Aguinaldo Shrine

Pagsanjan Falls

Taal Lake

Antipolo Church

Lucban Pahiyas Feast

Dispatch for July 29 , 2013 Monday , 7 PIA Calabarzon PRs , 8 Weather Watch,
2 Regional Watch , 1 PNOY Speech , 17 Online News , 19 Photonews

1. Weather Watch
4 hours ago DOST-PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST Issued at: 5:00AM 29 July 2013 SYNOPSIS: At 4:00 am today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 60 km Northeast of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (12.6N, 121.5E) embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Visayas and Mindanao. FORECAST: Metro Manila, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, CARAGA and Davao Region will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the

country will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Moderate to occasionally strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the Northeast to north will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and coming from the northwest to west over the rest of Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be slight to moderate. Over METRO MANILA: Maximum Temperature : 1:50 PM Yesterday --- 31.5 C Minimum Temperature : 5:00 AM Yesterday --- 23.4 C Maximum Relative Humidity : 5:00 AM Yesterday --- 100 % Minimum Relative Humidity : 12:00 NN Yesterday --- 68 % Low Tide Today : 9:22 AM . 0.53 Meter High Tide Today : 2:41 PM 0.74 Meter Low Tide Today : 10:49 PM . 0.45 Meter High Tide Tomorrow : 3:49 AM 0.93 Meter Sunrise Today : 5:38 AM Sunset Today : 6:26 PM Moonset Today : 11:28 AM Moonrise Today : 11:24 PM llumination Today : 58 % For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.

2. Weather Watch
about an hour ago DOTC: Cancelled flights due to weather condition were 5J-885 MNL-Cotabato and 5J-886 Cotabato-MNL.

3.

Weather Watch
about an hour ago DZMM: Matuloy na binabantayan ng PAGASA ang namumuong sama ng panahong namataan 60km hilagang silangan ng San Jose, Oriental Mindoro. Nakapaloob ito sa ITCZ na mamaapekto sa Kabisayaan at Mindanao. Makakaranas ang Metro Manila, central Luzon, MIMAROPA, CALABARZON, Bicol region, western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, northern Mindanao, Caraga region at Davao region ng maulap na kalangitan na may katamtaman hanggang sa malakas na pag-ulan, pagkulog at pagkidlat.

4. Weather Watch
about an hour ago DZBB: Mahigpit na tinututukan ng Marikina Rescue 161 ang lebel ng tubig sa Marikina River dahil sa walang humpay na pag-ulan sa nakalipas na magdamag. Sa ngayon ay nasa normal pa namang lebel ito. Wala namang suspensyon ng klase na idineklara sa lungsod.

5. Weather Watch
about an hour ago PAGASA RAINFALL ADVISORY Target Areas: Pampanga, NuevaEcija, Tarlac and portions of Bulacan, Zambales, Quezon and Bataan.Light to moderate with occasionally heavy rains affecting Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, portions of Bulacan, Zambales, Quezon and Bataan and most likely to continue in the next 3hrs. People are advised to MONITOR the weather condition and for the next advisory.

6. Weather Watch shared a link.

2 hours ago near Quezon City, Philippines PAGASA RAINFALL ADVISORY No. 07 #NCR_PRSD Issued at 6:50 AM, 29 July 2013 (Monday) Target Areas: #Pampanga , #NuevaEcija , #Tarlacand portions of #Bulacan , #Zambales , #Quezonand #Bataan . Light to moderate with occasionally heavy rains affecting and most likely to continue in the Pampanga, NuevaEcija, Tarlac and portions of Bulacan, Zambales, Quezon and Bataan. next 3hrs. People are advised to MONITOR the weather condition and for the next advisory. For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.

PAGASA - DOST - DOST SERVICE INSTITUTES www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph The Monsoon Trough will bring cloudy skies and light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorm over the western section of Luzon....

7.

Weather Watch
3 hours ago ABS-CBN: Umaabot na sa 18 na mga barangay sa lalawigan ng Maguindanao ang lubog sa tubig baha habang nasa 12 barangay naman sa lungsod ng Cotabato dahil sa walang tigil na pagbuhos ng ulan. Sa ulat ng NDRRMC, nasa mahigit 30,000 mga pamilya na ang apektado ng mga pagbaha. Samantala kanselado pa rin ang klase sa ilang lugar. Partikular na naapektuhan ng mga pagbaha ay ang mga residente ng Sultan Kudarat sa Maguindanao dahil sa pag-ulan at pag-apaw ng ilog ng Rio Grande de Mindanao. Patuloy naman ang monitoring ng NDDRMC sa mga pagbaha habang namigay na rin ng tulong ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Maguindanao at Cotabato.

8. Weather Watch
14 hours ago PAGASA: Thunderstorm Advisory No. 03 #MPRSD Issued at 6:11 PM 28 July 2013 Target areas: #Southernportion of Surigao del Sur, #AgusandelSur , #AgusadelNorte , #Bukidnon , #Misamis

Oriental, #MisamisOccidental , #LanaodelSur , #LanaodelNorte , (Dumingag) #Zamboangadel Sur All are advised to take precautionary measures against heavy rains, strong winds, lightning and possible flashfloods. Keep monitoring for updates.

Weather Watch

July 29 , 2013 ( Monday )

as of 8 :00 AM

CAVITE LAGUNA BATANGAS RIZAL QUEZON

: : : : :

Cloudy and Drizzling Cloudy Partly Cloudy with Scattered rainshowers Partly Cloudy with Scattered rainshowers Partly Cloudy with Scattered rainshowers

PIA

Regional Watch

1. PIA Regional Watch

15 hours ago PHILSTAR: President Benigno Aquino III condemned today the explosion that rocked Cagayan de Oro where six people were killed and 48 were wounded. The President ordered authorities to bring to justice whoever was

behind this "act of senseless violence."

2. PIA Regional Watch

22 hours ago DZMM: Ikinokonsidera ni Acting CDO Mayor Ian Arcenas na isolated case lang ang nangyaring pagsabog sa isang bistro sa lungsod noong Biyernes. Nananatili namang naka-full alert ang pulisya sa lungsod at patuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon sa pangyayari.

3. PIA Regional Watch

Yesterday ABSCBN NEWS: A soldier was killed and two others injured when an improvised explosive device accidentally exploded in Barangay Tiptipon, Panglima Estino, Sulu on Saturday. Initial reports said Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD) team responded to the scene after receiving a call that a bomb was planted in the vicinity of a village chief's home identified as Alawi Jaijali.

A. QUEZON
1. DTI launches SSF for Quezon small farmers
By Carlo P. Gonzaga Friday 26th of July 2013 CALAUAG, Quezon, July 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Quezon has

launched the shared service facilities (SSF) grant for the Samahan ng Maliliit na Magsasaka sa Barangay Apad Lutao (SAMABA) and for the Calauag Small Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CSCFMPC). In a ceremonial turnover, SAMABA President Apolonio Pera received P410,000 worth of auxiliary machinery and equipment for decorticating coconut coir (consisting of 1 unit of box baler, 1 unit of digital scale, 20 sets of loom, 100 sets of twining equipment, and 10 units of twisting machines) while the P1 million coconut sauce production facility was awarded to CSCFMPC. SAMABA is projected to derive a gross earning of P4.2 million annually from the sale of husks and the sale of hanks, twines, and geonets. Cocos Nucifera Pacific Corporation (CNPC), a firm based in Calauag and among the pioneers in the region to manufacture coir twines and geonets, will buy SAMABA's output. CNPC will then market the products to the bulk users of geonets. The operation of the decorticating facility will open up 240 jobs in Barangay Apad and neighboring areas, aside from the 51 farmers that will derive incomes from selling husks. Meanwhile, CSCFMPCs coconut sauce processing will convert an input of 1,200 liters of coco water (commonly wasted in the process of copra making) into 60 liters of coconut sauce that could be translated into P9,600 daily gross sales or P192,000 in a month. Recognizing the prospects of generating local jobs through the machinery and equipment, Calauag Mayor Luisito S. Visorde affirmed his support for the SSF project and recognized DTIs role in the development of micro enterprises particularly those based in the communities. Fourth District Representative Angelina de Luna-Tan also affirmed her support for the coco coir industry and will collaborate with DTI and the farmers group for generating more j obs and to augment the income of farmers. Noel Florido, chief operating officer of CNPC, presented the processes of converting the waste coconut husks into various products and their respective prospect markets. Marilou Quinco-Toledo, DTI regional director for Calabarzon, said the SSF projects objective is to increase productivity and efficiency of enterprises utilizing industry clustering as a key strategy. DTIs industry clustering and value chain analysis approach has identified the need of micro and small entrepreneurs for advanced machinery and equipment to improve their production processes in terms of quality, productivity and efficiency. The shared service facility is intended for the common use not only for the beneficiaries themselves but for other players in the industry clusters as well. With such facilities, enterprises particularly those community-based cooperatives and rural improvement clubs would be able to raise production output and improve product quality resulting to higher levels of productivity and competitiveness. The facilities are part of the SSF Project's P70 million package for the Calabarzon Regions micro and small entrepreneurs. This year, DTI has allocated P700 million for the SSF Project nationwide. (Charlie S. Dajao/DTI/CPG/PIA4A)

2. Tagalog news: IPHO patuloy ang kampanya labansa "Chikungunya fever"

By Ruel M. Orinday Monday 29th of July 2013 LUNGSOD NG LUCENA, Quezon, July 29 (PIA) --Patuloy ang Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) sa isinasagawang kampanya sa ngayon sa ibat-ibang bayan ng Quezon laban sa sakit na Chikungunya fever sa pamamagitan ng barangay assembly.

Sinabi ni Dr. Agripino Tullas, hepe ng IPHO-Quezon na may mga pinaghihinalaang kaso ng chikungunya fever sa lalawigan kung kayat tuloy-tuloy ang kanilang kampanya laban sa nasabing sakit. Kabilang sa mga bayan na pinaghihinalaang may mga kaso ng chikungunya fever ang Calauag, Polillo, Sariaya at Lucena City, ayon kay Dr. Tullas Wala pa namang ulat na kaso ng pagkamatay dahilan sa nasabing sakit, sabi pa ni Tullas. Sa barangay assembly, ipinapayo sa mga residente ng barangay ang pagpapanatili ng kalinisan ng mga kabahayan at kapaligiran upang hindi pamahayan ng lamok gayundin ang paggamit ng kulambo kontra sa kagat ng lamok na nagdadala ng sakit. Samantala, ipinapayo rin sa mga bata o matanda na may mga sintomas ng chikungunya fever kagaya ng pananakit ng kasu-kasuan at pagkakaroon ng lagnat na magpatingin kaagad sa pinakamalapit na barangay health center, rural health unit o kaya ay sa doktor upang matulungang malapatan agad ng lunas. (RMO, PIA-Quezon)

3. Tagalog news: PDRRMO ng Quezon, nagsagawa ng earthquake at fire drill

By Ruel M. Orinday Friday 26th of July 2013

LUNGSOD NG LUCENA, Quezon, Hulyo 26 (PIA) -- Nagsagawa ng earthquake at fire drill ang provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) sa Quezon medical center (QMC) noong Hulyo 24. Ang drill na tampok sa paggunita ng National Disaster Consciousness Month na may temang, Ligtas na bayan, Maunlad na pamayanan ay naglalayong maihanda ang mga doktor at narses sa panahon ng kalamidad. Ito rin ay bahagi ng programa ng pamahalaang panlalawigan na matiyak na handa at ligtas ang mga mamamayan ng Quezon sa harap ng mga di-inaasahang sakuna. Sa pangunguna ng PDRRMO, tumagal ng mahigit sa isang oras ang drill kung saan may 13 katao ang nagboluntaryong gumanap bilang mga biktima na mabilis namang nailigtas sa pagtutulungan ng mga pulis, sundalo, bumbero at medical professionals. Itinuro sa mga empleyado ng ospital at sa mga bantay ng pasyente ang tamang paglabas ng gusali kung sakaling magkaroon man ng sunog o lindol upang maiwasan na magkasakitan. Naging saksi si Regional Director Vicente F. Tomazar ng Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 4A na siya ring chairman ng regional disaster risk reduction management council (RDRRMC) 4A, kasama ang buong puwersa ng PDRRMO upang obserbahan ang daloy ng aktibidad. Sinabi ni Tomazar na makabubuti sa Quezon ang suporta ng pamahalaang panlalawigan sa pagbabahagi ng kasanayang maihanda ang mga mamamayan sa panahon ng kalamidad at sakuna. Hindi dapat basta maghintay na lamang ang mga mamamayan na mailigtas. Kailangan din na alam ng mga tao ang mga hakbang na dapat gawin para makakilos agad at mas mapataas ang survival rate nila, lalo na kung hindi agad sila maabot ng mga taga-sagip, dagdag ni Tomazar. (CPG/RMO-PIA4A Quezon at ulat mula sa Quezon PIO)

