Maintain vocational/skills training programs, Palace urges
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SURIGAO CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s technical and vocational skills training programs must
be maintained by the incoming administration to partially solve the country’s unemployment problem of the
country.
This suggestion was made today by Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan at the inauguration of the Caring for
Health Professionals (CHP) training school here, which has tied up with the Arroyo administration’s Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for hands-on skills training in different fields that are very
much in demand here and abroad.
CHP has a health care and diagnostic center at the second floor of the building leased from the Surigao City
local government and a hotel and restaurant cum classroom facility at the third floor. Mayor Alfonso Casurra,
whose term ends on June 30, said he is glad to have left a showcase of his successful technical skills training
program for the whole world to see.
Peyuan, whose over two years of experience in TESDA enabled him to rise to Deputy Director General for Field
Operations and very briefly this year to Director General until his appointment at the Office of the Press Secretary,
said the vocational and technical skills program is the only way to address the high drop- out rates among
students who are unable to pursue or complete a full college course due to financial difficulties.
Peyuan pointed out that even in developed economies, 92 percent of those who get hired are those with
vocational and technical skills, leaving only eight percent for those with formal college education.
The PGMA scholarship programs of TESDA provide scholarship coupons for deserving students to enroll in
short term courses like bartending, food and beverage, housekeeping, commercial cooking and caregiving that
cost from P10,000 to P15,000 per student to longer courses like aircraft maintenance (in Manila) that cost P40,
000 per student.
In one year, TESDA maintains 7,000 to 8,000 student scholars who, after graduation are linked with industrial
partners for immediate employment, Peyuan said.
In 2009 alone, the program benefited P56,000 young people.
“This CHP training facility is the Arroyo administration’s way of telling the youth not to lose hope in finding
opportunities for them to be gainfully employed and earning productively even if they did not finish formal college
education,” Peyuan stressed as he voiced his hope that the next administration will not discard the vocational
and technical skills program of the Arroyo administration.
Peyuan, who takes pride in being a “walking TESDA because, even with my 36 years in government, I made
sure I would learn as much skills as I could muster that (I may) someday be able to use. I take more pride in my
knowing several vocational and technical skills than in the diplomas that I have received as a young student,”
Peyuan said.
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PGMA inks law strengthening, renaming historical body
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President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday signed into law a bill that strengthens the National Historical
Institute and its mandate to conserve, promote and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage.
The new law also renamed the NHI as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). The law
was a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3313 and House Bill No. 6378.
The new law provides for the strengthening and streamlining of the agency with the end view of strengthening its
resources, expanding the scope of its beneficiaries, and clarifying its role in relations to other cultural agencies.
The signing ceremony , done in Malacanang Wednesday, was witnessed by NHI Commissioner Ambeth
Ocampo, NHI Executive Director Ludovico Badoy, NHI Deputy Executive Director Emelita Almosara, National
Archives Commissioner Marietta Chou, and National Library Commissioner Prudenciano Cruz in Malacanang.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) was established to promote Philippine history and cultural heritage
through research, dissemination, conservation, sites management and heraldry works.
As the government’s arm in culture development and historical perservation, NHI aims to inculcate awareness
and appreciation of the noble deeds and ideals of the country’s heroes, instill pride in the Filipino race and to
rekindle the Filipino spirit through the lessons of history.
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PGMA stresses importance of education and it in nation-building
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SIRUMA, Camarines Sur – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, during a visit to this town, today spoke of the
importance of education and technology as means towards the nation’s progress.
“Ang malakas na edukasyon ay dapat kasama ng malakas na backbone ng teknolohoya. (Strong education
should have a strong backbone that is technology), ” President Arroyo said.
Demonstrating this tack, the President ordered the Department of Education to include this Camarines town in
the list of municipalities where schools satellite broadband facility will be set up so students can have Internet
access.
"This is my 'recuerdo' (remembrance) to you," she told Siruma students and residents.
She gave the order, noting the Internet facility is needed to help enhance the learning experience of Siruma
students. Computer use in school is limited at present.
The President said that students worldwide use the Internet as a tool for accessing information needed in their
studies and added she wants Siruma students to have this same opportunity.
The Arroyo administration continues promoting the spread of information technology nationwide as it believes
this will help move the nation forward.
"We musn't stop while there are places like Siruma where technology is needed," the President said.
Because of the government’s commitment to address the problem of poverty, 100,000 schools had been
constructed and P2 billion had been spent in the improvement of the educational system in the nine years of the
Arroyo administration.
The President said that education is the foundation for opportunity in order to uplift an individual and the nation.
To be globally competitive, the President said that efforts had already been made to improve the curriculum in
schools so students will learn math, science and English faster.
President Arroyo reiterated that she will continue to pursue active governance until the last day of her term as
President of the Republic ends.
The President stressed the three priorities of her administration that are important to the Arroyo government.
“Dagdagan ang kapangyarihan at kaunlaran na dinadala sa mga rehiyon; Patuloy na itataguyod ang halaga ng
3 E’s, Edukasyon, Environment at Ekonomiya sa ating pagsisikap para lumikha ng tuloy-tuloy at pantay-pantay
na launlaran; Tuloy-tuloy na tutuok sa kabataan ng bansa bilang ating pinaka pag-asa”, was the President’s
message.
Meanwhile, President Arroyo said the commitment of her government in building infrastructure has paved the
way for tourism in the Bicol region to flourish.
The Arroyo government spearheaded the construction of Maharlika Highway, Andaya highway and Caramoan
road that made it easier for goods and people to move around the region.
There are already two airports in the region and the building of an international airport in Daraga, Albay is
ongoing.
