This is to enhance the
writing skills of the information officers and enlisted personnel of
the 8th ID, so that they will be able to communicate effectively the
programs and missions of the military.
Aside from newswriting,
Director Tiu also lectured on photojournalism, writing good press
releases to build good relations with the media and the flow of
communication.
Aside from training
the soldiers to be good writers, Director Tiu was also the Guest of
Honor and speaker during the Monday flag raising ceremony of the 8th
ID, coupled with the awarding rites of some five outstanding soldiers
of the division.
The inspirational
message of Director Tiu, where she extolled the military for their
sacrifices and service to the country and the people in the
hinterlands, highlighted the activity.
Director Tiu stressed
the importance of communications planning saying that the military is
one of the most misunderstood sectors in government service.
The guest of honor,
then met some 30 information officers and enlisted personnel of 8th ID
as they explored the nuances of News writing and Information
Dissemination.
The activity which
aimed to enhance the writing skills of the information officers and
enlisted personnel of 8th ID, was a very informative and productive
one, with the output of the Writeshop is a compilation of 30 articles
written by the Writeshop participants themselves.
At the end of the
seminar, all attendees produced their own news stories where PIA gave
comments for improvement.
Following the
suggestions, the participants produced the improved copies and hoped
that their final output reaches the pages of leading local and
regional papers.
Balangiga farmers get
5 water pumps from PGMA project
By ALICE NICART (PIA Eastern
Samar)
May 21, 2009
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – Palay harvest in several barangays of Balangiga, Eastern
Samar can be expected to improve after the Provincial Government
through Governor Ben Evardone implemented here the President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo thrust on food security.
In a simple ceremony
on Tuesday at barangay Cagulango, Gov. Evardone endorsed five water
pumps to the town’s chief executive, Mayor Viscocho De Lira and to the
rest of the Sangguniang Bayan and barangay Officials.
“Each pump is
estimated to gather water and irrigate five hectares of rice lands,”
Evardone said in his talk. With five of these pumps, we can expect
better palay production next or in the coming years,” he added.
“However, this
turn-over ceremony of this vital farm facility is just a tip of the
ice berg in as far as sustainability of the irrigation is concerned,”
the governor warned the farmers in the audience. He said that
monitoring in the proper use and maintenance of the system must be the
major concern of the farmers.
He also noticed the
impassable road leading to the barangay where they were seated, so the
Governor likewise promised to bring in assistance, giving priority
first to the construction of two steel bridges from President Arroyo
under her “Tulay ng Pangulo” program. Evardone vowed to provide
better road network up to the farthest hinterland which is barangay
Ginmaayohan.
“It is inspiring to
help you folks because your initiatives as the smallest LGU is
incomparable. You, having been recognized for your Outstanding
Performance in the Makamasang Tugon is a manifestation that you are
united for the common good,” Evardone enthused.
He mentioned that,
Cagulango unlike many barangays, has recently achieved a perfect score
in toilet constructions for each of their households. Thus, the
barangay will receive aP20,000 provincial aid which they can spend for
the construction of their Day Care Center which is still absent in the
said community.
Fishery training
director urges Reg 8 solons to support creation of fishery department
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
May 20, 2009
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 8 Training
Director Ronnie Berida urged Region 8 congressmen to support the
creation of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR).
During a meeting of
government agencies at the Maqueda Bay Hotel here on May 19, Berida
showed PIA a local paper bearing the news that Rep Ferdinand Martin
Romualdez has sponsored the bill upgrading BFAR to DFAR.
The news article
penned by Tess Lardizabal cited that “the creation of a DFAR is
significant step to ensure the preservation and proper development of
the nation’s archipelagic waters and marine resources.”
The news also stated
that Reps Diosdado Macapagal-Arroyo, Luis Villafuerte and Marcelo
Teodoro have also urged the creation of a department in separate
bills.
Berida stressed that
his agency is very crucial in the food security.
He also added that the
fishery sector has been a significant contributor to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) where it came second to agricultural products
like rice and corn.
Meanwhile, Speaker
Nograles in a press statement said that since the Philippines is an
archipelagic nation whose waters and seas are triple the area of its
land mass, national development could be hastened and sustained by
securing the country's fishery and aquatic resources.
