Economist sees PHL economy to outpace Asia's growth this year till 2020

Economist sees PHL economy to outpace Asia's growth this year till 2020
By Joann Santiago

MANILA, Jan. 25 (PNA) - Trend growth of the Philippine economy is projected to rise to around 6.5 percent by 2020 as the economy is seen to outpace growth in Asia.

"Philippines growth story to remain in Asia," Chidu Narayanan, Standard Chartered economist for Asia, said in a briefing Wednesday.

For 2016, the economist eyes a 6.9 percent growth for the domestic economy, near the upper end of the government's six to seven percent growth target.

In the first three quarters of 2016, average growth stood at 6.9 percent. The government is scheduled to report the last quarter and full year 2016 economic performance on Thursday.

Domestic growth is seen to be driven by robust domestic consumption and the programmed increase in infrastructure investments.

For 2017 to 2020, Narayanan projects growth to be at 6.7 percent, 6.5 percent, 6.4 percent, and 6.2 percent, respectively, with the declining figures attributed to base effect.

He said the 6.7 percent forecast gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2017 alone, was "still fairly optimistic" and would remain, making the country among the strongest in the region.

He, however, said risks from the deteriorating current account surplus, weakness of the peso, and impact of external developments are seen to hamper domestic growth.

The country's current account position has been in surplus for more than a decade now, boosted by inflows of remittances and earnings of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

Narayanan expects the current account to remain in surplus due mainly to rising BPO sector revenues.

BPO revenues are seen to increase by 16 percent in 2016 to around USD24 billion.

Cash inflows from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), meanwhile, posted a 5.2 percent increase in end-November 2016 to about USD24.34 billion.

The central bank's 2016 remittance growth projection was a rise of four percent. (PNA)
RMA/JSV/EDS

Nearly 2,500 passengers stranded in Bicol sea ports

Nearly 2,500 passengers stranded in Bicol sea ports; gov't hospitals on White Alert
By Connie B. Destura

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 24 (PNA) -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol has reported that nearly 2,500 passengers have been stranded in various sea ports in the region since Friday, after Coast Guard authorities cancelled the sailing of all sea craft due to bad weather spawned by Typhoon Nina.

As of 12 noon Saturday, 'Nina' was spotted 445 km. east of Virac, Catanduanes. The state weather bureau, PAGASA, said 'Nina' has slightly slowed down but it has intensified further as it continued to move west-northwest.

Bernardo Rafael Alejandro, head of both OCD-Bicol and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said that as of 4 a.m. Saturday, the number of passengers stranded in the ports of Pilar, Matnog and Bulan, all in Sorsogon; Tabaco City and Pio Duran in Albay; San Andres in Catanduanes; and Bapor in Masbate has reached 2,499.

He said they have been in these ports since Friday.

Alejandro said the number of rolling cargoes stranded in the ports have reached 367, majority of them in Matnog port in Sorsogon, where there were 360 cars, trucks and buses stranded.

He said there were two light vehicles stranded in Pilar port, also in Sorsogon; two in San Andres, Catanduanes; and three in Bapor, Masbate.

Alejandro said the RDRRMC has advised all DRRMCs in various local government units in the region to be on heightened alert, particularly those in coastal barangays, for possible floods, landslides and storm surges.

Meanwhile, the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) based in this city has been placed under White Alert so it could respond and ensure efficient services as 'Nina' approaches Bicol.

Dr. Butch Rivera, BRTTH chief of hospital, said all hospital personnel have been directed to report, temporarily suspending all leaves of absences.

"During a Code White Alert, all hospital personnel -- general surgeons, orthopedists, anesthesiologists, internists, operating room nurses, ophthalmologists and other specialists -- are expected to be on duty," he said.

Rivera assured that standby ambulances and generators have been readied to ensure effective delivery of services to the public once 'Nina' hits the region.

He said all rural health units and birthing facilities in Albay have also been advised by the provincial health office to operate for 24 hours.

