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| 05 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 05 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
| President orders more rice for Metro Manila |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered
urgent measures to make ample and affordable rice available in consumer
markets, especially in Metro Manila. In yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, she told the National Food Authority (NFA) to boost deliveries in areas where supply is tight and prices are up due to harvests delayed by the dry spell. The President ordered Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap to speedily move rice to Luzon from Visayas and Mindanao, where there was no dry spell delaying harvests by one month. NFA was also told to draw down its stocks to supply much more than the usual 30 percent of Metro Manila consumption that the agency usually provides. NFA can replenish its granaries from 260,000 tons of imported rice due to arrive in October and November. Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the President also instructed the National Nutrition Center (NNC) and the Anti-Hunger Task Force to fast-track ongoing hunger-mitigation programs which have succeeded in cutting severe hunger by half over the past year, and lowering overall hunger incidence nationwide. She ordered special attention to Metro Manila, the only region where hunger rose in the last survey in late June. President Arroyo also instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to open 13 Barangay Food Terminals (BFTs) to serve an additional half a million families in high-density barangay like Batasan Hills and Pansol in Quezon City and Baseco in Manila. BFTs sell low-cost food coming directly from rural cooperatives, cutting out middlemen and boosting earnings of farmers. DA and NNC will also ensure that Tindahan Natin outlets planned this year to sell NFA rice and cheap noodles are all open by the end of the month. There are 200 such outlets due to be operational in Metro Manila, and another 300 in the provinces. The President also instructed the NNC to accelerate the simultaneous community-based training programs for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) to provide counseling for mothers on the importance of breast-feeding. The council, alongside the Department of Education, will also immediately resume the food-for-school program to provide regular supply of rice to poor families through their children in school. Farmers affected by the recent dry spell are also given priority. To date, some P5 million has already been released to assist farmers in affected areas. To further help them cope with harvest delays and income losses, the President instructed the DA to identify beneficiary areas for the implementation of the “food-for-work” and “cash-for-work” programs to assist farmers augment their losses in income due to the dry spell. |
| President to join global leaders in 15th APEC meeting in Sydney |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to join
global leaders in the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’
Meeting on Sept. 8-9 to be held in Sydney, Australia.
While in Australia, the President looks forward to exchange notes with the other APEC Leaders on how to promote economic stability, ensure peace and security, and regional prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region while dealing with the global challenge of climate change. President Arroyo is expected to bring good news about the Philippine economy and the unwavering fight against terror to the APEC Forum. She will also share the country’s experience in forging public-private sector partnerships for renewable energy and exploration of environment-friendly alternatives to oil, such as bio-fuels and natural gas. “The President will be an active participant in discussions especially on climate change, given its impact on our country’s weather patterns and effects on the agricultural sector,” Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said Wednesday. President Arroyo is also expected to hold meetings with US President George Bush, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and other Leaders on the sidelines of the APEC Summit, and find time to meet the Filipino community in Australia as well as other Filipinos from all over the world who will be gathering in Sydney for a global meeting. “She brings with her the people’s hopes and aspirations for a robust economy that can draw vigor and strength from regional and bilateral economic partnerships,” Bunye said. President Arroyo will reaffirm support for the global multilateral trading system and join the call to explore every avenue to achieve the necessary breakthroughs in the WTO negotiations at the earliest opportunity. At the same time, she will call for a strengthening and an expansion of APEC’s economic and technical cooperation agenda, and argue for broader, more focused and more strategic capacity building activities among member economies. In line with advancing regional prosperity and sustainable development, President Arroyo will express the Philippines’ unwavering support for human security and its fight against all forms of terrorism. With the recent passage of the Human Security Act of 2007, the Philippines has a strengthened legal regime for investigating, prosecuting and bringing terrorists and their supporters who are captured in the Philippines to justice, thus contributing to regional and global efforts to combat terrorism. |
