PIA Dispatch - Wednesday, July 8, 2009

PGMA honors outstanding MSMEs

MANILA, July 8 - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo conferred today the first-ever Presidential Awards for Outstanding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to nine successful enterprises for their contribution as engines of economic growth.

Named outstanding enterprises from Luzon were the Roger and Beth Pilinut Candy (micro), J. Emmanuel Pastries (small), and the Lighthouse Cooperative (medium).

In the Visayas, the recipients were the Doods Enterprises (micro), Filbake Food Corporation (small), and the Vicmik Enterprises (medium).

Conferred for Mindanao were the Lao Integrated Farm (micro), Manolette Bakeshop (small), and the AMS Employees Fresh Fruits Producer Cooperative (medium).

The awarding took place at the Megatrade Hall 3 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

In support of the President’s program for MSMEs, Globe Telecommunications provided P30,000 cash and cellphone kits for each of the winners.

The President also awarded 26 Presidential Citations for best practices in MSME promotion and development to various best practices nationwide, majority of them local government units (LGUs) which have streamlined their respective business licensing units.

The awarding is part of the week-long activities of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Week celebrated every second week of July in pursuance of Republic Act No. 9501, the Magna Carta for MSMEs which the President signed in May last year.

The President also struck a gong signalling the launching of the 4th One Town, One Product (OTOP) Luzon Island Fair.

She then toured the exhibits of various products from the different regions of Luzon, including the booths of partner government agencies and other institutions providing assistance to MSMEs.

Assisting the President were Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Jose Concepcion III, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship and vice chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Council.

This year's MSMED Week celebration is spearheaded by the MSMED Council through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in cooperation with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship's “Go Negosyo” program.

In 2003, the President launched in Malacanang the SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth (SULONG) Program which provided MSMEs with simplified and standardized access to short- and long-term financing.

As MSMEs comprise 99.6 percent of all registered firms in the country, the President said focusing on their development is a major part of her overall national development plan.

In 2003 alone, some P26.76 billion was lent out to MSMEs and the President has tripled the amount provided for MSME financing until 2010 as part of her priority strategy for economic growth.


Palace denies allegations that recent spate of Mindanao bombings a government scenario prelude to martial law declaration

MANILA, July 8 – Malacanang on Wednesday vehemently denied allegations that the spate of recent bombings that rocked some parts of Mindanao was part of the government’s grand design that would pave the way for the declaration of martial law.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the bombing incidents were not the handiwork of the government, but rather by people who wanted to create scenarios calculated to induce public ire against the administration.

He branded the allegations as part of the “grand, very creative and very well orchestrated and widely implemented agitation propaganda campaign against the government.”

He said the persons accusing the government of being behind the bombing incidents could be the “very same people who are creating all these scenarios aimed to put blame against the government."

“Para magalit ang taumbayan sa gobyerno (For the public to get furious against the government),” he said.

Due to the bombing incidents, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have declared full alert in Mindanao and heightened alert in other areas of the country.

The Press Secretary said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has issued strong directives to the police and military forces to apprehend the perpetrators of the bombings and to get into the bottom of the incidents.

He said the President also ordered the police and the military authorities to intensify security measures and to give assistance to the victims of the bomb attacks.

At the same time, Remonde urged the public to remain calm and be vigilant against any threat to public safety and security.

Two separate bombings in Jolo, Sulu and Iligan City on Tuesday morning killed six people and injured around 40 others.

Police reports said the first explosion occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday in Poblacion Village in front of the Go Teck Leng Hardware along Sanchez Street in Jolo. The blast killed six people and wounded about 40 others.

Roughly three hours after the Jolo explosion, another IED went off in Iligan City, wounding seven people, including two soldiers.

On Sunday morning, an IED planted at a "lechon" (roasted pig) house in front of the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cotabato City exploded, killing five people and injuring 29 others.


Prices of petroleum products seen to further drop until next week -DOE

MANILA, July 8 — Prices of petroleum products are expected to further drop next week.

Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said while the prices of fuel remains volatile, “next week we should see some reductions in oil prices.”

Reyes said gasoline and diesel prices dropped by US$ 5 per barrel from US$ 75 per barrel last week to US$ 70 per barrel this week.

He attributed the decline in prices to economic and political factors.

“People are saying that recession bottomed out and looking at recovery. But the indicators in the US are not good because unemployment in the US is still high which dampened optimism. Demands remains low plus the fact that there’s speculations,” he noted.

On the political side, Reyes said, the attacks in Nigeria is one major cause.

He said all these factors make local fuel products cheaper.

As of July 6, DoE data showed that gasoline sold in HongKong were at P84.57 per liter; in Singapore gasoline is at P58.52 per liter; New Zealand P53.18 per liter; Australia at P51.63; China at P47.80 per liter; Thailand at P41.41 per liter; and California (US) P37.38 per liter.

For diesel HongKong sold it at P52.99 per liter; Singapore at P43.48; New Zealand P33.53 per liter; Australia at P49.18 per liter; China at P42.27 per liter; Thailand P37.95 per liter; and California at P35.30 per liter.

In the country, diesel are sold at P31 per liter and gasoline were sold at P36 per liter.

With this, oil companies Pilipinas Shell, Petron Corp. and Total Philippines implemented a P1.40 per kilogram increase in the prices of their liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The firm traced the reduced prices to the movement in the world market contract prices.


July 27 is “Iglesia ni Cristo Day”

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared July 27 of this year and every year thereafter as “Iglesia ni Cristo Day.”

The Chief Executive issued the declaration in keeping with Republic Act 9645, which she signed into law June 12 this year declaring the said day as a special national working holiday in recognition of the founding anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in the Philippines.

The declaration coincided with the INC’s 95th founding anniversary this year. The group had its beginnings in 1914 in Punta Sta. Ana, Manila inspired by the preaching of Ka (Brother) Felix Y. Manalo whom this church recognizes as God’s Messenger.

The President congratulated in advance the INC under the stewardship of Executive Minister Ka Eraño G. Manalo and Deputy Executive Minister Ka Eduardo V. Manalo, on their landmark anniversary.

She likewise expressed her profound thanks to the INC for the very active and significant roles its leaders and its members have “always played not only in the spiritual and moral formation of our people over the past several decades, but in nation-building as well.”


Pacquiao, designated Presidential Envoy for Peace and Understanding

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was designated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Presidential Envoy for Peace and Understanding Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita informed Pacquiao of his official designation which was signed by the President on July 2 this year in a letter he sent to him dated July 6, 2009.

As the country’s Presidential Envoy for Peace and Understanding especially between warring political kingpins and between the government and rebel groups, Pacquiao shall promote, by his presence and advocacy, the following activities, among others.

1. Peace pacts among political warlords, the Armed Forces of the Philippines AFP) and the Philippine National Police, to prevent election bloodshed;

2. Interfaith dialogue and other Christian-Muslim events, especially in conflict areas;

3. Livelihood projects for rebel returnees;

4. Peace and harmony forums and activities in school;

5. Development programs and charity works in conflict areas;

6. Sports events among selected troopers of the AFP, PNP Moro National Liberation Front; and Moro Islamic Liberation front;

7. Cultural events espousing peace development, and order and democracy;

8. Civic events upholding human rights and opposing violence including violence against women by men trying to be “macho.”

9. Ecumenical prayers for peace and harmony; and

10. National unity and peace website with pacman blog and message for peace.