NSO partners with SM City Baguio for issuance of security papers
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (31 July) — Just like its advertisement, “Here at SM, We’ve Got it All For you,” one can now request National Statistics documents at the SM City Baguio.
‘This is a welcome development. Aside from the convenience it could give to the public, it would also de-clog our regional office and provincial branch outlets from the hundreds of people that apply for security papers especially during peak season,’ Gulla said.
‘The daily average of applicants at the NSO regional office is continuously increasing. For the first half of this year, we average 846 applicants a day, which reached as high as an average of 1,159 applicants per day during the peak month of May.
Gulla explained that under NSO’s BREQS program, SM can now receive requests or applications then they will e-mail the applicants’ information to the regional office for processing. An SM representative will then personally pick-up the requested document for release to the applicants.
SM Baguio PR Manager Karen Nobres Padilla said mall goers/shoppers can now request or apply for NSO security documents at SM’s Open Business Service Center located at the third floor, near Netopia.
‘Mall goers can now conveniently apply for a birth, marriage and death certificate and also Cenomar at SM Baguio. The request can be claimed after three days and same NSO fee is being charge for each certificate, plus a minimal fee of P20 per request. This is part of SM’s commitment to continuously provide more convenient services to our costumers,’ Padilla said.
According to Padilla, SM City Baguio is one of the five SM malls all around the country to have an Open Business Service Center.
Aside from SM Baguio, Gulla stressed that the public can still always go to their regional office and to all their other service outlets in the region.’We also have a service outlet in Luna and Conner, Apayao; in Tabuk City; in Bontoc and Tadian in Mountain Province. We are also now planning to set up another service outlet in the provincial capitol of Abra,’ Gulla said. (PIA)
DTI turns over “OTOP Ko, Orgullo Ko” signages to MSMEs
by BA Recebido
Sorsogon Province (29 July) — Eight Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that established One Town, One Product (OTOP) Pasalubong Shops/Stores received the OTOP Signage from the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) on Thursday, July 22, during the culminating activity of the MSME Development Week celebration.
“As an emblem of OTOP development, we have provided the signage that says “OTOP KO, ORGULLO KO” to our MSMEs who are the true implementers of the OTOP program,” says DTI Provincial Director Leah A. Pagao.
Also tagged as ‘Mga Bida ng OTOP’, the eight MSMEs who received the signages were OTOP Pasalubong Shop c/o Ermino’s Handicraft, Tia Berning’s Pili Candies and Edgieline’s Pasalubong Store, all situated in Rizal St., Sorsogon City; Tony Co Handicraft in Manook St., Gubat, Sorsogon; Barcelona Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. (BMPCI) in Poblacion Norte, Barcelona, Sorsogon; Jasternes Handicraft in Brgy. Abas, Pilar, Sorsogon; Eva G. Odono’s Pilinut Products in Brgy. San Rafael, Bulusan, Sorsogon and Vicky’s Pili and Food Products in Brgy. San Julian, Irosin, Sorsogon.
“Since the signage’s primary objective is to promote and drumbeat our province’s OTOP products, this should be displayed/hanged in a conspicuous place of the company’s establishment/store or in their respective showrooms or in their production area,” Pagao said.
She also said that with the four years of OTOP implementation in the province and with the Local Government Units (LGUs) taking the lead in developing various OTOP industries across the province, the program has already stirred and stimulated Sorsogon’s OTOP MSMEs.
“The convergence efforts of LGAs, NGAs and other non-government organizations and the MSMEs themselves have substantially improved our MSMEs competitiveness. This inspires the DTI to continuously provide developmental activities such as product development, training, marketing, access to financing and business consultancy to the Sorsoganons who would like to venture in the enterprising industry,” she elaborated.
With the assistance that the DTI is extending to the MSMEs, Pagao expresses high hopes that more and more Sorsoganons will be encouraged to enter into business enterprise in order to contribute in the economic development in the countryside. (PIA Sorsogon)
Army soldiers apprehend illegal logs in Catanduanes
by HM Cabunoc
Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur (29 July) — Army soldiers confiscated illegally-cut logs in landslide-prone Catanduanes Sunday (July 25), a military report said.
Aquino, however, said that the illegal loggers were able to evade arrest, yet the soldiers were only able to recover the contraband left behind along the road.
