PIA Dispatch - Thursday, May 14, 2009

VFACOM: AFP uses its own funds in Balikatan

The Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFACOM) clarified the source of funds of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the RP-US Balikatan joint military exercises.

VFACOM Executive Director Edilberto Adan said the United States does not provide funds to the AFP because the Armed Forces uses its own budget to support its needs in the Balikatan. 

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to investigate the alleged fund mess 

At the same time, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the whistle-blower and accuser, Navy Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian, must “really come up with basis for her accusations.”

"We are directing Secretary Teodoro, to investigate this (alleged mess) through the existing processes in the Department of National Defense and the AFP," Remonde said in a radio interview Thursday.

Remonde stressed that it is best that “we get to the bottom of this (matter).”

Gadian has claimed there are alleged financial mess in the conduct of the Balikatan exercises. 

Balikatan exercises between the Philippine and the United States military have been conducted over the years for 25 times over with the last exercise held in the Bicol region last April 1 to 30.

Gadian claimed she was the officer- in-charge of the Civil Military Operations (CMO) Fusion Cell for the 2007 Balikatan held in Jolo, Sulu, and the public affairs officer of the Balikatan exercises in 2002 held in Angeles, Pampanga.

Gadian said soldiers participating in the exercises were supposed to get daily allowance of P340, but received no money despite the availability of funds.


Thousands of job seekers expected to swarm Malacañang jobs fair 

Some 70 private corporations seeking new recruits will participate in the annual jobs fair organized by the Office of External Affairs (OEA-Office of the President) on Saturday, May 16, at the Mendiola Parking Lot inside the Malacañang Complex in Manila.

Dubbed as Trabaho Fair 2009, the whole-day event is co-sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and is expected to gather thousands of jobseekers from Metro Manila and nearby provinces for local and overseas employment.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will bring in selected employers to man their respective booths and process application papers during the event. As added attraction, several government agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Statistics Office (NSO), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will also set up their own kiosks with Internet access to process documentary requirements.

“Trabaho mismo, ‘yan ang kailangan nating pagtuunan ng pansin,” said OEA Head for Operations, Undersecretary Danilo Consumido. “Although the Philippines remains outside the scope of the global recession, we are joining the private sector in fighting the effects of the global economic crisis by providing jobs to our people,” he added.

Trabaho Fair 2009 runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participating government agencies are: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); National Bureau of Investigation (NBI); National Statistics Office (NSO); Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA); Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO); and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)

On the other hand, participating private corporations are: Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); San Miguel Corporation; Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT); Nestle Philippines; Jollibee Foods Corporation; and Zesto Corporation.


COMELEC to complete the bidding process for poll automation within the week 

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will start looking into the technical and financial bids of companies interested in providing services for the automation of the 2010 elections.

If the commission’s Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) completes the process by Saturday, COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez said the automated counting machines’ performances may be demonstrated by next week.

Four out of seven bidders for the Automation contract have been reconsidered by SBAC last Wednesday.