Army brigades join
Brigada Eskwela 2009
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
May
19, 2009
CATBALOGAN CITY –
The various army brigades of the 8th Infantry Division continue to
help the various sectors of society where they are needed, not only in
keeping peace and order, but also in rendering community work just
like the Brigada Eskwela, MajGen. Arthur Tabaquero, the commanding
general of the 8th ID, informed.
The 803rd Infantry
Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army joined other
stakeholders in the conduct of Brigada Eskwela.
Col. Arnulfo Atendido
deployed the troops based in Catarman,
Northern Samar for this noble endeavour, designed to benefit the
school children of
Northern Samar.
The said activity was
done at Brgy. Mayro Elementary School, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar on
May 18, a few days before the school opening.
Parents-Teachers
Association, Local Government Unit personnel and barangay officials
joined forces in the various preparations like cleaning, painting of
chairs and black boards and classrooms.
The Oplan Balik
Eskwela forms part of the preparation for the opening classes school
year 2009-2010.
Meanwhile, another
brigade, the 802nd of the 8th ID, also joined Brigada Eskwela 2009 in
Carmen, Bohol.
A team from 802nd
infantry {PEERLESS} Brigade based at Camp Rajah Sikatuna, Brgy
Katipunan in this town replaced the old and rotten school signboard.
The same team also
cleaned-up the school garden of the
Katipunan
National High School the whole morning.
It was part of the
Brigade's participation in DepEds yearly “Brigada Eskwela” program.
SSgt. Eduardo Dulfo
led other soldiers and CAFGUs to join other stakeholders in helping
school teachers, parents and students in improving and maintaining
school facilities in preparation for the June 2009 school opening.
Ms. Lourdes Flores,
school principal thanked the army volunteers under Col. Alana Luga,
Brigade Commander, for their vision of helping the public schools
become more conducive to learning by making it clean, presentable and
refreshed for the opening of classes.
Brigada Eskwela is an
annual DepEd program that ensures regular classes will be held
immediately as students and teachers enter their schools truly
prepared for the opening. (with reports from Major Eduardo Maligon and Sgt. Lydio
Latoja)
Chiz asks DOJ chief to
stop lawyering for Americans
By Office of Senator Chiz Escudero
May
19, 2009
PASAY CITY –
Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero on Saturday asked the Justice
Secretary Raul Gonzales to stop looking after the interests of the
United States after the DOJ chief challenged the alleged rape victim
of an American soldier to file a complaint and prove her claim.
“The DOJ is again
lawyering for the Americans. Let me remind the DOJ that they are
Filipinos and their salaries are paid for by the Filipino people. They
should protect our interests,” Escudero said in a statement.
Justice Secretary Raul
Gonzalez had earlier dared “Vanessa,” who claims to have been raped by
an off-duty US serviceman last April 19 in a Manila hotel, to go to
court. The 22-year old university student has so far declined to
pursue charges against her alleged rapist.
The DOJ secretary
questioned “Vanessa’s” motive in going public, hinting that she is
being used by militant groups to push for the abrogation of the
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which came under fire after the
controversial rape case involving “Nicole” and US Marine Lance Cpl.
Daniel Smith.
“When Secretary
Gonzalez encouraged Vanessa to file rape charges against her supposed
aggressor, he should have stopped right there. But as he has shown
time and again, he badgers the victim instead of seeking ways to find
out what exactly happened,” Escudero said.
“We have been
subjected again to an annoying display of insensitivity on the part of
a Cabinet official who is supposed to look after the interest of the
victim, not the alleged perpetrator,” he said.
Escudero said
regardless of Vanessa’s decision on the filing of rape charges, the
Senate should now act on the resolution calling for a review of the
VFA which governs the presence of US troops participating in military
exercises with the Philippine military.
“Who knows how many
Vanessa's are out there? If we change the rules on criminal
jurisdiction in our favor, we might just know the answer,” he said.
South Leyte solon
gives away computers, thrash cans, shredders
By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern
Leyte)
May 19, 2009
MAASIN CITY, Southern
Leyte – Congressman Roger Mercado on Friday, May 15, handed out a
number of computer units, including thrash cans and garden waste
shredders, to local government units, mostly barangays, offices, and
organizations.
