Aguinaldo Shrine

Pagsanjan Falls

Taal Lake

Antipolo Church

Lucban Pahiyas Feast

Dispatch for July 1 , 2013 Monday ,7 PIA Calabarzon PRs ,6 Weather Watch,
6 Regional Watch , 7 OFW Watch , 15 Online News , 3 Photonews

Weather Watch
4 hours ago near Quezon City, Philippines 1. DZBB: Itinuturing ng NDRRMC na malaking improvement ang karanasan ng bansa sa kalalabas na bagyong Gorio. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakamit ng bansa ang zero casualty sa pananalasa ng kalamidad. Sinabi ni Executive Dir. Eduardo del Rosario na maiuugnay ito sa maagap na kahandaan ng lahat sa pagdating ng bagyo at naging epektibo ang mas accurate na forecast ng PAGASA.

Weather Watch shared Dost_pagasa's photo.

6 hours ago 2. 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST Issued at: 5:00AM 1 July 2013 SYNOPSIS: At 4:00AM today, the center of Tropical Storm GORIO *RUMBIA+ was estimated based on all available data at 560km Northwest of Dagupan City (18.0N, 114.9.0E) with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is forecast to move Northwest at 30kph. FORECAST: The regions of Ilocos, MIMAROPA and the provinces of Zambales and Pangasinan will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southeast will prevail over northern and central Luzon and coming from the southwest to south over southern Luzon and Visayas. the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas.

Over METRO MANILA: Maximum Temperature : 1:50 PM Yesterday--- 30.0 C Minimum Temperature : 5:00 AM Yesterday--- 23.9 C Maximum Relative Humidity: 5:00 AM Yesterday--- 100 % Minimum Relative Humidity: 1:00 PM Yesterday--- 78 % High Tide Today: 5:04 AM 0.82 meter Low Tide Today: 11:21 AM 0.55 meter High Tide Today: 3:58 PM 0.67 meter Low Tide Today: 10:28 PM 0.39 meter Sunrise Today : 5:30 AM Sunset Today: 6:29 PM Moonset Today: 12:44 PM Moonrise Tomorrow: 12:43 AM llumination Today : 42 % For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.

Weather Watch
16 hours ago via mobile 3. GMA: Tropical Storm Gorio may be moving away from the Philippines, but disaster management and health authorities will remain on alert, especially in areas affected by the cyclone. While the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will remain on blue alert, government hospitals will remain on white alert.

Weather Watch
17 hours ago via mobile

4. PIA-NCR: Another number to save on your phones, for assistance and info during calamities: PHL COAST GUARD ACTION CENTER (02)352-2000.

Weather Watch
17 hours ago via mobile 5. PAGASA: SEVERE WEATHER BULLETIN No. 12 Tropical Cyclone Warning: Tropical Storm #GorioPH Issued at 5:00 PM, 30 June 2013

Tropical Storm GORIO has gained strength while moving northwestward over the West Philippine Sea. Location of eye/center: At 4:00 PM today, the center of Tropical Storm GORIO was estimated based on all available data at 230 km West of Dagupan City (15.8N, 118.0E). Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. Movement: Forecast to move Northwest at 26 kph. Forecast Positions: Tropical Storm GORIO is expected to be at 430 km Southwest of Laoag City by early tomorrow morning and out of the Philippine Area of Responsibity (PAR) and at 610 km Northwest of Laoag City tomorrow afternoon. Public Storm Warning Signal No.1 (Winds of 45-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hrs): Pangasinan and Zambales Public Storm Warning Signals elsewhere are now lowered. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signal #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves. Estimated rainfall amount is from 5 17 mm per hour (moderate - heavy) within the 400 km diameter of the Tropical Storm. Fishermen specially those using small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Western Seaboards of Luzon due to big waves generated by Tropical Storm GORIO. The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 PM tonight.

Weather Watch shared Dost_pagasa's photo.

21 hours ago 6. Thunderstorm Advisory No. 01 #NCR_PRSD 2:00PM 30 June 2013 Thunderstorm is affecting #Cavite (Carmona and GMA), #Laguna (San Pedro and Binan), #Quezon (Real and Gen.Nakar), #NuevaEcija (Penaranda, Cabanatuan, Santa Rosa and San Leonardo) and nearby areas within 2 hours. All are advised to take precautionary measures against heavy rains, strong winds, lightning and possible flashfloods. Keep monitoring for updates.

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Weather Watch

July 1 , 2013 ( Monday )

as of 8 :00 AM

CAVITE LAGUNA BATANGAS RIZAL QUEZON

: Sunny : Fair Weather : Fair Weather : Partly Cloudy with Scattered Rainshowers : Partly Cloudy

PIA

Regional Watch

PIA Regional Watch

53 minutes ago near Quezon City, Philippines 1. PIA-4A/LAGUNA: The City Government of Calamba hosts the ceremonial oathtaking of Former Congressman and mayor-elect Justine Chipeco. Former mayor and 2nd District Congressman-elect Joaquin M. Chipeco Jr. turns over to the younger Chipeco the mayoralty post he held for nine years in a simple turn-over ceremony held in front of the Calamba City Hall Bldg. today, July 1, 2013.

PIA Regional Watch

Saturday via mobile 2. PIA IV-A/CAVITE: Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa will be the guest of honor and will lead the oathtaking tomorrow, July 30 of elected city officials of Imus headed by re-elected Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi. The oathtaking will start at 9 am at the Imus Sports Center right beside the city hall. Ruel Francisco.

PIA Regional Watch

Friday 3. PIA-4A/LAGUNA: The Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 4A (DA-4A) identified pineapple as one priority commodities in Calabarzon being the top 4 producer as it contributes 3.8% to the national production. DA said our region produces large-sized pineapple with major production areas found in Macalelon and General Luna ,Quezon; Pillilia, Rizal; Silang, Cavite; and Calauan, Laguna.

PIA Regional Watch

Friday 4. PIA-4A/LAGUNA: The Department of Science and Technology (DOST-4A) reported about the transferrable and commercializable technologies that are essential in enhancing competitiveness and productivity that will eventually generate employment in the region. These technologies categorized as Agriculture, Handicraft

Equipment; Food Technologies; Technology Adopters and others. nac

PIA Regional Watch

Friday 5. PIA4-A/QUEZON: The Department of Health (DOH) urged the local chief executives in Quezon Provice to practie smoke-free town by imposing strict implementation of 'no smoking policy' in all public places. Dr. Nimrod Villanueva of DOH-Quezon said that regulation of selling cigarettes to minors should be properly imposed too.

PIA Regional Watch

Friday near Quezon City, Philippines 6. PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Nanumpa si Governor Vilma Santos Recto ngayong araw sa harap ni Senador Ralph Recto gayundin ang bise gobernador, mayor, vice mayor at mga konsehal ng mga iba't ibang bayan sa lalawigan.

PIA OFW Watch

3 hours ago near Quezon City, Philippines 1. Rep. Walden Bello on DZMM: Re: Investigation sa sex-for-flight scheme -Lumalawak ito kasi noong Biyernes ng nakaraan nakausap namin ang tatlong OFW na galing doon sa Al Khobar Damam Region ng Saudi Arabia at kasama ko si Sec. Baldoz noong kausap sila. -Basically yung sinabi nila yung ating mga distressesd OFW bago sila may mga contact either official or semiofficial na contact sa mga labor official sila ay ginagamit before their turn over to POLO Officer doon sa Damam area. -Yung iba pang sinabi sa kanila ang abiso sa kanila kung gusto nilang umuwi mag-part time work muna sila para makamit nila ang fare para makaalis. -Ang part time work is engage sa prostitution. -Lahat sila ay nagbayad para umuwi sa Pilipinas ng napakataas na 3,000-5,000 Saudi Riyal. -Galit nag alit poi tong tatlo dahil napakataas ng binayad nila wala na nga silang nadalang pera mula sa Saudi at nalaman nila na ito ay libre pala. -Malaking raket talaga itong nangyari. -Really shocking po dito yung mga may kayang magbayad pinapauna silang pinapauwi at yung mga walang kakayanan pinapaiwan doon. -Kaya ang suggestion po namin sa DOLE na isama na rin ang Damam, Al Khobar area sa investigation.

PIA OFW Watch

3 hours ago near Quezon City, Philippines 2. DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez on ABS-CBN: Re: Pinay drug mule sa China -Last Friday napadala natin yung sulat ng Pangulo sa pangulo ng China para mapababa sa life imprisonment yung parusa. Sa ngayon hinihintay natin ang sagot ng China sa sulat ng Pangulo. -Habang hindi pa nagaganap yung parusang kamatayan sa ating kababayan ay umaasa tayo sa ating kahilingan pero alam natin na yung China ay mahigpit sa kanilang batas sa drug trafficking. -Iginigalang natin ang batas ng China at desisyon ng kanilang hukuman. -Biglaan itong plano ng ating Vice president at mukhang walang tatanggap sa kanya doon. Sa kabilang dako nakikita natin na gusto nilang gawin ang sintensya anumang oras mula ngayon hanggang sa ika-2 ng Hulyo. -Talagang siniguro natin na lahat ng tulong ay naibigay natin sa ating kababayan at sa kanyang pamilya. Binigyan po siya ng abogado habang dinidinig ang kanyang kaso sa korte. -Overwhelming po yung ebidensya na nakuha sa kanya. Gumawa tayo ng lahat ng hakbang para maisalba ang kanyang buhay at hanggang ngayon ay nakikipag-usap tayo sa kanila na mapababa sa life imprisonment ang parusa.

PIA OFW Watch

3 hours ago near Quezon City, Philippines 3. Gary Martinez, Migrante International chairperson on ABS-CBN: Re: Pinay drug mule sa China -Habang may paraan pa dapat isalba ang buhay. -May mga naririnig kami na interpreter lamang (ang binibigay na assistance ng gobyerno sa mga OFW na may kaso). Doon po kami natatakot (na yung ibang may kaso ay hindi nabibigyan ng legal assistance ng gobyerno). -213 ang cases natin sa China na drug mule. Sana sa simula matulungan para hindi humantong sa parusang kamatayan na parang normal na lang sa ating mga kababayang OFW. - Huwag itigil ang pakikipag-usap na huwag matuluyan ang ating kababayan. - Sa datos namin, pinakamaraming natuluyan (o nabitay na Pinoy sa China) sa ilalim ni PNoy. Pang-lima ito kung hindi tayo mapagbibigyan.

PIA OFW Watch

Saturday near Quezon City, Philippines 4. DZMM: Ngayong araw nakatakdang umalis ng bansa papunta sa Kuwait ang DoLE team na mag-iimbestiga sa sex-for-flight modus operandi roon. Sa July 15 naman nakatakdang mag-ulat ang grupo kay Sec. Baldoz.

PIA OFW Watch

Friday 5. ABS-CBN: Nakarating na sa gobyerno ng China ang apela ni Pangulong Aquino na humihiling na ibaba nito ang sentensiyang kamatayan sa isang Pinay. Ayon sa isang source ng ABS-CBN, hinihintay na lang ng Malacaang ang magiging katugunan ng gobyerno ng China kaugnay nito.

PIA OFW Watch

Friday 6. GMA: Sinabi ng ina ng Pinay na bibitayin sa China na biktima lang ang kanyang anak ng drug trafficking. Samantala, nangako naman si VP Binay na gagawin ng gobyerno ang lahat para mailigtas ang Pinay sa death row.

