Jinggoy: ‘Access-enhanced polls to enable millions of PWDs, seniors to vote’

MANILA, November 10, 2012-The country’s millions of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens (SCs) will be encouraged to register and vote – and will be able to actually do so – in local and national polls through the proposed Electoral Processes Accessibility Act.

 

This was underscored by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, principal author of Senate Bill 3287 which aims to make fully-accessible to PWDs and seniors all  electoral processes, which include registration, candidacy, campaign, voter education, and casting of vote.

 

Senate Bill 3287, a substitute bill of several legislative proposals and was sponsored by Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation Chairman Sen. Koko Pimentel III, was approved on Second Reading last November 5.

 

“Consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, other international declarations and treaties as well as our local laws, the bill defines PWDs as those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in the electoral processes on an equal basis with others, while SCs refer to qualified voters who are sixty (60) years or older,” Estrada explained.

 

Based on data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), non-government organizations and other independent groups, there are today about nine million PWDs and 6.5 million seniors among Filipinos.

 

Estrada, however, noted reports that only a fraction of the ranks of SCs and PWDs of voting age have been participating in the elections.

 

He likewise cited a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Asia Foundation which even showed a decrease in participation of PWDs in the 2010 elections compared to 2007, with 17% saying they were ashamed to vote because of their disability, 17% stating mobility problems and 10% saying nobody would shade or read the ballot for them.

 

The same survey showed that the number of PWDs who were of voting age but did not register increased from 20 percent to 22 percent.

 

Estrada said, “The government must ensure that persons with disabilities and senior citizens are able to exercise their right to political participation without discrimination or restrictions. To attain this, we must design systems and procedures that will enable PWDs and SCs to register and vote by themselves.”

 

SB 3287 provides, among others, the following:

 

-      Comelec’s designation of accessible polling places where PWDs and SCs may be able to cast their votes on election day and be provided with the necessary forms of assistance. The polling place shall be located at the ground floor of each voting center preferably near the entrance of the building;

 

-      reasonable accommodation of PWDs and SCs in designing of the ballot and other election materials;

 

-      ensuring that a pool of expert services including sign language interpreters, Braille translators and such other technical support would assist PWDs and SCs during the registration period and election day.

 

-      sensitivity trainings to persons performing electoral duties, including Comelec field officers, members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEls) and accredited citizens' arms to familiarize with the needs of the PWDs and SCs; and

 

-      keeping of an updated record of PWDs and SCs who are registered as voters, indicating the types of disability and the assistance they need, to assist the government in determining policy directions for more inclusive and accessible electoral processes.

 

“Persons with disabilities and senior citizens are vital participants in our national development and, in particular, in electing government officials who will then manage the system of service to the people. We must ensure that our PWDs and seniors are able to fully and actively participate in the country’s electoral processes,” Estrada stressed.

Church, Pangasinan agree on 3 areas of cooperation

MANILA, November 9, 2012— Although Church and State are independent and autonomous, both are called to collaboration in order to serve the people, a Catholic archbishop said.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said it would be unnatural for the church and state to ignore each, adding that cooperation is necessary for the sake of the integrity of the person.

Archbishop Soc Villegas

“The church and state must be properly positioned maintaining distance yet keeping close coordination and mutual cooperation to bring forth peace and progress for the good of the people,” Villegas said.

The archbishop made the statement in his homily during a Mass at the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Shrine in Manaoag yesterday that was attended by Pangasinan provincial government officials.

The archdiocese and Pangasinan province have also agreed on three areas of cooperation called the three “Ps”.

Villegas said these include peace, progress and people.

He said that peace is a priority thrust of both the church and state. “The church promotes peace among its laity and so does the government,” he said.

The archbishop, on the other hand, said that progress comes naturally from a peaceful environment whose leaders are rightfully focused in bringing genuine development to the community.

“The last ‘P’ is People,” Villegas said, as he noted that the vision of the church and the state will not materialize if the community will not embrace the first two “Ps”.

