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| 27 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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| 27 MARCH 2008 | . | |
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PGMA brings ‘Serbisyo Muna Caravan’ to Surigao Del Norte tomorrow |
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MALIMONO, Surigao del Norte—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is arriving
here on Friday (March 28) to spearhead the delivery of her administration’s
enhanced social services to this province as part of her commitment to
uplift the welfare of the Filipino people. The Serbisyo Muna Caravan is the Arroyo administration’s service and goods-laden assistance program that provides livelihood, health and financial support to the poorest families in the country. The President, who is expected to arrive at 10 a.m. at the Malimono Elementary School, will be welcomed by Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Ace Barbers and Malimono Mayor Teodoro Sinaca Jr., among others. She will initially award 20 "Buntis Kits" containing multivitamins and other health items for pregnant women of Malimono town, 25 scholarship certificates and 25 "Galing Mekaniko" and "Galing Masahista" kits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). She will also distribute 619 PhilHealth cards to qualified local residents as well as assorted vegetable seeds and 20 bags of hybrid rice seeds from the Department of Agriculture (DA) in support of her hunger mitigation program. The Chief Executive will likewise turn over to the local government unit a check amounting to P147,000 from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in support of the province's livelihood program. During the same occasion, loan assistance of P1,400 per month from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be handed out by the President to 10 beneficiaries under the "Ahon Pamilya" program. She will also distribute certificates of acceptance from the National Food Authority (NFA) for 400 sacks of rice for the municipal government’s "Day Care Foods for School" program. The President will also lead the ceremonial distribution of the initial 20 packs out of the 5,000 food packs containing four kilos of rice, sardines and noodles to the local residents. She will be assisted by Mayor Sinaca, Governor Barbers and Congressmen Francisco Matugas and Guillermo Romarate Jr. |
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| President lauds commitment of new police academy grads to democracy |
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SILANG, Cavite - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
expressed today her appreciation for the commitment of the 154 new graduates
of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Oman Silang Class of 2008
to protect democracy and the welfare of the Filipino people. “Gaya ng sinabi ng inyong valedictorian sinanay kayo sa PNPA upang manguna sa pagsugpo ng krimen at rebelyon. At bagamat hindi kayo makakasalita sa pulitika magandang halimbawa (kayo) ng bagong sibol na kapulisang mangangalaga sa kaligtasan at katahimikan ng ating bansa,” the President said in her speech during the 29th commencement exercises of the PNPA at Camp Gen. Mariano N. Castaneda in Silang, Cavite this morning. She reminded the batchmates of Oman Silang 2008 to be faithful in carrying out their job by keeping the peace, order, and stability of the country. For its part, her administration will concentrate on reforming the economy during the remainder of her term, she added. The President stressed that her administration will exert all efforts to speed up the modernization of the police force while remaining focused on economic reforms while the police organization ensures the peace, order and stability for the country. She pointed out that several reforms were now in place in the PNP, ranging from the increase in the salary of police personnel to the implementation of housing projects for members of the force and their families to beefing up the PNP equipment and capability to fight criminals and insurgents. Informed that the PNPA has an available lot at its premises, the President ordered Vice President and Housing Czar Noli de Castro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, PNP Director General Avelino Razon and PNPA Director Danilo Abarzosa to study the possibility of developing the untilled lots as a joint mass housing for PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel. In his valedictory address, Oman-Silang Class valedictorian Cadet Clent Ven Dulfo Inciso