The distribution
ceremony was held at the lobby of the provincial capitol here, with
Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo assisting in behalf of Gov. Damian Mercado.
Also present was Tomas
Oppus Mayor Felicula Escano, Padre Burgos Mayor Ricardo Borces, and
San Francisco Vice-Mayor Samson Gamutan, Jr.
In his welcome
remarks, Vice-Gov. Maamo cited Cong. Mercado’s “advocacy of modern
technology foremost in his mind,” adding that the lone
Southern Leyte lawmaker “tried his best to saturate all barangays in the
province with computers.”
Among the recipients
of the computers, with matching printers, were 15 barangays from
Maasin, including Rural Health Unit I, five barangays from Macrohon,
six from Malitbog, two each from Bontoc and Padre Burgos, and one each
from Tomas Oppus, San Juan, and San Francisco.
The Liga ng mga
Barangay offices of Liloan and Anahawan also received one unit each,
for a total of 35 computer units.
Three shredder
machines with a ten-HP engine were received by Tomas Oppus through
Mayor Escano, another for Bogo Women’s Association, and one for
barangay Cambooc, Maasin.
Of the seven big
thrash can bins, two barangays from Maasin, Isagani and Hanginan, were
the recipients, three from Macrohon, one for LGU-Tomas Oppus, and one
for the Department of Education (DepEd) provincial schools division.
In his message, Cong.
Mercado said the distribution was in line with his TEA program, for
Tourism, Environment, and Agriculture.
“The shredders will be
used for the production of organic fertilizers,” he emphasized.
He said in an
interview after the activity that the computer units cost about
P40,000 each, the thrash cans at P5,000, and the shredder at P90,000
each.
The funds used for
purchasing the various items were taken from his congressional
allocation, the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), Cong.
Mercado also said.
Region 11 Officials:
Fight NPA atrocities with development
Press Release
By 10th Infantry Division, PA
May 18, 2009
CAMP PANACAN, Davao
City – Civilian as well as military leaders in
Davao region believe that the current insurgency problem in Davao
Region could be addressed through development.
Key officials led by
Governor Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur, who chairs the Regional Peace
and Order Council (RPOC) for Region XI, agreed in a meeting last May
15 to pursue development programs not only to bring essential services
and opportunities to the marginalized sectors but to the majority of
the population.
“Our motto of Justice,
Peace and Development is very appropriate because we know that working
towards that direction is the way to solve the insurgency problem in
our region,” Cagas said.
City Administrator
Wendel Avisado of Davao City made a rejoinder that “the government
should match the atrocities of the NPA through development
initiatives.”
Records show that the
NPA recently has intensified its efforts to attack “soft targets” in
order to project an image of strength.
“They are on a rampage
to kill civilians, retired soldiers, former NPA members, and even
families of soldiers in order to maximize their political and military
victories,” Major General Reynaldo Mapagu of 10ID said.
The pronouncement of
the Communist Party of the
Philippines
to hit civilians was made during the 40th Anniversary last December
26, 2008.
Recent civilian
victims include Ex-Army Dante Villa who was murdered last week in
Matanao, Davao del Sur and Ruben Bitang, a relative of a soldier, who
was assassinated last April in Panabo City.
“In all parts of the
region, the people have realized that only the programs of the
government reflect their deepest aspirations as individuals and
communities to live in peace and prosperity. The people are now tired
of the statements and broken promises of the NPA,” Mapagu added.
Sta. Margarita, Samar
covets “Most Child-Friendly” municipality in Region 8
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
May 17, 2009
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– Besting 148 municipalities in Eastern Visayas, Sta. Margarita, home
of fresh crabs has been adjudged the “Most Child-Friendly”
municipality in Region 8.
The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Ms. Leticia
Corillo personally awarded a plaque and a check worth P50,000 on May
13, 2009.
Mayor Alfred Serrano
told PIA that the award came from the Office of the President.
A child friendly
municipality has to meet certain standards to be awarded as such.
One of them is that
there is a Local Development Plan for Children (LDPC), which contains
programs promoting the basic needs and rights of children from 0 to 17
years of age. This assures a long-term commitment to children's
programs.
There must also be the
Local Investment Plan for Children (LIPC), which is the provision of
local resources and providing due priority to doable programs,
projects and activities (PPAs) responding to specific needs of
children in the locality.
