March 13 2008

PGMA cites Bataan gov. for his contribution in improvement of nat’l tax collection system

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has cited Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr. for his contribution in improving the country’s tax collection system as well as in instituting administrative reforms.

“Gusto kong magpasalamat kay Governor Tet Garcia, gawa nang alam naman natin na isa siyang dalubhasa sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa kaban ng bayan. Kaya nga naipatayo ang mga eskuwelahan at natugunan ang mga pangangailangan ninyo, at tumutulong din siya sa inyong lingkod,“ the President said in her impromptu speech during the launching yesterday of the Woman’s Month celebration in this province.

The President said that Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III had congratulated her for the well-refined 2008 national budget approved by both houses of Congress and which she signed into law last Tuesday.

“Binati nga ako ni Mayor Joen Garcia sa magandang budget na ginawa nina (Representatives) Nina (Roman) at Abet (Garcia) at iba pang congressmen, pero magagawa ba natin iyong P1.2 trilyon na budget, na balanced budget ang hinahanap natin, kung hindi tayo umaasa na P1.23 trilyon din ang ating iko-collect na mga buwis? Hindi lang nanggagaling ito sa bagong buwis kung hindi na rin sa pag-ibayo ng bagong pagkubra ng buwis,” she said.

She reminisced that Governor Garcia, also a former congressman, had presented to her a proposal on how to improve the tax collection system of the national government by revising the previous system of tax payments by checks through the banks.

She said that previously, a taxpayer would issue a check for his tax payment through the bank, but the bank then had not diligently determined if the issued check had sufficient funds.

Under such system, it would often turn out that the payments through the issued checks were not really remitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) or to the Bureau of Customs (BoC) accounts because of connivance between some officials and a group of tax syndicates.

“Naalala ko, ilang taon na ang nakaraan, si Tet ay nagpunta sa akin para magbigay ng panukala kung papaano mahuhuli o matatakpan iyong palusot ng ilang mga sindikato. Ganito ang ginagawa ng mga sindikato sa pagkaintindi ko, pag ang isang produkto ay malaki (ang halaga), hindi siya nagbabayad ng buwis sa BIR mismo, siya ay nagbibigay ng tseke sa bangko. Ngayon, ang trabaho ng bangko para ma-clear iyong tseke, tinitingnan muna kung may pondo iyong gumawa ng tseke. Pero, iyong mga sindikato noon ay may raket, na iyong pera ay hindi pumupunta sa BIR o sa BOC, pumupunta dun sa mga ilang kaparte ng sindikato, kaya nawawala iyong koleksiyon. Akala ng kumpanya, nagbayad na sila dahil na rin sa issuance ng resibo pero hindi naman pala napunta sa BIR,” the President said.

She recalled that part of the proposal of Garcia was to mandatorily ask the banks to scrutinize fully whether the issued check or issuer had sufficient funds to cover the indicated amount on the check.

“Kaya pumunta si Tet sa akin at nagbigay ng panukala na bigyan ng trabaho iyong mga bangko para tumulong hindi lang para tingnan kung may pondo iyong nagbabayad at kung sigurado iyong shares niya, iyong pondo, ay talagang natanggap at idineposito sa account ng BIR o ng BOC at ng Bureau of Treasury at hindi napunta sa bulsa ng magnanakaw sa buwis,” she said.

With the acceptance of the proposal by the Department of Finance, the President said this has really improved and strengthened the tax collection system and administrative reforms of the BIR and the BOC.

“At pagkatapos ng maraming usapan, sa wakas tinanggap ito ng Department of Finance. Kaya nasarado iyong butas na iyon, natigil iyong palusot na iyon kaya tumaas ang ating koleksiyon,” she stressed.

“Kaya maraming-maraming salamat, Tet, na kahit ikaw ay local official at ang paraan ng tungkulin mo ay mag-alaga ng Bataan, at kanina sinabi mo sa diskurso mo kung gaano mo naaalagaan ang Bataan, salamat at tumutulong ka sa inyong lingkod na mag-alaga sa buong bansa,” the President said.