assured the President that this year’s PNPA graduates will “remain strong, loyal and brave to protect our democracy for the welfare of the Filipino people and defend the Republic.” He also urged his mistah to show the people that “we are worthy to be called public servants and defenders of democracy.” “To the Filipino people, I would like to inform you that we are not only here to give you light in the middle of darkness brought about by corruption, nor only here to untangle the chain of violence, criminality and injustice, but most of all we are here to give you hope, a hope which was once lost,” Inciso said in his three-minute valedictory address. The President was assisted by Secretary Puno, PNPA Director Abarzosa and Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) president Dr. Margarita Cojuangco in presenting the diplomas, awards of distinction, co-curricular awards and the Kampilan (Saber) to the new graduates. Inciso, a native of Southern Leyte, received from the President the Presidential Kampilan for overall excellence in academic and non-academic subjects and topping the roll of Bachelor of Science in Public Safety (BSPS) Class 2008. Upon graduation, he was inducted into the PNP as a police inspector. The second placer, Cdt. Henriz Parcon Bancolete of Bacolod City, was awarded the Vice Presidential Kampilan by Vice President De Castro, while the third placer and recipient of the chairperson, Cdt. Rogelio Lutero Pacificador Jr. of Badiangan, Iloilo, received the Chairperson, PPSC Board of Trustees Kampilan award. Other cadets in the top 10 were 4th placer Cdt Leo Torrejos Lagrono of Inabanga, Bohol; 5th, Hartzel Peter Rosales Billedo of Zamboanga City; 6th, Cdt Eunil Balili Avergonzado of Cebu City; 7th, Cdt Jul Mohammad Leonos Jamiri of Tagum City; 8th, Cdt Nestor Luriz Bulatao Jr. of San Fernando City, Pampanga; 9th, Cdt Tara Leah Campugan Young of Digos City and Cdt Ronald Gonzales Estilles Jr. of Taguig City; and 10th, Cdt Lynelle Valenzuela Macatiag of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecjia. |
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| PGMA orders DPWH & PNP to clear the way for the rice delivery caravans in South |
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BUTUAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered
today the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine
National Police (PNP) to ensure the free flow of rice caravans from farm to
market by fixing potholed roads and ridding the highways of “kotong” cops. The President issued the order as she inspected rice stockpiles at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse here to Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde whom she said would disseminate her directives to the concerned agencies. "I'd like to issue these instructions through the PMS for it to convey to the DPWH for the immediate repair of the rain-damaged sections of the Surigao-Davao road, specifically the stretch from Claver, Surigao del Norte to Carrascal, Surigao del Sur," the President said. She said this would ensure that "rice can get out of the graneries in Cantilan, Madrid and the Tago Valley in Surigao del Sur" and be delivered to families who consider rice an important staple in their diet. The President pointed out that the purported rice shortage is probably caused only by the "transportation bottlenecks." "To funnel rice from production areas to the market, we must clear road and port chokepoints because they not only make rice more expensive but harder to deliver as well," the President said. "Our rice supply chain must work like a seamless conveyor belt," she added. To ensure that rice is delivered to consumers "free from harm," the President instructed the PMS to talk to the PNP Chief to rid the highways of "kotong cops who pounce on this vital commodity." The President pointed out that her directive did not necessarily mean the cessation of the PNP's checkpoint program which she said has "won praises from the motoring public for its effectiveness in deterring crime." "Checkpoints are meant to deter criminals and not to detain food," the President said. |
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| Thankful Batangueños vow “strong support” for PGMA |
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BATANGAS CITY--The provincial government of Batangas has vowed its strong
support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as it thanked the “untiring”
Chief Executive through a Provincial Board Resolution of Support for all the
graces that the province has so far received from the Arroyo administration.
