by admin | Mar 8, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita, Police Reports
CORTES, Bohol March 8 (PIA)–Central Visayas regional Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Noli Taliño led police and local government officials in the inauguration and turn-over of the P4.87 million three-storey Cortes Police Station, March 8.
Accompanied by Regional Deputy Director for Logistics PSupt. Pedrillo Villlamor Jr, Bohol Police Chief PSSupt Felipe Natividad, Police Regional Chief for engineering PSinspector Jason Gutierrez, regional and provincial office staff, PCSupt. Taliño openly beamed his appreciation for the Cortes local officials led by Mayor Lynn Ivenn Lim for the support.
“With the lot donation, the only PNP requirement for the setting up of the fund for the building, we have this to show,” the regional chief said, referring to the iconic blue and white police station building.
“This is part of the police transformation program which CPNP General Conrado Lomibao initiated and put in the funds so the PNP can have separate police stations,” Taliño explained.
He said the PNP minimum lot donation is 400 square meters, and the donation would not go to the PNP, it still belongs to the town.
“We just make sure that it is the PNP which uses the building,” he added.
Cortes Parish Priest Roderick Pizarras officiated the blessing which was also attended by local advisory council members and town constituents.
Although seemingly getting to be credited by the accomplishment, Cortes mayor Lim also insisted that the success also goes to the past leaders and the Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Leo Pabotoy.
He told the crowd that it was during the incumbency of then Mayor Leo Pabotoy when the lot donation happened in 1989.
Lim said he was still a councilor then.
When then police inspector Lamberto Hibaya resurrected the plan to build a station, and asked for a donation, all he did was ask the secretary of the council to dig the records, the mayor narrated.
Cortes donated the lot of which the National Government through the Philippine National Police and its Regional Office implemented the P4.87 million structure.
The building incorporates detention cells for male and female inmates, offices for Women and Children, Admin and Operations, Chief of Station, officers quarters, radio room, and an open space for conferences at the third floor.
Built according to the standards followed by the PNP for their buildings, the new structure, according to Mayor Lim, is the first public building built in Cortes during his term.
PCSupt Taliño also thanked the Mayor over local reports that the Cortes leadership intends to purchase furniture and fixtures to the new building which the government fully funded.
Cortes Officer in Charge SPO4 Josue Lungog along with PCSupt Taliño signed the acceptance documents even as Mayor Lim received the symbolic key to the infrastructure.
Upon receiving the key, Mayor Lim stressed his gratefulness to the PNP stressing the key role of the police in maintaining peace and order and in effecting progress in the town.
Taliño urges the police and the town folks to take care of the building as it might be long after a new building for the police could be built.
And to his men, General Taliño commanded: We will repay the town with a good service. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
Cortes Mayor Lynn Ivenn Lim shows off the ribbon to the town folk after the ceremonial cutting signaling the turn-over of the P4.8 M facility for the local police, while PNP7 RD Noli Taliño (back towards cam) witnessed and graced the event. Also there was Fr Roderick Pizarras, PSupt Baja and regional and provincial office staff. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Mar 8, 2017 | ASEAN agenda, DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
The 31st High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) convened on February 15-16 in Manila, gathering high-ranking ASEAN trade officials to discuss the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.
HLTF-EI Chairperson and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam Dato Lim Jock Hoi said that ASEAN needs to remain strong and united as the region navigates and charts its course ahead “collectively as ASEAN.”
Representing the Philippines, Undersecretary for Industry Development and Managing Head of the Board of Investment Ceferino Rodolfo laid down the Philippine priority deliverables for 2017, highlighting the country’s agenda on inclusiveness and innovation with a focus on increasing trade and investments, integrating micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the digital economy, and developing an innovation-driven economy.
“Inclusiveness should be intrinsic to the ASEAN agenda. The AEC Blueprint 2025 development framework will be most effective if it results from inclusive and open multi-stakeholder participation, one that is informed by the perspectives of people, especially the marginalized,” Undersecretary Rodolfo said.
The Philippines is taking the lead in seeking new policy interventions that are practical from the MSME perspective. These are expected to contribute towards helping MSMEs harness the opportunities presented by open and increasingly integrated markets. These initiatives range from free trade and trade facilitation, trade in services, investment, connectivity, and innovation:
– Maximizing the benefits of free trade agreements (Self-Certification for MSMEs, and Substantial Conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RCEP]);
– Fostering a more facilitative and transparent trade in services regime and harnessing the contribution and global competitiveness of the ASEAN services sector (Conclusion of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement);
– Strengthening the investment linkages between MSMEs and Multinational Enterprises or MNEs (FAST Action Agenda on Investment, Inclusive Business, Women and Youth Entrepreneurship);
– Enhancing intra-regional connectivity and bolstering socio-economic growth in the regions (Launch of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route of the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-of Network);
– Supporting an ecosystem of entrepreneurship based on technology and innovation (ASEAN Declaration on Innovation); and
– Introducing more systematic and robust method for AEC compliance monitoring (ASEAN Trade Facilitation Indicators, Review Mechanism for AEC).
