PGMA leaves for 15th ASEAN Summit
Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the President will join her ASEAN counterparts in announcing the establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.
She said the ten countries that make up AICHR will appoint a commissioner each to serve for three years.
Fajardo added that other issues on the agenda include the recommendation to establish a free trade agreement between South East Asia and East Asia.
The ASEAN member countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The ASEAN leaders will likewise meet with the six dialogue partners: China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
The President together with the other ASEAN leaders are also expected to sign the Cha-am-Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community, the ASEAN Declaration on Climate Change, to reaffirm ASEAN position on the negotiations under the United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate Change.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers will also sign The Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN.
Apart from the 15th ASEAN Summit, related meetings at the summit level include the 12th ASEAN-China Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 7th ASEAN-India Summit, the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), and the 4th East Asia Summit (with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand).
Fajardo said the President will fly back to Manila on Sunday, October 25. (PIA)
PGMA orders inclusion of veteran families in emergency employment program
US President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17, 2009, authorizing the release of a one-time, lump-sum payment to eligible World War II (WWII) Philippine veterans. These payments are to be made through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from a $198 million appropriation established for this purpose. Applying for this benefit will not affect other existing veterans benefits.
President Arroyo gave the directive to Cabinet members present in the 65th Commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing, including Presidential Adviser Gabby Claudio, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.
The government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) is a nationwide effort intended to protect the country’s most vulnerable sectors — such as the poor, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, and out-of-school youths — by providing emergency employment and by funding and supervising livelihood projects.
She added that since she assumed office, she has been fighting for more veterans’ benefits that would be given by the United States government.
In Leyte alone, there are 2,000 applicants for the US government’s veterans’ benefits program. (PIA)
Rebel camp seized anew in Catanduanes
by MA Loterte
Capt. Razaliegh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the scout platoon of the Army 83rd Infantry Battalion, led by 1st Lt. Alex Parohinog, discovered the New People’s Army (NPA) camp around 10:00 am with the help of concerned residents in the area providing information to the troopers on the presence of the campground.
Parohinog bared in his report that the camp appeared newly abandoned by the communist rebels, who now fled to the hinterlands following a series of tactical offensive launched recently by the military in the province.
The government troopers accounted from the camp five big huts, a comfort room, a kitchen and a conference area, a couple of guard houses. More or less 30 individuals took shelter in the site.
He added the camp was used by the communist guerillas in their Batayang Kursong Panlipunan lectures for the new recruits.
Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, 83rd Infantry Battalion commander, said persistent reports on sightings of NPA rebels in Bagamanoc and Panganiban towns prompted the military to conduct anew military operations.
Bansawan, meanwhile, said the series of military operation in Catanduanes already led to the discovery of the fourth guerilla camp in the island province since the deployment of military troops in the area intensifying counter insurgency campaign. (PIA V)
Preparation for typhoon ‘Ramil’ heightened in La Union
By Jennilyne C. Role
San Fernando City, La Union (20 October) — The La Union Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) heightened preparations and pre-emptive measures among stakeholders in time for the advent of super typhoon ‘Ramil’ over the week-end.
PDCC Vice chair and La Union Police Provincial Director, Col. Noli Taliño earlier met all chiefs of police in the province alerting them of immediate or even force evacuation in areas that are vulnerable to floodings and landslides.
“I have already ordered all chiefs of police in the province, being the vice-chair also of the local disaster coordinating councils in their area to convene and coordinate with the barangay officials who could be tap in the evacuation and rescue operations,” Talino said during the emergency meeting of the PDCC here yesterday.
Taliño stressed that the barangay officials play vital role during critical times in order to facilitate immediate response to their area of responsibility, considering the bulk of rescue request vis-à-vis manpower and limited equipments/resources of the higher disaster councils, they have to be on guard.
“These barangay officials are also reliable sources of determining high risk areas in their respective barangays and could help in mapping out vulnerable areas in time for the preparation of a high risk map of the province,” Taliño added.
Relief goods, medicines and other essential needs were pre-positioned and evacuation centers were readied.
Massive information dissemination about updates on the path of the typhoon was requested tapping the tri-media to caution and guide the people to avoid any untoward incidents. (PIA-RO1/La Union)
PGMA orders ‘pre-positioning’ of relief goods in calamity-prone areas
Manila (20 October) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the “pre-positioning” of relief goods and medical supplies in calamity-prone areas in case typhoon “Ramil” (international codename: Lupit) hits the country.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Assistant Lorelei Fajardo said the President issued the order to ensure that medicines, food, service and personnel are readily deployable in the event of an emergency.
“Emergency medical services, soldiers, policemen, choppers, volunteers and rescuers are already in calamity prone areas such as Regions 1, 2, 3 and CAR (Cordillera Autonomous Region),” Fajardo said.
She said that even before Ramil entered the Philippine area of responsibility, communications between the national and local government and the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council “at each municipality” have been ongoing to ensure that they will be given (typhoon) alerts or warnings from time to time.
“She (President Arroyo) wants to ensure that there are relief goods, medicine and personnel ready to respond to any emergency at any moment’s notice,” Fajardo said. (PIA)
Luzon residents told to brace for typhoon Ramil
Laoag City (20 October) — Fire trucks have become necessary in warning residents in flood-threatened villages prompting disaster management officials to remind local councils on having the vehicles maintained in good conditions.
In a memorandum to the city and municipal fire stations in Northern Luzon, the Department of Interior and Local Government advised fire marshals to put their stations in heightened alert as tyohoon Ramil continues to threaten provinces up North.
Local disaster coordinating councils were also advised to be activated and mobilized.
Manuel Biason, DILG Regional Director, said fire trucks should utilize their sirens and megaphones to alert residents of impending floods.