The troop was able to account 876 board feet of timber, 1 motorcycle and 5 bicycles which were hastily abandoned by the fleeing perpetrators.
Ben Medel, chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office here, also came and inspected the confiscated illegal logs.
Medel has asked the assistance of the army battalion in carrying out checkpoint operations and arrests of illegal loggers in the hinterlands of the island province.
Aquino, in response, has committed to support the anti-illegal logging campaign by PENRO-Catanduanes.
“I had been briefed about the past landslides in the province attributed to the rampant cutting of trees. Soldiers must become part of the solution to this problem to ensure that unnecessary casualties will be incurred among the residents in low-lying areas in this province”, he said.
In December 2008, massive landslides, brought about by continuous heavy rains, blocked the Virac-Vega Road section in San Miguel town, stranding the residents of the town for many days. (DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)
NFA poised to investigate rice over-importation
Manila (28 July) — The National Food Authority (NFA) will conduct an in depth inquiry into the reported over-importation of rice as divulged by President Benigno Aquino III in his State-of-the Nation Address on July 26, as part of government’s commitment to eliminate irregularities in the bureaucracy..
Banayo said, he has requested Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for assistance upon the advice of National Bureau of Investigation director Magtanggol Gatdula.
“I am minded to institute a systems and management audit of my agency to ensure that both systems and personnel are functioning properly according to our mandate,” Banayo said.
Apart from the justice department and the NBI, Banayo said, he is also tapping some lawyersm financial experts and other professionals to help in the investigation.
He said, he has also asked Jesus Posadas, former vice-president for purchasing of San Miguel Corp., and a commodities expert to head the probe.
In his SONA, President Aquino said, the NFA imported 900,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in 2004, even as the shortage was estimated at only 117,000 MT while in 2007, NFA again over-imported, buying 1.627 MT to address a shortfall of only 589,000 metric tons.
The President said, the excess supply was left to rot in warehouses while the government had to deal with a debt of P171.6 billion in rice importation costs as of May 2010.
Banayo identified specific areas of concern for the probers which include overstocked warehouses; P177 billion debt as of June 30, 2010; spoilage of the imported rice and the possibility of corruption’ government inability to help the farmers; allegations of irregularities; and reports of smuggling.
The probers have also been tasked to look into the purchase and importationprotocal insofar as timing and volume are concerned; inventory system to prevent waste and spoilage of tocks; and methods and procedures of selling the stocks to ensure they are sold efficiently. (pbc/PIA)
DSWD joins celebration of 32nd NDPR week
Tuguegarao City (28 July) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) field office here spearheaded the multi-agency observance of the 32nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week on July 17-23, 2010.
The activity aimed to stimulate public awareness on disability issues and concerns that will strengthen the involvement of the different government and non-governmental organizations including cause-oriented groups, civil society, self-help groups of persons with disabilities, the academe, professional groups and societies, local government units, business sector, the media and other entities of the society.
Carrying the theme “Sa Istrukturang Accessible, Lahat ay Able”, the week-long celebration was opened with a motorcade bearing the streamers around Tuguegarao City proper which was participated by the different partner agencies, regional committee on disability affairs and non-government organizations afterwhich, a holy mass was held at the Tuguegarao Cathedral.
A talent show dubbed as PWDs Got Talent was conducted on July 22, 2010 showcasing the talented Persons with Disabilities or group of PWDs highlighted the celebration. PWDs show off their talents in singing, dancing on wheels and acting.
DSWD Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia in his welcome remarks stressed the importance of the celebration for it is an avenue for PWDs to be integrated into the mainstream of society. “We should make ourselves accessible to our PWDs in addressing their needs and likewise let us recognize their valuable contributions in nation-building,” Director Garcia stressed.
Meanwhile, other activities were also conducted as part of the event. Among these were medical/dental miaare and ssion for the PWDs conducted by the Provincial Health Office, symposium on the rights and rehabilitation of the PWDs attended by the Katipunan ng mga May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas (KAMPI) officers and members, strategic planning workshop for the PWD Regional Federation Officers spearheaded by the DSWD Field Office 02 and ambilyn photo exhibits headed by TESDA Region 02.
