2003 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS TECHNICAL REPORT POVERTY ALLEVIATION Increased Access to Housing Provided security of tenure to 268,861 informal settlers from January 2001 to July 2003 through Presidential Proclamations declaring public lands as alienable and disposable for housing purposes, and the nationwide Community Mortgage Program. Provided housing and slum upgrading services to 125,934 households belonging to the bottom 30% of the income population. Extended end-buyers financing to 199,589 low-salaried government and private sector workers through the different home lending programs of GSIS, HDMF, SSS, LBP and DBP from January 2001 to July 2003. Pursued the following initiatives to jumpstart housing: Increased loan-to-collateral ratio for accounts under the buy-back agreement with developers by the HDMF, which in effect removed equity for loans up to P500,000. The policy resulted in the financing of 10,552 housing units valued at P3.27 B from 2002 to 2003. This accomplishment is 39% higher than the 7,570 units financed by the HDMF for the period 2001 to 2002. Loan Amount New Ratio w/Buyback Guarantee New Ratio w/out Buyback Guarantee Up to P150,000 100% 100% Over P150,000 to P225,000 100% 100% Over P225,000 to P500,000 100% 90% Over P500,000 to P1M 90% 80% Over P1M to P2M 90% 70% Lowered interest rates on housing loans as follows: P150,000 and below (from 9%) 6% Over P150,000-P225,000 (from 12%) 9% Over P225,000-P500,000 (from 12%) 10% Over P500,000-P2,000,000 (from 14-16%) 12% This policy resulted in the reduction of monthly amortization of home borrowers from a low of 15% to 25% depending on the loan amount. Modernized Agriculture to Ensure Food Security Utilized P24.21 Billion for agriculture and fisheries modernization in 2001 and P24.36 Billion in 2002, with P33 Billion allocated in 2003. Irrigation. Generated 50,746 hectares and rehabilitated 441,116 hectares Post-Harvest Facilities. Distributed 641 post-harvest machineries/equipment and constructed 1,456 facilities Other Infrastructure. Completed 1,045 farm-to-market roads, established mariculture park in Samal, Davao City, constructed/improved/expanded 16 municipal/regional fish ports and 9 block ice plant and cold storage facilities Credit. Granted loans amounting to P39.63 Billion for 1,054,196 farmers/fisherfolk and guaranteed about P858.66 Million worth of loans for 81,884 farmers/fisherfolk Marketing Assistance. Participated in/conducted 23 international and 127 local trade fairs/exhibits/ selling missions; facilitated 347 market matching activities; formed three business alliances among 40 cooperatives; and launched internet-based marketing through B2Bpricenow.com Research and Development. Implemented 1,363 R&D projects, 162 of which were completed, and upgraded 66 R&D facilities; awarded 103 degree and 142 non-degree R&D scholarships; generated 32 new technologies and established 411 techno demo cooperators Capability Building. Conducted 11,367 training sessions; produced/distributed 1,594,092 information, education and communication materials National Information Network. Launched and regularly updated the DA Web Page which includes links with 21 agencies; distributed 15, 758 copies of agriculture/fisheries statistical reports. Salary Supplement. Granted monthly incentive allowances from 2001 to 2003 to 17,210 LGU extension workers Enhanced rice security by opening up the industry to importation, where deemed necessary, while at the same time strengthening government support to farmers to increase farm productivity and incomes through, among others, the adoption of modern farming technologies. Allocated some 117,725 metric tons (MT) of imported rice in 2002 for farmer-organizations (FOs) to distribute, in preparation for their participation in rice importation in 2003. Per request of farmers, the ceiling allocated to FOs was 500 MT to allow more farmers to participate. For 2003, the initial amount of rice to be imported is 800,000, of which 50% or 400,000 will be allocated to FOs. For this year 1,538 FOs were provided with licenses to import rice. Letters of Credit/Documents against Acceptance of Payment amounting to 330,000 MT have been opened, which include 279,000 MT for FOs. Promoted certified and hybrid rice production Certified seeds. Planted a total of 1.3 million hectares (has) to certified seeds during the dry and wet seasons, of which 82% or 1.1 million has of the total area were harvested. At an average yield of 3.86 MT/ha, priced at P7.67 per kilogram, the net return per hectare was P11,162. A total of 554,643 hectares were planted to certified seeds during the dry season (Nov. 2002-April 2003), of which 77% of the total area was harvested. The total average yield reached 4.53 MT/ha. Hybrid seeds. Planted a total of 27,877 hectares of hybrid seeds, of which 70% or 19,478 hectares were harvested. At a conservative yield of five mt/ha, a farmer's net return was estimated at P24,763 per hectare. For this dry cropping season (Nov. 2002-April 2003), 28,733 hectares were planted with hybrid seeds, which was estimated to have made a net return of P498 Million. The total average yield reached 6.03 MT/ha. Increased palay production by 2.5% from 12.95 million MT in 2001 to 13.27 million MT in 2002, translating to a 93% self-sufficiency level Completed and inaugurated the Mal-Mar Irrigation Dam in September 2001, which generated 6,256 hectares benefiting 4,549 farmers Successfully negotiated with the Korean government the reduction of tariff for Philippine bananas from 50% to 40% effective January 2003 Mobilized 1,500 rolling stores in 2002. Of these, 513 were converted to stationary stores in 2003; in addition, 490 rolling stores were deployed nationwide, particularly to depressed areas, to provide basic commodities at lower prices. Continued implementing the Coconut Farmers Food Access Program where basic commodities are sold at low prices through NFA outlets, benefiting 210,629 farm-families in 57 provinces. In addition, distributed COCOLIFE upgraded insurance policies to 577,763 coconut farmer-beneficiaries. Finalized for implementation the Coconut Industry Investment Fund Safety-Net Program (CSNP) for coconut farmers. To be undertaken are priority programs to benefit about 164,000 coconut farmers, with the following components: a) P200 Million for Direct Copra Marketing Program; b) P200 Million for Livestock Fattening and Intercropping Project; c) P200 Million for Fertilization Project; and d) P100 Million for Grameen-type Projects. Pushed for the enactment of a bill allowing farmer-beneficiaries to use awarded land as collateral in availing of loans, in order to stimulate investments in the agriculture sector. House Bill 5511 (Farm Land as Collateral Bill) was passed on Third Reading in the Congress while Senate Bill 2553 is pending at the Senate Committee on Agrarian Reform. Increased fishery production by 6.37% from 3.1 million MT in 2001 to 3.3 million MT in 2002, which is placed at 80% sufficiency level. This may be attributed to the expansion in seaweed areas and several interventions such as the establishment, maintenance, and upgrading of 29 fish laboratories, 136 seaweed nurseries, and 76 sea cages; completion of three municipal fish ports; installation of seven ice plant and cold storage facilities; provision of training to 73,938 fisherfolks; and production/distribution of quality broodstock/fingerlings. Accelerated Agrarian Reform Distributed 432,028 hectares of public and private lands to 318,303 farmers under the Land Reform Program, including large private landholdings that had earlier been the focus of much contention such as the Hacienda delos Reyes in Brgy. Imok, Calauan, Laguna, covering 101 hectares Distributed/approved 11 Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles covering 367,440 hectares in Bakun, Benguet; Lanuza, Surigao del Sur; Ocampo, Camarines Sur; Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte; Boston, Davao Oriental; Hermosa, Bataan; Monkayo, Compostela Valley; Carmen, Cotabato; Talakag and Sinuda, Bukidnon; and Nagtipunan, Quirino Worked for the passage of Republic Act No. 9176, or the Free Patents Law, which expedites the administrative titling of lands to legitimize claims, determine actual occupancy, promote rural productivity, prevent social unrest, and alleviate poverty Created Jobs and Assisted Displaced and Vulnerable Workers Increased the number of rural jobs by more than 600,000 from April 2001 to April 2003 Provided microcredit amounting to P1.9 Billion to some 725,775 new women-borrowers from July 2001 to May 2003. The People's Credit and Finance Corporation, a GFI, also extended credit to a total of 867,972 poor borrowers, representing 86.8% of government's target of one million poor households provided with credit assistance by 2004. Provided emergency employment to 40,000 Out-of-School-Youths (OSYs) in Metro Manila and 48,522 OSYs in Region IV from July 2001 to January 2003. From July 2002 to January 2003, skills and livelihood training were provided to some 62,162 OSYs nationwide under Project OYSTER (Out-of-School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery). As of June 2003, a total of 61,129 youth were given employment assistance in partnership with other government agencies, under the Kasama Ka, Kabataan Program. Of these, 58,151 were provided temporary employment under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) in summer 2003. Facilitated the deployment of 1,885,029 Filipino workers to more than 165 overseas destinations from July 2001 until July 2003. OFW remittances from 2001 until the first quarter of 2003 reached a total of $9 Billion. Established the OFW Provident Fund (SSS-Flexi Fund) to provide OFWs with social protection and services for life, retirement, medical and/or emergency loan needs. Some 18,859 OFWs, mostly from Hong Kong, Jeddah, Qatar, Milan and Rome, are enrolled in the Provident Fund. The Fund is currently accepting new accounts in various