Domingo Asks DPWH to Use Coconut Technology To Prevent Landslides and Boost Economic Activity

 

The DPWH is going green as it moves to strengthen and repair sloppy areas hit by massive landslides caused by recent destructive typhoons which destroyed billions worth of roads and bridges in Metro Manila and many areas of Luzon.

 

In a recent meeting with officials of the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), Acting Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo has advocated the use of cocofiber nets (coconets) for soil and slope protection, river; and shoreline rehabilitation to prevent soil erosion brought by the typhoons.

 

"The department will again be hitting two birds with one stone by using a cheaper
bioengineering technology to prevent soil erosion and promote economic activities as well," Domingo said.

 

The Philippines is the world's largest producer of coconuts, with 67 percent of the country's farmlands planted with coconuts.

 

"Using cocofiber nets is an effective technology to solve serious erosion
problems and maintain the integrity of infrastructure projects, such as roads and bridges. The typhoons may have passed, but it does not mean they will not return. So we must strengthen the sloppy areas now while the sun is up," Domingo said.

 

According to Domingo, coconets can reinforce silt, soil, debris and decrease
the velocity of water. It can also be used in retaining walls of roads and bridges by using geotextiles, which are made from coconut fibers.

 

"We will need more budget now that we are constructing bridge expansions and
repairing damaged infrastructures because of landslides. That's the reason behind why we are promoting the use of coconets because it is cheaper than imported synthetic materials that are commonly used in construction and repair works," Domingo said.

 

 The DPWH secretary said that his green advocacy is in line with President
Macapagal-Arroyo's call for the government not only to develop and use local
resources, but also to spark progress in the countryside.

 

 "Just imagine how many jobs more we can create among those hit by the floods with this
eco-friendly initiative," said Domingo, who earlier vowed to be practical and wise
in spending government's resources.

 

According to a study conducted by CocoTech, a local private enterprise produces
geo-textiles from waste coconut husks; the country's mountainous topography makes
soil erosion a regular problem in the Philippines.

                The study said half of the country's area is considered upland or slopes of more than 18 degrees, making them vulnerable to strong tropical typhoons and floods.

 

ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSALS NEEDED FOR REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION

The Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), a consortium of 60 nongovernment
organizations globally recognized as one of the best practices in budget
advocacy, urged Senators and heads of Senate offices to adopt the
alternative budget proposals for health, education, environment and
agriculture so that rehabilitation and reconstruction in the wake of
destructive typhoons can be accelerated.

During the ABI Forum held today (November 18) at the Philippine Senate,
former national treasurer Leonor Magtolis Briones, lead convenor of Social
Watch Philippines (SWP) which organized the ABI, said that there is a need
to increase allocations for critical socioeconomic programs as the
proposed 2010 expenditure program is a 'maintenance' budget and not
designed to lay the groundwork for recovery and a full-scale revving up of
the economy in the coming years.

"The allocations for critical socioeconomic services in the proposed 2010
budget and the additional revenues will not be enough for rehabilitation
and reconstruction of sectors damaged by recent calamities. It will also
not be enough to shelter the people from the impacts of globalization and
the global economic crisis," said Briones.

She explained that the allocations for Economic Services, which includes
agriculture, environment, trade, power and energy and water resources
decreased by P25 billion. The total budget for Departments was also
reduced by P51 billion.  "Figures clearly show that the that the eight
percent increase in the budget for 2010 is not geared towards greater
spending for programs that will have the greatest impact on economic and
social development," Briones said.

The ABI proposed a total of P25.2 billion additional allocations for
health, agriculture, environment and education. This includes additional
allocation of P9.6 billion for education, P2.1 billion for health, P790
million for agriculture and P11.3 billion for environment. The group also
proposed a total of  P50 billion alternative sources of financing to be
able to increase the budget for social development.

"We urge the Senate to adopt our alternative budget proposals for better
allocation for health, agriculture, environment and education. The
Philippines is already in danger of missing its targets on ending the
worst forms of human deprivation as embodied in the Millennium Development
Goals. More than one third of the population is living on less than one
dollar a day. Five million children cannot go to school. We are among the
countries with the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in Asia.
Meanwhile, the extreme weather conditions aggravate the situation,"
Briones said.

"The alternative budget proposals by civil society groups aim to increase
financing for these vulnerable sectors who should be the targets of
rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the government," she added.

Fw: UBS Southeast Asian Focus - ASEAN: Inflation issues

Summary

Headline inflation numbers are bottoming out across the ASEAN-5
economies and twelve-month inflation rates are likely to accelerate
noticeably in coming months. In this context we review potential
inflation shocks from commodity prices and administered price
adjustments given higher US dollar oil prices and weather effects. Over
the weekend, the Philippines announced the withdrawal of a fuel price
cap put in place following recent storms - implying upside to fuel
prices - while a decision on food price controls is pending. On the
cards for 2010 are subsidy reforms in Malaysia and Indonesia.

More important for financial markets is that monetary policy makers will
be focusing on the recovery in economic activity when they make their
decisions on the removal of monetary accommodation. And here we think
more evidence of durable economic recovery will be necessary before any
tentative tightening measures are undertaken; even if policy makers are
monitoring the impact of commodity prices on inflation expectations. We
remain of the view that no monetary tightening will take place in ASEAN
prior to Q2 2010.

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Syngenta joins relief, food-for-work project in Benguet

 

 

Syngenta Philippines has pitched in to support relief operations for typhoon Pepeng victims in Benguet.

 

           In coordination witn the Itogon Inter-Barangay Alliance (IIBA) and the teachers at Ucab Elementary School in Itogon, Syngenta fed 800 pupils on October 26 and 27.

 

           Two pupils from the school along with other family members perished due to landslides at the height of Typhoon Pepeng. Ten other people died in Barangay Ucab, a mining community in Itogon.

 

           Syngenta and IIBA originally planned to feed only 400 pupils on the October 26 but nourished 400 more the following day

 

           On October 27, Syngenta also took part in the food-for-work program in Sitio Labey in Ambuklao, Botok, Benguet organized by the Serve the People (STP) Brigade.

 

           Residents of Labey, which is comprised of 90 families, joined hands with volunteers  to clear roads of debris and construct pathways and roads.

 

           A total of 21 volunteers from different institutions, including medical students from the Alliance of Concerned Medical Students of St. Louis University in Baguio and the Zuellig Family Foundation, went to Labey for the program.

 

            Syngenta also donated rice for the effort through the STP Brigade.

 

            Itogon Councilor Pedro Anton said "It will take months for the roads to be made passable to vehicles. We are thankful to nongovernment organizations (NGOs) helping us."

 

            Syngenta is also slated to help the STP Brigade in its planned food-for-work activities in Pasdong, Atok and three other isolated areas in Benguet.

 

            Labey is still isolated, roads are impassable and mobile phone signals are low. Residents have to walk for about three kilometers of mountainous terrain before reaching the sitio.

 

            Bangen Elementary School in Labey was totally damaged by a landslide. Two weeks after the typhoon, schools are still closed.

