PopDev Media Awards deadline draws near

The Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) reminds everyone of the approaching deadline for the submission of entries to the 5^th PopDev Media Awards.

The contest is open to all print, broadcast, online, photo, and citizen journalists nationwide. Entries must deal with population and human development issues such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), public health (especially reproductive health), reproductive health policy and governance, economic growth and poverty, climate change, housing and urban development, sustainable development, environment, education, gender, maternal health, adolescent reproductive health, family planning, food security, reproductive rights, migration, and population ageing.

For the Print and Online Category, awards will be given for Best News Reportage (should consist of a body of work or a series of at least three spot news reports); Best Opinion or Editorial Piece; Best Investigative Report, and Best Feature or Magazine Article.

For Television, awards will be given for Best TV Documentary and Best Magazine Program or Talk Show.

For Radio, awards will be given for Best Radio Program. Entries to this could be news, commentary (should consist of a series of at least three separate news reports or commentaries) or a special production of media agencies.

For the Photojournalism category, awards will be given for Best Single Photo and Best Photo Essay.

Citations will also be given for blog (text) and photo blogs (single photo and photo essay) in recognition of the significant contribution of citizen journalists in the informed discussion of population and human development issues. Entries from professional journalists may be considered as long as these were posted in their personal blogs.

Entries should have been published, aired, or posted between August 16, 2008 and August 15, 2009 in a publication or network that has been in existence for at least one year, or in a blog site that has been created at least since January 1, 2008. Deadline for submission of entries is on August 31, 2009. Please submit your entries to plcpd_mediaawards@yahoo.com.ph and indicate "Entry to the PopDev Media Awards" on the subject line.

Interested parties may send as many entries in a chosen category. Winners will receive a cash prize, trophy, certificate, and a chance to go into a study trip to a PLCPD project area in the Philippines.

For more information, interested parties may contact PLCPD at (02) 9251800 or (02) 4362373 or visit http://www.plcpd.org.ph/Media%20Awards/default.asp.

The PopDev Media Awards is made possible with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Commission on Population (PopCom), Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare (PNGOC), Forum for Family Planning and Development (FORUM), Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD), Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC), Women's Feature Service (WFS), and Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP).

ODA DISBURSEMENTS RISE BY 96 PERCENT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2009

Official Development Assistance (ODA) disbursements significantly rose in the first semester of 2009, according to the First Semester CY 2009 ODA

Loan Performance Report. The disbursement level grew to US$826.59 million, increasing by 96 percent compared to the same period last year. As of the
first semester of 2009, total cumulative ODA loans amounted to US$8.07 billion, financing 91 loans.

"The significant increase in disbursements was largely attributed to the single tranche release of two program loans of US$150 million (Governance in Justice Sector Reform Program, Subprogram II) and US$ 200 million (The Global Food Crisis Response Program Development Policy Operations) funded
by ADB and WB, respectively," the report said.

The disbursement level is the actual amount of disbursements from all ODA loans.

There was a general increase in all major financial indicators of ODA absorptive capacity. The disbursement rate, which is the percentage of actual disbursements over target disbursement, increased to 86 percent in the first six months of 2009 from 80 percent during the same period last year. On the other hand, the percentage of cumulative actual disbursements over scheduled disbursements, or the availment rate, rose to 81 percent in the first half of 2009 from 74 percent in the same period in 2008.

The disbursement ratio also rose to 17 percent as of the first semester of 2009 from 13 percent in the same period last year. The disbursement ratio is the share of actual disbursement to the net loan amount available during the year.

However, 31 program and project loans had disbursement rates below 50 percent due to procurement-related and financial processing issues and other issues such as right-of-way.

The biggest donor of ODA is the Government of Japan-Japan International Cooperation Agency (GOJ-JICA), having a share of 38 percent of total ODA Commitments. JICA is followed by the World Bank (18%), the Asian Development Bank (15%), and China (12%). All other donors comprise 17 percent of total ODA.

Identify brutally killed woman in video gov’t urged

 

 

please follow the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdQSHE4e7Cs

 

The biggest global alliance of OFWs calls on the Arroyo administration to immediately determine if the woman being stoned to death in a video clip is not a Filipina OFW.

 

"The video was very disturbing. If the said woman in the video is a Filipina, then the Philippine Embassy in Jordan should act accordingly and immediately conduct an investigation as to why the incident had happened," says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

 

The video of the said incident was uploaded last June 25, 2009 in youtube.com entitled "Pinay sa Jordan (Brutally killed)". A certain hotjc2009 uploaded the video, with no indication of a real name in the website and his profile only describes him as a 28 year old and his location is in Bahrain.

 

Responding from a comment in Tagalog, hotjc2009 admitted that he himself doesn't know who the said woman is in the video and that the said clip was only forwarded to him by a friend who told him that the incident happened in Jordan.

 

"No one can simply dismiss the brutality shown in the video. Only a heartless government official will have the stomach to ignore the seriousness of the said incident," said Marinez.

 

The video started by showing Filipino subtitles warning OFWs not to commit infidelity in Middle East region. Then it showed a mob kicking furiously a woman whose face is already covered with blood. The clip ended by showing a man smashing the head of the woman by a stone block.

 

The group challenges the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labor and Employment to call on their staff posted abroad to confirmed the veracity of the said incident and whether a Pinay OFW was really involved.

 

"We would like to call the attention of our kababayans abroad to please provide informations that will help in confirming the authenticity of the video. Migrante will be the first one to feel relieved if the said woman is indeed not a Filipina," Garry concluded.

 

Martinez said that anyone who can give information about the incident may contact through the office landline at 421-0768.