The Mass, which was also attended by local government unit heads and various provincial department heads and chiefs of hospital, was part of the activities in anticipation of the archdiocese’s upcoming jubilee celebration on February 6, 2013. (RL/CBCPNews)

VILLAR SAYS MAKABAYAN ENDORSEMENT WILL BOOST CANDIDACY

MANILA, November 9, 2012-Senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar believes inclusion in the “Magic 6” of Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan), which extols almost 4 million membership nationwide,  will boost chances of winning in the 2013 midterm elections.

            

Aside from Villar, Makabayan also endorsed the candidacy of re-electionists Senators Loren Legarda, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and former MTRCB chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares. 

“Yes, they will reinforce our candidacy rather than us reinforcing their candidacy,” said Villar.

She noted that Makabayan has several organizations and partylist groups campaigning all over the nation.

“Of course, we hope to get the support of members and supporters of the organizations under Makabayan,” said Villar.

Makabayan is a political coalition of 11 party list organizations namely: Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Party, Migrante, Courage, Akap Bata, Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Piston, Katribu, and Kalikasan.

It is fielding just one official candidate, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino who is running as an Independent candidate for senator in next year’s polls.

Villar also stressed that the so-called “6 Senate Champions” of the Makabayan share the same advocacies.

“They laid down their advocacies. We read them. We agreed to support in varying degrees certain advocacies of Makabayan. We saw no problem since they are good,” she said.

Sharing Makabayan’s advocacies was the reason cited by the group’s president, former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in taking in the five as guest candidates.

Ocampo said they adopted the candidacy of the five based on a history of cooperative relationship with each of them on people’s issues and advocacies.

Among the Makabayan advocacies shared by Villar are lowering the prices of oil products, water, power and other basic commodities and services; pushing for genuine agrarian reform, pro-people mining policies and environmental protection;  equitable minimum wage and salary adjustments in the public and private sectors and subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk.

Villar also vouches for increasing budgetary allocations for essential social services; asserting national sovereignty and pepole’s interest; working for the passage of the Freedom of Information and Whistleblowers Act; seeking an end to extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances of activists and journalists and amnesty to political prisoners and repealing or amending the Cybercrime Law and decriminalizing libel and pushing for resumption of peace talks. 

Villar sees nothing wrong in the Makabayan endorsement since all of them are running under the ticket of the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners.

Except for Villar and Pimentel, Legarda, Escudero and Poe are also guest candidates of both LP and the United Nationalist Alliance, a coalition of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada and PDP-Laban of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The former congresswoman has likewise maintained that   having several endorsements would not prejudice chances of winning of a candidate due to alleged ‘overexposure.”

  “The more, the better,” added Villar, as she reminded the electorate to focus on issues and not on personalities.” 

Legarda Wants Immediate Action on Alleged Waste Dumping Incident in Subic by a US Navy Contractor

MANILA, November 9, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today said that the alleged waste dumping incident in Subic by a US Navy contractor requires immediate attention and action, stressing that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) cannot be used as a defense in such an incident.

“The VFA is a framework for promoting the common security interests of the Philippines and the United States of America by strengthening our bilateral defense partnership.  It is not a treaty we have entered into with the United States so that their contractors can wantonly violate the country’s environmental laws,” said Legarda, Co-Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA (LOVFA).

The Senator noted that the contractor, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, Philippines, is neither a part of the US personnel, nor is it a part of the civilian personnel contemplated in the VFA.  Glenn Defense Marine Asia Philippines is a contractor whose status in the Philippines is clearly within the bounds of our laws.

“It is shameless for their contractor to hide beneath the VFA and raise jurisdictional issues.  There is no jurisdictional issue as far as this case is concerned,” she said.

“If it is indeed established that they violated our environmental laws, they should be made to answer, and penalties need to be imposed to the fullest extent of the law,” she added.

Legarda said that the VFA Commission is mandated to coordinate with the Legislative Oversight Committee in ensuring that the implementation of the VFA continues to serve national interest. 

“Clearly, the incident did not serve national interest at all. We shall require a report on this incident and demand immediate action against all those involved in violating our laws. It is time we revisit the VFA not because of this incident, but because it is a long-overdue exercise that is vital to forging deeper and stronger relations with our treaty partner,” Legarda concluded.

