BUTUAN CITY: Nine members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) simultaneously surrendered in the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Sur over the weekend, the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) reported Monday. In an interview, PRO-13 information office chief Maj. Jennifer Omiter said the surrenderers who yielded Saturday are members of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda, Militia ng Bayan, and platoon members of rebel fronts. She said the surrender was a result of the continuing negotiations of different PRO-13 field units with the support of local community leaders. ‘Our units and stations are also intensifying their information drives in remote barangays on the government’s programs and services to the rebels who would wish to surrender and return to their families,’ Omiter said. Five of the nine surrenderers are from the NPA Guerilla Fronts 21 and 16 and operated in the hinterlands of Agusan del Norte. They also turned over high-powered firearms and ammunition. PRO-13
director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft said the surrenderers will receive livelihood and other aid under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday turned over 200 new patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) nationwide to enhance the delivery of emergency health services to the public. PCSO general manager Mel Robles, together with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, led the ceremonial turnover of the 200 brand new Toyota hi-Ace PTVs to 26 LGUs at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Mandaluyong City. Each PTV costs around PHP2.2 million, with basic equipment such as a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure (BP) monitor, and wheelchair for medical emergencies. Its main purpose is the fast and safe transport of patients to hospitals. The PTVs are among the 225 units procured in 2022, which are being turned over to various LGUs in batches. Robles said they aim to complete the vehicle donation by Dec. 18. He said the objective of the program is to address the need for medical transport vehicles in conflict-stricken areas, vulnerable communities, and geographical
ly isolated and disadvantaged regions. By providing these ambulances, Robles said this initiative showcases the commitment of the PCSO in supporting the healthcare needs of various LGUs. He added the agency targets to give at least one PTV to each of the nearly 2,000 municipalities in the country. He disclosed that there are 379 PTV units procured for 2023 and 1,000 more for 2024. ‘We hope sa pamamagitan nito ay maibaba natin ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng mamamayan (We hope that through this we can lower the government service to all citizens),’ he added. The PCSO said the recipients of PTVs are Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Sorsogon, and Mt. Province. Abalos, who was also present at the event, thanked the PCSO for its collaborative efforts and care for the LGUs. ‘Kaya napakalaking bagay nitong ginagawa [ng PCSO] sa pamumuno ni Mel Robles sa lahat ng bagay. Ako ay naging alkalde, kung ang aking mga taga mamamayan ay kail
angan ng tulong, nandiyan ang PCSO (PCSO is doing great things under the leadership of Mel Robles. When I was mayor, if my constituents need help, PCSO is there). I cannot say more than enough but thank you very much PCSO,’ Abalos said. Robles said the PCSO has doubled its charity fund for 2024, emphasizing the agency’s mandate as the government’s charity arm to help Filipinos in terms of financial, educational, and medical assistance, among others. The PCSO is relentless in its thrust to help not only LGUs and hospitals but also to Filipinos across the country through its Medical Access Program (MAP), among others. The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide. Robles urged the public to patronize PCSO games to generate more funds to be used to assist Filipinos.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Monday turned over 200 new patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) nationwide to enhance the delivery of emergency health services to the public. PCSO general manager Mel Robles, together with Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, led the ceremonial turnover of the 200 brand new Toyota hi-Ace PTVs to 26 LGUs at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Mandaluyong City. Each PTV costs around PHP2.2 million, with basic equipment such as a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure (BP) monitor, and wheelchair for medical emergencies. Its main purpose is the fast and safe transport of patients to hospitals. The PTVs are among the 225 units procured in 2022, which are being turned over to various LGUs in batches. Robles said they aim to complete the vehicle donation by Dec. 18. He said the objective of the program is to address the need for medical transport vehicles in conflict-stricken areas, vulnerable communities, and geographical
ly isolated and disadvantaged regions. By providing these ambulances, Robles said this initiative showcases the commitment of the PCSO in supporting the healthcare needs of various LGUs. He added the agency targets to give at least one PTV to each of the nearly 2,000 municipalities in the country. He disclosed that there are 379 PTV units procured for 2023 and 1,000 more for 2024. ‘We hope sa pamamagitan nito ay maibaba natin ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng mamamayan (We hope that through this we can lower the government service to all citizens),’ he added. The PCSO said the recipients of PTVs are Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Laguna, Occidental Mindoro, Sorsogon, and Mt. Province. Abalos, who was also present at the event, thanked the PCSO for its collaborative efforts and care for the LGUs. ‘Kaya napakalaking bagay nitong ginagawa [ng PCSO] sa pamumuno ni Mel Robles sa lahat ng bagay. Ako ay naging alkalde, kung ang aking mga taga mamamayan ay kail
