Aguinaldo Shrine

Pagsanjan Falls

Taal Lake

Antipolo Church

Lucban Pahiyas Feast

PIA Calabarzon 2 PRs ( April 16 , 2013), Dispatch for April 17 , 2013 (Wednesday),
10 Photonews , 16 Weather Watch, 3 Regl.Watch , 2 OFW Watch , 1 PNOY Speech , 15 Online News

Weather Watch
2 hours ago

PIA-10: Forecast (5AM 17 April 2013) Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. Ridge of
High Pressure Area extending across Luzon. CARAGA and Davao Region wil have cloudy skies w/ light-mod rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila & d rest of d country wil b partly cloudy w/ isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Light-mod winds blowing from d E to NE w/ slight-mod seas. PAGASA-DOST

Weather Watch
3 hours ago

NDRRMC OPCEN: (17APRIL2013-01) 24-HR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST issued at 5AM today. SYNOPSIS: Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. Ridge of High
Pressure Area (HPA) extending across Luzon. FORECAST: Caraga and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

Weather Watch
3 hours ago

PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz on DZRH:

-Inaasahan natin na magpapatuloy ang maalinsangan na panahon dahil apektado tayo ng ridge of High Pressure Area sa Luzon. Ang southern part naman ng bansa ay apektado ng trough of LPA. -Asahan na magkakaroon ng mahina hanggang sa katamtamang pag-ulan sa CARAGA region at Davao region.

Weather Watch shared a link.

4 hours ago

24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST

Issued at: 5:00 AM 17 April 2013 SYNOPSIS: Trough of a low pressure area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. FORECAST: Caraga and Davao region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate. Over METRO MANILA: Maximum Temperature: 3:00 PM Yesterday --- 36.1 C Minimum Temperature: 6:00 AM Yesterday --- 23.6 C Maximum Relative Humidity: 5:00 AM Yesterday --- 93 % Minimum Relative Humidity : 3:00 PM Yesterday --- 45 % High Tide Today : 1:49 PM ........ 0.91 meter Low Tide Today : 10:32 PM ..... -0.02 meter Sunrise Today : 5:40 AM Sunset Today : 6:10 PM

Moonrise Today : 10:44 AM Moonset Today : 11:47 PM Illumination Today : 36 % For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.

Weather Watch
13 hours ago

CNN BREAKING: Quake in Southeast Iran killed at least five in Pakistan, in addition to 40 in Iran, Iranian TV says.

Weather Watch
14 hours ago ABS-CBN: Niyanig ng magnitude 8 na lindol ang Iran bandang 5:00 ng hapon sa oras ng Pilipinas. Naramdaman din ang nasabing lindol sa India, Qatar at UAE. Wala pang naiulat na pinsala na dulot ng lindol.

Weather Watch
14 hours ago

BBC BREAKING: Magnitude 8 earthquake reported in Iran. Tremors felt across the Middle East and as far away as
Indian capital, Delhi.

Weather Watch
14 hours ago REUTERS (BREAKING): USGS says magnitude 8 earthquake strikes Iran.

Weather Watch
15 hours ago

(16APRIL2013-03) 24-HR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST issued at 5PM today.

SYNOPSIS: Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. FORECAST: DAVAO Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and of Visayas and coming from the East to Northeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.>> NDRRMC OPCEN

Weather Watch
16 hours ago

PAGASA: Trough of a low pressure area affecting Southern Mindanao. Ridge of high pressure area extending across
Luzon. FORECAST: Davao Region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

Weather Watch
16 hours ago

DZMM: Naitala ngayong araw ang pinakamainit na temperatura sa Metro Manila ngayong taon. Ayon kay Malou
Rivera ng forecasting center ng PAGASA-DOST, pumalo sa 36.1-degree Celsius ang naitalang temperatura sa Science Garden sa Quezon City kaninang 3:00 ng hapon. Bago ito, nakapagtala pa ng 35.5C kaninang 1:50 ng hapon na pangalawa naman sa pinakamainit na temperatura sa Metro Manila.

Weather Watch
17 hours ago

DZMM: Dahil sa nararanasang init ng panahon ay bahagyang bumababa ang lebel ng tubig sa ilang dam sa Luzon.
Pero ayon PAGASA, hindi dapat mabahala ang publiko sa posibilidad na magkukulang ang inuming tubig o pang irigasyon man. Bahagya namang tumaas ang lebel ng tubig sa Ipo, Binga at Magat dams habang nananatili namang nasa 79.24 meters ang lebel ng tubig sa La Mesa Dam. Ang magandang lagay ng dam sa kasalukuyan sa gitna ng tag-init ay bunsod ng isolated rains na nararanasan sa ibang bahagi ng bansa. Panahon na rin ng pag-aani ng mga magsasaka kaya nababawasan na ang sinusuplayan na tubig pang-irigasyon.

Weather Watch
19 hours ago

DZBB: Nananatiling mataas ang lebel ng tubig sa mga dam sa Luzon sa kabila ng umiiral na tag-init. Ayon sa PAGASA,
walang dapat pangambahan ang mga mamamayan dahil may sapat na suplay ng tubig para sa konsumo ng tao at para sa irigasyon ng pananim. Ang mataas na lebel ng tubig sa mga dam ay bunsod ng isolated rains na nararanasan ng ilang bahagi ng Luzon.

Weather Watch
22 hours ago (16APRIL2013-03)

SPECIAL WEATHER FORECAST FOR COMPOSTELA VALLEY AND DAVAO ORIENTAL issued at 10:00 AM today. 24-HOUR FORECAST: Davao Oriental and
Compostela Valley will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms today and tomorrow. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast with moderate to rough seas. EXTENDED WEATHER OUTLOOK: Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms on Thursday (April 18) and Friday (April 19).>> NDRRMC OPCEN

Weather Watch
22 hours ago

PAGASA: Forecast (5AM 16 April 2013) Trough of a Low Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Southern Mindanao. Davao
Region wil have cloudy skies w/ light-mod rainshowers or thunderstorms. Metro Manila & d rest of d country wil b partly cloudy w/ isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Light-mod winds blowing from d E to NE w/ slight-mod seas.

Weather Watch shared Dost_pagasa's status.

Yesterday

THUNDERSTORM INFORMATION:
Issued at 10:00 AM, 16 April 2013 Thunderstorm is less likely to develop over Metro Manila within 12 hours. However, all are still advised to continue monitoring updates.

Weather Watch

April 17 , 2013 (Wednesday) CAVITE LAGUNA

4 hours ago

: Sunny : Sunny

BATANGAS : Fair weather RIZAL : Sunny QUEZON : Partly cloudy

PIA

Regional Watch

PIA Regional Watch

20 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Claro M. Recto District Hospital in Infanta, Quezon will strengthen Community-based
mental health management program in the towns of Real, General Nakar and Infanta. This will address the gaps in mental health care through psycho-social intervention, psychiatric consultation and treatment and formation of family support.

PIA Regional Watch

21 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Quezon police provincial office headed by PSSupt. Dionardo B. Carlos lauded the chiefs of
police of Candelaria and Sariaya for arresting yesterday Christian Dimayuga Cueto of Candelaria and Marlon Jualo Longakit of Calauag, Quezon. Both suspects failed to present permit to carry firearms outside their residents prompting the police officers to apprehend them. A formal complaint for violation of R.A 8294 and section 32 of R.A 7166 under COMELEC resolution no.9561 is being prepared against the two suspects.