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PGMA directs 10% reduction of SLEX toll rates

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) to lower the toll rates in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) by 10 percent to share with the motoring public the benefits of the improving economic conditions in the country.

The reduced toll rates in SLEX, covering the segment from Alabang, Muntinlupa City to Calamba, Laguna, took effect last March 9. PNCC has the permit to operate and maintain this segment of SLEX as approved by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

Over 200,000 vehicles pass through the SLEX daily. It is the most important roadway leading to the bourgeoning suburbs south of Metro Manila and the key transport route for industrial goods coming from export zones and industrial estates, and agricultural produce from the Southern Tagalog Region.

PNCC reduced the toll rates from P0.84/km to P0.756/km. Effectively, the new rates for Alabang to Calamba now reflect a reduction from P24 to P22 for Class 1 or small vehicles; from P48 to P43 for Class 2 vehicles, or passenger vehicles and six-wheeler trucks; and from P72 to P65 for Class 3 vehicles, or container vans and 10-wheeler trucks.

SLEX is in the midst of major rehabilitation works. The Alabang Viaduct is being repaired to international safety standards. The SLEX segment from Alabang to Sta. Rosa, Laguna is being expanded from four to eight lanes and the segment from Sta. Rosa to Calamba, Laguna from four to six lanes.

SLEX will also soon be interconnected with the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway for a seamless motorist travel up to Batangas.

Construction works have also started to extend the Skyway from Bicutan to Alabang.

Toll rates in SLEX are the lowest among all tollways in the country today, even prior to the latest 10 percent toll fee reduction. The lower toll fee will also serve as a cost cushion to SLEX motorists in the wake of rising global fuel prices.

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PGMA approves the large-scale processing in RP of Halal-certified foods by a big Saudi firm

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed today a proposal of a large Saudi Arabia food processing company to expand its operations in the Philippines to produce Halal-certified foods, particularly chicken.

Sheik Adnan Zainy, chairman of the board of directors of the Abbar & Zainy Group of Companies based in Saudi Arabia, made the offer when he called on the President in Malacañang this morning.

He said his company would bring in a group of experts in Halal food preparations who would certify whether an operation is Halal-qualified.

He said once his company's food-processing plant is Halal-certified, they will service a large portion of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East Halal chicken.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila, who joined the President in the closed door meeting, said the President was "happy" with the development because this pledge meant that "our labor is bearing results.”

Favila said the President's trips abroad, particularly to Europe and the Middle East wherein she projected the Philippines as an alternative investment site, had great impact on international businessmen.

"The President is happy with the developments because this is a product of the visits she did, specifically when we went to Jeddah," Favila said.

Aside from food processing, Abbar & Zainy is also one of Saudi Arabia's largest importers of tropical fruits such as bananas and pineapples which it sources from the Philippines.

It is also a well-known cold storage facility provider with four offices scattered all over the Middle East.

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PGMA to finance secretary: Prepare grantproposal for Millennium Challenge Corporation

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered Finance Secretary Margarito Teves to lead a team that will prepare the country’s grant proposal to the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) which had just announced the Philippines’ eligibility for large-scale grant funds.

The Chief Executive also ordered Teves to include in the MCC funding proposal “support for the current initiatives to improve governance and tax administration, and for the pursuit of greater transparency and accountability in the use of revenues.”

“I would also like to see the proposal provide support on improving health and education,” the President said in a statement yesterday afternoon, stressing that “through periodic and more detailed reporting of the uses of our revenues, we hope to trigger a virtuous cycle of higher tax compliance and more revenues to finance infrastructure and social services.”

The President earlier thanked the MCC for its decision of including the Philippines in the MCC’s list of funding-eligible countries, saying the MCC decision “represents a vote of confidence in the Philippines…”

This, as the decision of the MCC Board of Directors was “based on a rigorous assessment of independent indicators that measure the country’s performance in good governance, investments in its people, and adoption of policies that encourage economic freedom.”

In thanking the MCC, the President enthused that the funding agency’s decision “reflects the government’s progress in the areas of ruling justly, spending on health and education, and promotion of sound fiscal and business-friendly policies.”

