Ronnie V. Puno Movement

Ronnie Puno, DILG focused on cleanup after twin storms too

2009-10-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

We all have heard about the relief efforts that were done by various government agencies right after the destruction caused by the two typhoons. And the Department of Interior and Local Government is one of those government agencies that took part in this drive. The relief efforts were successful, and rehabilitation efforts were made as well. But other than this, the Department of Interior and Local Government also took part in an important activity right after the destruction has subsided.

The department under the guidance of Secretary Ronnie Puno and Undersecretary also took care of the cleanup operations and its many attached agencies also took part in the said efforts. Just the other week, the department has called for the meeting of governors and mayors in the metro to discuss measures on how to remove the more than 20,000 tons of garbage and debris in the metro. The president has issued a deadline for the local government units to address the stinking problem, and as of the latest count the local government units failed to the meet the deadline but what is important is that the efforts of the local government units continues up to this day. The department made sure that it did everything that it can including the utilization of heavy equipments, but still the number is to enough to cover all grounds. For this reason, the department called on construction companies lent some of their heavy equipments during the clean up drive. Another measure that was implemented and agreed upon weeks ago was the opening of the San Mateo, Montalban and the Rodriguez landfills. It was reported that Rizal Governor Ynares agreed for the opening of these landfills.

Solid Waste Management Forum planned

Another important measure that helped the department and the local government units was the declaration of the state of calamity in the areas affected by the twin storms. If these areas are under the state of calamity, the local government units in these areas can get into emergency contracts with companies in order to rush the cleanup. As a complement to these efforts, the department is also planning to schedule a seminar on solid waste management.

Military alert on in time for Typhoon Ramil

2009-10-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

It is not only the local government units and local and regional disaster and coordinating councils that are preparing for the arrival of Typhoon Ramil. The military is also under alert as of Monday in preparation for the arrival and the destruction that can be brought by the typhoon. The blue alert for the military was approved by General Victor Ibrado, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.

The escalation to blue alert will ensure that the military will be ready in case their help on the ground will be needed. When the military is in alert, this means that all of the personnel of the military are required to be on duty 12 hours a day. The Chief of Staff has also ordered that all the unified command units should also form their own version of the Multi-Role Force Battalion. This battalion was activated this past weekend in order to respond to the calamities.

In a statement that was made by the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he said that the assets and the resources of the Armed Forces which include the rubber boats of the Navy have been activated and positioned in Northern Luzon and these crafts are on alert and ready to be used for rescue efforts. The Navy spokesperson on the other hand said that their fleet is on red alert in preparation for the land fall of the newest typhoon. A red alert status means that the personnel are required to be on duty round the clock, and vacations of the personnel are cancelled during this time.

To be specific, the Naval Forces Luzon, the Naval Education and the Training Command and the Naval Forces Southern Luzon have been harnessed and positioned in strategic areas on northern Luzon where the typhoon is expected to hit. The personnel of the Navy is expected to be beef up by naval reservists and backed by the Navy’s Britten Norman BN-2 Islander plane. Eighteen rubber boats will be there as well to back up the fleet plus there will be 13 M-35 trucks, two amphibious trucks and two amphibian trucks.

BFP adds 33 new fire trucks

2009-10-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

With the growing need for fire trucks in many areas and local government units, the Bureau of Fire Protection has added thirty three (33) new fire trucks to its stable. The addition of this new batch of fire trucks will serve its purpose to address the need for flushing the affected areas and these can be used as well for providing and delivering water to evacuees. These new fire trucks of the bureau are expected to be deployed in the National Capital Region, and some will be delivered to CALABARZON.

The procurement of the new set of fire trucks were made after Secretary Ronnie Puno received a report from Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus. The said report coming from the Bureau of Fire Protection underlines the need for new fire trucks, and the said report also underscored the big help of the fire trucks in delivering water to evacuation areas. And of course, the presence of these trucks will also ensure that the department can be more effective in its fire fighting role. According to Mr. Corpus, though the Bureau of Fire Protection helped the victims of the twin typhoons the bureau should also ensure that it will still have its personnel and equipments that can help in putting out fire. Undersecretary Corpus also shared in the report that during the typhoon, the BFP in the National Capital Region has responded to 10 fire calls, and they also acted upon many requests for rescue in many flooded areas.

The Bureau of Fire Protection currently has a list of targeted number of fire trucks for every affected region in the country. For example for Region1, the needed number of fire trucks is 88. In BFP Region 3, the region is in need of 217 fire trucks. For the Bureau of Fire Protection in Region IV A, around 257 fire trucks are needed. And for the Bureau of Fire Protection in the National Capital Region, the area is still in need of 428 fire trucks. As of the last count, the Bureau of Fire Protection has deployed around 596 fire trucks and 6,050 personnel in affected areas. They are expected to help in the cleanup operations and they will be there as well to ration clean water.

Ronnie Puno calls on LGUs to prepare for Typhoon Ramil

2009-10-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

With another supertyphoon set to hit the country, specifically the northern part of the country, the Department of Interior and Local Government has called on its local government units and the local executives to prepare and be ready for the worst. Secretary Ronnie Puno surely knows that taking a typhoon lightly is not an option now and it is for this reason why he called on governors, city and municipal mayors of central and northern Luzon to leave no stones unturned when it comes to preparing the communities and areas for the coming storm.

His call centers on the provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Apayao and the Batanes Group of Islands. The DILG chief called for the activation of the Local Disaster Coordinating Councils. Based on the latest report and update coming from the Philippine Atmospheric , Geophysical and Astronomical Services the newest typhoon that will hit the country was seen 1,070 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan and this new typhoon is said to be packing 195 kilometers per hour near the center and its gustiness can reach up to 230 kilometers per hour. The strength of this typhoon approximates the strength of typhoon ‘Pepeng’ which caused massive destruction and landslides in northern Philippines.

The latest forecast has it that the typhoon is expected to move west northwestward at 17 kilometers per hour and by Tuesday afternoon the said typhoon is expected to be 790 kilometers northeast of Aparri. And by Thursday, the typhoon is expected to make its landfall. The call of Secretary Ronnie Puno is an important one, and a good move considering the past destruction made by typhoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng’.

In a statement, the secretary said that it is the duty of the disaster coordinating councils to take the lead in making sure that the disaster control and rescue plans can be activated and can be implemented at the right time. He also echoed the call of the National Disaster Coordinating Council to local officials of critical areas to start the evacuation plans while the typhoon is still days away from making its landfall. Ronnie Puno also cited the need to put up important measures that can help in community preparation like early warning systems and relief and rehabilitation efforts.

DILG leads in the celebration of National Rural Women’s Day

2009-10-16T05:35:00.000-07:00

Last October 15th, the country marked the National Rural Women’s Day and the Department of Interior and Local Government is one of the government agencies that took the lead in the celebration of this event in the country. Secretary Ronnie Puno of the department has called on all local government units and the local chief executives and officials to mark this said event, and he has underscored the need to remember this day by initiating simple yet well intended and important events and activities.

The celebration is done on a yearly basis and this is often celebrated every 15th of October. It is the intent of the celebration to effectively uplift and lift the profile of the rural women and also to make the government and the government more responsive to the needs of the rural women in agriculture and food production. It is also the intent of the celebration to promote different kinds of actions and initiatives that will help raise their profile. For this year’s celebration of the National Rural Women’s Day the theme that was adopted was the ‘Rural Women at the Heart of Innovation. The choice of this theme is significant in the current times. The choice of this theme clearly indicates that there is a compelling need to have a progress against hunger and poverty and it is a requirement as well that the development planners, leaders and policy makers to make that change and shift in their thinking when it comes to women, food security and of course development. The increasing cost of food items is now a crucial issue that needs to be addressed and this is one compelling reason why there is a growing number of hungry and impoverished people.

This issue thus takes center stage in this year’s celebration of the National Rural Women’s Day. To mark the celebration for this year, the office of Secretary Ronnie Puno issued DILG Memo Circular Number 2009-142. The memorandum that was issued by his office underscores the need to celebrate this important day of the year, and the memorandum also explains in detail why there is a need for more initiatives that will uplift the needs and profile of the rural women.

Citizen charter for every LGUs targeted by DILG, RonniePuno

2009-10-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

The Department of Interior and Local Government is targeting to cover all local government units when it comes to having their own Citizen’s Charter. This is one of the major programs of the department under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno. The design and the introduction of a public document like this one is seen as an important move to serve the public and to make sure that red tape can be cut or at least lessened. And now the good news has been shared by the secretary just this week. In a press release from his office, he stated that their office is right on target. To be exact, he shared that nearly 100 percent of all local government units have their own charters, thus ensuring that there will be a better way to deliver social and basic services.

Ronnie Puno has reported that nearly 97 percent of all local government units have their own charters or roughly 1,538 local government units out of the possible 1,591 local government units in the country. The delivery of the charter is a directive under the Anti Red Tape Law of 2007 and the main intent of this law is to cut red tape in government transactions.

What to expect in a citizen charter

So what can you expect from a citizen charter of one local government unit? The citizen charter will include a number of important details related to the operations and the services of the specific local government unit. For example, a charter of one LGU will state the mission and vision of the organization. The charter will also itemize the many front line services of the organization plus this charter will also include the step by step procedure how the services can be availed. The charter will also include information on who is charge for the delivery and the dispensation of these services plus the fees associated with these services if there are any. Secretary Ronnie Puno is happy with this kind of development in his department and he added that this goes to show that their dedication for service and transparency is always there.

DILG calls for a permanent disaster control plan

2009-10-14T01:54:00.000-07:00

It takes two typhoons and the inconveniences associated with it to convince our government to take disaster management plan seriously. One department that takes this kind of plan seriously is the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has called on local government units and local officials in areas affected by the last two typhoons to plan out and to map out a permanent disaster control and rescue plan that they can use in case another disaster of this kind happens to these areas. In an interview conducted with the secretary, he said that the local officials were given a week to prepare and to submit their rescue plans and these rescue plans that they can prepare and submit to the office are the same plans and templates that can be used if there is a threat coming from a typhoon or other kinds of disasters. Secretary Ronnie Puno has met with local officials and has talked to them on how they can be better prepared to handle future calamities. He said that this will serve as a permanent solution to the calamities that will hit the country in the future. He said that it is the purpose of the department to come up with a disaster control plan, and added that there is a need to go beyond the usual relief and rehabilitation efforts.

In the same interview in Camp Crame, the DILG chief said that the prepared plans of these local government units will then be submitted to the Office of the President and copies will be forwarded as well to the National Disaster and Coordinating Council or the NDCC. There are certain things that are included in the plans, as recommended by the office. For example, it suggested that the plans should include the identification of the strategic areas where the government assets and personnel can be positioned well before the calamity strikes. The secretary also shared that as a complement to these plans, the department through the Philippine National Police will deploy 75 new rubber boats in critical areas.

Ronnie Puno’s authorized leave defended

2009-10-13T02:02:00.000-07:00

At the height of the government’s program to lead the rehabilitation efforts in response to the destruction caused by the last two typhoons, some personalities including Senator Miriam Santiago has questioned the absence of Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government. According to the senator, the secretary should be around because this was the time when his LGUs need him the most. And upon knowing that the secretary was not around and that a person in charge was appointed, the senator further stated that Ronnie Puno should be held liable and responsible for the loss and the deaths that happened in connection with the last two typhoons. Simply put, the secretary was once again at the receiving end of harsh words and baseless accusations of the senator.

The office of the secretary did not take this lightly and in a statement the acting secretary of the department; Acting Secretary Melchor Rosales defended the leave of Ronnie Puno. According to Mr. Rosales, Ronnie Puno was on authorized leave and this was contrary to the claim of the lady senator that Ronnie Puno did not get the permission of President Arroyo. The acting secretary added that the request for leave by Secretary Ronnie Puno was already approved last September 8, which means that this was approved days before the typhoon struck. Ronnie Puno is out of the country because his wife is scheduled to undergo a major surgery. According to his office, the secretary will be back in the country on October 12.

According to Melchor Rosales, the approval was released September 8 and that he has already the papers that will make him as the acting secretary of the office. The acting secretary added that even though Ronnie Puno is not around, he said that the department is still leading the efforts in helping the affected local government units. The department has conducted meetings and consultations, and has also led in indentifying possible evacuation centers and sites. According to the acting secretary, their department has identified 26 schools and these schools are currently used as evacuation centers.

How Ronnie Puno plans to introduce 'new politics'

2009-10-12T05:14:00.000-07:00

This should serve as a welcome respite and definitely a breather; Secretary Ronnie Puno calling for a new way to play politics in this country.

We all know what the secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government means; what he means is that every player in the field should stop the trend of pushing for politics of negativity and mudslinging and the 2010 elections could serve as the perfect time to exercise a new form of politics and the perfect time to exercise in civility as well. Ronnie Puno’s take on the new form of politics was shared by the secretary during his speaking engagement at the Manila Overseas Press Club or the MOPC. In his speech that was delivered on that same gathering, he offered his insights on how to improve the way politicians and political personalities can help in transforming the way we do politics. He said that now is the time to end the meaningless partisan divisions that divide them, and that he believes that now is the time to have a fresh start for the country’s politics. He said that this new form of politics is a politics that is characterized by civility and decorum and this is the same politics that he is willing to promote in time for next year’s elections. In his own words;

And rhetoric has to be matched by action. Even when chosen by my party to be its vice-presidential candidate, I pledge to help elevate the campaign to a higher more decent plane. By focusing on issues and refraining from engaging my rivals in name-calling or character assassination. I will not personally attack my opponents and will recognize whatever positive actions they have done in the past or during the campaign.

These are the words and the promise coming from Secretary Ronnie Puno. And the challenge is for other politicians and interested personalities to follow suit, considered by the DILG chief as his friends. By making this promise, the secretary has made a compelling contribution to the political exercise; and we all wait how others responds to this call of new politics.

Ronnie Puno is committed to civility in polls

2009-10-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

There is this common thinking that every political exercise is marked by negativity; everyone is pulling someone to their level all in the name of winning the game. After all, they are in the electoral game to win the ultimate prize; so their eyes are on the prize. So for many, it is no longer a surprise to learn that a significant chunk of the voting talks negatively about the elections next year. And they are expecting that the elections next year will be marked once again by irregularities and poll rigging. But let it be known that this is not completely true; there are still a group of interested candidates and political personalities that promotes civility and responsible actions even during elections. Secretary Ronnie Puno is one, and the current chief of the Department of Interior and Local Government has already shown his commitment to the conduct of a civil and intelligent campaign.

Ronnie Puno is the preferred candidate for vice president of the administration party, but he is still waiting for the confirmation by his party. But this early, he has already shown his dedication and support for the conduct of an intelligent campaign grounded on issues. The general public caught a glimpse of this thinking and plans of the good secretary during his speaking engagement at the Manila Overseas Press Club or the MOPC. His talk during that night touched on his plans for the elections. Participants to the said event was introduced to his theme of civility in politics using the post-election period as that time that can be used for healing and reconciliation between parties. These kinds of thinking and statements coming from Secretary Ronnie Puno can be considered as a welcome news and development.

After being bombarded with lots of negative news and lots of pulling down, statements like these surely provide a breather and hope for all of us. For sure, we can still say that there is hope in Philippine electoral exercises after all. What is more refreshing is that Ronnie Puno made use of simple and clear words that delivers the point straight up- and that he is for a civil and an intelligent campaign for the 2010 elections.

Post Ondoy dialogue planned by DILG

2009-10-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

As part of the government’s plans of helping communities and local government units get back on its feet after the devastation brought about by the last two typhoons, the Department of Interior and Local Government is planning to meet with the LGUs and communities to assess the current situation. The planned meet-up scheduled by the department on October 9, 2009 will also target some concrete steps that can be recommended to these local government units on how they can move forward after these calamities.

The meeting with communities and LGUs affected by the last two typhoons will be facilitated by acting Secretary Melchor Rosales. Rosales is currently the acting secretary since Secretary Ronnie Puno is out of the country to accompany his wife for an operation. The proposed meet-up is called ‘Post Ondoy Reconstruction: A Dialogue with LGUs’. It is expected that this meeting of minds will then help guide the LGUs and communities on how they can reconstruct their respective areas of responsibilities. In a statement, acting secretary Rosales said that now is the time for us to work together to reconstruct and rebuild the battered communities.

