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| 07 NOVEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 07 NOVEMBER 2007 | ||
| PGMA grants P350-M for training of 70,000 call center agents, other BPO workers |
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Pleased over the number of Filipinos
who have found jobs after training under the PGMA Training for Work
Scholarship Program (PGMA-TWSP), President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has
directed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to
allocate P350 million in scholarships for the training of some 70,000 call
center agents and other workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO)
sector. The President issued the directive during the launch of the book “Offshoring and Outsourcing Philippines: Roadmap 2010” by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on Monday. For the 17-month period from May 2006 to September 2007, the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program (PGMA-TWSP) administered by TESDA has graduated for the BPO sector about 37,300 call center agents, 49 percent of whom have found jobs, including 5,000 medical transcriptionists and 230 software developers, representing employment rate of 54 percent and 81 percent, respectively. The BPO sector is considered one of the fastest growing in the country today. In less than 10 years, it has provided jobs to 235,000 Filipinos and earned US$3.3 billion in revenues for the country, thus contributing roughly two percent to the gross domestic product (GDP). The Philippines is now one of the top destinations for offshoring and outsourcing services in the world, enjoying a 5 percent share of the global market. BPAP expects a higher growth for the BPO sector in the next couple of years, which means that the Philippines can capture as much as 10 percent of the global market and quadruple revenues to US$13 billion. This projected increase will raise total direct employment to 900,000, or an increase of more than 600,000 jobs, as well as create 1.2 million to 1.5 million more new indirect jobs. The President’s allocation of fresh funds for the PGMA-TWSP will spur training and workforce development in the BPO sector, allowing the country to meet BPAP’s “10x10” or 10-percent global market share projections by 2010. |
| Mindanao bishops call for sobriety, peace |
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Eighteen Catholic bishops in Mindanao said that
the “whole truth about any moral issue must be ascertained first before
subjecting it to moral scrutiny and judgment, otherwise, any statement on
the matter may be premature and counter-productive.” In a pastoral statement issued at the conclusion of their annual recollection in Siargao, Surigao del Norte last Oct. 21, the bishops expressed their solidarity with those who expect of their leaders, including members of the Catholic hierarchy, moral integrity and fiscal transparency. They cautioned, however, against any precipitate statements invoking moral issues that spark controversies, without first establishing and ascertaining the truth and nothing but the truth of the matter at bar. The bishops issued the pastoral letter in the wake of the recent controversy over the government’s National Broadband Network (NBN) deal with a Chinese telecommunications giant and the alleged payoffs in Malacañang. “We believe that the whole truth about any moral issue must be ascertained first before subjecting it to moral scrutiny and judgment, otherwise, any statement on the matter may be premature and counterproductive,” the bishops said. The Mindanao bishops invited the faithful to pray for national unity through reconciliation which, they said, is part of the evangelizing mission of the Church. “We pray for a relentless search for and courageous exposition of the truth anchored on the rule of law and moral principles,” they said. The pastoral statement was signed by the following: Archbishop Jesus Dosado of Ozamiz, Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Zamboanga, Bishop Antonieto Cabajog of Surigao, Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag, Auxiliary Bishop Zacharias Jimenez of Butuan, Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz of Tagum, Bishop Guillermo Afable of Digos, Bishop Elenito Galido of Iligan, Bishop Julius Tonel of Ipil, Bishop Martin Jumoad of Basilan, Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan, Bishop Patricio Alo of Mati, Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando of Davao, Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Cotabato, Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar of Pagadian, Bishop Jose Manguiran of Dipolog, and Bishop Angelito Lampon of Jolo. |
| PGMA to address Peace & Security Assembly in E. Visayas |
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Approaches to address issues and problems
affecting peace and security in Eastern Visayas will be discussed in a Local
Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) scheduled on Nov. 8-9 in Tacloban City. Some 200 participants, including national and local leaders and representatives from various sectors, will attend the two-day assembly, according to National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales. At the close of the assembly, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will address the participants who would present to her an action agenda for a broad and multi-sectoral campaign to promote peace and security in the region composed of the two Leyte provinces, three Samar provinces and Biliran. The LPSA is a series of consultations in the different regions of the country undertaken by national government agencies in response to the clamor of local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders for support to their various conflict resolution and peace building initiatives. To ensure priority development support for local peace initiatives, the President has ordered concerned national agencies to submit to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita a list of areas scheduled for local peace initiatives. This is aimed at identifying, providing funding and implementing priority programs and projects to be extended or sustained in tandem with the local peace workers. Earlier, the President also graced the LPSAs conducted in Tagbilaran City, Bohol for Region VII last August and in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte for CARAGA Region last October. |
| President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Speech during the National Nutrition Council Awarding Ceremony, Manila Hotel, November 7, 2007 |
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GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. SABI KO KAY SECRETARY
FRANCISCO DUQUE IMBES NA MAGKAROON TAYO NG PROGRAMA AT MGA DISKURSO GUMAWA
NA TAYO TALAGA NG MEETING NG NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL TUNGKOL SA ATING
HUNGER MITIGATION PROGRAM. PERO UNA SA LAHAT, BINABATI NATIN ANG MGA TUMANGGAP NG GANTIMPALANG CROWN, (APPLAUSE) GAYON DIN ANG MGA PINARANGALAN NATING NATIONAL OUTSTANDING BARANGAY NUTRITION SCHOLARS. MARAPAT LAMANG NA PURIHIN NATIN SILA, PURIHIN KAYO—MGA AWARDEES NG ATING TAONG BAYAN PARA SA MASIGASIG AT NATATANGING PAGSISIKAP NINYO TUNGO SA LUBUSANG PAGSUGPO SA GUTOM AT KAHIRAPAN. MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYO. PATULOY TAYONG NAKIKIBAKA SA HAMON NG KAGUTUMAN. NOONG ISANG TAON, INATASAN NATIN ANG NEDA (NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY) NA BUMALANGKAS NG PLANO PARA SA LAYUNING ITO. NAKASENTRO ANG PLANO SA MURANG PAGKAIN, TULONG SA NAGUGUTOM, PATRABAHO SA KALSADA AT KABUKIRAN, GULAYANG PAMPAMILYA, MICROFINANCE, AT DAGDAG SAHOD SA ILALIM NG MGA REGIONAL WAGE BOARD. NAKABASE ANG NEDA HUNGER MITIGATION PROGRAM FRAMEWORK SA PAGKIKILALA NA NAGKAKAROON NG GUTOM. CAN WE HAVE THE FRAMEWORK NOW? UNA, DAHIL KULANG ANG PAGKAING ABOT-KAYA, (YAN FROM THE LEFT NO?) YUNG SUPPLY SIDE. KULANG NG PAGKAING ABOT-KAYA. AT PANGALAWA, YUNG SA RIGHT SIDE YUNG DEMAND SIDE, WALANG PAMBILI NG PAGKAIN. SA GAYON, DAPAT PARAMIHIN... (ON THE LEFT SIDE) ANG MURANG PAGKAIN-- ITO ANG SUPPLY SIDE STRATEGY-- (AT SA RIGHT SIDE NAMAN) PALAGUIN ANG KITA AT HANAPBUHAY NG MASA-- ITO ANG DEMAND SIDE. MABALIK TAYO SA KALIWA, SA SUPPLY SIDE, BAHAGI NG PLANO NG NEDA KUNG MAKIKITA NIYO YUNG MGA BAHAGI SA IBABA, UNA (YUNG PINAKA KALIWA) PALAKASIN ANG PRODUKSIYON NG PAGKAIN, TAPOS YUNG PANGALAWA DOON, YUNG SINASABING ENHANCE EFFICIENCY OF LOGISTICS—PAHUSAYIN ANG SISTEMA NG PAGHATID NG PAGKAIN. DOON NAMAN SA RIGHT SIDE SA DEMAND SIDE, KAILANGAN KUNG MAKIKITA NIYO YUNG NASA GITNA PUT MORE MONEY IN PEOPLE’S POCKETS NUMBER ONE, DAGDAGAN ANG KITA NG TAO, PANGALAWA, DOON SA GITNANG PORTION, ITURO ANG WASTONG PAGKAIN OR PROMOTE GOOD NUTRITION AT PANGATLO AY PALAGANAPIN ANG NATURAL NA PAGPLANO NG PAMILYA, KASAMA ANG ILANG TAONG AGWAT SA PAG-AANAK OR BIRTH SPACING. ITONG ARAW NA ITO IMBES NA NAGKAKAROON NG MARAMING DISKUDISKURSYONG MOTHERHOOD IBIG NATING ITANGHAL NGAYON ANG MGA PROGRAMA UPANG PALAKASIN ANG YUNG LEFT SIDE... PRODUKSIYON NG PAGKAIN AT PAHUSAYIN ANG TRANSPORTASYON NG MAKAKAIN. YUNG FIRST PORTION INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION UPANG PALAKASIN ANG PRODUKSIYON NG PAGKAIN, MAKIKITA NINYO DOON, ISINUSULONG NATIN ANG MGA PROGRAMA SA MANUKAN, BABUYAN AT BAKAHAN, PAGSASAKA, PATUBIG, GULAYAN NG MASA, AT PAGPAPALAGO MULI NG MGA PALAISDAAN SA DAGAT. PATI NA RIN YUNG MGA AQUACULTURE. ITO ANG INIATAS NATIN SA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, KAYA NANDITO SI SECRETARY ART YAP, ANG DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AT NATIONAL IRRIGATION AUTHORITY. KAYA PAKINGGAN NATIN ANG KANILANG ULAT TUNGKOL DITO SA THE FIRST PART YUNG INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION. (REPORT OF SEC. ART YAP) NAALALA NIYO YUNG PANGALAWANG BAHAGI DOON NG SUPPLY YUNG PAGHATID, TO ENHANCE... CAN WE GO BACK TO THE FRAMEWORK? SO YUN THERE YOU ARE... SO, I’M READING THEM NOW: AND THIS IS UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY, THAT’S LETTER B. LETTER C IS THE FARM TO MARKET ROADS UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DA, PUBLIC WORKS, PATI DAR KAYA NARITO SI SECRETARY NASSER PANGANDAMAN AND THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES DUN SA MGA MALALAYONG LUGAR NA MAY MGA REBELDE. AND THEN LETTER D IS EFFICIENT LOCAL TRANSPORT AT HINIHILING NATIN NA ITO AY UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, THE