Aguinaldo Shrine

Pagsanjan Falls

Taal Lake

Antipolo Church

Lucban Pahiyas Feast

Dispatch for June 10 , 2013 Monday, 5 PIA Calabarzon PRs10 , 10 Photonews , 8 Weather Watch,
2 Regional Watch , 3 OFW Watch , 1 PNOY Speech , 17 Online News

Weather Watch
15 minutes ago DZMM: Mino-monitor ng Marikina Rescue ang lebel ng tubig sa Marikina River matapos magtaas ito kagabi dahil sa malakas na buhos ng ulan. Nakahanda na rin ang tatlong bagong rubber boat ng Marikina.

Weather Watch
about an hour ago Thunderstorm Advisory No. 15 Issued at 08:05 AM 10 June 2013 Thunderstorm is affecting portions of #MetroManila (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Manila ) which may persist for 1-2hrs expected to affect nearby areas (Valenzuela, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Marikina and Southern Quezon City) within an hour. All are advised to take precautionary measures against heavy rains, gusty winds, lightning strikes and possible flashfloods.

Keep monitoring for updates.

Weather Watch
2 hours ago Project NOAH director Dr. Mahar Lagmay on DZMM: -Ngayon po ang kick-off nitong disaster preparedness kasama po diyan ang PHIVOLCS, PAGASA. Ang Project NOAH is a tool for PAGASA po and other agencies para makita ng mga tao yung mga panganib. -Pinagpulong-pulong po lahat ng research and development projects upang makatulong po sa ating mga disaster preparedness efforts. -This week po ay mag-uumpisa po yun, meron po tayong flood map, ang PHIVOLCS marami pong earthquake maps, yun po ang gagamitin para itong pagsimula ng tag-ulan ay meron po tayong mga drills at preparation. -Yung ginagawa naman doon sa Pampanga, gusto po sana natin mangyari kasama ang DILG, dahil alam natin mahirap i-access yung Internet, yung mga mapa kaya ang gustong gawin ay i-print yung mga barangay boundary map na mga hazard, nilalagay po sa tarpaulin at ilalagay po sa bawat barangay para nakikita ng mga tao. -Iti-test bukas sa Pampanga, ewan ko lang po dito sa Metro Manila kung anong gagamitin muna kasi mas maganda ang access po dito sa Internet. -Gagamitin po lahat ng paraan, hindi lang po siyensya, hindi lang po teknolohiya kung hindi natin maipaalam sa mga tao ito ay wala rin po, ang disaster ay hindi lang nasasagot ng siyensya.

Weather Watch
2 hours ago NDRRMC spokesman Maj. Rey Balido on DZMM -Ang programa na ito ay proyekto ng DILG-NCR. -Aalamin po natin ang lawak nitong gagawin nilang flood drill. -Actually itong mapa na ito ay galing ito sa ating Mines and Geosciences ng DENR, yung unang ipinalabas nila kung di ako nagkakamali hindi pa ata mayadong detalyado, ginagawa ng paraan namin na makapaglabas ng mas detalyadong mapa na kung saan makikita na yung mga ilog, bundok. -Meron tayong ika-conduct na Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Summit sa mga region, kung saan ang audience natin ay ang ating mga bagong halal na lokal na lider. -Dito nila malalaman kung anu-ano ang mga roles nila, at dito rin idi-discuss ng MGB yung tungkol sa hazard map na pinaguusapan natin. -After nila mag-take ng oath nila sa June 30 sisimulan natin agad yung summit pati yung mga nanalo na second term o third term hindi lang yung mga bagong halal. [pia-dr/aa]

Weather Watch
2 hours ago DZBB: Kinalma ng Rescue 161 ng Marikina City ang kanilang mga residente dahil umabot sa 14m ang lebel ng tubig sa Marikina River kagabi kung saan 1m pa bago ideklara ang 1st alarm na 15m. Ayon sa pinuno ng rescue team ng Marikina, nakaalerto sila sa lahat ng posibilidad ng mga pagbaha at sa ngayon maituturing na mahina pa ang mga pag-ulan sa mga nakaraang araw kumpara sa mga nakalipas na taon gaya ng bagyong Ondoy.

Weather Watch
3 hours ago DZRH: Magsasagawa ang DILG ng sabay-sabay na flood drills sa 16 na barangay mula sa 11 lungsod sa Metro Manila ngayong araw. Itinaon ang flood drills sa ikinasang nationwide Disaster Preparedness Week. Layunin nitong matiyak ang "zero casualty" sa panahon ng kalamidad tulad ng pagbaha na dala ng mga pag-ulan. Samantala, isang nationwide quake drill

naman ang ikinasa ng NDRRMC.

Weather Watch shared a link.

3 hours ago 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST Issued at: 5:00AM 10 June 2013 SYNOPSIS: At 4:00 a.m. today, the center of Tropical Storm "DANTE" was estimated based on all available data at 1,030 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes (22.2N, 133.1E) with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move North Northeast at 15 kph. FORECAST: Forecast: MIMAROPA, Bicol region and Western Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to west will prevail over Extreme Northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be moderate to occasionally strong coming from the southwest with moderate to occasionally rough seas Over METRO MANILA: Maximum Temperature : 1:00 PM Yesterday ------- 33.6 C Minimum Temperature : 8:00 PM Yesterday ------- 24.0 C Maximum Relative Humidity: 8:00 PM Yesterday ----- 100 % Minimum Relative Humidity : 12:00 NN Yesterday ----- 65 % High Tide Today : 10:32 AM ... 1.20 meter Low Tide Today : 6:56 PM ... -0.05 meter Sunrise Today : 5:26 AM Sunset Today : 6:24 PM Moonrise Today : 6:34 AM Moonset Today : 7:40 PM llumination Tomorrow : 2 % 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
3 hours ago GMA resident weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz: -Madaling araw ng Martes inaasahang lalabas ng PAR ang bagyong Dante. -Ayon sa PAGASA, huli itong namataan sa layong 1,030km hilagang-silangan ng Basco, Batanes kaninang 4AM. -Taglay nito ang lakas ng hangin na 75kph at pagbugso na 90kph. -Kumikilos ito pa-hilaga hilagang-silangan sa bilis na 15kph. -Sa datos ng Weather Central, kahit palabas na ang bagyo ay paiigtingin nito ang southwest monsoon na magdadala ng mga pag-ulan sa malaking bahagi ng bansa sa buong linggo na ito.

Weather Watch

June 10 , 2013 (Monday)

as of 7:00 AM

CAVITE LAGUNA BATANGAS RIZAL QUEZON

: : : : :

Sunny Fair Weather Cloudy Sunny in Lucena City

PIA

Regional Watch

PIA Regional Watch

49 minutes ago PIA-4A/BATANGAS: Ipinagkaloob sa may 271 SPES students ang 60% bahagi ng kanilang allowance mula sa pamahalaang panlalawigan. Ito ay matapos ang pagbibigay ng kanilang serbisyo noong nakaraang dalawang buwan.

PIA Regional Watch

16 hours ago via mobile PIA -4A/BATANGAS:.Ipinagdiwang ng bayan ng Rosario ang ika-326 taong pagkakatatag nito. Tampok dito ang sinukmani festival na nilahukan ng may mahigit 100 samahan,grupo,pampubliko at pribado kung saan pinapakita ang sinukmani,isang kakanin mula sa malagkit na hudyat ng masaganang ani ng mga mamamayan dito.

PIA OFW Watch

Friday PIA-10: OWWA-10 awards a total of P600,000 to 60 displaced OFWs under the P10,000 financial assistance from Natl Reintegration Center for OFWs. 43 beneficiaries are from Misamis Oriental, 13 from Cagayan de Oro and 4 from Bukidnon. The awarding highlights the Migrant Workers Day in Region 10. .

PIA OFW Watch

Friday PIA-10: Social benefits totaling P1.6M were also released to surviving heirs of 11 deceased OFWs in today's Migrant Workers Day celebration.

PIA OFW Watch

Friday POEA Administrator Hans Cacdac on GMA-7 Re: Migrant Worker's Day celebration -Mayroon tayong mga programa at mga government services para sa ating mga OFWs and their families dito sa POEA. -Ang partner natin dito ang OWWA at may DOLE presence din dito.

A. QUEZON

B. CAVITE

C. LAGUNA

D. BATANGAS
1. Tagalog news: DENR, pinangunahan ang paglilinis ng bahagi ng karagatan sa Batangas
By Mamerta P. De Castro
Monday 10th of June 2013

LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS, Hunyo 10 (PIA) -- Pinangunahan ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sa pamamagitan ng Protected Area Wildlife Bureau-Coastal and Marine Management Office (PAWB-CMMO) ang pag-aalis ng mga crown of thorns starfish na siyang sumisira ng mga corals o bahura sa karagatan ng Barangay Pagkilatan, kamakailan bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng Month of the Ocean. Ang crown of thorns ang siyang kumakain sa living coral tissues na nagdudulot ng malawakang pagkasira ng coral population. Ang pag-alis ng mga ito ay makaktulong sa mga corals sa Barangay Pagkilatan upang lumago ng walang balakid at magbigay proteksiyon sa mga isda dito, ayon sa paliwanag ni DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje. Napili ang Barangay Pagkilatan na pagdausan ng naturang proyekto sapagkat ito ay bahagi ng Verde Island Passage (VIP) na syang itinuturing na center of the worlds marine biodiversity. Ang VIP ang kinokonsidera na pinakamahalagang bahagi ng coral triangle na siyang tahanan ng 40 porsyento ng worlds coral reef fish species at 75 porysento naman ng worlds coral species.

Katulong ng DENR sa proyektong ito ang lokal na pamahalaan, Philipine Coast Guard Auxiliary at ng Malampaya Foundation Inc. Humigit kumulang sa 40 divers mula sa Batangas community divers, mag-aaral mula sa UP Marine Science Institute (MSI), DENR-PAWB-CMMO, Malampaya Batangas Reefwatch Team at ilang volunteer divers ang lumahok dito. Nagkaroon ng maiksing programa bago ang underwater activity kung saan dumalo sina City Environment Officer Oliver Gonzales, Malampaya Foundation Executive Director Karen Agabin, DENR PAWB-CMMO Executive Director Jacob Meimban Jr at PCGA Captain Geronimo Reyes. Nakasama rin sa gawaing ito ang mga artistang sina Luis Manzano at Jennylyn Mercado na kilalang mga environmental advocates at champions ng coral reef preservation. Bago ito, ay ginawaran sila ng titulong ambassadors for sustainable coral reef ecosystems Management Program ng PAWB-CMMO. Ang month of the Ocean ay ginugunita taun-taon sa bisa ng Presidential Proclamation No. 57. Ang tema sa taong ito ay Ang Bahura ay Kagubatan sa Karagatan, ating Pangalagaan. (Ronna Endaya Contreras, PIO Batangas City/PIA-Batangas)

2. Tagalog news: Mga anak ng miyembro ng GSIS makikinabang sa scholarship program

By Mamerta P. De Castro
Monday 10th of June 2013

LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS, Hunyo 10 (PIA) -- Inaasahang pakikinabangan ng mga anak ng miyembro ng Government Service insurance System (GSIS) ang scholarship program na ipinagkakaloob nito. Sinabi ni Ireen Dimaano, hepe ng GSIS Batangas Branch Office, na lahat ng aktibo at regular na miyembro ng kanilang ahensya na may permanenteng posisyon sa kanilang pinaglilingkurang tanggapan ng pamahalaan at may salary grade 24 o pababa ay maaaring kumuha nito para sa kanilang mga anak na mag-aaral sa kolehiyo. Sa buong bansa may 200 slots ang ibibigay at ang bilang bawat rehiyon ay ibabatay sa bilang ng miyembro nito sa buong taon. Sinabi pa ni Dimaano na iba ang prosesong ginawa ngayon sapagkat dati rati ay pinapayagan na maging benepisyaryo ng miyembro ng GSIS ang hindi niya anak, tulad ng pamangkin. Ngunit ngayon ay tanging mga anak lamang ng miyembro ang itinalagang makikinabang sa naturang programa. Ang pagpili din ng kuwalipikado ay hindi pareho noong nagdaang mga taon na dinadaan sa raffle. Ngayon ay magiging prayoridad ang mga miyembro na may pinakamababang kita. "Halimbawa ako ay may salary Grade 10 tapos may isang aplikante na salary grade 4, ang mangyayari mas magiging prayoridad ang aplikanteng iyon kesa sa akin, "dagdag pa ni Dimaano. Ang bawat iskolar ay tatanggap ng P20,000 kada semestre, kabilang ang trisemesters ngunit hindi kasama

dito ang summer classes. Dagdag pa rito, pagkakalooban din ng P2,000 monthly stipend ang bawat iskolar. (CPG/MPDC-PIA4A Batangas)

