Promoting RP to investors focus of PGMA visit to
Under overcast skies and chilly autumn weather, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here Thursday evening (early Friday in
Fresh from soliciting support for the
Wearing a dark business suit, the President alighted from the chartered Philippine Airlines flight at 7:10 p.m. (2:10 a.m Friday Manila time) with a warm smile as she was welcomed by Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo and other embassy officials at the
With her in the delegation are Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, among others.
The President is here to attend the Emerging Markets Summit hosted by London-based news magazine The Economist. She will be joined by five other heads of emerging economies who have confirmed participation, namely
The Chief Executive will deliver a keynote address in the high-level conference Friday afternoon to share the
An interview with the highly-respected Financial Times will start her day Friday followed by business calls from officials of Metals Exploration PLC, mobile communications firm T-Mobile, multi-national mining company Rio Tinto, and Bronzeoak group, a leading developer of bioethanol and bioenergy production facilities.
On the occasion of her visit, the President will also witness the signing of two landmark agreements which will intensify legal cooperation between the
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and British First Secretary of State Lord Mandelson will sign the RP-UK Mutual Legal Assitance Treaty and the RP-UK Extradition Treaty.
On Saturday, the President will have brunch with the Filipino community at the ballroom of the
Some 200,000 Filipino migrant workers are in the
DOLE’s Project Job Fit to address skills-jobs mismatch
MANILA, Sept. 18 -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is putting in place measures to identify skills preferred and demanded both by the local industry and employers overseas to guide students and new entrants to the labor market on college courses and vocational training to pursue to enable them fill up vacancies or engage in undertakings needed by the economy immediately upon graduation.
In a press conference on Friday, Labor officials formally launched the ”Project Job Fit: the DOLE 2020 Vision” which aims to identify by March 2010 the preferred skills in priority industries that must be produced per region up to year 2020.
The project will put together a robustly flexible road map that would guide students and new entrants to the labor force in identifying college and technical-vocational courses that they may pursue to land in available industry jobs or to engage in self-employment undertakings required by the economy after graduation.
The Job Fit road map would also be basis of the education sector and other concerned stakeholders in providing training and educational scholarships and in developing appropriate curricula and career materials.
The program is seen to address the perennial problem on jobs and skills mismatch in the country.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said Project Job Fit is among the priority deliverable programs that the DOLE and its family of agencies commit to pursue and deliver to its constituents beginning July 2009 to March 2010.
The priority deliverables were conceptualized during the DOLE mid-year performance assessment and planning exercises held recently in
Under the project, concerned DOLE bureaus, offices, and agencies, particularly the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), Maritime Training Council (MTC), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and DOLE regional offices will consult stakeholders for the identification before the year ends of preferred skills in priority industries per region up to 2020.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), at the same time, will determine the skills demanded by foreign employers and establish linkages with Philippine embassies for the setting up of labor market intelligence in countries without Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs).
Meantime, the TESDA, PRC, MTC, and DOLE regional offices, in coordination with the National Maritime Polytechnic and the Maritime Office, will prioritize the assessment and certification of critical skills.
The POEA, BLE, DOLE offices in the regions, in coordination with the International Labor Affairs Bureau, Institute for Labor Studies, and the National Wages and Productivity Commission, on the other hand, will develop and pilot the Skills Registry System (SRS) in key cities and provinces.
The SRS will contain a registry of workers and their skills. Employers can simply look at the registry and pick out qualified workers whom they could interview and hire to fill up vacancies.
Outstanding public servants honored in Malacañang
Being an electrical inspector did not stop San Ubaldo Esteban of the Bureau of Fire Protection- Kalinga from doing a firmena’s work and more, even if it means putting his life at risk. Police Superintendent Eric Noble uncovered over a hundred “ghost” cops, reducing salary payments by over 3 million pesos monthly for the Philippine National Police. The
These are some of the Outstanding Public Servants of 2009 who were conferred the prestigious Lingkod Bayan,Pagasa,and Dangal ng Bayan Awards in a simple ceremony on Thursday at Malacañang Palace.
Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chair Ricardo L.Saludo hailed the awardees as he urged others in government to emulate their consistent display of competence and integrity.
“Many of these people do not make it to the headlines but their deeds are no less heroic. We hope that through this recognition program, we pay our gratitude to their sacrifices in dedicated labor for the nation,” Saludo said.
He added that state workers can honor these heroes of public service by everyday being Responsive, Ethical Public Servants with Vision, Impact, Commitment and Excellence, and by imbuing our institution of government with those tenets of ”Republic Service”.
The Lingkod Bayan Award is conferred on an individual or group of individuals for exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had a nationwide impact on public interest.
Recipients of the Lingkod Bayan Award are Eric E. Noble (Philippine National Police, Pangasinan); Gumersindo D.Lasam, posthumous (Department of Agriculture, Cagayan); Leandro Jun C.Lacsamana (Talavera WaterDistrict,Nueva Ecija);Maximo D.Tandang ( University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna ); Persons with Disabilities Coordinating Office (Municipal Government of Carmona, Cavite); Naga City PSEP Team (City Government of Naga, Camarines Sur); Raulito R. Datiles (Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City); Jeusa M. Antiquiera (Padre M.Gomez Elemnatry School,Manila); Nimfa C. Vilches (Supreme Court of the Philippines, Manila); Eugene B. Patinglag (Adiwang Elementary School, Benguet).
