PIA Dispatch - Thursday, April 16, 2009

RORO port spurs economic activity in extreme southern part of Panaon Island 
   
Tacloban City (April 16) – With President Gloria Macapagal Arroyos’ inauguration of the Benit RORO Port, the hinterland town of San Ricardo will metamorphose from being a sleepy town at the extreme southern part of Panaon Island, to a town bustling with economic activities. 
   
“You see, even the President is smiling,” an elderly official said. “That is a good sign that this facility will bring in many economic activities,” he added.  
 
Looking at the Ocean King II vessel approaching the port, a beautiful poster-like vision is seen. 

A happy and smiling President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo waved at the big crown waiting for her at the Benit Port at San Ricardo, Southern Leyte on Wednesday, April 15. 

After the 500 passengers led by President Arroyo, followed by several cabinet secretaries and dignitaries, alighted and smilingly acknowledged greeting from well wishers, a big Bachelor Tours Bus was rolled in from the ocean vessel. 
   
San Ricardo which has a population of about 10,000 people is a fifth class municipality. With the opening of the RORO Port, the local government officials are optimistic that many economic activities will result. 

With the opening of the Roro Port, people of San Ricardo and Southern Leyte will be able to bring their produce to Mindanao via Surigao City and the merchants from Surigao will be able to bring their wares to Southern Leyte via San Ricardo. 
   
After the President entered the terminal building, an local old lady was overheard exclaiming how happy she was to see in person President Arroyo, “but I will wait for her departure because I would like to shake her hand.” 
   
The same comments were heard during lunch. A provincial official was saying excitedly
that the President “is more cute in person, but I will seat near the aisle so that I could shake her hands when she goes out.” 
 
The President’s coming is a special and historical event to this hinterland town.

As gathered from the reactions of the local people, the President’s visit is a magic that inspires the people to work harder and really thank the President for her countless support to the municipality and its people. 

As the President and other guests took a bus-ride to Liloan Port, people, young and old eagerly lined up in the streets to get a glimpse of the President. 
 
The primitive name of San Ricardo, Southern Leyte was “Inulinan “, which is the local term for the stern of rear part of a boat, as the town is located at the extreme southern part of Panaon Island which resembles a boat. 

It was established in 1865 with Pintuyan as the Poblacion. 

San Ricardo replaced Inulilan after the name of the first Capitancillo. 

In a report of Radyo ng Bayan, the creation of the new Strong Republic Nautical Highway reduces travel time.

Before, travelers in Surigao City who are bound for Leyte will have to endure a four hour trip to Lilo-an. 

With the RORO ports set up in San Ricardo, the trip has been reduced to one and half hours. (PIA -8)


PGMA hails coastguard for saving eight in Danao

Malacanang expressed gratitude to the Philippine Coastguard. 

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo congratulated the Philippine Coastguard under Admiral Tamayo for the successful operation on a vessel that sunk in the waters off Danao City. 

Reports said at least eight persons were rescued from the incident.  


New expressway to reduce travel time to La Union, Baguio

Government will build a new expressway that will cut down travel time in Northern Luzon. 

In an interview with the local media in Pangasinan, Presidential Management Staff Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the Php-11 million Tarlac-Pangasinan Expressway will provide fast and convenient manner of travelling to tourist and businesses.

The proposed 88 kilometer expressway, Esperon said, will be similar to the North Luzon Expressway.  

It is divided into three phases: La Paz to Gerona, Tarlac; Gerona to Carmen, Pangasinan and Carmen to Rosario, La Union. 

Once the new expressway is completed, Esperon estimated the travel time from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union will be reduced to one hour.
 

Palace throws in support to teachers’ pay hike clamor

Malacanang will support moves to improve the financial conditions of public school teachers.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said teachers are pillars of society and government must protect their welfare.

Reports said teachers are clamoring to increase their salaries by Php 9,000.
 
Golez said they will bring the matter to the Department of Education and to the Congress as well for proper actions.

“Ang ating mga guro ay haligi sa pag-nurture sa mga kabataan at yan ang isa sa mga propesyon na kailangan natin pangalagaan,” said Golez.  

 
Palace: no hand in dragging Erap in BW scam

Malacanang disputed allegations that the palace is behind the linking of former President Estrada to the BW scandal. 

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez asserted that government is “busy running the affairs of state and country and very much focused on how ordinary Filipinos can be given better opportunities especially in the middle of financial crisis.”
 
