PDEA heightens anti-drug campaign in EV
by Aurora J. Casimpan
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 28 (PIA) -– The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the region informed that the exorbitant price of shabu has focused the agency’s concern on personalities selling or using shabu.
Director Navales also said that the high price of the prohibited drug has lessened the agency’s problem to dealing with personalities who are users or sellers of shabu. But the director also said that the lessened problem brought by shabu does not mean that the drug enforcement agency in the region has lessened its vigilance against the illegal drug.
PDEA’s anti-drug campaign continues unabated through buy bust operations against personalities known to be engaging in illegal drug peddling. Another anti-drug campaign is on the conduct of seminar or forum on the ill-effects of using prohibited drugs in school campuses.
Director Navales also said while their agency could monitor the entry points of shabu in the region through known and legal entry points those shipped using private ports are difficult to do and need a search warrant issued by a court before the agents can enter said ports.
It was learned that PDEA is requesting their central office to provide the agency with K9 sniffing dogs to help them on their monitoring of suspicious items at various ports. (PIA-8)
DOST to hold orientation on AWS data interpretation in Aklan
by Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, November 21 (PIA) — The province of Aklan, through its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), will be conducting an orientation here to teach Aklan’s disaster point persons and officers to read data from weather equipments installed here by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The equipments provided by the DOST in the province include one Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG) placed in Madalag and two Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) placed in two other areas in the province.
The equipment, which were installed here on March 2011, can generate real time data on five weather parameters such as the amount of rainfall, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction. These can be viewed through its Predict Website.
Aklan governor Carlito S. Marquez, in his letter to various agencies inviting them to send their respective point persons to the orientation, said the installation of the equipment is part of disaster prevention and mitigation effort of the government that will help in the immediate and efficient disaster preparedness and response should any weather disturbance occur.
“Let us work together for a disaster-resilient Aklan,” Governor Marquez said.
Meanwhile, besides point persons of member-agencies of the PDRRMO, representatives from Aklan’s 17 municipalities, schools, and the local media were also invited to participate in the orientation.
The PDRRMO also revealed that resource persons for the orientation will be coming from PAGASA-DOST Central Office. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)
P-Noy Administration prioritizes agriculture in 2012 budget
by Amor Saludar
CEBU CITY, November 19 (PIA) — The Aquino administration increased the budget for agriculture by next year at P61.7B which is 60 percent higher compared to this year’s budget allocation.
Pangilinan said this is a very significant move for the government to uplift the lives of farmers and fisher folks by improving the status of the agricultural sector in the country. This is also a key for the country’s objective towards development.
Earlier this year, Pangilinan gathered the Agriculture and Fisheries (AF2025) Task Force together with Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and representatives from the private sector and farmers and fisherfolk organizations in the country for a discussion and detection of some main issues that hamper the potential of the agriculture and fisheries sector to boost.
One of the issues discussed during the convention is the budget limitation intended for the country’s fisherfolks and farmers.
Pangilinan, believed that it was during that conference with DA Secretary Procy Alcala, Budget Secretary Butch Abad, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and President Aquino that the decision to increase DA’s budget for 2012 came up.
The Senator said that the increased budget will surely alleviate the poverty status of the country specifically in the rural areas.
“The increase in incomes of our farmers and fisherfolk will have a tremendous impact on our economy. The demand for goods and services would increase exponentially. The impact of wealthier farmers and fisherfolk on the growth of the economy would be overwhelming,” Pangilinan concluded. (FCR/AS/PIA- CEBU)
Silay City sets “Antepara Para sa Mga Eskwela”
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Nov. 15 (PIA) — Nine German eye specialists have volunteered to provide medical services at the Sen. Jose C. Locsin Cultural and Civic Center in Silay City for the Antepara Para sa Mga Eskwela (Eyeglasses for the schools) program.
The German eye specialists are from KaestnerOptik – Germany giving free eye problem diagnosis to participating secondary schools in Silay namely: Dona Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School (DMLMHS), Don Albino and Dona Dolores Jison Integrated School, Brgy. Guimbala-on National High School, DMLMHS – Patag Ext. Class, E. Lopez National High School, Don Felix Lacson National High School, Dona Angeles Montinola National High School, Guimbala-on Integrated School and the Special Education Division.
Program recipients for this season will also include out-of-school youths from the 16 barangays in Silay who passed the pre-screening activity conducted by the medical personnel of the Silay City Health Office.
Maris Campos, program manager of Cataract Foundation Phil. – Visayas Ear Care Center, said that the foundation and Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano are formulating a whole-year program for Silay.
Montelibano said that he is endorsing the training of the barangay health workers to become experts in eye screening with the supervision of the foundation and assistance from KaestnerOptik – Germany. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6/Silay Negros Occidental)
PNP Siquijor holds PNP media relations seminar
SIQUIJOR, November 13 (PIA) — Over 20 participants composed of Chiefs of Police of the six Municipal Police Stations with their respective Deputy Chiefs of Police, Police Community Relations (PCR) –Police Non- Commission Officers (PNCOs), Public Information PNCOs, PCR and Public Information Officers from the SPPO Headquarters and Provincial Public Safety Platoon (PPSP) led by Police Inspector Luzviminda B. Langbid and Police Inspector Percebal F. Miasco, respectively attended the ‘Media Relations Seminar’ held recently at the Siquijor Provincial Police Office (SPPO), Caipilan, Siquijor, Siquijor.
