.
“Ito nga po ang diwa ng bayanihan: Mga bayani
mula saanmang antas ng pamumuhay na nagkakaisa upang magpamalas ng malasakit,
paninindigan, at pagkamakabayan. Ipinakita nating hindi lamang ito salita o
konseptong nakaukit sa bato, kundi tunay na nakatatak sa pagkakakilanlan ng
Pilipino,” the President said.
According to the President, Bonifacio represents
the bravery and determination of ordinary Filipinos. Bonifacio guided his
family at a young age, organized the Katipunan and encouraged his people to
fight colonialism.
Filipinos could learn from this example by
preparing ahead of any major calamities and by helping fellow Filipinos fight
poverty and encouraged volunteerism, the President said.
“Hangga’t mayroong nananatiling nakatindig na
bantayog ni Andres Bonifacio, hangga’t may bandila tayong matayog na nakapaskil
sa kalangitan, ituloy natin ang laban para sa mas makabuluhang kinabukasan ng buong
sambayanan,” he added.
This year’s commemoration has for its theme
Bonifacio: Honor and Heroism.
Joining the President Saturday were AFP Chief of
Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, PNP chief Director General Allan Purisima, MMDA
chairman Francis Tolentino, National Historical Commission of the Philippines
chairperson Maria Serena Diokno, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan and
Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice. PND (as)
Government to spend P40.9 billion to
rehabilitate hard-hit areas in Visayas Region
President Benigno S. Aquino III and his Cabinet
ironed out government programs aimed at immediately rehabilitating
typhoon-affected areas in Eastern Visayas, a Palace official said on Saturday.
In a statement Saturday, Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the
government priority areas are the localities within the 50-kilometer zone from
the eye of Typhoon Yolanda that struck Eastern Visayas and nearby regions.
Included in this first-priority zone are 171
municipalities in 14 provinces and six regions, Coloma said over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
These municipalities cover 4,971 barangays in an
area of 25,000 square kilometers with an estimated total population 6.6 million
as of 2010, he said. He added that the DOST is conducting continuing analysis
of satellite images to guide on-ground assessment of actual needs.
The Cabinet discussion also focused on providing
livelihood to families affected by the typhoon that needs to be done
immediately, he said.
Within the priority areas, the major aspects of
rehabilitation and reconstruction included housing and resettlement,
reconstruction of economic and social infrastructure; restoring government and
public services as well as focusing on agriculture and fisheries.
The government thrust is also geared towards
re-energizing local economic development through livelihood and employment, he
reported.
The government also assessed the budgetary needs
of the rehabilitation process, Coloma said. The President emphasized the
importance of fine-tuning budget estimates to ensure that every peso is spent
wisely, considering the magnitude of government expenditures not just for
post-Yolanda rehabilitation and for other calamities (including Zamboanga,
Bohol and Central Luzon, post-Santi).
The Cabinet revised its initial estimate of
P38.8 billion to P40.9 billion rehabilitation budget after factoring in the
requirements for local government buildings and facilities, police and fire
stations, and public markets.
The sectoral allocations are as follows: shelter
and public infrastructure (including roads, bridges, airport, port and other
facilities), 67 percent; livelihood and employment (including support to
agriculture and fisheries) 12 percent; local facilities, 11 per cent; social
services, including health services, education and training, 9 percent.
These budget estimates will be subjected to
further fine-tuning through on-ground validation of initial rapid assessment
findings.
The President emphasized the need to ensure that
basic needs of food and shelter are addressed adequately and in a timely
manner, Coloma said.
The President wants forward-planning to focus on
strengthening the capabilities of the people, institutions, and structures to
deal with the challenge of disasters as a result of climate change, he added.
PND (as)
Every Filipino, like Andres Bonifacio has chance
to show heroism, says Coloma
Every Filipino can emulate the example set by
Andres Bonifacio, whose 150th birth day is being commemorated today,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
said in a statement on Saturday.
“Tulad ni Andres Bonifacio, ang bawa’t Pilipino
ay binibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging bayani. Ang tawag ng panahon ay para sa
kabayanihan sa pagharap sa pagsubok, na kung saan ay mahalalaga ang pagiging
mahinahon, matiyaga, matatag at buo ang pag-asa,” Coloma said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the
ceremonies Saturday at the Bonifacio monument in Caloocan City. He was joined
by several government officials.
“Sinabi ng Pangulo na ito ay araw din upang
kilalanin ang kabayanihan ng maraming kawal, pulis, bumbero, nars, doktor, at mgavolunteer
na mamamayan at maging ang mga galing pa sa ibang bansa, na nag-ambag at
patuloy na nagbibigay ng panahon upang makapag-hatid ng kalinga sa ating mga
kababayan sa lugar ng kalamidad,” Coloma continued.
The President said in his speech that soldiers,
policemen, nurses, doctors risked their lives just to help their fellowmen in
need.
In his message, the President asked the Filipino
nation to work, unite and continue the fight for the country’s better future.
PND (as)
Palace sees barangay officials to serve people
with utmost dedication
Malacanang expects that newly elected barangay
officials, who assume office today, will perform their duties with utmost
dedication having in mind the welfare of the people.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan that barangays are the foundations of the country’s democracy.