PIA OFW Watch

Friday 7. ABS-CBN: Labis na nag-aalala sa kalagayan ng kanyang anak ang ina ng Pinay na nasentensiyahan ng kamatayan sa China. Samantala, nakatakdang pumunta ng China bukas si VP Binay upang ipadala ang sulat ng Pangulo sa Presidente ng China na humihiling sa pagpapababa ng sentensiya sa Pinay.

A. QUEZON

B. CAVITE
1. Cavite town receives Champion for Health Governance award
By Ruel B. Francisco Friday 28th of June 2013

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite, June 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) conferred the prestigious Champion for Health Governance award to the local government of Carmona for its holistic and comprehensive program in prioritizing the health and needs of the community. Held at the Muralla Ballroom, The Bayleaf in Intramuros Manila, the award came with a P200,000 cash grant. Together with program partners Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Ateneo School of Government and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the DOH conferred the award to Carmona along with four other awardees namely Valenzuela City; Tayabas, Quezon; Anilao, Iloilo; and San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur, with each municipality receiving same cash grant. The municipality of Carmona was recognized for its Direct Access to Healthy Lifestyle Intervention and Advocacy (D.A.H.L.I.A) program. Earlier this month, Carmona also bagged the DOH Red Orchid Award and a P100,000 grant as distinction for being a leading community that implements tobacco-free environment. Carmona got a total score of 100 percent in the said award for the criterion that includes the World Health Organization (WHO) MPOWER initiative which means Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies, Protect people from tobacco smoke, Offer help to quit tobacco use, Warn about the dangers of tobacco, Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship and Raise taxes on tobacco. Early last year, the Carmona Rural Health Unit (RHU) won the Outstanding Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy award for the second time besting eight other finalists across the country also for its D.A.H.L.I.A. (Carmona PIO/CPG/RBF/PIA4A, Cavite)

2. Cavite receives two projects from DENR-EMB

By Ruel B. Francisco Friday 28th of June 2013

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite, June 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) regional office here recently turned-over two checks of P450,000 to the Provincial GovernmentEnvironmental and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) for the construction of two projects in two coastal towns of the province. The PG-ENRO, through their Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Division, received P300,000 for the construction of a sanitary facility with septic tanks in Barangay Sapa 3, a coastal barangay in Rosario along the Manila Bay shoreline. Another project received is the upgrading/improvement of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) worth P150,000 in a selected site identified as Poblacion in the town of Noveleta. The local government of Noveleta, on the other hand, will provide funds for the maintenance and operation of the MRF; maintain the cleanliness and proper use of the MRFs including the conduct of regular capacity building/training for MRF workers. They will also render a status report on the operation of the MRFs whenever required, in consonance with project monitoring; and maintain records of daily weights or volumes of waste received, processed and removed from site accurate to within ten percent and adequate for overall planning purposes and tracking of success of waste diversion goals and keep daily logbook or file of fire, special occurrences, unauthorized loads, injury, and property damage. The said projects are expected to contribute to the rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation of Manila Bay to

which the local government units share the responsibility in the management and improvement of the environment within their territorial jurisdiction. (PICAD/CPG/RBF/PIA4A, Cavite)

3. 65 elementary students swear in as dengue busters

By Ruel B. Francisco Friday 28th of June 2013

CARMONA, Cavite, June 28 (PIA) --The local government tapped 65 school children from 13 public and private schools as Carmona Little Dengue Brigade (CLDB) or dengue busters as part of its observance of June as the Dengue Awareness Month. These children will lead the information and clean-up campaigns in their respective campuses with full support from the local government. The 65 students from different schools pledged their commitment as dengue advocates. Their main mission is to disseminate the 4 oclock habit in their respective schools and communities. They also have the responsibility to report any suspected case to the main health office and they were given uniform shirts and caps to distinguish them from other pupils. Children share the responsibility of protecting themselves against dengue in their schools and communities through proper environmental sanitation; at the same time, it develops their leadership skills. On the other hand, the local government turned over 260 Ovicidal/Larvicidal (OL) Trap, dengue information materials (tarpaulins) and Off lotions from partner institution to all participating students, teachers and school principals. The brigades principle is to equip the dengue-vulnerable age group against disease transmitted by these deadly mosquitoes with due awareness about its way of transmission, prevention and control. The program is aimed at teaching the students and teachers from public and private schools on how to prevent and control dengue before it spreads to every household The 65 students from 13 public and public schools including their respective school principals headed by DepEd District Supervisor Dr. Editha Atendido were sworn in by Mayor Dahlia Loyola last Monday, June 17 at the towns plaza. (Carmona PIO/CPG/RBF/PIA4A-Cavite)

C. LAGUNA

D. BATANGAS

1. Tagalog news: 300 chess players mula sa Luzon, dumalo sa chess championship sa Batangas
By Mamerta P. De Castro Friday 28th of June 2013 LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS, Hunyo 28 (PIA) -- Tatlongdaan manlalaro mula Luzon ang naglaban-laban sa isinagawang 21st Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship Southern Luzon Leg sa SM City Batangas Event Center, noong June 22-23 sa temang Inspiring the Nations Future Leaders. Si Jean Karen Enriquez ang leg champion para sa Junior-Girls category at si Marc Kevin Labog sa Junior Boys category. Si Enriquez ay tumanggap ng cash prize na P4,000 habang si Labog naman ay P5,000 at parehong nakakuha ng tropeo, LEGO Set at Unilever bag. Nanalo naman sa Kiddies-Girls category si Alexis Anne Osena at sa Kiddies-Boys category ay si Haince Patrick De Leon kung saan tumanggap sila ng P4,000 cash prize, tropeo, LEGO set at Unilever bag. Sinabi ni Cesar Abaricia, communication manager ng Shell Batangas, na hangad nila na magkaroon ng mga bagong Mary Israel Palero na kakatawan sa Pilipinas sa mga international competition. Ang nasabing tournament ay nakapaghubog na ng mga Filipino chess grand masters katulad nina Marc Paragua at Nelson Mariano. Ayon pa kay Abaricia, magandang encouragement sa isang bata ang nasabing laro sapagkat dito ay magkakaroon siya ng disiplina, sportsmanship at determinasyon hindi lamang para sa nasabing sports kundi maging sa nais nito paglaki. Dumalo bilang kinatawan ni Mayor Vilma Abaya-Dimacuha si Glecy Clet, executive assistant para sa Youth and Sports Development. Ang mga nagsipanalo ang kakatawan sa Southern Luzon para sa grand finals sa September 14 to 15 sa SM Megamall sa Metro Manila. (Monina Beredo-Fernandez, PIO Batangas City/CPG/MPDC/PIA4A-Batangas)

E. RIZAL
1. Diocese of Antipolo celebrates 30th founding anniversary
By Gideon Gapayao Friday 28th of June 2013 Antipolo City, Rizal, June 28 (PIA) -- Hundreds of Catholic faithful flocked the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage on June 25 to take part in a thanksgiving mass held in celebration of the 30th founding anniversary of the Diocese of Antipolo. With the theme, The Diocese of Antipolo: Celebrating 30 Years of Journeying in Faith with Mary, the concelebrated mass was led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle joined by Antipolo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, Auxilliary Bishop Francis de Leon, bishops, priests, religious men and women, and the faithful of the diocese.

Outgoing Governor and Antipolo City Mayor-elect Jun Ynares III joined the affair with outgoing local chief executives and recently elected officials of the municipalities/city of Rizal province. I am truly privileged to be a part and to have witnessed this new milestone for the Diocese of Antipolo. It is something we Antipoleos and Rizaleos for that matter can be truly proud of, remarked Ynares. (Rizal PIO/CPG/GG/PIA4A, Rizal)

2. DAR Rizal surpasses 1st quarter land distribution target

By Gideon Gapayao Friday 28th of June 2013 Tweet FacebookYahooEmailShareThis ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal, June 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Rizal has distributed a total of 77.6195 hectares of land to local beneficiaries surpassing their target of 45 hectares for the first quarter of 2013. DAR-Rizal Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) II Ruben Nepomuceno reported that the provincial office has been assigned to distribute a total of 259 hectares for the year funded through their 2013 pipeline. According to Nepomuceno, DAR-Rizal initially targeted 45 hectares for the first quarter but surpassed it by more than 57 percent. DAR aims to distribute the remaining land during the second quarter of 2013 in order to prevent "bottlenecking" of processing land titles. The agency works in close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Land Management Service (DENR-LMS) and Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) for the survey and funding of lands for distribution, as well as the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the registration of titles. Currently, DAR, DENR-LMS and LBP are also processing 219 hectares of land from the previous year for distribution which was delayed due to resistance from lands owners and database issues. PARO Nepomuceno added that agrarian lands are only considered distributed upon receipt of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) by the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB). (CPG/GG/PIA4A-Rizal)

3.

Isang Pulis, Isang Lapis benefits 1,990 Rizal students

By Gideon Gapayao Friday 28th of June 2013 Tweet FacebookYahooEmailShareThis ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal, June 28 (PIA) -- A total of 1,990 elementary students across the province of Rizal have benefited in the "Isang Pulis, Isang Lapis" school supplies distribution project spearheaded by the Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO). The project was launched on June 4 at Inuman Elementary School in Barangay Inarawan and was simultaneously held at the different police stations in the provinces lone city and 13 municipalities. Police Sr. Supt. Rolando Anduyan of Rizal PPO said the program targeted elementary school students who cannot afford to buy basic school supplies. According to Anduyan, the local police officers donated money to fund the purchase of schools supplies such as ballpens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, and papers.

Earlier, each police station was tasked to identify less fortunate school children who are also earners for their respective families, as priority recipients for the project. The PNP Rizal headquarters personnel distributed school supplies to 375 students; the Antipolo City Police Station to 70 students; Angono Municipal Police Station (MPS) personnel to 60 students; Baras MPS to 53 students; Binangonan MPS to 100 students; Cainta MPS to 200 students; Cardona MPS to 120 students; Jalajala MPS to 120 students; Morong MPS to 15 students; Pililia MPS to 50 students; Rodriguez MPS to 400 students; San Mateo MPS to 150 students; Taytay MPS to 200 students; Tanay MPS to 62 students; and Teresa MPS to 15 students. (CPG/GG/PIA4A-Rizal)

30 JUNE 2013.

1. President Aquino to lead 66th Philippine Air Force Anniversary in Pampanga Monday 2. President Aquino kept tabs on movement and effects of Typhoon 'Gorio' 3. President Aquino to keep addressing challenges on the country's economic growth
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead rites commemorating the 66th Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force that will be held at the Clark Air Base in Angeles, Pampanga on Monday, July 1. Joining the President will be Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista. The PAF, according to Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol, PAF spokesperson, will mark this momentous occasion with a flyby of the 66 PAF planes over the CAB airfield. The flyby will consist of nine T-41D Mescaleros, three S-211 jet aircraft, two OV-10 Broncos, two Aermacchi SF260TP, three NOMADs, three Fokker F-27, three Lockheed C-130s, six UH-1Hs, one Sikorsky S-76A, one Bell B205 helicopter, one Huey II, six W-3A Sokols, and four MG-520 attack choppers. This year's flyby is larger by 23 aircraft than the 43 participating planes in last year's 65th anniversary of Philippine Air Force. The PAF was founded on July 1, 1947, two years after the end of World War II. The PAF traces its lineage to the Philippine Army Air Corp which was established in 1941. PND (rck) TOP President Aquino kept tabs on movement and effects of Typhoon 'Gorio'

