OVP BALITA

PNOY VISITS VP

President Benigno S. Aquino III comments on Rodolfo Ragodons mural on the evolution of Filipino costumes, one of several paintings at the Coconut Palace, during a tour given by Vice President Jejomar C. Binay. The President dropped by Binays office before he proceeded to the nearby Sofitel Hotel for the 2nd Abu Dhabi Dialogue. More photos on page 8.

BETTER GOVERNANCE DRIVING GROWTH IN PHL - VP BINAY

ice President Jejomar C. Binay said that the Philippines continues to make significant strides in development through better governance and partnerships.
With President Aquino at the helm, significant strides continue to be made in our journey towards development, the Vice President said during the opening of the Philippine Corporate and Investment Pavilion (PCI Pavilion) at the SMX Convention Center. Our admirable progress as noted by Transparency International, the World Economic Forum and even the U.S. Department of State, spurs us to widen the scope of our efforts and to engage more stakeholders so as to secure endurance and sustainability, Binay added. Binay outlined some of the progress in key industries that drive inclusive growth, and mentioned the countrys drive to reduce corruption and promote transparency through partnerships with the ADB and civil society organizations. He said the Philippines remains among the worlds top 10 exporters of tropical fruit like mangoes, bananas, and pineapples, and is currently strengthening the growth of more high-value crops. The Vice President added that the country is also the 8th largest fish producer in the world. Binay further said that the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry is rising faster than any other industry. We are now No. 1 in voice, No. 2 in non-voice services and we have yet to see this sunrise industry reach midday. By 2016 we hope to register $25 billion US dollars in revenues and provide employment to 1.3 million people, with other industries also benefiting from this growth, he said. The PCI Pavilion is one of the event highlights of the Philippine hosting of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Vice President invited delegates to visit key tourist spots in the country and see for themselves why it is more fun in the Philippines. The Underground River in Palawan, one of the Worlds New 7 Wonders of Nature, is something you should not miss. Those who yearn for the sea may wish to feel the sugar white sands of Boracay beneath their feet. And for those who prefer to ride waves rather than cause them, our surfing capital of Siargao does not disappoint

VP BINAY GIVES WHEELCHAIRS IN ANTIQUE. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay awards wheelchairs to three residents of Valderrama, Antique during his visit to the municipality. Binay allotted P12 million of the first tranche of his 2012 Priority Development Assistance Fund for health services, which include the provision of medical equipment such as wheelchairs, stethoscopes and sphygmamometers to select towns. While Binay was in Western Visayas, his office also conducted medical and dental missions in Dao, Dumarao and Mambusao, Capiz; Banga, Numancia and Nabas, Aklan; and Valderrama, Bugasong and Hamtic, Antique.

the adventurous, he said. Your options are outnumbered only by the smiles of the Filipinos who wish to make your visit a valued one, he said, Our beloved country is often called the Pearl of the Orient but we believe it is so much more. In your brief stay in the Philippines, we invite you to see how several brilliant facets of the same gem, and witness how an emerging economy intends to soar to greater heights, he concluded.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay leads the inauguration of the Disiplina Village Phase I, along with San Miguel Brewery, Inc. President Robert N. Huang and Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian. The Disiplina Village Phase I will house 368 families who were displaced by typhoon Ondoy in September 2009.

OVP BALITA

VP BINAY:

