LUNSOD NG QUEZON — Ipinagmalaki ni Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos, Jr. sa kanyang ikalawang State of the Nation Address o SONA ngayong Lunes sa magkatuwang na sesyon ng Senado at Kongreso  na “Dumating na po ang Bagong Pilipinas.”

” Global prospects were bleak but the Philippine economy posted highest growth rate. The Philippine financial system remains strong and stable,” wika ng Pangulo 

” Inflation rate is moving in the right direction. We are transforming the economy,” dagdag pa niya. 

“Puspusan ang ating ginagawa. Pinapalakas natin ang kakayahan ng mamamayan upang mapaganda ang kanilang pamumuhay,” sabi ng Pangulo. 

“We envision tax collection to increase by 2028, revenue generation improved this year,” aniya. 

Hiningi ng Pangulong Marcos ang suporta ng Kongreso pagdating sa fiscal framework ng Pilipinas.

Ibinida rin ni Marcos ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program. 

Nagsanib pwersa ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, ayon sa Pangulo. 

Ayon din sa Pangulo, tumaas ng 2. 2% ang sektor ng Agrikultura sa unang 3 buwan. 

“We will seek Congress support to guarantee sustainable gains for fisherfolk,” anang Pangulo

“Pinalakas natin ang agri sa pamamagitan ng farm & fisheries clustering.

Pinapalakas din natin ang mga magsasaka. Namigay ang pamahalaan ng bagong makinarya at kagamitan,” sabi ng Pangulo. 

“Hahabulin at ihahabla natin ang mga smuggler at hoarder,” aniya.

“Mahalaga ang imprastraktura para maidugtong ang mga sakahan sa mga pamilihan. Naghahanda tayo sa epekto ng El Niño,” tinuran ng Pangulo. 

“Pinagpatuloy natin ang repormang pangsakahan. Naisabatas na ang Agrarian Emancipation Act,” dagdag ng Pangulo. 

Ilan pa sa inihayag at iniulat ni Pangulong Marcos ang mga sumusunod:

Ang tubig ay kasing halaga rin ng pagkain.

We are creating water resources office to handle this precious resource. 

We have installed 6,000 rainwater collection across the country. 

We will build better and more. 

123 proyekto sa build better more program ay bago. 

Infrastructure spending will stay at 5-6% of the Gross Domestic Product. 

Mega bridge program to connect islands, areas separated by water. 

Roads, bridges, mass transport systems will be interconnected. 

Maharlika Investment Fund to fund infrastructure projects. 

Internationally-recognized economic managers will oversee Maharlika Investment Fund to guarantee transparency. 

We are relentless in pushing for renewable energy. 

Renewable energy is the way forward. 

We have opened renewable energy projects for investment. 

Malampaya project a boon to the Philippines. 

Isinusulong ang unified national grid. 

We look to National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to complete deliverables

. 

Walang mamamayang Pilipino ang maiiwan. 

DSWD, DOLE, DepEd, TESDA, at ChEd tumutulong sa nangangailangan.

We are augmenting school workforce and added administrative personnel. 

Learners wlil be made more resilient. 

We are calibrating the K-12 curriculum.

We continue to exhaust efforts to keep youths from dark corners of society. 

More higher education institutions have world class standards. 

State universities and colleges will remain free for qualified students. 

Philippines launched two additional satellites into space 

Bane of skills mismatch among Philippine workforce being rectified. 

European Union recognition of Philippine training for seafarers finally resolved.

The Saudi crown prince has resolved the unpaid claims of overseas Filipino workers. 

On universal healtcare, we are refocusing our health programs. 

We introduced pilot food stamps program for poor Filipinos. 

Philippines must exert efforts vs. Tuberculosis and AIDS. 

Philippine Healthcare system undergoing structural changes .

We are working for a more direct, efficient delivery of healthcare system. 

Presyo ng mga pangunahing gamot bumaba na. 

Ang dating 90 free dialysis sessions ay 156 na. Libre na ang dialysis sa karamihan ng Pilipino. 

Ipapamahagi na sa health workers ang kanilang covid health emergency allowance. 

We will generate additional jobs for unemployed and underemployed Filipinos. 

Economic reforms underway 

We will continue to forge more international cooperation for a more healthier economic condition. 

We will solidify Philippine reputation as attractive investment destination. 

Government must fully embrace digitalization. It is here and it is needed. 

National ID system crucial in digitalization

Mobile internet speed ng Pilipinas bumubuti na. 

We will relentlessly continue fight against drug syndicates. 

We cannot tolerate corruption or incompetence in government. 

We will protect our sovereign rights and preserve our territorial integrity. – Ni Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

LUNSOD NG QUEZON — Nagpakita ng todo suporta sa public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) ng gobyerno ang grupo ng mga kababaihan na kabilang sa “Busina” sa pamamagitan ng “Walk for a Cause” nitong Biyernes.