PIA Regional Watch

21 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON: The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Buenavista,Quezon
conducts water search and rescue operation training today (April 16, 2013) with Dr.Henry Buzar of PDRRMC-Quezon as resource speaker. This activity aimed to train the rescuers of Buenavista local disaster council on water search and rescue operation.

PIA OFW Watch

PIA OFW Watch

4 hours ago

DZRH: Pinamamadali na ni VP Binay sa DFA ang pag-aasikaso sa exit visa ng mga Pinoy sa Saudi Arabia na nag-camp
out sa gilid ng Konsulado ng Pilipinas sa Riyadh. Ayon kay Binay, kailangan aksyunan ng pamahalaan ang problema ngayon ng mga OFW sa Saudi na nagnanais na lamang na makauwi ng bansa dahil naghigpit na ang pamahalaan doon ng regulasyon hinggil sa mga hindi dokumentadong dayuhan.

PIA OFW Watch

14 hours ago

GMA: Nanganganib na mawalan ng trabaho ang libu-libong OFW sa Singapore dahil sa mas mahigpit na labor
regulations sa naturang bansa. Pababain umano ng Singapore ang porsyento ng kanilang foreign workers upang mabigyan ng oportunidad ang mga mamamayan doon na makapagtrabaho sa kanilang sariling bayan. Samantala, itinigil muna ng POEA ang pagtanggap ng mga babaeng migrant worker sa South Korea dahil mas mataas ang demand para sa mga lalaking manggagawa sa nabanggit na bansa.

A. QUEZON
Wild parent spawns super salt-tolerant rice

Tuesday 16th of April 2013 TweetFacebookYahooEmailShareThis IRRI, Los Banos, Laguna, April 16 (PIA) -- Farmers are set to reclaim salt-ravaged land, thanks to a single rice plant born of two unlikely parents that is spawning a new generation of rice that has double the salinity tolerance of other rice. "This will make saline-stricken rice farms in coastal areas usable to farmers," said lead scientist Dr. Kshirod Jena of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). "These farmlands are usually abandoned by coastal farmers because the encroaching seawater has rendered the soil useless. That means livelihood lost for these communities." Unlike regular rice, the new rice line can expel salt it takes from the soil into the air through salt glands it has on its leaves, explained Dr. Jena. The new rice was bred by successfully crossing (or mating) two different rice parents the exotic wild rice species Oryza coarctata and rice variety IR56 of the cultivated rice species O. sativa. What is extra special about this breakthrough is that O. coarctata is extremely difficult to cross with cultivated rice varieties. The location of O. coarctata in the rice genome sequence is at the other end of the spectrum from that of rice varieties such as IR56. "When we cross two types of rice with genomes so far off from each other in the genome sequence, the resulting embryo tends to abort itself," Dr. Jena said. "We've been trying to backcross these types of interspecific hybrids since the mid-1990s, but we have never been successful, until now." The reason scientists did not give up on crossing the two types of rice was because O. coarctata is a special type of rice that grows in brackish, salty water making it highly resistant to saltiness in the soil. According to Dr. Jena, O. coarctata can tolerate a higher salinity concentration (similar to that of seawater), whereas current salinity-tolerant rice varieties can cope with only half that concentration. However, O. coarctata is unsuitable for the production of edible rice. The first sign of good news came when, out of 34,000 crosses made, three embryos were successfully rescued. Of these three, only one embryo germinated to produce one single plant. "We treated this single plant survivor like a baby," said Dr. Jena. The surviving plant was then transferred into a liquid nutrient solution to ensure its survival. Once the plant was strong enough, it was grown in the field, where Dr. Jena and his team used it to backcross with IR56. Backcrossing ensures that the resulting progeny will contain all traits of IR56, and take only the desired O. coarctata trait, which is its salt tolerance. Dr. Jenas team at IRRI is perfecting their new doubly salt-tolerant rice and will test it widely to

ensure it meets all the needs of farmers and consumers. They hope to have the new variety available for farmers to grow within 45 years.(IRRI/CPG/ACO/PIA4A-Laguna)

B. CAVITE

C. LAGUNA

D. BATANGAS

E. RIZAL
DTI-Rizal targets 20 groups for shared service facilities
By Gideon Gapayao Tuesday 16th of April 2013 TweetFacebookYahooEmailShareThis ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal, April 16 (PIA) -- Department of Trade and Industry Rizal aims to support around 20 entrepreneurial groups through shared service facilities (SSF) this year. DTI-Rizal Provincial Director Mercy Parreno and DTI-Rizal Business Development Division Chief Joe Ramos announced to local business groups during an orientation at the La Travieza Restaurant, Antipolo City last April 5 that SSF is one of agencys primary ways to help the local industries through providing facilities such as equipment or tools needed for their businesses.

Director Parreno and Division Chief Ramos also explained to selected businessmen of the rights, duties and responsibilities of the co-operator, monitoring, evaluation and other questions raised by the invited groups. According to DTI-Rizal SSF is a centrepiece program of the central office and targets 1000 SSF projects nationwide for 2013. The program aims to help make facilities and facilities accessible to SMEs. The DTI central office identified priority clusters nationwide for convergence, some of which are feasible in Rizal province (bamboo, wood, pangasius, ICT and ICT services, fresh and processed meat, health and wellness, tourism, gifts/decors/housewares, furniture/furnishings, processed food, dairy, organic fertilizer, etc). The agency also added that aside from the 2013 target, the provincial office also aims to provide SSFs to another 20 entrepreneurial groups by 2014. (GG-PIA4A)

16 APRIL 2013.

Aquino administration sympathizes with victims of Boston bombing President Aquino welcomes His Majesty Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam in Malacanang President Aquino commits to further strengthen relations with Brunei Darussalam
Aquino administration sympathizes with victims of Boston bombing President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday offered his prayers to the victims of the twin explosions during the Boston Marathon as he condemned those who are behind the deadly attack on what could have been a peaceful sports event. The administration joins the international community in extending our deepest sympathy t o those who have lost loved ones in the bombing of the Boston Marathon, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement. At this moment, scores are being treated for injuries, some of them quite life-threatening. We offer our prayers and best wishes for their recovery, she added. Valte noted that the Boston Marathon is an annual celebration of the human spirit of endurance, friendly competition, and community celebration. We condemn those who dared defile this event and who have cast such a pall of loss and suffering in the city of Boston and the entire United States, she said. Valte said the President personally conveys a message of deep sympathy, concern, and solidarity with the people of Boston, where he and his family had found refuge during Martial Law. Boston is a city of bravery, openness, and liberty: this tragedy will not change these essential truths, and points of pride, for this great city, Valte concluded in her statement. PND (hdc) TOP