Concerned about the damage typhoon Gorio (international codename: Rubia) may wreak over the Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III kept a close watch and keenly monitored the storms path since early Sunday morning, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Sunday. In a press briefing aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Valte said the President took a personal hand at directing concerned government agencies providing necessary assistance to affected residents in the storms path. The President was monitoring the effects of the weather or the path of the storm until, I think, past midnight po (until) kaninang madaling araw at ina-update ng mga ibat ibang ahensya ang Pangulo kung ano na po ang mga nagawa sa mga rehiyon na apektado, Valte said. She pointed out that the Philippine Coast Guard, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Metro Manila Development Authority and the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council were alerted days before Gorio made land fall. Nakita nga po natin sa mga balita na meron nga pong mga stranded na ating mga kababayan sa mga pantalan dahil nga hindi pwedeng maglayag dala ng sungit ng panahon. Lalo na sa Region VII, hindi ho talaga pinayagang

maglayag ang mga maliliit na vessels at ang mga pampasaherong barko, Valte said. Sa NCR po naghanda ang MMDA para sa mga disaster preparedness natin at na -activate nga ang mga teams, kahapon pa po ito. Naghanda ang DSWD ng mga 137.78-million pesos worth of emergency relief resources consisting of standby funds and some 39,959 family food packs, other food and non-food items, she added. Maganda naman ang mga naging preparasyon natin. So far, the NDRRMC has reported na walang casualty at sana po it stays that way. They will be updating us soon. Malapit na sila ulit maglabas ng kanilang situation report, Valte said further. PND (rck) TOP President Aquino to keep addressing challenges on the country's economic growth President Benigno S. Aquino III will continue addressing the challenges to the countrys economic growth, Malacaang said on Sunday, as the Chief Executive officially marks his fourth year in office. In an interview over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the public can expect the President to focus on achieving sustainability of the countrys economic growth and on how the government can make it more inclusive. The President has always spoken about this; what are the challenges to economic growth? One, its sustainability; and, second, to continue and make it more inclusive so that everybody will experience their share in economic growth. So these continue to be the challenges that we face for the next half of the President's term, Valte said. Asked on how the President plans to accomplish these targets for the remainder of his term, Valte said: You know, the President is always open to receiving inputs or suggestions from stakeholders on different issues of the day that is being faced by the presidency. So, in the same way that we deal with stakeholders, patuloy naman din po yung mga pag -uusap. Bukas naman po tayo sa mga input mula sa mga ibat ibang sektor, she added. Valte also mentioned that the activities of the President will pretty much remain the same toward the next half of his term which include attending public engagements and working on pressing issues that require his attention. President Aquino is scheduled to lead rites in commemorating the 66th Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force that will be held at the Clark Air Base in Angeles, Pampanga on Monday, July 1. PND (hdc) TOP

29 JUNE 2013.

1. Govt readies P6.9 million emergency relief as Typhoon Gorio enters the country 2. Palace considers senators concerns on planned bases agreement with US 3. Aquino hopes China spares life of Filipino drug courier in death row
Govt readies P6.9 million emergency relief as Typhoon Gorio enters the country

The government has readied P6.9-million worth of emergency relief resources with the entry of Typhoon Gorio in the country, Malacanang reported on Saturday. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) upgraded Tropical Depression Gorio into a Tropical Storm and raised public storm warning signals in different areas affected by the weather disturbance. Among the provinces encouraged by PAGASA to carry out necessary preparations include Northern Samar, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Island, Siargao Island, and Surigao del Norte. Residents in these areas are advised to monitor weather developments and wait for further PAGASA storm warnings.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan Saturday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government has started its assessment of the preparedness of these areas with the entry of the new storm. In Eastern Visayas, Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) activated its Quick Response Teams. DSWDs Field Offices will be open 24 hours, Valte said adding repacking of family food packs has also started. The DSWD has readied 1,040 family food packs and P263,920 standby funds including other food items amounting P1.7 million. There is also an available standby fund of P270,350 for non-food items in Eastern Visayas. In CARAGA Region, the local DRRMCs have also been activated, she said. There are 2,000 family food packs available in case of emergency and a standby fund amounting to P300,440. There is a separate P1,042,000 for other food items and P2.7 million for non-food items, she said. All in all, the total prepositioned food packs, standby funds and other food items and non-food items for the two regions amount to P6.9 million, she said. With regards to the flooding in some parts of Mindanao, particularly North Cotabato, Valte said the government continues to mobilize its resources to help affected communities. Yung sa North Cotabato, patuloy ang pagtulong natin sa kanila by way of emergency relief resources, kasama dito yung standard na mga family food packs, at pagtulong doon sa mga naapektuhan ng bagyo na nasa loob ng evacuation centers, she said. On-going naman ang mga assets natin when it comes to search and rescue. That is standard already kapag hinihingan ng tulong ay nagpapadala tayo agad. PND (as) TOP Palace considers senators concerns on planned bases agreement with US

Malacanang said it is open to having discussions with lawmakers to allay fears of some senators who said the planned bases access agreement with the US may be violating the Constitution. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino administration is willing to discuss the issue with the senators while the defense department irons out the possibility of allowing US forces to temporarily station their forces in their previous military base. Of course, we are open to their concerns. We also understand their concerns and which is why we are open to having these discussions, Valte said during an interview over d zRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday. Valte said the defense department has been studying different modalities on how to operationalize the increased rotational presence of the US in the country in the midst of Chinas incursion on Philippine territory in the We st Philippine Sea. Kahit ano pa man ang lumabas doon sa mga mapag-aralan nilang modality na yan, lahat ay sang-ayon sa ating Constitution at sang-ayon sa Visiting Forces Agreement, Valte explained. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Philippines is ready to provide the US and other strategic allies access to its bases to counter Chinas aggressive activities in the region. But Gazmin clarified that there is no plan to build new bases in the country because the Philippine Constitution prohibits it. The access agreement was discussed by the Philippines and the US during a ministerial consultation in Washington last year, he said. Once the planned increase presence of US military is realized, it would give visiting US warships more security to launch operations in the West Philippine Sea, according to Gazmin. PND (as) TOP Aquino hopes China spares life of Filipino drug courier in death row

President Benigno S. Aquino III still hopes that China will spare the life of a Filipino "drug mule" who was sentenced to death and is scheduled to be executed next week, a Palace official said. The President will be sending tomorrow Vice President Jejomar Binay to appeal to the Chinese government to commute the death sentence to imprisonment. At the same time, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the administration also hopes that the

territorial row between the Philippines and China will not affect the countrys appeal to spare the life of the Filipino drug courier. The Philippines and China are both claimants of territories in the West Philippines Sea. Sana ay dinggin naman. Katulad ng mga binanggit natin nung nakaraan, marami namang aspeto ang ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating kapitbahay, at hiwalay, hindi lang yung mga maritime disputes, hindi lang yan ang end-all at be-all ng ating ugnayan sa kanila, Valte said in an interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. At gayunpaman, kahit merong mga ganyang isyu ay umaasa tayong sana ay dinggin naman ang ating apela. While the President is sendIng the Vice President to convey his message to the Chinese government, his letter at the same time has already been forwarded to the Chinese Embassy, Valte said. Reacting to a comment of a lawmaker saying the government should cease assisting Filipinos facing drug-related cases abroad to discourage them, Valte explained, that it is the duty of the government to help Filipinos facing charges overseas. In the case of the convicted Filipino in China, the Presidents appeal is not for an acquittal but a commutation of the sentence, she said. PND (as) TOP

28 JUNE 2013.

1. President Aquino declares July 4 as special non-working day in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental in celebration of its 46th Charter Day 2. President Aquino appoints new judges to lower courts 3. Palace to consider proposals of holding regular regional Cabinet meetings 4. Administration making progress in eliminating red tape, says Palace 5. President Aquino swears in members of the House of Representatives who won in the May 13 elections 6. Palace says Criminal Code Committee started reviewing Revised Penal Code to ensure relevance of penal statutes
President Aquino appoints new judges to lower courts

President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed new judges to the lower courts, a Palace official announced. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the appointments during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday. In a transmittal letter dated June 19 to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Sereno, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. informed her that the President has signed the appointment letters of 18 new judges. President Aquino appointed Judge Cicero Tuazon Lampasa as presiding judge of Kalibo, Aklan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2, Judge Altone M. Miralles of Tacloban City, Leyte RTC Branch 8, Judge Girlie Borrel-Yu of Ormoc City, Leyte RTC Branch 35, Judge Nathaniel E. Baldono of Borongan, Eastern Samar RTC Branch 2 and Judge Mercedita G. Dadole-Ygnacio of Mandaue City, Cebu RTC Branch 28. The other presidential appointees as follows: - Judge Rene D. Romero Jr. as presiding judge of Ormoc City, Leyte Municipal Trial Court in Cities - Judge Estefanie R. Plaza as presiding judge of Burauen, Leyte Municipal Trial Court - Judge Ritchie B. Reyes as presiding judge of Daram-Zumarraga, Samar 8th Municipal Circuit Trial Court - Judge Allan Sixto de Guia Estudillo as presiding judge of Gandara-Matuguinao, San Jorge, Samar 3rd Municipal

Circuit Trial Court - Judge Fiel Ilumba Marmita as presiding judge of San Julian -Sulat, Eastern Samar 4th Municipal Circuit Trial Court - Judge Gorgonia Pineda-Encina as presiding judge of Capul-San Vicente, Northern Samar 9th Municipal Circuit Trial Court - Judge Reberna Balading Quibal as presiding judge of Catubig-Las Navas, Northern Samar 4th Municipal Circuit Trial Court - Judge Terso Y. Ducentes as presiding judge of Macrohon-Padre Burgos-Limasawa, Southern Leyte 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court - Judge Laebeth Lungay Varquez as presiding judge of Tagbilaran City Bohol Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 1

- Judge Yvette Christine R. Labrador-Soleng as presiding judge of Loay-Albuquerque-Baclayon Bohol 13th Municipal Circuit Trial Court - Judge Maria Corazon Calimbayan Gadugdug as presiding judge of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2 - Judge Leah Partosa as presiding judge of Pamplona-Amlan-San Jose, Negros Oriental 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court and - Judge Ma. Katrina Cabalde Gonzalez as presiding judge of Manjuyod-Ayungon-Bindoy, Negros Oriental 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court. PND (js) TOP Palace to consider proposals of holding regular regional Cabinet meetings

Malacanang will consider the proposal of holding Cabinet meetings in different regions in the country to bring the government closer to the people as proposed by some legislators. A lawmaker has urged President Aquino to hold Cabinet meetings in different regions every other month. Another lawmaker proposed earlier to hold Senate sessions four months in a year each in Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon. In the press briefing in Malacanang on Friday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said they will raise the issue to the President to know if hell agree to the propos al. The Palace has to look at this because it will entail logistical issues, she said. Without such arrangements however, Valte said the Aquino government has not forgotten in going to far-flung areas to reach the people. Members of the Cabinet has been regularly visiting different areas in the country to know their needs and views for more effective governance. Meron ding elemento na ilapit at iyong mga kalihim natin, even on their own, pumupunta sila sa ibat ibang probinsiya, may mga regional offices sila lalo na at may mga proyektong kailangang ipa-implement doon, Valte said. Sa pamamagitan ng paglabas ng mga kalihim natin, sa tingin namin ay nailalapit din naman nila iyong national government doon sa mga localities na kanilang pinupuntahan, she sai d. Valte said President Aquino not only visits the National Capital Region (NCR) but also goes to other areas in the country because he wants to listen to the people and make them feel the presence of government. The President really goes out because he wants to listen He wants to see the people, he wants to listen to them at para iparamdam naman sa kanila iyang presence ng national government, she said. PND (as) TOP Administration making progress in eliminating red tape, says Palace

Malacanang has acknowledged that eliminating or minimizing red tape in government is still a challenge but the country has been making progress. It was reported that the countrys Asean neighbors were able to post significant gains in fighting red tape in their respective bureaucracies.

