P’Noy picks Salceda as Asian representative to UN’s $100bn Green Climate Fund Board

Legazpi City – President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has recently given his thumbs up on the appointment of Albay Governor Joey Salceda as director and Asian representative to the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Asia. The fund was created in Copenhagen Conference of Parties and is initially set at $20bn per year in the first three years and $100bn thereafter in the next five years.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. confirmed President Aquino’s approval of Salceda’s nomination   in a memorandum to Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario dated March 20, 2012, which was earlier sought by the Climate Change Commission as a requirement by the UNFCCC.

Salceda, who was named United Nations Global Champion for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for novel ideas implemented in his province and later on adapted by other local government units and the national government, has also served as Advisor of the Green Climate Fund’s Transitional Committee.

The Asian Group at the UNFCCC has recently agreed to give the Philippines a seat in the board, for the first three years of the Green Climate Fund. The position needed a competent and knowledgeable finance expert with concrete experience on climate change financing.

Governor Salceda, known as the Green Economist, said there’s a need for the Philippines to have a seat in the Green Climate Fund so that it would serve the needs of developing countries; enhanced national and international action on mitigation of climate change, and to fulfil its objectives of shared vision for long-term cooperative action, including a long-term global goal for emission reductions.

He said it is up to the Board of the Fund, given their very broad powers to turn the fund into something meaningful for addressing climate change, particularly among developing countries that needed the funds for their programs.

Climate change financing will mainly go through the Green Climate Fund, and a huge amount of financial resources will be involved, and it is essential that we get the procedures and initial operational principles right, Salceda added.

The governor was once a presidential economic adviser and a three-term congressman, before he ran for governor in his native province, Albay, where he implemented various programs on CCA and DRR, among them the well-attended annual national conventions on climate change adaptation running for four years now. His initiatives had gained wide adherence.

 

Team Albay sweeps over Bicol Palaro 2012 for the second year in a row

Naga City – Team Albay lorded over for the second year in a row the Palarong Bicol 2012 held in this city last week, over twelve other contestants from all over Region V, with a staggering 569 points, based an official tally released by the Department of Education last week.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, delighted over the victory, said two wins in a row should “convince ourselves of the intrinsic strength of the Albayano team”. The province last year bagged the championship after a medal drought of 24 years, when it hosted the Bicol sports meet at the Provincial Sports Complex in Guinobatan town, which many referred to as ‘nothing but a hometown victory’.

This year, however, was clearly different.  “Physical superiority, intellectual superiority, and the equivalence springs from unity in passion and pursuit of goals, pride of place, competitive spirit and inner character,” Salceda said.

The governor had campaigned for a wider support for his province’s sports program, and had lobbied for a bigger budget for its delegation’s training, food allowance, incentives and the materials needed to boost morale. He said with  a better financial support, there was no doubt Team Albay can hit the championship.

Albay’s winning score of 569, was higher by 166.5 points over the first runner up Camarines Sur with 402.5 points and 265.25 over that of host Naga City, which gained only 303.25 points landing the poor third position. Camarines Norte was second runner up with 400.5 points.

Based on the official tally, Albay’s sports team’s highest scores were posted by boys’ elementary and high school levels with 186 and 143, respectively. The elementary level performance, boys and girls, hauled 310 points in all, and the high school level posted 259, for a total of 569 points.

Points standing are as follows: Legazpi City, 4th runner up, 292; Catanduanes, 5th – 167.5; Masbate province, 6th – 90.75; Sorsogon, 7th – 91; Iriga City, 8th – 83.25; Masbate City, 9th – 79; Tabaco City, 10th – 74.25; Ligao City, 11th, 58; and Sorsogon, 12th – 34 points.

 

Albay’s economy gets P336 M addditional boost for new 4Ps of 4 towns, Legazpi City

Legazpi City – Close to 20,000 indigents families from Albay’s four towns and this city are set to receive this month, their share from the government’s Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) more known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, amounting to more than P28 million.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the funds will be released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), representing the first two-month payments at P1,400 each of the 13,383 indigent families in the towns of Tiwi, Camalig, Oas and Guinobatan, which were last to be enrolled with the 4Ps, and 6,384 additional beneficiaries in Legazpi City.