President Aquino welcomes His Majesty Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam in Malacanang President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed His Majesty Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam during arrival honors in Malacaang Palace. A 21-gun salute was rendered in honor of the Sultan of Brunei during the playing of the national anthems of both countries at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Malacaang grounds. After the arrival ceremonies, the President ushered Sultan Bolkiah to Malacaang Palace for the traditional signing of the Palace Guest Book, where visiting dignitaries affix their signatures during their visit. The visiting Sultan of Brunei arrived in Manila on Monday for a two-day State Visit upon the invitation of President Aquino. Earlier, Sultan Bolkiah first went to Rizal Park in Manila for the wreath-laying ceremonies at the foot of the monument of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, before proceeding to Malacanang Palace. Joining the President in welcoming the Sultan of Brunei were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, 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 Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., Presidential Management Staff head Secretary Julia Abad, among others. Sultan Bolkiahs visit to the country is his first since 2009, and the first under the Aquino administration. The visit was scheduled two weeks ahead of Bruneis hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial and leaders summit. During the visit, the President and Sultan Bolkiah will discuss, among others, Bruneis chairmanship of the ASEAN as well as the strengthening of Philippines-Brunei bilateral relations. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei Darussalam is the governments partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. The President undertook a State Visit to Brunei on June 1-2, 2011. He visited Brunei again on September 23, 2012 to attend the Royal Wedding and Banquet of the Sultans daughter, Her Royal Highness Hajah Hafizah Surunul Bolkiah. PND (js) TOP President Aquino commits to further strengthen relations with Brunei Darussalam President Benigno S. Aquino III has committed to further strengthen relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam, as well as with all Southeast Asian states, to improve not only economic and cultural engagements but also through dialogue for maritime security. The President gave his commitment during the State Luncheon he hosted for Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in Malacanang on Tuesday. Your Majesty, the waters that separate our countries remind us that the same waves lap at our shores. As a brother nation in ASEAN, our country is committed to nurturing our relationship; we commit to enhancing cooperation with Brunei and with all Southeast Asian states, not only through economic and cultural engagements, but also through dialogue for maritime security, the President said. This is our pledge: to continue working with our neighbors in im plementing the commitments of ASEAN member states in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and in moving forward with negotiations for the adoption of a Code of Conduct, he added. The President expressed confidence that with Brunei Darussalam at the helm as chair of this years Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit "the region will move further along the straight path towards harmony and sustainable progress. I look forward to working with Your Majesty in building a Southeast Asia that is truly an abode of peace for all peoples, the President said. In response, Sultan Bolkiah assured the President of his countrys assistance and support in the Presidents peace keeping initiatives in Mindanao. I would like to commend you Mr. President for the initiatives you have taken to promote peace and reconciliation in the Southern Philippines and I wish to assure you that Brunei will continue to provide assistance in your peace keeping efforts, Sultan Bolkiah said. He also said that as this years ASEAN chair, Brunei will continue to work closely with the Philippines towards achieving concrete outcomes and economic growth and social progress and in promoting regional peace and

stability. We value your continued support for our chairmanship and I look forward Mr. President to welcoming you to Brunei for the ASEAN Summit, the Sultan said. PND (rck) TOP

16 ABRIL 2013 Nagpahatid ng pakikiramay ang administrasyong Aquino sa mga biktima ng pambobomba sa Boston sa Estados Unidos Masiglang tinanggap ng Pangulong Aquino sa Malacanang ang Kanyang Kamahalan Sultan Bolkiah ng Brunei Darussalam Ipinangako ng Pangulong Aquino ang higit pang mabuting pakikipag-ugnayan sa Brunei Darussalam Nagpahatid ng pakikiramay ang administrasyong Aquino sa mga biktima ng pambobomba sa Boston sa Estados Unidos Panalangin at pakikiramay ang pinaabot ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa mga biktima ng dalawang pagsabog habang ginaganap ang Boston Marathon kasabay ng pagtuligsa sa mga nasa likuran ng mapangahas na pagsalakay sa isang mapayapang sports event. Nakikiisa ang administrasyon sa pandaigdig na komunidad sa pagpapahatid ng pakikiramay sa mga naulila ng mga nasawi sa pambobomba sa Boston Marathon, sabi ni Deputy Presidential S pokesperson Abigail Valte sa isang pahayag Martes. Sa mga sandaling ito, nilalapatan ng lunas ang napakaraming nasugatan na ang iba ay nasa malubhang kalagayan. Taimtim na dalangin ang aming alay para sa mabilis nilang paggaling, wika ni Valte. Binanggit ni Valte na ang Boston Marathon ay taunang pagdiriwang na nagtatampok sa kakayahang makatagal sa pagtakbo, paligsahan ng magkakaibigan at kasayahan ng komunidad. Kasumpa-sumpa ang mga taong nangahas tampalasanin ang pagtitipong ito at nagsagawa ng ganitong masaklap na pagputi ng buhay at naghasik ng lungkot sa Lungsod ng Boston at sa buong Estados Unidos, pahayag pa ni Valte. Sinabi ni Valte na personal na ipinahahatid ng Pangulo ang kalatas ng pakikidalamhati, pag-aalala at pakikiisa sa mga mamamayan ng Boston kung saan siya at ang kanyang pamilya ay nanirahan noong panahon ng Martial Law. Ang Boston ay lungsod ng katapangan, pagiging tapat at kalayaan. Hindi kayang baguhin ng trahedyang ito ang mga katotohahnang ito at ang dangal ng dakilang lungsod na ito, wika pa ni Valte sa kanyang pahayag. PND (hdc/zaf) TOP Masiglang tinanggap ng Pangulong Aquino sa Malacanang ang Kanyang Kamahalan Sultan Bolkiah ng Brunei Darussalam Masiglang tinanggap ng Pangulong Benigno S Aquino III ang Kanyang Kamahalan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah ng Brunei Darussalam pagdating sa Malacanang. Ganap na ika-11:00 ng umaga nang parangalan ng 21 putok ng kanyon ang Sultan ng Brunei habang tinutugtog ang Pambansang Awit ng dalawang bansa Martes sa bakuran ng Malacanang. Pagkaraan ng seremonya, magkasabay nang pumasok sa Palasyo ang Pangulo at si Sultan Bolkiah para sa

kinagawiang paglagda sa Palace Guest Book kung saan nakalagda ang mga naging panauhing mga pinuno ng bansa at iba pang kilalang taong naging panauhin ng Pilipinas. Ang panauhing Sultan ng Brunei ay dumating sa Maynila Lunes ng hapon para sa dalawang araw na State Visit sa anyaya ng Pangulong Aquino. Umaga ng Martes, nagtungo si Sultan Bolkiah sa Rizal Park sa Maynila at nag-alay ng bulaklak sa bantayog ng pambansang bayani, Dr. Jose Rizal bago nagtungo sa Malacanang. Kasama ng Pangulo sa pagtanggap sa Sultan ng Brunei sina Kalihim ng Gabinete Jose Rene Almendras, Kalihim Albert del Rosario ng Ugnayang Panlabas, mga Kalihim Leila de Lima ng Katarungan, Rosalinda Baldoz ng Paggawa, Rogelio Singson ng Pagawaing Bayan at Pambansang Lansangan, Mario Montejo ng Agham at Teknolohiya, Ramon Jimenez, Jr. ng Turismo, Gregory Domingo ng Tanggulang Bansa, Herminio Coloma, Jr. ng Presidential Communications Operations Office, Direktor Heneral Arsenio Balisacan ng National Economic and Development Authority, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles, Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas at Kalihim Julia Abad ng Presidential Management Staff. Ito ang unang pagdalaw ni Sultan Bolkiah sa bansa sa ilalim ng pangasiwaang Aquino. Taong 2009 nang huli siyang dumalaw sa Pilipinas. Ang pagdalaw niya ay itinakda dalawang linggo bago ganapin ang Ministerial and Leaders Summit ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sa Brunei na si Sultan Bolkiah ang magiging punungabala. Sa pagdalaw na ito, masusing pag-uusapan ng Pangulo at ni Sultan Bolkiah ang mahahalagang bagay sa ibayong magandang pagsasamahan ng Pilipinas at Brunei, gayundin ang pamumuno ng Brunei sa ASEAN. Ang Brunei Darussalam ang pangunahing kabalikat ng Pilipinas sa pagsusulong ng tunay na kapayapaan sa Katimugang Pilipinas bilang kagawad ng International Monitoring Team. May 21,000 ang mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa nasabing bansa. Noong Hunyo 1-2, 2011 ay nagsagawa ng State Visit sa Brunei ang Pangulong Aquino. Muli siyang nagtungo sa Brunei noong Setyembre 23, 2012 upang daluhan ang Royal Wedding at Bangkete ng anak na babae ng Sultan, ang Kanyang Kamahalan Hajah Hafizah Surunul Bolkiah. PND TOP Ipinangako ng Pangulong Aquino ang higit pang mabuting pakikipag-ugnayan sa Brunei Darussalam

