NOLCOM AFP and PNP on alert on NPA 42nd founding Anniversary

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac, March 30, 2011-The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) raised alarm on the possible atrocities by the New People’s Army (NPA) as the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) armed wing approached its 42^ND  founding anniversary.

Northern Luzon Command Spokesman Ltc Rosendo Armas, Police Chief Supt. Alan la Madrid Purisima, PRO 3 chief and Cagayan Provincial Director S/Supt. Mao Ranada Aplasca reminded their field units in their respective area of responsibilities to be alert and take extra precaution for the possible atrocities that the CPP-NPA may carry out ahead of the NPA’s founding anniversary Yesterday (March 29) adding that all field unit commanders are directed to strengthen and to implement utmost security measures to preempt harassments of the AFP and PNP personnel, ambuscades, raids, sabotage of cell sites and various vital installations.

They furthered that series of field command conferences held in the different provinces within their AOR are being conducted in order to beef up security measures during said NPA anniversary.

Central Luzon PNP Purisima said that a random field inspections by the Regional Headquarters particularly on “soft targets" such as isolated and less fortified police and military outposts, government installations and infrastructure, and vital facilities are carried out.

Purisima added that the PNP is now in an aggressive stance to address criminality in region 3 by way of implementing the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS), which is a tool adopted by the PNP in the conduct of Anti-Criminality and Police Operations to reduce street crimes, to neutralize motorcycle riding criminals, to arrest wanted persons and to address other crimes committed with the use of firearms.

Cagayan S/Supt. Aplasca said that the police and the army have strengthened their security measures in their respective areas of concern versus the CPP-NPA due to the recent firefights between the army and rebels at Sinundungan, Rixal, Cagayan last Sunday that resulted to casualty of four (4) soldiers and undetermined wounded on the part of the NPA.

Hot pursuit operation is still going-on by the military and police force at the place of encountered. (Jason de Asis)

Guigona conducted forum on public revenues for budget reform

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 30, 2011-In his crusade for a transparent, accountable and participatory budget process, Senator Teofisto G. Guingona yesterday convened a forum for the Open Budget Partnership (OBP) Forum on Public Revenues together with the Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Cesar Purisima, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Angelito Alvarez, leaders and members of the academe and the civil society organizations (CSOs).

Guingona said that the Forum on Pubic Revenues was convened because the revenue performance of the government is found to considerably affect the likelihood of achieving the objectives of the national budget in delivering quality services to the poor, where it’s objective was to inform the public about the structure of revenues of the national government, fiscal plans and targets of the Aquino Administration, and factors that may affect revenue performance and expenditure performance of the national government.

Finance Sec. Purisima explained the fiscal policies of the national government and discussed plans and policies that enable the achievement of a pro-poor budget while BIR Commissioner Jacinto-Henares presented information on the strategies of the BIR for meeting its revenue targets, and the reform plans for the agencies. BOC Commissioner Alvarez presented the strategies of the BOC for meeting its revenue targets and reforms in the agency. The members of the academe and the CSOs suggested strategies that the government needs to prioritize in raising key issues.

“The participation of the top revenue agencies in the country and the members of the CSOs and the academe highlighted the desire of the public to bring good governance in the revenue process as well,” Guingona said.

Last November 2010, the OBP was created to enhance transparency and accountability of the national budget process for the purpose of creating dialogue opportunities between the executive and legislative agencies of the government with civil society organizations.

The key budget issues were discussed and opened the way towards possible CSO participation in the budget process in the first forum which was on the National Expenditure Plan. (Jason de Asis)

National Museum got 178 million pesos from PAGCOR

SENATE OFFICE, MANILA, March 30, 2011-A historical agreement between the National Museum of the Philippines and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)  was executed last March 25, 2011 to provide endowment by PGCOR of 178 million pesos for the Museum which was scheduled to be paid between April and December of 2011, saying that this finally implements the provisions of the National Museum Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8492) which appropriated 250 million pesos from the earnings of PAGCOR for the Museum's Endowment Fund this year.

Partial remittances had been made in the past, payment of the balance of 178 million pesos had not been made for many years until it was brought to the attention of the present management of PAGCOR.

At the signing ceremony were PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Cristino L. Naguiat Jr., National Museum Director and Assistant Director Jeremy Barns, Cecilio Salcedo, and Senator Edgardo J. Angara, representing the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, of which he is an ex-officio member as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

PAGCOR Chairman Naguiat said that there is a need to help preserve the Philippines' greatest collection of important treasures where PAGCOR is continually raising funds for the governments' socio-civic and national developmental efforts, including boosting the country's tourism industry.

Senator Angara said that the occasion was a huge milestone for the country where it will foster cultural and artistic literacy.

“The National Museum has not acquired any large collection in the last few years, and now it finally can where this is the largest amount that any government agency has given so far, and the National Museum can use every penny of it,” Angara said.

National Museum Director Barns said that in its charter, the National Museum may use interest generated from its Endowment Fund for special projects, of which the most important currently is the restoration and refurbishment of its main building, the Old Legislative Building, and the improvement of public galleries and facilities.

“This boost to the endowment fund could not have come at a better time,” Barns said, stressing that they are in the process of creating a new and improved National Museum that every Filipino can be proud of.

He furthered that they have been working hard to modernize, expand and upgrade their facilities for the general public as well as enhance the general appeal of the Museum.

Through this landmark agreement, Barns furthered that they have not had the resources that they need to make any big moves, but that has changed significantly now and expressed that they are happy to forge a strong relationship with PAGCOR. (Jason de Asis)