Dispatch for november 6 , 2013 (wednesday) , 1 pia calabarzon prs , 14 weather watch,

Aguinaldo Shrine Pagsanjan Falls Taal Lake Antipolo Church Lucban Pahiyas Feast

Dispatch for November 6 , 2013 (Wednesday) , 1 PIA Calabarzon PRs , 14 Weather Watch,

11 Reg’l. Watch , 8 OFW Watch, 2 PNOY Speech , 14 Online News , 20 Photonews

1. Weather Watch

24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST

Issued At: 5:00 a.m., 06 November 2013

Valid

Beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow

https://www.facebook.com/weatherPH?ref=stream&hc_location=stream

Predicted Mean Sea Level

Pressure

Analysis for 8 a.m., 06 November

2013

Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind

Analysis for 8 a.m., 06 November

2013

Satellite Image

for 4:30 a.m., 06 November 2013

Synopsis:

Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern and Central Luzon. Meanwhile, at 4:00 am today, the eye of Typhoon with

International Name "HAIYAN"was located based on all available data at 1,560 km East of Mindano (07.4°N, 140.7°E)

with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is forecast to move west at 30 kph.

Forecast:

The whole country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains over the regions of Cagayan Valley,

Cordillera, Ilocos and Central Luzon while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have isolated rainshowers or

thunderstorms mostly over the eastern section.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas and the coastal

waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the

northeast to north with slight to moderate seas.

2. Weather Watch

WEATHER ADVISORY Weather Advisory No. 2

For: Typhoon ("HAIYAN")

Issued at: 10:30 AM, 06 November 2013

The eye of the Typhoon ("HAIYAN") over the Pacific Ocean was located at 1,411 km East of Mindanao (7.4°N 139.1°E)

with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 30

kph. This weather disturbance is expected to enter The Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) tomorrow early morning

(November 7). It is expected to make landfall over Samar-Leyte Provinces by Friday (Between 11am-1pm, November 8)

and to exit The Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday Early Morning (November 10).

The next update on this weather disturbance will be incorporated on the regular issuance of public weather forecast at

5:00 pm today.

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3. Weather Watch

GALE WARNING GALE WARNING NO. 4

For: Strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of Northeast Monsoon.

Issued at 5:00 a.m. today, 06 November 2013

Strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and western seaboard of

Luzon.

SEABOARD WEATHER WIND FORCE

(KPH)/(KNOTS)

SEA

CONDITIO

N

WAVE

HEIGHTS

(meters)

The Northern

seaboard of Northern

Luzon

(Batanes, Calayan,

Babuyan, Northern

coast of Cagayan,

Northern coast of

Ilocos Norte)

Partly cloudy to

cloudy skies with

light rains

(52 - 63) / (28 - 34) Rough to

very rough

3.4 to 4.5

Western seaboard of

Luzon

(Ilocos Sur, La Union,

Pangasinan, Western

Coast of Ilocos Norte,

Zambales, Bataan,

Metro Manila, Cavite,

Mindoro Occidental,

Western Batangas and

Palawan)

Partly cloudy to

cloudy skies with

light rains

(52 - 63) / (28 - 34) Rough to

very rough

3.4 to 4.5

Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are

alerted against big waves.

The next update will be issued at 5:00 p.m. today.

4. Weather Watch

54 minutes ago

DZMM: Pinaalalahanan ng NDRRMC ang publiko sa pagkakaroon ng emergency survival kit lalo na sa mga

https://www.facebook.com/weatherPH?hc_location=timeline


https://www.facebook.com/weatherPH/posts/580863575295676

lugar na tinatamaan ng bagyo. Nilinaw ng NDRRMC na malaki ang posibilidad na wala sa mga evacuation

centers ang mga nilalaman ng emergency kit na dapat ay inihahanda ng publiko.

5. Weather Watch

about an hour ago near Quezon City

GMA News TV: Ayon sa PAGASA, bukas ng 2AM inaasahang papasok ng PAR ang bagyong Yolanda at sa

Biyernes ng tanghali ang landfall sa pagitan ng Samar at Leyte.

2 hours ago near Quezon City

DZMM: Kasabay ng paghahanda sa bagyong Yolanda, 40 rubberboats at 20 aluminum boats ang idinagdag

ngayon ng PCG. Ayon sa PCG, kailangan ang mga ito ay para sa mabilis at epektibong relief, search and rescue

operations.

7. Weather Watch

3 hours ago

GMA News: ―Haiyan (#YolandaPH) might be the most dangerous cyclone to affect PHL this year‖ —

Wunderground meteorologist Jeff Masters

8. Weather Watch


DZMM: Nagpalabas na ng advisory ang CAAP sa mga airline company kaugnay ng paparating na bagyong

Yolanda. Sinabi Deputy Dir. Gen. John Andrews na pinayuhan na nila ang mga airline company na ilikas na

nila ang kanilang mga eroplano mula sa mga airport ng lugar na tatamaan ng nasabing bagyo.

9. Weather Watch

15 hours ago

GMA-7 resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz on 24 Oras:

-Humina at naging LPA na lamang ang bagyong Wilma matapos itong mag-landfall kaninang hapon.

-Isang bagyo naman na may international name na 'Haiyan' ang nakikitang papasok sa PAR sa Huwebes kung saan

tatawagin na itong bagyong 'Yolanda.' Ngayon ay isa nang tropical storm ang bagyo. Malakas po ang bagyong ito

kumpara sa bagyong Wilma.

-Sa storm track ng Weather Central, posibleng tumama sa Eastern Visayas ang bagyo sa Biyernes. Mayroon namang

tinatawag na area of uncertainty kung saan pwede ring tumama ang sentro nito sa Bicol Region o Central Luzon o kaya

ay sa Northeastern Mindanao.

-Halos karamihan ng mga numerical weather models, inaasahang tuluy-tuloy ang takbo ng bagyo patungo sa Eastern

Visayas. Hindi pangkaraniwan ang lakas nito kapag tumama ito sa ating bansa.

-Samantala, nagkaroon na ng 23 bagyo sa Pilipinas ngayong 2013. Ang karaniwan ay hanggang 20 na bagyo kada taon



https://www.facebook.com/pages/Quezon-City-Philippines/106050279435951?ref=stream



https://www.facebook.com/weatherPH?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline


https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/yolandaph






ang nararanasan natin.

-Bukas naman ay mahina hanggang katamtamang ulan ang inaasahan sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon kabilang na ang

Metro Manila.

-Makakaranas naman ng hanggang sa minsanang malakas na ulan ang Western Visayas.

-Bahagya namang maulap na may katamtamang pag-ulan ang inaasahan sa malaking bahagi ng Mindanao.

10. Weather Watch

3 hours ago

PAGASA weather forecaster Connie Dadivas on ANC:

-Ang typhoon Haiyan ngayon ay nasa layong 1,478km east of Mindanao.

-Inaasahan nating papasok ito ng PAR bukas ng madaling araw at tatawaging Yolanda.

-600 km ang diameter nito. Masyadong malawak na po ito at sa laki nito ay pwedeng maapektuhan ang buong

Kabisayaan at easter Mindanao.

-Expected landfall nito is sa Eastern Samar. Pagpasok nito bukas ang pinakaunang maapektuhan nito ay

Northern Mindanao, Visayas and eastern section of Southern Luzon

-Sa ngayon ay mas malakas ito kay Pablo. 150kph ang hangin nito.

-Nasa karagatan pa ito ay iyon ang magpapa-intensify pa sa kanya.

11. Weather Watch


DZBB: Ilulunsad ngayong araw ang project Disaster Information Nationwide Awareness (DINA). Ayon kay NDRRMC

spokesperson Balido, pangungunahan ito ng OCD na layon na magkaroon ng access ang publiko sa mga impormasyong

ipinalalabas ng pamahalaan hinggil sa disaster risk and reduction management.

12. Weather Watch


DZBB: Panawagan ni PAGASA chief weather forecaster Rene Paciente sa publiko na panatilihing bukas ang radio at TV.

Kasabay ito ng pagpasok ng malakas na bagyo sa bansa dahil ito aniya ang pinakamabisang paraan para mapaghandaan

ang kalamidad. Tiniyak ng PAGASA na sa pamamagitan ng radio, TV atsocial networking sites, maya’t maya ay

magbibigay sila ng mga update, advisory kaugnay sa bagyong Yolanda.

13. Weather Watch













NDRRMC Executive Dir. Eduardo del Rosario on GMA:

Re: Preparations for Typhoon Yolanda

-Simula po yesterday ay nag-declare na tayo ng blue alert sa regional offices ng OCD sa mga lugar na posibleng daanan

ng bagyong Yolanda kapag pumasok na sa PAR. Ito ay sa Regions 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, Northern Mindanao, CARAGA at

Metro Manila.

-Nakaalerto na rin ang lahat ng mga disaster units ng AFP.

14. Weather Watch

6 hours ago

Project NOAH Dir. Mahar Lagmay on ABS-CBN:

Re: Typhoon Yolanda

-Habang papalapit ang December ang mga bagyo ay pababa o pa-Visayas at Mindanao.

-Sa model ng various weather agencies tulad ng Japan Meteorological Agency ay napakalakas ng hangin nito. Lagpas

200kph ang hangin nito at kung umabot ito sa 240kph ay para itong bagyong Pablo.

-Sa classification ng PAGASA ay tatala ito sa Signal No. 4.

-Right now, nasa labas pa siya ng PAR at nakikita kong tatama ito sa Samar at lalabas ng Mindoro.

-Kapag tumama ito sa Samar at Leyte ay kinakabahan ako sa Bohol. Unstable pa ang mga infrastructure doon tapos

papahanginan pa ng malakas.

-Malaki ang tiyansa na magkaroon ng pagbaha at landslide.

Weather Watch

November 6 , 2013 ( Wednesday ) as of 6:00-7:00 AM

CAVITE : Sunny LAGUNA : Sunny BATANGAS : Fair Weather RIZAL : Sunny QUEZON : Fair Weather



http://www.facebook.com/weatherPH?ref=stream

PIA Regional Watch

1. PIA Regional Watch

5 minutes ago

PIA-4A/CALAMBA CITY: The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council 4A has notified

today the RDRRMC4A Response Committee for an emergency meeting tomorrow, Nov. 7, 2013 at the

conference room of the Office of Civil Defense 4A at Camp Vicente Lim, Mayapa, Calamba City to tackle

preparations regarding the typhoon with international name Haiyan, (Yolanda) threatening to enter Philippine

area of responsibility (PAR) this week. The RDRRMC4A Response Committee is chaired by DSWD-4A

regional director Leticia T. Diokno.


6 minutes ago

PIA-4A/CAVITE: The local government of General Trias lauded the municipal Public Employment Service

Office under the leadership of Ariel Mugol for being adjudged as a Hall of Famer of the 2012 Best PESOs of

the Philippines for the performance in generating decent and solid employment opportunities to the applicants

who wants to work local or abroad.

.


6 minutes ago

PIA-4A/RIZAL: Students of the University of Rizal System - Angono recently opened an Art Exhibit at the

SM Taytay Event Center to honor national artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco's birthday (Nov. 4).



PIA-4A/QUEZON: Pinaplano ngayon ng pamahalaang panglungsod ng Lucena ang pagbibigay ng

http://www.facebook.com/regionalwatch?ref=stream

https://www.facebook.com/regionalwatch?hc_location=timeline

https://www.facebook.com/regionalwatch/posts/632510383454068








pansamantalang body number sa mga pumapasadang kolurum ng tricycle sa lungsod ng Lucena. Layunin nito

na magkaroon ng pagkakakilanlan o matukoy ang mga tricycle driver na sumisingil ng labis sa mga pasahero,

may maingay at mausok na tambutso at nagpapatakbo ng mabilis.


PIA-4A/QUEZON: The city government of Lucena under the leadership of Mayor Roderick Alcala recently

turned-over a hand tractor and sprayer to farmer's federation of barangay Mayao Parada in Lucena City. The

formal turn over of said equipment held at the old city hall building aims to increase rice pro duction or income

of said farmers association.



PIA-4A/RIZAL: Tanay, Rizal will be holding its 407th founding anniversary and 3rd Hane Festival this

November. An opening ceremony will be held this Nov. 8 at the Tanay Park to be officiated by the local

government to mark the start of the festivities from Nov. 8 to 12.


20 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: Ang pamahalaang bayan ng Sariaya, Mining and Geosciences Bureau {MGB} Region-4A

at provincial mining and regulatory board {PMRB} ay nagkasundo upang maisa pinal sa lalong madaling

panahon ang comprehensive land use plan upang maresolba ang problema sa iligal na operasyon ng quarry at

maisaayos ang river system sa Sariaya. Sinabi ni Mayor Boyet Masilang ng Sariaya na dapat maglagay ng

ilang polisiya at regulasyon ang MGB at PMRB na tu tugma sa mga pangangailangan sa problema sa

quarrying at river system.


20 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The provincial gender and development (PGAD) office conducted gender sensitivity

training to the municipal employees of Mulanay, Quezon. The training will make the employees aware on the

gender concept and issues.