Nangako ang Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III ng ibayo pang mabuting ugnayan ng Pilipinas at ng Brunei Darussalam, gayundin sa lahat ng bansa ng Timog Silangang Asya upang mapag -ibayo hindi lamang ang ugnayang pangkabuhayan at kultural, kundi pati sa puspusang pag-uusap tungkol sa maritime security. Binigyang diin ito ng Pangulo sa State Luncheon na inialay niya sa karangalan ni Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Di-Pertuan ng Brunei Darussalam sa Malacanang Martes. Inyong Kamahalan, ang karagatang naghihiwalay sa ating mga bansa ang nagpapaalaala sa atin na ang magkakatulad na alon ang humahampas sa ating mga dalampasigan. Bilang kapatid sa ASEAN, ang ating mga bansa ay nabibigkis ng pangakong ipagpapatuloy ang maganda nating pagsasamahan. Panata rin nating pag-ibayuhin pa ang pakikipagtulungan sa Brunei at sa lahat ng bansa ng Timog Silangang Asya, hindi lamang sa larangan ng ekonomya at kalinangan, kundi sa pamamagitan pa rin ng puspusang pag-uusap tungkol sa maritime security," wika ng Pangulo. Ito ang aming pangako: patuloy na pakikipagtulungan sa aming mga kapit -bansa sa pagpapatupad ng mga simulain ng mga bansang kasapi ng ASEAN kaugnay ng Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (Deklarasyon ng Dapat Maging Asal ng mga Kinauukulan) kaugnay ng Timog Karagatang Tsina at ang gagawin upang sumulong ang negosasyon at nang mapagtibay ang isang Code of Conduct, dagdag ng Pangulo. Nagpahayag ng pagtitiwala ang Pangulo na dahil ang Brunei Darussalam ang namumuno bilang tagapangulo ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, ang rehiyon ay susulong sa tuwid na landas patungo sa pagkakasundo at patuloy na pag-unlad. Karangalan kong makasama ang Inyong Kamahalan sa pagtatatag ng isang Timog Silangang Asya na tunay na pugad ng kapayapaan ng lahat ng tao, wika ng Pangulo. Bilang tugon, tiniyak ni Sultan Bolkiah sa Pangulo ang tulong ng bansa niya sa pagsisikap ng Pangulo na maging mapayapa ang Mindanao. Nais kitang batiin G. Pangulo sa iyong pagsisikap na isulong ang kapayapaan at pagkakasundo sa Katimugang Pilipinas at ibig ko ring tiyakin sa inyo na ipagpapatuloy ng Brunei ang pagkakaloob ng tulong sa inyong sinisikap na kapayapaan, dugtong ng Pangulo. Idinagdag pa niya na bilang tagapangulo ng ASEAN, ang Brunei ay patuloy na makikiisa sa Pilipinas sa puspusang hangaring matamo ang tunay na kongkretong bunga at pagsulong ng ekonomya at kaunlaran ng lipunan, gayundin sa pagsusulong ng pampurok na kapayapaan at kapanatagan. Kinikilala namin ang inyong patuloy na suporta sa aming pamumuno at umaasa ako, G. Pangulo na magkikita tayo sa Brunei para sa ASEAN Summit, wika pa ni Sultan Bolkiah. PND (rck/zaf) TOP

Toast of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Philippines In honor of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam , Malacaan Palace , 16 April 2013
Your Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam; officials and members of the delegation of Brunei; colleagues in government; distinguished guests: In 1988, I had the opportunity to visit Brunei to accompany my mother who was then president of our Republic. It was an important time for both our nations: Brunei was a young, independent state that was on the rise after decades of foreign rule, while our country was just getting back on its feet after many years of oppression and tyranny. Then, our two nations reaffirmed the principles, which for centuries, have bound us as friends. Our relationship has always been rooted upon a deep historical affinity, cultivated by a common heritage and a shared vision of peace and progress for our region. The kindness that Your Majesty and the people of Brunei showed my mother many years ago was also extended to me on all my visits as president. And this is the same kindness that the 21,000 Filipinos who live productive, dignified lives in Brunei experience today. Your Majesty, on behalf of my countrymen, please accept my sincerest gratitude: Terima kasih (Thank you). Your Majesty, the waters that separate our countries remind us that the same waves lap at our shores. As a brother nation in ASEAN, our country is committed to nurturing our relationship; we commit to enhancing cooperation with Brunei and with all Southeast Asian states, not only through economic and cultural engagements, but also through dialogue for maritime security. This is our pledge: to continue working with our neighbors in implementing the commitments of ASEAN member states in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and in moving forward with negotiations for the adoption of a Code of Conduct. I am confident that, as your country takes on the mantle of chairmanship in ASEAN, the region will move further along the straight path towards harmony and sustainable progress. I look forward to working with Your Majesty in building a Southeast Asia that is truly an abode of peace for all peoples. On this note, please allow me to propose a toast: To the good health, happiness, and prosperity of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah; To the continued peace and prosperity of the citizens of all ASEAN member states, most particularly of Brunei and the Philippines; and To the special and resilient friendship between our two nations. [HOME]