If the meeting goes according to plans, the local chief executives of the affected areas are expected to report the damages and the effects of the Typhoon ‘Ondoy’ to their communities. They are also expected to update the department regarding the status of the rehabilitation and the relief efforts currently underway in their areas. Plus, they are also expected to cite the other issues and problems in their respective areas that need to be addressed immediately. The dialogue between the department and the representatives of the LGUs will be held at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Participants to the said dialogue includes governors, city and municipal mayors, local police officers and also fire chiefs coming from Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Secretary Ronnie Puno calls for more cops to achieve ideal ratio

2009-10-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

The number of cops on the road and patrolling the communities will have a say on how peaceful and secure our roads and communities will be. When there is a lack in the number of police officers, then it cannot be expected that security and peace and order will be easy to get. For this reason, the Department of Interior and Local Government is investing much time and effort in making sure that a proper number of police officers will be made available on the streets to keep us safe.

One move of the department through the initiative of Secretary Ronnie Puno is the hiring of additional 10,000 police officers. This move of the department is part of its long term planning. And this program will be started next year. The target of this plan is simple- to make sure that the streets remain safe and to make sure that we can get nearer to the ideal ratio of police officers to the population. If the move will be approved next year and the proposed hiring will be implemented, then the ratio of police officer to the population will stand at one police officer to 649 persons. This will demonstrate a marked increase of 8 percent compared to the current ratio that we have today.

In the past years, the move of the department and Secretary Ronnie Puno was to hire 3,000 police officers every year. But they saw that this was no longer enough and this is the reason why they proposed that starting next year, they will hire 10,000 or triple the usual hiring template. And by the estimates of the department, this kind of hiring move will need at least 1.4 billion for its budget. If the proposed hiring will push through next year, then this will increase the total number of uniformed personnel in the Philippine National Police to more than 142,000. But even though the plan of the department pushed through, still we are off from the ideal ratio of one police officer for every 500 individuals. These pieces of information were shared by Secretary Ronnie Puno during the presentation of the department budget in the Congress.

Ronnie Puno urged unaffected areas, LGUs to help typhoon-hit areas

2009-10-06T05:36:00.000-07:00

Areas and local government units that were spared from the wrath of Typhoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng’ were urged last week to help and assist typhoon-damaged areas in the country. And even before Typhoon ‘Pepeng’ struck the northern part of the country, the Department of Interior and Local Government has urged unaffected areas to aid affected areas prepare better for the coming calamity.

This move of by the department to remind LGUs was a good reminder to those which remained in complacency for most part of last week. Just last week, Typhoon ‘Ondoy’ dumped heavy rains in Metro Manila and other areas and submerged these areas for a number of days. The destruction brought by the typhoon has cost more 100 million in infrastructure damages and cost the lives of around 293 people. As a measure to avoid the same issues days before the second typhoon struck the country, the department under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno called on the LGUs to assist and extend financial help to the affected areas if necessary. When Typhoon ‘Pepeng’ hit the country a few days ago, the government declared most areas in the north under the state of calamity. The coverage of the state of calamity was then widened to include the rest of the country.

The department through its acting secretary suggested ways on how the unaffected LGUs can help the typhoon-stricken areas of the country. The acting department secretary cited the Sections 5 (a) of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the RA 8185. Under this section, the local government units may allocate and use the portion of the five percent calamity fund provided that the areas that will receive the funding are also declared as state of calamity. The same section also states that the calamity fund can be used for the relief efforts, the reconstruction and the rehabilitation in connection with the calamities that may happen within the budget year. These unaffected LGUs according to the department can undertake relief operating that may include the provision of emergency assistance like provision of temporary shelter and relief goods. These LGUs can also undertake reconstruction efforts as a way to assist the affected LGUs.

Ronnie Puno presents 2010 DILG budget to Congress

2009-10-05T05:17:00.000-07:00

For next year, the Department of Interior and Local Government has proposed a budget of 64.547 billion. This budget which was proposed and presented by Secretary Ronnie Puno to the Congress includes funding for the hiring of around 10,000 new policemen, plus that funding as well for 1,000 new officers for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection. The proposed budget plan for next year is slightly higher than the 2009 budget by around 3 percent.

For this year, the department is being sustained by a budget of 62.937 billion. This latest proposed budget by the department was shared by Secretary Ronnie Puno before the members of the House Committee on Appropriations which is currently chaired Representative Junie Cua of the province of Quirino. Secretary Puno explained before the body the plans of the department and the reason for the budget request. He said that the proposed budgetary allocations of his office will fund the four priority thrusts of the department and all these are designed to promote governance. He specifically cited the Republic Act n9485 or the Anti Red Tape Act.

He also cited the other major programs of the department under his leadership which includes the initiatives on the local economic assistance, the human rights initiatives and also the peace and order programs of the department. Secretary Ronnie Puno also specified the budget of the department by specific office or organization. For example, for the Office of the Secretary the department is proposing 1.882 billion. From the looks of it, this may seem too large but as stated by Secretary Ronnie Puno the allocation for this year has been decreased by 23 percent. The Philippine National Police sees its budget increased for next year. According to Secretary Ronnie Puno, the budget for the PNP is up by 5 percent to 49.664 billion. Last year, the budget for the department was pegged at 47.268 billion. The budget for the Bureau of Fire Protection on the other hand is down by 9 percent. But at least the budget for the BJMP is given a boost as its budget increased by 7 percent.

Ronnie Puno pushes for projects that will empower LGUs

2009-10-02T02:15:00.000-07:00

Empowerment of the local government is one of the major plans of the Department of Interior and Local Government. And ever since Secretary Ronnie Puno assumed the top post in the department, he spearheaded a number of programs and projects that are aimed to empower our local government units and out local government heads. One such major initiative of the department that is aimed at helping the LGUs realize its full potential is focused on the peace and order front.

Well this can be expected since peace and order are considered as two of the main concerns of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno, the police organization has managed to increase its police visibility. And by increasing the police visibility, surely peace and order follows and investments will surely start to pour in. Under the guidance of Secretary Ronnie Puno, the police organization has accepted 15,000 new officers and the department is expecting another 10,000 and if the plan will push thru this new number is targeted by 2010. The addition of new personnel to the organization is complemented by equipping the police force with the right trainings and resources that will make them competent in addressing threats to security and peace and order. Secretary Ronnie Puno has also outlined the work done by the department in making sure that women and children are properly cared for and their rights are properly protected. A good example of this initiative is the establishment of the Women and Children Protection Desks, and these desks are present in every police station in the country. The establishment of these desks is considered as one of the landmark initiatives of the Philippine National Police under the direction of Secretary Ronnie Puno.

The department is also making sure that the PNP is ready to meet its challenges by building new police stations and engineering offices. Also part of the plan is the acquisition of anti-terrorism gears and equipments including communication equipment. All these resources are seen by the department as a big help in addressing terrorism and helpful in ensuring peace and order in the country.

Significant initiatives for LGUs introduced by Sec Ronnie Puno

2009-10-01T05:36:00.000-07:00

The Department of Interior and Local Government is targeting new measures that can help local government units’ better address the needs of its constituents, and more importantly these new measures are also targeted to help maintain peace and order in communities. According to Secretary Ronnie Puno, all these measures and initiatives have one thing in common- to ensure that the streets are safe thus attracting the attention of foreign investors.

In order to concretize these proposed initiatives, Secretary Ronnie Puno has called for additional budget for the department which includes the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. These moves to enhance the services of the department were made during the stint of Secretary Ronnie Puno. The secretary believes that by enhancing the budget of the department then it would be better equipped to handle and to protect the people it is mandated to serve.

There were a number of initiatives planned and implemented by the department under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno. One initiative of the department is to identify the many ways and measures that can empower the local chief executives. Empower in a sense that the local chief executives will be given a better say in the decision-making process in the government. Secretary Puno targets a more active role for local chief executives and he envisions local chief executives that have a say on country side development and peace and order. He believes that by empowering these local chief executives then the department accomplishes that true grassroots empowerment. By making sure that these local chief executives are given a participatory role in decision-making processes, potential mismatches in development projects and actual needs can be avoided. This is true because the needs and the wants of the LGUs can be better understood since these LGUs will now have representatives on the negotiating table. Secretary Ronnie Puno also noted the need to overhaul public governance in the local level. And this is done by empowering the local chief executives and by making sure that they have a voice in developmental planning.

Secretary Ronnie Puno leads DILG in rescue and relief efforts

2009-09-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

The Department of Interior and Local Government under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno responded immediately right after Typhoon ‘Ondoy. In fact, Secretary Ronnie Puno has signed and ordered a number of directives for officials of the department and the Philippine National Police asking them to take part and pour their resources in the relief efforts. These directives were issued by the secretary shortly before he left for a short trip abroad.

According to the statement released by his office, Ronnie Puno has filed a two-week leave of absence to accompany his wife who will be undergoing a major surgery. The statement added that Undersecretary for Peace and Order Melchor Rosales was the person appointed as in-charge of the office while Secretary Ronnie Puno is out of the country. Secretary Ronnie Puno did not leave the country in haste and without organizing the resources of the department and the police force. The DILG chief made sure that the department resources will be made available and he also made sure that measures are in place so that these can help speed up the relief operations in typhoon-hit areas.

According to the press release issued by his office, Secretary Ronnie Puno has ordered the Philippine National Police to coordinate with the National Disaster Coordinating Council so that the relief efforts can be performed in a faster manner. Secretary Puno also tasked the PNP Special Action Force to take part in the relief efforts. He specifically instructed Chief Supt. Leocadio Santiago to make use of his organization’s resources to help in the rescue operations in the hardest-hit areas in the Metro.

PNP manual on proper way of handling juvenile cases launched

2009-09-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

Police officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police will now have the best assistance when dealing with cases involving juveniles. The assistance for our police officers come in the form of the new manual and it is expected that this manual will tackle topics that will help and guide these officers on how to properly deal with children in conflict with the law. The implementing rules and regulations are part of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

This new manual by the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government spells out the many dos and don’ts that should be exercised by police officers when dealing with children in conflict with the law. For example, it is spelled in the manual that police officers are not required to use the handcuffs on offenders, and the use of these handcuffs is only allowed when it is extremely necessary. The manual also offered a definition of the word ‘child’ which can help our police officers. According to the manual, the term ‘children in conflict with the law’ is that person that is allegedly accused or adjudged as having committed an offense under the country’s laws and that the person is below 18 years of age. The development of the manual, its approval and the subsequent launching were made possible under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno. Secretary Ronnie Puno is the department head and also the chair of the National Police Commission.

A manual of this kind according to Secretary Ronnie Puno is important since there are a growing number of minors that get entangled with the law. He said that the government and the private sector must act so that the issues of the minors can be addressed. Secretary Puno noted that the incidence of minors’ involvement with crimes is not confined just in urban areas, rather there is also that noticeable increase in rural areas and this is affected by media influence. Under the said manual, the police officers should read to the minors their rights under the Miranda doctrine, and police officers should explain to the offenders that they are persons in custody while they are not yet turned to the right authorities.

Sec Ronnie Puno for Cha-cha only after elections

2009-09-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Secretary Ronnie Puno has spoken on the issue of charter change, one of the most discussed issues leading to the 2010 elections. According to the DILG chief, he is inclined to support the changing of the constitution provided that the change should be done after the 2010 elections and after we have elected our new set of administration officials.

His views on the subject were shared last week when he was a guest at the Manila Overseas Press Club. On the said gathering the secretary said that the failure of the elections next year is highly improbable and he added that he will not spend much time and effort to launch his candidacy if he knows beforehand that the 2010 elections will not push through. But he still called for the need to prepare for the worst so that the poll body can easily address the issue.

Secretary Ronnie Puno stated the many reasons why there is a need for the government to update and change the constitution. One major thing that he noted is that the present constitution has a number of conflicts in its provisions. He said that these conflicts should be resolved. He also cited the many grammatical errors on the constitution that needs to be addressed. And third, he said that the current constitution needs to be updated with regards to the economic provisions. Also he cited the need to look out for the other aspects of governance and he suggested that these things should be debated upon. Secretary Ronnie Puno also touched on the talks about possible cheating in next year’s elections. Cheating has been considered as one of the serious threats to the elections. He said that fraud and vote rigging in next year’s elections can be avoided by the help of poll automation. It has been said that automation is the perfect antidote to cheating. Secretary Ronnie Puno believes that if poll can be computerized then this can reduce the cheating to the minimum levels. Still, the DILG chief said that the complete eradication of cheating is difficult. For this reason, everyone should do its share.

Cory 'fever' alone cannot win elections- Ronnie Puno

2009-09-25T05:45:00.001-07:00

The wave of support and the level of enthusiasm for Senator Noynoy Aquino may be there and may be growing as each day passes but this should not lull his supporters into complacency. Some are saying that this level of support and enthusiasm is amazing and unprecedented but these things will not last that long enough into next year. Simply put, this level of affection and enthusiasm will not win the elections for Senator Ronnie Puno.

This kind of observation is not from an ordinary man on the street; this comes from a well-respected person in the political circuit. The opinion is from Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government considered as a master strategist. He is also credited for helping launched the candidacies and win that for the last three presidents, including the present one. Secretary Puno knows the value of euphoria but he added that this alone will not deliver the goods on Election Day. He said that other than euphoria, the camp of Senator Aquino should focus on other important details. It all boils down to the major issues that concern the people, and every candidate planning to run in the next elections should offer solutions to their concerns. Secretary Ronnie Puno shared his opinion during his speaking engagement at the Manila Overseas Press Club or the MOPC last Tuesday.

His experience he says tell him that the kind of mood and enthusiasm that is felt today will not be present eight months from now and he believes that nothing last forever. He also shared his observations during election time that every candidate tends to do a lot of talking and they are expected to face a lot of people and a lot of questions and in the end these candidates cannot please everyone. Though he said that enthusiasm alone cannot win elections, he clarified that it is important as well to understand the value of the so-called Ninoy phenomenon. This phenomenon has rubbed off to the candidacy of Senator Aquino and this is now manifested in the latest survey results conducted by the Social Weather Stations last September 5 and 6. Based on that survey, one in every two voters in Luzon said that they will support Senator Aquino.

BFP to get another 100 fire trucks this year according to Ronnie Puno

2009-09-24T05:32:00.000-07:00

In line with the modernization program of the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Department of Interior and Local Government is planning more fire trucks that can be used to compensate the available fire fighting units of the bureau. To be exact, the Bureau of Fire Protection is adding another 100 fire truck units in the country.

This new development in the organization was relayed to the general public by Secretary Ronnie Puno during his visit to Pagadian, City. The DILG chief was the guest speaker in the 3rd regular meeting of the Regional Peace and Order. The secretary said that the beefing up of the fire fighting units of the country was one of the major and priority projects of the department when he first served as the DILG chief. He noted then that most municipalities in the country were having a hard time procuring the fire trucks for their respective municipalities. In 2000, there was an agreement with the Japanese government regarding the procurement of fire trucks but this did not pushed thru when he decided to leave the department. But in 2004 the Bureau of Fire Protection used this initiative by Secretary Ronnie Puno to acquire more trucks for the organization, and in 2007 new fire trucks were added to the stable. During that year, the bureau added 37 fire trucks and another 65 were added last year. And for this year another 100 fire trucks are expected to be added to the stable.

The secretary also made use of the event to formally inform the governor of the province that a fire truck will be delivered to the province and this can be used to help prevent fires in the province. The program of the department to modernize the BFP is not just a short term program of the department. He said that this is a long term program, and a program supported by the President herself.

Sec Ronnie Puno calls foes hysterical and delusional

2009-09-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hysterical and delusional- these are the words used by the camp of Secretary Ronnie Puno to describe the recent statements made by his foes and other observers in the political arena. These words coming from the camp of the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government came right after his foes made statements that he will let loose administration-sponsored cheating machinery in time for the 2010 elections.

For some of the foes of the secretary, the name Ronnie Puno is often associated with political maneuverings and some are thinking that Secretary Puno has been part of many campaigns that made use of dirty tactics just to win the elections. Of course this is half-true; indeed the secretary has been part of many campaigns like the campaigns of former President Ramos and Estrada and he was also part of the winning team of President Arroyo but being called as an ugly manipulator behind the scenes surely doesn’t suit the secretary. The accusations according to his camp are baseless.

According to Interior Assistant Brian Yamsuan, these critics and the foes of Secretary Ronnie Puno are only seeing non-existent ghosts and they are just trying to condition the minds of the public that the only way that the administration party can win is through massive cheating. These kinds of accusations of course did not sit well with the camp of Secretary Puno and they made statements countering these claims. For the administration team, the Teodoro and Ronnie Puno team is a strong and formidable team and this will make the team win in next year’s presidential elections. These foes are citing the history of campaigns attended by Secretary Ronnie Puno and as mentioned, he worked with winning teams in the past. The camp of Secretary Ronnie Puno has reminded his foes that cheating will be next to impossible next elections since the elections will be fully automated. And this will serve as the antidote for cheating. And regarding the accusations that Secretary Ronnie Puno did have a hand in rigging the elections in the past, Assistant Secretary Yamsuan said that these allegations were not proven.