B. CAVITE
1. Carmona-Bian bridge widening project to improve exchange of commerce in Cavite and Laguna
By Ruel B. Francisco Friday 26th of July 2013 TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite, July 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Cavite 1st District Engineering Office said the on-going rehabilitation and widening of Carmona-Bian Bridge once completed will improve the economy and exchange of commerce in the two progressive municipalities and Cavite and Laguna provinces in general. The P15.39-million project is under contract with Ahnex Builders and Readymix Corporation and it is under the supervision of the Planning and Design Section of the Cavite Ist District Engineering Office under the leadership of District Engineer Oscar Dela Cruz. The on-going project involves the widening and improvement of the said bridge and installation of thermoplastic pavement markings for a safer road network. The bridge is one of the major thoroughfares that link the two municipalities and its on-going rehabilitation is one of the projects of the government this year that will surely help ease the heavy traffic in the area. Carmona is one of the municipalities in the province that prioritized the accessibility of the town for many people and companies who wish to open or expand their businesses or create investments. Last April 7 this year, DPWH-Cavite completed P17,397,788.93 the asphalt overlay (KM47+ (-804) to KM47+ (-339) in Carmona diversion road. It started last February 13 which is under the contract with Marcbilt Construction, Incorporated and was supervised by the Maintenance Section of the Cavite 1st District Engineering Office. (DPWH-Cavite/CPG/RBF/PIA4A-Cavite)

C. LAGUNA
1. Tagalog news: 40 pulis, sumailalim sa pagsasanay sa kahandaan sa kalamidad

By Alan C. Ortillano Monday 29th of July 2013 STA. CRUZ, Laguna, Hulyo 29 (PIA) --Umabot sa 40 pulis mula sa ibat ibang municipal police station (MPS) sa lalawigan ng Laguna ang sumailalim kamakailan sa pagsasanay sa kahandaan sa kalamidad. Inorganisa ng provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO) sa pamumuno ni Valentin Guidote, officer in charge ng nasabing tanggapan, ang pagsasanay ay alinsunod sa kautusan ni Punong Lalawigan Jeorge Ejercito-Estregan upang maihanda ang 1,600 pulis sa lalawigan sa panahon ng kalamidad. Una dito, nakapagsagawa na rin ng dalawang katulad na pagsasanay ang PDRRMO kung saan 36 na pulis ang dumalo sa unang pagsasanay habang 71 pulis naman ang dumalo sa pangalawang pagsasanay. Nahahati sa dalawang bahagi ang pagsasanay, ang unang bahagi ng pagsasanay ay kinapapalooban ng basic life support (BLS)-cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), at kaligtasan sa tubig baha. Itinuro din ang mga kaalaman sa wastong pamamaraan ng pagsagip sa mga biktima ng sunog, banggaan ng mga sasakyan, at kalamidad tulad ng lindol. Ang mga bihasang tauhan ng emergency rescue team (ERT)-6 ang nagging mga tagapagsalita. Sa ikalawang bahagi, itinuro ang water search and rescue (WASAR) sa pangunguna ng mga kawani ng PDRRMO WASAR team. Itinuturo dito ang mga tamang pamamaraan ng pagsagip sa mga nalulunod, at naaanod ng rumaragasang tubig. Kasama din sa pagsasanay ang wastong paglilikas ng mga biktima ng pagbaha gamit ang mga bangkang de motor. Sa kasalukuyan, humigit kumulang sa 3,000 emergency rescue volunteers mula sa ibat ibang sektor ng lipunan ang sumailalim na sa may 50 pagsasanay na isinagawa ng PDRRMO. Ang mga volunteers ay inaasahang mangunguna sa pagliligtas sa mga mamamayan ng lalawigan sa oras ng mga kalamidad at mga sakuna. Samantala, upang maihanda rin ang mga barangay sa panahon ng kalamidad, ang PDRRMO ay magdaraos din ng katulad na pagsasana

2. Tagalog news: LGUs, hinihikayat na tumulong sa pangangalaga ng kapaligiran

By Alan C. Ortillano Friday 26th of July 2013

LOS BAOS, Laguna, Hulyo 26 (PIA) -- Patuloy ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sa pamamagitan ng provincial environment and natural resources office (PENRO) sa paghihikayat sa mga lokal na pamahalaan na makipagtulungan sa pagpapatupad ng mga batas sa pangangalaga ng kapaligiran. Sinabi ni Dr. Isidro L. Mercado, provincial ENR officer na ang mga pinunong lokal ay may pananagutang makipagtulungan upang tuluyan ng matigil ang illegal logging sa kanilang mga nasasakupan. Sa kasalukuyan, hindi nagpoproseso ang DENR-PENRO ng kahilingan para sa pagpuputol ng mga puno o kapahintulutang maibiyahe ng mga produktong gubat. Maliban sa mga pamahalaang lokal, hinihikayat din ng PENRO ang mga pangasiwaang barangay, na pasiglahin ang mga palatuntunan sa pagtatanim ng mga punong kahoy, lalo na sa mga lugar na dahilig na laging nagbabantang magkaroon ng pagguho o landslide sa panahon ng bagyo at kalamidad. Hiniling din ni Dir. Mercado sa mga pinunong barangay na magkaroon sila ng pagkukusa na magtayo ng

punlaan ng pananim ng punong kahoy, sa dahil hindi kakayanin ng PENRO na matustusan ang lahat ng pangangailangan sa pananim para sa ikapagtatagumpay ng National Greening Program (NGP). Ilan sa mga itinatakda sa ilalim ng mga batas sa pangangalaga sa kapaligiran ay ang pangangalaga sa mga punong kahoy at paglilinis sa mga daluyan ng tubig, maging ito ay ilog, sapa, estero at kanal, upang matiyak na sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay magiging ligtas ang kapaligiran para sa mga naninirahan sa bawat pamayanan. (CPG/Ruben E. Taningco/ACO, PIA-Laguna)

3. Korean Medical Team conducts free medical services in Laguna

By Alan C. Ortillano Friday 26th of July 2013

SANTA CRUZ, Laguna, July 26 (PIA) -- The Namseoul Medical Team from Korea, a non-secular, nonpolitical organization that provides free surgical operations and health management, recently conducted a three-day medical mission at the New OPD (Out-Patient Department) Building at the Laguna Provincial Hospital, this municipality. Hundreds of patients from all over Laguna benefited from the services rendered by the team which offered free operation, check-up and free medicines. The medical volunteers, comprised of surgeons, physicians, dentist, nurses, anesthesiologists, technicians, plan to return again next year to be able to help transform the lives of the many people in the province of Laguna. The activity was made possible through coordination between the team and the provincial government of Laguna led by Governor Jeorge E.R. Ejercito-Estregan. (Christine Angelee C. SyPIO/CPG/ACO/PIA4A-Laguna)

D. BATANGAS

E. RIZAL

28 JULY 2013.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe departs for Japan after fruitful Manila visit
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe departs for Japan after fruitful Manila visit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe departed from Manila to Japan Saturday afternoon after concluding his twoday official visit to the Philippines. The Japanese leader left Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II around 5pm Saturday on board a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Among the members who sent him off include Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Transportation and Communication Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe. During the meeting between Abe and President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang, both leaders expressed their commitment to further strengthen relations to improve economic engagements, maritime and security ties. AbesvisittothePhilippinesisexpectedtoelevatethePhilippines -Japan strategic partnership to a higher level in the midst of continuing Chinese intrusion in the West Philippine Sea. The President thanked the Japanese government for helping enhance the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard by building a multi-role response vessels and by providing communication equipment Under the expanded bilateral agreement, both leaders agreed to continue high-level visits and people-to-people exchanges, allowing more tourists and students to enter Japan and the Philippines. Abe first visited the Philippines in December 2006 during his first term as Japanese prime minister. ThePhilippineswasthelastlegofAbesthree-Asian nation swing. Prior to his arrival in Manila, the Japanese leader visited Malaysia and Singapore. PND (as) TOP

27 JULY 2013.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Abe arrives in Manila 2. Aquino welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Abe in Malacanang 3. President Aquino commits to further strengthen relations with Japan not only to improve economic engagements but also maritime and security ties 4. President Aquino announces intention to attend Commemorative Summit in Tokyo in December this year 5. Japanese Prime Minister Abe underscores strenghtening friendly ties with the country

1. Japanese Prime Minister Abe arrives in Manila

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Manila Friday evening for a two-day official visit to the Philippines aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. Among the government officials who welcomed Abe were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Transportation and Communication Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. The Japanese prime minister arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at around 9:00 p.m. Friday. Immediately after his arrival Abe proceeded to the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City for a reception hosted by the Philippines-Japan Society. In his message during the event, Abe said he is grateful that he was able to once again visit the Philippines after his huge political victory in Japan. He said he first visited the country six and a half years ago during his first term asJapansleader. The visiting Japanese leader said he hopes that with the revival of the Japanese economy Japan could contribute to peace and stability in the Asian region. Being both maritime nations, Abe said he supports the Philippines position in upholding the rule of law in the contested waters in the region. He said he hopes the Philippines could also contribute to peace and prosperity of the Asian region by adhering to the guidelines supported by the international community. Japan and the Philippines share common values on democracy, freedom and deep respect to human rights as well as the rule of law making these the foundations for stronger bilateral relations, he said. AbealsopraisedthePhilippinesforhavingacontinuouslyincreasingpopulation,notingthisisthecountrysasset. ThisiscontrarytoJapansexperience as it faces several concerns because of its aging society, a country with slowly diminishing succeeding generations of nation builders. With regards to the Philippines-Japan Society, the Japanese prime minister said the organization has been contributing to stronger bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines adding that attendees to the occasion will be the bridge between Japan and the Philippines in future relations. President Benigno Aquino III welcomed Abe in Malacanang Saturday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues, and ways to further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan. AbesstopinthePhilippinesisthelastlegofhisthree-Asian-nation tour, after visiting Malaysia and Singapore. PND (as) TOP

2. Aquino welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Abe in Malacanang

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during arrival honors in Malacaang Palace on Saturday. A 21-gun salute was rendered in honor of the Prime Minister during the playing of the national anthems of both countries at 10 a.m. at the Malacaang grounds. After the arrival ceremonies, the President ushered Prime Minister Abe to Malacaang Palace for the traditional signing of the Palace Guest Book. The visiting Prime Minister arrived in Manila on Friday for a two-day Official Visit. The Philippines is Prime Minister Abe's last leg in his 3-nation tour of Southeast Asian neighbors. Earlier, Abe first went to Rizal Park in Manila for the wreath-laying rites at the foot of the monument of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, before proceeding to Malacanang Palace. Joining the President in welcoming the Prime Minister were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Arsenio M. Balisacan, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, Presidential CommunicationsOperationsOfficeSecretaryHerminioSonnyColomaJr.,PresidentialManagementStaffhead Secretary Julia Abad, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, Commission on Higher Education head Patricia Licuanan, among others. President Aquino and Prime Minister Abe are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues, and further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan.

