ALLOW NOT POLITICS TO ALTER THE COURSE OF THE ECONOMY

If there is one lesson that must be learned on the just concluded May 14 synchronized national and local elections, it is this—the Administration will not allow politics to alter the course of the economy that has reached a new level of maturity and stability.

Amid the feverish political atmosphere during the political campaign, the Administration continued to pursue pro-growth, pro-trade and pro-investment strategies which are meant to uplift the Filipinos from poverty and hunger and which will make the country a real investment haven.

Indeed, through the Administration’s fiscal discipline and reforms like the implementation of the new value-added tax has boosted revenues and has shown that the Administration is serious in moving the economy forward, particularly towards a balanced budget.

The Administration’s efforts to completely focus on the economy and the development of human and physical infrastructure despite political noise and several attempts to destabilize the government, are now paying off.

The payback is seen in the strengthening of the peso, robust stock market, inflow of foreign investments and the generation of six million jobs in the last six years. The coming back to the Philippines of JP Morgan and the recent $1 billion investment project of the United States-based Texas Instrument are signs that the world is taking notice of the country’s growing economy.

At the same time, the government has committed billions in pesos for education, health care, training and infrastructure such as bridges, roads and ports to upgrade the country’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

The focus of all these developments are the Filipinos themselves, to lower if not totally eradicate poverty and hunger, to uplift the living condition of the Filipinos.

The Administration has made remarkable success, but much more can and will be done if the Filipino people and the newly elected leaders all over the country will join hands and support the good developments strategies the Arroyo Administration has started and continuous to pursue with much ardor, dedication and commitment.

WHOLE SLATE SNUBS PPCRV “KNOW YOUR CANDIDATE” FORUM?

How could and what does it mean when a whole slate snubs the Know Your Candidate Forum organized by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voters, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police?

The Know Your Candidate Forum is a venue where all the candidates are able to present their platform of government to the people. The electorate is entitled to know each candidate and what he stands for, in a way that the electorate will be able decide who the right candidate to vote.

Not attending the Know Your Candidates Forum is tantamount to depriving the electorate the right to become informed and properly guided voters in whose hands lie the destiny of the municipality, the province and the country as a whole.

For whatever reason, when a political slate accepts the invitation of the organizers, not making good its commitment to attend, is reflective of the kind of leaders the members of the slate will turn out to be once they are already in power.

One can understand the disappointment of the populace when the very chance they have been waiting for to compare the platforms of the opposing political slates, is not fulfilled because one slate does not appear as promised.

The disappointment of the organizers, the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voters, is also understandable. It is not easy to organize something only to be snubbed. To think that most of the organizers are young volunteers. More so, this is the Church this whole slate snubbed. If this slate can snub the representative of God here on earth, how much more the poor and disadvantage people in the municipality?

Several cases of political slates snubbing the PPCRV Know Your Candidates Forum have been noted in the municipalities of the province of Leyte.

With just a few days left before the electorate march to the voting centers to cast their votes, it is hoped that they will remember to vote for the candidates whose platform is pro-people, development oriented and in accordance with the true Christian values and servant leadership.
God bless the members of the PPCRVs concerned for their patience and statesmanship. God bless the candidates who submit themselves to the people through the PPCRVs Know Your Candidates Forum. God bless the electorate and whole entire Filipino nation.

PRESS FREEDOM EXISTS IN RP, IN REGION 8

There exists press freedom in Eastern Visayas and in the whole of the Philippines . This is the general contention of the members of the Eastern Visayas Tri Media Association who attended the activities in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, Sunday.

The media practitioners agreed that they are free to cover every nook and cranny of the political, economic, social, and security situations every hour of the day without fear that they will be killed or detained. No journalist is in jail for the practice of his or her profession, they observed.

The Eastern Visayas Media started the World Freedom Day by attending the 8:00 o’clock in the morning Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sto. Nino Church , Tacloban City .