NAPOLCOM helps professionalize PNP- Sec Ronnie Puno

2009-09-22T04:49:00.000-07:00

The National Police Commission which is also chaired by Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government is seen as a factor in helping professionalize the Philippine National Police. This comes from no less than Secretary Ronnie Puno himself, and he said that the NAPOLCOM can be cited for at least four important milestones and these are the things that helped the police force of the country.

One of the biggest milestones of the NAPOLCOM which helped shaped the police force is the Police Executive Service Eligibility or the PESE. This was the NAPOLCOM’s answer in order to professionalize the ranks and the examination process in the organization. This new examination was the one that replaced the Career Service Executive Examinations of the Civil Service Commission. This new form of examination was developed by the experts from the country and from other countries as well and this is a mandated examination for those personnel of the police force seeking to occupy third-level posts- from senior superintendent to director general. This message of Ronnie Puno regarding the state of NAPOLCOM was made during the 43rd founding anniversary of the organization last week. On the same rites, Senator Edgardo Angara also paid tribute to the organization stating that the organization should be lauded for its many reforms especially in the areas of strategic planning and investments in human capital.

Other than this new form of examination for the police force, the NAPOLCOM is also known for the reinstitution of the duty and obligation that is designed to offer legal assistance to PNP personnel as part of the Republic Act 6795. Secretary Ronnie Puno has added that this program was returned to the table under his watch. Under his watch under NAPOLCOM, Republic Act 9708 was also passed. This law clearly states that even if there is a criminal action or complaint against the police personnel, this should not serve as a hindrance for the person’s promotion. This law states that a police officer will only be ineligible for promotion when there is a probable cause against the person. If this is not present, then the officer is ready for promotion.

Election fears baseless; Teodoro and Ronnie Puno tandem team to beat

2009-09-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

The announcement of the team-up of Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Ronnie Puno has pushed some of the players in the field to push the panic button. And this is manifested in the statements made by some players moments after the team-up has been announced. Many are saying that the team-up is leading to government-sponsored cheating in next year’s presidential elections. Simply put, some players in the field are having nightmares since the tandem of the two cabinet secretaries is considered as a team to beat and the tandem is better in at least two counts. Here are the two reasons why the administration party will be the team to beat in 2010 elections:

• The Teodoro/Ronnie Puno team-up will be the team to beat next year since the administration party will roll out an effective and an efficient campaign that is anchored on excellent record in performance and achievements of the Arroyo administration as compared to the proposed plans and changes that can be offered by the opposition
• The other reason why the Teodoro/Ronnie Puno tandem is set to lead in next year’s elections is that this team-up has the head start in the presidential race since this tandem is enjoying that built-in advantage of having the base of President Arroyo placed at round 25 percent. And having this kind of edge will surely have its advantages in a crowded field in next year’s elections.

According to Brian Yamsuan, who is an assistant secretary in the Department of Interior and Local Government the statements made regarding a government-led cheating in next year’s elections are but products of hallucinations and delusions coming from other personalities and candidates. He said that there are no bases for thinking that there will be cheating in 2010 elections and that Ronnie Puno will use the Philippine National Police and lead the organization in rigging the elections. He said that the Philippine National Police is a professional organization and will not allow itself to be used in next year’s elections. And he added as well that Secretary Ronnie Puno will leave his post in the Department of Interior and Local Government as soon as the campaign period starts.

Sec Ronnie Puno downplays the moves of the ‘origs’ to reject party merger

2009-09-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

Just last week, there were reports that old time members of the Lakas party headed by former speaker De Venecia and former President Ramos have rejected the merger between the two parties. This has alarmed some members in the party and this move also alarmed some of the political observers. But for party leaders and elders of the party, this was nothing but a tantrum coming from the old members of the party.

Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government is one of those from the party that took this lightly, and in his words he called these actions of the Ramos group as tantrums of the old timers in order to get noticed. Secretary Ronnie Puno calls this as the renegade group and technical breakaway and he asserted even further that these founding members of the Lakas-CMD no longer wield that usual power associated with them in the past. This is exactly true within the party; gone are the days when former Speaker De Venecia holds great power in the party. And in their place is a new breed of party leaders that are young and energetic. In that same press conference, the DILG secretary listed many reasons why he is taking the actions of the older members lightly. He said that no one is following this group anymore since they are already washed out; a group with no political clout. All in all he said that their moves are only designed to get attention. Most of the members of the group that Secretary Puno is referring to are no longer in office or no longer serving an elective post.

It was last week when a small group of Lakas, around 50 members led by former President Ramos and former Speaker Jose De Venecia have declared their independence from the merger. The group has already questioned the merger of Lakas and Kampi before the poll body. The group that calls themselves as the “Lakas Originals” has reaffirmed their support for former President Ramos and former Speaker De Venecia. Members of the party don’t consider the absence of the two major players as a loss and they didn’t consider this as an example of in-fighting within their ranks.

Sec Ronnie Puno preferred VP bet; thanks party

2009-09-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

The smoke has cleared in the administration party, and the party leaders can now direct their efforts to the real issue at hand- making that statement that theirs is better and ready to serve the country in 2010 and beyond. Though there may be some reservations and some protests coming from Chairman Bayani Fernando and other party elders, it can now be generally expected that the Lakas party is raring to go on with the campaign. At the end of the meeting that was conducted by the party, Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of the Department of Defense and Secretary Ronnie Puno were selected as the party’s bet for next year’s elections. Their selection by their party mates was welcomed by Secretary Teodoro and Secretary Ronnie Puno.

When Secretary Puno officially learned about the preference for him and Secretary Teodoro, the DILG chief lost no time in thanking his party. He is optimistic for the tandem and said that his team up with the young defense chief will be the team to beat in next year’s presidential elections. This statement was made by the DILG secretary moments after the conclusion of the 3rd meeting of the Lakas National Executive Committee in Mandaluyong City. In his words, Ronnie Puno thanked the leadership of the party for the trust and confidence given to him as the party’s vice presidential bet next year.

While thanking his party, Puno also added that he will do his best not to fail the Lakas leadership and its members. The tandem, according to him is the team to beat next year and the selection of the two based on his opinion is a good move coming from the administration party. Teodoro may have low ratings as compared with the others, but in the opinion of the secretary and other party elders this will change the moment the general public knows the real Secretary Teodoro. He said that people will get to realize that there is something with this former bar top notcher and they will fully understand his competence once they will know more about his plans for the country. The DILG secretary also talked about the comparative advantage of their team-up, saying that the president has a built-in support base of 25 percent.

Admin party endorses Sec Teodoro, prefers Sec Ronnie Puno for VP

2009-09-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

After so many speculations and news reports, the ruling administration party headed by the President has finally and officially identified the person/s that will lead the party in next year’s elections. According to various posted reports, the ruling coalition has picked and endorsed Secretary Gilbert Teodoro who is currently the secretary of National Defense. The announcement and the endorsement of the Defense Secretary was made by Secretary General Gabriel Claudio during the meeting of the party that was attended by 64 top regional and national party leaders.

The announcement that was made Tuesday was expected, since there were reports that floated earlier that Vice President De Castro has already declined the offer to join the party and become the standard bearer of the party. For the past few weeks now, the general public and of course the ruling party has been waiting for the decision of the vice president, yet the vice president failed to make a decision at an early stage thus there was the need for the party to set a deadline. But now, the deadline has come and it seems that De Castro is no longer interested with the administration party and the party has to make a choice. And that choice is Secretary Teodoro. By effectively choosing Teodoro, MMDA chair Bayani Fernando is left holding the empty bag. During the same meeting, it was also announced that the party’s preferred bet for the second slot or for the vice presidency is Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government. With this showing of preference, the general public should now expect to see more of Secretary Ronnie and the public should no longer be surprised if one of these days Secretary Teodoro and Secretary Ronnie Puno will hit the road or share the stage together.

Setting up of LCPCs promote the welfare of minors

2009-09-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

Local Councils for the Protection of Children (LCPCs) were set up at 24,093 barangays, 54 provinces, 101 cities and 963 municipalities nationwide as of the first semester of 2009 through the help of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).This is in response to their heightened campaign of upholding the rights and welfare of Filipino minors.

In connection with this, seminars were conducted by DILG to familiarize barangay officials, mayors and other local chief executives on setting up and strengthening these Councils to make them effective instruments in promoting children’s rights and implementing child-friendly programs, according to DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno.

The said action was initiated under the DILG Puno's watch to help LGU'S become child-friendly localities. Guidelines were also disseminated nationwide to monitor the functionality of LCPCs in all local government units.

The Article 87 of Presidential Decree No. 603 of the Child and Youth Welfare Code and Section 15 of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 both provide for the establishment and strengthening of the LCPCs, down to the barangay level.

Apart from facilitation of LCPC's, the DILG calls on local chief executives to support the DILG’s training initiatives on the barangay human rights program, which aims to strengthen vulnerable sectors like women and children in pursuing justice through heightened awareness about their basic rights and the country’s judicial system.

The establishment of Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPDs) in every Philippine National Police (PNP) municipal station in the country is ordered by the DILG, through Puno’s watch to help victims of exploitation and abuse, especially children and women. To date, there are 1,830 WCPDs in police stations nationwide. Besides setting up a WCPD in every town, the PNP, will also establish a Women and Children Protection Center in every region in the country as well as counterpart centers at the provincial and city levels Puno added who is the concurrent chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

These Centers and WCPDs will handle cases of violence and abuse committed against women and children, including trafficking and exploitation as defined under Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004. The establishment of these Centers are not just in accordance with RA 9262, these also show that DILG and PNP have placed importance on family and domestic concerns as well responsiveness to gender-sensitivity issues.

Secretary Ronnie Puno calls his tandem with Sec Teodoro as the winning tandem

2009-09-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

Senator Noynoy Aquino may have dominated the headlines for the past few days, but these things did not stop other perceived contenders and interested candidates to show enthusiasm and that positive mindset. Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government is one of those, and in one news report the good secretary was quoted saying that his tandem with Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of the Defense Department is a winning team if compared with the candidates of the opposition.

Ronnie Puno has been vocal in his intent to contest the vice presidency and just recently many news reports have quoted him as supportive of the candidacy of Secretary Teodoro. The secretary has made his choice clear even though the administration department has yet to announce their standard bearer for next year’s elections. In the opinion of the secretary, the Teodoro-Puno team-up is a good combination that can easily match the team up of Senators Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino. And he believes in the possible good performance of their team up even if the administration is facing a number of controversies. In the words of Ronnie Puno, he said that their possible team up will be a good move since the moment people get to know their record in public service and the general public knows their true personality and when people hear them explain issues then the public can say that they strong candidates.

Ronnie Puno also believes that Secretary Teodoro will be a very strong candidate for the administration party and he added that the Lakas-Kampi can go a long way in next year’s elections. With regards to the announcement that was made by Senator Aquino, he said that the announcement of Aquino is not a surprise move at all and he added that it was an obvious one. And when he was asked on the status of the vice president and the vice president’s chance of landing the job as the standard bearer, he said that De Castro is not a member of the party and he has yet to decide if he will run or not. And by his reckoning, the support is really on Secretary Teodoro.

Women recruits rising; WCPDs continue to serve women and children

2009-09-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

If in the past people find it tough and hard to enter a police station due to the perceived strictness and discipline inside, now these two important segments of our population can relax, smile and approach any police station in their city or municipality. As posted many times now, the department under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno has made sure that they can now easily take advantage of the services offered by the police stations, thanks to the Women and Children Protection Desks or the WCPD.

The establishment of these desks in every station is in part a requirement for the Magna Carta of Women that was passed and signed by President Arroyo. But it should be noted that even before the passage of this act, the Department of Interior and Local Government has been doing all it can in order to make sure that women and children in our communities are well protected, and their rights are safeguarded. Aside from Secretary Puno’s job in the department, the secretary is also in charge of the Napolcom and the Philippine National Police is administratively under his direction, so he has a say on the programs and the direction of the police force. This program that ensures that there will be friendly desks on every police station is a serious program of the department and it is the intent of the secretary to properly implement the said program. And as a testament to this, the secretary make sure that the Magna Carta Laws will call for the establishment of these friendly desks in more than 46,000 barangays in the country. Secretary Puno believes that by establishing centers and desks like these, then abused women and troubled children in the communities can easily find help and assistance in these centers and desks. Those in need of help and assistance will feel confident inside these stations since the stations and the desks have that homey feel and atmosphere.

And finally, the good thing about this project of the department is that the women police officers are starting to occupy the positions. For the first half of 2008, PNP hired 3,499 recruits and 462 are women thus women make up 13.2 percent of these recruits.

Sec Ronnie Puno's take on Sen Aquino's announcement

2009-09-10T05:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the announcement of Senator Noynoy Aquino to contest the 2010 presidential elections. The noises are loud, and many are saying that Senator Aquino will be a strong candidate next year, thanks to the sympathy and the outpouring of support for the family during the funeral of the late President Corazon Aquino. Government officials and contenders have already said their piece, and one such government official that has offered his own take on the decision of Senator Aquino is Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Secretary Ronnie Puno who is also considered as a potential candidate in next year’s elections said that the administration party to which he belongs will have a say against the Aquino-led Liberal Party. The secretary said that the physical accomplishments of the President will be the edge of the administration party, and this will be the one that will lift the party over the anticipated tandem between Senators Aquino and Mar Roxas. He acknowledged also that the Noynoy movement is off to a good start thanks to the legacy left by his parents. But Puno said that in the end, the real battle will begin and it will be head-to-head.

His thoughts on the entry of Senator Aquino were shared at Camp Crame on Wednesday. When he was asked how the administration will market itself and how it will compete head on with the opposition knowing the charges against the President, he reiterated his preference for Secretary Teodoro. Secretary Teodoro is head of the Defense department. He said that no one can categorize Teodoro as evil, and he believes that the name of the Defense secretary is clean. If Secretary Puno acknowledges the strong point of the Aquino announcement and possible candidacy, Secretary Ermita on the other hand has taken the announcement and the jabs at the administration lightly. Secretary Ermita simply shrugs off the jabs at the administration made by Senator Aquino, and added that he believes that that was just an expression of what he wants to do and he cannot fault the senator for that.

Setting up of LCPCs is Part of the Requirements of RA 9344

2009-09-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Local Child Protection Councils which is a major project of the Department of Interior and Local Government has a general intent and that is to make sure that the concerns of the minors are properly attended and to make sure that their welfare and their rights are properly protected and attended to. The plan is to implement this project nationwide and right now, these councils can be seen in more than 24,000 barangays.

As a way to make sure that these councils can become effective in the delivery of services and in the protection of the rights and the welfare of the minors, the department under the leadership of Secretary Ronnie Puno has conducted seminars that cater to local executives like barangay officials and mayors and these seminars in a way help them establish these councils and these seminars educate these local executives to become effective servants in promoting the rights of the minors.

The establishment of these councils is not without basis. This is based on Article 87 of the Presidential Decree Number 603 under the Child and Youth Welfare Code, and the establishment of these councils is in accordance with Section 15 of the Republic Act 9344 or called the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006. These two laws call for the establishment and the subsequent strengthening of the Local Child Protection Councils and these two laws specify that the implementation should go down to the barangay level. And to make sure that these councils will perform based on the expected results, the department under the leadership of Secretary Puno has issued some guidelines and rules that will cover and monitor the roles and the processes of these councils. The establishment of these councils is just one move of the department according to Secretary Ronnie Puno. The office of the secretary has also called on the local executives to support the department’s other training initiatives like the Barangay Human Rights Program. The Barangay Human Rights Program is there to promote and safeguard the basic human rights, and this program will be helpful as this will remind the general public about their basic human rights.

LGU-based Human Rights Program approved

2009-09-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

Now is the time for the Department of Interior and Local Government to show its concern for the protection of human rights. If in the past it is solely the role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development or the Commission of Human Rights right now the office of Secretary Ronnie Puno is taking this concern seriously. The department is now active in ensuring that the rights of the general public are well-protected, and the office ensures that the aspirations of the minors are well attended as well.

As part of its job in taking care and the advancement of human rights, the department has introduced its Human Rights Program for the local level and this program is done in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights. This program has a simple intent; and that is to institutionalize the human rights and all programs in the local level. This new program for the local level was announced by DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero, and he said that the design and the implementation of this program were in support of the Administrative Order Number 249. Under this order that was signed by the President, there should be a better commitment to strengthen the human rights polices, plans and programs as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The office believes that for a program to be successful, and then the program should start at the local level or at the grass roots. And this is what they are doing right now with the Human Rights Program. And it is a good move to institutionalize and implement programs and policies in the local level.