STATEMENT OF SOCIOECONOMIC PLANNING SECRETARY RALPH G. RECTO ON HIS RESIGNATION

Good afternoon to all of you,ladies and gentlemen. More than a month ago, I tendered my official resignationas Director General of NEDA to the President to take effect on the closinghours of August 16. That resignation has been accepted by the President.

 

I told the President in myresignation letter elective political opportunities lie on the horizon andafter much thought and discernment, I have decided to explore these but outsidethe podium and canopy that my present office provides. When I first ran thisline by some senior staff, they said that mere exploration of some politicaloptions is no ground for resignation. Actually, they are right because a dreamfor a public office is not punishable by law. And even if one starts preparingto run for office, civil service rules do not require him to give up hiscurrent post. The practice, then and now, is one can run an office and for anoffice at the same time.

 

But that may be possible in otheroffices, but not in NEDA, I believe. In my letter of resignation to thePresident, I thanked her for giving me the opportunity to serve the countrythrough a great agency whose admirable staff responded ably to the challengesof the times. Indeed, I could not have asked for a more professional andproficient staff than the ones who have warmly welcomed me here and, in myheart, I know that I will be dishonoring their dedication in public service ifI will be preoccupied with other matters other than leading them in their work.Heading the NEDA is a fulltime work. It does not need a leader who is a jobapplicant in disguise. Thus, I will be demeaning the people I have worked withand debasing their work ethic if I report to work with other things in mind.

 

I know that my resignation violates all the rules inthe playbook of political campaigns. It will automatically deprive me of thesoap box which will make me visible and the bullhorn which will allow me to beheard. Politicians are also supposed to run into the spotlight and here I amdoing the opposite by running away from it, by resigning. To retain mycredentials as a Nedan, I must step aside and give way to a new DG who willdedicate his every waking hour to the task at hand and not be distracted by anoffice yet to be won, thus my resignation.

Final Report on Filexpats Rodrigp Africa and John Patrick Esteban

27 July 2009     SIRS / MESDAMS:   May we respectfully submit herein final updates on OFWs RODRIGO AFRICA and JOHN PATRICK ESTEBAN  of SEDER GROUP CO. and Contracting Services.   They were deployed to Dammam in May 2009. After a week they STOPPED WORK and complained to POLO-Al Khobar for alleged No copy of their contract, Contract duration was increased from 2 to 3 years, and No overtime pay.  Beffore POLO-Al Khobar could act on their complain they came here at POLO-Riyadh requesting assistance for their REPATRIATION. We then requested POLO-Al Khobar to forward to us their records. As soon as we recieved and evaluated their records, we started counselling and persuaded them to go back to work while we negotiate for settlement of their complains. We reminded them that they were still within the adjustment/ probationary period, and to sop work is no a solution but a problem itself. However when our advices fell on deaf ears as it appeared very clearly that subjects have FIXED their minds on their persistent desire to GO HOME either because they were homesick or probably influenced by a third party, we initiated negotiations with SEDER Group for their repatriation.   Thus, in late June,  assisted by Case Officer Abdullah Umpa, we arranged for a meeting with SEDER HR Manager Migren Al Migren.  In that meeting, Migren asked for 2 weeks to convince Messrs. Africa and Esteban to go back to work, otherwise their repatriation will be provcessed thereafter. Simultaneously, we continued persuading them to go back to work through regular phone calls and occasional visits. At a time, we gave them money to augment their expenses.   After the lapse of 2 weeks, and it appearing that our parallel efforts with SEDER were exhausted to no avail, we pursued the repatriation angle. Throughout the process we emphasized the fact that our efforts were not motivated by any third party intervention or outside pressure, but it is our primary mandate to serve and assist within the bounds of our capabilities and limitations DISTRESSED OFWs and every Filexpat in need and seeking our help.   Finally, on 24 July 2009, OFWs Africa nd Esteban were sent home by SEDER Group Co. They arrived Manila at about 3:30 PM 25 Juily Via Qatar Air. We requested OWWA-RAD for their transportation from airport to OWWA, temporary accomodation at the OWWA Half-way Home, and transportation assistance from Manila to their respective home provinces. We now consider this case managed and CLOSED.   Welof ODIN T ABDULA POLO-OWWA, Riyadh

Place abduction and torture issue in Peace Talk agenda

The biggest global alliance of OFW organizations held a lightning rally today in front of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) building to condemn what it calls a prelude to a series of abductions of officers of progressive organizations such as Migrante.

 

"We strongly believe that with the inclusion of Migrante in the AFP Order of Battle and the abduction of Melissa Roxas, who was thought to be Maita Santiago, is a part of a new wave of attacks on progressive organizations, journalists and other oppositionists. If not for their blunder, the series of atrocities could have victimized more leaders of militant organizations. This only proves that the AFP order of battle prepared by the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (IDPA) based in Southern Mindanao is being implemented to the letter by its death squads," Martinez explained.

 

To dramatize their protest, the group glued several clothes covered with blood at the gate of the NICA building to represent the hundreds of victims of torture, forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings under the Arroyo administration.

 

"NICA should be spelled with a small 'I' for they have an intelligence of a moron. They could not even get their target right! Their stupidity to include a legitimate journalist in their order of battle likewise reflects what kind of intelligence the AFP has," Garry Martinez, Chairperson of Migrante International, exclaimed.

 

Prior to Melissa Roxas abduction, a soldier handed a document to a group that was conducting a probe on the human rights situation in Mindanao. The said document contained an order of battle (OB) naming persons and civil society organizations as either "dominated, targeted or organized" purportedly by the Communists. One of the names listed in the said OB is Carlos Conde, a journalist of 15 years who is presently working as a freelance correspondent for US-based publications, namely The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune and GlobalPost.com.