After the mass, a wreath-laying rite was held at the Noblejas Junction in honor of Ramon “Monching” Noblejas who is remembered as a principled person, a good friend and a media man who sacrificed his life in the exercise of his profession. He was assassinated by an identified man in 1987 while hosting a show just outside the DYVL Radio Station. His funeral will long be remembered because of the more than 10,000 people who marched from the Sto. Nino Church going to the public cemetery.

Present to offer the wreaths were Vice Governor Mimyet Bagulaya for the Province of Leyte and Hon. Tita Pedrosa of the city Government of Tacloban; PIA Director Olive Tiu and NLRC Commissioner Aurel Menzon; Mr. Roland Hidalgo in behalf of the Noblejas Family; Mr. Nestor Abrematea, President of the EV Tri Media Association, and Mr. Neil Glova in behalf of Manila Broadcasting Company DYVL.

The motorcade to Asia Stars Hotel where the commemorative program was held followed. During the short program and fellowship at the Asia Stars Hotel, Mr. Nestor Abrematea welcomed the members of the media to the first ever commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day in Region 8.

Eastern Times editor and publisher Carolina Montilla who is the current National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Chapter in the Region called the attention to the killings of journalists and the threats being received by several members who are now in hiding. She said that the families and the officers of NUJP in the Region are also concerned.

Director Olive Tiu informed the media participants that the United Nations declared May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day in order to remind the world on the importance of protecting the fundamental human right of freedom of expression enshrined in Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This year’s celebration is focused on the safety and impunity of journalist safety and impunity considering that 2006 recorded the most number of killing of journalists all over the world which according to Reporters without Boarders numbered to about 75 journalists and 32 media staff.

Aside from encouraging the government to develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, the public is also reminded of its responsibility to support and cooperated with the government in order to solve the killings of media practitioners.

Director Tiu underscored that World Press Day should serve as a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Words can save lives, she said but on the other hand, words like swords can also kill people. She urged the media practitioners to reflect on ways to propagate values that respect the media’s vital role in promoting sustainable peace, democracy and development.

General Armando Cunanan, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, in his message read by Captain Mario Jose Chico, the Information Officer, discussed the role of the AFP in protecting press people. He said that President Arroyo has directed the AFP to solve the killings of journalists by working closely with the Philippine National Police and the media groups to once and for all find lasting solution to the problem.

Fortunately, he said, in Eastern Visayas , there is an environment conducive for the press people to do their job with very minimal security concerns. This he said can be attributed to the high degree of professionalism and observance of work ethics from among the members of the Eastern Visayas Tri-Media.
Hon. Mimyet Bagulaya and Hon. Tita Pedrosa also gave their good wishes to the media in connection with the activity on World Press Freedom Day.

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES PHILIPPINES, UPLIFTING THE LIVES OF FILIPINO YOUTH

Filipinos are grateful people. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s gesture of awarding a Presidential Citation to the SOS Children’s Villages Philippines in recognition of its contribution in uplifting the lives of Filipino youth, is a tangible manifestation of this trait.

President Arroyo cited the SOS Community for transforming and changing the lives of the 964 SOS integrated and independent children making them productive citizens and active members of society. Stories of hope which springs from the SOS Community’s unconditional love and inspiration, abounds.

She said that the SOS community has faithfully and ceaselessly pursuing its goals in the last 40 years that benefited Filipino children in various villages and supporting youth facilities located in Calbayog, Cebu., Davao, Iloilo, Lipa, Manila and Tacloban.

The President handed the Presidential Citation for SOS, to no less than the President of the Kinderdolf International Mr. Helmut Kutin, for effectively carrying out its vision and mission of providing love and care to more Filipino children in need.

Mr. Kutin, who came to the Philippines to attend the SOS Children’s Villages Philippines’ 40th anniversary, told the President that it is their mission to help orphaned, abandoned children worldwide, including the Philippines.

He was accompanied by Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, chairman of SOS Children’s Villages Philippines, and its national board of directors and Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

SOS Children’s Village is a place for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children in extreme difficult circumstances. Competent and responsible SOS mothers and co-workers provide unconditional love and inspiration, support and encouragement for these children to make them feel they belong.

