Aguinaldo Shrine Pagsanjan Falls Taal Lake Antipolo Church Lucban Pahiyas Feast

PIA Calabarzon PRs ( April 17 , 2013), Dispatch for April 18 , 2013 (Thursday),

10 Photonews , 13 Weather Watch, 2 Regl.Watch , 3 OFW Watch , 1 PNOY Speech , 15 Online News

Weather Watch

50 minutes ago

DZMM: Inaasahang papasok na sa PAR ngayong araw ang namataang LPA na apat na araw nang binabantayan ng

PAGASA. Ayon kay PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, huling namataan ang nasabing LPA sa layong 1,500km

silangang bahagi ng Mindanao. Paliwanag pa ni Aurelio, dahil nananatiling nasa karagatan ang naturang sama ng

panahon ay hindi nila isinasantabi ang posibilidad na maging isa itong ganap na bagyo pagpasok sa PAR.

Weather Watch

4 hours ago

PIA-NCR: PAGASA forecasters on Thursday advised Metro Manila residents to stay indoors in the afternoon when

temperatures are again projected to reach 36 degrees Celsius.

Weather Watch

5 hours ago

NDRRMC OPCEN: (18APRIL2013-01) 24-HR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST issued at 5AM today. SYNOPSIS:

Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) extending across

Luzon. FORECAST: SOCCSKSARGEN, CARAGA, and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate

rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated

rainshowers or thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and

Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over Mindanao. the coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be

slight to moderate.

Weather Watch

6 hours ago

GMA resident weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz:

-Patuloy ang malawakang pag-ulan sa bansa lalo na sa hapon o gabi.

-Ayon sa PAGASA, dahil sa trough ng LPA na nakakaapekto sa Southern Mindanao, asahan dito sa SOCCSKSARGEN,

CARAGA at sa Davao region na makakaranas sila ng maulap na kalangitan na may mahina hanggang katamtamang pag-

ulan, pagkidlat-pagkulog.

-Nananatili namang nasa labas ng PAR ang LPA.

-Magiging maaliwalas naman ang panahon sa Metro Manila at nalalabing bahagi ng bansa. Ngunit asahan pa rin ang

pulo-pulong pag-ulan at pagkidlat-pagkulog lalo na tuwing hapon o gabi.

-Asahan pa rin na aabot ng 24 hanggang 36°C ang mararamdamang init sa Metro Manila ngayong araw.

Weather Watch

6 hours ago

ABS- CBN: Magiging maganda ang panahon ngayong araw sa Luzon at Visayas na apektado ng ridge of high pressure

area. Sa Metro Manila, inaasahan ang hanggang 36 degrees Celsius na temperatura pero may 30-40% ang tyansa ng

pag-ulan sa hapon. Sa Tuguegarao ay inaasahan din na papalo hanggang 36 degree Celsius ang temperatura ngayong

araw. May binabantayan namang LPA sa Mindanao kaya magiging maulap sa SOCCSKSARGEN, CARAGA at Davao na may

mahina hanggang katamtamang pag-ulan.

Weather Watch shared a link.

6 hours ago

24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST

Issued at: 5:00 AM 18 April 2013

SYNOPSIS: Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA)

extending across Luzon.

FORECAST: Caraga and Davao region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the

east to northeast over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

Over METRO MANILA:

Maximum Temperature: 3:00 PM Yesterday --- 36.0 °C

Minimum Temperature: 6:30 AM Yesterday --- 24.0 °C

Maximum Relative Humidity: 5:00 AM Yesterday --- 91 %

Minimum Relative Humidity : 3:00 PM Yesterday --- 45 %

High Tide Today : 2:40 PM ........ 0.87 meter

Low Tide Today : 11:35 PM ...….. 0.00 meter

Sunrise Today : 5:40 AM

Sunset Today : 6:10 PM

Moonrise Today : 11:33 AM

Moonset Tomorrow : 12:31 AM

Illumination Today : 45 %

For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to

www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph

Weather Watch

16 hours ago

Climate Change Commission Usec. Naderev Saño on ANC:

- Climate change is the most serious threat to man.

- We intend to find ideas from the grassroots to reverse effects of climate change.

- There is no single solution to solve a complex problem such as climate change.

- We are already feeling rising temperatures, one of the effects of climate change.

- Rising sea levels will have profound impact on our country in the long term.

- We must let the world know that things can be done.

- There are many young Filipinos who really want to make a difference.

Weather Watch

17 hours ago

DZBB: Naglabas ng panibagong bulletin ang PHIVOLCS kaugnay ng naganap na lindol kaninang 6:00 ng gabi sa North

Cotabato. Ayon sa PHIVOLCS, nasa magnitude 5.3 ang tumamang lindol sa North Cotabato kung saan ang sentro nito ay

nasa layong anim na kilometro hilagang silangan ng bayan ng Carmen at may lalim na siyam na kilometro. Naramdaman

ang intensity 3 na pagyanig sa Davao City at maging sa Kidapawan City, Cotabato City, Cagayan De Oro at maging sa mga

bayan ng Makilala, Pikit at Batalam. Intensity 2 naman sa General Santos City, President Roxas, North Cotabato, Sultan

Kudarat, Maguindanao, Libona, Bukidnon, Butuan City at Iligan City

Weather Watch

17 hours ago

GMA-7 resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz on 24 Oras:

- Inaasahan na magpapatuloy ang maalinsangang panahon dito sa Metro Manila sa mga susunod na araw.

- Sa datos ng Weather Central, posibleng umabot sa 39°C ang init factor o damang init ng katawan bukas ng hapon sa

Metro Manila hanggang sa gabi na 35°C pero kahit mainit ay may malaki pa ring tsansa ng pag-ambon pagdating ng

hapon hanggang gabi.

- Maaliwalas na panahon naman ang inaasahan sa dulong bahagi ng Luzon, paliwanag ng PAGASA, ito ay dahil sa pag-iral

ng ridge of high pressure area.

- Sa ibang bahagi, gaya sa Baler, Aurora, Baguio City at Iba, Zambales, posible pong magkaroon ng mga pag-ulan.

- Mas maaliwalas naman ang panahon sa malaking bahagi ng Visayas, liban na lamang sa may Samar-Leyte area. Sa

silangan hanggang sa ibang bahagi ng central section habang sa Mindanao, magiging maulap na may mga pag-ulan pa

rin sanhi ng trough of LPA sa may silangang bahagi.

- Patuloy pa ring binabantayan ng PAGASA ang posibleng LPA sa may silangan ng Mindanao at posibleng pumasok

umano ito sa Philippine area of responsibility bukas at may posibilidad na mag-landfall sa Mindanao.

- Kung titignan naman ang wind map ng Weather Central, humihina na ang sirkulasyon ng posibleng LPA at maliit na ang

posibilidad na maging isang ganap na bagyo.

Weather Watch

17 hours ago

ABS-CBN: Mayroong bagong LPA na inaasahang papasok sa bansa bukas at magdadala ng pag-ulan sa Mindanao.

Tinatayang bukas ay nasa may Northeastern Mindanao ang nasabing LPA habang sa Biyernes ay nasa may Eastern

Visayas ito. Pagdating naman ng weekend ay posibleng nasa Southern Luzon na ang LPA. Samantala, asahan naman

bukas ang ang maulap na panahon sa Aurora at Quezon habang maganda naman ang panahon sa Bicol Region. Ang

Metro Manila naman ay may 50% chance of rain bukas, 40 % pagdating ng Biyernes habang 70% naman pagdating ng

Sabado. Asahan naman ang maulap na panahon bukas sa Samar at Leyte habang mas maganda naman ang panahon sa

Iloilo, Boracay, Bacolod at Dumaguete. Tinataya namang magiging maulap ang panahon na may pag-ulan sa Gensan at

sa buong Southern Mindanao habang mas maganda naman ang inaasahang panahon sa Davao at Cotabato.

Weather Watch shared a link.