WB to aid PHL meet housing goals

he World Bank will be providing technical and financial assistance to help the Philippines meet its housing targets, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said.
According to the Vice President, the businessmen are attracted by the broad business opportunities and a business environment that encourages growth. They gladly welcome the new policy directions set by the administration of President Aquino promoting transparency and a level playing field, he said. Binay said the revival of the Malaysian-Philippines Business Council, which includes some of the big names in Malaysian business, and the successful holding of the Philippines-Malaysia Investment Partnership Forum where he was the keynote speaker showed Malaysias excitement and enthusiasm about investing in the Philippines. While in Kuala Lumpur, the Vice President witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the MTD group of Malaysia, the Isabela Power Corporation and Greenpower Resources Corporation for the construction of nine mini-hydro power plants in Isabela with a cost of US$240 million. These power plants are expected to generate and add about 80 megawatts to Luzons electric power grid, and will be implemented within a period of three years, he said. In his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Razak, Binay said the strong political interests between Malaysia and the Philippines can only grow stronger in the years ahead. Our partnership is not only bilateral but also regional and through ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA we have strong institutions that offer maximum opportunities for political and economic cooperation, he said. In 2011, Malaysia ranked as the Philippines 9th largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to US$3.83 billion. In the same year, Malaysia stood as the Philippines 11th largest export market, with exports valued at US$1.396 billion; and the 8th largest import market, with imports valued at US$2.438 billion. From 2005 to 2010, Malaysian investments in the Philippines reached US$203.03 million. In his speech during the Investment Forum, the Vice President said the Philippines has certainly become an attractive site for foreign investment. I encouraged the World Bank to consider extending both technical assistance and financial assistance to the Philippines, namely in the implementation of our program to build sustainable housing communities, Binay said. I am glad to announce that the World Bank has acted positively on our requests and that steps will be taken to see to their immediate implementation, he added. Binay attended the 5th Global Housing Finance Conference in Washington D.C. and met with World Bank Executive Director Rogerio Studart. The housing czar sought the World Banks assistance in building housing communities in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, North Triangle in Quezon City, San Miguel New Town, and Welfareville in Mandaluyong. We also sought technical assistance in reforming our loan program for the homeless poor, and the formulation of a policy to encourage rural banks to open a special window on housing and micro finance, he said. Earlier, Binay secured the interest of the Malaysian business community into exploring more investment opportunities in the Philippines, specifically in agriculture and agribusiness, housing, finance, tourism and infrastructure. Binay, chairman of the Philippines Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), also invited Malaysian businessmen to invest in housing development and mass housing projects that would help government build 3.6 million units in the next few years. This is one business opportunity where the rewards are high, not necessarily in terms of financial returns alone but above all in terms of the physical satisfaction of having helped provide homes for millions and transformed the landscape across the nation, he said. The Vice President was in Malaysia from May 27 to 29 as head of an official delegation that included 35 business leaders. His visit was the first high-level visit to Malaysia in five years. The Malaysian business community, to use their own words, is very excited about the Philippines, he said.

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers concerns Jejomar C. Binay lets the repatriated three-year-old boy talk with his mother who is now working in Dubai. The Vice President helped bring home the child after his mother, Rosemarie Solon, requested for assistance. Solon left her son with her friends in Kuwait when she got deported last year for expired working visa. Binay also arranged for the plane tickets of the boy and his grandmother, who fetched him at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, so they could go home to Bohol.

Binay awards land titles in Palawan

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay led the distribution of 300 land titles to several home owner associations in Puerto Princesa City. Binay, who chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said 120 of the 300 land titles distributed are under the Community Mortgage Program (CMP) of the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC). He noted that the remaining land titles are distributed to 140 families after they settled their accounts with different housing agencies. Kami po sa pamahalaan ay gumagawa ng paraan upang matupad ang pangarap na ito sa pamamagitan ng aming mga programang pabahay. Pero sa inyo pa rin nakasalalay ang tunay na katuparan ng pangarap na ito, Binay said. Sa ilalim ng mga proyektong pabahay ng National Housing Authority (NHA), may kabuuang halaga na tatlumpung milyong piso ang mga proyektong ito na nakatulong sa halos walong daang pamilya, he added. The Vice President also said that another 300 land titles are being processed by the NHA for the beneficiaries of Hacienda de Panacan under Presidential Decree No. 574. Di pa man ninyo hawak ang mga titulo, binabati ko na kayosa inyong matagumpay na pagtupad ng tungkulin sa buwanang amortisasyon. At umasa po kayo na bibilisan pa namin ang pag-ayos ng ilan pang requirements upang mai-release na ng Register of Deeds ang inyong mga titulo, he said. Binay lauded the province of Palawan for being one of the most active local government units in implementing CMPs. Citing figures from the SHFC, he said over 7,600 families have already benefited from CMPs in Palawan. He also cited the high collection efficiency rate of the province. Marami po kasi tayong mga kababayan na nagkaroon ng sariling lupat bahay pero hindi binigyang halaga ito. Ang iba, hindi nagbabayad ngunit kapag pinaalis mo ay sobrang sama na ng tingin sa pamahalaan. Ang iba naman hindi na nga nagbabayad, ipinagbili pa sa iba ang kanilang rights, he said. Simula sa araw na ito, hindi na kayo tatawaging mga informal settler o squatter. Kayo ay tunay nang mga landowner, he added.