20 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: Philhealth-4A is reminding all Philhealth members in Quezon province to ensure that their

monthly or quarterly payments/contributions per year are completed to avail benefits from Philhealth

especially in time of hospitalization.













Yesterday near Quezon City

PIA-4A/BATANGAS: May 142 kababaihan ang sumailalim at nagtapos sa long season barangay based

livelihood training seminar na ipinagkaloob ng Office of the city veterinary and agricultural services. Ilan sa

mga pagsasanay na isinagawa ang meat processing, soap making, perfume making, cosmetology, hair cutting,

candle making at iba pa.


Yesterday near Quezon City

PIA-4A/CAVITE: Local media practitioners will be attending tomorrow, November 6 the pre-conference of

the 10th Helen Keller World Conference and the 4th Quadrennial General Assembly of the World Federation

of the DeafBlind to held at the Tagaytay International Convention Center at exactly eight (8 ) in the morning.

1. PIA OFW Watch

6 hours ago

PHL Consul Gen to Hong Kong Noel Servigon on ABS-CBN:

Re: Hong Kong mulls sanction vs. PH

-Ang estimate natin 180,000 Filipinos ang narito sa Hong Kong.

-Ang export natin to Hong Kong ay nasa favorable na trade tayo.

-Nire-report din namin iyan sa DFA.

-Hindi natin malalaman ngayon (kung sino ang mas maapektuhan) hangga‘t hindi natin nalalaman kung ang

sanctions nila.

2. PIA OFW Watch


Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay on DZMM:

Re: OFWs na walang iqama

-‗Yung pagkakaroon ng tourist visa, that is not qualified sa iqama.

-They should come to the Consulate.

-Wala pa kaming natatanggap na report na ganun, na may hinuhuli na po (na mga OFW).

-Patuloy po ang monitoring.







https://www.facebook.com/globalpinoys?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline

https://www.facebook.com/globalpinoys/posts/643811985671659




3. PIA OFW Watch


Blas Ople Foundation‘s Toots Ople on DZRH:

Re: Saudization

-Dalawang bagay ang may kakulangan sa nangyayaring sitwasyon ng ating mga OFW sa Saudi Arabia.

-Una, ang worker mismo kasi sila ang nakakaalam kung iligal na sila.

-Pangalawa, talamak naman talaga ang contract subdivision sa Middle East.

-Pangatlo, may pagkukulang ang Saudi Arabia dahil sa dami ng foreign illegal workers doon, sa dami ng

kailangang iproseso kulang din sila sa manpower resources.

-Ika nga, desisyon ito ng Saudi Arabia at kailangang igalang kasi nakikisilong tayo sa ekonomiya nila.

-Ang importante magtulungan ngayon.

-Sana may one-stop center sa mga nare-repatriate dahil karamihan sa mga iyon may trauma.

-Ang aming foundation ay nakatutok at naka-monitor, may FB page na binuksan.

-Kami ay nakikipagtulungan din sa Villar Foundation kay Sen. Cynthia Villar.

-Si Sen.Villar ay mayroong pinagkalooban ng libreng ticket thru personal funds at uuwi mamaya ang mga

nakatulungan niyang workers.

-Ang Blas Ople Foundation ay magsasapong taon na.

-Tumutulong operationally kapag may nire-refer kaming mga cases. Ka-partner namin ang mga embassies

natin, mga labor attache‘.

-Sa pondo, hindi kami PDAF o DAP-funded, kami ay self-funded at may mga tumutulong sa aming mga

private sector na naniwala sa ginagawa namin.

4. PIA OFW Watch


Blas Ople Foundation‘s Toots Ople on DZRH:

Re: Saudization

-Dalawang bagay ang may kakulangan sa nangyayaring sitwasyon ng ating mga OFW sa Saudi Arabia.

-Una, ang worker mismo kasi sila ang nakakaalam kung iligal na sila.

-Pangalawa, talamak naman talaga ang contract subdivision sa Middle East.

-Pangatlo, may pagkukulang ang Saudi Arabia dahil sa dami ng foreign illegal workers doon, sa dami ng

kailangang iproseso kulang din sila sa manpower resources.

-Ika nga, desisyon ito ng Saudi Arabia at kailangang igalang kasi nakikisilong tayo sa ekonomiya nila.

-Ang importante magtulungan ngayon.

-Sana may one-stop center sa mga nare-repatriate dahil karamihan sa mga iyon may trauma.

-Ang aming foundation ay nakatutok at naka-monitor, may FB page na binuksan.

-Kami ay nakikipagtulungan din sa Villar Foundation kay Sen. Cynthia Villar.

-Si Sen.Villar ay mayroong pinagkalooban ng libreng ticket thru personal funds at uuwi mamaya ang mga

nakatulungan niyang workers.

-Ang Blas Ople Foundation ay magsasapong taon na.

-Tumutulong operationally kapag may nire-refer kaming mga cases. Ka-partner namin ang mga embassies

natin, mga labor attache‘.

-Sa pondo, hindi kami PDAF o DAP-funded, kami ay self-funded at may mga tumutulong sa aming mga

private sector na naniwala sa ginagawa namin.

5. PIA OFW Watch

17 hours ago

GMA: Humingi na ng tulong kay VP Binay ang pamilya ni Hussein Abdain, ang OFW na nakatakdang









maputulan ng kamay sa Saudi Arabia dahil sa kasong pagnanakaw.

6. PIA OFW Watch

18 hours ago

DZRH: Aresto at deportasyon na lamang ang nalalabing pag-asa para makabalik ng Pilipinas ang libu-libong

Pilipino na hindi nakapag-proseso ng kanilang working status sa Saudi Arabia. Kaugnay nito, pinahahanda ni

DFA Sec. Del Rosario ang mga nalalabing Pilipino sa posibleng pag-aresto sa kanila ng mga awtoridad ng

Saudi. Inamin nito na hindi na mapipigilan ang anumang pag-aresto sa mga Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia kahit

naghihintay na lamang ng kanilang Exit visa.

7. PIA OFW Watch

17 hours ago

DZRH: Patuloy na nanawagan ang DFA at embahada ng Pilipinas sa Saudi na manatili muna sa mga shelter

sa Jeddah ang mga hindi pa nakakakuha ng kanilang Exit visa Sa Riyadh. Sinabi ni del Rosario na sa Riyadh

ay halos wala ng problema ang mga OFW at karamihan sa nag-aayos ng kanilang working status ay tapos na

ang proseso. Mabagal aniya at napakaliit ng oras ang inilalaan ng Saudi Immigration Office sa mga OFW na

maaaring makapagproseso ng kanilang exit visa mula 10:00 ng gabi hanggang 3:00 ng madaling-araw isang

beses kada linggo.

8. PIA OFW Watch

18 hours ago

ABS-CBN: Ayon sa DFA, wala pang Pilipinong nahuhuli sa Saudi Arabia dahil sa ipinatutupad na

crackdown sa undocumented foreign workers doon. Samantala, siniguro naman ng OWWA ang tulong na

ibibigay sa lahat ng mga OFW sa Saudi na mapapauwi sa bansa.

A. QUEZON





https://www.facebook.com/globalpinoys?hc_location=timeline


B. CAVITE

C. LAGUNA

D. BATANGAS

1. Tagalog news: 200 batang Badjao, benepisaryo ng

supplemental feeding

Tuesday 5th of November 2013

LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS, Nob. 5 (PIA) --Mahigit 200 batang Badjao na

malnourished ang naging benepisyaryo ng supplemental feeding integrated social

services sa ilalim ng programang Kabisig ng Kalahi na inilunsad kamakailan sa mga

barangay ng Malitam at Wawa sa lungsod na ito.

Ang programa na magkatulong na ipinatutupad ng Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD) at pribadong sektor tulad ng Unilever at Mead Johnson ay

naglalayong isailalim sa supplemental feeding ang mga batang malnourished na may

edad 0-4 na taong gulang hanggang maging normal ang kanilang timbang.

Maliban sa DSWD, kasama rin sa programa ang National Statistic Office (NSW),

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Commission of

Indigenous People (NCIP) at sa pamahalaang lokal sa pangunguna ng City

Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) at tulong mula sa City

Civil Registrar‘s Office, mga opisyal ng barangay, at mga day care workers.

Sinabi ni Mila Española, hepe ng CSWDO, na mahigit sa 400 Badjao

ang pansamantalang kinakalinga sa lungsod at patuloy na binibigyan ng

tulong. Iginiit nito na hindi na dapat madagdagan pa ang bilang ng mga Badjao na

pansamantalang naninirahan sa lungsod.

Ang City Registrar‘s Office ay nagsasagawa naman ng birth registration upang

maging lehitimong residente sa lungsod ang mga Badjao.

Nagpasalamat naman si barangay captain Jerry Dapula ng barangay Malitam sa

pamahalaang lokal sa hakbang nito na maging lehitimong residente ang mga Badjaos

sa kanilang barangay

Si Maligaya Duno, 48 taong gulang, may 14 na anak at isa sa pinakamatagal na

naninirahang Badjao sa lungsod, ay ipinarating naman ang kanyang malaking

pasasalamat sa lokal na pamahalaan na walang sawang tumutulong at kumakalinga sa

kanila.

Aniya, damang-dama nila ang tulong na ipinagkakaloob ng pamahalaang lokal lalo na

sa kanilang mga anak na nakapag-aaral na at siyang magbibigay sa kanila ng pag-

asang umangat ang kalidad ng kanilang pamumuhay.

Idinagdag pa nito na simula ng sila‘y manirahan sa lungsod, malaking pagbabago ang

naganap sa kanilang pamumuhay.

Samantala, tumanggap ng bag of groceries ang mga Badjao ng lumahok sa food

for work sa pamamagitan ng paglilinis ng mga spillway at drainage upang hindi na

bahain ang kanilang barangay.

Naging panauhin sa paglulunsad ng programa sina DSWD 4A regional director Letty

Diokno; NCIP 4A director Roberto Almonte; Victoria Weineke, presidente ng

Kabisig ng Kalahi. Dumalo rin ang mga kinatawan ng Lingap Parangap ng mga Paslit

Center Inc., Josie Maranan ng CRO, at Elma Salamat ng DSWD Central Office. (Liza

Perez De Los Reyes, PIO-Batangas City)

E. RIZAL

05 NOVEMBER 2013.

Philippines goes digital, Coloma says

Government to assist Filipinos abused in Saudi Arabia

Government relentless in fighting poverty, say Palace

Philippines bids for organ donor world record

Palace says National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council preparing Eastern Visayas for

typhoon Yolanda

Philippines goes digital, Coloma says

President Benigno S. Aquino III has given the go-signal to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to begin the groundwork for the migration to the Japanese digital television system of the country’s television system, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma said on Tuesday. Coloma said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that after a series of consultations by the Economic Team, the Department of Science and Technology and the NTC with various stakeholders, including broadcasters, the commission prepared a draft memorandum circular that was discussed in a public hearing last October 29. "All the major broadcasters attended the public hearing and there were no noted objections to the issuance of the said memorandum circular," he said. "The Philippines is joining other Asean member countries in switching over from analog to digital broadcasting," Coloma said. Coloma said the Philippines, like the 15 fifteen other countries, has chosen to adopt the integrated service digital broadcasting-terrestrial (ISDB-T) system that was developed by Japan. The ISDB-T paves the way for digital broadcast in the entire country, Coloma said. "Such move will provide free-to-air digital TV signal to televiewers and consumers that is clearer even if they are in remote areas. The choice of this system was announced by President Aquino to the Philippine media delegation at the recent Asean summit in Brunei Darussalam," he said. According to Coloma, the President emphasized the new system is aligned with the government’s objective of zero-casualty in times of calamities. Coloma said the presidential directive will phase out analogue transmission in approximately two to three years.