The Chief Executive also expressed to the MCC “our commitment to continued governance and economic reforms to reduce poverty and improve the lives of our people.”

“I am now instructing (Finance Secretary Margarito) Gary Teves to lead a team to work closely with the Office of the President, other relevant government agencies, citizens, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private sector representatives for the preparation and submission to the MCC of a grant proposal for a five-year program to reduce poverty through sustainable growth,” the President said.

Before naming Teves to head the MCC grant-proposal team, the President thanked the Finance Secretary and his team for their successful efforts in engaging with the MCC.

“The DOF (Department of Finance) has achieved a lot of success in its work to combat corruption and improve revenue collection through various programs such as the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE), Run After The Smugglers (RATS), and Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS).”

The President also recognized the contribution of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) “in this recent achievement with the MCC.”

“Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has shown a solid track record in going after corrupt officials while (DBM) Secretary Nonoy Andaya has made the government’s procurement reform program a world-class model,” the President said.

She enthused in her statement that “the MCC Board noted in particular the Philippines’ effective implementation of the current smaller-scale Threshold Program that focuses on helping curb corruption through improved tax and customs administration and strengthening of the Ombudsman’s Office.”

The MCC based in Washington, DC had earlier issued its own press release dated March 11 (Tuesday) announcing the MCC Board’s selection of the Philippines as “Compact Eligible.”

“The Millennium Challenge Corporation Board of Directors announced today at the conclusion of its March Board Meeting that the Philippines has been selected as eligible to apply for an MCC compact,” said the MCC as it explained that “countries selected as eligible for a large-scale grant, or compact, have the opportunity to submit a proposal for (a) five-year program to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth.”

“Congratulations to the Government of the Philippines for its demonstrated commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of its people,” said MCC CEO Ambassador John Danilovich.

Upon learning of the MCC decision as contained in the MCC press release, President Arroyo had exclaimed, thus:

“This is a great day for the Philippines and the action by the MCC offers a remarkable validation of the efforts of our government and nation to invest in our people, fight corruption and encourage economic freedom.

“These are the hallmarks of my Administration, and I am absolutely thrilled to be so recognized for consideration by this prestigious and serious-minded corporation of the US government.”

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Speech during her meeting with Students and Teachers on Education Budget
Rizal Hall, Malacanang
March 13, 2008

• Maraming salamat sa inyong pagdalaw sa Malacanang. Kapuri-puri ang inyong malasakit sa bansa. Malaking inspirasyon kayo sa ating pamamahala.

• Inihalal ninyo ako at mga mga mambabatas para magtrabaho para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Thank you for expressing your weariness of the politics of division and despair. Salamat sa inyong pahayag na gusto ninyong gumawa kami ng mahihirap ngunit wastong desisyon para sa ekonomiya, labanan ang kahirapan, at panatiliin ang ating bansang payapa at maunlad.

• Ito ang nasa isip ko nang nilagdaan ko noong Martes ang pinakamalaking budget na naipasa sa kasaysayan ng Kongreso – P1.2 trillion para sa 2008. Isusulong nitong pondo ang tatlong E – economiya, edukasyon at environment – ang mga programang pinakamahalaga upang gumanda ang ating buhay.

• Ipinamamalas ng ating budget ang ating pagkilos at prayoridad sa patakaran para mamuhunan sa ating taong bayan.

• Hindi ba, gusto ng bawat Pilipino ang mabuting trabaho, pagkain sa mesa, mabuting edukasyon para sa mga anak, at maaliwalas at dalisay na kapaligiran na may sariwang hangin, malinis na tubig at mayamang lupa.

• Siguro nakalimutan na ng ibang tao at mga pulitiko, ngunit sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa isang henerasyon, nagkaroon tayo ng badyet at ekonomiya na nagbibigay ng revenue na pwedeng gastusin sa pagpapaganda at paga-angat ng buhay ng Pilipino. Noong araw, sapat lang ang budget para sa sweldo, interes sa utang at IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) sa mga pamahalaang lokal. Noong araw, kailangang umutang pa para magtayo ng imprastraktura. Ngayon hindi na. Pwede na tayong gumastos sa imprastraktura at social services sa sarili nating kakayahan at hindi na sa utang.