The President was informed about the provincial resolution strongly supporting her after she had alighted from a bus that took her on a windshield inspection tour Wednesday (March 26) of the newly paved 20-kilometer portion of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) that links the Tambo interchange in Lipa City with the Balagtas interchange in Batangas City. Sponsored by Batangas Vice Gov. Antonio “Marc” Leviste II and co-sponsored by all 12 provincial board members, the resolution dated March 24 thanked the President “for extending numerous projects and programs to Batanguenos and the province of Batangas.” “Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been constantly developing the foundation for a robust and more progressive Philippines (and) has effectively widened the various socio-economic programs to increase growth and cut poverty,” stressed the Provincial Board’s Resolution of Support that was approved by Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto. Recalling that President Arroyo had unveiled in her 2006 State-of-the- Nation Address (SONA) “her programs to upgrade all ways of transportation such as roads, bridges, port services and railways, among others, which are aimed at establishing economic ‘super regions’ to goad the development of our nation,” the Batangas leaders then provided a litany of what Batangas had so far obtained from the President’s super regions vision: “As a result thereof (super regions), the Western Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) Nautical Highway in Batangas City that connects Southern Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao is a big success; “The Calatagan-Lubang Port has been completed; several bridges under the President’s Bridges Programs have been constructed all over Batangas province; “The modernization program of the International Port of Batangas was turned over and inspected by the President last January 26, 2008; “The road-widening project of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the construction of its extension up to Sto. Tomas, Batangas is ongoing; “The realization of the development of a ‘cyber corridor’ to attract investments for the call center and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors has been achieved; and “The continuation of the STAR from Lipa City to Batangas City is now open for public use.” The resolution further dubbed as “clear, achievable and within reach” the President’s “vision and promise… for the so-called ‘Metro Luzon Beltway’ which includes the Province of Batangas and the rest of Region IV into a globally competitive urban economic and tourism hub through infrastructure developments.” “The Provincial Government and Provincial Board of Batangas (are) optimistic that the priority and objective of the President’s economic plan is to continuously harness together the major economic provinces and regions such as Batangas and Southern Tagalog, respectively, and make it larger than the sum of its parts, giving our kababayans the much-needed opportunities for progress,” added the resolution which concluded, thus: “The President (is) worthy of the gratitude and support of our kababayans for her untiring and resolute efforts to improve the quality of life of our people through strengthened partnerships, strong leadership, and excellent economic policies. “As duly-elected representatives, we renew our confidence in the Arroyo administration, and we encourage the Filipino people to unite for the achievement of a common vision, and uphold the rule of law in order for our government to move on and realize a peaceful, progressive and stable nation through genuine reconciliation.” The President was joined in her bus ride cum drive-through inspection by Batangas officials led by Governor Santos-Recto, Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and former Sen. Ralph Recto, among others. |
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| PGMA dismisses allegations of prejudice vs. non-PMA graduates in PNP promotions |
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SILANG, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dismissed today as
unfounded the allegations of systematic prejudice against non-Philippine
Military Academy (PMA) graduates in the promotion and assignment in the
Philippine National Police (PNP). In her speech at the 29th graduation exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) “Oman-Silang” Class of 2008 in Camp Gen. Mariano N. Castaneda in Silang, Cavite, the President said the appointment of Chief Supt. Danilo Abarzosa as the first director of the PNPA clearly showed that such charges were baseless. She was referring to a full-page advertisement in a Manila daily early this week which was posted by “concerned PNPA alumni” claiming, among other things, that PMA graduates enjoyed undue advantage over PNPA alumni in the promotion and assignments in the PNP. She said that Abarzosa, a non-PMA graduate, was a junior officer when she tapped him to head the Manila police, a highly-coveted position in the PNP hierarchy. The President also said that the country is now reaping the fruits of the economic reforms implemented by her administration, pointing out that 2007 was the best year of the Philippine economy in more than three decades. The economy posted a 7.3 percent growth last year on the back of the tough economic reforms instituted by her administration, notably the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT). Waivering on the economic reforms would have been costly for the country, the President said. “Our strengthened economic fortunes come-non-too-soon for there are clouds on the economic horizon that we must guard against. The global economy is facing significant challenges.” She said uncertainties in the global economy are putting strains on the working poor, including members of the police organization. High prices in the world market of commodities like rice and fuel will have an impact on the country, the President stressed. “We are a price sensitive nation. So we are working