CLMA, kinondena ang pagpatay sa isang brodkaster sa NE

CABANATUAN CITY – Kinondena ng Central Luzon Media Association ang isa na namang insidente ng pagpaslang sa kagawad ng media sa lungsod na ito noong Huwebes ng umaga.

Kinilala ng mga otoridad ang biktima na si Julius Causo, 51 anyos, reporter-anchor ng AM station na DWJJ, executive vice president ng Nueva Ecija Press Club at miyembro ng CLMA.

Sa paunang imbestigasyon, si Causo ay binaril sa likod ng nakamotorsiklong gunman habang nakasakay sa kanyang motorsiklo at patungo sana sa istasyon ng radyo.

 “Kinokondena namin ang pagpatay na ito sa aming kasamahan na si Julius Cesar Causo. Isa lamang si Causo sa maraming hanay ng media na pinaslang at sumisigaw ng katarungan,” pahayag ng kasalukuyang pangulo ng  CLMA na si Tony Arcenal,

Umaasa si Arcenal na magkakaroon ng katarungan ang pagpatay kay Causo at hindi matatapos sa imbestigasyon lamang.

Maliban sa CLMA, kinondena rin ng Malacañang ang pagpaslang kay Causo at siniguro na masusing iimbestigahan ng mga otoridad ang krimen.

“Kinokondena namin ang pag-atake laban sa brodkaster ng radyo,” sabi ni presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

“Kilala na ng mga pulis ang gunman at nagsasagawa na sila ng manhunt ngayon,” dagdag nito.

Nagbuo na ang pulisya ng Nueva Ecija ng provincial Task Force Causo para magsagawa ng malalimang imbestigasyon at humanap ng posibleng solusyon sa kaso.

Maging ang National Press Club at National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) ay kinondena na rin ang pagpatay na nagdala sa bilang na 14 na kagawad ng media na pinatay sa panahon ng adminstrasyon ni  Pangulong  Benigno Aquino III.

Sinabi ni Nonoy Espina ng NUJP na si Causo ay panglima ngayong taon at pang-154 na kagawad ng media na pinatay mula noong 1986.

Ayon kay Espina, ang kabiguan diumano ng gobyerno na mahuli ang mga salarin sa pagpaslang sa mga media ang dahilan ng patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng katulad na mga insidente. (Ronald Madrid Leander)

Legarda Welcomes Endorsement of Makabayan

MANILA, November 8, 2012-Stressing on the advocacies that she has been espousing, Senatorial topnotcher Senator Loren Legarda today welcomed the endorsement of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan).

Legarda, who is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), her political party since 2007, said that she accepted the endorsement of Makabayan as she has also been working on the advocacies that the organizations under the coalition are advancing.

“I thank the leaders and members of Makabayan for their endorsement. The organizations under Makabayan and I have long been partners in our aim for a better society as seen in our respective works to improve the lives of the poor, workers, women, children, teachers, OFWs, and our indigenous people,” she said.

“The people’s interest has always been my priority as gleaned from the work I have done for the past 15 years, not only in legislation but also in ensuring that the laws I crafted are implemented effectively. Even outside the halls of the Senate, I actively work for the advancement of programs that would address the needs of the Filipino people,” Legarda stressed.

To provide new opportunities and promote better livelihood, Legarda pushed for the enactment of the Barangay Kabuhayan Act, Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act.

To address the health needs of the Filipinos, she authored the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and is pushing for the approval of the Universal Healthcare Coverage bill.

To protect the rights of women and children, Legarda authored the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, and the Anti-Child Labor Law. She is also ushering the passage of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons bill.

To enhance resilience to disasters of every community in the country, she authored the Climate Change Act and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and sponsored the People’s Survival Fund Law.

To ensure the protection of Filipino workers including overseas Filipino workers, Legarda sponsored the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, while pushing for the approval of the Kasambahay Bill. She also authored the law that mandates the increase in the salary of teachers and other government employees.