Scheduled to receive their P1,400 monthly CCT funds are; Tiwi – 2,528 families, Camalig – 3,130, Oas – 3,779, Guinobatan -3,946, and Legazpi City, with additional 6,384 beneficiaries, all totaling 19,767 family beneficiaries.

Salceda, who last year fought for the full coverage of 4Ps in Albay’s 15 towns and three cities, said the “program actually constitutes the biggest and the more socio-economically beneficial relief to our province in this period of economic stress.”

He thanked Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman for the early release of the 4Ps funds to his province despite disasters that had struck the country recently which had tied up her agency’s priorities.

Since last year, Albay was the first province to be fully covered by the 4Ps and achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. The program enables families to have decent shelter and put food on their tables, afford necessary vaccinations and send their children to school, reminding them that hope exists and that a brighter future is ahead, Salceda said.

Salceda, who sits as head of all Regional Development Councils in the country, cited 4Ps as one of the most important accomplishments of President Aquino reducing hunger incidence by 6 percent only months after he assumed office in 2010 and expanded its coverage.

Last year, he proposed that the current 4Ps’ coverage be expanded to cover the rest of the 4.77 million poor households across the country, and increase the budget from P21 billion last year to P34 billion in 2012.

“The funding for 4Ps has proven to be an inspired move while prompting positive and significant consequences in the lives of ordinary families, particularly food-poor rural families,” Salceda said.

There were 1.3 million poor families in the country were enrolled in the 4Ps program in June 2010 and were expanded to two million were enrolled in May and 2.3 million in June, last year.

 

TEAM ALBAY-GUIHULNGAN MERCY MISSION Report #1: Situation dire; Countermeasures needed

Command Center – Team Albay. Team Albay from Dumaguete City proceeded to 302nd IB 31st ID under Col. Francisco Patrimonio, Brigade Commander. We were assisted by Commander Rene Honasan – TOG 6. Two helicopters were utilized to transport the Team Albay going to Guihulngan. Upon arrival of advance team in Guihulngan, Cedric Daep met with the municipal administrator Many Barutag. Dr. Rose, Natz Rempillo and Mike de la Rama met Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes informing him the assistance of Albay team. Proper coordination with the city, social welfare officers of this municipality transpired immediately after a short meeting with the mayor. OCD 7 Regional Director Minda Morante has been informed by the Team regarding the mission.

Team Albay set up the command center in Negros State University in coordination with the President through Dr. Linnie Viernes. This institution is just across the Guihulngan District Hospital. The team will be assigned at the “oval”, an elementary school which became an evacuation center per advise of the City Health Officer (CHO). The CHO cannot estimate the population in the oval. OCD 7 is in charge of coordination, search and recovery operation. DOH 7 was stationed in Guihulngan District hospital, just in front of the State University where the Team Albay command center is situated. The Naval ship is stationed at Port Bulado, at least eight kilometers from city proper. Cebu Radio Civic Org set up a communication center located inside the municipal hall compound. Coordination with the local contractor in charge in the restoration of electricity, for the use of crane to unload the water filtration from the naval ship was done. The crane from a private contractor was rented and it was used to unload the machine from the ship. Due to the unavailability of a truck to bring the purifying machine to the water source, the team opted and coordinated with the Bureau of Fire through the local government to supply the raw water to be filtered and deliver the same to the community.

Overall situation of the area:
1. No incident command system established.
2. Local officials confused on what to do.
3. Some national agencies and NGOs just arrived.
4. The entire city composed of 33 barangays was totally devastated. As until now, landslides are still occurring.
5. Water source were cut off. The main source is located in Sitio Pongo, Barangay Magsaysay, a mountainous area. No water supply going to the town proper.
6. No available transportation, stores are closed and no banks are open.
7. Very limited resources in the area.
8. Only available communication is cellphone.
9. No electricity, as well as internet connections, however, using broad band is possible.
10. In terms of damages in infrastructure – no data.
11. No actual number of casualties.
12. Only partial report of affected population

