The Philippines has been cited by the United Nations as one of the top countries in South and Eastern Asia in terms of e-government readiness.

Ranking fourth in the region, the Philippine government website, http://www.gov.ph, was cited by the UN's 2005 Global e-Government Readiness Report as "at par with the best in the world."

The website's "dedicated e-services section," said the UN report, "illustrates that one can simply but effectively integrate information across departments and provides a single space for the users to find them."  The report also noted the website's multi-topic discussion forum, as well as its recent feature enabling citizens to comment directly on news items posted on the site.

Impressed with the website's accessibility to the public through the use of wireless alternatives -- the short message service (SMS), wireless application protocol (WAP), as well as through a pocket PC section -- the report went on to commend its "Issuances for Comments" section which further encourages the public "to partake in the policy-making process by providing feedback."

The Philippines ranks high in the promotion of e-services, notably its Revenue Integrity Protection Service site, http://www.rips.gov.ph, which provides instructions and access for the filing of corruption complaints online, by phone or through SMS.

"The Philippines [has] developed a solid presence across all stages of e-government. In general, therefore, it has covered most of the basic functions and features while simultaneously developing transactional facilities and venturing into the networked presence stage though it still lacks a formal online consultations mechanism," according to the report. 

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated today the government’s "Tindahan Natin" program in Sitio Puting Bato, North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS), a depressed area in the municipality of Navotas.

The Navotas launching of the Tindahan Natin, a major component of the administration’s pro-poor program, coincided with the centennial anniversary of Navotas, Manila’s next door neighbor to the north.

After the Sitio Puting Bato event, the President distributed certificates of accreditation to operate Tindahan Natin outlets in the Dagat-dagatan area.

Among the newly accredited Tindahan Natin operators are Marina Ekot, president of Sambayanang Kristiyano of Sitio Puting Bato; Lita Obsunar, president of Sambayanang Kristiyano of Sitio Sto. Niņo, and Carlos Minel, president of Samahang Buklod Diwa.

Assisting the President in the distribution of the certificates were Malabon-Navotas Congressman Federico Sandoval II, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Lualhati Pablo, National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Gregorio Tan, Presidential Adviser on Jobs Generation Arthur Yap and Dagat-dagatan Barangay Captain Carolina Manalo.

The Tindahan Natin is part of the government’s initiative to provide low-priced but good quality rice and fortified noodles to low-income families.

Under the program, Tindahan Natin outlets sell NFA well-milled NFA rice variety at P18 per kilo and fortified noodles at P4.25 per pack, or much lower than the prevailing prices of the same commodities in the sari-sari stores.

"Gusto kong batiin ang Navotas sa kanilang 100 year anniversary kaya meron nitong okasyon na ito pero ang gusto ko na bigyan diin ay iyong ginawa natin kanina na nag-distribute ng rice and noodles pero hindi dole-out, murang bigas kahit magandang kalidad at noodles dahil iyon ang pinaka-importante para sa kagutuman ng taongbayan kaya P18 iyong bigas at saka P4.25 iyong noodles hindi ito dole-out ibinebenta ito pero sa mababang halaga at ang mga bumibili ay iyong may I.D. na napili na bilang mga mahihirap na pamayanan," the President said.

She said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P500 million for the government’s rice and noodles subsidy program under the 2006 national budget.

The allocation will be released to the NFA, she said.

Later, the President motored to the San Jose Parish Church (SJPC) in Dagat-dagatan to spearhead the 7^th Caravan, the first Serbisyo Muna project this year.

She was joined in the program by Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Ephraim Genuino, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Fe Hidalgo, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Margarita Galon, Office for Political Coalition Affairs head Verna Romulo-Puyat, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Executive Director Doz Lucinario, SJPC parish priest Rev. Fr. Constantino Conti, San Jose Academy president Fr. Jeronimo Ma. J Cruz, Congressman Sandoval and wife Jeannie Sandoval.

Authorized to operate Botika ng Barangay were Barangays Bangkulasi, Bagumbayan North, San Rafael Village and North Bay Boulevard South.

The President also distributed passports processed by the DFA Passport on Wheel Program, PhilHealth cards to 20 of the 1,200 residents of Navotas and a kilo of rice each to 500 Grade 1 pupils under the Food for School project of the government.

She then inspected DepEd’s supplemental feeding booths for 30 pre-schoolers of the Bagong Bayan Elementary School, a TESDA livelihood demonstration, medical consultations with DOH and the Serbisyo Muna Assistance Center in the area.

Congressman Sandoval said that up to 8,000 residents of 16 barangays in Navotas are expected to benefit from the pro-poor projects.

President Arroyo will stay until 2010 and exercise her full power, authority and mandate under her oath until the Filipino people say otherwise in a Constitutionally sanctioned process.

At a time when the nation needs a strong leadership for economic takeoff, social reform and political renewal, we find it unnecessary to belabor the transitional issues of Charter change before they have even been discussed in Congress or considered by the sovereign people.

With due respect to our other national leaders, we propose that we first resolve the basic structural reforms for the national interest to be embodied in a new Constitution before we delve into term limits or power sharing—which only tend to put more heat on the political pot.

It will not only be politics that will be taken up when leaders and members of the Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats) hold their National Directorate meeting tomorrow, Saturday in Malacanang.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a radio interview this morning that aside from the contentious political issues that have hugged headlines recently, the meeting will likewise tackle economic concerns that greatly affect the people.

As part of their agenda, there will be an economic briefing by Budget Secretary Romulo Neri while other important matters such as the anti-terrorism bill and the peace process in Mindanao will also be taken up during the meeting, Ermita told Radio Mindanao Network (RMN).

"What is important is for us to be able to explain to our party members what the party stand is with regard to vital issues, like Charter change and the anti-terrorism bill, for example," he said in the vernacular.

There will be an open forum on how the party would push Charter change, particularly the shift from presidential to parliamentary form of government, according to Ermita.

The Executive Secretary said party leaders, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as chairman, former President Fidel V. Ramos as chairman emeritus, and party president House Speaker Jose de Venecia, will be updated on various issues to strengthen party unity and harmony.

In another radio interview, Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said unity and harmony is what the Filipinos must demonstrate to provide solutions and overcome the country’s problems.

President Arroyo has done all means within her power to cut the prices of medicines in half and make them available to the broadest segment of the masses.

This is reinforced by a wide ranging PhilHealth program that accords access to proper medical care.

The National Development Corporation (NDC) approved today the allocation of additional P500 million for the expansion of the half-priced medicines program of the Arroyo administration.

Former Agrarian Reform Secretary and now Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) chairman and president Roberto Pagdanganan made the disclosure in a press briefing this afternoon in Malacanang.

Pagdanganan said the NDC board, in its meeting this morning, unanimously approved the allocation of fresh funds to augment the present financial capabilities of the ongoing half-priced medicines program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"The goal is to make funds available to expand the Botika ng Bayan all over the country so that the medicines most commonly bought, including antibiotic, hypertension, antihistamine, anti-diabetic shall be made available, accessible and affordable to the people, especially the poor," Pagdanganan said.

The new fund for the program shall be used for importing branded off-patent medicines and to hasten the implementation of the half-priced medicines to be distributed in all Botika ng Bayan and Botika ng Barangay outlets.

"With this Botika ng Bayan network, we hope to be able to reach the target places especially in Metro Manila and far-flung areas in the provinces," Pagdanganan added.

The five-year program, which started in 2005, aims to reduce the prices of medicines by half.

"Hopefully with this additional funding within the next two years we would be able to achieve the target of 2,500 new Botika ng Bayan stores," Pagdanganan noted.