angan ng tulong, nandiyan ang PCSO (PCSO is doing great things under the leadership of Mel Robles. When I was mayor, if my constituents need help, PCSO is there). I cannot say more than enough but thank you very much PCSO,’ Abalos said. Robles said the PCSO has doubled its charity fund for 2024, emphasizing the agency’s mandate as the government’s charity arm to help Filipinos in terms of financial, educational, and medical assistance, among others. The PCSO is relentless in its thrust to help not only LGUs and hospitals but also to Filipinos across the country through its Medical Access Program (MAP), among others. The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide. Robles urged the public to patronize PCSO games to generate more funds to be used to assist Filipinos.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO CITY: The national government has spent roughly 98 percent of its PHP5.268 trillion budget for this year, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. At the final leg of this year’s Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel here on Monday, Pangandaman said government agencies delivered their catch-up plans that resulted in the high spending. Pangandaman said the national government spending in the past quarter was not what they were expecting so the growth of the country’s gross domestic product was also not that high. “The President already talked to us, we were asked to submit a catch-up plan and all the agencies and departments were able to do it, thus 98 percent of spending,” she said. The remaining percent, she said, is more of lumpsum projects that would be paid in the national government budget. In the same briefing, Pangandaman announced the increase in the national tax allotment in the Visayas region by 6 percent, from PHP50.9 billion in 2023 to PHP54.15 b
illion in 2024. “Out of the PHP5.768 billion proposed budget for next year, which hopefully will be ratified today and signed by the President when he comes back from Japan, PHP604.5 billion is allocated for the regional offices and PHP207.5 billion will be allocated for the Visayas region for various projects, activities and programs,” she said. The budget does not include projects from the central office to be downloaded to regional offices, the budget secretary added. As a whole, Pangandaman said the priority sectors for next year are still the same, education and health sectors with the highest budget allocation at 39 percent increase, followed by agriculture with 30 percent, which will be used to fund post-harvest and incentives for farmers and fisherfolk. Further, 5 percent to 6 percent of the GDP will go to infrastructure spending to boost logistics support while digitalization will also have an increased share in the budget. Meanwhile, Bangko Sentral Governor Eli Remolona Jr., in his message, sai
d that with the right kind of monetary policy, they were able to bring down the country’s inflation rate, and in November was already at 4.1 percent from 8.7 percent in the same month last year. Remolona said the supply shocks gave the country its highest inflation rate in 14 years. “I think we have the advantage that in 2002, we instituted this thing called inflation targeting framework. In other words, we announced our target inflation rate, the target is now 2 to 4 percent. And we are trying to stick to that target. The target serves to anchor inflation expectations,” he said. Amendment on economic provisions Meanwhile, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, in his keynote address, said the country is on a solid footing with economic managers taking charge of the economy amid the global shocks. He said this year’s theme “Agenda for Prosperity, Economic Transformation toward Inclusivity and Sustainability” also mirrors the legislative priorities of the House of Representatives. These include infras
tructure development, enhancement of the educational system, strengthening healthcare system ensuring accessible healthcare, business and investment climate ensuring that is it conducive, and agriculture development and food security. “Our focus is on creating a robust economy with every Filipino from the northernmost provinces to the southmost islands can thrive with peace and abundance,” he added. Romualdez announced they would pursue the amendment of the Constitution, zeroing in on economic provisions through a Constituent Assembly. “We want to do this because we really want to address the economy. We want to lift the restrictive provisions in our Constitution vis a vis the economy,” he said. Today’s briefing is the last leg of the series of PEBs this 2023.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO CITY: The national government has spent roughly 98 percent of its PHP5.268 trillion budget for this year, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. At the final leg of this year’s Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel here on Monday, Pangandaman said government agencies delivered their catch-up plans that resulted in the high spending. Pangandaman said the national government spending in the past quarter was not what they were expecting so the growth of the country’s gross domestic product was also not that high. “The President already talked to us, we were asked to submit a catch-up plan and all the agencies and departments were able to do it, thus 98 percent of spending,” she said. The remaining percent, she said, is more of lumpsum projects that would be paid in the national government budget. In the same briefing, Pangandaman announced the increase in the national tax allotment in the Visayas region by 6 percent, from PHP50.9 billion in 2023 to PHP54.15 b