 

            Teacher Lolita Jose was still cleaning the school desks and drying what was left of their book collection. The only microscope for their biology class was also wrecked.

 

          "We need assistance," Jose said.

 

UBS Southeast Asian Focus - Philippines: Update on the economic impact of the storms

Summary

A month after tropical storm Ketsana (Ondoy) and subsequently typhoon Parma
(Pepeng) tragically hit Manila and Northern Luzon respectively; official
estimates of the storms' impact on GDP are still modest at 0.3ppts.
However, the lack of activity data has raised the degree of uncertainty to
the government forecast of 0.8-1.8% growth in 2009 and our own forecast of
5% growth in 2010, while concerns over the impact on balance sheets and
NPLs have increased.

High frequency Bureau of Agriculture data does suggest a clear impact on
some food prices. However, in part because of price controls, to date the
price impact does not seem to be widespread. As such we expect the price
effect of the storms to be temporary - there is already evidence that the
more exceptional rises in prices are reversing. But the high weight of food
in the Philippines CPI means October inflation (due 5-October) could
potentially jump 0.5-2ppts nonetheless. With international (Thai) rice
prices edging lower and atmospheric indicators suggesting a mild El-Niño,
any jump in inflation in the next couple of months should unwind in due
course.

Given the price rises so far, we revised our average CPI forecast for 2009
to around 3.7% from 3.2% and for 2010 to around 3.9% from 3.8% at the same
time as the publication of our 2011 forecast. Both these outcomes are
within the BSP's 4.5% +/-1ppt inflation target range for 2010. Policy
makers will likely continue to focus on rebuilding and mitigating the
storms' damage on lives and property, not the limited medium term inflation
risks posed by the storm. No change in policy is likely to be forthcoming
from the 5 October BSP monetary policy meeting.

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Global Source Quarterly - The Sun Also Rises

The Sun Also Rises
GlobalSource Partners
Oct 27, 2009

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Philippine scenario does not look as bleak as one would expect after a
great flood. Growth would likely continue this year thanks to resilient
remittances and the support provided by rebuilding efforts.

A robust current account is able to mask increased fiscal worries by
allowing a healthy amount of foreign currency borrowing to occur in what
appears to be another case of overseas Filipinos saving the day. This in a
nutshell keeps financial markets in still quite good shape.

Prospects look particularly promising for 2010 when the country will be led
by a new president brought peacefully to power while the world economy
gains strength. Such would usher in continued remittances, export recovery,
and a honeymoon period with a new leader that could only improve the
environment for investments.

The two leading candidates in the May 2010 elections based on the latest
popularity surveys can be expected to manage the economy competently. Both
are acceptable to the business sector and financial markets and will likely
be more blessed than the previous leader with a popular mandate, which
should fuel a surge of optimism in the country.

CONTENTS:

* Rain or shine?

* Reconstruction support

* Fine weather in financial markets

* Fingers in the dike as deficit widens

* Tragedy's foreign currency windfall

* The Aquino afterglow

* Forecast tables

* Charts pages

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UBS Southeast Asian Focus - ASEAN: 2011 Forecasts

Summary

We extend our economic forecasts to 2011 and adjust our 2010 forecasts.
Full detail projections will be provided in the upcoming 'Asia by the
Numbers', but in this note we the highlight important themes that drive
our ASEAN-5 forecast.

Supported by pent-up demand, the inventory cycle, fiscal and monetary
policy, growth across the region should continue to record healthy
outcomes in the immediate future. The ongoing momentum in the data flow
leads us to upgrade our Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines forecasts
for 2010 in the wake of prior upgrades to Singapore and Malaysia.

However, during H2 2010 and into 2011, we see growth momentum slowing
towards more sustainable rates. Indonesia should show signs of
outperformance at this stage, as there should be less inventory cycle
and policy boost to fade in that economy. To the extent that we forecast
healthy global growth in 2011, this relative performance may be
reflected in risk market performance to a greater extent than when
Indonesian growth outperformed in 2008.

In this context, inflation should gradually normalise with that
normalisation occurring faster in Indonesia than elsewhere - due to a
likely tighter supply-demand balance. Likewise, policy settings should
see a gradual withdrawal of stimulus as policy makers keep a watchful
eye on activity growth. In terms of monetary policy rate increases,
Malaysia may lag while Indonesia should reach more normal nominal policy
settings sooner than most.

Our currency forecasts incorporate US dollar weakness through end-2011,
but also reflect national inflation and policy proclivities. We expect
the Singapore dollar to outperform, largely due to policy settings.
Separately, while we forecast the Indonesian rupiah and peso to
appreciate in real terms; their nominal performance should be held back
by domestic inflation. As to the Thai baht and ringgit, we suspect
policy makers will continue to resist appreciation pressure.

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Documentary on OFWs pitched to cable TV

A FILM documentary on overseas foreign workers is being pitched to
network cable, a statement from its producers said.

"Modern Day Slaves," according to the statement, "is a social issue
feature film documentary intended to bring awareness to the human
rights abuse phenomenon that is prevalent worldwide yet sadly
undisclosed, regarding OFW's (overseas foreign workers)."

"The documentary, which has just completed production, is currently in
negotiations for network cable, TV and home video distribution," the
San Jose, California-based GTC Films Inc. said in the statement.

The statement said filmmaker Ted Unarce sought to bring the issue of
OFWs "to light so that it is openly discussed in the media, academia
and the American public."

"Overseas foreign workers, numbering in the millions, leave their home
country to find work in other parts of the world, and often find
themselves trapped in a slave-like existence, abused and forgotten by
both their home country and host country," the statement quoted Unarce
as saying.

It added: "Third world governments support this slave-labor trade,
akin to human trafficking, as it brings in billions of dollars by way
of remittances."

The statement cited as an example the Philippine government, which it
said, "openly encourages its citizens to become overseas foreign
workers."

The statement said the film "follows the lives of four Filipino
overseas foreign workers from different social-economic backgrounds."
"The stories depict rape, severe physical and psychological torture
and even a beheading, to outline how human rights are violated and to
illustrate the horrific consequence of human trafficking."

"While such problems of the Third World are daunting and perhaps
uncomfortable to watch, it is critical for those of us in the First
World to look at them with eyes wide open. With the recent financial
collapse worldwide, more Americans are fleeing the United States to
find work elsewhere. The film 'Modern Day Slaves' is a cautionary
tale," Unarce was quoted in the statement as saying.

More information at www.moderndayslavesmovie.coml

DPWH FASTRACKS RESTORATION OF TYPHOON DAMAGED SANTA PARADISE SEA WALL

With the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to repair and rehabilitate the national roads affected by the recent typhoons, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Victor A. Domingo has assured the immediate restoration of Santa Paradise Seawall that scoured the road section of  the Manila North Road in Santa, Ilocos Sur.

Secretary Domingo has disclosed during the staff meeting of DPWH key officials including regional directors and projects directors that Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson, a former Ilocos Sur governor, will donate a parcel of his land to divert the original alignment of the said road section in which the department could save millons compared to the P50 Million worth of the restoration works to be done on the  affected road section.