to soften the blow from the current global economic challenges to those working hardest to make it into the middle class,” including members of the police organization. The best thing the government can do in the short-term is to provide the relief urgently required by those in need, she said. As part of the steps being taken to ease the economic plight of police personnel and their families, the government is expanding its housing program for the PNP, the President said. Informed that the PNP housing project adjacent to the PNPA facility was stymied because of the unsettled land ownership issue between the PNP and the AFP, the President directed that the area be developed as a joint AFP-PNP housing project. She also said that under the 2008 national budget, P12 billion has been earmarked for the 10 percent increase starting July in the basic salary of civilian, military and uniformed personnel, including policemen. “For the remainder of my term until I step down in 2010, the best thing we can do is stay focused on further economic reforms while providing peace, order and stability. This is an assignment for the new graduates of the PNPA “Oman-Silang” Class 2008 – peace, order, and stability,” the President said. |
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| PGMA sends strong message to NFA rice profiteers and price manipulators |
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BUTUAN CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the National Food
Authority (NFA) today to immediately file criminal complaints against eight
government-accredited rice distributors here on charges of violating rules
and regulations on the pricing and sale of NFA rice. The President issued the directive to NFA-Butuan officer-in-charge Gil Pepito Pequeo who, together with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, joined the Chief Executive in inspecting the rice stockpiles at the NFA warehouse here this afternoon. After being informed that NFA-Butuan has no legal department to handle the filing of criminal charges against the eight alleged rice profiteers, the President instructed Yap to seek the legal services of the NFA central office in Manila for the filing of appropriate cases against the eight rice dealers based in Agusan del Norte and Butuan City. The President, Yap said, is sending a strong message to profiteers and unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of the “perceived rice shortage to jack up prices of the low-cost NFA rice and in turn deny our countrymen their Constitutional right to affordable but quality food items.” He added that aside from clamping down on these profiteers, the government, through the initiative of the President, has ordered the re-licensing of all NFA-accredited distributors and palay traders to weed out those groups or individuals involved in profiteering activities. This, he said, would also prevent those thinking of joining these nefarious activities to change their minds and stay on the path of truth and honest business practices. He called on NFA officials to take the challenge of ensuring the sanctity of their rice stocks to show that they, as the lead agency on food administration and security, are up to the task of fulfilling their mandate. "I am making a call to the NFA that this is a great opportunity for them to shine. The NFA must ensure that it can prudently manage its rice stocks. If not, people are going to question what NFA is there for," Yap said. "I have worked with NFA before and I am convinced that they can do a great job in distributing all of these stocks," he added. |
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| PGMA directs De Castro to carry out mass housing project for AFP/PNP men |
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SILANG, Cavite – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed today Vice
President and Housing Czar Noli de Castro to spearhead the speedy study of
the proposed joint mass housing project for the Philippine National Police
(PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel. The President issued the directive in her speech during the 29th commencement exercises of the Oman Silang Class 2008 of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) at Camp General Mariano N. Castaneda here this morning. The President told the 154 new policemen that her administration has already started its housing projects for the uniformed personnel of the PNP and the AFP. “Dahil hindi natin gustong makita ang mga pulis na nakatira sa squatter area katabi pa ng mga hatchet men ng mga sindikato,” the President said as she revealed that Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) president Margarita R. Cojuangco informed her of a vacant lot owned by the PNPA outside of the academy. Vice President De Castro informed the President that his office is still waiting for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the PNP and AFP because the vacant lot intended for the joint mass housing project was inherited by the PNP from the former Philippine Constabulary, an attached agency of the AFP. “Eh sabi ko kesa maghintay pa tayo ng red tape nung MOA, di pagbigyan na natin, gawin nating joint housing for the AFP and the PNP itong lupa sa likod at sa tabi (ng academy),” the President said. The housing projects, she said, are part of the 2008 budget that allocates P12 billion for a 10 percent increase in the basic salary of civilian, military and police uniformed personnel starting July this year. As part of the PNP modernization program, the President said that she ordered PNP Director General Avelino Razon to speed up the purchase of 33 helicopters, including six which are set to arrive this year, and patrol craft for the Maritime Command. The PNP is also scheduled to modernize its weaponry to get even with members of crime syndicates, like the acquisition of night vision equipment; upgrading of intelligence capabilities as well as its forensic and investigative crime laboratory in its drive against terrorism. |
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