³            DAR overshoots target in land acquisition, distribution

³            Sulu consumers set to avail power subsidy from PGMA's Pantawid Kuryente program

³            Aklan prepares for Women's Month celebration

³            Sanitation now DOH's top priority

³            GTZ fund to help mitigate impact of climate change

³            Malacanang keeping open mind on calls for renegotiation of VFA, says Remonde

³            House ratifies Baselines bill

³            RP has enough sources of resiliency to weather global crisis -–monetary official

³            IPDs Receive Financial Assistance from NDCC

³            ARMM Governor Pledges Support for Forest Rehabilitation

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DAR overshoots target in land acquisition, distribution

Kalibo, Aklan  -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here was able to accomplish 112% of its targets in Land Acquisition and Distribution and was able to distribute 475 hectares of lands to 421 agrarian reform beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The gains of contribution of DAR-Aklan were cited by Governor Carlito Marquez when he delivered his State of the Province Address (SOPA) recently.

DAR-Aklan, according to the governor, effectively complemented the priority objective of the province in alleviating poverty particularly in the agrarian sector.

Under DAR's rural infrastructure program, it was able to rehabilitate and concretize eleven kilometers of farm-to-market roads in the amount of Php 25 million.

"After typhoon Frank in June, DAR-Aklan was one of the national agencies that participated and conducted distribution of relief goods and conducted medical and dental missions in coordination with other agencies and civic organizations," the governor said.

He also acknowledged the efficiency and the sustainable partnerships forged by the DAR and the local government through Atty. Daniel Y. Martelino, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer. (DAR/PIA)

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Sulu consumers set to avail power subsidy from PGMA's Pantawid Kuryente program

Jolo, Sulu  -- The Sulu Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SULECO) is set to release Php 5,613,500 power subsidy to lifeline consumers in Sulu. Among the municipalities in the province only energized town such as Jolo, Indanan, Patikul, Talipao, Parang, Maimbung and Luuk will avail the Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT Program of the national government.

In an interview with SULECO General Manager upon her return from the ceremonial signing with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in Manila, Ms. Peraida Akalal said, the program is a one-time P500 subsidy to the poorest sector of society to help them pay their electric bills.

She said recipients of this program are those residential consumers with consumption of maximum 100 kilowatt-hour and less or a maximum daily average consumption of 3.33kwh.

Ms. Akalal further said that the qualified consumers will be given credit memorandum stating that the amount of P500 shall be applied starting March 2009 and future billings.

"The amount shall be treated as advances which will be reflected in the consumers billing until the total subsidy has been fully accounted for," manager also said.

SULECO has more than 16,000 member consumers.

Based from the May 2008 billing status, there were 11,227 families are found to be qualified for the power subsidy. Of the 7 energized municipalities, Jolo has the biggest share with 5,506 qualified beneficiaries followed by Patikul with 2,808.

SULECO Board President Hadji Rogelio Asaali said that for this program, SULECO will receive a subsidy of Php 5,613,500 for the total number of qualified member-consumers.

NEA has already released the 80 percent of the total subsidy while the remaining 20 percent upon the liquidation of the first release.

It was learned that, aimed at cushioning the impact of the high cost of electricity and other prime commodities, the program is funded through the allocation of P2 billion from oil VAT collection of the national government.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Private Electric Power Operators Association (PEPOA) and NEA are implementing the program in areas covered by 119 Electric Cooperatives (ECs) and Private Investors-Owned Utilities (PIOUs) nationwide.

The General Manager said, SULECO will be coordinating with partner agency and local government units like the DSWD, local officials of target beneficiaries and the Provincial Government, to ensure the successful implementation of this program.

In an official statement issued by the provincial government, Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan said, that the national government initiatives is the manifestation of the strong confidence to local governance in the province.

"The people of Sulu will benefit and get a fair share from the Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT Program of the national government same with other provinces in the country", Gov. Tan said. (BIA-PPDO/PIA9-BASULTA)

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Aklan prepares for Women's Month celebration

by Venus G. Villanueva

Kalibo, Aklan  -- This province is bracing for this year's celebration of Women's Month in March and is initiating a meeting of its Aklan Gender and Development Commission (AGADC) to plan out activities for the observation.

