.: March 2015

Friday, 13 March 2015

PIA News Dispatch - Thursday, March 12, 2015

Country’s employment rate up by 2.8 percent, Palace official says

The country has registered an employment rate of 93.4 percent, marking an increase of 2.8 percent since January last year, based on the 2015 January Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), a Palace official said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement that the year-on-year addition of 1.04 million workers in the employment force put the total number of employed at 37.5 million.

He said the increase is almost four times the 281,000 jobs created during the January 2013-2014 period, which posted an annual growth of 0.8 percent.

He said that according to the January 2015 survey, employment grew across all classes of workers, except those in family-operated businesses.

“The survey also indicates that our year-on-year underemployment rate went down to 17.5 percent, from 19.5 percent in January 2014,” Lacierda noted.

The Palace official said these figures do not include data from Region 8 because survey results needed to be comparable to that of the previous period ending in January 2014. According to the PSA, no survey was conducted in the area last year due to the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda.

“Since 2010, driven by our belief in good governance as good economics, the Aquino administration has continued to enact widespread reforms, which have increased public trust in government and spurred economic growth. This has led to a surge in investor interest in the country, beginning a virtuous cycle of empowerment and inclusive growth. The new opportunities generated by these investments have resulted in not just more jobs but also more meaningful livelihoods for our citizens, as indicated by the lower underemployment rate,” Lacierda said.

He said that amid concerns about increased global volatility and slower growth, the Philippines has continued to buck the trend and surpass expectations.

“Rest assured that the Aquino administration remains committed to pursuing even more growth for the country and to making sure that this translates to real benefits for the Filipino people. Moving forward, let us collectively work toward further entrenching our good governance reforms and making permanent the gains we have achieved,” Lacierda concluded. PND (jm)

Aquino administration to retain members of government peace panel, says Palace

President Benigno S. Aquino III will not change the composition of the government's peace negotiating team despite a lawmaker’s call to replace the administration's peace adviser and chief negotiator for peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a Palace official has said.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, in a privilege speech on Wednesday, called on the President to change the members of the peace panel because of their apparent bias towards the MILF.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. however said that the President has no plan to replace the members of the peace panel.

"Naninindigan ang Pangulo hinggil sa kakayahan at integridad ng mga bumubuo ng ating peace panel—mula kay (Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) Secretary Teresita Deles at kay Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, bilang chairperson ng (peace) panel, at ang mga kasapi nito," he told reporters.

Asked to comment on Cayetano's allegations that the MILF coddled Marwan, one of the targets of the bloody Mamasapano clash last January 25, Coloma said the senator should submit his information to the Senate committee investigating the encounter.

"Ang mga impormasyon na mayroon siya tungkol doon sa umano’y pagkanlong ng MILF, doon sa allegation that the MILF coddled Marwan, should be referred to the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that heard the different resource persons regarding the Mamasapano incident," he said.

"At habang hindi pa naman naglalabas ng ulat Ang mga ito, maaari naman niyang ibigay iyon bilang input mismo sa pagsisiyasat ng Senado."

Coloma noted that although Cayetano's speech was mostly about his doubts on the sincerity of the MILF in the peace process, the Aquino administration remains committed to the peace talks.

He pointed out that the negotiation between the government and the MILF has been going through the right process in the past five years and was only interrupted by the Mamasapano incident.

With many investigating bodies looking into the deadly incident, the government is confident that the truth will come out, Coloma said.

"Kaya’t patuloy na naninindigan si Pangulong Aquino na kailangang ipagpatuloy ang pagdaloy ng prosesong pangkapayapaan dahil mahalaga ito sa pambansang interes ng Pilipinas," he said.

Several bodies have launched their respective investigations of the incident -- the Senate, the Philippine National Police' Board of Inquiry, the Department of Justice, the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and the Commission on Human Rights.

The MILF is also doing its own probe, although an official said they will submit their report only to Malaysia, the facilitator for the peace talks.

