by magnolia_eic | Sep 17, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to improve the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program and make it more effective for the benefit of the most vulnerable members of society.
In his message at the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program on Wednesday at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City, the Chief Executive said he is aware of complaints on payment issues such as lower-entitlement and no cash in card, missing names in the payroll list or delay in the delivery of cash grants—which are hindrances to the program’s objectives.
The President told the program beneficiaries that the DSWD is implementing the National Household Targeting System to identify the families that most urgently need assistance in order to ensure that social funds are spent wisely on the most vulnerable members of our society.
“A well-targeted CCT program will truly afford the poor’s opportunity to enjoy basic human services that were once extremely difficult to avail,” the President said.
The President also said that the FY2011 proposed budget will fund urgently needed programs on education, health and job generation.
In the said budget, P 21.2 billion was allocated for CCT which will be distributed to 2.3 million household beneficiaries.
The 4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development program that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly of children aged 0-14. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Sep 16, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MALAYSIA will continue to act as facilitator at the resumption of peace talks in Mindanao.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo disclosed this Tuesday following the courtesy call
of Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifah Aman on President Benigno S. Aquino III in
Malacanang.
Romulo said Malaysia has been playing a constructive and positive role to encourage a
peaceful resolution in the Mindanao problem.
The President welcomed Minister Anifah who was accompanied by Malaysian Ambassador
to the Philippines Dato’ Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad.
Also present during the call were Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
Secretary Teresita Deles and DFA Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio.
Minister Anifah’s visit centered on Malaysia’s role in the formal peace negotiations scheduled
this month between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
As its closest neighbor in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the
Philippines earlier decided to retain Malaysia as third party facilitator in the resumption of the
GRP-MILF peace talks, a role which Malaysia has assumed since 2001.
Since 2004, Malaysia also led the International Monitoring Team together with Libya, Japan
and Brunei which successfully contributed to the comprehensive peace process in Mindanao.
(PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Sep 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Government and media groups have acceded to a four-point consensus on the proper observance of safety measures to ensure that media coverages do not hamper police or security operations in times of crisis situations.
In a media briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said the consensus was reached when he and other Malacanang officials recently conducted dialogues with major media organizations, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Council on Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).
One of the consensus, Coloma said, is that media practitioners and spectators will now be prohibited in the immediate vicinity of the crisis area. This is to ensure the safety of media members and spectators during crisis situations such as the recent hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand.
According to Coloma, members of the media should refrain from directly involving themselves or interfering in police operations such as during hostage negotiations which require professional training and professional background.
Another result of the dialogue, Coloma said, is the possibility of restraining the live coverage of an assault or actual troop movement.
Also generally agreed upon during the dialogue is the designation of a point person in the police organization or a senior government official to have some kind of a crisis communication coordination center, he added.
Coloma also said the government is not keen on supporting any legislated regulations as it would be against the policy of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
On the other hand, Coloma noted that media groups have been conducting on their own assessment and adopting improvements in their operating guidelines including disciplinary measures to prevent a repeat of the hostage-taking incident two weeks ago. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Sep 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Malacañang is ready to freeze the generous perks and bonuses enjoyed by executives of government-owned and controlled corporations in line with the austerity measures of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
In a news briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said the implementation will take effect once the salaries, bonuses and perks of the GOCC officials have been rationalized.
Coloma said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is now working on how to tighten up existing Administrative Order No. 103 of 2001 adopting austerity measures in government. He said it will be included in the draft Executive Order that President Aquino will soon issue.
The President had earlier divulged that he will issue an EO to prevent the excessive pay benefit packages of some GOCC executives which have reached scandalous levels.
He said the EO will be all-encompassing, and will rationalize, put a cap and limit the pay packages for government nominees. The EO will also reiterate the cap contained in an existing order of the previous administration but which was not enforced.
Meantime, Coloma said Malacanang is ready to dissolve around 15 non-performing GOCCs once they fail to demonstrate their capacity for viable operations. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Sep 8, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MALACAÑANG on Monday expressed confidence that the investigating body looking into the botched Quirino Grandstand hostage rescue would be able to get to the bottom of the case and pinpoint responsibility in the incident which left eight Hong Kong nationals dead.
In a news briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda underscored the importance of the findings of the Incident Investigation and Review Commission (IIRC) which he said President Benigno S. Aquino III will use as a basis in giving justice to those who perished in the Aug. 23 crisis.
“We are letting the investigation committee take its course. It has been a very credible investigation process and we will wait for the report and the conclusions and the recommendations of the investigation committee,” he said.
Meantime, Lacierda appealed for everyone’s patience and restraint and let the investigation take its course.
“Let’s wait for the report of the investigation committee to come out and it will be submitted to the President and the President will study the recommendations,” he said. “The fact that there is an investigating committee…will show who were responsible for the incident.” (PCOO/PIA)