| Public order, peace fund up by P8 billion next year |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today the
national allocation for public order and safety will be increased by more
than P8 billion from this year’s P64.9 billion to P73.3 billion in 2008 to
beef up the capabilities of government law-enforcement agencies as guardians
of peace, order and public safety. The President also directed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to prioritize the construction of a new prison in Quezon City to decongest the existing city jail. “In 2008, the budget for public order and safety will be increased from this year’s P64.9 billion to P73.3 billion” under the budget proposal submitted by Malacanang to Congress, the President said. The Chief Executive disclosed the hike in the public order and safety appropriation at the joint Pulong Bayan of five barangays in Novaliches this morning. The President motored to Novaliches as part of her Metro Manila barangay visits. She said P1 billion of the additional budget will be spent on new firearms and vehicles for the Philippine National Police (PNP), recruitment of new policemen and the purchase of new crime equipment to bolster PNP’s investigative capability. Dressed in sleeveless knee-length dress and matching sequined sandals, the President said that the country is getting closer to its 2010 target of one policeman for every 500 residents. “Palapit na tayo sa ating target na magtalaga ng isang pulis bawat 500 katao pagsapit ng 2010. Sa dalawampung libong pulis na nadagdag ngayong taon, may (ratio ng) isang pulis na…para sa 620 katao.” “Lalo pang dadami ang pulis sa susunod na taon, at may 500 pang patrol cars na bibilhin,” she added. Reporting to the President on peace and order situation in the country, DILG Undersecretary Melchor Rosales said all index crimes – crimes against persons and property -- are “on a downturn.” Even street crimes, he said, were down 15 percent. The President also directed DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno to prioritize the construction of a new prison for Quezon City to decongest the existing city jail. Puno said funds for the project were already available but that the DILG was still awaiting word from the Quezon City government on the exact site of the proposed building. For his part, Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista said the local government unit (LGU) has already selected an area for the structure, but that city officials were still negotiating with land owners on the purchase of the lots. During her barangay visit, the President also awarded 125 livelihood-training scholarship vouchers to each of the five barangays through their respective barangay chairmen: Rolando del Cruz for Brgy. San Bartolome, Rogelio Juan, Brgy. Talipapa; Carlito Bernardino, Brgy. Bagbag; Ernesto Tanigue, Brgy. Gulod, and Francisco Vitug Sr., Brgy. Sauyo. She also turned over certificates to operate “Tindahan Natin” to some residents in the five barangays, one unit multicab from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), and a police mobile car to Quezon City Police Station 4 in Novaliches. Puno told the barangay chairmen that subject to the availability of funds, they could now hire more tanods. The DILG will release guidelines on the allocation of barangay funds to hire more than 20 tanods each -- the old ceiling in the hiring of tanods. He added that the DILG is hoping to create one police precinct per barangay at a uniform one policeman to 600 population ratio. Also present during the Pulong Bayan was QC Rep. Annie Susano, who said she will prioritize livelihood projects for her barangays; PNP Chief Oscar Calderon; and National Anti-Poverty Commission head Ding Panganiban. |
| Palace to abide by Congress decision on barangay, SK polls |
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Malacanang will abide by the decision of both
houses of Congress on the fate of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
elections on Oct. 29 as mandated by law. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said, however, that if it were all up to Malacanang, the Barangay and SK elections would be held as scheduled next month. Ermita made the statement in response to a question by a reporter covering Malacanang on the Palace’s stand on the proposal of some lawmakers to postpone the Barangay and SK polls. “First, the Palace will leave it to both houses of Congress to make the decision whether the Barangay and SK elections will be postponed or not,” Ermita said in his weekly press briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacanang this morning. He recalled that senators, who attended the Legislative and Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacanang last month, felt that the barangay and SK polls would push through. “The Executive branch is also, at this moment, not for the postponement. However, if the Congress passes a law (postponing the Barangay and SK polls), then we just have to execute it,” Ermita said. The Palace official said that the issue has already passed the committee level in the House of Representatives and it will be the subject of deliberations in both legislative chambers. Ermita pointed out that under the 2007 national budget, the government has provided P138.9 million for the SK general registration of voters held last July, and P2.1 billion for the Barangay election. “So the government is ready for the elections in October,” Ermita stressed, but that the final decision rests with Congress. |