OVP BALITA

3 Filipinos spared from death penalty in Sabbah

Kuala Lumpur Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has announced that three Filipinos have been spared the death penalty in Sabah after receiving pardons from the Malaysian government. The Philippine embassy in Malaysia identified the three as Basir Omar, Jaliman Salleh and Aldipal Hadani. In his talk with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifah Aman, Binay, Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers concerns, thanked the Malaysian government for granting the pardons. We sincerely appreciate the grant of pardon and see it as further validation of the strong ties between the Philippines and Malaysia, he said. In January this year, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya called on Sabah Governor and Pardons Board Chairman Tun Datuk Seri Panglima, and requested for his intervention to commute the death sentences of six Filipinos, including the three. The Pardons Board handed down on May 22 a decision commuting the death sentence of Omar to 13 years and 7 months. The new sentence will commence its counting from the date of pardon. Meanwhile, the death sentences for Salleh and Hadani were reduced to 15 years imprisonment in a decision rendered on May 14 in Kota Kinabalu. The two were arrested on July 8, 2008 in Kota Kinabalu when police found 867.1 grams of cannabis in their bags, and were sentenced to death by the Sabah High Court on June 25, 2010. The Vice President cautioned Filipinos in Malaysia not to be lured by criminal syndicates into becoming drug mules or to engage in the illegal drug trade.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay welcomes Alfredo Salmos, the OFW who survived an accidental electrocution in 2010 in Saudi Arabia, at the Coconut Palace.

Alfredo Salmos comes home, family thanks VP Binay

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay announced that Alfredo Salmos, the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia who was electrocuted in 2010, is finally home. Salmos arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 via Saudi Air flight SV 872 from Jeddah. Ang kanyang pag-uwi ay bunga ng pagtutulungan ng mga ahensiya ng ating pamahalaan, ng mga non-governmental organizations, at ng mga kababayan natin na nasa Saudi Arabia na kumupkop at tumulong kay Alfredo, Binay said. Ito ay patunay na marami tayong magagawa kung tayong lahat ay nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan, he added. After Salmos arrival, Binay met with Salmos and his family at the Coconut palace. He was accompanied by his siblings Epifania Reem Salmos Colina and Junny Velasco Salmos. We are very greatful that after two years in the Middle East nakauwi na rin ang kapatid namin. Maraming salamat sa ating pamahalaan, sa mga NGOs at lalo na sa ating mga kababayan na nagpost sa FB para matutukan ang kaso ng kapatid ko, Colina said. Pinapakita lang nito na buhay pa ang bayanihan spirit sa ating bansa. Na di lang gobyerno, pati mga ordinaryong tao ay may kakayahang tumulong sa ating mga OFWs, she added. Binay, the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, said Salmos repatriation was delayed because of a lack of a final exit clearance from his employer, and a police clearance in connection with his involvement in a car accident a decade ago. He said he has been working with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, and the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to bring

a concerted effort in asking the Saudi government to grant Salmos exit. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat ng mga tumulong para makauwi si Alfred - sa mga nagpost sa Facebook, sa mga taga-media, sa NGOs katulad ng Patnubay Riyadh at Powers of Prayers, at mga OFW Advocates sa Saudi Arabia, ang ating Philippine Consulate sa Jeddah, ang DFA at ang OWWA, Binay said. Dito naman sa Pilipinas, makakaasa kayo na magkakaroon din ng bayanihan sa pagtulong kay Mang Fred at sa kanyang pamilya na makabangong muli. Nariyan ang Ople Center at ang Office of the Vice President at iba pang mga pribadong samahan, he added. The 52-year-old Salmos, a native of Nueva Ecija, has been unemployed since his accident. He was in a coma for a month and is now still recuperating from his injuries, which have left him severely scarred.

The government remains committed to make overseas employment a question of choice rather than a matter of necessity, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said during the observance of the 17th Migrant Workers Day. At the same time, Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns, said government officials are obligated to ensure that our overseas workers enjoy adequate protection and responsive service from the concerned government agencies and offices that they rightly deserve. The Vice President said OFWs make

Govt committed to make overseas employment choice rather than necessity

up 10 percent of the countrys population, making the Philippines one of the largest labor sending countries in Asia. He also thanked all migrant workers for their contributions to national development. Ang bawat Pilipino ay may kakayanang magtagumpay sa ano mang larangan, saan man siya naroroon. At sa natatanging araw na ito, ating ginugunita ang kabayanihan at sakripisyo ng ating milyung-milyong mga OFW at pinapasalamatan natin sila sa lahat ng kanilang iniambag sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa, he said. The Vice President also said OFWs have helped shape all the nations that host them. At the same time, they have become essential contributors in paving the way for our countrys economic growth. During his working visit to the United States, Binay previously met with a group of Filipino teachers and professionals who were victims of illegal recruitment by agencies based in the Philippines and the US. He assured them that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will review their complaints and file the necessary

cases against those behind their recruitment. He also visited the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Kuala Lumpur where he talked with 19 victims of illegal recruitment who arrived in Malaysia via Tawi-Tawi and Sandakan in Sabah. I encouraged them to execute affidavits against their recruiters so we can file the necessary charges upon our return to Manila. The embassy has assured me that all the 19 will be returning to the Philippines upon completion of the necessary exit documents, the Vice President said.