Sa ilalim ng PUVMP ng gobyerno, kailangang magsama-sama ang mga pampublikong sasakyan bilang kooperatiba o korporasyon hanggang Dec. 31, 2023 upang maging kwalipikado sila sa pautang ng Landbank o Development Bank of the Philippines para sila makapagpundar na modernong sasakyan.

Ang “Busina” na pinangunahan ng mga babaeng lider at chairwomen ng transport cooperatives ay naglakad mula sa Petron gas station sa East Avenue sa Quezon City patungo sa punong tanggapan ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board bitbit ang mga tarpaulin na nagsasaad ng kanilang todo suporta sa programa ng gobyerno kaugnay sa modernization ng pampublikong transportasyon at bumubusina habang naglalakad.

Umaasa sila na ititigil na sana ang pagpapalawig ng “consolidation” na nakatakdang matapos sa Disyembre 31, 2023.

Binanggit nila na sa mga lalawigan 100 porsyento na ang “consolidation” kung kaya’t wala ng dahilan pa para palawigni ang “consolidation” sa Kalakhang Maynila.

“Yes! to modernization. No! to extension of consolidation program on Dec. 31, 2023. No! to tigil pasada (transport strike). Sakay na Biyahe na Busina na,” ang isinisigaw nila habang naglalakad.

Kanila ring ipinahayag na hindi sila sasama sa tigil pasada sa July 24-26 na ikinasa ng ibang grupo ng transportasyon. 

Isinigaw rin nila na wag magbitiw sa pwesto sina Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista at LTFRB Chairman Atty. Teofilo “Jojo” Guadiz III bilang tugon sa panawagan ng karibal na grupo.

Kabilang sa lumahok sa “Walk for a Cause” ay ang Lagro Transport Service Cooperative, Cazanova, Juan Transport Express Cooperative, CURODA TSC, Catolos Panay Transport Cooperative, Taguig Transport Service Cooperative, Makabayan Bagong Silang Transport Service Corporation (MBSTSC), Central Transport Cooperative, 1Pasada-MTC at Daang Hari Transport Cooperative. – Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

LUNSOD NQ QUEZON – Isang tribo sa Isla ng Boracay na kinabibilangan ng 44 pamilya ay hiniling nitong Huwebes kay Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. na makialam sa kanilang kaso kaugnay sa pagbawi ng 44 Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) na ipinagkaloob sa kanila ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Sa isang pulong balitaan, sinabi ni Maria Tamboon na isama naman sila sa State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Marcos sa Lunes.

Ayon kay Tamboon, mawawala sa kanila ang 3.2 ektaryang lupain na ipinagkaloob sa kanila na noon ay Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte noong 2020.

Sinabi pa ni Tamboon na ang kanilang pamilya ay nagsasaka at nagtatanim sa naturang lupain simula pa noong panahon ng kanilang kanunununuan.

Subalit, anya, pinaburan ng Department of Agrarian Reform ang protesta ng mga developers na nagsabing ang kanilang lupain ay di nababagay sa pagsasaka at pagtatanim ng mga produktong agrikultural.

Nagdesisyon si DAR Region VI Director Shiela Enciso na ang mga lupaing sakop ng 44 CLOAs na ipinagkaloob sa nasabing bilang ng pamilya ay hindi na nababagay taniman.

Dahil dito, nangangamba ang grupo ni Tamboon na mawawala ang pinagkukunan ng kanilang kabuhayan. – Ni Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

May kabuoang kita na P500 libo

LUNSOD NG MALOLOS – Sa layuning matiyak ang matibay na suplay ng abot-kaya at dekalidad na mga produktong agrikultural para sa mga mamimili, pinalakas nina Gobernador Daniel R. Feornando at Bise Gobernador Alex C. Castro ang paglulunsad ng Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa Para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita o KADIW ng Pangulo 2023 sa lalawigan nitong Lunes, Hulyo 17 sa harap ng Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium dito kasabay ng grand launch sa pangunguna ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa Lunsod ng San Fernando, Pampanga.

Binili ni Fernando ang karamihan sa mga produktong tampok at ipinamigay ang mga ito sa mga Bulakenyong dumalo sa aktibidad na binubuo ng Mother Leaders, Lingkod Lingap sa Nayon, mga benepisyaryo ng Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers o TUPAD at Barangay Health Workers.