places across the world, such as: Brunei, Saipan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Kao Hsiung, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riyadh, Jeddah, AI Khobar, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar, Rome and Milan. Ensured protection of OFWS during the US-Iraq War Created the Middle East Preparedness Team (MEPT) under Ambassador Roy Cimatu, to coordinate the preparation and implementation of appropriate responses, policies, and modes of coordination to protect the 1.4 million OFWs in the Middle East Allocated P1 Billion as a standby fund from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to be used for the implementation of the preparedness plan Established the "Bahay Pinoy Relocation Center" for stranded OFWs near the Kuwait-Saudi border. Some 384 stranded OFWs were housed at the Bahay Pinoy. Extended thousands of free call services for OFWs in war-affected areas. To ease the anxiety and relieve the tension of OFWs and their families, free call centers were set up in various parts of the country under three projects, namely, the OWWA-PNB's Tele-Ugnayan, Oplan: Kalinga Kamustahan Center at Malacanang, and Oplan Kalinga Call Centers at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. As of March 2003, a total of 3,307 free calls had been made to OFWs in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Organized 167,915 OFW families into Family Circles/associations geared toward the establishment of a nationwide network of OFW-families and dependents that shall serve as a vehicle for the delivery of government services. Reduced by half the processing time of employment contracts and accreditation of land-based and sea-based workers; established the Philippine Seafarer's One-Stop Center designed to provide frontline services, including quick documentation to seafarers in connection with their overseas employment Placed 1,702,117 jobseekers from 2001 to First Quarter 2003 through job fairs, PESOs and private recruitment and placement agencies. In April 2003, the Kabuhayan, Kabahayan at Kasanayan (KKK) sa Pamamahala Program was launched which provided assistance to a total of 19,146 individuals in terms of job placement, trainings, microfinance, and others. Assisted a total of 57,459 individuals were assisted at the Kabuhayan 2003 Action Center held from April 5 to June 10 2003, of which 36,373 were referred and interviewed for wage employment, both for local and overseas. Others availed of various services offered at the Center such as issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs), issuance of e-cards, registration under OWWA MEDICARE and Phil-JOBNET, provision of micro-finance assistance, training and other services. Maintained industrial peace in 2001 with a 94.1% conciliation success rate, which increased to 96.3% in 2002, with only 36 strike incidents. From January to June 2003, conciliation rate was placed at 92.3% with only 28 actual strikes declared; amicably settled 27,430 cases or 43.5% of the compulsory arbitration cases disposed at the Regional Arbitration Branches from 2001 until the first quarter of 2001 Established the Computerized National Manpower Registry of Skills (CNMRS), which provides a list of available skilled persons. As of June 2003, the registry contained 944,744 skills. CD ROM copies of the CNMRS were distributed to employers and licensed agencies during the First International Employers Award (FIEA) in 2002. Pursued efforts to raise middle-level manpower skills competencies in the country to international standards and enhance employability of Filipino workers Developed 63 competency standards and training regulations for priority occupations (e.g. food processing, care-giving, performing artists); Trained 1,515,958 persons in agri-fishery, ICT, health, tourism and other sectors; and Assessed the skills of 541,660 workers in priority sectors from 2001 to May 2003, of which 322,924 workers or 59.6% were certified as skilled workers. Assisted a total of 25,395 deportees from Sabah through the establishment of a DOLE Special Employment Center (DOLE-SEAC). Deportees were provided assistance in the documentation and processing for re-employment and skills training services. Launched the DOLE-SSS-PS Bank Project for Workers in the Informal Sector (WIS), providing social security benefits to WIS. As of March 2003, a total of 2,159 WIS have been enrolled with SSS in five (5) pilot sites: Caloocan, Las Pinas, Manila, Muntinlupa and Pasay. Provided Quality Healthcare Imported P110 Million worth of frequently used medicines. This reduced the cost of 42 selected drugs by half under the Gamot na Mabisa at Abot Kaya Program (GMA 50 Program) and made these available in 76 DOH hospitals Provided P85.13 Million worth of imported drugs to 112 LGU hospitals and health center, five government agencies, and two NGOs Made available over-the-counter and herbal medicines in 284 Botika ng Barangay and all NFA rolling stores nationwide Enrolled 1.39 million urban and rural poor families, or about 6.97 million poor individuals, in the National Health Insurance Program or Medicare as of May 2003 Undertook stringent quarantine measures nationwide and conducted massive public information to prevent the entry and spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the country. This resulted in its successful containment with only two (2) cases of death recorded. Defined a new population policy emphasizing responsible parenthood, respect for life, birth spacing, and informed choice and mainstreamed the natural family planning method through the National Natural Family Planning Strategy 2002-2006 Signed R.A. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, which regulates the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of tobacco products in the country, and bans smoking in all public places in the country. The passage of R.A. 9211 set a world record of being the first country to enact a law after the signing of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on 19 June 2003 during the 56th WHO Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Enhanced Access to Quality Education Constructed 564 school buildings in line with the program to provide school buildings in unserved barangays from July 2001 to July 2003; additional 43 school buildings will be completed by end of August 2003. Procured 90.2 million textbooks for all public schools for priority subjects in Grades I to VI and High School Years I-IV, of which 50.5 million have been delivered benefiting 16.8 million students. A total of 51 million textbooks will become available by end-2003. Except in Grade 3 and High School Years III and IV, the textbook-to-pupil ratio in all other grade and year levels is 1:1 in Science, Math, English, Filipino and Makabayan. Implemented the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) to rationalize subject areas in elementary and high school from eight to five to focus and provide more contact time for Science, Mathematics, English, Filipino, and Makabayan. Science teaching has been allotted 84 minutes per day or 420 minutes per week since June 2003. Some 583,178 public and private school teachers were trained nationwide on the BEC. A total of 135,177 teachers were also trained to upgrade the teaching of English, Math and Science and some 204 teachers pursued scholarship programs in these subject areas. Distributed personal computers to 2,692 public high schools nationwide, providing computer access to more than 60% of public high schools under DTI's Personal Computers for Public High Schools Program, the DepEd Computerization Program and the Adopt-a-School Program. Another 1,615 public secondary schools are about to receive computer units this year. Provided P1.2 Billion for scholarships and student loans to a total of 107,956 scholars nationwide to ensure access by poor but deserving students to quality higher education Redirected technical-vocational education and training towards poverty alleviation by providing scholarship slots to 41,400 poor but deserving students Strengthened the use of English in the educational system by issuing Executive Order 210, "Establishing the Policy to Strengthen the Use of the English Language as a Medium of Instruction in the Educational System," to reverse the deterioration of the level of English proficiency among Filipino college graduates against global standards. Among others, E.O. 210 provides that: English shall be taught as second language, starting Grade 1; English shall be used as medium of instruction for English, Mathematics, and Science starting Grade 3; English shall be the primary medium of instruction in the secondary level, with English-taught subjects allotted not less than 70% of the total time allotted for all learning areas; and Proficiency of educators in the English language will be evaluated and training programs conducted nationwide, as may be necessary. Expanded Access to Ensure Delivery of Quality Social Services to the Poor Implemented the flagship program for poverty reduction, called the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan or KALAHI Program, initially in 25 urban poor areas in Metro Manila; and now in 376 barangays, 159 cities, and 48 provinces Served some 66,458 families in 122 urban poor communities, 1,922 barangays in 78 provinces, and 31 special communities (Indigenous Peoples), from January to March 2003 under the Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS) Program. Another 220 barangays and five (5) special communities were localized this year. Implemented the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project to benefit 2,048,628 children in 13 provinces nationwide Implemented the Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Program to benefit a total of 29,435 families nationwide, providing a total of P143.6 Million for capital buildings, seed money for micro enterprise, home improvement and housing construction as of May 31, 2003 Back to SONA Home