PIA Dispatch - Friday, September 4, 2009

PGMA satisfied with San Carlos bioethanol plant

SAN CARLOS CITY, Negros Occidental, Sept. 4 --President Gloria Macapagal –Arroyo, through a message, expressed satisfaction over the launching of the P3-billion San Carlos BioEnergy Inc. plant, which, she said, is a realization of her dream to make the country less dependent on imported fuel.

The President, was to lead in the groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s first bio-ethanol plant. She failed to make it though because of bad weather. Instead, she sent Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to represent her and deliver her message.

Reyes said the President hoped that more bio-ethanol plants would be put up in Negros’ sugar mills to feed the requirements not only of motor vehicles, industrial equipment and electrical appliances but also to supply power to the main electric grids of the country.

He said the President, who monitored the construction, is glad the plant has became operational to benefit the farmers and growers.

“She also directed me to ask your other concerns, and if I could resolve them at my level then I should do so and just keep her posted on whatever actions I have taken,” Reyes said.

Jose Mari Zabaleta, chairman of SCBI, reported that the plant is the first to get the approval for its carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.

The SCBI, which is funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines, buys sugarcane for ethanol conversion from planters in this city and surrounding areas.

With SCBI’s operations, plantation owners and farmers now get better prices for their produce. The city is now considered a “planter’s market,” with sugarcane price rising to over P1,700 per 50 ton cane from less than P1,500 per ton cane in the previous year.

In 1908, Reyes pointed out, the first sugar syrup factory was established at the San Carlos mill. “Now after 100 years, we are putting up the first bioethanol plant in the country right here,” he said.

Reyes said he shares the President’s hopes that the San Carlos bioethanol plant will be replicated all over the country so that “we can finally liberate ourselves from the uncertain fuel oil situation and promote cleaner energy in our local industries.”

“We’re (an ideal country) for renewable energy because we have abundant supply of geothermal, solar, wind, coastal and hydro power,” Reyes said.

“Nothing,” he said, “should stop us from going renewable. We have what it takes to fulfill this dream and our laws are there to support in this direction.”


Government assures sufficient funds for anti-poverty program

MANILA, Sept. 4 -- The government expressed assurance on Friday that there are sufficient funds to support its anti-hunger and anti-poverty program which aims to benefit one million poor families throughout the country.

The assurance was made by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral who said in a press statement to the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that more poor families are requesting to be included in the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps) of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The 4Ps is the country’s conditional cash transfer program, but currently the funds can accommodate 700,000 households, according to the DSWD head.

Cabral, however, added that President Arroyo has ordered the increase of the number of beneficiaries to one million to accommodate more poor families.

At present, 4Ps covers 255 municipalities and 15 cities in 17 regions of the country.

“With the new directive of President Arroyo, more poor families will be covered by 4Ps,” Cabral said.

“We will continue to identify beneficiaries according to the targeting system we have been using, but will now expand to provinces and cities with large pockets of poverty that were not previously included as target beneficiaries,” she added.

Cabral stressed that "the DSWD is always willing and ready to implement social service programs as long as we are provided the funds for it."

For this year, 4Ps has a budget allocation of P10 billion for the 700,000 households. To be able to cover 300,000 more families, an additional P5 billion is needed.

“We thank President Arroyo for supporting the budget requirements of 4Ps. The President continues to look for more funds to expand the program,” Cabral said.

At the same time, the DSWD chief has expressed elation that the program is appreciated as evidenced by requests of local government executives to include their local government units to be part of the program.

“People now recognize the value of the program. The outpouring of letters from politicians, local chief executives and poor individuals only indicate that the program is effectively improving lives,” Cabral said.

With the favorable impressions on 4Ps, Secretary Cabral assured the public that “we will serve with utmost integrity and focus on those who really need the services regardless of their affiliations.”

The 4Ps is a social development and poverty reduction strategy that provides cash grants of as much as P1,400 monthly to poor households for health, nutrition and education needs, particularly for children 0-14 years old provided they comply with certain conditionalities.

The conditionalities are: Pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by skilled attendant; parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions; 0-5 years old children must receive regular preventive check-ups and vaccines; 3-5 years old children must attend day care or pre-school classes at least 85 percent of the time; 6-14 years old must be enrolled in elementary and high school at least 85 percent of the time; and 0-5 years old must receive deworming twice a year.

Earlier, Malacañang said it had endorsed a P5-billion increase in the budget of a conditional cash transfer scheme that would cover one million poor families within the year from an original target of 700,000.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has been directed to scout for sources to fund the additional outlay.

Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei C. Fajardo yesterday said the President decided to expand the coverage of the 4Ps to strengthen the fight against hunger and poverty.