Rivera said in case of emergency, the BRTTH could be reached at (052)-483-00-17; Globe-0917-571-7234 and Smart-0998-576-2240. (PNA)

ARMM exec calls for unity after polls, vows support for Duterte's economic agenda

ARMM exec calls for unity after polls, vows support for Duterte's economic agenda

By Edwin O. Fernandez

COTABATO CITY, June 11 (PNA) -- "Its now time to heal, its time to mend fences of political divide in the region and in the country."

This was the gist of re-elected Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who was interviewed by ARMM weekend radio program, entitled "Aksyon ARMM" Saturday.

Hataman admitted the recent polls have divided the region and its people who are all Bangsamoro.

He said the May 9 national and local elections had been past divisive politics of mudslinging.

"The election is over, its time to move on and forget the sad issues that emerged during the election," he said.

The regional governor said majority of ARMM inhabitants wanted genuine delivery of government basic services which had been denied to them in the past.

He said the reforms he introduced to the regional bureaucracy since assuming office in 2013 was not enough. "Much has to be done," he said.

"This is now the time to move forward for sustainable reforms, and we need to deliver the government services to every ARMM constituent, Hataman said.

Hataman vowed to push with his incoming President Duterte's economic agenda.

These include Tax and Revenue Reforms; Accelerated spending on infrastructure program taking into consideration certain priorities; Enhanced investment and economic competitiveness of doing business in the country; Support services to small farmers for increased productivity and improved market access;

Strengthened irrigation and better support services to farmers; Promotion of ecotourism in the rural areas; Address bottlenecks in land administration and management system; Strengthened basic education system, and provide scholarships for tertiary education, which are relevant to private employers' needs; Improved tax system by indexing tax collection to inflation rate, "to enable those who earn a little to have more in their pockets"; and Expand and improve implementation of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.

Hataman, a Liberal Party stalwart, has vowed to support President elect Duterte especially on his programs for the Bangsamoro people. (PNA)

Claudio Zobel or Thelma Maloloy-on Dies on February 10, 2011

NPA Ambush in Kalinga, Apayao

Two soldiers from the 17th Infantry Battalion were killed and three others wounded after an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) rebels staged an ambush in Sitio Tumiangan, Barangay Dupag, Tabuk City, Kalinga Friday afternoon.

1st Lt. Rowena Abayon, 5th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the incident took place around 1:40 p.m. as the soldiers were responding to reports that the rebels were extorting and harassing residents of the said barangay.

At this point, the NPAs fired on the soldiers, killing two and wounding three others before retreating to the mountainous area.

The slain soldiers were identified as Cpl. Dominador A. Concordia and Pfc. Rey B. Raagas.

The wounded and now undergoing treatment in a hospital in the city were identified as 2nd Lt. Czar N. Carsido, Pfc. Marnel Langnga and Pfc. Kennedy D. Sallaya.

Reorientation training for farmer-groups

To ensure government projects are properly used according to its purpose, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Mindanao have provided reorientation training for farmer-groups identified to receive multi-purpose drying pavements (MPDPs) on the mechanics of project implementation.

Provision of MPDPs or solar dryers is under the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program's, Post-harvest Facility Component.

The MPDP, which measures 15 m x 28 m x 0.10 m (4 inches thick) are implemented among rice areas in the region with their registered irrigators or farmers' associations.

DA is allocating P160,000 per unit of MPDP.

Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement is a solar dryer where farmers can dry various agricultural crops such as rice and corn.

Ray Embajador, DA 12 Agri-Pinoy Rice Program focal person, reminded the recipients to complete all the necessary documents required for the project.

As recipients, they should guarantee a total area of 420 square meters where the pavement will be constructed shall be owned by the farmers/irrigators' association.

The recipients should also shoulder the site development expenses like land filling, clearing, leveling, compacting and fencing of the area.

Emabajador said recipients are discouraged from introducing modifications of any structure on the pavement to serve its purpose of boosting rice production of IAs.