17 hours ago

Quake after quake. USGS says magnitude 4.7 earthquake shakes 26km west southwest of Darapidap, Candon City, Ilocos

Sur, Philippines at 7:11pm with depth of 38km.

Weather Watch

17 hours ago

PIA-10/BUKIDNON: (EARTHQUAKE EVENT, 17 April 2013)

TIME: 5:51 PM.

MAGNITUDE: 5.1

INTENSITY: Cagayan de Oro and Kidapawan-Intensity III; Malaybalay, Marawi, and Iligan-Intensity II;

LOCATION: 07 km West of Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

DEPTH OF FOCUS: 10 km

ORIGIN: Tectonic

SOURCE: Marcial Labininay, PHIVOLCS

Weather Watch shared a link.

19 hours ago

NEW EARTHQUAKE: Magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolts 8 kilometers north northwest of Linao, Philippines at

5:51pm with depth 41km.

Weather Watch

19 hours ago

PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Lois on DZBB:

- As of 3:00pm, ang pinakamainit sa Science Garden sa Quezon City ay 36.0°C. Actually 3:00 pa lang ito at wala pa yung

4:00pm.

- Ang isa pang pinakamainit pa ay sa Sangley, sa may Cavite 36.0°C, then kasunod nito ay sa Tuguegarao na nakapagtala

din tayo ng 35.9°C. Sa Cabanatuan ay 35.6°C as of 2:00pm pa 'yan. May tsansa pang magtaasan ang mga 'yan.

- 'Yun pong tag-ulan, nasa range pa rin natin 'yan either last week ng May or first week ng June, kung sakali mang ma-

delay 'yan ay maaring isang linggo lang tapos nandoon pa rin sa normal.

- Ang pinakamainit last year ay 36.6°C, hindi pa natin nare-reach, wala pa tayo sa pinaka-peak ng dry season last week

'yan ng April, saka first week ng May, diyan kadalasan naitatala ang peak ng summer.

Weather Watch

19 hours ago

DZMM: Nananatiling positibo sa red tide toxin ang Balite Bay sa Mati, Davao Oriental, Dumanquillas Bay sa Zamboanga

del Sur at Murcielagos Bay sa Zamboanga del Norte at Misamis Occidental, base sa inilabas na shellfish bulletin ng BFAR

ngayong hapon. Bawal ang paghango at pagkain ng lahat ng uri ng shellfish mula sa mga nabanggit na lugar.

Weather Watch

April 18 , 2013 (Thursday) 6 hours ago

CAVITE : Sunny

LAGUNA : Sunny

BATANGAS : Fair weather

RIZAL : Sunny

QUEZON : Partly cloudy

PIA Regional Watch

PIA Regional Watch

21 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The city government of Lucena warned the public to stop smoking in public areas. Lucena City

Mayor Roderick Alcala said that he is strictly implementing 'no smoking' in all public government offices.

PIA Regional Watch

21 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The provincial government of Quezon hosted Regional Annual Conference of Human Resource

Management Practitioners today, April 17 until April 19 at Batis Aramin, Lucban, Quezon. The conference aims to

develop new approaches and style in handling personnel in to deliver efficiently government basic services.

PIA OFW Watch

PIA OFW Watch

30 minutes ago

ANC: DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said PHL Consulate is now monitoring the massive explosion near Waco, Texas.

They are now trying to get in touch with Filipino community leaders in the said area to know if there are Filipinos

affected by the explosion.

PIA OFW Watch

6 hours ago

Mr. Augusto, OFW from Dammam, Saudi Arabia on DZMM:

Re: Balita sa mga undocumented na Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia

-Hindi naman naghuhulihan ngayon, tinigil naman ang hulihan ngayon.

-Hindi naman hinuhuli ang mga Pilipino dito para makauwi.

PIA OFW Watch

22 hours ago

DFA spokesperson Asec. Raul Hernandez on GMA News TV:

- There were no reported casualties from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Iran.

- As of this time, we don't have any reports of casualties from Filipino communities in the affected areas.

- In Iran, there are more or less 1,000 Filipinos. There are workers in different areas; some are skilled while others are

spouses of Mediterraneans.

A. QUEZON

Tagalog news: Pagpili ng natatanging mamamayan ng Quezon, sinimulan

na

By Ruel M. Orinday Wednesday 17th of April 2013

TweetFacebookYahooEmailShareThis

LUNGSOD NG LUCENA, Quezon, Abril 17 (PIA) -- Sinimulan na ngayong linggong ito ng

pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Quezon ang paghahanap ng mga natatanging mamamayan o

indibidwal sa lalawigan.

Ito ay para maging mga nominado sa ika-21 Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan (QMK) para sa

taong 2013, ang isa sa pinakaprestihiyosong parangal na maaaring matangap ng isang taga-

Quezon.

Ang paghahanap ay gagawin sa pamamgitan ng Provincial Gender And Development (PGAD)

Office na tumatayong QMK Secretariat sa pakikipagtulungan ng Provincial Tourism Office ng

Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Quezon.

Layunin nito na hanapin at parangalan ang mga taong nagpakita ng natatanging katangian at

may malaking naiambag sa lipunan.

Ipinahayag ni Ofelia Palayan, hepe ng PGAD sa isinagawang regular Monday flag raising

ceremony ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ang pagsisimula ng pagtanggap ng mga nominasyon.

Ang nasabing parangal ay unang isinagawa ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan noong 1970 at

nahahati ito sa dalawang kategorya, ang una ay “Gintong Medalya ng Karangalan” (Life

Achievement Award) at ang pangalawa ay "Medalya ng Karangalan" (Special Achievement

Award).

Ang mga nagnanais na mapabilang upang maging nominado sa QMK ay kinakailangang

maabot ang mga kuwalipikasyong binuo na maaaring makita sa website na

www.quezon.gov.ph/qmk/.

Ilan sa mga kuwalipikasyong ito ay: edad, taon ng paninirahan sa lalawigan ng Quezon

ipinanganak man dito o hindi, uri ng kontribusyon o achievements na pinakinabangan ng

kapuwa niya kababayan, nagpakita ng dedikasyon bilang pinuno, at higit sa lahat ang

katangian ng pamumuhay kagaya ng sa yumaong dating Pangulong Manuel L. Quezon tulad ng

mga sumusunod: Concern for the common people and the promotion of social justice;

Champion of civil liberties; Nationalism; Civic Consciousness; Visionary; Integrity (wholeness of

the person); Innovative; Love and concern for his family; Love for culture (music and the arts).

Ang mga nagnanais na mapabilang sa mga nominado ng Quezon Medalya Ng Karangalan 2013

ay maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa QMK Secretariat c/o PGAD Office, Social Services Building,

Provincial Capitol Compound, Lucena City na may contact no. (042)373-7175 o sa Provincial

Tourism Office na may contact no. (042) 373-7510.

Maaaring mai-download ang nomination form sa www.quezon.gov.ph/qmk/ samantala ang

huling araw ng pagtangap ng mga nominasyon ay sa darating na ika-17 ng Hunyo, 2013.