Prime Minister Abe visited the Philippines in December 2006 during his first term as head of the Japanese Government. In2012,JapanwasthePhilippinesnumberonetradepartnerandproviderofofficialdevelopmentassistanceas well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. Prime Minister Abe undertook a 3-nation swing in the southeast that brought him to Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. PND (js) TOP

3. President Aquino commits to further strengthen relations with Japan not only to improve economic engagements but also maritime and security ties
President Benigno S. Aquino III has committed to further strengthen relations between the Philippines and Japan not only to improve economic engagements but also maritime and security ties. In his speech during a joint conference with Japenese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, following the signing of the expanded bilateral agreement between the two countries in Malacanang on Saturday, the President said both countries vowed to actively pursue strategies for growth and positive engagement. The Prime Minister's official visit to Manila is expected to elevate the Philippines-Japan strategic partnership to an even higher plane of vigor, dynamism and relevance, the President said. "We reviewed the security challenges that confront our nations, and pledged to cooperate in advancing our common advocacy for responsible action from international players. We believe that it can be done by upholding the rule of law in international affairs, and by finding just and peaceful solutions to our territorial disputes and maritime concernsso that we may create a secure and stable environment that leads to our collective progress," he said. Both leaders had agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation, which is a pillar of our strategic partnership. "We thank the Japanese Government for helping enhance the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard by building multi-role response vessels and by providing communication systems for their use," he said. Under the expanded bilateral agreement, Aquino said both leaders agreed to strengthen their bilateral policy dialogues, and to continue high-level visits and people-to-people exchanges. ThePresidentwelcomedtheJapaneseGovernmentsdecisiontoencouragemoreFilipinotouriststovisitJ apan by allowing multiple-entry visas, and the expansion of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth program. He said the Japanese move paves the way for the students of both countries to cultivate friendships and deepen their appreciation for their respective cultures and societies. "On the economic front, I congratulated the Prime Minister for the economic gains that Japan enjoys at present. ThisrevivalistheresultoftheJapanesegovernmentsresolvetoefficientlymanagethe economy by improving productivity and increasing the participation of citizens, particularly women, in the labor force. This growth is a positive sign for the global economy and for the Filipino people," the President said. In 2012, Japan was the number one trade partner of the Philippines and provider of official development assistance, as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. "Afterall,JapanisthePhilippinestoptradingpartner,in2012,ourt otal bilateral trade amounted to 16.35 billion dollars.Japanremainsourlargestsourceofdevelopmentassistance,andourcountryssecondlargestsourceof approved investments, which in the previous year amounted to more than 69 billion pesos. Japan is also our third largest source of tourists, as 412,474 Japanese nationals visited our shores last year," he said. Aquino said the Philippines will continue to initiate reforms to make the country a stable investment destination. "Inclusiveness and the adherence to sound policy fundamentals are the same principles that have paved the way for the resurgence of our own economy. During our discussions, I underscored the commitment of my administration to meaningful reform, which is essential in nurturing an attractive and stable investment climate," the President said. ThePresident,likewise,thankedPrimeMinisterAbeforJapanscommitmenttoPhilippinedevelopment,andfor extending assistance in critical areas such as infrastructure development, transportation, connectivity, and disaster preparedness and response. During the press conference, the Prime Minister presented to Aquino the technical assistance provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in developing a Transport Roadmap Study for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas. "IalsoexpressedappreciationforJapanspositiveresponsetoourrequestforaPostDisasterStand -by Loan through the Stand-by Emergency Credit for Urgent Recovery. I also thanked the Prime Minister for the positive indicationfromhisgovernmentwithrespecttoimprovementsinthePhilippinesaviationsafetystandards;welook

forward to productive discussions for our air services," he said. PND (js) TOP

4. President Aquino announces intention to attend Commemorative Summit in Tokyo in December this yearthis year
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced his intention to attend the Commemorative Summit in Tokyo in December, marking the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo this coming December. "As I have told the Prime Minister, I look forward to the Commemorative Summit in Tokyo in December, as we mark the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation," the Chief Executive said in his speech during a joint conference with His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, in Malacanang on Saturday. "The relationship between Japan and ASEAN serves as a cornerstone of harmony and dialogue in our part of the world," Aquino said. ASEAN and Japan's cooperative partnership began in 1973 with the establishment of ASEAN-Japan forum on synthetic rubber. Through the years, ASEAN and Japan have forged close cooperation towards peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia. The ASEAN and Japan have established close business partnership with total bilateral trade amounting to 248 billion US dollars in 2011. ASEAN member-states are major foreign direct investment destinations for Japanese enterprises. "Your Excellency (Prime Minister Abe), your presence today reaffirms our shared commitment to deepen our relations, foster cooperation, and more importantly build a more peaceful and more secure Asia Pacific region. It is by treading the path to progress and peace that we can bring about meaningful change for our peoples," he said. PND (js) TOP

5. Japanese Prime Minister Abe underscores strenghtening friendly ties with the country
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recalled Saturday that his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, was the first prime minister to visit the Philippines in 1957. [A]ndeversincethen,bothJapanandthePhilippineshavecontinuedtofosterfriendship, Abe noted in a toast during the official luncheon hosted by the President in his honor on the occasion of his Official Visit, the second since 2006, during his first term as head of the Japanese government. Prime Minister Abe also thanked President Aquino forawarmwelcomeandlaudedtheexcellentPhilippine economy. For his part, President Aquino assured Prime Minister Abe that the Philippines is committed to further strengthen its relationship with Japan. Mr.PrimeMinister,therelationsbetweenour countries have been extensive and historic. After overcoming conflict,wehavedevelopedbothastrongallianceandadeepfriendship,thePresidentsaid. PresidentAquinorecalledthatJapanwasoneofthefirstcountriestosupporthismothersgovernm ent after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, and that one of the first countries that his mother visited as president was Japan. Now,ourrelationshaveonlygrownstrongeronthefoundationofoursharedbeliefsindemocracyandintherule oflaw,he said. ThepresidentfurtherunderscoredthatJapanisoneofthePhilippinesstrategicpartners. Movingforward,thePhilippinesfullyintendstodeepenourrelationshipwithJapansothatwemaybequeathto younger generations a legacy of prosperity, peaceandproductivesolidaritybetweenourcountries,hesaid. Solongaswestandalongsideoneanotherandbuildfurtheronourlongfriendship,thencertainly,wecanmove closer to realizing our common aspiration of a peaceful and prosperous Asia P acificRegion,headded. Japanese Prime Minister Abe is in Manila for an official visit. It is his second visit to the Philippines as Prime Minister. President Aquino welcomed the Japanese Prime Minister on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Malacanang after the wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Park in Manila. PND (co) TOP

26 JULY 2013.

1. President Aquino cites role of physicians who continue to explore, refine solutions for diagnosis, mitigation and prevention of disease 2. Aquino appoints new ambassadors 3. Palace hopes for Moodys rating upgrade soon 4. Aquino appoints new ambassadors to Europe, Middle East, Asia and other countries 5. Combating poverty remains governments top priority, says Palace 6. Aquino expresses belief the Armed Forces is capable of fulfilling its mandate
1. President Aquino cites role of physicians who continue to explore, refine solutions for diagnosis, mitigation and prevention of disease

President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the role of physicians who continue to "explore and refine solutions" for the diagnosis, mitigation, and prevention of disease. "Our professionals are at the forefront of this age of rapid development, confronting its challenges with our fellow Filipinos and empowering them to secure their personal growth and that of our society," the Chief Executive said in his message to the participants of the 16th Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) Midyear Convention. The Philippine College of Chest Physicians Northern Mindanao Chapter opened the 16th PCCP Midyear Conventionwhichhasforitstheme"ThePulmonaryXFactorinGrandCaprice,LimKetKaiMall,Cagayande Oro. "The challenge of sustainable development is a key concern in your field and in our overall movement of revitalization. May you be steadfast in this advocacy, which is also crucial to the development of your proud region," he said. "May this assembly reaffirm the role of our physicians, as you unite towards collaborative discovery that contributes toournationsadvancement.Maythisconventionimbibe the vigor and renewed hope of Mindanao, and galvanize your organization as you march, together with our countrymen, on the path towards equitable progress," he noted. PND (js) TOP 2. Aquino appoints new ambassadors

President Benigno. S. Aquino III appointed new ambassadors that will fill several posts around the world, Malacanang announced Friday. Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigal Valte said in a press briefing on Friday that among the appointments madebythePresidentincludethedesignationofCeciliaB.RebongasthecountrysPermanentRepresentativeto the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Maria Rowena M. Sanchez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkey with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Azerbaijan; Victoriano M. Lecaros, Ambassador to the Czech Republic; Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Ambassador to the French Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco; Victor B. Ledda, ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Catalino R. Dilem Jr., Ambassador to the United Mexican States; Narciso T. Castaneda, Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman; Edsel P. Barba, Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq; and Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo ambassador to the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. The President also expanded the area of jurisdiction of Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., who is the Philippine ambassador to the United States with concurrent jurisdiction over the US Virgin Islands, Granada and Puerto Rico. With the expanded jurisdiction, Cuisia will have concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti. Aside from designating new ambassadors, the President made new appointments at the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Valte said that last July 23, the President appointed Josefina Patricia A. Magpale-Asirit as Commissioner of Energy Regulatory Commission with a seven-year term of office. The President also appointed Aina Asirit as undersecretary of the Department of Energy, according to Valte. PND (as) TOP 3. Palace hopes for Moodys rating upgrade soon

Malacanang saiditshopestoheargoodnewssoonastheMoodysInvestorsServicereviewsthecountryscredit rating for possible revision to investment grade. Hopefully,wewillgetgoodnews.Theyrereviewingthestatus.Iamnotquitesurehowlongtherevieww ill take but,hopefully,wewillgetgoodnewssoon,DeputyPresidentialspokespersonAbigailValtesaidinapressbriefing inMalacanangFridayontheMoodysreview. Inastatementthisweek,Moodyssaidthereviewfocusesonthecountrysdomesticec onomic sustainability, the stable and favorable government funding conditions, improvement of fiscal and debt situation, and the political stability and strengthened mandate of the government. Thecreditratingagencywillalsoreviewthegovernmentsforeign currency shelf rating, as well as the the central banksliabilities. TheratingsagencyupgradedthecountryscreditratingtoanotchbelowinvestmentgradeatBa1withStable outlook after noting the continued improvement in the economic and fiscal performance amid negative global economic developments, better medium term economic prospects, and stable financial system. MoodysistheonlymajorcreditratingagencythathasnotgiventhePhilippinesaninvestmentgraderating. Last March, Fitch Ratings upgraded the country's long-termforeigncurrencyissuedefaultrating(IDR)toBBB- fromBB+withStableoutlookcitingthecontinuedimprovementofthecountrysexternalposition,domestic growth, and fiscal management among others. ItalsoupgradedtoBBBfromBBB-withStableoutlookthecountryslong-term local currency IDR, the PhilippinesCountryCeilingto'BBB'from'BBB-' and the Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR to 'F3' from 'B'. AlsolastMay,StandardandPoors(S&P) madeasimilarupgradeadjustingthecountrysratingtoBBB-A-3from BB+Bwithstableoutlookbecauseofthestrengtheningexternalprofile,moderatinginflation,andthe government'sdecliningrelianceonforeigncurrencydebt. S&P also raised upwards its long-termASEANregionalscaleratingonthecountrytoaxA-fromaxBBB+aswell asthetransferandconvertibilityassessmenttoBBBfromBBB-. The Philippines posted last year one of the highest GDP growth in Asia at 6.8 percent while expansion in the first quarter this year further rose to 7.8 percent. PND (as) TOP 4. Aquino appoints new ambassadors to Europe, Middle East, Asia and other countries

President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed new ambassadors to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other countries. In a transmittal letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the Chief Executive signed the appointment letters of the new ambassadors on July 19. President Aquino named Cecilia B. Rebong as Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Maria Rowena M. Sanchez as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan; Victoriano M. Lecaros as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Repubic, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco; Jaime Victor B. Ledda as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Catalino R. Dilem Jr. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Mexican States with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, the Republic of Coasta Rica, the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Repubic of Nicaragua, the Republic of Panama, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Cuba; Narciso T. Castaneda as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the Sultanate of Oman, Edsel P. Barba as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Iraq and Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People's Republic of Bangladesh with concurrent jurisdiction over the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives. Jose L. Cuisa Jr., presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the United States of America with

concurrent jurisdiction over the United States Virgin Islands, Grenada and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth of Jamaica and Republic of Haiti . Eleanor Jaucian, presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the Republic of Hungary with concurrent jurisdiction over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Republic of Serbia, was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Romania, Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of Moldova. Enrique Manalo, presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Republic of Ireland. Bayani Mercado, presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the Kingdom of Norway with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Denmark was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Republic of Finland and Kingdom of Sweden. Particia Ann V. Paez, presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Republic of Poland was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania. George B. Reyes, presently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to United Mexican States with concurrent jurisdicion over Belize, the Republic of Costa Rica , the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Panama was designated in concurrent capacity as the envoy to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Republic of Cuba. The President, likewise, appointed Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit, as the Commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission for a term of seven years beginning on July 11, 2013 until July 10, 2020. PND (js) TOP 5. Combating poverty remains governments top priority, says Palace