LEAGUES OF PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE LEAGUES OF CITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES, THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE LEAGUE OF BARANGAYS OF THE PHILIPPINES TOGETHER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE. AND THEN LETTER E, AYUN, AYUN NA.. LETTER E. IS THE FOOD FOR SCHOOL PROGRAM UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE DSWD. AND THEN, AND LETTER F. THE CREATION OF AN NGO NETWORK TO SUPPORT FEEDING PROGRAMS UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DSWD. THEN LETTER G. THE FARMERS OPTION TO BUY BACK UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NFA. GUSTO KO LANG MALAMAN IF WE HAVE SOME REPORTS COMING FROM THE SECOND PORTION HALIMBAWA YUNG ‘TINDAHAN NATIN’. DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WILL REPORT ON THE ‘TINDAHAN NATIN’? TAPOS NUN, YUNG ISA PANG IMPORTANTENG BAHAGI NITONG PROGRAMANG ITO, YUNG FOOD-FOR-SCHOOL PROGRAM NG DEPEd AT SAKA DSWD. MERON BA TAYONG MAG-REREPORT TUNGKOL SA FOOD-FOR-SCHOOL PROGRAM ? YUN PALA SI SECRETARY JING LAPUS AY NARITO. JUST RECENTLY, ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE UNESCO INTERNATIONAL (APPLAUSE) OKAY, JING. (SEC. JING LAPUS) (AUDIO CUT) MGA AHENSYA TUNGKOL SA MGA PROGRAMA DUN SA SUPPLY SIDE KASI NAPAKA-IMPORTANTE NA MERON TAYONG DAGDAG NA PAGKAIN AT MAS MAGALING NA PAGHATID PARA UMABOT SA MESA NG BAWAT PAMILYA. AND THESE ARE THE ACTIVITIES THEY’RE DOING AND TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ABILITY TO PRODUCE AND DELIVER FOOD MORE AFFORDABLY TO OUR HOUSEHOLDS. LAST WEEK, I TALKED TO SECRETARY NONOY ANDAYA AND I INSTRUCTED HIM TO RELEASE ONE BILLION PESOS TO THE AGENCIES THAT SHALL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT FOOD PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY PLANS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR. KAYA INAASAHAN NATIN NA SA PAMAMAGITAN NG DOH THROUGH THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL TULOY NA SUSUBAYBAYAN KUNG SAAN PUPUNTA ITONG ONE BILLION PESOS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR FOR PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION. AND WE HOPE THAT OUR EFFORTS INCLUDING THE EFFORTS OF OUR CROWN AWARDEES AND OTHER LGU’s WHO WISH TO EMULATE WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND HAVE BEEN DOING. AND ALSO WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR BARANGAY NUTRITION SCHOLARS NA NAPAKA-IMPORTANTE ANG PAPEL SA NUTRITION EDUCATION. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL YIELD DIVIDENDS IN TERMS OF LASTING FOOD SECURITY. SO NOW, I WILL TURN OVER THE MEETING TO SECRETARY PINGKOY DUQUE WHO AS SUPERVISING SECRETARY FOR THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL OVERSEES THESE PROGRAMS, SO HE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL INTERACTION BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS OF THIS MEETING AND THOSE WHO ARE REPRESENTING THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HERE. ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS! TO OUR CROWN WINNERS; (APPLAUSE) OUR BARANGAY NUTRITION SCHOLARS. (APPLAUSE) KUNG LALONG MARAMING MAGIGING KAGAYA NINYO LALO NATING MASUSUGPO ANG PROBLEMA NG KAGUTUMAN. MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT. |
| PGMA orders release of P1B additional outlay for hunger mitigation program |
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With less than two months to go before the end
of 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo raised today the allocation for
hunger mitigation measures by P1 billion for the remainder of the year in a
resolute effort to boost the government’s anti-poverty program. The President ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to immediately release the amount during the Anti-Hunger Task Force meeting that she convened at the Centennial Ballroom of the Manila Hotel this morning. She said the additional appropriation would be distributed to government agencies directly involved in the implementation of the government’s hunger mitigation program. The hunger mitigation program is a two-pronged approach at addressing the unavailability or insufficiency of food to eat (supply), and the lack of financial resources (money) with which to purchase food items (demand), which have been identified by the Hunger Mitigation Program Framework as the two main reasons for the hunger problem in the country. On the supply side, the mitigating measures determined to eradicate hunger would be by: 1) increasing food production through productivity programs including livestock, crops, marine regeneration (mangrove and coastal fishery development), farm family (i.e. Gulayan ng Masa) and irrigation; and, 2) enhancing the efficiency of logistics and delivery of food items to the end consumer through the development of more farm-to-market roads, full utilization of the Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) ports and terminals, increasing the construction of more Barangay Food Terminals and Tindahan Natin stores and the strengthening of school feeding programs. On the demand side, mitigating measures include: 1) putting more money in poor people's pockets through aggressive micro-financing programs, more employment opportunities, livelihood and training seminars and the development of "other value-adding products" such as coconut for coconut coir and virgin coconut oil. 2) promoting good nutrition through social marketing information seminars; and 3) managing the population through responsible parenthood. The President stressed that anti-hunger project implementers should focus their attention on the supply side as this would have the greatest and most immediate effect at ending hunger. Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who joined the President at the meeting, presented his agency's update on the program which, he explained, was done in keeping with the President’s directives. According to Yap, the 2007 target of 3,000 kilometers of newly-built and renovated farm-to-market roads (FMRs) has already been met and that his agency aims to construct an additional 5,000 kms. of FMRs. He added that 7,765 Tindahan Natin convenience stores are now operating in various parts of the country, serving some 7.7-million households around the country. Yap assured the President that with the P1 billion additional appropriation for the hunger mitigation program, the government’s target of 8,000 Tindahan Natin stores by the end of the year would be achieved. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus also presented an update of his agency's contribution to the hunger mitigation program, saying the joint DepEd and DSWD Food for School Program (FSP) has already made an impact in the lives of the intended beneficiaries and will continue to provide nutrition for countless grade school pupils around the country. Under the FSP, one kilo of rice is issued daily for 120 days to families who suffer from severe hunger and whose children are in pre-school and Grades 1-6. Other government agencies involved in the program are the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Self-rated poverty |
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It will be significant to note that Social
Weather Stations (SWS), in its recent survey on self-rated poverty, reported
a decline of around 6 percent from a range last year of 55 to 59 percent to
only 47 to 53 percent. That decline roughly translates to five (5) million Filipinos or one (1) million families. |
| Nutrition Council Awardees: Symbols of gov't fight vs hunger -- PGMA |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited today
the winners of the National Nutrition Council's search for outstanding local
government units (LGUs) in nutrition and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS)
saying their work best exemplifies the concerted fight against hunger and
poverty. "Marapat lang na purihin natin sila, mga awardees ng ating taong-bayan, para sa masigasig at natatanging pagsisikap ninyo tungo sa lubusang pagsugpo sa gutom at kahirapan. Maraming salamat sa inyo," the President said in her opening statement convening the Anti-Hunger Task Force meeting at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel this morning. The President took time off from her busy schedule to personally award the 25 LGUs and three BNS chosen by the NNC for their outstanding work in reducing the prevalence of malnutrition in the country. The annual National Nutrition Awarding Ceremony (NNAC) recognizes efforts of LGUs that have effectively and efficiently planned and implemented nutrition programs and have significantly improved the nutritional status of their areas. Awards presented during the occasion were the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN), the CROWN Maintenance award, the Nutrition Honor award and the National Outstanding BNS (NOBNS) award. The CROWN is given to areas that have been outstanding regional winners for three consecutive years while the Nutrition Honor is the highest nutrition award presented to LGUs that have maintained their outstanding performance for six consecutive years. The NOBNS, on the other hand, is presented to a BNS who has exceptionally delivered and coordinated basic nutrition services in their respective barangays. The awardees for this year are: Nutrition Honor Award -- Pulilan, Bulacan; Inabanga, Bohol; Cabuyao, Laguna; Panabo City; 2nd Year Maintenance CROWN Award -- Uson, Masbate; Libona, Bukidnon; Calamba City; Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya; 1st Year Maintenance CROWN Award-- Sudipen, La Union; Cagayan Province; Marinduque Province; Boac, Marinduque; Talisay City; Mandaue City; Maasin City; Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay; Compostela Valley Province; Nabunturan, Compostela Valley; Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) -- Asipulo, Ifugao; Plaridel, Bulacan; Atimonan, Quezon; Pasig City; Davao City; Nabas, Aklan; NOBNS -- Adelina Indapan, Barangay Casisang, Malaybalay City; Edna Agora, Bgy. Bagong Silang, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; and Rebecca Aguilar, Bgy. Gayola, Kidapawan City. |
| Gov't making headway in anti-poverty campaign -- PGMA |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed
satisfaction today that the government is making headway in its efforts to
reduce poverty as the payback of the country’s growing economy is now being