A total of 44 members of the police’s Special Action Force perished in the Mamasapano clash. The MILF reported losing 18 combatants to the encounter. Several civilians were also reported to have died in the incident. PND (as)

Palace assures P48.8 million for 'Yolanda' victims is still intact

The Palace on Thursday assured that P48.8 million, meant for victims of Typhoon Yolanda but kept in banks under the account of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), remains intact.

The money is safe, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said, commenting on a Commission on Audit (COA) report that the amount, consisting of local and foreign donations for victims of the super typhoon, has been kept in banks by the OCD instead of spending it to help those in dire need of aid.

“Ang salapi ay ligtas doon sa bangko. Hindi po ito napariwara. Gagamitin naman po ito sa tamang dapat na paggamitan,” Secretary Coloma told reporters during the daily press briefing in Malacañang.

"Hintayin natin na sagutin ng mga kinauukulang ahensya ang COA finding. Hindi naman siguro tayo dapat magimbal o mag-alala diyan sa finding na iyan dahil patuloy namang tinututukan ng pamahalaan at ginagawa ang lahat ng nararapat hinggil sa pagtugon sa mga kagyat na pangangailangan ng mga pamilyang apektado ng ‘Yolanda'," he said.

The government continues to extend assistance to the typhoon victims, he said, citing the food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the permanent shelters being built by the National Housing Authority.

Coloma noted that on Thursday (March 12) afternoon, President Benigno S. Aquino III is slated to meet with several departments to go over the progress of rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by the typhoon.

The OCD is the implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. PND (ag)

PIA News Dispatch - Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Malaysian Defense Minister calls on President Aquino

Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein made a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang Palace on Wednesday.

Minister Hishammuddin was accompanied by Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato' Mohd Zamri bin Mohd Kassim, Deputy Secretary General for Policy Suriani binti Ahmad, Director General for Intelligence Lt. Gen. Datuk Abdul Hadi bin Hj Hussin, and Malaysian Army Field Commander Lt. Gen. Dato' Sri Zulkiple bin Hj Kassim.

Present on the Philippines’ side were Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Security Council Secretary Cesar Garcia, Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lacanlale Linglingay, and Department of National Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino.

Minister Hishammuddin arrived on Tuesday on board Malaysian Airlines 802. He was welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Ambassador Mohd Zamri and Defense Attaché to the Philippines Col. Hamzah Ali.

After his courtesy call on President Aquino, the Malaysian defense minister is scheduled to fly to Cotabato to meet with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels, as well as the Malaysian contingent of the International Monitoring Team.

The Malaysian defense minister and his delegation, which also included Special Officer to the Minister Faris Hussein Dato' Seri Hishammudin, Military Advisor Col. Arman Rumaizi bin Hj Ahmad, Policy and Strategic Planning Division Director Sahipulhijaiman bin Sulaiman, Private Secretary to the Minister Idamoerni Zakaria, Special Officer Nur Diyanah binti Abdul Rahiman, Special Officer to the Minister Yaqin bin Mohamad Khan, Political Secretary Onn Hafiz bin Datuk Ghazi, Personal Security Officer to the Minister SM Azhari bin Md Supian and Minister of Defense staff Cpl. Abdul Nazir bin Assan, will return to Malaysia at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. PND (jm)

Government determined to reduce poverty through various programs

The Palace on Wednesday reiterated the government’s determination to reduce poverty through various programs.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the government “continues and will continue to fight poverty and evidence of that is our poverty alleviation intervention programs.”

“Every economist knows that the fight against poverty is a sustained fight that requires sustained intervention and it takes decades,” Secretary Lacierda said, commenting on the latest IBON Foundation survey showing that a majority of Filipinos see themselves as poor.

The IBON survey, conducted from January 19 to 30 among 1,501 respondents across various sectors in 16 regions, also revealed that many Filipinos had difficulty in meeting their basic expenses in the past three months.