Department of Public Works and Highways chaired the 32nd year observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) week which was successfully ensured that all persons with disabilities are given equal opportunities in all aspect of human endeavor to make their lives meaningful and productive. (Angely-DSWD/Oliver-PIA)
President Aquino receives new envoys from Switzerland, Chile, Cambodia
Manila (28 July) — President Benigno C. Aquino III received the credentials of three foreign ambassadors who called on him in Malacañang yesterday morning (July 27).
First to arrive at 10 a.m. was His Excellency Ivo Sieber, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation, followed by His Excellency Roberto Mayorga Lorca, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile at 10:30 a.m.
Last to arrive was His Excellency Hos Sereythonh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia, who presented his credentials at 11 a.m.
All three foreign dignitaries were accorded arrival honors at the Palace grounds. They signed the presidential guestbook before being ushered to the Music Room for the presentation.
Each of the ambassadors then met privately with the President.
Joining the President was Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. (OPS)
PNoy details cases of fund misuse in first SONA
Manila (27 July) — In his first state of the nation address (SONA) delivered yesterday before the joint opening session of the 15th Congress, President Benigno C. Aquino III bared in detail some cases of fund misuse during the Arroyo administration which in part have worsened the country’s budget deficit problems.
He said that in the first six months of 2010, the previous administration spent more than what it earned. Its target collection was shot by P23.8 billion and its projected expenditure is P45.1 billion, he added.
The President specified the following fund misappropriations:
Calamity Funds
Of the P2 billion Calamity fund for 2010, which on its own is already very small, only P1.4 billion or 60 percent is left for use for the remainder of the year, when typhoons are just coming in.
Of the P108 million Calamity Fund allotted for Pampanga, P105 million of this went to one district alone. These funds were released during the election period, seven months after Ondoy and Pepeng struck. Pangasinan, which was hardest hit by Pepeng, received only P5 million for the damage wrought by typhoon Cosme in 2008.
MWSS
Members of the board of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) were given fat rewards even if retired MWSS employees failed to get their pension funds due them. In 2009 alone, the payroll of MWSS amounted to P51.4 million, excluding the additional allowances and benefits amounting to P160.1 million.
Regular employees got only 13th month pay plus cash gift but MWSS board members got an equivalent of 30 months pay including bonuses and allowances. The Board of trustees also received P14,000 per meeting, reaching P98,000 each month, excluding grocery incentive of P80,000 a year; mid year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, financial assistance, Christmas bonus and additional Christmas package, all worth P98,000.
The President said the MWSS spent P2.5 million each year for each board member, excluding car incentive, technical assistance and loans.
La Mesa Watershed was not spared. Homes were built for the top officials of MWSS, who couldn’t readily be removed from their posts because they are among the Midnight Appointees of the former president.
DPWH
Infrastructure funds of the Department of Public Works and Highways for 246 priority safety projects funded by the Motor Vehicle Users Charge requiring P425 million budget but what was funded was only 28 projects and the rest were abandoned. The requested P425 million became P480 million, bigger because the additional funds went to select beneficiaries.
REHAB FUNDS
P3.5 billion that was ordered released for the victims of Pepeng and Ondoy involving 86 projects for public bidding. But 19 projects alone already got P981 million allotments. Fortunately their release was held even with the signed Special Allotment Release orders.
P3.5 billion of current DPWH projects will now go through proper bidding for the real victims of storms Ondoy and Pepeng.
NAPOCOR
The National Power Corp. from 2001 to 2004 was forced to sell power at a loss to forestall any electric power adjustments before the elections. Because of this, in 2004, the agency sank in debts forcing the national government to honor its P200 billion foreign obligations.
MRT
The Metro Rail Transit was also used as a political tool by keeping the fares low, which disabled the operator from recouping its investments. As a result, the Land Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines were forced to buy the MRT.
NFA
The National Food Authority over-imported rice in 2004. The shortage was 117,000 metric tons but it bought 900,000 mt. In 2007 the shortage was only 589,000 mt but it bought 1.827 million mt.
Because of the over-importation, the excess supply was left to rot in bodegas even if total debts for these imports reached P171.6 billion as of May 2010, which could have funded the justice department’s budget of P12.7 billion; the conditional cash transfers of the following years amounting to P29.6 billion; all the classrooms needed in the country worth P130 billion. (PIA-MMIO)
TESDA provides scholarships to 5,000 poor students
Pagadian City (27 July) — Underprivileged students who cannot afford to pursue formal college education can now avail of scholarship programs of the government thru the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).