(CPG/RMO-PIA4A Quezon at ulat mula sa Quezon PIO)

B. CAVITE

C. LAGUNA

D. BATANGAS

E. RIZAL

17 APRIL 2013.

President Aquino declares April 27 as a special (non-working) day in Lapu-Lapu City in

celebration of 492nd Battle of Mactan

President Aquino to attend 22nd ASEAN Summit from April 24 to 25 in Brunei Darussalam

Aquino witnesses signing of lease agreement between PHIVIDEC and Filinvest that offers long-

term solution to Mindanao's energy problems

President Aquino to lead groundbreaking of 14-km road in Dipolog City Thursday

President Aquino declares April 27 as a special (non-working) day in Lapu-Lapu City in celebration of 492nd Battle of Mactan

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared April 27, which falls on a Saturday, as a special (non-working) day in the city of Lapu-Lapu in celebration of the 492nd Battle of Mactan, known locally as “Kadaugan sa Mactan." The Chief Executive issued the declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 563 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on March 13, to give the people of Lapu-Lapu City the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion. Kadaugan sa Mactan literally means "Victory at Mactan" used to be called Bahugbahug sa Mactan. The celebration commemorates the battle between Mactan Island Chieftain Lapu-Lapu and Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on April 27, 1521. Magellan died in the hands of Lapu-Lapu during the battle. "The Battle of Mactan is among the significant events in Philippine history and serves as testimony to the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Filipinos," the President said. PND (js)

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President Aquino to attend 22nd ASEAN Summit from April 24 to 25 in Brunei Darussalam

President Benigno S. Aquino III will join his counterparts at the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit that will be held in Brunei Darussalam from April 24 to 25, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Wednesday. In a briefing in Malacanang, DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said this Summit, which also marks the 46th year of ASEAN’s existence, will serve as a follow up to the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from November 17 to 20, 2012. Among the topics the Philippines will continue to advocate during the Summint, Hernandez said, include maritime security and cooperation, the full implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the early conclusion of a substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct and the review of the ASEAN Charter “with the objective of streamlining the work and meetings of ASEAN.” “In the 22nd ASEAN Summit, the Philippines will continue to advocate maritime security and cooperation, to push for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, for the early conclusion of a substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct, and to review the ASEAN Charter with

the objective of streamlining the work and meetings of ASEAN,” Hernandez said. He said the Summit will begin on the evening of April 24 with a working dinner hosted by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam. The following day will have the Summit’s Retreat Session which Hernandez said, “will revolve around the following agenda items: the ASEAN community 2015; the ASEAN’s central role and the regional architecture; ASEAN’s future direction; and exchange of views on regional and international issues.” Aside from the Summit, the President is expected to meet with leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia comprising the East ASEAN Growth Area for the 9th BIMP-EAGA Summit. PND (rck)

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Aquino witnesses signing of lease agreement between PHIVIDEC and Filinvest that offers long-term solution to Mindanao's energy problems

President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the ceremonial contract signing of PHIVIDEC and Filinvest Development Utilities Inc. in Malacanang on Wednesday on the lease agreement that paves the way for the construction of a power generation facility in Misamis Oriental.

“This contract signing today demonstrates a new face of Philippine governance: We are witnessing a great step in our shared pursuit of bequeathing to succeeding generations a Philippines that meets its full potential,” the President said in his message after the signing ceremony.

“Through the collective efforts of forward thinkers in public service, and of our partners in Filinvest, we are showing our commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth whose impact will be felt by Filipinos even decades from now.”

Mindanao’s energy situation did not arise overnight and the solution also requires cooperation among stakeholders, which is also expected to take some time, the President said.

The energy problems of Mindanao stemmed from the intentions of politicians to be exempted from the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) and the region’s heavy reliance on the use hydro-powered plants, the chief executive said.

He said previous leaders assumed that cheap hydro power could last forever neglecting the fact that the hydropower plants are machines that need to be maintained, improved and replaced.

And instead of actively protecting the source of hydropower, illegal logging was allowed to continue, destroying watersheds and was compounded by the effects of climate change, he said.

But with the construction of cleaner coal-powered plants in Mindanao, President Aquino said he expects the region’s energy woes to be a thing of the past. Since taking office in 2010, he said his administration immediately began making the structural changes that encouraged the private sector to come in and put up power plants.

For instance, last year, Aboitiz began a project to build two coal-fired power plants in Davao, which will provide a total of 300 megawatts. The project will be finished by late 2015, he said.

“By then, with all the projects we have lined up, we fully expect that this problem will be a thing of the past. And hopefully, the thinking that led us to this problem will also be a thing of the past,” he said. Also, the President said the Sultan of Brunei, who visited the country this week, expressed his serious intention to bring natural gas to Mindanao. The memorandums of understanding have already been signed for this project, he said. Filinvest’s Misamis Oriental project is a significant part of the long-term solution for Mindanao’s energy problems, according to the President.

“This signing gives us peace of mind that the permanent solutions are being put in place. By 2016, these three plants, by themselves, will be providing 405 megawatts of coal power to the Mindanao grid. (The figures, I think, should be checked a little.) With the energy these plants will be producing, by 2016, we expect production capacity to be almost 470 megawatts above peak demand,” he said.

The government, in cooperation with the private sector, not only increases Mindanao’s maximum capacity but also reinforces the region’s entire energy supply with more reliable and stable sources.

“We are making their energy infrastructure much more competitive. We should also not forget that in constructing these power plants, Filinvest will be injecting P29-30 billion into Mindanao’s economy, while giving jobs to two thousand workers in the process.”

PHIVIDEC and Filinvest signed Wednesday a 28-year lease contract for an initial 84.4 hectare of land within the PHIVIDEC’s industrial state in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Filinvest will construct a coal-fired power plant that is expected to support Mindanao’s energy needs.

Filinvest said it is adopting clean coal technology in its Misamis Oriental power plant with a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler. This technology reduces the sulfur dioxide emission as well as nitrogen oxide to negligible

levels, thus also reducing its impact on the environment. PND (as)

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President Aquino to lead groundbreaking of 14-km road in Dipolog City Thursday

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte) President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit on Thursday the city of Dipolog to lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the improvement of a 14-kilometer road as part of his commitment to further develop the commercial and tourism industries in the province. Joining the Chief Executive in the event are Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Romeo S. Momo, and other local officials. The upgrading of the road from Junction Barangay Cogon to OISCA Park (Japanese Park) in Barangay Diwan in Dipolog City is a "Tourism Road Project" prioritized under the Department of Tourism-Department of Public Works and Highways (DOT-DPWH) Convergence Program. The DOT-DPWH joint program aims to provide tourists fast, safe, and convenient travel to their destinations during their stay in the country. The 14 km road upgrading project will start at the Junction Barangay Cogon along Punta-Dansullan-Sergio Osmeña of the East-West Lateral National Road. According to reports, the project involves the upgrading of the road with a pavement width of 6.10 meters and thickness of 0.23 meters. The project will cost the government an estimated P335 million. The government initially allocated P80 million for the concreting of 2.887 kms. which is included in the Fiscal Year 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The P225 million balance needed to fully pave the remaining 11.113 kms. will be considered in the proposed DPWH 2014 budget and succeeding budgets will be sourced from available funds. Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony, President Aquino will proceed to the Dipolog Sports Complex in Barangay Olingan, where he will meet with local leaders and the community. PND (js)

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17 ABRIL 2013

Idineklara ng Pangulong Aquino na special non–working day ang Abril 27 sa Lapu-Lapu City para gunitain ang labanan sa Mactan

Dadalo ang Pangulong Aquino sa 22nd ASEAN Summit sa Brunei Darussalam sa Abril 24-25

Sinaksihan ni Aquino ang paglagda sa lease agreement ng PHIVIDEC at Filinvest para malunasan ang problema ng Mindanao sa enerhiya

Idineklara ng Pangulong Aquino na special non–working day ang Abril 27 sa Lapu-Lapu City para gunitain ang labanan sa Mactan

Idineklara ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang Abril 27, natapat sa araw ng Sabado, bilang special non-working day para sa Lungsod ng Lapu-Lapu upang ipagdiwang ang ika-492 taon ng Labanan sa Mactan na lalong kilala sa tawag na Kadaugan sa Mactan. Ang deklarasyon ng Pangulo ay ginawa sa pamamagitan ng Proklamasyon Blg. 563 na nilagdaan ni Kalihim Tagapagpaganap Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. noong Marso 13, 2013 upang bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga mamamayan

ng Lungsod ng Lapu-Lapu na ipagdiwang at lahukan ang mga programang kaugnay ng nasabing anibersaryo. Tagumpay sa Mactan ang kahulugan ng Kadaugan ss Mactan na dati ring kilala bilang Bahug-Bahug sa Mactan. Ang pagdiriwang na ito ay paggunita sa maningning na pagtatanggol ni Lapu-Lapu, puno ng Pulo ng Mactan, laban sa panlulupig ni Ferdinand Magellan, isang Portugese, na puno ng mga Espanyol na nagtangkang sumakop sa Mactan noong Abril 27, 1521. Nasawi si Magellan sa kamay ni Lapu-Lapu sa sagupaang naganap. “Ang Labanan sa Mactan ay isa sa pinakamahalagang yugto ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas at nagsisilbing tatag ng paninindigan ng mga Pilipino laban sa manlulupig. Buhay na alaala ito ng kagitingan at kabayanihang Pilipino,” sabi ng Pangulong Aquino sa Proklamasyon niya. PND