After her message to residents, President Arroyo walked for 50 meters to the tindahan ng palengke (formerly
tindahan ni Gloria) and inspected the price of rice. National Food Authority rice (NFA) rice costs P25 per kilo,
which is much cheaper than the commercial rice.
President Arroyo inspected then the Botika ng Bayan and was glad to see that commonly-used medicines were
readily available.
“Very good, dala nila ang mga gamut na karamihan binibili ng mga tao,” she said.
Botika ng Bayan here benefits 17 barangays where the townspeople can buy cheap medicine. Paracetamol
here costs 50 centavos compared to P5 in private drug stores.
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DFA, PDEA take Decisive Action on ‘Drug Mules’
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Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. said the Philippines is
undertaking comprehensive and proactive measures to address the 'drug mules' issue and prevent the further
victimization of Filipinos by international drug syndicates.
"We are working in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the operational law
enforcement aspects, as well as with authorities in our neighboring countries, Underesecretary Conejos stated
in a joint press conference with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Dionisio R.
Santiago held at the PDEA in Quezon City. This is the first joint press conference between the two agencies on
the 'drug mules' issue.
On the recommendation of the DFA, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Administrative Order (AO) No.
279, which created the Drug Couriers Task Force (TFDC), tasked to prevent Filipinos being used as drug
couriers by international drug trafficking syndicates last February 8.
The TFDC is composed of the PDEA as chair; the DFA as co-chair; and the Department of Labor and
Employment, the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Customs, the National Bureau of Investigation, the
Philippine Information Agency, the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Philippine Tourism Authority as
members.
The Task Force is developing and executing programs and strategies against the recruitment of Filipinos as
international drug couriers by international drug trafficking syndicates that victimize overseas Filipinos, and
promoting close coordination among government agencies towards a more aggressive apprehension and
prosecution of members of drug trafficking syndicates operating in the Philippines.
Moreover, the TFDC closely coordinates with counterpart agencies of other countries for the formulation and
execution of bilateral or regional actions against recruitment of Filipinos as drug couriers.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Conejos reminds Filipinos must be extra wary of accepting offers from individuals or
groups to carry illegal drugs in their luggages or in their person when going abroad, as harsh penalties await
them in their destinations.
"We warn our countrymen not to accept packages which they suspect are drugs. If they are caught carrying
illegal drugs, they will face very dire consequences," he said.
In China, drug trafficking of 50 grams or more of illegal drugs is punishable by 15 years in prison, life
imprisonment or death. In Muslim countries, drug trafficking is punishable by death, according to Shariah law.
Undersecretary Conejos made this warning in the light of the recent executions of British and Japanese
nationals for drug-related offenses in China.
"This action by the Chinese government in strictly implementing their laws should serve as a stern warning to
those who have been victimizing Filipinos. It is also a reminder to our kababayans not to allow themselves to be
willing victims for the sake of money," he added.
Currently, there are 197 drug-related cases in China. Six have been meted the death penalty without reprieve
and 67 with death penalty with two-year reprieve. There are 35 cases given life imprisonment sentences, 56 with
fixed-term imprisonment and 33 pending cases.
Among the six death penalty cases without reprieve, two are with the People's Supreme Court and four are with
the Court of Appeals.
The DFA continues to extend its assistance to those in death row within the bounds of due process and
Chinese law. It is also encouraging those meted out the death penalty with chance of reprieve to strive for good
behavior.
In death sentences without reprieve, decisions of lower courts are automatically elevated to the higher courts for
review. The People's Supreme Court is the court of last resort before the judgment becomes final and executory.
END
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DFA Hails Success of “Operation Homerun”
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) lauded the success of the "Operation Homerun", which resulted in the
neutralization of an international drug trafficking organization.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-led operation took place in the Philippines and neighboring
Asian countries. Working with foreign law and drug enforcement authorities, the operation led to the arrest of
nine male Nigerians, one female Thai, one female Malaysian and two Filipinas, as well as the seizure of two
kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin in China.
"This is the result of cooperation and coordination of Philippine government agencies and with authorities in our
neighboring countries. It validates the organization of the Task Force on Drug Couriers (TFDC), which
immediately scored a homerun just three months after being formed," DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers'
Affairs Esteban B. Conejos Jr. said in a joint press conference with PDEA Director General Dionisio R. Santiago
today.
"Operation Homerun" was designed to identify and arrest the members and cohorts of an international drug
trafficking syndicate operating in Thailand, Malaysia, China and the Philippines. It also hopes to rescue
Filipinas who are exploited by the syndicate as "drug mules".
It also emphasized the significance of educating travelers on the modus operandi in the recruitment of drug
couriers and protect them against international drug syndicates.
The PDEA-led operation started on March 17. The agency coordinated with their counterparts in the three other
countries.
"'Operation Homerun' was a success not only for the TFDC but also for the entire Philippine government. The
task force will continue with its mission to deter, prevent and protect Filipinos from being victimized as drug
couriers. We will deliver more 'Homeruns'," Director General Santiago said.
"The operation shows our resolve and support in addressing the worldwide drug menace that victimizes our
kababayans," Undersecretary Conejos added.
On the recommendation of the DFA, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed last February 8 Administrative
Order (AO) No. 279, which created the TFDC, tasked to prevent Filipinos being used as drug couriers by
international drug trafficking syndicates.
The TFDC is composed of the PDEA as chair; the DFA as co-chair; and the Department of Labor and
Employment, the Bureau of Immigration, the Bureau of Customs, the National Bureau of Investigation, the
Philippine Information Agency, the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Philippine Tourism Authority as
members. END
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