Crime rate in Central Visayas drops from Jan. to Feb., PNP-7 says
Cebu City (04 April) - Crime rate in Central Visayas went down for the period January and February, this year compared to the same period in 2010 as the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7 largely attributed the decline on their rigid and consistent anti-criminality efforts such as the conduct of regular checkpoints and mobile and foot patrol especially in crime prone areas.
PRO-7 Regional Operations and Planning Division Chief P/Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin bared the average monthly crime rate decreased from 39.46 percent in January and February, 2010 to 30.34 percent of the same period, this year.
“The drop in crime rate means our efforts to curb criminality is effective with the cooperation and support of all sectors especially the public,” according to Baldebrin.
Index crimes which recorded a volume of 3,933 incidents last year, dropped to 3,083 incidents this year or a decline of 21.61 percent, Baldebrin said.
Index crimes are crimes that occur with sufficient frequency and regularity particularly crimes against persons and properties such as murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft and rape.
For index crimes or violations against special laws such as illegal fishing, illegal gambling, illegal logging, intellectual property rights violations and crimes against public morals, this also went down from 1,614 incidents to 1, 182 cases or a drop of 26.77 percent, Baldebrin reported during the recent ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum.
Baldebrin likewise said the crime solution efficiency rate improved this year for the first two months compared to last year.
The PRO-7 official said that though the favorable peace and order situation has improved the police continue to exert efforts to enhance the image of the region as a safe and friendly destination for both tourists and business investors. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
============
PNP-7 takes on challenge to improve agency’s credibility
As latest survey tags PNP as 2nd most corrupt gov’t institution
Cebu City (04 April) - Despite the label of being the second most corrupt agency in the government based on the latest Pulse Asia Survey, the Philippine National Police (PNP) inCentral Visayas accepted the negative public perception as a challenge to improve its credibility.
Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Regional Director C/Supt. Ager Ontog Jr. said “that while it affects us, we should not consider this as discouraging and affect our operations but a challenge to improve on our processes and procedures so that citizens will see us as an agency with integrity whose mission is to serve the people.”
Based on the latest Pulse Asia Survey conducted from February 24 to March 6, 26 percent of Filipinos considered the PNP as the second most corrupt agency in the government after the Armed Forces of the Philippines which topped the list with 49 percent amid the ongoing congressional probe of alleged anomalies within the military.
“Perhaps the survey was conducted after the Senate hearing on the expose’ of alleged corruption within the military which probably and unfortunately also branded the PNP as the same as we are also in the uniform service,” Ontog said.
Ontog reiterated that the PNP does not have the ‘pabaon’ or the ‘payola’ system and that several measures have already been instituted to prevent corruption.
“We are very transparent in the disbursement of funds which is a directive from the PNP Chief himself while all funds are channeled to the lowest police unit which is themunicipal police station,” Ontog
Ontog said all police units are entitled to maintenance and operating expenses which is equivalent to P1,000 per personnel so the monthly allocation is dependent on the number of workforce per municipal police station.
“When I was in Bohol recently, I asked the town police chief in a certain municipality whether they have received the monthly maintenance and operating budget and they said yes,” Ontog disclosed.
Ontog also said their procurement procedure undergoes vigorous process and it is open to the public as well as above board.
“These past few years, the PNP has done so much in instituting measures where its logistical resources are spent wisely going through proper bidding and distributed equally,” Ontog emphasized. (PIA-Cebu/Fayette C. Riñen)
===========
Indigenous Peoples most vulnerable to climate change woes
By: Minerva BC Newman
Manila, April 04 (PIA) -- Indigenous peoples being marginalized in society, are the most vulnerable as their livelihood, health, food security, cultural integrity and lands are threatened by extreme weather events brought about by climate change.
Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Cultural Communities affirmed the Indigenous Peoples’ International Center for Policy Research and Education report that declared that the issue of climate change is not just an environmental issue but economic and cultural dimensions as well.
She expressed concern over the consequences of climate change on the lives of indigenous peoples.
“Despite the fact that indigenous peoples contribute the least with respect to carbon emissions due to their simple and sustainable lifestyles and practices, they are most affected by the consequences of climate change,” she added.
As they struggle with each flood, landslide, drought or typhoon, they are displaced from their lands or are left to battle food and water scarcity as well as widespread outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, Legarda stated.
These occurrences radically change their way of life, threatening their sources of livelihood, traditional knowledge and practices, especially their sustainable practices in the management of their land, water and forest resources, Legarda explained.
Legarda added that on September 2010, she filed Senate Resolution-158 directing the Committee on Cultural Communities to conduct an inquiry on the implications of the implementation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program to the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
According to Legarda, REDD is a mechanism to create an incentive for developing countries to protect, better manage and wisely use their forest resources by reducing deforestation and forest degradation in order to contribute to the global fight against climate change.