ONLINE NEWS
16 APRIL 2013 DTI sets Diskwento Caravan in Camanava DTI aids to upscale human capital in ICT Due to slow demand, POEA temporarily stops registration of female workers to Korea VP Binay: NHMFC partners with 8990 HDC for the Securitization Of Php4 Billion worth receivables OWWA meets with Recruitment Agencies to clear issue on language training schedule for HSWs BIR top taxpayers list monitored to improve compliance taxpayer registries checked against list to

reveal inconsistencies in data Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. won the bidding of NAIA Expressway Phase II Project Pro CALABARZON joins national observance of PNPs 22nd Foundation Anniversary Philippines participates in Defense Expo in Brazil Philippine products shine at Natural and Organic Expo in London High investor confidence in DOTC AFCS project attracts major players BI on lookout for Pagadian Mayor DAR farmers receive grant from DOLE 90 Filipinos to return home from Syria, 69 others awaiting repatriation National Artist BenCab featured in New York exhibit DTI sets Diskwento Caravan in Camanava Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph The Department of Trade and Industry-National Capital Region (DTI-NCR) is targeting to organize more Diskwento Caravans in Northern Metro Manila area after its successful conduct in Caloocan City last week. Joie Villaruel, Officer-in-Charge of DTI-CAMANAVA Area announced that the one-day Diskwento Caravans will be conducted in the following dates: May 21 - Malabon, May 29 - Valenzuela, June 14 - Navotas. Diskwento Caravan features companies that offer a variety of basic goods and assorted products ranging from coffee, powdered drinks, citrus juice concentrate, cooking oils, sauces and condiments, soy based products, breads, down to leather goods, handicraft to fashion accessories. Products in Diskwento Caravan are sold in deeply discounted prices of around 20-70% off. Started in 2008, Diskwento Caravan was launched by DTI as a non-wage benefit for minimum wage earners and employees. Since then, the Caravan has evolved to cater the needs of all consumers through the conduct of the Food Caravan, Balik Eskwela and Holiday Caravan editions to ease the burden of rising prices of prime & basic commodities affecting the consumers purchasing power. Aside from the discounts for consumers, Diskwento Caravan also supports the participating micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). According to DTI-NCR Assistant Regional Director Ferdinand Manfoste, Diskwento Caravan serves as an opportunity for the MSMEs to showcase their products and reach a wider scope of consumers. Through the Diskwento Caravan, we will let the public know that there are products made in CAMANAVA that we will be proud of, Manfoste said. Manfoste added that DTI is offering assistance to manufacturers and MSMEs to be able to lower their prices by subsidizing their venue rentals, power supply, and product promotion. The Diskwento Caravan in Caloocan City was spearheaded by DTI-NCR in cooperation with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Caloocan Chapter. |TOP| DTI aids to upscale human capital in ICT Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG) joins efforts in training next generation educators to ensure capacity building and human resource development in the countrys information and communications technology (ICT) industry. We have piloted in Pangasinan, and we plan to roll it out nationwide, DTI -4A Regional Director Marilou QuincoToledo said during the recent meeting of the pedagogical design and instructional team of the Foothill Colleges Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) and Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, Vice -chairperson of the House Committee on ICT, with the DTI, ICT-private sector group, and the CALABARZON regional ICT committee members, in Makati City. Toledo is also the ICT cluster national coordinator. Toledo is referring to the collaboration between Foothill College and Congresswoman Arenas. This partnership is expected to give way to the training of the secondary level public school teachers in Pangasinan on the effective use of technology in education. This training project include customization of content focused on the use of technology in teaching the current Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum through faculty-led classroom training. This effort resulted from the visit of the Philippine government led by Representative Sigfrido R. Tinga, chairman of the House committee on ICT, to the US to observe best practices on ICT in Silicon Valley in 2011. As follow-up on this visit, Arenas visited Foothill College to start out a project with them in 2012. According to Judy C. Miner, president of the Foothill College, they are committed to upscale human capital in the country through the relevant curriculum and strategic partnership. Foothill College is a community college located in Los Altos Hills, California. In a statement, Foothill College said the Philippine training program is designed to create a fully customized educator professional development program that focuses on student-centered learning, educational technology enrichment, and collaborative professional development experiences for teachers and educators throughout the Philippines. It also said this program includes an intensive two-week educator professional development training program, and a

six-month mentorship project that will follow nearly 4,000 educators as they incorporate the proven tools, programs, content and techniques that will help them transform the way they teach, and the way their students learn, for generations to come. In line with this initiative, the DTI, Congresswoman Arenas, and the Rainbow Rights Project, Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last March 2013. Under this MOA, Arenas shall allocate and download funds to the DTI to cover costs for the purchase of equipment, honoraria of trainors, development, reproduction and distribution of training manual and other costs related or incidental to the implementation of the first stage of the project as stated in its terms of reference (TOR). This TOR sets the procurement of training materials for the continued learning of educators of the province of Pangasinan, and possibly, of the nearby provinces, in integrating technology in their teaching pedagogy. It also allows their exposure to global standards being used by their peers in other countries. Upon receipt of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and the execution of the MOA, the DTI will release the project fund to the ICT service provider who shall establish a trust fund for this purpose. The Rainbow Rights Project, Inc. is the non-governmental organization (NGO) referred in MOA as the ICT service provider, which will provide the materials and conduct the training in accordance with the terms set in the TOR. This industry development support project is supported by Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, and funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the 3rd District of Pangasinan. |TOP| Due to slow demand, POEA temporarily stops registration of female workers to Korea Source: http://www.poea.gov.ph Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has temporarily stopped the acceptance of female workers for the forthcoming registration for the Employment Permit System (EPS) Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) scheduled in July this year. The temporary stoppage was effected after POEA Adm inistrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac disclosed that while Koreas roster of Filipino workers is almost depleted of male names, a big number of female applicants remains to be without employers. "There is a slow demand for women workers in Korea, hence the temporary stoppage of acceptance of applications for the EPS-TOPIK," said Cacdac. In a courtesy call to Secretary Baldoz last week, Director General Jeong Eunhee of HRD Korea-EPS Center in the Philippines admitted that there is now a slump in demand for women workers in their factories and establishments in contrast with an increased number of job offers for men applicants lately. Administrator Cacdac, who was present during the courtesy call, said that in 2012, a total of 9,372 applicant profiles were transferred to the EPS Roster of Applicants. Some 3,109 workers, 96 percent of them male, were offered employment and were subsequently deployed. Of the remaining 4, 943 names in the list, 1,481 are male and 3,462 are female. Cacdac said that with the 7,900 labor quota assigned to the Philippines this year, HRD Korea and the POEA is conducting the EPS-TOPIK in August 2013 to replenish the roster with more male workers. The said list is separate from the roster of voluntary returnees. Cacdac, however, reminded applicants that inclusion in the EPS roster, after passing the TOPIK and the medical examination requirement, is not a guarantee for employment in South Korea. It just gives the applicant a chance to be selected by Korean employers within the validity of t heir TOPIK certificate of two years, Cacdac said. Meanwhile, voluntary leavers, or OFWs in Korea who had voluntarily come home to the Philippines after their contracts can register to take the computer-based Special TOPIK (S-TOPIK) at the CBT Center in POEA. Registration for S-TOPIK is on 16 to 19 April at the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) and in the POEA Regional Centers in La Union, Cebu and Davao. The list of qualified to register can be viewed in the POEA website (www.poea.gov.ph). The CBT is intended for them to be able to return to South Korea if they are in the list supplied by the Korean government. The CBT S-TOPIK will be administered starting May 20 in batches to be announced at the POEA website. |TOP| VP Binay: NHMFC partners with 8990 HDC for the Securitization Of Php4 Billion worth receivables Source: http://www.nhmfc.gov.ph Vice President Jejomar C. Binay announced that the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and the 8990 Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will partner in the securitization of HDCs Php4 Billion worth of Contract To Sell (CTS)-backed receivables. In a ceremony held on Monday in Iloilo City, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) mandating the NHMFC as the Financial Advisor and Program Manager for the securitization of CTS-backed receivables was signed by HDC

