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| 16 JANUARY 2008 | . | |
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| 16 JANUARY 2008 | . | |
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| President orders TESDA to gear courses toward higher-paying jobs |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered on Tuesday the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to undertake a review of its
training courses and come up with courses that meet the requirements of
higher-paying jobs here and abroad. The President issued the directive during the Cabinet Group meeting in Malacanang amid calls by various industries, including the business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centers, for the accelerated training of workers to meet the manpower requirements of the growing BPO sector. The President said that aligning TESDA training courses with the requirements of the labor market would reduce further the number of unemployed Filipinos, considering the huge demand for skilled workers both in the Philippines and abroad. “Develop courses that produce quality and skilled workers,” she told TESDA officials headed by Director-General Augusto Syjuco Jr. Syjuco said that in compliance with the President’s directive, he would immediately create a team to undertake the review of TESDA training courses. He added that the team would concentrate on the training of Filipinos for high-skilled jobs such as welders, pipe fitters, electricians and carpenters. TESDA is closely coordinating with the industry sector and manning agencies to monitor their manpower requirements and, at the same time, check the status of those who had taken TESDA courses, Syjuco said. The President, through the TESDA, also allotted funds for the PGMA Skills Training for Work scholarships program. |
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| Statement of Cabinet Secretary Ricardo L. Saludo: On Comelec chair |
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We must not turn the selection of Comelec (Commission on Elections) chairman
into a media battle among those for or against certain nominees. The search panel of respected, upright eminent persons have elevated their recommendations to the appointing power after wide consultations and profound deliberation. After the final choice is made, Congress will have ample time before the 2010 polls to review the decision through the Commission on Appointments. On Villarosa The Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Corrections should verify speedily the location of prisoner Jose Villarosa and, if he is still out for valid medical reasons, to ensure that he is returned to the NBP (New Bilibid Prison) as soon as his health will allow. The Department of Justice should also investigate if there have been any lapses in custodial measures in the handling of the inmate. On Media Guidelines The escalating media exchange on how the police and the press should act in emergency and conflict situations is not helping bring the issue closer to a mutually acceptable resolution. The DOJ and the PNP should sit down with media organizations to forge clear, workable parameters for the security and coverage of crisis situation which would safeguard innocent lives as well as press freedom, and we call on media to show its regard for public safety by joining these deliberations. |
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| PGMA acts on NCR teachers' complaint over housing loans, illegal deductions |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met today with representatives of public
school teachers in the National Capital Region (NCR) in a bid to resolve
once and for all their long-standing problem over housing loans with the
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The President motored from Malacanang to the Albert Elementary School in Dapitan, Sampaloc, Manila to meet with 56 teachers representing 14 NCR schools divisions who unburdened themselves of their housing loan horror stories. Their complaints ranged from the non-posting of their payments to foreclosure orders on what they claimed were already fully-paid housing loans to overdeduction of their salaries for monthly contributions. Acting swiftly on their complaints, the President instructed the Department of Education (DepEd) and the GSIS to immediately appoint officers whose sole task would be to address the teachers’ concerns. GSIS President and General Manager Winston Garcia informed the President that his agency has already a vice president, Ms. Ana Badayos, who attends to teachers’ concerns. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, meanwhile, informed the President that he would appoint DepEd Undersecretary Antonio Inocentes as the DepEd counterpart of Badayos. President Arroyo directed Garcia and Lapus to immediately act on the teachers’ problem which, she said, could be resolved through t he simple updating of their service records, the reconciliation of all GSIS members' accounts and close coordination between GSIS and DepEd . "This problem is occurring because of accounting problem. And that’s why
the solution is the reconciliation (of the members' records)," she said. Delighted over Garcia’s and Lapus’ promise to act immediately on the teachers’ concerns, the Chief Executive said she hoped that "we will all be able to solve our problems soon." Also present during the meeting with the NCR teachers aside from Garcia and Lapus were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Bayani Fernando, and Manila Rep . Trisha David. |
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| PGMA appoints Baliao as Press Undersecretary for Operations |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Press Assistant Secretary
for Administration and Finance Cornelio “Jun” M. Baliao as new Press
Undersecretary for Operations to replace Undersecretary Robert T. Rivera who
relinquished his post when the President named him to the board of directors
of RPN-Channel 9. Baliao was personally recommended by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye to the President to take over the post vacated by Rivera. Baliao took his oath of office before Secretary Bunye after the press briefing Wednesday afternoon at the New Executive Building Briefing Room in Malacanang. Baliao, who rose from the ranks, is familiar with media functions and relations work, having served under several press secretaries in various capacities in the Malacanang Press Office. “Serving the Presidency is a rare opportunity for any member of the rank-and-file like me,” Baliao said. In 2003, the President appointed Baliao as Assistant Secretary for Administration and Finance of the OPS. He started serving the government in 1963 during the term of the late President Diosdado Macapagal. Being a public servant, Baliao contributed featured articles in daily broadsheets. He also served as chief of the Manila Bureau of the Manila Headline – a Filipino-American community newspaper based in Houston, Texas where he had a column. |
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| Solon assures Congress approval of new civil aviation law by next month |