Recommendations for the team:
1. Cell cards should be provided to the team because communications is vital for coordination and reporting among members and with other agencies.
2. Provision of team transportation is necessary for mobility thus, our request for 2 vehicles.
3. Since Team Albay is organized, it would be better to send an advance party for assessment before sending the teams. Suggested team members as first party: Mr. Mike dela Rama, Dr. Nathaniel Rempillo, Engr. Leo Chavez, Mr. Eugene Escobar. Once their report is in, briefing of team to be deployed should be done.
4. Cash on hand should at least be good for 7 to 10 days because no banks operation.
5. Post Intervention Evaluation should be done by the team leaders and EXECOM upon return.
6. General briefing of team members should include: type of transportation, condition of the area, logistic requirements, roles and responsibilities (tasking) and adaptation to local culture and practices (attitude/behavior).

Recommendations for the area:
1. LGU should establish the Incident Command System.
2. Lifelines should be given priority to maximize assistance.
3. People living in areas threatened by landslides and or flashfloods should be evacuated ASAP (mandatory evacuation).
4. Data should be collected after the first 24 hours of the event through rapid assessment survey to determine immediate needs and donors’ assistance.
5. A collaboration desk should be established by the LGU to properly account volunteers and donations coming in the area.
6. Encourage multi-agency cooperation and Public-Private Partnership.

NB: Partial affected population – 47,455

TEAM ALBAY: Guihulngan Mercy Mission

An Emergency Meeting was today at 8:00am in OCD Region 5 to organize Team Albay: Operation Guihulngan. In response to request for assistance of Negros Oriental authorities.

Situationer/Needs Analysis:

Guihulngan City in Negros, Oriental (one of the Corona 16 cities) is the most heavily impacted. Population: 91,358 (2007). Water system is totally damaged.

Mercy Mission:

1. Provision of clean / potable water to displaced / affected population
2. Emergency prehospital care and preemptive public healthcare given the protracted water supply problems
3. Psychosocial Care

Team Albay:

1. Composite team of OCD V, Albay PHO-APRU, Albay WATSAN, CHD V, BRTTH HEMS, NAVFORSOL, PAF TOG 5, 901Bde PA
2. AECID water filtration machine with capacity of 33,000 li/hr will be transported by Phil. Navy
3. 1 health team (vs. 2 for Sendong) and 1 WATSAN team

3.7% in 2011, but 2012 will be first full year of delivery by PNoy admin with 5.7%

2011: 3.7%, less than half of 2010′s 7.6%, was pretty much expected. No surprises.

1. Underspending by public sector due to review of processes and framing of new priorities.
2. Anaemic US recovery, peaking Eurozone instability and China slowdown.
3. Series of typhoons and severe weather impact negated sturdy OFW remittance growth.
4. Numerically, due to a high base in 2011 bloated by national election spending.

2012: Fearlessly, PNoy will deliver 5.7%, his real first year of delivering after 18 months of streamlining.

Domestic Factors

• Demand Side

1. Public spending should rebound with the lagged and full impact of DAP (disbursement acceleration program), frontloading of 2012 capital outlay coinciding with better weather for construction activities.
2. Private, foreign and local, investments should start to materialize triggered by high confidence in the new administration, with Phils enjoying better image as investment destination. PPP, however, will impact the real economy at best in Q4 but more likely in 2013.

• Supply Side

1. Agricultural production should benefit from benign La Nina in 1H and from the robust focus of the new admin on irrigation.

External Factors

1. US recovery will slightly improve or at least not deteriorate while Eurozone concerns have peaked in 2011.

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NSCB Official Statement

Governor Salceda chosen as 2011-2012 Alumni Achievement Award (Triple A) of Asian Institute of Management

I am honored by the award which is usually conferred on AIM graduates at the top of their professional careers. Coming from peers, elder batches and former teachers make it doubly fulfilling. I owe this award to all Albayanos since it is being given in recognition of the work we do together in the province and the provincial government. Biggest thanks to Sec. Sonny Coloma who went out of his way to get me nominated.