E. RIZAL
1. Tagalog news: Antipolo CEWMO nagsagawa ng 'Linis Creek'
By Gideon Gapayao
Monday 10th of June 2013

LUNSOD NG ANTIPOLO, Rizal, Hunyo 10 (PIA) -- Nagsagawa kamakailan ng "Linis Creek Operation" ang Antipolo City Environment and Waste Management Office (CEWMO) sa kahabaan ng Sapang Tae Creek, Barangay San Roque nitong Mayo 30 bilang tugon sa Memorandum Circular No.2011-11 ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Ang operasyon ang buwanang programa ng CEWMO bilang pagsunod sa inilabas na memorandum circular ng DILG na nag-uutos sa mga local government unit (LGU) na magsagawa ng regular na paglilinis ng mga estero, kanal at maging mga ilog upang masolusyunan ang lumalaking problema ng bansa sa baha. Ang buwanang programa ng tanggapan ay sinasagawa tuwing ikatlong linggo ng buwan kaakibat ang ibang opisina ng lungsod ng Antipolo gaya ng General Services Office (GSO), Task Force Manila Bay (TFMB), Clean and Green Program (CNG) at ang Public Information Office (PIO). Isinasagawa ito ng aming tanggapan bilang ahensya ng lungsod ng Antipolo na nangangalaga sa ating kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng buwanang 'linis creek operation.' Nagkakaroon ng koordinasyon sa iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan na nagtutulong-tulong upang maisagawa ito at makaiwas sa anumang sakuna na maaaring idulot kung mananatiling madumi at barado ang ating mga daluyan ng tubig gaya istero, kanal at ilog, ayon kay Jocelyn Masangkay, pinuno ng CEWMO. Ginagawa ang Linis Creek Operation sa nasabing daluyan ng tubig bilang paghahanda sa darating na tagulan kung saan nagkakaroon ng malaking pagbaha. Nakakolekta ng 85 sako ng basura na binubuo ng mga plastic, styrofoam, putol ng kahoy at tinabas na damo na nagiging sanhi ng pagbabara ng mga daluyan ng tubig ang 24 empleyado ng lungsod ng Antipolo na nakibahagi sa paglilinis. (GG-PIA4A/Antipolo PIO)

2. Tagalog news: Antipolo PESO job fair muling dinagsa

By Gideon Gapayao
Monday 10th of June 2013

LUNSOD NG ANTIPOLO, Rizal, Hunyo 10 -- Tinangkilik ng mga naghahanap ng trabaho sa lungsod ng Antipolo ang job fair ng Antipolo Public Employment Service Office (PESO) na ginanap sa Victory Park and Shop Multi-Purpose Covered Court noong Hunyo 1. Pinangunahan ng City Government sa pamamagitan ng PESO at ilang business establishment at employers sa lungsod ng Antipolo. Ayon kay Antipolo PESO Head Engineer Roger Atim muling bumuhos ang mga aplikante para sa kanilang job fair sa pagbubukas ng buwan ng Hunyo. Marami na naman tayong natulungang mga kababayan para sa Ha nap Trabaho para sa Antipolenyo 2013. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga employers at business establishment na nakibahagi sa ating jobs fair. Nakakatuwa dahil marami sa ating mga kababayan ang nabigyan ng trabaho on-the-spot, sabi ni Atim. Halos 2,000 aplikante na nagtungo sa job fair ang na-interview ng mga employers ayon sa tala ng PESO. Mahigit 1,000 sa mga ito ay nag qualify sa kani-kanilang inaplayang trabaho at 106 aplikante ang natanggap ng hired-on-the-spot (HOTS). Nakibahagi ang halos 70 business establishment at kanilang mga empleyado kasama ang local at overseas employment agency sa naturang job fair kabilang ang SM group of companies at ibang employers sa lungsod ng Antipolo. Dumalo rin ang ilang kawani ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Rizal sa pangunguna ni Melissa Montalbo. (Antipolo PIO/GG-PIA4A)

3. Tagalog news: Comelec-Antipolo tuloy ang serbisyo sa kabila ng sakuna

By Gideon Gapayao
Monday 10th of June 2013

LUNSOD NG ANTIPOLO, Rizal, Hunyo 10 (PIA) -- Patuloy ang serbisyo publiko ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) Antipolo sa kabila ng naganap na sunog na nakaapekto dito kamakailan. Muntik masunog ang tanggapan ng Comelec kasama ang ilang importanteng dokumentong kaugnay sa eleksyon na ginanap nitong Mayo. Kasalukuyang nag-oopisina ang tanggapan sa parking area ng Antipolo City Hall at patuloy ang mga transaksyon sa mamamayan ng Antipolo tulad ng pagkuha ng Voters ID na hindi pa nakuha bago mag eleksyon. Hindi man tuluyang natupok ng sunog ang Comelec ay nabasa naman ang mga importanteng dokumento dala ng pagbuhos ng mga bumbero ng tubig sa ikalawang palapag ng gusali kung saan matatagpuan ang City Library. Nagsimula ang sunog sa isang gusaling pagawaan ng kandila na tumupok sa maraming kabahayan hanggang sa makarating sa gusali kung saan nag-oopisina ang City Library at Comelec. (CPG/GG-PIA4A Antipolo PIO)

09 JUNE 2013.

Prime Minister Gusmao of Timor-Leste visits Fort Bonifacio Global City Myanmar asking country's assistance to improve its agriculture sector, bureaucracy President Aquino says Myanmar could attain development through cooperation Aquino administration elated over inclusion of country's three beaches in CNN's list of best 100 beaches in the world Aquino to lead 115th Independence Day celebration at Liwasang Bonifacio Former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. cited as inspiration of the people of Timor Leste's struggle for independence Philippines seen as Timor-Leste's client for fossil fuels Malacanang says P13.25 billion world class communication, navigation, surveillance system for aviation fully in place by November 2015 GOCC remittances will be used for infrastructure projects, rehabilitation of areas devastated by typhoons Malacanang says Aquino government confident that country's bilateral relations with China remains strong despite territorial disputes

Prime Minister Gusmao of Timor-Leste visits Fort Bonifacio Global City

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmo of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and his ministers visited the Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig Ciy on Saturday night to get inputs and ideas in achieving a stable business environment in Timor-Leste. Gusmo, who arrived in Manila on Thursday morning for a 4-day official visit to the Philippines upon the invitation of President Benigno S. Aquino III, was welcomed by the representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation (FBDC) at the Mind Museum in Fort Bonifacio Global City. Gusmo was accompanied by State and Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Jose Luis Guterres, Education Minister Bendito Freitas, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino, Public Works and Highways Minister Gasto Francisco de Sousa and Tourism Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, when the Prime Minister arrived at the museum at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Timor-Leste delegation was briefed about the Fort Bonifacio Global City (formerly known as Fort Bonifacio), a highly urbanized district in Taguig City. The Fort Bonifacio Global City has experienced robust commercial growth in recent years through the sale of military land by the BCDA. The entire Fort Bonifacio district used to be a part of the main Philippine Army camp in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

After the briefing, Gusmo and his ministers then toured the Fort Bonifacio Global City. Early Saturday morning, Gusmo sent his ministers to Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales to explore ways to encourage greater collaboration between the Philippines and Timor-Leste on tourism and business sectors. The five ministers from Timor-Leste met with the officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City in Zambales. SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia briefed the ministers about the operations of the authority which is the operating and implementing arm of the Philippine government for the development of the 262 square mile (670 square kilometer) former US Naval facility in Subic Bay into a self-sustaining tourism, industrial, commercial, financial, and investment center to generate employment opportunities. The SBMA continues to attract local and foreign investments for the socio-economic benefit of nearby local communities, as well as Central Luzon and the rest of the country. The SBMA officials told the ministers that the SBMA remains committed to sustaining an investment-friendly and stable business environment in the freeport. They also told the delegation that the authority continues to assist investors in setting up their businesses by providing quality services. The foreign ministers asked Garcia to further elaborate on how the SBMA managed to promote environmental protection despite the rapid business development in the freeport. Garcia presented to the ministers the strategies and mechanisms to protect the environment. For their part, the Timorese ministers commended the SBMA for successfully pursuing the development of the Freeport not only as an investment site but also as a tourism destination. Garcia reiterated the Philippine government's commitment to extend assistance to Timor-Leste in its bid to enhance the state's eco-tourism while Guterres thanked the SBMA for sharing its expierience and expertise. PND (js) TOP

Myanmar asking country's assistance to improve its agriculture sector, bureaucracy

Myanmar is asking the Philippines to help improve its agriculture sector as well as in building its bureaucracy, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday. During an interview with the Philippine media Friday at the sidelines of his participation to the 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, President Aquino said Myanmar President Thein Sein asked the Philippines to help their agriculture, energy sectors, and reorganize its bureaucracy. Merong invitation yung bureaucracy nila na ibi-build-up. NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority], I understand, will be inviting their counterparts to undertake trainings in the Philippines with regards to this. Pero ang concentration ni President Thein Sein was agriculture, the Presid ent said. The Myanmar leader also thanked the Philippines for allowing its students to be trained in agricultural institutes in the Philippines, the President said. President Aquino said hes glad that the Philippines was able to help Myanmar in this are a, and the country appears to be excelling in palay production because the Philippines now sources its rice imports from that fellow Southeast Asian country. Pinuri ko naman sila... nag-aral kayo sa amin, siguro may ma-impart kami sa inyo. Mukhang natuto kayo nang mahusay dahil nag-i-import na kami sa inyo ng bigas. I think the biggest component of our trade with Myanmar currently is rice, he said. The President noted that his Myanmar trip is also seen to boost economic cooperation with Myanmar. There are three Philippine companies that are already doing their businesses in Myanmar, according to the President. Philex mining is working or talking with its partners in Myanmar for possible copper mining operations in that country, adding that Maynilad is also engaging in water distribution and management. Meralco is also eyeing electric distribution in Myanmar. PND (as)

TOP

President Aquino says Myanmar could attain development through cooperation

Cooperation among major players in Myanmar will be the key towards attaining a prosperous and stable country, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday. During an interview with the Philippine media delegation at the sidelines of t he Presidents attendance to the 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the President said the good thing is that opposing forces in Myanmar appears to be working towards a common goal. The President, who met Myanmars democracy le ader Madame Aung San Suu Kyi, said he sees in her the struggles of his parents in restoring democracy in the Philippines. You have two groups who were dramatically opposed to each other, but the key to Myanmars prosperity and stability, and the enhancement for the entire region needs a certain amount of cooperation between the two factions, the President noted. So when you look at President Thein Sein, and you look at Madame Aung San Suu Kyi, they are from the focal point of at trying to achieve that unity of purpose in advancing the cause for Myanmar. So yung difficulties in achieving that, napag-usapan rin yon, he added. The President said he also had the opportunity to talk to the speaker of Myanmars parliament, who has a good working relationship with Madame Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar President Thein Sein, the speaker of the parliament, and Madame Aung San Suu Kyi have longstanding invitations to come to the Philippines, the President said. After Suu Kyi was released from her house arrest a few years back, the President said he had the opportunity to talk to her on the phone and invited her to visit the Philippines. He said that he reiterated his invitation during their meeting. Suu Kyi wished to come to the country soon, but the President said that with the upcoming election in Myanmar, her trip may be delayed. Their elections are not that far off. Ang focus nila ngayon is to really deliver more before the next elections. That might, I assume, will put a lot of burden on her time, he said. The President arrived Saturday morning in Manila after attending the WEF in Myanmar. PND (as) TOP

Aquino administration elated over inclusion of country's three beaches in CNN's list of best 100 beaches in the world

The Aquino administration expressed elation over the inclusion of three beaches in the Philippines in the international news organization CNN's list of the best 100 beaches in the world, a Palace official said on Sunday. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview aired over government-run radio dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday that the Palau Island in Cagayan Valley, El Nido in Palawan, and Puka beach in Boracay have been recognized as among the 100 best in the world. A survey on the CNN travel website listed Palau on No. 10, the only Southeast Asian beach that landed in the Top 10. Palau Island was cited for "its glorious white sand, volcanic rocks and blue green water." The Atlanta-based cable news channel said divers who visited Palau enjoy the sighting of white corals and rich marine species. El Nido beach captured the 14th spot for "its powder-fine sand, gin-clear water, stunning views of karst limestone formations, lagoons and prehistoric caves." El Nidos surrounding waters contain more than 50 species of corals and endangered turtles, the CNN said. In 84th spot was Puka beach, the second longest beach in Boracay Island. Puka Beach was cited for its puka shells which are being made into jewelry accessories and ornaments.