“Our hope and expectations, is that we will be able to re-orient and motivate every PNP member to be responsive of the importance of a healthy and smooth relationship with each other,” Police Senior Superintendent Ernesto Fuentes Agas said.
In his brief message, the provincial director underscored the impact of having good relationship between the Police and the media as a key to effective information release mechanism in order to reduce communication barriers.
He was optimistic that the one-day seminar will lead to a win-win outcome which not only benefits the Police and the media but also the Siquijudnons and the general public as well.
The main resource speaker was the Regional Director of Philippine Information Agency- 7 Minerva BC Newman who gave her lecture from 8:30AM to 12:00NN and resumed at 1:00PM to 2:30PM.
Her topics included Knowing and Understanding the Media, Information Operation/Development Communication, News Production and Writing among others.
On the part of the PNP, PSSUPT AGAS discussed among other subjects, the PNP- Media Relations, Functions Rules and Responsibilities of the Spokepersons / PIO’s, SOPs/Protocol on Crisis Situation, Press Release Writing.
The seminar culminated at around 5:30 PM with the distribution of certificates of attendance to all participants and the message of RD Newman as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.
She shared her experience and the benefits the public would get from a good relationship between the media and the police.
“The symbiosis of the police and the media makes their jobs easier that will ultimately lead to a well- informed public,” she said. (PIA-Siquijor/RAC& PNP-Siquijor)
DOH deploys midwives in Pantawid Pamilya areas
by Jemin B. Guillermo
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 12 (PIA) –- Additional midwives will be deployed in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) areas in Capiz.
Espiritu said they have already finished conducting the two-day orientation at the Aklan State University for said midwives, who will be closely working with the Rural Health Units in the implementation of various health programs.
He stressed that the midwives, who will be deployed to the towns of Jamindan, Panay, Tapaz, Maayon, President Roxas, Pilar and Sapian by the Department of Health, will provide services in the birthing center as well as undertake programs on maternal and child health, nutrition and newborn screening.
According to him, the said health workers will be assigned in the rural health units for one year with a P6,000 monthly allowance per midwife courtesy of the national government.
Espiritu explained that with the additional health service providers, the conditions, particularly on health and nutrition, set for the grant of the Pantawid Pamilya program for beneficiaries will be complied for them to avail of the government assistance.
Otherwise known as the Conditional Cash Transfer, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provides cash grants to indigent families on condition that they send their children to school, have infants immunized from diseases, and that mothers visit community health centers.
Espiritu said that with the Department of Health’s focus on community health team composed of barangay health workers, barangay official and a midwife to attend to every 100 household, the public’s health needs will be attended to.
Earlier, Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco expressed gratitude to the national government for including all the towns and city in Capiz in said program effective this year.
Tanco stressed that with such a laudable program, many indigents would now be able to be given monthly assistance so that they would be able to continuously send their children to school and for the family, especially the mothers and children, to regularly visit the health centers for the health and nutrition services. (JSC/JBG-PIA6NCapiz)
Capiz DILG offices, employees vie for regional awards
by Jemin B. Guillermo
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 13 (PIA) — Three offices and two employees of a national government agency in Capiz are finalists in the regional service excellence award in Western Visayas.
He said Local Government Operations Officer Charmaine Villareal of the DILG-Panay field office and City LGOO Jose Aurelio Roldan will vie for the LGOO V and VI category, respectively.
Acevedo said the Program on Award and Incentive for Service Excellence (PRAISE) is an initiative of their department to recognize hardworking, competent and top-performing employees and the operating units.
Otherwise known as Performance Incentive for Service and Novelty (PISAN), the program is an innovative and awards system implemented by DILG Region VI that encourages creativity, efficiency and productivity in public service by recognizing its best performing local government field offices and personnel.
He also said the Regional Evaluation Team was here recently for the validation of regional nominees of Capiz.
Villareal bested three other candidates at the provincial level in the LGOO V category while Roldan is an automatic entry for the city category.
Some 30 percent of the criteria will be based on the performance ratings in the last two rating period and performance in the implementation of major plans, programs and activities, 20 percent each for work attitude and competence, 15 percent for the administrative requirements, 10 percent for the innovation and initiative and five percent for result of the diagnostic test.
According to Acevedo, the awarding ceremony where the winner is usually granted cash prize and plaque of recognition will be done before this year ends. (JSC/JBG-PIA6 Capiz)
BSP invites Dumaguete runners to join ‘Mahalaga Ako Night Run’
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 8 (PIA) — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Dumaguete City is inviting local runners and brisk walking enthusiasts to join its “Mahalaga Ako Night” run on Nov. 10, 2011.
