by btpo | Oct 4, 2009 | National News
Senator Loren Legarda yesterday called on the government for the strict and immediate implementation of the provisions of the Barangay Kabuhayan Act (R.A. 9509) and the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act (R.A. 9501) to stimulate the so-called informal sector in the face of the alarming nosedive of the country’s exports. Loren said that stimulating the micro, small and medium enterprises which employs 69 percent of the country’s labor force is an ideal response to the country’s dwindling exports in the face of continuing global economic woes. Loren explained that addressing the MSMEs concerns would certainly accelerate the growth and development of the country’s flickering economy. Loren noted the report of the National Statistics Office (NSO) that the country posted another double-digit decline in exports in July, slipping by 25.4 percent to $3.311 billion from the $4.437 in the same period last year.
“Like the US, Japan and China, we must redirect our production toward filling the needs of the domestic market, meaning our people, to stimulate economic growth,” said Loren, as she noted that RP’s traditional export markets such as Japan and US are shrinking because of the global slump in economy.
Loren said that producing goods for domestic market would reduce the Philippines’ dependence on imports, save on foreign exchange, promote domestic employment and provide additional income for our producers. The MSMEs are expected to have bigger role on wealth creation because under the Magna Carta for MSMEs (RA 9501), more MSMEs (micro, small and medium industries) will flourish providing more employment and additional income.
“Now, enterprises with capitalization of P3 million or below are classified as micro enterprises as compared to the previous cap of P1.5 million, and that with the increase of the cap, more Filipinos can now avail of the benefits provided in this law,” said Loren, sponsor of the Magna Carta.
The other law which Loren sponsored and enacted was RA 9509 or the Barangay Kabuhayan Act, which specifically aims to establish a “Livelihood and Skills Training Center” in the fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities. Legarda said the two laws will be of great help to harmonizing all government activities providing livelihood and skills training to ensure efficiency in delivering such services and programs to their intended beneficiaries, the poorest of the poor. The centers shall provide educational and instructional activities designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and activities of intended beneficiaries in order to better prepare them to engage in gainful employment and entrepreneurship.
“This law will complement the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Act (RA 6977) . The way I see it, recipients of the livelihood and skills training programs in the centers to be established under the Barangay Kabuhayan Law may well avail of the funding and technical support that are now available under the SMEs Act,” she said.
by btpo | Oct 4, 2009 | Local News / Bohol Balita
The much delayed not awaited Panglao Bohol International Airport with its proposed plan looks astonishing. Panglao Bohol International Airport FINALLY TO soon COMMENCE and will kick off the ground work for the runway and navigational facilities by December this year. However, this terminal building (in the perspective) will come later as the government decided to let the private sector undertake the project under a build-operate-transfer BOT scheme. Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued marching orders that the construction of the said airport should start its construction Christmas this year. The presidential green light was pushed during the crucial meeting with the President which was held five days earlier of its original date at the Pangarap Executive House in Malacanang.
by btpo | Oct 4, 2009 | Local News / Bohol Balita
Bohol should be self-sufficient in agriculture particularly in vegetable supply, according to the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera pointed out that available figures show the province produces only about 37% of its vegetable consumption. He added that the province had been promoted as the agricultural basket of Central Visayas but is not even self-sufficient in vegetable supply. Herrera has embarked on a massive information campaign urging people to plant vegetables in their backyard. The vice-governor also regularly distributes seedlings to different barangays in the province for this purpose. Herrera has aggressively lobbied with municipal and barangay councils to pass resolutions banning the sale of vegetables in public markets so people would be forced to plant them. Herrera stressed that unless Boholanos do their share of planting at home and increasing production, prices will go higher from less supply for high demands in agricultural consumption..
by btpo | Sep 30, 2009 | Headlines
For the victims of the most destructive natural disaster in the Philippine history to hit the country “ondoy”, a Relief Assistance project by the diocese of Tagbilaran and The Bohol Chronicle Radio DYRD is on it’s 3rd day. Bishop Leonardo Medroso appealed to the Boholanos to send their donations may be in cash of in kind for the thousands of ondoy victim now homeless, hungry and desperate for help. Social Action Centers are installed to accept donations from parishioners. Donations gathered will be collected next week for shipping to Luzon. Negros Navigation volunteered, as the company’s share of donation, to ship the relief goods from Tagbilaran to Manila on board a vessel to leave 2nd Saturday of this month. Meanwhile, the Bohol Chronicle Radio DYRD relief assistance campaign as of Wednesday night gathered close to two hundred thousand cash donations. Donations will continue to be received thru DYRD “Inyong Alagad Program” and “Tagbilaran by-night”.
by btpo | Sep 30, 2009 | Local News / Bohol Balita
The heads of the national government agencies involved in the proposed multi-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport project will meet with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang on Oct. 6. The Panglao project was earlier announced by the President to be completed by April next year. Gov. Erico Aumentado who is known for his mega projects in the province categorically and a known political leader of the President has more than often relayed Ms. Arroyo’s commitment to complete the project within her term. The latest developments revealed that due to the delayed implementation of the project, the cost overrun of the project would cost 76%, increasing the project cost to P7.5 billion as against the outlay of P4.2 billion previously approved by the National Economic Development Authority-ICC technical board. He further cited that what aggravated the problem in the sourcing of funds was the “realignment by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of the allocation for airports under the Department of Transportation & Communication (DOTC) outlay to the Civil Aeronautics Aviation Authority (CAAP). Invited to attend the October 6 Palace meeting were DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, MIAA GM Alfonso Cusi, DBM Secretary Rolando Andaya, PTA General Manager Mark Lapid, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, CAAP chief/PPA General Manager Oscar Sevilla, NEDA-ICC Technical Board Chairman Rolando Tungpalan and Rep. Edgar Chatto. The meeting is expected to address the problems on the airport project, particularly on the funding requirement.