Last Thursday, the Department of Tourism said foreign visitor arrivals during the first four months of 2013 reached 1,649,458 million, or a 10.12 percent increase from the same period in 2012. PND (js) TOP

Aquino to lead 115th Independence Day celebration at Liwasang Bonifacio

President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the celebration of the Philippine's 115th Independence Day at the Liwasang Bonifacio in the city of Manila on Wednesday. "Ang Independence Day celebration po natin ay tatanghalin sa Liwasang Bonifacio bilang tribute na rin po kay Andres Bonifacio on his sesquicentennial also this year," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview aired over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday. The country celebrates the Independence Day each year to raise awareness among the Filipinos that freedom is the most precious right of every citizen. The holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 by General Emilio Aguinaldo and the Filipino revolutionary forces from Spanish colonization. Independence Day was officially observed on July 4 until the Republic Act No. 4166 that designated June 12 as the country's Independence Day was signed by the late President Diosdado Macapagal on August 4, 1964. The Palace earlier called on Filipinos to display the Philippine flag at their respective home, offices, schools, public buildings and plazas, as well as embassies and consulates overseas beginning May 28, in celebration of National Flag Day, until June 12, in preparation for the Independence Day. In commemoration of this year's annual observance of Flag Days, Valte said the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) is publishing a series of features on the development of the flag, the countrys coat of arms, as well as other historical flags of the Philippines on the Presidential Museum and Library website. "Sa June 10 ay ilalabas po ng PCDSPO at ng Presidential Museum and Library ang third part po, Part III ng kanilang infographics on the flag," Valte said. "At para doon po sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ise-celebrate na po ang sesquicentennial ng Malacaang on Tuesday, on June 11. Kasi ang Palasyo po ang naging official residence ng Chief Executive after the great earthquake of June 6, 1863. Ang PhilPost will be issuing a new stamp to mark the Malacaang sesquicentennial," she added. PND (js) TOP

Former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. cited as inspiration of the people of Timor Leste's struggle for independence

President Benigno S. Aquino IIIs father, the former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., was cited by Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao as an inspiration from where his people drew strength and courage in its struggle for independence. Gusmao gave the citation in an interview at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City on Sunday. We had to have very many examples (in order) to say (that our struggle for independence) was moving on. He (former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.) was an inspiration for us. His blood gave us hope and (the) fighting spirit (to go on with our struggle for independence), Gusmao said. we cannot give up. We have to play our role in this movement. That is why we were psychologically, politically and morally prepared in ourselves by following his (former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.) deeds, he added. Relations between East Timor and the Philippines became strong when the Philippines became actively involved in the United Nations peacekeeping forces in East Timor during its move towards independence. When several nations recognized East Timor's sovereignty, the Philippines began official diplomatic relations

between the two governments with the establishment of an embassy in Dili and East Timor established its embassy in Manila. The Philippines has maintained strong ties with the newly born independent country sending peacekeepers to the country since 1999 amid its struggle for independence from Indonesia. PND (rck) TOP

Philippines seen as Timor-Leste's client for fossil fuels

The Philippines may soon become one of Timor-Lestes client for oil and its by-products after reports showed vast offshore oil and gas fields in the Timor Sea have led to the formation of a petroleum and gas fund worth an estimated $11.7billion. Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, who is on a four-day Official Visit to the Philippines, said in a press conference at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City on Sunday, said that once these fuel sources have been tapped, Timor Leste will consider supplying the Philippines with oil. It will happen, Gusmao said noting that this arrangement would be beneficial for both countries. What we need is to sell our oil, he added. Timor-Lestes oil company recently signed up for a 24 percent stake in its f irst joint venture with Italian and Japanese partners to explore an area 240km from Dili and 500km from Darwin. It is East Timor's first direct participation in developing resources in the Joint Petroleum Development Area it shares with Australia. PND (rck) TOP

Malacanang says P13.25 billion world class communication, navigation, surveillance system for aviation fully in place by November 2015

The P13.25-billion world-class communication, navigation and surveillance system for aviation will be fully in place by November 2015, a Palace official said on Sunday. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) assured that the aviation system will be in place before President Benigno S. Aquino III steps down from office. "Nilalayon po nitong sistemang ito na magkaroon tayo ng increased security and airport capacity while cutting flight delays," Valte said. The DOTC has signed an amended contract with the joint venture between Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and Thales Australia Ltd. for the Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project Package I. The CNS/ATM system was conceptualized to replace the existing air traffic control systems, navigation, communication and surveillance equipment in the country which are all aging and falling short of the required numbers. Under the amended contract, the Sumitomo-Thales joint venture would immediately restart the construction of an air traffic management building and the supply of various components such as automation equipment and terminal radars, to enable the use of the satellite technology-based system. PND (js) TOP

GOCC remittances will be used for infrastructure projects, rehabilitation of areas devastated by typhoons

The P27.89-billion remitted by the 38 Government-Owned andControlled Corporations (GOCCs) to the national government will be utilized for infrastructure projects, as well as the rehabilitation of areas devastated by typhoons in recent years, a Palace official said on Sunday. "Magagamit naman po ito sa mas marami pang infrastructure projects, kasama na po dito ang rehabilitation ng mga typhoon-hit areas across the country," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday. Aside from infrastructure projects, the P27.89-billion funds representing the dividend contributions and other forms of remittances from 38 GOCCs will be used for the governments variou s social programs such as providing education, healthcare, food and livelihood for the Filipinos, especially the vulnerable sector. Last June 3, the 38 GOCCs turned over P27.89-billion dividends and other forms of remittances to the national coffers out of their operations in 2012 in simple ceremonies marking the GOCC Dividend Day in Malacaang Palace. Under the Republic Act No. 7656, all GOCCs are required to "declare and remit at least 50% of their annual net earnings as cash, stock or property dividends to the National Government. In 2011, President Aquino signed Republic Act 10149 or the Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Act of 2011 that seeks to reform the operations of state-owned enterprises and to curb the perceived abuses particularly on excessive bonuses and allowances of its officials. Upon the enactment of GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the GOCCs had remitted P29-billion for 2010 and P19.2billion for 2011. The P28-billion dividends and other forms of remittances from the 2012 operations surpassed the collections made the previous year with eight GOCCs belonging to the elite circle of the so-called "Billionaire's Club," namely the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Manila International Airport Authority, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, Bases Conversion Development Authority, Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, each remitted at least P1-billion. PND (js) TOP

Malacanang says Aquino government confident that country's bilateral relations with China remains strong despite territorial disputes

The Aquino government expressed strong belief that its multifaceted bilateral relations with the People's Republic of China (PROC) remains strong despite of territorial disputes on the West Philippine Sea, a Palace official said on Sunday. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday that both the Philippines and PROC remain committed at enhancing their bilateral relations in various fields. "Our relationship with our neighbor is multifaceted. There are other facets of that relationship that we continue to develop, and that we continue to move forward," Valte said. "Let's not make the maritime disputes be the whole of our relationship but, rather, just a part of it," Valte said. The Aquino administration remains steadfast in using diplomatic solutions in resolving the maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea, Valte said. "And, again, allow us to reiterate that we have taken a deliberate policy of avoiding or responding to any provocative action or statement that may be presented to us in the course of this dispute," Valte noted. She also reiterated that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is helping Filipino fishermen who were affected by the maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea. "Nagpunta po doon ang administrador ng BFAR at inikot ang mga barangay, kinausap ang mga mangingisda, yung mga small fisherfolk natin, at nakipag-dayalogo sa kanila kung ano ang mga pwede nating itulong," she said. "As the BFAR has said earlier, meron po silang mga in-identify na iba pang fishing areas in the West Philippine

Sea that can be an alternative for our small fishermen, at yung iba naman binigyan na po nila ng assistance, at dinamihan po nila ang mga agri-Pinoy payao natin para hindi na po kailangang lumayo doon sa may Bajo de Masinloc," Valte stressed. PND (js) TOP

07 HUNYO 2013 P6-M ang budget ng gobyerno sa pagdalo ng Pangulo sa World Economic Forum on East Asia sa Myanmar Tutularan ng Timor Leste ang Pilipinas ang Public Private Partnership Program ng Pilipinas Nais ng mga Pilipino sa Myanmar na ipagpatuloy ni Aquino ang maiinam na patakaran at mga reporma Karapat-dapat paglagakan ng puhunan ang Pilipinas, ito ang isusulong ng Pangulo sa pagtungo niya sa Myanmar Pag-uusapan ng Pangulong Aquino at Pangulong Thein Sein kung paano higit pang mapabubuti ang ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Myanmar Hiniling ng Pangulo sa Kongreso pagtibayin ang panukalang batas ukol sa makabagong weather forecasting Inanyayahan ng Pangulong Aquino na dumalaw sa Pilipinas ang Pangulong Thein Sein ng Myanmar Ulat tungkol sa Serendra blast, ibinigay ni Roxas sa Pangulong Aquino Kapayapaan at pagkakasundo ang kailangan para matamo ang pambansang kaunlaran, ayon kay Punong Ministro Gusmao Masigasig na paghimok ng Pangulong Aquino sa karagdagang mga pamumuhunan at binigyang diin ang nagawa na ng bansa

P6-M ang budget ng gobyerno sa pagdalo ng Pangulo sa World Economic Forum on East Asia sa Myanmar

Naglaan ang pamahalaan ng P6 na milyon sa pagdalo ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia sa Myanmar na lalahukan ng mahigit na 900 kalahok, karamihan ay mga lider ng 55 bansa upang talakayin ang mga hamon na kinakaharap ng rehiyon, sabi ni Kalihim Tagapagpaganap Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. Biyernes. Kaninang umagang-umaga umalis ang Pangulong Aquino patungo sa Nay Pyi Taw sakay ng chartered Philippine Airlines flight kasama ang 57 kataong delegasyong kinabibilangan nina Kalihim Albert Del Rosario ng Ugnayang

Panlabas, Gregory Domingo ng Kalakal at Industriya, Carlos Jericho Petilla ng Enerhiya, Arsenio Balisacan ng Socio-Economic Planning, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential Management Staff Head Julia Andrea Abad at Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria. Kasama rin sa opisyal na delegasyon sina Kalihim Cesar Purisima ng Pananalapi, Ramon Jimenez, Jr. ng Turismo, Florencio Abad ng Budget at Ramon Carandang ng PCDSPO. Kabilang sa pinaglaanan ng nasabing gugulin ang charter lease, akomodasyon, trasportasyon, pagkain at iba pang kagamitan. Ito ang unang biyahe ng Pangulo sa Myanmar at unang pagdalaw roon sapul nang magtungo sa naturang kapitbansa sa ASEAN ang Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos noong 1997. Sinabi ni Ochoa na nakatakdang umuwi ang Pangulo kinagabihan pagkaraan ng pulong nila ng mga lider ng negosyo na hihimuking mamuhunan sa Pilipinas. Sa WEF on East Asia meeting, lalahok ang Pangulong Aquino sa talakayang may kaugnayan sa mahahalagang isyung tulad ng panrehiyong integrasyon at ang mga hamon na kinakaharap nito, dugtong pa ng Kalihim Tagapagpaganap. Ayon sa Kagawaran ng Ugnayang Panlabas na nakatakdang mag-usap ang Pangulong Aquino at Pangulong Thein Sein ng Myanmar at kay Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ang 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate na isa nang mambabatas ngayon at lider ng oposisyong National League for Democracy. PND TOP

Tutularan ng Timor Leste ang Pilipinas ang Public Private Partnership Program ng Pilipinas

Tutularan ng Republika ng Timor Leste ang Pilipinas sa pagpapatupad ng programa nilang Public Private Partnership upang makalikom ng pondong magagamit sa Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030, sang-ayon kay Punong Ministro Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao Huwebes. Sa pagsasalita sa welcome dinner interaction sa mga potensiyal na mamumuhunan na idinaos sa Grand Ballroom ng Solaire Resort and Casino sa Lungsod ng Pasay, binanggit ni Gusmao ang tagumpay ng Pilipinas sa pagsasagawa ng programang PPP na naging daan sa mabilis na pag-unlad ng bansa at nakatulong din upang tumaas sa 7.8 porsiyento ang gross domestic product ng bansa sa unang kuwarter ng 2013, na isa sa pinakamataas sa rehiyon. Sinabi ni Gusmao na sa pagpapatupad ng PPP sa kanyang bansa, mapoponduhan na ng kanilang pamahalaan ang mga bagay na panlipunan at pagpapaunlad ng imprastraktura, lalo na sa mahahalagang sektor ng pagsasaka, petroleo at turismo habang itinutuon ang pansin sa kaunlaran ng kanayunan at pamumuhunan ng pribadong sektor. Una rito, nagpulong ang Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa tanghalian sa Malacanang kung saan sinabi ng Pangulo ang suporta sa hangarin ng Timor-Leste na maging kasapi ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations at umaasang makakaisa niya ang Timor-Leste sa pagsusulong ng talakayan sa kaunlaran ng rehiyon. Sinaksihan din nina Gusmao at Pangulong Aquino ang paglagda sa mga kasunduan ukol sa edukasyon, imprastraktura at ugnayang panlabas na inaasahang lalo pang magpapatibay ng ugnayan ng dalawang bansa. PND TOP

Nais ng mga Pilipino sa Myanmar na ipagpatuloy ni Aquino ang maiinam na patakaran at mga reporma

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) Umaasa ang mga Pilipinong naninirahan at nagtatrabaho rito sa Myanmar na ipagpatuloy ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang maiinam na patakaran at mga repormang pinasimulan sapul nang manungkulan ito noong 2010, ayon kay Embahador Alex Chua ng Pilipinas sa bansang ito. Sa panayam ng PBS-RTVM, sinabi ni Embahador Chua na may 500 Pilipino ang naninirahan at nagtatrabaho sa Myanmar at karamihan sa kanila ay matatagpuan sa Yangon na capital na komersiyal dito. Ang mga Pilipino sa Myanmar ay may iba-ibang hanapbuhay. Mayroong mga guro, inhinyero, arkitekto, technical experts at mga propesyonal, sabi pa ng Embahador. Karamihan sa mga Pilipino rito ay iginagalang sa naitutulong nila tungo sa pagsulong at kaunlaran ng bansang ito.