Sa pangunguna ng Provincial Administrator’s Office, Provincial Agriculture Office at Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office sa pakikipagtulungan ng DTI, DSWD, DOLE, NFA and DILG, may kabuuang 39 exhibitors sa Bulacan ang lumahok sa programa na kumita ng may kabuuang P550,734 na kinabibilangan ng small enterprises, local manufacturers, mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

Samantala, pinangunahan naman ni PBBM ang pagpirma sa memorandum of agreement para sa pagtatatag ng Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) sa mga lokal na pamahalaan sa buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng Zoom conference kung saan 82 iba pang mga lalawigan at 16 na mga munisipalidad sa bansa ang nakiisa sa sabayang pagsasagawa ng mga aktibidad ng KNP.

Sa kabila ng modernisasyon sa lalawigan, inihayag ni Fernando ang kanyang suporta sa Bulacan bilang isang agrikultural na lalawigan at sinabi na marapat lang na gabayan ng pamahalaan ang mga komunidad nito tungo sa pagiging self-sufficient.

“Sa mithiin pong ito, malaki ang papel ng ating local government units upang maipatupad ng maayos at mapalawig ang sakop ng KNP sa ating komunidad. Ang tunay pong kahulugan ng hatid nating serbisyo-publiko ay ang tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na tumayo sa sarili nilang mga paa. Kailangan nating maging self-sufficient upang malampasan ang mga pagsubok ng panahon at upang yakapin ang progresong dumarating sa atin,” anang gobernador.

Ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo ay isang direct-to-consumer marketing strategy na kapawa sinusuportahan ang mga magsasaka at mga mamimili sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng makatarungang kita sa mga magsasaka habang nag-aalok ng mga mura at abot-kayang produkto sa publiko. – PPAO

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE —A team composed of personnel from the Clark International Airport Corp. distributed relief packages to 400 heads of families in two evacuation centers in the province of Albay on July 14 as assistance to families displaced by Mayon volcano’s unrest.

The 13-person relief aid team traveled around 520 kilometers from Clark to the Anislag and Daraga evacuation sites in Barangay Mi-isi in Daraga, Albay, where hundreds of individuals are temporarily sheltered, to distribute relief packs containing milled rice, assorted groceries and blankets to 400 evacuees pre-registered by the Daraga Municipal Social Welfare Development Office.

“This is our corporation’s modest contribution to help alleviate the lives of those affected by Mayon volcano and we hope the relief efforts will somehow toughen their spirits in facing the challenges ahead,” Nancy Paglinawan, CIAC officer-in-charge, said.

Daraga Mayor Carlwyn Baldo, represented by his executive assistant Linus Joseph Revidad, welcomed the CIAC team who were later assisted by local social welfare development workers led by Maylene Siwa, and municipal information officer Pranz Samar during the relief efforts.

Daraga is among those localities severely affected by the volcano’s increasing activity after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology declared Alert Level 3.

A six-kilometer permanent danger zone is maintained around Mayon Volcano as lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards may occur because of the relatively high level of unrest.

The 3-day relief aid mission was led by the CIAC’s Public Affairs Division as part of the agency’s corporate social responsibility mandate. – PR

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Senate Bill No. 2020 and House Bill No. 6608, establishing the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) at the Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace today, July 18, 2023. 

Budget Chief welcomes MIF, offers assistance for IRR

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman congratulated PBBM and Congress as she welcomed the good news: “The creation of this Development Fund is very good news because this means we now have an opportunity to expand our fiscal space for the government’s priority programs.”

The Budget Chief also assured the public that the DBM will continue to provide support and technical assistance in the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations and during the implementation of the said Act.

“Of course, we fully support this as it will help expand our fiscal space. So we at the DBM remain committed to helping ensure that this Development Fund will be a success and implemented with utmost integrity,” Secretary Pangandaman said.

Tool for Economic Development 

The MIF is a tool for economic development that will promote fiscal stability through strategic and profitable investments in key sectors. The Fund is envisioned to be invested in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and high-impact infrastructure projects, and projects that contribute to the attainment of sustainable development. Unlike other Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), the MIF will be able to maximize government assets through its investments in projects that generate bigger returns.

The MIF is also seen to optimize national funds by generating returns to support the PBBM Administration’s economic goals as set in the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF), the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda, and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. The establishment of the MIF will provide the government with a long-term source of income that will support generations to come. It will also ease the burden on the national budget by providing additional funding for other priority projects of the government.

Expanding fiscal space without imposing new taxes 

In a previous Joint Statement, the Economic Team underscored how the MIF will allow the government to execute and sustain high-impact and long-term economic development programs and projects by widening the country’s limited fiscal space without imposing new taxes or being too reliant on foreign and domestic loans. 

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno explained: “The Fund is an additional vehicle that would allow the government to tap surpluses that cannot be utilized under current legal frameworks. It will also be open to co-financing with foreign investors and multilateral institutions to facilitate financing of capital-intensive big-ticket infrastructure.” 

The Economic Team further believes that the MIF will sustain the country’s recent economic gains and accelerate socio-economic transformation by improving the country’s fiscal resilience. 