The government is exerting efforts to ensure that local government units comply with the Anti-Red Tape Act, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday. Kailangan diyan; isa yung Citizens Charter. So ngayon mino-monitor natin yung compliance nila (LGUs) by way of what we call the Anti-Red Tape Act report card survey, Valte said. With the report card survey, the public can now check whether their respective municipalities comply with the AntiRed Tape Act, she said. Valte also reported that based on the latest government data there are 317 LGUs with excellent ratings on their report cards, 309 rated as good, 60 acceptable, and 36 getting fail mark. Ang inaasahan natin ay magsikap yang ating mga LGU para lahat sila ay excellent na sa kanilang Anti -Red Tape report card, she said. Among the Aquino administrations reform agenda are fighting corruption and reforming the bureaucracy for more efficient government functions. Eliminating red tape in government would mean improved business conditions and more effective service to the people. PND (as) TOP President Aquino swears in members of the House of Representatives who won in the May 13 elections

Members of the House of Representatives who won during the May 13 polls took their oath of office before President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Rizal Hall of the Malacanang Palace Friday. Lawmakers taking their oaths came from the Liberal Party and its coalition partners the Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC) and National Unity Party (NUP) . Those who came from the LP include Rep. Henedina Abad, Lone District, Batanes; Rep. Ansaruddine Adiong, 1st District, Lanao del Sur; Rep. Rommel Amatong, 2nd District, Compostela Valley; Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, 3rd District, Negros Occidental; Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., 2nd District, Laguna; Rep. Antonio Rafael del Rosario, 1st District, Davao del Norte; Rep. Ben Evadone, Lone District, Eastern Samar; Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo, 6th District, Manila; Rep. Mary Anne Pernes, Lone District, Siquijor; Rep. Rene Relampagos, 1st District Bohol; Rep. Czarina Umali, 3rd District, Nueva Ecija; and Rep. Ma. Carme Zamora, 1st District, Compostela Valley. Lawmakers coming from the NP were Rep. Harlin Abayon, 1st District, Northern Samar; Rep. Raneo Abu, 2nd District, Batangas; Rep. Mercedes Cagas, 1st District, Davao del Sur; Rep. Lino Edgardo Cayetano, 2nd District, Taguig City; Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, 1st District, Ilocos Norte; Rep. Ana Cristina Go, 2nd District, Isabela; Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr., 1st District, Cebu; Rep. Henry Oaminal, 2ndDistrict, Misamis Occidental; Rep. Carlos Padilla, Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya; and Rep. Mark Villar, Lone District, Las Pinas. The NPC representatives were Rep. Mercedes Alveres, 6th District, Negros Oriental; Rep. Ma. Zernaida Angping, 3rd District, Manila; Rep. George Arnaiz, 2nd District, Negros Oriental; Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, 2nd District, Bohol; Rep. Enrique Cojuangco, 1stDistrict, Tarlac; Rep. Joel Roy Duavit, 1st District, Rizal; Rep. Napoleon Dy, 3rd District, Isabela; Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, 2nd District, Lanao del Norte; Rep. Imelda Dimaporo, 1st District, Lanao del Norte; Rep. Wilfredo Mark Enverga, 1st District, Quezon; Rep. Conrado Estrella, partylist, Abono; Rep. Weslie Catchalian, partylist, Alay Buhay; Rep. Douglas Hagedorn, 3rd District, Palawan; Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun, 1st District, Zambales; Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel, Lone District, Malabon; Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, 4th District, Masbate; Rep. Evelio Leonarda, Lone District, Bacolod; Rep. Mark Leandro Mendoza, partylist, An Waray; Rep. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, partylist, An Bono; Rep. Isidro Rodriguez Jr., 2nd District, Rizal; Rep. Rogelio Neil Roque, 4th District, Bukidnon; Rep. Angelina Tan, 4th District, Quezon; Rep. Felix William Fuentebella, 4th District, Camarines Sur; Rep. Milagrosa Tan, 2nd District, Western Samar; Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, 3rd District, Negros Oriental; Rep. Sherwin Tugna, partylist, CIVAC; and Rep. Arthur Yap, 3rd District, Bohol. The NUP lawmakers were Rep. Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres, 4th District, Nueva Ecija; Rep. Frederick Abueg, 2nd District, Palawan; Rep. Elpidio Barganza Jr., 4th District, Cavite; Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David, 4th District, Manila; Rep. Frenedil Castro, 2nd District, Capiz; Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva, 2nd District Negros Occidental; Rep. Enrique Garcia, 2nd District, Bataan; Rep. Arnulfo Go, 2nd District, Sultan Kudarat; Rep. Antonio Lagdameo Jr., 2nd District, Davao del Norte; Rep. Evelyn Mellana, 2nd District, Agusan del Sur; Rep. Damian Mercado, Lone District, Southern Leyte; Rep. Karlo Alexie Nograles, 1st District, Davao; Rep. Emil Ong, 2nd District, Northern Samar; Rep. Gavini Pancho, 2nd District, Bulacan; Rep. Ma. Valentina Plaza, 1st District, Agusan del Sur; Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, 4th District, Cebu; Rep. Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, 1st District, Bulacan; and Rep. Randolph Teng, 3rd District, Cagayan. PND (as) TOP Palace says Criminal Code Committee started reviewing Revised Penal Code to ensure relevance of penal statutes

The Criminal Code Committee started reviewing the Revised Penal Code (RPC) to ensure that the country's penal statutes are still relevant to the people, a Palace official said. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that experts from different government agencies and civil society groups constituting the Criminal Code Committee started convening regularly to study if there is a need to draft a new criminal code. "At this point, the Criminal Code Review Committee is still in the stage of studying Book Two of the Revised Penal Code. Ang Book One po kasi ang mga general principles in criminal law. Panga lawa po, ang Book Two, ang mga mismong offenses o yung mga felonies na tinatawag po natin," Valte said. "Parang 1901 pa po yata nailabas ang Revised Penal Code so medyo marami po doon mga outdated na o napag-iwanan na po ng panahon. At ang kanilang layunin ay para mahanap ang mga best approaches to address yung mga social issues natin that are presently criminalized," Valte said. The Criminal Code Committee has adhered to the principle that the most effective way of ensuring the responsiveness of our criminal justice system is to make our penal statutes relevant and meaningful to the people. Since its inception in April 2011, the members of the Criminal Code Committee have been working tirelessly to fulfill its task. The Criminal Code Committee is on track in coming up with the draft of a new Criminal Code that will hopefully improve the administration of justice in the country. The Criminal Code Committee is spearheaded by key justice sector agencies including the Supreme Court, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Public Attorney's Office, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Office of the Solicitor General, Parole and Probation Administration and Land Registration Authority. PND (js) TOP

28 HUNYO 2013 1. Idineklara ng Pangulong Aquino ang Hulyo 4 na special non-working day sa Cadiz City, Negros Occidental dahiil sa 46th Charter Day ng Lungsod 2. Nagtalaga ang Pangulong Aquino ng mga bagong hukom 3. Pag-aaralan ng Palasyo ang mungkahing magdaos ng regular na Regional Cabinet meetings 4. Malaki na ang nagawa ng administrasyon para sugpuin ang red tape 5. Pinapanumpa ng Pangulo ang mga kinatawan na nahalal noong Mayo 13 6. Sinimulan nang suriin ng Criminal Code Committee, sabi ng Palasyo ang binagong Kodigo Penal

para tiyakin ang halaga nito sa mamamayan

Idineklara ng Pangulong Aquino ang Hulyo 4 na special non-working day sa Cadiz City, Negros Occidental dahiil sa 46th Charter Day ng Lungsod

Idineklara ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang Hulyo 4, natapat sa araw ng Huwebes, bilang special nonworking day sa Lungsod ng Cadiz, lalawigan ng Negros Occidental dahil sa pagsapit ng 46th Charter Day ng lungsod. Inilagda ng Pangulo ang deklarasyon sa pamamagitan ng Proklamasyon 606 na nilagdaan ni Kalihim Tagapagpaganap Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. para mabigyan nang ganap na pagkakataon ang mga mamamayan ng Cadiz na ipagsaya at daluhan ang mga seremonya at palatuntunang kaugnay ng anibersaryo ng lungsod nila. Naging lungsod ang Cadiz noong Hulyo 4, 1967 sa pamamagitan ng Batas ng Republika 4894. Ang Lungsod ng Cadiz ang bukana at sentro ng Pulo ng Negros na mayaman sa pagsasaka at pag-iisda. PND(js/zaf) TOP

Nagtalaga ang Pangulong Aquino ng mga bagong hukom

Nagtalaga ang Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ng labing-walong bagong hukom. Inihayag ito ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte sa pulong-balitsan sa Malakan-yang Biyernes. Ang mga bagong talagang hukom, ayon sa liham na ipinadala ni Kalihim Tagapagpaganap Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. kay Punong Mahistrado Maria Lourdes P. Sereno ay sina: Hukom Cicero Tuazon Lampasa sa Aklan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2 ng Kalibo, Aklan; Hukom Altone M. Miralles ng Leyte RTC Branch 8 sa Lungsod ng Takloban; Hukom Girlie Borrel-YuLeyte RTC Branch 35, Lungsod ng Ormoc; Hukom Nathaniel E. Baldono ng RTC Branch 2, Silangang Samar; Hukom Mercedita G. Dadole-Ygnacio, Cebu RTC Branch 28, Lungsod ng Mandaue; Itinalaga naman ng Pangulo bilang mga presiding judge sina: Hukom Rene D. Romero, Jr., sa Municipal Triual Court in Cities, Lungsod ng Ormoc, Leyte; Hukom Estefanie R. Plaza, Municipal Trial Court, Barauen, Leyte; Ritchie B. Reyes, 8th Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Samar; Hukom Allan Sixto de Guia Estudillo, 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Gandara-Matuguinao San Jorge, Samar; Hukom Diel Ilumba Marmita, 4th Municipal Circuit Trial Court, San Julian, Sulat, Silangang Samar; Hukom Gorgonia Pineda-Encina, 9th Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Capul-San Vicente, Hilagang Samar; Hukom Reberna Balading Quibal, 4th Municipal Circuit Trial Court, CatubigLas Navas, Hilagang Samar at Hukom Terso Y. Ducentes, 1st Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Macrohan-Padre Burgos, Limasawa, Timog Leyte. PND(js/zaf) TOP

Pag-aaralan ng Palasyo ang mungkahing magdaos ng regular na Regional Cabinet meetings

