Sunday, July 31, 2016
The Working Secretary - 'Green' elephants
'Green' elephants
MONUMENT OF PLAIN, SIMPLE
MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS
MISUSE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS
By Manny Piñol
Standing
in the vast expanse of rice fields in my hometown, M'lang in North Cotabato,
are two modern rice processing centers (RPC) which cost government between P8-M
to P10-M designed to help rice farmers add value to their products.
The
concept is very beautiful.
Instead of
just selling rice grains, the RPCs will be there to mill the palay right after
drying and the farmer would then sell his product no longer in grains form but
in neatly bagged sparkling white rice.
For at
least a couple of years now since the two RPCs were erected, not a single white
sparkling rice grain has come out of these modern processing facilities.
The reason?
The RPCs
have not been connected to the power lines because the farmers' groups which
were given the modern milling facilities could not afford the cost of the wires
for the electrical connection.
The
mothballed RPCs in M'lang are only two of the many other units of modern rice
mills established by the Department of Agriculture all over the country which
are gathering dust.
The cause
of the problem is the failure to ask the farmers a basic question: "Do you
have the money to pay for the electrical connection?"
The cost
of the electrical connection could be between P300,000 to P1-M depending on the
distance of the RPC from the power lines.
Why in the
world would anybody even consider constructing a modern rice mill for a
farmers' group without even asking themselves whether the farmers are prepared
to receive such a project?
Doesn't
simple planning and management require that in introducing projects to
farmer-beneficiaries, a study should be first conducted?
Was there
sufficient social preparation and orientation
This story is all too common in the DA.
This story is all too common in the DA.
In the
past, mechanical driers which were not even subjected to field testing were
acquired by government and distributed to rice farmers.
Just like
the RPCs, they are also gathering dust and eaten by rust.
Recently,
I uncovered billions worth of farm machineries and equipment being kept in the
different DA compounds all over the country which were also gathering dust.
They could
not be released to the farmer beneficiaries because the poor farmers could not
afford the 15% cash equity for the equipment some of which cost as much as
P3-M.
This has
already been remedied as I have directed the DA regional offices to stretch the
payment period of the 15% cash equity to four years by installment.
Now, I
don't know how to handle this RPC problem yet but I am sure there will always
be a way to be able to resolve this.
As the old
Tagalog saying goes:
"Kung
gusto, maraming paraan. Kung ayaw, maraming dahilan."
One thing
is certain though, this problem will never bother the DA again.
We will
only deliver what the farmers need and when they need it.
Immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire to the CPP-NPA
Statement of President Duterte as he lifts the unilateral ceasefire with the
CPP/NPA-NDF:
"Let me now announce that I am hereby ordering for the
immediate lifting of the unilateral ceasefire that I ordered last July 25
against the communist rebels.
Correspondingly, I am ordering the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to also withdraw
the operational guidelines they issued in pursuance to that ceasefire
declaration.
I am ordering all security forces
to be on high alert and continue to discharge their normal functions and
mandate to neutralize all threats to national security, protect the citizenry,
enforce the laws and maintain peace in the land."
Source: Eagle News PH
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Duterte suggests extending passports' validity to ‘10 years’
President Rodrigo Duterte, during Monday's State of the Nation
Address (SONA) at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City, called on Congress to
study the possibility of extending a passport's validity to ten years from the
current five years.
“On the clamor of our citizens for the timely issuance of
Philippine passports, the government shall work towards amendment of the 1996
Passport Law to lengthen the validity from the current five years to ten
years,” Duterte said.
Duterte also floated the idea of extending a passport's validity
up to 30 years.
“Tutal kayo naman ang gagawa ng batas, you are the ones who will
pass the law, even if you extend it good for 30 years, okay ako. Bahala kayo,
basta stretch it a little bit, because five years is simply short,” Duterte
explained in his address.
Additionally, Duterte called on concerned government officials
to hasten the passport application process.
Duterte said that he had witnessed passport applicants in Davao
and Cotabato queuing for days outside a popular mall just to get their
passports.
“I’d like to call the attention of [Foreign Affairs] Secretary
[Perfecto] Yasay… Sige pangalanan na natin, SM. Nandun ang mga tao sa pavement
natutulog, dahil first come, first served [basis]. Doon na sila natutulog sa
labas ng mall dahil doon lang ang outlet ng Department [of Foreign Affairs],”
Duterte explained.
“Nasasaktan talaga ako nakikita sila doon natutulog sa pavement.
Make use of the computer. I do not want to see the people lining up under the
heat of the sun. I don’t want people lining up under the rain,” he added.
OFW processes
The president also bared some of his plans for the welfare of
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs,) among which was the streamlining of the
application process OFWs had to go through.
“I urge the government [officials] who will attend to the needs
of our OFWs… Gusto ko he (Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ) will rent a
building for OFWs. Then lagyan ng BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), lahat
na, something to do with the clearances of the police,” Duterte explained.
Duterte was distressed by the tedious process OFWs have to go
through just to complete their requirements for working abroad.
