by aimee | Mar 24, 2014 | Headlines, National News
An administration-led project to use cashless cards in government purchases may just be the solution to the problem of unliquidated expenses in government transactions, the Department of Budget and Management said Sunday.
Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad in a statement said that the initial implementation of the Aquino administration’s Cashless Purchase Card System program is the first step in preventing unliquidated spending in government, especially in light of a Commission on Audit (COA) announcement that P5 billion in state funds have yet to be accounted for.
“Cashless cards will play a defining role in ridding government transactions of the corruption they’re notorious for. The cards will do away with petty cash advances and payments in procurement, and the details of each transaction will be recorded in real-time and on a web-based platform. Overall, the digitization of the procurement process will be key in ensuring that every peso spent by government officials and employees is well-spent and accounted for,” Abad said.
The program—which was launched in January this year—is in its initial phase and is currently being pilot-tested in the DBM and the Department of Defense-Armed Forces of the Philippines (DND-AFP). The administration partnered with Citibank in rolling out the cards, which will have features similar to most credit cards.
In the pilot phase of the Cashless Purchase Card System program, participating agencies will use the cards to procure medical supplies, meals, transportation of official documents, airline tickets, and construction supplies for minor repair projects.
Abad said that the administration expects to implement the program across all government agencies next year, as well as expand the list of items that are eligible for procurement through cashless cards.
“Automating government processes and switching to cashless solutions doesn’t only save time and resources. By integrating and digitizing the procurement process, we can seal off the gaps that make it easy for irregularities to happen. In the case of cashless purchase cards, we’re tying together what used to be separate transactions: procurement, payment, and auditing,” Abad said.
“Once we’ve successfully established the use of these cards in government, there won’t be any room for unliquidated expenses, as every detail will be tracked from the beginning of the transaction. It’s not just a matter of doing our public auditors a favor. It’s also a matter of assuring our citizens that the government is using state funds honestly and responsibly,” he added. (DBM)
by aimee | Mar 21, 2014 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Thursday gave recognition to the Philippine Information Agency and four other institutions for performance excellence during the 16th Philippine Quality Award (PQA) at Rizal Hall, Malacanang, Palace.
In his speech, President Aquino underscored the importance of quality in performance and setting high standards in services in both government and private agencies.
The five organizations that received Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management award were: Philippine Information Agency headed by Secretary Herminio Coloma; Department of Science and Technology Region XI headed by Dr. Anthony Sales; Lyceum of the Philippine University headed by Atty. Roberto P. Laurel; Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation headed by Dr. Rosita L. Navarro; and Zamboanga Polymedic Hospital (Ciudad Medical Zamboanga) headed by Mr. Erwin G. To.
“Merely good enough is not enough. With the advent of new, scientific discoveries in almost every possible field of expertise, there are very few excuses left for substandard work, and it is up to all of us—whether in the public or private sector—to usher in an era of precision, of heightened standards for every possible product and service,” the President said.
At a time when natural disasters are becoming more frequent and destructive, it is much more vital for the Department of Science and Technology and the PIA to optimize the way they gather and disseminate information to our countrymen. The pressure on you to continue your good performance is intense, since your efficiency will be measured not just by your traditional metrics, but by the number of lives you do save, the President said.
PIA Director-General Jose Mari Oquinena, who received the award in behalf of PCOO Secretary Sonny Coloma, said that the PQA recognition is a testament to the pursuit of PIA’s core values of excellence in service.
“We want to deepen the reach, and widen the reach of PIA, pagdisseminate din ng information at the same time, we want into engaging at the barangay level information officers… It is important that the organization will be always in pursuit of that kasi naniniwala kami “hindi pwede ang pwede na” so it will be our task to empower people, the Filipino nation through information,” Oquinena said.
The Philippine Quality Award is the highest level of national recognition for the exemplary organization performance. It is the country’s counterpart to the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the United States and other quality award system in 88 countries around the world.
PQA was established in 1997, through Executive Order 448 and was institutionalized through Republic Act 9013 also known as the Philippine Quality Award on February 28, 2001. The PQA sets the standard of excellence to help organizations achieve world-class performance.
The Department of Trade and Industry is the award manager of the PQA.
PQA recipients are expected to share exceptional management practices as benchmarks with other organizations that are aiming for performance excellence.