According to the survey posted on the IBON website, 7 out of 10 Filipinos rated themselves as poor. Asked what they can say about their situation today, 65 percent of the respondents said they consider their families as poor, while 30 percent said otherwise.

Majority of the respondents also believe that their livelihood has not improved compared to a year ago, with 59 percent saying their livelihood remains the same and 21 percent answering that their livelihood became worse.

Asked how their family met household expenses in the past three months, 59 percent said they had difficulty in paying for electricity while only 29 percent said they did not have any difficulty.

Of the 1,501 respondents, 53.6 percent said they had difficulty in buying enough food. As for buying medicines or paying for medical treatment, 50.8 percent said they had difficulty.

Many Filipinos also said they had difficulty paying for their children’s schooling (38.6 percent), for transportation (41 percent), and for water (38.9 percent).

The IBON Foundation, an independent development institution established in 1978, provides research, education, publications, information work, and advocacy support on socioeconomic issues.

The government’s primary program in assisting the poor is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). With a budget of P62.3 billion, the program provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to help reduce poverty for 4.3 million families.

The DSWD implements other programs to address social protection.

One is the KALAHI-CIDSS National Community-Driven Development Project, which seeks to empower communities in accessing services and participating in local planning, budgeting and implementation. This program aims to support 6,735 community projects that cater to 1.5 million poor households.

Another is the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which covers families who graduate from the CCT program. This program aims to support 265,175 family beneficiaries with micro-enterprise developments and 113,647 households under the employment facilitation through capacity development.

Social pensions for indigent senior citizens allocate a monthly social pension of P500 to 939,609 indigent senior citizens, aged 65 years and above.

The Supplemental Feeding Program, which is part of the government’s Early Childhood Care and Development program, is a food supplementation program that will give hot meals to children during snack/mealtime five days a week for 120 days.

The government has also implemented the National Household Targeting System, an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are, besides ranking and classifying them. Updated every four years, it has already identified 5.2 million poor households entitled to social protection as of 2011. PND (jm)

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Christian Church Coalition prays over President Aquino

The Coalition of Christian Churches, composed of major religious and worship groups in the country, prayed over President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Malacañang grounds on Monday afternoon.

“We, the members of the Coalition of Christian Leaders, are joined by our pastors and brethren, in praying for our nation and our leaders. For as it is written in Scripture: 'Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God',” the Coalition said in a joint statement, quoting a verse from Romans: 13 of the Bible.

The group also prayed for the police commandos who died in the law enforcement operation to capture terrorist suspects, Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and Abdul Basit Usman.

“We join in prayer and sympathy the families of our Philippine National Police Special Action Force who died in the line of duty in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last 25 January 2015. We call on the authorities to ensure that the ends of justice are served and that those accountable are prosecuted without fear or favor. We believe that the work of peace-building must be pursued and that our nation must continue to move forward toward inclusive economic growth and social justice for all,” the Coalition said in the statement.

The prayer for the President was led by National Chairman of the Philippines for Jesus Movement and Spiritual Director of the Jesus Is Lord Church, Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Other religious leaders present were Bishop Leo Alconga, East Asia Director of the Biblica Ministry and National Vice Chairman of the Philippines for Jesus Movement; Dr. Andrew Luison, President of Cityland Development Corporation; Bishop Dan Balais, Chairman of the Intercessors for the Philippines; and Bro. Daniel Razon, President of Members Church of God International.

They have shown support for the President and promised to continue to pray for him.

For his part, President Aquino expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the different Christian groups.

"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mga kasama ngayon, ang mga pinuno ng iba’t ibang Christian groups sa pagbubuhos ninyo ng suporta sa ating agenda ng mabuting pamamahala. Talaga naman pong nakakapagpalakas ng loob ang pagkakataong ito na nagbubuklod-buklod tayo upang mag-alay ng panalangin para sa ating bayan," he said during his speech.