Iidnugtong ni Embahador Chua na popular ang Pangulong Aquino sa Myanmar at siya ang nanguna sa ginanap dito na Overseas Absentee Voting sa halalan ng pangulo noong 2010. Sinabi pa ng Embahador na alam ng mga Pilipino rito ang pag-unlad na nagaganap sa bansa, gayundin ang mga nagawa na ng administrasyong Aquino, lalo na sa larangan ng ekonomya. Ang mga kababayan natin dito, tulad ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino sa ating bayan ay umaasa na ipagpapatuloy ng Pangulo ang kanyang mabubuting patakaran at makabuluhang mga programang ukol sa kapakanan at higit na magandang kinabukasan ng ating bansa at mga kababayan, pagbibigay-diin ni Embahador Chua. Biyernes magtutungo ang Pangulong Aquino rito upang dumalo sa 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia, gayundin para mag-anyaya ng mga delegado sa WEF na idaraos sa Pilipinas sa darating na taon. Inaasahan ding aanyayahan niya ang mga dayuhang imbestor na magtungo sa Pilipinas at tingnan ang mga pagkakataon sa negosyo sa bansa. PND TOP

Karapat-dapat paglagakan ng puhunan ang Pilipinas, ito ang isusulong ng Pangulo sa pagtungo niya sa Myanmar

Karapat-dapat paglagakan ng puhunan ang Pilipinas ang inaasahan ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III na maisusulong niya sa pagdalo sa World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia sa Myanmar yamang ang bansa ay kinikilala ngayon bilang pinakamalungning sa Timog Silangang Asya. Lumisan ang Pangulo patungong Myanmar sakay ng chartered Philippine Air Lines flight (PR 001) ika-7:45 ng umaga Biyernes upang makiisa sa mga pandaigdig na lider ng negosyo sa taunang World Economic Forum (WEF) na idinaraos sa Myanmar. Sinabi ng Pangulo sa talumpati sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II bago siya umalis na hihimukin niya ang mga dayuhang imbestor na maglagak ng negosyo sa Pilipinas. Lalong nagiging makabuluhan ang pagdalo natin dito dahil nakatakdang ganapin ang World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014 dito po sa atin sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin, pagkakataon ito upang ipaalam ang kakaibang sigla na tinatamasa ng ating ekonomya sa tuwid na landas at hikayatin pa ang mga pinuno at negosyante na huwag sayangin ang pagkakataong makasabay sa pag-angat ng kinikilalang brightest spark ng Timog Silangang Asya, walang iba kundi ang minamahal nating Pilipinas, wika ng Pangulo. Ayon sa Pangulo, ang pagdalo niya sa WEF ay pagkakataong maipakita sa mga lider ng Europa at ng iba pang panig ng daigdig ang mga nagawa ng administrasyon niya sa pagpapatupad ng malaganap at makabuluhang reporma sa pamahalaan. Idinugtong ng Pangulo na ang mga lider ng daigdig ay patuloy na nakahandang harapin ang mga hamon na tulad ng patuloy na pagsulong ng ekonomya, bawasan ang mga panganib sa daigdig, pagpapabuti ng kalagayang panlipunan at pagsusulong ng maayos na kapaligiran, una sa lahat sa layuning mapabuti ang ekonomya ng daigdig. Kasama ang mga pinuno at mamumuhunan mula sa ibat ibang panig ng daigdig, layunin ng pulong na ito na patibayin, hindi lamang ang ugnayang pang-ekonomya ng mga bansa, kundi maging ang pagtutulungan sa ibat ibang pang larangan, dagdag ng Pangulo. Sa Myanmar, nakatakdang makipagpulong ang Pangulo kay Pangulong Thein Sein ng bansang nasabi, gayundin sa lider ng oposisyon na si Aung San Suu Kyi. Magpupulong din tayo ng Pangulong Thein Se in ng Myanmar upang bumuo ng mga mekanismo para paigtingin ang pagkakapit-bisig ng ating mga bansa sa kalakalan, pulitika at seguridad. Nasasabik din po tayo sa pakikipagpulong natin kay Madam Aung San Suu Kyi, ang pinuno ng National League for Democracy na nagkamit ng Nobel Peace Prize noong 1991 dahil sa kanyang paninindigan at kabayanihan para sa demokrasya, sabi ng Pangulo. Umaasa po tayong magiging mabunga ang palitan ng mga ideya kasama ang mga nasabing mga pinuno upang pagmulan ng mga kasunduang magpapatibay sa ugnayan at magdudulot ng kaunlaran sa ating mga bansa. Agad din po tayong babalik mamayang gabi bitbit ang mga positibong oportunidad mula sa Myanmar, pahayag pa ng Pangulo. Sa ganitong mga biyahe, hindi natin kailanman kinakalimutan ang pangunahing pakay namin bilang mga lingkodbayan: Ang mag-uwi ng mas marami pang makabuluhang pagkakataon para sa mga Pilipino, at ibandila ang bagong mukha ng Pilipinasisang bansang handang makipagbayanihan sa ibang nayon tungo sa maaliwalas na

ekonomya at pagnenegosyo. Isang bansang tunay na nagniningning at tinitingala ng mundo, anang Pangulo. Pormal ding aanyayahan ng Pangulo ang mga delegasyon ng WEF na dumalo sa 2014 WEF on East Asia sa Maynila sa lilipat na taon. Ang 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia na ang Myanmar ang punung-abala sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay nagsimula Miyerkoles sa Myanmar International Convention Center sa Nay Pyi Taw, ulung-lungsod ng Myanmar. Paksang-diwa ng tatlong araw na kapulungang ito ang Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration at may 900 delegado ang kalahok, kabilang ang 500 mga lider ng kalakalan buhat sa 55 bansa. PND TOP

Pag-uusapan ng Pangulong Aquino at Pangulong Thein Sein kung paano higit pang mapabubuti ang ugnayan ng Pilipinas at Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) Kung paano pa higit na mapabubuti ang ugnayan ng Pilipinas at ng Republic Union of Myanmar ang magiging paksa ng pag-uusap ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III at ng Pangulong Thein Sein ng Myanmar, sabi ni Embahador Alex Chua ng Pilipinas sa bansang ito. Sa panayam ng PBS-RTVM, sinabi ni Embahador Chua na sa pulong ng dalawang Pangulo, aanyayahan ng Pangulong Aquino si Pangulong Thein Sein na dumalaw sa Pilipinas. Maraming mahalagang bagay ang pag-uusapan ng Pangulong Aquino at Pangulong Thein Sein kaugnay ng ibayo pang mabuting samahan ng dalawang bansa, gayundin ang gagawing pag-aanyaya ng Pangulong Aquino na dumalaw sa Pilipinas ang Pangulo ng Myanmar, sabi pa ni Embahador Chua. Nakatakdang dumating dito ang Pangulong Aquino kasama ang delegasyong Pilipino Biyernes ng umaga para daluhan ang 22nd World Economic Forum at upang mag-anyaya ng mga delegado sa 2014 WEF East Asia Summit na ang Pilipinas ang magiging punung-abala. Ang Pilipinas at Myanmar ay nagkaroon ng ugnayang diplomatiko noong Setyembre 1956 a sa loob ng halos 57 taon ay maganda ang ugnayan ng dalawang bansa, sabi ng Embahador. Sa nakaraang mga taon, naging kapuna-puna na marami ang mga kinatawan ng pamahalaan, academe, civil society at mga negosyante na nagsasadya rito at tayo naman ay sa Myanmar, dugtong ng Embahador. Nagpahayag ng pag-asa si Embahador Chua na sa pagtungo rito ng Pangulong Aquino, lalong magiging mabuti ang samahan ng dalawang bansa lalo na sa kalakalan at pamumuhunan. Magpupulong din ang Pangulong Aquino at ang lider ng oposisyon Aung San Suu Kyi habang narito siya. Si Suu Kyi ang tagapangulo at pangkalahatang kalihim ng National League for Democracy. PND TOP

Hiniling ng Pangulo sa Kongreso pagtibayin ang panukalang batas ukol sa makabagong weather forecasting

Sinertipikahan ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III na kailangang-kailangang pagtibayin ng Kongreso ang panukalang batas tungo sa modernisasyon ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Ang naturang sertipikayon para sa House Bill 6546 o An Act Providing f or the Modernization of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Providing Funds and for Other Purposes ay ipinadala sa Senado Hunyo 5, alinsunod kay Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Biyernes. Ipinaliwanag ni Valte na sinertipikahan ng Pangulo na kailangang-kailangan ang panukalang batas na nasabi para mapagtibay bago magtapos ang pulong ng Kongreso. Sayang naman kung hindi ito maipapasa ng Kongreso dahil mahalaga ang batas na ito sapagkat para ito sa modernisasyon ng PAGASA, sabi ni Valte.

Kailangang-kailangan ng PAGASA ang pondo para magkaroon ng makabagong mga kagamitang tulad ng paglalagay ng panukat ng ulan (rain gauges) sa iba-ibang dako para matulungan ang PAGASA na malaman kung gaano karaming tubig ang bubuhos nang mababalaan ang taong bayan tungkol sa pagbahang maaaring mangyari. Maglalagay rin tayo ng Doppler radars para makatulong sa pagtaya o pagsasabi sa madla ng kalagayan ng panahon sa bansa. Ito ay isa sa mga kailangang-kailangan ng PAGASA, dugtong pa ni Valte. PND TOP

Inanyayahan ng Pangulong Aquino na dumalaw sa Pilipinas ang Pangulong Thein Sein ng Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW, MyanmarInanyayahan ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang Pangulong Thein Sein ng Myanmar na magsagawa ng state visit sa Pilipinas nang mag-usap sila Biyernes ng umaga sa Presidential Palace dito. Nagpulong ang Pangulong Aquino at si Pangulong Thein Sein sa sidelines ng ginaganap na 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia na ang punung-abala ay ang Myanmar. Pagdating ng Pangulo at ng delegasyong Pilipino sa Nay Pyi Taw Biyernes ng umaga, tumuloy agad ang Pangulo sa Presidential Palace para sa pulong nila ng lider ng nasabing bansa. Setyembre 1956 nang buksan ang ugnayang diplomata ng Pilipinas at Myanmar. Sa pag-uusap nila, tinanggap ng Pangulong Thein Sein ang Pangulong Aquino at ang delegasyon ng Pilipinas. Sinabi niya na ang pagdalaw na ito ng Pangulo sa Myanmar ay pagpapamalas ng mabuting pagsasamahan ng dalawang bansa. Sa kanyang panig naman, nagpasalamat ang Pangulong Aquino sa kagandahang-loob ng Pangulong Thein Sein sa masiglang pagtanggap at kagandahang-loob sa delegasyong Pilipino. Inanyayahan ng Pangulong Aquino ang Pangulong Thein Sein na magsagawa ng state visit sa Pilipinas. Pagkaraang makipagpulong sa lider ng Myanmar, nakipagpulong naman ang Pangulo kay Klaus Schwab, tagapagtatag at tagapagpaganap na tagapangulo ng WEF sa Myanmar International Convention Center. TOP Ulat tungkol sa Serendra blast, ibinigay ni Roxas sa Pangulong Aquino

Ibinigay ni Kalihim Manuel Roxas II sa Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ang ulat na may kinalaman sa naganap na pagsabog sa Serendra Place noong nakaraang linggo na nagpapahiwatig na ang nangyari ay malamang dahil sa gas leak. Sa pulong-balitaan sa Malacanang Biyernes, sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte na ipinaalam sa Pangulo ang pinakahuling ulat tungkol sa pagsisiyasat sa Serendra bago ito umalis patungong Myanmar Biyernes ng umaga. Alinsunod kay Valte, nasiyahan naman ang Pangulo sa resulta ng pagsisiyasat. Nang tanungin ng mga reporter kung may ano mang iniutos ang Pangulo pagkaraang matanggap ang report, sinabi ni Valte na ipagpapatuloy pa ng interagency team ang pagsisiyasat. Hindi pa tapos ang imbestigasyon. Sa yugtong ito, nabigyan na nila tayo ng mga paunang mg a natuklasan nila. Natuklasang ang pagsabog ay hindi dahil sa ano mang bomba at dito nga sinasabi ng mga imbestigador na malamang na bunga ito ng gas explosion, malamang ay LPG, sabi pa ni Valte. Pinapurihan din ni Valte ang grupong tagapagsiyasat na puspusang pagsisikap ng mga ito na matuklasan ang tunay na sanhi ng pagsabog. Talagang puspusan ang ginawa nilang pagsisiyasat. Nakita naman ang ginawang trabaho at pagtutulungan ng mga tauhan ng interagency investigative team, kasama na diyan ang Kalihim ng Interyor at Lokal na Pamahalaan na talaga namang sinisigurong natututukan at mailalabas sa madaling panahon ang kinalabasan ng pagsisiyasat na talaga namang totohanan at puspusan, wika pa ni Valte. Pagkatapos ng pagsabog, agad iniutos ng Pangulo sa interagency task force na tiyaking ang resulta ng

imbestigasyon ay makapapasa sa pinakamasusing pagsusuri ng sino man at ang mga natuklasan ay dapat nakasalig sa mga katibayang natipon sa pinangyarihan nito. Tatlo katao ang agad binawan ng buhay sa pagsabog na ito na nakalikha ng isang malaking butas sa gusali ng Serendra Place kaya bumagsak ang malaking pader na bato. Lima katao ang nasaktan sa pagsabog na ito. PND TOP