Thirdly, is the
formulation of the municipality's Local Code for Children (LCC) that
contains laws and ordinances, translating national laws into
operational provision and financial allocations and human resources
geared towards the protection of children's rights.
Final requirement is
the Local State of Children Report (LSCR) which according to DSWD
comprises the annual reporting of activities outputs and accounting of
gains and challenges in the town's child rights programs and projects.
This is an analysis of baseline data for increased awareness on the
situation of children to identify priority activities and respond to
problems met on the process.
With all these
complied, the municipality can become nominated.
And so did Sta.
Margarita, and with the compliance, given the prestigious award.
Serrano said the
cooperation of the other officials in drafting plans for children
could be their winning edge. He said it is his policy to solicit
bright ideas from his people about implementation of special projects.
Mayor Serrano, who is
in his first term believes that a local chief executive should leave a
significant legacy to his constituents.
And aside from the
various citations Sta. Margarita received in his incumbency, the mayor
would also want to be remembered as one who stood by the children,
pushed to provide their needs and protected their rights!
(with report
from Roger Soria)
Leyte, Singaporean
conglomerate forge management contract for hotel
By PMRC
Leyte
May
17, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
contract that formally gives right to a Singaporean conglomerate to
officially proceed with their renovation of the temporarily
province-run Mac Arthur Park Beach Resort Hotel was recently forged
between Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla and LKY Property Holdings
Inc. President Wilbert Lee.
The contract that
earned the developer a 25-year contract to develop and take-over the
state owned hotel was signed at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel early this
week.
Gov. Petilla said the
signing has been waiting in the offing following the busy schedule the
province had during its hosting of the Palarong Pambansa last month.
“The signing just
happened now because we had to settle the accommodation of the guests
who have already been booked until April of this year,” Gov. Petilla
said after the contract signing Monday.
Bookings in the hotel,
it was learned, ran until the second week of May.
The Singaporean
conglomerate is reportedly going to invest at least P300 million for
the full renovation of the hotel that would include demolition of the
present structure and building a new five-star hotel structure.
LKY Property Holdings
Wilbert Lee said they are expecting to start full operations towards
the end of the second quarter of next year.
“We would need that
much time. Ang ibibigay namin ay isang hotel na maihahalintulad sa
international standard. We are building a five-star hotel sa area na
di ikakahiya at maikukumpara sa iba pang international standard hotels
dito sa bansa,” Mr. Lee said in an interview aired over the weekly
radio program of Leyte province Hingyap han Leyteño.
He otherwise disclosed
the province, through Gov. Petilla, has been aggressive in inviting
investors to come in and develop the hotel and make it more
competitive in the hotel services area.
“Napakanda ng hotel at
napakaagresibo naman ng inyong gobernador. In fact, hindi kami
mapupunta diyan kung hindi dahil sa kanya. Sobra-sobra niyang pino-promote
ang inyong probinsiya that we are convinced to come and invest,” Mr.
Lee added.
Gov. Petilla has long
disclosed despite the turn over of the management of the hotel to the
province last January, the province really intends the private sector
to come in and develop it.
“It has been tried and
tested that if it is the government that runs a facility, more often,
it loses,” Gov. Petilla said.
The provincial
government has been subsidizing the hotel to the tune of P400,000 a
month since its formal take-over last January.
It can be recalled
that the provincial government initiated the turnover of the hotel
some years back before the
PTA could declare it not to be earning enough revenue to continue operation.
The improvement of the
Mac Arthur Park Beach Resort Hotel is seen to pave the way for the
development of the remaining vacant areas of the Government Center. A
long-term plan is to turn the province-owned lot into an economic and
leisure hub complete with a five-star hotel, a leisure park, an IT
facility which is the Leyte ICT Park that is already in place and
operational, government offices, commercial areas and public transport
terminal.
LMP Caravan 2009
converges in Tacloban on June 18
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
May
16, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The LMP Caravan 2009 dubbed as “Interconnectivity Caravan: Strengthening
and Empowering LMP Provincial Chapters” is scheduled to be in Tacloban
City on June 18, 2009.
The LMP Caravan 2009
will be conducted by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines
and the Mayors’ Development Center, as agreed upon and adopted during
the National Directorate Meeting on February 26, 2009.