They were granted automatic promotion to the next higher position or equivalent salary increase, a plaque with citation signed by the President of the
The Pagasa Award is granted to an individual or group of individuals for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of the government on a certain degree of standards.
The Pagasa Award was handed to Victorio C.Palabay (Dom Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, La Union); Michael V. Fariñas (City Government of Laoag,Ilocos Norte); Jovita P.Ayson (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Cagayan); Romeo P.Calara(Angeles City Water District, Pampanga); Macario M.Manicad,Jr. ( Municipal Government of Plaridel,Bulacan); ATI- International Training Center on Pig Husbanry (Agricultural Training Institute, Batangas); Camarines Norte Water District (Camarines Norte); Eduardo L. Guevarra ( Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6, Iloilo City); Rosario A. Silla (DWSD Field Office 6,Iloilo City); Luz A. Taposok (University of Southern Mindanao, North Cotabato); and Sandy R. Terania (Philippine Air Force, Pasay City).
The said awardees received a gilded medallion, a plaque with citation and signature of the CSC Chair and other incentives.
The Dangal ng Bayan Award is given to an individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of observance of the norms of conduct provided under Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The Dangal ng Bayan awardees are Estanislao N. Temblor (Naguilian Fire Station, La Union); Anunciacion D.Pagdilao (Municipal Government of Pinili,Ilocos Norte);Maxima DC.Riola (City Government of Antipolo City);Alma O.Canama (UPLB,Laguna); Cesar Q. Letada (Bureau of Internal Revenue, Legaspi City); Lourdes S.Banzuelo (Iloilo City Police Office); San Ubaldo B.Esteban (Bureau of Fire Protection, Kalinga); and Lilibeth B.Martin (Provincial Government of Abra).
They were granted automatic promotion to the next higher position or equivalent salary increase, a trophy designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva, cash bonus and other privileges.
The awardees were chosen by respected personalities from the public and private sector. The 2009 Lingkod Bayan and Pagasa Awards Committee is headed by national Artist for Literature and Professor Bienvenido L.Lumbera with Miguel “Mike”Enriquez, Radio GMA Network President, as Vice Chair. The members are Commissioner Cesar D.Buenaflor, CSC; Professor Sonny B.Coloma, Asian Institute of Management; and Chief of President Protocol Jerril G. Santos, Office of the President.
The Dangal ng Bayan Award Committee is co-chaired by Saludo and Tanodbayan Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez. The members are Chairman Reynaldo A. Villar, Commission on Audit; Deputy Executive Secretary Alberto A.Bernardo, Internal Audit Office; and Commissioner Manuel B. Gaite, Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Honor Awards Program, now on its 50th year is an annual undertaking that recognizes government officials and employees who have displayed outstanding work performance. The conferment of honor awards aims to motivate or inspire government employees to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.
The awarding of the Outstanding Public Servants of 2009 is part of the month-long activities in celebration of the 109th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service this September.
DOH, UNFPA, UNICEF, & WHO Join to reduce maternal & neonatal deaths in RP
The Department of Health (DOH) today announced that the three United Nations (UN) agencies – the United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization have joined forces and resources to undertake a joint program on rapidly reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in the country and meet the Millennium Development Goals.
“This is a very welcome development and I am very glad that the
The
“This joint undertaking focuses on accelerating our efforts to attain the targets of MDG #5, which is the reduction of maternal mortality ratio by 75% and the universal access to reproductive health services by 2015, and MDG #4 which is the reduction of the neonatal mortality rate”, Duque declared adding that this initiative will also attain the results desired by the National Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health & Nutrition strategy.
The health chief also said that, with the new project, people can expect better health services as each UN agency will be able to assist the government by pooling procurement, sharing costs in service delivery, common equipment, training of healthworkers, and monitoring and evaluation.
The new project, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is divided into two significant phases: the Transition period (2009-2011) which will cover the provinces of Eastern Samar, Ifugao, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Saranggani, and the urban poor areas in Tacloban, General Santos, Taguig, Navotas, Parañaque and Makati; and the Full Operationalization Period covering the years 2011-2016.
To seal the partnerships of the three UN agencies, the DOH, and AusAID, a document was signed by the heads of the respective agencies.
“Through this Joint Programme, we will ensure that a coordinated technical and management support from the three UN agencies will be available to operationalize the government-led strategy of averting maternal & newborn deaths in agreed priority sites where UN assistance is needed”, Duque concluded.
FTD SPEECH:
My DOH family, our other development partners, fellow champions of maternal, newborn and child health in the
First, let me thank the 3 UN agencies – the WHO, UNICEF and the UNFPA – for banding together in this grand effort to save the lives of mothers and newborns in the
For me this is both a fantastic achievement and a great challenge to bring all the important players at the global and national levels toward one goal. And that is to improve the health of Filipino women and make all births safe for future generations of our children.