OVP BALITA

Speed up repatriations of OFWs VP Binay leads closure of in Jeddah, Dubai shelters

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has directed the Philippine embassies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, as well as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), to process immediately the documents of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) staying at government-run shelters so they can return to the Philippines at the soonest possible time. Binay recently met with OFWs housed at OWWA-maintained shelters in Jeddah and Dubai during his visit to the Middle East. Fourteen Filipino workers in Jeddah and 69 in Dubai asked the Vice President to help them return to the Philippines. I trust that the OWWA and the concerned embassies in Jeddah and Dubai will attend to the needs of our kababayans who are staying at the shelters, particularly in fast-tracking the review and processing of their cases so they can secure the needed exit visas, said Binay, who is also Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns. In Jeddah, the Vice President conveyed the Philippine governments condolences to Saudi King Abdullah on the passing of Crown Prince Nayef, and met the new Crown Prince Salman, who is also Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia. He visited OFWs at the OWWA-POLO shelter in Jeddah before proceeding to Dubai to meet with the Filipino community there. The Vice President also said that he expected the OWWA to pay for the tickets of those who are OWWA members and who have an outpass or a travel document, and get a refund from the concerned recruitment agencies. Binay also reiterated his call for Filipinos seeking employment abroad to go through the proper channels, and to heed government bans on countries such as Syria. The Vice President is scheduled to have an audience with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on June 26 at the Vatican, and will meet the Filipino community in Italy and other parts of Europe.

illegal recruitment agency

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay led the closure of a recruitment agency whose license was cancelled due to collection of excessive placement fees. Northwest Placement Inc., an intermediary for Best Western Golden Prairies Inn in Montana in the United States, was closed down in an operation conducted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). Ang operation na ito ay patunay lamang na seryoso po ang ating gobyerno sa pangangalaga sa ating mga kababayang nais magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, Binay said. Maging babala sana ito sa mga nagbabalak samantalahin ang ating mga kababayang nais maging OFW, he added. The agencys license was cancelled by the POEA last April 25, 2012 after it found the agency liable for violation of Section 2 (b), Rule I, Part VI of the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations. According to the POEA Rules and Regulations, charging or accepting directly or indirectly any amount greater than that specified in the schedule of allowable fees prescribed by law will be grounds for imposition of administrative sanctions. Binay said an investigation conducted by the US Embassy Fraud Prevention Unit confirmed reports that the local agency has been charging illegal placement fees to H-2B US visa applicants going to work in the United States. He added that after interviewing several H-2B Visa applicants who have been petitioned to work in the US, the US Embassy worked in close coordination with the OVP which led to the cancellation of the agencys license. However, the agency continued to conduct recruitment activities despite the cancellation of its license. This led to POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdacs issuance of a closure order against the agency.

VP BINAY MEETS MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay calls on Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak at the Prime Ministers office in Putrajaya. The meeting is the first high level, bilateral discussion between the two countries in five years. Binay said Malaysia supports the Philippines position that a resolution of the Panatag Shoal dispute with China should be based on the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He added that the Prime Minister also favors the participation of member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who are also claimants to the Spratlys in talks to resolve the Panatag dispute.

Filipino seafarers assured of support

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has reiterated the governments commitment to uphold and protect the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers. Bilang Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers Concerns, tinitiyak ko po sa inyo na ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Aquino ay hindi nakakaramdam ng pagod pagdating sa kapakanan ng ating mga tripolante, Binay said in a speech during the blessing and inauguration of the JSUAMOSUP Maritime Museum and Sports Complex in Malate, Manila. Binay cited different government programs like the Value Formation Seminars that help families deal with the absence or temporary separation from a family member. The program also offers psycho-social counseling and stress debriefing to help families whose members are stranded seafarers or victims of piracy and other sea disasters. Batid din po natin na ang sahod ng isang tripolante ay katas ng matinding pagod at paghihirap. Kaya naman upang tulungan silang mapalago ang kanilang inipon, nariyan ang ating Entrepreneurship Development Training program, Binay said. Dito po tinuturo ang mga mahahalagang kaalaman sa pagtayo at pagpapatakbo ng negosyo. Kasama na rito ang pagbalangkas ng isang maayos na business plan, he added. Binay also stressed the importance of the OFW Family Circle program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Through this program, the families and dependents of seafarers are organized to expand OWWAs reach in the delivery of its programs and services. He said these meetings also serve as a venue and opportunity for families to share experiences and draw lessons from experiences of others. This

