PO2 Jose Jay Senario
said that the sale or trading of suspected methamphetamine
hydrochloride or “shabu” between the pusher and the
PNP asset occurred at the vicinity of
Calbayog District
Hospital around 6 o’clock in the evening of December 24, 2011.
Immediately after the
transaction, a hot pursuit operation followed as the suspect run off
at once and he was caught at the vicinity of Our Lady of Porziuncola
Hospital, Inc. (OLPHI) after almost 40 minutes of chasing.
It was learned from
the security guards of OLPHI that the suspect under the name of
Fernando Prudente Sepeda went to the blood blank of said hospital to
buy blood for his patient who was confined at
Calbayog District
Hospital.
PCI Cinco and his men
in the presence of the media and Sangguniang Kabataan Chair conducted
a search on the person and belongings of Sepeda. They were able to
confiscate one (1) piece heat sealed sachet of suspected
methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, three (3) pieces of one
thousand (P1,000) and twenty-five (25) pieces of five hundred pesos
(Php500.00), 1 piece fifty peso bill, two (2) pieces ten peso bill,
one (1) unit black Nokia cellular phone, the suspect’s motorcycle used
by him as his get-away vehicle and the five hundred (P500) peso bills
marked money.
The suspect,
Fernando Prudente Sepeda alias Totoy, 43 years old and resident of
Purok 3, Brgy. Matobato, Calbayog City was temporarily detained at
Calbayog PNP lock-up cell while waiting for an inquest proceeding.
Light a Tree contest
winners in Samar bared
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA
Samar
December 25, 2011
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– After some time of guessing which ‘tree’ shines the brightest, for
the judges at least, the Samar provincial government announced the
winners in the “Light a Tree’ contest a few days before Christmas.
The Board of Judges
ruled that the tree lighted by the Provincial and Natural Resources
Management Office (PENRMO) beside the
Pasalubong
Center
was the best and gave it the grand prize of P50,000.
“We did not expect to
win, all we wanted was to comply, but we tried our best, we
brainstormed for the best ideas,” Melva Gruta told PIA.
“We built a chapel,
church goers and posted Pinoys about to hear mass, and lighted to many
bulbs it costs us more than the plum prize,” she added.
But the staff in
charge of issuing permits to quarrying and small scale mining did not
regret their expenses. “The crowd that gathers nightly and took turns
in having their pictures taken in the PENRMO corner is enough ‘return
of investments,” a shy PENRMO offered.
Their concept worked
as the theme has something to do with ‘Paskong Pinoy’.
Gaining second place
was also a well lighted SAMELCO 2 corner complete with a Pinoy village
and gigantic array of stars with lights seemingly flowing from the
top.
Samar National School,
the biggest high school in all of Samar garnered the third prize.
Before the
announcement of the winner, Alejo Quitalig and Sonny Basijan from the
office of Governor Sharee Ann Tan held a raffle draw with P25,000 as
grand prize, then partying took off and lasted until the wee hours of
the morning.
Christmas revelers
will continue enjoying the giant and real Christmas trees until
January 2012.
Task force created to
unify and strengthen performance monitoring of national gov’t agencies
Press Release
December
25, 2011
MALACAÑANG –
President Benigno S. Aquino III has created an inter-agency task
force that will simplify, harmonize and further boost the monitoring
and reporting systems of the performance of national government
agencies.
Administrative Order
No. 25, signed by the President on December 21, seeks the development
of a collaborative instrument that will warrant “a unified and
integrated” Results-Based Performance Management System (RBPMS) across
all department and agencies in government.
“In line with the
President’s commitment to streamline processes and systems in the
bureaucracy, as well as his administration’s commitment to
transparency, accountability, participatory and effective governance,
our office initiated efforts to bring into line and integrate
government performance monitoring systems,” said Executive Secretary
Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Sunday.
“We conducted several
meetings on this with NEDA, Presidential Management Staff (PMS), DBM,
CSC and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and it was
the consensus that there is a need for a cost-effective and integrated
framework to simplify existing reporting mechanisms used by the
oversight agencies and ensure that the data requirements are met by
the reports submitted by the government agencies,” he added.
According to Ochoa,
various oversight agencies currently employ different performance
monitoring and reporting systems within the Executive Branch that have
resulted in redundant data, reports in different formats, delay in
submissions, inaccurate results and inefficiencies in performance
monitoring evaluation and reporting.
To date, oversight
agencies such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
uses Results Matrix (RM); the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
the Organizational Performance Indicators Framework (OPIF); the Civil
Service Commission, Strategic Performance Management System (SPMS);
and Career Executive Service Board (CESB), the Career Executive
Service Performance Evaluation System (CESPES).
But with the creation
of the inter-agency task force, Ochoa said a Common Set Performance
Scorecard and Government Executive Information System shall be
developed and designed, among others, towards addressing deficiencies
and duplication in the present performance monitoring systems and
processes.