Fighting poverty is a continuing effort on the part of the Aquino administration and although it posted successes in someareasitwontstopcarryingoutthe program that alleviates the plight of poor Filipinos, a Palace official said on Friday. Reacting to a Pulse Asia survey on poverty, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the public must takeitfromthePresidentsState-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, noting the things that the administration was able to do and what it is doing. Werenotstoppingjustbecausewewereabletoachievesuccessinsomeareasbut,yes,theeffortswillgoon, Valte said. Weknewthatpovertyisnotsomething that we could resolve in a week or in a month in office, and it is a continuingeffortonthepartofthePresidentandhisCabinet,Valtesaidwhenaskedwhytheadministrationhas taken a longer time in eliminating poverty. The Palace noted the thrusts mentioned by the President in his SONA to tackle poverty like the introduction of intercropping to coconut farmers as well as the creation of more cold storage facilities. Thosearejustsomeofthethingsthatwevemanagedtodointhetimethat the President has been in office and weintendtodomore,shesaid. PulseAsiasurveyconductedonJune20toJuly4,showedthatAquinosperformanceinpovertyreductionearned an average grade of 75. The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus three percentage points. PulseAsiaasked1,200adultrespondentsnationwidetoratethePresidentsperformancein11nationalconcerns on a scale of zero to 100. The President got highest marks in managing the economy and ensuring the delivery of basic services, with a goodratingor80.PND(as) TOP Aquino expresses belief the Armed Forces is capable of fulfilling its mandate

President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed strong belief in the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in fulfilling its mandate to protect the lives of the Filipinos. In his speech during the celebration of the 24th National Annual Convention of the School for Reserve Commission and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Office Candidate for School (OCS) Alumni Association Inc. held at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officer's Clubhouse in Camp Aguinaldo on Friday, the Chief Executive cited the AFP personnel for their integrity and bravery in fulfiling their duties to protect the lives of the citizens and maintain peace and order. "Sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Sandatahang Lakas, nananalig ako sa inyong dangal at kabayanihan upang manatiling ligtas at payapa ang bawat sulok ng bansa. Bawat problemang ating nalalampasan; lahat ng pagkilala ng mundo

sa mga pagbabagong tinatamasa ng ating bayan, at anumang tagumpay ng ating pamahalaan, bahagi palagi ang inyong hanay dito," President Aquino said. "Kayong mga kawal, kayong mga sundalo, kayong mga bayaning Pilipino ---kayo ang mukha ng transpormasyon. Ipinagmamalaki ko kayo, ipinagmamalaki kayo ng lahing Pilipino," he stressed. Aquino assured his administration's unwavering commitment and support for the AFP to further enhance its capabilities. He also vowed to provide more programs for the AFP personnel to improve the status of their lives and their families. "Hindi pa rin po nagbabago ang posisyon ko ukol dito: Sang-ayon ako sa malawakang modernisasyon ng kasundaluhan, subalit hindi natin maaaring isugal ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng sambayanan, tulad ng edukasyon, kalusugan, at trabaho, para lang magmukhang matikas sa mata ng ibang bansa," he said.

With the signing of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act last December, President Aquino expressed confidence that the AFP can now better perform its mandate of upholding the sovereignty and defending the territorial integrity of the country at all times. "Ngayon, sa unang tatlong taon pa lamang natin sa tuwid na daan, nahigitan na natin ito, at pumalo na sa 27.62 billion pesos ang nai-release nating pondo para sa AFP Modernization Program. Nilagdaan din natin noong Disyembre ang Revised AFP Modernization Act, kung saan kaakibat ng nailaan nang 75 bilyong pisong pondo sa unang limang taon ng programa, ay masisiguro rin ang implementasyon nito sa darating pang 15 taon," he said. "Kumpiyansaakonghinditayomadidiskarildito,lalopatkatuwangkoangmgakawalnakasapingAFPOfficers Candidate School Alumni Association, gayundin ang mga kasama nating nagdiriwang ng ika-24 na National Convention of the School for Reserve Commission. Sakto nga po ang tema ng ating pagtitipon: Kaisa ng sambayanan para sa pagsulong sa tuwid na daan," he stressed. The President also lauded the awardees belonging to the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard for their exemplary contributions toward equitable progress. "Kaisa ang sambayanan sa pagsulong sa tuwid na daan. Saludo po ako sa inyong pakikiambag tungo sa transpormasyon, lalo na sa 15 mahuhusay na kasapi ninyong pinarangalan ngayong hapon. Talaga naman pong sa sakuna man o sa banta ng masasamang elemento, buwis-buhay ang kabayanihan at paglilingkod ninyo sa bansa. Kaya naman sa ngalan ng bawat Pilipinong nakakatulog nang mahimbing dahil sa pagpapanatili ninyo ng kapayapaan at kaligtasan, maraming salamat po sa inyo," he said. During the event which has for its theme "Team OCS: Kaisa ng Sambayanan Para sa Pagsusulong sa Tuwid na Daan", President Aquino witnessed the awarding ceremonies of outstanding graduates. Defense Undersecretary Honorio S. Azcueta led the presentation of awards to outstanding graduates who are now currently belong to Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Coast Guard. Also in attendance were AFP Chief of Staff Emmanuel T. Bautista, Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, among others. PND (js) TOP

ARCHIVE 2013 26 HULYO 2013 1. Pinapurihan ng Pangulong Aquino ang mga duktor na patuloy sa pagtuklas nang ibayong husay sa pagsusuri at pag-iwas sa sakit 2. Inaasahan ng Palasyo ang Moodys rating upgrade

1. Pinapurihan ng Pangulong Aquino ang mga duktor na patuloy sa pagtuklas nang ibayong husay sa pagsusuri at pag-iwas sa sakit PinapurihanngPangulongBenignoS.AquinoIIIangmgaduktornapatuloysapagtuklasatpagpapahusayng pagsusuri, mitigasyon at pag-iwas sa karamdaman. Angatingmgapropesyonalaynasaunanghanaynglarangansapanahongitongmabilisnapagbabago,paghar ap samgahamonkaisangmgakapuwaPilipinoatpagtiyaknapanatagsilaatangatinglipunan,wikangPangulosa kanyangpagbatisamgakalahoksa16thPhilippineCollegeofChestPhysiciansPCCP)MidyearConvention. Sinimulan ng Philippine College of Chest Physicians Northern Mindanao Chapter ang 16th PCCP Midyear ConventionsaGrandCaprice,LimKetKaiMallsaCagayandeOronamaypaksangdiwangThePulmonaryX Factor. Anghamonngpatuloynapag-unlad ay napakahalaga sa inyong larangan at sa pangkalahatang hangaring tiyakin ang kalusugan ng balana. Magpatuloy sana kayo sa paninindigan sa inyong simulaing napakahalaga rin sa kaunlarannginyongipinagkakapuringrehiyon,dagdagpangPangulo. Angpagtitiponsananinyoaylalopangmagpatibaysa papel ng mga manggagamot natin sa inyong nagkakaisang pagtahak tungo sa mahahalagang dapat tuklasing makapag-aambag nang malaki sa kaunlaran ng ating bansa. Maging daan sana ang kumbensiyong ito tungo sa ibayong lakas at pag-asa ng Mindanao at magpatatag na lalo sa inyong samahan habang kasabay ng iba pa nating kababayan ay tinatahak ang landas na patungo sa laganap at pantaynakasaganaan,sabipangPangulo.PND(js/zaf) TOP 2. Inaasahan ng Palasyo ang Moodys rating upgrade

Inaasahan ng Malacanang na malalaman sa madaling panahon ang magandang balita na may kaugnayan sa pagrerebisangMoodysInvestorsServicengcreditratingngbansaparasaposiblengpagbabagonginvestment grade. Inaasahangmakukuhaangmagandangbalita.Sinusurinilangkasalukuyanangstatus.Hindikolamangmatiyak kung gaano katagal ang pagrerebisangito,ngunitmalakiangpag-asang malapit na nating marinig ang magandang balita,sabiniDeputyPresidentialSpokespersonAbigailValtesapulong -balitaan sa Malacanang Biyernes tungkol sapagrebisangMoodys. Sa pahayag ngayong linggong ito, sinabingMoodysnanakatuonangpagrebisasadomesticeconomic sustainability, ang matatag at mabuting kalagayan ng pananalapi ng gobyerno, ang pagbuti ng kalagayan ng fiscal and debt, at kapanatagang pampulitika at paglakas ng mandato sa pamahalaan. Susuriin din ng credit rating agency ang foreign currency shelf rating, gayundin ang mga pananagutan ng Banko Sentral. Itinaas ng rating agency sainvestmentgradenaBa1namayStableoutlooknamababangisangnotchsa investment grade matapos bigyang pansin ang patuloy na pagbuti ng ekonomya at fiscal performance sa gitna ng tagilid na kalagayan ng ekonomya ng daigdig. AngMoodysangtangingmalakingcreditratingagencynahindipanakapagbibigaysaPilipinasng investment grade rating. Noong Marso, itinaas ng Fitch Ratings saBBB-"buhatsaBB+namayStableoutlookangmatagalnangisyusa long-term foreign currencydahilsapatuloynapagbutingkatayuanngbansa,pagsulongatmaayosna pamamahala sa pananalapi. Noon ding Mayo, nagbigay ang StandardandPoors(S&P)ngkatuladnaupgradenaBBB-A-3buhatsaBB+B namaymatatagnapananawsapagkattumatatagangexternalprofile,naaayosanginflationathindinagaanong umaasa ang pamahalaan sa pangungutang sa dayuhang bansa. Itinaas din ngS&PsamatagalnangASEANregionalscaleratingngbansasaaxA-'buhatsaaxBBB+,gayundin angtransferandconvertibilityassessmentsaBBBbuhatsaBBB-. Noong isang taon, naitala ng Pilipinas ang isa sa pinakamataas na paglago sa Asya na 6.8 porsiyento samantalang ang paglago sa unang kuwarter ng taong ito naman ay 7.8 porsiyento. PND (as/zaf) TOP

President S. Aquino III's Statement for His Press Conference with His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan Malacaan Palace, Manila 27 July 2013 Your Excellency, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan; members of the press; ladies and gentlemen: On behalf of the Filipino people, allow me to welcome Your Excellency, and the delegation of Japan. At the core of our strategic partnership are mutual respect, good will, and a determination to see each other prosper. As neighboring nations, we believe that the growth of our peoples will redound to the further development of our region. On this note, I thank the Prime Minister and the people of Japan for their continuous support of the peace process in Mindanao. The Japan-Bangsamoro Initiative for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD) is vital to the socio-economic development of the Bangsamoro. The new initiatives of the program, which include community and human resource development, will help my countrymen in the Bangsamoro rebuild their communities and become even more productive citizens of the Philippines. For this, Your Excellency, you have the sincerest gratitude of the Filipino people. The discussions the Prime Minister and I had today reflect our dedication to actively pursue strategies for growth and positive engagement. We reviewed the security challenges that confront our nations, and pledged to cooperate in advancing our common advocacy for responsible action from international players. We believe that can be done by upholding the rule of law in international affairs, and by finding just and peaceful solutions to our territorial disputes and maritime concernsso that we may create a secure and stable environment that leads to our collective progress. In line with this, the Prime Minister and I agreed to strengthen maritime cooperation, which is a pillar of our strategic partnership. We thank the Japanese Government for helping enhance the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard by building multi-role response vessels and by providing communication systems for their use. We also agreed to strengthen our bilateral policy dialogues, and to continue our high-level visits and people-topeopleexchanges.WewelcometheJapaneseGovernmentsdec ision to encourage more Filipino tourists to visit Japan by allowing multiple-entry visas, and the expansion of the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth (JENESYS) program, which will provide our respective students a unique opportunity to cultivate friendships and deepen their appreciation for our respective cultures and societies. On the economic front, I congratulated the Prime Minister for the economic gains that Japan enjoys at present. This revival is the result of the Japanese governmentsresolvetoefficientlymanagetheeconomybyimproving productivity and increasing the participation of citizens, particularly women, in the labor force. This growth is a positive sign for the global economy and for the Filipino people. After all,JapanisthePhilippinestoptradingpartner;in2012,ourtotalbilateraltradeamountedto16.35billion dollars.Japanremainsourlargestsourceofdevelopmentassistance,andourcountryssecondlargestsourceof approved investments, which in the previous year amounted to more than 69 billion pesos. Japan is also our third largest source of tourists; 412,474 Japanese nationals visited our shores last year. Inclusiveness and the adherence to sound policy fundamentals are the same principles that have paved the way for the resurgence of our own economy. During our discussions, I underscored the commitment of my administration to meaningful reform, which is essential in nurturing an attractive and stable investment climate. I thanked Prime MinisterAbeforJapanscommitmenttoPhilippinedevelopment,andforextendingassistancein critical areas such as infrastructure development, transportation, connectivity, and disaster preparedness and response. I welcomed the technical assistance provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in developing a Transport Roadmap Study for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas. I also expressed appreciation forJapanspositiveresponsetoourrequestforaPostDisasterStand -by Loan through the Stand-by Emergency Credit for Urgent Recovery (SECURE). I also thanked the Prime Minister for the positive indication from his government with respect to improvements in thePhilippinesaviationsafetystandards;welookforwardtoproductivediscussion s for our air services.