The official unveiling if this said program was made at the Sulu Hotel in Quezon City. It is also the objective of this program to strengthen and to also improve the access of the general public to related programs and policies. And in the end, it can be expected that this program by the two government organizations can help in the promotion of human rights and also help in the crafting of necessary policies. As per the plan of the department, this new program is to be implemented in 119 cities in and around the country.

PNP to add 10,000 to the police force

2009-09-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

In support of the Philippine National police (PNP) 5 Year Modernization plan, the government will hire 10,000 new policemen. This was based from the original 3,000 plan. The decision to increase the police recruitment to 10,000 policemen was based on the recommendation of Department and Interior and local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, according to Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.

The 5 year modernization plan started back in 2006 and the hiring of policemen was outlined on the components of President Arroyo’s speech during that year’s PNP anniversary rites at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Andaya said the move was based the administration’s drive to put more cops on the streets.

Andaya futher said that once recruited, the police rookies should raise the troop level of the PNP to 142,393, from 115,743 seven years ago. The purpose is to improve the policeman-to-citizen ratio to 1:663 from last year’s 1:700. The PNP also aims to balance off the police-to-population ratio by year 2012. On that same year as well, the equipment requirement of the police force must have been filled up too.

The recruitment cost will be at P1.4 billion. Secretary Andaya said in a press conference that the recruitment cost is included in the proposed P49.8 billion budget of the PNP in 2010. In addition to this, budget amounting to P2 billion will be allocated to buy guns, P264 million will be set aside for vehicles, P935 million will be reserved for communication gear and P180 million for other reserved equipments.

In line with this, there will also be additional construction of police stations and P100 million is reserve for that cause, Andaya added. Andaya further stressed out that the 2010 proposed budget for PNP is P2.4 billion higher than the police budget this year. This proposed 2010 General Appropriations Act is the last budget measure of the Arroyo administration. The PNP’s budget is a part of P1.54 trillion national budget for 2010, which was already sent for approval at the congress. The national budget for 2010 also includes the P68 billion for the second installment of the four-year pay increase for government personnel.

First week of September as Crime Prevention Week

2009-09-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

This week is National Crime Prevention Week, and this is based on the calendar presented by the Department of Interior and Local Government. The setting of the week as a crime prevention week is in accordance with the Presidential Proclamation Number 461 issued August 31, 1994.

According to this presidential proclamation, the DILG and other government instrumentalities will make the first week of September as the National Crime Prevention Week. It is expected that this week, all government offices and instrumentalities will do its part and undertake projects and activities that can address and combat criminality in the country. It is expected too that the programs and projects that will be undertaken by government offices and departments will start from the grassroots level, and will involve the general public and the local execs. And finally, all these projects are also designed to build public commitment and participation. So the general public can expect greater actions and projects coming from different government instrumentalities, like DILG and all the projects and programs are designed to ensure that crimes can be lessened.

DILG strengthens bid against loose firearms

2009-09-03T01:56:00.000-07:00

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 817 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the National Firearms Control Program (NFCP) was set in place to reduce the number of loose firearms through aggressive continuing law enforcement action and to provide general amnesty for loose firearms.

EO 817 also assigned the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct active police operations against unregistered firearms by doing random weapon checks in crime-prone areas, mobile checkpoint and chokepoint operations, intelligence build-up, internal security operations, application of search warrants, and likewise dismantling of private armed groups.

In line with this project the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno spearhead the information and dissemination campaign on the government’s drive against loose firearms under the NFCP and called on all the local chief executives nationwide to assist in their jurisdiction. Secretary Puno also urged the city and municipal mayors as well as provincial governors to take part in the operations of the Joint Firearms Control Desks (JFCDs) in their respective areas to be established by the PNP with the participation of partner agencies and other concerned sectors through an issued directive. According to Puno as leaders of their respective localities, local chief executives must work hand in hand with the PNP in the accounting, inventory and registration of firearms in their jurisdiction. DILG Secretary also stressed out that the local executives through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Interior of the DILG must also submit an inventory of all their organized and acquired firearms to the NFCP Secretariat.

In May 2009 there was an estimated 1,110,277 loose firearms. Most of them are in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements and unauthorized individuals. These reported number of loose firearms also included those guns with expired licenses. The government is targeting at least a reduction of 3% per month n loose firearms.

In line with this campaign, during the first month of implementation of EO 817, the PNP is estimating to account for at least 33,000 loose firearms.
As of Aug, 2009, according to the records provided by the National Firearms Control Secretariat at least 234 loose firearms were confiscated by government security forces during separate engagements with threat groups and criminal elements.

Accordingly, a similar memorandum was issued by DILG Undersecretary for Public Safety Marius Corpus to the Directors of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to submit an inventory of the firearms of their respective agencies and to extend their support to the JFCDs.

Joint training on internal security operation planned for AFP, PNP officers

2009-09-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

The government is readying up its forces in order to properly address the insurgency issues in the country. And one such move that is planned by the government is to conduct joint trainings on internal security operation that can be participated in by officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. The joint internal security operation trainings will cover a number of strategies that can help these officers and will also cover strategies that can help and promote inter-agency operations.

The training programs are part of the agreement between the Philippine Public Safety College, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the Joint Program of Instruction for police and military officers that are taking up the Public Safety Officers Senior Executive Course. The memorandum of agreement was signed by the representatives of the PPSC and the AFP. On the side of the PPSC, President Margarita Cojuangco signed the MOA and on the part of the AFP, AFP Chief of Staff General Victor S. Ibrado was on board to sign the memorandum. According to Secretary Ronnie Puno, the training programs that are planned are designed to strengthened and also enhance the cooperation and the coordination between the AFP and the PNP. More importantly, these training programs will focus on the mutual concerns common to the two organizations like the ISO.

In the opinion of undersecretary Cojuangco of the PPSC, these training programs will effectively harmonize and complement the skills and the efforts of the AFP and the PNP in the planning and the implementation process of the policies of the country’s internal security concerns. Thanks to these training programs, officers of the two peace keeping organizations can meet and work together on many aspects. As per the plans shared by Secretary Puno, the first batch of the training will include 134 student officers from the AFP and another 44 from PNP. The training sessions will be held at the PPSC complex in Quezon City. Some of the topics to be covered include knowing the enemy, the National Internal Security Plan, the Civil-Military Operations and a few more.

Ronnie Puno cites heroism and dedication of SAF troopers

2009-09-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Secretary Ronnie Puno has cited the heroism and the dedication of the Special Action Troopers during the recent Memorial Day of the SAF. These two main and pervading themes best describe the kind of contributions offered by this special unit under the Philippine National Police. On the same memorial service, the secretary cited the sacrifices and the dedications to service of the select members of the PNP-Special Action Force. On the said Memorial that was conducted at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, the secretary also paid tribute to the dedication and the heroism of the other PNP members who have died in service of the country.

The Special Action Force

This is considered as the primary Special Forces unit of the PNP, and this was modelled after the British Special Air Service. Though the two may be similar on some aspects, the two organizations differ in the way they recruit and select their members. The Special Action Force under the Philippine National Police has received training from many international organizations like the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. The members and the police trainees who undergo training are required to finish a number of special military related training and these trainings are the ones that set them apart from the rest. Once they pass the training programs, the members of the SAF are then distributed regionally or within Metro Manila or the new members are assigned to SWAT units or SWAT training units. This special force of officers under the PNP was created by the general order dated May 12, 1983 under the leadership of then-Philippine Constabulary Chief Lt. General Fidel Ramos and then PC operations officer Colonel Renato de Villa. As of this writing, the Special Action Force is now a brigade-size mobile force known for their commando-type and unconventional warfare. The organization that started with just 149 members has now grown to more than 3000 with only two non-uniformed personnel.

In his statement during the memorial program, Secretary Ronnie Puno said that he has paid special attention to the Special Action Force since his assumption of his post. He said that the group has always lived up to its promise “as the vanguard of our people in defense of freedom, in defense of our democract, in defense of our Constitution and in defense of peace and order”.

Barangay Justice System as a complement to WCPD

2009-08-31T00:44:00.000-07:00

Others only know about the Women and Children Protection Desk when the infomercial was aired on major television channels. That infomercial provides a snapshot at what the project is, and its overall role in the community. But everyone should know that this is just one of the many projects of the Department of Interior and Local Government that are geared towards the protection of the rights of women and children.

One such project that is still under the radar but making its mark in the right ways is the Barangay Human Rights Program. This is another program under the guidance of the office of Secretary Ronnie Puno that makes sure that police and the local officials are properly informed regarding the rights of women and children and in the process ensures that their rights are well-protected. The secretary is working extra hard to make sure that the barangay officials will work hard in order to attain the objectives of this new program.

In order to ensure that the local executives and the barangay officials will do its job, the secretary has urged the officials to support and to attend the many training initiatives. The training initiatives will definitely help the barangay officials perform their duty well. He added that the training program will give the officials the tools and right practices that can guide them in the implementation of the Barangay Justice System. Based on the plan, the training arm of the department, the Local Government Academy is the one that is tasked to conduct the training as assisted by the different DILG regional offices. All of these trainings are governed by the theme, The Barangay Human Rights Program: Accessing Justice through Gender-Responsive and Child-Friendly Barangay Justice System. The trainings will be conducted in many towns and cities across the country. With the arrival of this other program from the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Women and Children Protection Desk will have a complement and partner in serving the needs of children and women. Disturbed and abused women and children can ask assistance from these two government projects and they can learn more about their basic rights thanks to these two projects.

How the women’s desk came to be

2009-08-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

By now, you are now familiar with the infomercial that features Secretary Ronnie Puno of Department of Interior and Local Government and the major program of the department for women and children- the Women and Children Protection Desk. This is one of the major actions taken by the department in ensuring that the women and the children considered as part of the marginalized sector will be considered. But how does this program came to be, and what pushed the department to design this kind of program?

You need to remember that addressing the concerns of the women and the children is one of the biggest objectives of the office since the National Police Commission has issued that Memorandum Circular Number 92-010. This memorandum called for the establishment of the Child and Youth Relations Section in many cities and also the establishment of the Child and Youth Relations Officer in police stations nationwide. This kind of memorandum was issued as a response to the growing threats to women and children. And afterwards, the RA 7610 was enacted as well and this was the Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination and this was passed and approved June of 1992. And with the passing of this law, the Philippine National Police has worked with other concerned government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Justice. The PNP has also created linkage with other concerned non-government agencies. All these moves by the PNP and the DILG is their way to ensure that there will be better awareness for people and the police force when it comes to the rights of women and children. And ultimately, the linkage that was created was to ensure that rights can be protected and women and children can be taken far from exploitation and danger.

And all these moves by the department and the police force led to the establishment of the first Women’s Desk and this was established in Quezon City. This was established in 1993 and this was part of the project of the Directorate for Police Community Relations and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and this project was also made possible with the participation of non-government organizations. And from there, the project has grown in size and scope.

DILG, PNP intensifies drive against traffic rules violators

2009-08-27T05:12:00.001-07:00

Speed addicts and frequent violators of traffic rules and regulations should pay attention. President Gloria Arroyo has ordered for renewed efforts of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police in addressing the issues of overspeeding vehicles and frequent violators of traffic rules and regulations. With this new order for Secretary Puno of the DILG, frequent violators on the road should be aware and should know that there are sanctions and penalties just around the corner.

With this order coming from the President herself, Secretary Ronnie Puno lost no time in taking concrete steps. To be specific, the secretary ordered the police Highway Patrol Group or the HPG to increase its visibility on major roads and national highways. So motorists should not be surprised if there are more checkpoints than the usual since this is in line with the move of the department to limit traffic law violations. Puno has directed its head, Chief Supt Mabutas to heighten the visibility of its forces on major road networks. Puno further adds that the campaign should focus on over-speeding motorists, drunk drivers and other violators of the laws on the road.

The order of the president and the move of the department is noteworthy and highly commendable because road accidents are serious issues. For this year alone from January to March, the Highway Patrol Group has recorded a total of 9,279 accidents and a third of this number was caused by over-speeding. If it can be remembered, just this week at least two road accidents happened in Quezon province and one of the two accidents involved two passenger buses. And one of the buses is on its way to Manila. According to published reports, nine persons were killed and more than forty passengers were injured. Accidents involving passenger buses are common in Philippine roads, and according to HPG accidents that involve buses rank third on the list with 991 cases for the period of January to March. Topping the list are accidents involving cares with 3,698 cases and accidents involving motorcycles that account to 2,529 cases. Secretary Puno suggests that most of these cases can be traced to the fact that the drivers involved don’t know the maximum allowable speed as prescribed by the law.

Arroyo govt builds more infra than other administrations – Ronnie Puno

2009-08-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

In the opinion of Secretary Puno, the Arroyo administration holds an edge over the other administrations in the number of projects focused on infrastructure. And these infrastructure projects under the guidance of President Arroyo has helped shaped the direction of the country. He made this statement during his visit to Lingayen, Pangasinan where he was invited to induct the more than 13,500 new members of the barangay peacekeeping action teams otherwise known as the BPATs.

The secretary added that the Arroyo government did not only scored high on infrastructure, rather the administration also scored well in health, the economy and tourism. Puno went on and said that the administration of President Arroyo is the one that helped the country withstand the pressures of the global economic downturn. Though he gave his props for the infrastructure projects of the Arroyo government, he did not turn a blind eye on the projects of the past administration. But he qualified this by saying that there were more projects under the current administration. On his visit to Lingayen, he was also asked regarding the future of the BPAT on whether this new program will be similar to the existing barangay auxiliary force or also known as the barangay tanod.

Though at the surface the two are similar in roles, the secretary said that there are some major differences between the two. He said that this new peacekeeping organization will be involved in peacekeeping activities in the community level. For example, it is the role of the BPATs to watch the neighborhood and to report the issues to the authorities. And the difference is that this BPAT will not engage in the police functions like going after criminals and offenders- this is the role of the tanods. The secretary also shot down talks and perceptions that the BPATs will only be used for political purposes. This latest initiative from the Department of Interior and Local Government will surely serve its purpose in keeping communities safe and will in fact complement the role and the operations of the existing Barangay tanods. The secretary also answered questions regarding teh much-talked about infomercials about the services of the department and added that no public funds were used in the production of these ads.

Funds for Secretary Puno Infomercial not from the Department

2009-08-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

The issue about the infomercials and advertisements from many government officials and departments is heating up, and this has led one senator to call for an inquiry regarding the nature of the intent and funding of these advertisements. And with the election season fast approaching, the clamor coming from legislators and the public for explanation is really understandable. And one cabinet official that is subject to these questions is Secretary Ronnie Puno.

There are some quarters questioning the source of funding of the advertisements that show the secretary talking about the projects and the programs of the department. They are all asking- are these infomercials funded by the department, and are these infomercials made in order to prop up the image and the candidacy of the secretary?

The answer is no- based on a press release coming from the office of the secretary; the government did not spend a single centavo for the production and for the release of the said infomercials showing Secretary Puno touting the projects and programs of the department. This information, that there was no public fund involved was shared by DILG assistant secretary Brian Yamsuan to the press and the public. The undersecretary added that the funds that were used for the production and the release of the commercials came from a newly-formed organization with the intent of helping Secretary Puno. This new organization is called Friends of Ronnie or FOR and the main intent of this new organization is to air a series of infomercials that will showcase the many programs and projects of the department. There are at least two DILG commercials that are regularly seen on national TV. The first one focuses on the establishment of the Women and Children Desk and the other commercial focuses on the program of the department to add 3000 new police officers to the force every year. The undersecretary also reiterated the fact that the secretary did not receive any funds that can be used to finance these advertisements. The new group of Puno supporters called FOR was launched August 7 and counts a number of well-known personalities from business.

DILG takes Manila Bay clean up seriously

2009-08-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

Some observes that the Filipinos love wallowing in filth, and some backed this claim by noting how bad the Manila Bay has become. Though the idea that the Filipinos don’t mind the dirt and waste is debatable, the observation on the current state of the Manila Bay cannot be denied. This well-known body of water in the metropolis has lost its beauty, and now only known as haven for wastes. For this reason, the government and the Supreme Court have urged officials to have a look at the current state of the Manila Bay. For President Gloria Arroyo, she wants that the members of her Cabinet should do their share in complying with the ruling of the Supreme Court to clean up the bay.