The President led the ceremonies along with Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and PQA Award Administrator for Public Sector and Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) president Antonio Kalaw. (PIA/PCOO)
by aimee | Mar 21, 2014 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, Mar. 21, 2014 (PIA)–Gipangunahan ni Presidente Benigno S. Aquino III ang seremonya sa paghatag sa 16th Philippine Quality Award (PQA) sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA) ug upat pa ka organisasyong gi-ila tungod sa dalaygong buhat sa pagtuman sa gimbuhaton niini nga gipahigayon sa Rizal Hall sa Palasyo sa Malakanang kagahapon.
Gitumbok sa Presidente sa iyang mensahe ang kamahinungdanon sa dalaygon nga pagpatuman sa gimbuhaton ug pagtakda og taas nga sumbanan sa pagpangalagad sa gobyerno o sa mga pribadong buhatan.
“Ang sapat na ay hindi sapat. Dahil sa pagpasok ng bago, maagham na mga tuklas sa lahat halos ng larangan ng kasanayan, iilan na lamang ang maidadahilan para sa mga trabahong hindi mahusay kaya naman—sa sektor pambayan o pribado man—ang pagpasok ng panahon ng pinakamahusay na itinaas na pamantayan sa bawa’t gawing produkto at serbisyo,” matud pa sa mensahe ni Presidente Aquino.
Sa iyang pag-ila sa mga nahimo ug katakos sa matag usa nga nakadawat sa maong pasidungog, gi-apil usab sa Presidente ang hagit nga tarungon ug buhaton ang mas labaw nga dakung papel sa padayon nga pagpakita sa katakos, paglambo ug kaabunda sa mga Pilipino.
Gawas sa PIA nga gipangunahan ni PIA Director-General Jose Mari Oquinena, midawat usab sa Recognition for Commitment to Quality Management ang: Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region XI nga gipangunahan ni Dr. Anthony Sales; Lyceum of the Philippine University nga gipangunahan ni Atty. Roberto P. Laurel; Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation nga gipangunahan ni Dr. Rosita L. Navarro; ug ang Zamboanga Polymedic Hospital (Ciudad Medical Zamboanga) nga gipangunahan ni Mr. Erwin G. To.
Ang Philippine Quality Award ang labing taas nga nasudnong pag-ila sa dalaygong organization performance. Kini ang pang-atbang sa nasud sa gi-ilang Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award sa Estados Unidos ug uban pang pag-ilang ginahatag sa 88 ka nasud sa kalibotan.
Gisugdan ang PQA niadtong 1997 pinaagi sa Executive Order 448 ug gisundan sa Republic Act 9013 nga gi-ila isip Philippine Quality Award niadtong Pebrero 28, 2001. Gitakda sa PQA ang sumbanan sa paggiya sa mga organisasyon nga makahimo og world-class performance.
Ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ang tigdumala sa pagpasidungog sa PQA. (PIA-Bohol/ECB)
by aimee | Mar 19, 2014 | Headlines, National News
MANILA, Mar. 19, 2014 (PIA)–Iduso sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang pagmugna og balaod kalabot sa pagmonitor sa election campaign online.
Matud pa sa tigpamaba sa Comelec nga si Atty. James Jimenez, adunay nagamit nga online campaigning niadtong 2010 ug 2013 elections.
Tungod niini, posibleng daghan pang kandidato ang mogamit usab sa internet sa pagpangampanya alang sa 2016 national elections.
Tungod usab niini, giingong kinahanglan na sa Kongreso nga magmugna og balaod alang sa pag-monitor sa expenditures o mga gasto sa kandidato alang niini.
Kahinomdoman nga nipagawas ang Comelec sa Resolution No. 9615 diin nakalatid ang mga sumbanan kalabot sa pagbutang og mga election campaign materials online. (PIA7-Bohol/ECB)
by aimee | Mar 19, 2014 | Headlines
DSWD, mi-aghat sa publiko nga makighiusa sa kampanya
batok child pornography ug child abuse
MANILA, Mar. 19, 2014 (PIA)–Gi-aghat sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang publiko nga makighiusa sa pagbatok sa pornography ug child abuse.
Nihangyo ang DSWD nga i-report dayon ang mga porn sites sa National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) aron mapa-block kini sa internet service providers.
Matud pa sa DSWD, angay usab nga aktibo ang mga ginikanan sa pagbantay sa ilang mga anak aron dili sila magbaton og access sa maong mga sites.
Giingong mokabat sa 3,600 child porn sites ang nadiskubre sa DSWD ug sa uban pang hingtungdang ahensya.
Mangayo usab og tabang ang DSWD sa internet watch foundation alang sa pagsumpo sa child pornography. (PIA7-Bohol/ECB)