"We are grateful that Governor Chavit Singson has offered to provide an alternative solution to immediately repair this important road section in Ilocos Sur," Secretary Domingo said.

DPWH Region 1 Director Mariano R. Alquiza has earlier reported that the road carriageway of Santa Paradise section of Manila North Road in Santa, Ilocos Sur has been cut by big waves at the height of typhoon "Pepeng" and further aggravated by typhoon "Santi."

A temporary detour route was immediately opened by DPWH 2nd Ilocos Sur to allow traffic to pass the said road section which is the main route going to the capital town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur and further north to Ilocos Norte from Manila.

Secretary Domingo instructed the DPWH Regional Office I to fast-track the rehabilitation of the seawall and the road carriageway to ensure the continuous flow of traffic along that major arterial route.

Meanwhile, restoration works are also on-going on the road slip and collapsed slope protection at the Pideg section of Manila North Road in Santa, Ilocos Sur and the clearing of major slides and road cuts along Cervantes - Aluling Road according to District Engineer Ray Elaydo.

DPWH: MAYON VOLCANO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ADVISORY

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region V Regional Director Danilo Manalang convened his staff this morning, November 11, 2009 to assess its Mayon Volcano Disaster Preparedness Program.

    "We have to make an effort to contribute to a zero casualty in any eventualities that maybe brought by the eruption of Mt. Mayon," said RD Manalang. "Be sure to pool maintenance equipment and service vehicles with driver and maintenance crews in Albay District Engineering Offices, ready to be dispatched in affected areas or be utilized during evacuation and relief operations," the director reminded his staff.

    In a recent interview with RD Manalang, he said that DPWH has identified alternates routes for those probable national roads that might be affected by volcanic debris, These routes are: For Legazpi-Sto.Domingo-Tabaco Road (L=25 kms) take Tabaco-Ligao national secondary road (L=26 kms); for Daang Maharlika Highway, Camalig Section (L=9 kms), travel from Manila to Sorsogon/Legazpi City will take Camalig-Comun-Gapo (L=14 kms.) national secondary road; and, for Daang Maharlika Highway, Guinobatan Road Section (L=15 kms), travel Manila to Sorosogon/Legazpi City will take Ligao-Tabaco Road, then Tabaco-Sto.Domingo-Legazpi City Road (L=51 kms.).

DPWH Disaster Team has been reactivated since July 10, 2009 when the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued Mayon Volcano Bulletin evaluating the Mayon Volcano status from Alert Level 1 (abnormal) to 2 (alarming)

    "Our Disaster Team is in constant coordination with the Regional and Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC/PDCC)," the director concluded.

Labor Sec. Roque recently visited IMEC's office in London just on November 9, 2009.

The visit provided an opportunity to exchange industry updates and was capped by a contribution from the Joint Negotiating Group
based in the United Kingdom amounting to USD50,00 for calamity victims brought about by typhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng".

IMEC is a member of the JNG comprised with ITF, IMMAJ, KSA, Evergreen.

Photo 1 shows the signing of deed of donation while Photo 2 group picture. L-R are Giles Heimann, Sec. Roque, Steve Cotton- ITF,
Shoko Doi- IMMAJ, Douglas Tionloc and J. Rasul, Dept of Labor.

With Nego-Kart, mobile vendors say goodbye to five-six

Manila is one of the key cities in the country with heavy concentration of ambulant /mobile vendors or "hawkers". They come in all shapes and sizes, some in karts, others use bicycles, or simply in ordinary baskets or mats in sidewalks, market places or public areas with their foldable business enterprises. Most of them borrowed money from Indian Nationals popularly known as "Bombay", who collects the daily interest of the five-six lending scheme they use as capital. Most of the time, the income of these informal sector group goes to the interest on 5-6 leaving them with empty pockets at the end of the day. Until the Department of Labor and Employment introduces Nego-Kart, a special project to assist mobile vendors in enhancing their existing livelihood undertakings become profitable. DOLE Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that the Nego-Kart or Negosyo Sa Kariton is a special project under DOLE's priority deliverable programs and services that offers a "cart of tools and services, such as vending cart and accessories, working capital, training on production skills, entrepreneurship and management and assistance in securing a business permit." In a simple launching ceremony at the San Andres Gymnasium in Malate on Thursday, Secretary Roque together with Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Soroptimist International Manila Tourist Belt, President Mrs. Estrellita S. Hizon, and Soroptimist International Philippines, Governor Ms. Carmen Araneta-Flor, turned-over 20 Nego-Kart worth P12,000.00 each to mobile vendors coming from District1, (Morga and Balut, Tondo); District II (Dagupan, Tondo), District V (Paco). DOLE-NCR Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante announced that for the launch, 20 vendors will receive a custom-made vending cart, one unit stove, one unit stainless deep cooking pan courtesy of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) while the raw materials will be provided by Soroptimist International. The Manila Social Workers Office assisted in identifying the beneficiaries from the City of Manila. Director Agravante added that there are 450 units of Nego-Karts for distribution in NCR until March 2010 out of the 450, 100 beneficiaries expected to be awarded with Nego-Karts by the end of the year. More than 100T workers, managers nationwide join vital labor education seminars   Industrial harmony and peace have been strengthened further in the country's economically-vital industries, including the special economic zones, through the continuous promotion of social partnership and labor-management education reinforcing the time-honored regard for labor rights, workers' welfare and conditions, and productivity, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today reported.   A preliminary report reaching Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque indicated that during the first semester (January to June) of 2009 alone, some 1,556 labor education seminars have been conducted in the country's industries with the participation of 101,530 workers, as well as the representatives of the management sector in these zones.   The DOLE's Bureau of Labor Relations' (BLR) report, as officially reflected by the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) indicated that the 1,556 labor education program (LEP) seminars conducted during the period had surpassed the full year figure (1,401 seminars) in 2008, while the 101,530 participants also exceeded the two-year participation rate reaching 82,295 workers, supervisors, and managers in 2008 (35,928), and 2007 (46,367).  Earlier in 2006, BLR had also supervised 2,304 LEP seminars benefiting 71,373 participants from industries around the country, or a total of 153,668 participants for the three-year period from 2006 to 2008.   Significantly, Roque emphasized that the massive intensification of the DOLE-led Labor Education Program thrusts in vital industries, with the fullest support of labor and management --- even among the investors and locators in the ecozones --- bodes well for the respect for labor rights -- complementing industrial harmony and productivity vital to the country's economic recovery and capacity to attract job-friendly investments.   The Labor and Employment Chief stressed the crucial importance of the labor education program particularly in educating workers and management, as well as trade and local government officials, on basic labor laws and regulations in the Philippines in accordance with the global standards of the International Labor Organization.   "The thrust emphasizes a strong focus on nurturing a plant-level culture that promotes labor-management cooperation in order to minimize and prevent debilitating labor-management disputes."   Roque said that in essence, the Labor Education Program underscores the social partners' endeavor to provide an environment favorable to industrial harmony, alongside the exercise of trade union rights including self-organization, as well as welfare and productivity.    Amidst the development, the DOLE's Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) also bared the gains of a novel and significant thrust to promote social responsibility and ensure the safety, health and conditions of workers among the nation's industries.       Roque was apprised by the BWC, headed by Director Brenda L. Villafuerte, that the Bureau has continued to intensify its program known as "KAPATIRAN-WISE TAV (Work Improvement in Small Industries-Technical Assistance Visits)" with results. Through the technical assistance visits promoting "KAPATIRAN," the BWC has fostered the noble tradition of Filipino brotherhood in the workplace through the small brothers-big brothers approach.  Under the approach, the big brothers consisting of large firms have adopted small and micro enterprises willing to improve the safety and health of their workplaces.   As a result of KAPATIRAN-WISE-TAV, Villafuerte said that from the initial three big and 44 small brothers in 2007, there are now some 15 big brothers (a 400% rise) and 116 small brothers (+164%) benefiting the workplace health and safety of some 17,574 workers nationwide, so far this year.   Adjunct to the promotion of working conditions nationwide in the current year, she said that the BWC's accredited Safety Training Organizations have also conducted 207 occupational safety and health (OSH) trainings for 1,947 participants, along with six batches of OSHC learning sessions for staff and the HHIC-Phils. (Hanjin) and contractors --- which were reinforced by training for construction site safety officers (SOs) joined by 35 participants, and the Appreciation Course on Workplace Safety and Health and Permit to Work System orienting 66 SOs from several Hanjin subcontractors.   Villafuerte cited the cooperation on these successful, ongoing efforts, as appropriate, of the Construction Manpower Development Foundation-DTI, as well as the Association of Safety Practitioners of the Philippines, Inc. (ASPPI).