 

"We also strongly suggest to both panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) that the issue of abduction and torture be placed as the first agenda in the impending Peace Talks," Martinez said.

 

Government and the NDF panels recently agreed to sit down again after the talk was stalled 5 years ago. The resumption of the Peace Talk is scheduled to be held late this month in Norway.

 

"We would also like to warn the people to be more vigilant. We believe that human rights atrocities will intensify as the elections come closer. We fear that the abductors and torturers of Melissa will specifically target progressive party-lists who will run in the 2010 elections and the only way to stop these is to put President Arroyo and its AFP death squad behind bars," added Martinez.

 

The group vowed to expose Arroyo administration's human rights violations since 2001 through its member organizations in 23 countries across the globe. They are also considering to file a formal complaint to the office of Prof. Philip Aliston, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights who blames the AFP and the Arroyo administration as the ones responsible for the extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances in the past.

 

"President Arroyo's days are numbered. If she thinks that she will leave Malacanan Palace clean and spend her days dining in Le Cirque, she is dead wrong.. Migrante along with our members worldwide will see to it that justice will prevail and Citizen Gloria Arroyo will pay for its crimes against the Filipino people after her term," Martinez concluded.###

Identify brutally killed woman in video gov’t urged

The biggest global alliance of OFWs calls on the Arroyo administration to immediately determine if the woman being stoned to death in a video clip is not a Filipina OFW.

 

"The video was very disturbing. If the said woman in the video is a Filipina, then the Philippine Embassy in Jordan should act accordingly and immediately conduct an investigation as to why the incident had happened," says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

 

The video of the said incident was uploaded last June 25, 2009 in youtube.com entitled "Pinay sa Jordan (Brutally killed)". A certain hotjc2009 uploaded the video, with no indication of a real name in the website and his profile only describes him as a 28 year old and his location is in Bahrain.

 

Responding from a comment in Tagalog, hotjc2009 admitted that he himself doesn't know who the said woman is in the video and that the said clip was only forwarded to him by a friend who told him that the incident happened in Jordan.

 

"No one can simply dismiss the brutality shown in the video. Only a heartless government official will have the stomach to ignore the seriousness of the said incident," said Marinez.

 

The video started by showing Filipino subtitles warning OFWs not to commit infidelity in Middle East region. Then it showed a mob kicking furiously a woman whose face is already covered with blood. The clip ended by showing a man smashing the head of the woman by a stone block.

 

The group challenges the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labor and Employment to call on their staff posted abroad to confirmed the veracity of the said incident and whether a Pinay OFW was really involved.

 

"We would like to call the attention of our kababayans abroad to please provide informations that will help in confirming the authenticity of the video. Migrante will be the first one to feel relieved if the said woman is indeed not a Filipina," Garry concluded.

 

RECTO RESIGNS AS SOCIOECONOMIC PLANNING SECRETARY AND NEDA DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph G. Recto announced today his resignation from the National Economicand Development Authority effective Aug. 16 "to explore elective opportunities". Recto assumed his post as socioeconomic planning secretary and NEDA Director-Generalon July 28, 2008.

As NEDA chief, Recto helped craftand monitor the government's Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP), the Philippines'pump-priming program. The ERP implementation involved the frontloadingof government spending during first half of 2009 and increased spendingfor social services and infrastructure. Recently, he proposed a new economicplan for next year initially dubbed as REAP (Reloading Economic AccelerationPlan) to protect the gains made through the ERP and prepare the countryfor the economic rebound. He set in place a more institutionalized monitoringof global and local events as they affect the Philippine economy.

Recto advocated various developmentissues such as a transparent oil pricing scheme to protect consumers aswell as greater transparency in government projects. He also backed innovationsin green industry and technology in the Philippines and signed a climatechange program with the United Nations and the Spanish Government. In addition,Recto pushed for deeper engagements with China and other growth regions such as the Middle East.

 

During his term as NEDA Director-General,Recto instituted the adoption of value engineering in infrastructure projectsto help cut costs, minimize delays and strengthen the ICC process. He introducedan employment odometer for all government projects/initiatives to estimatethe number of jobs that can be created.

 

Recto also advocated the enhancementof the review of the performance of the Philippine government's OfficialDevelopment Assistance (ODA) portfolio to help improve the country's absorptivecapacity, speed up the implementation of development programs and projects,and manage for development results.

 

EXPORTS RECEIPTS IN JUNE INCREASE TO US$3.4 BILLION AS GLOBAL TRADE RECOVERS

     Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Ralph G. Recto said June 2009 is the second consecutive month that exports expanded as global trade started to recover.

The receipts from merchandise exports increased to US$3.4 billion in June, 10.4 percent higher than US$3.1 billion posted the previous month.

        "The June exports expansion was broad-based as all major commodity groups increased, except mineral products," Recto said

        He also noted that "major economies in the East and Southeast Asian regions also posted month-on-month increases in their respective exports in June 2009, reflecting the positive signs of improvement in the world economic landscape".

        Exports of manufactured goods rose at a faster pace of 11.2 percent compared to the 10.5-percent increase in the previous month. Positive month-on-month growth rates of electronics (7.6%), garments (25.9%), and machinery and transport equipment (54.2%), which constituted the bulk of merchandise exports, helped boost manufactured exports in June.

        Exports of electronic products posted positive month-on-month growth rates since January this year which followed the trend of increasing worldwide sales. In his memorandum to the President, Recto cited a report by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) saying semiconductor sales grew by 3.7 percent in June 2009. He said that sales in the Americas, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) grew by 4.8 percent, 0.7 percent, 8.2 percent, and 2.8 percent respectively.

        Recto likewise related that earlier, the Semiconductor and Electronic Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) upgraded its 2009 sales forecast from the 20-30 percent expected contraction to a lower projected drop of 15-20 percent.