"Sa ganito pong mga pagkakataon, kompiyansa ako na kahit mahirap ang ating trabaho, basta naroon kayo na nakikiisa at nagbibigay-lakas, madadaig natin ang puwersang naghahangad na ibalik ang dating sistema. Alam ko pong magiging makabuluhan ang ating pagsisikap upang mangibabaw ang ating kolektibong hangarin na higit na kaunlaran at kasaganahan," he added.

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the event was proposed after the President’s meeting with members of the Coalition in Malacañang three weeks ago.

Secretary Coloma said that during that meeting, the President discussed with the church leaders the background of the January 25 law enforcement operation. PND (ag)

Soldiers killed in battle against BIFF rebels to get benefits based on law, says Palace

The Palace on Tuesday said soldiers killed in a recent battle against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) will receive benefits based on the law.

"Lahat ng benepisyo ay batay sa batas. Mayroong mga benepisyo ang wounded in action, mayroon din namang benepisyo ang killed in action, kaya’t ipatutupad naman ang mga benepisyong ito nang naaayon sa batas," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

According to news reports, four soldiers, including a Scout Ranger captain, were killed as military operations against rebels continued at the borders of Mamasapano, Datu Piang and Shariff Saydona.

At least 10 BIFF members were killed in Barangay Pusao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, one of whom was wearing a uniform of the Special Action Force (SAF).

Last January 25, 44 PNP-SAF members were killed in Mamasapano during a law enforcement operation to capture terrorist suspects Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman. This sparked the military operation against BIFF rebels who were reportedly among those responsible for the death of the police commandos. PND (ag)

Palace: PNP Board of Inquiry did not mention the need to get the President’s statement

Malacañang on Tuesday said the Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry (PNP-BOI) chief did not mention the need to get President Benigno S. Aquino’s statement regarding the Mamasapano incident.

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. noted that according to PNP Spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo, Jr., PNP-BOI head Director Benjamin Magalong only spoke about the board’s request for postponement of the submission of their report, during Monday’s press conference and never mentioned the need to get President Aquino’s statement on the January 25 mission that resulted in the death of 44 members of the police’s Special Action Force.

“Ayon kay PNP Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo, Jr., who was present during the press conference, wala po siyang (Magalong) sinabi na kailangan pa talagang kausapin ng BOI si Pangulong Aquino,” Secretary Coloma told reporters during a press briefing.

Coloma also said that he has no specific knowledge if there was a letter or a verbal request from the PNP-BOI to get President Aquino’s statement.

President Aquino, he said, has already mentioned everything he knew about the Mamasapano incident in previous speeches, the latest of which was delivered before members of the Coalition of Christian Churches during a prayer gathering at the Malacañang grounds on Monday.

The PNP-BOI report was supposed to be submitted last month but the schedule has been reset twice. PND (jm)

Defense Department monitoring China's latest activity in West Philippine Sea, says Palace

The Palace on Tuesday said that the Department of Defense is monitoring China's latest activity in the West Philippine Sea.

"Mino-monitor po ng ating Department of National Defense ang mga pangyayaring ‘yan at patuloy pa rin naman tayo sa ating advocacy na dapat ay walang mga kilos na ganyan," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during the daily press briefing in Malacañang.

"Dapat panatilihin ang status quo habang tinatalakay pa sa ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ang Code of Conduct of parties involved in the maritime entitlement claims sa South China Sea o West Philippine Sea," he added.

Secretary Coloma maintained that China's reclamation activities in the disputed territories is in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea.

"Mayroon pong mataas na kamalayan ang daigdig hinggil dito. Pati ang ibang mga stakeholder countries sa Southeast Asia at East Asia ay nagpahayag na rin ng kanilang pagkabahala sa mga ginagawang aksyon na ‘yan at hindi naman po tayo nag-iisa doon sa panawagan na dapat itigil ang mga gawaing ito," he said.