He said the warning system must be adopted and harmonized with the existing alert systems in each local government unit.
The DILG also advised residents to adopt the following measures before the onslaught of storms:
- * homes must be strengthened to endure gusty winds and flashfloods;
- keep radio sets open to monitor news updates;
- stay at home to avoid flying debris, falling wires, electric posts and trees;
- keep all things inside the house and close windows and doors;
- store batteries, matches and candles;
- store enough food, drinking water and medicines;
- have flashlights in good working conditions;
- have a device like whistle to attract attention in case you are trapped and unable to leave your home;
- be prepared when there is a need to evacuate; and
- pray
(PIA)
Pampanga, Bulacan typhoon victims receive relief goods from PGMA
Manila (20 October) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the distribution of relief goods to residents of this Pampanga and Bulacan who were severely affected by the recent typhoons.
The Chief Executive first went to Sta. Maria, Bulacan, where she started the government’s relief caravan and then proceeded to Barangay San Juan of San Simon, Pampanga to provide relief assistance to her Cabalens, who have been the victims of perennial flooding.
Together with San Simon Mayor Rodrigo Canlas and other local officials, the Chief Executive also went to nearby Barangay San Pedro to continue the distribution of relief packs to her provincemates whose houses were submerged in floodwaters as high as six feet.
A total of six barangays in this municipality experienced severe flooding at the height of typhoon “Pepeng,” affecting some 6,830 families or 33,857 persons.
Roman Punzalan, a 60-year-old farmer, narrated how the two recent typhoons damaged their rice crops which were ready for harvest.
“Nasira ang aming mga pananim at maging ang aming bahay ay nabaha rin (Our crops were destroyed and our house was also affected by floodwater),” Punzalan said.
He said the floodwater reached more than five feet in depth, making banca as their only mode of transportation.
“I would like to thank the President for the relief goods. This would help us a lot,” he said in Kapampangan dialect.
In her visit to Bulacan earlier today, residents of six barangays in Sta. Maria town benefitted from the government’ relief caravan launched by the President. (PIA-MMIO)
Isabela execs seeks aid for road rehab
Benito Soliven, Isabela (20 October) — The local chief executive here is seeking the intervention of provincial officials of Isabela for the rehabilitation of roads that were destroyed by typhoon “Pepeng” when it made three landfalls in Northern Luzon.
Mayor Benjamin Sanglay said the calamity fund of the municipality is not enough to finance the damages brought by Pepeng and the local chief executive thought of seeking the help of the provincial officials.
“I am asking for financial aid from the provincial government to rehabilitate the infrastructure damaged by typhoon Pepeng,” Sanglay said over a local radio station here.
Portions of barangay, municipal and provincial roads linking the municipality was underwater and was eroded during the onslaught of the typhoon which is now dangerous to pass through.
Mayor Sanglay wants that all destroyed roads going to his town will soon be rehabilitated and repaired to bring back to its normal situation this inner eastern Isabela town.
The local chief executive is confident that the town’s request to the provincial government be given prompt action and preferential attention by the provincial leaders. (PIA Isabela)
Donations for Luzon Storm Victims Shipped by RDCC-13
October 19, 2009
by: striker_jem
Butuan – Several PNP members of Police Regional Office 13 carried relief goods to the Regional Mobile Group vehicle ready to transport to Nasipit port.
Police Regional Director Lino Calingasan formally turned over to OCD the truckloads of relief goods collected from different city and provincial PNP stations in the region after the traditional flag raising ceremony at Camp Rafael Rodriguez.
The Police Regional 13 is the depository of all donations that the Regional Coordinating Council is soliciting to help victims of typhoon Ondoy who was devastated by massive flooding in Metro Manila last September 26.
In her speech, OCD Regional Director Blanche Gubenchiong said, “In the OCD’s mission areas 
of risk identification and vulnerability assessment, civil protection and preparedness, coordination for response, operations and rehabilitation initiatives, the Filipino indeed ha shown many virtues if spontaneous response.”
Special mention was the PNP that according to RD Gubenchiong, has always risen above expectations.
And in all efforts of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the OCD, the PNP was always ready to assist in community work.
The relief goods and donations for the typhoon and flood victims in Luzon were right away transported to Nasipit port for shipment to the National Disaster Coordinating Council in Manila.
Ifugao town institutionalizes Farmers’ Day
by Vency D. Bulayungan
Kiangan, Ifugao (17 October) — Farmers organizations here institutionalized a day for them to celebrate together as they work towards uplifting their economic situation.
Municipal Agriculture Officer William Buhiong said the Farmers’ Day is conceptualized by the farmers themselves for them to get together as a sector.
The institutionalization of the Farmers’ Day is supported by the municipal government which allocated funds for this activity which was participated by about 250 farmers from the 15 barangays here.
Mr. Jack Dulnuan, former farmer turned businessman, in his message encouraged the farmers to be entrepreneurs. He said that industriousness is a key to improve one’s economic status in life.
A native of Asipulo, who has migrated to La Trinidad, Benguet, Dulnuan said that it was trough hardship and perseverance that he was able to rise above poverty.
Dulnuan is the owner of the chain of Jack’s Restaurant in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet.
Dulnuan encouraged the farmers to engage in other income generating activities such as planting fruit trees. He pointed out that the province is suited for fruit production which can be an additional source of income to farmers. “There is money in farming for as long as you know how to make use of all the available resources in your locality,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jonathan Cuyahon and Vice Mayor Angelito Dulinayan gave their support to the Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS) of the Agriculture Department.
This is a learning center where farmers can upgrade their skills in modern technology which can increase their harvests. A Memorandum of Agreement with the Sangguniang Bayan here was signed with the Philippine Council for Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources Development (PICARD). (PIA-Ifugao)
