DOLE Antique releases P3.599 million for CLEEP
by PS Mabaquiao
San Jose, Antique (7 January) — The Department of Labor and Employment has released a total of P3,599,808.00 to the beneficiaries of Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP)in the province of Antique.
CLEEP is the administration’s 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, from threats and consequences of reduced or lost income as a consequence of the global economic crisis — by providing emergency employment and funding and supervising livelihood projects. (CLEEP website).
For Livelihood Formation, DOLE has released P2,340,720.00 to 538 families in the towns of Valderrama, San Remigio, Sibalom, Tibiao, and Barbaza. Most of the livelihood projects undertaken by the family-beneficiaries are livestock raising, bamboo craft, carpentry, sari-sari store among others.
A total of 136 fisherfolks have availed of financial assistance under ISLA project in the towns of Laua-an and Tobias Fornier. The financial assistance was used to purchase fishing nets and other fishing gears of marginal fisherfolks in the said areas.
For TUPAD, DOLE has released P660,000.00 for the municipalities of San Remigio,, Valderrama and Laua-an with each municipality receiving P220,000.00 for emergency employment of 50 individuals who were affected by economic crisis.
DOLE Antique emphasized that aside from displaced workers, the beneficiaries of the project also include victims of disasters and calamities in the province.
The Department of Labor and Employment is the lead agency in the fulfillment of this endeavor with job generation being the main thrust of CLEEP. Nonetheless, other line departments and agencies have the same event in their agenda.
The government has set aside a P1-billion package for CLEEP that targets the creation of more than 220,000 jobs. These jobs created under the CLEEP will help improve the country’s infrastructure, push the growth of rural enterprise, improve public health care and food security, and stimulate private investments. (PIA)
Water, drainage, lights among top dev’t initiatives of Roxas City
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Roxas City (6 January) — Water and drainage facilities as well as provision of streetlights are among the top priorities of the Roxas City government in 2009.
Bermejo added that drainage system is also given equal attention because of the flooding problem due to the establishment of more buildings and establishments as the city is on the go to rapid urbanization.
He added that he had also been into the implementation of road lights in the various major barangays of the city.
Bermejo pointed out that with road lights up to the areas with commercial establishments, schools, and public buildings within the city as well as outskirt barangays here, commission of crimes, particularly robbery, theft and other crimes could be prevented.
On the other hand, he revealed that the expansion and enhancement of water system in the missionary route of the city is also underway.
Bermejo said that in a 50-50 cost sharing scheme with the Metro Roxas Water District, the city government was able to provide access to barangays and areas with only few concessionaires.
In particular, the water system expansion and enhancement project was brought to the urban poor barangays especially those with housing associations.
Bermejo added that with approximately 30 urban poor housing associations in the city, the Roxas City government could help the same by providing the needed services of the residents especially on access to safe water supply, lights and drainage system. (PIA)
NFA Capiz suspends 24 ‘Tindahan’ operators
by A. Lumaque
Roxas City (5 January) — Twenty-four Tindahan Natin (TN) operators in the province have been suspended indefinitely by the National Food Authority (NFA) – Provincial Office in Capiz for over pricing government rice in the market.
The penalty was meted out following a visitation and inspection by the audit team to all 60 TN operators in the province as part of the NFA’s countrywide “one-strike policy” on erring grains businessmen.
The policy defines that any NFA accredited retailer found to be violating industry laws, rules and regulations shall be immediately suspended.
“The number of those suspended could still increase as others summoned are still to submit their explanations under oath,” the release noted.
Over pricing of government rice is a violation of Presidential Decree No. 4 as amended and the Deeds Of Undertaking (DOU) entered into by TN operators and the NFA.
TN is a program of President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and NFA that is intended to serve the poorest of the poor in the communities by providing alternative outlets selling highly subsidized rice.
The government buys the rice at about P35.00 per kilogram and is sold to TN operators at P16.75 per kilogram for a retail price of P18.25 per kilogram to their respective beneficiaries. (NFA/PIA)
Outgoing Eastern Samar PNP director prides in dismantling robbery groups, others
By Alice Nicart
Borongan City (5 January) — Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director (PD) / Police Senior Superintendent Prudencio Ancheta De la Cruz would leave Eastern Samar fully confident that the province would be at peace after he and his men had neutralized the robbery hold up gangs in the area during his stint.
“Except for one last group in Borongan, which I admit has yet to be handcuffed, I am proud to say that I have done my homework in taking to pieces these menace of society, specifically the highway robbers,” he said.
He divulged that this one last group which once in a while sneaks into the peace and quiet of Borongan populace is very slippery, it could easily go on scot free whenever the members are about to be arrested. He added that the group is headed by one Cris Parena who used to be a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), but later became a military and police asset. But, De la Cruz is hopeful the days of this Parena group are now coming to end.