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#digital

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#Saudi_Arabia

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#poverty

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#organ

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#typhoon_Yolanda

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#typhoon_Yolanda

He stressed more than 20 typhoons strike the Philippines every year. With six active faults, the country is situated within the Pacific ring of fire thereby exposing the Filipino people to constant danger and adversity. To address this challenge, Coloma said the NTC ascertained the compatibility of the ISDB-T system with mobile devices since there are approximately 95 million mobile phone subscribers. This facility, Coloma said, may also be accessed through other mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, game consoles and the like. He said ISDB-T has a built-in early warning system to enable people with TV sets, mobile phones and other hand-held gadgets with TV receivers to receive early warning announcements and advisories from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council. It has also a built-in mobile transmission that can send early warnings to more than 100 million mobile phone users in the country at the shortest possible, Coloma said. ―These features are very much applicable to the Philippines as we have the same situation as Japan in terms of natural calamities,‖ Coloma explained. ―This development is most relevant to a country prone to natural calamities and will help increase our reaction and response to calamities. The President is glad that our broadcasters are one with the government in adopting the Japanese system for the same reasons,‖ he said. "Another factor is the lower cost for acquiring a set top box compatible with existing television sets. We expect that by yearend 2013, the NTC, in coordination with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, will be able to conduct public consultations leading to the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations," Coloma said. PND (js)

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Government to assist Filipinos abused in Saudi Arabia

The government is prepared to support Filipinos seek justice after some were reportedly abused and humiliated in the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants in Saudi Arabia, Malacanang said on Tuesday. ―Tungkulin po ng ating pamahalaan na ipagtanggol ang karangalan at karapatan ng lahat ng mamamayan,‖ Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday. ―Kung meron pong sapat na katibayan na ito ay naganap, at sila ay handang magharap ng pormal na usapin, tutulungan po sila ng ating pamahalaan na magawaran sila ng katarungan sa kanilang sinapit,‖ he said. Thirty Filipino workers arriving from Saudi Arabia on Monday said they were abused and humiliated in the midst of a Saudi crackdown on illegal migrants as part of its ―Saudization‖ policy. The Filipinos claimed that Saudi police rounded them up and placed them in a crowded cell for four days before they were paraded from the immigration center to the airport. The Filipino workers were among an estimated 6,700 Filipino workers stranded in parts of Saudi Arabia where an amnesty for undocumented foreigners ended on Sunday. As to the proposal of some non-government organizations for the Philippine government to hire private lawyers to speed up the repatriation of Filipinos there, Coloma said the Department of Foreign Affairs handles the concerns of Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia. ―Ang Department of Foreign Affairs po ang tumututok sa usaping iyan. Meron po tayong konsulado heneral sa Jeddah at embassy sa Riyadh at sila po ang magpapanukala kung ano pang karagdagang hakbang ang kinakailangan, bukod pa doon sa mga naisagawa na at kasalukuyan pang isinasagawa, kaya hihintayin po namin ang rekomendasyon ng ating Department of Foreign Affairs,‖ Coloma said. ―Saudization‖ is a national policy of Saudi Arabia encouraging employment of Saudi nationals in the private sector, which was largely dominated by Asian, European and American expatriate workers. The Saudi government has enacted policies to promote ―Saudization,‖ including warnings to companies that will fail to comply with regulations will not get government contracts. PND (as)

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Government relentless in fighting poverty, say Palace

The government is fighting poverty in a sustained basis and concentrating in expanding the conditional cash transfer program as well as providing informal education to lift people out of poverty, a Palace official said. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday that one of the government’s biggest allocation in 2010 was for the Department of Social Welfare and Development for its Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program.

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/today.htm#TOP


―Ito ay isang determined effort on the part of the government to lift our people from the lowest levels of poverty to attain economic self-sufficiency,‖ Coloma said. Over the years, even with some criticisms, the government increased the allocations for the 4Ps and CCT programs and based on the latest recommendation of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the government has allotted P10-billion for the programs in the 2014 budget. The current CCT program only covers those in the grade school and based on PIDS’s estimate, the anti-poverty effort will be more enduring and long-lasting if it helps students finish high school. Coloma said that out of 100 students enrolled in Grade 1, only 33 make it to high school, with a high dropout rate. This is the target of the CCT program: to cut the dropout rate in grade schools. The government also strengthens non-formal educational systems in the country to help out-of-school youth get the skills for them to enter the job market. The Aquino administration is determined to attain poverty reduction and is also pushing for social protection programs, hoping that in the near future it would be able to reduce the number of poor Filipinos. A nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Station from September 20 to 30 showed that 50 percent of the respondents rated themselves as poor, from 49 percent or 10.4 million households in June. PND (as)

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Philippines bids for organ donor world record

On November 28, the Philippines will attempt to set a world record for "lifelines" - to convince more Filipinos to sign up as organ donors. The "I'm a Lifeline" campaign, which aims to set a new Guinness World Record, will be held in six zones nationwide. It will be held in North Luzon (San Fernando, La Union), Naga (Bicol Medical Center), Tacloban City, Davao (Southern Philippines Medical Center), Metro Manila (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) A sixth zone will be in Metro Manila, with the Department of Health determining the particular venue. On the other hand, netizens can support the campaign by liking its Facebook page at facebook.com/LifeLinePHL, or following its Twitter account at @LifeLinePHL. The campaign seeks to break the record for single-site registration at 4,135, at Dharmsinh Desai University in Nadiad, Gujarat, India on Jan. 1 this year. It also seeks to beat the record in one hour for a single site, at 2,755, held by Prakash Gurjar and Madadgar Parivar in Ahmedabad, Gudjarat, India last Sept. 17. By referring to organ donors as lifelines, the campaign seeks as well to allay misconceptions about organ donation and help create a national donor registry. The Department of Health's Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) and the Philippine Information Agency are heading efforts for an information drive to drum up public awareness on organ donation. Signing a memorandum of agreement for the campaign on Tuesday were Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma Jr. and Polytechnic University of the Philippines president Emmanuel de Guzman. PUP vice president for administration Alberto Guillo; DOH Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program manager Antonio Paraiso, and Emelyn Libunao, staff director for the PIA's Project Management Division, witnessed the signing. The campaign stemmed from a focus group discussion of the PIA last July, which showed most people equate organ donation with "great sacrifice." It also showed most people are willing to sacrifice only for immediate family members. PND (jl)

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Palace says National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council preparing Eastern Visayas for typhoon Yolanda

Malacanang on Tuesday assured the public that the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, including its regional and provincial units, is preparing for Tropical Storm Yolanda.



Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma said that the Eastern Visayas Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council will meet today in preparation for the approaching typhoon. ―Nakatutok po diyan ang ating NDRRMC, at doon sa isang partikular na lugar na tinatayang tatamaan nito, gusto kong ipaalam sa inyo na ang East Visayas DRRMC ay nakatakdang magpulong ngayong hapon sa Leyte,‖ he said. ―Ito po ang partikular na aksyon nila on the ground level: to discuss measures to undertake in preparation for the approaching Tropical Storm Yolanda,‖ Coloma said during a press briefing in Malacanang. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Tropical Storm Yolanda is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning. ―Kahit na ang forecast po ng PAGASA ay sa November 8 pa ang maigting na pagtama nito, pinaghahandaan na doon sa ground through the regional and provincial units of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council,‖ Coloma said. PND (co)

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ARCHIVE 2013

05 NOBYEMBRE 2013

Digital na ang Pilipinas, wika ni Coloma

Tutulungan ng gobyerno ang mga Pilipinong pinagmalabisan sa Saudi Arabia

Walang puknat ang pagbaka ng gobyerno sa karalitaan, sabi ng Palasyo

Lumalaban ang Pilipinas para sa organ donor world record

Handa na ang National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, sabi ng Malacanang, para sa bagyong Yolanda sa Silangang Kabisayaan

Digital na ang Pilipinas, wika ni Coloma

Iniatas na ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) na pasimulan na ang paghahanda tungo sa paglipat sa Japanese digital television ng sistema sa telebisyon ng bansa, ayon kay Kalihim Herminio Coomoa, Jr.ng Presidential Communications Operations Office sa pulong-balitaan Martes sa Malacanang. Sinabi ni Coloma na pagkaraan ng mga konsultasyon ng Economic Team, ang Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya at NTC sa iba-ibang stakeholders, kabilang ang mga brodkaster, inihanda ng komisyon ang draft memorandum circular na tinalakay sa hayagang pagdinig noong Oktubre 29. ―Walang sino mang pangunahing brodkaster na dumalo sa hayagang pagdinig ang tumutol sa memorandum circular na ilalabas,‖ wika ni Coloma. ―Makikiisa ang Pilipinas sa iba pang bansang kasapi ng ASEAN sa paglipat sa digital broadcasting mula sa analog,‖ dugtong pa ni Coloma. Ayon kay Coloma, minarapat ng Pilipinas, katulad ng 15 pang ibang bansa, na gamitin ang integrated service digital broadcasting-terrestrial (ISDB-T) system na nilikha ng Hapon. Ang ISDB-T ang magiging daan para sa digital broadcast sa buong bansa,‖ sabi pa ni Coloma. ―Ang hakbang na ito ang magbibigay ng free-to-air digital TV signal ng higit na malinaw na signal sa mga manonood ng telebisyon at mga tagatangkilik kahit sila ay nasa malalayong mga pook. Ang pagpili ng sistemang ito ay inihayag ng Pangulong Aquino sa delegasyon ng media ng Pilipinas na dumalo kamakailan sa idinaos na ASEAN Summit sa Brunei Darussalam,‖ sabi pa ng Kalihimng PCOO. Ayon kay Coloma, binigyang diin ng Pangulo na ang bagong sistemang ito ay naaangkop sa layunin ng pamahalaan na walang sino mang masawi kung mayroong mga kalamidad. Idinugtong ni Coloma na sa atas na ito ng Pangulo, aalisin na ang analague transmission sa tinatayang dalawa hanggang tatlong taon. Binigyang diin ni Coloma na mahigit na 20 bagyo ang dumaraan sa Pilipinas taun-taon. Dahil mayroong anim na


http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/balitangmalacanang_archive2013.htm

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http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/balitang_malacanang.htm#Tutulungan

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/balitang_malacanang.htm#Walang_puknat

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http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/balitang_malacanang.htm#Handa_na

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aktibong faults, ang bansa ay nasa pook na sakop ng Pacific ring of fire kaya ang sambayanang Pilipino ay lagi nang nakabingit sa panganib at mga suliranin. Para matugunan ang mga panganib na ito, sinabi ni Coloma na tiniyak ng NTC na iagpang ang ISDB-T system sa mobile devices yamang tinatayang aabot sa 95 milyon ang mobile phone subscribers sa bansa. Ipinaliwanag ni Coloma na ang ISDB-T ay may built-in early warning system upang ang mga taong may TV sets, mobile phones at iba pang hand-held gadgets na may TV receivers ay agad makatatanggap ng maagang babala at mga patalastas buhat sa National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council. ―Mayroon din itong built-in mobile transmission upang mabilis na maipadala ang babala sa mahigit na 100 milyong gumagamit ng mobile phones sa bansa,‖ dagdag ni Coloma. ―Bagay na bagay sa Pilipinas ang bagay na ito sapagka’t magkatulad tayo ng kalagayan ng Hapon kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang mga kalamidad na bunga ng Kalikasan,‖ pahayag pa ni Coloma. ―Napakahalaga ng pangyayaring ito sa isang bansang malimit dalawin ng mga likas na kalamidad sapagka’t makatutulong ito nang malaki para higit tayong maagap na makakilos at matugunan ang panganganailangan sa oras ng kalamidad. Natutuwa ang Pangulo sapagka’t kaisa ng ating pamahalaan ang mga brodkasters natin sa paggamit ng sistemang Hapones tungo sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayan,‖ alinsunod kay Coloma. ―Bukod dito, higit pang mababa ang halaga sa paglalagay ng top box na angkop sa mga kasalukuyang gamit na telebisyon. Inaasahan nating sa pagtatapos ng 2013, ang NTC, sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, ay makasasangguni sa taong bayan upang magawa na ang mga tuntunin at patakarang ipatutupad tungkol dito,‖ wika pa ni Coloma. PND (js/zaf)

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Tutulungan ng gobyerno ang mga Pilipinong pinagmalabisan sa Saudi Arabia

Tutulungan ng pamahalaan ang mga Pilipino na umano ay pinagmalabisan at hiniya nang ilunsad ng Saudi Arabia ang paghahanap sa mga ilegal na migrante upang makamit nila ang katarungan, ayon sa pahayag ng Malacanang Martes. ―Tungkulin po ng ating pamahalaan na ipagtanggol ang karangalan at karapatan ng lahat ng mamamayan,‖ sabi ni Kalihim Herminio Coloma, Jr. ng Presidential Communications Operations Office sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Martes. ―Kung mayroon pong sapat na katibayan na ito ay naganap at sila ay handang magharap ng pormal na usapin, tutulungan po sila ng ating pamahalaan upang magawaran sila ng katarungan sa kanilang sinapit,‖ dugtong pa ni Coloma. Sinabi ng tatlumpung Pilipino na dumating buhat sa Saudi Arabia Lunes na pinagmalabisan at hiniya sila habang ginagawa ang Saudi crackdown sa mga ilegal na migrante na bahagi ng kanilang patakarang Saudization. Ayon sa mga Pilipino, dinakip sila ng mga pulis at ikinulong sa gitgitang piitan sa loob ng apat na araw bago sila ipinarada mula sa immigration center papunta sa paliparan. Ang mga manggagawang Pilipinong ito ay kabilang sa tinatayang 6,700 Pilipinong manggagawang hindi nakaalis sa iba-ibang panig ng Saudi Arabia na nagbigay na amnestiya na nagtapos noong Linggo para sa mga dayuhang hindi dokumentado. Tungkol naman sa mungkahi ng ilang non-government organizations na kumuha ang pamahalaang Pilipino ng pribadong abogado para mapabilis ang pagpapauwi sa mga Pilipino, sinabi ni Coloma na ang Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas ang nangangasiwa sa mga bagay na may kaugnayan sa mga manggagawang Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia. ―Ang Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas po ang tumututok sa usaping iyan. Mayroon po tayong konsulado heneral sa Jeddah at embahada naman sa Riyadh. Sila po ang magpapanukala kung ano ano pang karagdagang mga hakbang ang kinakailangan, bukod doon sa mga naisagawa na at kasalukuyan pang isinasagawa. Kaya hihintayin po namin ang rekomendasyon ng ating Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas,‖ sabi ni Coloma. Ang Saudization ay isang pambansang patakaran ng Saudi Arabia na humihimok na mga mamamayan ng Saudi ang bigyan ng hanapbuhay sa pribadong sektor na ang mga kawani ay mga Asyano, Europeo at Amerikanong manggagawa ang nagsisipasok. Marami nang hindi dokumentadong OFWs ang napauwi ng pamahalaang Pilipino bago puspusang ipinatupad ang ―Saudization.‖ Nagpatibay ang pamahalaan ng Saudi Arabia ng patakarang magsusulong ng ―Saudization,‖ kabilang ang babala sa mga kompanya na kapag hindi nila sinunod ang tuntuning ito, hindi na sila makakukuha ng kontrata sa pamahalaan. PND (as/zaf)