Said priorities are in line with the Duterte Administration’s 10-point socio-economic agenda. In particular, these will leverage the global competitiveness of the Philippines’ services sector in order to generate jobs and growth, as well as bring development to the South through rural and value chain development.
The Philippines also delivered to HLTF-EI the collective statement of the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF) Philippines National Organizing Committee, reflecting the people’s aspirations for an ASEAN that assertspeace and security, human rights, democratization, and broad-based economic, social and ecological justice.
Undersecretary Rodolfo highlighted the potential of civil society organizations as strategic and responsible partners in the process of ASEAN community-building, given their knowledge and reach at the grassroots level and cohesive international network.
Recommendations of the 31st LTF-EI will be the focus of discussions at the 23rdASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat and Related Meetings to be held on March 8-10in Manila.
Composed of Trade Vice Ministers from the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS), the HLTF-EI functions as an advisory body to the economic ministers of the AMS, ensuring that all 10 AMS are on-track and on-time with the plans and programs intended to realize regional economic integration and achieve the vision of an AEC.
The AEC Blueprint was crafted to further advance ASEAN economic integration, envisioning a community characterized by the following: a) a highly integrated and cohesive economy; b) a competitive, innovative, and dynamic ASEAN; c) enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation; d) a resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN; and e) a global ASEAN.
ASEAN economies are expected to hold up reasonably well amidst the slowing of global growth, and the uncertain and shifting geo-political and economic landscape.
Forecasts from the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund place the region as the most dynamic part of the world with strong economic outlook for 2017 at 4.6% to 4.9% of GDP growth rate, vis-à-vis the 3.4% projected for the growth global GDP. The Philippines leads the region with a growth forecast of 6.8% for 2017.
by admin | Mar 7, 2017 | BFAR Advisory, DTI Updates, Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY, March 7 (PIA)–Clearly at a loss of explanations on the ongoing ban on hunting rare, threatened and species in danger of extinction, Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) requests the country’s lead agency implementing the ban for enlightenment.
Governor Edgar Chatto, PPOC Chairman and himself a witness to the rampant roadside and market sales of dried “sanga” meat in Jagna town, intends for the council to also be fully appraised of the nuances among banned sanga (giant manta ray), ordinary manta ray species like smoothtail mobulas (pantihan), spinetail mobula (binsowan), the giant pacific devil rays, sting rays and still the smaller species that are cooked and sold as exotic food.
A Pamilacan resident and a PPOC member Engr. Camilo Gasatan also admit that because sanga commands a high price, even the smaller non-banned species are called sanga when dried to fetch a high price.
Those who do not actually know may eat other smaller manta ray meat, sold as sanga, he said.
In fact, many Boholanos still keep an open craving for nilabog sanga, banggis, ang sinugbang buwad sanga despite a ban on hunting, taking, catching, gathering, selling, purchasing, possessing, transporting, exporting, forwarding or shipping out aquatic species listed in the appendices of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).
Also included in the ban are those categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as threatened and endangered as determined by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Incidentally, the giant manta rays (sanga) are listed under Appendix 3 or those which are endangered species close to extinction.
But while the country drafts the ban on manta rays, then Fishery officials thought there is only one kind of giant manta rays here: manta birostris, they put in the ban.
Subsequent research however revealed that aside from manta birostris, a similar specie in the CITES includes the manta mobular and the mobulids that also frequent Philippine waters.
The ban for the other species of mantas and mobulids start this month, fishery officials reacting to FAO 193 revealed.
And because recent scientific assessments show that their population in the wild cannot remain viable under pressure of collection and trade, offenders would face a fine equivalent to three (3) times the value of the species or Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to Three million pesos (P3,000,000.00), whichever is higher, and forfeiture of the species.
And upon conviction by a court of law, the offender faces imprisonment of five to eight years and a fine equivalent to twice the administrative fine and forfeiture of the species.
But even then, net fishers in Bohol usually string up long lines and find the banned manta rays as by-catch.
When found entangled in their nets, fishers try to salvage the meat than throw them in the sea.