The outgoing PNP director also was proud to report that he likewise was able to dismantled the so-called untouchable drug pushers in Quinapondan town, Oras, Guiuan and Borongan; it can be recalled that he and his teams in 2008 successfully raided and arrested a family in Oras town which used to enjoy trading the illegal drug.
In addition, shortly before he finished his term in the province, de la Cruz with his policemen was able to recover about 200 kilos of high grade cocaine in the seas of Arteche, San Policarpo, Dolores, Borongan, Maydolong and Llorente. Police estimated the volumes of cocaine to cost billions.
Governor Ben Evardone referred de la Cruz as an action man.
“In behalf of the province, I would like to personally thank Supt. De la Cruz for helping us in Eastern Samar maintain peace as we moved to progress. He is a action man as he would perform pronto a task requested even only through text messages,” Evardone said.
“Goodbye Supt. De la Cruz and welcome Supt. Castillo,” the Governor closed.
Finally, de la Cruz, beamed likewise with pride when he announced that two new buildings costing P10B and P5B for the PNP Provincial Headquarters will soon be built inside Camp Asidillo. With the help of the local leaders, the new buildings which will house police and non-uniform personnel will ground break this January to replace the age-old one-storey office that the Provincial Command is occupying at present. (PIA-Eastern Samar)
PGMA inducts into office new drug czar, PROC envoy
Manila (5 January) — In simple rites in Malacanang, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inducted on yesterday Frank Benedicto as ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PROC) and former Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group chief, Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. as chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board.
The Commission on Appointments has already approved the appointment of Cebuano Frank Benedicto as ambassador to China in December 2009.
Ambassador Benedicto was appointed by four successive Presidents to different foreign capitals – by President Corazon Aquino as Ambassador to Singapore; by President Fidel Ramos to Seoul and thereafter to Brasilia; by President Joseph Estrada to Ottawa; and by President Arroyo to New Delhi, and now to Beijing.
A Cebuano, Ambassador Frank Benedicto is one of our oldest serving political envoys… and for good reason. In every post he served – Singapore, Brazil, Ottawa, Seoul, New Delhi – his officers and staff swear by him.
Generous to a fault, he travels cross-country to visit every Filipino association event. His Mandarin is an invaluable asset to his posting to Beijing.
On the other hand, Undersecretary Villar replaces former Senator Vicente Sotto III, who resigned in November in order to run for senator in the 2010 elections under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) party.
As DDB chief, Undersecretary Villar said he will work hard to reduce, it not entirely eliminate, illegal drugs. He intimated that he expected a more hazardous life ahead as the new anti-drug czar.
“I have lost friends and political allies when I took the reins as anti-smuggling czar, and I am now expecting more foes as I push the legacy of the government [war] against drugs,” he said.
President Gloria Arroyo has announced the appointment of Undersecretary Villar as her anti-smuggling czar, on December 29 in Baguio.
Undersecretary Villar, head of the presidential anti-smuggling group, will hold the position in a concurrent capacity, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said. (PIA 
PNP 8 vows to ensure strict implementation of election total gun ban in East Visayas
Tacloban City (January 5) — Newly-installed Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Rey Lanada gave the assurance that the PNP in Region 8 will enforce total gun ban from January 10 to June 10 in order to ensure that honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE) will prevail.
The election gun ban, Director Lanada said covers even policemen and all personnel of security forces and law enforcement agencies who are not on official duty or those not duly deputized in writing by the Commission on Elections for any election duty.
The Comelec promulgated on December 16, Resolution No. 8714 entitled “Rules and Resolutions on the Bearing, Carrying or Transporting of Firearms or other Deadly Weapons and Employment, Availment or engagement of the Services of Security Personnel or Bodyguards, during the election period for the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections.”
Central to Resolution 8714’s promulgation of the gun ban, Director Lanada said, is Section 32 of Republic Act 7166 which prohibits anyone to bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance even if these are legally registered and owned.
Director Lanada also appealed to all gun owners, including and especially PNP personnel, to abide by Resolution 8714 and “just be proud to be part of the solution” – ensuring clean and credible elections.
He warned that administrative and criminal sanctions will be meted by police personnel caught violating Resolution 8714.
Meanwhile, only candidates from Mayor upwards may avail of PNP/AFP security detail subject to approval of the Regional Joint Security Control Desks. Not more than two regular members of the PNP, AFP or NBI shall be detailed as security for each politician, with the addition, upon request, of not more than two protective agents, except in exceptionally meritorious circumstances where additional security may be requested by candidates for national positions
Other candidates may engage the services of protective agents, subject to restrictions and conditions that the Comelec may impose. (PIA