“Dipping our hands in this issue…is far-fetched,” Golez said.

Golez said the Department of Justice, through Secretary Gonzales, was just acting and validating complaints and reports on the case that it received in accordance with its mandate.


DOJ to look into the case of stranded drivers in Dubai

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo instructed the Department of Justice to investigate a recruitment agency that swindled drivers by offering non-existent jobs in Dubai. 
   
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said DOJ will file charges like large scale estafa when necessary to prevent repetition of the same incident to other OFWs.

“This will serve a stern warning to everybody in this business,” Golez said.

Some 137 workers, mostly drivers, paid CYM International Services Php 150,000 in placement fees in exchange for jobs at the Dubai’s transportation agency which didn’t materialized. 

To keep body and spirit intact in Dubai, the drivers lived on the sales of used tins can found in garbage and on the mercy of sympathetic kababayans.

Golez also confirmed that the Department of Labor and Employment have found jobs for the stranded drivers in Qatar. 

“As a matter of fact, those who are willing to accept those new jobs in Qatar, they can do so or they can be flown to that country at the expense of the government,” Golez said, “those who would want to come home and be with their families, they can also do so at the expense of government.”

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque and his party went to Qatar after their campaign in Dubai to explore possible job opening to OFWs who lost their employment brought about by the global recession. 


NEDA: electronics, garment shipments improving despite dismal export performances

Electronics, garments and other manufactured products have improved shipments although all exports remained down, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said today.

The National Statistics Office reported that electronics and garments posted 0.5 percent and 8.7 percent improved shipments respectively in February as compared to January.

Both exports, however, fell by 4.5 percent and 17.6 percent in February.

The NSO report said total merchandise exports fell by 39.1 percent to US$2.5 Billion in February 2009 as compared in the same month last year while manufactured products fell by 38.1 percent but slightly better than the previous month’s 39.9 percent.

“This is the fifth consecutive month of export contraction as all major commodity groups posted significant year-on-year declines,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph G. Recto said, “The registered negative growth of total exports however was slightly better than the 40.6 contraction in the preceding month but a reversal from the 10.5 percent increase in February 2008.”

Recto attributed the decline in electronic exports to a trend where exports of electronic products are plunging worldwide.

He said the global sales of semiconductors alone have declined by 30.4 percent in February. 

Most merchandise exports in February went to the United States, Japan, China, the Netherlands and Hongkong Special Administrative Region where recession is largely felt by industries and consumers.  

The US got 18.6 percent share in the Philippines’ total merchandise exports followed by Japan with a 15.9 percent share.

Export receipts from forest products and mineral products for the month registered better performance in January 2009 as these commodity groups recorded month-on-month increases of 40.0 percent and 14.8 percent, respectively. 

Forest products were buoyed by export of plywood which grew by 35.2 percent in February 2009 vis-à-vis the same month in 2008. 

Similarly, the 18.5 percent year-on-year increase in the exports of gold prevented further decline in the exports of mineral products.


Malacanang supports revisions in growth targets

Palace finds nothing wrong in revising economic growth forecasts. 

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said it is alright to have a moderate estimate of growth for the country.

“The Philippines is one of the very few countries that still posted a positive growth although not as much, but still positive while most of the countries around the world are experiencing a contracted growth already,” Golez said.

Golez was reacting to the move of Development Budget and Coordination Committee (DBCC) to rewrite the growth forecasts and budget deficits for 2009. 
 
He believed that the revisions will not affect the image of the country in the eyes of creditors and investors since the country gained growth at the height of recession while other economies have contracted. 

Analysts are expecting government to reduce its 2009 growth targets as global recession continues hurt other economies and exports and affect inflow of remittances.


RP doing its best to help Pinoy hostages in Somalia

The Philippine government is doing its best to help and rescue the Filipino seamen abducted and held hostage for ransom in Somalia by Somali pirates.

Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde, in a radio interview Thursday (April 16, 2009), said the government has been working very closely with shipowners and manning companies, who employed the Filipino seamen, to ensure the safety and rescue of the victims.

The latest count puts at 120 the number of Filipino seamen being held hostage by Somali fishermen, who have made piracy a lucrative enterprise that is being bankrolled and encouraged by Somali warlords.

Remonde said the Philippine government has dispatched its own military experts to work with the Filipino seamen’s employers.