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Walang puknat ang pagbaka ng gobyerno sa karalitaan, sabi ng Palasyo

Walang puknat at tuluy-tuloy ang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan na bakahin ang karalitaan at nakatuon ito sa pagpapalawak pa ng conditional cash transfer program, gayundin ang pagkakaloob ng impormal na edukasyon upang makaahon sa kahirapan ang mga dukha. Ito ang binigyang diin ni Kalihim Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma, Jr. ng Presidential Communications Operations Office sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Martes. Sinabi ni Coloma na ang pinakamalaking pinaglaanan ng pondo ng pamahalaan noong 2010 ay ang Programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino ng Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Kaunlaran. ―Puspusang pagsisikap sa panig ng pamahalaan ang ginagawa upang maiahon sa karalitaan ang ating mga kababayan at magkaroon ng kakayahang bumuti ang buhay,‖ sabi ni Coloma. Sa nakalipas na mga taon, sa kabila ng mga tuligsa, dinagdagan pa ng pamahalaan ang pondo para sa mga programang 4Ps at CCT. Batay sa pinakahuling rekomendasyon ng Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), naglaan ang pamahalaan ng P10 bilyon para sa mga naturang programa sa badyet ng 2014. Sa kasalukuyang programa ng CCT, ang saklaw lamang ay ang mga nasa mababang paaralan at salig sa taya ng PIDS, ang pagsisikap laban sa kahirapan ay higit na magiging kapaki-pakinabang kung tutulungan ang mga mag-aaral na makatapos sa mataas na paaralan. Ipinaliwanag ni Coloma na sa 100 mag-aaral na pumasok sa Unang Baitang, 23 lamang ang nakaaabot sa mataas na paaralan. Napakalaki ng bilang na hindi nakatatapos. Ang pakay ng programang CCT ay mabawasan ang bilang ng hindi nakatatapos sa mababang paaralan. Pinag-ibayo pa ng pamahalaan ang non-formal educational systems sa bansa upang bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga batang hindi na nag-aaral na matuto ng kaalamang panghanap-buhay upang sila ay magkatrabaho. Matatag ang paninindigan ng administrasyong Aquino na bawasan ang karalitaan at puspusang isulong ang social production programs upang sa madaling panahon ay matupad ang pakay na mabawasan ang bilang ng maralitang Pilipino. Sa pambansang survey na ginawa ng Social Weather Station mula Setyembre 20-30, lumitaw na 50 porsiyento (kalahati) ng mga tinanong (respondents) ang nagsabing sila ay maralita, buhat sa 49 porsiyento o 10.4 milyong tahanan noong Hunyo. PND (as/zaf)

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Lumalaban ang Pilipinas para sa organ donor world record

Tatangkain ng Pilipinas sa Nobyembre 28 na makuha ang pandaigdig na rekord para sa lifelines upang mahimok ang mga Pilipino na lumagda bilang organ donors. Layunin ng kampanyang ―I’m a Lifeline‖ na gumawa ng bagong Guinness World Record na gaganapin sa six zones nationwide. Gaganapin ito sa Hilagang Luzon (San Fernando, La Union), Naga (Bicol Medical Center), Lungsod ng Tacloban, Davao (Southern Philippines Medical Center), Metro Manila (Polytechnic University of the Philippines). Ang ikaaanim na sosna ay sa Metro Manila at pipiliin pa ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan kung saan ito idaraos. Sa kabilang dako, masusuportahan ng netizens ang kampanya sa pamamagitan ng Facebook page na facebook.com/LifeLinePHL, o sa Twitter account na @LifeLinePHL. Layunin ng kampanyang ito na sirain ang rekord para sa single-site registration ng 4,135 sa Dharmsinh Desal University sa Nadiad, Gujarat, India noong Enero 1 ng taong ito. Hangad din nitong sirain ang rekord na isang oras para sa iisang pook na 2,755 na hawak ng Prakash Gurjar at Madadgar Parivar sa Ahmedabad, Gudjarat, India noong Setyembre 17. Sa paggamit ng lifelines para sa organ donors, layunin din ng kampanya na pawiin ang maling palagay tungkol sa organ donation at sa halip ay lumikha ng isang national donor registry. Ang pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon upang imulat ang madla sa halaga ng organ donation ay pinangungunahan ng Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan at ng Philippine Information Agency. Nilagdaan nina Kalihim Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma, Jr. ng Presidential Communications Operations Office at Emmanuel de Guzman, pangulo ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines ang isang memorandum of agreement para sa kampanyang ito.


Alberto Gulillo, pangalawang pangulo ng PUP para sa administrasyon; Antonio Paraiso, Tagapamahala ng ng DOH Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program, at Emelyn Libunao, staff director ng Project Management Division ng PIA, mga saksi sa paglagda. Ang kampanyang ito ay bunga ng pulong na idinaos sa PIA noong Hulyo kung saan karamihan sa mga tao ay nagkaisang ang paghandog ng organ ay kasing kahulugan ng ―malaking pagpapakasakit.‖ Ipinaktia rin sa pagkakataong ito na higit na maraming tao ang nakahandang magpakasakit alang-alang sa kanilang mga kaanak. PND (jl/zaf)

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Handa na ang National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, sabi ng Malacanang, para sa bagyong Yolanda sa Silangang Kabisayaan

Tiniyak ng Malacanang Martes sa madla na naghahanda na ang National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, gayundin ang mga sangay na pampurok at at panlalawigan para sa malakas na bagyong Yolanda. Sinabi ni Kalihim Herminio ―Sonny‖ Coloma, Jr. ng Presidential Communications Operations Office na magpupulong ngayong araw na ito ang Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council ng Silangang Kabisayaan upang paghandaan ang paparating na bagyo. ―Nakatutok po diyan ang ating NDRRMC at saka doon sa isang particular na lugar na tinatayang tatamaan nito. Gusto kong ipaalam sa inyo na ang RDRRMC ng Silangang Kabisayaan ay nakatakdang magpulong ngayong hapon sa Leyte,‖ sabi ni Coloma. ―Ito po ang particular na aksiyon nila para pag-usapan ang mga hakbang na gagawin bilang paghahanda sa malakas na bagyong Yolanda,‖ dugtong ni Coloma. Alinsunod sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, ang bagyong Yolanda ay inaasahang papasok sa Saklaw ng Kapangyarihan ng Pilipinas sa Huwebes ng umaga. ―Kahit na ang taya po ng PAGASA ay sa Nobyembre 8 pa ang maigting na pagtama nito, pinaghahandaan na ng National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council doon sa rehiyon at mga lalawigan,‖ dagdag ni Coloma. PND (co/zaf)

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President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech during the AFP Flag Raising and Awarding Ceremony Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

04 November 2013



Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa; Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; Secretary Mar Roxas; General Emmanuel Bautista; Lieutenant General Noel Coballes; Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano; Police Director General Alan Purisima; men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; AFP awardees; fellow workers in government; honoured guests; mga minamahal ko pong kababayan: Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Yung mga naka attention ho siguro pwede na siguro mag at ease ngayon. Pero huwag ho kayo mag-alala hindi ho natin hahabulin ang SONA speech itong araw na ito. Kasabay ng pagtataas natin ng bandila ngayong umaga, sinisimulan din po natin ang pagdiriwang sa anibersaryo ng Department of National Defense. Taong 1939 po nang itatag ang institusyong ito na layuning itaguyod at ipagtanggol ang mga prinsipyong gumagabay sa ating demokrasya. Ayon po sa ating Saligang Batas: Ang awtoridad ng sibilyan ay nangingibabaw sa militar sa lahat ng panahon. Ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas ay tagapangalaga ng Sambayanan at ng Estado. Layunin nitong siguruhin ang ganap na kapangyarihan ng Estado at ang integridad ng pambansang teritoryo. Hindi na po ako lalayo pa sa maituturing kong sandigan sa pagsasabuhay ng mga prinsipyong ito— wala pong iba, kundi si Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, na siyang timon ng ating mga kawal sa tuwid na daan. Maikuwento ko lang po sa inyo: ilang coup ang dinaanan ng administrasyon ng aking ina, pero hindi po kailanman pinaghinaan ng loob si Sec. Volts. Biruin po ninyo, sa gitna ng putukan at habang nagsisimula nang umikot ang mga tora-tora sa ere, puwede siyang kinabahan, puwede siyang nag-panic. Pero hindi niya kami tinalikuran. Pinili po niyang protektahan ang ating Republika, at ipaglaban ang demokrasya. Maraming salamat kay Secretary Volts; talaga naman pong hanggang ngayon, tinatanaw ko pa ring utang ng loob ang kanyang katapatan sa serbisyo. Fast forward po, fast forward po tayo sa ating administrasyon. Nang pumutok ang kaguluhan sa Zamboanga City, kayo pong mga sundalo’t pulis ang inaasahang unang rumesponde para sa ating mga kababayan. At heto nga po ang ating DND kasama ang AFP, DILG at PNP, dali-daling nagreport po sa akin si Secretary Volts hindi po siya nag-atubiling akuin ang tungkulin na pumronta sa ating hanay. Kayo nga po ang tanungin ko: Sinong hindi matutuwa sa tulad niyang walang pinipiling panahon sa paglilingkod? Alam kong nasa mabuting kamay ang mga operasyon at istratehiya natin, dahil walang takot at laging in-control itong si Secretary Volts. Sa pinagsama nilang husay at talento ni General Manny Bautista, epektibo nilang pinamunuan ang pagpigil sa masamang tangka ng rebeldeng grupo. Syempre, balewala ang pagsisikap ng ating gobyerno na tugunan ang sitwasyong gaya ng sa Zamboanga kung wala ang magigiting nating kawal. Kayo nga pong mga nasa harap ko ngayon ang mismong naroon sa bakbakan: ang nakipagpalitan sa putok, at nakahandang iharang ang katawan sa bala, para mabawi ang Lungsod ng Zamboanga sa mga rebelde. Tingnan nga po ninyo ang matinding pagkakaiba natin sa kalaban: Sa inyong hanay, ang batayang layunin ng pagprotekta sa ating mamamayan; at sa kabilang panig naman ay ang mga kalabang ginawang human shield ang mga hostage, pinaputukan ang mga bumbero't kasapi ng Red Cross, at di-nag-atubiling idamay ang mga inosenteng sibilyan. Sa bawat ulat nga pong natatanggap ko mula sa inyo nung mga araw na iyon, di ko maiwasang isipin: Kamusta na kaya ang tayo ng ating mga kawal? Tinugunan po ninyo ito ng ipinamalas ninyong tatag at husay para isakatuparan ang ating istratehiya. Matagumpay ninyong nilimitahan ang mga lugar na hawak ng rebelde, at di na hinayaang makapasok ang iba pang nagbabantang pangkat Kaya naman taos-puso po tayong nagpupugay at nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng ating mga sundalo’t pulis na buong tapang na nakipaglaban para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga Boss. Habambuhay pong babantayog ang inyong dedikasyon at propesyunalismo sa kasaysayan; magsisilbi kayong huwaran di lamang ng kasalukuyang henerasyon, kundi maging ng susunod na salinlahi. Ngayong malaya na muli ang Zamboanga City, tuloy pa rin ang ayuda natin para sa kanilang rehabilitasyon. Walang patid ang paghahatid natin ng pagkain, tubig, at serbisyong medikal sa mga apektadong komunidad. Katuwang ang ating mga sundalo’t pulis, ibabangon natin ang Zamboanga mula sa nagdaang trahedya, at magkakasama nating itataguyod ang kapayapaan sa kalakhang bansa. Marami na po tayong hinarap at nilampasang pagsubok. At tiwala akong sa mga darating pang hamon, iisa pa rin ang magiging kumpas ng sambayanang Pilipino: Pilit mang idiskaril ng iilan ang pag-usad natin sa tuwid na daan, isang bansa pa rin tayong tatahak sa landas ng katwiran, katotohanan, at katarungan. At siguro po sa nalalapit na AFP Day inaasahan ko na lalo pang mare-recognize ang mga taong talaga naman pong masasabi nating dakilang bayani ng sambayanan. Asahan po niyo na kung yun man lang ang magagawang pasasalamat ng talaga namang nag-uumapaw na pagtanggap sa inyong kadakilaan—gagawin po ng estado. Magandang araw po. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