President Jesus Atencio and NHMFC President Felixberto U. Bustos Jr. together with Vice President Binay. This CTS-backed securitization is another first and a landmark transaction in the history of NHMFCs continuous growth and vision to become the recognized authority in secondary mortgage operations in the country, Binay said. Slated for issue in the first semester of this year, the proposed issue has engaged the services of MayBank ATR Kim Eng and SB Capital as co-underwriters, BDO Trust as the Special Purpose Trust (SPT), Development Bank of the Philippines as the Trustee and Safekeeping Agent, Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC) as Guarantor, Picazo Law Office as Legal Counsel and Tax Advisor and SGV/Ernst & Young as Portfolio Auditor. Credit Rating and Investors Services Philippines, Inc. (CRISP), one of the two credit rating agencies in the country, shall be the rating agency for the issue. Binay, who also chairs the NHMFC Board of Directors, added that the response to the previous NHMFC issuances shows that there is a strong appetite for alternative investment instruments in the capital market for both retail and institutional investors. This coming issue is a welcome addition to the growing pool of housing -backed securities in the Philippine market and will further stimulate economic growth, he said. NHMFC, as the governments premiere Secondary Mortgage Institution (SMI), launched the BahayBonds Series I (BB1) and II (BB2) in 2009 and 2012, respectively. These are the first-ever mortgage-backed securities in the country. BB1 won the Best Securitization Deal as awarded by the The Asset in Hong Kong, while BB2 was recently awarded the Innovative Listed Corporate Bond Issue for the Year 2012 by the Philippine Dealing Exchange (PDEx). BB2 is the first retail mortgage-backed securities to be issued and listed in the fixed income exchange. |TOP| OWWA meets with Recruitment Agencies to clear issue on language training schedule for HSWs Source: http://www.owwa.gov.ph Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon met 115 liaison officers of Philippine Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) in the National Capital Region to announce the new registration scheme for language training of Household Service Workers (HSWs). The meeting held on March 18, 2013 at the Blas F. Ople Development Center in OWWA Intramuros was organized by OWWA RWO-NCR officials headed by Director Emma V. Sinclair and supported by Programs Services Division Chief Ma. Teresa B. Capa, Administrative and Finance Division Chief Zenaida Ramos, and Language Training Manager Lulu Ignacio. According to OWWA DevCens Registration Unit, the average number of request for l anguage training reaches 715 a day, with Arabic getting more than half the bulk, followed by Mandarin. Every day, liaison officers of PRAs race against each other to get immediate slots for their HSWs whose deployment are urgently pressed by the foreign principals. It was learned during the forum that deployment of HSWs can happen right after the language training. Maximum of 20 requests per agency will be accommodated for scheduling, depending on the availability of slots for equitability to all agencies, said Administrator Dimzon. She added that priority shall be given to HSWs whose VISAs or medical certificates are about to expire. Under the new scheduling scheme, the receiving of requests and releasing of approved requests for language training is done within the same day, with each process taking only one and half hours. Thus, all requests for schedule shall be submitted from 8:30AM to 10AM with the approval to be released from 11AM to 12NN. In the afternoon, processing of requests begins from 1PM to 2:30PM with the results given from 3:30PM to 5PM. While the OWWA understands the point of PRAs demand for prioritized schedules, Administrator Dimzon said it is still necessary for every HSW to undergo the standard process as the language training will help prevent welfare cases arising from job performance due to communication gap with employers. The new directive also mandates all attendees of Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program and PreDeparture Orientation Seminar to wear proper, decent attire that includes wearing of returnable, OWWA-prescribed ID in the whole duration of the training. |TOP| BIR top taxpayers list monitored to improve compliance taxpayer registries checked against list to reveal inconsistencies in data Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph AS part of its data-driven campaign to tackle tax evasion, the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) are monitoring and analyzing the lists of top taxpayers from the national level down to the Revenue District Office (RDO) level. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima noted that the top taxpayers lists were valuable tools in the BIRs drive to increase tax compliance. We closely review the top taxpayers lists when we analyze our tax collection data. Based on our research and benchmarks, we have expectations for the profile of taxpayers that appear on these lists and we investigate findings that diverge from our conclusions, Purisima said. The top taxpayers list will be used as one of the bases for which the BIR will conduct audits on tax-eligible entities. Significant movements within and from the list, such as taxpayers with large differences in payments from one year to the next, may be flagged for audit. Taxpayers that belong to highly profitable industries but are absent from the lists entirely may be flagged as well.

According to Purisima, the top taxpayers lists provide another source to counter-check compliance in income tax payments, particularly for self-employed, business, and professional taxpayers. The BIR also checks the top taxpayers lists against lists of top importers, top businesses by market share, and other metrics in order to locate inconsistencies in data. These lists serve as another way to double- and triple-check income tax payments in populations that are historically difficult to track, such as the self-employed, businesses, and professionals. Our most successful business personalities and corporate citizens should also be top taxpayers and if that is not the case, we need to find out why, Purisima said. The BIR publishes the list of top individual taxpayers per RDO, year and line of business as well as the list of top 500 non-individual taxpayers on its website, www.bir.gov.ph. This rigorous investigation process by the BIR will lead to larger revenue collections an d ultimately more fiscal space for the governments priority projects, Purisima added. |TOP| Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. won the bidding of NAIA Expressway Phase II Project Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph The financial bid of up-front lump sum payment of P11 Billion to the government has won for the San Miguel Holdings Corporation owned Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc. the right to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the P15.52 Billion Public-Private Partnership Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Phase II Project with a 30-year concession period. In the opening of financial bids (Envelope 3) held today (Monday, April 15, 2013), the Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. has submitted P11 Billion as against the P305 Million submitted by the other pre-qualified bidder, Manila North Tollways Corporation. We shall now prepare the required documents to formalize the award to Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. for them to start the implementation of this PPP project. The project is expected for completion before 2016, said DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson. The two (2) pre-qualified companies submitted on April 8, 2013 their respective technical proposals at the DPWH Central Office during the submission and opening of bids in the presence of DPWH Special Bids and Awards Committee, representatives from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, Department of Finance, Office of the Solicitor General, Commission on Audit, Office of the Ombudsman, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and project advisors Development Bank of the Philippines and International Finance Corporation. Two other pre-qualified companies, Ayala-led Ayala Corporation Inc. and Indias IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd., withdrew through a formal letter from participating in the auction. The NAIA Expressway Project Phase II is proposed to supplement the completed Phase I, which interfaced with the existing Manila South Luzon Expressway at Sales Interchange. The proposed Phase II expressway component will likewise involve provision of elevated travelway structures over the existing roads of Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, Domestic Airport Road and MIA Road. The proposed elevated expressway will tie in with the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard where it will terminate through an Interchange. The proposed NAIA Expressway Phase II alignment has a total length of 7.15 kilometers from its tie in point at the terminus of NAIA Expressway Phase I to its connection with Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and PAGCOR City. The project was approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board on May 30, 2012. |TOP| Pro CALABARZON joins national observance of PNPs 22nd Foundation Anniversary Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph DILG Region IV-A CALABARZON Regional Director Josefina E. Castilla-Go, CESO III (center) graces the 22nd PNP Foundation Day held at PRO4A CALABARZON in Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City. With RD Go is Acting Regional Director , PCSupt. Benito Calleja Estipona (3rd from right). Living up to its traditions, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A CALABARZON led by its Acting Regional Director, PCSupt. Benito Calleja Estipona commemorated the PNPs national observance of its 22nd Foundation Day which was recently held in front of PRO 4A Admin Building in Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City. The occasion was graced by Dir. Josefina E. Castilla-Go, DILG IV-A CALABARZON Regional Director, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the event attended by PRO4As top officials. Together with PCSupt. Estipo na, RD Go led the presentation of awards to the PNP IV-A personnel. In her message, Go underscored the challenges faced by the DILG, particularly the issues and concerns on local autonomy, peace and order and public safety, echoing on DILG Secretary Mar R oxass top priorities which include LGU improvement, and fighting crimes. She reiterated Sec. Roxass statement: "Itataguyod natin ang mga anti-crime programs ng Pangulo, ng Philippine National Police (PNP) at DILG. The message is loud and clear. We need to realign our sight to the direction set by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. In both the DILG and the PNP missions, maintaining peace and order, and ensuring public safety are the foremost priorities hence, we can achieve this further if we join hands together and become united in attaining this mission, she added. Being the Regional Director of the DILG CALABARZON, Go shared that Region IV-A is a premier region with boundless opportunities for growth and development. However, she cautioned that whenever there are opportunities, challenges arise and keeping abreast with challenges will define the police force as public servants. "The leveling of expectations from the publics eye is quite high therefore we must be vigilant at all times, and must stand firm for us not to be carried away by the flow. RD Go added. Further, she believed that the challenges the

