PGMA inaugurates RORO ports to Masbate, Biliran, Southern Leyte and Surigao City expected to boost trade in the areas as part of the enhanced Seaboard Route of the Strong Republic Nautical Hi-Way.
Deployments and declining number of lay-offs overseas boosting remittances
The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that remittances rose by 2.5 percent from January to February amounting to US$2.6 billion.
In February alone, remittances coursed through banks rose by 4.9 percent to US$1.3 billion.
Between January and February, remittances from sea-based and land-based workers increased by 6.1 percent and 1.7 percent respectively.
In pursuit of sizable portions of the OFW money, Tetangco said commercial banks helped sustain the inflow of remittances as they expanded their international and domestic market coverage.
RP to pursue job opportunities in Qatar
In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Philippines has barely used its allocations for workers in the middle eastern country.
“Mahigit 100,000 pa yung hindi pa natin nagagamit o nai-aaply na allocation sa atin dito (Qatar) para sa mga Filipino, para makapagtrabaho dito, yun ang gusto nating ma-avail (We haven’t used or applied more allocation for us, Filipinos, to work here (Qatar), that’s what we wanted to avail),” Roque said.
Generally, the Middle East is not yet affected by the global financial turmoil according to Roque.
Meanwhile, Filipinos may look forward for other job opportunities elsewhere in the coming months.
EPS is expected to be signed in May.
Insiders in the banking industry say the relocation of the U.S. Naval forces from Okinawa, Japan to Guam in 2010 could also provide job opportunities to Filipino workers.
DOLE vows to go after illegal recruiters
Reacting to the case of 137 Filipino drivers stranded in Dubai, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said they will not allow such organizations to take advantage of people who were desperately in need of livelihood.
“Hindi natin papayagan yun…malaki ang pananagutan nila sa batas…hahabulin natin sila (We will not allow them…they will be punished…we will pursue them),” said Roque.
The drivers’ recruiter allegedly promised them high paying jobs at Dubai’s Roads and Transportation Authority.
He has instructed the heads of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to look in the drivers’ case.
Government considers extending zero tariff for flour
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told Malacanang reporters that he is awaiting the recommendations of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap regarding flour prices.
“If that is the best way to keep the prices of bread and bakery products at their current levels and to ensure that consumers can continue buying these products, then we will extend the zero duties on flour,” Ermita said.
Some companies are asking the government to extend the zero tariff on flour to keep the prices of bread and bakery products within the reach of consumers as global economic recession continues to intensify.
Ermita said he is awaiting the recommendations of the DTI and the DA but that he is also in contact with the bakers association. “As I said we can do this as long as extending zero tariff can be good for the greater number of people,” Ermita said.
Ermita says DOE has unit monitoring oil prices
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita today said he has been informed by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes of a specific unit in the department “that does nothing but monitor the movement and fluctuations of oil prices here and abroad.”
“It’s not to say that government is not doing something about the continuous oil price increases or that Secretary Reyes is helpless in stopping the oil companies from increasing fuel prices,” Ermita told Malacanang reporters during his weekly briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacanang.
“We will await the recommendations of Secretary Reyes on the monitoring being done by this unit in the department so we could act on them,” Ermita said.
On the need to repeal the 10-year old Oil Industry Deregulation Law, Ermita said he is not aware of any proposed measure pending in Congress.
“But we will support this measure because we have seen that under this law government can do nothing to interfere with oil prices under a free market regime,” Ermita said.
“In anticipation of such a measure by Congress, the executive branch should be preparing itself for such action. We should now study very closely the current situation in the oil industry and if we will support the repeal of the oil deregulation law,” Ermita said.
What we are certain now is that a study is already being done by the government, particularly the unit in the DoE that is closely monitoring the price fluctuations here and abroad, Ermita noted.
BSP exec hints of possible rate cut
BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said they will “continue to formulate monetary policy based on inflation outlook and status of inflation expectations.”
Guinigundo, however, pointed out that “we have to be careful about the future implications of excessive monetary expansion.”
Analysts project another cut in the central bank rates.
This is a result of three consecutive rate cuts since last December totaling to 125 basis points as nationwide inflation continue to decelerate.
Monetary officials said easing of rates will encourage the banks to increase lending to the public, which in turn, will result in the continued healthy growth of the domestic economy amid the global economic turmoil.
“Fiscal policy should also do its share, given the flexibility available to it,” he added.
Sandiganbayan orders arrest personalities involved in tax credit scam
Those facing plunder cases are former Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Belicena, One-Stop Shop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center (Center) Executive Director Uldarico Andutan Jr.; Asuncion Magdaet, Rowena Malonzo, Faustino and Gloria Chingkoe, Filstar corporate secretary Grace Chingkoe, and Filstar representative Catalina Aranas Bautista.
All accused allegedly conspired to enable Filstar gain TCCs illegally.
DepED: nothing fishy in the feeding program
The Department of Education (DepED) denied allegations that noodles used in its food-for-school program last year were overpriced.
DepED pointed out that the price of noodles was relatively high then due to the high cost of flour.
The department also explained that the total cost was high because they have widened the scope of the program at the time and had other expenses such as delivery.
Furthermore, the noodles used in the program met the requirements of the Bureau of Food and Drugs.
House justice committee vows fair play at impeachment case vs. Ombudsman Gutierrez
The impeachment case lodged against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has started.
In an interview with Radyo ng Bayan, House Justice Committee Chair Mat Defensor confirmed that they have received the documents on the impeachment case.
Defensor said the committee will convene to discuss the merits of the case against Guitierrez.