While several of the children were turned over to the SOS Children’s Villages by their impoverished families, many of them have been left at the doorsteps of the villages, without a name or a family. Many times, the children are given names and baptized right in the SOS Children’s Villages.

The children are placed in a home setting and given all his or her needs, food, shelter, clothing, education. recreation, but most specially love and affection as only a true family could give.

SOS also offers livelihood skills and vocational training programs, counseling and day care centers, educational programs and scholarships to less privileged families living near the children’s villages.

The SOS Children’s Village originated in Austria in 1949. It was founded by Professor Dr. Hermann Gmeiner who was born on June 23, 1919 in Vorarlberg, Austria into a farmer's family. His mother died when he was very young and his 16-year-old sister Elsa took the mother's place for her younger brothers and sisters. As destiny would have it, she became the role model for Hermann Gmeiner's idea of an ideal SOS mother.

While Dr. Gmeiner began his studies in medicine with the goal of becoming a pediatrician, at the same time, he was also engaged in youth welfare work and was exposed to the plight of the youth and children in a war-ravaged world. He was particularly moved by the condition of destitute children, and realized that providing them with just the basic needs was not enough.

He felt only a proper home with a caring mother and company of siblings could ensure the vital physical, mental and emotional growth of a child. The SOS concept was thus born with the simple idea of providing abandoned and orphaned children, a valuable substitute for their lost families.

SOS counterpart in the Philippines was established on Feb. 29, 1964 with the first SOS Children’s Village in Lipa City, Batangas. To date, there are seven SOS Children’s Villages and 17 attached facilities being managed in the Philippines.

Mr. Helmut Kutin grew up in an SOS Children's Village himself. Helmut Kutin was born in Bolzano (Italy) in 1941. Following a family tragedy he was admitted to the world's first SOS Children's Village in Imst (Austria) in 1953. Later he moved to the SOS Youth House in Innsbruck. and later on played a substantial role in organising the work of SOS Children's Villages in Asia.
One of Hermann Gmeiner's closest co-workers, he was elected to succeed him as President of SOS-Kinderdorf International in 1985.

REFLECTIONS ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY: WORDS CAN SAVE LIVES BUT WORDS LIKE SWORDS CAN KILL PEOPLE

World Press Freedom Day which is celebrated every 3rd day of May, is an occasion to remind the world of the importance of protecting the fundamental human right of freedom of expression enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The 3rd of May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991.

It is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

It is also a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

With violence against media professionals constituting today one of the greatest threats to freedom of expression, it is indeed fitting to dedicate World Press Freedom Day 2007 to the theme of journalist safety and impunity.

Over the past decade, we have witnessed a dramatic escalation of violence against journalists, media professionals and associated personnel. In many countries around the world, media professionals are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

About 75 journalists and 32 media staff were killed last year, according to Reporters without Borders, making 2006 the deadliest year on record.

According to professional organizations, 2006 was the bloodiest year on record with over 150 media killings. Hundreds more media workers were arrested, threatened or attacked because of their work.

Being a journalist has never been more dangerous. Never in recorded history has there been such a large-scale killing of journalists.
World Press Freedom Day is a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Words can save lives but words like swords can also kill people. It is hoped that the media practitioners will opt the first. As the celebrate World Press Freedom Day, it is hoped that the media practitioners will reflect on ways to propagate values that respect the media’s vital role in promoting sustainable peace, democracy and development.

It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
Those who risk their lives to provide independent and reliable information deserve our admiration, respect and support. They understand better than anyone that media contributes significantly to processes of accountability, reconstruction and reconciliation. Indeed, the growth in violence against journalist is telling, if tragic, testimony to the importance of the media to modern democracies.

On this day, Region 8 remembers Monching Noblejas as a person, a media man who sacrificed his life in the exercise of his profession. The onus is on the judiciary and those concerned, to prove their value and worth for this day, by bringing those responsible for Noblejas’ murder to justice. Otherwise, the significance of the day will be ever-elusive for this island Region.