PNP are facing right now will be properly addressed and hurdled under the leadership of Acting Regional Director PCSupt. Benito Estipona. RD Go closed her message by inspiring the PNP to keep the fire burning inside their hearts as they inflame others to follow their lead towards the attainment of the Presidents advocacy of a Daang Matuwid. After RD Gos message, a plaque of appreciation was later presented by Estipona to Go for her outstanding contribution and inspiring presence as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the said event. This was followed by a pass-in-review of the PNP, a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Bantayog ng mga Bayaning Tagapamayapa, and gun salutes. (DILG CALABARZON) |TOP| Philippines participates in Defense Expo in Brazil Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph 16 April 2013 - The Philippines participated in the 9th Latin America Aerospace and Defense (LAAD) Security Conference held in Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from April 09 to 12. The Philippine delegates included Department of National Defense (DND) Assistant Secretary Patrick M. Velez as Head of Delegation, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Gabriel L. Dimatatac, Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Eva G. Betita, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Eric P. Valenzuela and officials from DND and PAF. Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer and Defense Minister Celso Amorim opened the 9th edition of the largest and most important defense and security trade show in Latin America. In his welcome speech, Vice President Temer said that Brazils defense always has peaceful objectives and that its dissuasive role is necessary to protect the countrys natural resources. Minister Amorim reiterated that the end goal of armaments and military technology should be towards attaining world peace and balance of power. Minister Amorim also mentioned the current significance of State of Rio de Janeiro, which will house the future shipyard where a nuclear propulsion submarine will be built, as well as hosting future events of global importance. LAAD 2013 was a great opportunity for defense and military officials to learn best practices and evaluate the best equipment and latest technology in military, defense and aerospace communications and operations. On the sidelines of the expo, the Philippine delegation met with Gen. Jos Carlos de Nardi, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Brazil, to discuss the negotiation of a defense cooperation and logistics agreement between the Philippines and Brazil. This year's edition of LAAD attracted more than 26,000 guests and delegates and 660 exhibitors from about 60 countries. |TOP| Philippine products shine at Natural and Organic Expo in London Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph 16 April 2013 - The Philippines successfully took part in the 2013 Natural & Organic Products Europe expo, the leading European show for the natural and organic health, food and beauty product sectors. Thousands visited the countrys booth and large orders were placed for the many Philippine items on display over the course of the event held from April 7 to 8. The Philippine exhibitors that took part in the show included Castillejos Agri-Farms, Echostore, Flora Integrated Farms, Marigold Manufacturing Corporation, Tropicana Food Products and Refmad-V Enterprise. Among the Philippine products showcased were various coconut products (coconut water, coconut oil, coconut sugar, desiccated coconut and other related coconut products) coffee, tea, cocoa, muscovado, heirloom rice, fruit juices, dipping sauces, jams and preserves, fresh fruits and pineapple fiber. Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Enrique A. Manalo was on hand to greet the exhibitors and welcome foreign visitors to the countrys stand. The countrys participation in the expo was a project of the Philippine Department of Agriculture in coordination with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) London and the Philippine Embassy in London. |TOP| High investor confidence in DOTC AFCS project attracts major players Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph A total of nine (9) consortiums involving major local and foreign conglomerates, banks, and IT companies submitted eligibility documents to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) last Friday (April 12), in an effort to qualify as bidders for the P 1.72-Billion Contactless Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) Public-Private Partnership Project. We are very pleased with the investor turnout for the AFCS Project. Serious players from the transportation, IT, banking, and retail industries both local and foreign all came out to seek pre-qualification to participate in the

bidding of the project, the Transport Department said. The DOTC believes that this is proof of high investor confidence in the project, as well as in the agency itself. The fact that these major groups want to be the our private sector partner for the AFCS Project only goes to show their trust and confidence in the Department, and in our open, fair, and transparent bidding process, added the DOTC. The 9 consortiums which submitted their qualification documents are: AF Consortium, composed of BPI Card Finance Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Smart Communications, Inc., Globe Telecom, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., and NTT Data Corporation. AF Consortium will also rely on the required experience of Bank of the Philippine Islands, Octopus Transactions Ltd., SMRT International Pte. Ltd., Cubic Transportation Systems (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Accenture, Inc., MSI Global Private Ltd., and Indra Sistemas, S.A. Comworks Consortium, composed of Comworks, Inc., Philippine Gaming Management Corp., Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp., Acer, Inc., Infochamp Systems, Corp., and Berjaya Philippines, Inc. E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture, Inc. Consortium, composed of Tera Investments, Inc., Eastwest Banking Corp., Sagesoft Solutions, Inc., Pilipinas Micro-Matrix Technology (PMT Joint Venture), Inc., and Pulsar Avancer Technologie, Inc. E-Trans Consortium will also rely on the required experience of Kentkart EGE Elektronik San. Ve Tic. A.S., Kentkart Marmara Elektronik Turizm San. Ve Tic. A.S., Kentkart Cukurova Elektronik San. Ve Tic. A.S., and JTKC Equities, Inc. Lamco Consortium, composed of Lamco Paper Products Co., Inc., New San Jose Builders, Inc., Landbank of the Philippines, and NEC Philippines, Inc. Lamco Consortium will also rely on the required experience of Busan Transport Corp. and Samwon FA Co., Ltd. Mega Lucky United Consortium, composed of Asia United Bank Corporation, Dignitas Equity, Mega Cellular Network, Inc., and Gravitas 777.

Mega Lucky Consortium will also rely on the required experience of Korea Smart Card Corp. and LG CNS Co. Ltd. Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium, composed of Megawide Construction Corp., Suyen Corp., and Eurolink Network International Corp

Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium will also rely on the required experience of EZ-Link Pte. Ltd. and China National Software and Service Co., Ltd. MTD-PRLM Consortium, composed of MTD Capital BHD and Puregold Realty Leasing and Management, Inc MTD-PRLM Consortium will also rely on the required experience of Puregold Price Club, Inc., Maybank Philippines, Inc., and Transit Link Pte. Ltd. San Miguel Transport Solutions Consortium, composed of Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc., Catchweight Holdings, Inc., Deltacrest Holdings, Inc., and Allcard Plastics Philippines, Inc.