According to news reports, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that China was undertaking "necessary" construction at the South China Sea that was not aimed at any third party.

"We are not like some countries which have carried out 'illegal building' in other people's home, and we won't accept unwarranted remarks about work on our own home," he said.

On March 30 last year, the Philippines filed a memorial at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) against China regarding its reclamation activities.

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are laying claim to parts of the potentially resource-rich West Philippine Sea. PND (ag)

President Aquino leads Presidential Security Group's 29th anniversary celebration

President Benigno S. Aquino III led the 29th founding anniversary of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) on Tuesday, recognizing the organization's contribution to nation building.

Since the PSG's creation in 1986, the group has evolved into a formidable and well-organized security organization for the President and his family, President Aquino said.

"Ang layo na nga po ng narating ng Presidential Security Group sa loob ng halos tatlong dekada," he said, noting that when his mother, the former president Corazon Aquino, assumed power, the PSG had to begin from scratch.

"Noong nag-umpisa ang PSG, noong panahon ng nanay ko po, pagdating dito, wala na pong itinira sa atin: ultimong mga jalousie, doorknob, pati nga po mismong punong nakatayo, binunot dahil sila daw ang nagtanim kaya dadalhin na nila pag-alis nila—lahat ng matatangay ay kinuha nila," the President said, recalling the excesses of the Marcos administration.

In the past several decades, the PSG has become a reliable and more organized professional organization, he said.

The President also praised PSG's successes and sacrifices, from an ambush during one of the attempted coups d’etat in the 1980s at the Malacañang complex, where he nearly died, to the provision of security now that he is serving as President.

The PSG successfully secured him when he stayed in Zamboanga City during the Zamboanga siege in 2013, he said.

He also recognized the successful work of the PSG during the visit of Pope Francis in the country last January.

"Maski nga ho sa pagdating ng Santo Papa nitong Enero, sa kabila ng kagustuhan niyang makalapit sa napakaraming tao, nanatili siyang ligtas at naging matagumpay ang kanyang pagbisita," he said.

"Malamang ang sinasabi ninyo ngayon: Di-hamak na mas madali akong bantayan kaysa sa Santo Papa."

With the presence of groups sowing negativity and trying to destroy the unity between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), the PSG could serve as an example and model, according to the President.

The public, he said, must see the dedication of military and police personnel working together in a single command under the PSG to achieve national unity.

In the remaining days of his administration, the President said he, together with the Filipino people, could accomplish a lot with the PSG's contributions.

"Nasa huling yugto na tayo ng ating administrasyon, kompiyansa ako na dahil kasama ko ang PSG, mas marami pa tayong magagawa tungo sa katuparan ng ating nagkakaisang adhikain: Isang Pilipinas na huwaran ng kaunlaran, isang bansang mapayapa, at nagsisilbing bukal ng pagkakataon para sa ating mamamayan," he said.

Former president Corazon Aquino disbanded the Presidential Security Command under the Marcos administration in 1986 and replaced it with a leaner PSG with then Army Col. Voltaire T. Gazmin as its chief.

The PSG, which provides security to the President and his immediate family as well as visiting leaders, had to start from scratch because its headquarters was looted at the height of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

"Kalasag Ng Pangulo: Kaagapay Tungo sa Pag-unlad at Malawakang Pagbabago" was the theme of the PSG's 29th anniversary celebration. PND (as)

PIA News Dispatch - Monday, March 9, 2015

Palace awaits notice on case filed at the United Nations by former president Arroyo’s international lawyer

The Palace said on Monday it has yet to receive notification regarding the petition filed at the United Nations by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s international lawyer.

“We have yet to receive a formal notice on the reported case filed by Ms. Amal Alamuddin-Clooney before the United Nations. The government will respond accordingly, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Solicitor General, once we shall have received the requisite notice,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.

