NEDA Board approves rebidding of CALAX Project

The

Palace

on

Monday

announced

the

rebidding

of

the

Cavite-Laguna

Expressway

(CALAX)

Proj

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the rebidding of the project was approved during the 16th meeting of
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board held in Malacaang and presided by President Benigno
Aquino
Coloma

noted

that

the

minimum

bid

price

is

now

P20.1

bill

The P35.4-billion CALAX project, which is under the governments Public-Private Partnership (PPP), involves the financ
construction, operation and maintenance of a 44.6-km expressway connecting the Manila-Cavite Tollroad Expressw
(CAVITEX)
and
the
South
Luzon
Expressway
(SLE

In the first bidding process, a partnership between the Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz Land Inc. won with a bid of P11.7 bill
following the disqualification over a technicality of its rival, San Miguel Corp., which made a bid of P20.1 billio

President Aquino has indicated that he favors a rebidding due to the P9-billion difference between the two bids, saying that
the end of the day, we have to protect the peoples interests. PND (ag)

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/archives2015/feb16.htm#NEDA_Board
More indigent seniors to receive monthly pension
Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph

The government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has lowered the age qualification of
indigent senior citizens who can receive the P500 monthly social pension as provided for by Republic Act 9994 or the
Expanded
Senior
Citizens
Act
of
2010.
Starting this year, indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above will now receive the Social Pension. Originally, only senior
citizens
aged
77
and
above
received
the
pension.
Based on the law, indigent senior citizens or those 60 years old and above are entitled to monthly pension, however, due to
limited government resources only those 77 and above were covered by the law up to 2014.
For this year, DSWDs proposal to lower the age of qualification to 65 was approved by Congress and Senate and has been
included
in
the
General
Appropriations
Act
of
2015.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano- Soliman said that with the lower age requirement, more economically disadvantaged
senior citizens can have additional cash to spend for their basic needs such as medicines and nutritious food to support their
well-being.
For 2015, the government has allocated P5.962 billion to benefit some 939,609 indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above
nationwide including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). This 2015 budget for the program is P2.853-billion
higher
from
last
years
allocation
of
P3.108
billion.
Qualified to receive the P500 monthly stipend are senior citizens who are frail, sickly, or have disabilities; are not receiving
pension from Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or Veterans Pension; and do not
have
a
permanent
source
of
income
or
regular
support
from
relatives.
The pension is distributed every quarter through cash payment by DSWD Field Offices or city/municipal social welfare and
development
offices.
The first release is scheduled in April 2015.

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/other_news.htm#More
DOJ to telcos: Install
Source: http://www.doj.gov.ph

With the recent confirmation from a pilot project in London and two major cities in U.S. that the installation of kill-switches in
cellphone units dramatically resulted in the decrease of mobile phone theft, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime
(OOC) today called on telecommunication companies to adopt international best practices to protect the property subscribers
and
the
lives
of
owners
of
mobile
phones.
We do not need legislation to implement this, said Secretary of Justice Leila M. De Lima. It is the responsibility of telcos as
public utilities to prevent crimes and to ensure that technology is used to address peace and order issues, she said.
The DOJ-OOC tasked primarily to implement the Cybercrime Prevention Act recommended the policy action and directive.
Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy, head of the Cybercrime Office said that It is a common sense solution to a specific type
of crime. Commuters and consumers who work hard and save for their phones only to be victimized by criminals will benefit
from
a
small
effort
from
our
telcos.
The study showed that since the introduction of the kill switch feature, mobile phone theft has dropped as much as 40 percent.
The result of the study is available at http://www.ag.ny.gov/pdfs/SOS%2o1%20YEAR%20REPORT.pdf.

