by admin | Oct 8, 2014 | National News
DA-PRDP boosts gov’t transparency through CSO partnership
The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) partners with various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in a bid to boost government transparency in implementing and monitoring projects aimed to alleviate poverty in the country’s rural areas.
DA-PRDP in a statement said that as part of the initiative, representatives from World Bank, CSOs, and PRDP conducted a participatory visit in one of the PRDP’s pilot provinces, Oriental Mindoro on September 22-24, 2014. Along with this, training on geo-tagging was also conducted to equip the volunteers the basic knowledge on monitoring using the tool.
PRDP Deputy Project Director Arnel de Mesa said the activity aims to test geo-tagging with the CSOs as a major tool in monitoring PRDP sub-projects as well as promoting transparency. He added that geo-tagging is a homegrown tool first used under the Mindanao Rural Development Program in 2011 in response to the problems in monitoring conflict and remote areas in the region.
De Mesa also told the participants that geo-tagging can be used to verify and prevent duplication of projects. Moreover, it can be used as a complementing tool in the procurement system.
World Bank Senior Procurement Specialist Noel Sta. Ines said that CSOs’ participation as well as of the local community is important not only to prevent corruption and incompetence, but also to share the positive things that the government is undertaking.
He added that geo-tagging can be used in various sub-projects not only by the DA but also by other government agencies. With this innovation, project implementers will have scientific basis in putting up projects like farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, farm animal dispersal, and reforestation, among others.
Oriental Mindoro Vice Governor Humerlito Dolor who welcomed the participants expressed his gratitude with the assistance expressed by the DA through the PRDP. (DA-PRDP)
by admin | Oct 3, 2014 | National News
PNoy forms National Organizing Committee for Papal visit
President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed the mobilization of government resources to ensure the smooth and orderly visit of His Holiness Pope Francis in the Philippines on January 15 to 19, 2015.
In Memorandum Circular No. 72, President Aquino ordered the creation of the Papal Visit 2015-National Organizing Committee (PV-NOC) for the state visit of the Roman Pontiff to coordinate all preparations for this occasion of great significance to the Filipino people.
PNoy instructed all heads of the different government departments, local governments as well as the private sectors are encouraged to participate and coordinate all efforts to make sure that the visit of His Holiness in our country next year will be well organized and peaceful.
The PV-NOC will be chaired by the Executive Secretary and vice-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Its members will include the Secretaries of the Departments of National Defense (DND), the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Health (DOH), Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Tourism (DOT), and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO); the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, National Police Chief, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman.
The PV-NOC is tasked to take up all government participation and responses in connection with the visit of the Pope, and ensure efficient coordination among public and private sectors, particularly with the Central Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); peace and order; and the traffic management plan for the transportation of persons and goods during the event.
The Central Committee of the CBCP is at the helm of managing and coordinating all religious and civil plans and activities of the Papal Visit.
MC No. 72 likewise called for the establishment of the two local Executive Committees—EXECOM-Manila and EXECOM-Leyte—in the areas of engagement of His Holiness Pope Francis. The EXECOMs will serve as the on-site full-time, day-to-day operations arms of the PV-NOC.
The EXECOM-Manila will be led by an Undersecretary in the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). Its members will include the Undersecretaries of the DFA, DND, DILG, DPWH, DOH, DOTC, DOT, and PCOO; Chief of the Presidential Protocol Office; representatives from the OP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and MMDA; Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager; Presidential Security Group (PSG) Commander; and head of the Radio-Television Malacanang.
The EXECOM-Leyte, on the other hand, will be led by an Undersecretary in the OES with members including the Regional Director of the PNP, Commander of the AFP Central Command, Regional Directors of the DOTC and DPWH, PSG Security Task Action Group Commander-Leyte, and a representative from the Radio-Television Malacanang.
MC No. 72 shall take effect immediately and until the conclusion of the Papal Visit in January 2015. (PND)
by admin | Sep 17, 2014 | National News
Mga imbestor nga Kastila, gi-agda ni PNoy nga magnegosyo sa PH
MANILA, Sept. 17 (PIA)–Gi-agda ni Presidente Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III ang mga negosyanteng Kastila nga mamuhonan sa Pilipinas nga tungod sa daghang nahimo sa iyang administrasyon sa larangan sa ekonomya ug sa tinuoray nga pagbatok niya sa mga anomaliya sa nasud, usa na kini ka investment haven sa Asya.
“Tulad ng magandang ipinamalas ng pagbangon ng ekonomya ng Espanya, naniniwala ako na ito ang angkop na panahon upang anyayahan kayong mamuhunan sa isang matatag na ekonomya,” matud pa ni PNoy sa Networking with the Philippine Business Delegation nga gipahigayon sa Madrid, Espanya.