Secretary Coloma was commenting on reports that international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has sought the intervention of the UN Human Rights Council regarding the alleged violation of Arroyo’s rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

According to reports, Clooney said the Philippine government has violated ICCPR’s Articles 9, 14, 19 and 25 when Arroyo was placed in detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City despite her medical condition and political status.

Clooney, a London-based Lebanese-British lawyer who is married to Hollywood actor George Clooney, said Arroyo must be given temporary release so she could seek medical treatment abroad. PND (ag)

PIA News Dispatch - Sunday, March 8, 2015

APEC member economies could learn from Philippines' financial system, says Central Bank official

(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) The Philippines has a lot to share in terms of best financial practices, with fellow member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) if they want to emulate those initiatives, Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said Friday.

"I think we have distinguished ourselves in terms of undertaking initiatives in micro finance consumer protection and inclusive financial system," Guinigundo said during a press conference held at the Summit Ridge Hotel here following the two-day APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting.

The initiatives under this umbrella include the tweaking of regulations to allow financial institutions to open up windows for micro finance, he said.

He explained that micro finance allows micro enterprises to borrow funds without collateral and without credit history, although the amount of the loan may be limited.

Other countries could also examine the Philippines' credit surety fund, which the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas has initiated. This is leveraging on the country's cooperatives that allows them to borrow 10 times of their minimum P100,000 contribution, he said.

Under this set up, there is an oversight committee composed of cooperatives themselves, the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Industrial Guarantee Loan Fund, and the local government units, he said, adding that more than P1 billion has been granted under this framework.

The good combination of monetary policy and macro prudential policy is also something that the Philippines can share, he said.

Guinigundo said that in some jurisdictions, particularly in advanced economies, macro prudential measures are still in their early stages of being considered, much less implemented.

In the Philippines, these macro prudential measures serve as a means of ensuring financial stability in case of sector-specific shocks, particularly in asset markets, such as real estate properties, and at the same time on the conduct of monetary policy, he said.

The kind of financial reforms that the Philippines has undertaken would also be a good example, Guinigundo said, noting that the Philippines had implemented Basel III earlier than 2019 and it is moving quite prudently across the various components of Basel III, first with capitalization, and second with stable funding ratio, liquidity ratio, and others.

Basel III is a set of international banking regulations developed by the Bank for International Settlements to promote stability in the international financial system. The purpose of Basel III is to reduce the ability of banks to damage the economy by taking on excess risk.

"This is being done in a sequential, very prudent manner and this is also something that we like to share with them," he said.

Participants of the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting wrapped up their two-day discussion held at the Taal Vista Hotel here Friday, with meeting results to be included in the Cebu Action Plan that will be launched in September. PND (as)

APEC member economies to create public private partnership knowledge portal to speed up infrastructure investments

(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are gearing up to implement two initiatives that aim to leverage private funds towards public private partnership (PPP) projects, including the establishment of a regional PPP knowledge management portal.

In a press briefing at the close of the two-day APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting here, Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo stressed that while many APEC economies and emerging markets have excess savings, financing for infrastructure development remains a problem.

“While we have the savings, we do not have a sufficient number of bankable and credible infrastructure projects. If we are able to provide the member countries with a sufficient number of projects that are bankable, that which can be taken immediately, I think we would have a good use for our excess savings,” he said.

Guinigundo said APEC finance and central bank deputies explored alternatives for financing infrastructure, including leveraging private funds to the PPP projects as well as the continuous disposition of public funds to advance the cost of infrastructure development in the region.

He said the creation of the PPP knowledge portal hopes to address this problem, as this will provide basic information on the opportunities in the region in terms of infrastructure development.

“It will provide the potential investors an idea of where the opportunities arise and are available and the kind of financing that is needed in the projects,” he added.

Guinigundo pointed out that some of the key components of the portal have already been completed by the Philippines’ PPP Center.

“What we want to do is also to link that knowledge portal with other PPP portals. So you will have an APEC PPP portal,” he said.