This year's celebration, according to Governor Carlito S. Marquez, AGADC Chair, is anchored on the theme "Babae, Yaman Ka Ng Bayan", which highlights the critical role of women in nation-building and recognizes that women are an important resource who can contribute to the reduction of poverty.

"Considering the present global financial crisis, it is timely to tap half of the country's resource - the women, and create a gender-responsive environment to encourage and support them to venture into high-value and more meaningful economic activities and enterprise development," Marquez said in his letter to GAD Focal Persons of various offices and organizations here serving as AGADC members.

Presidential Proclamation No. 224 declares the first week of March of every year as Women's Week, and March 8, 1988 and every year thereafter as women's Rights and International Peace Day.

For years now, Aklan is regularly observing Women's Month by conducting motorcade, Holy Mass and a program attended by Aklan leaders, key women officials in the province and local government units, and women's group's/organizations ably supported by the National Council for the Welfare of Women. (PIA)

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Sanitation now DOH's top priority

By Mai Gevera

Davao City  -- Local government units are now urged to prioritize sanitary toilet projects over water programs.

This was the order made by the Department of Health (DOH) to balance the both water and sanitation as part of the Millennium Development Goals set to be reached by 2015.

DOH Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Dr. Paulyn Rosell-Ubial told the media in yesterday's Kapihan sa Dabaw, saying that very little is yet invested for the sanitation of every individual household.

It was shown that 90 percent of the population now has access to clean and potable water, while only 70 percent of the population has clean sanitary toilets at home.

DOH, through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) now offers LGUs a loan facility open for project proposals on sanitation.

ADB has allocated P1.2 billion for local governments which can submit sound project proposals which are aimed to improve sanitation in the community.

In the previous years, most of the projects pushed by the DOH are water-related which boosted the figures of families having access to clean potable water.

However, access to clean water and sanitation as part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) could not fully be reached if one is left behind.

"There must be balance between the two because all the investments for clean water will just be wasted if we do not have good sanitation practices." said Ubial.

This has pushed the DOH to partner with local water districts and come up with safe water supply projects.

Some of the projects pushed to be implemented by local water districts are sewerage and septage projects.

Access to clean water and sanitation is just one of the four health-related goals in the MDG. Other goals include the reduction of child mortality, maternal mortality, infectious diseases, and the promotion for sustainable environment. (PIA XI)

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GTZ fund to help mitigate impact of climate change

by T. Villavert

Iloilo City  -- The P182.5 million grant from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) of the Federal Government of Germany would be an essential help to the Philippine government's efforts to address the impact of climate change in the country.

According to the DENR press report, Secretary Lito Atienza expressed appreciation for the grant during the soft launching of the project stressing that "the approval of the project will provide us the platform to encourage our people get actively involved in efforts to slow down the process of climate change".

"Since the Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the strategies that will be developed under the project are expected to increase the communities' resilience to natural disasters, thus preventing huge loss of lives and properties," Atienza added.

The DENR press report disclosed that GTZ officials present during the soft launch include Dr. Uwe Scholz, program adviser; Dr. Walter Salzer, program manager; and Pit Heltman, counselor.

The Environment Secretary said in a press report that he has already formed a project steering committee and a technical working group to ensure effective implementation of the German-funded project.

Among the strategies that will be developed under the project will include information and education campaign to raise people's awareness on the effects of climate change, refores-tation, and biodiversity conservation measures, the DENR press report disclosed. (PIA 6)

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Malacanang keeping open mind on calls for renegotiation of VFA, says Remonde

MANILA  (PNA) -- Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said today that Malacanang is keeping an open mind regarding the proposal for the renegotiation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States, especially the provision on the custody of US servicemen convicted or facing charges in Philippine courts.

“Of course we will respect any initiative, through due process, to revisit the VFA,” Remonde said, referring to calls by certain quarters for the renegotiation of the 1998 agreement.

But Remonde urged all parties involved in the current move to renegotiate the agreement should resist from the temptation to take advantage of the controversy over the VFA to grandstanding for political purposes.

He pointed out that what is at “stake here is not only issues of sovereignty but also our most important bilateral relationship (with the US) going forward in an uncertain world.”

Calls for the renegotiation of the VFA stemmed from the recent Supreme Court decision that Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith, the convicted rapist of a Filipina, identified only as Nicole, should be detained in a Philippine-run facility.