provides invaluable support to families who need added strength to cope with their separation from a loved one at sea. Upang matiyak na ang ating mga programa ay laging angkop sa pangangailangan ng ating mga mandaragat, tuloy-tuloy po ang mga ating konsultasyon sa mga pamilya ng mga tripolante, kasama po ang kanilang mga anak. Sa sama-sama nating pagtimon, tiyak na magiging maayos ang ating paglalakbay, Binay added. Binay said that the Philippines has become the crewing capital of the world and at any given time, there are about 300,000 Filipinos at sea all over the world. According to the Vice President, Filipinos comprise 30% of the 1.25 million people working on ships. Our seafarers have lent so much strength to their homelands prosperity. They unfailingly contribute more than a billion dollars to our economy, Binay said. Last year alone, their remittances stood at an astonishing $3.8 billion and it appears these figures will rise even further in the coming years, he added.

OVP BALITA

Govt intensifies anti-trafficking ops, rescues 106 victims

Intensifying its anti-trafficking operations, the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) rescued some 106 persons from being smuggled overseas in three separate sting operations in June, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has said. Binay, Chairman Emeritus of the IACAT, said 85 of the would-be trafficking victims were rescued on June 4 by members of the Zamboanga SeaBased Anti-Trafficking Task Force (ZSBATTF) on board the ML Kadrina at the boundary of Zamboanga and Pilas Islands. This is one of the biggest hauls we had this year. We intercepted 150 persons who were on board. But only 65 were officially declared on the ships manifest. Binay said. What is worse was that the lives of the legitimate passengers were also put at risk because the boat was overloaded, he lamented. He added that the ZSBATTF started monitoring the boat in June 4 after receiving information that it will transport 40 would-be victims to Malaysia via Taganak. On the other hand, 10 persons were intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal III on June 12 after a commotion they caused caught the attention IACAT agents assigned at the airport. Upon investigation, we learned that the passengers wanted to lodge a complaint against their recruiter who processed their travel documents and promised them work in the United States, the Vice President said. We were also able to arrest the recruiter who was with the 10 when they were intercepted by IACAT operatives, he added. Meanwhile, a minor allegedly being forced to work as a stripper at bar in Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Marilou Bagsit and Marivic Capistrano share with Vice President Jejomar C. Binay the ordeal they suffered in the hands of Manila was rescued during the IACATs latest operation on June 19. convicted Singaporean human trafficker Lim Beng Huat in Malaysia. The Vice It was learned that the victim, along with another girl, was recruited in President, who also serves as the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, laud- Davao City by a gay person who promised them jobs in Metro Manila, ed the two for their help in convicting Lim, who was ordered jailed for six years said Binay. by a Malaysian Court. Bagsit and Capistrano were recruited to Malaysia in 2008. However, upon arriving in Manila, they learned the true nature of their They escaped from Lims townhouse on June 30, 2008 after suffering physical and verbal abuse from said recruiter. Lim is known to slap his victims and deprive job, that of a stripper and a Guest Relations Officer (GRO), he added. them of food and salaries especially when they are returned to his agency by Furthermore, a Malaysian national was apprehended at the Diosdado Malaysian employers. Some of his recruits end up as prostitutes against their will. Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) on June 7 who was waiting for his flight along with his fiance, whom the council believed to be a trafficking victim. The Vice President said that while the suspect and the victim was being brought NAIA Terminal I for investigation, IACAT operatives were able to convince the victim to file a case against the Malaysian. The suspect will be charged with violation of RA 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking Act of 2003. The United States Department of State earlier released this years Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report which put the Philippines in Tier 2 Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has said that the Philippines and Chinas status, the same tier it got in last years GTIP report. relationship has remained intact despite the focal points raised by poCountries belonging to this tier do not meet the minimum requirements litical concerns of the times, and stressed the need to maintain the two prescribed in the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protections Act, but are doing countries long standing friendship. significant efforts to do so. No friendship shall ever be perfect. There will be tests and challenges, We are taking the recommendations of the report seriously and are now and our shared path has seen and will continue to encounter twists and looking into how we can further intensify our anti-trafficking operations turns, Binay said during the celebration of the Filipino- Chinese Friendship Day and the commemoration of the 37th year of the establishment of and increase our conviction rate, Binay said. The Vice President said that he will convene the IACAT to determine Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and China at the Century how to address the recommendations of the U.S. State Department when Park Hotel. There are those who would be quick to look at the obstacles along that he gets back from his trip to Rome next month. He is scheduled to have a private audience with the Pope at the Vatican road and plead with us to abandon the voyage altogether. But the richness of our past gives us the certainty that all things can be settled not just when he goes to Rome. The Vice President is in Jeddah as President Benigno Aquino IIIs reppeacefully but justly between friends, the Vice President stressed. resentative to convey the Philippines condolences to the King of Saudi Binay also emphasized the need to strengthen the countries bilateral Araubi on the death of the Crown Prince last week. relations by exploring other venues for partnership besides trade. He counted among these opportunities the potential for investing in human capital through knowledge and skills sharing, especially in communication tools that will help conquer the language barrier between the two countries as well as other nations in the world. As the golden galleon of economic power sails from West to East, let us widen the scope of our solidarity in the causes of peace and development, the Vice President added. We are commemorating the generous gift of friendship between the Filipinos and the Chinese. This gift has brought great joy to all of us and bound by our fraternal concern for each other, we work hard to ensure that nothing but joy shall be shared by our succeeding generations, Binay ended.