In line with this order from the office of the President, it is said that the office will ask the officials why they have failed to rehabilitate the bay. With this call from the office of the President and the ruling of the Supreme Court, the Department of Interior and Local Government headed by Secretary Puno lost no time in doing its share. The department has taken all the necessary steps in order to comply with the ruling of the SC. The department is just one of at least a dozen government agencies called upon by the SC to help clean up Manila Bay. In connection with the call of the SC and the President, the department has issued a number of memoranda that will require all the local government units along the bay to carry out programs that can contribute to the cleaning and the maintenance of the bay.

To be more specific, a number of these memoranda call for the need to establish and operate wastewater treatment facilities to be operated by companies and residents near the area. Plus the series of orders coming from the office of the secretary calls for the imposition of sanctions for violators. According to assistant secretary for public affairs, Brian Yamsuan all execs of the department have already issued the memorandum that will require all the LGUs to carry out these said programs.

Barangay Courts that Made Their Marks Honored

2009-08-21T04:14:00.000-07:00

It pays to be good at doing the best that you can in your job. And even if you serve the community as part of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, then you can really expect that you will be rewarded for efforts and jobs that are well done. One such reward for community workers like the members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa in the community level is the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award.

For the Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Award for this year, the Department of Interior and Local Government cited four national winners and as planned, these winners were to be cited August 12. The awarding ceremony for this year which was held in Malacanang was actually the 18th time that this ceremony was done. The four winners for this year’s awarding was given cash prizes and they also received the presidential trophies coming from no less than the President.

In a statement, Secretary Ronaldo Puno explained how this year’s winners were selected. According to the secretary, the search for the outstanding Barangay Courts in the country or the Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa actually covered 39,513 lupons around the country and from this number, the department selected 51 national finalists and these finalists were selected for different award categories. The list of categories includes Highly Urbanized Cities, Component Cities, 1st to 3rd Class Municipalities and 4th to 6th Class Municipalities. One winner was identified for each of these four categories, and they are the recipients of the cash award coming from the government. So how large was the cash incentive given to the four winners of the said competition? All four national winners that were singled out by the department received 100,000 cash and all four also received a trophy. The first and the 2nd runners-up will also get their cash incentives. They received 30,000 and 20,000 respectively. For the Hall of Fame awardees or those that regularly wins in this selection event, they will get 100,000 cash from the Department of Justice and Pagcor and the winners will also get the Presidential Trophy, and this time the trophy is from the Department of Interior and Local Government.

PNP revs up fight against illegal firearms by planning rewards

2009-08-20T04:14:00.000-07:00

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police takes the battle against illegal guns seriously. The two offices have pushed for the gun amnesty and this is now in full swing. But it seems that the department will not end its program the moment the gun amnesty program ends its run this October 31. According to Secretary Puno, the Philippine National Police will still continue its program after the said event. And the police department is planning to establish a rewards system that will reward the persons that can pinpoint the existence of the loose firearms.

If indeed the police department will be successful in taking these loose firearms, then these firearms will be donated to the local police station or even to the barangay or the town where these firearms were confiscated. The rewards program according to Secretary Puno will run after October 31, which is the last day for the gun amnesty program. The secretary said that anyone that can point to the unlicensed firearms will get the reward from the PNP.

In line with this program, the secretary is calling on the general public to partner with the department and the PNP in order to ensure the efficiency of the campaign. He said that once there is partnership between the general public and police then this can help maintain the peace and order situation in the country. It has been said that one of the major reasons for the rise in crimes in the country is the loose firearms in possession of organized crime groups and the public. And the planned gun amnesty program scheduled for the whole month of October is one way to account all the unlicensed guns. In a statement, the secretary added that the PNP has prepared a list of the late registrants and the list includes their addresses and the persons that are part of the list will be given the chance to register in October. Though the amnesty program will officially part on October 1, the Philippine National Police is now accepting applications for those who want to comply early. Registration booths will be set up in many PNP stations in many parts of the country to ensure convenience.

DILG teams up with Philhealth for health insurance benefits

2009-08-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno announces the joint project of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PHILHEALTH) and DILG which aims to provide free health insurance coverage for barangay officials and their families during the recent Liga ng mga Barangay congress which was held in Baguio City. The said program will prioritize those barangays which belong to the 4th up to the 6th class municipalities. The benefit package is made possible through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DILG and Philhealth and the different leagues at the local level, according to Puno. Under this MOU, the national government through the Philhealth will shell out P1,080 while the remaining P120 will be shouldered by the 4th to 6th class municipalities or province.

During the said Barangay congress, the newly installed DILG Provincial Director of Benguet Province, Anthony Ballug is also present and further disclosed that should the joint project will push through this will benefit lots of barangay officials including their families. Health is one of the major concerns of every family and having it taken out from the family budget will definitely be a big help for them, Ballug further stressed out. In his province alone, the project will cover almost 175 barangays due to the fact that most of them have an Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of less than P1M each. “Almost all the barangays here belong to 4th or 5th class municipalities meaning most of the barangays here have an IRA ranging from P300,000.00 to P1M” Ballug added.

The health insurance benefits will be given to barangay officials as soon as the local government units concerned can provide the counterpart funding for the initiative. The annual premium for each beneficiary is P1, 200. These benefits fall under the sponsored program of the Philhealth.
Philhealth is a government corporation that aims to ensure sustainable, affordable and progressive social health insurance which endeavors to influence the delivery of accessible quality health care for all Filipinos. The main sources of its funds are from the contribution of its members and from the National and Local Government Units for the annual premium of enrolled Sponsored Members.

Why Secretary Puno skipped the Senate hearing on infomercial

2009-08-18T06:54:00.000-07:00

While a good number of Cabinet secretaries have attended the hearing sponsored by the committee headed by Senator Miriam Santiago on the infomercials, one such secretary decided to opt out of the hearing. Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government did not attend the said hearing and instead the secretary went to Pangasinan to attend a press conference.

In the said press conference the secretary said that he would like to be in the conference than to attend the said hearing. The hearing on the use of infomercials as a way to get ahead of the field ahead of the 2010 elections was sponsored by Senator Santiago. She is the head of the Committee on Economic Affairs. The said committee under the guidance of the lady senator has called for the investigation and has also called for the pull out of the infomercials of the Cabinet members and other government officials. If Senator Santiago is to be followed, all infomercials should be removed by the end of the month and the feisty senator has threatened to file graft and corruption charges to those personalities that resulted to this kind of tactic.

Secretary Puno of the DILG is one of those that was served with the notice and was told to explain. In a statement coming from the department, the secretary said that the infomercials that are seen now on television are actually the infomercials of the department. And these infomercials serve as platforms for the department to showcase their accomplishments. Secretary Puno added that these advertisements are necessary so that the general public will know about the accomplishments of the office. He adds ‘is it wrong to show that I am proud of the works done by my colleagues in my department?’ He further adds that he did not ride another person’s tricycle nor he told where he lived five years ago and this is in reference to the commercials of perceived candidates from the Senate. Secretary Puno is part of the list and was invited because he is eyeing the vice presidential post in next year’s elections. The secretary has already announced his plans for next year.

Setting the BFP modernization on track

2009-08-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has been taking some words from different sectors public and private alike for many years now. Most people would either complain about the incompetence’s of fire brigades whether it is people factor or the equipments that are being used. Oftentimes, you can read the lack of fire trucks from the newspapers or news would flood the televisions that the fire fighters would arrive on the fire scene unarmed with the necessary equipments to conquer the fire. It can never be doubted that the BFP is indeed in need of fire trucks and fire fighting gears as well as competent fire fighters. Now according to the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Ronaldo Puno, the modernization of BFP is finally on the move as it has acquired 100 fire trucks this year alone. The money was pooled under a special trust fund which aims to sustain the agency’s modernization target.

Last year there has been an acquisition of 58 fire trucks and the additional 100 fire trucks this year will no doubt add up to the efficiency and fire fighting capabilities of BFP. There is no doubt that this agency has long been scarred by issues of failure from different people. But with the modernization, it could all change. The modernization of BFP was announced during the 18th anniversary of program of the BFP at the Quezon City Sports Club where Secretary Puno also acknowledged the efforts of Representatives Rodolfo Antonino, Edcel Lagman and Junie Cua. The Republic Act No. 9514 or the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines was a law passed by Rodolfo Antonino who is the chairman of the House committee on public safety. The previous chairman of the House committee on appropriations, Edcel Lagman, helped allocate funds for the acquisition of 58 units of firetrucks in 2008. The purchase of 100 fire trucks this year was made possible through the efforts of Junie Cua, the current chairman of the House committee on appropriations who pushed for the allocation of the budget for the trucks. On top of that, the BFP is continuously hiring firefighters and that the entry level with a rank of Fire Officer 1 will have a starting salary of P12,500 this year as compared to the usual salary of P8,500 before.

Puno said that DILG will continuously lobby to modernize the BFP and also asks the private sector to help in meeting the targets of BFP modernization.

Pangasinan’s Barangay Peacekeeping teams will take their oath

2009-08-14T05:45:00.000-07:00

The Department of Interior and Local Government has set the induction of the members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams in the province of Pangasinan on August 14. Secretary Ronnie Puno will ensure that the oath taking will push thru and he will lead the induction of the members of these teams.

Supt Policarpio Cayabyab of Pangasinan who is also the head of the Pangasinan police-community relations unit has said that their provincial office has assembled around 14,691 that will be part of these peacekeeping action groups. And as per the plan of the department, there will be around 10 members in every barangay. So what is the role of these groups in the community? If the plans of the department will push thru, then the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams will serve as the partner of the local police officers in ensuring the barangay or the community will be safe from crimes. Simply put, these groups will be there to ensure that the peace and order in the community can be established. And in the opinion of those that designed this program, these groups will serve as the better version of the village peace volunteer groups of the barangay tanods.

The role of these groups can be likened to the roles that are played by the barangay tanods. Though these two groups may share general similarities when it comes to roles, you should take note that the BPTs is a different thing. If the tanods will directly face criminals and pursue the criminals, the new peacekeeping groups are there mainly to observe and monitor so that crimes can be avoided and deterred. Under the new plan of the department, the barangay tanods that are familiar to many may be absorbed by the peacekeeping groups the moment these tanods have passed the required trainings. Though the members of these new peacekeeping teams will be given a modified police role in the community, the members will not be issued their firearms. This is in reaction to the calls proposed by some sectors. Based on the plans of the provincial government, members of these peacekeeping groups will be issued t-shirts, hand held radios and their own insurance.

Secretary Puno announces full completion of WCPDs

2009-08-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

The Department of Interior and Local Government under the guidance of Secretary Puno made sure that women and children will be well-protected no matter where they are in the country. So what’s the major step taken by the department in ensuring that this sector is properly attended?

It’s the establishment of the Women and Children Protection Desk in all police stations in all corners and spots of the country. In fact this program by the department is the subject of one infomercial released by Secretary Puno. The infomercial focus on this big project by the department that actually addresses one of the basic needs of this marginalized sector, the sector of women and children. In a statement made by the secretary who is also the chair of the National Police Commission, these desks are designed to be friendly to women and children and that these desks that can be seen in every police station will be manned by female police officers. These police stations will also serve as the temporary shelter for the affected and abused women and children.

In a statement made by the secretary, the women and children in our land should stop suffering in the dark. And added that the police and legal protection should be for everybody- the women and the children included. Based on the figures that were cited by the secretary, there are now 1,830 WCPDs that are established in many parts of the country and these desks that cater to the needs of women and children are staffed with 2,728 female police officers. Based on the figures, there are around 1,951 police officers that have undergone the right training on the gender sensitivity and these officers also trained on the basic investigative skills like the handling of crimes against women and children. This new project is actually headed by a female police officer, Chief Supt Yolanda Tanigue. These desks are different from the usual desks in a sense that these desks are less stressful and the ambiance on these desks will surely appeal to women and children looking for help and assistance. These desks are called upon as well to network with relevant institutions and organizations in order get the desired results.

DILG wants more benefits for local execs

2009-08-12T07:05:00.000-07:00

This should serve as good news to local chief executives and the dependents of these officials. If the plan of the Department of Interior and Local Government holds, local executives will get more benefits like the payment of the premiums under the Government Service Insurance System. This new move by the department was shared by Ronaldo Puno.

In order to the set-up the system, the department has started the issuance of the new identification cards. With the issuance of this new set of identification cards for barangay officials, it would be easier for the department and other concerned agencies to prepare, facilitate and grant the benefits approved by the national government. There are a number of benefits that are expected to be granted to barangay officials as part of the program of the department. It has been approved that the children of the barangay officials will be granted free college education. Other than this, there are a host of other benefits that will be extended to the barangay officials and their families and these grants and benefits are part of the Republic Act Number 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code.

And in order to realize these programs and plans of the department, Secretary Puno said that his office will lobby to Congress to set aside some funds in the budget that can be used to finance these grants and benefits as provided for by the Local Government Code. As of this time, the department is already complying with some of the mandated benefits that are part of the code. The department has been providing death and burial benefits to the barangay officials of the country. This program by the department is based on the Executive Order 115 that was signed by the President. Under this order, each family of the deceased members of the Sangguniang Barangay will get 20,000 and 10,000 will be given to the families of barangay secretaries and treasurers that died during their incumbencies. Aside from this support, the order signed by the President also calls for another 2,000 that will be given to the beneficiaries of the deceased barangay officials.

What's the meaning of the color yellow for Sec Puno

2009-08-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yellow has made a mark on our history being chosen by the late President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino to be the prominent color of her dress when the regime of dictatorship was toppled over by a bloodless revolution known to most as the People Power back in February of 1986. The question is will it make another record in the history in the days to come?

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno has been seen lately wearing this color as he mingles with the people and most of his photographs are taken while he is wearing this monumental color. Ronnie Puno is a known vice presidentiable in May 2010 national elections. And questions poured out if this has something to do with the People Power of 1986 or is it a symbol of his grief for the person who once wore it. When he was interviewed though, Ronnie Puno said that wearing yellow has nothing to do with the commemoration of people power- the decision is primarily on the aesthetic side. It was just a matter of blending with his skin tone. But he added that he was a supporter of the former president, and Puno calls her an icon of democracy.

According to Puno, his favorite color is actually green. When photographed though using this color, it did not produce the effect that they were looking for so his advisers chose a different color for him, thus yellow came into picture and thankfully he looked good on it. It was notable that Puno was wearing the Cory color on two recently released television advertisements. The advertisement is focusing on information dissemination about the programs of Philippine National Police (PNP). This is to ensure that the public is aware of the help that they can get from PNP. Although the advertisement was aired months before the national election in 2010, Puno, made it clear that it was not a political advertisement. It was an information campaign which “deals with specific things I believe people are not aware of” according to Puno who further cited the women’s complaint desk and continuing recruitment by the PNP as examples. Puno also clarified that none of the information ads came from the department’s funds. It was funded by his friends whom he was with when he was interviewed at the Paparazzi bar and restaurant at the Edsa Shangri-La.

New group supports Secretary Puno

2009-08-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

There is a new group that has been established that supports Secretary Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government. The intention of the new group is clear; the group was founded late last week in order to highlight the many accomplishments of the secretary in his department and to underscore the contributions of Secretary Puno in the promotion of peace and security in the country. This new group supportive of Ronnie Puno is called FOR or called as the Friends of Ronnie.

The founding members of this new group include two brothers of the secretary lawyers Eric and Regis. The two brothers are joined by businessman Eric Tagle. It is now known to all that Ronnie Puno has signified its intent to contest the second highest position in the land in next year’s elections. According to the group, the private sector of component is the one responsible for the Puno-related infomercials seen in major networks. The first one focuses on the presence of a Women and Children’s Desk in every local police station in the country. And the second infomercial about the secretary is called ‘Kuya’ and this infomercial focuses on the program of the department to add 3000 police offers to the organization. Eric Tagle, one of the founding members of the group has identified the many contributions of the secretary and these are the contributions and performance highlights of Puno that the group wants to highlight. Here are some of the things that the group wants to highlight:

• According to them, the secretary of the was successful in forging partnerships with the local chief executives and officials and in the process this helped in community building and the promotion of peace and order
• He was successful in promoting and ensuring the safety of women and children
• Secretary Puno was successful in the establishment of a new breed of policemen and policewomen that can effectively address crime and terrorism in the country.

Upon learning about the establishment of the new group, Secretary Ronnie Puno extended his appreciation to the group. The group is composed of a number of well-known personalities coming from different fields like business.

Local chief execs should stand against red tape

2009-08-07T03:01:00.000-07:00

The government is now renewing its drive and efforts against red tape in government. A major testament to this was the move of the government to pass the RA 9485. What is this law, and how does this fits into the picture of eradicating or at least reducing the amount of red tape in government? President Gloria Arroyo calls this law a much needed one in order for the country to be world class and globally competitive.