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Dadalo ang Pangulong Aquino sa 22nd ASEAN Summit sa Brunei Darussalam sa Abril 24-25

Makakasama ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang iba pang lider ng Asya sa pagdalo sa 22th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit na nakatakdang ganapin sa Brunei Darussalam sa Abril 24-25, ayon sa Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas (DFA) Miyerkoles. Sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang, sinabi ng Tagapagsalita ng DFA Raul Hernandez na ang Summit na natapat sa ika-46 anibersaryo ng ASEAN ay magsisilbing karugtomg ng 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits sa Phnom Penh, Cambodia noong Nob.17-20, 2012. “Sa mga paksang patuloy na isusulong ng Pilipinas sa Summit ay kabilang ang kapanatagan at pagtutulungan sa maritima, lubusang pagpapatupad ng Declaration of the Conduct of Parties sa Timog Karagatang Tsina, ang maagang paglutas sa mahalaga at kasunduang Code of Conduct at pagrebisa sa ASEAN Charter na ang layon ay ayusin ang mga gawain at pulong ng ASEAN,” sabi pa ni Hernandez. Sinabi ni Hernandez na gabi ng Abril 24 sisimulan ang Summit sa pamamagitan ng working dinner na ang punung-abala ay ang Kanyang Kamahalan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah ng Brunei Darussalam. Kinabukasan, idaraos ang Retreat Session ng Summit na sabi ni Hernandez ay “iinog sa adyenda tungkol sa ASEAN Community 2015; mahalagang papel ng ASEAN at pampurok na arkitektura; ang direksiyon ng ASEAN sa hinaharap; at palitan ng kuru-kuro sa mga isyung pampurok at pandaigdig man.” Bukod sa pagdalo sa Summit, ang Pangulo ay inaasahang makikipagpulong sa mga lider ng Brunei, Indonesya at Malaysia na bumubuo sa East ASEAN Growth Area para sa 9th BIMP-EAGA Summit. PND (rck/zaf)

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Sinaksihan ni Aquino ang paglagda sa lease agreement ng PHIVIDEC at Filinvest para malunasan ang problema ng Mindanao sa enerhiya

Sinaksihan ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang ceremonial contract signing ng PHIVIDEC at Filinvest Development Utilities Inc. sa Malacanang Miyerkoles para sa lease agreement upang magawa na ang isang power generation facility sa Misamis Oriental. “Ang paglagda sa kontrata ngayong araw na ito ay nagpapamalas ng isang bagong mukha ng pamamahala sa Pilipinas. Sinasaksihan natin ang isang dakilang hakbang sa ating magkatuwang na pagtataguyod ng mahalagang bagay para sa mga susunod na saling-lahi sa Pilipinas na tutugon sa lubos na pangangailangan,” wika ng Pangulo matapos ang seremonya ng paglagda sa kasunduan. “Sa pamamagitan ng sama-samang pagsisikap ng may malalawak na pananaw sa palingkurang pambayan at ng ating mga kabalikat sa Filinvest, pinatutunayan natin ang pagtupad sa patuloy, malawakang pagsulong na ang bunga ay malalasap ng mga Pilipino hanggang sa mga deka-dekada pang panahon mula ngayon,” sabi ng Pangulo. Ang kalagayan ng enerhiya sa Mindanao ay hindi ngayon lamang sumulpot at ang lunas ay nangangailangan din ng pagtutulungan nang lahat na inaasahang magtatagal-tagal pa,” dagdag ng Pangulo. Binigyang diin ng Pangulo na ang problema sa enerhiya ng Mindanao ay bunga ng hangarin ng mga pulitiko na huwag masama sa Electric Power Industry Reform Act ng 2011 (EPIRA) at sa labis na pagsandig ng rehiyon sa paggamit ng hydro-electric plants. Idinagdag niya na akala ng mga nakaraang mga lider na ang murang hydro power ay walang katapusan at nakaligtaan ang katotohanang ang planta ng hydropower ay mga makiknang dapat pangalagaan, ayusin at palitan. “Sa halip na puspusang pangalagaan ang pinagmumulan ng hydropower, pinayagang magpatuloy ang ilegal na pagtotroso, pagwasak sa mga watersheds na pinalubha pa ng pagbabago ng klima,” dugtong ng Pangulo. Inihayag ng Pangulo na sa pagtatayo ng higit na malinis na coal-powered plants sa Mindanao, inaasahan niyang ang suliranin ng rehiyon sa enerhiya ay makalilipas na. Binanggit ng Pangulo na mula nang manungkulan siya noong 2010, agad sinimulan ng administrasyon niya ang mga pagbabagong istraktural upang mahimok ang pribadong sektor na pumasok dito at magtayo ng mga planta ng koryente. Ibiinigay niyang halimbawa ang Aboitiz na nagsimula nang magtayo ng dalawang coal powered plants sa Davao na makapagbibigay ng kabuuang 300 megawatts. Ang proyektong ito ay matatapos sa 2015, sabi pa ng Pangulo.

“Pagsapit ng nasabing taon, sa tulong ng mga proyekto nating gagawin, umaasa tayong ganap nang malulutas ang problemang ito,” wika ng Pangulo. Binanggit din ng Pangulo na ang Sultan ng Brunei na dumalaw kamakailan sa bansa, ay nagpahayag ng malasakit tungkol sa natural gas sa Mindanao. Nalagdaan na ang memorandum of understanding tungkol dito. Ang proyekto ng Filinvest sa Misamis Oryental ay mahalagang bahagi ng pangmatagalang lunas sa problema ng Mindanao ukol sa enerhiya, wika ng Pangulo. “Mahalaga ang paglalagdaang ito. Pagdating ng 2016, ang tatlong plantang ito ay makapagbibigay na ng 405 megawatts ng coal power sa Mindanao grid para tugunan ang kailangang koryente,” pahayag pa ng Pangulo. Ang pamahalaan sa pakikipagtulungan ng pribadong sektor ay hindi lamang magbibigay nang sapat na koryente sa Mikndanaw, kundi magpapalakas pa ng kabuuang enerhiyang kailangan ng rehiyon. Aabot sa P29-30 bilyon ang gugugulin ng Filinvest sa ekonomya ng Mindanao at makapagbibigay ng trabaho sa 2,000 manggagawa. Nilagdaan ng PHIVIDEC at ng Filinvest Miyerkoles ang 28 taong lease contract para sa unang 84.4 ektaryang lupain sa loob ng industrial state ng PHIVIDEC sa Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Magtatayo ang Filinvest ng coal-fired power plant na inaasahang makasasapat sa koryenteng kailangan ng Mindanao. Sinabi ng Filinvest na gagamitin nila ang clean coal technology sa planta nito sa Misamis Oriental na may umiinog na fluidized bed na nagbabawas ng ibinubugang sulphur dioxide at nitrogen oxide kaya nababawasan ang hindi magandang epekto sa kapaligiran. PND (as/zaf)

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ONLINE NEWS

17 APRIL 2013

Bacteria may help address water pollution

RPM-P/RPA/ABB begins transformation into legitimate, mainstream organization

HRD manager gets P120,000 in benefits, thanks to SEnA

Intensified reintegration program turns more returning OFWs into entrepreneurs; start-ups generate 2,995 jobs

A first in the DOLE: ILS plants mangroves

DOTC moves Laguindingan Airport opening for passenger convenience

BI gets biometrics equipment from US gov't

Ph gets 3.5-M Euros from Eu's SWITCH-Asia Program

PDIC directed to proceed with liquidation of Export and Industry Bank

PIDS suggests extension of 4Ps assistance coverage

DTI sets Diskwento Caravan in Camanava

DTI aids to upscale human capital in ICT

Due to slow demand, POEA temporarily stops registration of female workers to Korea

