We were first aghast when we heard that PUNP, DWCU and UCNHS had to cancel classes in the elementary and secondary levels because of the doomsday prediction of an 8.1 intensity earthquake. We would have feared the end of humanity not because of the earthquake itself but because of sheer gullibility and stupidity. We were relieved when we found out that classes were suspended in order for the students to attend an anti-corruption rally.
Ombud officials rally Urdaneta folk vs corruption
By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre
URDANETA CITY -- The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday led the Luzon Roadshow Conference of the National Anti-Corruption Program of Action (Nacpa) held at the city's Cultural Complex and Sports Complex.
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said the "anti-corruption rally for integrity" is part of their campaign to make Filipinos aware of their anti-corruption efforts especially now that the Philippines was given "compact status" by the US government.
The activity was hosted by the City Government.
Victor Fernandez, deputy ombudsman for Luzon, said they first conducted a survey on the best place to conduct the anti-corruption program.
"We felt that Urdaneta City fits our requirement in the sense that this is a big and progressive city being run by a very competent and equally progressive mayor in the person of Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr.," he remarked.
"It was a product of extensive study taking into consideration the location, the number of people, means of communication, and most of all, the leadership of the city which is very important in this kind of activity," he added.
Gutierrez hoped that their anti-corruption efforts will be known by the people.
"Perhaps you will be happy for us because we got compact status. Many people around the world apply to get this status because through this, the US government will give you US$60 million to US$700 million," she said.
She said they presented to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MMC) the ombudsman's programs and projects to address corruption in the country, focused of which is the improvement of their conviction rate.
The MCC was convinced with their programs and projects, she said.
Steve Rood, country representative to The Asia Foundation (TAF), said TAF is a non-government organization (NGO) based in San Francisco, USA.
He said they have a funding from the MCC and that they have this Philippines Threshold Program, which will end on November 21, 2008.
"The whole of idea was to qualify the Philippines what the Millennium Challenge Corporation calls a compact, which is an agreement between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Philippine government about how to spend a rather large of several hundred millions of dollars," he explained.
Rood said the MCC under the Philippine Threshold Program will send a team here next month in order to begin discussions with the Philippine government on what its compact will look like.
"Will we use it for roads, or for hospitals, or for education? But the kind of decision remains to be made in consultation between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Philippine government. The President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) has set up a task force to lead the interaction with the Millennium Challenge Corporation," he added.
Also attended the press conference were Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III, Assistant Executive Secretary Lynn Danao-Morena, Over-all Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro and United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) representative John Avila.
Ombud officials rally Urdaneta folk vs corruption
By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre
Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said the "anti-corruption rally for integrity" is part of their campaign to make Filipinos aware of their anti-corruption efforts especially now that the Philippines was given "compact status" by the US government.
The activity was hosted by the City Government.
Victor Fernandez, deputy ombudsman for Luzon, said they first conducted a survey on the best place to conduct the anti-corruption program.
"We felt that Urdaneta City fits our requirement in the sense that this is a big and progressive city being run by a very competent and equally progressive mayor in the person of Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr.," he remarked.
"It was a product of extensive study taking into consideration the location, the number of people, means of communication, and most of all, the leadership of the city which is very important in this kind of activity," he added.
Gutierrez hoped that their anti-corruption efforts will be known by the people.
"Perhaps you will be happy for us because we got compact status. Many people around the world apply to get this status because through this, the US government will give you US$60 million to US$700 million," she said.
She said they presented to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MMC) the ombudsman's programs and projects to address corruption in the country, focused of which is the improvement of their conviction rate.
The MCC was convinced with their programs and projects, she said.
Steve Rood, country representative to The Asia Foundation (TAF), said TAF is a non-government organization (NGO) based in San Francisco, USA.
He said they have a funding from the MCC and that they have this Philippines Threshold Program, which will end on November 21, 2008.
"The whole of idea was to qualify the Philippines what the Millennium Challenge Corporation calls a compact, which is an agreement between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Philippine government about how to spend a rather large of several hundred millions of dollars," he explained.
Rood said the MCC under the Philippine Threshold Program will send a team here next month in order to begin discussions with the Philippine government on what its compact will look like.
"Will we use it for roads, or for hospitals, or for education? But the kind of decision remains to be made in consultation between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Philippine government. The President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) has set up a task force to lead the interaction with the Millennium Challenge Corporation," he added.
Also attended the press conference were Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III, Assistant Executive Secretary Lynn Danao-Morena, Over-all Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro and United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) representative John Avila.
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