• Itong tinatawag nating “Social Payback” ay nagsimula noon pang isang taon nang simulan nating lakihan ang pondong panggastos para sa mga imprastraktura at sa mga pangunahing serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan, kasama na dito ang edukasyon.

• Education, in particular, is taking a front seat in our budget this year. Hindi ba, wala nang ibang mas importante para sa mga Pilipino ngayon kundi ang edukasyon? Ang oportunidad na magkaroon ng kalidad na edukasyon ang siyang paraan para sa inyong mga kabataan na nabibilang sa susunod na henerasyon na makalaya sa kahirapan at mamuhay ng maginhawa.

• Education is a core value of Philippine society and family life. Edukasyon ang pinakatanging hiyas na pamana ng bawat magulang, kuya, ate, tiyo o tiya sa kanyang anak, kapatid o pamangkin. Upang makatapos ang kapamilya, magpupuyat sa trabaho of mangingibang-bansa ang Pilipino, titipirin ang pananghalian, mamumulot ng basura, at iba pang sakripisyo, alang-alang sa ina-asam na diploma. Iyan ang halaga ng pag-aaral.

• Sapagkat pinakamahalaga ang edukasyon para sa pamilyang Pilipino, sinisikap ng pamahalaan na ilaan ang pinakamalaking pondo ng bansa sa edukasyon.

• Ngayon, dahil sa ating mga reporma sa buwis, mas malaki na ang alokasyon sa mga programang panlipunan kaysa sa pambayad sa utang. Umaabot halos dalawandaang bilyong piso ang sa edukasyon. Ito rin ang pinakamalaking bahagi ng budget na napunta sa edukasyon sa mahabang panahon.

• Tatanggap ng malaking pondo para sa edukasyon ang Department of Education (DepEd) na may P150 bilyon para sa elementarya at high school, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), state universities and colleges, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

• Paiiralin ng DepEd ang pre-school sa dalawang bilyong piso. Unti-unti gagawing pre-school ang mga day care centers.

• Tatlo’t kahalating milyong maralitang mag-aaral sa pre-school ang tatanggap ng bigas sa ilalim ng Food for School Program.

• Mga P6 bilyon ang nakalaan sa 11,000 na silid-aralan.

• Mamamahagi ng lampas 35 milyong libro.

• Kasama rin sa budget ang pag-hire ng sampung libong karagdagang mga teacher.

• May P1 bilyon para sa teacher training sa Math, Science at English.

• At may probisyong pantaas ng sweldo, baka sa gitna ng taon.

• Mahigit 60,000 na estudyante sa buong bansa ang bibigyan ng tulong upang makapag-aral sa pribadong high school sa ilalim ng Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GATSPE) Education Service Contracting.

• Itataas ang high school voucher sa National Capital Region (NCR) sa P10,000 mula P5,000.

• Bibili ng halos sanlibong computer laboratories sa high school.

• Tatlong bilyong piso para sa pagbibigay ng mas maraming vocational training, kasama ang isang bilyong pisong scholarship para sa 100,000 na mahihirap at P350 milyon para mag-training para sa mga business process outsourcing (BPO) at call center.

• Strengthening the ROTC program consistent with the doctrine of a citizen’s army enshrined in the Constitution.

• College scholarships na nagkakahalaga ng P700 million, kasama ang P300 million sa science.

• Masters at doctorate sa Science at Engineering na higit P1 billion.

• Marami na tayong nagawa, marami pang nalalabing kailangang gawin. Balak nating magtrabahong masipag sa susunod na dalawang taon hanggang sa araw na matapos ang aking termino sa 2010, upang ipatupad ang ating Philippine Reform Agenda. Kailangang sumulong tayo at susulong tayo sa dagdag pang mga reporma. Ipaglalaban natin ang Ekonomiya, Edukasyon at ang Environment.

• Overall, we remain bullish on our country, optimistic about our future and deeply committed to being a force for good. Salamat na narito kayo ngayon. Thank you for demonstrating your commitment to our nation’s stability and to investing in the people.

