Public Market sets-up Presidential inauguration screening venue

DAVAO CITY June 30 (PIA)- Mallengke, a commercial strip located inside the Bankerohan Public Market complex has established a livestreaming viewing area for the inauguration of erstwhile Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the country’s newest President.

Tenants, shoppers and members of the media congregated in the area to watch their beloved Mayor being sworn in as the country’s chief executive.

Nelita Bañagaw  leasing operations manager of Northbank Holdings who owns the commercial area said they decided to set up the livestreaming area to provide an opportunity for shoppers and tenants to watch live on a wide LCD projector screened thru a 10x10 tarpaulin the goings-on of the historic day.

The tenants were initially excited about the event, Bañagaw  said.

The screening attracted a motley crowd mostly market-goers and shoppers in the area.

I thought there were many who were doing it (livestreaming venue) but we realize we were the only mall doing the livestreaming event.” Bañagaw    said, several media outfits also covered the event.

“I am really excited because a Dabawneyo has become the country’s president and he is no less than our Mayor.” Says  Kristoffer Fuentes who was buying fruits in the market when he decided to drop by at the livestreaming venue.

The viewing center became lively as the crowd cheered when President Duterte arrived in Malacanang and met with outgoing President Benigno Aquino III. They also cheered when the outgoing President left the Palace, which symbolized the peaceful transfer of power to the long-time Davao City Mayor.

Apart from the Mallengke, a livestreaming venue was at San Pedro Street, in giant LED screen infront of the Davao City Hall.  (PIA/RG Alama)

Pres. Duterte’s inauguration on June 30 a regular working day

Malacanang on Wednesday (June 29) announced that the inauguration day on Thursday of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is a regular working day.

”As per the text message I received from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. June 30, 2016 is a regular working day,” outgoing Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

On June 17, 2010, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared June 30, the inauguration of outgoing President Benigno Aquino III, as a non-working holiday.

President Aquino’s inauguration was held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park in a ceremony administered by then Supreme Court Associate Justice and now Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Moralres.

On Thursday, incoming President Duterte opted to hold his inauguration in a simple ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacanang Palace to be attended by only 500 people.

The oath of office will be administered by Supreme Court Associate Justice Bievenido Reyes.

The Constitution provides that incoming president is supposed to take his oath at noontime on June 30.

The inauguration will kick off with the holding of traditional “salubong” where outgoing President Aquino will welcome incoming President Duterte at the steps of Malcanang Palace and walk him inside.

The two will talk briefly before Aquino is given departure honors by Duterte and then the incoming President will return inside the Palace to take his oath of office. (PNA)

DPWH Cadet Engineering Program produces additional 44 graduates

The best and brightest civil engineers across the country have joined the government service through Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson announced this during the graduation ceremonies of the third batch of Department’s Cadet Engineering Program (CEP) held at the DPWH Head Office, Port Area, Manila.

Secretary Singson said that the 44 graduates under batch 3 of the DPWH CEP whose selection were rigorously done from all over the Philippines in partnership with the First Pacific Leadership Academy (FLPA) have completed the six-month intensive training in preparation for their career in the Department. They have undergone on-the-job training covering technical knowledge, strategic thinking, leadership, public service, and values and professional ethics.

Started by Secretary Singson in 2013, the Cadet Engineering Program aims in investing in human resources development to set new entry standards for civil engineers in the bureaucracy. To date, the CEP has produced 125 graduates who are now working in the DPWH Head Office, Regional Offices and District Engineering Offices.

Secretary Singson said he considers his advocacy of hiring young civil engineers as one of his most precious legacy programs in the Department.

“You, the CEP graduates, along with 1,394 newly hired young civil engineers, will form part of the positive change in the DPWH,” Secretary Singson told graduates.

Singson hopes that the Cadet Engineering Program together with the Young Engineers Recruitment Program will further encourage top civil engineering graduates to begin their career with DPWH instead of working overseas. (DPWH)

Street children move up from kariton to real classroom

The Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) recently led a simple “moving up” ceremony for over 1,000 of Metro Manila street children who have successfully completed the Kariton Klasrum program and are now ready for regular school.

Originally developed by DTC’s Efren Peñaflorida, Jr., Kariton Klasrum’s education-on-wheels concept was expanded by DepEd to areas outside of Cavite, where it was originally deployed.

The Kariton Klasrum provides street children, out-of-school children, and school dropouts aged five to 14 years old with easier access to education. After six months, learners are assessed for school-readiness, before eventually being reintegrated into regular schools or the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Partner private-sector corporations, local government units, other government agencies and private individuals have also helped in the replication of Kariton Klasrums by providing either the pushcart classrooms, learning materials, school meals, or hygiene and first aid kits.

“You cannot box in all students into classrooms. Sometimes, you have to bring the classrooms to them,” DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro, FSC emphasized. “DepEd has brought the classrooms to the streets where the kids are. It’s our turn to walk the streets and learn outside the classroom,” Luistro added.

