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| 14 JUNE 2008 - - |
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| 14 JUNE 2008 - - |
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| PGMA's jobs generation target of 3-million by 2010 on track with gov’t's MSME program – Remonde |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's program to create three-million new jobs
before her term ends in 2010 is on track with the continued strengthening of
the government's micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) program,
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Cerge Remonde said yesterday. Remonde, who is also Cabinet oversight official for MSME, said that upon the President's directive, priority was given for the intensification of the MSME program to reach more people who want to become entreprenuers. Because of this, the MSME program has spread the benefits of entrepreneurship, boosted jobs creation and livelihood projects and offered scholarships to many people across the nation. Remonde said that the MSME program helps provide the much needed support to the citizenry, especially the poor, through its wide array of entrepreneurship and livelihood services. He noted that from 2004 to March 2008, the government, through its MSME program, has lent more than P217 billion to 3.85 million borrowers, generating about 2.21 million new jobs or new entrepreneurs or almost 74% of the 3-million new jobs target of President Arroyo in 2010. At the Independence Day celebration last June 12, President Arroyo, along with Presidential Management Staff Secretary Cerge Remonde and Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, awarded microfinance loan checks and livelihood scholarship certificates to 15 beneficiaries. These checks were awarded to Gracia delos Reyes, Gina Loyola, Teresita Ang, Basilio Letada and Maricel Soriano, Gavina Cagas and Lea Estrada. Scholarship beneficiaries include Nino Serra, Dexter Marquez, Mary Rose Angeles, Renato Barredo, Luis Go, Camilo Santos, Lewellyn Barbieto and Ariel Mantilla. Remonde said the loan checks and scholarship grants will help the beneficiaries start their own businesses and enhance their entrepreneurship skills. Lea Estrada of Marikina City, for instance, was lent P50,000 by the government through the Land Bank of the Philippines for her shoe-making business. The Barangka Credit Cooperative serves as the microfinance conduit. With this amount, Estrada and many of her fellow MSME patrons, will be able to further expand their business thereby increasing their chances to earn more for their families. Also at the Luneta rites, Remonde led officers and members of the Inter-agency Coordinating Committee for MSME (ICC-MSME), which he heads, in offering kabuhayan services - including entrepreneurship advisory, financing, training, product development and marketing. Remonde said the kabuhayan services will encourage more people, especially the poor, to become entrepreneurs and actively participate in the country's economic development. |
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| PGMA to award certificates of conversion from diesel to LPG to five transport groups on Monday |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will award certificates for the conversion
of diesel to LPG to five transport groups on Monday as part of the
administration’s effort to raise the income of the drivers of public utility
vehicles who were affected by the global oil price increases. Likewise, the President is also scheduled to ground break the proposed grand terminal for the PUV’s using alternative fuels, hybrid bus run by compressed natural gas (CNG), airport taxi with meter-issuing receipt, and public utility jeepney (PUJ) run with liquified petroleum gas (LPG) at the One Esplanade, SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex in Pasay City. At the vacant lot in front of One Esplanade, the President will lower the time capsule to signal the start of the construction of the grand transport terminal to be followed by the awarding of certificates for the PUJ Diesel + LPG Conversion Program to five transport groups in Metro Manila. After that, the President will view the hybrid and CNG buses, PUJs with engines already converted into LPG, buses run by LPGs, and taxi run by LPG. Recipients of the certificate for diesel to LPG conversion are the Pasang Masda, Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (MJODA), Caloocan Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (CANJODA), Pambansang Kalipunan ng mga Kooperatibang Pangsasakyan (PKKP), and Mega Manila Operators and Drivers Alliance (MMODA). Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Thompson Lantion said the objective of the project is to raise the income of the public transportation drivers as well as strengthen the implementation of the Clean Air Act Law. Dubbed as “Mga Makabagong Sasakyan Para sa Ligtas na Kalusugan at Kapaligiran Tungo sa Mabilis, Maingat at Maginhawang Paglalakbay,” the conversion of the passenger jeepneys from diesel to LPG is part of the government public land transportation modernization program. Under the project, the government will initially shoulder the P70,600 expenses for the conversion of the diesel to LPG engine and they will grant it to operators/drivers to partially refinance the acquisition of the conversion kit without any interest to be payable within two years. He said the project only covers the PUJ nationwide and they expect to convert 10,000 diesel-run jeepney units into LPG fueled motors. Lantion added that the project will also promote the use of non-renewable resources or alternative fuels that are environment-friendly and economical, promote and protect the environment against air pollution, lessen the demand of diesel, and most importantly is to increase the income of PUJ operators/drivers. The fund to finance the modernization program of public land transport industry will be sourced out from the Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund (SVPCF) of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). |