“My God, make use of the computer. Why did he (the OFW) have to
travel if he will only accomplish one document at one time. At kung tingin
ninyo taga probinsya siya, tapusin ninyo agad!” Duterte emphasized.
“Kung hindi ninyo gamitin [ang mga computer] tapon nyo nalang,”
he added, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Duterte also called on the authorities to beef up the fight
against human trafficking.
“We shall intensify, mainit talaga ako dito, we shall intensify our
fight against human traffickers... Para maprotektahan ang pera ng ating mga
OFW,” Duterte said.
Via: GMA News Online
DENR's Lopez won't allow Tampakan open pit mine
MANILA, Philippines -- Environment Secretary Regina Lopez stood firm on Wednesday against proposals to lift a ban on open pit mining in South Cotabato that would pave the way for a controversial gold and copper operation in the town of Tampakan.
"I will not allow the Tampakan project as long as it is planned as an open-pit mine,"
Lopez said in a press conference, calling the extraction method “horrible.”
"Tampakan is on top of hundreds of hectares of agricultural land, the food basket of Mindanao, and you want to put a 700-hectare open pit mine? I don’t care how much money they give us.
It’s not worth it. Who is making the money here and who is taking the risk?" she said.
But she also assured due process in the review of permits issued for the project, Sagittarius Mining Inc. has a pending proposal to spend $5.9 billion to dig into one of Southeast Asia’s largest untapped resources with an estimated yield of 11.6 million tons of copper and 14.6 million ounces of gold.
The project, which would also cover parts of Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur, has been opposed by residents, mainly indigenous people, because of its massive impact on their water source, Lake Buluan.
Lopez, in an earlier dialogue with the lumad, assured that mining operations in the region found in violation of mining and environmental laws and regulations would be suspended.
During the dialogue, the lumad complained about open pit mines and tailings ponds in their areas, which have severely affected their livelihoods, among these: Sagittarius Mines Inc. in Tampakan, Sultan Kudarat; SR Metals Inc. in Tubay, Agusan del Sur; and Greenstone Mining and Taganito Mining, both in Surigao del Norte.
They urged Lopez to also send illegal logging in watershed areas and to stop the militarization of their lands, which they linked to the entry of large-scale mining.
Source: InterAksyon.com
The Global Pinoy Academy Journey
The Global Pinoy Academy Journey
by Jerson Ledesma
ABU DHABI – Friday, July 18 2016, I went to the Global Pinoy Academy to enroll on a short course that they are offering. From my accommodation in Electra, it will cost you only Dhs. 10 fare by taxi. If you ride the public bus it cost for you 4 dirhams back and forth. If you are saving money use the public bus but make sure that you come early and always expect that there will be traffic. You should arrive atleast 15 minutes prior the start of your class to give time for yourself to rest for few minutes.
by Jerson Ledesma
ABU DHABI – Friday, July 18 2016, I went to the Global Pinoy Academy to enroll on a short course that they are offering. From my accommodation in Electra, it will cost you only Dhs. 10 fare by taxi. If you ride the public bus it cost for you 4 dirhams back and forth. If you are saving money use the public bus but make sure that you come early and always expect that there will be traffic. You should arrive atleast 15 minutes prior the start of your class to give time for yourself to rest for few minutes.
TGP Academy is located in Commercial bank of Dubai building, Zayed the first Street (Khalidiya Street) Abu Dhabi, 18 floor, room 1801. Their building is in the accessible on the road has a taxi and bus stop so you don’t need to worry about the transport. The bus numbers passing that road are bus # 040,007, & 032.
Back to the TGP Academy, the short courses they are offering will cost you only Dhs. 200. The class is 5 consecutive Fridays and the last Friday will be the examination day but it depends on the courses you are taking.
Back to the TGP Academy, the short courses they are offering will cost you only Dhs. 200. The class is 5 consecutive Fridays and the last Friday will be the examination day but it depends on the courses you are taking.
I started my class last July 22, 2016 and I had seen many people who are lining up to enroll and some are also students. I
believe many Filipinos still wanted to enhance their talents and skills to be
able to compete in this tough world. Like me I am trying to learn and exceed my
limitations and to earn any helpful skills that may help me in the future.
Here are some photos I had taken during the class:
What a coincident some of my classmates are working my colleagues from work! 😊
First day of the class they had brought their laptops and I didn't brought mine. 😋
Our teacher, Miss Nova from Davao City, Philippines is really good and knowledgeable.
Before the class ends, of course, our teacher did not forget to give us assignment! See you on next Friday classmates! 😉
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
911 PHILIPPINES IS COMING
Ready to respond Disaster and Emergency like Fire, Typhoon, Earthquake, Landslides, Tsunami, Flood, Terrorist attack, Civil disturbance, Riot control, Search and rescue, Vehicular accident, and other Emergency.
Tapang at Malasakit sa FilipinoChange is Coming thank you President Rody Roa Duterte.
Tapang at Malasakit sa FilipinoChange is Coming thank you President Rody Roa Duterte.
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