PIA Dispatch (17 June 2010)

CHED bats for more scholarships, assistance to poor students

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) today batted for the continuity of government scholarship and assistance programs, putting at 10 percent of the national college population the ideal proportion of students to be covered by the programs.

In today’s news briefing in Malacanang, CHED Executive Director Julito Vitriolo also reiterated the call more funds for the college education sector.

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has already spent some P7 billion for such programs which benefited about 650,000 poor and deserving students since 2001.

This is on top of some P1.2 billion already spent on training programs to upgrade the capabilities of almost 4,000 faculty members and about P2.5 billion for laboratories, libraries and other instructional facilities of government as well as some private partner learning institutions.

Vitriolo said there are now 72 centers of excellence and 122 centers of development identified in the country’s higher education profile which are comparable to quality learning institutions in some ASEAN neighbors.

Vitriolo said the CHED is currently developing educational models to upgrade the curriculum program including the 15-year college educational program patterned from Europe to develop globally competitive students and standards.

For his part, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Pastor Guiao reported that the number of TESDA scholars who got into high-paying jobs increased almost seven-fold from 42,216 in 2000 to 357,509 in 2009.

Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said noteworthy among the President’s education program include providing Cabinet rank to the TESDA Director General and the adoption of the ladderized education joint undertaking with CHED which not only provided immediate jobs but credited units taken in tech-voc trainings scholarships in formal college courses.

Saludo noted that the trainings, scholarships conducted by TESDA and CHED have provided high-level education and academic qualifications for poor but deserving Filipinos so that they easily land in high-paying jobs in information and communications technology (ICT), tourism, business process outsourcing (BPO) and shipbuilding industries among others.


PGMA inspects thriving Go Negosyo, SME ventures

LUBAO, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's strategy of using small and medium scale entrepreneurship programs in the fight against poverty was recognized by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship during the Go Negosyo Seminar for residents of Pampanga's 2nd District held here today at the compound of the St. Augustine Parish Church.

Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the President’s policies in support of the Go Negosyo program for the past four years have inspired many entrepreneurs in the country.

A plague of appreciation designed by Cebu-based international designer Kenneth Cobonpue cited the President for pushing and innovating positive enterprising mindset on entrepreneurship.'

''The Negosyo Seminars have the strong support of President Arroyo as she clearly sees the importance of a thriving entrepreneurial climate for the country. She understands Go Negosyo and having an enterprising mindset, is a solution to poverty,'' Concepcion said.

Officials said that under the Arroyo administration, the number of banks supporting small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) increased from only about five to at least 212 today, servicing some 900,000 SME clients.

The President also toured the ''one town one product'' (otop) trade exhibit where Go Negosyo beneficiaries such as Navarro Foods, which manufactures original Kapampangan delicacies like burong mudfish, burong dalag, shrimp paste and crab aligue, have availed of financial assistance to expand their domestic businesses into exports.

Neri-Mars Sweets and Delicacies, which makes pastillas, and other sweet delicacies, also have expanded operations due to Go Negosyo's technical assistance.


PGMA opens Region 3 BSP branch in Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated here today the new regional branch in Central Luzon of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The President led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and marker unveiling at the foyer of the new building to formally open BSP operations in the region

Built at a cost of more than P100 million, the two-storey BSP San Fernando regional office sits on a 5,400 square meter lot in Barangay Sindalan along MacArthur Highway, with an effective floor area of 3,110 sqm.

Joining the President in opening the BSP’s 18th regional office were BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, Monetary Board Member and former Trade Secretary Peter Favila and National Historical Commission chairman Ambeth Ocampo.

In addition to the regular office features of a regular BSP regional office, the San Fernando City branch boasts of a library which the public, mainly businessmen, students and residents, may use.

According to Fe De La Cruz, BSP Corporate Affairs Director, the BSP San Fernando branch will be fully operational by August this year as soon as the office’s entire operations and employee base have been moved from their former Angeles City office.

After the inaugural ceremonies, the President witnessed the signing of two Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) among the BSP, the Department of Finance (DOF), the National Historical Commission (NHC), and the National Government (NG).