By possessing the meat, these fishermen now earn the culpability that would get them steep fines and jail time.
The continuing trade of dried meat has also pushed for the patronizing of the illegal product, majority of those who east it, uninformed about the ongoing bans. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
Following the apprehension of the persons responsible for transporting over a ton of manta ray meat set for drying, the PPOC needs the BFAR now to elucidate on the ban for taking the giant manta rays, considering that there appears to be a rampant trade of manta rays and sting rays in city and town markets across the province. The ban also incorporates steep penalties for the guilty, fines reaching millions. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Mar 7, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
Pagdaraos ng ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, kasado na
MAKATI—Determinado at handang isulong ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) angtrade agenda ng Pilipinas sa gaganaping ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) Retreat and Related Meetings sa 8-9 Marso 2017.
Ito ang paunang pagpupulong ng mga trade minister o mga kalihim ng komersyo ng 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) bago ang isa pang pagpupulong sa Setyembre.
Bilang punong ahensya ng ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) pillar, itataguyod ng DTI ang isa sa mga tema ng ASEAN tungkol sa “sama-sama at makabagong pagsulong.” Ang dalawang iba pang pillars ay tumutugon sa usaping pang-seguridad at pang-kultura.
Pagpapataas ng kalakalan at pamumuhunan, pagsali sa micro, small and medium enterprises(MSMEs) sa pandaigdigang halagahan o global value chain at pagsusulong ng innovation o mga makabagong pamamaraan upang mapataas ang kalidad ng ekonomiya ang mga tinuturing hakbang ng pamahalaan upang maisakatuparan ang nasabing tema.
“Nakaayon sa hangarin ng DTI na magtaguyod ng trabaho at negosyo ang interes na isusulong ng Pilipinas sa pagpupulong na ito,” lahad ng kalihim ng DTI Ramon Lopez na siyang ring uupong tagapangulo ng AEM Retreat and Related Meetings.
Sinabi naman ng kalihim na patas ang magiging daloy ng AEM chairmanship ng Pilipinas, kung saan kikilalanin ang mga interes na isusulong ng siyam na iba pang bayan.
Layunin ng pagpupulong na patatagin ang mga ugnayan sa pagitan ng mga AMS upang mapalawig pa ang kaalaman tungkol sa epektibong paggamit ng mga kasunduang pangkalakal o trade agreements, mga probisyon sa pamumuhunan at iba pang benepisyong kalakip ng pagiging miyembro ng ASEAN.
Panawagan ni Sec. Lopez, kailangang maunawaan at maramdaman ng mga ASEAN national, kabilang na ang mga Pilipino, ang mga ganansyang maaaring maiambag ng ASEAN sa pang-araw-araw nilang karanasan bilang miyembro ng organisasyon.
Dagdag pa ng kalihim, pagkakataon din ang pagpupulong upang mapalalim ang kamulatan tungkol sa ASEAN at maitampok ang natatamong pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa sa ilalim ng administrayon ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Ayon sa kalihim, upang maisulong ang kalakalan at pamumuhunan, kailangan ang angkop na polisiya at klimang pang-negosyo, kasabay ng mga programang magpapalakas ng kakayahan ng iba’t ibang negosyo upang lumawak at umunlad.
Para sa sektor ng MSME, ipagpapatuloy ng DTI ang layunin nitong magtalaga ng kapaligirang angkop para matulungan at maihanda ang maliliit na negosyante sa pagsali nito sa pandaigdigang merkado, sa pamamagitan ng e-commerce at iba pang polisiyang magpapadali sa proseso ng pagnenegosyo at magbibigay ng karapat-dapat na pagsasanay o business training.
Pag-uusapan din sa AEM ang digital technology bilang susi upang paigtingin ang kalakalan sa bawat bansa at makapagbigay ng makabagong paraan upang patakbuhin ang negosyo.
“Layunin nating makalap at mapakilos ang publiko at pribadong sektor upang tulungan ang mga taong maramdaman ang mga oportunidad na ibibigay ng AEC,” dagdag ni Sec. Lopez. ###
by admin | Mar 6, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines, National News
MAKATI—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is poised to champion the Philippine trade agenda as it takes helm of the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) Retreat and Related Meetings on 8-10 March 2017 to be participated in by the 10 trade ministers from ASEAN Member States (AMS).
As lead agency for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Pillar, DTI led by Secretary Ramon Lopez will promote one of the current thematic priorities of ASEAN on “inclusive, innovation-led growth” for shared prosperity. The other two pillars touch on politico-security and socio-cultural.