• “Isulong ang Karunungan — Panlaban sa Kahirapan.”

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President underscores importance of education in fight against poverty

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo underscored today the important role quality education plays in liberating the next generation from poverty and promoting a life of hope, optimism and prosperity.

Thus, the President said in her message before some 1,000 students and youth who took “a unity walk” to Malacanang this afternoon to “express their weariness of politics of division and despair.”

She said the government has placed education on its top priority list and this could be gleaned from the P1.227 trillion 2008 national budget that she signed into law last Tuesday.

“Education, in particular, is taking a front seat in our budget this year,” the President said as she informed the students and youth that this year’s budget invests in the three E’s---Economy, Education and Environment -- “the essential building blocks of our nation.”

The President said the “social payback” of an improved economy started last year when budget allocation for infrastructure and social services increased due to improved revenue collections as a result of the tough economic and fiscal reforms implemented by her administration.

“And, education is included in this social payback…because no other issue is more important to Filipinos now than education. The opportunity to avail of quality education affords you, the youth, who belong to the next generation, to live a prosperous life,” the President said in Filipino.

And, since “education is a core value of the Philippine society and family life” that every parent is willing to make sacrifices to be able to send their children to school and get a college diploma, the President said the government has allotted some P200 billion for education this year.

“This is the biggest part of the budget that was allotted to education,” the President said to the cheers of the students and youth who benefited from the many programs and projects on education, that include high school scholarships, skills/vocational training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among many more.

The President said the more than P200-billion budget for education allows the government to invest in the following areas:

--Day Care Centers would slowly be converted to pre–schools;

--Some 30.5 million poor pupils in pre-school will receive rice under the Food-for-School Program;

--P6 billion is allotted for 11,000 new classrooms;

-- Some 35.5 million new textbooks would be procured;

--The hiring of some 10,000 new teachers;

--P1 billion is allotted for teacher training in Math, Science and English;

--A provision for salary increase for teachers that would be realized in the middle of the coming school year;

--More than 60,000 students nationwide would be awarded GASTPE (Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education) scholarships under the Education Service Contracting program;

--Increase in the value of high school voucher from P5,000 to P10,000;

--The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) would procure some 1,000 computer laboratories for public schools;

--P3 billion, including some P350 million for Business Process Outsourcing training and P1 billion worth of scholarships for the poor, is allocated for vocational training;

--P700 million, including P300 million for science, is allotted for college scholarships; and,

--More than P1 billion for post-graduate studies (masteral and doctoral degrees).

“We have accomplished much but there is much more to be done. We plan on working hard the next two years until the day my term ends in 2010 to fulfill our Philippine Reform Agenda. We must and we will press forward with more reforms. We will fight for the Economy, Education, and the Environment,” the President said.

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Some 1,000 youth and student leaders take “unity walk” for PGMA

Some 1,000 representatives of youth and student organizations rallied today behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration as they lauded her programs and projects on education that have benefited hundreds of thousands of youth and students nationwide.

The youth and student organization representatives visited the President in Malacanang early this afternoon to express their weariness of the politics of division and despair.

Streamers and placards echoing the Arroyo administration’s thrust on eradicating poverty through quality education---“Isulong and Karunungan---Panlaban sa Kahirapan” adorned the Palace’s courtyard and the Rizal Hall, where students and teachers alike converged.

Before a short program at the Rizal Hall, the President and the students and youth leaders had a “Unity Walk” to symbolize their unwavering support for the Chief Executive and her policies and programs on education.

In her brief message, the President thanked the students and youth “for visiting me in Malacanang. Your love for your country deserves much admiration.”

“You are a big inspiration to our government,” she said.

“Thank you for expressing your weariness of the politics of division and despair. …thank you for being here. Thank you for demonstrating your commitment to our nation’s stability and investing in the people,” the President added.

The students and youth include those who have availed themselves of scholarships from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), high school education vouchers, Sangguniang Kabataan, National Youth Commission, Youth Stop for Peace, Youth Student Power for Peace, Samahang Ilokano, and numerous university organizations that included those from the Philippine College of Criminology.

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13 MARCH 2008		.