Mayor Ramon N. Guico,
LMP president said that the June 18 LMP Caravan 2009 which will be
held at Hotel Alejandro, is expected to be participated in by the
municipal mayors of the Provinces of Biliran, Southern Leyte and Leyte.
The LMP Caravan 2009
is aimed at empowering the LMP Provincial Chapters by enhancing their
capacities to be a provincial anchorage for mentoring, coordination
and feedback mechanisms.
It endeavors to bring
to the local government units the existing solutions to the common
problems confronting municipalities and to discuss among others the
local solutions to the issues on peace and security, food security,
climate change and local economic development.
One of the highlights
of the Caravan is the “Strengthening of Local Actions through Health
FOURmula 1- the Zero Basura Caravan” in cooperation with the
Department of Health and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
In the same manner,
the Caravan will serve as vehicle for the National Agencies like DOH
and DENR to cascade their programs directly to the Local Government
Units.
Joining the Caravan
are DENR Secretary Lito Atienza, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III,
and PMS Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
There is no
registration fee that will be charged to the participants. Overnight
accommodations and meals during the activity shall be shouldered by
the organizers. The transportation fee to and from their respective
areas will be the counterpart of the participants.
Mayor Guico said that
the caravan will be conducted through visits to clusters of provincial
chapters employing plenary sessions, dialogues and survey
questionnaires. All the provincial chapters have been geographically
divided into 14 clusters.
Upon completion of the
caravan, and Island Cluster Conference shall be conducted month after
the other, to give feedback to the participants and to validate the
data gathered, the contents of which have been analyzed by the LMP
Secretariat.
Gov. Mercado creates
anti-drug abuse council
By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern
Leyte)
May 16, 2009
MAASIN CITY, Southern
Leyte – Governor Damian Mercado signed this week an executive order
which aimed to form a council that would focus to address the ills
brought about by drug abuse.
Local Government Unit
(LGU) Executive Order No. 4, series of 2009, entitled “An Order
creating the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council of the province of
Southern Leyte,” was signed by Gov. Mercado on Monday, May 11.
It stated that LGUs
“shall pursue undertakings to improve public morals and maintain peace
and order among other equally significant concerns.”
“The incidence in the
illegal use of drug and substances has to be addressed much more
effectively to help ensure community peace and harmony,” the Order
said.
Gov. Mercado sits as
the Chairman of the Council, with the provincial Police Director as
Vice-Chairman.
The members included
the following: a Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, in particular the
Chairman of the SP Peace and Order Committee; President, Panlalawigang
Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan; Provincial Local Government
Operations Officer; Schools Division Superintendent; Provincial Legal
Officer; Provincial Prosecutor; Provincial Health Officer; Provincial
Social Welfare and Development Officer; Provincial Director,
Philippine Information Agency; Representative, Philippine National Red
Cross; and Representative, Social Action Center.
The Order specifically
cited the functions of the Council, among which would be for
organizations and individuals to “work together cooperatively in the
planning, implementation and evaluation of programs on drug abuse
prevention.”
It also stipulated to
“provide for an effective mechanism for the coordination of existing
services and programs and those which might be developed in the
immediate future.”
New technology for
smoked fish invades Calbayog City
By
NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
May
15, 2009
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the City
Government of Calbayog through the City Cooperatives Office conducted
a techno-demo on the Portable Micro Fish Smoking Machine.
This was held on
Friday, May 8, 2009 at the I's Plant activity area.
Mayor Mel Senen
Sarmiento was on hand to welcome the participants which included Engr.
Alfredo Apolinar and Dr. Dominica Sajonas, resource persons both of
the Pangasinan State University (PSU) and personnel from the DOST.
The tinapa processors
from Barangay Matobato namely Maritess Tapahan, Estring's Tapahan,
Yayang's Tinapang Tagalog and Babe's Tapahan; 6 Calbayog Food
Processors Associations; the Rural Improvement Center; TTMIST; and
Barangay Saljag witnessed the demonstration.
The activity was done
in line with the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) program of the LGU.
OTOP is a priority
program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to promote
entrepreneurship and create jobs. OTOP Philippines supports micro,
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to manufacture, offer and market
distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw
materials and local skills and talents.