Sa pag-awhag sa mga imbestor, gipasigarbo sa Presidente ang record nga lig-ong paglambo sa ekonomya sa nasud sukad niadtong tuig 2010 hangtud 2013 diin 6.3 porsiyento ang natalang average growth sa Pilipinas.
Apil na usab niini ang investment grade status gikan sa Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s ug Fitch Group ug bisan ang Global Competitiveness Report sa World Economic Forum nga nag-ingon nga ang Pilipinas usa na ka lig-on nga destinasyon sa mga mamuhonan.
Bisan ang ubang publikasyon ug kasaligang mga organisasyon ang nag-ingon nga ang Pilipinas ang “Asia’s bright spot” o di kaha “Asia’s rising tiger.”
Gitumbok usab ni PNoy nga ang gihimo niyang pagpaningkamot nga sumpuon ang mga anomaliya nga gi-paresan sa pagputol sa “red tape” ang hinungdan mao nga nahimong dali alang sa mga negosyante nga mamuhonan sa Pilipinas, samtang ang mga reporma sa liberalisasyon sa mga industriya mag-abli og dugang nga potensiyal nga pamuhonan.
Matud pa sa Presidente nga ang katawhang Pilipino ang pinaka-dakung katigayunan sa nasud mao nga nakatutok ang administrasyon niya sa pagpalambo sa kinabuhi sa pinaka-kabos sa nasud.
Dugang pa ni PNoy nga nagmalampuson ang gobyerno sa pag-uswag sa kahimtang sa kinabuhi sa may 2.5 milyong Pilipinong kabos ug nakatutok karon ang gobyerno sa pagduso sa patakarang ipalayo sa kakabos ang katawhan aron dili magpabiling timawa. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
by admin | Sep 17, 2014 | National News
European union backs peaceful resolution to sea row
The European Union is supporting efforts to resolve peacefully the territorial disputes over the West Philippine Sea.
During the bilateral meeting between President Benigno Aquino and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy at the European Council Headquarters on Tuesday, Rompuy urged countries with conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea to resolve maritime disputes based on the rule of law.
“We exchanged views on the regional situation. It is essential that our parties seek peaceful and cooperative solutions to maritime issues in accordance with international law in particular with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Rompuy said in a statement following the meeting.
He noted that the European Union is party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, which calls on all parties to settle differences by peaceful means and not resort to threat and coercion.
For his part, President Aquino welcomed Rompuy’s statement believing that the EU could contribute a lot in ensuring peaceful and rules-based settlement of the conflicting claims.
“As President, I believe that the EU may contribute so much more in championing this meaningful cause—in particular, in helping convince other parties to refrain from activities that increase tensions, clarify their claims based on the UNCLOS, and thus submit the disputes to reasonable, rules-based, peaceful modes of resolution, such as arbitration,” the Chief Executive said.
Aside from the EU, Spain is also supporting calls for a peaceful resolution to the maritime disputes.
President Aquino, in his media interview onboard chartered flight PR001 going to Belgium on Monday, said Spain Prime Minister Marianon Rajoy has agreed to be the “voice” of the Philippines in addressing issues in the West Philippine Sea and matters involving the welfare of Filipino seafarers in the European Union. (PND)
by admin | Sep 16, 2014 | National News
PNoy declares observance of ‘Eidul Adha’ on Oct. 6 as regular holiday
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared Monday, October 6 as a regular holiday in observance of Eidul Adha or the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice.
The President signed on September 12 Proclamation No. 875 on the observance of Eidul Adha, one of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
Eidul Adha commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to follow God’s command to sacrifice his son.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has recommended that Eidul Adha be observed on October 6, the date set by Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body.
The dates of the observance of the Muslim festivals of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha are declared separately from other national holidays, as the government has to wait for the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. (PND)
by admin | Sep 16, 2014 | National News
PNoy to highlight West Philippine Sea issue during U.S. visit
President Benigno S. Aquino III will advance the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) when he meets with global leaders and organizations while in the United States on September 20 to 24, a foreign affairs official said during a press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday.
Asked if the President will talk about the West Philippine Sea at the World Leaders Forum in Columbia University, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Andrelita Austria said, “That is one of the advocacies that he will be carrying in all his meetings, basically, to say why it is important for the world community to support our endeavor in ensuring that the rule of law is carried specifically in the West Philippine Sea.”
The Philippines is one of several countries laying claim to the West Philippine Sea, an area believed to be rich in mineral and fishery resources and which serves as a major sea lane for global trade and commerce.
The country has filed an arbitration case at the International Arbitral Tribunal, asking China to clarify its claims on the West Philippine Sea.
Asked about the possibility of a meeting between President Aquino and US President Barack Obama, as well as other leaders, Austria said no such meeting has been arranged but it is possible that they meet at the corridors of the United Nations Headquarters.
The practice in the UN is that leaders come and deliver their remarks, Austria said. (PND)