In general this law signed by the president calls for the elimination of red tape in all government transactions. The law and the implementing rules and regulations of the law are in place to effectively ensure that there is transparency in all government transactions. The law also calls for the re-engineering of the government systems and processes. The new law calls for the need for the government offices and agencies to effectively simplify all their frontline services and this law also calls for these offices to write and make their service standards that can be given to the clients. And finally, the law calls for the need to make these service standards known to the public. There is a specific section in the law that calls for the need to tap the emerging technologies. For example, in Section 5 of the implementing rules and regulations the section calls for all government agencies or offices to institute hotline numbers, short messaging services and other forms of communication technologies that can ensure proper avenue where clients can express their gripes and sentiments. These are just some of the salient features included in the anti-red tape law, the same law that is now being pushed too of Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

In the words of Secretary Puno, he said that the local executives of the country should be earnest in the implementation of the anti Red Tape Act of 2007. He envisions a government process that is fast and free from red tape. His new statement in support of the law and urging the local executives was made during his appearance in Davao del Norte for the 2nd Provincial ‘Liga ng mga Barangay Congress’. He was the keynote speaker for the said occasion that was attended too by around 600 barangay officials from the province.

Secretary Puno:The father and head of family

2009-08-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

Ask the common man or the persons on the street how they see and perceive a head of a department like DILG and the police force, and for sure they will say that the person in charge is tough, strict and a disciplinarian. Well it should be, since the head of the Department of Interior and Local Government in this country handles around 120,000 police officers too. Are these the only things that you can use to describe the secretary of DILG, Secretary Ronaldo Puno? Of course, these labels are not totally complete. There is more to the character of the secretary, and Secretary Puno decided that a greater number of people should know about his true character.

The secretary made the first step, by meeting the entertainment press and he came together with his wife, Pinky and his three daughters namely Rona, Wendy and Nina. They all chatted with the writer-friends of the secretary from the movie and the TV industry. Those present in the interview were entertainment writers Lolit Solis, Ethel Ramos and Ricky Lo. In the encounter with the select members of the entertainment press, the daughters of Secretary Puno surprised and regaled the writers with their good singing voice with their acapella version of the song, “Saan Ka Man Naroroon” and “You and I”. The secretary said all of his kids are good in singing. But the real revelation during the interview was the kind of description given by his wife and his three daughters. The three daughters mentioned many positive things about their father, but one label stands out- their father is the best father that they can ever have.

Ronna who is the eldest in the brood of seven said that she is blessed to have the secretary as his father, and added that Ronnie Puno has served and continually serves as a great example. For Rowena, she is thankful that her dad is there no matter how busy his schedule may be. She shared that Secretary Puno was always there when she needed advice on many things, even advices on love. Nina on the other hand can only think of one thing to say about her father- generous. She added that the support of her father is not only on the material things rather he was there for the family every time.

Local execs should be active in planning process of national projects

2009-08-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

In a very centralized government, the planning takes place from top to bottom. And in this kind of structure only the national officials are the ones that often deliberate the direction of the economy, and they are the ones that identify and plan for important national projects. But this kind of centralized planning should end or at least in the opinion of Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government, this kind of planning should be tweaked or updated.

Based on posted reports last week, the secretary suggested the need for the local executives to have that greater role and participation in the decision-making process when it comes to the national projects and other flagship projects of the government. The secretary added that the Local Government Units should be able to harness the corporate powers given to them and the other alternative financing options as carried by the Local Government Code. And the income that can be realized by the LGUs according to the secretary can be used to finance the development projects of these LGUs. This is the only way for the local executives to get that genuine autonomy, according to the secretary. The local executives of the country should know what is happening, and they should be involved in the decision making process, more importantly in the selection of the national and development projects that will be implemented in their respected local governments.

In support for his dream of giving the local executives the chance to participate in the selection and the planning of development projects in the national level, the secretary has decided to give up his seat in the board of the National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA. The seat formerly occupied by the secretary is now given to a representative from Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines. This is the organization of all elective local executives in the country. By allowing the elected local executives a seat in the NEDA board, then this group will now have a voice and they can participate in the planning and the decision making process of the NEDA for flagship projects. This move in a way gives power as well to to the LGUs, and this time they can put to the table the needs and wants of the population.

Gun issue will be addressed by making the charge non-bailable

2009-08-04T04:56:00.000-07:00

The government is pushing for a harder and stricter regulation against the illegal and the loose firearms in the possession of the organized crime groups and the general public. And this is not just lip service on the part of the government. One manifestation of the fact that the government is serious is the news that the government is planning for a general gun amnesty this coming October. All owners of loose firearms will be given the chance to register their firearms. And another sign that the government is driving hard in its efforts to combat loose firearms is the statement of Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

This latest pronouncement of the secretary is an indication that the department takes loose firearms as a serious issue. In the opinion of Secretary Puno, the charge for the illegal possession of firearms should be made as a non-bailable offense. Secretary Puno said that they are now requesting the Congress to impose this stricter penalty for the charge of illegal possession of firearms. The current law that covers the illegal possession of firearms is a relatively new one, having been implemented after actor Robin Padilla was convicted of illegal possession of firearms. The law right now calls for six years of imprisonment and the person charged will be fined not less than 15,000 pesos. This current law will cover the person who will be found guilty of the unlawful possession, manufacture, the sale, acquisition and the disposition for firearms and ammunitions.

The planned new charge for the illegal possession of firearms will be the perfect complement to the on-going gun amnesty program by the police and the Department of Interior and Local Government. The amnesty program starts this August, and the police have announced that the processing of papers will start August 1 to 31. And for the gun owners who will avail of the amnesty should secure first the permit to transport the weapon for licensing so that the gun owners will be freed from any culpability the moment these gun owners will be flagged down on the road. But the official start of the gun amnesty program or the Executive Order 617 will start October this year

PNP, DILG will target new election hotspots

2009-08-03T05:52:00.000-07:00

This coming election, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government are targeting new areas that can be categorized as potential hotspots. These hotspots in many areas of the country are indentified by the Philippine National Police as their way of saying that these areas are prone to election-related violence and incidents. And with the elections coming in a few months from now, the Puno-led DILG is once again readying its police force.

Right now it has been reported that the PNP is now working with the intelligence community in naming more provinces and areas that can be included in the new list of hotspots for next year’s elections. The linkage between the intelligence units and the police is their way in analyzing the election related incidents in many parts of the country. According to the spokesperson for the PNP, they can only come up with the updated list of hotspots in the country only after all candidates have filed their certificates of candidacies. So while waiting for the scheduled time frame for the filing of the certificate of candidacies, the police force is currently reviewing the old list. And these areas are historically known for their election-related incidents. The list of the PNP includes the provinces of Abra, Nueva Ecija, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Maguindanao, Masbate, Samar and Basilan.

The police force is counting on the gun amnesty program that will be fully implemented for the whole month of October. This gun amnesty program is aimed at reducing the number of loose arms in the country. According to the department, there are around 1.2 million loose firearms currently in the possession of organized crime groups. Secretary Ronaldo Puno of DILG and representatives of the other concerned agencies have already signed the implementing rules and regulations of the of the gun amnesty program. The police force is optimistic that this new program will be successful in reducing the crimes in the country, particularly in next year’s elections. Election-related violence is a serious. During the 2007 national elections, the records show 100 persons were killed in election-related violence. And in the 2004 elections, that number was pegged at 189.

On the new 3-pronged approach against insurgency

2009-07-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

Just this week, Secretary Puno revealed the government’s new strategy against the insurgents. He called this the 3-pronged approach against insurgency, and considered this as a new policy direction. The new policy calls for three components. These components are enforcement, negotiation and rehabilitation. He said that this new policy will be used by the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police in arresting the elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation front and other members of insurgency groups like the NPA. This new policy direction according to Puno was discussed together with the secretary of National Defense and this is what they have recommended to the president.

For the first component- the enforcement approach- the Armed Forces of the Philippines will deputize policemen in order to assist in the efforts of the military. This means that the deputized policemen will be given the military powers to arrest suspected rebels without having to violate the human rights of the suspects. Based on the law, the policemen can legally arrest a person provided that the arrested person will not be detained for more than 36 hours.

Under the negotiation component of the new approach, a new task group was formed. And this group has the responsibility to always keep the communications line open and also part of the task group is to look for ways on how to end the fighting and North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte. And for the last component of the new policy, Puno cited the need for resettlement. This resettlement is for the displaced civilians due to the conflict and this component will also calls for the rehabilitation of the conflict areas. This is also the part where other agencies will be called upon to act, like the Department of Social Welfare and Development. As a testament to the government’s commitment to the rehabilitation component, there are now evacuation centers that have been set up in the city of Ozamiz and in some towns of North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte. These evacuation centers are expected to temporarily accommodate thousands of displaced families. These families were displaced due to the conflicts between the government and the MILF.

Secretary Puno talks about a new approach in addressing insurgency

2009-07-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

The history of the country is intertwined with a number of insurgencies. In fact, for the most part of the history of the Philippines you can say that the insurgency problem has a role to play and somewhat affected the direction of the country. Simply put, for every new government that occupies the seat of power in Manila the insurgency problem will always form part of the must-solve and must-address problem. And up to this time and nearing the end of the term of President Arroyo, the insurgency problem is still there and giving the Philippine National Police, the military and the government the usual headaches.

The problem of insurgency is often defined as that organized movement with the objective of overthrowing the constituted government through the use of subversion and conflict, and according to many the insurgency is a new form of warfare. In the Philippines, the longest running insurgency is the one that is waged by the Communist Party of the Philippines as assisted by the New People’s Army. There are other secessionist groups in the southern part of the Philippines and these movements are giving headaches to the policy makers, and the current administration.

The government of President Arroyo is not taking this lightly right now in fact after the abduction of the three Red Cross workers this year, the government with the PNP and the military are stepping up its efforts against the insurgency problem. The government is currently reshaping its policy direction. And just recently, Secretary Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has shared that indeed, they proposed a new 3-pronged strategy set to address the age-old problem of insurgency. The latest strategy according to Secretary Puno is their 3-pronged approach. He describes this as a new holistic approach that can be used to address the insurgency issue. The 3-pronged approach includes the need for enforcement, for negotiation and the need for rehabilitation. And this new approach to the issue is the new strategy to be used by the military and the Philippine National Police when arresting elements of the insurgency groups.

Kuya Commercial Focuses on a Well-Staffed PNP

2009-07-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

Secretary Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government will release another infomercial, and this time the focus of the infomercial is on the need to beef up the police force in the country. The newest infomercial that follows the ‘WCPD Desk’ is called ‘Kuya’. At the core of the new infomercial is the move of the Department of Interior and Local Government to add around 3000 police officers every year so as to ensure the welfare and the security of the public. This specific project of the department can be expected since this is at the core of the main services of the department.

The office is known for its three main concerns and these are local governance, peace and order and public safety. This specific project of the office is actually part of the grand plan of the government to modernize the national police. It was announced last week that the Philippine National Police will add 7000 new policemen that will help boost its operational capability. According to published reports, this number will be added to the fold this year and currently the applications are on-going. Director General Jesus Versoza is calling on interested applicants to submit their applications since the recruitment for the second semester is now open. Interested and qualified applicants are asked to submit their applications to the nearest police station.

The department is not only in need of 7000 officers. Director General Versoza said that this number is on top of the 10000 police officers that they need by next year as part of the orders of the President. The president is pushing for a well-staffed police force, and the recruitment of new officials is in line with the plan of the government to meet the ideal ration of police and the number of citizens. The government said that the ideal ratio is one policeman for every 500 persons. The modernization plan in the Philippine National Police in on-going, and projects related to the modernization plan is currently undertaken. And the latest plan is to add 15000 officers in the next 5 years. The spokesperson for the PNP clarified the common thinking that only criminology graduates can pass applications. Senior Supt Leonard Espina said that they also accept graduates of other courses provided that they can submit the proper credentials.

Gun Control IRR Formally Signed

2009-07-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

The implementing rules and regulations for the national firearms control program have been officially signed. The formally signing and adoption of the rules and regulations was attended by Interior and Local Government head Ronnie Puno, Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Versoza and the other heads of law enforcement agencies. The program was officially adopted in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

This is part of the Executive Order 817 signed by President Gloria Arroyo which was signed July 7. According to this law, there will be a final general firearms amnesty and this is scheduled from October 1 to 31 this year. During the signing of the implanting rules and regulations, police officials have said that this planned amnesty is there so as to encourage the legitimate gun owners to register their unlicensed guns or at least renew their licenses. In the order that was signed by the President, the President said that all holders of loose firearms shall be encouraged and be given the opportunity to get the required firearm licenses.

In a statement, Secretary Puno said that the implementation of the gun amnesty program is a good step towards the goal of having a complete peace and order in the country. It is said that the loose firearms in the hands of organized crime groups and the general public greatly contributes to the growing crimes in the country. Director Versoza for his part said that the signing of the implementing rules and regulations will serve as a green light for the intensified campaign against loose firearms. There are currently 1.1 million loose firearms in the country and these are in the hands of organized crime groups, the New People’s Army and the general public. And the government hopes that it can reduce that number by around 3 percent each month. Specifically the Philippine National Police is hoping that it can target around 33,000 loose firearms within the first month of the implementation of the program. Though the amnesty program will officially start on October 1, the Philippine National Police will start the processing of applications on August 1. The PNP will process the applications for the general amnesty and registration of the loose firearms and the renewal of expired licenses.

Loose Firearms an Issue that Should Be Faced- Secretary Puno

2009-07-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has called for the proper regulation of loose firearms. He believes that loose firearms which are in the possession of organized crime groups, the New People’s Army and in the possession of the general public is a major reason why crimes are in the country are growing. By some estimates, it is widely believed that the number of loose firearms in the country is pegged at 1.2 million.

Because of the possible crimes that may arise due to these loose firearms, the secretary added his voice in pushing for the need to regulate the loose firearms in the country. Just last week, the secretary called on the owners of the loose firearms to register their firearms in time for the government’s scheduled one-month amnesty. The amnesty is set to begin October 1. The scheduled gun amnesty is actually part of the Executive Order 817 or the national gun control program which will last for the whole month of October. Secretary Puno is confident that the amnesty program for October will cut the number of loose and unregistered guns in the country by half. Puno added that the department will start ahead of schedule of the implementation and they will now process applications for loose firearms and they also process the renewal of expired licenses on August 1. This will give the Philippine National Police just enough time to accommodate gun holders. He made this statement during the peace and order council meeting among the regional executives of the provinces of Ilocos, La Union and Pangasinan.

Secretary Puno also repeated this call during his visit to Davao City. He urged owners of unregistered guns in the region to avail of the amnesty program until the last day of October. He added that there will be stiffer penalties that await the violator the moment the deadline has elapsed. Puno said that the offense of carrying an unregistered gun is a non-bailable offense. The secretary conceded that owning a firearm in some areas of Mindanao is part of culture.

The need for the regulation of guns is clearly needed since the country is now ranked 10th in the world with the highest number of homicide cases, and around 97.7 percent of these are committed using unregistered guns.

DILG pushes for a Women and Children's desk in every station

2009-07-24T03:20:00.000-07:00

One of the main projects of the Department of Interior and Local Government is to strengthen its support to the marginalized sectors in the country, like the women and the children. And one such specific project implemented by the department is the establishment and the expansion of the Women and Children Protection Desks or the WCPDs. The objective of this program is to make sure that every police station around in the country will have a desk that would address the complaints and the needs of the women and the children.

The objective of this is simple. This is to ensure that women and children will not hesitate to ask the assistance of the police since these desks are manned by female police officers. This important project by the department is actually the subject of the new infomercial released by Secretary Puno which is now played in leading television networks. The department also established partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, and right now there is an effort from the department to continuously train the police officers so that they can be effective in serving the needs of the women and the children, and the also these trainings will also help the police officers to know the rights of women and children.

The move of the Philippine National Police under the guidance of Secretary Puno in promoting and in protecting the rights of the women and the children is not just confined on this WCPD project. In fact this is just the latest of the many moves of the PNP and the DILG to put the needs and the rights of the sector at the front. Since its inception or the passage of the PNP Act of 1991 which is also called the Republic Act 6975, the Philippine National Police has been active in implementing the right projects that will address the needs of this sector. There have been a number of projects and programs that were introduced that were geared towards the advancement of the rights of women and children. Secretary Puno said that these one-stop shops will be there to process the complaints of the women and children and will also serve as the one-stop shops for any investigations that will involve members of this sector.

Secretary Puno Unveils Department Charter

2009-07-23T00:35:00.000-07:00

Just this week, Secretary Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government unveiled the charter of the department. This is seen as a way to give the public the opportunity to learn more about the department, and more importantly this charter will help the public know the services that can be sourced from the department.