First was the MoA turning over P400-million worth of property dividends from the BSP to the National Government through DOF.

Second was the MoA turning over the Pamintuan House, the former BSP-Region III office in Angeles City, Pampanga, by the DoF to the NHC.

The Pamintuan House is best remembered as the venue of the first anniversary celebration of the Philippine Independence held in June 1899.

The BSP, led by Tetangco also presented the Chief Executive a commemorative medallion as a token of the agency’s appreciation for her untiring efforts to improve the economy through a slew of economic and financial reforms that have been instrumental for the stable showing of the country’s progress.


BSP: RP economy doing well

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – While the rest of the world continues to reel from the effects of the global financial crisis, the Philippines, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is doing relatively well, as shown by the 7.3 percent growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter.

In a retrospective forum at the inauguration of the newly constructed BSP building here this morning, BSP governor Amando Tetangco said the country’s resilience was brought about by the “pursuit of sustained economic reforms under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“Ladies and gentlemen. I am pleased to report that our country, as a whole, is doing relatively well. While the world economy remains in distress following the worst global financial crisis in decades, the Philippine economy continued to move forward, culminating in the 7.3% GDP in the first quarter this year,” he said.

Tetangco pointed out that under the administration of President Arroyo, average annual inflation was kept at single digits, dropping to 2.8 percent in 2007, the lowest annual average in 21 years.

“This year, the average inflation for the year is at 4.3 percent, well within the government’s target of 3.5 to 5.5 percent for 2010,” Tetangco said.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves attributed the strong showing of the country’s economy to the increase in investment and consumption.

“Right now there has been a shift of investments from developed countries specifically from troubled European countries to Asia and they see that the Philippines has been undertaking a number of reforms (EVAT and banking reforms as well our manageable deficit or debt to GDP ratio) in the past,” Teves said.

“So they look to the Philippines as a stable and profitable area to invest in,” he added.

Tetangco seconded the Finance chief’s observations saying “the resiliency of our economy was not lost to global analysts and investors.”

“One of the world’s biggest investment banks said the Philippines surpassed expectations, displaying remarkable resilience and an impressive rebound,” Tetangco said.

“The pursuit of sustained economic reforms under the Administration of President Arroyo made this possible,” he added.

He said the rise of overseas Filipino workers’ remittances “to historic high levels” was also instrumental to the improved fiscal stability of the country.

In return, the BSP is working to lower remittance charges and conducting financial education on investment opportunities and investor protection programs so that OFW families will receive the complete remittance from their loved ones.

He said that since the mandate of the BSP is maintaining financial stability, his office will “continue to make good progress in
integrating our countrymen into the net of the formal financial system through a program to provide financial services to the underserved as well as the unserved and unbanked.”

“In particular, we have made inroads in improving lives through microfinance with an impressive rise in the number of clients served, in loans granted and in savings generated. In fact, the country has been recognized as one of the best in the world of microfinance by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Philippines is also in a leadership position for mobile money transfers,” Tetangco said.

“This, we shall continue to do as we pursue our mandate to ensure stable prices through monetary policies; a sound and stable banking system through appropriate policies and programs; as well as a safe and reliable payments system that inspires confidence in our financial system,” he added.


Palace satisfied over Noynoy assurance of due process in review of appointments

Malacanang today expressed satisfaction over the reported assurance from President-elect Beningo Aquino III that his planned review of recent government appointments will be subject to prevailing laws, regulations and proper procedures.

The Palace sentiment was relayed during a press briefing in Malacanang by Presidential Spokesman Secretary Ricardo Saludo as he sought to allay the fears of government workers of being dislocated outright as soon as the new administration has taken over.

“Ang darating na administrasyon ay kokonsultahin ang kanilang bagong executive secretary, justice secretary at ang civil service commission para malaman kung talagang dapat ngang hilingin na magbitiw na ang mga tauhan (The incoming administration will consult the new executive secretary, justice secretary and civil service commission in the review of appointments),” Saludo said quoting a news report that on Aquino’s assurance.