Calbayog City’s OTOP
is hailed as smoked fish. The techno-demo was held to introduce and
demonstrate the operation and utilization of a new design of smoking
machine which is easy to operate, more hygienic, has smoke and
temperature control. It is also suitable for small-scale producers.
Said machine which can
be an alternative to the traditional smoking oven was developed by PSU
with funding from the DOST and the Philippine Council for Industry and
Energy Research and Development (PCIERD).
The new technology is
expected to boost the smoked fish industry in this bubbling city of
Calbayog. (with report from Ronald Ricafort)
International NGO to
launch anti-trafficking project in Samar
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
May 15, 2009
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– The International Justice Mission (IJM), an international NGO is
set to launch Samar Anti-Trafficking Project on May 21, 2009 in
Calbayog City.
In an interview with
Project Coordinator Janette Bragais-Borac, she said that the US State
Department has awarded them a grant to create a satellite office in
Samar (Calbayog City) to combat child sex trafficking.
Borac added that she
feels honoured to be of service to Samarnons.
The grand event will
start with a motorcade at
8:00 am.
Expected visitors will
come from the US Embassy and IJM’s partners, including officials of
the local government unit of
Calbayog City,
Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, local barangay officials and members of the
local protestant and Catholic churches.
Based in an account,
on March 29, 2009, IJM proved its readiness to respond to an emergency
when the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO) of
Gandara and the local police intercepted three minors and two adults
bound for
Manila.
IJM staff immediately
tended to the aftercare of the victims and transported them to a
government shelter.
The two adults who
brought the minors were charged with trafficking.
Samar’s field office
aims to support IJM’s field offices in
Cebu and Manila
by providing aftercare to trafficked children, reintegrate them with
their families in the province.
IJM also aims to
prevent the recruitment of children in
Samar for prostitution in
Manila.
In the international
scene, IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims
of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent
oppressions.
IJM lawyers,
investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to
ensure immediate victims rescue and aftercare and to prosecute
perpetrators and promote a functioning justice system.
The Arroyo
administration has meanwhile opened in 2008, Bahay Silungan sa
Paliparan (Shelter at the Airport) located along
Ninoy Aquino Avenue
and Chapel Road in Parañaque City.
The shelter with
Visayan Forum is aimed to show the government's commitment to curb
human trafficking which continues to prey on unsuspecting and trusting
Filipinos, especially women and children.
Comment, explain,
Ombudsman writes gov’t offices with vehicles spotted by Oplan Red
Plate Task Force
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
May
15, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas is in the process of writing
the government agencies and local government units whose vehicles were
spotted during the Saturday operations of the Oplan Red Plate Task
Force.
PIA learned that of
the 85 government vehicles which were spotted during the May 9
operations, the Office of the Ombudsman removed those spotted but with
trip tickets, thereby leaving 81 the number of spotted vehicles
docketed and the agencies of which are now being written by the Deputy
Ombudsman.
In the letter, the
government agencies are being asked to comment on the report of the
Oplan Red Plate Task Force. They will be given a specific number of
days within which they must make their comments and send the same to
the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas.
If the respondents
will fail to comment and if the comments given are deemed
unacceptable, then the Ombudsman for the Visayas will file a case
against these agencies and government officials and employees, who
were spotted using government vehicles on a Saturday.
The members of the
Oplan Red Plate Task Force will also execute affidavits as to the
veracity of their report, with pictures or video clippings as the
evidences.
The Ombudsman for the
Visayas however, gave the assurance that the concerned government
officials or employees will be given due process.
The Office of the
Ombudsman for the Visayas which spearheaded the organization of this
Oplan Red Plate in Region 8, underscored that this is not being
conducted to embarrass any one but to help inculcate the habit of
using government vehicles expeditiously.
The Oplan Red Plate
in Eastern Visayas was launched on May 6 and the dry run for the
monitoring operations was conducted on May 9, a Saturday. The Task
Force was composed of members from the Philippine National Police,
Land Transportation Office, Philippine Information Agency and the
Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas personnel who lead the two
teams.
Related Article: Region
8 Oplan Red Plate takes off, 85 spotted
CA confirms Remonde
Press Release
By Office of Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas
May 14, 2009
QUEZON CITY – The
bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), in a plenary action
Wednesday, gave its consent to the appointment of Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.