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A senior member of the House of Representatives assured today that the Civil
Aviation Authority Act of 2008 would be passed when Congress resumes its
session this month. Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella said the approval of the bill by Congress, and its signing into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, would win back for the local civil aviation the Category 1 rating that was downgraded recently by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Category 2. Puentevella discussed the status of the proposed Civil Aviation Authority during a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang. He said the legislative proposal, which seeks to rename the Air Transportation Office (ATO) as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), grants fiscal autonomy to the CAA to enable it to upgrade air operations in the country. Puentevella, chairman of the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives and principal author of the bill, is also a member of the panel that negotiated with FAA officials who visited the Philippines last December. He said the Category 2 downgrade is just a temporary setback that would not affect the economy and existing operations of Philippine carriers -- only their expansion plans. “Hopefully before the year ends we would be elevated back to Category 1,” he said. The Bacolod solon explained that the President herself informed him of the seriousness of the FAA request last year, prompting his committee to conduct successive hearings on the bill to pave the way for its early passage. With the help of members of both the House and the Senate, including opposition solons, Puentevella said the bill passed third reading in record time of just three weeks. “The format now is to approve this (bill) in the bicameral meeting in February, and, hopefully pass a new law which is the Civil Aviation Authority by February with the President signing it. This will show to the FAA officials who came down here that we mean business, we are serious in improving the system,” he said. Puentevella added that the passage of the law would give the new CAA fiscal autonomy to use the ATO’s income of some P3 billion a year. He also said the CAA would then be able to expand and upgrade existing facilities, beef up its personnel and raise the status and capabilities of the country’s flying schools to meet international standards as requested by the FAA officials. |
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| It's business as usual in Malacanang -- Bunye |
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Malacanang brushed aside today the
reported destabilization plot against the Arroyo government by saying “it’s
business as usual” for the Administration. “If you will note it’s business as usual in the Palace where the President is going about her normal activity,” Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye told a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said earlier that the threat against the Arroyo government “is real but it is not serious.” In the same vein, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said the destabilization move is a continuing concern that the government is “taking seriously” but it has not reached an alarming stage. Bunye said the President is now in the midst of preparations for her incoming trip to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF). This will be followed by an investment trip to Dubai. “The President is focused on governing, particularly on the economy, her education thrust, delivery of basic social services, including distribution of PhilHealth cards, and visiting elementary schools in Metro Manila,” he said. In reply to a question, Bunye denied the President has issued an order or instruction to the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the AFP relative to the reported destabilization plot. “I don’t recall the President has made such an order because during the latest meeting I had attended with her, ang focus niyang talaga is on her trip. Ang focus niya ay sa education, investment. You know that she is visiting schools left and right, giving PhilHealth cards to the deserving beneficiaries. I have not heard her giving any instruction to the PNP/AFP,” he said. |
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| Malacanang assures assistance to family of Filipina killed in Kabul terror attack |
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Malacanang assured today that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will provide necessary
assistance to the family of a Filipina overseas worker who was killed in a
five-star hotel terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Monday night. Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye made the assurance during the press briefing this afternoon at the New Executive Building of the Palace. Bunye also said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has instructed the DFA and the DOLE to coordinate with the Kabul authorities to ship back home the remains of the victim as soon as possible. He said the President also directed the two agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of all Filipino workers in Kabul. At least eight people, including an unnamed Filipina spa supervisor at Serena Hotel, were killed when armed men stormed the luxury hotel in the capital of Afghanistan. |
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| Malacanang happy over positive economic rating given to RP by Grant Thornton Int'l |
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With strong macroeconomic fundamentals sustaining the country’s growth,
Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said that continuous business confidence
would result to more investments this year. At a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Bunye said this business confidence is bolstered by the recent survey conducted by the global audit and accounting firm Grant Thornton International, which showed that Philippines and Indian businesses were the most optimistic and bullish about business prospects in 2008. Bunye said this means continuous investments this year that will generate more jobs. Among other factors cited for this optimism are the government efforts at fiscal discipline, strong peso and low inflation rate, enhancing the country’s appeal to investors, and rapid expansion of industry and services such as the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. At present, Bunye said there are many government programs on realigning the education and training system for the Filipino workers for easy jobs matching. “That is one of the objectives of agencies like TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) to train our workforce for employment that are available,” Bunye said. With the country’s sound economic fundamentals, Bunye said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains focused on governance as she offers the Philippines to the world business community as one of the best investment destinations in Asia. |
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