Pag-aaralan ng Malacanang ang mungkahi ng ilang mambabatas na magdaos ng mga pulong ng Gabinete sa ibaibang rehiyon ng bansa upang lalong mailapit ang pamahalaan sa taong bayan. Ilang mambabatas ang humiling sa Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III na magdaos ng pulong ng Gabinete sa ibaibang rehiyon tuwing ikalawang buwan. Samantala, may isa namang Senador ang nagmungkahing magdaos ng sesyon ng Senado apat na buwan bawat taon sa Kabisayaan, Mindanao at Luzon. Sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Biyernes, sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte na ihaharap nila sa Pangulo ang mungkahing ito. Ipinaliwanag ni Valte na pag-aaralan ng Malacanang ang bagay na ito dahil mangangahulugan ito ng malaking halagang magugugol. Binigyang diin ni Valte na kahit naman walang pulong ng Gabinete sa ibang panig ng bansa, hindi nakakaligtaan

ng gobyernong Aquino na magtungo sa pinakamalalayong barangay upang makatalamitam ang taong bayan. Mayroon ding hakbang na ginagawa ang mga Kalihim natin. Sila ay nagpupunta sa iba -ibang mga lalawigan at may mga pampurok na tanggapan sila, lalo na at may mga proyektong kailangang ipagawa roon, dugtong pa ni Valte. Sa pamamagitan ng paglabas ng mga Kalihim natin, palagay namin, nailalapit din naman nila ang pamahalaang pambansa sa malalayong pook na kanilang pinupuntahan, sabi ni Valte. Sinabi ni Valte na ang Pangulong Aquino naman ay hindi lamang sa National Capital Region nagpupunta. Malimit din siyang nagsasadya sa iba-ibang dako ng bansa sapagkat nais niyang mapakinggan ang saloobin ng taong bayan at upang ipadama sa kanila ang malasakit ng pamahalaan sa kanila. Talaga namang nagpupunta ang Pangulo sa iba-ibang dako dahil ibig niyang marinig ang tinig ng taong bayan. Ibig niyang makasalamuha ang mga tao at ibig niyang pakinggan ang mga ito para iparamdam naman sa kanila ang malasakit ng pambansang pamahalaan, dagdag pa ni Valte. PND(as/zaf) TOP

Malaki na ang nagawa ng administrasyon para sugpuin ang red tape

Bagaman alam ng Malacanang na isa pa ring hamon sa pamahalaan ang kanilang puspusang pagsisikap na bawasan kundi man lubusang masugpo ang red tape ay tiniyak nito na malaki na rin naman ang nagawa nila para magtagumpay sa layuning ito. Salig sa mga report ang mga kapit-bansa ng Pilipinas sa ASEAN ay malaki na ang nagawa sa pagsisikap labanan ang red tape sa kani-kanilang burukrasya. Sinisikap ng pamahalaan na tiyaking ang mga lokal na pamahalaan ay umaalinsunod sa Anti -Red Tape Act, sabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Biyernes. Kailangan diyan ang Citizens Charter. Kaya ang sinusubaybayn natin ngayon ay ang pagsunod dito ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag na Anti-Red Tape Act report survey, pahayag ni Valte. Idinugtong niya na sa pamamagitan ng naturang report card survey ay maaari nang alamin ng taong bayan kung ang kani-kanilang mga munisipyo ay umaalinsunod sa Anti-Red Tape Act. Ayon kay Valte, salig sa pinakahuling ulat na natipon ng pamahalaan, may 317 lokal na pamahalaan ang nabigyan ng excellent ratings sa kanilang report cards, 309 naman ang may markang good, 60 ang acceptable at 36 ang bagsak. Ang inaasahan natin ay magsikap ang ating mga LGU upang lahat sila ay makakuha ng markang excellent sa kanilang Anti-Red Tape report card, pagbibigay-diin pa ni Valte. Isa sa pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng repormang adyenda ng administrasong Aquino ay ang walang patlang na pagdigma sa katiwalian at pagreporma sa burukrasya upang maging higit na mahusay ang paglilingkod ng pamahalaan. Ang pag-aalis ng red-tape o makupad na serbisyo ng pamahalaan ay mangangahulugan ng higit na mahusay at mabuting paglilingkod sa taong bayan. PND TOP

Pinapanumpa ng Pangulo ang mga kinatawan na nahalal noong Mayo 13

Pinapanumpa sa tungkulin ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang mga nahalal na kinatawan sa halalan noong Mayo 13 sa Rizal Hall ng Malacanang Biyernes. Ang mga nanumpa ay buhat sa Lapiang Liberal ang mga coalition partners na Lapiang Nasyonalista (NP), Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC) at National Unity Party (NUP). Ang mga kinatawan buhat sa Lapiang Liberal ay ang sumusunod: Rep. Henedina Abad, Lone District, Batanes; Rep. Ansaruddine Adiong, 1st District, Lanao del Sur; Rep. Rommel Amatong, 2nd District, Compostela Valley; Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, 3rd District, Negros Occidental; Rep. Joaquin Chipeco Jr., 2nd District, Laguna; Rep. Antonio Rafael del Rosario, 1st District, Davao del Norte; Rep.

Ben Evadone, Lone District, Eastern Samar; Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo, 6th District, Manila; Rep. Mary Anne Pernes, Lone District, Siquijor; Rep. Rene Relampagos, 1st District Bohol; Rep. Czarina Umali, 3rd District, Nueva Ecija; and Rep. Ma. Carme Zamora, 1st District, Compostela Valley. Ang mga mambabatas ng Lapiang Nasyonalista ay kinabibilangan nila Rep. Harlin Abayon, 1st District, Northern Samar; Rep. Raneo Abu, 2nd District, Batangas; Rep. Mercedes Cagas, 1st District, Davao del Sur; Rep. Lino Edgardo Cayetano, 2nd District, Taguig City; Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, 1st District, Ilocos Norte; Rep. Ana Cristina Go, 2nd District, Isabela; Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr., 1st District, Cebu; Rep. Henry Oaminal, 2ndDistrict, Misamis Occidental; Rep. Carlos Padilla, Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya; and Rep. Mark Villar, Lone District, Las Pinas. Ang mga kinatawan ng NPC ay sina Rep. Mercedes Alveres, 6th District, Negros Oriental; Rep. Ma. Zernaida Angping, 3rd District, Manila; Rep. George Arnaiz, 2nd District, Negros Oriental; Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, 2nd District, Bohol; Rep. Enrique Cojuangco, 1stDistrict, Tarlac; Rep. Joel Roy Duavit, 1st District, Rizal; Rep. Napoleon Dy, 3rd District, Isabela; Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, 2nd District, Lanao del Norte; Rep. Imelda Dimaporo, 1st District, Lanao del Norte; Rep. Wilfredo Mark Enverga, 1st District, Quezon; Rep. Conrado Estrella, partylist, Abono; Rep. Weslie Catchalian, partylist, Alay Buhay; Rep. Douglas Hagedorn, 3rd District, Palawan; Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun, 1st District, Zambales; Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel, Lone District, Malabon; Rep. Scott Davies Lanete, 4th District, Masbate; Rep. Evelio Leonarda, Lone District, Bacolod; Rep. Mark Leandro Mendoza, partylist, An Waray; Rep. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, partylist, An Bono; Rep. Isidro Rodriguez Jr., 2nd District, Rizal; Rep. Rogelio Neil Roque, 4th District, Bukidnon; Rep. Angelina Tan, 4th District, Quezon; Rep. Felix William Fuentebella, 4th District, Camarines Sur; Rep. Milagrosa Tan, 2nd District, Western Samar; Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, 3rd District, Negros Oriental; Rep. Sherwin Tugna, partylist, CIVAC; and Rep. Arthur Yap, 3rd District, Bohol. Ang NUP lawmakers ay sina Rep. Magnolia Rosa Antonino-Nadres, 4th District, Nueva Ecija; Rep. Frederick Abueg, 2nd District, Palawan; Rep. Elpidio Barganza Jr., 4th District, Cavite; Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David, 4th District, Manila; Rep. Frenedil Castro, 2nd District, Capiz; Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva, 2nd District Negros Occidental; Rep. Enrique Garcia, 2nd District, Bataan; Rep. Arnulfo Go, 2nd District, Sultan Kudarat; Rep. Antonio Lagdameo Jr., 2nd District, Davao del Norte; Rep. Evelyn Mellana, 2nd District, Agusan del Sur; Rep. Damian Mercado, Lone District, Southern Leyte; Rep. Karlo Alexie Nograles, 1st District, Davao; Rep. Emil Ong, 2nd District, Northern Samar; Rep. Gavini Pancho, 2nd District, Bulacan; Rep. Ma. Valentina Plaza, 1st District, Agusan del Sur; Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, 4th District, Cebu; Rep. Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, 1st District, Bulacan; and Rep. Randolph Teng, 3rd District, Cagayan. TOP

Sinimulan nang suriin ng Criminal Code Committee, sabi ng Palasyo ang binagong Kodigo Penal para tiyakin ang halaga nito sa mamamayan

Pinasimulan nang suriing mabuti ng Criminal Code Committee ang Revised Penal Code upang matiyak na ang mga nakasaad ditong mga batas ay mahalaga pa sa taong bayan. Sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Biyernes na ang mga dalubhasa buhat sa iba-ibang sangay ng pamahalaan at ang civil society groups ang bumubuo sa Criminal Code Committee na magpupulong na nang regular para balangkasin ang bagong criminal code. Pinag-aaralan pa ngayon ng Criminal Code Review Committee ang Book Two ng Revised Penal Code sapagkat ang Book One ay tungkol sa mga pangkalahatang prinsipyo ng criminal law at ang Book Two ay tungkol sa mga kasalanan o ang felonies na tinarawag natin, sabi pa ni Valte. Parang 1901 pa po yata inilabas ang Revised Penal Code kaya marami po roon ang napag -iwanan na ng panahon. Ang kanilang layunin ay para makakita ng pinakamaiinam na hakbang upang tugunan ang mga isyung panlipunan na ngayon ay criminalized na, ayon kay Valte. Ang Criminal Code Committee ay aalinsunod sa patakaran na ang pinakamabisang paraan ng pagtiyak para matugunan ang ating criminal justice system ay tiyaking ang mga batas natin ay mahalaga at makabuluhan sa taong bayan. Mula nang itatag noong Abril 2011, ang Criminal Code Committee ay puspusan nang nagsasagawa ng tungkulin nito at naghahanda na ng draft ng bagong Criminal Code na inaasahang makapagpapabuti pa sa paglalapat ng katarungan sa bansa. Mga pangunahing ahensiyang may kinalaman sa katarungan ang bumubuo ng Criminal Code Committee na tulad ng: Kataastaasang Hukuman, Pambansang Pulisya, Pambansang Kawanihan ng Pagsisiyasat , Kawanihan ng Pandarayuhan, Public Attorneys Office, Tanggapan ng Prokurador Heneral. Office of the Government Corporate

Counsel, Parole and Probation Administration at Land Registration Authority. PND(jas/zaf) TOP

ONLINE NEWS
29 JUNE 2013
1. Statement of the DFA spokesperson on the consultations with the Heads of Posts of Singapore, Malaysia
and Hong Kong 2. PNP issues new guidelines for gun permits 3. GSIS memorial planholders may file for refund until August 31 4. Bank lending expands further in May 5. Domestic liquidity growth accelerates in May 6. NG budget deficit at P13.164 billion for May 2013 7. DepEd to work with indigenous peoples on the use of school sites within ancestral domains 8. Statement of NEDA Sec. Balisacan at PCIEERD'a anniversary celebration 9. GPH, CFPD build new peace milestones with ex-rebels army integration, firearms disposition 10. DENR asks for public's help to reduce flooding 11. DAR hands over four Negros Haciendas to 22 farmworkers 12. PRC announcement: Consulting Opportunity Project Manager for Technical Exchange Programme - Phase III 13. VP Binay slams ambush on PNP trainees in Mt. Province 14. Statement by DBM Sec. Florencio B. Abad on Jan-May spending performance 15. Ombudsman releases list of govt agencies with the most number of cases filed in 2012 |TOP| Statement of the DFA spokesperson on the consultations with the Heads of Posts of Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph

We just concluded a fact-finding consultation with the Heads of Posts (HOPs) of Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. We are happy that these three Posts do not have reports of sex-related offenses committed by Post personnel against wards in their respective Filipino Workers Resource Centers (FWRCs). The management of the FWRCs in these Posts appears to be adequately protective of the wards. On the basis of the consultations that we had with the HOPs from the Middle East and North Africa as well as from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, we will be coming up with recommendations to be submitted to the President and to the Department of Labor and Employement (DOLE) on best policies and practices covering the management and operations of FWRCs. END |TOP| PNP issues new guidelines for gun permits Source: http://www.pnp.gov.ph

All licensed gun-owners applying for gun-carrying privileges are now required to personally submit their biometric fingerprint specimen and photograph as mandatory requirements for issuance of Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR). These administrative requirements for issuance of PTCFOR were introduced by the PNP as basis in adjusting the records in the Firearms Information Management System (FIMS) database in order to further improve the processes in the issuance of firearms licenses and permits. PNP Public Information Office Chief, Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said all these

processes aim to streamline existing gun licensing procedures with the end in view of intensifying the campaign against delinquent gun owners and those in possession of loose firearms. According to the PNP leadership, the operation against loose firearms is one of the most effective tools against organized crime groups, Partisan Armed Groups and Wanted Persons who usually use loose firearms as their primary instrument in carrying out criminal activity. The PNP is in the continued implementation of Oplan Katok or house visits on licensed gun owners, to verify the current status of the guns and its registered owners. Over the past six months, the PNP has conducted 464,996 house visits on registered gun owners with expired license to remind them of the their obligation to update their firearms records. (PNP-PIO) |TOP| GSIS memorial planholders may file for refund until August 31 Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) memorial planholders have until August 31, 2013 to request to convert their plans to cash not lower than the contract price. Dubbed GSIS Enhanced Optional Exit Mechanism (EOEM), the program allows planholders to refund their cash payments depending on the type of their memorial plan. The GSIS said EOEM is being implemented to protect the planholders from memorial servicing problems that may arise in the future, adding that the cash refund will enable the planholders to pay for their other expenses. Holders of the GSIS Genesis Flexi Plan may refund 150 percent of the plan's contract price; those of Genesis Plus Plan may refund 125 percent; and Genesis Plan and Genesis Special Plan, 100 percent. Interested planholders must bring to the nearest GSIS branch office the fully accomplished application form; original and photocopy of the memorial plan agreement or affidavit of loss; original and photocopy of the planholder's two valid government-issued IDs; and certificate of full payment, if any. According to GSIS, once planholders avail of EOEM, their memorial plans will be automatically terminated. Application forms are available at any GSIS branch office or may be downloaded here. For further clarifications on the exit mechanism, planholders may call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747. |TOP| Bank lending expands further in May Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph Outstanding loans of commercial banks, net of banks reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the BSP, expanded at a faster pace of 13.1 percent in May relative to the 12.0 percent growth registered in April. Meanwhile, growth of bank lending inclusive of RRPs in the same month decelerated to 13.1 percent from 13.7 percent in the previous month. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, commercial bank lending in May increased by 0.6 percent for loans net of RRPs but loans inclusive of RRPs dropped by 0.2 percent. Loans for production activitieswhich comprised more than four-fifths of banks aggregate loan portfolio accelerated to 13.3 percent in May from 12.0 percent in April. Likewise, the growth in consumer loans in the same month rose slightly to 11.7 percent from 11.5 percent a month earlier due to the sustained expansion across all types of household loans. The expansion in production loans was driven primarily by increased lending to the following sectors: real estate, renting, and business services (24.3 percent); wholesale and retail trade (13.0 percent); electricity, gas and water (14.8 percent); financial intermediation (13.0 percent); and manufacturing (5.2 percent). Meanwhile, declines were observed in lending to agriculture, hunting, and forestry (-6.5 percent) and fishing (-3.6 percent). The continued brisk growth in bank lending suggests adequate funding for domestic economic activity in the months ahead. Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor the domestic financial environment to ensure that liquidity and credit conditions remain supportive of the expanding domestic economy while remaining consistent with its price stability objective.

|TOP| Domestic liquidity growth accelerates in May Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph

Domestic liquidity (M3) grew by 16.3 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) in May to reach P5.3 trillion. This growth was faster relative to the 13.3 percent (revised) expansion recorded in the previous month. On a monthly basis, seasonally-adjusted M3 also expanded at a faster pace of 2.6 percent compared to the 2.0 percent (revised) month-on-month growth in April. The growth in money supply was driven largely by the sustained expansion in net domestic assets (NDA). NDA increased by 28.2 percent y-o-y in May from 19.4 percent (revised) in the previous month due largely to the continued increase in credits to the private sector of 15.4 percent, reflecting the robust lending activity of commercial banks. Similarly, claims on the public sector grew by 8.3 percent in May after rising by 12.0 percent (revised) in April, largely a result of the increase in credits to the National Government (NG). Meanwhile, the growth in net foreign assets (NFA) moderated to 0.9 percent in May from 2.9 percent (revised) in the previous month. The BSPs NFA position increased by 4.4 percent on the back of steady foreign exchange inflows from overseas Filipinos remittances and BPO receipts. However, the NFA of banks declined further as banks foreign liabilities continued to increase due in part to higher placements and deposits made by foreign banks with other banks, while their foreign assets continued to decrease due to the decline in their loan receivables from and deposits with foreign banks. The continued expansion in domestic liquidity during the month indicates sufficient liquidity to sustain the economys growth momentum. Going forward, the BSP will monitor monetary conditions closely to ensure that liquidity in the financial system remains supportive of economic activity while ensuring low and stable inflation. |TOP| NG budget deficit at P13.164 billion for May 2013 Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph

The National Government still has room to spend for growth as it posted a deficit of P13.2 billion last month, 37% lower than the P20.9 billion program. This brings the year-to-date deficit to P42.8 billion, 31% below the P61.9 billion program for the period. The cash operations report so far shows that we continue to be well within our deficit ceilings despite the healthy pace of our expenditures program. Our strong collection performance provides plenty of room for further expansion of our priority programs, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said. For May alone, revenues totaled P154.039 billion against expenditures of P167.203 billion. From January to May, aggregate revenues summed up to P708.374 billion, financing P751.213 billion in expenditures. Netting out interest payments, the government still operates under a primary surplus amounting to P95.9 billion as of May. Revenues continue to rise NG revenues for May grew 17% compared to the same month last year driven mainly by improved collections from the BIR and dividends remitted to the Bureau of Treasury. Revenues for May totaled P154.039 billion, bringing the five-month total to P708.374 billion, 10% higher than revenues for the same five-month period last year. For May, BIR was able to collect P111.9 billion while BOC collections amounted to P25.9 billion, growing by 18% and 3% from the same month last year. Bureau of Treasury had an income of P9.4 billion, growing 87% compared to last year while revenue from other offices amounted to P6.8 billion, 3% higher year-on-year. Expenditures National Government expenditures amounted to P167.2 billion for May, P10.7 billion or 6% below budget. Year-on-year, expenditures were up P16 billion or 11% for the May. Total disbursements for January to May amounted to P751.213 billion, P83 billion or 12.4% higher than comparable disbursements in 2012. Our resilient revenues have given us space for liability management activities in these volatile economic

conditions. We are closely monitoring market developments for opportunities to further strengthen our fiscal position, added the finance chief. |TOP| DepEd to work with indigenous peoples on the use of school sites within ancestral domains Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph PASIG CITY The Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)have entered into an agreement to facilitate discussions with indigenous peoples communities on the use of some 2,000 school sites located within their ancestral domains. A memorandum of agreement was signed today by Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC and NCIP chairperson Zenaida Brigida Pawid that outlines the steps in consulting and validating the consent of indigenous peoples communities for DepEds use of the school sites within ancestral domains. In partnership with indigenous peoples communities, we would like to address the land issues related to existing school sites within ancestral domains. Furthermore, we are keen to work with the communities in protecting these areas and ensuring that education services provided by these schools are relevant and responsive to the wellbeing of the community and the ancestral domain, said Luistro. DepEd has around 46,000 school sites across the country where public elementary and secondary schools are located. Approximately 2,000 of these school sites are situated in ancestral lands. Some of these lands are supposed to have been donated but we need to verify these, explained Luistro. The MOA between DepEd and the NCIP stipulates that after the conduct of research, verification, and survey of the school sites, usufruct agreements between DepEd and the concerned indigenous cultural communities will be executed. |TOP| Statement of NEDA Sec. Balisacan at PCIEERD'a anniversary celebration Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph

INCLUSIVE GROWTH FOR A MORE COMPETITIVE PHILIPPINES By ARSENIO M. BALISACAN Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning 3rd Anniversary Celebration, Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology New World Hotel, Makati City 28 June 2013, 9:30 am Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Congratulations to the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) on your third anniversary. We are happy to see that your organization has taken this opportunity to deepen the discussion on inclusive growth and competitiveness, particularly through partnership with the industry sector and the science and technology (S&T) community. From the start, we have emphasized the crucial role that industry, particularly manufacturing, plays in development. This is why we are very encouraged to see the latest data on the performance of the Philippine economy. Not only did we have a very good growth rate of 7.8 percent for the first quarter of 2013, after a better-than-expected full-year growth of 6.8 percent in 2012; industry was also able to contribute 10.9 percent of the growth, with local manufacturing growing at an impressive rate of 9.7 percent despite the 8.4 percent drop in our goods exports. The main contributors to the strong growth of manufacturing were manufactures of food, radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus, chemical products, basic metal, machinery and other equipment, and transport equipment. The next highest contributor to growth is construction, whose 32.5 percent strong growth indicates a good positioning towards an industry-led economy. The industry sector has great potential to boost inclusive growth. For instance, the results of the April 2013 Labor Force Survey showed that while total employment fell by about 624,000 workers, employment in the industry sector grew by 3.8 percent or 224,000 workers from April 2012 to April 2013. The quality of employment in the industry sector also improved, with the number of persons working 40 hours and over per week increasing to 79.4 percent in April 2013, from 64.0 percent in April 2012. This trend is also reflected in the increasing percentage of wage and salary workers, which rose to 57.5 percent in April 2013 from 55.8 percent in April 2012.