VP Binay: NHMFC partners with 8990 HDC for the Securitization Of Php4 Billion worth receivables

OWWA meets with Recruitment Agencies to clear issue on language training schedule for HSWs

Bacteria may help address water pollution

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

Certain types of bacteria may help in waste water cleanup, according to a Department of Science and Technology funded study. The team headed by Prof. Arlene Llamado of the University of the Philippines Los Baños isolated five bacteria cultures from soils of an abandoned mine site in Mogpog, Marinduque to determine if these can form biofilms. Then the team assessed the bacteria’s potential in wastewater treatment applications. Biofilms are the slimy substances secreted by certain types of bacteria, just like the slime on un-brushed teeth or the film on top of left-over soup. In hospital settings, biofilm-forming bacteria are notorious in spreading hospital-acquired infections because they are resistant to antibiotics and cleaning agents. However, the researchers wanted to take advantage of the ability of microorganisms to form biofilms because they are negatively charged therefore they can attach to positively charged metal ions. “By the simple idea of negatively charged polymers attaching to positively charged ions, we actually have a potential to remove heavy metal ions from waste water,” explained Prof. Lllamado. She further explained that they collected samples from a mined out site where there is low concentration of organic elements and high concentration of copper, because they expected that bacteria living in these soils would have resistance to heavy metals. All of the bacteria samples isolated from the site exhibited ability to produce biofilms. Further evaluation showed that all of these isolates were capable of removing heavy metals in water-copper solution. The planktonic cells of each bacterial isolate ate up the copper within six hours of contact time. Since actual wastewaters may contain multiple metals, the team also tested the isolates in mixed metal solution containing copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc. Results revealed that three out of the five isolates decreased their efficiency in removing copper when exposed to mixed metal solution. Interestingly, one of the isolates called NV17 has shown dramatic increase in its ability to remove copper in multi-metal solution. However, Professor Llamado said that the reason for this occurrence was not yet tackled in the study. Subsequent analysis of the bacteria revealed that the isolates NV112 an NV1A are species of Rhodococcus; NV17 and R11 are species of Bacillus, and NV2A is Pseudomonas sp. Prof. Llamado revealed that further study is underway to test the ability of these bacterial isolates in removing metals in actual wastewater.

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RPM-P/RPA/ABB begins transformation into legitimate, mainstream organization

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

The armed group known as Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa–Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB TPG) is now Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan (Brotherhood for Social Progress). The former rebel group, which signed an agreement with the government in 2000, made the announcement at a press conference recently, after the group’s three-day General Assembly where they drafted their new constitution and by-laws and defined their new organizational directions. An election was also held for the new set of officers. "The formation of the Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan (KPP) is in line with the goal of the government to transform the RPM-P/RPA/ABB TPG into a legitimate socio-economic and political organization, as outlined by the proposed Closure Agreement Towards the Disposition of Arms and Forces," said Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Atty. Maria Cleofe Gettie Sandoval. The said agreement is now under review for signing. Legitimate means to pursue cause The General Assembly and the formation of the KPP serve as indicators of the TPG’s sincere intention of returning to the folds of government and into mainstream society. “Even without the signing, this is our way of showing the people that we intend to fulfill our obligation to the government by meeting the requirement of the peace agreement for the group’s institutional transformation,” said KPP’s newly-elected secretary, Marlon delos Santos. “We are tired of hiding and we want to use legitimate means to pursue our cause.” According to its press statement, the KPP will pursue social justice as a key to lasting peace and genuine progress. The new organization endeavors to “improve economic conditions and welfare of its former combatant members” and “strengthen its capabilities so that it could effectively pursue its commitment to continue to work for the interest of the working masses and pursue substantial reforms for the betterment of the working people.” Other advocacy areas for the KPP are women, children, and the environment. The group maintains that safeguarding these areas is an “inseparable component” in upholding the rights and welfare of the working masses. New officers The KPP elected officers include Gilbert Arsenal as president; Placido Perfas as vice-president; Marlon delos Santos as secretary; Fortunato Duran as treasurer, Antonio Bagabon as public information officer; Santos Malinao

as auditor; Herminihildo Oliver as vice-president for District 4 in situ; Ramel Factora as representative for Mindanao; Ivan Siosan as representative for Panay; Jon Reyes as representative for the National Capital Region; and Giovanni Banista as sergeant at arms. The newly-formed organization’s membership includes the squad and territorial command officials of the former RPM-P/RPA/ABB TPG.

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HRD manager gets P120,000 in benefits, thanks to SEnA

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

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday bared that a former human resource manager of One Tagaytay Place Hotel has received P120,000 in separation benefits after her request for assistance for the payment of such benefits was promptly acted upon by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board Branch IV-A through the DOLE reform mechanism, Single Entry Approach, now popularly known as SEnA. "Another request for assistance, in addition to thousands that all DOLE offices continue to act upon fast, has been settled through the SEnA, proving once again the efficacy of conciliation-mediation as an alternative dispute settlement mechanism," said Baldoz after she received a report on the SEnA settlement from NCMB executive director Reynaldo Ubaldo. Baldoz said the SEnA as a reform measure has been recognized for its effectiveness as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that the Congress has passed R. A. No. 10396, or the "Act Strengthening Conciliation-Mediation as a Voluntary Mode of Dispute Settlement for All Labor Cases'. "The new law will definitely give a boost to labor and employment governance in the country. It will strengthen our efforts to provide speedy, impartial, inexpensive, and accessible labor dispute settlement services,” Baldoz said. Ubaldo reported that Victoria P. Martin filed her request for assistance with the RCMB IV-A office last February 19, 2013 to complain about non-payment of her separation pay, accrued vacation and sick leaves, and 13th month pay, shortly after she was constructively dismissed from the hotel where she had worked for four years and six months. "Nalaman ko sa mga kaibigan ko na puwede kong idulog ang aking hinaing sa DOLE-NCMB kaya nagpunta ako kaagad sa NCMB Calamba. "I learned from my friends that I could file a complaint with the DOLE-NCMB so I visited at once the NCMB office in Calamba)," Martin said. At the first hearing on 5 March, Martin asked for payment of the following: (1) one month salary for every year of service; (2) payment for accrued vacation and sick leaves; and (3) payment of proportionate 13th month pay. The parties did not reach an agreement and the meeting was reset on 12 March for further conciliation-mediation. In the next meeting, NCMB-IV-A officer-in-charge director Gil G. Caragayan succeeded in crafting a mutually-acceptable solution to Martin's claims. On the same day, she received the amount of P120,000 as full settlement of her claims against the company. "Nagpapasalamat ako sa NCMB, sa mabilis na pag-aksyon sa aking problema, lalo na kay Director Caragayan sa kanyang tulong at payo. (I thank the NCMB for its fast action on my problem, particularly to Director Caragayan for his assistance and advice)," she said. Martin's case is one of the 927 requests for assistance handled and resolved by the NCMB through the SEnA since January 2013. The SEnA is a fast, inexpensive, and accessible reform program that seeks to de-judicialize the labor dispute resolution process through a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation of all labor disputes to prevent these cases from becoming into full-blown disputes. Under the SEnA, complaints, also called requests for assistnce, are acted upon through conciliation as the initial step. If a complaint is not settled within 30 days, the same is referred to the appropriate office of the Department.