This day serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom.

The safety of journalists is an issue that affects us all. Every aggression against a journalist is an attack on our most fundamental freedoms. Press freedom and freedom of expression cannot be enjoyed without basic security.
On World Press Freedom Day, therefore, everyone must pledge to strengthen the efforts to secure journalist safety.

In particular, this is a call on each and everyone to help the governments and public authorities to end the pervasive culture of impunity that surrounds violence against journalists.

The Governments must fulfill their responsibility to ensure that crimes against media professionals are investigated and prosecuted, but without the cooperation and support of the people, the relatives and all sectors of the community, this government’s thrust will always be an elusive dream. Above all, let everyone appreciate the intimate relationship between securing the safety of journalists and realizing our own freedoms. The ability to act as informed citizens of the world depends on a media that can work freely and safely.

Lastly, despite the tagging of the Philippines and Afghanistan as the most dangerous places in Asia in 2006, the Philippines a free and untrammeled press. We have Reporters who can cover every nook and cranny of the political, economic, social, and security every hour of the day.

Though a number of media men has been slain in the conduct of their profession but the Government has investigated these cases, and in many instances, suspects have been identified and cases filed and no journalist is in jail for the practice of his or her profession.

INT’L CONFERENCE TACKLES RP BIOFUELS, FEEDSTOCKS

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s major thrust of looking for alternative sources of fuel will get a much-needed boost as an international conference dubbed as Biofuels and Feedstocks Philippines, will be conducted on May 23-24 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel and is expected to bring together the most influential people in the biofuels industry to discuss the development and growth of biofuels.

No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will deliver the opening address on May 23, Ms. Theresa Trinidad Gapaz, a communications specialist of PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation, bared.

PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation is the official host sponsor with the support of the Department of Energy, of the conference which is being organized by Singaporean-based Centre for Management Technology.

The highlights of the conference are: Biofuels framework and fiscal incentives in the Philippines; Global biofuels markets policies, markets, challenges and barriers; Price, supply, economics and quality analysis of various biofuels feedstocks; Biofuels supply chain blending, storage and handling; Ethanol and its feedstock options and supply; and Round table discussion by oil companies on their strategies in Biofuels.

There will be a half-day focus on Jatropha Cultivation and Processing. Jatropha experts from India, Myanmar and the Philippines will highlight important issues concerning the non-edible oil derived from Jatropha.

The PNOC Alternative Fuels Corporation (PNOC-AFC), formerly PNOC Petrochemical Development Corporation, was established in July 2006. Its primary mandate is to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of alternative fuels in the country.
As a secondary mandate, the PNOC-AFC shall also pursue the development, operation and management of a petrochemical industrial estate. The complex, located in Limay and Mariveles, Bataan, which is approximately 530 hectares, is to be developed in phases. The PNOC-Alternative Fuels Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company with the mandate to explore, develop and accelerate the utilization and commercialization of existing and emerging alternative sources of energy and technologies and carry on the business of alternative fuels and other related activities.

Another mandate is to engage in and carry the business of petrochemicals in any and /or all its activities and to become one of the most prominent alternative energy-producing companies in the region.

PNOC AFC is led by Secretary Renato S. Velasco as chairman and President and CEO Peter Anthony Abaya.
For further information, interested parties and media practitioners may contact Ms. Theresa Gapaz at 0919-5844798 (mobile) or 812-6209 local 5003.

NEW LEASE OF HOPE FOR GOVT WORKERS

Labor Day brought good news for the more than one million government service providers, thanks to no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Aside from giving the government workers the assurance that a ten percent wage increase will take effect in July, President Arroyo gave them the once elusive dream of putting up their own business to augment their income through a livelihood lending facility for government employees.

President Arroyo urged the government employees to avail of the “second income” opportunities through the Puhunang Pangnegosyo Para sa Kawani ng Gobyerno program of the government.