To preserve the Filipino culture and protect the rights of IPs, the Senator supported various Schools of Living Traditions and the documentation of indigenous knowledge and traditions. Legarda also proposed measures to protect the traditional property rights of IPs and to penalize acts of discrimination against them.

JINGGOY HURT OVER JV’S RIVALRY REMARKS

MANILA, November 8, 2012-This refers to the numerous news reports and articles circulating over the print, broadcast and online media regarding the supposed sibling rivalry between me and San Juan Representative and senatorial aspirant Joseph Victor Ejercito.

 

I have never been a party to what others regard as a sibling rivalry nor considered our relationship as such. I believe that the nature of our tepid relationship is perhaps understandable considering our family’s circumstances. I am very upset and deeply hurt over some of the comments made by him and his efforts to generate publicity over a supposed competition or rivalry between us at my expense.

 

Any statement insinuating hostility much more creating public perception of antagonism stemming from such family setup, between two lawmakers possibly extending to the halls of the Senate is farfetched and very unfortunate. I admit that we may not agree and even argue on some social and political issues – much like the atmosphere in any deliberative body and the current Philippine Senate where free exchange of ideas is not only welcome but absolutely necessary. Again, this does not mean that we have to be at each other’s throat at all times, though it seems that my brother thinks otherwise.

 

If he happens to be elected as a Senator and there comes a time when there is something to point out with respect to legislative work or socio-political concerns, I will carry out the task as a seasoned legislator and as a statesman considering that my brother is a younger colleague.

 

I believe that I have done my best to prove that I can rise above any petty and unjust remarks against me from my own brother. I sincerely hope that as a senatorial aspirant who I look forward to being a colleague in the Senate, he can do the same.

Senator Loren Legarda’s Statement on President Obama’s Re-election

MANILA, November 8, 2012-“The re-election of President Barack Obama reflects the desire of the American people to extend his mandate in order that he may continue to move forward the agenda of change he committed to deliver to the American people. 

“As an ally and strategic partner of the United States, these developments signal a continuing effort to deepen our relationship with America. 

“President Obama, in his “pivot to Asia,” has shown his desire to engage more actively with the countries in the region.  We should respond accordingly by strengthening our alliance with the United States with the end-view of addressing the strategic interests of the Filipino people. 

“The region is facing enormous challenges in the face of territorial disputes in the area.  The last thing we need is unpredictability in our relationship with our strategic partners.  President Obama’s re-election also provides predictability in terms of America’s strategic focus in the region.”

Hard-hitting broadcaster gunned down in NE

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, November 8, 2012–A hard-hitting, veteran broadcaster and radio commentator was killed in broad daylight by a lone gunman while on his way to work here early this morning.

          Police Superintendent Eli Depra, city police chief, identified the victim as Julius Caezar Cauzo, 52, of Barangay Sibul, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. He died from three gunshot wounds in the body.

          Cauzo is a news anchor of teleradyo DWJJ and is executive vice president of the Nueva Ecija Press Club, Inc. DWJJ is owned by the family of Mayor Julius Caezar Vergara.    

Depra said the attack was carried out at around 8:30 am in Barangay Aduas Norte. Cauzo was aboard his motorcycle cruising along Flowerlane St. in Aduas Norte when the gunman riding a motorcycle overtook him and fired from close range, hitting him in the body then fled.

          Cauzo was rushed to the Good Samaritan Hospital where attending physicians pronounced him dead-on-arrival.

         

Depra said they have yet to establish the motive behind the murder. He said he will provide an update on the killing.

         

Prior to his death, Cauzo has been locked up in a word war with broadcasters of the rival TV station TV 48 over the Highly Urbanized City being pushed by the city government and which is being opposed by the camp of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

         

        The Commission on Elections has set on December 1 the plebiscite to ratify Presidential Proclamation 418 issued last July 4 by President Aquino converting Cabanatuan into a HUC. (Manny Galvez)

       

            

Legarda Congratulates President Obama for Successful Re-election

MANILA, November 7, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, congratulated US President Barack Obama on his successful bid for a second term as the chief executive of the United States of America.