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Intensified reintegration program turns more returning OFWs into entrepreneurs; start-ups generate 2,995 jobs

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

Starting strong in 2013 Intensified reintegration program turns more returning OFWs into entrepreneurs; start-ups generate 2,995 jobs Many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) continue to turn themselves into successful entrepreneurs by going into business with the help of the national government’s P2 billion OFW National Reintegration Program. Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said this yesterday as the 1st quarter of the year marked an increased number of OFWs who availed of the P2 billion reintegration program to jumpstart their chosen livelihood projects and entrepreneurial undertakings. “At the start of the year, more OFWs continue to benefit from the government’s efforts of facilitating the smooth reintegration of returning OFWs through favorable terms of increased investment and productivity, thus making them productive upon their return,” Baldoz said. She cited the report of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) showing that during the first three months of the year, the P2 billion reintegration program has benefitted 113 OFW borrower-beneficiaries out of the 130 loan applications approved by the Land Bank of the Philippines. Of the total 665 borrower-beneficiaries, 460 were male and 205 were female. Total loans approved out of the 665 applications reached 648, with loan value of P443.7 million. OFW Borrower-entrepreneurs from Region 3 topped the most number of approved loans and largest amount, with P81 million for 146 business projects. This is followed by Region 4-A, the CALABARZON region, with P79.2 million for 147 projects; Region 6, with P53.5 million for 59 projects; and Region 5 with P27.8 million for 54 projects. The rest of the regions have OFWs borrowings of over P2 million. The report showed that overall the various business ventures funded by the loans have increased the generated jobs to 2,995, from a recorded 2,193

jobs in 2012. OFW borrower-beneficiaries have ventured into diverse businesses, ranging from trading of grains, agricultural and farm inputs, auto and motorcycle parts; general merchandise, dry goods, sari-sari and retail stores; hog and duck raising, fishpond and/or fish, and egg production; and other service businesses, which include transport operation, delivery services, water purification, and dressmaking/tailoring. “We are bringing out to the surface the resourcefulness and ingenuity of our OFWs as they craft their own businesses which they believe are viable and profitable, not only for themselves, but also for the economic and social development of their communities. This is inclusive growth in action,” Baldoz emphasized. Launched in 2011 during the celebration of the 1st National Congress of Overseas Workers and Families, the National Reintegration Program for OFWs aims to support OFWs and their families who plan to put up businesses to maximize the gains of overseas employment, mitigate the social cost of migration, and cushion the impact of forced repatriation. The loan program is managed by the Land Bank of the Philippines. It carries an annual rate of 7.5 percent in declining balance with a flexible payment scheme maximum of five years and an incentive grace period of two years. A borrower can borrow a maximum of P2 million. The P2 billion reintegration program is in response to the 22-point labor and employment agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III, specifically Item No. 19 which calls on the DOLE to facilitate the re-integration of returning OFWs by favorable terms of investments, tax incentives, access to government financial institutions and other benefits that are offered to foreign investors. It further realizes Item No. 15 of the agenda which emphasizes on giving assistance to OFWs in achieving financial stability through training, investment and savings programs. With the government’s reintegration project now bears more fruits, Baldoz advises OFWs to consider the viable opportunities offered by the National Reintegration Program and consider the option of going into business. “This year as we intensify welfare and protection measures for OFWs, we continue to empower more workers who have sought for alternative income and increased employability through sustainable livelihood undertakings at their own homeland,” Baldoz stressed. “More than capacitating our beneficiaries financially, the assistance moves them forward in boosting sustainable employment creation and increased productivity that will eventually provide equal and viable opportunities to help, if not, inspire more OFWs that there is indeed life at the comfort of their homes, thus, their families will no longer bear the high social cost of migration,” she added. (For queries about this release, please contact the National Reintegration Center for OFWs at 5262392 or email them at nrcodole@yahoo.com.)

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A first in the DOLE: ILS plants mangroves

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

"Our advocacy on green jobs does not end on research and policy papers; it extends to putting this advocacy into action to contribute to environment protection."

Thus said Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday after the Institute of Labor Studies, or ILS, an attached agency of the DOLE, reported that its officials and employees had recently planted 2,000 mangroves shoots at the Kalawangan River in Iba, Zambales.

"This is part of our Green Our DOLE program, which complements the National Greening Program (NGP) of the national government. The Institute is the first DOLE agency to take part on the mangrove reforestation program," said Baldoz.

Zambales Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) manager Alex N. Navarro, whose office partnered with the ILS on the mangrove reforestation project, explained that mangrove reforestation plays a vital role in the lives of the people of Zambales, particularly of Barangay Palanginan, as mangroves help maintain the biodiversity of the Kalawangan River, a source of livelihood for many community folk.

Navarro said mangrove trees have the ability to prevent soil erosion and storm surges, especially in rivers and littoral areas.

"Mangrove areas also serve as breeding ground for aquatic animals, which the locals eventually harvest to generate income," he explained.

"Here we can see the inter-dependency of environment protection and employment generation. Our pro-active role on raising consciousness in caring for the environment always redounds to employment and livelihood sustainability," said ILS officer-in-charge deputy director Mary Grace Riguer during her discussion with the officials of Zambales PENRO.

Under the NGP, all government employees are required to plant a minimum of ten seedlings per year in pre-determined areas. By 2016, the DENR estimates that 1.5 million hectares would have been covered under the program, with 1.5 billion seedlings planted.

The ILS, as the policy research and advocacy arm of the DOLE commits itself to contribute to the NGP. It has done pioneer research on green jobs and green business. ILS researches on green jobs are available at its website at www.ilsdole.gov.ph.

(For more information on this press release please contact Ms. Linartes M. Viloria, Chief, Advocacy & Publications Division, Institute for Labor Studies, Telephone Nos.: 5273490/5273447.)

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DOTC moves Laguindingan Airport opening for passenger convenience

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

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) today announced that it has decided to push back the transfer of the gateway to Northern Mindanao from the old Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City to the new P 7.8-Billion Laguindingan Airport by one-and-a-half months to June 15, 2013, in order to avoid disrupting passengers’ travel plans over the summer.

The Transport Department has conducted a walk-through at the Laguindingan Airport and was very pleased with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP) preparations for the intended April 30 opening. However, CAAP has received requests from airline companies to postpone the transfer until after the summer peak season, because the April 30 opening would require the cancellation of several daily trips. According to the airline companies, their representatives were encountering difficulties in reaching a substantial number of passengers who had already purchased tickets for flights in April and May, to inform them of changes in their flight itineraries. “It is in the best interest of the government and of the airlines to deliver safe and convenient services to the public,” said the DOTC. “As we took stock of the assessment of both CAAP and the airline companies that the Laguindingan Airport is already a safer alternative to the Lumbia Airport, we again listen to their inputs saying that postponing the transfer will be better for passenger convenience.” “The postponement will give the airlines ample time to inform their customers of their new flight schedules at Laguindingan Airport. This will lessen the possibility of disrupting travel plans and causing inconvenience to the riding public,” added the DOTC. The airlines which operate at Cagayan de Oro are Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, and Zest Air. They serve a combined total average of over 2,000 passengers daily. The Laguindingan Airport is a key infrastructure project which is crucial to unlocking the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor to more tourism- and agriculture-oriented activities. The government has previously announced that it will be temporarily operated by CAAP using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) until its air navigation equipment is fully in place by May 2014.

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BI gets biometrics equipment from US gov't

Source: http://immigration.gov.ph

The United States government has donated to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) two state-of-the-art biometrics equipment to help bolster the agency’s capability to catch foreign fugitives and other illegal aliens. BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. formally accepted the equipment from US Ambassador Harry Thomas in a simple ceremony at the US embassy in Manila last Thursday. David thanked Thomas and the US government for their unwavering support to the BI’s campaign to upgrade its facilities and enchance its ability to enforce immigration laws. Thomas, for his part, promised to strengthen the partnership between the BI and US government in the global effort against human trafficking and transnational crimes. David said that the biometrics devices will help immigration officers and intelligence operatives detect fraudulent travel documents and thwart the entry of wanted foreign fugitives and blacklisted aliens. The equipment will thus be used by the BI intelligence division and the airport operations division based at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI acting intelligence chief, explained that with the biometrics equipment the bureau will now to be able to build a wider and more reliable database of the illegal aliens and foreign fugitives by immigration intelligence operatives. He said that henceforth the device will scan the fingerprints of all arrested aliens and the data will be kept in a database along with their photographs. Mangrobang added that the same procedure will be employed by immigration officials at the NAIA for aliens who are excluded and blacklisted at the premiere port. “This will prevent these blacklisted aliens from re-entering the country even if they assume a different name, use a different passport or disguise their physical appearances,” she said.

