President Aquino orders Cabinet to draw up
disaster preparedness roadmap in time for rainy season
President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday ordered
the Cabinet to draw up a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan in time for
the rainy season in June.
Following a Cabinet meeting in Malacañang, the
President wants the road map formally adopted for implementation before the
onset of the rainy season in June.
The plan may include advisory systems for storm
surges and floods to better warn residents about the dangers from a cyclone,
which were presented at Thursday's meeting.
Priority areas of focus include highly
vulnerable high-population areas such as Metro Manila; and how to restart the
economy after a major disaster.
Making up the Cabinet task group are the
secretaries of the Department of National Defense, Department of Interior and
Local Government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public
Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National
Climate Change Commission, and the Department of Trade and Industry.
During the Cabinet meeting, proposed advisory
systems were presented for storm surges and floods. Storm Surge Advisories
(SSAs), to be given 48 hours in advance, include:
SSA No. 1: a storm surge height of up to two
meters, SSA No. 2: up to five meters, SSA No. 3: more than five meters. The
storm surge disaster risk reduction efforts aim to:
- reduce exposure in the coastal areas by
implementing ‘no-build’ zones
– develop natural barriers and construction of
man-made barriers to reduce impact of hazard
– home, building and infrastructure resiliency.
Also proposed was a flood advisory (FA) system
that includes:
FA No. 1: up to 129 mm rainfall within the next
24 hours, FA No. 2: up to 190 mm rainfall, FA No. 3: up to 240 mm rainfall.
At the Cabinet meeting, DOST Secretary Mario
Montejo and Project NOAH Executive Director Mahar Lagmay presented results of
various simulation studies on storm surges, floods, and landslides, using data
for the last 50 years to project future trends. PND (jl)
Palace: PARR adopts 4 pilot areas for Yolanda
rehabilitation
The government has adopted four pilot areas for
rehabilitation in the wake of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Malacañang said
Friday.
Presidential Assistant on Reconstruction and
Recovery Panfilo M. Lacson presented an update on rehabilitation efforts during
Thursday's Cabinet meeting.
Identified as pilot areas for rehabilitation
were:
- Tacloban City: the hardest-hit area, the
economic center of Eastern Visayas, and the regional logistical hub
- Tanauan, Leyte: tourism potential and
build-back capacity
- Guiuan, Eastern Samar: high level of private
sector interest
- Biliran: government-led programs.
Lacson also cited the active support of
development and sectoral sponsors from the country’s biggest corporations,
which he said volunteered to head rehabilitation efforts in 24 areas within the
calamity zone.
Yolanda left behind at least 6,200 dead after
devastating the Visayas and Southern Luzon areas last November.
Meanwhile, the President ordered the Departments
of Interior and Local Government, National Defense and Social Welfare and
Development to complete post-disaster needs assessment reports for the 171
towns and cities hit by Yolanda.
This will serve as a basis for the
implementaiton of recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
Also, the President ordered the immediate
completion of land-use plans that would clearly delineate no-build zones. PND
(jl)
President Aquino approves abolition of 3
PDAF-linked GOCCs
President Benigno Aquino III has approved the
abolition of three government-owned and controlled corporations linked to the
Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) mess.
In a statement, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte said this was in pursuit of maximizing efficiency and promoting
accountability.
"The decision to abolish them was based on
a financial viability and relevance to national development plans study
conducted by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), which is the regulatory
agency for such corporations," Valte added.
"From the start of his administration,
President Aquino has pursued a policy of promoting efficiency in government
corporations, to ensure that they serve as a means for fostering national
development and not as a conduit or facilitator of selfish agendas and
crimes," she added.
She noted these GOCCs had been implicated as
conduits of fake PDAF allocations. They include:
- Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC)
- ZNAC Rubber Estate (ZREC)
- National Agri-Business Corporation (NABCOR).
"Seeing that the three agencies neither
fulfill the purposes for which they were created, nor had a tangible social
impact, and that furthermore, they were no longer financially viable, the
President gave his clearance for the formation of a Technical Working Group to
wind down operations and transfer relevant functions and operations, as well as
to attend to the separation pay for employees in keeping with Civil Service
rules," Valte said.
But she added any separation packages will be
withheld for those found to have committed graft or other corrupt practices.
Also, Valte said these GOCCs may not be the last
to be abolished.
"More GOCCs may be abolished as the GCG
fulfills its mandate to rationalize the government-owned and controlled
corporations of the country," she said. PND (jl)
President Aquino cites up Medical Alumni Fund
contribution for advancement of comprehensive health care
President Benigno S. Aquino III has cited the
University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Fund Inc. (UPMAF) for its
contribution for the advancement of comprehensive health care in the
Philippines.
"Your government is pleased by the efforts
of the UPMAF and its partners to organize events such as this, which signify
the role of sports, exercise, and proper nutrition in the promotion of health
and wellness among our citizens," the Chief Executive said in his message
to UPMAF on the occasion of the 21st Grand Scientific Symposium on Friday.
In collaboration with the Post Graduate
Institute of Medicine of the University of the Philippines–College of Medicine,
the UPMAF opened on Friday the symposium which has for its theme “Sports
Medicine and Wellness.” The symposium will end on Saturday.
Health care providers from all over the country
also attended the traditional activity that aims to upgrade academic excellence
and progressive leadership in medical education.
"Your steps to provide a platform for
personal and professional development redound to the welfare of your members
and patients: May you continue to push boundaries and blaze new trails for the
advancement of comprehensive health care in the Philippines," the
President said.
"The Filipinos’ continuing search for
self-improvement and excellence does our country proud; this challenge becomes
even greater in today’s rapidly changing milieu. Let us render our abilities
into endeavors that uplift our lives and those of our countrymen, as, together,
we fortify the foundations of our nation," he said. PND (js)
President Aquino urges Bangsamoro Transition
Commission to fast-track drafting of Bangsamoro Basic Law
President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday urged
the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to draw up soonest the draft
Bangsamoro Basic Law so it can be ratified and implemented in time for the 2016
elections.
The President met members of the BTC in
Malacañan Palace Thursday, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita
Deles said.
"The President urged the BTC to fast-track
the completion of the draft Bangsamoro basic law (BBL) to ensure its passage
and ratification with enough time to complete the transition tasks in time for
the 2016 elections," Deles said.
She added the President stressed the need for
the BTC to be transparent and to reach out to all sectors concerned, including
those initially resisting the new political entity.
Also, President Aquino assured the commission of
the national government's full technical and political support, guidance and
advice, as well as budget.
Deles said the President told them he would give
as much of his own time as necessary.
She described the atmosphere of Thursday's
meeting as "warm and relaxed," where the BTC updated the President on
the work they have been doing and the concerns they are facing.
BTC was created in December 2012 to draft the
Bangsamoro Basic Law that will pave the way for the establishment of the
Bangsamoro region in 2016.
It has 15 members appointed by the President,
eight of whom were recommended by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and seven
were recommended by the government.
Last weekend, negotiators from the government
and the MILF signed an annex that would pave the way for a comprehensive peace
pact.
A statement from Deles' office said the
Bangsamoro basic law draft is likely to be certified as an urgent bill by the
President.
It would then be submitted to Congress for
passage, and subjected to a plebiscite in the areas envisioned to be the new
political entity's core territory. PND (jl)