VP Binay: PHL - China relations remained intact despite political concerns

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OVP BALITA

CDO, Iligan survivors of Sendong to have 8k homes soon - VP BINAY

Survivors of Sendong in Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and Iligan will have 8,000 new homes within this year, said Vice President Jejomar C. Binay. Binay tasked the National Housing Authority, through its General Manager Atty. Chito Cruz, to immediately relocate and resettle affected families of the typhoon and provide them with housing assistance. The agency signed 10 agreements with public and private institutions, housing funders and constructors for the development and construction of the housing units. President Aquino has instructed all concerned agencies to use all possible means to address the rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and the signing of these 10 memoranda of agreement (MOA) is governments concrete action to answer to our leaders call, Binay said during the MOA signing at the Coconut Palace. Around 8,293 housing units will be constructed in 16 project locations in the two cities. Of this, 5,507 will be built in CDO and 2,786 in Iligan. The Vice President said the government alone cannot finance the housing projects. He lauded the private and civic organizations that have volunteered to construct resettlement sites in the affected cities. I have always believed that we can achieve much through meaningful partnerships with different stakeholders, he said, adding that such cooperation shows the value of bayanihan among Filipinos. NHA entered into MOA with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Gawad Kalinga, SM Group of Companies, Banco de Oro Foundation Inc., Diocese of Iligan, Rotary-CDO, San Miguel Corporation, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Xavier University, Berjaya Group of Companies, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Shell Philippines, Oro Humanity, Social Action Center- Archdiocese of CDO, Caritas, St. Francis Xavier Church, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and Philippine Red Cross.

Also involved are the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The CDO-Iligan rehabilitation will be a good testing ground for our ability to implement multi-sectoral partnerships. Our success in this venture will mean a lot in promoting this administrations inclusive approach at governance, Binay said. In CDO, housing units will be constructed in Cagayan de Oro Relocation Site Housing Project Phase II, II-B and III; Indahag Relocation Site Phase I and II; LGU-BERJAYA-GK Village; Canitoan Relocation Site; Xavier Village; NASSA and SAC Caritas Village; Calaanan Relocation Site; and Paglaum Village. Meanwhile, Iligan will build the units in Bayanihan sa Iligan Village, Kapuso Village, Diklaan Resettlement Site, and Diocese of Iligan Village I and 2.

