Palace cites need for people's support for AFP in drive vs lawlessness in South
MALACANANG underscored today the need for the support of the people for the military, the spearhead of the ongoing government efforts to suppress lawlessness and violence against civilian populations in certain areas of Mindanao.
In an interview this afternoon over the Radyo ng Bayan program “Pilipinas, Pilipinas,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recognizes the importance of soldiers who are always in the frontlines in any campaign of the government to ensure the protection of national security and sovereignty.
Dureza said that under the President’s watch, members of the military establishment have been afforded government assistance, including housing that they never enjoyed before.
“Napakahalaga kasi na kailangang ma-suportahan natin ang ating mga sundalo dahil sila yung mga frontliners – they are the ones who put their lives on the line ‘pag may mga threats against the republic and against the people,” he said.
“Kaya ang Pangulo natin ay talagang kinakalinga n’ya ang ating mga sundalo. Yung mga housing benefits, for the first time, have been provided to our soldiers,” said Dureza.
He pointed out that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, which seeks to upgrade the overall capability of the AFP, is “a work in progress.”
“Alam naman natin na ang ating Pangulo has been providing all possible assistance sa ating armed forces dahil sila ang backbone ng ating depensa,” Dureza said.
“There have already been efforts since she assumed office to really attend to the (AFP) modernization program,” he added.
He pointed out that with the country’s economic fundamentals in place, “ngayon, meron na tayong capacity to assist dahil yung economic reforms ng ating Pangulo ay naka-generate rin ng sufficient resources (to fund the AFP Modernization Program).”
Dureza, who is also acting Executive Secretary in the absence of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who is attending the Ministerial Review Summit on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development in Geneva, Switzerland, said the AFP modernization program is now “under the leadership of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.”
“Alam ko na isa ito sa mga tinututukan ng ating defense secretary. May mga benepisyo na wala dati at ngayon ay binibigay na natin sa ating mga sundalo.
“Pero yung pinakamalaking pangangailangan natin… ng modernization in terms of new helicopters, new armaments, new carrier, new aircraft na kailangan ng ating mga sundalo – these are also being attended to,” he said.
Teodoro is “one of those really pushing it (AFP modernization) forward, including assistance to our soldiers, especially those who are in the frontline,” Dureza added
Govt forced to use part of its development funds on anti-rebel, anti-terrorist campaign
GENEVA – Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita lamented here Saturday that instead of being channeled fully to development projects, the Philippine government is compelled to spend substantial amounts to suppress the activities of rebel groups.
In delivering the Philippine “country statement” before the Ministerial Review Summit on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development here, Ermita said that “funds annually spent for internal security operations to address these conflicts could and should have been used for development purposes if only we were a nation free of these conflicts.”
Ermita is representing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Geneva Summit.
“I have, however, noted and expressed our country’s gratitude for the involvement of several foreign organizations, such as the UNDP, that are continually supportive of our peace and development programs,” Ermita said.
In the country statement, the Executive Secretary explained that the complex armed conflict situation in the Philippines has been compounded by the presence of a handful of terrorists in Mindanao.
He underscored the importance of “armed conflict reduction and prevention in light of the Philippines’ experience in dealing with five armed groups in the last four decades – two Muslim secessionist groups in Southern Philippines, a local communist movement operating all over the country and their two breakaway groups in the Visayas and in the Cordillera region.”
The Philippines’ statement also affirmed the lament of Madame Michelline Calmy-Rey, Switzerland’s foreign minister, who noted in her welcome statement that 740, 000 people died around the world annually due to the proliferation of firearms.
A study by the Small Arms Survey, an international non-government (NGO), showed that there are 870 million illegal firearms in circulation at any given time.
The SAS monitors small arms and light ammunition that are illegally in circulation.
The Swiss official also disclosed that apart from the tremendous cost in human lives, armed hostilities all over the world cost an estimated $163 billion a year, Ermita said.