Kapayapaan at pagkakasundo ang kailangan para matamo ang pambansang kaunlaran, ayon kay Punong Ministro Gusmao

Binigyang diin ni Punong Ministro Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao ng Democratic Republic of Timor Leste na kailangang isulong ang patakaran ng kapayapaan at pakikipagkasundo upang maitayo ang matatag na panulukang bato ng pambansang kaunlaran. Si Gusmao na nasa apat na araw na official visit sa Pilipinas sa anyaya ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ay nagsalita sa Kolehiyo ng Abugasya sa Pamantasan ng Pilipinas na ginanap sa Malcolm Theater sa UP Diliman, Lungsod ng Quezon. Inulit ni Gusmao ang kanyang pangakong pag-iibayuhin niya ang pagsisikap upang magka-roon ng pambansang pagkakasundo at mamayani ang kapatiran sa kanyang pananalita sa talakayang pi namagatang Peace and Reconciliation: Timor-Leste Now and Then. Ang Democratic Republic of Timor- Leste sa pamumuno ni Gusmao ay nagtagumpay sa hangaring magkaroon ng kapanatagang pampulitika at pang-ekonomya mula noong 2007. Sa mga nagawa nito ay kabilang ang pag-uwi sa tahanan nila at paggawa ng bagong bahay ng mga displaced people, pagtatatag at paggamit ng auditing public bodies upang magbago ang palingkurang bayan, pagbibigay ng pensiyon sa mga nakipaglaban para sa pambansang katu-busan, batas na nangangalaga lalo na sa mga nakatatanda at pagtatayo ng planta ng kor-yente nang magkailaw ang buong bansa. Pagkatapos ng lecture sa UP, tumuloy si Gusmao sa East La Mesa Water Treatment Plant kung saan ipinaliwanag sa kanya ang tungkol sa operasyon ng pasilidad. Dumating si Gusmao sa Maynila ika-12:18 ng madaling-araw ng Huwebes para sa apat na araw na opisyal na pagdalaw sa Pilipinas. Huwebes ng umaga tinanggap ng Pangulong Aquino si Gusmao sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang kung saan nag-usap ang dalawang lider tungo sa ibayong pagtutulungan ng Pilipinas at Timor-Leste sa larangan ng edukasyon, kalakalan at pamumuhunan, imprastraktura at tang-gulan. Sabado ay nakatakda siyang magtungo sa Subic at Clark Field ukol sa posibleng pagkakataon sa negosyo. Tutuloy siya Lungsod ng Olongapo Sabado (Hunyo 8) at makikipagpulong sa mga pinuno ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority at papasyal sa Clark International Airport sa Pampanga. Isinilang si Gusmao sa isang nayon sa Timor-Leste at nag-aral sa paaralang Katoliko. Guro siya at nang lumaya ang Timor-Leste noong 1974 ay naging Deputy Director of Information. Kinikilala ang Punong Ministro sa kanyang liderato at maraming natanggap na mga parangal at gawad buhat sa mga pandaigdig na samahang tulad ng UNESCO Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Priza at First Class Medal for Contributionto Humanity buhat sa Pangulo ng Republika ng Vanuatu. Siya ay nagsimulang manungkulang Punong Ministro mula noong 2007. Siya rin ang kasa-lukuyang Ministro ng Tanggulang Bansa at Kapanataganng kanyang bansa. PND TOP

Masigasig na paghimok ng Pangulong Aquino sa karagdagang mga pamumuhunan at binigyang diin ang nagawa na ng bansa

NAY PYI TAW,MyanmarMasigasig na paghimok sa mga dayuhang mangangalakal ang ginawa ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III Biyernes kasabay ng pagtatampok niya sa mga nagawa na ng administrasyon niya sa tanghaliang handog ng Ayala Corporation.

Dumating dito ang Pangulong Aquino Biyernesng umaga at dinaluhan ang tanghalian ng mga dayuhang negosyante. Narito ang Pangulo para daluhan ang 22nd World Economic Forum on Eas Asia na punung-abala ang Myanmar. Parami nang paraming pagkakataon ang nalikha sa aming bansa na bunga at pagpapatibay n ga ming pangakong reporma. Narito kami ngayon upang anyayahan kahong makibalikat sa aming gawain, sabi ng Pangulo. Binanggit ng Pangulo ang turismo, pagsasaka at mga imprastraktura bialng pangunahin sa maaaring pasukin ng mga CEOs at mangangalakal para sa pamumuhunan. Ang tatlong sektor na ito, sabi ng Pangulo ang may malaking ginagampanan sa pagsigla ng ekonomya ng Pilipinas. Sinabi ng Pangulo ang mga nagawa ng Pilipinas sa pamamahala niya na tulad ng 7.8 porsi-yentong paglago ng Gross Domestic Product at ang pagtataas ng investment grade ng dala-wang malaking credit rating agencies. Ngayon, maliwanag na ang mabuting pamamahala ay naging daan ng pagtitiwala sa Pilipinas. Umimbulog nang mataas ang Philippine Stock market sa nakalipas na mga taon at ang mga mapanuri sa daigdig ang nagbansag na ang bansa ay a hotspot, Asias Rising Tiger or the brightest spark sa Timog Silangang Asya, sabi ng Pangulo. Binigyang diin ng Pangulo ang mga reporma at parakarang ginawa ng pamahalaan upang maayos ang larangan ng kalakalan, mabawasan ang regulatory risk at matiyak ang matatag na kapaligiran para sa mga negosyante. Ayon sa Pangulo, gumawa ng hakbang ang administrasyon niya para mat8yak ang kinabu-kasan ng Pilipinas, kasama na ang pagpapatibay ng responsible pare nthood at sin taxes, bukod pa sa paglagda sa Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro sa pagitan ng pama-halaang pambansa at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Sa kasalukuyan, nakaayos na ang lahat: kapanatagang pampulitika, mababang inflation at low bar rowing rates, mga pagkakataon sa pag-unlad ng lahat ng sektor halos, isang pamaha-laang naninindigan sa dangal at isang lahing kilala sa buong daigdig sa kasipagan, katapatan at pagiging malikhain, sabi ng Pangulong Aquino. Sa aming bansa ngayon, mayroon na kayong resipe para sa patuloy, tunay na pagsulong na makikinabang kapuwa ang mga imbestor at ang taong bayan. Ang kailangan na lamang ay magtulungan tayo at magkasamang magsikapat iyan ang dahilan kaya kami nasa inyong mga harap ngayon. pagbibigay-diin pa ng Pangulo. PND(co/zaf) TOP

President Benigno S. Aquino III's Remarks during the luncheon hosted by Ayala Corporation, CEO's and Businessmen, Rakhine Room, 1st Floor, Myanmar International Convention Center, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 07 June 2013 I was asked earlier if I would be entertaining questions, and I said, that I think is the main purpose of being here, until I saw the ballroom, and I was told that there are about 300 of us here. One question per person I wonder when Ill finish answering all of your questions. [Laughter] But I will do try to maximize my participat ion today. Allow me first to congratulate the government of Myanmar, led by His Excellency, the President, not only hosting this years World Economic Forum on East Asia, but for more importantly paving the way for greater economic and political inclusiveness in this very beautiful country. This truly serves to inspire others to pursue and institute meaningful social reform. Three years ago, I came into office faced with the task of uprooting a long-entrenched culture of corruption and impunity in government, knowing that therein lay the key to reviving the economy and fostering broad-based growth for my countrymen. In our first weeks, and actually first months in office, we uncovered new and bigger problems every dayproblems that seemed to have been, in large part and for the longest time, ignored by the people who created them. But we did not allow ourselves to be daunted: the Filipino people had elected us into office for a reason, and so we rolled up our sleeves and went straight to work.

We reformed the procurement and budgeting processes, taking funding away from programs that did not work, and pouring our resources into those that would benefit our people the most from social services, to health and education, to key reforms and infrastructure development. All this was done while adhering to strict standards of accountability and transparency. These same standards allowed us to make improvements to our revenue collection mechanisms, with our Bureau of Internal Revenue collections growing by 28 percent. May we add that this was achieved without raising taxes. All of you will agree with the simple belief that guides our reform agenda: corruption breeds waste. Today, it is clear: good governance has created a climate of confidence in the Philippines. Our stock market has soared over the past three years, while analysts the world over have given different names to our success. I have heard our country called a hotspot, Asias Rising Tiger, or the brightest spark in Southeast Asia, just to name a few. These accolades are not unwarranted. For the first time in history, the Philippines is rated investment grade by two major credit rating agencies. These agencies have cited our robust growth as well as the low and stable inflation rate in the countryall while many other economies are experiencing slowdowns. In fact, the Philippine economy has consistently surpassed all expectations so far: full-year growth for 2012 was at 6.8 percenthigher than our growth assumption of six percentwhile in the first quarter of 2013, our economy expanded by 7.8 percent. On the production side, this first quarter growth was the result of the expansion of all major sectors: agriculture expanded 3.3 percent, services, by 7 percent, and industry, by 10.9 percent. I should emphasize that the key drivers of industry were manufacturing, which grew by 9.7 percent, and construction, which grew by 32.5 percent. On the demand side, I am told investment was just as significant a contributor to growth as household consumption. In particular, fixed capital formation grew by 16.8 percent due to vast increases in both public and private construction activity, as well as investments on durable equipment. I hope you do not mind my going into some detail. I do so only because these most recent numbers, together with our other achievements, tell a story that might be of interest to you. For example, manufacturing increased despite an 8.4 percent decline in goods exports; this implies large domestic demand large enough to offset lowered international demand. Public and private construction activities have expanded, indicating great improvements in our infrastructure. That this kind of economic growth is happening when we have just been upgraded to investment grade means that development can take place at an even faster rateopening more sources of financing, and redounding to lower borrowing costs not only for our government, but also for businesses and investors. The lesson? This is the perfect time to invest in the Philippines. More and more opportunities have been created, both as a result and as an affirmation of our commitment to reform, and we are here today to share these opportunities and invite you to work with us. The development of infrastructure is necessary for the growth of all other sectors. Right now, the Philippines is behind its ASEAN counterparts in this regard, including the state of our roads. Instead of seeing this as a setback, we choose to see it as an opportunity to make quality investments into infrastructure. So, we have increased our budget for infrastructure, from 4.86 billion dollars in 2012 to 5.94 billion dollars in 2013. This more than one billion dollar increase will go towards paving all unpaved sections of our national road network, and developing airports and other transport hubs in the country. At the same time, we also know that harnessing the expertise of the private sector will help us accelerate infrastructure development, which is why we are fostering greater engagement and partnership between the public and private spheres. We have already rolled out a number of projects; some are under construction, while others are still open for participationfrom the construction of classrooms, and the rehabilitation, operation, and management of hydroelectric power plants, to the construction of highways, among others. Agriculture and tourism are our other two priority sectors not only because they make the most of our countrys strengths, but also because they create jobs, complement existing livelihoods, and ignite rural development. Lack of infrastructure and support to farmers, among others, hampered the growth of our agriculture sector in the past. To remedy this, we went back to basics, improving irrigation systems, and constructing and rehabilitating farm to market roads. We are also moving up the value chain and discovering new uses for certain products. For example, the coconut water that was once discarded as a waste product today has become a booming industry in its own right. From 2010 to 2011 alone, coco water exports increased by more than 700 percent in value and more than 800 percent in volume, with large demand coming from countries like the United States, Australia, and the Netherlands and the sector is still growing. Tourism is another sector whose attraction is obvious, not only to those who are looking to invest or set up business, but also to those just looking to enjoy themselves. The Philippines is in high demand, with 4.3 million tourists in 2012 discovering that, indeed, its more fun in the Philip pines. With publications like Conde Nast Traveller, the New York Times, and Travel and Leisure Magazine trumpeting our beaches, nightlife, and diving not to mention the Filipino hospitality that has made our people so famous we are confident that we will meet, and hopefully even surpass, our 2016 target of 10 million tourist arrivals. Again, may I take this opportunity to invite you to come and visit the Philippines, whether for a vacation, for businessperhaps to explore the hotel industry, or for the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014, which will be held in our country. Whatever it is that you may be looking forbusiness opportunities in the sectors as I have mentioned, or in manufacturing, shipbuilding, and information technology and business process management; a secluded and beautiful beach in Palawan, or the most lively street dancing in any of our festivals whatever it is, I am certain that you will find it in our country, and find it more fun at that. Tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure have played big roles in the revival of our economy; they remain our focus because we believe in their potential to contribute to job creation. This is why our investments into these priority sectors have been matched by great investments in our peoplein healthcare, education, social services, among

others. These ensure that, when investors set up shop in the Philippines, they will find a healthy and capable labor pool ready to man their workstations, and empowered consumers able to patronize their products and services. This is also why we have instituted key reforms and policies to level the playing field, minimize regulatory risk, and ensure a stable environment. At the same time, we know that sustained, inclusive growth that benefits investors and the public alike can only be achieved through longevitythe longevity of reform and the good governance that has built trust, confidence, and optimism in the Philippines. And we have taken steps to secure our countrys future. Key legislation on subjects such as responsible parenthood and sin taxes, which have been enacted, even as a Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, paving the way for a final, enduring peace in the southern part of our country. As you may know, the Philippines has recently concluded midterm elections to elect candidates to our Senate and Congressa process I viewed as a referendum on my first three years as President. The idea was that, if the public were in agreement with the direction in which my administration was taking the country, they would elect our candidates into the legislature. Of the 12 Senate seats up for election, the voters gave us nine. In Congress, the Liberal Party and its coalition partners also have a very, very significant majority. To me, this is an affirmation of the mandate that I won in 2010 and a vote for continuity. If the public continues to share my vision for the country, as they have done in the past years, then anyone who aspires to succeed me would do well to continue down the path we have takenand continue the tradition of good governance and public service, as well as the reform agenda that has brought the country so much success to our country. Today, all the factors are in place: political stability, low inflation and low borrowing rates, opportunities for growth in almost all sectors, a government committed to integrity and empowerment, and a people known the world over for their industry, loyalty, and creativity. In our country, you have the recipe for sustained, inclusive growth that benefits investors and public alike. All that is left is for us to engage each other, and work together and this is precisely why we are here today. In fact, members of my Cabinet are seated among you now, and I encourage you to approach them and ask questionsif you do have them about our plans for the Philippines or about opportunities for investment. They will only be too happy to give you the information you require. After all, we are here to form partnerships with you. We are here because we are certain that, together, we can achieve great things for your businesses, for our economy, and for our people. Thank you. Good day. [HOME]