Since his conviction in July 2006 to a maximum of 40 years in jail for raping Nicole, Smith has been placed under the custody of the US embassy in Manila while his appeal to reverse the lower court's decision remains pending with the Court of Appeals. (PNA)

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House ratifies Baselines bill
By Lilybeth G. Ison

MANILA,  (PNA) -- The House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon ratified with no objection the bicameral conference committee report on the baselines bill, which sets the maritime boundaries of the country's national territory.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chair of the committee on foreign affairs, said the House of Representatives "finally crafted a landmark piece of legislation that we have been debating on for 14 years."

Under the bill, the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal will comprise a regime of islands that will be under the "sovereignty and jurisprudence" of the Philippines.

The Senate had earlier ratified the proposed measure, also without any objections.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier said once the bill is signed into law, the Philippines can invoke the provisions of international law in delineating the boundaries of Philippine territory.

He said the Senate considers the Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal as part of the Philippine property but they also have to consider the claims of other countries to avoid any possible controversies.

The ratification came way ahead of the May 13, 2009 deadline set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in order to avail of the provisions of the Convention, particularly in relation to the rights and privileges of an archipelagic state such as the Philippines over the different maritime zones.

Once President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signs the bill into law, it will be transmitted to the UNCLOS for registration. (PNA)

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RP has enough sources of resiliency to weather global crisis -–monetary official
By Leslie D. Venzon

MANILA,  (PNA) -- The Philippines has enough sources of resiliency, foremost of which is robust domestic demand, which could help the economy post a 3.7 to 4.7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2009 despite the global economic slump.

This optimism was expressed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo in Tuesday’s forum on the impact of the global financial crisis organized by government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

Guinigundo believes that lower exports and inflows of foreign investments may put pressure on the balance of payments (BOP). BOP is the country’s economic transactions –- spending and income -— with the rest of the world.

He noted that the external sector, particularly the financial market, is also going through a very difficult situation.

“What we are seeing is the tighter external financial condition,” he said, adding that “What other countries are doing, particularly the United States, is to ensure that the credit markets do not remain frozen.”

Guinigundo said there is also a risk of weaker remittances this year as major markets of Filipino labor like the US, Europe and the Middle East are also showing some slowdown.

However, citing a Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) report, the monetary official noted that while 4,100 jobs were lost in various areas, the agency has processed 180,000 job orders from external markets from October 2008 to January 2009.

Jobs losses occurred mainly in Taiwan’s electronics industry which was hit hard by the crisis; and other countries such as South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.

Likewise, fiscal revenue is expected to be weaker this year due to slowing output, the BSP official said, adding that there is also the risk of weak corporate profitability if the economy is going to a slowdown.

Despite the risks to the real economy, Guinigundo said there are few buffers that can help the Philippines weather the current global economic downturn.

“Domestic demand continues to be a growth driver, our reliance on external market is quite limited,” he said. “We export about 40 percent of our GDP but we also import from them. If you look at net exports minus imports, our dependence is reduced to one percent of GDP.”

The monetary official also identified easing inflationary pressures which could support consumption expenditure.

Robust consumption expenditure augurs well for the economy as this contributes 60 to 70 percent of the GDP, he explained.

Guinigundo said the inflation rate is projected to decline to 3.9 percent in 2009 and 4.7 percent in 2010 from last year’s high of 9.3 percent, pulled down by lower fuel and food prices.

He said the country’s other sources of resiliency include policy space for fiscal stimulus, manageable external payments position, well-capitalized banking system and low exposure to financial strains.

"These sources of resiliency are not limited, we have to leverage and work on these headways to make sure that growth, even at the lower trajectory, can be sustained for 2009 and 2010,” he noted. (PNA)

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IPDs Receive Financial Assistance from NDCC

SHARIFF AGUAK, MAGUINDANAO – Families of 16 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who died during the armed conflict that started last year between the government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front received today assistance from the government.

In a simple ceremony at the Maguindanao Provincial Capitol each family was given ten thousand pesos (P10, 000.00). The said assistance came from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) thru the efforts of ARMM governor and RDCC Chairman Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan and partner agencies in the ARMM- the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and local government units in the region.

According to the latest DOH-ARMM report submitted to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), there were 202 casualties in last years’ armed conflict particularly in the provinces of Maguindanao and Basilan.