“In the Philippines, the Small Arm Survey works in tandem with the Henri Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue which, in turn, has partnered with the provincial government of Sulu for a program on a province-wide culture-of-peace campaign, and in the implementation of a local ordinance on the dismantling of private armies and on prohibiting possession of firearms by civilians,” Ermita said.
The Philippine Statement stressed President Arroyo’s commitment to achieve notable headway in the peace process on or before her term ends in 2010 as the country’s major contribution to the vision of the Geneva Declaration of a world peace and prosperity.
Govt in no rush for another peace process sans 'disarmament, demobilization, rehab
THE Arroyo administration is in no rush to enter into another peace negotiations unless the process conforms with its new policy of “disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation, and greater consultations with the people of the affected areas,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today.
In an interview this afternoon over the Radyo ng Bayan program, “Pilipinas, Pilipinas,” Dureza restated the government’s policy by way of commenting on the reported prodding by a US State Department official and the defense minister of Malaysia for the Philippine government to immediately go back to the negotiating table with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to stop the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.
“Hayaan natin yang American expert na yan dahil ang kanya sigurong priority niya’y anti-terrorism na agenda. Eh, tayo, kasama ‘yan sa anti-terrorism agenda natin pero napakahalaga ng safety ng ating mga mamamayan -- hindi basta-basta lamang titirahin ng mga armado na hindi nako-control ng liderato ng MILF,” Dureza said in response to a question from a member of the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC).
Dureza also reiterated the government’s policy of “no bombardment, no artillery” against breakaway forces of the MILF “unless in extreme circumstances.”
“Alam mo naman na ang ating bottomline ngayon, the new policy is we now shift dialogue -- peace dialogues (are) no longer with armed groups, at ito’y dialogues will have to take place with our stakeholders,” he said.
He reiterated the instructions of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the government would return to the negotiating table only “kung ang kontexto, yung pag-usapan, ay ‘yung tinatawag natin na demobilization, disarmament and re-integration; at kung mai-balik natin yung safety ng ating citizens na – yung who were threatened, who were attacked, at ‘yung mga areas na natatakot dahil may mga armado ang mga MILF na hindi naman nako-control nila.”
A former Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process (PAPP), Dureza expressed his thanks to the Malaysian defense minister for the latter’s concern for the peace process, but stressed that the government is no longer hurrying the peace process because of its sad experience in dealing with renegade MILF commanders who are beyond the control of the MILF leadership.
“Well, nagpapa-salamat tayo sa Malaysian defense minister dahil hangad din niya, gaya natin, ay kapayapaan. Pero sinasabi ko nga, yung ating negosasyon, ibabalik natin ‘yung ating peace talks kung nagkaroon na tayo ng environment na sinabi ko kanina -- that we are able to proceed, that there is control already by the leadership of the MILF dun sa mga tao nila, yung nanggugulo sa atin dati.
“At, of course, yung safety ng ating kababayan eh napakahalaga that’s why our law enforcement campaign is ongoing,” he said, adding that “short of that po, mahirap tayong maki-pag-negosasyon ulit dahil nakita natin kung ano ang nangyari, Negotiate ng negotiate tayo, meron na tayo sana mga consensus point, pero may mga armado sila na hindi nila mako-control.
“We are working towards peace, pero not at the expense of our people, the safety ng ating mga civilians in the areas,” Dureza said.
“Di kayang madaliin (peace process). Dati nagmadali tayo, tinira pa tayo,” he pointed out.
Saying that President Arroyo is “appreciative of the law-enforcement campaign” in the South, Dureza said government will consult this week on the peace efforts with local stakeholders in Zamboanga del Norte via the Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA).
“Tatanungin din natin sila kung ano ba ang mag-ga-guide sa atin in achieving peace… what their recommendations would be in the light of how we can bring peace in our localities,” he said.
PGMA to devote coming week to economic 'roadshow'
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will devote most of this coming week to economic concerns via an “economic roadshow” that will kick off tomorrow (Monday, Sept. 15) with a National Competitiveness Council (NCC) meeting in Malacanang.