        Meanwhile, total agro-based products also performed better than in the previous month and forest and petroleum products reversed the preceding month's negative growth rates.

The 23.4-percent month-on-month growth of total agro-based products was supported by increase in coconut products (47.9%), fruits and vegetables (10.0%), and other agro-based products (10.4%). The 35.9-percent month-on-month expansion of forest products was driven
by an increase in world prices of lumber, plywood and veneer sheets or corestocks. The 28.0-percent growth of exports of petroleum products was pushed by both increase in exports volume and increase in the prices of petroleum products in the world market. The average price of Dubai oil increased by 20 percent from the previous month's US$69.41 per barrel. Likewise, the volume of petroleum exports rose by 16.7 percent from May 2009.

        Recto further said that the 17.3-percent month-on-month decline in exports of mineral products may be attributed to the still subdued metal prices in the world market, as total volume of exports grew by 48.1 in June.

        Year-on-year, total merchandise exports declined slightly by 24.7 percent from US$4.53 billion exports receipts reported in June 2008.

        For the first semester of 2009, total receipts reached US$17.2 billion, 32.8-percent lower than the US$25.6 billion recorded in the same period of 2008.

        The United States regained the top spot as the country's biggest export market in June. Recto said this was driven by the 0.7 percent year-on-year growth in the shipments of electronic data processing (EDP) machines to the US. The US has a 17.8-percent share in the total overseas sales.

        Japan slipped back to second place with a 17-percent share in export revenues in June. Other major export destinations in June were Netherlands (8.5%), China (8.0%) and  Hong Kong (7.5%). Aggregated shipments to China, Hong Kong and Taiwan covered 19 percent of the total value of outward cargos in the said month. Semiconductors, EDP machines, and garments comprised 63.6 percent of the total shipments to the first five biggest markets.

        Contraction of exports to the five markets slightly eased to 24.3 percent in June from 26.4 percent in the previous month. Shipments to the said countries have sustained a month-on-month growth of 8.4 percent.

Tallest Leyte Bridge Also RP’s Newest Tourist Attraction

Agas Agas Bridge

TALLEST LEYTE BRIDGE ALSO RP’S NEWEST TOURIST ATTRACTION

 

 

 

The country's highest bridge in Southern Leyte is now also the Philippines' newest tourist attraction, specifically for brave souls who can bungee-jump 30 stories down from the 90-meter high bridge.

 

The Agas-Agas Bridge, which President Macapagal Arroyo will inaugurate Sunday, straddles between two mountains and traverses along the Mahaplag – Sogod Section of the Tacloban – Liloan Road. It provides a significant link for motorists traveling from Luzon to Mindanao.

 

But seeing its high tourism potential, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. submitted to the President a plan to turn the P1,024,000 billion bridge into a haven for sports enthusiasts who are into bungee jumping, paramotor, downhill skateboarding and zipline rapelling and other extreme sports.

 

"It has a natural tourist attraction and the way the bridge is constructed is very modern,'' Ebdane said of the bridge project constructed by Philippine-Japan Highway Loan – Project Monitoring Office.

 

Seeing the panoramic beauty of the mountains and rivers around it, the President has ordered that a bungee jumping platform to be constructed along the bridge and as well as other tourists amenities.

 

"Now you can jump from the bridge and live to tell it. We invite extreme sports enthusiasts to come over and check out the bridge's sky-scraping height,'' said Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, who oversees operation for the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Visayas regions.

 

 "The president is very excited about the construction of Agas-Agas Bridge as part of her SONA Projects in Region VIII because it serves as a venue for major economic activities," Yabut added.

 

He said the Agas-Agas section of the  Maharlika Highway in Southern Leyte is known for being prone to slides during heavy rains.

 

Since it is situated in a mountainous area, it is regularly reported that movements of loose soil or landslides take place whenever it rains heavily, much more when typhoon strikes the province.

 

Thus, the viaduct was constructed in 2006 primarily to help motorists avoid the mountainous sections that are prone to landslides and road slips and prevent life and property losses.

 

This bridge is by far the tallest pier or column that the DPWH has constructed. It involves the construction of a 350 linear meter bridge, with a mix of steel and concrete, supported by two piers from the ground and has a height of 292 feet above ground.

SSS cuts interest rates of business, social loans

The Social Security System (SSS) reduced the interest rates of its social and business loans to encourage more businesses, schools and hospitals to avail of SSS credit facilities and spur socioeconomic growth in the country, a top official said.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Romulo Neri said the adjustments, which took effect last July 1, follow the downward trend in banks' lending rates.

"We lowered our interest rates to generate more employment by helping enterprises expand their operations and members set up their own businesses," he said. "This also benefits companies affected by the global financial crisis."

SSS cut down interest rates from 6 percent to 5.5 percent for loans with a term of one year or less; from 7 percent to 6.25 percent for a term of over one to three years; from 8 to 7 percent for more than three to five years, and from 9 percent to 8.5 percent for over five to ten years.

The pension fund offers loans of up to P50 million under the Special Financial Program for small and medium enterprises, while large-scale companies can borrow P51 million to P500 million under the Industry Loan Program. SSS offers special loans to tourism projects, hospitals and educational institutions, including vocational and technical schools.

Neri said interest rates are fixed for loans with a term of five years or less, while interest rates of loans with longer terms are subjected to review after five years.

SSS business and social loans are coursed through the pension fund's accredited banks, which charge a spread of not more than 4 percent, he said.

"SSS has released a total of P305 million in social development and business loans so far this year," he said.

"Within a span of two decades, SSS granted more than P22 billion in loans to fund over 5,000 projects, which has generated nearly 100,000 jobs, benefited over 168,000 students and created 4,100 additional hospital beds all over the country," Neri said.

