Anti-corruption drive assured of P1-B fund

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has assured of allocating more funds of close to P1 billion to attain a graft-free regime in the Philippines.

In a letter to Ambassador John Danilovich, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), the President said that her administration will earmark additional funding to step up her anti-corruption campaign.

These include about P959 million funding from the P1.227 trillion national budget for 2008 for the Office of the Ombudsman which is twice the level in 2002.

The President further explained that revenue agencies of the government will set up computerized systems to better monitor economic activity and collect the right taxes and duties.

The President also bared that the Procurement Transparency Group which budget chief Rolando Andaya heads is working double time to ensure that all government transactions will be graft free.

“To further enhance integrity of public contract bidding, the Procurement Transparency Group is in full operation, harnessing both national agencies and civil society groups to monitor the procurement process.

I have already ordered all state agencies and corporations to submit spending plans and bidding information requested by the PTG,” Mrs. Arroyo said. Efren Montano

1,829 East Visayans benefit from PGMA training-for-work scholarship program

Tacloban City - The PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program is now in full swing in Region 8 through the TESDA Region 8 headed by Regional Director Juan M. Sabulao Jr.

As of August 17, 2007, the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program has already benefited 1,829 young people from Eastern Visayas, Director Juan M. Sabulao Jr. informed during the recently conducted Panindugan television program of the Philippine Information Agency.

The caregiving course accounts for 241 scholars, e-tesda accounts for 36 while the finishing course for call center agents program accounts for 481 scholars.

The other programs or courses under the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program are the gas metal arc welding which has 124 scholars, the household service worker which has so far 154 scholars and the software developer program which is offered in only one TVET institution in Region 8, has 25 scholars.

The Medical Transcriptionist program which is a new program according to Director Sabulao, has 8 scholars while slaughtering operation which is being offered only in Pampanga, has 48 scholars.

The National TVET Trainers/Assessors Qualification Program has 228 scholars while the shielded metal arc welders program has 484 scholars.

Courses under the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program which are not yet being offered in Eastern Visayas because there are no TVET Institutions offering them are the biomedical equipment program and the Pinoy Hilot/Spa therapist/Massage Therapist program.

Director Sabulao informed that only about two weeks ago, welders from the training schools in Eastern Visayas went to Subic to apply for job at the Hanjin shipping company. All of them were accepted and are now undergoing training, Director Sabulao said.

Director Sabulao noted that there are welding graduates who refuse or are unable to go to Subic in order to apply because of financial reasons or because they do not like to be separated from their families.

He said that TESDA has requested Hanjin to send a representative to the Region to interview the applicants but Hanjin needs at least 500 applicants to interview before they would agree to come.

The PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program was launched by President Arroyo in May of 2006 as a tribute to the Filipino worker who needs more training in order to be employed. This program which is being implemented nationwide through the TESDA has already made possible employment for many Filipino workers. (PIA 8)