He assured that the committee will pursue the case once they find it meritorious.
Defensor stressed that the impeachment case will not be a fight between the majority and minority congressmen.
DOH launches Garantisadong Pambata 9
The GP program is a twice-a-year health campaign where a package of services such as immunization, Vitamin A capsules and de-worming drugs are given to children below-5 years-old.
“We are also doing our best to further improve maternal health in the country which is very closely linked with the health and welfare of our children”, he stressed. “That is why we are recommending and advocating the full implementation of the nine essential child survival package in all local government units nationwide.”
GP9 campaign uses low-cost and low-technology with high impact interventions that can prevent under-five and maternal deaths as well as reduce malnutrition.
The nine essential child survival packages include: skilled attendance by health professionals during pregnancy, delivery and immediate postpartum; care of the newborn; breastfeeding and complementary feeding; micronutrient supplementation and deworming; immunization of children and mothers; integrated management of sick children; and child injury prevention and control; birth spacing and proper personal hygiene.
“In the country, an estimated 82,000 Filipino children die before their fifth birthday each year. This translates to 42 child deaths per 1,000 live births. Most of them die because of neonatal-related factors, some from preventable pneumonia and diarrhea; some by injuries and measles; but malnutrition accounts for more than half of all child deaths”, said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III.
During the 63rd United Nations General Assembly last 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reported that the country “has made considerable progress particularly in poverty reduction, nutrition, reducing child mortality, combating AIDS and HIV, malaria and other diseases and improving access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet facilities”, quoting the mid-term report of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). MDG is a global agenda for development by 2015 signed by 189 member states, including the Philippines.
“We were ranked first with the best child care in the developing world”, Duque said.
He recalled the report of Save the Children last year where the Philippines attained the highest record of delivery of basic health care services for children among 55 developing countries.
Versoza to work closely with LCMC on ICRC issue
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today that Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jesus Versoza has been dispatched to Sulu to get firsthand information on the latest development on the negotiations between the local crisis management committee (LCMC) headed by Gov. Tan and the Abu Sayyaf bandits holding two remaining members of the International Red Cross (ICRC) hostage.
He said Versoza was also directed to study what steps government should take on the continuing hostage crisis involving the two foreign volunteers of the ICRC.
“I spoke with General Versoza earlier and he said he arrived in Sulu to take a firsthand situationer on the hostage crisis. We would like to find out from him about the PNP elements working with Task Force Comet,” Ermita said.
He said the LCMC is doing its best to ensure that the hostages are released by their ASG abductors safe and sound.
Ermita reiterated that the government is sticking to its no ransom policy and that the military option is always there.
He added that he was able to contact Sulu Vice Gov. Lady Ann Sahidullah in Zamboanga and that it is not true that she abandoned her post after the release of Filipina ICRC volunteer Mary Jean Lacaba by the Abu Sayyaf Group headed by Albader Parad.
He said the Vice Governor can be contacted and “it is not true that she abandoned her post or that sanctions are being planned against her.”
Press Undersecretary Capadocia laid to rest
The late Press Undersecretary Jose “Joecap” Capadocia, 69, was laid to rest today (April 15, Wednesday) at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City amid an outpouring of grief and heartwarming memories.
En route to the Loyola Memorial Park, the funeral cortege passed by the Capadocia’s family residence along Paraiso St. in Sta. Mesa, Manila and then Santolan Road along Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The Camp Aguinaldo route to his final resting place was deliberately chosen in memory of Joecap’s years as a beat reporter covering the Department of National Defense in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Joecap served three terms as president of the Defense Press Corps.
Joecap died with seven other top aides of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a helicopter crash in the Cordilleras on Holy Tuesday (April 7) while on an ocular inspection for a scheduled presidential event in Ifugao.
In her Holy Thursday (April 9) vigil tribute at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang for her eight aides, President Arroyo said of the late press undersecretary: “Joecap was one of my media supporters from way back, when I was still a senator…”
“Joe is a loss not only to wife Maret and to (sister) Celia and to their children but, I believe, also to the Malacanang Press Corps who are grieving very much for him as I can perceive – because I could observe he had great camaraderie with them.”
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who led the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) family at the interment rites, described his deputy as “irreplaceable.”
Joecap’s remains stayed overnight last night for the vigil at the Press Briefing Room in the New Executive Building (NEB), headquarters of the OPS within the Malacanang Complex, with Presidential son Dato Arroyo and his wife coming over to pay their last respects.
The seven grandchildren of “Lolo Joecap” – Justin, AJ, Jomari, Jolina, Miguel, Paolo and Diego -- joined their grandmother, Asst. Secretary Maret Capadocia of the Office of the President and the long line of guests from the media community and the government.
Remonde and former Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye led yesterday (April 14) media and government personalities in paying tribute to the late “Joecap” who was also honored by OPS personnel and members of the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC).
A group from the Baguio media also came down to Manila to pay their last respects to the press undersecretary who was an ubiquitous presence in presidential events in the summer capital and elsewhere in the country.
The Baguio delegation informed Mrs. Maret Capadocia that they had planted a pine sapling at the Busol watershed in honor of “Tata Joecap.”
The group was composed of Baguio City Public Info Officer Ramon Dacawi; Inquirer correspondent Delmar Carino; NBN Baguio’s Jonathan Llanes; Malaya’s Malen Catajan; and PIA-CAR regional director Helen Tibaldo and personnel Joseph & Hiyasmin Zambrano, Regie Cawis, Francis Martin, Ariel Arcayna and Jonalyn Ponciano.