illion in 2024. “Out of the PHP5.768 billion proposed budget for next year, which hopefully will be ratified today and signed by the President when he comes back from Japan, PHP604.5 billion is allocated for the regional offices and PHP207.5 billion will be allocated for the Visayas region for various projects, activities and programs,” she said. The budget does not include projects from the central office to be downloaded to regional offices, the budget secretary added. As a whole, Pangandaman said the priority sectors for next year are still the same, education and health sectors with the highest budget allocation at 39 percent increase, followed by agriculture with 30 percent, which will be used to fund post-harvest and incentives for farmers and fisherfolk. Further, 5 percent to 6 percent of the GDP will go to infrastructure spending to boost logistics support while digitalization will also have an increased share in the budget. Meanwhile, Bangko Sentral Governor Eli Remolona Jr., in his message, sai
d that with the right kind of monetary policy, they were able to bring down the country’s inflation rate, and in November was already at 4.1 percent from 8.7 percent in the same month last year. Remolona said the supply shocks gave the country its highest inflation rate in 14 years. “I think we have the advantage that in 2002, we instituted this thing called inflation targeting framework. In other words, we announced our target inflation rate, the target is now 2 to 4 percent. And we are trying to stick to that target. The target serves to anchor inflation expectations,” he said. Amendment on economic provisions Meanwhile, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, in his keynote address, said the country is on a solid footing with economic managers taking charge of the economy amid the global shocks. He said this year’s theme “Agenda for Prosperity, Economic Transformation toward Inclusivity and Sustainability” also mirrors the legislative priorities of the House of Representatives. These include infras
tructure development, enhancement of the educational system, strengthening healthcare system ensuring accessible healthcare, business and investment climate ensuring that is it conducive, and agriculture development and food security. “Our focus is on creating a robust economy with every Filipino from the northernmost provinces to the southmost islands can thrive with peace and abundance,” he added. Romualdez announced they would pursue the amendment of the Constitution, zeroing in on economic provisions through a Constituent Assembly. “We want to do this because we really want to address the economy. We want to lift the restrictive provisions in our Constitution vis a vis the economy,” he said. Today’s briefing is the last leg of the series of PEBs this 2023.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said on Monday the agency is pushing for giving of more economic benefits and incentives to key barangay employees such as the barangay health workers, members of Lupon Tagapamayapa, and barangay tanods (watchmen) to ensure the continuity of service in the communities. Speaking at the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Awards (LTIA) 2023 at the Manila Hotel, Abalos said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) fully supports the proposal in the Legislative branch to institutionalize a system of providing economic benefits and other incentives under the proposed ‘Magna Carta for Barangay.’ Under the proposed law, barangay workers, including the Lupons, can receive an honorarium that is compatible with the current economy of the country and other benefits, he said. Meanwhile, the DILG chief recognized the Lupons’ significant efforts in amicably settling neighborhood disputes, noting that they have helped unclog the court dockets and save more or less
PHP4-billion cost of litigation money. The LTIA 2023 winners are: Brgy. Budla-an (Cebu City) for highly urbanized cities; Brgy. Upper Katungal (Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat) for independent component cities (ICC); Brgy. Poblacion (Tupi, South Cotabato) for 1st to 3rd Class Municipalities; Brgy. Ibabang Atingay (Magdalena, Laguna) for 4th to 6th Class Municipalities. The first and second runners-up are: Brgy. Doongan (Butuan City) and Brgy. Balibago (Angeles City) for HUCs; Brgy. San Vicente (Binan City, Laguna) and Brgy. Lawa-an (Roxas City, Capiz) for ICC and CC; Brgy. Rizal (Bansalan, Davao Del Sur) and Brgy. Cavite (Alangalang, Leyte) for 1st to 3rd class municipalities; and Brgy. Naburos (Baliangao, Misamis Occidental) and Brgy. Otod (San Fernando, Romblon) for 4th to 6th class towns. The LTIA, which started in 1982, was elevated to a Presidential Award by Executive Order 394, entitled ‘Establishing the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Awards’ in 1997. ‘This is a clear manifestation that our justice sy
stem at the barangay level is working and vibrant and that our Lupons have been very effective in carrying out their mandate of amicably settling disputes at the barangay level,’ Abalos said.

Source: Philippines News Agency