Senate Bill 2020 was passed on May 31, 2023, while House Bill No. 6608 was passed on December 15, 2022. – PR  

QUEZON CITY — Government and private stakeholders on Monday agreed to implement measures in order to conserve water to prevent a repetition of water crisis in 2019 and to address the threats of El Nino.

During a public forum with the theme: “Philippine Water Management Agenda: Ensuring Sustainability and Security” organized by the Stratbase ADR (Albert del Rosario) Institute) at the Seda Hotel in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) executive director Undersecretary CP David said that he would not want to experience again the water crisis that happened in 2019.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. ordered the creation of the WMRO two months ago in order to address the impact of the impending El Nino which began in June this year and is expected to last until the first quarter of 2024.

Households were forced to save and reserve a drum of water in their bathrooms so as not to be inconvenienced by the scarce supply of water, according to David.

David noted that when water rates go up it is only then that people come to realize how precious water is.

It was pointed out that water crisis does not only concern Metro Manila, but Cebu City and Davao City as well.

It also noted that there are presently 25,000 water districts scattered all over the Philippines that cater to the water supply needs of households and the like.

In Cebu City, they only have had a single dam that is the Buhisan Dam which was built in 1951 and that there had been no other dam built in Cebu since then.

Cebu has a requirement of 570 million liters of water each day but the Cebu Water, which is a subsidiary of Manila Water, can only supply about 270 million liters of water each day.

It means that there is there is a deficit of about 300 million liters of water each day.

Water in Cebu is salty and the deeper deep wells are excavated, the more saline it becomes and “desalination” process is expensive.

Cebu can tap the water resources of Bohol province but to no avail.

For her part, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Engr. Bobby Cleofas noted that the Angat Dam, which was built in 1968, now counts for 90 percent of the source of water for Metro Manila’s 20 million population.

On the other hand, she noted that it took 8 years for a clearance to be issued for the P20.2-billion Kaliwa Dam project in Rizal province which is expected to be fully operational in January 2027.

The Kaliwa Dam is expected to generate an additional 600 million liters of water to supply Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.

The MWSS chief stressed that the MWSS is a government corporation that supervises and regulates the water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water Corporation.

For his part, Maynilad Water Services Company, Inc. president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez expressed his gladness that they a “friend” In government such that whenever they will undertake an excavation for repair operations, they are easily accommodated by the Department of Public Works and Highways as well as the concerned local government unit.

Maynilad has sewage treatments plants that treat wastewater before it is released to bodies of water. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.

Masarap mabuhay nang walang iniindang problema.

Mas lalong masarap mabuhay matapos kang makalutas nang kinakaharap na problema.

Ngunit may mga tao bang walang problema o sigalot?

Mahirap man o may kaya sa buhay, tiyak may daranasing gusot na kailangan niyang lampasan para sa ikakapanatag ng kanyang pamumuhay.

Mas mayaman, mas malaki ang pasaning maaring pagdaanan base na rin sa estado nila sa lipunang ginagalawan.

Kaya minsan, simpleng buhay lang ay sapat na. Simpleng buhay, simpleng problema lang na kailangang lutasin.

Ano nga ba ang dahilan ng mga problema, na humahantong kadalasan sa hindi magandang resulta?

Sa aking pananaw, miscommunication ang isa sa ugat nang karamihang sigalot sa pagitan ng dalawa o higit pang panig.

Nasabi mo na ba sa iyong kausap na bakit hindi mo sinabi o bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?

Na ang akala mo ay pumasok sa komprehensyon ng iyong kaharap ang iyong mga tinuran, na sa sandaling iyon pala’y may ibang nakaokupa sa kanyang kaisipan.

Mas makabubuti minsan ang konting pangungulit para alam mong sigurado kayong nagkakaintindihan sa bawat puntong gustong niyong ihayag sa bawat isa.

At magreresulta sa plantsadong pagpaplano, na ang lahat nang kakaharaping sitwasyon ay may mga katapat na proseso para sa isang maayos na gawain.

Isa pang halimbawa ang hindi pagkakaunawaan ng dalawang partido dahil sa pakikialam o intriga ng isa pang partido, na ang tanging dulot nang huli’y kaguluhan.

Mas makabubuti kung pag-usapan din sa isang harapan ang anumang isyu na ibinabato nang nanggugulong panig.

Ang hindi pagtalakay dito ay hahantong sa hindi pagkakaunawaan at bubuo sa konklusyon at sariling mga haka-haka ng bawat isa na ikasisira nang magandang samahang inalagaan sa mahabang panahon.

Madali lamang tandaan, communicaton ang solusyon sa miscommunication na ugat ng karamihang problema.

Ano po sa palagay ninyo?