“I warmly congratulate President Obama for his re-election. The citizens of the United States have once again placed their trust in their incumbent leader to advance the causes of the nation and its people. As a leader of a powerful nation, other countries, including the Philippines, also hope that President Obama will champion vital global issues,” said Legarda.

The Senator also expressed optimism that President Obama’s second term will be more productive and beneficial not only for the people of the US but also for the whole world as the US is one of the most powerful nations.

“I trust that in the next four years, he will be at the forefront of disaster risk reduction politics by further strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) not only to respond to disasters but also to enhance preparedness and build back more resilient communities. Disaster risk reduction agencies, such as FEMA, are important as the economic crisis that is experienced in many parts of the world is exacerbated by climate change, which leads to loss of lives, homes and livelihoods,” she said.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, stressed that President Obama should be a leader of the world and set an example by reducing USA’s fossil fuel consumption, promote use of renewable energy, provide better support for agricultural workers and vulnerable sectors, and assist developing nations who bear the brunt of disasters caused by climate change.

She also cited Obama’s commitment to provide affordable quality healthcare for all Americans and stressed that it is an inspiring flagship program that should be emulated by leaders worldwide.

KIKO URGES THE GOVT: BITE THE BULLET, ADDRESS FISHERIES SECTOR WOES

MANILA, November 7, 2012-Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan calls on the government to focus on arresting the slow decline of the output of the country's fisheries sector.

"The government needs to designate an Undersecretary for Fisheries as a crucial first step. It would be a waste of an immense natural bounty if we fail to address the issues that hound our fisheries sector."

Pangilinan, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, says that while the Department of Agriculture has made tremendous headway in modernizing the country's agriculture sector it cannot afford to leave behind the fisheries sector.

"Our national territory is 1/5 land and 4/5 water. We must ensure that we achieve a balancing of priorities and not leave fisheries behind. We must allocate a considerable amount of our resources both human and material to address the fisheries sector's many concerns."

Legarda: Inclusion of People’s Survival Fund in 2013 Nat’l Budget, Key in Improving Nation’s Resilience to Disasters

MANILA, November 7, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed that it is important and urgent to include the one billion-peso People’s Survival Fund (PSF) in the 2013 National Budget as it will help ensure significant improvements in the disaster resilience of communities in the country.

“We must immediately implement the People’s Survival Fund Act as it will help local governments’ adaptation activities, such as in the areas of land and water resources management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development, and natural ecosystems,” said Legarda, sponsor of the PSF Act (Republic Act 10174).

“The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) should take the lead, because as specified in R.A. 10174, undertaking the formulation of the annual national budget in a way that ensures the appropriate prioritization and allocation of funds to support climate change-related programs and projects in the annual program of government is their responsibility,” she added.

The Senator explained that the PSF will also support the improvement of monitoring, controlling and prevention of diseases triggered by climate change, establishment of forecasting and early warning systems, and strengthening institutional development, for local governments, for preventive measures, planning, preparedness and management of impacts relating to climate change.

In a related matter, Legarda, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, has co-sponsored the 2013 Alternative Budget Senate Presentation Forum by the Social Watch Philippines.

In the alternative budget proposal, the Senator highlighted the proposed climate-sensitive and disaster risk reduction-proofed budget priorities amounting to Php 31 billion.

The proposed budget items shall be allocated for disaster risk reduction and management; biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry; renewable and sustainable energy systems; and, ecological waste management.

“We must have a climate-sensitive national budget because as we experience extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and prolonged droughts, it becomes even more crucial to prioritize actions that would enhance communities' resilience to disasters and climate change impacts. We have to build up our defenses against disasters to free us from the costly and exhausting cycle of rebuilding our communities every time nature unleashes its wrath,” Legarda concluded.

Infra projects in Pampanga since 2010 amount to P1.2B

CLARK FREEPORT, November 6, 2012-The provincial government has spent at least P1.2 billion for a number of infrastructure projects in Pampanga since 2010.

This was announced by Governor Lilia Pineda during the oath-taking of the officers of Provincial Federation of Barangay Health Workers dubbed as “Bayanihan Para Sa Kalusugan Ng Mga Kapampangan” held recently at Stotsenberg Hotel inside Clark Freeport.