increasingly felt by the masses. The President made the statement during the Anti-Hunger Task Force meeting this morning at the Centennial Ballroom of the Manila Hotel. She said it was significant to note that the survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) taken during the third quarter of 2007 showed a decline of roughly 6 percent of self-rated poverty from a range of 55-59 percent last year to 47-53 percent this year. Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye noted that such a “decline roughly translates to five million Filipinos or one million families.” “The common people are now feeling the benefits of a growing economy. The implementation of the much-needed tax reforms contributed to the strengthening of the peso and increase in investments,” the President said. But she underscored the urgency that the government, business community, Congress and the labor sector join hands in a common cause to improve the lives of the people. During the Anti-Hunger Task Force meeting, the Chief Executive also announced the immediate release of an additional P1 billion to beef up the funding of the government’s anti-poverty program for the rest of the year. The additional allocation is expected to significantly boost the fight against poverty during the remainder of 2007, and create new impetus for the national effort to win the anti-poverty battle. |
| PGMA congratulates Jollibee for opening 600th store and employing 40,000 nationwide |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed
elation today on the nationwide and worldwide expansion program of the
leading fast-food chain popularly known as “Jollibee” Foods Corporation (JFC).
“This is great. Congratulations!” the President exclaimed as Jollibee president Tony Tan Caktiong presented to her a token map commemorating the 600th store opening of Jollibee last July 26, 2007 in Aparri, Cagayan. Caktiong, together with Ernesto Tanmontiong, Gold Tantoco and Jose Minana, all Jollibee officials, was accompanied by Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila. The President said she was supposed to visit the 500th store of Jollibee in Basilan where she made a surprise trip last Aug. 23 but her hectic schedule stopped her from doing so. Caktiong thanked the President for allowing them to visit her in Malacanang to inform her that more than 40,000 people nationwide are employed with the JFC. He also told her that the first store of Jollibee in China will be opened either in late December this year or early January next year. “We are also opening stores in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the United States,” he told the President. Jollibee Foods Corporation is one of the Philippines’ most visible fast-food chain that started as a simple ice-cream food chain in 1975. |
| Palace orders probe into RP sailors' mutiny |
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Malacañang has ordered the Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine
National Police (PNP) to investigate the syndicate behind the illegal
recruitment of nine Filipino seamen who held captive their ship captain in
Mauritius recently. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the probe to find out how the nine seamen were able to leave the country without proper documentation. “We have an instruction to find out from them how they (Filipino seamen) went to that place dahil meron kaming information na marami sa kanila ay irregular ang pag-alis sa bansa,” Ermita said during an ambush interview this afternoon following his regular weekly press briefing at Malacanang’s New Executive Building. Ermita revealed that based on the information they had received, the Filipino seamen involved in the hostage taking were illegally recruited and managed to leave the country without proper documentation from the DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The Filipino seamen were scheduled to return to the country from Mauritius at around 8 p.m. Wednesday. Ermita said the owner of the Taiwanese ship and the Taiwanese captain had allowed them to return to the Philippines and committed to pay their plane fare. Mauritius authorities on Tuesday detained nine Filipino sailors in the Water Front police station after they staged a mutiny and seized control of a fishing vessel, UAICSIXA, off the island's coast. According to reports, the nine Filipino sailors had complained that they were being mistreated. Vice President Noli de Castro, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), were able to speak through telephone with the crew’s leader, Roderick Sumang, who said they were maltreated by their captain, Jui Yin Huang, aside from failure to pay their salary. On the other hand, DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal, quoting Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos, said that the Mauritius Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has assured them that the Filipino sailors will be safe and treated well while undergoing investigation. |
| Gov't panel taking part in review of MNLF peace accord |
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A government peace panel is taking part in a
preparatory meeting slated Nov. 10-12 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia that would