Despite these positive developments, however, we are aware that there is still much that needs to be done for growth to be sustainable and inclusive. For instance, compared to other Asian countries, the Philippines still has the lowest total investment share to GDP from 2010-2012 relative to India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Poverty incidence remains high, and so does income inequality. Moreover, about than 60 percent of the entire countrys economic growth is concentrated in Metro Manila, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon. Most of us are aware that rapid economic growth is necessary to reduce poverty and promote inclusion. Evidence shows that the substantial poverty reduction that was achieved in developing countries in the past two decades was due to rapid economic growth and structural transformation in these countries, particularly in Asia. Globally, this growth contributed nearly two-thirds of the observed poverty reduction in the developing world. Roughly, based on World Bank data, a 1% increase in GDP per capita reduces poverty by 1.7%. However, the case of the Philippines is quite different. While economic growth in most East Asian countries has been remarkably rapid during the past three decades, the same cannot be said for the Philippines. The countrys economic growth during this per iod has barely exceeded the population growth rate which has continued to expand relatively rapidly at about 2.0% a year. Thus, serious students of Philippine development contend that shifting the economy to a higher growth pathand keeping it there for the long termshould be first and foremost on the development agenda. But we are also realizing that there is a two-way relationship between growth and inclusiveness. Without greater inclusion, rapid and sustained growth will not be possible. Inequality in incomes and opportunities can weaken the power of economic growth as a key strategic vehicle for eliminating acute poverty. Rising inequality can also undermine political and social stability, which is a necessary condition for sustainable development and prosperity. Thus, there is now a great sense of urgency to reduce poverty and inequality. We cannot afford to simply wait for the benefits of growth to trickle down. What we need is inclusive growth a growth process that deliberately enables more to participate, and where the benefits of growth are shared by all. Inclusive growth does not come by chance. It requires deliberate policies that expand opportunities for remunerative employment and human development. It also demands development in the periphery through integration of the lagging areas or regions with the fast-growing, leading areas or regions of the country. Large-scale targeted programs also need to be in place to directly assist those who are unable to participate in the growth process. The measures and strategies that are needed to promote inclusion are also the ones needed to increase the countrys long-term competitiveness. The World Economic Forum defines competitiveness as the set of institutions, policies, and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country, which in turn, influence its income levels, returns to investment, and growth potential. In other words, according to the WEF, a more competitive economy is one that is likely to sustain growth. What is government doing to promote inclusion, competitiveness, and economic growth? To promote rapid, sustained growth, we are anchoring public investment to areas and programs that will improve the investment climate for private investors. Our strategic framework envisions the public sector as the provider of enabling conditions for the private sector to invest in productive sectors, thereby creating decent and remunerative employment opportunities for our rapidly growing labor force. Macroeconomic stability will still be the major strategy to fuel positive expectations. Government will continue to exercise fiscal prudence. We will strive to maintain, if not improve our credit ratings, so that businesses and employers can enjoy a lower cost of capital. To sustain the growth, we need to ensure that economic growth benefits everyone, regardless of location or social status. To do this, we need to shift the structure of the economy from being largely consumption-driven to one that is increasingly led by investments. In particular, we need to improve the efficiency of public investment to serve as a catalyst for greater private sector participation; connect the regions to facilitate access to markets and basic services; and address critical constraints to investments, particularly high power cost, poor infrastructure, policy inconsistencies, and administrative inefficiencies. We are creating new drivers of growth that will generate high quality jobs and strengthen regional competitive advantage. The PDP: 2011-2016 and the various regional development plans have identified priority industries which will be located across the country. These have been prioritized because they present the highest growth potentials and generate the most jobs. For the remaining Plan period, we will put more emphasis on employment generating sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, IT-BPO, agri-business, and housing. These are industries with high growth potential and which are dispersed across the country. Infrastructure projects have been programmed to support growth in these industries that are in the peripheral regions. We think that this will greatly increase

our chances of achieving inclusive growth. To boost the competitiveness of our productive sectors, we are investing heavily in infrastructure, human capital (particularly education and health), and governance. Admittedly in infrastructure development, especially those involving public-private partnerships, the pace of implementation has been slower than desired. We expect to speed up implementation of the key infrastructure programs in the remaining years of this administration. To further increase the capacity of industries to grow and to generate employment, we are pushing for measures to support new investors and to improve access to financing, especially for small and medium enterprises. We are also reviewing the foreign investment negative list and rationalizing fiscal incentives, giving preference to generators of high-quality employment and investment outside of NCR and Metro Cebu. To propel our economy towards a higher, sustainable and inclusive growth path, we need growth that is driven not by perspiration, that is, increases in inputs such as areas of land or higher labor use per unit of land, but by technology, improvements in policy, and institutional reforms. As economic history tells us, it is technological change that drives long-term economic development. But technological change is not a manna from heaven. Countries must invest in R&D and good governance to achieve rapid growth of incomes and employment, and thus provide enduring sources of improvement in living standards for their populations. For Philippine S&T, we need to channel our efforts towards increasing the productivity of agriculture and industries, and improve the links between agriculture and industry so that high quality jobs can be created, especially for the unskilled. S&T innovations that directly improve the quality of life, especially those related to health, safety, and environmental quality, are also crucially needed. Other sectors in the economy also have critical issues that could be addressed by advances in S&T. Enhancing the countrys S&T capacity depends on good policies and practices that foster the appropriate environment and promote the interconnectedness of the areas upon which S&T stands. Policies that promote greater human resource development, facilitate demand for knowledge from the private sector, enhance public support for and management of knowledge institutions, and facilitate access to information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure must be coordinated and harmonized in order to create the conditions in which S&T capacity deepens and consolidates. A major part of the R&D work will still be initiated by government. But we hope that the private sector would increase their R&D efforts as well. Investments in human capital will also address the problem of low employability among new job entrants. We have started the phased implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, which aims to improve the quality of basic education and to better prepare our students for the world of work. We are also increasing investments in technical education while encouraging higher education institutions to partner with business and employers to ensure the relevance of their program offerings. Successful implementation of these strategies demands a greater sense of urgency among us in government, as well as better coordination between and among the various agencies charged with implementing programs and projects. Under the leadership of our President, we are coordinating our programs and projects to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. As we in government work to improve the business environment and invest in S&T and human capital development, we hope that our partners in the S&T community and in the industry sector will also take the necessary steps to increase their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. As mentioned earlier, one way to do this is to increase research, development and innovation efforts. To lessen our export dependency on mainly electronics and semiconductors, we hope that our private sector partners will also diversify and expand production of high value-added products, and increase investments on backward and forward linkages to boost the multiplier effects of our industries. Economic growth, inclusion, and competitiveness are not mutually exclusive; on the contrary, these factors enhance and reinforce each other. In the same way, our work in government can only be strengthened and enhanced with the continuing support of our partners in industry and in the science and technology community. Together, let us promote a culture of multi-disciplinary collaboration, knowledge sharing, open dialogue and cross-fertilization of ideas, as we work to harness the benefits of science and technology to improve the lives of our people. Thank you and good morning. |TOP| GPH, CFPD build new peace milestones with ex-rebels army integration, firearms disposition Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph Gamu, Isabela Honoring the commitments they forged two years ago, the government and the Cordillera

Forum on Peace and Development (CFPD), formerly known as Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA), have created new peace milestones with the integration into the army of former CPLA members and their next of kin as well as the turnover of their firearms to the government. We take this commitment very seriously. We see the event today as government demonstrating its fidelity to the promises it has made under the Closure Agreement and its capacity to honor lives and futures lost in past struggles, said Undersecretary Maria Cleofe Gettie Sandoval of the Office of t he Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. The ceremonial opening of the CFPD candidate soldiers army training was complemented with the symbolic disposition of firearms turned in by the former combatants on Wednesday at the 5th Infantry Division (ID) Grandstand in Camp Melchor Dela Cruz. Joining Sandoval were CFPD Chair Arsenio Humiding, Philippine Army (PA) Chief Lieutenant General Noel Coballes, and 5th ID Commander Major Gen. Joel Ibanez. We hope it will spur increased confidence among all stakeholders in governments serious intent and capacity not only in concluding peace agreements but, as important, in fully implementing whatever it signs, Sandoval added. The Undersecretary explained that the integration of former CPLA members and their next of kin into the army forms part of the livelihood component of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the government and the CPLA, together with its political wing Cordillera Bodong Administration, in July 2011. Also provided in the MOA is the disposition of arms and forces as part of the CBA-CPLAs transformation into a socio-economic, unarmed organization. Humiding described these milestones as the fruits of their commitment to the government. It is a commitment we pledged to the government in the agreement, he said. Nakikita ng CPLA, lalong lalo na ng kolektibong liderato ng high command ng CPLA, na kapag napausad natin itong programa, yung mga susunod na di pa natin naipatupad ay maipapatupad na natin (The CPLA, especially the collective leadership of its high command, sees that if we can move this program forward, those that have not yet been implemented will already be implemented). A total of 168 candidate soldiers were accepted as trainees. They are set to begin their orientation and internalization process in the Division Training School. Jordan Iwangga, one of the candidates, said it has always been his dream to become a soldier. Gusto kong makatulong para sa kapayapaan ng bansa natin (I want to help promote peace in our country) , he stated. The 25-year-old son of former CPLA rebels from Kalinga related how hard it was to grow up with both of his parents rarely at home. One year old pa lang po ako nang nag-CPLA ang mga magulang ko. Mahirap na palaging wala ang mga magulang. Andun yung parang napapabayaan na kayo (I was only one year old when my parents joined the CPLA. It is difficult when parents are always gone. There were those times of feeling neglected). With the signing of the MOA in 2011, however, Iwangga felt proud as he considered this historic breakthrough a result of his parents' and other CPLA rebels struggles to achieve the peace and development that Cordillerans have been aspiring for. Noong nagkapirmahan na ng MOA, nag -desisyon na ako na sumali sa integration program (When the MOA was signed, I decided to join the integration program), he said. PA Chief Lt. Gen. Coballes congratulated in his speech the new candidate soldiers. Today marks the next chapter of your lives as you begin your training as army soldiers and become an instrument to win peace for yourselves, for your families, for the Filipino people, and for our great nation. Coballes said that their entrance into the service goes beyond than just having a job and getting paid. It is a commitment for your honorable service to the Filipino nation. Ito ay hindi lamang tingnan bilang isang trabaho na magbibigay sa atin ng sweldo (Don't look at it as just a job that will provide a salary). The 168 trainees are composed of 147 males and 21 females. Thirty-three are college degree holders, including a registered nurse. |TOP| DENR asks for public's help to reduce flooding Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) appealed to the public anew to help reduce flooding by avoiding indiscriminate throwing or dumping of waste along streets and waterways.