Of the 202 casualties, 155 died and 47 were wounded. Out of the 155, 31 died due to crossfire and 123 died due to ailments while living in the evacuation centers for almost six months.

Further, the report states that causes of deaths in the evacuation centers include severe dehydration, bronchopneumonia, childbirth complications, cardio respiratory arrest, cerebrovascular accident, sepris sec to malnourishment and gun shot wounds.

OCD-ARMM is still processing documents of 30 more families in Maguindanao to receive the same assistance. The financial assistance to the victims’ family is among those included in the first batch of releases from the OCD/NDCC.

Two of the 16 family-beneficiaries who received the assistance are from Midsayap, North Cotabato. The financial assistance is in conformity to the OCD/NDCC Guidelines for armed conflict beneficiaries. (BPI-ARMM/PIA9 BASULTA)

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ARMM Governor Pledges Support for Forest Rehabilitation

DAVAO CITY – Sa Joint Meeting ng Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils (RDCC) ng ARMM at  Region X, ipinahayag ni ARMM regional governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan ang kanyang patuloy na suporta sa ginagawang mga pagsisikap sa rekonstruksyon at rehabilitasyon ng mga kagubatan upang maiwasan ang mga pagbaha sa rehiyon at sa mga kalapit na lugar nito.

Ito ang naging pahayag ng regional governor na sya ring Chairman ng RDCC sa autonomous region  noong nakaraang Huwebes, ika-labing dalawa ng Pebrero taong kasalukuyan at  bilang tugon sa direktiba ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo binigyan ni Governor Ampatuan si DENR-ARMM Secretary Kabuntalan Emblawa  ng direktiba na maghanap ng lugar sa rehiyon na gawing reforestation project at isumite sa Pangulo o sa NDCC para sa  kaukulang pondo.

Ang direktiba ng Pangulo ay ibinigay noong January 22, 2009 sa kanyang pagdalaw sa lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro na nakaranas ng matinding pagbaha kamakailan lang.

Sa kanyang pagdalaw nagbigay ang Pangulo ng  direktiba sa RDCC X na magsagawa ng pag-uusap kasama ang  RDCC-ARMM upang magsagawa ng “assessment on the environmental forest protection program sa mga nabanggit na mga rehiyon at isulong ang “Bantay Gubat” at Reforestation; palakasin ang anti-illegal campaign at mag-identify ng mga lugar  at magsagawa ng composite law enforcement operations upang ma-eradicate o mawala ang illegal logging”.

Ayon kay Ampatuan ang pag-uusap na ito ng dalawang konseho ay mahalaga dahil dapat gumagawa na ng mga kongkretong hakbang upang maiwasan ang mga pangyayari tulad ng baha na sobra ang pahirap sa ating mga mamamayan at sa ating kalikasan.

Samantala, bilang resulta ng nasabing Joint Meeting ng dalawang konseho sa lungsod ng Davao, Nabuo ang apat na rekomendasyon na isusumite sa Pangulong Arroyo para sa funding support.

Una, magsagawa ng massive information o advocacy upang mapalakas ang kapasidad ng kumunidad sa pagtulong na bigyan lunas ang problema tulad ng baha;

Pangalawa- mag identify ng mga lugar para sa isasagawang reforestation project at isusumite ang proyekto sa   NDCC sa pamamagitan ng RDCC para sa posibleng pondo ,mula sa NDCC o sa national government;

Pangatlo, magpupulong ang RDCC-ARMM at RDCC Region X at pag-usapan ang posibling amendmends sa Memorandum of Agreement o MOA na nagsasaad ng mga rota o  routes ng mga forest products at ang rehabilitasyon at isumite sa DENR National office. Kasama sa gagawing pagpupulong ay ang NEDA Region X, AFP, PNP o mga Law Enforcement Units;

At pang-apat, lahat ng mga tubig na lumalabas sa mga dams ay dapat mayroong mga warning device kasama na dito ang mga Standard Operating Procedures o SOPs ng mga damn operations.

Positibo si AMPATUAN na susuporthan ni Pangulong Arroyo ang kanilang mga nabuong rekomendasyon para sa reforestation programs dahil ang Pangulo mismo ang may direktiba na gumawa ng mga hakbangin  o posibling solusyon sa problema ng nasisirang kalikasan na nagdadala ng malaking problema sa mga mamamayan, ang baha. (bpi-armm)