190 new Eastern
Visayas candidate soldiers take oath to serve the country
By
DPAO, 8ID PA
February 7, 2020
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan,
Samar – A total of 190 new Candidate Soldiers of the Philippine
Army took their oath of duty and service to the country in a simple
opening ceremony held at the Army’s 8th Infantry Division Grandstand
in Catbalogan City, Samar on Friday morning February 7, 2020.
The oath taking rite of
the mostly Eastern Visayas-based applicants was immediately followed
by the opening of the Philippine Army Candidate Soldier Course Class
633 - 2020 by Brig. Gen. Ramil M. Bitong AFP, Assistant Division
Commander of 8ID as the keynote speaker in the presence of the
candidate soldiers’ love ones; officers, enlisted personnel and
civilian employees of the Stormtroopers Division. The six-month
course is expected to transform and mold the new recruits from being
“boys” into “men” of duty, honor and patriotism.
During his inspirational
message, Hon. Reynolds Michael T. Tan, Governor, Province of Samar
said, “I am one with you, sa lahat ng endeavors ng Philippine Army.
We have always been and we will always be one with you especially
now that EO 70 is in place, na dapat tayo magsama-sama, the local
leadership, the local government units at kayo na nasa Army, na tayo
ay magsama-sama na tapusin na ang communist insurgency dito sa Samar.”
Brig. Gen. Bitong in his
remarks assured the candidate soldiers’ parents that their sons,
after the training will be competent and disciplined soldiers,
“Today you are to leave your previous lifestyle, your comfort zones
and learn to live the level of discipline and courtesy expected from
a soldier.”
“Sa mga magulang, maraming
salamat na ipinagkatiwala ninyo ang inyong mga anak lalo na dito sa
8th Infantry Division. Sinuportahan ninyo sila hanggang sa kanilang
paglaki at nawa’y patuloy ninyo silang suportahan lalong-lalo na’t
simula ngayon sila ay magiging mga sundalo,” Bitong added.
The 190 candidate soldiers
came from different provinces all over the country: Samar-135;
Leyte-43; Iloilo-1; Cebu-2; Negros Oriental-1; Luzon-2 and
Mindanao-6 with the following education profile: 68 college
graduates; 45 college level; 4 vocational graduates; 25 senior high
school graduates and 46 high school graduates with special skills
from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
After completing and passing the rigid training, the Candidate
Soldiers will then be enlisted into the Philippine Army with the
rank of Private.
High ranking
officer of communist terrorist group arrested in Tacloban City
By
DPAO, 8ID PA
February 7, 2020
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan,
Samar – Executive Order 70's Joint AFP-PNP law enforcement
operations led to the arrest of Frenchie Mae Castro Cumpio @Pen,
Secretary, Regional White Area Committee - Eastern Visayas Regional
Party Committee (RWAC-EVRPC) and four (4) others today, February 7,
2020 in Tacloban City, Leyte.
At about 2 a.m. this
morning, a simultaneous implementation of search warrants were
conducted by joint AFP-PNP in two (2) identified Communist Terrorist
Group (CTG) safe houses within Tacloban City. The warrants (SW No.
2020-02-02 and No. 2020-02-03) for violations of R.A. 10591 or
otherwise known as “An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on
Firearms and Ammunitions” were issued by Executive Judge Eligio P
Petilla of RTC 44, Tacloban City on 03 February 2020.
The searched houses are
located in Gumamela St, Bañezville II, Fatima Village, Brgy 77,
Tacloban City, Leyte (SW1 # 2020-02-02) and Calanipawan St, Brgy 96
(Calanipawan), Tacloban City, Leyte (SW2 # 2020-02-02). Reports
disclosed that these houses were being maintained by the CTGs of
Eastern Visayas as their safe houses in Tacloban City.
Incidental to the lawful
search, the government security forces arrested the CTG
personalities who were found to have an actual and/or constructive
control and possession of illegal firearms, ammunitions and other
contraband items inside the searched houses.
The CTG personalities were
arrested for violation of RA 10591 or otherwise known as “An Act
Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions”. The
arrested personalities and the seized illegal items are now under
the custody of PNP Regional Office, Tacloban City, Leyte for
documentation and proper disposition.