Leadership at the barangay level inspires
communities and also serves as front liners during times of disasters, making
it a major component in nation building, according to Coloma.
“Mahalaga ang pamumuno ng mga kapitan de
barangay sa kanilang mga komunidad, lalung-lalo na kung may kaganapan katulad
ng Typhoon Yolanda; sila po ang nasa frontline ng ating disaster risk reduction
at management infrastructure,” the Communications Secretary noted.
Barangays have contributions to the people’s
everyday lives, he said adding that barangay councils directly affect the lives
of individuals at the grassroots level.
“Kaya hinihimok po natin ang mga kapitan de
barangay at mga kagawad de barangay na gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin sa
pinakamahusay na paraan na magiging katanggap-tanggap at kapakipakinabang sa
lahat ng ating mga mamamayan.”
Newly elected and re-elected barangay officials
in 42,028 barangays nationwide will assume office today.
The Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) expects that outgoing and incoming officials will help ensure
a smooth transition.
Under the law, a barangay chairman has the power
to enforce all laws and ordinances applicable within his jurisdiction, maintain
peace and order, negotiate, enter into and sign contracts for and in behalf of
the barangay. PND (as)
United Nations Development Programme asks
cash-for-work workers to wear protective gears
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) The United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) on Saturday stressed the need for cash-for-work
volunteer workers to use protective gears when clearing debris and waste in the
city.
UNDP communications officer Lesley Wright said
volunteer workers collecting trash without proper protective gear are at risk
for infection and disease.
"It is important to spread the message to
the neighboring communities, everybody in this city as we're dealing with this
vast volume of debris that's quite dangerous and it's also mixing with
municipal solid waste," Wright said.
UNDP has been helping survivors of Typhoon
"Yolanda" (Haiyan) here to rise up and earn some money by giving P260-daily
wage through cash-for-work debris clearance.
Wright said it is a policy of UNDP to provide
their 250 workers with safety gears such as boots, facemasks, hats and gloves.
However, she raised concern about other
humanitarian organizations conducting trash collections that do not exercise
the same safety measures.
"We are trying to get safety equipment to
other agencies as well," Wright said referring to Tzu Chi Foundation,
Philippines who has mobilized some 21,000 residents for its cash-for-work program
for debris clearing efforts.
She added that the UNDP will be rolling out
25,000 tetanus vaccinations to protect workers from infections.
Wright said one of the challenges they are
facing now is the temporary area where to put the 1.15 million cubic meter
debris and waste in Tacloban City alone.
"We need mass movement of all debris out of
the city into these areas where they could be sorted and recycled," she
said adding that UNDP is already in coordination with the local government
units and other humanitarian agencies.
She also emphasized the need to restart garbage
collection as some waste and debris are still piled up along the streets.
She said to "get a noticeable impact,"
the city needs at least 50 dump trucks a day to move waste for one month.
The city also needs 500 backhoes and 10,000 dump
trucks to speed up trash collection and lessen the health hazard posed by dirty
environment to residents, added Wright. PND (jb)
Palace: Japanese defense chief to check Japan’s
relief work in Visayas
Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera will
visit the Philippines next week to check on Japanese Self-Defense Forces
personnel involved in humanitarian relief activities in the typhoon-ravaged
areas in the Philippines, a Palace official said on Saturday.
Citing information from the Department of
National Defense, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said Onodera’s visit will focus on Japan’s participation on
the ongoing relief works in the Visayas.
According to Coloma, three Japanese ships with
some 1,000 personnel from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are in the
Philippines for the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The Japanese forces also have C-130 planes and
other equipment needed for their operation in the disaster areas, he said.
Coloma said that tomorrow, December 1, the Task
Force Yolanda and the Japan Joint Task Force, and the Philippine Disaster
Relief Medical Team will a conduct relief mission in Leyte.
“Kaya iyon pong pagdalaw ni Japanese Defense
Minister Onodera, ang pangunahing pakay po ay iyong pagpunta sa calamity area,
at pag-assess ng ginagawang assistance ng Japanese Self-Defense Forces,” he
said.
The Japanese defense chief’s visit is in the
midst of rising tension in East China Sea, following China’s imposition of an
air defense zone, which it said was aimed at bolstering its guard from outside
threats. PND (as)
DOE attempts to restore power in Tacloban Saturday
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Energy Secretary Jericho
Petilla announced his agency's effort to bring back electricity in some parts
of Tacloban on Saturday.
"We will attempt to power Tacloban today
(Saturday)," Petilla said in an interview with reporters here.
The northern barangays here will be energized
first, he said.
Petilla said the government is fast-tracking the
repair of power lines damaged by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the city last
November 8.
"The schedule of restoring power in
Tacloban is two to three weeks from now but it looks like we can advance some
because of our diligent workers," he said.
The DOE has already restored power in Calbayog
and Catbalogan in Samar.
Petilla said power has also been restored in the
province of Bohol for five days now.
Ormoc, meanwhile, has been partially energized
since the DOE has yet to completely repair all of the power lines.