To make good her Labor Day statement, President Arroyo lost no time and launched on May 2 the “Go Negosyo, Go Gobyerno” livelihood lending facility for government employees, enticing all government employees whom she called the new pillars of power in the community to become micro-entrepreneurs and put up their own businesses by availing themselves of this new credit window.

The President allotted some P1 billion in funding for the Puhunang Pangnegosyo Para sa Kawani ng Gobyerno aimed at providing collateral-free livelihood loans to government employees, through employee cooperatives and employee associations.

The President said those interested may apply for the loan as an individual where they alone reap all the benefits of their business as well as all the debts, or as a group or association and share in the profit and the cost of their business.

The President expressed favor for the latter which she said "encapsulates the essence of micro-finance and directed the Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) to immediately organize their member organizations so as to facilitate their loan applications.

The loans will be in the form of wholesale lending by government financing institutions namely: the PCFC, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Land Bank of the Philippines, Quedan Corporation, National Livelihood Support Fund and Small Business Guarantee Finance Corporation with government employee cooperatives and associations as their retail institutions.

The facility offers livelihood loans starting at P5,000 given in cycles of three to six months with gradual increases in loan size based on repayment record, group or individual liability and bimonthly or monthly repayments.

Truly, the new loan facility is part of the "social payback" to the people after the government implemented radical revenue reform measures that have contributed to the lofty standing the Philippine economy is experiencing right now. (PIA 8)

ALL ABOUT e-TESDA AND PGMA-FAST

Before Labor Day, TESDA launched a pair of new programs – the e-TESDA and PGMA Fast. The two projects open the doors to TESDA courses not just for high school graduates, but to other sectors as well like the Overseas Filipino Workers, the out of school youth and the persons with disabilities, among others.

Indeed, the Technical Education Skills Development Authority under the leadership of Secretary Boboy Syjuco, does not get tired in its quest for ways to improve the quality of technical vocational education in the country and to make technical vocational education accessible to the people especially the poor and the disadvantaged.

This of course is in answer to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 8 by ’08 agenda which include among others, quality education and job creation.

TESDA goes cyber with the e-TESDA, a web portal that carries TESDA’s training, in full online and blended learning modes and other services electronically. The cyber student just clicks through his lessons guided by virtual facilitators. After every lesson, the online infrastructure immediately gives feedback on tests and interaction with fellow students is still present through emails, chats and forum.

The e-services which are initially offered are career profiling, registration of training programs, job matching and referral and e-information that leads to databases of certified trainers and assessors, sea-based and land-based registry of workers, employment data of graduates, registered programs and assessment centers.

Full on-line e-TESDA training is made possible for people who are interested to acquire skills in call center services, software development, programming, networking and even computer accountancy, among others.

Another form of e-TESDA training is blended learning where trainees learn the theoretical aspects of the job competencies on-line and proceed to the affiliated training laboratory for the indispensable hands-on experience. Consumer electronics, automotive servicing, welding, machining, slaughtering operation, medical transcription and call center services are just some of the blended learning areas available now.

Indeed, this is a remarkable improvement in instruction delivery. The students can study at their own time and pace. This system is also very convenient for those currently employed but would like to take technical vocational courses to further enhance their knowledge and skills.

The other special project dubbed as PGMA-FAST (Free Assessment Services by TESDA), gives free assessment and certification in an effort to provide TESDA courses to more people.

It has been observed that before one can avail of TESDA courses, he has to go through assessment of credentials and qualifications. Assessment is an important step to determine the student’s level of qualifications and eliminates unnecessary subjects and gauges what higher courses the student can be enrolled.

Furthermore, assessment and certification makes job-ready individuals formally recognized. This is very useful when the student enrolls in advance courses or when he applies for work.

PGMA-FAST, therefore, widens the number of beneficiaries. Even poor but deserving students and workers may avail of TESDA courses.

Kudos to TESDA leaders and staff, for these two wonderful innovations toward quality education.