ONLINE NEWS
08 JUNE 2013
1. P313-M agro-export project to set up in Davao and Bukidnon 2. South Cotabato to launch two new eco-tourism sites 3. End-May 2013 GIR settles at US$82.9 billion 4. DOLE regional offices designates Kasambahay desk officers 5. Seven seafarers get P18 M in monetary awards through conciliation 6. DSWD turns over educational facilities to CARAGA town 7. DOJ Brings Max Planck Institute to Asia

8. National Government posts highest growth on health expenditures but households continue to bear most of the health 9. DepEd addresses temporary first day shortages 10. June 09 is World Accreditation Day 11. DTI, JICA to hold investment conference 12. Govt doing its best to ensure more doable and durable peace in Mindanao - Deles 13. DOE issues circular on FIT Guidelines for RE Projects 14. Phl Ambassador inaugurates Dive Exhibit in Metro Islas Filipinas in Madrid

15. Phl Consulate General conducts mobile consular outreach in Maui, Hawaii 16. Oleochemicals will help ailing coconut sector - DOST Advisory body 17. Deadline of application for the September 2013 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) moved

P313-M agro-export project to set up in Davao and Bukidnon Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph

The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the P313.353-M project of Maharlika Agro-Marine Ventures Corporation (MAVC) as new export producer of dressed ducks and its by-products. The MAVC with facilities located in Davao and Bukidnon is scheduled to begin commercial operation in July 2013. It will employ 207 personnel once operational. The project involves the production and processing of Peking ducks. The dressed ducks facilities will have an annual capacity of 2,758 metric tons (MT). The firm intends to export about 75% of the produced dressed Peking ducks to China and Hong Kong. The remaining 25% of production will be distributed to the local market as a healthy and affordable protein-rich food. To ensure a steady supply, the wholly locally-owned MAVC will raise its own Peking ducks. Its production facilities will be located in different areas. The hatchery will be located in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. The broiler farm will be situated in Mandug, Davao City, while its dressing component will be in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Export production is included in the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) qualified for incentives availment. This priority sector covers the manufacture of export products, services exports, and activities in support of exporters. The BOI is the lead implementor of the IPP. The Plan is annually crafted to identify priority sectors that will increase investment inflows and create more jobs for the countrys citizenry. These export projects will boost the capacity of homegrown products to increase its share in the global market. Per National Statistics Office (NSO) figures, the country posted aggregate exports of USD51.99B in 2012, up by 7.5% from USD48.30B in 2011. Specifically, latest figures show that agro-based products increased 38% to USD732.70M in the first two months of 2013, compared to USD531.10M in the same period last year. |TOP| South Cotabato to launch two new eco-tourism sites Source: http://www.tourism.gov.ph

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, June 7 (PNA) -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is set to launch two new adventure attractions that are seen to further perk up the areas thriving eco -tourism industry. Cesar Sulit Jr., provincial tourism officer, said Friday the local government will formally open in July the famed Kofnit Cave and the bird watching area of Sitio Kanco in Lake Sebu town as part of the provinces tourism circuit. He said they will offer caving tours at the Kofnit Cave, which is located in Sitio Lambila of Barangay Lamfugon, and bird-watching activities at Sitio Kanco in Barangay Lamlahak. Sulit said the two areas were among the sites within the Allah Valley Protected Watershed that are being developed by as eco-tourism attractions by the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA). AVLDA, which is an environmental body established by the local governments of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, spearheads the protection, conservation and management of the critical Allah River and its immediate environs. The official said AVLDA earlier received separate grants from the national government and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to facilitate the development of the two eco-tourism sites. Sulit said that through the CIDA grant, 10 residents of Barangay Lampugon were recently trained as caving guides through the Sarangani Bay Area Outdoors Club (SBAOC). He said 10 more residents and local government personnel of Lake Sebu were trained as bird watching guides.

SBAOC was earlier tapped by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)as a recommendatory body on cave assessment in Region 12. (SBAOCs) cave assessment team is presently looking at certifying the Kofnit Cave as a first class cave, Sulit s aid. Johnnie Victor Ferrer, a certified birder, said the bird watching area in Lake Sebu is home to hundreds of bird species that includes native and migratory birds. He said that his group -- Wild Birds Photographers of the Philippines -- once visited the area and saw various birds like the spotted and long-tailed dove, olive-backed sunbird, popular cage bird Java Sparrow, black-nape Blue Flycatcher, among others.(PNA) |TOP| End-May 2013 GIR settles at US$82.9 billion Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph Preliminary data showed that the countrys gross international reserves (GIR) stood at US$82.9 billion as of end May 2013, slightly lower by US$0.3 billion than the end-April 2013 GIR of US$83.2 billion, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. announced today.1 At this level, reserves remain adequate to cover 11.7 months worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income. The GIR is also equivalent to 9.8 times the countrys short-term external debt based on original maturity and 6.6 times based on residual maturity.2 The slight decline in the reserves was due mainly to revaluation adjustments on the BSPs gold holdings arising from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market, payments for maturing foreign exchange obligations of the National Government (NG), and foreign currency withdrawals by a government corporation. These outflows were partially offset by inflows from the foreign exchange operations and income from investments abroad of the BSP as well as foreign currency deposits by the NG. Net international reserves (NIR), which refers to the difference between the BSPs GIR and total short -term liabilities, decreased by US$0.3 billion to reach US$82.9 billion as of end-May 2013, compared to the end-April 2013 NIR of US$83.2 billion. ------------1 The final data on GIR are released to the public every 19th day of the month in the Statistics section of the BSPs website under the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS). If the 19th day of the month falls on a weekend or is a non-working holiday, the release date shall be the working day nearest to the 19th. 2 Short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months. |TOP| DOLE regional offices designates Kasambahay desk officers Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

As the implementing rules and regulations of Batas Kasambahay takes effect DOLE regional offices designates Kasambahay desk officers Following Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldozs instructions to effect the smooth implementation of the rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10361, otherwise known as An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers, or more commonly known as Batas Kasambahay, the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment designated a Single-Entry Approach Desk Officer (SEADO) who shall act as the Kasambahay Desk Officer in their respective areas. Questions on the implementation of the IRR of the Batas Kasambahay are unavoidable, especially during the first few weeks of its implementation. That is why having a DOLE personnel specifically assigned to handle queries and concerns in relation to the rules and regulations of the Batas Kasambahay is a good means to ensure that understanding can be fostered. This could lead to acceptance of the law, and hence, compliance, Baldoz explained. Administrative Order No. 207, Series of 2013, mandates the designation of a Kasambahay Desk Officers in every regional offices of the DOLE tasked to conciliate complaints filed by kasambahays in the respective regional office. They are also responsible for coordinating with other focal persons in the local government units with regards the

implementation of the law. The administrative order also tasked the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) and the DOLEs Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR) and Human Resource Development Service (HRDS) to provide and facilitate training to capacitate the appointed Kasambahay desk officers in conciliating complaints filed in the regional office. Aside from having a dedicated desk officer attending to all Batas Kasambahay-related queries, the public can also contact the DOLE Call Center, the labor and employment chief said. The DOLE Call Center operates from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Mondays through Saturdays and can be reached through telephone numbers (02) 527-8000. On another note, the DOLE regional offices are likewise directed to initially provide hard copies of Batas Kasambahay Forms and attachments to barangays located within their respective areas of responsibilities. With the Batas Kasambahay already tak ing effect, we hope for a smooth implementation for the sake of our household service workers. It is really a high time that we give them the proper care and protection they need considering the necessary role that they play in our lives, Baldoz said. |TOP| Seven seafarers get P18 M in monetary awards through conciliation Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

Labor and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday announced the settlement, through conciliation, of various claims filed by seven seafarers in the National Conciliation and Mediation Board-National Capital Region (NCMB-NCR). Baldoz, citing a report from NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo Ubaldo, said that seven seafarers benefited from more than P18 M in monetary awards resulting from the settlement of their cases during the months of February and March 2013. Each of the seven seafarers got benefits ranging from P1.4 M to P3.6 M, Baldoz said. According to the report, one of the complaining seafarers, Elmer R. Tolentino, a bosun of MV Cosco China, sought the intervention of RNCB NCR on 5 March 2013 for press his claim for payment of total and permanent disability compensation. After a series of conciliation-mediation conferences facilitated by RCMB NCR OIC Amorsolo V. Aglibut, the agreed to pay Tolentino with P3,626,555.33 as full and complete settlement for his claims on 26 march 2013 or three weeks after he sought the intervention of the Board. Another seafarer, Giovanni Arnesto, a bosun of MV Alam Seri which is operated by Arctic Shipping Corporation, sought the intervention of NCMB NCR on 7 December 2012 to for disability compensation and benefits, medical allowances and expenses, attorneys fees, and damages. After a series of conciliation-mediation conferences facilitated by Conciliator-Mediator Estelita S. Bautista the representatives of Arctic Shipping Corporation management agreed to pay Arnesto with P3,228,000 as full and complete settlement on 14 February, 2013. On 7 March, 2013, the claims of Pablo T. Cain, an oiler of M/V Cap Camarat operated by Southfield Agencies, Incorporated, was also resolved after Con-Med Cynthia S. Foncardas succeeded in forging a settlement mutually acceptable to the parties. Cain was awarded P3,380,960 as complete and final settlement for his claims of sickness allowance, medical reimbursement and disability benefits, attorneys fees, and other damages. Successful conciliation-mediation efforts of RCMB NCR also benefitted the following seafarers: Marciano O. Patea, chief engineer of M/V Golden Crown operated by Splash Philippines who was awarded P1,474,265 as full settlement of his claims for disability benefits on 21 March 2013. The parties were assisted by Con-Med Foncardas. Rey A. Laserna, an able-bodied seaman of MVGenmar Strength operated by Philippine Transmarine Carrier, and his employer mutually agreed to P1,398,180 as full and final settlement of Lasernas claims on March 27, 2013. They were assisted by Con-Med Estelita Bautista. Eden B. Ronzales, a seaman of MV MSC Gemma operated by BSM Crew Service Centre Phils. was awarded P3,182,080 as full settlement fot his claims for sickness allowance, medical reimbursement, disability benefits, attorneys fees, and damages on March 7, 2013. OIC Aglibut facilitated the settlement. Rizalde O. Ferrera, a bosun of MV Bulk Philippines, another ship operated by Arctic Shipping Corporation got $47,500 (P1.9 million) as sickness allowance, disability compensation and benefits, attorneys fees, and damages on March 15, 2013, four days after he sought the Boards intervention on March 11, 2013. His case was handled by OIC Aglibut. Secretary Baldoz commended the NCMB conciliator-mediators for their focused and pro-active effort in facilitating the settlement of these disputes, saying their efforts mirror the DOLEs intensified campaign to promote compliance to labor standards and uphold workers rights and welfare. This is in keeping with the reforms in the labor dispute settlement system that we have put in place in pursuit of the 22-point labor and employment agenda of the President, said Baldoz. |TOP| DSWD turns over educational facilities to CARAGA town Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph

In time for the opening of classes, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) turned over P9.5M worth of educational facilities to the Municipality of Pilar, Surigao del Norte.