Attending the NCC meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room are business executives of Intel Technology Philippines led by Managing Director Michael Wentling.
During the occasion, Wentling is scheduled to turn over to Education Secretary Jesli Lapus a check for P80 million to fund computer-related projects of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Since its creation in Oct. 2006, the NCC has made significant inroads towards improving the country’s global competitiveness through its strengthened private-public partnership.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said that the next item on the economic roadshow is the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) economic cluster meeting on Tuesday at the Heroes’ Hall of Malacanang. During the Cabinet Economic Cluster meeting, members of the media will have the chance to field questions on economic issues.
Aside from the Malacanang Press Corps, also attending the fellowship cum press briefing are members of the Presidential Photojournalists Association, the Malacanang Cameramen Association, business and economic writers, and members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).
On Wednesday, the President will attend the Philippine Economic Briefing which will center on the theme, “The Philippines Addressing Challenges, Staying the Course,” to be held at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-la Hotel.
On Friday, the President will visit the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to meet with “staff professionals” and also to view the Go Negosyo activity of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) headed by Secretary Cerge Remonde.
“It will be a full week of economic roadshow,” Dureza said in a radio interview this afternoon (Sunday, Sept. 14) over Radyo ng Bayan.
He said the “roadshow” is the President’s way of giving importance to the economy, to “clarify” economic topics, and “to inform the people about issues na nakaraan at nalampasan na natin.”
“We will rejoice over our little successes,” he added.
NPC unit tasked to investigate media-related killings to be installed
THE Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Task Force 211 will install a unit at the National Press Club (NPC) tasked mainly to investigate killing incidents involving members of the working press.
DOJ undersecretary and Task Force 211 commander Ricardo Blancaflor said the establishment of the unit is based on an agreement they have signed with NPC president Benny Antiporda early this week.
Under the plan, the NPC will provide Task Force 211 with a room where it will set up its unit which serves as the DOJ’s processing center for violence against the media complaints.
Blancaflor said the unit will also be tasked to determine whether the persons filing the complaint are bonafide members of the country’s working press or not.
The hotline of the DOJ monitoring unit will be announced later once the installation of the team is completed.
The DOJ undersecretary earlier urged media practitioners to go beyond “death watch reporting” and “give attention to the reporting and monitoring of filing of charges and eventual promulgation of cases filed against perpetrators.” (PNA)
Establishment of special economic zones sought
A MEASURE has been filed seeking to promote equal economic opportunities to establish special economic zones in every province and highly urbanized city in the Philippines, except for Metro Manila areas.
Rep. Carmelo F. Lazatin (1st District, Pampanga) said House Bill 5005 aims to ensure the viability and equal geographical dispersal of economic opportunities and of development.
Lazatin said the establishment of special economic zones is one of the economic phenomena in the country that has contributed radically to efficient revenue generation.
"The cost of imported goods within these zones will be remarkably lower and investors will be encouraged to engage in the trading of imported goods," he said.
"As such, these special economic zones will encourage and provide venues for imported goods to be traded, bought, sold or otherwise, exchanged free of any import duties or taxes," he added.
Lazatin said the economic zones likewise recognize the indispensable role of the private sector at engaging in activities that foster the growth of much-needed investments to attain economic progress.
The bill encourages foreign investors to participate in this economic endeavor resulting in more job opportunities in pursuit of State policy to ensure national economic development and promote equal progress among different places in the country. (PNA)
Duque leads medical missions in evacuation centers of N. Cotabato
DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III and other department heads will head for North Cotabato Sunday to inspect evacuation centers of residents displaced by the clashes between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces.
Duque, who is the head of the Task Force Humanitarian on Conflict Affected Mindanao, said he will lead the mission in affected areas in Pikit, North Cotabato together with Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.
“We are going to Mindanao to see all the evacuation centers and address their necessities like food, medicine, sanitation and drinking water,” he said.
Duque said the DOH administrated the measles outbreak in Munay, Lanao del Norte and conducted immunization where more than 1,000 children were vaccinated.