Major General Pio Q Diñoso
III, Joint Task Force Storm Commander in his message “Ang
pagkakaaresto kay Frenchie Castro Cumpio at ng kanyang mga kasamahan
ay resulta ng ating pagtutulungan – impormasyon mula sa ating mga
kababayan, teamwork ng ating security forces at suporta ng ating
local na pamahalaan at mga ahensiya”.
“Sinasabuhay na po natin
ang whole-of-nation approach. Ipagpatuloy lang po natin ito at
siguradong marami pa tayong mahuhuli at ma-neutralize na miyembro ng
Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) at sama-sama nating ma-aaccomplish
ang ating mission to end local communist armed conflict dito sa
Eastern Visayas”, Diñoso added.
DTI supports
ProPak; strives for sustainable PH economy through processing and
packaging
By
DTI-ROG
February 7, 202
MAKATI CITY –
Ensuing the success of last year’s trade exposition, ProPak, the
premiere processing and packaging trade show in Asia, returned to
set up its 2nd edition in the Philippines, at the World Trade Center
Metro Manila, Pasay City last February 5.
Organized by Informa
Markets, with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI), Packaging Institute of the Philippines (PIP) and other
government and non-government agencies, ProPak Philippines 2020
flaunts more than 400 exhibitors from 30 countries featuring the
world-class packaging and processing machines, benefiting a wide
range of sectors from food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
This three-day trade
exhibit aims to further boost the capability of local packaging
service providers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
DTI has acknowledged the
role of good packaging and processing to Philippine MSMEs in
enhancing their productivity, marketability, profitability and
competitiveness and so introduced various initiatives on product
development such as Pak! Pinas, One Town One Product (OTOP) Next
Gen, and now the promotion of the ProPak Philippines.
“Many of the MSMEs, food
processors, and even non-food, will always be challenged to exhibit
their products well and so we are challenged to find solutions –
maybe integrate these two sectors, the packaging and the MSMEs. So
in 2018, we gave some rounds of packaging gatherings. We created the
Pak! Pinas roadshows in Region 4A as well as in Visayas and
Mindanao, and it gained success. From that time on, we saw the
improvement in the confidence of micro entrepreneurs seeing
developments in their products. Then came the ProPak Philippines and
we’ve seen some its successes already. We hope that this will
continue to get better and better,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez
during the ProPak’s launching.
Trade Chief Lopez also
urged the ProPak exhibitors to continuously reach out to MSMEs and
offer affordable packaging technologies.
Through the Regional
Operations Group’s initiative, DTI sent more than 500 MSMEs to
ProPak Asia in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018. Last year, the pioneer
edition of ProPak Philippines reached to a close of 10,000 trade
visitors, and stakeholders.
“DTI vows to continue its
support to ProPak as the Department has seen the huge potential of
the Philippines in the packaging industry and exploring ways to
reach its goal to help the people in this industry through expanding
their knowledge, innovating packaging solutions, and connecting with
the international network of the industry,” said MSME Advocate
Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona.
Furthermore, Secretary
Lopez reiterated the significant role of MSMEs in sustaining the
economic development of the Philippines, as it continuously
contributes to the employment generation as well as the eradication
of poverty in the country. Through DTI’s efforts, there are now
around 1.5 million registered enterprises in the country.
Gracing the event was also
House Committee Chairman in Commerce and Industry Weslie Gatchalian.
ProPak Philippines 2020
runs through February 5-7, 2020.
DICT intel fund a
backdoor for corruption, civil rights violations - Karapatan
Press Release
February 5, 2020
QUEZON CITY – Human
rights group Karapatan called for an independent investigation of
the intelligence and confidential funds allocated for all government
agencies, as it slammed the allocation of such funds for the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). The
rights group made the statement following the revelations of DICT
Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, who resigned from his post on Monday,
February 3, over anomalies on the use of the department’s
confidential funds.
“The Duterte
administration is desperate in further militarizing the civilian
bureaucracy by allocating millions of confidential funds for
intelligence and surveillance, even for agencies such as the DICT.
The government is merely opening backdoors for corruption and the
embezzlement of taxpayers’ money rather than properly allocating
these funds for basic social services,” Karapatan secretary general
Cristina Palabay said.