Migrants and Families from all over the world and nation make a pact pushing for representation in Congress

Migrants and families from various regions of the world and nation assembled today in a National Convention and made a pact in winning the battle for OFW representation through the Migrante Sectoral Party.

 

"We are gathered here today to further consolidate our ranks, which is spread all over the world, for a war in assertion of our right to representation. From here we will rock Comelec's core and hound them in wherever presence they have in the world. We will make sure that in 2010, the Migrants will finally have a voice in Congress," said Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party.

 

The MSP is one the party-lists that were de-listed by the Comelec through En Banc Resolution No., 8679 made last month. Comelec asserts that Migrante was not able to follow the provision of

 

According to Bragas-Regalado, Migrante's cause is also being supported by politicians vying for the 2010 elections. One of them is presidential aspirant Senator Chiz Escudero.

 

Escudero through a video message said, "kaisa ninyo ako't nasa likod ninyo ako . . . sa landas na sabay sabay nating  tatahakin tungo sa pakikilahok at pagkakaroon ng representasyon ng Migrante sa Kongreso."

 

Escudero also gave his own critique to the Comelec's decision when he said "hindi tamang itinutulak papalayo ang sinumang grupo. Dapat hilahing papasok sa larangan ng pakikibaka patungkol sa ating demokrasya sa pamamagitan ng balota."

 

Bragas-Regalado reacted to Escudero's statement by saying "sa ginagawang panggigipit ng Comelec lalo lang nitong pinapatunayan na magiging batbat ng katiwalian ang 2010 elections. But Comelec has still time to prove its worth. Show us that you have respect for due process and migrant representation. Lift the de-listing on Migrante."

 

To illustrate their worldwide "war", members of Migrante Sectoral Party staged a human formation of a world map and its call "Let Migrante Run!"

 

The group will also troop to Comelec tomorrow in time for an En Banc meeting of the Commissioners. They hope that their Verified Opposition will be acted on favorably.

 

Efforts to help Filipino workers with crisis paying off

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said efforts to help the economy and the Filipino workers particularly the vulnerable ones cope with the global economic crisis paid off as indicated by an Asian Development Bank (ADB) paper which said that the global crisis had  little impact on economic growth and employment in the country. Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the ADB paper has also emphasized that "the current crisis has had little impact on the unemployment rate in the Philippines."   The paper, he added, also noted that there was a significant increase in agricultural employment in the country in April of 2009.  The ADB paper "How has Asia Fared in the Global Crisis? A Tale of Three Countries:  Republic of Korea, Philippines, and Thailand" described the impact of the global crisis with emphasis on the labor market in the covered three Asian nations.   It said that "in general, the global crisis had relatively little impact on economic growth and employment in the Philippines."  It also said that "unlike Thailand, the global crisis has no significant impact on employment by working status in the Philippines." Roque said the government's pump priming measures focusing on investments in public infrastructure projects coupled with the implementation of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and job preservation efforts of the DOLE have tremendously buttressed the country's capability to cope with the adverse effects of the global crisis. The ADB paper mentioned the comprehensive livelihood and emergency employment program (CLEEP), the government's flagship assistance program that provides emergency employment, funding, and livelihood assistance to affected workers.  It also recognized the DOLE's guidelines on flexible work arrangements aimed at avoiding layoffs in firms affected by the crisis.  Other DOLE initiatives cited by the paper include the establishment of a registry of skills aimed at helping to identify and plan future responses, setting up of hotline that addresses concerns of displaced workers, and the provision of training, livelihood assistance, job placement referral services and reintegration programs for returning OFWs. The ADB paper, however, estimated that 0.950 million jobs were lost between Oct. 2008 and March 2009. On the contrary, the Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that employment even achieved modest gains despite the crisis, which means that the global crisis did not significantly affect the employment situation in the country, Roque said.  The LFS showed that the number of employed persons in the country increased by 861,000 from 33.672 million in Oct. 2007 to 34.533 million in Oct. 2008; by 565,000 from  33.693 million in January 2008 to 34.258 million in January 2009; and by 1.458 million  from 33.535 million in April 2008 to 34.993 million in April 2009.  Due to the employment gains, the country's unemployment rate remained almost constant at around 7% level pegging at 6.8% in Oct. 2008, at 7.7% in Jan. 2009, and at 7.5 % in April 2009.   Based on year-on year change, the unemployed grew by 279,000 between Oct. 2007 and Oct. 2008 and by 180,000 between Jan. 2008 and Jan. 2009. Employment even improved further as the number of employed persons rose by 1.458 million from 33,535 million in April 2008 to 35 million in April 2009 which resulted in the decrease of the unemployment rate from 8.0% to 7.5%. The DOLE Chief said the LFS data on unemployment are nowhere near the 0.950 million job losses cited by the ADB report. He said the ADB estimate of 0.950 million job losses is not supported by the LFS data which is the official and most authoritative source of statistics on labor and employment in the Philippines.

Reiteration of NUCP Call for Release of Fr. Sinnot

 

A REITERATION OF OUR CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF FR. MICHAEL SINNOT AND AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT AND VIGILANCE

                The National Ulama Conference of the Philippines (NUCP), a national organization of Muslim religious scholars aspiring for the attainment of truth and justice and working for peace and development through the exercise of moral and spiritual leadership reiterates its strong condemnation of the kidnapping of Fr. Michael Sinnot last October 11, 2009 at Pagadian City.

