Statement of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza

On the CPP/NPA/NDF’s call to proceed with the bilateral ceasefire negotiations

We welcome and respect the positive position coming from the leadership of the CPP/NPA/NDF. On the part of the Philippine government, we share the same commitment to work for just and lasting peace in the land. When "compelling reasons," as President Duterte earlier announced, are present, then we in government shall take the next necessary steps. #

20 February 2017

NDRRMC asks all sectors to support relief and early rehabilitation in Su...

Suporta ng publiko sa relief and rehabilitation operation sa Surigao Del Norte, hiniling ng NDRRMC

Tiniyak ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) na ipagpapatuloy ang pagtulong sa mga lokal na pamahalaan sa  Surigao Del Norte.



Ito ay para makabangon ang lalawigan lalo ang Surigao City mula sa pinsalang idinulot ng Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake.



Bagamat nakabalik na ang mga serbisyo gaya ng kuryente, telekomunikasyon at kahit paano ay tubig sa ilang lugar sa Surigao City, marami pa ring kukumpunuin ng  mga tahanan, gusali at tulay na nasira ng lindol noong nakaraang linggo.



Sa pulong ng NDRRMC Response Cluster nitong Miyerkules, hinikayat ni Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Kristoffer James E. Purisima ang iba’t-ibang sektor na ipagpatuloy ang diwa ng bayanihan at iwasang gumawa ng mga hakbang na makakaabala sa paghahatid ng relief goods at serbisyo sa mga kababayang nilindol.



Halos kalahati ng 30,000 family food packs at isang mobile kitchen para umalalay sa pagpapakain ng mga survivor ng lindol ang naipadala ng NDRRMC sa  Surigao City.



Kabilang sa mga unang naipadala ng NDRRMC sa Surigao City ang mga high-energy biscuit (30,000 pieces), Brown Rice Bars (3,250 pieces), dignity kits, kumot, malong, kulambo, solar lamps, generation sets, CAMPOLAS kits (mga batayan gamot) at mga water purification unit.#


Ika-16 ng Pebrero, 2017

Malinis na tubig, kailangan ng mga kababayang nilindol sa Caraga

Message of Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella

Church executive hails DENR action on 23 mining operations

An executive of the social arm of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines lauded the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the recent closure of a number of mining operations across the country.

The DENR issued the closure orders against 23 mining firms, most of them operating in near or within the functional watersheds and coastal waters, based on the final results and recommendations of the multisectoral audit teams formed to look into the compliance of mining operators with the existing environmental laws and regulations.

“Truly, mining in watershed and fragile island ecosystems should not have been permitted! The government is serious in repairing its gross mistake in the past - where all that matters is the corporate interests at the cost of the environment,” National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez said.

“(Secretary) Gina Lopez should be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments for standing to what is right and in defending people's well-being, over and above corporate greed," Father Gariguez added.

Meanwhile, companies that are affected can file for a Motion for Reconsideration (MR) to the DENR within 15 days from receipt of the order and still be appealed to the Office of the President.

The list of mining companies affected by the closure can be seen on through this link: http://bit.ly/2kfQhEy.

A recipient of the 2012 Goldman Environment Prize,  Father Gariguez is known for leading an 11-day hunger strike with Mangyans in Mindoro to stop the mining operation of the Norwegian firm Intex in 2009.

He is now involved in Yolanda Rehabilitation efforts for survivors which also included those who survived the monster storm in Coron, Palawan.

These rehabilitation efforts are part of the Catholic Church's three-year program in nine provinces with focus on ecosystem recovery and livelihood promotion. #

07 February 2017

Mimaropa's RSCWC launches Sepilyo Campaign

Toothbrushing is a very important oral health routine but somehow this practice is underappreciated in poor and far-flung places. 

Since healthy teeth is a reflection of proper oral health care for children and teenagers, the Regional Sub-Committee on the Welfare of Children (RSCWC)- Mimaropa will  launch on Thursday a dental hygiene campaign for children in indigenous communities and child development centers in Mimaropa's geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

RSCWC-Mimaropa is a policy-making a policy making and coordinating body for child welfare and protection,  programs and activities of regional line agencies and local governments.

The lauching will be held during the first day of the Children's Caravan in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

Dubbed as " Sepilyo Mo, Sagot Ko para sa Ngiting Aprubado," the campaign hopes to collection 100, 000 dental hygiene kits (tooth brushes and tooth pastes) and achieve the same level of success of the 1-Million Lapis campaign last year.

The launching of Sepilyo Campaign coincided with the national observance of Dental Health month this February.

The DSWD led RSCWC will likewise coordinate with partners in the local governments, Early Childhood Care Development  and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program strengthen oral health care in the city-municipal health programs curriculum and family development session.

Like the 1-Million Lapis Campaign, drop boxes will be placed in Social Welfare and
Development Ofices and in the areas of RSCWC member agencies.

Offices in the private sector are likewise encouraged to put up drop boxes for dental hygiene kits.
Deadline for the donations will be on October 27; the distribution is scheduled on November this year. #

02 February 2017

DSWD, RSCWC launch Children's Caravan in Occidental Mindoro

The Department of Social Welfae and Development - Mimaropa and the Municipality of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro will lead the Children's Caravan today at the town's municipal gym.

The caravan,  expected to have the same level of fun of Children's Month, is supported by member organizations (including this Agency) and organizations of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC).

RSCWC-Mimaropa is a policy-making a policy making and coordinating body for child welfare and protection,  programs and activities of regional line agencies and local governments.

" The activity is called Children's Caravan cum Adoption Conscioussness Week Celebration since the month of February marks the Adoption Conscioussness Month," said Regional Director Wilma Naviamos of DSWD-Mimaropa.

About 1,000 children, parents, teachers and  including people from indigenous communities are expected to participate.

Adoption is defined as a socio-legal process of providing a permanent family to a child whose parents have voluntarily or involuntarily relinquished parental authority over the child.

There are two types of adoption:

Agency adoptions - are those in which a licensed adoption agency finds and develops adoptive families for children who are voluntarily or involuntarily committed. The adoptive families go through the process from application to finalization of the child’s adoption under the auspices of the DSWD a licensed child-placing agency. The legal rights of the child, the parents who gave birth to the child and the parents who will adopt the child, are all equally protected.

Family or relative adoptions - are those where the biological parents make a direct placement of the child to a relative or a member of their extended family with whom they relinquish their child.

Childless couples or people ready to receive new family members from Mimaropa are encouraged to visit the regional office (or call 02-526-6077)  for details of agency adoptions.

Also highlighting the Caravan is the launching of the Sepilyo Mo, Sagot Ko para sa Ngiting
Aprubado which aims to gather 100,000 dental kits for children of Child Development Centers and indigenous people's communities in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.#

02 February 2017