The program, which involves conditional cash transfers for poor families, had an original annual budget of P10 billion for the 20 poorest provinces nationwide, including poor families in Metro Manila.


Task force eyes illegal drugs behind Lopez killing

MANILA, Sept. 4 --The joint police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) task force is looking at the possibility that illegal drugs motivated the slaying of Jimmy Lopez, a key witness in the killing of publicist Salvador Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in 2000.

Lopez, together with a still unidentified female companion, was gunned down at his home in Indang, Cavite on Wednesday, a day before he was expected to appear at the Department of Justice (DoJ) to reaffirm his testimony on the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

While love triangle angle was ruled out, NBI deputy director for Intelligence Services Ruel Lasala said the task force was not discounting other angles such as the Dacer-Corbito case and illegal drugs.

“This is an all open theory. Buhay pa ang lahat ng leads (All are alive) (including the drugs and the hearing of Dacer-Corbito case). Investigations are still on going and information is still being verified. Tinatrabaho pa talaga (We are still working on it,” said Lasala.

Lasala refused to give further details as to the progress of the probe.

Lawyer Allan Contado, chief of the NBI Anti-Graft Division and bureau spokesman, said the task force had already a lead but refused to further comment.

But sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators were pursuing drug angle and have already taken statements of potential witnesses. “We have something in our hands to back up drug angle but we are still gathering pieces of evidence to strengthen our theory,” said one of the sources.

The NBI said Lopez, a former civilian agent of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), was in the watch list of drug personalities in Indang, Cavite.

“Ang tinitingnan natin diyan ay iyong personality ng tao (We are looking at the personality of victim),” the source said.

Lopez wife Emelinda has formally filed a complaint for the death of her husband at the NBI. She has already given statement to the NBI investigators working on the case.

Meanwhile, Lopez’s female companion, whom the task force identified only “Nicole,” remained unidentified and unclaimed.

“The body of the female companion who was believed less than 20-year-old remained unclaimed. We called her “Nicole,” as she was known in the area as Nicole and we have no surname yet,” the source said.

The NBI joined the PNP on Wednesday as lead agency in the probe.


ALAY LAKAD 2009 slated on September 6
By Bradley de Leon

The ALAY LAKAD FOUNDATION will hold its 37th annual walk-for a –cause project for the out of school youth at the Rizal Park on Sunday, September 6, 2009.

This year’s theme would be “Lakad Kabataan, Ituloy ang Kaunlaran”in support of the government’s call for development anchored on the future of the youth. Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District will lead this year’s annual walk, headed by its District Governor, Claudio B. Nadal Jr and Ms. Edna Garcia as Chair of the National Coordinating Committee.

According to ALFI President Frank Evaristo, Alay Lakad was born to raise fund for the benefit of out-of-school-youth and provide them opportunities to be self reliant through livelihood activities and gain access to education.

Organized in 1972 by then the Ministry of Social Services (now DSWD), alongside with different government and civic organizations, ALAY LAKAD is a nationwide, non stock , non profit organization committed to the development of the Filipino youth especially the out-of school youth through scholarships and livelihood programs. It was incorporated in 1978 and was recognized as a Foundation by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1997.

The annual walk is the ALAY LAKAD FOUNDATION’s principal fund raising activity to generate money to support its project for the youth. Every first Sunday of September, close to million people from all walks of life join in this mass hikeout. While these participants sacrifice on waking up before dawn to walk many kilometers, they also contribute to the collections during the walk. Business companies are invited to sponsor this event.

Everyone is welcome to join and participate to this annual walk-for- a cause project to help provide the out of school youths in our country all the assistance to help them alleviate their plight.

For more information, please call Ms. Esther Villanueva and Mr.Edwin Flores of Alay Lakad Foundation at tel nos. 523-1539/522-6134.


Malacanang declares Sept. 7, 21 as non-working holidays

MANILA, Sept. 4 —President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday declared Sept. 7 and Sept. 21 as non-working holidays throughout the country.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that President Arroyo declared Sept. 7 (Monday) as National Day of Mourning on the burial of Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Erano “Ka Erdy” Manalo.

Remonde said the President also ordered all flags must be flown half-mast on Monday (Sept. 7) on the interment of the INC leader.

Ka Erdy died of cardio-pulmonary arrest last Aug. 31 at the age of 84. His remains lies in state at the Central Temple of INC in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

Remonde also said President Arroyo also declared Sept. 21 a non-working holiday being Eid’l Fithr, or the end of Ramadan, as provided by law.

The Palace official said Eid’l Fithr is listed as one of the holidays stated in Presidential Proclamation 1869.