“Since we assumed as governor of Pampanga, we have funded major infrastructure projects like construction and renovation of district hospitals, construction of classroom buildings in different public schools and provincial, municipal and barangay farm to market roads,” Pineda said.

The provincial government has started the general renovation and improvement of all existing district hospital buildings in the province including facilities and medical equipment.

“In the improvement of our district hospitals, we are 85 percent completed," the governor said.

The Capitol has also funded the establishment of dialysis centers in selected district hospitals aimed at providing cheaper treatment for dialysis patients.

These were realized through partnership with private individuals and companies who are helping the governor through the provision of dialysis machines under a co-management agreement.

As of this month, at least 182 newly classrooms and six covered courts in various public schools in the province had been constructed with an estimated amount of P176 million.

For 2011 alone, records from the provincial engineering office show that Pampanga released P50, 083, 216 for the construction of 45 new rooms, repair and improvement of 32 classrooms, and building of five covered courts.

This year, P54, 149,836 was allocated to finance the construction of 28 new classrooms, repair and improve 77 classrooms and one covered court.

At least 35 classrooms amounting to P62.5 million and another P9.7 million for the construction of boys and girls comfort rooms for 26 public schools are still on-going.

The provincial government, through the engineering office had facilitated the reconstruction several provincial roads in flood hit municipalities that were damaged by recent calamities.

Other infrastructure projects finished were the improvement of dikes particularly in Mandili, Candaba, and in San Sebastian, San Luis town.

Pampanga River Dike road Batasan-Candating section in Arayat, San Nicolas 1st barangay road in Sasmuan, Phase 11 of Guagua-Sta.

Rita-Porac road San Matias and Becuran section, Phase IV Dila-dila section both in Sta. Rita, and Phase V Dila-dila-Pulong Santol section in Sta.Rita-Porac were also completed.

The widening of San Miguel-Sta.Cruz barangay road in San Simon and reblocking and asphalt overlay of Sto. Domingo-Lourdes-San Isidro-Telacsan-Colgante provincial road from Minalin to Apalit and Macabebe.

The provincial government also completed the improvement and concreting of the provincial road in San Juan-San Jose-Natividad-Lambac-Pulong Masle road Lambac section in Guagua, San
Matias-San Simon road San Matias section in Sto. Tomas, and Del Rosario-Bacolor road in the City of San Fernando, Sta. Ana Magalang along San Agustin section and in San Sebastian San Luis.

Last year, after typhoon Pedring devastated the province, Pineda provided at least P80 million for the priority development projects of each of the 20 municipalities in the province.

This is intended to jump start the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure facilities and their projects highly needed in the municipality.

Recently, the provincial government has given all local government units P100 million to finance different priority development projects.

Each municipality received at least P5 million to ensure the continuity of infrastructure development down to the barangay level. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu with reports from Joel Mapiles of Pampanga PIO)

Angeles City mall hosts NorthPhil Expo 2012

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, November 5, 2012-The 2012 edition of the annual exposition that showcases the rich culture and tradition, distinctive products and picturesque locations of Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera is slated from November 9-11 at Marquee Mall in Angeles City.

According to the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Luzon, the 3rd North Philippines (NorthPhil) Tourism and Travel Expo will be bannered by the pavilions of the provinces of Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac; Clark Development Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; DOT Regional Offices 1,2,3 and CAR; and corporate booths of various tourism-related businesses such as hotels, resorts and airlines.

Aside from the expo, the three-day affair will also have theatrical cultural presentations, corporate game shows, product presentations, raffle draws, and crafts and culinary demonstrations.

In a statement, DOT Central Luzon director Ronnie Tiotuico said “the annual expo was conceived to solidify North Philippines as an international tourism hub.”

Tiotuico disclosed “our major destinations alone accounted for 14 percent of the country’s total foreign and domestic tourist volume last year.”

Its top spots are Ilocos Norte, Cagayan province, Zambales and Baguio city.

Tiotuico attributed the surge in tourist arrivals to the construction of the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)