The charter was also introduced as part of the requirement of the government to eliminate the bureaucratic red tape common in many agencies. It is also the intent of the charter to further improve the services of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Secretary Puno led the launching of the charter, and he was assisted by the key officials of the department. The charter was made and launched in compliance with the provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. This law mandates that all the government offices and agencies should set up the service standards, and should also identify the frontline transactions that are provided by every office. The charter of the department that was unveiled this week include information regarding the vision and the mission of the organization, the expected front line services, the targeted clients and the step-by-step process on how these services can be realized. The charter also includes the information on the officer or the employee in charge in the processing of these services and also the fees, if any are included in the charter. Some of the important frontline services (mostly caters to local officials) that can be expected from the department include the following:

• The application for travel authority abroad and the filing of application for leave of absence for local officials.
• The administration and the processing of the death benefit claims of barangay officials.
• Provision of data on the barangay and barangay officials
• The processing of the request for financial assistance for projects
• Public assistance
• Processing of scholarships and death benefit claims of barangay officials
• And a number of other services that benefit local officials

The department according to Secretary Puno is the lead implementer of the anti-red tape law in the local level through the Comprehensive and Unified Response to Eliminate Red Tape or called CURE.

Secretary Puno Shows Soft Side with his Chocolate Labrador

2009-07-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

The moment he returned from the United States, Secretary Puno faced the media to clarify some of the issues surrounding his leave from the department. He said that he went to the United States to attend the wedding of his daughter on July 4 and he added that the negative reports are greatly exaggerated. But other than this, he revealed in the press conference that there was another reason why the vacation took longer than the usual. He said that his long vacation in the US is due as well to a rare brown Labrador which he got from a kennel in Lurey County in West Virginia.

He introduced his Labrador to the press during the meeting, and he named the dog Magnus Portis. He said that this dog is one of the few chocolate Labradors around. His Labrador is unique he says, thanks to its colour. Most of the Labradors that are available and domesticated come in black or in yellow in colour. But Puno’s Labrador is different since this comes in that rare brown chocolate color. He said that this is the reason why he is also busy nowadays. During the press conference, the dog kissed the secretary and it even rested on his desk.

The Labradors are often used as hunting dogs and these are used as guides for the bind. One of the best features of these Labradors is their temperament. This breed are known to as loving and considered as people-oriented dogs. These dogs are known to be happiest when they are with their owners. They often bring things that they can find laying in the house or in the garden. And when these Labradors are with kids, then they are often patient. This is the reason why Labradors are great family dogs. But these Labradors should not be used as guard dogs.

Secretary Puno narrated that he drove two hours just to meet the Labrador, and he drove back two hours again to Washington. And from Washington, he flew back to San Francisco with his chocolate Labrador and also travelled coach class on the way back to the Philippines.

Police and civilian forces to remain in Jolo

2009-07-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

In a move to ensure safety in the island, Secretary Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government ordered that the more than 2000 police and civilian forces should continue its service. Their services, according to the secretary are needed since the government has intensified its offensives against the terrorist group. The Abu Sayyaf group is back in the news after it kidnapped three Red Cross workers. The workers have been released.

Secretary Puno sees no valid reason why these forces should be sent home. In the opinion of Puno, if the services of this group will be ended and they will be sent home then it should be ensured first that the peace and order situation in the area is secured. The secretary said that there is no intention of pulling the forces out until there is a change in the situation. So his order sticks- the group should remain and implement law enforcement.

If the Director General of the Philippine National Police is to be asked, majority of the CEFs should apply for a gun amnesty. He said that majority of them carry unregistered guns. In order to address this issue, Director General Jesus Versoza suggested that those unregistered gun owners should take advantage of the month-long gun amnesty of the Department of Interior and Local Government which is scheduled for October. The gun amnesty program by the department that is scheduled on October is known as the Executive Order Number 817 or the granting of a final firearms amnesty.

In a related concern, the secretary also ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection group or the CIDG to look at the release of the two wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Parad. Puno wanted to know if the release order was proper. The two were arrested for their alleged involvement in the kidnappings. “I’m having the CIDG review the case and to see whether there was official basis to release them”, added the DILG secretary. According to reports, the Sulu governor shared that the Abu Sayyaf leader asked for the release of his two wives in exchange for the release of the last Red Cross worker, Eugenio Vagni.

Sec Puno says no to amnesty for Abu Sayyaf

2009-07-20T02:06:00.000-07:00

Right after Secretary Puno returned from the United States, he immediately got down to business and tackled the more important programs of the department. He also attended meetings and a press conference last Thursday to discuss the programs of the department, to dismiss the talks that circulated while he was away and the press conference was also the venue where he discussed pressing issues of the week. One such issue that was tackled was that on the Abu Sayyaf. When he was asked about the possible amnesty to be given to the group, he said that currently a number of European nations still consider the group as a terrorist group thus giving them the amnesty will not look good at least in the eyes of the international community.

Puno says that the group should be held liable for their criminal acts. He said that the international community will not look kindly on the amnesty to be given to the group. And in his opinion, as long as the group continues to be a threat to peace and order the Philippine National Police should not pretend that the problem is not there. The situation is clear he says that there is still the threat and there are three more teachers that are being held captive by the group in Zamboanga Sibugay. He believes that if these three captives are released by the group unharmed, and the group will state and will no longer pursue kidnapping and would renounce all of its criminal acts then that would be the time that the amnesty can be considered. On that same press conference, the DILG secretary also said that he is not in favor of demobilizing the civilian enforcement forces in Sulu since these forces are the reasons why the Abu Sayyaf group is in check.

Earlier in the week, a military spokesperson said that a possible amnesty that can be given to the group will not be taken well by the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the AFP. The government has already formulated its policy stand. The government will not grant amnesty to the group since they are considered as a terrorist organization that do not pursue and ideology.

Wild talks about exit and other rumors not true- Sec Puno

2009-07-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

When Secretary Puno filed for a two-week leave and left for the United States, a number of observers and political figures offered their very own take why the secretary made the sudden decision. And when it was known that Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane was named as the OIC of the department, the wild talks grew.

Senator Pimentel is one of those who floated a possible reason why Puno filed for leave. In the opinion of Senator Pimentel, Secretary Puno has lost the trust and the confidence of the President and that Puno is on the way out of the President’s circle. It was also reported that the departure of Puno from the department is actually part of another Cabinet revamp and there are other names that will soon be replaced and assigned to new posts. The other wild talk is more sinister in nature. Based on some reports, Secretary Puno is completely out of the department and the entry of Ebdane to the department is actually the first stage of the takeover of the topmost AFP and PNP positions by the members of the group of pro-GMA police and ‘military clique’. According to these reports, the takeover by officials will then be the support needed by the President in order to implement an emergency rule.

But all these talks were proven false and baseless when Puno returned this week from the United States. The secretary made his appearance and conducted meetings with key officials and members of the media. When he met the officials and the members of the media, Puno shoots down the talks about him leaving the department. In fact, it was a packed and busy day for the secretary since he issued a number of directives in relation to the important projects of the department. He even shared that he is scheduled to meet Secretary Teodoro and Sulu Governor Sakur Tan. In the press briefing, he said that the rumors surrounding his physical and political demise are greatly exaggerated. He also added that he knew that Secretary Ebdane will be assigned as the OIC since the President called him up and asked for his opinion when he was in California.

Sec Puno returns to work

2009-07-16T03:47:00.000-07:00

After a two week leave from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Secretary Puno is back to work and started the day faced with a busy schedule. The secretary issued orders to key officials of the department on the implementation of the department’s priority programs for this year which also include the gun amnesty program.

In the press briefing, the secretary announced that he will meet with Secretary Teodoro of the Department of Defense and he also announced that he will meet with Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan regarding the government’s campaign to put a stop to the kidnappings happening in Mindanao. Before Puno faced the media for a press briefing, he also held a meeting with the key DILG officials and he talked about the plans of the department to ‘further empower the local government units’ and cited an important project, the road improvement project that will be done in partnership with the Australian government. In the same meeting, the secretary also reiterated the plans for the re-organization of the regional, provincial, municipal and the barangay Peace and Order Councils. These plans include the moves to distribute new patrol cars to the PNP, the move to give provide the Bureau of Fire Protection with 100 fire trucks and the move to supply the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology with additional 150 prisoner vans.

The first day of work for Secretary Puno is packed- he met the key officials of the department in the morning, he was present at the press briefing and he also managed to attend the launch of the Department’s Citizen Charter. This was in compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Law. He was also scheduled to proceed to Ozamiz City to take part in the city’s charter anniversary. He was also expected to meet with the local officials of Ozamiz City. After visiting Ozamiz City, the secretary is also scheduled to proceed to Cotabato City on Friday where he will attend the Cabinet meeting. Puno told the media that the reports about his health was greatly exaggerated, and added that he filed the leave to attend the wedding of her youngest daughter in San Francisco.

Puno calls on local execs to work against A (H1n1) virus

2009-07-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

As a response to the growing health problem, the DILG and the office of Secretary Puno and called on the local chief executives to work with the rural health units and also to activate their barangay emergency response teams to serve as reporting centers for any reported cases in their respected areas. The order from the Department of Interior and Local Government came after the World Health Organization has hiked the level of the flu crisis into pandemic.

Puno called on the local officials to take the lead in the implementation of community information campaign so as to inform the general public about the signs and the symptoms associated with the flu. The information drive should also include tips on how to prevent the said flu virus. In the opinion of Secretary Puno, the contribution of the LGUs in the form of information drive can keep the heath issue at bay. He focused on the need to ensure that the Rural Health Units should be utilized, and added that the Barangay Emergency Response Teams can be used as the reporting centers for the new cases of the flu.

The circular that was signed by Secretary Puno was issued last June 4 and the guidelines were forwarded to the provincial governors, mayors, punong barangays and to the DILG regional directors. The directive coming from the office of Secretary Puno was made and forwarded a day before the World Health Organization identified the crisis as a pandemic. Secretary Puno called on the DILG regional directors to disseminate the said order to all the local authorities covered by their areas of responsibility. The World Health Organization formally labeled the crisis as the first flu pandemic in the world after 40 years, and it made its announcement last June 11. The flu has infected tens of thousands from as many as 74 countries, and based on the tally of WHO there are around 27,737 reported cases of flu. There were 141 deaths that were recorded due to the virus. The last case of an influenza pandemic was the Hong Kong flu, and this affected around one million. The move of DILG and other concerned government agencies are commendable, and the continuous monitoring and reporting can go a long way in addressing the health issue.

Microfinance project of DILG in Rizal a success

2009-07-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

The Microfinance project of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Rizal is considered a success, mainly due to the number of beneficiaries of the said program. This project that was spearheaded by the office of Secretary Puno overshot the initial target of 2000 families. Based on the latest figure on the website of the department, the project of DILG served 2800 families which mean that the project has a 144 percent accomplishment rate.

The project of the office is called the ‘Dagdag Puhunan para sa Kabuhayan ng Pamilya’ or the Micro Finance Assistance to Existing Livelihood Project, and this project was initiated as an answer to the financial and the economic crisis. This project initiated in the province of Rizal is just one of the many projects headed by Secretary Puno as the Cabinet steward for the province. The project is also part of the government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program. Puno is also the steward for the province of Quezon.

In line with the livelihood project, the secretary was also assisted by the provincial governor and vice governor and they distributed 2.4 million pesos worth of assistance packages and these packages were given to 379 beneficiaries in the province of Rizal. This move that was made by the DILG is considered by Secretary Puno as a ‘Merry Christmas in June’. The program initiated by his office also helped the displaced factory workers, and also served the out of school youths in the province. For the said assistance packages, the DILG according to Puno contributed 5 million and this amount was sourced from the savings of the office, and the local government also contributed a counterpart amount of 1.34 million. For the livelihood project, assistance packages were also prepared and these were given to 200 families coming from 100 barangays. The packages are meant to augment the current and existing livelihood programs. The reason for its more than 100 percent accomplishment rate is due to the help extended by the city government of Antipolo. The city government provided training programs for the extra 280 families. The beneficiaries were trained on a number of livelihood activities like candle and soap making.

Sec Puno’s entry into the race gets positive response

2009-07-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

Secretary Ronnie Puno has been silently serving the government as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government so his decision recently came as a surprise to many. Though the name Ronnie Puno has been synonymous with campaigns since he did serve as a campaign manager for many personalities, still the name Puno doesn’t ring a bell when it comes to possible players to contest the 2010 elections.

But this changed with the announcement of the secretary himself when he announced that he is will be a candidate for next year’s national elections. You could say that most observers and voters was taken by surprise by the move of the secretary but for those in the know and the current players in the field, the decision of Secretary Puno can be expected. These political players and observers are one in saying that Puno is one competent leader, and he is welcome to the field. They are one in saying that his experience can be one of his biggest assets. And in the words of Puno himself, his experience will help him help the next president serve and also lead the country beyond 2010. Some of the personalities who commented on his decision were Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Miguel Zubiri. The two said that the decision of Puno is a welcome development. Senator Estrada considers Puno as a ‘formidable opponent’ and in the view of Senator Zubiri, the entry of the secretary is one big boost to the ruling party.

Others are saying that the possible team up of Vice President De Castro and Secretary Puno can be considered a dream team since the two represents two important aspects- De Castro is known for his mass appeal and Secretary Puno is known for his political organization skills. Gilbert Teodoro who is also seeking the party’s blessing see the candidacy of Puno as strong and he added that the experience of the secretary will work in his favor. Teodoro has worked with Puno on the Sulu hostage crisis. Even members of the opposing party say good things about the Puno’s entry. Former Senator and Ambassador Maceda calls the move of Puno as a smart one.

Secretary Puno and the Anti-Red Tape Law

2009-07-10T01:49:00.000-07:00

Red tape is derisive term for excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making. Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government believes that it hinders the department from delivering frontline services to the general public thus his staunch support of the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007 or Republic Act 9485.

Secretary Ronnie Puno said that the implementation of the said law would eliminate bureaucratic red tape, avert graft and corruption practices as well as increase the efficiency of which services are being given to the public. Secretary Puno highlighted one provision of the law which is the Citizen’s Charter.

The said provision contains the information on which services are being offered by the DILG to the general public. Local chief executives will be the ones who will formulate the content of the Citizen's Charter according to the DILG chief. The Secretary further said that it could take the form of a billboard which should be posted in a conspicuous place on LGU offices.

The Citizen's Charter as stipulated in the law should contain the following: vision and mission; identification of the frontline services offered, and the clientele; step-by-step procedure to obtain a particular service; officer or employee responsible for each step; maximum time to conclude the process; documents to be presented by the client; amount of fees, if necessary, procedure for filing of complaints in relation to requests and applications and other related information.

Local officials were trained by the Local Government Academy along with the Civil Service Commission. The trainings would arm officials with the right knowledge on how to formulate a good Citizen's Charter.

Secretary Puno said that no application or request by a client would be returned without the proper action. He said that a simple transaction should be completed within five working days while complex transactions should be done within ten working days. "If the LGU fails to act on an application or request for renewal of a license, permit or authority subject to renewal within the prescribed period, said permit, license or authority shall automatically be extended until a decision or resolution is rendered on the application for renewal," Sec. Puno said.

Prosperidad Epitomizes Prosperity Said Puno

2009-07-10T01:48:00.001-07:00

The town of Prosperidad in Agusan Del Sur according to DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno symbolizes the prosperity that the country can achieve. That kind of success though, can only be achieved if local officials can unite and work together to sustain the growth of industries in their locality as well as safeguarding the peace and order situation and this is what Secretary Puno is stressing on.

Secretary Puno said that the hardworking officials of Agusan Del Sur have made it possible for the community of Prosperidad to live up to its name. In his most recent visit to the province during the Naliyagan Festival, Secretary Puno had this to say: "Prosperidad is synonymous with growth and development.

"May katwiran (There is a reason) why this town is called Prosperidad in the great province of Agusan del Sur. It’s because as you look around you, you see the enterprising people who live here. Everybody is engaged, masisipag lahat (everybody is hardworking), everybody is engaged in doing some productive endeavor," he added.

He even compared the town of Prosperidad to the US town of Hope, where former US President Bill Clinton was born. The comparison brings to light the fact that while the United States is suffering from the economic crisis heavily, the Philippines is faring a bit better. This is because of the economic reforms put in place by the administration with the help of the DILG Secretary.

Secretary further urged the people of Prosperidad and the province of Agusan Del Sur to continue down the right path. "You can continue as an example for other provinces in Mindanao, show them that when there is a will, there is always a way and when you decide to dedicate yourselves to progress, to the development of the province, that it will actually happen," the DILG chief said.

