2,800 typhoon-hit families to have new homes before Xmas

 Entertainment
Dec 122013
 
2,800 typhoon-hit families to have new homes before Xmas

A professional diver dressed as Santa Claus interacts with children while swimming inside a giant aquarium as part of Christmas celebrations at the Manila Ocean Park November 28, 2013. The Philippines, a mainly Roman Catholic country in Southeast Asia, prepares for Christmas early – shopping malls start playing Christmas carols in September and lanterns and fireworks are put up in early December. (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) — Government is stepping up efforts to build homes for some 2,800 families affected by super typhoon “Yolanda” before Christmas. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Saturday said the construction of 119 bunkhouse units in devastated areas in Eastern Visayas is being fast-tracked for completion on or before December 22. The bunkhouses will serve as temporary shelter for some 2,856 families displaced by the massive typhoon, which struck central Philippines last November 8. The DPWH said it is hoping that more bunkhouses will be completed in time for New Year. While site development and construction activities in 29 different sites are being hampered by sporadic heavy rains, the DPWH assured that private contractors have committed to work double time during good weather to facilitate the completion of the bunkhouses. Upon completion, the DPWH will turn over the bunkhouses to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for distribution to beneficiaries. (MNS)

Aquino assures enough funds to help Yolanda victims

 Entertainment
Nov 142013
 
Aquino assures enough funds to help Yolanda victims

Aerial shot of the province of which was heavily damaged by super typhoon Yolanda (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday evening reassured the public that government has enough funds to help those affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). The President said the funds include some P16 billion in savings, P6 billion from the President’s Social Fund, and P1 billion from the calamity and contingency funds. “And yung sa reconstruction phase naman (As for the reconstruction phase), most of that would occur next year wherein the new budget hopefully will have been approved and there will be new funding for the rehabilitation,” he said after getting a briefing on the situation at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. On the other hand, the President said the government can draw from the Quick Response Funds of agencies such as the Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). He noted that the bulk of the DPWH’s work for now is clearing roads. “At isama ko na rin pala. Sinasabi ng DOST, DENR, na parang itong event na ‘Yolanda’ ay tapos na,” he added. Meanwhile the President reiterated that the government’s priority now is to restore power and communications to affected areas. He said the DPWH will clear roads to facilitate relief efforts, while the DSWD and agencies like the National Food Authority go full blast in repacking operations. For their part, the military’s C-130 planes and Read More …

Government’s flood-control projects on track, Department of Public Works and Highways says

 Entertainment
Aug 222013
 

MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) — The completion of the government’s flood control system particularly in Metro Manila remains on track, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Wednesday. During an interview with the media in MandaluyongCity, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said the DPWH has several drainage improvement projects being […]

Infra standstill: Risk aversion or incompetence?

 Economy
Jul 162013
 
Infra standstill: Risk aversion or incompetence?

People keep on asking me why the P-Noy administration has fallen flat on its face in the area of constructing vital infrastructure. The only major project they are claiming to have completed, the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro was initiated during the Ate Glue watch. The portion that was the responsibility of the P-Noy watch was even botched by DOTC. They forgot the airport needs air navigation and night landing facilities. So they inaugurated the airport with only visual flight rule in place. The ILS (Instrument Landing System) and other vital facilities will come later. Another agency under DOTC forgot that the new airport needs a good public transport system. LTFRB should have been issuing franchises for buses and jeepneys but they thought of doing that too late. I was told of a Manila-bound Cebu Pacific passenger who had to pay a taxi P800 to get to the airport. His plane ticket was P300. In answer to my question, I am inclined to believe that incompetence is the basic reason why P-Noy’s boys have failed to put up infrastructure projects over the past three years. But there are those who say it is an acute case of risk aversion… as in a fear of signing any contract that may end up with the Ombudsman and will bug them way after they are out of office. They are most likely thinking they cannot be sued for corruption if they do nothing… but they risk a Sandiganbayan case if they signed Read More …

SMC to start NAIA Expressway construction in Jan

 Economy
Jul 082013
 
SMC to start NAIA Expressway construction in Jan

MANILA, Philippines – Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is expected to kick off the construction of the P15.86 billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway in January next year after inking a concession agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson signed yesterday a concession agreement with SMC chief financial officer Ferdinand Constantino under the Aquino administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. The signing was witnessed by DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, DPWH assistant secretary Maria Catalina Cabral, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center deputy executive director Ferdinand Tolentino, and SMC treasury infra head Raoul Eduardo Romulo. “The NAIA Expressway project exemplifies the extreme support and confidence of private sector in helping pursue development infrastructure plans and programs of the government through PPP,” Singson said in a statement. The 7.15 kilometer four-lane NAIA Expressway project is a strategic part of the envisioned Metro Manila Urban Expressway System to be built around a network of expressways serving Metro Manila. The project valued at P15.86 billion would provide access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3 linking the Skyway in the South Luzon expressway (SLEX) and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex). Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 It would also support the development of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Entertainment City located along the Manila Bay reclamation area. It will connect all three terminals of the NAIA Complex and ease the flow of traffic to and from the airport. The project involves the improvement of Read More …

PNoy lauds DPWH for reforms, gives bonuses to employees

 Entertainment
Jun 232013
 

MANILA, June 20 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday praised the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for efforts to curb the “systemic corruption” associated to the agency. In a speech during the DPWH’s 115th anniversary celebration, Aquino cited the department’s “fast, honest and reliable” execution of the government’s infrastructure programs. “Noon, […]

Palace: No favoritism in giving out P10,000 bonus to DPWH personnel

 News
Jun 212013
 
Palace: No favoritism in giving out P10,000 bonus to DPWH personnel

Malacañang on Friday said President Benigno Aquino III wasn’t playing favorites when he announced that all employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will receive a P10,000 bonus on the department’s anniversary. “Kapag nagkakaroon po talaga sila ng anibersaryo ang isang ahensiya o isang departamento ng pamahalaan, meron po talagang instances na nagkakaroon, nagbibigay iyong what they call, ‘milestone anniversary bonuses,’ doon ho sa mga kawani. So hindi po ito unique sa DPWH,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing. In a speech during the DPWH’s 115th anniversary celebration Thursday, Aquino lauded the department for its “fast, honest and reliable” execution of the government’s infrastructure programs. He also announced that he has approved a P10,000 anniversary bonus for all DPWH employees and officials. Valte expressed hope that other government agencies will understand the circumstances, in particular weather monitoring bureau PAGASA, which has been crying out for the government to release its much needed allowances. “Hindi naman po sana ito maging dahilan ng kanilang inggitan. Iyong pagdating naman po sa hazard and longevity pay [ng PAGASA employees], in-explain din po ng Pangulo ‘yan kahapon na talagang pinapatignan kasi kung ano naman po iyong benefits na dapat due to them,” Valte said. The government also appealed for patience from departments, in particular to teachers from the Department of Education, who have yet to receive their Performance Based Bonuses from 2012. “Itatanong po natin sa DepEd kasi hindi po talaga sabay-sabay ang labas ng PBB, ng Performance-Based Read More …

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