DepEd Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages Mario A. Deriquito pointed out that there are currently over 50 Kariton Klasrum sites in Metro Manila with over 1,600 children enrolled in the program. “DepEd aims to provide a higher level of education to every Filipino. All children who should be able to study will be given the opportunity,” Deriquito said.

DTC’s Efren Peñaflorida, Jr. shared four important lessons to the kids based from his own experiences. “One is never too poor to think of ways to help each other. One is never too young to give back to society. We are never too strong to do things on our own. You are never too ordinary to be a hero,” he empathically shared to the kids.

On the other hand, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said “Continue your dream of being able to study under the K to 12 program. The government and the private sector are ready to help you.”

Meanwhile, Luistro called on the Schools Division Superintendents of Metro Manila to make sure that the Kariton Klasrum learners who will be accepted to public schools will not be left behind. (DepEd)

National Government Budget Surplus at P55.0 Billion in April 2016

The national government posted a surplus of P55.0 in April 2016 on the back of strong revenue collections, bringing the year-to-date deficit down to P57.5 billion. Net of interest payments, the national government’s primary balance for January-April 2016 stood at a surplus of P59.9 billion. April 2016 surplus stood at P69.8 billion.

National government revenues for the month amounted to P246.6 billion, 18% or P37.5 billion higher than recorded in April 2015, while expenditures totaled P191.6 billion, 22% or P35.1 billion wider than year-ago figures.

Year-to-date, total revenues rose 7% year-on-year, amounting to P725.6 billion, while expenditures expanded 19% to reach P783.1 billion.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said, “I am pleased to report a strong finish on both the revenue and expenditure sides of the Republic’s balance sheet. Consistently solid fiscal performance has put the nation on its firmest fiscal footing in history. The aggressive expansion of fiscal space in a span of 6 years has also funded the most intensive amount of investment the country has seen–fuel for Asia’s bright star to keep burning bright in these challenging times. I am highly confident that the next administration’s economic team has what it takes to improve and build on our gains moving forward.

In a volatile world flirting with crisis after crisis, I believe the Philippines has worked and earned the right to be defiantly optimistic.”

The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P177.7 billion for the month, up by 10% or P16.9 billion year-on-year. Collections stood at P507.8 billion for January-April 2016, expanding 9% on-year.

Meanwhile, as collections on oil for the first four months of 2016 continued to shrink by 14% on the back of lower oil prices, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) more than made up for it in robust non-oil collections growth of 5.7% for the 4-month period and 21.6% just for the month of April. This caused the BOC to collect P32.7 billion for the month of April, a 16% jump from year-ago figures to haul a total of P123.2 billion for January-April 2016, reflecting a 2% growth.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) raised P16.4 billion for the month, 142% higher year-on-year, and P52.4 billion in total for the January-April period, reflecting a 7% increase year-on-year. Interest payments amounted to P14.8 billion for April 2016, lower by 6%, and P117.4 billion for the first four months of the year. Interest payments accounted for 15% of expenditures for January-April 2016, down from 18% posted a year ago. (DOFinance)

President-elect Duterte’s inauguration

Rodrigo Roa Duterte will take his oath as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines.  The ceremonies will be less of a spectacle than tradition requires but bellowed of the Filipino pride. 

Incoming Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar revealed that preparations have already been finalized from the program down to the food. 

The program drafted by the Malacañan estimates the day’s activities to begin before 10:30am and end sometime before 4pm. For Mr. Duterte’s inaugural rites, Davao-based fashion house Chardin has created a barong Tagalog made from piña jusi fabric to be paired with black pure cotton pants.

“His wardrobe is the least of the President’s concern, but he went to fit his barong. He is raring to start with work right after the inauguration,” Andanar further added.

Last Tuesday, June 28, it was known that Mr. Duterte went to Chardin to try on his barong designed by Boni Adaza. The designer gave clues citing ecru as the barong’s color with light brown and beige details to highlight its embroidery, which will depict a pattern iconic of Mindanao’s minority, the Manobo tribe. 

“He wanted to incorporate a symbol to represent the 11 minorities in Mindanao. The tribal prints of the Manobo is the least complicated that’s why we have chosen that. It also shows the President’s simplicity,” Adaza explained. 

As for the food, Malacañan Palace-accredited concessionaire Via Mare will prepare a reception that reflects the simplicity of the incoming administration yet still boasts of the rich Filipino culinary heritage. 

The menu consisting only of five types of food include: lumpiang ubod (coconut pith spring roll), pandesal with kesong puti (white cheese made from unskimmed carabao’s milk) and Vigan longganisa (sausage from Northern Ilocandia) grilled on the spot, monggo soup mixed with smoked fish and alugbati (malabar spinach) in demitasse cups, fried saba (Cardava banana) slices, and Durian tartlet. For drinks, guests will have a choice between homegrown delights pine-mango cooler and dalandan juice. (PCOO News Release)