Rio resigned from his post
citing anomalies in the disbursement of the DICT’s funds for
“confidential, intelligence and extraordinary expenses” which he
warned were not subject to regular audit. Under the 2019 national
budget, P400 million worth of confidential and intelligence funds
have been allocated to the DICT. Cash advances from these funds
amounting to P300 million have been released to DICT Secretary
Gringo Honasan toward the end of 2019, without the required notice
of cash allotment from the Department of Budget and Management.
“Legitimate questions
raised by the Commission on Audit deserve to be answered, as a top
department official has already resigned over such anomalies. Where
did this P300 million actually go?” Palabay questioned.
On top of the president’s
own confidential and intelligence funds worth P4.5 billion, the
confidential funds of the DICT doubled to P803 million under this
year’s national budget. Palabay asked further: “If Rio says that the
DICT has no use for such funds since intelligence and surveillance
work are outside the scope of the department’s mandate, then how
come the DICT is receiving millions of pesos for activities that are
outside the scope of its mandate in the first place? Why is the
government funneling millions for the DICT to conduct intelligence
and surveillance work? Is the government propping up the DITC to
weaponize the country’s telecommunications system as part of the
whole-of-nation approach of the government's counterinsurgency
program by having the DICT conduct draconian and illicit
intelligence and surveillance against activists, critics, and
dissenters?”
In the 2019 national
budget, at least P8.28 billion had been allocated for confidential
and intelligence funds, almost half of which is with the Office of
the President. The Karapatan official stated that “Rio’s revelation
brings to light that millions and billions of the so-called
confidential and intelligence funds are possibly being misused in
widespread malversation to fund the Duterte regime’s
counterinsurgency program and to fatten his allies’ pockets. The
National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict already
has already been given a whopping P36.439 billion budget for this
year. While the people suffer due to budget cuts on healthcare and
disaster response, the Duterte administration is funneling billions
of pesos to fund its all-out war on the people.”
“Karapatan urges the
Congress to conduct a probe on Rio’s revelations and for more
officials to speak up against government anomalies and corruption.
It has become evident that Duterte’s priority is war and murder, not
the welfare of the Filipino people – and the people will take all
necessary means to hold the fascist regime accountable for its
negligence and crimes against the people,” she ended.
NMP
Trainers receiving certificate of completion for a 5-day
training (20-24 January 2020) on Instructor Station
Operation Course using Engine Room Simulator 5000 Techsim v.
8.8 |
NMP acquires new
training simulator
By
National Maritime Polytechnic
February 4, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY – At
the core of constant improvements in the National Maritime
Polytechnic’s (NMP) services and facilities is the priority placed
on its clients – the Filipino seafarers. The passion, focus and
determination of the NMP family on creating value are all aimed
towards the wellbeing of the country’s seafarers in the context of
quality, accessible and relevant training.
As part of the Agency’s
thrust in keeping its training services updated and responsive to
the dynamic nature of maritime industry and sustaining the provision
of quality training, NMP pursued the procurement of one (1) unit
Class “A” Full Mission Engine Room Simulator funded from the
insurance proceeds from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
relative to the destruction brought by the Super Typhoon “Yolanda”
in 2013.
The Full Mission Engine
Room Simulator Version 8.8 is capable of simulating a realistic
environment for competence requirements on engine operations.
Trainees will experience realistic simulation exercises, as mimic
panel and sound system that imitate the different sound of the
machineries and alarms are installed.
The simulator also has an
interactive walk-through functionality that allows trainees to move
around giving a full immersive experience using 3D visualizations of
various compartments in actual ship. It is also able to replicate
the dynamic behavior of the machinery systems and all its vital
parameters as well as the interactions between the sub-systems.
It also has a statement
product quality according to the NK standard for certification of
maritime education and training simulator systems based on the
latest Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)
requirements and corresponding International Maritime Organization
(IMO) model courses.
As articulated in its
mission, NMP, as the sole government maritime training center of the
country, plays a crucial role in the enhancement of skills and
competencies of Filipino seafarers. Being the government’s maritime
training arm, NMP with the use sophisticated equipment and
facilities, will continue to lead in the country’s efforts of
grooming the Filipino seafarers for them to become the “choice
seafarers” who are globally competent and qualified.
Building a responsive
Maritime Education and Training (MET) is believed to be a sure way
of sustaining the country’s distinction as the No. 1 provider of
seafarers in the world amidst stringent requirements of the STCW
2010 Manila Amendments.
NMP, as a maritime
training and research agency, remains on guard for new developments
in MET as these are crucial considerations in the accreditation,
validation and improvement processes of its training programs. It
continuously endeavors to precipitate and capitalize in program
offerings and ensures that measures are undertaken to keep abreast
with evolving standards and other industry requirements.