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http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/speeches2013.htm

President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the launch of All Case Rates and Z-Morph Prosthesis Benefit Package Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace

31 Oct 2013

Maraming salamat po. Maupo ho tayong lahat. Secretary Ike Ona; President and CEO of PhilHealth Atty. Alexander Padilla; officials of the Department of Health; board members, officials, and staff of PhilHealth; partners and donors of the Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package; fellow workers in government; honored guests; mga minamahal ko pong kababayan: Talagang magandang araw po sa inyong lahat. Hirap po sumunod kay Raissa eh. [Laughter] Parang we all pale in comparison afterwards. Really, to see someone rising from such a senseless and tragic incident, to somebody, I guess, who epitomizes all of the promise that is in store for the Philippines. Again, credit to your parents, a credit to yourself, and to everybody who helped her, hopefully we will enable more and more of our countrymen. [Applause] Nang maupo po tayo sa puwesto, dinatnan natin ang isang pamahalaang nasa malubhang kalagayan. Dahil sa laganap na kultura ng katiwalian, naiwang naghihingalo ang burukrasya, at maraming sangay ng gobyerno ang napinsala. Ang resulta nito: malawakang kahirapan. Marami sa ating mga kababayan ang napagkaitan ng serbisyong dapat sana’y hatid ng kanilang pamahalaan. Agad po natin itong tinugunan. Isinulong natin ang tuwid at mabuting pamamahalang nakatutok sa kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ang pagtitipon po natin ngayong umaga ay patunay dito: ang paglulunsad ng ilang programang higit na magbibigay-lakas sa ating mamamayan—ang All Case Rates at ang Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package. Noong 2011 po, inilunsad ng PhilHealth ang 23 Case Rates Package. Dito po, sakop ng benepisyo ang mga pinakakaraniwang karamdaman at kasong tulad ng dengue, pneumonia, asthma, at para sa mga procedure tulad ng caesarian section, at cataract operation. Ayon nga po sa datos, para sa taong 2012, umabot sa 2.38 milyong kasong-medikal ang binayaran ng PhilHealth sa ilalim ng package na ito, na umabot ang halaga sa P20.95 billion. Dahil po sa tagumpay nito, nagpasya ang PhilHealth na palawigin pa ang hatid nilang serbisyo—at ngayon nga po, hindi na lamang

23 kasong-medikal, kundi lahat na ng uri ng confinements at procedures ay saklaw na ng case rates system. Kabilang na po sa mga karamdaman o kondisyong maipapagamot ngayon ay diabetes at hydrocephalus. Malapit na ho yata akong magkaroon ng medical degree. [Laughter] Thank you Secretary Ike for all of the lectures. Isinaayos na rin po natin ang proseso ng pagbabayad. Kung sa Fee-for-Service payment scheme po noon ay paiba-iba ang presyo ng gamot, supplies, at doctor’s fee, depende sa kaso ng pasyente o sa kondisyon ng ospital, ngayon po ay fixed rate na ang anumang pagpapagamot. Ano po ang ginhawang dulot nito kay Juan at Juana de la Cruz? Dahil mas mabilis at mas tiyak nang malalaman ng mga miyembro ang sasaguting gastusin ng PhilHealth, maiiwasan na ang posibilidad ng sobrang singil sa mga pasyente, at masusulit ang kanilang benepisyong-medikal. Nalulugod din po tayong ipakilala ang Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package—ang kauna-unahang PhilHealth benefit package na nakatuon para sa mga kababayan nating kabilang sa sektor ng Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Ano po ba ang saklaw na serbisyo nito? Simple lang po: Kung kwalipikado kang PhilHealth member o dependent, at nangangailangan ka ng lower limb prosthesis na mas mababa sa tuhod, maaari mo nang makuha ang serbisyong ito sa halagang 15 libong piso kada limb prosthesis. Ibig-sabihin: Kung nabaldado ka, o naputulan ng paa, ipapakita mo lang ang iyong PhilHealth card, at maaari mo nang makuha ang kinakailangang serbisyo-medikal. Para sa paunang implementasyon ng Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package, katuwang po natin ang University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, ang Philippine General Hospital, at ang Philippine Orthopedic Center. Pag-aaralan pa po natin kung papaano mapapalawig ang saklaw, at mailalapit sa mas maraming Pilipino ang benepisyong ito. Taos-puso po tayong nagpapasalamat kay Dr. Josephine Robredo-Bundoc, isang consultant ng PhilHealth, na nanguna sa pagsusulong ng Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package. Salamat din sa lahat ng bumubuo ng PhilHealth—sa pangunguna ni Atty. Alex Padilla, sa bawat NGO na kumakatawan para sa sektor ng PWDs, at sa iba pang pribado’t pampublikong ahensiyang nakiisa sa inisyatibang ito. Ang pakikilahok at pagdadamayan pa rin ng ating mga Boss ang pinakamabisang tugon tungo sa mas masiglang bansa. Sa pangunguna po ng Department of Health, patuloy nating isinusulong ang kalusugang pangkalahatan. Patuloy na lumalawig ang benepisyong hatid ng ating National Health Insurance Program. At sa katunayan po, nitong Abril, nasa 79.13 million Filipinos na po ang naka-enrol sa PhilHealth, kabilang na ang pinakamahihirap na pamilya, na natukoy ng ating National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction. Sila ang 5.2 miliyong kabahayan ng ating Sponsored Program na maaaring makatanggap o nakakatanggap na ng de-kalidad na serbisyong-medikal sa pamamagitan ng ating No Balance Billing Policy sa ilalim ng 23 Case Rates Package, Z Benefit Package, Expanded Z Benefit Package, Primary Care Benefit Package, at ngayon, ng All Case Rates. Sila po ang mga Pilipinong ngayon ay napapagsilbihan at nakakalinga na ng estado sa panahon ng pangangailangan. Mulat din po tayo: Kung nais natin ang mas de-kalidad na mga pagamutan at kagamitan, kailangan nito ng paglalaan ng kaukulang pondo. Ito po ang hatid ng ating Health Facilities Enhancement Program. Mula po 2010 hanggang 2013, patuloy nating iniaangat ang budget para rito, kung saan umabot na sa P33 billion ang nailaan para sa rehabilitasyon at pagpapagawa ng nasa 4,518 na pampublikong pagamutan sa buong bansa. Naniniwala pa rin po tayo: Itinaguyod ang pamahalaan, para sa taumbayan. Hindi ito pumipili ng paglilingkuran. May patas na pagkakataon sa kaunlaran ang lahat—anuman ang iyong pangalan, saanmang bahagi ng bansa ang iyong pinanggalingan, anuman ang iyong kalagayan—iisang lahing Pilipino lamang ang ating pinagmulan. Lahat tayo ay may lakas at kapasidad na iangat ang ating mga sarili, ang ating kapwa, at ang buong bayan. At sa loob lamang ng mahigit tatlong taon, nagagawa na nga po nating lunasan ang mga pangunahing sakit ng pamahalaan at lipunan—ang katiwalian at kahirapan. Ang hamon na lang po sa atin: imbes na agarang-lunas lang at panandalian, gawing permanente’t pangmatagalan ang pagbabagong atin nang tinatamasa. Hindi man madali, napatunayan nating posible ito—basta’t sama-sama, basta’t nagkakaisa, basta’t nagmamalasakit sa isa’t isa—kaya nating makamit ang makabuluhang transpormasyon ng ating bansa. Muli, pagbati po, at talagang pagtanaw sa nagawa na po ng PhilHealth at Department of Health at lahat ng mga kaugnayang ito. Magandang araw po, at maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

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ONLINE NEWS

05 NOVEMBER 2013

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/speeches2013.htm

The Philippines wins Bright Spots Award at the OGP Summit 2013

Boholanos thankful for relief aid

Beyond duty

Latest spate of website defacements proof of need for AO 39

Baldoz cites NLRC for Project SpeED and SeNA accomplishments

POLO shelters undocumented Filipinos after Saudi deadline on the correction of stay ends

3rd PPP project ready for bidding - DPWH

DOE urges energy efficiency during Malampaya platform maintenance

Philippine Ambassador calls on Secretary General of Thai Civil Service Commission

Options for gateway airport roadmap to 2040 to be presented to President Aquino tomorrow

PDIC files P21.4-M large scale estafa case against former President, officers of closed rural bank

PhilHealth offers flexible payment to OFWs

Sec. Soliman leads relief distribution in Bohol

DA inaugurates food processing, trading center for tobacco farmers

The Philippines wins Bright Spots Award at the OGP Summit 2013

Source: http://www.coa.gov.ph

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The Philippines is the first recipient of the Bright Spots Award at this year’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Summit held on October 31 to November 1, 2013. The country bested six other countries (Chile, Estonia, Georgia, Indonesia, Montenegro and Romania) that also showcased transparency projects geared toward improving government efficiency and accountability. The Philippine entry for the Bright Spots Award is the Commission on Audit’s Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) Project. Launched on November 26, 2012, the CPA Project aims to increase awareness and government transparency through citizen involvement in the audit process. It is a constructive and collaborative partnership between the government and citizens through civil society organizations (CSOs). ―This award is not just an achievement of the Commission. This is a milestone for the entire country. It is inspiring to see how the Filipinos are now more vigilant, involved and committed to ensuring that we have a government that is for and truly accountable to the people,‖ says COA Chairperson Maria Gracia Pulido Tan. ―Reforms happen when two naturally opposing parties [the government and its citizens] would come together and work together to form concrete solutions. That is our bright spot,‖ says Vivien Suerte-Cortez, Country Innovations Manager of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP). ANSA-EAP is the COA’s CSO partner in the pilot runs of the CPA Project, which is being funded by the Australian Agency for International Development. Three CPA pilots have been conducted in the following areas: (1) CAMANAVA Flood Control Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways, (2) Barangay Health Centers in Marikina City, and (3) Solid Waste Management Program of the Quezon City Government. The next pilot audit will be on the School Building Program of the Department of Education’s Public-Private Partnership. The CPA Project Management Team is led by Commissioner Heidi Mendoza with Director Aida Maria Talavera as Team Leader, Maria Ramona Jimenez as Operations Assistant, and Ana Patricia Lapus as Citizens’ Desk Coordinator. For more details on the CPA Project, please log on to: http://i-kwenta.com.

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Boholanos thankful for relief aid

Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph

Sagbayan, Bohol — ―Daghang Salamat!‖ or ―Thank You!‖ written on used tarpaulins and sacks lined the streets of this municipality during the massive food distribution conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Bright_Spots

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Boholanos

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Beyond_duty

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Latest_spate

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#NLRC

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#POLO

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#3rd_PPP

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#DOE_urges

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Philippine_Ambassador

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Options

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#PDIC

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#PhilHealth

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#Sec._Soliman

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#DA_inaugurates

http://poea.gov.ph/news/2011/PR_Dec2011_processing_rejoinder.pdf



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(DSWD), World Food Programme (WFP), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the province of Bohol over the weekend. DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman was pleased to see the words of gratitude of the Boholanos saying ― we are just inspired to continue with our work.‖ The show of gratitude came two weeks after signages bearing ―we need food and water‖ side by side with ―need help‖ were plastered all over Bohol after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake on October 15 shook the province. The quake destroyed bridges and roads, toppled houses, closed businesses, and turned churches to rubbles. There was a great demand for food, water and temporary shelter to which the DSWD immediately addressed through the continued relief distribution. To ensure that the food needs of the affected families are still addressed on time, the DSWD, WFP and AusAID distributed more than 50,000 relief packs in hardest-hit towns in the province. The relief packs, good for 15 days, contain 20 kilos of rice, 10 cans of sardines, 10 cans of beef loaf, 10 pieces of noodles, 10 sachets of chocolate drink, and 10 sachets of coffee. Secretary Soliman explained that the families who received the two-week relief packs, considered to be the most vulnerable, are those whose house is partially or totally damaged, who stays in the evacuation center or camping outside their house, and/or has a female head or with members who are with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant or lactating mothers. The Secretary further explained that the objective of the distribution of the bigger relief packs is to allay the fears of the victims on where to get their next food. ―Rest assured that we will continue to provide food packs until such time that your situation will normalize,‖ she said during her short message to the crowd in Sagbayan. ―Nagpasalamat gyud mi nga na atiman among kaon sa inadlaw pinaagi sa hinabang among nadawat mintras nangita mi ug asa mi maka tukod balik ug payag (I am thankful for the relief goods while we continue to look for a place where we can put up another house),‖ said Anecita Rufino, 41, and a mother of five children. For some, they reciprocate the help given them by volunteering to help in anyway they can. ―Mueskwela nako inag abli sa klase bisan na-a sa tent ok ra. Mutabang pud ko ug limpyo sa among eskwelahan‖ (I’m going back to school even if it will just be in a tent. I would probably help in the cleaning of our school), ― 10-year old Chinchin Matutis said.