| Gordon thanks PGMA for looking after the welfare of teachers in Sulu |
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Sen. Richard Gordon thanked President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo today for immediately acting on the request of teachers in
Sulu to hold the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) licensure
examinations in their province last month. In the past, education graduates and provisional teachers in the province had to travel to Zamboanga City or other parts of the country to be able to take the exam, entailing more expenses on their part. Gordon thanked the President during the presentation of the 2007 Outstanding Teachers, a nationwide search sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation, this afternoon at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang. The President led the conferment of medallions on the awardees. Gordon said the President, upon learning of the teachers’ request, ordered the PRC to conduct the licensure examinations for teachers last Aug. 26 in Sulu simultaneously with other cities and provinces all over the country. During her visit to Basilan last Aug. 23, the President, acting on another problem, directed the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to immediately act on the complaint of teachers in Sulu who could not avail themselves of the GSIS programs and benefits due to late and non-remittance of premiums. “Thank you, Madam President, for your quick action,” Gordon said during his inspirational message. Assisting the President in the conferment of medallions on the outstanding teachers were Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Romulo Neri, Metrobank Chairman George Ty, Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepena, and Senator Gordon, the chairperson of the search’s final board of judges. Also present were Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, other members of the board of judges, and government officials from the locality of the outstanding teachers. This year’s outstanding teachers in the elementary category are Fredo Laureles (Ateneo Grade School, Quezon City), Jeneluj Cunanan (Lanao Central Elementary School, Kidapawan City), Madeline Rivera (San Pablo Central School, San Pablo City), and Leticia Palle (Malaybalay City Central School). The secondary level winners are Glendale Lamiseria (Dulag National High School, Leyte), Ruben Abucayon (Alegria National High School, Surigao del Norte), Norma Pacaigue (Novaliches High School, Quezon City), and Cynthia Banguero (Barotac Viejo National High School, Iloilo). The higher education level winners are Benilda Santos (Ateneo de Manila University) and Ceasar Saloma (University of the Philippines, Diliman). The winners also received a trophy and P250,000 cash each. In their response, Lamiseria thanked the President for upgrading the country’s education system and working for the welfare of teachers, including the increase in their salaries last month. Sobrepeña also presented to the President the 20 PGMA scholars of the Metrobank Foundation in support to her leadership and in her shoring up the country’s educational system. The 20 scholars who come from the urban poor are now enrolled in various four-year courses at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP). |
| PGMA creates international media office |
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Citing the need to improve the coverage of
overseas media events of national import and the necessity for an
organization to assist in the planning and coordination of initiatives to
project government messages in international media, President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo has issued an Executive Order creating the International
Media Office (IMO). In EO No. 656 which she signed last Aug. 24, the President said the IMO is mandated to “monitor overseas media coverage and plan and coordinate initiatives to project government messages in international media in support of national interests and governance thrusts in security, law and order, economic, diplomatic, political, social and other areas.” Under the EO, the IMO shall be created under the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) with logistical and personnel requirements sourced from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the National Security Council (NSC), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Tourism (DoT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE). The EO further states that the Investor Relations Office shall support the IMO which shall “coordinate closely with Philippine embassies and consulates abroad.” The President allotted an initial P30 million for the operation of the IMO in its communications campaigns, chargeable to the OPS and other sources as may be identified by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). |
| 16 prisoners granted executive clemency |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has granted executive