Joint Task Force
Storm extends helping hands to the victims of Taal volcano eruption
By
DPAO, 8ID PA
February 4, 2020
CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan,
Samar – Upon the instruction of Major General Pio Q. Diñoso III
AFP, Commander of Joint Task Force “Storm” of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines in Eastern Visayas, combined personnel of 546th
Engineering Construction Battalion (546ECBn) under Lt. Col. Ricnon
Carolasan and 8th Forward Service Support Unit (8FSSU) under Lt.
Col. Arlene Epe equipped with five (5) military trucks withdrew 200
sacks of rice from Chen Yi Agventures Incorporated Rice Processing
Complex in Mudboron, Alang-alang, Leyte in coordination with
Engineer Jerjohn Tesorio on January 31, 2020 at 4:00 o’clock in the
afternoon and transported said items to Tacloban City Port. Upon
reaching the port, the troops transferred the 200 sacks of rice to
BRP SULUAN vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) under the
command of Commander Dan August Cariño.
Based on the report of
Commander Cariño, they ferried the cargo and successfully reached
Batangas Port on the following day and released the 200 sacks of
rice to the proper authorities that distributed the same to the
victims of Taal Volcano Eruption.
“Despite the distance, we
find ways to help the victims of Taal Volcano eruption as a
manifestation of our concern with our brother Filipinos who are in
need of assistance in the area,” said Major General Diñoso.
New school
building helped solve classroom congestion in Malaga NHS - Peña I
Annex
By
CHENZI MAE UY
February 1, 2020
CALBAYOG CITY – The
new two-storey, four-classroom building in Malaga National High
School - Peña I Annex has helped the school with its perennial
problem on classroom congestion, said Officer-in-Charge Dr. Lilia
Adel.
The building was turned
over by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), on
behalf of the Department of Education, last December 2019.
Three (3) Grade 8 sections
and one (1) Grade 9 class, or around 140 students, moved in since
the resumption of classes in January 6, 2020.
Kent Feb Owen Olasiman, a
Grade 8 student, said space was really tight in their previous
rooms. He recounted that they used to have a hard time cleaning
their rooms, which get flooded whenever it rained.
On congestion, Dr. Adel
says it has been a problem since 2011. “We would fuse two classes in
one makeshift room because we don’t have another option. After
typhoon Yolanda, we had up to three sections occupying one room at a
time,” she recalls.
Now, all classes have
their own rooms except for Grade 12 students. The two Grade 12
sections are still sharing one room because the school utilizes one
of the rooms as a computer laboratory. Nevertheless, the students
will transfer to another DPWH-implemented school building project in
the same campus as soon as it is turned over.
“We are grateful to DepEd
and DPWH for these new learning facilities. They are a big help to
our school especially since we have a year-to-year increase in
enrolment.”
NMP
defends P116.109M budget for 2020 at the House of
Representatives last 24 September 2019. |
NMP gets
P116.109M budget for 2020, up 8.74%
By
National Maritime
Polytechnic
January 31, 2020
TACLOBAN CITY – The
National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) has been appropriated with a
P116.109 million budget for 2020, higher than the P106.779 million
budget in 2019, based on the General Appropriations Act of 2020
signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on 06 January 2020.
The 2020 budget posed an
8.74% or P9.330M increase as against the budget last year. The
additional appropriations mainly covers Capital Outlays (CO) plus
certain provisions for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
Of the total fund,
P49.975M is allocated for Personal Services to cover among others
(a) requirements for salaries and wages and other personnel benefits
of seventy-four (74) filled positions, (b) Retirement and Life
Insurance Premium (RLIP), (c) benefits for employees certified
eligible by the DOST Secretary in consonance with the provisions of
RA 8439 or the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers
and Other Science & Technology Personnel in Government, (d)
honoraria for Guest Trainers / Assessors, (e) loyalty pay, and (f)
terminal leave benefit for mandatory retiree.
MOOE funding amounting to
P51.689M which is P5.242M or 11.29% higher compared last year
intends to supply additional provision for rental of office space in
Makati, travelling expenses, security services, insurance premium
and other fees, additional operating requirements for completed
facilities and provision for Medium-Term Information and
Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI) office
productivity.