San Miguel Consortium will also rely on the required experience of Petron Corp., Philippine National Bank, Singapore Technologies Electronics, Ltd., Korea Railroad Corp., Korail Networks Co., Ltd., Vix Technology (East Asia), Ltd., and San Miguel Corporation. SM Consortium, composed of SM Investments Corp., BDO Capital and Investment Corp., Advanced Card Systems, Ltd., and Pentacapital Investment Corp. SM Consortium will also rely on the required experience of SM Retail, Inc., BDO Unibank, Inc., and Goldsign Data Company, Ltd. The joint DOTC-LRTA Pre-Qualification, Bids, and Awards Committee (PBAC) has a maximum of twenty-five (25) days from April 12 to evaluate the qualification documents submitted by the 9 consortiums, and to announce the shortlisted groups. Actual bidding is scheduled to take place in the third quarter of this year. |TOP| BI on lookout for Pagadian Mayor Source: http://immigration.gov.ph The Bureau of Immigration (BI) placed on Friday on its lookout list Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co who was charged with estafa for alleged involvement in a pyramid investment scam involving Aman Futures Inc.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said he issued a lookout bulletin against Co to prevent him from leaving the country following the issuance of an arrest warrant against the mayor. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima reportedly informed David that a warrant for Cos arrest was issued by the court. David instructed immigration officers in all the airports and seaports to apprehend Co if he attempts to leave and turn him over to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Photographs of Co were also transmitted to the different ports for posting in all immigration departure counters. Earlier, the DOJ filed syndicated estafa charges against the Pagadian mayor and 11 others for their alleged involvement in the Aman Futures investment scam. Atty. Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, BI spokesperson, said the BI is also calling on other law enforcement agencies operating at the airports, to help the bureau in ensuring the Co is not able to leave the country. It is not only the duty of the BI to prevent wanted persons from fleeing the country. That is also the responsibility of other government agencies. So we appeal for teamwork, Mangrobang said. |TOP| DAR farmers receive grant from DOLE Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph DUMAGUETE CITYAgrarian reform beneficiaries belonging to the Barangay Liptong Small Coconut Farmers Association (Bliscofa) recently received a decorticating machine worth P760,000 from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). With its farming assistance program, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) proposed to DOLE this processing machine for mass production of virgin coconut oil (VCO) that the farmers organization can venture into. Aside from its health benefits, the market for VCO is huge and is yet to be exploited. According to the domestic and foreign markets, it is expected to grow at 30 percent annually, said Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Stephen Leonidas. Studies made show that VCO helps to control body weight. It also helps control blood sugar levels in diabetics. It is also an excellent moisture for dry skin. The coconut by-product processing project is composed of six machines for decorticating, pressing, unraveling, twining, spooling and waving coconut husks into coco coir. These coco coirs are produced into coco net logs which are used in textile production and coco nets which controls soil erosion. The DAR prepared and submitted the project proposal to DOLE for the decorticating machine. The skills training which was conducted for the operators and workers before the launching of the project, was funded and assisted by DAR and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). This project aims to maximize the use of coconut to augment the coconut farmers and generate jobs for the local residents, said Leonidas. |TOP| 90 Filipinos to return home from Syria, 69 others awaiting repatriation Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph 15 April 2013 The Philippine Embassy in Damascus reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that 90 Filipinos who availed of the Governments Mandatory Repatriation Program (MRP) will soon be in the safety of their homeland. The group is scheduled to leave for Beirut, Lebanon today, April 15, where they will take two separate flights for Manila via Doha, Qatar and Manama, Bahrain. The first batch composed of 60 repatriates will arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal (NAIA) I on Tuesday, April 16 at 5:15 p.m. aboard Qatar Airways flight QR 644. The remaining 30 repatriates will arrive the following day, April 17 at 5:15 p.m. via Gulf Air flight GF 156. Their arrival will bring the total number of repatriates to 3,882. Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Beirut will book a flight for 69 more Filipinos from Syria as soon as airline seats become available. The DFA appeals to 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 at 963-11-6132626. The relatives of Filipinos in Syria may also provide the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) with latest information regarding their loved ones 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| National Artist BenCab featured in New York exhibit Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph

15 April 2013 Philippine National Artist Ben Cabrera, or BenCab as he is popularly called, is among the featured artists in a special exhibit entitled, Visions of Iberoamerican Art: bi/Coa: 200 Years of Identity, being held at the Instituto Cervantes in New York City from April 04 to 26. The exhibit is an international presentation focusing on understanding Hispanic cultures and allowing art to connect Hispanics with other communities and former Spanish/Hispanic colonies such as the Philippines. BenCab joins other renowned artists such as Osvald Vigas, Rodolfo Abularach, and Fanny Sanin, in the exhibit. On April 08, BenCab gave a brief talk at the Instituto Cervantes about his artistic influences and vision, as well as the BenCab Museum in Baguio which is considered one of the best in the Philippines. He likewise graced a wellattended Artists Talk session on April 07 in Queens, New York. The talk was hosted by Topaz Arts Space, a gallery run by Todd Richmond and Filipino-American Paz Tanjuaquio. The exhibit will likewise be featured in other Instituto Cervantes branches in the United States, such as in Chicago and Los Angeles in the coming months. |TOP|

Last Updated:

16 APRIL 2013

Google+ Photo Releases of PNoy

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President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a toast to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam during a State Luncheon he hosted in honor of the visiting Brunei leader on Tuesday (April 16) at the Rizal Hall of the Malacaan Palace. Sultan Bolkiah is in the county for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III listens to the message of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah in Brunei Darussalam, during the State Luncheon hosted by the President in his honor at the Rizal Hall of the Malacaan Palace on Tuesday (April 16). Sultan Bolkiah is in the country for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam greet Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Reception Hall of the Malacaan Palace on Tuesday (April 16) during the State Luncheon hosted by the President in honor of the visiting Brunei leader. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacaan Palace on Tuesday (April 16). Sultan Bolkiah is in the country for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam enjoy the cultural presentation during the welcome ceremony on Tuesday (April 16) at the Malacanang grounds. Sultan Bolkiah is in the county for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam signs in the Palace Guest Book on Tuesday (April 16) at the Reception Hall of the Malacaan Palace during his two-day State Visit to the Philippines. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Gil Nartea / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam, enjoy the cultural presentation during the welcome ceremony on Tuesday (April 16) at the Malacanang grounds. Sultan Bolkiah is in the county for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III introduces to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam to members of his official family during the welcome ceremony on Tuesday (April 16) at the Malacanang grounds. Sultan Bolkiah is in the county for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam review the honor guards during the welcome ceremony on Tuesday (April 16) at the Malacanang grounds. Sultan Bolkiah is in the county for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Robert Vias / Malacaang Photo Bureau) President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam honor the colors during the welcome ceremony on Tuesday (April 16) at the Malacanang grounds. Sultan Bolkiah is in the county for a two-day State Visit. The Philippines and Brunei enjoy close relations. Brunei is a partner to the promotion of just and lasting peace in Southern Philippines as a member of the International Monitoring Team. It is also a host to some 21,000 Filipinos working mostly as skilled workers. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Malacaang Photo Bureau)

Thank You and God Bless !!!!