Finally, as I have told the Prime Minister, I look forward to the Commemorative Summit in Tokyo in December as we mark the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The relationship between Japan and ASEAN serves as a cornerstone of harmony and dialogue in our part of the world. Your Excellency, your presence today reaffirms our shared commitment to deepen our relations, foster cooperation, and more importantly build a more peaceful and more secure Asia Pacific region. It is by treading the path to progress and peace that we can bring about meaningful change for our peoples. Thank you, and good day. [HOME]

ONLINE NEWS
27 JULY 2013
1. DSWD says every child deserves a family, calls for more foster parents 2. PNP nurses assist in chilbirth aboard bus in Tarlac 3. Statement of Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles on the status of the tripartite implementation review of the GPH-MNLF 1996 final peace agreement 4. SSS suspends implementation of guidelines on voluntary contributions beyond age 65 5. Foreigners warned vs. extort gang 6. Lower prices partly affect imports in May '13 7. CSC welcomes passage of Civil Service Code 8. DOLE's BWSC conducts entrepreneurship appreciation seminar for visually impaired persons 9. Father builds successful business with only P5,000 capital 10. Monetary Board maintains policy rates 11. Health financing and spending: Right track or not? 12. PhP 19 Million Smuggled Goods Seized by BOC 13. June fiscal deficit at P8.5 billion 14. DILG R3 facilitates Local Shelter Planning for Nueva Ecija LGUs 15. DTI launches SSF for Quezon small farmers 16. 30 Filipinos Due Home from Syria 17. DENR to draw up Conservation Plan for Taon Strait

1. DSWD says every child deserves a family, calls for more foster parents Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph Looking at 9-year old Joana (not her real name) now, one would never guess that she went through a traumatic experience two years ago. Her cheerful-aura is a complete opposite of the child who was very quiet, reserved and traumatized when she was brought by her teacher to the Romblon Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in 2011. In an interview with Joana, it was found out that she was physically abused by her own grandmother who took her in custodyfollowingherparentsseparation.Joanawastakenawayfromhergrandmo ther and stayed with licensed foster parents in Romblon. ThefosterparentswelcomedandtreatedJoanaaspartoftheirfamily.EventhecouplestwokidshelpedJoana cope with the painful experience as well as the changes in her life. During her first month with her foster parents, Joana was not receptive of their kindness, but the family continued to reach out to her. Eventually, Joanna began to reciprocate their show of love. Kunganoangginagawangmgaanaknamingayyandinangginagawaniyagaya ng pagmamano at paghalik pagumaalis at dumadating kaming mag-asawa sa bahay. (Joana behaves like our own child, she shows gestures of respectandkissesuseverytimewearriveandleavethehouse),saysthefosterfather. Today, Joana feels she is now part of the family. She said she never felt love until her foster parents took her into their home. She thanked them for helping her to get where she is today. Nararamdamankoponamahalakongpamilyangtinitirhankoatkabilangnaakosapamilyanila at nararamdaman ko na may tatay at nanay po ako. (They loved and accepted me as their own daughter of the family. They are like my realparents),shesaid. Foster Care: A home for every child Joana was given a new lease on life through the Foster Care Service. The DSWD has been implementing this service as part of its Alternative Parental Care Program for children. Foster care is a full-time ancillary care of children outside their own home by people other than their biological or adoptive parents or legalguardian.Infostercarecases,thechildsbiologicaloradoptiveparents,orotherlegal

guardians,temporarilygiveuplegalcustodyofthechild.Achildmaybeplacedinfostercarewiththeparents consent. In a clear case of abuse or neglect, acourtcanorderachildintofostercarewithouttheparentsor guardiansconsent. Fostercareisbetterthaninstitutionalcareorgrowingupinacenteroraninstitutionwithoutmotherandfather figures. This is why we are encouraging more couplesorqualifiedindividualstobecomefosterparents.DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman pointed out. As of June 2013, there are 839 foster parents nationwide while 698 children were placed for foster care. Socialworkerswouldfirstdeterminethecapacityan d motivation of applicant-foster parents. Then, qualified foster parents, after receiving their licenses, would undergo a matching process supervised by DSWD-accredited institutions,SecretarySolimanadded. Foster care does not necessarily mean care by strangers. If a government agency decides a child must be removed from the home, the child may be placed with relatives or a licensed foster parent. Foster placements may last for a single day or several weeks; some continue for years. If the parents give up their rights permanently, or their rights to their child are severed by the court, the foster family may adopt the foster child or the child may be placed either through domestic or inter-country adoption. A foster child with special needs will receive monthly subsidy of P 3,000 pesos and P 2, 500 pesos for a foster child without special needs from DSWD and will automatically become a Philhealth beneficiary of the foster parent. On the other hand, foster parents will be provided with support care services such as counseling, training on child care and development, respite care, skills training and livelihood assistance. Foster parents will be entitled to personal tax exemption and additional exemption for dependents. Those who wish to become a foster parent must be, of legal age; at least sixteen (16) years older than the child unless the foster parent is a relative; must have a genuine interest, capacity, and commitment in parenting, and provide a familial atmosphere for the child; must have a healthy and harmonious relationship with each family member living with him or her; of good moral character; physically and mentally capable and emotionally mature; havesufficientresourcestoprovideforthefamilysneeds;willingtofurtherhoneorbetrained on knowledge, attitudes, and skills in caring for a child; and must not already have the maximum number of children under his foster care at the time of application or award. Letting Go According to another licensed foster parents, the hardest part of being foster parents is letting go. It is not so much of supporting and bringing up the child but the emotional attachment that goes with it. The foster parents mentioned that they already had three school-aged children when then three- yearoldAngelo came into their life in 2010. The whole family was drawn to the innocence and energy of Angelo. The little boy had adjusted quite nicely and is a happy, healthy, and well-mannered child. For three years, they have grown to love the child as their own though they knew that Angelo will someday have a family that will legally adopt him. The time came too soon. They were informed by the social worker that a couple from Spain will soon adopt Angelo. They let go of Angelo, no matter how difficult it was. The foster parents continue to be supportive to the foster care program of DSWD. They are once again the proud foster parents of another child. The couple said that they do not feel complete knowing that there are children out there who are waiting for families and who need love and support which their own families cannot give. ### - See more at: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/2013/07/dswd-says-every-child-deserves-a-family-calls-for-more-fosterparents/#sthash.8rRY9lNv.dpuf |TOP| 2. Foreigners warned vs. extort gang Source: http://www.immigration.gov.ph The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned foreigners against persons claiming to be immigration agents who might approach and attempt to extort money from them. Immigration OIC Commissioner Siegfred Mison issued the warning after reports reached him that people claiming to be BI intelligence operatives have started going around, harassing and threatening foreigners with arrest and deportation Mison said his office is still verifying the reports but warned foreigners to resist the scheme as he has not authorized any personnel of the bureau to conduct operations or investigation of suspected illegal aliens. Itisobviousthattheseunscrupulouspeoplearetryingtotakeadvantageofthetransit ion in the bureau to make moneyfromtheirunsuspectingvictims,hesaid. Meanwhile, Mison issued a stern warning to BI personnel at the airports against taking advatange of the situation by conniving with human traffickers and illegal recruiters in sending their victims abroad. He said any immigration officer who resorts to the escort racket or allows the entry of illegal aliens will be punished with dismissal from the service for gross misconduct. On the alleged extort gang, Mison said those involved could either be errant BI personnel or just plain impostors who

wanttoprofitfromthesituationthataroseafterlastweekssuddenresignationofformerBICommissionerRicardo David Jr. He urged anyone who might be approached by the group to immediately report the incident to his office or via the bureausemailaddressatxinfo@immigration.gov.phanditsfacebookandtwitteraccountssothatthoseresponsible could be held liable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Wehavenotissuedany directive authorizing our agents to conduct operations since Commissioner David resigned lastweek,saidAtty.Ma.AntonetteMangrobang,BIactingintelligencechief. Mangrobang also said that any investigation or operation conducted by BI agents without the appropriate mission order from the BI chief is unauthorized and therefore illegal. |TOP| 3. 2 PNP nurses assist in chilbirth aboard bus in Tarlac Source: http://www.pnp.gov.ph Two police nurses assisted in an emergency childbirth by a young mother on board a crowded bus in Tarlac on Friday. Mary Rose Palisoc of Cayanga Bugallon, Pangasinan delivered a healthy baby boy at 11:55AM on board Five Star bus No. 95408 travelling from Manila to Bolinao, Pangasinan. On board the bus were Police Inspectors Mavidette Ongjunco and Arnel Cera, both PNP Nurses undergoing 5month Field Training Program at the Camiling Municipal Police Station. They boarded the bus in Tarlac City enroute to Camiling after attending a blood-letting operation. The PNP nurses improvised with clean towels and assisted the patient in childbirth. The baby boy was delivered while the bus was rushing at high-speed to the nearest hospital. The patient and baby were later turned over to doctors at the Gilberto O. Teodoro Memorial Hospital in Malacampa, Camiling, Tarlac. (PNP-PIO) |TOP| 4. Statement of Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles on the status of the tripartite implementation review of the GPH-MNLF 1996 final peace agreement Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph This morning, at around 9:00 AM in Jakarta, I held a meeting with HE Minister for Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa to discuss the status of the Tripartite Implementation Review of the GPH-MNLF 1996 Final Peace Agreement, which is being facilitated by the OIC Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (PCSP) chaired by Indonesia. This was a follow-through on the meeting also held in Jakarta last March when Secretary Albert del Rosario relayed to Minister Natalegawa the GPH position that it was time to bring the tripartite review process to a proper completion. After almost six years (the review mechanism began in November, 2007), a joint review process had already established consensus points and some joint mechanisms and actions particularly between MNLF representatives and the ARMM regional government. As stated in Minister Natalegawa's letter to the OIC Secretary-General which the Indonesian Ministry shared with us, "the GPH conveyed its assurances that in the case of the closure of the Tripartite Implementation Review Process, GPH will continue to engage relevant parties of the MNLF, through the existing mechanism, to find a just and comprehensive political solution for the issue of the Southern Philippines." From the start, what the GPH proposed to complete was the review process, not the closure of the peace process nor the abrogation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. In light of the statements issued by Professor Misuari in Zamboanga City yesterday, followed by the announced plan reported in some newspapers for the holding of an 'Independence Assembly' to discuss a draft constitution for the 'Bangsamoro republic,' Minister Natalegawa reiterated Indonesia's firm support for the efforts being undertaken by the GPH to ensure a comprehensive political settlement of the armed conflict in Southern Philippines. He was categorical in stating that Indonesia opposes any attempt to jeopardize the territorial integrity of the Philippines and that any such move falls outside the ambit of the agreed upon Tripartite Review Process. Minister Natalegawa held the view that the review process had reached a critical juncture both in terms of it substance and its process. He said that, for Indonesia, there is every interest to be able to say that the process has been completed and that everyone is on board. He said it is important to ensure that the process does not provide any opportunity for 'spoilers' to intervene. He further noted that the efforts of GPH should be propagated and understood. He said that, if needed, Indonesia would be willing to assist the GPH in explaining the current situation to members of the OIC-PCSP, starting with those who are also members of ASEAN. He advised the GPH to continue to exercise patience even in the face of provocation as he reiterated Indonesia's support for the peace process in Mindanao. We thank the Indonesian Government for their sustained support in pursuit of lasting peace in Mindanao and look forward to our steadfast partnership to ensure an inclusive peace for the entire Bangsamoro. |TOP| 5. SSS suspends implementation of guidelines on voluntary contributions beyond age 65 Source: http://www.sss.gov.ph