                The abduction is an act that is against the teachings of Islam. Aside from the pursuance of religious tolerance, Islam, even in times of war, spares from the conflict old people, women, children, and religious leaders. We reiterate our call to the abductors of Fr. Sinnot for his immediate and unconditional release in the name of the Islamic teachings of peace, dialogue and tolerance. We also call upon all citizens who may have knowledge of the whereabouts of Fr. Sinnot to come forward and help for his immediate release.

                We likewise call upon the government and the media to exercise restraint and vigilance in pointing accusing fingers to the MILF, specially at this point in time when the need for building confidence is necessary for a sustained peace endeavors in Mindanao. We also call upon the MILF leadership to continue exerting the required effort not only for the release of the abducted priest but also to help pinpoint the real culprits and aid in bringing them to the bar of justice to answer for the crime they have committed not only against the law of the land but also against the law of Allah.

DPWH STARTS P121 MILLION JAPAN ASSISTED ROAD PROJECT IN ALBAY

 

 

With the apparent cessation of typhoon visits in our country, the Department of Public Works and Highways had now started the construction of the Ligao-Pio Duran Road Improvement Project, Contract Package 1 under the Arterial Road Links Development Project Phase V of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

In his report to DPWH Secretary Victor Domingo, DPWH Philippine Japan Highway Loan Project Director Maximo Carvajal said that the contractor had finished the deployment of heavy equipment and installation of their field office and now starting the actual construction of the vital road project.

" The completion of this arterial road is important especially for the agricultural industry in Pio Duran which has an increasing investment opportunities in  aquaculture and coconut " Carvajal said.

The Ligao-Pio Duran road project involves the construction of 5,240 lineal meters of Portland concrete cement pavement (PCCP), improvement of road shoulders, construction of drainage and slope protection works and installation of road safety devices.

 This P 121.9 Million road improvement project is jointly funded by JBIC and the Government of the Philippines and is scheduled to be completed by July next year.

 

Rehabilitation of River System Pushed

MARILAO, BULACAN – Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee
on climate change, today held a public hearing on the clean-up of the
Marilao-Meycauayan-ObandO river system to prevent floodings during a
repeat of typhoons like Ondoy and Pepeng.

During the hearing, Senator Legarda prodded representatives of the
national and local governments to adopt community-based programs for
the prevention of floods and the mitigation of risks from disasters.

She also instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways to
immediately rehabilitate the infrastructures destroyed by the typhoons
to provide smooth transportation networks for the prompt
rehabilitation of the flood victims.

Loren told representatives of the Department of Health to help
communities clean up their surroundings to prevent diseases and
provide medicines and medical assistance to those afflicted by
ailments caused by the floods.  She also asked them to conduct a
health survey among the flood victims.

Loren also urged the representatives of the Department of Agriculture
to adopt measures to protect farmers from future disasters.  She also
asked them to supply farmers with new seeds and other inputs to be
able to rehabilitate their crops destroyed by the typhoons.

From the Department of Social Welfare and Development, she asked for
programs for the resettlement of those displaced by the storms, to set
up livelihood projects and to intensify poverty alleviation efforts.

Loren also asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
to eliminate pollution in the river system and take steps to improve
its natural environment.

To local officials, she suggested that they adopt disaster
preparedness programs to reduce damage from future disasters, and to
conduct recovery and rehabilitation efforts in coordination with
national government agencies.

The Marilao – Meycauayan – Obando River System river system is 55
kilometers in length, traversing the cities of Caloocan, Valenzuela
and Malabon in Metro Manila; San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and the
towns of Meycauayan, Marilao, Obando and Sta. Maria. It has also been
identified as one of the country's 50 endangered rivers due to heavy
pollution.

The Blacksmith Institute in the US named Meycauayan City and Marilao
town in Bulacan as two of the world's "worst polluted places'' in
2007, saying that the river system was extremely polluted. In its
report, the institute said: "Industrial waste is haphazardly dumped
into the Marilao, Meycauayan, and Obando River system, a source of
drinking and agricultural water supplies for the 250,000 people living
in and around" the Meycauayan-Marilao area.

According to a Greenpeace study, much of the pollution comes from
tanneries, textiles and electronics recycling industries operating
near the river. High levels of lead were found in the effluent samples
taken from the discharge canal of the Philippine Recyclers Inc., a
large smelting plant that operates on the bank of the river.  It also
found other toxic chemicals such as hexavalent chromium (which is a
carcinogen), cadmium, copper and arsenic from the effluents released
by the other plants.

President Arroyo Orders Sec. Domingo to Complete Infra Projects in ARMM and Kidnap-Prone Areas

President Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered Acting Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo to work hard at providing the basic needs of the people in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other kidnap-prone areas to stamp out the problem of kidnappings in Southern Philippines.

 

            In an interview, Domingo said the President wants major roads, highways and bridges leading to ARMM completed soon so as to provide "peace dividends" and prevent more high-profile criminal incidents like the kidnapping of Irish missionary Father Michael Sinnott from happening.

 

            "By completing key highways and farm-to-market roads, we can prevent kidnappings and at the same time boost tourism and development in the problematic areas of Mindanao. Infrastructures will bring in peace dividends and more importantly, it will close the gap of misunderstanding between Christians and Muslims there," Domingo said.

 

            The newly-appointed DPWH secretary said he had already ordered Senior Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH Central Mindanao Regional Director Sinaolan Macarambon and North Cotabato District Engineer Eddie M. Amir to keep track of the President's mandate.

 

Domingo said the President specifically ordered the immediate completion of the paving works on the 41-kilometer Banisilan-Guiling-Alamada road that would connect North Cotabato and the province of Lanao del Sur.

 

Macarambon said that only about three kilometers of the road – the Banisilan-Gustav road section – remains unpaved. 

 

Macarambon said they are rushing work as well on the P2-Billion Awang-Upi-Lebak-Kalamansig Junction in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao province. The project is now 60 percent complete.

 

 Apart from infrastructure projects, Domingo said the President also wants ARMM areas to have ample supply of water and other basic necessities.

 

"Of course, the other needs of the people in ARMM are the lack of water supply in many municipalities where there are no water systems," he said, adding that the President had ordered Prospero Pichay, head of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), to look into the matter.

           

    Asked when the President wants these projects completed, Domingo replied:  "Well, the President told me to finish these projects before the end of her term or have them off and running by then."     

 

The 79-year-old Sinnott was abducted last October 11 at the Missionary Society of St. Columban compound in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Police authorities say his kidnappers are believed to be operating in Central Mindanao where he is reportedly being kept as of press time.

 

There is also a high incidence of kidnap-for-ransom activities in other ARMM areas, including Basilan and Sulu.