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Ph gets 3.5-M Euros from Eu's SWITCH-Asia Program

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

The Philippines is getting €3.5 million (roughly P189 million) in grants from the European Union (EU) under its SWITCH-Asia Programme to fund projects aimed at promoting cleaner and more energy efficient industrial production in one of Asia's rapidly transforming economies. Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the awarding of the financial aid on Tuesday will formally put into implementation the EU's environment program to help accelerate the country's shift toward sustainable consumption and production (SCP). The DENR chairs the steering committee for the implementation of SWITCH-Asia in the Philippines, while the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) are key partners.

SWITCH-Asia Programme is a regional grant facility funded by the EU. Its goal is to "contribute to green growth, poverty reduction and climate change mitigation in Asia," specifically by promoting sustainable modes of consumption and production. According to Gerochi, the program serves as "an opportunity to reverse the trend of economic development at the cost of the environment through better practices in production and consumption, especially by shifting to producing goods and offering services in an environmentally sustainable manner and patronizing those with less adverse environmental impact." The EU noted that the Philippines was recognized for having adopted a comprehensive SCP legal framework, but it is challenged with curbing existing practices and shifting towards new modes of production and consumption. It added that the country also had several key laws, but their full and effective implementation were hampered with structural and budgetary constraints. Under SWITCH-Asia, technical assistance and training will be provided to concerned government agencies for the effective enforcement of relevant SCP-based laws. Focus will be on the Renewable Energy and Biofuel Acts for clean energy, in partnership with the DOE; green procurement and eco-labeling in selected government agencies and local government units; and the Clean Air Act, in partnership with the DENR. The program started in July 2012 and will remain operational until December 2016. To date, the project has already seen preparatory activities such as coordination and consultation meetings with officials and stakeholders, data collection, identification of training activities, and review of related project framework and activities. Results of the project will be regularly monitored and evaluated by the EU, which will then make the necessary adjustments in the implementation. The program aims to promote good governance in the implementation of existing environmental laws, contribute to climate change mitigation, and reduce other negative impacts of industrial production on the environment. The Philippines is one of four pilot countries receiving financial assistance under the program, along with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

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PDIC directed to proceed with liquidation of Export and Industry Bank

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

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) has been directed by the Monetary Board (MB) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to proceed with the liquidation of the closed Export and Industry Bank (EIB). The order was issued pursuant to Section 30 of Republic Act 7653 (the New Central Bank Act) after the MB received the report of the PDIC on the non-satisfaction to the conditions for the rehabilitation of EIB. The March 20, 2013 rebidding for the rehabilitation of EIB was declared a failure when no letter of interest was received from any of the pre-qualified strategic third party investors (STPIs). For the bidding last October 18, 2012, no bids were received from the pre-qualified STPIs who submitted letters of interest to participate in the bidding. The net realizable value of EIB’s recorded assets estimated at P13.65 billion is deficient by P11.02 billion to cover its liabilities aggregating to P24.67 billion as of December 31, 2012. In line with procedures, PDIC will file with the liquidation court a petition for assistance in the liquidation (PAL) of the closed EIB. Liquidation of the bank will involve collection and resolution of loan accounts, and disposal or sale of assets via bidding and negotiated sale. EIB was ordered closed by the Monetary Board on April 26, 2012 after EIB voluntarily surrendered its banking operations to the BSP due to its inability to service withdrawals.

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PIDS suggests extension of 4Ps assistance coverage

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

State think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in recent study suggested that the government`s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps must provide longer assistance to its present beneficiaries instead of increasing the number of families to be covered by the program. PIDS Senior Research Fellow Celia Reyes and Supervising Research Specialist Aubrey Tabuga recommended the extension of 4Ps assistance to beneficiary families to ensure that their children can finish high school.

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DTI sets Diskwento Caravan in Camanava

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

The Department of Trade and Industry-National Capital Region (DTI-NCR) is targeting to organize more Diskwento Caravans in Northern Metro Manila area after its successful conduct in Caloocan City last week. Joie Villaruel, Officer-in-Charge of DTI-CAMANAVA Area announced that the one-day Diskwento Caravans will be conducted in the following dates: May 21 - Malabon, May 29 - Valenzuela, June 14 - Navotas. Diskwento Caravan features companies that offer a variety of basic goods and assorted products ranging from coffee, powdered drinks, citrus juice concentrate, cooking oils, sauces and condiments, soy based products, breads, down to leather goods, handicraft to fashion accessories. Products in Diskwento Caravan are sold in deeply

discounted prices of around 20-70% off. Started in 2008, Diskwento Caravan was launched by DTI as a non-wage benefit for minimum wage earners and employees. Since then, the Caravan has evolved to cater the needs of all consumers through the conduct of the Food Caravan, Balik Eskwela and Holiday Caravan editions to ease the burden of rising prices of prime & basic commodities affecting the consumers’ purchasing power. Aside from the discounts for consumers, Diskwento Caravan also supports the participating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). According to DTI-NCR Assistant Regional Director Ferdinand Manfoste, Diskwento Caravan serves as an opportunity for the MSMEs to showcase their products and reach a wider scope of consumers. “Through the Diskwento Caravan, we will let the public know that there are products made in CAMANAVA that we will be proud of,” Manfoste said. Manfoste added that DTI is offering assistance to manufacturers and MSMEs to be able to lower their prices by subsidizing their venue rentals, power supply, and product promotion. The Diskwento Caravan in Caloocan City was spearheaded by DTI-NCR in cooperation with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Caloocan Chapter.

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DTI aids to upscale human capital in ICT

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

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG) joins efforts in training next generation educators to ensure capacity building and human resource development in the country’s information and communications technology (ICT) industry. “We have piloted in Pangasinan, and we plan to roll it out nationwide,” DTI-4A Regional Director Marilou

Quinco‐Toledo said during the recent meeting of the pedagogical design and instructional team of the Foothill College’s Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) and Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, Vice-chairperson of the House Committee on ICT, with the DTI, ICT-private sector group, and the CALABARZON regional ICT committee members, in Makati City. Toledo is also the ICT cluster national coordinator. Toledo is referring to the collaboration between Foothill College and Congresswoman Arenas. This partnership is expected to give way to the training of the secondary level public school teachers in Pangasinan on the effective use of technology in education. This training project include customization of content focused on the use of technology in teaching the current Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum through faculty-led classroom training. This effort resulted from the visit of the Philippine government led by Representative Sigfrido R. Tinga, chairman of the House committee on ICT, to the US to observe best practices on ICT in Silicon Valley in 2011. As follow-up on this visit, Arenas visited Foothill College to start out a project with them in 2012. According to Judy C. Miner, president of the Foothill College, they are committed to upscale human capital in the country through the relevant curriculum and strategic partnership. Foothill College is a community college located in Los Altos Hills, California. In a statement, Foothill College said the Philippine training program is “designed to create a fully customized educator professional development program that focuses on student-centered learning, educational technology enrichment, and collaborative professional development experiences for teachers and educators throughout the Philippines”. It also said “this program includes an intensive two-week educator professional development training program, and a six-month mentorship project that will follow nearly 4,000 educators as they incorporate the proven tools, programs, content and techniques that will help them transform the way they teach, and the way their students learn, for generations to come”. In line with this initiative, the DTI, Congresswoman Arenas, and the Rainbow Rights Project, Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last March 2013. Under this MOA, Arenas shall allocate and download funds to the DTI to cover costs for the purchase of equipment, honoraria of trainors, development, reproduction and distribution of training manual and other costs related or incidental to the implementation of the first stage of the project as stated in its terms of reference (TOR). This TOR sets the procurement of training materials for the continued learning of educators of the province of Pangasinan, and possibly, of the nearby provinces, in integrating technology in their teaching pedagogy. It also allows their exposure to global standards being used by their peers in other countries. Upon receipt of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and the execution of the MOA, the DTI will release the project fund to the ICT service provider who shall establish a trust fund for this purpose. The Rainbow Rights Project, Inc. is the non-governmental organization (NGO) referred in MOA as the ICT service provider, which will provide the materials and conduct the training in accordance with the terms set in the TOR. This industry development support project is supported by Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, and funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the 3rd District of Pangasinan.