This was learned from TESDA Provincial Director Eulalio B. Lumactod who said 4,613 scholarships will be given to poor but deserving students. Since 2006 to date, TESDA has provided different scholarships to students in the province to help uplift their living conditions by landing jobs after graduation and apply the skills they have learned from the training.
Lumactod said the scholarship programs offered are from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA), Ladderized Education Program (LEP), ICARE, PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship Program (PGMA-TWSP), and Arabic Language Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) of the Department of Education.
He further said there are available slots for the ICARE and TWSP but they are awaiting for the final approval of the qualification map and the availability of the coupons to be issued from the central office.
Meanhwile, Lumactod gave his reaction regarding the order of President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy? Aquino III to newly-appointed TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva to provide more scholarships to high school students. He said he was happy on the latest development to give opportunities to poor students to enjoy free college education and avail of scholarships offered by their office.
Lumactod however, is optimistic that during this year?s scholarship programs, there will be changes in its implementation scheme under the new leadership of President Aquino. (PIA9, Pagadian City)
DOLE creates Alaminos, Rosales field offices
Dagupan City (27 July) — The Department of Labor and Employment has set up two field offices in Pangasinan.
Adonis Peralta, until recently provincial labor officer of the Dagupan district office, now heads the field office in Alaminos City which will cater to clients from districts 1 and 2. The Rosales Field Office under Erlinda Villegas will serve those residing in the fifth and sixth districts.
The creation of two new field offices in the province was in line with the rationalization program of the DOLE which was approved by the Department of Budget and Management on April 13, 2009 pursuant to Executive Order No. 366.
Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena said the reshuffling would strengthen the delivery of various services in line with President Benigno “Noy Noy” Aquino III’s 22-point labor agenda.
“The DOLE has wide-ranging programs and projects, and to help our various clients maximize their benefits, we are continuously instituting measures, one of which is setting up offices in strategic locations and putting the right people right where they are needed,” Jalbuena added.
The Dagupan field office is now headed by Engr. Leonardo Catapia.
The Regional Office operates the technical services support division (TSSD), responsible for planning, monitoring and policy-making on the office’s different programs and projects; the Internal Management and Services Division (IMSD) which handles the whole office’s administrative concerns; and the Office of the Regional Director.
“With just a little innovation and maximizing of our existing resources, we are now in a better position to deliver the goals of the present administration,” he said. (DOLE/PIA/dos)
President Aquino pledges honest governance in SONA
Manila (26 July) — President Benigno Simeon Aquino III in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) pledged an honest government that will guarantee a peaceful and progressive nation under his administration as cabinet officials received marching orders to go after the corrupt and the violators.
As expected, he exposed anomalies of the previous government that made huge spending while income was low contributing to a bloated budget deficit that now stands at P196.7B.
The overspending reached P45.1Bthat was made amidst a collection shortfall of P23.8B.
He also lashed at the massive spending of the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System that gave fat bonuses to its officials and employees while the rest of the people suffer from lack of water. Some are earning as much as P2.5 million a year.
He also denounced the malpractice of the previous administration on funding insignificant projects that left little budget to finance the current needs of the country.
President Aquino pledged to further investigate and correct irregularities taking place in the DPWH, NAPOCOR, NFA, MRT and other government offices.
He vowed to crush smugglers, tax evaders and wrongdoers by filing charges against them every week and will soon sign an Executive Order that will set the Truth Commission on the road seeking facts and evidences on the shady dealings of the past administration.
On red tape, he said doing business with the government will now be shortened and cited a transaction that before require 30 documents but is now cut to six and eight application forms that is now down to only one form.
He urged Local Government Units to do the same to allow the growth of business and make every LGUs attractive to investments.
Furthermore, he asked the cooperation of both the senate and the congress to help him pass reform bills that would speed up development in many sectors of the country.
Among those laws include whistle blower bill, procurement law, and the strengthening of the witness protection program.
He opened doors for peace and negotiation with the MILF that may start after the Ramadan.
President Aquino also dared the CPP-NPA-NDF to offer a proposition by which their group and the government can work on and not just criticism.
“If you are also aiming or peace, we are ready for a lasting ceasefire. Are you also ready for this? Let’s talk.” (PIA-LOL)