 

Roque warns OFWs on illegally entering South Korea

 

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today warned anew Filipino workers against entering foreign countries to seek employment via illegal channels like the unauthorized escort service that does not afford them protection and put their lives and welfare at great risk from abusive employers onsite. Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque issued the warning following reports which said that migrant workers face abuse in South Korea. Citing a report from Seoul-based Labor Attache Delmer Cruz, Roque said there have been Filipino overseas performing artists (OPAs) who entered Korea and issued E-6 visas by the Korea Immigration Service (KIS) without passing through the legal deployment process by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration POEA).  KIS issues E-visas to foreign artists seeking jobs in Korea. The DOLE Chief said there was discrepancy in the number of OPAs verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Seoul and processed by POEA and the data provided by KIS on Filipinos issued E-visas in Korea, indicating the entry of illegally recruited OPAs to this country.  He attributed such illegal recruitment to unauthorized escort service victimizing vulnerable OFWs. He revealed that the POLO in Seoul has assisted a number of OPAs who have confessed having departed for Korea through the escort service. He called on OFWs not to fall prey to individuals promising overseas jobs without verifying first with POEA whether the promised jobs are legal or not, adding that illegal recruitment like the escort service scheme does not afford them the protection and welfare services that are available to OFWs processed by the POEA.  By verifying with POEA, Filipino entertainers and other OFWs seeking jobs in Korea may also be apprised of Korean employers/promoters and entertainment venues with derogatory records and not suited to employ Filipino workers. Roque also said that OFWs deployed to Korea under the employment permit system (EPS) agreement between the governments of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) do not pay exorbitant fees.   EPS consists of the general procedure under which foreign workers of a country which forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea enter this country after signing a labor contract with a Korean employer. Roque who renewed the RP-ROK EPS in Seoul on May 30, 2009 with Korean Labor Minister Young Hi Lee, said that OFWs under the Philippines and Korean MOU are deployed to Korea without the use of brokers and that no exorbitant fees are being collected from the OFWs. He said the MOU with Korea also includes conditions providing for welfare services and protection of OFWs from abuse and exploitation in Korea.

FilGlobe Launches SEO Training

 

FilGlobe Management  will launch its first "Search Engine Optimization" (SEO) Seminar on December 7, 2009. FilGlobe marketing manager, Philip Marfil says: "The demand for this kind of training has been building up for years."  Ten years ago, SEO was just computer geek stuff. But with the explosion of the Internet as a marketplace, the demand for  SEO skills has grown geometrically.

 

In this financially challenging time, many have turned to the Internet to market their goods. The entrepreneurs' logic is inescapable—why spend millions to open up a physical store in a mall, when you can have one for free on the Internet.  But Marfil warns, "Web presence amounts to zero, if your customers can't find you. Search engines like Google look for activity on a website before it can have a high Page Rank. You want to be on page one of the search engine results. This is why content providers with SEO skills are much in demand."

 

Most of the knowledge on SEO in the country has been self-taught. The available learning modules are largely anecdotal experiences. FilGlobe aims to place SEO training in a structured curriculum. This way participants leave with complete web content writing skills they can either market or use on their own. Marfil says: "If you can already write in English, then you can learn to write SEO enhanced articles.  There are so many tools on the Internet to help you, there is no need to learn html codes anymore. And once you know SEO you have the option to work for a BPO, be a freelance contractor or market your own blog or website and  just work from  home."

 

The course was developed  by Gigi Silerio, an ESL Writing and Linguistics professor who also freelances as a work at home SEO-based web content writer. As a freelance contractor herself, Silerio says, "right now Filipinos are highly regarded by foreign clients and jobs are coming our way". But, Silerio adds, "If we want to stay ahead of the game, we really need more skilled practitioners of SEO. Better skills also mean more jobs and higher pay."

 

For inquiries email us or leave message in this post

Fw: Kawawang mga Biktima ng Bagyong Ondoy at Peping - Share nyo na lng po sa Lahat ng Pinoy

note: forwarded message
                                                                            
                                                                            
        Subject: FW: Kawawang mga Biktima ng Bagyong Ondoy at Peping -     
        Share nyo na lng po sa Lahat ng Pinoy                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a     
volunteer)                                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
Oct 21st, 2009 by ella                                                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
Dear friends,                                                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
I'm asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat   
ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you
can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can   
link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email 
the photos.                                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front
page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons 
of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mga
nag-donate. Kung sa ganitong paraan, matutulungan natin ang mga nasalanta,
then by all means, let's do it.                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
For those who have the time, please try to volunteer sa DSWD warehouses. 
Getting in was not easy. A friend had to put in a word for us. Let's see 
kung madali nang makapasok sa DSWD warehouse ang mga volunteers.         
                                                                           
                                                                           
Please read on and good luck to us.                                       
                                                                           
                                                                           
Ella                                                                     
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic24464.jpg)div             
                                                                           
                                                                           
(This post was last edited Oct 22, 12:30 pm)                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: 
                                                                           
                                                                           
Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not
moving?                                                                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to   
hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries,   
pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya -       
"Walang volunteers".                                                     
                                                                           
                                                                           
I don't want to accuse her of corruption but at the very least she is     
showing signs of being totally incompetent. We are in a state of calamity 
where every second counts. May namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit.       
                                                                           
                                                                           
In my opinion, these deaths could have been prevented if Secretary Cabral 
had tried a little harder to do her job.                                 
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic05705.gif)div             
      Deaths from Philippine storms nears 1,000                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
      "Tropical Storm Ketsana left 420 dead and 37 missing when it flooded
      80 percent of  Manila on September 26, a disaster the government   
      said affected 4.35 million people.                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
      Some areas are still flooded three weeks later and 189,000 people   
      remain in evacuation centres,                                       
                                                                           
      Typhoon  Parma hit the northern  Philippines on October 3 and       
      lingered as a tropical storm for a week, triggering landslides that 
      killed 438 people and leaving 51 missing mostly in mountain         
      communities.                                                       
                                                                           
                                                                           
      The government agency said  Parma affected 4.16 million people,     
      including more than 32,000 who remain at evacuation centres."       
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic28145.jpg)div             
                                                                           
                                                                           
During the first week after the storm, lumabas ang "bayanihan spirit" ng 
mga Pinoy. "Makatulong lang kahi't konti," katwiran nila.                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
kung walang volunteers, ano 'to, komiks?                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
From Stella Arnaldo's blog:                                               
      "At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations,     
      hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods. 
                                                                           
                                                                           
      At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, Most of the 
      volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with   
      their kuya or ate in high school and college.                       
                                                                           
                                                                           
      They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or     
      siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their     
      Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share!           
      Photos by Leah Navarro                                             
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic23281.jpg)bayanihan       
                                                                           
                    Even grade school kids pitched in to help!             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                (Embedded image moved to file: pic16827.jpg)tulong         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
              Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution         
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic09961.jpg)making beds       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                          Making beds from carton boxes                   
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic00491.jpg)div             
                                                                           
GMA asked world for donations                                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
Our government begged the world for more donations. Sumagot ang buong     
mundo sa ating panawagan. In less than three weeks, dumaong ang mga barko,
ibinaba mula sa mga cargo planes, i-diniliver ng mga trak at container   
vans ang sandamakmak na relief goods. Cash donations were in the millions 
of dollars.                                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
But these donations must be coursed through DSWD                         
                                                                           
                                                                           
Nagpalabas ng directive ang pangulo. Individuals, private companies and   
other nations were ENCOURAGED to send their donations to DSWD. I blogged 
about it here and the video of her announcement here.                     
                                                                           
