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)

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)

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.

Lt. Col. Danilo Aquino, commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army based in Catanduanes, said that he sent a platoon of his soldiers to conduct checkpoint operations in three different villages following text messages from concerned residents of about to be transported illegal logs from the upland villages of Hicming, Bigaa and San Isidro, all of Virac town.

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)

According to NFA Administrator Lito Banayo, the probe will involve a system and management audit meant to identify the problems inherited by the food agency from the previous administration.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

The review was prompted by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo marching order to stump out illegal gambling activities in the countryside specifically “Jueteng”, an illegal number games that has been in operations for so many decades.

Blandino Maceda, DILG Bicol regional director, said his agency will look into the legal operation of the Meriedien following reports that the gaming outfit is reportedly operating as a Jueteng front disguise as an STL gaming outlet.

Maceda said that the agency would enforce legal and administrative sanctions once proven that the MVG C are operating under the disguise of Jueteng and violating PCSO established policies and standards.

The DILG will recommend to PNP to use its power to put an end to this illegal number games, he said.

Reports gathered revealed the Sanguniang Panalawigan of Albay, Camarines Sur and Norte and other cities, and towns has endorsed and approved the operation of Meriedien Vista Gaming Corp an online betting game with a jai-alai type of game.

Meriedien registers and operates under the rules and regulations, standards set by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and the Local Government Code of the Phils including the PCSO.

But reports said the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) has cancelled the permit of Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation (MVGC), a gaming company operating within the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port (CSEZFP), after the Department of Justice issued an opinion against the gaming firm’s holding on-line by means of a jai-alai type of gaming operation.

CEZA, a Philippines government-owned and -controlled corporation established in 1995 by virtue of Republic Act No. 7922, is in charge of developing and managing the 54,000-hectare CSEZFP, an economic and tourism hub in Sta. Ana, Cagayan province. It has powers to grant licenses for casino and gaming operations within the economic zone.

t a press conference, Dondy Bilason President of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Press Corps Bicol, told the DiLG that unlike the legitimate STL operation it draws bet collection directly from their outlets but in the case of MVGC they employ collectors popularly know as “cobrador” soliciting bets in the streets and goes house to house collecting bets.

Bilason said STL outlets issues bet receipts while MVGC collectors does not issue receipts, it only writes the bettors choice number bets in their list, saying that the procedure is similar to that of “Jueteng” operation.

He said that if indeed the game is really legal there is no need for bet collectors as the bettors will have to go to the betting stations since it is an online game.

nder the STL operation bettors have to pick two lucky numbers from numbers 1 to 38 while the Jueteng disguise as STL operates the same.

For this reason policemen are helpless in combating the illegal numbers game because they could no longer differentiate which of gaming operation is the legal one.

Maceda said that they will also review the revenue share that local government receives from the gaming firm following reports the MVGC no longer remits its rightful dividends arising from the gaming directly to the local governments.

The MVGC claims that they are directly remitting the dividends in Manila.

Reports have it that the gaming firm gives a big share directly to city and town chief executives, at the expense of the city and town coffers.

Reports said MVGC is raking tens of millions in daily draws in Bicol while hundreds of thousands in dividends are given to each local chief executive in weekly payoff.

In Albay, members of the SP are moving for the cancellation of MVGC permit to operate for the firm’s failure to comply with the remittance condition as stated in the agreement.

MVGC had been operating in Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte for the past two years. (PNA Bicol/PIA)