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Due to slow demand, POEA temporarily stops registration of female workers to Korea

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

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has temporarily stopped the acceptance of female workers for the forthcoming registration for the Employment Permit System (EPS) Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) scheduled in July this year. The temporary stoppage was effected after POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac disclosed that while Korea’s roster of Filipino workers is almost depleted of male names, a big number of female applicants remains to be without employers. "There is a slow demand for women workers in Korea, hence the temporary stoppage of acceptance of applications for the EPS-TOPIK," said Cacdac. In a courtesy call to Secretary Baldoz last week, Director General Jeong Eunhee of HRD Korea-EPS Center in the Philippines admitted that there is now a slump in demand for women workers in their factories and establishments in contrast with an increased number of job offers for men applicants lately. Administrator Cacdac, who was present during the courtesy call, said that in 2012, a total of 9,372 applicant profiles were transferred to the EPS Roster of Applicants. Some 3,109 workers, 96 percent of them male, were offered employment and were subsequently deployed. Of the remaining 4, 943 names in the list, 1,481 are male and 3,462 are female. Cacdac said that with the 7,900 labor quota assigned to the Philippines this year, HRD Korea and the POEA is conducting the EPS-TOPIK in August 2013 to replenish the roster with more male workers. The said list is separate from the roster of voluntary returnees. Cacdac, however, reminded applicants that inclusion in the EPS roster, after passing the TOPIK and the medical examination requirement, is not a guarantee for employment in South Korea. “It just gives the applicant a chance to be selected by Korean employers within the validity of their TOPIK certificate of two years,” Cacdac said. Meanwhile, voluntary leavers, or OFWs in Korea who had voluntarily come home to the Philippines after their contracts can register to take the computer-based Special TOPIK (S-TOPIK) at the CBT Center in POEA. Registration for S-TOPIK is on 16 to 19 April at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) and in the POEA Regional Centers in La Union, Cebu and Davao. The list of qualified to register can be viewed in the POEA website (www.poea.gov.ph). The CBT is intended for them to be able to return to South Korea if they are in the list supplied by the Korean government. The CBT S-TOPIK will be administered starting May 20 in batches to be announced at the POEA website.

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VP Binay: NHMFC partners with 8990 HDC for the Securitization Of Php4 Billion worth receivables

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

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay announced that the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and the 8990 Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will partner in the securitization of HDC’s Php4 Billion worth of Contract To Sell (CTS)-backed receivables. In a ceremony held on Monday in Iloilo City, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) mandating the NHMFC as the Financial Advisor and Program Manager for the securitization of CTS-backed receivables was signed by HDC President Jesus Atencio and NHMFC President Felixberto U. Bustos Jr. together with Vice President Binay. “This CTS-backed securitization is another first and a landmark transaction in the history of NHMFC’s continuous growth and vision to become the recognized authority in secondary mortgage operations in the country,” Binay said. Slated for issue in the first semester of this year, the proposed issue has engaged the services of MayBank ATR Kim Eng and SB Capital as co-underwriters, BDO Trust as the Special Purpose Trust (SPT), Development Bank of the Philippines as the Trustee and Safekeeping Agent, Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC) as Guarantor, Picazo Law Office as Legal Counsel and Tax Advisor and SGV/Ernst & Young as Portfolio Auditor. Credit Rating and Investor’s Services Philippines, Inc. (CRISP), one of the two credit rating agencies in the country, shall be the rating agency for the issue. Binay, who also chairs the NHMFC Board of Directors, added that the response to the previous NHMFC issuances shows that there is a strong appetite for alternative investment instruments in the capital market for both retail and institutional investors. “This coming issue is a welcome addition to the growing pool of housing-backed securities in the Philippine market and will further stimulate economic growth,” he said. NHMFC, as the government’s premiere Secondary Mortgage Institution (SMI), launched the BahayBonds Series I (BB1) and II (BB2) in 2009 and 2012, respectively. These are the first-ever mortgage-backed securities in the country. BB1 won the Best Securitization Deal as awarded by the “The Asset” in Hong Kong, while BB2 was recently awarded the Innovative Listed Corporate Bond Issue for the Year 2012 by the Philippine Dealing Exchange

(PDEx). BB2 is the first retail mortgage-backed securities to be issued and listed in the fixed income exchange.

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OWWA meets with Recruitment Agencies to clear issue on language training schedule for HSWs

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

Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon met 115 liaison officers of Philippine Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) in the National Capital Region to announce the new registration scheme for language training of Household Service Workers (HSWs). The meeting held on March 18, 2013 at the Blas F. Ople Development Center in OWWA Intramuros was organized by OWWA RWO-NCR officials headed by Director Emma V. Sinclair and supported by Programs Services Division Chief Ma. Teresa B. Capa, Administrative and Finance Division Chief Zenaida Ramos, and Language Training Manager Lulu Ignacio. According to OWWA DevCen’s Registration Unit, the average number of request for language training reaches 715 a day, with Arabic getting more than half the bulk, followed by Mandarin. Every day, liaison officers of PRAs race against each other to get immediate slots for their HSWs whose deployment are urgently pressed by the foreign principals. It was learned during the forum that deployment of HSWs can happen right after the language training. “Maximum of 20 requests per agency will be accommodated for scheduling, depending on the availability of slots for equitability to all agencies,” said Administrator Dimzon. She added that priority shall be given to HSWs whose VISAs or medical certificates are about to expire. Under the new scheduling scheme, the receiving of requests and releasing of approved requests for language training is done within the same day, with each process taking only one and half hours. Thus, all requests for schedule shall be submitted from 8:30AM to 10AM with the approval to be released from 11AM to 12NN. In the afternoon, processing of requests begins from 1PM to 2:30PM with the results given from 3:30PM to 5PM. While the OWWA understands the point of PRAs’ demand for prioritized schedules, Administrator Dimzon said it is still necessary for every HSW to undergo the standard process as the language training will help prevent welfare cases arising from job performance due to communication gap with employers. The new directive also mandates all attendees of Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar to wear proper, decent attire that includes wearing of returnable, OWWA-prescribed ID in the whole duration of the training.

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Last Updated: 17 APRIL 2013

Google+ Photo Releases of PNoy

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President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla during the Ceremonial Signing of Land Lease Agreement between PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA) and FDC Misamis Power Corporation at the President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (April 17, 2013). The land is being leased for construction of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired power plant is expected to generate an initial 270-megawatts and targeted to operate early 2016. (Photo by: Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Ceremonial Signing of Land Lease Agreement between PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA) and FDC Misamis Power Corporation at the President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (April 17, 2013). The land is being leased for construction of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired power plant is expected to generate an initial 270-megawatts and targeted to operate early 2016. In photo are PIA administrator and vice chairman of the board Leo Tereso Magno, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI) president and managing director Jesus Alcordo. (Photo by: Gil Nartea / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses the Ceremonial Signing of Land Lease Agreement between PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PIA) administrator and vice chairman of the board Leo Tereso Magno and FDC Misamis Power Corporation, represented by FDC Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI) president and managing director Jesus Alcordo, at the President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (April 17, 2013). The land is being leased for construction of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired power plant is expected to generate an initial 270-megawatts and targeted to operate early 2016. In photo are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) first vice president and general counsel / corporate secretary and corporate compliance officer Atty. Pablito Perez, FLI first vice president Engr. Antonio Cenon, Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Jonathan Gotianun, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental Mayor Juliette Uy, PIA chairman of the board B/Gen. Triunfo Agustin (Ret.), PIA corporate secretary Atty. Raul Ragandang and Poblacion Barangay Captain Leah Dagasuhan. (Photo by: Gil Nartea / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

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