Apart from this initiative, Guinigundo said the Philippines is also pushing for “standardized” PPP contracts, considering the differences in terms of legal framework across the APEC economies.

“But the idea was to provide some kind of template, the key features of what a PPP contract should have. (This is) so that we can uphold good governance in conducting those PPP projects and in the process, encourage more interest in the PPP (program),” he said.

The BSP official said standardizing PPP contracts would be very important in facilitating infrastructure investments.

“Both (initiatives) are short term, so these will be done within one to two years. We will try to do these very quickly,” said Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran. PNA (ldv)

Malacanang joins the world celebration of Women's Day

Malacañang on Sunday joined in the celebration of the Women’s Day held every 8th of March around the world.

“Nakikiisa ang pamahalaan sa buong mundo sa pagdiriwang ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng Kababaihan. Kinikilala ng pamahalaan ang mahalagang papel at kontribusyon ng kababaihan sa ating lipunan, ‘di lamang bilang ilaw ng ating mga tahanan, kung hindi bilang isang matibay na haligi sa patuloy na pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

In 1990, Congress declared the month of March as the Women’s Month through Republic Act 6949. The same law designated March 8 every year as National Women’s Day, which is a Working Special Holiday.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women, this year’s theme is “Juana, Desisyon mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa. Ikaw Na!”

“Sa loob ng mahigit na apat na taon ng Aquino administration, higit pang pinaigting ng pamahalaan ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa na magsusulong ng malaya at bukas na pakikilahok at maayos na pagkakatawan ng mga kababaihan sa lahat ng aspeto ng pagbabalangkas ng mga desisyon at pambansang polisiya,” Coloma added.

In the 2014 Global Gender Gap Report conducted by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranked 9th and the only country from Asia out of 142 countries surveyed regarding gender equality and promotion of women’s rights. PND (ag)

Government addressing concerns pending the implementation of K-to12 program

The Cabinet cluster on education is currently addressing concerns before the K-to-12 program is implemented in the academic year 2016-2017, a Palace official said on Sunday.

In a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said the government is encouraging all stakeholders to have a dialogue with the Cabinet cluster on education to discuss their concerns.

The Cabinet cluster on education is composed of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education Skills Development Authority.

According to reports, many college teachers and non-teaching personal will be affected by the K-to-12 program once implemented.

“The estimated numbers have since gone down to around 8,000 during the first year of implementation on June 2016. DepEd will be hiring around 30,000 and we will be prepared to prioritize those who choose to apply to our senior high school program,” said Coloma.

He added that many private higher education institutions are already preparing and have requested DepEd for a permit to open a secondary high school that could further bring down the number of affected faculty.

“There is also a proposal from CHED for a stabilization fund which could be tapped by private higher education institutions during the transition,” Coloma added.

Under the K-to-12 program, graduating fourth year students will undergo an additional two more years in the “senior high school” instead of proceeding to college.

“Kaya para mapunan ‘yung gap na ‘yon, ang nakikitang alternatibo ay ang pagtatatag ng isang senior high school at doon pwedeng magturo ang mga dating nagtuturo sa first two years ng college habang ipinapatupad ang transition na ito,” said Coloma. PND (ag)

Malta's Prince concludes seven day official visit to the Philippines

The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing on Saturday night concluded his seven-day official visit to the country.

Fra’ Festing boarded commercial plane Cathay Pacific flight CX 902 bound for Hong Kong which left Manila at 7:55 p.m. He will then proceed to a connecting flight to Rome, Italy for his trip to Europe.

There to bid him farewell were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, and Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado.

While in the Philippines Fra’ Festing made a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III on March 3, where he also presented a symbolic key representing Malta’s donation of 700 core shelters to the Philippines.

On March 5, he visited Basey, Samar to check the 350 core shelters donated by his country. Basey was one of the towns reduced to ruins by Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013. PND (ag)

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, March 7, 2015