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LA PRESIDENTA IN ZAMBOANGA

 

La Presidenta in Zamboanga

 

 

Never been this ecstatic. The President poses with PM Miole and PMO-Zamboanga personnel.

A historic day. Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, assisted by Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and District Manager Sak Sawdjaan; meanwhile, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Port Manager Nilo Miole  look on.

 

 

Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently visited Port of Zamboanga as her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graciously walked on the newly-expanded back-up area of the facility to inaugurate the port expansion project. As the highest official of the Philippines waved, smiled, and said her hellos to excited Zamboangueños and guests, PPA officials Sak Sawadjaan (PDO-Somin District Manager), and Nilo Miole (PMO-Zamboanga Port Manager) were thankful that everything came together perfectly, even if the PMO was given only two days to prepare for the event.

 

The project truly calls for the gracious hands of her Excellency in its inauguration, as it costs a whopping Php717.47 million total. Consisting of two construction stages, Phase I amounted to Php283.23 million, completed in January 2005; while Phase II amounted to Php434.24, and was completed recently, in January this year.

 

 

 

The project is expected to rake in revenue for the Zamboanga port as it has made the facility truly capable of being an ASEAN gateway; with the 270-linear-meter reinforced concrete wharf, 1.8-hectare backup area, improved drainage system and new port lighting facilities now available to welcome foreign and domestic vessels in its berths.

 

On top of the project inauguration, PGMA presented freed kidnapped teachers Janette de los Reyes, Raphael Mayonado and Freires Quizon to the media. The teachers were taken captive in Landuang Gua Island in January 23 and were released four months later, May 26.   

 

La Presidenta also administered the Oath of Office to new Presidential Assistant for Western Mindanao, Crisanto "Monsi" dela Cruz. (By Karen K. Rivero)

PPA Seeks ISO Certification for Batangas Port w/ att photo

 

 

PPA SEEKS ISO CERTIFICATION FOR BATANGAS PORT

The Symbolic Launching of the PPA ISO-QMS on August 3, 2009, attended by PPA Executives (Upper-L), during which Atty. Gloria Victoria-Bañas, Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration, lead the unveiling of the PPA Quality Policy Statement (Lower-L) and delivered the Inspirational Message (Right).

 

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is working on an ISO certification, a move to standardize some of the operational functions in some of its major ports nationwide. 

PPA General Manager Atty. Oscar M. Sevilla said that the PPA has selected the "vessel entrance and clearance process at the Port of Batangas" to be certified first after which the process is hoped to be replicated in other major ports.          

          The state owned corporation recently conducted the symbolic launching of the PPA ISO Quality Management System (QMS) on vessel entrance and clearance at the Port of Batangas.  Said ISO QMS certification is being pursued by PPA in line with the objective of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Project on the Development of QMS for DOTC cluster Agencies and in compliance with the requirements of Executive Order 605 which directs all departments and agencies of the Executive Branch to establish and adopt the ISO-certified QMS.

During its symbolic launching, PPA AGM Atty. Gloria Bañas said that the launching of the PPA ISO QMS is a fitting realization of the Port Agency's vision to make the major ports of the country catapult into the international ocean of world class port.  "Expectedly, this event now marks PPA's initial journey towards ISO certification," AGM Bañas added.

Lilian Javier, PPA port operations services department manager said that the DOTC Project on QMS also aims to provide the required training to enable agencies to gain expertise on the ISO-QMS Standards.  Cascading of the trainings and replication of the initial ISO-QMS process  to other ports nationwide and/or expansion to other processes are left to the Port Agency to work on.

The PPA targets to start the implementation at the Port of Batangas this mid August and to start working on its replication in Davao and General Santos before the year ends.  "We plan to continue the same for the ports of Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga and Iloilo by next year," Ms. Javier added. 

BIR Caloocan RDO Transfers to New Office

          After years of occupying the 5^th Floor of Aurelio Building in Grace Park, Caloocan, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Office No. 27-Caloocan has moved to its new home along the famous EDSA at the heart of Caloocan City's business district. The new location is at 140 Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Caloocan City (near Caltex Station and fronting Barrio Fiesta). The new BIR building likewise houses the different offices of Revenue Region No. 5, including the Office of the Regional Director.

     

     Coordinating with the Office of the Regional Director and Caloocan City building officials, Revenue District Officer (RDO) Maridur V. Rosario, assisted by Assistant RDO Shirley A. Calapatia, initiated the transfer which took place last July 22, 2009 with the support of the 100-strong men and women of the said district office. RDO 27 occupies the ground, second and third floors of the building while the upper floors house the different regional offices.

            Conveniently located at the ground floor are the frontline services such as the Taxpayers Service Section, Officer of the Day, One Time Taxpayer (ONETT), Filing and Payment, e-Lounge and Taxpayer's Lounge. Taking into account the measures spelled out in Revenue Memorandum Orders 15 and 16-2009, such as the establishment of a taxpayer service area and other front line services that would enhance the delivery of fast and efficient service to its taxpayers pursuant to the BIR's Handang Maglingkod Project (HMP), RDO Rosario assured higher authorities the delivery of first-rate taxpayer service under her jurisdiction.

            The second floor houses the Regional Conference Room, Administrative, Collection, and Document Processing Sections of RDO 27 while the third floor is occupied by the Offices of the Revenue District Officer, Assistant Revenue District Officer and the Assessment Section.

            The new BIR building will be inaugurated on August 7, 2009. Top BIR officials and other guests have been invited to grace the blessing of the structure in line with the celebration of the 105^th founding anniversary of the tax agency.