Ibanag to be medium of instruction in DepEds Multi-lingual Educational Program

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay revealed that the Ibanag language will soon be included as a medium of instruction in the Department of Educations (DepEd) Mother Tongue-Based Multi-Lingual Education (MTBMLE) program. The Vice President said during the launching of the Ibanag Heritage Foundation (IBHF) that he wrote DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro in March to recommend the inclusion of Ibanag, the lingua franca of the Cagayan Valley region, in the Vice President Jejomar C. Binay administers the oath of office to the members of the Board of Directors of the Ibanag HeritMTB-MLE program. age Foundation of which he is the Founding Chairman. The Vice President has Ibanag roots through his mother, Lourdes We stressed to Secretary Cabauatan, who hails from Cabagan, Isabela. Luistro that the inclusion of the Ibanag language would be We have made the preserva- Based Multi-Lingual Education erature, cuisine, historical and very timely and strategic. It can tion of the Ibanag language our program in selected schools in religious landmarks. Tourist serve as a springboard of the priority, because as Ive said Cabagan, Isabela and Tuguega- spots, festivals and traditions, indigenous industries, endemic governments advocacy to em- earlier, we may no longer find rao City, he said. Moreover, our research flora and fauna, and people-topower every Filipino youth with native speakers who know the team is now developing learn- people partnership with local quality education, including language fluently, he said. those who belong to indigenous Binay said Luistros response ing materials in coordination and foreign cultural organizagroups, Binay said. to his request was favorable and with trained teachers and con- tions. He said Tuguegarao City MayBinay has Ibanag roots. His that they are now closely coor- sultants, and collaborating with mother, the late Lourdes Gatan dinating with the Indigenous Ibanag language experts for the or Delfin Ting has already comCabauatan, hails from Cabagan, Peoples Education Office (IP- development of a standard or- mitted to providing a space at thography for Ibanag, he add- the Tuguegarao City Hall for an Isabela. sEO) of DepEd. Ibanag Library and Museum. He is also the Chairman of the We are also closely coordi- ed. Binay said the IBHF has idenWe have also established Board of Trustees of the IBHF. nating with Indigenous Peoples The Vice President said his re- Education Office and DepEd at tified ten program areas that links with the Department of quest to Luistro was part of the the regional and local/division ensure the preservation of the Tourism Region 02 for the proIBHFs initiative to preserve the levels for the pilot implemen- Ibanag culture, namely: the lan- motion of tourist attractions in Ibanag language and culture. tation of the Mother Tongue- guage, history, folklore and lit- Cagayan Valley, he concluded.

OVP BALITA

Use social media to spread scouting movement

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin --- Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has urged Boy Scout leaders to make use of new technologies to spread the spirit and membership of scouting while still preserving traditional scouting skills. We shall continue to preserve our teaching of age-old scouting skills knowledge that allows anyone to survive and thrive in a lean environment, away from the amenities of civilization. But we shall bravely take on the challenge of spreading the spirit and membership of scouting using the new terrain and resources that the digital world places at our disposal, he said. Binay, the National President, Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee, was in town to attend the 56th Annual National Council Meeting. The Vice President said the growth of social media, including popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, was something that scout elders could not ignore or stop. Whereas the scouts of old had to master navigation using a compass and a map, the modern day scouts now bear the burden of navigating an increasingly digital world, he said. He urged scout leaders to take advantage of the increasing popularity of the social media in the Filipino youth. We can no longer exist outside this new world, or pretend that it is something that can be switched on or off at will. It remains active even as we sleep and takes hold of boys and girls even before they first don a neckerchief, he said. Rather than seek to counter it, let us put our minds together and forge ways to capitalize on these new technologies for the benefit of scouting and the youth of the Philippines, he added. The Vice President however warned that the leap to modernization would not be easy. We will need to audit our own base of expertise and fill the gaps wherever these exist. Those of us who are not fluent in these new languages will need to study harder, he said.

Vice President and Boy Scout of the Philippines national president Jejomar C. Binay conferred the National Court of Honor to Scout Cliff Ian Salcedo of Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) for helping rescue CDO residents trapped in their homes during the onslaught of Typhoon Sendong.

K+12 Program to promote employment

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said the K+12 program of the Department of Education will help provide opportunities for gainful employment after graduation. According to him, students who complete the K+12 program will be recognized with certificates equivalent to a two-year college degree. Ang sabi ko nga kung mamasukan ka ng pagiging isang clerk, kailangan mo pa bang mag-aral ng apat na taon para lang masabing qualified kang pumasok sa trabahong iyon?, Binay said during the launch of the K+12 program at Palo National High School. Hindi bat mas mahalagang mabigyan ka ng kaalaman at kakayahan Vice President and housing czar Jejomar C. Binay Friday assures Isla Puting Bato fire survivors they will be relocated soon. The National Housing Authority upang gampanang maigi ang trabahong nais mong pasukan?, he added. He also said the new curriculum will enable students to better cope prepared an initial 600 units in Southville 8b and 8c in Montalban, Rizal for the affected residents. with their lessons and also provide schools with flexibility to allow students choose electives or specializations that suit their interest. The system is still in its initial stages and I am sure the Department of Education will monitor its implementation and come up with further improvements in the program, he added. According to the Department of Education, the additional two years of education will help decongest and enhance the current basic education curriculum and provide better quality education for all. The Philippines is the only remaining country in Asia with a 10-year basic education program and it is high time that our education program be on par with that of other countries, Binay added. Binay also lauded the Department of Education for their efforts in addressing the shortage of textbooks and classroom seats. Noong Martes lamang po, inanunsyo ni Secretary Armin Luistro na sa pagbubukas ng klase, wala na pong shortage sa mga libro at mga upuan sa ating mga pampublikong paaralan, he said Pinapatunayan lamang po nito na seryoso ang administrasyong Aquino sa pagsulong ng mga programang magpapatatag sa sistema ng eduVice President Jejomar C. Binay warm ups with stretching exercises, together with the Western Command American military personnel participating in the Ba- kasyon sa ating bansa, he added.
likatan Exercises, before his morning walk in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