The appeal came days after several parts of Metro Manila submerged in flood which, aside from heavy rains, was also due to garbage clogging the drainage systems of the metropolis. DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said this could only mean that many residents are still in the habit of haphazardly disposing waste that blocks water courses causing flooding. While there are many contributory factors to these floods, we should also remember that each of us who contributes to the garbage that ends up in our streets and waterways are equally guilty of contributing to these floods, Paje said. Despite such observation, Paje said the DENR will never get tired of reminding the public of the importance of proper solid waste management, particularly waste segregation at source. He pointed out that by segregating their waste at home people will help reduce not only the waste sent to landfills, but also the uncollected trash that ends up clogging drainage systems and waterways. The environment chief lamented that a lot of people still practice the old bad way of mixing together all types of waste and just leave the segregation to garbage collectors. "With the 'no segregation, no collection' policy of many local government units, the uncollected trash bags filled with mixed waste are often left out on the streets, and their contents are scattered by scavengers, stray animals and the wind," Paje explained. "These eventually end up in waterways, gutters or drains, aggravating floods that often come with heavy, prolonged rains," he added. Paje urged the public to always follow the basic principles of good solid waste management, which is to reuse, reduce and recycle, and segregate waste according to biodegradable and non-biodegradable. It may seem like such a small thing to know where you throw your trash, but this requires a conscious effort for each individual, a change in lifestyle that collectively redounds to a greater good, Paje stressed. He also called on local government leaders, particularly barangay officials, to regularly conduct cleanup drives within their communities as required by Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. "More than being an eyesore, waste that clogs the waterways can also cause them to be stagnant, thereby becoming breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors. Let us also remember the old adage that cleanliness is next to godliness," he said. For its part, the DENR has been working in partnership with the private sector in reviving major creeks and rivers through its "Adopt-an-Estero" program. "While the main purpose of the program is to prevent garbage in tributaries from ending up in major water bodies like the Manila Bay, other activities such as desiltation and surface cleanup also help minimize flash floods in surrounding communities, Paje pointed out. As of May this year, more than 200 water bodies and waterways nationwide have already been adopted by private companies under the DENR program. |TOP| DAR hands over four Negros Haciendas to 22 farmworkers Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) successfully completed the acquisition and distribution of four big sugar estates in Negros Occidental, installing 244 farmworkers in their newly-owned property covering a gross area of almost 500 hectares of land in the cities of Cadiz and Sagay. The farmworkers-turned-new landowners erupted into cheers, with some shedding tears of joy, as DAR officials and employees escorted them to their respective haciendas to identify their individual farm lots. The two-day event, which began last Monday, turned into a fiesta as the farmworkers in the sugar estates butchered their stock of pigs and chicken to share simple meals celebrating their transformation into land owners. The biggest landholding distributed to farmworkers was Hacienda Cana-an in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City whose gross area was 386.85 hectares of which 352 hectares were distributed to farmworker beneficiaries

after the segregation of the retention area of the landowner and the non-CARPable areas in the landholding such as roads, eroded portions, and others. Each of the farmworkers in Hacienda Cana-an were given almost three hectares of farm lots as there were only 123 qualified beneficiaries in the sugar estate. The installation in Hacienda Cana-an on the morning of June 24 was the most festive as farmworkers from four farmers groups, including Task Force Mapalad, Katarungan and MARA, held their celebration independently of each other. The other group of beneficiaries is locally organized and has no national affiliation. After the installation in Hacienda Cana-an, DAR personnel proceeded to Barangay Bulanon in Sagay City that afternoon to escort 36 farmworkers of Hacienda Vicente in their newly-owned farm lots covering 26.7 hectare. The following day, June 25, DAR personnel trekked two kilometers on the muddy dirt road of Barangay General Luna in Sagay City to install 23 farmworkers in Hacienda Susan, which covers 23.7 hectares of land planted with sugarcane. After lunch that day, the DAR officials and employees proceeded to Hacienda Rosemarie, also in Barangay General Luna, to install 43 farmworkers in the 50-hectare sugar estate. DAR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Teofilo Inocencio, who flew from Manila to supervise the installation activities, credited the success of the two-day event to the close coordination among farmers organizations and DAR personnel in Negros Occidental. We hope this level of cooperation among stakeholders in the agrarian reform program will help fast -track CARP implementation in Negros Occidental and replicated in other parts of the country, Inocencio said. Inocencio explained that installation activities are meant to assist farmworker-beneficiaries in identifying and occupying their CARP-awarded lands. Installation is crucial only in areas where tension may arise between previous landowners and qualified beneficiaries, as well as among farmworkers who are affiliated with different farmers organizations. In most part of the country, the beneficiaries given Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) assume possession of the land without the need of installation. We only resort to installation to prevent the possible outbreak of violence as a result of the land distribution, he said. In some areas, tension is still high between the previous landowners and the beneficiaries. In other areas, the tension comes from different farmers groups that have conflicting claims on individual farm lots, he added. Unlike in rice lands where tenants occupy specific farm lots, Inocencio noted that farmworkers in haciendas have no permanent farm lots to claim as their own. We embark on installation activities also to help farmworkers identify the specific farm lots that they will now own, he said. The successful installation activities in Negros Occidental was part of the DARs ongoing efforts to distribute all CARP-covered lands before President Aquinos term ends in 2016. At the beginning of January 2013, there are still 93,000 landholdings covering 870,000 hectares that remain undistributed under the agrarian reform program. Of this total, more than 15,558 landholdings covering a gross area of more than 162,000 hectares of Phase 1-3A lands have been tagged as problematic due to pending cases or technical problems. The technical problems in the land registration and titling system include missing titles, destroyed titles, and erroneous technical descriptions (open parcels, overlapping boundaries, timberlands that have private titles, etc.). In Negros Occidental, for example, around 50,000 hectares of covered landholdings (as of the end of December 2012) have problems with technical descriptions that, when plotted, do not close (open parcels). DAR Central Office personnel, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Land Registration Authority (LRA), managed to resolve these errors for 8,900 hectares during the first quarter of 2013. Of the remaining 870,000 hectares, an estimated 175,000 hectares will be retention areas of landowners. Under the law, a landowner may retain a maximum five hectares of land. According to DAR officials, the remaining 695,000 hectares would be distributed to agrarian reform

beneficiaries as follows: 160,000 hectares (2013); 240,707 hectares (2014); 180,707 hectares (2015); and 112,767 (January to June 2016). DAR officials remain optimistic that the department has undertaken enough measures and reforms necessary, including closer coordination with other CARP-implementing agencies, to complete the land distribution in 2016. |TOP| PRC announcement: Consulting Opportunity Project Manager for Technical Exchange Programme Phase III Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph The ASEAN Secretariat is seeking applications for consultancy services for the management of the project, specifically to manage the implementation of Phase III programme "The Project on Education and Training Governance: Capacity Building for National Qualifications Frameworks (NQFs)" . Phase III aims to develop participating ASEAN countries capability in implementing and refi ning their national qualifications frameworks (NQFs) through exchanges of officials and technical experts. It is regarded that the qualifications frameworks are important tools for supporting the efficient and effective recognition of skills and qualifications within and between ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area countries. The project will involve collaborative training and development programmes for the participating ASEAN countries, along with appropriate in-country expert technical training. The project will be piloted with Thailand, as the participating country, and New Zealand, as the host country and will run from June 2013 to July 2014. |TOP| VP Binay slams ambush on PNP trainees in Mt. Province Source: http://ovp.gov.ph Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has strongly condemned Fridays early morning ambush on a group of trainees of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Sitio Cabunagan, Tadian, Mt. Province. According to the Vice President, the trainees were on their regular morning jog and reportedly unarmed when they were ambushed at around 6 a.m. today. I strongly condemn this treacherous attack. The victims were not armed and were jogging. Most importantly, they were just trainees, Binay said. "Those behind this attack should be brought to justice," he added. Initial reports reaching the Vice President said that at least one trainee was killed, 6 wounded and 24 still missing. Binay said the PNP should intensify its pursuit operations and conduct an immediate probe. A month ago, seven members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed in a land mine blast in Allacapan, Cagayan province. The New Peoples Army guerillas allegedly staged the assault. The police officers were on their way to undergo an electrocardiography or ECG procedure when they were attacked. |TOP| Statement by DBM Sec. Florencio B. Abad on Jan-May spending performance Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph Its clear to us that government spending continues to be robust, backed by improved obligation rates among key agencies and a stronger fiscal base to support critical expenditures. Our performance for the first five months of the year is a strong indicator of the direction we intend to take for the second semester. Were looking at accelerating disbursements further and, more crucially, ensuring high impact spending that will translate to direct, immediate, and sustainable benefits to Filipinos.

It must also be noted that program budgeting has allowed us to approach expenditures in a strategic convergent fashion, where projects are no longer funded as standalone initiatives or without any apparent design. Instead, the budget supports programs comprehensively, and in accordance to the development priorities set by President Aquino. |TOP| Ombudsman releases list of govt agencies with the most number of cases filed in 2012 Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph

Local Government Units (LGUs) topped anew the list of government agencies with the most number of cases that were filed or initiated in 2012 before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB). In a report made by the OMBs Finance and Management Information Office (OMB-FMIO), a total of 2,669 cases were filed against local government officials in 2012. Of the number, 1,426 were filed with the OMBCentral; 681 with OMB-Luzon; 207 with OMB-Visayas; 353 with OMB-Mindanao; and two with the OMBs Military and Other Local Enforcement Offices (OMB-Moleo). In 2011, there were a total of 3,852 cases filed against local government officials, making it also the number one agency with the most number of cases filed that year. The Philippine National Police (PNP) also retained its number 2 slot in the list, with 1,415 cases filed in 2012 as opposed to 1,128 cases filed in 2011. Below is the list of top 20 government agencies with the most number of cases filed in 2012:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 1 0 . 1 1 . 1 2 .

LGUs

2,669

Philippine National Police (PNP)

1,415

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

332

Dept. of Education (DepEd)

276

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

197

Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

141

Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

139

121

Dept. of Justice (DOJ)

90

Bureau of Customs (BOC)

81

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)

77

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)

74

1 3 . 1 4 . 1 5 . 1 6 . 1 7 . 1 8 . 1 9 . 2 0 . 2 1 . 2 2

Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

73

Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA)

73

Dept. of Health (DOH)

69

Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC)

58

Land Transportation Office (LTO)

57

Dept. of Agriculture (DA)

55

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)

49

National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)

39

Dept. of Finance (DOF)

38

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)

38

On the other hand, 35 agencies have the least number of cases filed in 2012, namely: West Visayas State University (WVSU), Tiburcio Tancino Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST), Social Security System (SSS), Siquijor State University (SSU), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Negros Oriental State University (NOSU), Naval Water District (NWD), National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mindanao State Univeristy Lanao del Norte College of Arts and Trades (MSU-LNCAT), Mindanao State University Marawi City (MSU- Marawi City), Midsayap Water District (MWD), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), Koronadal Water District (KWD), Duty Free Philippine (DFP), Dumangas-Barotac Nuevo Water District (DBNWD), Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), and Bacolod City College (BCC). Only one case was filed against officials of these agencies in 2012. There were only two cases filed in 2012 against officials of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), University of Antique (UA), Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College (TRAC), Philippine State College of Aeronautics Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu (PhilSCA - Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu), National Police Commission (Napolcom), National Food Authority (NFA), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), and Calbayog City Water District (CCWD). Meantime, only three cases were filed in 2012 against officers of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Quedancor, Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Significantly, certain agencies with only one case filed against their officers in 2011 moved up in the 2012 list. They are: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), with 36 cases filed against its officers; Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), 29; Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), 18; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), 17; Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), 17; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), 8; Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 7; Senate

of the Philippines, 6; and CHR, 3. The Supreme Court had 27 cases, while the House of Representatives had 17.
|TOP|

Last Updated:

28 JUNE 2013

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President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in government officials of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP) and Liberal Party (LP) Congressional Representatives for a group photo souvenir, during their oathtaking ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacaan Palace on Friday (June 28). In photo are House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Senator Manny Villar. (Photo by: Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to the newly-elected government officials of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), National Unity Party (NUP) and Liberal Party (LP) Congressional Representatives during their oathtaking ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacaan Palace on Friday (June 28). (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacaang Photo Bureau) Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Sonny B. Coloma, Jr. presents the plaque of recognition to Atty. Ann Marie L. Nemenzo for her significant contribution in organizing the PCOO Provident Fund (PPF) and for her outstanding performance as the first PPFs Chief Executive Officer for the period September 19, 2012 to June 30, 2013. In photo are PPF officers and SETAP officer: (from left) John B. Fronda, Jun L. Ogrimen, Atty. Ann Marie L. Nemenzo, Vivian M. Pasia and Ronald Manabat. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

Thank You and God Bless !!!!