CENTRAL MINDANAO FOLKS THANKED DPWH FOR FAST ACTION ON FLOOD AFFECTED AREAS

The Mindanao River Basin Task Force (MRBTF), composed of
representatives from the local government and non-government units from
Central Mindanao had recently expressed their gratitude over the
immediate response and assistance of the Department of Public Works and
Highways in the recent flood incidents of areas brought by heavy
monsoon rains.

Mr. Solomon Badoy, Director of MRBTF said that the speedy response of
the DPWH had lessened the damages of life and property over the flood
affected towns in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Cotabato City.

"After the downpour of heavy rains, the DPWH maintenance and emergency
crew had immediately been deployed to conduct repair works on damaged
infrastructure and conduct manual clearing of waterways to prevent the
build-up of water lilies, which is the main cause of swelling in Ala
and Simuay River> "> Badoy said.

Meanwhile, DPWH Region 12 Director Sinaolan Macarambon said that in
coordination with the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council, the
Department is also conducting"Sagip Tao", an operation that includes
the deployment of dump trucks and DPWH Shuttle Bus to transport flood
affected residents to evacuation areas.

"We are now planning to put up a satellite office in Matampay Bridge so
that the Department can conduct a round the clock monitoring of water
level and river condition. I also instructed some of our maintenance
and equipments crew to stay near the bridge location," Macarambon said.

Macarambon added that the Department had been assisting with the
Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Mindanao Economic
Development Committee during the transportation of relief goods to the
evacuation areas.

Patapat Viaduct in Ilocos Norte Restored

Government expects to boost tourism the northern part of Ilocos region, known for its world-class beaches, after the Department of Public Works and Highways is set to complete the restoration of Patapat Viaduct during the month.

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said in a statement that the restoration work on the P 219.1 million viaduct--the term used for bridges near coastal areas--would allow easier travel time of passengers going Pagudpud, a place known for its pristine beaches, and other places such as Bangui Windmills, Malacanang of The North and Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.

On the other hand, Patapat Viaduct is an important transport link connecting the major road networks of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan Valley Region. Most of the cargoes brought in from Manila are construction materials like cement, while the northernmost region of the Philippines supplies the country's capital some of the vital goods such as rice, coconuts, and other agricultural produce..

"Per order of Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to complete the viaduct on schedule, we have asked our men to work round the clock but without sacrificing quality work,'' said DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, who is in charge of the Luzon operations.

Ebdane had ordered to strictly monitor the restoration of the 1.128-kilometer stretch of reinforced concrete structure viaduct which comprises of 76 spans that runs along the seashore beneath the steep slopes of the Patapat Mountains in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte; and forms part of the Laoag-Allacapan Road Section.

Vic Perez, director of the Philippine Japan Highway Loan-Project Management Office which is implementing the project, said the viaduct had been known to be dangerous for motorists since it is located near rugged mountain cliffs.

Momo agrees, adding: "Patapat Viaduct has undergone series of damages paralyzing the tourism industry in the North. Landslides and rockslides always destroy the road often with human casualties."

Patapat Viaduct, a concrete coastal bridge that connects the Maharlika Highway from Laoag, Ilocos Norte to the Cagayan Valley Region, is known as the fourth longest bridge in the Philippines.

Funding for the project, which is included in the 9th Yen Loan Package, are provided for by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Ceferino Londina, project manager of the viaduct's contractor JH Pajara Construction, said it is reinforced with concrete seawall, concrete blocks and other related structures for pier foundation to withstand against perennial problem of sea wave action.

"The catch wall structures have also undergone improvement to protect the viaduct from any landslides or rockslides," Almario Monton, project engineer of the Philippine Japan Highway Loan-Project Management Office said.

Monton, representing the PJHL-PMO which is implementing the project, said the viaduct had been known to be dangerous for motorists since it is located near rugged mountain cliffs."People would now fully appreciate the major highway's safety."

MIGRANTE airs concern for safety of Maita and its leaders

Migrante International wishes to express its solidarity with Melissa Roxas, the Fil-American activist who was abducted and tortured by masked men believed to be members of the Philippine military. Under an illegitimate and repressive regime such as that of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's, Melissa's act of pursuing charges against her abductors and torturers is an act of courage and dignity in a class of its own.  

 

Migrante International also condemns the malevolent attempts made by Pastor Alcover of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) and Bantay Partylist Representative, General Jovito Palparan, to discredit Melissa. In falsely accusing her to be a member of the New People's Army (NPA) to justify Melissa's abduction and torture, Alcover and Palparan, both rabid fascists, continue to affirm the heinous government policy of committing human rights violations against any suspected or imagined enemy of the state.    

 

We view both Alcover's and Palparan's statements against Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Satur Ocampo and a host of other legitimate organizations as a direct threat to all progressive organizations who have spoken up and stood against Arroyo's vicious regime.  

 

Maita was target

 

We are alarmed over the information that Melissa Roxas has been mistaken for Maita Santiago - a Filipino-Canadian and a former Secretary General of Migrante International - when she was forcibly taken by armed men in La Paz, Tarlac last May 19.

 

This is concrete proof that it was Migrante's Maita and not Melissa who was the target.

 

Thus, Migrante International raises its concern over Maita's safety and security - even as she is now back in Canada - and the safety and security of our officers, organizers and members here and abroad.

 

We are calling on the Canadian government to not stand idly by as one of its own citizens have been evidently targeted for abduction and torture. Putting a blind eye on this issue, we believe, could endanger more Canadian citizens who'll be taking part in future solidarity missions and exposure trips in the country.

 

Lastly, we demand that Melissa Roxas' abductors and torturers be brought to justice swiftly and that the government and the military immediately put an end to this terror campaign against progressive organizations and individuals.