OVP BALITA

President Benigno S. Aquino III thanks Vice President Jejomar C. Binay after a 10-minute tour of the Coconut Palace.

VP Binay disappointed over failure to arrest Globe Asiatique owner, co-accused

President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as Donna Comia, building administrator of the Coconut Palace, discusses the features of the Zamboanga room while Vice President Jejomar C. Binay looks on.

VP Binay - Orderly, efficient state key to Philippine economic development

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has underscored the need to restructure, reorganize, professionalize and upgrade the general competence and quality of government to realize the countrys full economic potential. The net objective should be to make the Philippines an orderly and efficient State, where the rule of law presides and every process is trustworthy and transparent, Binay said during the Quarterly Roundtable of the Wallace Business Forum in Pasay City. There should be a clear line between the political officers of government and its career force, which should provide the continuity and permanence of sound policies and best practices in public service, he added. The Vice President also stressed the need to adopt a clear and comprehensive definition of the national interest, which could serve as the basis for mobilizing Filipinos to promote and defend national solidarity, national discipline and national pride at home and abroad. According to Binay, the national interest should include ending the countrys two prolonged insurgencies, preparing for the next global crisis on energy, and protecting the countrys territorial integrity. Binay also called for increased public and private investment in education and health care. He said this will not only upgrade the literacy and health level of the population, but also create a healthy intellectual community that will promote advancements in science, culture and the arts. Organize the nations human capital at home and abroad, and its material and financial resources to increase productivity in every area of human activity, create full employment and raise the standards of jobs and incomes, he added. The Vice President also pushed for an extensive physical transformation program that would help provide a home for every family and rid the country of squalor and pollution. Put in all the necessary transportation, communication, medical and hospitality infrastructure needed to support the basic requirements of the population, he said. Inter-island and international commerce and tourism, should be developed as a primary industry by all administrations, he added. Binay also urged the adoption of a concept of sustainable development that centers on the human person and family and respects and accepts the different values that each person carries as a valuable contribution to the drive towards progress. Time limitations do not allow us to be as specific and as exhaustive as we would like to be. But I believe the bottom line is this: a truly successful Philippines will be a country run by an orderly, efficient, honest and responsible government, and inhabited by a people acutely aware of their inherent human dignity and all their human, constitutional and legal rights and responsibilities to a life of freedom, justice and peace in the world, he ended.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay expressed disappointment over the failure to apprehend Globe Asiatique (GA) president Delfin Lee and his co-accused in the syndicated estafa case filed by the government before a Pampanga court. The victims of Globe Asiatique are demanding justice. I am disappointed that Delfin Lee remains at large a month after the court ordered his arrest, Binay said. I hope that our law enforcement agencies will double their effort to find Lee and his co-accused, he added. The Vice President had described the case against Lee as proof of the Aquino administrations determination to pursue the campaign against graft and misuse of government funds. Last May 22, Judge Amifaith Fider-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 in San Fernando, Pampanga issued warrants of arrest with no recommendation for bail against Lee and other GA officials. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed syndicated estafa charges against Lee after an investigation ordered by Binay revealed that GA used ghost borrowers and fake documents to obtain over P6.5 billion in loans from the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG). In October 2010, after he was named housing czar, Binay directed Pag-IBIG to investigate the fraudulent loans obtained by GA during the previous administration. The agency then filed a complaint against Lee and several others before the DOJ. Earlier, Binay questioned the issuance by a Pasig Regional Trial Court of an injunction order covering the syndicated estafa case and another case for double sale filed by PagIBIG and DOJ against Lee. The Court of Appeals (CA), however, struck down the decision last month.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay meets Vimbi Flores Avilla, who pretended to be him and tried to extort money from business magnate Lucio Tan. Avilla and alleged accomplices Jericho Guzman Felix and Gabriel Balingit dela Cruz were caught by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in an entrapment operation.