President Aquino appoints new OWWA chief
President Benigno S. Aquino III on May 30
appointed Rebecca J. Calzado as the new administrator of the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA), replacing Carmelita Dimzon, it was announced on
Friday.
Prior to her appointment as new OWWA chief, Calzado
was an assistant secretary at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
Calzado, 59, earned both her Bachelor of Arts in
Economics and Master of Arts in Economics from the University of the Philippines
(UP).
The Palace also announced several nominations
for ambassadorial positions. Among those nominated last May 30 were Domingo
Nolasco as ambassador to Italy; Wilfredo Santos (Qatar); Melita Sta.
Maria-Thomeczek (Germany); and Nathaniel Imperial (Israel).
Pericles Dakay was named chairman of the
Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, and Victorino Benjamin and Farouk
Macarambon, Sr. as members of the same board.
Francis Gealogo was designated as member of the
board representing the private sector of the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines, Reydeluz Conferido meanwhile was appointed as DOLE
undersecretary.
The President also named Gloria Arcos, Carmelita
Divinagracia, Carfredda Dumlao, Florence Cawaon, and Glenda Arquiza as members
of the Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing under the Professional
Regulatory Commission (PRC). They will serve for three years. PND (as)
President Aquino issues Executive Order to
prevent spread of coconut pest
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed an
order aimed at controlling the infestation in the country's coconut
plantations, especially in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon
(Calabarzon) area.
The President on Thursday issued Executive Order
169 on Establishing Emergency Measures to Control and Manage the Spread and
Damage of Aspidiotus Rigidus in the Philippines and Designating the Philippine
Coconut Authority (PCA) as the Lead Agency for the Purpose.
Under the EO, the PCA is mandated to identify
the infested areas and coordinate efforts in formulating appropriate emergency
measures to treat infected coconut trees and host plants.
These will include mechanical, chemical and
biological measures, as well as quarantine measures to prevent the transport of
infected coconut plants.
The PCA was also authorized to grant permits for
transporting coconut planting materials from one location to another.
Authorities will confiscate illegally transported materials and fine violators
up to P5,000.
According to the EO, local government units will
help implement emergency control measures by contributing manpower resources,
such as volunteers for frontline barangay-level insect control action teams.
The local government units will also help in the
massive information dissemination campaign in their areas.
The PCA was mandated to allocate funds for the
nationwide implementation of the emergency measures.
The Aspidiotus Rigidus insect attacks plant
leaves and feeds on sap directly drawn from the plant's vascular system. This
pest has affected bearing and non-bearing coconut trees in the Calabarzon
region.
Authorities have warned that failure to control
the spread of the pest could ruin the country’s coconut industry.
The Philippines is the world’s top supplier of
coconut products.
The coconut industry serves as the economic
backbone of 68 of the country’s 80 provinces, employing 3.5 million farmers and
bringing in $2 billion in net foreign earnings. PND (as)