Due to the country’s limited capability in addressing international piracy, Remonde said the government focuses its efforts and resources in working things out with manning companies and shipowners employing the Filipino seamen.

He said the government is also working with the United Nations for a “more determined international response” to the Somali piracy scourge.

Remonde said the UN is now in the process of organizing a more comprehensive international response to the hijacking and hostage-taking in the high seas by Somali pirates who have victimized Americans, British, French, Filipinos and other nationalities.


Bad weather, high terrain hampers recovery of Chemtrad plane crash victims

Authorities are having difficulty in retrieving the bodies of the Chemtrad crash victims in Sierra Madre.

Aside from the steep terrain, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council Chair Roberto Damian said that the crash site is covered with thick clouds slowing down the recovery operation.

Damian added that the teams would spend three hours to get to the crash site from the landing zone. 

Radyo ng Bayan Tuguegarao reported that the recovery teams, composed of Philippine Airforce, Philippine National Police and mountaineering groups, are using chainsaws to to clear the landing area and the path leading to the crash site. 


Top presidential security aide, 4 other military men in fatal chopper crash, buried at Libingan

LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City – The late Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s top security aide, was laid to rest with full military honors here today with the President joining his family, friends and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) classmates in bidding him eternal repose. 

Eight Palace aides – five of them militarymen led by Clet – died in a helicopter crash in the forested boundary between Benguet and Ifugao provinces in the Cordilleras on Holy Tuesday (April 7), the same day that the country commemorated the 67th Araw ng Kagitingan. 

Earlier on that fateful Holy Tuesday -- before the evening crash of the Bell 412 helicopter that claimed the lives of those on board – Clet had escorted the President to the Day of Valor rites at Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan. 

A member of PMA Class ’80, Clet was buried at high noon (April 16, Thursday) as a helicopter dropped rose petals onto the General’s Row where the President once again consoled his wife Joselyn and their children, and the late Army general’s friends and PMA classmates who trooped to his burial to pay their last respects. 

Maj. Rolando Sacatani and Capt. Alvin Alegata (PMA ’94), who also perished in the Bell 412 crash, were buried earlier today (Thursday) at another section of the Libingan.

After Clet’s burial, President Arroyo proceeded to the two pilots’ resting place and consoled their grieving spouses, Rachelle Sacatani and Arlene Alegata, and other members of the Sacatani and Alegata families. 

All the chopper-crash victims from the military, including non-commissioned officers PO3 Demilyn Reyno (Phil. Navy) and Sgt. Roegem Perez (Phil. Army), were buried here at the Libingan. 

Deeply saddened by the demise of her most trusted aides, a grieving President Arroyo had earlier honored their remains with an overnight vigil at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall on April 9 (Holy Thursday).

An evening mass was also held for the victims on the 9th-day (“pa-siyam”) of the tragic crash at Malacanang’s Rizal Ceremonial Hall yesterday (April 15, Wednesday). 

The Malacanang “Pasiyam” – concelebrated by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and three other priests – was attended by the victims’ families, friends and co-workers. 

Also in attendance were First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, former press secretary and now Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus Dureza, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and other ranking government officials. 

The civilian victims of the Holy Tuesday crash were all top aides of the President, namely, Appointments Secretary Marilou Frostrom who was buried in Cebu; Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia, who was interred at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina, and Asst. Director Pearlie Bandayanon who will be buried in Davao. 


Iloilo joins READY Project to survive calamities

Iloilo is enhancing its ability to prevent and cope up with disasters.

With the launching of Hazard Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (READY) project Thursday, communities with high disaster risks in provinces are expected to draw up plans to reduce deaths and destruction of properties brought about by calamities.

Iloilo was one of the provinces that was ravaged by Typhoon Frank in June 21, 2008 causing floods in Iloilo City and other municipalities. 

Typhoon Frank left more than 130 people were killed and some Php 500 million worth of damages in agriculture and infrastructure in the province.  

The launching of Ready Project in Iloilo was attended by representatives from PAGASA, PhiVOLCS, DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau, National Mapping Resource and Information Authority (Namria) and Office of Civil Defense, which mostly members of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. 

Activities under the Ready Project will include hazzard identification (most probably will center on floods and flashfood hazzard mapping), disaster risk assessment and community-based disaster preparedness. 

Local leaders and their consitutuents in areas at risks are expected to practice the execution of disaster preparedness plans. 

At the end of training, communities will developed their versions of early warning systems such as rain-water level gauges and signages.