CO budget totaling to
P14.445M representing 101.75% increase or P7.285M higher than in
2019 includes funds for the provision of one (1) unit water tanker
service vehicle, improved maritime training machinery and equipment
(firefighting equipment and accessories) and MITHI Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) Equipment. These are vital core of
NMP’s main concern, particularly in terms of improvement and
upgrading in order to build and sustain training operations.
With the approved budget,
NMP shall endeavor to attain its organizational outcomes of 1)
Employability and Competitiveness of Filipino Seafarers Enhanced,
and 2) Maritime Manpower Sector Improved Through Quality Research,
which will have a positive impact in firming up a vibrant Philippine
maritime industry and sustaining the country’s position as the
leading provider of manpower in the international labor market.
Maritime training indeed
entails considerable investment cost, but it plows in profit through
economic and social gains generated from the employment of Filipino
seafarers.
Assuring the
competitiveness and employability of our Filipino seafarers, who are
contributing several millions of dollars to our national coffers is
a significant role of the DOLE and NMP in particular, that cannot be
overemphasized.
PH rights
defenders network submits reports to UN High Commissioner on Human
Rights
By
KARAPATAN
January 31, 2020
QUEZON CITY – At
least sixteen faith-based and rights organizations under the
Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (EcuVoice)
have submitted reports on the human rights situation in the
Philippines, in response to the call for submissions by the Office
of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet. This
is in accordance with the Iceland-led resolution on the Philippines
adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in July 2019.
In a press conference,
EcuVoice convenor Edita Burgos said that the reports they submitted
depict the worsening human rights crisis besetting the Filipino
people. “The extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances,
arbitrary or illegal arrests and detention and other civil and
political rights violations exacerbate the landlessness, lack of job
security, and gross inequalities faced by poor Filipinos. Such is
the situation under the administration of President Duterte,” Burgos
said.
The EcuVoice network
mobilised for the submission of reports of the National Council of
Churches of the Philippines, National Union of People’s Lawyers,
Karapatan, Rise Up for Life and for Rights, Save Our Schools
Movement, Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, Kusog sa
Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao (KALUMARAN), Cordillera People's
Alliance (CPA), Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA), Philippine
Task Force for Indigenous Peoples (TFIP), SANDUGO Kilusan ng mga
Moro at Katutubong Mamamayan para sa Sariling Pagpapasya (Movement
of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-determination), Makabayan,
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Save Our Schools Movement,
Kalikasan People’s Network, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, National
Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Migrante, Kilusang Mayo Uno,
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Ibon Foundation.
EcuVoice members also
provided key inputs in the submissions by the International
Association of Democratic Lawyers, World Council of Churches of the
Philippines, the Center for Human Rights of the CUNY, and
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.
Human rights defenders
outlined the socio-economic and political context marked by
intensified poverty, violations on security of employment, high
prices of basic commodities and services, and the continuing plunder
of land and resources including that of ancestral domains in their
submissions. Analyses and documented cases were cited in relation to
the “war on drugs,” the attacks on human rights defenders, lawyers,
journalists, indigenous peoples and members of the political
opposition that resulted in the significant and further shrinking of
civil and democratic spaces. Violations on the right to freedom of
expression, to peaceably assemble and to form associations were also
included.
“The Duterte
administration’s anti-narcotics campaign, its counter-insurgency
program through Oplan Kapanatagan and its ‘whole of nation attacks’
under Executive Order No. 70, and its rampage against critics and
political dissenters have immensely contributed to the hyper state
of impunity,” Burgos stated.
EcuVoice network and its
partners recommended for the initiation of UN-led investigation
through fact finding missions, a creation of a Commission on
Inquiry, or official visits of UN special rapporteurs in the
Philippines. In June 2020, Bachelet is scheduled to deliver her
report at the UNHRC.
The network notes that
this year, aside from this process at the UN HRC, the Duterte
administration is set to be reviewed before the treaty body UN Human
Rights Committee while the Office of the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court is likewise set to release results of
its preliminary examination on complaints regarding crimes against
humanity.
“We reiterate our call to
the international community to help us make the Duterte
administration accountable for its rights violations. ENOUGH
ALREADY!,” Burgos concluded.