                                                                           
This PGMA directive sounded suspicious to me then. Now I know why. Here's 
the story.                                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
A group of eight people, your ate Ella included, went to one of DSWD     
warehouses to help in repacking relief goods. We know they need volunteers
pero hindi namin akalaing WALANG TAO TALAGA SA LOOB NG WAREHOUSE!         
                                                                           
                                                                           
As in sa isang humongous warehouse (1000++ sq.m) NA PUNONG-PUNO NG RELIEF 
GOODS HANGGANG BUBONG, ISANG DSWD employee lang at ISANG SECURITY GUARD   
ang tao!!                                                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
Kailangang magpa-register at i-schedule ang volunteering                 
      1) UNICEF Registration (as a volunteer)                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
      The warehouse can only take as much as 50 volunteers at a time or   
      per shift. Here you will find that there is a 4-hour shift, and an 
      option for a 6-hour shift for the volunteers to indicate their     
      availability.                                                       
                                                                           
                                                                           
What "volunteers"? Nasaan?                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
Aside from the 8 of us? Nope, there was nobody there. Bakit kailangan ang 
scheduling? Feeling hindi ba magkamayaw at nagu-unahan ang mga volunteers?
                                                                           
                                                                           
I know somebody who wanted to volunteer many times. She was always bumped 
off, laging nirere-schedule kasi "there were too many volunteers" daw. At 
tuwing Sunday lang daw puwede. What the hell is going on here?           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Nakatambak ang donations ng UNICEF sa warehouse, local and international 
                                                                           
                                                                           
Mga banig na dapat ay nahihigaan ng mga nasalanta. Mga imported camp beds 
na hindi na yata masisilayan ng mga biktima. Mga kumot na hindi naman     
nakabalot sa katawan nila. At mga pagkaing hindi sumasayad sa sikmura     
nila.                                                                     
                                                                           
                                                                           
The relief goods are not going anywhere                                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
We arrived at about 8 am and left by midafternoon and yes, you guessed it  right. Kami pa rin ang tao bukod sa isang DSWD employee sa loob ng       
warehouse maghapon. Walang ibang dumating.                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
The relief goods are not moving. By the way things look, they are not     
going anywhere. Hindi maglalakad mag-isa ang mga donations na ito papunta 
sa mga evacuation centers.                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Note: Pinagbawalan kaming kumuha ng pictures sa loob ng warehouse. I     
wonder why.                                                               
          (Embedded image moved to file: pic02995.jpg)walang tao 2         
                                                                           
              "Not a creature was moving, not even a mouse."             
                                                                           
                                                                           
          (Embedded image moved to file: pic11942.jpg)walang tao         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
          Parang haunted warehouse ang dating. May multo na yata.         
                                                                           
                                                                           
        (Embedded image moved to file: pic04827.jpg)pots and pans         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
    Kahit na daig pa ang tindahan sa Divisoria sa dami ng naka-stack na   
                                  kaldero                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
        (Embedded image moved to file: pic05436.jpg)kaldero pa ulit       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                    At walang katapusang kaldero pa ulit                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic32391.jpg)delata 2           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
        Kahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahon       
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic14604.jpg)coleman           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
          Kahit umabot na hanggang kisame ang stack ng mga kahon         
                                                                           
                                                                           
          (Embedded image moved to file: pic03902.jpg)camp pads           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  (Close up ng Coleman camp beds sa previous photo) Hindi ito kasama sa   
ni-repack naming goods. Para sa mga "special victims" kaya ito? Ire-repack
              kaya ang mga "imported" camp pads na ito ever?             
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic00153.jpg)banig             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  Sabagay, may BANIG naman para sa "ordinary victims". Ito ang kasama sa 
                  inimpake namin. Sayang 'yung imported.                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic00292.jpg)kumot             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  Ano kaya ang laman nito? Hindi rin pinabuksan. Pang-special victim din 
          kaya ito? (teka, dito nga pala galing 'yung mga kumot)         
                                                                           
                                                                           
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic12382.jpg)jica             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                    Mahiwagang mga kahon from Japan Aid.                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic17421.jpg)japan             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  (close up ng mahiwagang kahon) Hindi rin ito kasali, of course. Hindi   
  namin alam kung ano ang laman nito. "Imported" are not included, we have 
                                concluded.                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic18716.jpg)toys             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  Marami ito, mga laruang kasinlaki ng tao. Hindi nakunan ng pic kasi nasa 
                              tabi ng sikyo.                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
        (Embedded image moved to file: pic19718.jpg)pork and beans       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
PORK AND BEANS? Yup, you'd think kasama ito sa relief bag. Pork and beans 
                  lang 'to, puwede na sigurong ipamigay,                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
    (Embedded image moved to file: pic19895.jpg)close up pork and beans   
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  Naaah! "Imported" pork and beans from  Spain po ito. Sorry, hindi pa rin 
                                  included                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
Now let's take a look at what a victim will get from DSWD                 
      (Embedded image moved to file: pic05447.jpg)sa loob ng kaldero     
                                                                           
    Look Ma, sampung lata ng sardinas! How generous! Kaldero ang unang   
    ilalagay sa sako. Sabong panglaba (bar soap) at sampung sardinas sa   
  ilalim. Siyam na sabon sa gilid ng kaldero. Local goods lahat syempre. 
                                                                           
                                                                           
      (Embedded image moved to file: pic21726.jpg)tuwalya at napkin       
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
    Tapos papatungan ng isang tuwalya at isang pack ng sanitary napkin.   
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic14771.jpg)kumot             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Sisiksikan ng tatlong rolyo ng kumot(?) ang blue water jug tapos ipapatong
                        sa kaldero sa loob ng sako.                       
                                                                           
                                                                           
              (Embedded image moved to file: pic11538.jpg)sako             
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
            Last but not the least, lalagyan ng dalawang banig.           
                                                                           
                                                                           
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic01869.jpg)tinatahi           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
  Sabay tatahiin na ang sako. O di ba, parang asong tinapunan ng buto ang 
  mga nasalanta? Eniwey, busog naman sila sa SAMPUNG lata ng Mega sardinas 
                                                                           
                                                                           
Do not delay                                                             
          (Embedded image moved to file: pic19912.jpg)do not delay         
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
YOU THINK?? WTF is the matter with these people? Mag-iisang buwan na mula 
nang masalanta ang mga kababayan natin. ISANG BUWAN!! Do you mean "do not 
delay ang dati nang delayed"?? Shet.                                     
                                                                           
                                                                           
Anong ginagawa ng mga donations na ito sa warehouse?? APAT na warehouse   
ang nasa loob ng compound na 'yon! APAT na warehouse na punong-puno ng   
inaalikabok na relief goods! Relief goods na ayaw yata ibigay sa mga     
nasalanta. Halatang-halata.                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
Marami pang pabubulukin                                                   
            (Embedded image moved to file: pic25667.jpg)shipment           
                                                                           