Ochoa said the RM and
OPIF shall be the underlying framework for the proposed RBPMS, which
will be used by all government agencies mandated to exercise broad
oversight over the performance of all agencies. The harmonized RBPMS,
he added, shall also be used for determining entitlement to
performance-based allowances, incentives, or compensation of
government personnel.
“In order to attain
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact status, the Philippine
government had previously committed three Policy Improvement Processes
(PIPs) to further improve good governance. One of them is the
introduction and institutionalization of a balanced scorecard
framework,” Ochoa noted.
“So, there is a need
for this unification of the efforts of government agencies mandated to
exercise broad oversight of government agencies’ performance relative
to our commitments and targets, as well as the National Leadership’s
Agenda and Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.”
The Executive
Secretary added this effort also strengthens public institutions in
order to regain the trust and confidence of the public in government.
“This measure is one big step toward the specific goal of
strengthening the capacity of government institutions to link their
respective budgets with performance outcomes and enabling citizens and
civil society to monitor and evaluate these.”
Under AO 25, the
inter-agency task force shall compose of the DBM, as chair with the
Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) as co-chair. Members of the
task force include the NEDA, PMS and the Department of Finance (DOF).
Other government
oversight offices like the CSC and the CESB shall also be involved in
the inter-agency task force in order to align the SPMS and CESPES to
the proposed RBPMS. The Commission on Audit and the Office of the
Ombudsman may also be invited by the task force to provide insights on
the harmonization process.
The private sector
will likewise be involved in the task force through the National
Competitiveness Council for the purpose of providing inputs and
aligning other performance management systems with the proposed
unified RBPMS.
The DAP, meanwhile,
shall serve as the Secretariat of the inter-agency task force as well
as its technical resource institution, according to the President’s
directive.
President Aquino
also directed the task force to submit to him within six months its
recommendation on the RBPMS through the Executive Secretary. Funding
for the task force shall be provided for by the DBM.
Maasin City employees
donate to “Sendong” victims
By BONG PEDALINO, PIA Southern
Leyte
December 25, 2011
MAASIN CITY, Southern
Leyte – Rank and file employees of the city government here dipped
into their pockets to chip in for hard cash that can be extended to
our ill-fated Filipino brothers and sisters in Cagayan De Oro City and
Iligan City,
in the wake of tropical storm “Sendong” that badly hit these places
last weekend.
The voluntary
contribution was in line with the message aired by City Mayor Maloney
Samaco during a Christmas party at the Mayor’s Office, Zaldy Olita
reported during the morning newscast DYDM Balita this morning.
Aside from the
heartfelt giving of money per individual employee, Olita also quoted
Samaco as saying he will convene the City Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (CDRRMC) to pass a resolution for the setting aside
of funds to help the basic needs of Sendong survivors.
Many believed the
survivors and the victims themselves were from
Southern Leyte and
Maasin City, or have
roots from this city and province, hence the desire to extend a
helping hand has become more meaningful and urgent, coming as it is at
Christmas time.
In December, 2003,
Southern Leyte experienced the pain now being felt by Cagayanons and
Iliganons as three towns in Panaon caved in, the mudslide killing
scores of people at dawn.
Also in 2006, the
Guinsaugon landslide happened, and it can be recalled that the cities
of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan were one of the first places to send in
their rescue teams and relief assistance.
Meanwhile, a
reliable source at the capitol said the provincial government has set
aside at least P1 million to be given as financial assistance to the
areas hardest hit by Sendong in Cagayan De Oro and Iligan Cities in
Northern Mindanao.
Rep. Alcover chides
move to investigate him
By ANAD Partylist
December
24, 2011
QUEZON CITY –
“Instead of encouraging and strengthening our country’s democratic
fundamentals, some of members in the House of Representatives are now
harassing me with an investigation by the House’s Ethics Committee for
whatever purpose it may serve their interest,” said
ANAD Rep. Jun Alcover in reaction to published news report
quoting Reps. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Roger Espina of Biliran,
Rene Relampos of Bohol, and Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes saying, “ANAD
partylist Rep. Pastor Alcover should be investigated by the House
Ethics panel for making false accusations and irresponsible statements
that has put the Lower House in a bad light.” (12/22/2011
www.tribuneonline.org)
“I cannot understand
where did they get this wrong information or whoever feed this to
them,” said Rep. Alcover as he stressed that not even a word, much
more a phrase, can be found in ANAD’s press statement, “Posted in our
website: www.anadpartylist.org dated Dec. 14, and those circulated to
media personalities that would substantiate their allegation that I
accused President Aquino of bribing lawmakers in exchange for their
signatures for the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Chief
Justice Renato Corona.” (read ANAD statement)
“The concerns that I
raised in the press release were: a) some Congressmen who signed the
impeachment complaint told me that they were told to do so and besides
they can’t do anything against it with the 2012 PDAF plus the
additional P1 million to our PDAF for every Congressman, dangled
before them.; b) copies of the impeachment complaint were selectively
distributed and only for the majority block Representatives. Surely,
we in the minority were left in the dark without even a page of the
complaint to read; and c) Whether this is true or not is for the
majority to respond and explain to the people in the light of their
own crusade for transparency in governance. I urge these Congressmen
to visit and peek on our website to get their facts,” he explained
quoting the ANAD press release.