The Social Security System (SSS) suspended the implementation of its guidelines on voluntary contributions for members age 65 and over, who lack the required monthly contributions for retirement pension. SSS Vice-President Agnes San Jose explained that the intention of the guidelines was to protect the fund of the System and to ensure appropriate payment of benefits to the members. "However, we are not insensitive to the issues being raised, and the Commission together with Management agreed to revisit the guidelines, which the System issued last April 2013." The SSS will re-evaluate the current process and institute procedural controls to ensure the exercise of diligence and prudence in benefit payments. |TOP| 6. Lower prices partly affect imports in May '13 Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph MANILAThe National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that lower payments for capital goods, mineral fuels and lubricants mainly accounted for the imports performance in May 2013 despite more inward shipment of selected capital goods. This statement came after the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported that merchandise imports contracted to US$5.3 billion in May 2013 from US$5.4 billion a year ago, or by 2.4 percent. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Baliscan noted that payments for imported capital goods declined by 21.8 percent for the same period due to lower import bills in three commodity groups: telecommunication and electrical machinery; aircraft, ships and boats; and photographic equipment and optical goods. However,thedeclineintheimportvalueofthesethreecommoditygroupsmaybeduetopriceeffects,asimport volume of these capital goods actually grew by 8.0 percent (telecommunication and electrical machinery), 27.3 percent (aircraft, ships, and boats),and2.5percent(photographicequipmentandopticalgoods),respectively,he said. Balisacanadded,Themorerobustimportationoftelecommunicationandelectricalmachinery,aswellasaircraft, ships and boats, in terms of volume may have resulted from the ongoing modernization program of a major telecommunication company and the delivery of a new Boeing 777 which is for the route expansion of Philippine Airlines. The Cabinet official, who is also NEDA Director-General, expects improvements in the foreign purchases of capital goods in the near-term as businesses, particularly in the mining and quarrying subsector, continue their expansion plans. Balisacan also noted that imports of raw materials and intermediate goods amounted to US$2.2 billion in May 2013, which is higher by 13.3 percent compared to US$2.0 billion in May 2012. Thisfavorableperformancemainlyreflectedthebroadlyupbeatsentimentsofthebusinesssectorinthesecond quarter of 2013. Based on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi nas(BSP)sBusinessExpectationsSurvey,firmscited expansion of businesses, new product lines, brisker business and seasonal uptick in demand as the factors behind theirbuoyantoutlook,hesaid. Semi-processed raw materials, which accounts for about 87 percent of total raw and intermediate goods, expanded by 11.1 percent, and this was driven primarily by materials/accessories for the manufacture of electrical equipment (20.6%), manufactured goods (13.2%), embroideries (211.5%), and animal feeds (10.6%), according to the NSO. Balisacan said that the rebound in importation of materials/accessories for the manufacture of electrical equipment may have been due to the anticipation of a higher global demand for electronics. Internationalindustryanalysts see that semiconductor industry will grow moderately in 2013. This may signal a recoveryinthecountryselectronicsexportsinthecomingmonthsfollowingaseriesofcontractionssinceDecember 2012,hesaid. Also, import payments for consumer goods grew by 7.9 percent to US$712.9 million in May 2013 from US$660.8 million in the same period in 2012. Thispositiveoutturnmirroredtheimprovedoutlookofconsumersinthesecondquarterof2013asaresultof optimistic employment expectations and strongmacroeconomicfundamentals.BasedonBSPsConsumer Expectations Survey for the second quarter of 2013, consumers generally view the period as a favorable time to buy durablegoods,saidBalisacan. Balisacan pointed out that major trade-oriented economies in the East and Southeast Asian region posted annual contractions in merchandise imports in May 2013, except for Hong Kong (9.1%) and Malaysia (0.5%). JapanrecordedthesteepestdeclineinimportsamongselectedAsiancountriesduringtheperiod. The contraction inJapansoverseaspurchasesby13.1percentmayhaveresultedfromtheyear -on-year depreciation of yen against theUSdollar,Balisacansaid. Other countries that recorded negative imports performance in May 2013 were Taiwan (-8.0%), South Korea (-4.6%), Singapore (-3.4%), Indonesia (-2.2%), Thailand (-2.1%), and China (-0.3%).

For the first five months of 2013, the total value of merchandise imports contracted by 3.6 percent to US$24.8 billion from US$25.7 billion in 2012, according to the NSO. The NEDA official said that most Asian counterparts also recorded negative import performance for the first five months of 2013. Among them are Japan (-8.7%), Singapore (-4.4%), South Korea (-2.8%), Indonesia (-1.8%), and Taiwan (-0.9%). On the other hand, Hong Kong (13.8%), Malaysia (5.3%), China (8.2%) and Thailand (5.7%) posted positive import performance. |TOP| 7. CSC welcomes passage of Civil Service Code Source: https://www.csc.gov.ph The Civil Service Commission (CSC) fully supportsPresidentBenignoS.AquinoIIIscallforthepassageoftheCivil Service Code as it would put in a single comprehensive statute all laws and relevant issuances governing the civil service. In the State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Aquino called on the legislature to prioritize the passage of the Civil Service Code. CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III said that currently, the civil service is governed by different sets of laws and rules contained in laws, decrees, letters of instruction, and executive orders. Thissituationhascausedconfusionamongcivilservantsassomeofthelawsoverlap,ChairmanDuquestressed, addingthatsomelawsalsohavebecomeobsolete. He expressed that by having a Civil Service Code, we can have one ultimate legal authority on the Philippine Civil Service System. Chairman Duque disclosed that CSC has moved for the approval of a Civil Service Code since the mid-1990s. He saidthattheCivilServiceCodeislongoverdue.HavingaCivilServiceCodeisa definitive step in putting the house in order, so to speak. The Civil Service Code will also provide the opportunity to address some of the issues besettingthebureaucracysuchasemployeediscipline,meritocracy/qualifications,andemployeewelfare. |TOP| 8. DOLE's BWSC conducts entrepreneurship appreciation seminar for visually impaired persons Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday lauded the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns for enhancing the employment potentials of persons with disability (PWDs), particularly the visually impaired persons (VIPs), through knowledge and skills enrichment. "Equipping persons with disabilities, particularly the visually impaired, with knowledge that would prepare them in their business undertaking is a correct strategy," Baldoz said after receiving a report from BWSC Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba on the conduct of an entrepreneurship seminar for VIPs. The seminar, held at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City, and attended by 47 representatives from various organizations of visually impaired persons, sought to enhance their self- potentials. Baldoz challenged the participants in the appreciation seminar to focus on their strengths and not on their disabilities to achieve their goals and overcome life's challenges. Director Satumba, in her report, said the discussion in the seminar focused on the six 'Ps' for a successful business, namely plan (which includes passion), product, price, place, people and, most important of all, prayer. National Council on Disability Affairs Executive Director Carmen Reyes-Zubiaga, who graced the appreciation seminar, lauded the DOLE in taking the lead in mainstreaming disability in employment. "Making PWDs economically independent is one of the strategies in achieving inclusive growth and in reducing poverty," she said. The participants assessed their personal entrepreneurial competencies through a workshop facilitated by Julieta Boquia, who emphasized that the most important characteristics of an entrepreneur are determination and ability to deal with crisis; risk-taking abilities; family support; decision-making abilities; and ability to reconcile family, community, and business. Another resource person, Eva Capio, shared that to define a business idea, a prospective entrepreneur need to answer the four 'Ws' and one 'H' of entrepreneurship: (1) what is the product or service; (2) who will buy; (3) which need of the customer will your product/service satisfy; and (4) why will they buy from you and not from someone else. The one "h" should answer the question, "How will you sell your product/service?" Two other resource persons, Rey Sanglay and Robert Cudal, guided the participants on the preparation of a business plan and a project proposal. They also clarified the role of an accredited co-partner (ACP) when availing of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) assistance. Ronnel del Rio, president of the Philippine Chamber of Massage Industry for Visually Impaired, Inc. suggested during the appreciation seminar that courses identified during the action planning workshop held on 1-2 July 2013 at theTESDAWomensCentershouldbetheprioritywhenidentifyingthetypeofbusinesstheVIPswillventurei nto. These are massage therapy, customer service, contact center service, performing arts (song and dance), and food processing.

Lauro Purcil, lead convenor of the Philippine Coalition on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, expressedappreciationontheDOLEsassistancetohisorganization,sayingthattheDOLEisalreadycomplying with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. CALL Foundation of the Blind; Resources for the Blind; Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired; Philippine Blind Union; Nationwide Organization of Visually-Impaired Empowered Ladies; VISIONARIES, Quezon City Federation of PWDs, NCDA, DSWD, TESDA, ECC and DOLE National Capital Region also sent representatives to the appreciation seminar. |TOP| 9. Father builds successful business with only P5,000 capital Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph Cagayan de Oro City His sweat drips from his forehead down to the ground as he thoughtfully adds firewood for his boiling pot of water. His skin is reddened and wrinkled by the toil of long days and nights; and his hands, hardened and calloused with years of labor. Joel Obsid, a father of four, is accustomed to this environment. At 46 years old, Joel once worked as a medical representative. His wife is a 45-year-oldofficeclerk,andherwagecanbarelysupportthefamilysbasicneeds. Three of their children still live with them, all of whom are school-aged. Total recall In November 2011, Joel recalls, tropical storm Sendong struck and took from him everything it could. He lost his job and his home. His wife and children were spared, but there was nothing for them to return to. Having no secured income but with a family to tend to, Joel urgently needed to find a new job, which was hard to come by after the storm. This prompted him to start a small hanging rice business. A trade he learned from his mother-in-law that seemed to be his only option at the time. Still, his biggest concern was his lack of financial capital. With the three younger children still in school and their home in shambles, there was no money left to build a business. However, what seemed to be one unfortunate event after another took a turn for the better. Second chances In February 2012, Joel received a 5,000-peso loan from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Joel also continues to receive financial literacy and skills enhancement trainings from the DSWD through the program. Furthermore, his family also received a housing unit fromtheDSWDspartnerorganization,HabitatforHumanity. LessthanayearafterSendongwreakedhavoc,Joelsfamilywasabl e to relocate to a new home in barangay Canitoan, still within the city. Not only that but he was finally able to start his hanging rice business, which he hoped would help them become financially stable. Sustainable Livelihood Program Joelsfamilyisone of the 237,501 poor households assisted by the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Under the program, participants are provided with capital assistance for starting and managing micro-enterprises or are provided with employment opportunities through partnerships with other institutions both private and public. Qualified participants are assessed based on their financial and social performance to identify the requirements of an enterprise for business growth. Appropriate training activities and other follow through interventions are continuously provided for the participants to improve their existing micro-enterprise. Regaining every fiber of hope Today, Joel runs the hanging rice business in the Cogon public market with the assistance of his children. Consumingoneandahalfsacksofsinandomengricedaily,Joelsbusinesshasgainedafollowingandearnsadaily net profit of more than 1,000 pesos. He is uncertain if he will find another job. He would not dare leave his loyal customers. He hopes that the business will allow him to send his children to school until they finish college. After all, the business has taken his family from ground zero and into life anew. |TOP| 10. Monetary Board maintains policy rates Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph At its meeting today, the Monetary Board decided to keep the BSP's key policy rates at 3.50 percent for the overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) facility and 5.50 percent for the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) facility. The interest rates on term RRPs, RPs, and special deposit accounts (SDAs) were also left unchanged accordingly. The reserve requirement ratios were maintained as well. TheMonetaryBoardsdecisionisbasedonitsassessmentthattheinflationenvironmentcontinuestobebenign. Latest baseline forecasts indicate that the future inflation path remains within the target range of 4.01.0 percent in 2013-2014 and 3.01.0 percent for 2015. The forecasts are supported by well-contained inflation expectations, which remain within target over the policy horizon. The risks to the inflation outlook also remain broadly balanced. Global economic prospects are likely to stay subdued going forward, thus tempering upward pressures on commodity