Speech of Former President Aquino in 1988

OFW Journalism Consortium
www.ofwjournalism.net

ILO - President Corazon Aquino

Her Excellency
Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines

Dear Madam President,

On behalf of the ILO, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to you and to
your people on the death pf President Corazon Aquino. Through you, I also
wish to convey our sincere condolences to her family.

With great dignity and courage, President Aquino drew strength from personal
tragedy and confronted the challenge of championing democracy, progress and
justice in the most difficult of circumstances.

The history of our own Organization bears the stamp of President Aquino. In
1988, the International Labour Conference was honoured by her presence - the
first woman Head of State to address this gathering. She spoke of her
vision of a just and dynamic social order where people could be freed from
poverty through
policies to provide social services, promote full employment, a rising
standard of living, and an improved quality of life. Her impassioned call
to our
organization to protect human rights, to promote development and justice
still resonates. Her struggle was very much a struggle for the values and
principles
of the ILO. We join you in mourning of her loss.

Yours sincerely,

Juan Somavia
Director-General
International Labour Organization

ILO Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland

NEDA launches Guidelines on Mainstreaming DRR

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director-General Augusto B. Santos, who led the recent launching of the Guidelines on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Subnational Development and Land Use/Physical Planning, said that the Guidelines is a pioneering initiative in the Philippines to formally mainstream disaster risk reduction into the development planning process.

"It allows government planners and other development practitioners to enhance subnational (regional and provincial) planning analyses by recognizing risks posed by natural hazards, assessing the vulnerability of the population, economy and the environment to these hazards, and determining appropriate measures to reduce or manage these risks," Santos said.

Providing a methodology for risk estimation abstracted from available hazard and disaster data, the Guidelines cover eight natural hazards of geologic and hydrometeorologic origin and adopt a conceptual framework that is flexible to include all kinds of hazards, including those related to climate change.

According to Santos, "As more hazard, exposure and damage data become available in the future, the methodology for risk assessment could be further enhanced."

UNDP Assistant Resident Representative Amelia D. Supetran said that the UNDP sees the Guidelines as a "cutting edge product even by global standards, with solid empirical basis to enable the country's local planners to generate more realistic development plans that take into account physical constraints like natural hazards."  

The DRR Guidelines is an output of a project implemented in response to the Action Agenda for Disaster Risk Management that the NEDA Board-National Land Use Committee adopted in early 2006 just after the landslides in Guinsaugon, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.

In coming up with the Guidelines, NEDA tapped DRR experts from the academe, "risk management" government agencies, and other member agencies of the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

The Guidelines were formulated with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department.

The launching of the DRR Guidelines was among the activities conducted in celebration of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

ABUSADONG KABAYAN - JEM ABANTO MIRANDA

Note: forwarded message

Baka kakilala nyo ang taong ito! VERY BAD! Magandang Araw Po sa Lahat!   Minarapat ko na isulat sa ating lenguahe ang kahiya hiyang ginawa ng taong ito sa aking kapatid at para na rin di malaman ng ibang lahi ang kasamaang ginawa nito at mawalan ng tiwala sa mga Pinoy. Kapitbahay nila ito dati at dahil sa kagandahang loob ng ate ko ay pinasok sa kanilang kumpanya. Ang ate ko ay awtorisadong tao para mag deposito, or makipag-usap sa bangko ng bawat transakyon nya doon. Ito si Jem na to ay P.R.O. nila at sya ang gumagawa ng pagbabayad or anumang transaksyon sa bangko na inuutos ng management sa ate ko at sya ang nagsasabi dito sa P.R.O. na to.   Nung July 19, 2009, may perang tinakbo ang taong ito na humigit kumulang 250,000 dirhams. Dahil ang ate ko ang nagrekomenda sa taong ito, at sya ang nagsasabi sa bangko na pwede i-encash ng taong ito ang pera dahil sa mga pambayad ito ng visa. Nalalagay po sa panganib ang ate ko ngayon. Sinabi kasi ng Jem na ito na bukas na lang ibabayad yung pera, kinutuban ang ate ko pero dahil may tiwala rin sya na babalik ito kinabukasan sa opisina, ayun at nasa eroplano na kinabukasan at nasa Pilipinas na ang magnanakaw!   Sa ating mga kababayan, ang ate ko ngayon ay nadidiin at merong 48 hours na lang para gawin nya lahat makakaya nya at mabawi ang pera. Kung may alam man kayong maitutulong ay malaking pasasalamat ko na at sa pagbasa ng email na to.   Nasa Manilana sya kahapon ng alas diyes ng umaga. Baka kilala nyo sya at malaman ko kung anong exact address nito para makagawa na rin ng action ang mga kakilala natin sa pinas.   Wag po natin sanagayahin ang mga taong ganito. Pinagmalasakitan mo na...binigyan ka pa ng problema. Maraming salamat po!   Nakalakip po dito ang passport at picture ng mandurugas na ito.   "PAKIKALAT NAMAN POITONG EMAIL NA ITO HANGGANG PILIPINAS" !!!

Fisherman rescued by M/V General del Pilar of NMC Container Lines, Inc.

Enerio
Ofianga, a 56-year old fisherman from Kabak, Cebu, was stranded for three days at
sea near Bantayan Island after his boat
capsized. Hungry, dehydrating, and beset with injuries threatening his
survival, all he could do was pray for help. In answer to his pleas, the MV General
del Pilar came to his rescue and saved his life.

M/V General
del Pilar was plying its Manila-Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Manila route recently when
one of its crew members, AB Aldrin Sambajon, spotted a person in the water a
good 100 meters away. Sambajon immediately alerted Third Mate Armand Edano, the
Officer-on-Watch at the time. Edano hurriedly informed Captain Luisito Marcelino
of the man's sighting. The Master issued a pro-emergency signal and quickly
turned around the ship to save the man in distress. After initially failing to
fish the man out of the water, the vessel was able to rescue him using a life
ring to hoist the distraught man on board.