The 2.5-kilometer to 5-kilometer run will be held in partnership with the Bankers Club of Negros Oriental (BCNO), Dumaguete Amateur Runners and Striders (DARS) and the Metro Dumaguete Road Runners Club (MDRC).
Divine Labitad of BSP Dumaguete Economic and Financial Learning Center said the run is in support to the central bank’s bid to make it to the Guinness Book of Records for the longest line of coins on November 30 to December 1, 2011 at the Manila Grandstand.
Assembly of runners will be at 7:30 p.m. at the new building of the BSP Dumaguete Branch at North Road Daro, where registertration will also be held.
To register, participants are required to either bring low-denomination coins, particularly the 25-centavo coins, or donate an amount of at least P20 more for BSP’s classroom-building project.
“For those who choose to bring coins, we are requesting them to count their coins by pieces and amount, and put them in a plastic container before handing them over to the our branch secretariat for registration,” said Labitad.
Participants can look forward to prizes, especially for the runner with the most number of coins gathered or donated, added Labitad.
The money collected during the local run and the attempt for longest line of coins in Manila will help build classrooms in La Union, Cebu and Davao provinces representing the three BSP regional offices.
“This will also support our National Coin Recirculation Program by creating a huge awareness campaign on the importance of coins and coin recirculation,” she said.
VP Binay urges WVisayas LGUs to address the 220,000 housing backlog
by TWVillavert
ILOILO CITY, Nov 8 (PIA) — Vice-President Jejomar Binay said that there is a need to address the housing backlog in Western Visayas which he said is about 220,000 housing units.
VP Binay was in Iloilo City to lead the Pabahay Caravan.
“We can address this concern through close working coordination among the national government, local government units and the private developers,” he said.
Binay who is also the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chair urged local government officials to lead the implementation of housing programs for their constituents especially the poor.
He cited the local government of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo for the proposed Kahilwayan Village housing project, as a model for Region 6 where the local government will get some loans from the PagIbig Fund to assist said local government unit in financing residential plans for government workers and members of Pag-Ibig.
The Vice-President also cited the housing program of President Benigno S. Aquino III for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
He said that the Phase 2 of the AFP/PNP Housing program will be implemented next year in Visayas and Mindanao.
He said that the National Housing Authority, the AFP and the PNP Housing Boards are already studying the viability of the proposed areas for the housing program.
According to Binay, the Pabahay Caravan is on its last leg in Iloilo City emphasizing that the housing event is aimed to reorient and update local government officials on the housing programs available and the roles LGUs play in the delivery of housing services to their constituents.
The government’s shelter program is being implemented through various agencies such as the National Housing Authority, Social Housing and Finance Corp. National Home Mortgage Finance Corp., Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG, Binay said
The said shelter agencies discussed their respective programs to the various local government officials, private developers and municipal/ provincial and city planning officers in Western Visayas during a two-day forum held at the Sarabia Manor Hotel, Iloilo City.(JCM/TWV/PIA6-Iloilo)
P-Noy’s top economic governance agenda is fiscal sustainability, DOF says
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, November 4 (PIA) — Fiscal sustainability remains at the forefront of the Aquino Administration’s economic governance agenda. This is the message underscored by a top official of the Department of Finance (DOF) during this morning’s Philippine Economic Briefing in Cebu City.
Finance Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresa Habitan told the over 300 participants to the briefing that “our target of attaining 2.0 deficit-to-GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 2013 is achievable given that we are addressing key areas to improve our revenue effort.”
Habitan said that despite the global economic climate, “our revenues grew close to 14 percent in the first half, surpassing the country’s nominal GDP growth rate of 8.7 percent.”
“Our strict enforcement of administrative measures such as the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE), Run After the Smugglers (RATS) and Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) are sending the right signals to the market,” Habitan stressed.
The DOF official said that to strengthen its commitment to improving revenue generation, their agency will invest in the revenue generating agencies’ infrastructure, information technology, people and process.
The country’s improving balance sheet is evidenced by the decline of the national government’s debt-to-GDP ratio to 51.3 percent as of June 2011.
“Netting out the debt holdings of government agencies of Philippine debt, real debt of the Philippines is actually just 42.2 percent as of 2010 of GDP. Thereby moving the country much closer to its credit rating peers. The country’s external debt-to-GDP is down to 28.8 percent as of end-June, this year. Our goal is to bring it down to 20 percent,” Habitan said.
Towards the direction for the country to have a positive investment grade, Habitan disclosed that “the Philippines has gone a long way and the government will continue to focus on getting the country deeper into a virtuous cycle of lower debt and lower interest expense to have more fiscal space and spend for infrastructure and social services.”
Habitan said this objective of getting deeper into the virtuous cycle will help us attain an investment grade status.
The briefing was attended by heads of national government agencies and leaders of the business and academic sectors as well as other stakeholders and is the second destination of the domestic roadshow of the Philippine Economic Briefing.
Other areas where the briefing will be conducted are Laoag City, Subic, Baguio City, Batangas City and Puerto Princesa. (PIA-Cebu with PR from Investor Relations Office)