review the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement with the Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF). In his weekly media briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Jeddah meeting is in preparation for the tripartite talks among the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), MNLF, and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) scheduled in December this year. The GRP panel is led by Undersecretary Nabil Tan of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), and representatives from the MNLF and the Committee of Eight under the auspices of the OIC. “This morning I was briefed by the GRP panel headed by Undersecretary Nabil Tan. They are going to Jeddah for the preparatory meeting for the tripartite meeting in December,” Ermita said. Ermita said the preparatory meeting would review the provisions of the 1996 GRP-MNLF peace agreement that were incorporated in Republic Act No. 9054 creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “They are supposed to be equipped with enough information to craft a final position for the final talks of the tripartite in December,” he explained. Ermita said the review would likely include the extent of the implementation such as the establishment of shariah courts, the number of ARMM residents who have been appointed to important government posts, establishment of the Islamic Al Amanah Bank, and the economic programs undertaken by the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) in the ARMM. Currently, the government is doing its best to fulfill the salient provisions of R.A. 9054 that created the autonomous region with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo repeatedly declaring that national security must be pursued alongside economic development to enable the country to attain a First World status at the soonest possible time. |
| PGMA boosts training of call center agents with allocation of P350 million |
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In a move to achieve the government’s goal of
capturing 50 percent of the world’s English-speaking business process
outsourcing (BPO) market by next year and to further improve the
Philippines’ ranking as the fourth most favored site for call centers in the
world, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has beefed up the funds for English
proficiency training program for call center agents by another P350 million. The President issued a directive to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to allocate the funds in scholarships for the training of some 70,000 call center agents and other workers in the BPO sector. This is in line with the President’s earlier directive to strengthen the English proficiency of teachers and students for the country to be globally competitive as the government has targeted the growth of call centers to hit one million by 2010 from the present 300,000. TESDA Director-General Augusto Syjuco said the call center and BPO sector has so far contributed some 235,000 new jobs to the President’s thrust to create at least six to 10 million jobs by 2010. Also, the BPO industry has contributed some $3.3 billion in revenues, thus contributing about two percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As the country gears for the establishment of more call centers and BPOs, the government has projected that by 2010, more than a million Filipinos would be employed in call centers and BPOs, and by 2012, the industry would generate some $12 billion in revenues. Syjuco said that with an English-speaking worforce, “it won’t be far that the Philippines would outrank Canada,” which ranks third, as the most favored sites for BPOs in the world. The United States tops the list, India is second while the Philippines ranks fourth. |
| Malacanang to back up official PNP findings on cause of Glorietta blast |
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Malacanang will respect whatever is the final
official report of the Philippine National Police (PNP), backed up by the
foreign bomb experts, on the real cause of the Glorietta 2 blast in Makati
City last Oct. 19. This was the reply of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita when asked by a Malacanang reporter about the Palace stand on the ongoing argument on the real cause of the Glorietta Mall explosion. “There is no other way we can take the stand on the matter except to agree to the official report and findings submitted by the PNP assisted by those foreign agencies,” Ermita said in an ambush interview after his regular press briefing at Malacanang’s New Executive Building this afternoon. The Ayalas, owners of Glorietta Mall, had commissioned another foreign expert and claimed that the blast was caused by terrorists attack and not accidental as what the police investigators had insisted. Malacanang is hopeful that in the next few days, a good conclusion on the cause of the blast will finally resolve the issue especially when the PNP will submit its final report. Earlier, the government had asked bomb experts from Australia, Israel and the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States to look into the real cause of the Glorietta blast that killed 11 people and hurt scores of others. |