clemency to 16 prisoners convicted of various criminal offenses. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his press briefing this afternoon in Malacanang that the President had approved the conditional pardon of six prisoners and the commutation of sentences to 10 others on Sept. 3. Granted conditional pardon were Francisco Buendia, Samuel Barredo, Juan Garing, Samuel Garing, Marcos Manalang and Armando Rivera. Commuted were the sentences of Peter Canonigo, Ava Ma. Victoria Cariquez, Darwin Dy, Rolando Halog, Danilo Montano, Renante Perlas, Rhodesa Silan, Pepe Tranquia, Edgardo Vargas and Allan Villa. |
| RP ready to contribute own input to discussions on global trade |
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SYDNEY -- As members of the World Trade
Organization (WTO) resumed Monday intensive negotiations on the long-stalled
Doha Round, the Philippines expressed its preparedness to contribute its own
input to the discussions of the global trade talks. Special Trade Representative Jose Buencamino, the Philippines special negotiator in the WTO, said Trade Secretary Peter Favila, in his statement in today’s Asia-Pacific Ministerial Meeting, pointed out that the Philippines could only “make contributions (to the discussions) as a developing country.” Explaining the context of Favila’s statement, Buencamino said that the Philippines commitments to the trade talks “would be less than that of full reciprocity.” The resumption of the stalled WTO negotiations was high on the agenda of this year’s APEC meeting in Australia. Buencamino said the negotiations in Geneva focused on agriculture and NAMA (non-agricultural market access), the two major areas of contention that have blocked the six-year-old Doha Round from making progress. Launched in 2001, the Doha Round seeks to forge agreement on lowering trade barriers to boost the global economy and help the development of poor countries. However, the negotiations have been stalled due to disagreements among the WTO members, especially industrialized countries, on agriculture trade and industrial market access. Buencamino said that in his APEC statement, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy explained that the talks should be concluded by the end of the year or early next year. Otherwise, the negotiations face the risk of being frozen over long period and such a development would have negative impact on global economic growth and the multilateral trade system. |
| NFA assures ample rice supply |
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The National Food Authority (NFA) assured
consumers today of ample supply of rice until the end of the year, debunking
earlier reports on possible shortage of the staple food item due to the
extended dry spell and floods experienced in rice-producing provinces around
the country. In a press briefing in Malacañang this afternoon, NFA Director Rex Espoperez said the NFA has the required 15 metric tons buffer stock of NFA rice in its warehouses and that it is expecting another 260,000 metric tons of imported rice to arrive this month. “We assure you that we do not have shortage of rice, especially because we have enough inventories in our (NFA) warehouses,” Espoperez said. He said the NFA, together with the Department of Agriculture, has carried out measures to further boost the country’s production of rice and to prevent unscrupulous individuals from unduly jacking up prices of rice. “Right now, the Department of Agriculture is giving assistance for the production of flood-and-drought-resistant rice seedlings,” Espoperez said. The implementation of the “One NFA watcher per market” program, Espoperez said, would prevent hoarders and speculators from unreasonably hiking rice prices. He added that the NFA watcher or monitor would immediately report to the NFA head office any discrepancy in rice prices in markets around the country for immediate action. |
| PGMA appoints Devanadera as Acting DOJ Secretary; 5 others to various gov't posts |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed
today Solicitor General Agnes V.S.T. Devanadera as acting secretary of the
Department of Justice (DOJ), and five others to various government posts. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Devanadera will take the place of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez who is now on sick leave. Earlier, Devanadera was appointed by the President as officer-in-charge of the Justice Department effective on Sept. 1, 2007. Gonzalez, 75, earlier sought permission from the President to take a one-month sick leave effective on Aug. 31, 2007 after he was hospitalized due to a bleeding stomach ulcer. Ermita said during a press briefing this afternoon that the President had also appointed retired Gen. Reynaldo I. Berroya as assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Arturo C. Lomibao, formerly the administrator of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), will replace Berroya as Assistant Secretary of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), also under the DOTC. Ermita also announced the appointment of Francisco L. Benedicto as Foreign Affairs undersecretary; Felecito L. Masagnay as commissioner of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), representing Southern and Eastern Mindanao; and Oscar A. Inocentes as presidential assistant for Judicial Affairs with the rank of undersecretary under the Office of the President. |