prices. Nonetheless, upside risks to the inflation outlook remain, including pending utility rate adjustments as well as the recent depreciation of the peso. At the same time, the Philippine economy continues to be robust, supported by favorable domestic demand and buoyant market confidence. Growth in domestic liquidity and bank lending also remains strong, providing solid support to domestic economic activity. The Monetary Board also considered that financial market volatility persists owing to concerns over the timing of the tapering of monetary stimulus in advanced economies, and this suggests caution in assessing the policy stance. On balance, the Monetary Board is of the view that prevailing monetary policy settings remain appropriate. The manageable inflation outlook and strong domestic growth support keeping policy settings steady given renewed market volatility. Going forward, the BSP will continue to monitor evolving price and output developments to ensure that the monetary policy stance remains consistent with ensuring price and financial stability while supporting sustainable economic growth. |TOP| 11. Health financing and spending: Right track or not? Source: http://www.nscb.gov.ph Committed to its mandate, the past few months have been very busy for the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) as it has to release relevant statistics for public information and for more evidence-based decision-making. In April 2013, the NSCB reported the 2012 first semester official poverty statistics and a month later, it released the national income accounts wherein it was reported that the economy posted a 7.8 percent GDP growth in the first quarter of 20132. The NSCB also released last 9 July 2013 the 2012 Statistical Indicators on Philippine Development (StatDev), which are traditionally released a weekbeforethePresidentsStateoftheNationalAddress.Thiswasone of the earliest releases ever in the history of StatDev. The NSCB Technical Staff, despite their alarmingly declining numbers, work extremely hard to ensure that statistics we release and statistical activities we conduct at the NSCB arerelevantandtimely.Justrecently,incollaborationwiththeUnitedNationsChildrensFund(UNICEF)andWorld Health Organization (WHO), we conducted well-applauded forums on local-level statistics on children and on the national health accounts, respectively. Statistics are after all supposed to provide us a story about where we have been, so that we can make the changes needed today for a better Philippines. The 2011 Philippine National Health Accounts (PNHA) Dissemination Forum conducted last 7 June 2013 provided a venue for the presentation of the latest health accounts estimates and brought together producers and users of national health accounts. We were honored that it was attended by Secretary Ona and other Department of Health (DOH) officials and staff, representatives from PhilHealth, other government and non-government agencies, and other stakeholders including the media. We thank DOH Secretary Ona who attended the entire four-hour forum! The NSCBreportedthatthecountrystotalhealthexpenditureshowedimprovementsbetween2009and2011, increasing by 12.2% - from PhP 342 billion to PhP 431 billion, respectively (Table 1). On a per capita basis, spending on health was registered at PhP 4,577 in 2011 an 11.3% increase from PhP 4,112 in 2010 (Table 2). The national government health spending grew by 22.3 percent, registering the largest increase in 2011, while local government grew by 9.2 percent (Table 4). Below are some other notable highlights in the 2011 PNHA release: Interestingly, in 2011, for every PhP 100 spent on health goods and services, PhP 63 came from private sources, PhP 27 from the government, PhP 9 from social insurance and PhP 1 from the rest of the world (Table 3). Out of the PhP 63 contribution of private sources, PhP 53 was spent by households and the remaining PhP 10 was spent by other private sources such as private insurance, HMOs, private schools and private establishments (Table 3). In 2011, government, social insurance, out-of-pocket, and other private sources have similar rates of increase (Table 4). Based on the goals set in the National Objectives for Health (NOH) 2005-2010 of the DOH, only the total health expenditure as percentage of Gross National Income and the per capita health expenditure were within the target (Table 6). The national health accounts are being used as basis for budgetary and decision-making purposes of the government, particularly for health. Over the years, with the aid of the PNHA data, the DOH experienced an abrupt increase in its budget. But have we really looked at the facilities of our government hospitals? Do we have enough of them to be able provide personal and public healthcare? Or how much do we allot for enticing doctors, nurses, midwives to stay on in the country, and for hiring new medical staff to improve the provision of health services? It is important to target having everyone being given equal opportunity for health care, as Philhealth aims. This means not having to classify patients as paying and indigent . According to Director Lilibeth David, the DOH budget is projected to increase to as high as PhP 89.7 billion by 2014, which is a 78.0 percent increase from 2013 (Table 7). The PNHA has also been a tool for driving health reforms and even triggering the implementation of various initiatives for health, including the localization of health accounts, the formulation of the 2010-2020 Health Care Financing Strategy Monograph, the updated NOH, the Philippine Development Plan for 2011-2016, and the Universal Health Care (or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan) Issuances, including the Sin Tax Law. ItwasalsoreportedthattherewasanincreaseinPhilHealthsmembershipandbenefitpayments.Trueenough,the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) is among the fastest growing sectors in terms of health expenditure, registering an average growth rate of 12.5 percent from 2005 to 2011 (Table 4). However, despite the increasing membership and benefit payments, out-of-pocket spending still accounts for more than half of the total health expenditure. With this at hand, PhilHealth is committed in widening its coverage in terms of membership and

available health services --- true to its vision, Bawat Pilipino, miyembro. Bawat miyembro, protektado. Kalusugan natin, segurado. As we examine various statistics on health, particularly those pertaining to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we find lots of good news: the Philippines is on track of reducing under-five mortality rate (U5MR) and combating malaria and tuberculosis! In 2011, the U5MR is at 30 deaths per 1,000 live births. Meanwhile, the death rate associated with malaria is at 0.2 percent in 2006. On the proportion of tuberculosis cases cured under directly observed treatment short course (DOTS), it is at 79.0 percent in 2008. (Table 5) One of the diseases carefully monitored at the global level is Human immunodeficiency virus infection / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The DOH, specifically the National Epidemiology Center, reports that in 2011, there are 2,349 (2,193 males and 156 females) new HIV positive cases, 110 of which are reported as AIDS. Mostly, these cases were infected through sexual contact. The DOH points out that the number of recorded deaths among HIV positive patients has been increasing over time in the country, although the incidence suggests that HIV/AIDS is still a rare disease. Still, there is a need for some action as in 2011 and 2012, a total of 69 and 177 deaths were reported. Presently, as of May 2013, there are 4,115 people living with HIV infection who are enrolled in Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) among 17 treatment hubs all over the country. (Table 8) But there are also weeds among the wheat. On the downside, the number of barangay health stations (BHS) in the Philippines is relatively not changing over the years registering 19 per 100,000 population from 2005-2010! Noticeably, with the presence of big government and private hospitals in the region, NCR posted the lowest number of BHS (only 4 BHS in 2009-2010). CAR and Region II posted the highest at 38 and 33 BHS, respectively. (Table 9) In terms of local government health personnel, for the years 2005-2010, the country has only 3, 5, and 19 medical doctors, nurses, and midwives for every 100,000 Filipinos, respectively. Surprisingly, for medical doctors and nurses, there were no relevant changes across regions in 2005-2010. Worse, a downward trend for midwives was observed. Relatedly, the latest available data from the Field Health Service Information System of the DOH suggests that, only 74.3 percent of births are attended by skilled personnel in 2009. CAR was consistently the best region in terms of the proportion of health personnel among regions from 2005-2010, with 6 medical doctors, 9 nurses, and 37 midwives per 100,000 population in 2010. The ARMM had the worst record for medical doctors and nurses. For midwives, however, NCR posted the lowest followed by ARMM and CALABARZON. (Table 10) Of course, there are still some things to improve on the framework and estimation of the national health accounts. The OECD, WHO, and the EuroStat have released the 2011 System of Health Accounts (SHA) and were recommending its adoption by all countries to increase the relevance of health accounts and to allow international comparability. The said improvement in the health accounting system can be seen as beneficial to data users and stakeholders as it can provide more detailed information and more disaggregated health accounts. The 2011 SHA framework allows disaggregation of health expenditure by health care function, provider, age group, disease, income group, and so on. However, unfortunately, the data source constraints in the country, together with the lack of available financial and human resources, donotcurrentlyallowfortheSHAsadoption,DOHSecretaryOnaalso wants that health accounts generated at a more frequent basis, if possible, semestral or quarterly, but unfortunately, this reporting frequency would also mean having data source agencies being required to more frequently submit data to the NSCB, which currently, has a lag time of one and a half years. NSCB Technical Staff who consolidate these health accounts are also unfortunately not very plentiful. By the way, just recently the Republic Act 7875 otherwise known as the National Health Insurance Act of 1995 was amended. The Act ensures that all Filipinos, especially the indigents and persons with disabilities, will get health care insurance coverage. With this Act, there is a greater possibility that health financing from social insurance, specifically the NHIP would further increase. I look forward to this, and to the full implementation of the Reproductive Health Law as well, which will clearly help improve reproductive health outcomes in the country. Looking to a healthier and a better Philippines! |TOP| 12. PhP 19 Million Smuggled Goods Seized by BOC Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph The unrelenting campaign to curb smuggling at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has once again caused the seizure of Php 19, 115,316.00 worth of illegally imported used vehicles, a motor cycle, used truck tires and dinner wares, including a semi-submarine and 14 container vans of possibly hazardous scrap materials at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), by alert operatives of the BOC-Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) under Director George Alio, an operating unit of the BOC-Enforcement Group (EG) under Deputy Commissioner Horacio P. Suansing Jr. In the inspection of the seized items at the MICP today which was led by Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon, Suansing and Alino, Biazon said, the semi-submarine, a water vessel that allows for both yachting and underwater cruising that is worth PhP 5 million, was misdeclared by its consignee Dionysus Trading as outboard motor compressor parts and accessories. However, upon inspection by the ESS operatives, it was found to be a knockdown semi-submarine from Korea. On the other hand, the 14 container vans of scrap plastic materials which arrived at the MICP in April this year, according to Biazon, came from Vietnam and Hongkong. The smuggled plastic scrap materials had an estimated value of over PhP 2.4 million and were consigned to Urrutia Trading Group of Companies. The scrap plastic shipment was held by EPU ESS and MICP DO for violating certain provisions of the Tariffs and Customs Code of thePhilippinesandDENRDAONo.29,Seriesof1992inrelationtoR.A.6969,otherwiseknownastheToxic SubstancesandHazardousandNuclearWastesActof1990. Securingourbordersfrom the entry of illegally imported hazardous materials to ensure the safety of the Filipinos

from contaminated and hazardous materials is a concern that is of utmost importance for the Bureau of Customs. We will never allow a single shipment of these kinds ofcargoestogetthroughcustomsgates.Biazonsaid. The four (4) forty-footer container vans of used vehicles from Korea for its part, were held by EMVMCO for violating the TCCP and R.A. 8506 and Executive Order No. 156, banning the importation of right hand drive cars and also the importation of used vehicles respectively. The seized vehicles were worth over PhP 4.2 million. Among the other seizures were two (2) container vans of used tires worth PhP 1.06 million and one (1) used Ducati motorcycle worth Php 386,000. Both were apprehended by ESS MICP District Office. While one (1) container van of table and kitchen wares worth PhP 2.5 million and another container van of body lotions worth PhP 3.5 million were also seized by EG operatives under Suansing. Wewillgoafterallthoseinvolvedinthesesmugglingattempts,whethertheyarefromtheBOCorfromtheprivate sector,ifonlytoputsmugglersandtheircohortsbehindbars.Biazonsaid. Forhispart,Suansingsaid,theESSrecentseizureswerethe results of his operatives enhanced monitoring of the ports,incompliancewiththeCommissionersordertodoublehisunitsanti-smuggling efforts. |TOP| 13. June fiscal deficit at P8.5 billion Source: http://www.treasury.gov.ph 26 July 2013 Manila, Philippines The National Government incurred a P8.5 billion fiscal deficit in June to post a P51.3 billion deficit for the first half of 2013. The June deficit was a third of the P22.7 billion program for the period and an improvement over the P11.6 billion shortfall a year ago. The S1 2013 shortfall was P33.4 billion under the GovernmentsP84.7programmedceilingdespitebeingP16.9billionhigher,year -on-year. Revenue Performance Revenue collections reached P131.1 billion for June. Collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) were recorded at P88.8 and P23.3 billion, respectively. Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) income reached P8.9 billion while collections from other offices amounted to P10.1 billion. Revenue collections reached P839.5 billion for the first semester compared to P760.9 billion for same period last year as BIR collections grew by 14% year-on-year. Actual collections for BIR were recorded at P593.7 billion, with BOC bringing in P145.1 billion for the first semester. Meanwhile BTr income totaled P49.5 billion while other offices contributed P51.1 billion. Total tax revenues for the first semester amounted to P746.3 billion, representing 89% of total revenues while the remaining 11% came from non-tax revenues. Expenditures Actual disbursements for June amounted to P139.5 billion corresponding to a 10% increase year-on-year. Total disbursements for the first semester of 2013, amounted to P890.8 billion, 12% higher than comparable disbursements in 2012. Interest payments amounting to P157.1 billion made up 18% of total expenditures for the first six months of 2013 compared to 19% a year ago. Primary Surplus/ (Deficit) Netting out interest payments as a part of expenditures, the National Government recorded a primary surplus for the first six months amounting to P105.8 billion. |TOP| 14. DILG R3 facilitates Local Shelter Planning for Nueva Ecija LGUs Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph Angeles City To assist local governments in crafting their local shelter plans, DILG Region III, in partnership with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Committee (HUDCC), facilitated the conduct of SeminarWorkshop on the Development of Local Shelter Plan (LSP) for the LGUs of Nueva Ecija on July 16-19, 2013 at Maharajah Hotel here. In her welcome remarks, Dir Florida M. Dijan emphasized the importance of Local Shelter Planning as one of the flagshipprojectsofthenationalgovernmentthatfocusesonpeopleswelfare. She also expressed optimism on the successful relocation of all Informal Settler Families (ISFs) all over the country throughtheformulationoftheLGUsLSP. One of the highlights of the activity was the sharing of best practices by SP Member Amos Rivera of Angeles City. She discussedthecityscreationoftheLUPAHOandtheirprojectsfortheInformalSettlersFamilies.Asitevisiton theTB Pavilion Relocation site at Barangay SapangLibutad, Angeles City was also conducted. Participants were different department heads from Cabanatuan City, Gapan City, Palayan City, Science City of Munoz, San Jose City and the Municipality of Cabiao, all of Nueva Ecija. Among the resource persons were Atty Alvin T. Claridades, HUDCC Director of the Post Proclamation Group together with Engr. Aida Ceros, Ms. Corazon de Leon and Mr. Arthur Martinez.