The captain
informed the Philippine Coast Guard and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation to
be ready to provide first aid. Once the ship touched land, Ofianga was immediately
brought to the Vicente Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

M/V General
del Pilar operates under NMC Container Lines, Inc. (NMCCLI), a member of the
Magsaysay Transport and Logistics Group. Jay Olivarez, General Manager of
NMCCLI, said, "The crew of M/V Gen. Del Pilar went beyond the call of duty. We
admire them for their courage and selflessness. We are proud to have people
with such exemplary attitude."

NMCCLI is
committed to not only provide excellent and efficient container shipping
services to its customers, but also to uphold safety of life at sea.

Concert in Manila signals rebirth of unique Asi musical culture

Many Filipinos may not know it, but there is a Romblon tribe called
Banto-anon, popularly known as Asi, which is how their language is also
called, that prides itself of a rich cultural heritage. The Asi tribe has
also a unique musical culture, newly rediscovered.
On Saturday, August 8, this musical culture will be unveiled in Manila, with
the holding of the first Asi? The Concert at the Arellano University Gym on
Legarda Street, Manila, starting at 6:00 P.M.

The Banton High School Alumni Association (BHSAA), with the support of
Biniray 2009, the online group Romblon Discussion List-Cultural, Livelihood
and Educational Assistance for Romblon (RDL-CLEAR), the Asi Studies Center
for Culture and the Arts (ASCCA), and Kusog Sibalenhon, is mounting the
musical extravaganza.

The concert is unique because all the musical performers will sing in Asi,
which has now only an estimated 60,000 speakers in the Romblon towns of
Banton, Sibale, Simara, Calatrava and Odiongan.

Romblon has two other regional languages: Unhan and Ini.

"Our goal is to promote the Asi's cultural heritage, provide local talents
exposure to a bigger audience and help hone their talents, and promote
closer ties between the Asi-speaking Romblonons," Fadri says of the concert.

Singing talents Catherine Lea Fietas-Beltran and Al Jandy Fadriquela will
sing in the concert, so is the group from Sibale called IngSaBat. The lead
performer will be 1622-Unang Usbor, Romblon's only performing band, whose
members recently attended a music clinic under the tutelage of Joey Ayala
and the Bagong Lumad.

Nota Magno, who teaches anthropology at the Ateneo de Manila University and
who is working with the ASSCA, 1622: Unang Usbor's manager, said Ayala will
be at the concert.

"As artists," Ms. Magno says, referring to the members of 1622-Unang Usbor,
"their relevance is in the cultural work (that) they do for the Asi of
Banton and of Romblon, not only the music that they bring. Their work
extends from raising music appreciation among the Asi to the revival of the
Asi language, a crucial element of Asi cultural heritage".

If you are a Romblonon Asi, Unhan or Ini, block this date in your calendar
and come to the concert to gain a richer in emotional experience. If you are
not a Romblomanon, but are a culture buff-interested in how the Asi weave
their emotional dreams and aspirations and express their take on the current
issues of the day through the universal language of music, this concert is
for you.

A ticket to the concert costs P250.00. Call 556 17 62; 0917 623 8842, or
0918 918 2178 to reserve one.

Completion of anti-flood project in Iloilo to save people millions in property losses

Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has mobilized public works and highways officials and personnel in Iloilo to rush the
completion of over P2.5 billion flood control projects that would spare the residents of millions in annual loses in properties and
missed business opportunities due to floods.

"Secretary Ebdane wants us to work fast to mitigate flood damages and inundation in Iloilo in order to give the people there a sustainable
urban community and safer, more pleasant living condition," said Patrick B.Gatan, head of the DPWH-Project Management Office for Major
Flood Control I (DPWH-PMO-MFCP1).

"The flood control project is mainly composed of river improvement and construction of floodways.  Two floodways are employed to divert the excess flood discharge of Jaro River towards the Iloilo Strait, namely Jaro Floodway and La Paz Floodway," Gatan said in explaining the scope of the project.

Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Gatan said there are three contract packages for the Iloilo Flood Control Project.

Package one (1), costing P1,580,361,689.33, involves the construction of the Jaro floodway. It is 79.69 percent complete. Implemented by the
Korean-firm Hanjin Construction, the project includes the building of four bridges that will divert the overflowing flood in Jaro River.

DPWH-PMO-MFCP Assistant Project Director Ramon Ariola III said package 1 also includes the construction Tigum and Aganan River improvement.

Package two (2), costing P 1,061,208,472.47, covers the construction of Carpenter Bridge, which is 98.1percent complete. It also involves
the improvement of the Upper Ingore Creek, Jaro River Mouth and Iloilo River.

According to Gatan, the Carpenter Bridge is now one of the busiest and most useful bridges in Iloilo since it serves as a major gateway to
the city proper.

Contract package three (3), costing P 29,552,223.05, includes the construction and development of relocation sites in Buntatala, Sooc
and Kasadyahan. The project provides shelter to the informal settlers in Iloilo City.

With a 100 percent completion rate, the project provided adequate water supply, lighting system and livelihood projects for 3,000
families at the relocation sites.

Summing up the importance of these flood-mitigation projects, Gatan said: "These project would definitely save our people from
impoverishment and bring progress as well."

Iloilo City has been suffering from flood damages almost every year due to the insufficient flow capacity of the Jaro River and poor
drainage system in the Iloilo River Basin.

An earlier report from the DPWH-PMO-MFCP1showed that flood causes Filipinos all over the country up to P5-Billion annually in damaged
properties and loss in economic opportunities.