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| PGMA directs NEDA to speed up construction of 41.14-B infra projects |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the National Economic
Development authority (NEDA) and concerned government departments to speed
up the implementation of three new projects worth around P41.14 billion
recently confirmed for implementation by the NEDA Board. “These road and bridges programs plus the flood and hazard mitigation projects for Bicol are certain to boost the economic development for the areas where they will be implemented” she pointed out. I expect full cooperation and speedy implementation from the Department of Public Works and Highways and other agencies and Department so our people can enjoy the benefits soonest,” she said. Two of the approved projects are the road enhancement and Asset Preservation Management Program (REAPMP) and the President’s Bridge Program (PBP) Mega Bridges for Urban and Rural Development Project. The project costing P28.29 billion and P10.73 billion respectively will be implemented by the department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The third is the P2.12 billion Flood and Hazard Mitigation Component of the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (BRBWMP) to be jointly undertaken by the DPWH and the Office of the Civil Defense, the Mines and Geosciences Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR) and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration of the Department of Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST). The REAPMP is a sector program type of assistance that aims to enhance the efforts of the government to improve and manage its national road system in an economically, socially, financially and environmentally sound effective and sustainable manner. The project cost includes a grant amounting to P97.6 billion (0.3% of total project cost). The biggest portion of the total program cost (51% or around P14.43 billion) shall be financed through a loan from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The rest are from general appropriations (39.1% or some P11.05 billion) and the Motor Vehicles Users Charge special funds (9.6% or about 2.71 billion). The REAPMP will be implemented over a period of seven years from 2008 to 2014. On the other hand the PBP is funded by a mix of financing from the French government (88% or around P9.45 billion) and domestic counterpart (12% or some P1.28 billion). It involves the nationwide construction installation and establishment of 10 girder type flyovers and 72 unibridges (universal bridges or national bridges along the country’s congested highways and road networks to improve access along the strong Republic Nautical Highway and Pan Philippine Highway and to promote socio economic growth in rural and urban centers. The project will be implemented over a four-year period from the second quarter of the year to 2012. The Flood and Hazard Mitigation Component of the BRBWMP is composed of four subcomponents which include flood mitigation, hazard assessment and mitigation, land acquisition and resettlement. The BRBWMP aims to implement an integrated watershed management and water resources development investment activities that will increase agricultural production and productivity increase rural; incomes provide service facilities and promote sustainable natural resource management in a river basin context. The project will be implemented over six years from 2008 to 2013 and will be funded under the World Bank’s (WB) Bicol River Basin World Bank Project. |
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| PGMA directs DepEd to ensure AusAid support will boost basic education |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Department of Education
to ensure that the A$13 million (approximately P494 million) earmarked by
the Australian government for support to DepEd in 2008 will enable it to