Alel F. Auxillos
Newsline- February 19, 2015
Cavite-Laguna Expressway Project Approved for Rebidding
1.
CALAX, or the Cavite-Laguna Expressway project is set for rebidding
according to the Palace.
The rebidding was approved during the 16th meeting of the National Economic and
Development Authority or NEDA, as presided by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
President Aquino favored the rebidding due to the 9-Billion peso difference between
the bids of 11.7 billion and 20.1 billion.
The 11.7 Billion-bid was won by the partnership of Ayala Corporation and Aboitiz
Land Inc. in the first bidding process following disqualification of the 20.1 Billion
peso bid by its rival San Miguel COrporation.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said however, that the minimum bid
price is now 20.1 pesos, due to President Aquino's statement about protecting the
people's interest.
The CALAX is a 35.4 billion-peso project which involves financing , construction,
operation, and maintenance of a 44.6 km expressway connecting CAVITEX and
SLEX.
Age Qualification of Senior Citizens for Pension Lowered
2.
Indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above are now entitled to receive the
500-peso monthly social pension as provided by Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
According to the law, indigent senior citizens aged 60 and above are entitled to the
said pension.
However, only those 77 years and above were covered up to 2014 due to limited
government resources.
Lowering to 65 years of age was approved by Congress and Senate and has been
included in the Geneal Appropriations Act of 2015.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that with lower age requirement,
more economically disadvantaged senior citizens can have additional cash to spend

for their basic needs such as medicines and nutritious food to support their wellbeing.
The pension is distributed every quarter through cash payment by DSWD Field
Offices or city/municipal social welfare and development, and is set to be released
in April 2015.

DOJ Encourages Installation of 'Kill Switches' in Mobile Phones

The Department of Justice-Office of Cybercrime (OOC) called on telecommunication
companies to adopt international best practices to protect the property subscribers
and the lives of owners of mobile phones.
One of such international practices was the installation of kill-switches in cellphone
units which is a recently-confirmed pilot project in London and two major cities in
the United States.
The 'kill switches dramatically resulted in the decrease of mobile phone theft in the
said international cities.
Secretary of Justice Leila M. De Lima said that legislation is not anymore needed in
the implementation of such practices.
According to Secretary De Lima, it is the responsibility of telcos as public utilities to
prevent crimes and to ensure that technology is used to address peace and order
issues.
The DOJ-OOC is tasked primarily to implement the Cybercrime Prevention Act
recommended the policy action and directive.

Newsline Feb 19, 2015

Cavite-Laguna Expressway Project Approved for Rebidding
1.
The Cavite-Laguna Expressway or CALAX project is set for rebidding
according to the Palace.
CALAX is a 35.4 billion-peso project which involves financing , construction,
operation, and maintenance of a 44.6 km expressway connecting CAVITE
eXpressway and South Luzon EXpressway.
The rebidding was approved during the 16th meeting of the National Economic and
Development Authority, as presided by President Benigno Aquino III.
President Aquino favored the rebidding due to the 9-Billion peso difference between
the bids of 11.7 billion and 20.1 billion.
The 11.7 Billion-bid was won by the partnership of Ayala Corporation and Aboitiz
Land Inc. in the first bidding process. This, following disqualification of the 20.1
Billion peso bid by its rival San Miguel COrporation.
Communications Chief Sonny Coloma however says, the minimum bid price is now
P20.1 pesos, due to President Aquino's statement about protecting the people's
interest.
Age Qualification of Senior Citizens for Pension Lowered
2.
Indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above are now entitled to receive the
500-peso monthly social pension as provided by Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
Starting this year, indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above will now receive the
Social Pension. Originally, only senior citizens aged 77 and above received the
pension.
Based on the law, indigent senior citizens or those 60 years old and above are
entitled to monthly pension. However, due to limited government resources only
those 77 and above were covered by the law up to 2014.
DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman says with lower age requirement, more
economically disadvantaged senior citizens can have additional cash to spend for
their basic needs. These include medicines and nutritious food to support their
well-being.
The pension is distributed every quarter through cash payment by DSWD Field
Offices and city or municipal social welfare and development, and is set to be
released in April 2015.
DOJ Encourages Installation of 'Kill Switches' in Mobile Phones

3.
The Justice Department-Office of Cybercrime calls on telecommunications
companies to adopt international best practices. This move aims to protect the
property subscribers and the lives of owners of mobile phones.
One of such international practices is the installation of kill-switches in cellphone
units which is a recently-confirmed pilot project in London and two major cities in
the US.
The 'kill switches has dramatically resulted in the decrease of mobile phone theft
in those international cities. Justice Chief Leila De Lima says that legislation is not
anymore needed in the implementation of such practices.
According to De Lima, it is the responsibility of telecommunication companies as
public utilities to prevent crimes and to ensure that technology is used to address
peace and order issues.
The Justice Department-Office of Cybercrime is tasked primarily to implement the
Cybercrime Prevention Act recommended the policy action and directive.