“As stewards of our forests, which are home to many indigenous cultural communities, they are the primary guardians and beneficiaries of this program,” the senator said. (PIA-7/MBCN with reports from the Office of Senator Legarda)
NEDA board approves PHL 2011-2016 Dev’t Plan
By: Minerva BC Newman
Cebu , April 4 (PIA) -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved recently the adoption of the 20-11-20-16 Philippine Development Plan.
Socio Planning secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr. said the overarching theme of the PDP 2011-2016 is good governance and anti-corruption in achieving inclusive growth that creates massive employment opportunities and significantly reduces poverty.
"Inclusive growth, not the trickle-down and jobless growth that we had in the past years, is the primary aim of the Plan," said Paderanga.
Paderanga noted that the PDP 2011-2016 translates the President's "Social Contract with the Filipino People" into effective, efficient and inclusive interventions that will guide various government agencies in the identification and implementation of projects.
During the NEDA Board meeting, Paderanga presented the summary of the Plan's 10 chapters that focus on five crosscutting key strategies that include; boosting competitiveness to generate employment; improving access to financing; investing massively in physical infrastructure; promoting transparent and responsive governance; and developing human resources through improved social services.
"To achieve inclusive growth, the country needs to achieve a high and sustained growth path, provide equal access to development opportunities across social spectrums, and implement responsive social safety nets that would assist those who are left behind by the character of growth," said Paderanga.
Key targets for ‘inclusive growth’ include the reduction of poverty incidence to 16.6 percent in 2015 from 33.1 percent in 1991.
It also wants to create employment at an annual average of one million jobs, an annual average labor force growth of 2.7 percent and an unemployment rate from 7.2 to6.8 percent.
The NEDA director general added that among the key targets of the PDP for the next six years are an annual economic growth of 7-8 percent; an investment-GDP ratio at 22 percent by 2016; and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
According to Paderanga, the MDGs are another set of specific and time-bound development goals committed by international governments to be achieved by 2015.
These included a 100 percent participation of school-age children in primary education with 1:1 ratio of girls to boys and 50 percent share of women in non-agricultural wage employment.
The MDG wants to achieve a 26.7 under-five mortality per 1,000 live births; 52 maternal mortality per 100,000 live births and zero prevalence of malaria and tubercolis in the country by 2015.
Paderanga said that the Plan was developed with inputs not only from government agencies and local government units, but also from civil society organizations and private organizations through country-wide series of dialogs and consultations.
"This is consistent with Memorandum Circular No. 3, that directed NEDA to coordinate the preparation of the medium-term plan in a consultative manner," said the NEDA Director-General.
After the Plan's approval, Paderanga said government agencies are now gearing up for its implementation.
"NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) are now working closely to ensure that the budget is supportive of the Plan's priorities and targets," said Paderanga.
The agencies' respective programs and projects that will support the PDP will be incorporated in the upcoming Public Investment Program (PIP) 2011-2016, which is companion document of the PDP, Paderanga concluded. (PIA-7/MBCN with reports from NEDA)
===========
Multi-sector inks manifesto for inclusive infrastructure accessibility
By: Minerva BC Newman
Cebu, April 03 (PIA) – Over a 100 advocates for barrier-free environment signed a manifesto for inclusive infrastructure accessibility for the marginalized sectors, specifically persons with disabilities, children, pregnant women and the senior citizens.
The Manifesto signing was done during the Orientation Course on the Amended Implementing Rules & Regulations of the Accessibility Law (BP 344) in Cebu on March 18, 2011 in observance of the general principles of the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Building officials of the various local government units, building administrators of government agencies in Central Visayas and focal persons of the district offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as well as other concerned citizens pledged to work hand in hand with all government entities and other partners and stakeholders in building a society where every human being can co-exist and thrive harmoniously.
They pledged to take appropriate measures to adopt the specifications of the universal and inclusive design and shall consult and actively involve the PWD sector in their planning and project implementation, as well as in the monitoring activities.
The Manifesto sought to recognize and protect the rights of persons with disabilities and staunchly support to the full implementation of the Accessibility Law (BP 344).
They also committed to comply with the minimum requirements and standards provided in BP 344 in making building facilities and public utilities accessible to the PWD sector.
They recognized that BP 344 is outmoded, obsolete and sometimes susceptible to erroneous interpretation and blatant violation.
They promised to become strong advocates to any legislative action that pursues the needed and timely amendments to the accessibility law. They believed that there are several provisions of the law that are no longer attuned to the "universal or inclusive designs" defined in UNCRPD.
The Manifesto expressed their commitment of support to the new Aquino government by helping in the implementation of substantial and effective poverty reduction programs particularly those geared towards the promotion of the interest and welfare of the PWD sector.
Finally, the group strongly believed that the inclusion of this marginalized member of society in all aspects of governance will propel the country's economic developments. (PIA-7/MBCN)