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Beyond duty


Zamboanga City — On September 9 at 4 a.m., my husband woke me up. He said, ―Wake up. There are members of the MNLF outside.‖ I opened our window, and sure enough, there were Moro National Liberation Front members marching outside. There were about 100 to 200 of them. At the front were older men. At the last were children, about 17 to 18 years old. All were wearing camouflage uniforms. Armed. My husband told me to wake the children and to start packing our things. I told him, ―They are probably just marching. They won’t do anything.‖ By 5 a.m., there were more of them arriving. By 6 a.m., we heard gunshots. I did not know this at the time, but most of my neighbors have already evacuated by then. My husband asked me, ―Why aren’t you packing?‖ I said, ―If it’s your time, it’s your time, regardless of where you might be.‖ He berated me, saying, ―Why are you saying that? You have our children to think of.‖ I questioned why we had to leave. I repeated, ―If it’s your time to die, it’s your time to die, no matter where you might be.‖ I started preparing breakfast for our children. I have five. My eldest is 18 years old, followed by 16, 13, and 10. My youngest is 8 years old. The onset We live in a squatters area in Sta. Barbara called Ayer Village, so the houses are tightly adjacent to each other. My relatives, who live next door, went to our house, because our home was made of concrete and theirs was not. My relatives, including their many kids, stayed in our kitchen.





I felt like I was in the feeding program of the DSWD as I prepared the children’s breakfast. I called up Regional Director Zenaida Arevalo and informed her there are MNLF members in my area. Then, I heard an exchange of gunfire. After a few minutes, DSWD Undersecretary Parisya Taradji is calling me. She found out that I live in Sta. Barbara from an officemate, and she advised me to leave with my children immediately and head to somewhere safe. By 9 o’clock, the gunfire started again. My husband told us to escape through Sta. Catalina because we cannot go through Sta. Barbara anymore with the military already there. I was expecting we would be back home by that afternoon, so all I brought was my shoulder bag and two bags of my children. I was watching the television to monitor what was happening. I found out that they were taking hostages in Sta. Catalina, which was where we would be passing through. We left the house at about 11 or 12 o’clock. We even actually were able to have lunch, which I prepared myself, before we left. I remember telling my family, ―Regardless of what may happen, at least we are able to have lunch so we won’t be hungry.‖ I said jokingly. I was also able to clean the house before we left. I had this funny feeling while I was washing the dishes that this would be my last time to use my sink, but I shook myself. ―Why would I think of that idea?,‖ I asked myself. My husband, my children, and I headed off to San Jose Claret where my in-laws are, while my mother and my brother went to Mampang. I saw a lot of people were evacuating. Sta. Barbara has a high population. Muslims have close family ties, so it is not unlikely for families to live side by side. I saw the large number of people, and I felt pity. ―Where will they go?,‖ I thought. ―What if they don’t have relatives nearby?‖ It was a good thing that my cellphone has a radio. I heard the announcement that the grandstand was accepting evacuees so I told my neighbors, ―If you have nowhere to go, proceed to the grandstand.‖ I knew that some of them had nowhere else to go to. The number of evacuees at the grandstand started to swell by the minute. I knew I had to help. Evacuee helping evacuees I left the home of the in-laws and headed to the grandstand. We were the ones who set up the community kitchen. I spent the first night of the conflict without my family. I was at the grandstand helping people. My husband told me, ―You’re an evacuee. You left our children here.‖ I told him, ―Please take care of them since you’re there. This is my job.‖ On that first night, a stampede almost broke out because the people were hungry. A lot of them were not able to have breakfast because they fled their homes early morning. The policemen extracted us, ―Ma’am, please get out.‖ The problem was, the people were no longer listening to the police. They became almost unruly and very uncontrollable. I could not blame them, though. They were hungry. Some children told me, ―Ma’am, we haven’t eaten since this morning.‖ I felt for them because I am also a victim like them. By 5 a.m. the following day, more evacuees are coming in. There were about 10,000 of them by now. I myself had doubts if we can feed all of them. They were that many. Luckily, there were nuns who helped us cook and the city government also brought food. We were the ones who served the food, combination of bread, cup noodles, and cooked food from the city government. The city welfare officer arrived not soon after to start assessing the evacuees. I went home at 6:00 a.m. the following day just to take a bath, but I headed out again because I needed to check my clients at the Processing Center for Displaced Persons, which is located in Mampang, one of the critical areas. My husband told me, ―Why are you being so fearless about going there?‖ I replied, ―It would be shameful if I did not check up on them. I was able to go to the people at the grandstand, so I should also visit them.‖ So off I went to to PDCP to check my clients. Fire I went back to the grandstand after. It was then that I saw that the fires started. I called my brother, telling him, ―I think

there is a fire in Sta. Barbara‖. I went back to our house there to see if I could salvage some of our things. By then, the exchange of gunfire has become intense. My husband scolded me. ―Are you going to risk your life just for a few things? We can still buy new ones. What is important are our lives.‖ But he eventually agreed to come with me. When we went there, there were MNLF members along the streets. I wore my tirong so they will be able to identify me as a Muslim, but I still kept my face on the ground so they won’t think of me as a prospective hostage. When I saw our things, I realized just how heavy these were, and I would need to carry these for 30 minutes to get out of the area. My husband suggested that we just leave them in our house instead of moving them out as they could easily be stolen. I did not want to just leave them there, especially since some of our stuff are new. I tried hailing jeepneys outside our home, but none of the drivers agreed to help me, even though I offered them to name the price. They told me, ―Ma’am, we will not go in that area no matter how much you pay us‖. I remember looking at the trucks and the jeepneys in front of my neighbors’ houses, and I thought to myself how advantageous it would have been if we had our own means of transport. Their vehicles were filled with things from their houses, while I brought almost nothing out of our home. When I went out carrying my child’s bag, one MNLF member went up to me and said, ―Ma’am, that looks heavy. I’ll help you carry it.‖ He helped me bring it to Sta. Catalina. My husband scolded me for that. ―Why did you let the MNLF carry your bag?‖ I said, ―Because he offered to.‖ I smiled. Son I called my brother again, and we, along with our mother, went back to the house to see if we can carry more things. At about 5 p.m., there was a young boy riding a motorcycle who arrived, and he told the MNLF members in Yakan dialect, ―The military is about to enter the village.‖ The boy was wearing civilian clothes. He was about my son’s age, I remember thinking. The MNLF announced that all of the civilians should leave. My husband tried to hurry me along, but I told him, ―I can’t leave my mother alone.‖ She’s 61 years old. We ended up not being able to bring any of our things with us, except for my child’s school uniform and a DSWD shirt. The DSWD vest I’ve been wearing the past days is not even mine – I just borrowed it from someone in the office. Not, not feel the need to help I have been working in the relief operations since the first day, because I could empathize with the evacuees. In truth, I do not even have to do this. As the center head, I could have just stayed at my center. But then, in times like this, you could not not feel the need to help. I do not even want to be assigned to a specific role for the relief operations. I would always say, ―I’m a freelancer.‖ I would go where my services are needed. On some days, I would be working at the grandstand. I would do intake interviews or take charge of the release of family access cards. On others, I would be helping the community-based evacuees. I also continue to monitor my clients at the center. If I see that they are doing okay, I would go back to the operations center and see what areas will need my help. My clients from the center later on were forced to evacuate from the PCDP. We brought them to the Home for Women. I would check up on them every day after coming from the grandstand, especially since I would get occasional text messages telling me that some of them had misunderstandings with each other or got sick. There were times when I also had to bring them to the hospital when they got ill. I still visited them even at the height of conflict. In spite of the things that I have done, I feel like I could do so much more. It was over the radio that I first found out that our home was one of the structures that were burned down. The huge fire happened on the Thursday of the first week of conflict. I half-expected that to happen, because there were a lot of MNLF members in that area. It hurts Deep inside, it hurts. I spent years working hard to establish our home. Also, I grew up in that place. I just tell myself God has a reason for all these things.

When things settle down, I do not think I will go back to Ayer Village. A lot of people like Sta. Barbara because it is accessible to the city proper, including the schools, the hospitals, and the offices. You can actually walk to the mall from there. My mother, my father, and my brother might go back there, but I do not think I’ll be able to return with them. I will probably have a new house constructed somewhere in Talon-Talon. Never getting tired We will have to start from scratch though, since we barely saved any of our things before the fire. The experience traumatized me. I do not think I can see huge fires again without getting scared. It is actually frightening how people got used to the fires here. On the first and second days, people got nervous whenever they saw homes being burned down. After that, it became almost normal to see smoke rising in the air. What made the situation worse was that the firemen could not enter the areas to put out the fires because these were critical places. That was the situation here at the height of the conflict. I was in denial when I first heard that our house burned down. It was only when I saw a photograph on Facebook of the aerial view of Ayer Village and saw that our area was affected that it sunk in, and I cried. I went home at 4 p.m. that day. My children told me, ―It’s a miracle that you went home at this time,‖ because I haven not been coming home early. I cried when our house burned down, but I decided to keep on working. I have not had a proper rest since the start of the conflict. I have been working almost non-stop. But I like it like that. Working actually helps me. If I just stayed at home, I might go crazy thinking about what we’ve lost. It’s better if I continue to work – at least I get that feeling of contentment that I was able to help people. I have always been the kind of person who likes working and who does not like resting. I want to be of service and help others. I will never get tired of doing that.

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Latest spate of website defacements proof of need for AO 39

Source: http://icto.dost.gov.ph/

The latest round of government website defacements are proof that secure web hosting is needed by government agencies and local government units. Websites of government agencies such as the Insurance Commission, Southern Philippines Development Authority, the Optical Media Board and Local Government Units such as; the Municipality of Bolinao, Pasig City, Pateros and the Municipality of Basnud, Oriental Mindoro. The aforementioned websites were supposed to have been vandalized by members of cyber hacktivitst group Annonymous Philippines. Messages on the vandalized websites criticized the government for promises it has failed to deliver on and appealed to netizens to participate in an upcoming march on 5 November 2013 at the Batasang Pambansa. On 12 July 2013, the government issued Administrative Order 39 Mandating government agencies to migrate to the government web hosting sevice (GWHS) of the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO). The said hosting service and the government website template (GWT) is under the Integrated Government Philippines (iGov Phil) project of the DOST-ICTO and DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). iGovPhil Project Director Dennis Villorente mentioned that ―currently under review are mature content management systems (CMS) and the development of templates in accordance with mandatory laws such as transparency etc.., likewise we are accrediting developers and trainers who can help us carry out our job, in effect creating the government web development team. In line with this, we will conduct series of trainings - workshops for all agencies concerned, while simultaneously migrating all agency websites following case specific schemes.‖ Undersecretary Louis Casambre commented that ―if hacktivist groups wish to promote their event tomorrow there are alternate ways rather than hacking into government websites, website defacements are still against the law and hackers who are proven to have violated Section 33 of RA 8792 or the E-Commerce Act will be liable for their actions.‖ About DOST-ICT Office – The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology is the Philippine Government’s lead agency on ICT related matters. Its primary thrusts are in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all and Cybersecurity.

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Baldoz cites NLRC for Project SpeED and SeNA accomplishments

Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

On its 39th Foundation Day Baldoz cites NLRC for Project SpeED and SeNA accomplishments









Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday commended the National Labor Relations Commission, an attached agency of the DOLE, for its significant achievements in the implementation of the DOLE's Project Speedy and Efficient Disposition of Labor Cases, or Project SpeED, and the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) reform program. Speaking at the Monday flag ceremony to kickstart the NLRC's one week celebration of its 39th foundation anniversary, Baldoz praised the men and women of the NLRC, led by its Chairman, Gerardo C. Nograles, for facilitating P4.51 million in monetary benefits to 24,832 workers as of 30 August 2013. "It is of record that the NLRC responded to 32,661 labor and employment cases and successfully disposed rate of 65 percent during the period under Project SpeED 6. I urge you not to rest on your reformist agenda and achieve more," Baldoz said. The labor and employment chief also cited the NLRC for responding to some 10,634 SEnA requests for assistance (RFAs) from workers and employers under the DOLE’s mandatory 30-day Single Entry Approach (SEnA), mandated by virtue of Department Order No. 107-10, Series of 2010. "It is also worthy to note that the NLRC took only an average of 16 days to successfully dispose 9,110 of these RFAs, resulting in a disposition rate of 86 percent and facilitating monetary benefits reaching P74.166 million benefiting 4,524 workers from all over the country," she said. "From the very start of the Aquino III administration, the NLRC has worked tirelessly to be an agency trusted for fairness and integrity, and has continually engaged in bringing its services closer and more accessible to workers, our tripartite partners, and the Filipino people," Baldoz added. The NLRC celebrates week-long its 39th Foundation Day starting yesterday, ushering in Labor Relations Week on the theme, ―NLRC Exceeding Expectations: Changing Perceptions.‖ One of the highlights of the celebration is an orientation for NLRC stakeholders on the 2011 NLRC Rules on Procedure, As Amended, and the NLRC's Road Map which is focused on reforms and the need to surpass the expectations towards a fair, speedy, accessible labor justice grounded on integrity and accountability. The NLRC, an attached agency of the DOLE, performs quasi-judicial functions. Established under Presidential Decree No. 442 on 1 November 1974, the NLRC's forerunner is the Court of Industrial Relations, established on 29 October 1936 under Commonwealth Act No. 103, and following the foundation of the DOLE by virtue of Act 4131 on 8 December 1933. The NLRC's mandate is to adjudicate labor and management disputes involving both local and overseas workers through compulsory arbitration and alternative modes of dispute resolution. It is known in Filipino as the Pambansang Komisyon sa Ugnayang Paggawa. Any question about this release? Please call the NLRC at tel. nos. 781-7881 or 740-7730.