The facilities were constructed through DSWDs Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) project with funding support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman said that the facilities include five (5) day care centers, three (3) pre-school buildings and two (2) elementary school buildings. Pilar town mayor, Lucio Gonzales, acknowledged the strong support of the DSWD and AusAID to their municipality saying that we are very delighted that they (AusAID and DSWD) looked into the situation of our educational facilities. They found out that many barangays in our town lack school buildings or the buildings are in need of a major repair. AusAID has given a P600 M grant to the DSWD for the construction of 464 classrooms and 171 day care centers to help address the shortage of educational facilities in the country. It will also help households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program meet the educational requirement of the said program. The construction of such facilities will be implemented by KALAHI-CIDSS. Secretary Soliman said that the day care centers and school buildings constructed through KALAHI-CIDSS add to the existing educational facilities in poor municipalities. In CARAGA region alone, KALAHI-CIDSS has constructed 85 daycare centers and 100 classrooms since 2003. Nationwide, a total of 1,382 school buildings and 868 day care centers were constructed through KALAHI-CIDSS. KALAHI-CIDSS is one of the governments flagship poverty alleviation programs which uses the community-driven development (CDD) approach. It is designed to reduce poverty by empowering citizens and bringing back the power to them to decide on development projects that will answer the need for basic services in their communities. The CDD approach utilized by Kalahi-CIDSS is set for a scale-up through the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP), which will cover 900 municipalities from the 364 covered by Kalahi-CIDSS. About 21,600 community projects will be constructed under this program. Of this number, 6,000 classrooms and 1,944 day care centers are expected to be built. |TOP| DOJ Brings Max Planck Institute to Asia Source: http://www.doj.gov.ph

The Department of Justice today announced the signing of a Framework Agreement between the DOJ and the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Foreign and International Criminal Law of Germany. The MPI is a leading research organization that studies criminal law theories using a comparative approach. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach that includes criminology to improve peace and order, stability in society. "We are very happy to enter into this partnership. It is the first of its kind in Asia and will significantly contribute to the quality of our inputs to legislation. We will also offer the center at the service of all justice stakeholders," said Secretary of Justice Leila M. de Lima. The DOJ-MPI's first joint effort is on benchmarking the work of the Criminal Code Committee tasked to codify the fragmented criminal laws in the country estimated at more than 400. Global best practices and tested criminal law philosophies will be injected into Books 1 and 2 of the new Criminal Code. The Hanns Seidel Foundation is currently a partner institution of the DOJ on this project. "The establishment of a knowledge center in Manila is an exciting development for 'us. It will complete our study on comparative criminal law," said Professor Ulrich Sieber, the MPI Director in charge of the program. "I know the deep research talent and the high English proficiency in the Philippines," he added. Among the key results of the DOJ-MPI Justice Research Center is the publication of papers on legal, policy and institutional challenges to effective criminal law enforcement. |TOP| National Government posts highest growth on health expenditures but households continue to bear most of the spending on health Source: http://www.nscb.gov.ph

The countrys total health expenditure increased by 13.2 % from PhP380.8 billion in 2010 to PhP431.0 billion in 2011. Private sources still account for majority of the total health spending with 63.1%, followed by the government share of 27.0%; social insurance and grants from the rest of the world account for the remaining 9.9%. From private sources, household expenditures on health still accounts to more than half of the countrys total health expenditure or PhP227.2 billion in 2011; a 13.6% jump from PhP200.0 billion in 2010. While households continue to spend more for their health care, it is notable that the national government spending on health grew from PhP43.4 billion in 2010 to PhP53.1 billion in 2011, registering the largest growth of 22.3% among other sectors. National governments share to total health expenditure is steadily increasing in recent years. Increased budget allocations on health sector particularly to Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) contributed to this growth, in line with the governments commitment in implementing policy and programs for the effective delivery of health services. In 2011, health benefit payments from the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) and health maintenance organization (HMO) continue to show improvements with 15.5% and 16.1% growth rates, respectively. However, donor support on health care was halved from PhP6.4 billion in 2010 to PhP3.5 billion in 2011. Also, the share of employees compensation on health financing has dramatically dropped by 17.1%, landing to PhP104 million. Other notable findings revealed in the 2011 PNHA report are as follows: Total health expenditure has reached PhP431.0 billion at current prices in 2011. This is a 13.2% increase compared to PhP380.8 billion in 2010. Per-capita health expenditure, at current prices, was registered at PhP4,577 in 2011 a 10.3% increase from PhP4,112 in 2010 While national governments share to total health expenditure rose from 11.4% in 2010 to 12.3% in 2011, local governments share slightly fell from 15.2% in 2010 to 14.7% in 2011. Local government still contributes largely to the countrys total health spending, second to households. Its estimated contribution of PhP63.4 billion in 2011 is a 9.2% increase from the previous years PhP58.0 billion. Although, the rate of growth of private schools spending on health showed a slow movement , it has increased to PhP3.7 billion. As percent of GDP, health spending was at 4.4% in 2011 a very slight increase from the previous year (4.2%). Based on the goals set by the Department of Health in its National Objectives for Health 2005-2010, only two out of seven health care financing indicators were within the target, namely: 1) total health expenditure as a percent of gross national income: and 2) per capita health expenditure. However, it is worth noting that national government spending for public health care is at close quarters with the target. The PNHA presents information on how much is spent on health care goods and services and who is paying for these goods and services. This information is useful in analyzing the appropriateness of the levels, composition, and structure of health expenditures, especially those of the government. The data can also help determine whether the aggregate health care spending from all sources, that is, the government, the social insurance sector, the private sector, and the rest of the world, is adequate to meet minimum requirements and identify probable areas of inefficiencies in allocating health care resources. The latest estimates of the 2011 PNHA were computed based on the revised sectoral estimation methodologies developed by the NSCB Technical Staff, endorsed by the Interagency Committee on Health and Nutrition Statistics chaired by the DOH, and approved by the NSCB Executive Board through Resolution No. 8-2011. The 2005-2011 Final PNHA Report will be released in June 2013. - See more at: http://www.nscb.gov.ph/pressreleases/2013/PR-20130606-SS101_PNHA.asp#sthash.D1tjzWug.dpuf |TOP| DepEd addresses temporary first day shortages Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph BATASAN HILLS, QUEZON CITY A few days after the opening of classes in public schools, Principal Dr. Diego Amid of Batasan Hills National High School (BHNHS) is showing signs of relief the number of students in his school is stabilizing and they can finally allocate the correct number of chairs for each room. It was chaotic last Monday, exclaims Amid, especially with walk -in enrollees that we have not been able to factor in our planning. Over 500 students, mostly transferee s from the provinces, showed up for class on June 3 without

pre-registering. We encouraged our students to sign up as early as January this year so that we can allocate resources properly. But when they showed up on June 3 we cannot just turn them away. Adding to that is a surge of 3,350 enrollees the week before, or around 28% of the schools total population as of this week. We might still get late enrollees next week, Amid explains. Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary for Planning J esus Mateo understands Amids dilemma and says that such incidents are common in densely populated urban areas. The number of chairs or textbooks for a certain school is dependent on the number of students, if we dont know exactly how many will show up o n Day 1, some students might find themselves short. Mateo says that in BHNHS case, they were able to borrow chairs from other schools in the area with excess inventory. At the end of the day, the Principal will have a better idea how many students he has. He can then allocate materials and furniture accordingly. Kapag kulang pa ang nasa school, papadalhan natin. |TOP| June 09 is World Accreditation Day Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph

June 09 each year is a red-letter day in the worldwide accreditation community. Launched in 2008 by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the World Accreditation Day emphasizes the significance of independent evaluation of conformity assessment bodies against international standards to carry out specific activities with impartiality and competence. Department of Trade and Industry-Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group (DTI-CWBRG) Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya asserts, It is also significant for consumers to be aware of this celebration because accreditation is a check and balance of systems companies that issue certification to international standards such as the ISO 9001 or Quality Management System (QMS) and the ISO 14001 or Environment Management System (EMS) to product and service companies." This years theme is Accreditation: Facilitating World Trade that highlights the important role accreditation plays in facilitating trade both within the country and across the world; and the advantages that accreditation provides to national authorities and regulators, the businesses, and most especially the consumers. Through accreditation, technical competence, reliability, and integrity of conformity assessment bodies are established as it works through a process of transparent and impartial evaluation of organizations against internationally recognized standards. ILAC is an international cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies, while the IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Bodies interested in certification of organizations in the areas of management systems, products, services, personnel, and other similar programmes of certification. ILAC and IAF are formed to help remove technical barriers to trade, both organisations work together and coordinate their efforts to enhance the accreditation and the conformity assessment worldwide. For the annual celebration of the World Accreditation Day, the ILAC and IAF encourage their national representatives from around the world to mark the occasion with dedicated celebrations. As the PHLs National Accreditation Body, the DTIs Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO) is an internationally recognized Multi-Lateral Agreement (MLA) and Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory to Pacific Accreditation Cooperation/International Accreditation Forum (PAC/IAF) and the Asia-Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation/International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC/ILAC), respectively. The ILAC has 80 full members of accreditation bodies and IAF has 59 member-countries worldwide recognising peers and certificates and exchanging accreditation information. DTI-PAO Director-in-Charge Ernani M. Dionisio states, The Department has been very active in ensur ing the Philippines stance in the accreditation community." The DTI-PAO sets an Orientation on Accreditation on June 07, 2013 and invites individuals, organizations, and other stakeholders to support and make use of its benefits in their business and operations. For more information, call DTI-PAO at 751.2377. |TOP| DTI, JICA to hold investment conference

Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Regional Operations Development Group (RODG) and in partnership with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is organizing an investment conference to promote awareness on the PHLs cluster-based industrial development strategy. Through this conference, we intend to promote the country as a viab le investment destination for local and foreign businesses in the following sectors: agri-business, information and communications technology (ICT), support to tourism, health and wellness, and manufacturing, particularly fresh and processed tropical fruits, processed food, rubber, coconut, aqua-marine, and poultry, DTI Undersecretary Merly M. Cruz said. Dubbed as Investing in Priority Industry Clusters for SMEs: A Conference, this conference will run from June 25 26, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City. SMEs stand for small and medium enterprises. This conference will also be a platform to present trade and investment opportunities for the selected industry clusters, Cruz said. This two-day conference will also arrange an exhibit, break-out sessions, and business-matching sessions. The exhibit will display 19 priority industry clusters and investment projects. The business-matching sessions will have one-on-one business sessions between Philippine supplier or industry cluster representative and potential investor or buyer. During the break-out sessions, industry experts will talk about various business opportunities available to industry clusters. In May 2012, the DTI launched the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP) after a series of nationwide planning workshops adopting the industry cluster approach to support the development of micro, medium, and small enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. In time for the NICCEPs first year implementation, we are conducting this conference to present the initiatives done in developing and mobilizing innovative and globally-competitive SMEs through industry clustering, and to provide direction for the projects further implementation in the next two years, she added. The NICCEP is a three-year project funded by JICA in cooperation with the DTI to develop pilot industry clusters nationwide, in coordination with other government agencies and private sector organizations. It aims to help increase the contribution of selected priority industry clusters to the national economy, mainly in terms of job creation, MSME development, investment generation, export growth, and above all poverty alleviation. The project is seen as one of the project-drivers for inclusive growth. This project aims to boost the productivity and business environment of these industry clusters through the provision of Shared Service Facilities (SSF), developing capacities of these industry clusters to plan, implement, and evaluate potential projects, Cruz said. She noted the NICCEP was created to replicate success of eight industry clusters in Davao developed through the three-year run of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP), which was jointly undertaken by the JICA, and the Philippine government through the DTI in 2009. With the success of the DICCEP, the DTI pushed for a nationwide replication through the NICCEP. The NICCEP is seen as major development strategy of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016. The industry clustering approach strengthened the emphasis of the PDP in promoting of industry clusters as a major strategy for inclusive growth, and provided a framework for collaboration between the public and private sectors, Cruz said. To strengthen the capacities of industry cluster development managers and implementers nationwide, the DTI tapped experts from the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation) or GIZ to introduce ValueLinks or value chain methodology as a tool in industry development. Using the value chain methodology and framework, strategic development plans for target industry clusters were drafted during the series of industry cluster development planning workshops held in Central Visayas, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Southern Mindanao last year. With last years groundwork to develop industry clusters and this upcoming investment conference, we are optimistic to further advance the competitiveness of the countys MSMEs, and spur the inflow of investment in the countryside, Cruz said. |TOP| Govt doing its best to ensure more doable and durable peace in Mindanao - Deles Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph

Kuala Lumpur Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on Wednesday said that the PNoy administration is working hard to achieve a more doable and durable peace in Mindanao by ensuring that it can deliver what it has committed. The Presidents instruction has not waned: We will implement everything that we sign; GPH (Government of the Philippines) will deliver whatever we commit legally, politically and in all ways necessary. No false promises, no blind commitments, no agreement that will cause problems further down the road or bring harm to other areas of governance and reform which we will not be able to resolve and defend, especially when challenged before the court but in other arenas as well, she said in her speech during the 27th Asia-Pacific Roundtable organized by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in the Malaysian capital. Deles, along with Malaysian third-party facilitator, Tengku Datu Abdul Ghafar Tengku bin Mohamed and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, was invited to discuss key steps needed to sustain peace in Mindanao in light of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed by the GPH and the MILF in October 2012. A historic document, the FAB outlines the roadmap for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro region that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The FAB, together with the annexes on Normalization, Power-sharing, Wealth-sharing, and Transitional Arrangements and Modalities, will comprise the comprehensive agreement. It has taken more time to craft creative and technically viable solutions to enable the Bangsamoro to achieve the needed political and fiscal autonomy for its sustainable development and durable peace, but we are surely getting there, stated Deles. Since the FAB and all its annexes have been carefully crafted, the peace adviser said the GPH is confident that these will be able to pass the crucial tests of implementation. Deles also stressed that the entire government is one in ensuring clarity in how some of the new fiscal and power sharing arrangements will be implemented, especially those which will have to be enacted into law. Within the government, we have achieved a level of comm on understanding and cooperation with the concerned Cabinet clusters particularly on fiscal management and security that has been unprecedented in our long years in the peace process, she said. Positive despite challenges Deles reiterated that the government remains very positive in the face of the delay over the annexes. She pointed out the elements of the roadmap that have been put into place and which continue to move forward, such as the GPH-MILF ceasefire that has been holding since 2012, the establishment of the Transition Commission that has been tasked to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program, which is a joint undertaking of the GPH and the MILF to uplift the health, economic and livelihood conditions of Bangsamoro communities. Still the challenges that lie ahead remain formidable, Deles said citing the need for vigilance, political will and savvy in guarding the process of legislation of the Basic Law, which will be certified as urgent by the President, submitted to Congress for passage, and subjected to a plebiscite in the proposed core territory as stated in the FAB. Once ratified, the Bangsamoro region will be established and the ARMM will be abolished. She also underscored the need for new capacities and immense trust and goodwill on both sides in the normalization process as well as delivery of development services that will not cause new conflicts in communities. The spirit of inclusiveness must be demonstrated not just in word but, more importantly, in deed by the leadership of all concerned stakeholders. In the law and beyond the law, legitimate institutions need to be built, reformed, and strengthened that will guarantee inclusive growth, increase participation in political and economic decision-making, as well as guard against interests that are inimical to social, political, and economic empowerment, Deles added. The last remaining issues will be the most contentious, she said. Those who oppose the peace process will surely use all their wiles and resources for a final effort to derail the process. It is imperative that we dont give up. |TOP| DOE issues circular on FIT Guidelines for RE Projects Source: http://www.doe.gov.ph

(Taguig City) The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a circular on the guidelines for eligibility of renewable energy (RE) projects for the feed-in-tariff (FIT).