Saludo pointed out that there are laws, regulations and procedures that need to be considered before assessing whether such appointments should cease or not.

Saludo said the appointing authority has the prerogative to remove personnel “if there is a basis for it” but he reiterated that all the appointments made by the outgoing administration were legal.

“We don’t know of any ‘midnight’ appointments by the outgoing administration,” insisted Saludo.

While there were certain appointments done after the deadline, Saludo they were in the nature of temporary and emergency appointments which are to expire with the president on June 30. Some officials, however, whose terms will expire on June 30 may act under holdover capacity in order to ensure continuity in government services, he added.


Infra projects stimulate regional banking – CL bankers

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga -- Rural bankers and representatives of commercial banks in Central Luzon today said that aside from sound monetary policies of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the resiliency of the financial system, banking operations in the region continue to be stimulated by big-ticket infrastructure projects.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s civil works projects drew today praise from Central Luzon bankers who attended the inauguration of the new Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regional office here.

Remedios Miranda, who heads the Metro Angeles Bankers Association, said the 10-point program of the Arroyo administration, particularly transportation and digital infrastructure and the development of Subic and Clark, have had positive effects on the economy of the region.

“Businesses are sprouting and growing and, wherever businesses abound, so do banks which are always there to service the financial needs and to partner with businesses,” Miranda said.

“It is also to the credit of the BSP’s sound banking policies that local banks have weathered the global financial and economic slowdown and have retained their financial strength and stability,” Miranda said.

Virgilio Garcia, president of the Olongapo Subic Rural Bankers Association, thanked the President for vital road infrastructures like the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Hanjin Shipyard, and the ongoing Olongapo-Gapan Road, without which, he said, the banking industry in the area could not expand because the traveling time was too long.

Garcia added that with all these vital road links, businesses have boomed in the region, including Olongapo, Bataan and growth is being felt by the ordinary people.

Garcia’s reference to the TPLEX or the Tarlac, Pangasinan, Laguna Expressway, which will make interregional travel easier and faster to Batangas, Quezon and further south, elicited a smile from the President since this is her first time to hear that some people have heard of this new expressway project.

With these infrastructures, the banking system boomed since farms and industries became closer to their intended markets and investors saw a bright opportunity to set up shop in the countryside, local bankers and traders said.


PGMA opens new DENR, CSC buildings in Pampanga

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga--- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today opened two new regional buildings here — that of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Civil Service Commission (CSC) which she said would bring pride and dignity to the workers of the two agencies.

The new two-story DENR building is located at the President Diosdado Macapagal Government Center (DMGC) in Barangay Maimpis here. Secured by distinctly pale yellow and green fences, it will house 400 DENR employees and save the government P3 million a year in rental expenses.

The one-story CSC building, on the other hand, sits on a 2,242 square meter lot right inside the DMGC.

The CSC property was committed by the city government to the Regional Government Center for Central Luzon and was allocated to the CSC Regional Office 3 on Nov. 27, 2000 during the chairmanship of Karina Constantino-David through the efforts of Assistant Commissioner Anicia Marasigan- De Lima. The new CSC building occupies 722 square meters.

The building plan was designed by Architect Suatengco of DHVSU with the support of Regional Director Alfredo Tolentino of the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 3.


June 30, a non-working holiday

Malacanang today issued Proclamation No. 2085 declaring June 30, 2010 a special non-working holiday to enable Filipinos to witness the inaugural ceremonies for President-elect Benigno Aquino III.

The Proclamation states thus:

“PROCLAMATION NO. 2085, declaring Wednesday, June 30, 2010 as special non-working holiday throughout the Philippines.

Whereas the presidential inaugural ceremonies for the incoming President of the Republic of the Philippines will be held on June 30, 2010.

Whereas it is fitting and proper that all citizens of our country be given full opportunity to witness and welcome this historic event in the life of the nation.

Now therefore I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by the virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby declare Wednesday, June 30, 2010, a special non- working holiday throughout the Philippines.”