What the people of Prosperidad have done is truly commendable. Now, it is up to other local government units to get a clue and emulate what the LGU of Prosperidad has done. Between keeping the peace in the community and sustaining the growth of local industries, Prosperidad has shown that prosperity is truly attainable.

Secretary Puno's Action on Public Complaints

2009-07-09T02:23:00.000-07:00

One of Secretary Puno's concerns as the head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is to keep local officials in line. To make it easier for the department to provide better frontline services to the general public, Secretary Puno urged the people to bring their complaints against local officials, policemen, jail guards, and firemen at the Common Folk's Day held during Friday at the DILG Office in Quezon City.

A memorandum from the Office of the President ordered all heads of departments and agencies of the government to have a Common Folk's Day. Here's what Secretary Puno had to say: " It is proper that we set aside a day of the week for the DILG to directly attend to the needs and concerns of the people, in compliance with President Arroyo's directive on this matter."

"From helping guarantee the safety of every Filipino home, to making sure the basic services are delivered efficiently by our local governments, the DILG touches the lives of many Filipinos every day in many ways," he added. By allowing common people to air their grievances, the DILG can weed out corrupt officials. Furthermore, they could streamline their services to make it easier for the public to get the services that they need on time.

In accordance with the memorandum, Secretary Ronnie Puno has mandated his undersecretaries and officials of the National Police Commission, Philippine National Police, Legal Service, National Barangay Operations Office, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to be present during Common Folk's Day.

Also, this would not work if people would not attend it. Therefore, Secretary Ronnie Puno has urged the public to attend the Common Folk's Day. After all, the most important aim of this is to further help the people by providing them with better services. With the complaints from the general public pouring in, the department can formulate plans to make their services better. This is yet another action being taken by the administration and the DILG to bring the government closer and more accessible to the public which it aims to serve to the fullest.

Secretary Puno and the DILG's Response to Global Warming

2009-07-09T02:19:00.000-07:00

Global warming is a problem not only faced by the country but by the whole human race. As such, it only makes sense that every country should do its part in curbing the risk of global warming. The Department of the Interior and Local Government headed by Secretary Ronnie Puno has already drawn plans on how to mobilize local government units to respond to this grave threat.

In September last year Secretary Puno convened officers of the DILG along with several local government leagues. The meeting was held to formulate a plan to fight climate change, the effect of which is already being felt across the country. According to Sec. Puno, the said meeting is just the start of a series of conferences which will be conducted in the regional level until March this year.

Present during that first meeting apart from DILG officials are officials of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP), the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP), the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines (four L Phils.), the League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines (LLPDCPI) according to the Philippine Information Agency.

What these officials have tackled in the said meeting includes how the climate change has affected people, businesses and the ecosystem across the country. After finding out how it is affecting the country as a whole, the officials moved on to formulate a response. These responses cover energy, vehicle, forestry, and agricultural solutions.

By formulating energy solutions, the group is looking to find viable sources of energy which would significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being produced by industrial plants. When it comes to vehicle solutions, the group looked into finding solutions for vehicles which are deemed to be smoke belchers. Forestry and agricultural solutions on the other hand deals with keeping our natural resources abundant since reforestation and proper agricultural practices can significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The solutions which the group has come up with will be the basis of legislative and executive actions in local government units across the country.

Secretary Puno and the PNP Service Plaza

2009-07-08T02:41:00.001-07:00

The current administration wants the Philippine National Police to be "closer to the people". This will make it easier for the PNP to deliver frontline services to the general public. A huge part of this commitment is the building of a PNP Service Plaza, the construction of which has already begun with DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno being one of the guests during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Secretary Ronnie Puno believes that the PNP Service Plaza would be a good thing as one of its strengths is transparency. "Anything that requires interaction between the PNP and the public will be done in a building that is open to everyone. So anyone can see how the services are being provided," said Sec. Puno during the groundbreaking ceremony held in September last year.

Another good thing about the PNP Service Plaza according to Ronnie Puno is that it would be easier for people to accomplish what they need to do. "You don’t have to wonder where you are going for this or that license. It’s just one place, one building," he said.

The government will not be spending a single cent in the construction of the Plaza as according to Secretary Ronnie Puno, "this project will be done at no cost to the government, because it is done in partnership with the PNP Foundation Inc. It will be a self-liquidating project done by the foundation."

There will be several offices of the PNP which will have a place at the Service Plaza once it's done hopefully by September this year. These offices are Firearms and Explosives Division, Motor Vehicle Clearance Unit, Security Agencies and Guards Supervision Division, Benefits and Pension Administration Division, Directorate for Intelligence, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management and the Complaints Referral and Action Center. Surely, the presence of these offices in a single building would make it easier for people to interact with the Philippine National Police.

Apart from the building, the PNP also has undertaken some steps to bring them closer to the community. For one, people can report abusive members of the PNP by texting 2920. This is apart from the PNP's People's Action Team Responding Online or Patrol 117. They already have 22 call centers in 22 cities and one municipality.

Blast from the Past: Organizing BPOCs

2009-07-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, 75 percent of all the barangays in Capiz have reported that they have organized their Barangay Peace and Order Councils following the circular which came from the office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno.

Secretary Puno called for the reorganization of said councils across the country as a means to better protect the general public. A BPOC serves as the implementing arm of the Integrated Area/Public Safety Plan formulated by their respective municipalities or cities. Therefore, all community-based anti-crime activities are to be supervised, coordinated, and monitored carefully by a BPOC.

Furthermore, Secretary Ronnie Puno ordered such move because of the barangay elections which took place a year before. The new set of barangay officials needed to create their own BPOC to maintain the effectiveness of public safety services accorded to the general public across the Philippines.

Also, the circular included Secretary Puno's suggestion to barangay officials to create a public safety plan which should cover crime prevention and control; counterinsurgency and terrorism; fire prevention and suppression; disaster management and control; and environmental enhancement. Since this public safety plan is the official planning document of the reorganized BPOCs, it is essential that it should be completed.

Secretary Puno had this to say regarding the reorganization of BPOCs: "Considering that the DILG and local government units are jointly exerting efforts to maintain the viability of local institutions necessary for the effective delivery of peace and order and public safety services, there is a need to reorganize the BPOCs and to regularly monitor and evaluate them to ensure their functionality."

Keeping the peace across the country is a big task. And it is a good strategy to start with every barangay. If all barangays can reorganize and keep their BPOCs active, the fight against crime would be a little easier. In addition, BPOCs can prevent crimes as they are ordered to help barangay tanods identify people in the community with "strong deviant behavior". These individuals should then be referred to appropriate authorities. This way, several components of the system would be helping each other out to keep the peace across the land.

Secretary Ronnie Puno's Circular Reactivated BHERT

2009-07-07T02:38:00.000-07:00

The AH1N1 virus is spreading steadily across the world and the Philippines has its fair share of swine flu cases. In response to this, Secretary Ronnie Puno recently ordered local government units to reactivate Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams or BHERT around the country.

These teams are volunteer community organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health by providing Emergency Medical Services, and other basic health services, as required, to the community. The reactivation of said teams will hopefully help people be informed as to how to combat the spreading of the dreaded virus.

Meanwhile, in Southern Leyte, the provincial hospital has already sent medical technologists for training. The said training will help the province's health sector be ready if a case of the flu is reported in the area. Being ready to respond to the situation is expected to save a lot of lives especially if the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams are informed of what they need to do in responding to a suspected case of swine flu.

Dr. Noel Lumen, Head of the Technical Department at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital meanwhile admitted that while no cases of the A H1N1 strain has been reported in the province, "the seasonal anti-flu vaccine for AH1N1has not yet circulated here in the province and probably the whole of Eastern Visayas because it is still under clinical study for about 4 to 6 months." While said vaccine is known to work only against seasonal influenza and not against the tougher A H1N1 strain, it is still needed in the community.

Apart from reactivating BHERTs, Secretary Ronnie Puno's circular also ordered Barangay Health Workers and even Barangay Tanods to keep track of the visitors in their respective barangays. This is essential especially if said visitors came from a province or a country known to have a reported case of the swine flu. Hopefully, these precautions will keep the province safe from the feared virus. With the flu still spreading though, expect more precautionary measures from the office of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Questions Aplenty Regarding Puno/Ebdane

2009-07-07T01:44:00.000-07:00

Is Secretary Ronnie Puno about to leave his post in the Department of the Interior and Local Government? Questions about Sec. Puno's future in the department is now in question after the Palace appointed Department of Public Works and Highways Hermogenes Ebdane as the officer in charge of the DILG while Secretary Puno is on leave.

It is usually the most senior undersecretary of a department who is appointed as the OIC while the Secretary is on leave. This development therefore raised some eyebrows from the media and surprised the department itself. Furthermore, it is not everyday that a single person is given the reigns of two large departments like the DILG and the DPWH.

Although the ability of Ebdane is not being questioned, there are certainly questions about why the Palace acted in such a way. What's more puzzling is the announcement of the administration that Secretary Puno is on leave due to health problems. This is in contrast with Secretary Ronnie Puno's announcement that he will be going to the United States to attend the wedding of her daughter Tami last July 4.

Secretary Puno is known to be the man behind the political success of all presidents after Corazon Aquino. He played a major role behind the scenes in the candidacy of presidents Ramos, Estrada, and even Macapagal-Arroyo. Secretary Puno is also the chairman of the President's political party. It is therefore confusing to the general public what the intention of the Palace is in announcing that Sec. Puno has health problems.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said in a recent interview that he only knows that Secretary Ebdane is concerned about the real peace and order situation in the country after the couple of bombing incidents which happened in the National Capital Region just recently. As to why the Palace had a different statement about Sec. Puno's leave, Espina said he is not privy to that information.

Another thing that's spicing up the discussions is the supposed agreement between Senator Mar Roxas and Secretary Puno to be running-mates in the coming presidential election.

Blast from the Past: Sec Ronnie Puno's Appointment

2009-07-06T02:41:00.000-07:00

Let's turn back the time to February of 2006 when Secretary Puno was recently named the new chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The appointment of Secretary Puno back then happened after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo revamped the members of her cabinet.

Ronnie Puno's appointment then received positive response from the people who are already in the department especially Provincial Director Antonio A. Cardoza of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Biliran. Cardoza said that Ronnie Puno is a perfect choice for the position due to his experience in the field.

Cardoza mentioned that Puno has been there and done that during the terms of presidents Marcos, Ramos, and Estrada. Puno is a well-known strategist during the terms of said presidents. Puno also backed the current president in her campaign for the office giving him valuable experience on where the current administration is going with its plans regarding local government units.

Another quality trait by Secretary Puno which Cardoza admired is his concern for the workforce behind the department. He said that whenever the Secretary would go on trips to visit local government units, he is always ready to meet the people in the field because he understands how important they are. After all, they are the ones on the field and are tasked with carrying out the orders from Secretary Puno himself.

Connecting with the workers gives Secretary Puno the chance to learn what is wrong in the lower levels and what is working for them. This is very valuable as it would give the department the information it needs to solve problems on several levels of local government.

Today, Secretary Puno is as committed as ever to his job as the head of the DILG. His dedication to his job and affinity for the workforce of the department has resulted to positive campaigns to make LGUs better. The success of a microfinance project in Rizal is a proof of that.

His track record in the DILG and as a Representative of the first district of Antipolo City shows that no matter which path he takes in the political crossroad he is in now, things are bound to look good for the Filipinos.

Sec. Puno's Call for Vagni Release

2009-07-06T01:58:00.000-07:00

The clashes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Abu Sayyaf has already taken a lot of lives and DILG Secretary Ronnie Puno has made it clear that the government is ready to put a stop to their offensive if the Abu Sayyaf would only agree to talk with the government to facilitate the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni.

Vagni is a water-system specialist working for the International Committee of the Red Cross who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf last January along with two others. The group has already released one of the three kidnapped men while another one escaped their clutches last April. Therefore, Vagni is the only bargaining chip that they have left and Secretary Puno is intent on delivering Mr. Vagni safe to his family.

"We are willing to communicate with them for the purpose of finding a way where they can release the hostage without consideration of any kind or any monetary consideration," said Sec. Puno referring to the Abu Sayyaf.

Sec. Puno though maintained that the government is not losing the battle against the Abu Sayyaf thus the willingness to sit down and talk things over. "We want to put an end to the fighting, and the best way to do it is, of course, for them to immediately release Mr. Vagni," he said last month. He also warned that if the Abu Sayyaf will continue to take actions against the government despite the offer to talk, the AFP would be forced to continue operations. Of course, these operations would be conducted carefully in order to protect Vagni.

The latest contact that the Italian had with his wife was in June 26 when they talked for a few minutes. The government thinks that the calls from Vagni to his wife have been few and far between because of the group being on the run and not risking being tracked.

ICRC head of operations for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific Alain Aeschlimann has this to say after Vagni's latest call to his wife: "Although Eugenio feels tired, he continues to show remarkable strength in the face of great adversity. His family is also displaying great stoicism."

While the Abu Sayyaf is not yet commenting on whether they would indeed agree to a talk between them and the government, the hope that they would consider releasing Vagni is high.

Secretary Puno's Warning To LGUs`

2009-07-03T05:24:00.000-07:00

Secretary Puno knows how tough the economy is. And for a lot of people, it is becoming harder no thanks to local governments imposing illegal "pass-through" fees on delivery trucks which transports particular products like food and agricultural products.

DILG Secretary Puno therefore warned local government units that if they are charging the so-called fees, they could face administrative charges. Furthermore, Sec. Ronnie Puno said that criminal charges can even be filed against them depending on the severity of violations.

Earlier this year, producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers are complaining that certain municipalities and cities are charging them of the so-called "pass-through" fees. This is a clear violation of the Local Government Code which limits the taxes and fees that the local government can impose on delivery trucks. Even with the law in place, some local government units still pass ordinances which are in contrast with the law.

According to Secretary Puno, the Local Government Code states that only provinces and cities can impose an annual fixed tax for every delivery truck or van of manufacturers or producers, wholesalers of, dealers, or retailers in, certain products "as may be determined by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to sales outlets or consumers whether directly or indirectly, within the province in an amount not exceeding five hundred pesos (P500)."

"We will seek authority from Malacañang to investigate LGUs found imposing these illegal fees and other violations committed by them on the imposition of taxes on owners of delivery trucks," stated the DILG chief earlier this year. "We are going to be firm on this especially when our private sector needs all the help it can get in these difficult economic times," he added.

The DILG chief explained that municipalities cannot impose taxes on delivery trucks passing through. With the annual taxes that manufacturers, producers, and wholesalers have to pay the provincial government and these illegal taxes, it is not surprising that they would complain about the situation.

I know we are in a period of local autonomy and we have been very liberal," Secretary Puno said. "But it is also the responsibility of LGUs to be aware of what they should not do and what they can do," he concluded.

Pangilinan Law to Be Amended Soon Says Secretary Puno

2009-07-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

Senator Francisco "Kiko" Pangilinan was the one who worked for the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 to be approved and now he is one among other people who wants it to be amended. The said law states that persons below 15 years old are exempted from criminal liability.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno recently confirmed that the Pangilinan Law as it is today is nearing its end. This is because a lot of people have seen the loopholes in the law which could be exploited by criminal elements. The Pangilinan Law as it is being billed today may have been made with good intentions in mind but recent incidents call for an amendment of the law.

Anti-crime advocates and law enforcement agencies have lobbied for so long to have the law amended. A recent incident in Laguna where a student killed a high school kid after beating the latter up has shown to the public what the aforementioned groups are pointing out in the past.

Law enforcement agents sometimes arrest minors for disobeying the law but they have no choice but to let them go because they are being protected by the Pangilinan Law. Criminal syndicates have exploited the loopholes in the law by having people below 15 years old involved in their criminal activities. They are confident that the kids will be let go if arrested.

Being the Secretary of the DILG, Ronnie Puno knows the challenges of adhering to the said law and bringing in minor criminals. Thus, it is not surprising that Secretary Puno is supporting the amendment of the said law.

In fairness, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 also include a diversion and intervention program through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This is what Senator Pangilinan and the UNICEF are counting on to keep minors from being repeat offenders. Also, the intervention program is designed to keep them from committing any crime in the first place.

With the DILG Secretary now on the case along with law enforcement agencies and anti-crime advocates it is really only a matter of time before criminal syndicates would be stopped taking advantage of our nation's youth.

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090703.htm&no=81

Ronnie V.Puno declared his Vice Presidential Bid

2009-06-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

DILG Secretary Ronaldo "Ronnie" V.Puno announcing his candidacy as Vice President in a television interview.

Video from TV Patrol May, 26, 2009.