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POLO shelters undocumented Filipinos after Saudi deadline on the correction of stay ends

Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh and Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are taking in for shelter and assistance Filipinos from all over Saudi Arabia who failed to correct their residency status after the extended deadline offered by the Saudi government ended on 3 November. "Our POLO in Riyadh and Jeddah reported to the home office their readiness to shelter illegal Filipinos in the Kingdom, including OFWs, even as Saudi authorities announced there will be no more extension for the correction of status of illegal or undocumented workers despite requests for extension of grace period from the governments of India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines," said Baldoz. In his report to Secretary Baldoz, Labor Attache’ to Riyadh Rustico Dela Fuente said the situation in Saudi Arabia is normal a day after the deadline and there is no movement of OFWs to the Philippine Embassy and Consulate or to the POLOs. Dela Fuente said that should there be an inflow, all seeking assistance shall be admitted to the POLO premises and will be provided all forms of assistance, including food and shelter, medication, and transport. To reinforce POLO capability to ensure protection of and assistance to illegal Filipino nationals, Baldoz has ordered Undersecretary Danilo Cruz to sit down with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration--insofar as livelihood and other employment-related benefits for active and inactive member-OFWs--as well as other DOLE agencies, and to come up with a P50 million supplementary budget for the needs of those who will be affected by the Saudi crackdown against illegal Filipinos. "Our assistance for the repatriation of those who wish to go home are also continuing," said Baldoz, stating that there are still 1,488 Filipinos awaiting clearance from the Saudi immigration before they can leave, while 206 Filipinos are presently sheltered at the Bahay Kalinga or Migrant Overseas Workers Resource Center. The POLOs coordinate with the OWWA on all forms of assistance being given all repatriated illegal workers. "As of 2 November, 727 Filipinos--428 women and 299 men--have already called up the Philippine Embassy asking inquiries for shelter. They may proceed immediately to the POLO," Baldoz added. She finally said the POLO in Riyadh and Jeddah continue to monitor the status of illegal Filipinos seeking to correct their work status and transfer of employment, and urging those who wish to seek assistance to call, fax, or email the Philippine Embassy/Consulate hotlines 483-2201 to 3 or 676-3868; fax nos.: 619-5223 or 483-2204; or e-mail at [email protected]; or [email protected].





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3rd PPP project ready for bidding - DPWH

Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph

Three (3) groups vying to undertake the 47-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway Project has passed documentary pre-qualification evaluation by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). This will be the third PPP Expressway Project of the DPWH bid out under the Aquino Administration, with the Daang Hari-SLEX Link Project scheduled for completion by June 2014 while NAIA Expressway Project is under detailed engineering design stage following the signing of concession agreement last July 8, 2013. DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that based on evaluation of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for CALA Expressway Project on the submitted pre-qualification documents last October 23, 2013, Team ―Orion‖, MPCALA Holdings, Inc., and Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. are qualified to bid for the CALA Expressway Project while another group, MTD Capital Bhd has yet to meet the needed documents on its construction and design experience requirements. The DPWH Special Bids and Awards Committee for Public-Private Partnership Projects has given MTD Capital Bhd three (3) days to submit the documents for the construction experience requirement and, qualifications and experience required for their design manager. The Malaysia-based investment holding company failed to provide acceptable documents of affiliation for contractor MTD Construction Sdn Bhd owned by MTD ACPI Engineering Bhd and stated as a subsidiary of MTD Capital Bhd which may be use to meet the construction experience requirement. Another declared affiliate company Contractor MTD Construction Philippines, Inc. also lack the acceptable signed document. Team Orion backed by Ayala Corporation and composed of the consortium of AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Aboitiz Land, Inc., Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Limited together with nominated contractors Obsrascon Huarte Lain, S.A., Bouygues Traveux Publics, and Cavite Ideal International Construction Development Corporation have qualified to bid for the project including the operation and maintenance contractors Egis Road Expressway Corporation, Korea Expressway Corporation and OHL Concesiones, S.L. To be allowed to submit bid for the project, this consortium needs to submit the notarized and authenticated documents provided in the submitted Annex QD-12 (Certificate relating to Notarization and Authentication of Documents) on or before 30 days before the bid proposals submission date. MPCALA Holdings, Inc. together with their project civil works contractor Leighton Contractors (ASIA) Limited have qualified to bid for the project but two (2) other nominated contractors, D.M. Consunji Inc. and EEI Corporation, have not qualified for failure to meet the construction experience requirements for expressway, viaduct, flyover or bridge of at least P10 Billion in total value. With financing by the Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, MPCALA Holdings’ affiliate Tollways Management Corporation also fulfilled the operation and maintenance experience requirement for the project while another affiliate Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) was not considered as it is supported by a certification of on-going project from MNTC itself and not from the project owner, which in this case, was determined by the TWG to be the Toll Regulatory Board. Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. together with construction contractor Hyundai Development Company and operation and maintenance contractor Skyway O&M Corporation have qualified to bid for the project while another civil work contractor GS Engineering & Construction did not meet the ISO Certification requirement. San Miguel Corporation will provide the financial requirement for this consortium. With pre-qualification of interested firms already completed, Secretary Singson said pre-bid conference is scheduled on November 19 followed by two (2) sets of one-on-one meeting with pre-qualified companies on November 25 to 29 and December 9 to 13 prior to bid submission for the P35 Billion worth expressway project set on January 20, 2014. CALA Expressway Project which will be a four (4) lane expressway that starts at CAVITEx in Kawit, Cavite (km -0.518) and ends at Mamplasan interchange of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Biñan, Laguna (km 46+500) will have a concession period 35 years including design and construction of four (4) years .

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DOE urges energy efficiency during Malampaya platform maintenance

Source: http://www.doe.gov.ph

(Taguig City) With the scheduled maintenance activity in the Malampaya Platform this November, the Department of Energy (DOE) urges consumers to implement energy efficiency measures to mitigate the impact on power supply and price in Luzon. The DOE appeals to manufacturing plants and large power consuming establishments in Luzon to coincide maintenance activities with the Malampaya activity to minimize the effect on their electricity bills. For households, the DOE promotes the undertaking of energy efficiency and conservation efforts, such as unplugging electrical appliances, turning off the light when not in use, and use of other energy efficient technologies. The DOE is continuously coordinating with the Malampaya Consortium, power generation companies, and the Manila Electric Company to ensure adequate supply of power during the Malampaya Platform maintenance from 09 November to 8 December 2013. The DOE notes that the said maintenance activity must be executed in order to sustain the integrity and reliability of the platform for natural gas production. ―If we don’t do this and we have a problem, it may get worse. Also, the people must be prepared for higher electricity rates. After all, the most expensive electricity is having no electricity,‖ Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said.









The Malampaya gas project provides natural gas to the 1,200 megawatts (MW) Ilijan combined cycle natural gas plant owned by Kepco Philippines Corp., and the 1000 MW Sta. Rita and 500 MW San Lorenzo natural gas facilities of First Gen Corporation. These power plants will run on liquid condensate in order to provide sufficient energy supply during the course of maintenance. Ilijan, Sta. Rita, and San Lorenzo power plants, when combined, provide about 40% of the power supply in Luzon.

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Philippine Ambassador calls on Secretary General of Thai Civil Service Commission

Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph

04 November 2013 – Officials of the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, led by Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Nontigorn Kanchanachitra (left), Secretary General of the Office of the Civil Service Commission of Thailand (OCSC), on October 31. During the call, Ambassador Batoon-Garcia discussed with the latter possible areas of cooperation on education between the Philippines and Thailand. Ambassador Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (3rd from right) with Thai OCSC Secretary General Nontigorn Kanchanachitra and (from left) Dr. Maka Phoochinda, OCSC Human Resource Officer; M.L. Patcharapakorn Devakula, Assistant Secretary General; Third Secretary and Vice Consul Anna Marie Santos, and Philippine Minister and Consul General Edgar Badajos.

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Options for gateway airport roadmap to 2040 to be presented to President Aquino tomorrow

Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph/

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to present the options for establishing the country’s gateway airports from the present until 2040 to President Benigno S. Aquino III tomorrow, 6 November 2013. ―We will present two options for modernizing our gateway airport system, which will show the world that we are preparing to be one of the top global tourist destinations for the next few decades,‖ remarked Abaya. According to a 2011 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), annual passenger forecasts for the Greater Capital Region, which covers the National Capital Region and Regions 3 and 4A, will rise from 49.8-million in 2020, to 75-million in 2030, up to 106.7-million in 2040. In 2012, total traffic was already at 31.879-million. To meet these expected volumes, the DOTC has identified two viable options, both of which will involve the expansion of Clark International Airport (CIA), as well as the development of a new international airport roughly within 20-30 minutes of Metro Manila, to be fully operational by 2027. The 2 options differ insofar as the fate of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is concerned. One option will entail the closure of NAIA by 2030, which will mean that the new international airport should provide 78% of the required passenger terminal building floor space, with CIA handling 22% by that year. The other option, meanwhile, will allow NAIA to co-exist alongside CIA and the new airport up to 2040 and beyond. Once the gateway airport roadmap to 2040 is identified, the transport agency will finalize its plans to execute the policy. But even parallel to this, the DOTC has already begun preparatory measures to boost expansion efforts at CIA and to identify the site for the new international airport. A 6,000-square meter expansion of the CIA passenger terminal building was recently completed, and within this month, France’s Aeroport de Paris will begin preparing a master plan for a 45,000-square meter Low Cost Carrier (LCC) terminal in Clark on a grant basis. Meanwhile, JICA is currently conducting a site selection study for the new international airport – a long-term development to be commenced and completed in 15 to 20 years. JICA is scheduled to submit its findings to the transport department by the end of this year. Improvement efforts for NAIA are also on the way. The much-awaited rehabilitation works for NAIA Terminal 1 will begin in December, while Takenaka’s on-going completion of system works at NAIA Terminal 3 are on schedule and expected to be completed by Q3 of 2014.

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PDIC files P21.4-M large scale estafa case against former President, officers of closed rural bank

Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph













The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), statutory receiver of the closed Rural Bank of Bacolor, Inc. (RBBI) in Pampanga, filed on October 18 with the Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal complaint for large scale estafa, in violation of the Revised Penal Code, against three of the bank’s former officers, including the President, and a relative of RBBI’s controlling stockholders. The Monetary Board placed the Rural Bank of Bacolor under PDIC receivership on January 8, 2009. The bank had three banking units located in Bacolor, Madapdap and Sindalan, Pampanga. PDIC complained that respondents Mary Lynn C. Naguit (President and Manager), Sylvia R. De Castro (Assistant to the President), Mary Jane C. Acol (Vice President and Internal Auditor), and Rico De Castro (family relative of the respondents) committed the crimes of large scale estafa, falsification of commercial documents, and creation of fictitious loans. Based on the complaint, the respondents, in conspiracy with and mutually helping one another, misappropriated, converted and diverted funds aggregating Php21,418,096.06. These funds, instead of being used for the bank’s primary purposes, were siphoned off from the bank from the period May 2006 to December 2008. This was carried out by the respondents by obtaining funds through cash advances which were covered up through falsification of commercial documents such as application forms, promissory notes, disclosure statements and endorsements of cashier’s checks. With this, respondents made it appear that the funds were given to a total of 168 borrowers when, in fact, none of the supposed borrowers received the purported loan proceeds. Furthermore, the affidavits of the former loan bookkeepers, cashiers and tellers of RBBI stated that respondents Naguit and Sylvia De Castro personally instructed them to create fictitious loans for cash advances and falsify commercial documents to cover up these cash advances. The former employees were also instructed to create fictitious borrowers and forge their signatures to make it appear that they were legitimate borrowers who intended to pay their loans. Respondents Acol and Rico De Castro were accused of directly receiving the proceeds from the fictitious loans.Findings of the investigation showed that the large scale estafa and misappropriation of funds were undertaken in all three banking units of RBBI. The Corporation continues to pursue legal actions against bank officials and personnel who have been found to have engaged in unsafe and unsound banking practices, which pose grave threats to the stability of the country’s banking system. As co-regulator of banks, deposit insurer and receiver/liquidator of closed banks, the PDIC is authorized to conduct investigations and file necessary cases against erring bank officials and unscrupulous individuals. The pursuit for justice against erring bank owners, officers and employees is an important undertaking of PDIC to protect the Deposit Insurance Fund, PDIC’s funding source for payment of insured deposits, as well as to maintain financial stability.