Increasing trade and investment, integrating the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the global value chains and developing an innovation-driven economy are the identified measures to achieve said priority.
“Our strategic measures are consistent with our current agenda to promote employment and entrepreneurship. The AEM is an excellent platform to push for the country’s core thrusts on trade and investment, MSME development and innovation,” said Sec. Lopez, who will serve as the chair of AEM Retreat and Related Meetings.
The trade chief, however, ensured that his meeting’s chairmanship will be “fair, workable, rational and inclusive” among AMS.
The AEM aims at strengthening partnership with stakeholders to expand knowledge and utilization of ASEAN-related free trade and economic agreements, provisions and initiatives, including the benefits that an ASEAN national can receive.
The trade chief aims to give meaning to these highly-technical engagements, in a manner that ASEAN nationals, including the Filipinos, can identify how they can benefit from the opportunities posed by regional integration without fear and hesitation.
“It’s time for us to make people feel that their membership in ASEAN is relevant to their day-to-day experience,” he said, adding that DTI’s hosting also presents good opportunity to raise awareness, to promote understanding on the AEC and the Philippine participation in it, and to re-tell the country’s growth story.
On increasing trade and investment, Sec. Lopez emphasized that the creation of a sound policy environment and the right mix of support programs are crucial to improve the capacity of businesses to expand, upgrade and diversify. He mentioned that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), an agreement involving the 10 AMS and the six Dialogue Partners will expand the ASEAN market from 600 million to 3.5 billion. DTI will be pushing for the substantial conclusion of RCEP by year-end at the AEM, according to him.
On MSME development, Sec. Lopez said that the thrust continues for instituting an enabling environment that allows the sector to develop and internationalize through e-commerce, as well as policies that ease the cost of doing business and provide skills and business training and facilitate the link with the global value chain.
The country will also prod ASEAN to embrace the evolving digital technology as leverage to enhance trade and investment, to provide an e-based business platform and to promote good governance and green technology.
“We hope to gather, harmonize and mobilize public-private efforts towards taking full advantage of opportunities under the AEC,” he concluded.
ASEAN 2017 bears the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”, which is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s objective to enhance cooperation with global partners, ensuring that ASEAN citizens, including the Filipinos, can live in peace, stability, security and growth, despite cultural diversities.
Following the AEM Retreat and Related Meetings is the ASEAN Summit in April to be chaired by President Duterte. The bigger meeting 49th AEM, meanwhile, is scheduled in September 2017
by admin | Mar 6, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Given the pronouncement of President Rodrigo R. Duterte that the administration is gearing to ramp up infrastructure spending to 7% of GDP or a total of Php 8 Trillion in the next five (5) years, the Department of Trade and Industry-Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP) initiated a dialogue with the construction industry and government implementing agencies, to determine the capacity and readiness of the construction industry to face the Golden Age of Infrastructure.
Participating in the dialogue were representatives from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA), National Constructors Association of the Philippines Inc. (NACAP) and the Chairmen of the different Implementing Boards of CIAP.
According to Atty. Ruth B. Castelo, Undersecretary for CIAP, the dialogue also aimed to identify and look into the concerns of our local contractors to encourage them to participate in government infrastructure projects.
During the dialogue, the constructors associations raised several issues encountered in the procurement and implementation of projects specifically in the pre-qualification system, project pricing, payment delays, and levelling of the playing field with the entry of foreign contractors, among others.
On the perception that local contractors do not have enough capacity and inadequate capability to handle big ticket infrastructure projects, PCA President Engr. Dante M. Abando emphasized that the local construction industry is ready, willing and able to face the Golden Age of Infrastructure. Engr. Abando said that the local contractors in the past has demonstrated strong capability by its proven track record of completing the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project (TPLEX) thru an organized consortium supported by local financial institutions.
Among others, no doubt that the construction industry, given the chance to demonstrate its capability to design and build major infrastructure project, will accomplish the projects faster, within standard specifications and at a much lesser cost. Undersecretary Castelo said that “the construction industry is excited to build, build and build in the Golden Age of Infrastructure.”
The dialogue marks a strengthened public and private partnership that will help the construction industry prosper and meet the demands of the Philippine Infrastructure Development Plan. Among other measures identified to address the issues are: (a) government to find ways on how to improve and simplify the procurement system, (b) establish a hotline for contractors’ complaints, and (c) continue to hold similar discussions with the industry.
The CIAP is the central authority of the construction industry mandated to promote, accelerate and regulate the growth and development of the construction industry in conformity with national goals.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