“Why train their guns
solely against me? Why not explain this issue to the Filipino people,
instead, and investigate other members of the House who resigned from
their respective positions in the House because they refused or failed
to sign the impeachment complaint against CJ Corona?” he asked.
“Is there truth to the
circulated rumors that indeed the mechanics to control all three
branches of government is now set into motion? They cannot blame me
for saying this because the ethics investigation is intended to
silence the lone pro-democracy legislator in the House of
Representatives,” Rep. Alcover noted.
“Nobody dared to
stand up, question, or raise an issue against the Maoist terrorist
pseudo partylist representatives in Congress except me. Is this the
price that pro-democracy advocates should pay for standing
four-squares in defense of our freedom and democratic ideals?” asked
the former NPA political and commanding officer turned staunch
pro-democracy advocate.
DILG presents P3-M
Pamana ng Lahi prize to Leyte province
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
23, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – The
Department of Interior and Local Government officially presented the
P3 million prize as Pamana ng Lahi awardee to the Provincial
Government of Leyte.
No less than Leyte
Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla received the award from DILG-8
Regional Director Pedro Noval, during the simple ceremonies held at
the new Oriental Hotel Leyte which coincided with the Christmas Party
of the Provincial Government.
The Province of Leyte
was adjudged as the Regional awardee for the Provincial level of the
Pamana Award which qualified it to the National Awarding on October
11, during the program for the 20th year anniversary of local
government autonomy at PICC.
Other Pamana ng Lahi
awardees from Eastern Visayas were the city of Ormoc for the city
level and Naval in the province of Biliran for the municipal level.
Aside from the plaques
of appreciation, cash prizes will be awarded to the three outstanding
LGUs, P3 million for the province, P2 million for the city and P1
million for the municipality.
It was learned that
the DILG Region 8 has already presented the monetary award for Ormoc
City and Naval.
The winning LGUs were
cited by the DILG in recognition of their efforts to advance economic
prosperity and improve the social well-being of the community,
Director Noval said.
The Gawad Pamana ng
Lahi by the DILG is a mechanism to motivate local governments in the
provincial, city and municipal levels nationwide, to continuously
foster and strive for good and effective local governance and further
scale-up the value of accountability, transparency and inclusivity in
local administration and development.
The Gawad is conferred
to LGUs for reasons of exemplary performance in administrative
governance, social, economic and environmental governance, drawn from
the database of the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS),
Seal of Good Housekeeping, International Organization or National
Government Agency – bestowed awards and acknowledged innovations.
A Regional Awards
Committee headed by DILG Director Noval was organized to assess the
nominees. After coming up with the shortlist, a validation team
composed of DILG, DTI, DENR, PIA and representatives of civil society
organizations travelled across the Region to validate the regional
finalists in the provincial, city and municipal categories.
8th ID lands in top 5
of the AFP Bayanihan Songwriting contest
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
22, 2011
CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan City, Samar – Now, it can be told that the military in
Eastern Visayas
excels not only in the quest for peace but also in the promotion and
development of the country’s culture, music and arts.
Two out of three
entries of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in
Catbalogan City, Samar, were among the five finalists in the recently
conducted AFP Bayanihan Songwriting contest in line with the 76th
anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
This was informed by
no less than the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division,
Major General Mario F. Chan.
Out of the 27 entries
in the contest, Sundalong Pilipino composed by Major General Mario
Chan, commanding officer of the 8th ID ranked number four while
Bayanihan composed by Corporal Michael Sandigan, also of 8th ID ranked
number five. Both won consolation prizes.
The Bayanihan
Songwriting Contest with the theme of "BAYANIHAN PARA SA KAPAYAPAAN"
aims to promote the spirit of Bayanihan in attaining lasting peace.
The competition was
open to all interested amateur songwriters, individual or any group
(music performing groups, acoustic, band, choir, etc.).
The subject of the
composition must focus on developing a song for the theme: “Bayanihan
para sa Kapayapaan.” Structure and forms of the composition must
adhere to the sound of “Pop Song” in any of the following genre (pop
jazz, disco, country, hip hop, pop ballad and the likes). Rap could be
allowed but must not dominate the entire piece.
The awards night was
held on December 19, at the AFP Tejeros Hall, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon
City.
The winners for the
AFP Bayanihan Songwriting contest were Step 1 by Carla Baful, first
place; Karapatan by Academia, second place; and Bayanihan-Kabalikat sa
Kaunlaran by Captain Jesus Diaz.