boost its Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA). Our education sector can really use this generous help from our Australian friends and urged the DepEd to put to maximum use to boost the education of our children,” she ordered. She pointed out that the Australian government is one of the country’s largest bilateral grant donors . The amount forms part of the substantial Australian support through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid) for the Philippine basic education sector. BESRA is a package of policy reforms that aims to put in place an education system that is able to deliver a sustainable quality education for all Filipino children. In 2007, AusAid released A$10 million to fund initiatives that accelerates the introduction of BESRA and provide for a sustainable framework for improved access to quality education. The support of the Australian government to improve basic education in the Philippines is expected to increase in the next four years based on progressive performance in implementing BESRA. According to Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith the A$13 million has been allotted for incentive based funding and will be released subject performance against agreed benchmarks. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus welcomes the support of the Australian government saying that critical to the successful implementation of BESRA is the continuing assistance extended by our partners in development such as AusAid.” Lapus pointed out that incentive based performance is focused on improving resources allocation to schools including performance based management of teachers. Also up for performance review are the internal audit and reporting capacity of DepEd’s division and regional offices as well as improvements in medium-term planning , budget allocation and budget execution. The Australian government’s official development assistance to the Philippines for 2008-2009 is estimated to reach A$109.3 million (P4.4 billion) representing an increase of some 9 percent, close to 40% of which is allocated to basic e3ducation. Australia through AusAid is one of the top three bilateral donors outside of the US Aid fir International Development (USAID) and Japan International Coperation Agency (JICA). These official development assistance (ODA) organizations provide financial assistance for developing countries in the form of grant packages . As stipulated in the current framework of the jointly agreed Australia-Philippines Development Assistance Strategy from 2007-2011, the Australian government aid will continue to have a strong focus on basic education. “With funding support from international donor agencies coming in, I believe this is the best time to implement comprehensive and strategic reforms in basic education,” Lapus stressed. According to AusAid, BESRA is a vibrant framework that can deliver a sustainable quality education for Filipino children. It observed, however, that the basic issues of learning space quality materials , relevant curriculum, well-trained teachers and efficient management system remain at the heart of the reform process. |
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| PGMA cites 2 RP diplomats who make waves in un General Assembly |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Department of Foreign
Affairs to support the enhanced participation of the Philippines in the
United Nations Assembly with the recent election of two Filipino diplomats
in important positions in the 63rd session of the General Assembly. “I am pleased with the recent report of Ambassador Hilario G. Davide, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations that Second Secretary Elmer G. Cato and Second Secretary Patrick Chuasoto were elected to positions in two of the six main committees of the General Assembly,” the President noted. “This should be an excellent opportunity for the country to play an important role in global diplomacy, particularly in Special Political Decolonization, and Administrative and Budgetary committees where our two diplomats were elected,” she pointed out. “I would like to thank the Asian Group for their support to the Philippines,” the President further said. Ambassador Davide reported that said Cato was elected Vice Chairman of the Fourth Committed (Special Political and Decolonization) while Chuasoto was elected Rapporteur of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary). Divide said the two diplomats were elected by acclamation by the General Assembly based on the endorsement of their nominations by the Asian Group in the United Nations. Former Minister Miguel d’ Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua was elected President of the 63rd Session of the General Assembly. Also elected are the Vice Presidents of the Assembly as well as the Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and Rapporteurs of the Assembly’s six main committees. The Fourth Committee is in charge of issues related to decolonization, peacekeeping, information, outer space and Palestine while the Fifth Committee considers and approves the UN budget as well as those of special agencies. The two Filipino diplomats will serve as members of the bureaus of the Fourth and Fifth Committees and will help steer the committee meetings when the 63rd Session of the General Assembly opens in September. The last time the Philippines was a member of the bureau of any of the main committees of the General Assembly was in 2003 when it was elected chair of the Sixth Committee (Legal). Cato and Chuasoto joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1998 and 1999 respectively and were assigned to the Philippine Mission in New York in 2003. Both served as Alternate Representatives to the Security Council during the Philippine membership in that body from 2004-2005. Aside from representing the Philippines in the Fourth Committee, Cato oversees Philippine participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Chuasoto on the other hand, represents the Philippines in the Fifth Committee and also handles issues in the Security Council as well as ASEAN concerns in the United Nations. |
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