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PhilHealth offers flexible payment to OFWs

Source: http://www.philhealth.gov.ph

To help migrant workers adjust to the new contribution rate which takes effect on January 1, 2014, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has offered payment options using the prevailing rate of P1,200. The state-run health insurance agency earlier announced the adjustment in contribution rates for OFWs starting January of next year to rationalize its contribution structure and sustain the level of financial protection it provides its OFW members and their qualified dependents. In its Circular 25, s-2013, PhilHealth said that OFWs can pay P1,200 good for six months coverage only, computed from the date of initial membership. The balance of P1,200 should be paid within six months prior to expiry of initial coverage in order to continue their uninterrupted health insurance coverage. "We will also allow advance payments of up to two years or equivalent to the length of their contract but should not exceed five years, also at a rate of P1,200, provided that payments are made until December 31, 2013 only", announced PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander A. Padilla, adding that ―come January 1, 2014, premiums shall be at P2,400". Padilla explained that these options can only be availed of at any PhilHealth office or accredited collecting agents and tie-ups here and abroad. PhilHealth benefit coverage has been steadily increasing and expanding in recent years without any premium increase. OFWs and their qualified dependents are even entitled to primary care package which include consultations, diagnostics, and preventive and promotive services without additional premiums. As of 2013, benefit availments by OFWs and their dependents already reached 130 percent over their actual contributions, indicating the usefulness of PhilHealth to the migrant sector.

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Sec. Soliman leads relief distribution in Bohol










Sagbayan, Bohol – Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon-Juliano Soliman headed the distribution of family food packs to the evacuees in the earthquake-hit municipality today. She was joined by Australian Ambassador Bill Twedell, Australian Aid (AusAID) Minster Counsellor Layton Pike, World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Praveen Agraval and Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto. The relief packs, good for 15 days, contain 20 kilos of rice, 10 cans of sardines, 10 cans of beef loaf, 10 pieces of noodles, 10 sachets of chocolate drink, and 10 sachets of coffee. A total of 4,186 packs were handed over. Also during the day, Secretary Soliman, Governor Chatto and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Takahiro Sasaki turned over to the municipal government of Sagbayan P3.5 million-worth of food and noon-food items from the Japanese government. With a longtime partnership forged three decades ago, the Japanese government was more than wiling to help Bohol when the 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the province. Last Thursday, Secretary Soliman, Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Orabe, and JICA Chief Representative Sasaki signed the Deed of Donation at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. The relief items include 150 pieces of tents and 485 blue tarpaulin sheets worth 38 million Yen to help provide safe emergency shelters for the affected families. Each tent has a floor area of 16 sqm. cotton canvass with galvanized steel for its post. It has a door in front and at the rear and a window on each side. The tent is also protected by a mosquito net with adjustable canvass. It is water and rot proof and ideal for a family of five members. On the other hand, the multipurpose sheet is 50 meters long and four meters wide with heat sealing on all sides. ―I am deeply touched by the sense of understanding and support shown by the people of Japan to us Boholanos,‖ said Governor Chatto during the turn-over ceremony.

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DA inaugurates food processing, trading center for tobacco farmers

Source: http://www.da.gov.ph

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Emerson U. Palad and National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Administrator Edgardo D. Zaragoza, formally opened the P165-million (M) food processing and trading center, strategically located along the national highway of Brgy. Nanguneg East, Narvacan, in Ilocos Sur on October 30, 2013. The project, dubbed as the NTA Agri-Pinoy Tobacco Farmers Food Processing and Trading Center (NTA Agri-Pinoy Project) is part of the tobacco agency’s commitment to improve economic conditions and uplift the quality of life of tobacco farmers in the northern provinces of the Philippines. The project responds to the marketing needs of farmers by eliminating layers of middlemen both in buying agricultural inputs and in selling their products, resulting to lower production cost and higher income,‖ according to NTA Corporate Planning Manager Rex Antonio Tecson. ―Thus, the Agriculture Department will continue to provide assistance including raw materials for processing,‖ USec. Palad assured, anchored with the message of Sec. Proceso Alcala which he delivered. The Agri-Pinoy Food Processing Center produces meat products such as bagnet, longganisa, zesty bacon, ham, barbecue, tapa, and tocino sold at Bagsakan centers, food terminals, government offices & hospitals, commissaries, and supermarkets. The DA-Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) assists in the distribution of products in Ilocos Region and in Metro Manila, Usec. Palad added. Admin. Zaragoza said that aside from the P165M construction capital allotted for the food processing facilities, buildings, and equipment, another P35M is allocated as working capital. The food processing plant includes an abbatoir with daily capacity of 200 heads, and a chicken dressing plant with a 200/head per hour capacity, both of which are already operational. While Ilocos Sur in Region I and Abra in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will serve as a priority area for raw material sourcing in the immediate period, expansion will cover Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan, and Cagayan Valley in the future, Zaragoza added. As the project targets to assist 7,693 tobacco farmers in its first year of operation, farmers’ training and assistance for various hog fattening and production activities have already started last June 2013. Sen. Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, who was the event’s guest speaker stressed that ―the Agri-Pinoy Center will provide opportunities not only for the tobacco farmers but for their children as well by encouraging the younger generations to get involved in farming, side by side with their parents.‖





Villar also commended the NTA management for recruiting tobacco farmers’ children who are graduates of agri-technology & related courses, as the workforce of the facility. Under the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, food security and raising incomes of the farmers are the agriculture sector’s ultimate goals. The Agri-Pinoy facility and other agricultural projects aim to ensure sufficient food for every Filipino, raise the farmers’ quality of life, and make Philippine made products globally competitive, Sen. Villar added. (Marlo Asis, DA-AFIS)

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Last Updated: 04 NOVEMBER 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Marubeni Corporation chairman Teruo

Asada during the Courtesy Call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday

(November 04, 2013). Marubeni is involved in the handling of products and provision of

services that include importing and exporting, as well as transactions in the Japanese market

related to food materials, food products, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals and

mineral resources, transportation machinery and offshore trading. Additionally, Marubeni

conducts business investment, development and management on a global level. (Photo by:

Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Marubeni Corporation chairman Teruo Asada

during the Courtesy Call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday

(November 04, 2013). Marubeni is involved in the handling of products and provision of

services that include importing and exporting, as well as transactions in the Japanese market

related to food materials, food products, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals and

mineral resources, transportation machinery and offshore trading. Additionally, Marubeni

conducts business investment, development and management on a global level. (Photo by:

Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message following the flag raising and

awarding ceremony at the GHQ Canopy, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City

on Monday (November 04). The Commander-in-Chief honors the men and women in

uniform who gallantly fought to rescue civilian hostages from the Moro National Liberation

Front (MNLF) – Misuari faction during the three-week Zambonga City siege last September.

(Photo by: Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Gold Cross Medal – posthumous to Capt.

Eduardo Saquing, Sr. during the flag raising and awarding ceremony at the GHQ Canopy,

Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (November 04). The

Commander-in-Chief honors the men and women in uniform who gallantly fought to rescue

civilian hostages from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – Misuari faction during

the three-week Zambonga City siege last September. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan

/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)


President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Distinguished Conduct Star, Distinguished

Service Star and Gold Cross Medal to the awardees during the flag raising and awarding

ceremony at the GHQ Canopy, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday

(November 04). The Commander-in-Chief honors the men and women in uniform who

gallantly fought to rescue civilian hostages from the Moro National Liberation Front

(MNLF) – Misuari faction during the three-week Zambonga City siege last September.

(Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, confers the

Distinguished Conduct Star, Distinguished Service Star and Gold Cross Medal to the

awardees during the flag raising and awarding ceremony at the GHQ Canopy, Camp General

Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (November 04). The Commander-in-Chief

honors the men and women in uniform who gallantly fought to rescue civilian hostages from

the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – Misuari faction during the three-week

Zambonga City siege last September. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang

Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed

Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista, confers the

Distinguished Conduct Star, Distinguished Service Star and Gold Cross Medal to the

awardees following the flag raising and awarding ceremony at the GHQ Canopy, Camp

General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (November 04). The Commander-in-

Chief honors the men and women and women in uniform who gallantly fought to rescue

civilian hostages from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – Misuari faction during

the three-week Zambonga City siege last September. (Photo by: Benhur Arcayan /

Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the flag raising and awarding ceremony at the GHQ

Canopy, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Monday (November 04). The

Commander-in-Chief honors the men and women and women in uniform who gallantly fought

to rescue civilian hostages from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) – Misuari

faction during the three-week Zambonga City siege last September. In photo are Defense

Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General

Emmanuel Bautista. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III visits the wake of retired Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, Friday,

(November 1) at the Mt. Carmel Shrine Parish in Quezon City. Justice Narvasa was the general

counsel of the historic Agrava fact-finding commission that investigated the killing of former

senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on August 21, 1983. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo

Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects security arrangements and facilities at the North Port

Passenger Terminal Complex, Manila North Harbour Port in Tondo, Manila on Thursday (October

31) to ensure the safety of passengers following of DOTC‘s Undas 2013 ―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe‖ for

the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Gil Nartea/

Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects security arrangements and facilities at the North Port

Passenger Terminal Complex, Manila North Harbour Port in Tondo, Manila on Thursday (October

31) to ensure the safety of passengers following of DOTC‘s Undas 2013 ―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe‖ for

the observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Also in photo are PCOO Secretary Sonny

Coloma, Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Atty. Juan Sta. Ana and Manila North

Harbour Port Chairman Michael Romero. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III listens to the briefing on the status of passenger-volume by

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino and Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport System terminal

manager Dir. Amante Salvador during the inspection on the security arrangements and facilities in

the terminal departure area at the Uniwide Coastal Mall in Baclaran, Parañaque City on Thursday

(October 31) to ensure the safety of passengers following the launching of DOTC‘s Undas 2013

―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe" during the observance of the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. (Photo by

Ryan Lim/ Gil Nartea/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III interacts with the bus driver and passengers during the inspection

of security arrangements and facilities at the Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport System

terminal departure area at the Uniwide Coastal Mall in Baclaran, Parañaque City on Thursday

(October 31) to ensure the safety of the passengers during the observance of All Saints' Day and

All Souls' Day following the launching of DOTC‘s Undas 2013 ―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe‖. Assistting

the president is MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III listens to the briefing on the status of passenger-volume by

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino and Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport System terminal

manager Dir. Amante Salvador during the inspection on the security arrangements and facilities in

the terminal departure area at the Uniwide Coastal Mall in Baclaran, Parañaque City on Thursday

(October 31) to ensure the safety of passengers following the launching of DOTC‘s Undas 2013

―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe" during the observance of the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. (Photo by

Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the security arrangements and facilities at the domestic

departure area, Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Thursday


All Souls' Day following the launching of DOTC‘s Undas 2013 ―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe." (Photo by

Ryan Lim/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III inspects the security arrangements and facilities at the domestic

departure area, Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Thursday


All Souls' Day following the launching of DOTC‘s Undas 2013 ―Oplan Ligtas Biyahe." Assisting

the president is Transportation and Communication Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya (Photo by Gil

Nartea/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III listens to the testimonial of Raissa Laurel-Subijano, Person with

Disability during the joint launch of the new PhilHealth Card the Z Morph Prostheses Benefit

Package and other services at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (October 31.

Also in photo are Health Secretary Enrique Ona and PhilHealth president and chief executive

officer Alexander Padilla. (Photo by: Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the joint launch of the new PhilHealth

Cardand the Z Morph Prostheses Benefit Package and other services at the Heroes Hall of the

Malacañan Palace on Thursday (October 31). (Photo by: Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo

Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III huddles with PhilHealth beneficiaries for a souvenir photo during

the joint launch of the new PhilHealth Card and the Z Morph Prostheses Benefit Package and other

services at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (October 31). (Photo by: Benhur

Arcayan / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo

Bureau / PCOO)

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Joint Launch of the new PhilHealth Card and the Z

Morph Prostheses Benefit Package and other services at the Heroes Hall of the Malacañan Palace

on Thursday (October 31). The Z Benefits focuses on providing relevant financial risk protection

against illnesses that are medically and economically catastrophic especially for the marginalized

sectors of society. With the Z packages, every patient who is enrolled in the program is given the

totality of quality healthcare that is at par with current standards of practice. Also in photo are

Health Secretary Enrique Ona and PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Alexander

Padilla. (Photo by: Benhur Arcayan / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

Thank You and God Bless !!!!

Dispatch for november 6 , 2013 (wednesday) , 1 pia calabarzon prs , 14 weather watch,

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Transcript of Dispatch for november 6 , 2013 (wednesday) , 1 pia calabarzon prs , 14 weather watch,