Day: March 27, 2024

MANILA: The National Anti-Poverty Commission on Wednesday highlighted the crucial role of local government units (LGUs) in the poverty alleviation efforts of the national government.

In a statement, NAPC said this was emphasized during the orientation of various local government units from the National Capital Region (NCR) on the Magna Carta of the Poor (MCP), and formulation of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans (LPRAP) in Quezon City last March 20.

The MCP mandates the government to help in the attainment of the five fundamental rights of the poor – the right to adequate food, decent work, relevant and quality education, adequate housing, and the highest attainable standard of health.

‘These rights are essential for the poor to break from the intergenerational cycle of poverty. LGUs have a crucial role in the formulation of the LPRAP, and harmonizing the programs of National Government Agencies (NGAs). And LGUs are important to maximize their impact on poverty alleviation,’ NAPC Secretary Lope Sant
os II said during the orientation.

The orientation is part of the preparations for the nationwide rollout of the MCP in 2025.

It also includes the continuation of MCP-LPRAP seminars in the NCR and the remaining provinces categorized under poverty incidence categories 1 and 2, as identified by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

NAPC-Local Affairs Coordinating and Monitoring Service Director Alexis Lapiz explained that the MCP-LPRAP identifies the distinct poverty characteristics of each locality through a bottom-up approach in the planning process.

In connection with this, Lapiz emphasized the importance of the active participation of basic sectors and civil society organizations in driving various development initiatives aimed at reducing poverty.

Various local government officials directly involved in work related to the MCP attended the orientation, including the City Social Planning Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Media groups have belied the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s accusation that the journalists who covered the routine Philippine resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal were manipulating the materials they released to the public.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), in a statement Wednesday, dismissed the claim as a ‘barefaced lie’.

‘[T]he association strongly rejects and condemns the false, baseless claims by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying and the Chinese Embassy in Manila that journalists ‘manipulate the videos they recorded’ in South China Sea to project the Philippines as a victim,” it said.

The group, composed of foreign and Filipino journalists reporting for international media outlets, said it takes ‘deep offense at the insinuation that the press is a troublemaker and in cahoots with the government to forward a political agenda’.

‘Members of FOCAP include both Filipinos and foreign nationals from around the world, some of whom have embedded in these Philippin
e missions,’ it said.

‘The claim that the Philippines ‘had [journalists] manipulate’ their footage is a barefaced lie,’ it added.

It explained that a free and independent press “reports not what they are told, but what they observe, framed by historical and political context”.

‘The footage seen in the press is vetted by multiple sources and newsrooms. The work of journalists, including members of FOCAP and especially when carried by multiple media outlets, speaks for itself,’ it said.

‘The statements by the Foreign Ministry spokesman and Embassy are an insult to the integrity of journalists and an alarming attempt to muzzle an independent press,’ it added.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, meanwhile, stated that the Philippine government had ‘no say’ in the production and editorial decisions of reports related to the Ayungin coverage, except for ‘operational and national security considerations.’

‘The media is not a party to the dispute and should not be demonized by parties for ai
ring contending views on the issue and unflattering reports on incidents in the West Philippine Sea,’ it said.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the areas in the South China Sea over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying on March 26 claimed that each time the Philippines delivered supplies to the Filipino troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre, ‘they had many journalists on board, and had them manipulate the videos they recorded’ to ‘project the Philippines as a victim’.

The accusation follows the viral March 23 water cannon use of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against Unaizah May 4 that was ferrying supplies to BRP Sierra Madre, leading to heavy damage to the civilian boat and injuries to its personnel.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian on March 25 confirmed the CCG actions, saying it was ‘justified, lawful, professional, restrained, and beyond reproach’.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) has conferred Senator Cynthia Villar the Human Rights Award for her poverty eradication and biodiversity initiatives.

In her acceptance speech during the awarding ceremony at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday, Villar thanked the UNAP Board of Trustees for recognizing her commitment to eliminating poverty and maintaining a healthy environment, two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

‘Let me tell you about my journey towards achieving these SDG goals. With my husband Manny, we established in 1992 the Villar Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization to create sustainable livelihood, protect the environment and help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),’ Villar said.

For environment protection, she said the foundation has established Las Piñas-Paranaque Wetland Park; free agricultural training in tour farm schools in Las Piñas City, San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan, San Miguel in Iloilo and Davao City; and livelihood project in over 3,000
locations nationwide.

To help create livelihood, the Villar Foundation has also created various programs for OFWs, including the annual OFW and Family Summit.

The foundation has started the Sagip-Ilog Program to save Las Piñas and Zapote rivers from environmental degradation.

‘We adopted a holistic approach, started educating people about proper waste management, the riverbanks underwent re-greening activities and tree planting to prevent future soil erosion, and we created a green social enterprise,’ she said.

‘Women made arts and crafts from the water lily harvested, coconet and pits from coconut husks, compost were produced from kitchen and garden wastes and were given for free to garden enthusiasts and farmers, plastic chairs from plastic wastes were given free to public and farm schools,’ she added.

She said the Sagip Ilog received the coveted UN Water for Life Award in Zaragosa, Spain during a special ceremony on World Water Day in 2011.

In August 2013, the Villar Foundation Awards for Poverty Red
uction was launched to give recognition to the exemplary achievements of community enterprises in helping local economic development and improvement of lives.

In 2017, the Villar Foundation Youth Awards was launched to recognize youth organizations by giving young people more space for participation, influence, and power.

In 2018, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources awarded her along with the Manila Bay Site Coordinating Management Office and other organizations the title of “Kampeon ng Katubigan” for leading the protection of Las Piñas Zapote River and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park.

For promoting a clean and healthy environment and waterways, she was honored by the DENR-National Capital Region with the “Gawad Taga-Ilog 2.0” for their Most Improved Estero in Metro Manila during the celebration of World Water Day in 2022.

In the same year, the Villar Foundation won an international award for the World’s Best Environmental Projects.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The southbound lanes of C5 Ortigas and Pasig Boulevard flyovers will be temporarily closed starting Maundy Thursday for the installation of new expansion joints.

In a social media post Wednesday night, the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) informed the public that the portions of these structures would be closed until Easter Sunday (March 31).

Motorists are advised to use the southbound service roads during the scheduled works to avoid traffic congestion.

The project will replace the old bridge expansion joints, allowing more stability to the structural integrity of the bridges.

To fast-track the completion within the Holy Week, the DPWH-NCR noted that the construction works being undertaken by its Metro Manila 1st District Engineering Office, will operate 24 hours a day.

At the same time, DPWH-NCR assured the closed lanes would be opened to traffic immediately after completion.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier said round-the-clock ro
ad diggings for government and private construction projects would be allowed beginning Wednesday until the early hours of Easter Monday to take advantage of the expected downturn in vehicular traffic in the National Capital Region during the Holy Week.

Source: Philippines News Agency