President Aquino approves P167.9-billion
rehabilitation plan for Eastern Visayas
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday
approved the P167.9-billion Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan
(CRRP), which shows the government’s commitment to rebuild areas in Eastern
Visayas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda last year.
"Upon the recommendation of the Presidential
Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery and the favorable endorsement of the
National Economic Development Authority, the President approved yesterday 29
October 2014 the 8,000-page Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery
Plan, which outlines the National Government’s commitment to implement over
25,000 rehabilitation and recovery specific plans and programs and
activities," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Secretary Coloma said the recovery plan and
activities are envisioned to bring forth the recovery of the 171 affected
cities and municipalities in 14 provinces and six regions, known as the
“Yolanda corridor”, based on the "build-back-better” principle.
The recovery plan focuses on long-term and
sustainable efforts to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen the capacities of
communities to cope with future hazard events, he added.
The rebuilding efforts require a total amount of
P167.9 billion aimed at restoring infrastructure, settlements and basic
community facilities, livelihood, and the resilience of vulnerable communities,
Coloma said.
The P167.9 billion is broken down into P35.1
billion for infrastructure; P26.4 billion for social services; P75.7 billion
for resettlement; and P30.6 billion for livelihood. PND (as)
Palace defends two Cabinet members linked to
alleged overpricing of Iloilo Convention Center
Malacañang said Thursday it believes the two
Cabinet secretaries being implicated in the alleged overpricing in the
construction of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center, could defend
themselves and do not need to take a leave of absence.
"We don’t see any reason to do that,"
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said when asked whether it is
necessary for Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Tourism
Secretary Ramon Jimenez to take a leave of absence.
The two Cabinet secretaries have been named as
co-respondents when Manuel Mejorada, Jr. filed criminal and administrative
charges against Senate President Franklin Drilon at the Office of the Ombudsman
on Wednesday over the alleged overpricing of the Iloilo Convention Center.
"Secretary Babes Singson is very confident
that the bidding process undertaken for the Iloilo Convention Center was above
board," Lacierda told reporters during a press briefing at the Palace.
He said he did not know why Mejorada had to name
Secretary Jimenez as a co-respondent.
"I think this was a personal feud by that
person and Senator Frank Drilon. But you know, maybe to carry more media
mileage, he decided to sue Secretary Singson and Secretary Jimenez. But
Secretary Singson has already said he can easily defend the bidding
process," Lacierda said.
He further said that Malacañang will leave it to
Senator Drilon to defend himself in court, noting that the legislator has in
previous interviews expressed his confidence in hurdling the case against him.
The Iloilo Convention Center, Drilon’s pet
project, is being built by Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., the contractor of the
allegedly overpriced Makati parking building. PND (as)
Palace thanks Congressmen for passing 2015
national budget
Malacañang has expressed its gratitude to the
House of Representatives for approving the P2.6-trillion 2015 national budget,
which will now be sent to the Senate for deliberations.
"We’d like to thank the House of
Representatives for the speedy resolution and passing of the 2015 budget in
their chamber," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during
Thursday’s press briefing at the Palace.
"Now, the process of budget approval goes to
the Senate, and we also hope that the Senate will look into the budget, and we
hope that before the year-end, the budget will be approved," he added.
On criticisms that the administration has
railroaded the approval of the 2015 budget, Lacierda said the proposed budget
shows where the public funds are going.
“Our budget is designed to ensure the continuation
of social services to our countrymen and also to make measures, improve the
current infrastructure that we have, to make sure that we will have a better
climate for investment, he said.
He further said that the proposed budget was
crafted so that the poorest of the poor will not be left behind.
"That’s our main goal, and we will continue
to do so, despite all this noise from the Makabayan bloc," Lacierda said.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved
the P2.606 trillion budget for 2015 on third and final reading, despite
opposition from Party list lawmakers. PND (as)
Government has funds to build new settlements for
victims of Typhoon Yolanda, says official
The government has the funds and is ready to build
new settlements for victims of Typhoon Yolanda but the challenge is finding the
right location to construct those new houses, a Palace official has said.
"The NHA (National Housing Authority) is
prepared to do so much housing units. We have the funds for that. Again, the
issue here is always on the local government side,” Presidential Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday.
Secretary Lacierda said local government units
have to identify the land on which the permanent housing structures will be
built but they have to ensure that the new location is safe from storm surges.
The government, he said, also wants to ensure that
the housing structures could withstand typhoons as strong as Yolanda.
Upon the recommendation of the Presidential
Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, President Benigno S. Aquino III on
Wednesday approved the P167.9-billion Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery
Plan (CRRP) for communities devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.
The 8,000-page rehabilitation plan outlines the
government’s commitment to carry out more than 25,000 specific plans, programs
and activities, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr. has said.
Secretary Coloma said that according to the Office
of the Executive Secretary, the Department of Budget and Management has
released P51.98 billion since November 2013.
The money came from the national budget, as
authorized by the General Appropriations Act. PND (as)
Malacañang bids farewell to former Senator Juan
Flavier
Malacanang extended its condolences to the
families of former Senator Juan Flavier who died after multiple organ failure
and sepsis brought about by pneumonia at around 4 p.m. Thursday.
"We join the Filipino people in mourning the
death of former Senator and Health Secretary Juan Flavier. As a public servant,
he championed the cause of countryside development and upgrading the quality of
public health care," said Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a statement emailed to members of the
Malacañang Press Corps.
The former health secretary turned Senator was 79
years old.
In 1992, he was appointed by former President
Fidel V. Ramos to head the Department of Health. In 1995, he ran for Senate
under the administration ticket.
Flavier was best known for the catchphrase
"Let's DOH it," which he used to promote the department's programs.
He was considered the poorest Senator as reflected
in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.
"He served with integrity and endeared
himself to the people by dint of his humility, simplicity, jovial character and
common touch. Truly, he was an exemplary Filipino leader," Coloma added.
PND (ag)
Malacañang confirms Health Secretary Ona's leave
of absence
Malacañang confirmed on Thursday that Health
Secretary Enrique Ona took a leave of absence due to health reason.
"Si Secretary Ike Ona ay nag-leave muna for
health and personal reasons. May mga nagtatanong kung nag-resign siya, hindi.
Naka-leave lang siya," said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Laciera in a
press briefing.
He added that Undersecretary Janette Garin is now
the Officer-In-Charge of the health department.
When asked if Ona's leave will hamper works in
preventing Ebola Virus entering the country, Lacierda said the work on Ebola is
a multi-agency task force and will not be crippled with the absence of the head
of agency.
"Insofar as the Department of Health is
concerned, there are personnel who are handling that issue on the Ebola. So
we’ve seen protocols, we’ve seen preparations being done by the Department of
Health, even in the—even as Secretary Ike Ona takes a leave of absence,"
said Lacierda.
Lacierda credited Secretary Ona both for the
increase of the PhilHealth coverage and the number of vaccinations.
According to reports, Ona's leave will be from
October 23 to November 27. PND (ag)