|TOP| 15. DTI launches SSF for Quezon small farmers Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Calauag, Quezon launched on Friday the Shared Service Facilities (SSF) grant for the Samahan ng Maliliit na Magsasaka sa Barangay Apad Lutao (SAMABA) and for the Calauag Small Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CSCFMPC). In a ceremonial turnover, SAMABA President Apolonio Pera received the P0.41M worth of auxiliary machinery and equipment for decorticating coconut coir (consisting of one unit of box baler, one unit of digital scale, 20 sets of loom, 100 sets of twining equipment, and 10 units of twisting machines) while the P1.0-M coconut sauce production facility was awarded to CSCFMPC. SAMABA is projected to derive a gross earning of P4.2M annually from the sale of husks and the sale of hanks, twines, and geonets. Cocos Nucifera Pacific Corporation (CNPC), a firm based in Calauag and among the pioneers in the region to manufacture coir twines and geonets, will buy SAMABA's output. CNPC will then market the products to the bulk users of geonets. The operation of the decorticating facility will open up 240 jobs in Barangay Apad and the neighboring areas, aside from the 51 farmers that will derive incomes from selling husks. Meanwhile,CSCFMPCscoconutsauceprocessingwillconvertaninputof1,200Lofcocowater(commonlywasted in the process of copra-making) into 60L of coconut sauce that could be translated into P9,600 daily gross sales, or P192,000 in a month. Recognizing the prospects of generating local jobs through the machinery and equipment, Calauag Mayor Luisito S. VisordeaffirmedhissupportfortheSSFprojectandrecognizedDTIsroleinth e development of micro enterprises particularly those based in the communities. Fourth District Representative Angelina de Luna-Tan also affirmed her support for the coco coir industry and will collaboratewithDTIandthefarmersgroupforgeneratingmore jobs and to augment the income of farmers. Noel Florido, chief operating officer of CNPC, presented the processes of converting the waste coconut husks into various products and their respective prospect markets. Marilou Quinco-Toledo, DTI regional director for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), said theSSFprojectsobjectiveistoincreaseproductivityandefficiencyofenterprisesutilizingindustryclusteringasa key strategy. DTIsindustryclusteringandvaluechainanal ysis approach has identified the need of micro and small entrepreneurs for advanced machinery and equipment to improve their production processes in terms of quality, productivity and efficiency. The SSF is intended for the common use not only for the beneficiaries themselves but for other players in the industry clusters as well. With such facilities, enterprises particularly those community-based cooperatives and rural improvement clubs would be able to raise production output and improve product quality resulting to higher levels of productivity and competitiveness. The facilities are part of the SSF Project's P70-MpackagefortheCalabarzonRegionsmicroandsmall entrepreneurs. This year, DTI has allocated P700M for the SSF Project nationwide. |TOP| 16. 30 Filipinos Due Home from Syria Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph 25 July 2013 The Philippine Embassy in Beirut reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that 30 Filipinos are scheduled to be repatriated from Syria through Lebanon. The fresh batch of repatriates traveled to the Syrian-Lebanese border assisted by the personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Damascus. They arrived at the Masnaa border crossing at 11:00 in the morning yesterday (Lebanese time, GMT +2). The repatriates stayed at the Embassy in Beirut while waiting for their flight to Abu Dhabi. They are due to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal I at 11:10 p.m. today, July 25 via Etihad Airways flight EY 424. Upon the groups arrival, the total number of repatriates will reach 4,427. The DFA continues to urge all Filipinos who are still in Syria to seek immediate repatriation as the security situation in the country continues to deteriorate. For assistance they may call the Embassy in Damascus at

963-11-6132626, +963-96-8955057, +963-93-4957926, +963-99-2264145, +963-96-8953340, or +963-95-8903893. The relatives of Filipinos in Syria may also provide the DFA with up-to-date information regarding their kins present location and contact details in Syria. Those who wish to do so may call the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) at (02) 834 -3240 or 834-4583 or the DFAs 24-hour Action Center at (02) 834-3333. |TOP| 17. DENR to draw up Conservation Plan for Taon Strait Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is partnering with an international conservation group to draw up a blueprint for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of the Taon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) in Central Visayas. TheTSPS,whichliesbetweentheislandsofNegrosandCebu,isamongthecountrystop10majorfishinggroun ds where about 26,000 fishermen operate. It has also been regarded as an important migration corridor for whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, making it a preferred destination for whale-watchers, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts. Through its Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), the DENR signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with RARE, Inc. to formulate a master plan that would ensure local fishermen employ sustainable fishing practices within the 310,800-hectare marine protected area, which is a primary source of livelihood for coastal villages along the coasts of Cebu and Negros islands. RAREisaninternationalpublicpolicyresearchandadvocacygroupworkinginover50countriesthroughitsPride Campaignthatfacilitates the establishment of collaborative approaches and cross-cutting solutions to environmental challenges in coordination with communities, industry and government. The agreement was signed by PAWB Director Mundita Lim and RARE president and CEO Brett Scott Jenks during a simple ceremony held at the PAWB grounds in Quezon City on Thursday (July 25, 2013). Lim said the pact formalizes the joint initiative of the DENR and RARE to identify common areas of interests and cooperation acceptable to all stakeholders, focusing on issues surrounding access to and control over resources within the TSPS. She said the signing comes at an opportune time as the output of the undertaking will form part of a single project documentcalledStrengtheningtheMarineProtectedAreatoConserveMarineKeyBiodiversityAreastobe submitted to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) within the year. The UNDP, in turn, will endorse the document to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) for funding for the implementationofconservationactivitiesinfiveofthecountrysimportantmarinespots,namely:TSPS,VerdeIsland Passage, the Davao Gulf, Surigao Bay and Palawan. According to Lim, the DENR-RARE partnership will broaden the consensus among multi-sectoral coalition groups working to justify marine conservation activities in the area while providing sustainable livelihood projects in order to decreasepressureonTaonStraitwhosereach,especiallyintermsofitslifesupportservices,donotrecognize politicalboundaries. Givenitswidecoverage,theestablishmentoftheTaonStraitasamarineprotectedareain1998hasopenedup alliances, both at the national and local levels, that have placed stakeholders on the opposite sides of issues concerning conservation,utilizationanddevelopmentoftheareasresources,Limexplained. Taon Strait was placed under the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) Act of 1992 after then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Presidential Proclamation No. 1234 on May 27, 1998, declaring it as a protected seascape in recognition of its extraordinary abundance and diverse assemblage of dolphins, whales and other marine species. Located between the islands of Negros and Cebu, the strait connects the Visayan Sea to the Bohol Sea and has a total coastline of 452.7 kilometers. It is bounded by 36 coastal municipalities and cities of Cebu, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. Lim said the undertaking will pave the way for the establishment of a consistent plan of activities for the protection and sustainable utilization of resources that directly responds to issues on livelihood dependence and displacement, resource-use patterns and access rights within the protected area. Livelihooddependenceoncoastalreso urces, particularly on fisheries, reflects a significant portion of the socioeconomic scenario that affects public support and compliance for conservation policies and initiatives in the TSPS,Limpointedout. Sheadded:Inrealterms,theplanintendsto support the social and economic needs of the communities involved, improveTSPSsmarinebiodiversityandalsotoprovideeconomicopportunity. |TOP|

Last Updated:

27 JULY 2013

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President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, lead the ceremonial toasts during the luncheon at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacaan Palace for the latter's Official Visit on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals.(Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his message during the Official Luncheon at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacaan Palace for his Official Visit to the Republic of the Philippines on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals.(Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the luncheon at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacaan Palace for the Official Visit to the Republic of the Philippines of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals.(Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives from His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, the Topographical Mapping of Mindanao during the joint press conference at the Reception Hall, Malacaan Palace on Saturday (July 27, 2013). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III listens as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers his remarks during the joint Press conference at the Reception Hall of Malacaan Palace on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his remarks during the joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at the Reception Hall, Malacaan Palace on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Robert Vias/ Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III shakes hands with His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, during the joint press conference at the Reception Hall, Malacaan Palace on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, greets Japanese officials during the Arrival Ceremony at the Malacaan Palace Grounds on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by: Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III receives Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Music Room of Malacaan Palace during his Official Visit to the Republic of the Philippines on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the strategic partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enjoy the cultural presentation during the Arrival Ceremony at the Malacaan Palace Grounds on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe review the honor guards during the Arrival Ceremony at the Malacaan Palace Grounds on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by: Benhur Arcayan / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe honor the colors during the Arrival Ceremony at the Malacaan Palace Grounds on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the number one trade partner of the Philippines, and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges views with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the Expanded Bilateral Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacaan Palace on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III guides Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Reception Hall of Malacaan Palace on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan. Prime Minister Abe visited Manila in December 2006 during his first term as the head of the Japanese Government. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, signs the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of Malacaan Palace during his Official Visit to the Republic of the Philippines on Saturday (July 27). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan. Prime Minister Abe visited Manila in December 2006 during his first term as the head of the Japanese Government. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau/ Marcelino Pascua / Malacaang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the 24th National Annual Convention of the School for Reserve Commission and the AFP Officer Candidate School Alumni Association, Inc., at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 26). With theme: Team OCS: Kaisa ng Sambayanan para sa Pagsusulong sa Tuwid na Daan. Presently, the OCS alumni association has a total of 3,072 active members in the AFP, PNP and PCG. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with DND Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta during the 24th National Annual Convention of the School for Reserve Commission and the AFP Officer Candidate School Alumni Association, Inc. at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon Cit y on Friday (July 26). With theme: Team OCS: Kaisa ng Sambayanan para sa Pagsusulong sa Tuwid na Daan. Presently, the OCS alumni association has a total of 3,072 active members in the AFP, PNP and PCG. (Photo by: Benhur Arcayan / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as SRC/FPOCSSAI National Chapter president Lt. Col. Arnuldo Ferdinand Bajain, PA, presents the Plaque of Recognition to outstanding graduates during the awarding ceremony at the 24th National Annual Convention of the School for Reserve Commission and the AFP Officer Candidate School Alumni Association, Inc. (SRC/AFPOCSAAI) at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 26, 2013). With theme: Team OCS: Kaisa ng Sambayanan para sa Pagsusulong sa Tuwid na Daan. Presently, the OCS alumni association has a total of 3,072 active members in the AFP, PNP and PCG. (Photo by: Gil Nartea / Malacaang Photo Bureau/ Rey Baniquet / Malacaang Photo Bureau / PCOO) President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 24th National Annual Convention of the School for Reserve Commission and the AFP Officer Candidate School Alumni Association, Inc. (SRC/AFPOCSAAI) at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday (July 26, 2013). With theme: Team OCS: Kaisa ng Sambayanan para sa Pagsusulong sa Tuwid na Daan. Presently, the OCS alumni association has a total of 3,072 active members in the AFP, PNP and PCG. In photo are AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista, DND Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, SRC/FPOCSSAI National Chapter president Lt. Col. Arnuldo Ferdinand Bajain, PA and SRC/AFPOCSAAI chairman Dir. Nebuchadnezzar Alejandrino. (Photo by: Gil Nartea / Malacaang Photo Bureau/ Benhur Arcayan /Rey Baniquet / Malacaang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

Thank You and God Bless !!!!