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| 10 MAY 2007 | ||
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| 10 MAY 2007 | ||
| Visayas launch of livelihood lending facility for gov't workers set in Cebu on May 11 |
After its successful launch in Manila last May 2 by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the "Go Negosyo, Go Gobyerno" Livelihood Lending Facility for Government Workers will have its Visayas regional launch on Friday, May 11 at the Cebu International Convention Center. Dubbed as "Puhunang Pangnegosyo Para sa Kawani ng Gobyerno," the livelihood lending facility will provide collateral-free livelihood loans to government employees through their employees’ cooperatives and employees’ associations. Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General and Oversight Official for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Secretary Cerge M. Remonde said President Arroyo has allotted some P1 billion in funding for this lending facility. It will be in the form of wholesale lending by government financing institutions – the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, Quedan Corporation, National Livelihood Support Fund, and Small Business Guarantee Finance Corporation – with government employees’ cooperatives/associations as their retail institutions. The facility offers livelihood loans starting at P5,000, given in cycles of three to six months, with gradual increase in loan size based on repayment record, group or individual liability, and bi-monthly or monthly repayments. Remonde said the program is an offshoot of the March 8 Women’s Day celebration when President Arroyo directed the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation, Edgar Generoso, and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, led by its chairperson Myrna Yao, to draw up a financing program for government employees that would enable them to have greater access to resources and various MSME services. As of February 2007, government financing agencies had already released P159.8 billion in loans to some 2,613,830 active microfinance clients and SME accounts, generating 1,543,838 new jobs, the PMS head said. "In my interactions with many of the movers of the MSME sector and beneficiaries of MSME programs and services, I have seen the empowering effect that these programs and services have had on the lives of individual Filipinos as they provide gainful employment and opportunities for harnessing skills, productivity, and self-worth," Remonde said. The Cebu launch is spearheaded by the Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA), in collaboration with PMS, government agencies involved in MSME development, and the government’s private sector partner, the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE). The Mindanao launch of the new financing program will be held in Davao later this month. |
| PGMA grants scholarship to freed OFW during tearful meeting in Palace |
Out of the dark and into the arms of one who has championed their cause since the start, freed domestic helper Sarah Jane Dematera couldn’t help but let go of her tears as she gave President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a grateful embrace when they met this morning in Malacanang. It was the first time the two saw each other. But as she broke down in front of the very person who made possible her release from 15 years of ordeal in a Saudi Arabian jail, Sarah was profuse with gratitude. "Maraming-maraming salamat po," she told the President who in turn told her that everything would be all right from now on. Sarah is the Filipina domestic helper who was saved from the death row following negotiations made by the Chief Executive with the Saudi Arabian King during her visit to the oil-rich kingdom last year. Now 35, the Antipolo native was accused of murdering her lady employer in 1992. Sarah said in her defense that she had been maltreated when she started working there at the age of 20. "Welcome back, Sarah. Kalimutan mo na ang lahat. Ang importante ay makapagsimula kang muli dito sa ating bayan," the President told Sarah after their embrace. To help her get back on her feet, the President awarded Sarah a scholarship grant in cooperation with the AMA Education System, entitling her to enroll in any four-year college course at any of the AMA schools with a full waiver on all fees. The freed Filipina OFW was accompanied to Malacaņang by her mother, Josie Dematera, sisters Ivylyn and Jonalyn, Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Marianito Roque, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos and Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor. Sarah’s mother expressed gratitude to the President and all other government officials and private organizations who have helped her daughter. "Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa kanila, sa ating mahal na Pangulo, sa DFA, sa OWWA, sa DOLE, kay Ambassador Aguiluz na hanggang ngayon ay tumutulong sa amin," she told media. Secretary Brion said they want Sarah to take a rest first so she could recover from extremely stressful situation she went through. She would then be given a stress debriefing program by the Department of Social Welfare and Development led by Secretary Esperanza Cabral. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Conejos recounted how the Saudi Arabia King promised President Arroyo to resolve the issue of Sarah’s forgiveness. OWWA Administrator Roque said they had to fast-track the release of Sarah since the execution date was set on May 27. "Mayroon tayong petsa na hinahabol kaya natin minadali si Sarah, kasi kung aabutin tayo ng May 27 at hindi natin maayos ang kanyang release mababale-wala ang lahat ng efforts at negotiations pati forgiveness. Baka ituloy ang sentensiya sa kanya," Roque said. |
| DND: No ceasefire with dissident groups during May 14 polls |
The Department of National Defense (DND) will not recommend to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the declaration of a ceasefire with the dissident groups during the May 14 midterm elections in order to avoid unauthorized and unnecessary movements of possible troublesome groups. "We are not recommending an election truce. Generally, ayaw natin na magkaroon ng unnecessary and unauthorized movements (of the groups who are planning to sabotage the election)," Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said following the taping of "The Cabinet Speaks," hosted by Press Assistant Secretary Jose Capadocia and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) reporter Rey Mercaral at the New Executive Building (NEB) Briefing Room this afternoon. At the same time, Ebdane called on all officials and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help and coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections on Monday. "Gawin nating mapayapa ang halalan," Ebdane said as he urged the soldiers to think and always consider the feelings of the Filipino people who want a peaceful, progressive and economically-developed country, as a whole. He also asked the men and women of the AFP to exercise their right to vote judiciously, thinking of the welfare of the majority of the people and using their conscience in selecting the qualified candidates based on their platform of government and not on popularity. On the issue of military deployment, Ebdane assured the public that the role of the soldiers will be in compliance with the directives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections. He said that the AFP is coordinating with the PNP for the soldiers to assist the police authorities in case there is a threat to sabotage the conduct of the polls. The AFP, he stressed, is tasked to secure the crowd at all times, especially the voting populace. Ebdane predicted that overall, the 2007 elections would be peaceful and orderly. |