He said more than 20 cases of measles have been reported in evacuation centers there calling for the need for an immediate and massive coverage of immunization.
In a report from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Sunday, it said the DOH in Region XII and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) “intensified health education campaign on water and sanitation and on the preventive and control measures on food and water-borne diseases.”
It said the DOH Region XII has already immunized a total of 4,832 persons in North Cotabato while 2,035 individuals in Maguindanao received the same from the DOH-ARMM.
The DOH, DPWH and DSWD will also start on September 15 the construction of 30 latrines in Munai and 20 latrines in Tangkal.
The NDCC said Sunday the number of displaced persons as of present are 59,274 families or 292,827 persons. A total of 12,484 families or 61,901 persons are housed in 101 established evacuation centers.
The report said the casualty count remained to 71, including 44 in Region 10; eight in Region 12; and 10 from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The agency placed the damages to a total of P121.49 million. The damages in infrastructure is P38.53 million; and on agriculture to P82.96 million.
The NDCC said the total cost of assistance from government agencies and local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and international aid rose to P63.98 million as Sunday.
The breakdown of the assistance include P7.35 million for some 7,050 sacks of rice; DSWD more than P15 million; DOH- P9.8 million; DepEd P10 million; LGUs - more than P4 million; and NGOs and international aid more than P16 million. (PNA)
Small employers with delinquent SSS remittances may get reprieve
TO avoid the possible closure of small companies, a lawmaker has filed a bill that seeks to lessen the penalty being imposed on employers or companies that fail to pay the social security remittance of their employees on time.
Rep. Nicanor Briones (AGAP Party-list) introduced House Bill 4976 to amend provisions of the Social Security Law on remittances and contributions.
Republic Act 8282, as amended, mandates employers to remit to the SSS its contribution within the first 20 days of each month for which remittances are applicable.
If the contributions are not remitted to the SSS on time, aside from the contribution, employers shall pay a penalty of one-half percent per month or six percent per annum to be reckoned from the date the contribution falls due until it is paid.
The law also provides that every employer who fails to deduct and to remit contributions shall pay a penalty of three percent per month compounded from the date the contribution falls due until it is paid.
"The penalty is equivalent to an annual penalty of 38 percent, which is onerous and burdensome to the companies experiencing heavy financial losses due to the peso devaluation, oil price hike, the pervading clouds of fiscal crisis, and other losses that many of our small companies face," Briones said.
Likewise, the half percent penalty should not be imposed if the remittance within the quarter is done within the given quarter, he added.
Briones said his proposed measure would help particularly the security agencies that have always been the ones suffering from financial difficulties. These security agencies are the contributors and collecting arms of the SSS and not the borrowers.
He said the biggest problem of the security agencies is the delayed payment of security services by contractors especially government accounts.
The delayed payment lasts up to six months to one year and as a consequence, the security agencies have to advance the share from the salaries of their employees.
"The problem is that the SSS does not accept partial remittance of contributions. Unfortunately, however, the penalty of 36 percent per year would further aggravate the problems of these companies and these companies might close shop rather than incur heavy financial losses," Briones explained. (PNA)
PNP enhances delivery of frontline services to the people
COMMUNITY-BASED partnerships with civic organizations, increased visibility through mobile and foot patrols, and a soon-to-rise one-stop shop to enhance the delivery of frontline services of the Philippine National Police to the public are among the ongoing initiatives of the Arroyo administration to bring the PNP “closer to the people.”
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said these programs, which also seek to reinforce public trust in the PNP, include the establishment of 3,365 Cops-Kababayan centers or police community precincts that conduct round-the-clock mobile and foot patrols in crime-prone areas.
The PNP has also put up Community-Based Information Networks or CINs in 2,383 barangays where barangay informants assist the police in gathering intelligence information on criminals in their communities, he said, as well as People’s Action Team Responding Online or Patrol 117 with call centers in 22 cities and one municipality and the Emergency Network Philippines or ENP in four cities and two provinces that respond to emergency calls.