This is definitely a unique moment, the first time I think that we are seeing the three biggest & most influential UN agencies in matters of health to take a united & solid ground in answer to our country’s call to stop the wave of the maternal and neonatal deaths in the
As I have clearly stated since taking office, improving the health of mothers and children is at the top of our priorities. In 2006, I called for the acceleration in the progress to meet the Millennium Development Goals for women and children. We marshalled new efforts to re-examine our national programs that will enable us to chart a better course and build a new health system that can respond to the challenges in maternal and child health.
This is to effect a dramatic reversal in the high number of maternal and newborn deaths that we continue to count amid the most spectacular advances in medicine and the greatest investments in global health. Because today, our country still registers one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the Southeast Asian Region…mainly because they are not attended to at the time of greatest risk, which is during childbirth.
Thus, in 2008, a plan was completed and galvanized. The national government through the Department of Health articulated a more explicit policy on mainstreaming the rights of women and children to better health. Championing the health of women and children is now our country’s gateway to poverty reduction and development initiatives. Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her own words said, “A healthy nation must first start with healthy women and children. When we fall short of these objectives, we also fail in building the stronghold of our nation. We fail to create a brighter future for us all.”
Today, two main goals form the centerpiece of action at the Department of Health through the Fourmula One for Health – (1) to make motherhood safe and (2) make births and childhood a healthy experience for all Filipino children.
The Maternal, Neonatal and Child health & Nutrition Strategy of the DOH breaks through new ways of thinking. It focuses on the implementation of known and few but high-impact evidence-based interventions with good coverage to avert our high maternal and newborn deaths. DOH’s new paradigm centers on providing accessible, quality and affordable Emergency Obstetric and Newborn care recognizing that all pregnancies are at risk…and that every mother and child deserves the best and safest care in the hands of health professionals in well-equipped health facilities.
Taken to scale, up to ¾ of all maternal deaths can be prevented and many newborn lives will be saved just with a basic package of intervention given during the critical period of childbirth. And this must be complemented by close links with a continuum of maternal, newborn and child services that span prenatal, pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care. Thus, by doing our best and working with all sectors and agencies and development partners, we now have the distinct opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women and children.
How serious is the government in achieving MDGs 4 & 5? How firm are we that we are all set to finally erase the scandal of deaths among our mothers and children?
As evidence of the pledge of this Administration to give only the best care for our women and children, we are investing a lot in their health. For instance, right now, we are working on the proposed relocation and upgrading of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in a much better site at
In 2008, we also allocated a significant amount of new funds of almost Php 3 billion to implement critical programs for maternal and child health. This represents an unprecedented increase of about 60-fold compared to the Php 51 million we previously allocated in 2007. Using these new funds, we invested in province-and city-wide programs in our F1 provinces, which include ARMM and other poor localities with the highest burden of maternal and newborn deaths. 111 health facilities nationwide have been capacitated to provide BEMOC services. We are upgrading other health facilities in 13 other provinces and we have also established 3 EMOC training centers, one each for Luzon, Visayas and
To engage our health professionals in our mission to provide better quality and more comprehensive care for our mothers and children, we also launched the Enhanced Maternal and Newborn Package of Philhealth in 2008. This expands the coverage up to 4th normal pregnancy and raises the basic payment for normal delivery from 4,500 to Php 6,000. I am pleased that all of these new investments and developments are happening which enable us to eliminate money barriers--- one of the biggest issues that hinder our women to access emergency obstetric care.
That is why as evidence of our committed efforts to champion the health of women and children, the Philippines has been recently cited by the MDG Countdown Committee as one of the 10 Best Performing Countries with the boldest effort to achieve MDG 5. In 2007, we were also recognized by the Save the Children Foundation as Number 1 among 55 developing countries with the best programs in child health care.
So, today, we leap closer to the achievement of this great ambition to save the lives of mothers and newborns with greater resolve and at a faster speed, with only the best way to do it --- as a team working together. This Joint Programming of our three UN agencies --- WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA with AusAID--- further bolster government’s efforts to reach our people with the care they long deserve and need. It conforms with the vision of the DOH to achieve better financing, good health outcomes and a more responsive health system for women and children through what we call the sector wide approach for health (SWAP).
Ladies and gentlemen, as I have said so many times before, addressing the neglected tragedy of maternal and child deaths is at the heart of the health sector reform agenda of the Philippines. It is a moral battle to save lives.
Thus, I enjoin all of our key strategic partners gathered and represented here today --- our Senators, Congressmen, Governors and Mayors, the Governments of the United States, Australia, Japan and Spain, the World Bank, the European Commission, civil society, the academic community and the media ---to make it happen today. Let us s strive to make live-saving health services available and accessible to our mothers and children as soon as possible.
Unless we can first make that strong moral and political commitment to care for our women and children, what hope is there that we can succeed in other important areas of health such as malaria, AIDS, TB and other diseases?
Thank you and Mabuhay tayong lahat!