  Wow! May bagong shipment na naman! At the rate DSWD is moving, next year 
          na madi-discover kung ano ang laman ng mga kahong ito.         
(Embedded image moved to file: pic26299.jpg)nutri biscuit                 
                                                                           
      "The first of two of the largest high-energy food shipments from the
      United Nations World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country two 
      days ago for victims of storm "Ondoy" and typhoon "Pepeng."         
                                                                           
                                                                           
      The biscuits were fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for
      supplementary feeding to children, pregnant women and the elderly in
      evacuation camps. Another 100 tons of biscuits will arrive on Oct. 
      24, in a continuing effort to provide food assistance to flood     
      victims.                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Sige, ideretso 'nyo ulit 'yan sa DSWD warehouse. Para AMAG naman ang     
abutin ng biskwit… at sapot ng gagamba.                                   
                                                                           
                                                                           
Conclusion                                                               
                                                                           
                                                                           
Sa maghapon namin sa warehouse,nakagawa kami ng 150 sacks of relief goods.
150 bags of relief goods lang ang lumabas sa warehouse na 'yon that day. 
At nandoon pa rin sa loob ang mga imported relief goods, safe, sound and 
packed as the day they arrived.                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Nakisakay kami palabas sa isang DSWD delivery van. Gusto  sana kaming     
ihatid ng driver hanggang  Makati pero wala raw siyang sobrang gasolina. 
Ibinaba na lang niya kami sa gitna ng EDSA. Millions of dollars in       
donations, walang extrang pang-gasolina.                                 
                                                                           
                                                                           
Susulpot din siguro ang laman ng mga mahiwagang kahon at mapapasakamay din
ng mga tao…sa ARAW NG ELEKSYON. O mabibili na nila ang mga imported goods 
na 'yon sa mga puwesto sa Quiapo at Divisoria.                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
Suggestions lang po sa DSWD:                                             
·  Alam 'nyo palang walang mag-volunteer sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo       
mag-hire ng mga tao? Bayaran 'nyo ng arawan para mag-repack. Ang daming   
walang trabaho, makakatulong pa kayo. Hindi naman malaking kabawasan 'yon 
sa bilyong pisong donasyon na natanggap ninyo.                           
·  Isa pa, gaano ba karami ang mga sundalo natin? Hindi ba puwedeng       
ipagawa sa kanila 'yan? Baka isang araw lang, tapos na ang problema 'nyo 
·  Bakit hindi 'nyo ibigay ang trabaho sa mga NGO, churches, private     
charities, TV stations? I'm sure they are more than willing to help. Time 
is of the essence. Huwag kayong suwapang. Obvious ba, hindi 'nyo naman   
kaya.                                                                     
                                                                           
                                                                           
Kung talagang gugustuhin ninyong makarating agad sa mga kawawang biktima 
ang mga donasyong 'yon, nagawa 'nyo na 'yan. Maraming paraan…kung talagang
gusto 'nyo lang.                                                         
                                                                           
                                                                           
You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. 
You just have to really care.                                             
                                                                           
                                                                           
Posted in Pilipinas kong mahal, all we need is love | 356 Comments        

DPWH Vows to Infuse More Infra-Projects in ‘Land of Broken Promises’

Saying poverty and neglect is partly fuelling terrorism and rebellion in Mindanao, Acting Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo has vowed to push for the immediate construction of key infrastructure projects in Southern Philippines, which he described as the "Land of Broken Promises."

 

"With the implementation and completion of priority projects in Mindanao, we will be hitting many birds with one stone. Key infrastructure projects can definitely resolve the problem of peace and order and as well as poverty," Domingo said in an interview.

 

According to Domingo, there is no way for Mindanao to stagnate in development and progress considering that it does not have to contend with deadly typhoons that ravage Luzon and Visayas every year.

 

"Mindanao has a favorable environment, it is not even situated in a typhoon belt area but still it has not attained its full potential," Domingo noted.

           

Domingo said his past stint with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has familiarized him with some of the factors that had stymied Mindanao's growth and progress, the lack of infrastructure development being one of the causes of poverty and alienation of the Minadanao people.

 

"President Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered me to prioritize the construction and completion of key infrastructure projects in Mindanao, especially the ones funded by the government of Saudi Arabia," Domingo said.

 

In a recent visit with the President in Region 12, Domingo said the Chief Executive asked him to immediately complete the three-kilometer stretch of the circumferential road in Lake Marawi.

 

 "The President would like to see the remaining three kilometers of the circumferential road at least be asphalted before her term ends," he said, adding that they would start constructing the circumferential road before the end of November since they consider the month of December as a safe month for construction.

 

"The provinces in region 12 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have a scenic beauty and vast resources, a good potential for tourism, trade and industry," Domingo said in explaining the significance of the multi-billion worth of construction and rehabilitation of roads in Mindanao.

Poverty, climate change is next admin’s biggest challenge --Loren

Senator Loren Legarda said today that the next administration must implement real solutions to the problems of joblessness, poverty and
hunger among Filipinos, even as she chided government's "sugar-coated" statistics on the incidence of poverty in the country.

"There is great disparity between the 53 percent of Filipinos who consider themselves poor in the latest Social Weather Station (SWS)
survey and the 32.9 percent of poor Filipinos as determined by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)," said Loren.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Loren said that the discrepancy arises not only from the three-year difference
when the NSCB last estimated poverty in the Philippines in 2006 and when the SWS conducted the survey for the month of September 2009.

"There's a 20-percent difference that could only be blamed on the unrealistic paramaters set by the outgoing administration in
determining who among Filipinos are poor," said Loren.

"I am, of course, referring to the NSCB's poverty threshold of P15,057 for a family composed of five members, which is just too low and
unrealistic," she stressed.

Loren cited the finding of an independent think-tank that based on the government-set poverty threshold, a Filipino would just need P41.25 a
day to meet both his food and non-food needs each day. "That's even less than a dollar a day considering the present exchange rate of
P47.50 to a US dollar," said Loren.

The senator said that the next administration that would be voted into office in next year's election must come up with more realistic
poverty indicators because undereportage of real poverty incidence results to government's policies, actions and programs not being based
on reality.

"If government is to be effective in helping provide livelihood, boosting the economy and ensuring food sufficiency for the 88.57
million Filipinos (as of August 2007), it must first determine where we really stand and must shed off its blinders," said Loren.

The Philippine population is projected to hit 92.3 million this year.

Reacting to the SWS survey, a Malacañang official blamed the economicslowdown and the recent typhoons that hit the country for the increase
in the poverty incidence.

"There may be a grain of truth in that claim by Malacañang, considering that the SWS survey for September must have been
undertaken at least after the first of three typhoons, Ondoy, had hit the country," said Loren.

"But typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi primarily hit Luzon, while the SWS survey was nationwide in scope. So, it's not at all factual, this
claim by the government."

Just the same, Loren said that the devastations caused by the typhoons would indeed necessitate a review of the 2010 national budget because
the same had been proposed well before the three typhoons devastated the country.

"The next administration will have its work cut out for it. It must address worsening poverty, which is expected to be aggravated by
climate change related concerns, such as what we've seen with Ondoy, Pepeng and Santi," said Loren.