Puno said the national police has also set up and maintained since 2006 a 24-hour Complaints Referral and Action Center to increase the public’s access to the PNP and provide a mechanism to respond and act on grievances and requests. From 2006 to 2007, the PNP reported that it has acted on 1,284 complaints and various requests.
The public can also report erring cops or send their suggestions on how to improve PNP services by texting 2920, an initiative that has led the police leadership to act on 4,121 requests and 2,464 complaints.
He said the PNP has also strengthened community-based partnerships with civic organizations like the Rotary Club of New Manila East, the Philippine Jaycees and Metrobank Foundation that are actively involved in community organizing and crime prevention activities.
“Today, the focus of our PNP is not just on law enforcement, but on public service as well,” Puno told the Rotary Club of Manila during its recent membership meeting at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
The latest of such public service initiatives, Puno said, is the plan to establish a one-stop shop inside the police national headquarters in Camp Crame, where people can avail themselves of the various services offered by the different divisions of the PNP.
To be called the PNP Service Plaza, the soon-to-rise eight-storey building will provide the public a one-stop shop for the processing or renewal of police clearances, gun licenses and permits, security guard licenses, pensions and benefits claims; recruitment processing; and complaints referrals, among other PNP frontline services.
The DILG chief recently led the groundbreaking ceremonies, along with PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., for the soon-to-rise one-stop shop. (PNA)
MEDCo backs ASEAN charter ratification
GIVEN the strategic geographical importance of Mindanao to the country and in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), in its mandate as the Philippine Coordinating Office for the EAGA, is recommending the ratification of the ASEAN charter by the Senate.
The ASEAN Charter is a constitution for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), specifically, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It was during the 11th ASEAN Summit in 2005 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when the intention to draft the constitution was formally taken into account.
The ten ASEAN leaders called then signed the charter in November last year in Singapore. However, the country’s engagement with the charter would only take effect following the Senate’s concurrence to it. Seven of the ten countries already submitted their “Instrument of Ratification” to the ASEAN secretariat.
Singapore already ratified and submitted the said instrument as early as 2007.
However, the Philippines, together with Thailand and Indonesia, are still in the process of ratifying the said charter.
As explained by President Arroyo last year, the Senate’s concurrence to the ASEAN charter would depend on the progress in the human rights situation in Myanmar. However, the government has changed its tack, and has pushed for the ratification even without new developments in the military-ruled ASEAN member.
Human rights are among the contentious issues being debated in the Senate, thereby slowing down the pace of ratification. With Myanmar’s formal ratification of the charter, however, the Senate will be obliged to comply with its provisions and all other ASEAN agreements.
This was disclosed by Senator Miriam Santiago, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. “The Senate’s concurrence with the ASEAN charter will reinforce our country’s relations with the Asian neighbors and will resonate in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region, thus, bolstering the country’s leadership in enhancing land, sea and air connectivity”, said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana Sr., MEDCo Chair, during a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Thursday last week.
He added that the basic concept in the formation of ASEAN is based on the need for comprehensive security based on a strong interdependence in the political, economic and socio-cultural life of Southeast Asia. “It is only prudent that the
Philippines support the ratification of the charter. If our country does not, it would only negate its laudable leadership initiatives as a founding member of ASEAN, “noted Leyretana.
“The ratification of the charter by the Senate will reinforce our country’s relations with the Asian neighbors and will resonate in the BIMP-EAGA sub-region. It will then bolster the country’s leadership in enhancing land, sea and air connectivity,” added the MEDCo Chair.
Leyretana said that ASEAN member-countries recognize each other’s sovereignty. As for the principles of non-interference, he is optimistic that in due time, member countries will eventually adhere to ASEAN rules and policies.
The non-interference policy recognizes the sovereignty of ASEAN member-countries over its domestic affairs. “No country can isolate or insulate itself from the world”, Leyretana concluded while stressing that the ASEAN charter is an instrument replete with significance for the country and particularly for Mindanao and the BIMP-EAGA.( MEDCo)
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