The FIT offers emerging RE sources for electricity guaranteed payments on a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour for energy exported to the distribution or transmission network excluding energy utilized for eligible power plants own use. Last 27 July 2012, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the following FIT rates based on the petition of the National Renewable Energy Board: wind - P8.53/kWh, biomass - P6.63/kWh, solar - P9.68/kWh, and run-of-river hydropower - P5.90/kWh. As approved, eligible RE plants will be entitled to the abovementioned FIT rates for a period of twenty years. After this period, the tariffs for these plants will be based on prevailing market prices or on the contract price with off-takers. Under the DOE Circular, only RE Developers with valid and subsisting Renewable Energy Service/Operating Contracts (RESC) can apply for FIT by submitting a document declaring the commercial feasibility of a project and the approved Work Plan. The DOE assures investors and stakeholders that the process of determining FIT Eligibility will be carried out with due diligence and transparency. Primarily, the DOE will evaluate the submission of the developers prior to the issuance of a certificate to allow construction of a particular project. The RE Project shall then be subjected to site validation and inspection to check its compliance with interconnection requirements in coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). It is only upon confirmation of the successful commissioning of the project that the Certificate of Endorsement (COE) for FIT Eligibility to ERC shall be issued by the DOE on a first-come-first-served basis. For transparency and efficient monitoring, the DOE has setup a monitoring board in its website to show status of FIT Eligibility implementation and other important updates concerning the matter. (http://www.doe.gov.ph/feed-intarriff-monitoring-board/fit-biomass, http://www.doe.gov.ph/feed-in-tarriff-monitoring-board/fit-hydropower, http://www.doe.gov.ph/feed-in-tarriff-monitoring-board/fit-solar, http://www.doe.gov.ph/feed-in-tarriff-monitoringboard/fit-wind ) The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 affirms the governments commitment to accelerate the exploration, development, and optimal use of the country's RE resources. It likewise mandates the establishment of a FIT system for electricity produced from RE sources, which among other initiatives, is central to the Philippines sustainable energy agenda. |TOP| Phl Ambassador inaugurates Dive Exhibit in Metro Islas Filipinas in Madrid Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph 06 June 2013 Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos C. Salinas inaugurated the dive exhibit entitled, Buceo: Es Ms Divertido en Filipinas (Dive: Its More Fun in the Philippines), in Metro Islas Filipinas in Madri d on June 02. The inauguration was attended by Metro de Madrid officials, members of the Filipino community, and Embassy officials and staff. The dive exhibit, which was organized by the Embassy in coordination with Metro de Madrid and the Department of Tourism (DOT), will run from June 01 to 30 June and is one of the Embassys activities for Mes Filipino. After June 30, the exhibit will move to other metro stations in Madrid. The exhibit features colorful and interesting photographs of the different diving sites that the Philippines has to offer Mindoro, Batangas, Palawan, Tubbataha Reef, Bohol, Cebu, Negros, and Donsol. The photographs featuring different wildlife and dive wrecks used in the exhibit were contributed by known underwater photographers Scott Gutsy Tuason, Stephen Tan, Tobias Kammann, Oliver Ang, Jayvee Fernandez, Wowie Wong, and Oka Espenilla. The said exhibit is part of the Embassys efforts to increase tourism arrivals from Spain. Based on the consolidated figures reported by top Spanish dive operators, around 40% to 50% of all tourism arrivals fromMadrid dive exhibit2 Spain are divers. For the first quarter of 2013, there had been a 9.68%-increase in Spanish arrivals to the Philippines compared to the same period last year. Total Spanish arrivals to the Philippines for 2012 reached 15,985, which represents an 8.51% increase from 2011. Mes Filipino is a month-long celebration organized by the Embassy in June of each year to commemorate the anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and Philippines-Spain Friendship Day through cultural activities such as exhibits, seminars, concerts and food festivals, among others. |TOP| Phl Consulate General conducts mobile consular outreach in Maui, Hawaii Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph

06 June 2013 - Almost 350 Filipinos availed themselves of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulus consular services during the Consulates mobile outreach activity from June 01 to 02 in Wailuku, Maui. Consul General Julius D. Torres led a consular team of seven members extending passport, visa, civil registry, notarial and authentication, and dual citizenship services in the island where over 44,000 Filipinos reside. About 29% of the islands 154,000 residents are of Filipino ancestry, either pure Filipino or of mixed Filipino heritage. During the outreach activity, the Consulate took the opportunity to inform our kababayans in Maui about its consular services, the Philippines rosy economy and investment climate, and the recently-concluded Philippine mid-term elections. The Consulate strongly encouraged them to join the 8thAmbassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) this July. While in Maui, Consul General Torres took the opportunity to meet with Mayor Alan Arakawa on May 31 to discuss the Consulates consular outreach program, participation in the upcoming 8th ACGTDT and issues concerning Filipinos in Maui, among other matters. Mayor Arakawa expressed appreciation for the Consulates visit to the island and for making consular services more accessible and convenient for the Filipinos in Maui. He also said that he looks forward to visiting the Philippines again and meeting the President during the ACGTDT. |TOP| Oleochemicals will help ailing coconut sector - DOST Advisory body Source: http://www.dost.gov.ph

Farmers will have greater earning capacity while more engineers, chemists, and other professionals will be employed, if government and coconut industry players will focus more on cocochemicals, specifically oleochemicals, to prop up an industry currently experiencing a slowdown. This was the major point raised during a recent Round Table Discussion (RTD) organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology, an advisory body of the Department of Science and Technology. Titled RTD on the Philippine Coconut Industrys Cocochemical Sector: Quo Vadis?, the event was held last May 28, 2013 at the Hyatt Hotel Manila. Cocochemicals are the highest-value products among coconut commodities and coconut-based oleochemicals, which come from plant and animal fats, are now experiencing an upsurge in terms of market interest. The fuel industry benefits most from oleochemicals production since these may be processed to produce biodiesel, additives, lubricants, greases and solvents.

Proposed solution: embrace the value chain

To tap the opportunities generated by oleochemicals and boost the local cocochemical sector, Dean Lao Jr., managing director of CHEMREZ Technologies and president of the Philippine Oleochemical Manufacturing Association, believes that producers should venture into the other components of the value chain. He mentioned that the Philippines, as of now, is confined to only one component, which is ingredient manufacturing, or simply oleochemical production. Meanwhile, the entire value chain is quite long, comprising feedstock production, ingredient manufacturing, compounding and formulation, branding and packaging, logistics and distribution, retail or direct marketing. Lao stressed his point during the RTD by citing Pilipinas Kao, which has gone all the way to branding and packaging. If you go all the way down the value chain, there are savings and profits. You harness value at every stage of the chain. You are less sensitive to feedstock prices, and have more options to market finished goods, the CHEMREZ official disclosed. The availability of highly skilled human resources does not appear to be a problem either as Lao noted many Filipino engineers and chemists who are experts in this field. Some are getting hired in Malaysian and Indonesian cocochemical companies and plants where they continue to excel, he said. Challenges in the cocochemical sector

According to Carlos B. Carpio, deputy administrator for research, development and extension branch of the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Philippines was one of the first oleochemical producing countries in Asia. In recent years however, the ballgame has changed.

During his presentation titled The Raw Materials Supply Chain: The Quality of Oil Produced by the Coconut Tree, Carpio said that Malaysia and Indonesia are now two of the worlds biggest oleochemical producers with the most dedicated research and development (R&D) facilities. Fact is, Indonesia is the worlds biggest producer of palm oil, which includes oleochemicals among its end-products. Evelina L. Patio, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of United Coconut Chemicals Inc., echoed the statement of Carpio. In her talk on Philippine Cocochemicals for the Local and Global Markets, Patio specified that both Malaysia and Indonesia are now supplying 42 percent of the market for oleochemicals. The trend has now shifted from Europe to Asia. But, we hardly have anything to speak of where cocochemical production is concerned, she lamented. Pilipinas KAO and PIDI are the only operating basic oleochemical plants in the Philippines, apart from biodiesel producers. The others, like Cocochem, Pan-Century, IPI, and Lina Holdings, have either closed shop or are now on shutdown. Patio cited the following challenges faced by local cocochemical producers: limited foreign investments, difficulty competing with other producers, absence of an export tax support unlike in Malaysia and Indonesia where an export tax scheme makes domestic oil prices cheaper, and absence of a long-term plan for increasing coconut production. Lao added other issues affecting the industry, such as inefficient feedstock production, cost of logistics and electricity, limited R&D, regulated/restricted access to Europe, and difficulty in finding end-users for the product. A major challenge, said a member of the audience during the open forum, is how to make the benefits of cocochemical production cascade down to the farmers. They sell their product to manufacturers and its the manufacturers who earn from their product, not the farmers , he lamented. Aside from the fuel industry, oleochemicals also have applications in the homecare, agriculture, plastic, and food industries. These may also be used to produce metal cutting fluids, cleaners, and resins. |TOP| Deadline of application for the September 2013 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) moved Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph

Manila, June 6, 2013 - The Professional Regulation Commission announces the extension of the deadline for the filing of applications of the September 29, 2013 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) from: FROM: REPEATERS: FIRST-TIMERS: |TOP| JUNE 7, 2013 JUNE 28, 2013 TO: JUNE 21, 2013 JULY 12, 2013

st Updated:

08 JUNE 2013

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NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with Aung San Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy chairperson and Secretary General during their bilateral meeting at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 07). Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Congressional Gold Medal along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States of America. (Photo by Robert Vinas/ Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Aung San Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy Chairperson and Secretary during their bilateral meeting at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 07). Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Congressional Gold Medal along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States of America. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Philippine Lunch hosted by the Ayala Corporation at the Rakhine Room, 1st Floor, Myanmar International Convention Center in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 7). (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with World Economic Forum (WEF) founder and executive chairman Prof. Klaus Schwab during their meeting at the Executive Chairmans Office, Myanmar International Convention Center in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 7). WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with His Excellency U Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar after the bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 7). Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar were established on September 29, 1956. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges views with His Excellency U Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar during the bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 7). Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar were established on September 29, 1956. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III greets His Excellency U Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar during the bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Friday (June 7). Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar were established on September 29, 1956. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Myanmar officials, headed by Ministry of Electric Power Minister-in-Attendance U Aung Than Oo and U Zeyar Aung of the Ministry of Rail Transportation, arrives at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport on Friday (June 7) for his participation at the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. President Aquino is attending the forum which has for its theme Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration. At the WEF, the President is expected to invite other international leaders for next years WEF on East Asia which will be hosted by the Philippines. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Myanmar officials, headed by Ministry of Electric Power Minister-in-Attendance U Aung Than Oo and U Zeyar Aung of the Ministry of Rail Transportation, upon arrival at the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport on Friday (June 7) for his participation at the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. President Aquino is attending the forum which has for the theme Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration. At the WEF, the President is expected to invite other international leaders for next years WEF on East Asia which will be hosted by the Philippines. In photo is Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar His Excellency Alex Chua. (PLDT powered by SMART) (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, troops the line during the send-off ceremony at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II on Friday morning (June 7) for the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. President Aquino is attending the forum which has for its theme Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration. His schedule includes a meeting with Union of the Republic of Myanmar President Thein Sein, Chairperson and General Secretary of the National League for Democracy in Burma Aung San Suu Kyi, other world officials, and other investors. At the WEF, the President is expected to invite other international leaders for next years WEF on East Asia which will be hosted by the Philippines. (Photo by: Rey Baniquet / Malacaang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

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