Before the start of the construction of the project, the recipients are urged to take photos of the area, its ongoing construction and even completion of the project for comprehensive documentation.

Since the project is under reimbursement basis, the recipients will temporarily utilize their own funds and will later be refunded by the regional field office after liquidation process has been done.

Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO)

At least 1,000 individuals were enlisted as force multipliers of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO) as 10 non-government organizations (NGOs) were tapped to beef up local peace initiatives, a ranking police officer said on Monday.

Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves, Nueva Ecija police director, said that a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the PNP and the NGOs was recently signed at the NEPPO conference hall.

The recent signing was graced by PNP deputy director general for administration Rommel Heredia, who also makes assessments of provinces under the so-called areas of concern, Nieves said.

"We thank those people who willingly support our efforts to keep peace and order in our province," Nieves said, adding that the police makes sure such force multipliers will not be used to advance interest of any individual.

Heredia said the PNP hierarchy continues to make steps to upgrade peace initiatives in areas of concern.

New People’s Army (NPA) of illegal drugs activities

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Eastern Visayas and the Philippine Army (PA) will collaborate to contain the reported protection of the communist New People's Army (NPA) of illegal drugs activities aimed at beefing up their logistical resources.

Liza F. Baoy, PDEA-8 regional information officer said the agency and the Department of National Defense (DND) have received reports that the NPA is turning to the illegal drugs trade as a major source of funds to procure weapons and sustain their more than three-decade old uprising against the government.

"There were confirmed reports that leaders of some local drug syndicates have forged 'unholy alliances' with rebel groups for protection and self-preservation," Baoy said.

Alleged involvement of NPA rebels in the maintenance and cultivation of marijuana plantation sites in the countryside, particularly in Cordillera region, had been exposed since the early 1980s. In some cases, government troops raiding secret cannabis plantation have come under heavy fire from suspected NPA guerrillas guarding these sites.

"Illicit production, trafficking, sale, distribution and use of illegal drugs are potential dangers enough to unsettle our domestic stability and tranquility. There were several heinous crimes committed by perpetrators who are under the influence of illicit substances," Baoy added.

The findings, according to Baoy, are reasons enough for the PDEA and DND to launch a massive campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse. This is by way of providing PDEA with much-needed intelligence and manpower and logistical resources.

"The two bastions of law enforcement and peace likewise vowed to combine their forces and resources in order to keep the citizenry safe and free from drug-related harms," Baoy said.

May 1 Job Fair in Manila

A strategy to prevent jostling and elbowing by job seekers standing in long queues during the May 1 Job Fair which is under the auspices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-6) has been adopted to shun a repeat of past tumultuous job fairs, and thus create a more pleasant atmosphere for both applicants and company representatives.

Labor Information Officer Amy Judicpa said a pre-registration process is now in full swing at the 2nd floor of Marymart Mall here, and applicants are advised to take advantage of the scheme and avoid inconveniences of late registration.

"Pre-registration is going on, and will culminate on April 25 to 27. And we're happy to announce that STI is providing 10 computer sets on the final pre-registration days to receive online pre-registration entries," she said.

The Labor executive also gave specific instructions to job seekers not to forget important documents such as dossiers and transcript of re

Santiago City Police Office (SCPO)

The Santiago City Police Office (SCPO) arrested recently two drug users while in pot session at the Barangay Malvar, Santiago City

Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) regional director Chief Supt. Rodrigo Purisima De Gracia identified the suspect as Virgilio Quejano, 36, and Harvel Pobre, 31, both residents of Mataas na Kahoy, Alicia, Isabela.

De Gracia said the joint anti-illegal drug operation of Intelligence Operatives and Police Station 1 in Barangay Malvar, Santiago City led to the arrest of Quejano and Pobre.

Confiscated from the suspects were one piece small heat sealed transparent sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu; two pieces color blue lighter; one piece surgical scissor and four used strip of aluminum foil.