The Energy secretary remains optimistic about
his self-imposed deadline of restoring power in entire Eastern Visayas by
December 24.
He said there are about 500 to 600 people
working on power restoration coming from various electric cooperatives. PND
(jb)
Energy Secretary calls for volunteer
electricians in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Energy Secretary Jericho
Petilla on Saturday called on volunteer electricians to help in repairing and
installing wirings in households damaged by super typhoon "Yolanda"
(Haiyan).
In an interview with reporters here, Petilla
said the government with the help of electric cooperative volunteers is
fast-tracking the repair of distribution lines to restore power in the region
before Christmas.
When it comes to re-energizing households,
Petilla said electrician's certification is needed citing safety requirement.
"Kulang ng electrician dito... Maitatayo na
natin ang infrastructure sa electricity pero ang mga bahay hindi pa pwede kasi
walang electrician," he said.
He noted that only houses with a safe electrical
wiring system will be qualified to be re-energized.
While pressure is on for volunteer electricians,
Petilla reminded about their safety following reported incidents where one of
their choppers was damaged when it accidentally hit a cable line.
"Do not put your life at risk...I
understand nagmamadali kayo lahat... but I also don't want another
disaster," he said.
Meanwhile, the DOE chief appealed to residents
in Luzon to be more prudent in the consumption of electricity as excess power
in the area will be used to energize Tacloban and other typhoon-stricken areas.
"The power we will be using to energize
Tacloban will come from Cebu for now. But by December 15 or December 20 it will
partly come from Manila," Petilla said.
He noted that people in Luzon could help
typhoon-hit areas by conserving energy like reducing temperature settings of
air-conditioned systems and shortening the time Christmas lights are turned on.
"I do not want them to suffer. I simply
want you them to sacrifice a little bit for our fellow countrymen here in the
Visayas," he said.
Petilla assured that there is no power shortage
describing the current situation as having "tightness" in energy
supply.
"If we are energy efficient by 2015, the
tightness in supply can be resolved," he said. PND (jb)
Aquino leads Bonifacio’s 150th birth anniversary
celebration in Caloocan City
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead
Saturday, November 30, the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Andres
Bonifacio at the Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City
The President is expected to be given full
military honors upon his arrival. After that, he will lead the flag raising
ceremony and then the wreath laying rites at the Bonifacio monument.
The President will deliver an address during the
event.
Joining him will be Education Secretary Armin
Luistro, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, National Historical Commission of the
Philippines Chairperson Ma. Sereno Diokno, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan,
and Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice.
In a statement released on Friday, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said this year’s celebration also
commemorates the 80th anniversary of the unveiling of the Andres Bonifacio
monument, a national landmark designed by National Artist for Sculpture
Guillermo Tolentino.
In culmination of its year-long tribute to
Andres Bonifacio, the Presidential Museum and Library will launch Saturday its
online commemoration, featuring a comprehensive essay, videos, and rare
glimpses of Tolentino’s masterpiece, Valte said.
“On the 150th year since the birth of the man it
honors, we trace the history of the Bonifacio monument and the legacy it has
left—and, in effect, the role Andres Bonifacio has played in securing
Philippine independence and in shaping our national narrative,” she said.
Bonifacio, called the Father of the Philippine
Revolution, was born on November 30, 1863 in Tondo, Manila. He was the founder
of the Katipunan movement, that sought Philippine independence from Spain’s
colonial rule. He died on May 10, 1897 in Cavite. PND (as)
President Aquino appoints new officials in
various government agencies
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials of various government agencies, a Palace official said on Friday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced the appointments during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Friday.
The presidential appointees are the following:
- Ismael Tabije as member, representing the Rice
and Corn Sector, Board of Directors, National Irrigation Administration.
- Cesar Cassion as Acting Director III of the
Department of Health (DOH)
- Marlyn Convocar as Acting Director IV of DOH
- Jose C. Reaño as Acting Undersecretary of
Department of Agriculture
- Jesus Nathaniel Martin Gonzales as Acting
Director III of Department of Finance
- Juan Miguel Cuna as Director IV of
Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural
Resources
- Emmanuel Dooc as Insurance Commissioner,
Insurance Commission, Department of Finance (reappointed)
- Graciela Cayton as Acting Executive Director
III, National Book Development Board, Department of Education
- Jude Romano as Director IV of the Department
of Finance
- Celia Elumba as Acting Director IV, Philippine
Textile Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology.
- Katheryn May Penaco-Rojas, Mark Roland Estepa
and Alejandro Daguiso as Prosecutors II of the Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Atty. Aileen Marie Gutierrez as Prosecutor IV
(City Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor-Muntinlupa City, National
Prosecution Office, DOJ
- Atty. Rainier Sarol as Prosecutor IV (City
Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor-Tabuk City, National Prosecution
Office, DOJ
- Atty. Bien Patulay as Prosecutor IV (City
Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor-Batangas City, National Prosecution
Office, DOJ
- Atty. Ruvi Jean Cariño as Prosecutor IV (City
Prosecutor), Office of the City Prosecutor- Naga City, National Prosecution
Office, DOJ. PND (js)
