OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

2004 YEAR-END ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT

The Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines (hereinafter, the “OVP”) was re-organized pursuant to Article VII of the 1987 Constitution. The OVP is mandated to provide staff assistance and support to the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines in the performance of his tasks and functions as the second highest public official of the country.

In assisting the Vice President, the OVP has five basic functions, namely: (1) executive, (2) ceremonial, (3) advisory, (4) constituency and (5) administrative. In the performance of these functions, the OVP is continuously guided by its mission to be of utmost and dedicated service to each and every Filipino.

This report aims to provide a general view of the accomplishments of the OVP for the year 2004. During the first half of the year (January to June 2004), the OVP was under the able stewardship of then Vice President (now Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary to the People’s Republic of China) Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr. In the latter half of the year (July to December 2004) and pursuant to the new mandate of the Filipino people manifested through the 2004 national elections, the OVP was turned over to the competent and dynamic leadership of Vice President Noli “Kabayan” L. De Castro, Jr.

The Vice President’s accomplishments as NAPC Alternate Chairman and HUDCC Chairman (as well as his ex officio positions in the five key shelter agencies) were properly reflected in each of these agencies’ reports.

1. VICE PRESIDENT DE CASTRO

(July to December 2004)

Since the restoration of democracy to our country through the 1986 EDSA revolution, it was only at the recently concluded 2004 national elections where running mates for president and vice president won their respective electoral bids. Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was successful in her attempt to be re-elected to a fresh six-year mandate while fellow People Power Coalition candidate and 2001 senatorial election topnotcher, Noli “Kabayan” L. de Castro, handily won as Vice President.

Not surprisingly and true to her campaign pronouncements, the President envisioned an active Vice President. Hence, the President asked the Vice President to take care of various pressing concerns. And the latter humbly and respectfully welcomed the challenge to lead the country, hand-in-hand, with the President for the next six years.

On 15 July 2004 and in consonance with the foregoing vision, the President stressed at the 14th en banc meeting of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (hereinafter, the “NAPC”) that as far as the government’s pro-poor programs are concerned, the Vice President will not just be vice president, he will also be deputy president. The sentiment of the President was formalized in Executive Order No. 353 (24 August 2004) reorganizing the NAPC to include the Vice President, who shall serve as ex officio Alternate Chairman of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

As NAPC Alternate Chairman, the Vice President helped the President (who is concurrently chairman of NAPC) in exercising supervision over the departments that are part of NAPC. The line agencies under NAPC’s supervision on their pro-poor programs are the following: Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, Department of Education, Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process, Department of National Defense, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Justice, Department of Finance and Department of Health.

Then on 11 August 2004, the Vice President was designated Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers (hereinafter, “PA for OFWs”) during a pulong-bayan held at the Special Economic Zone in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. On 18 August 2004, the Vice President was also designated concurrent Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (hereinafter, the “HUDCC”). In his capacity as HUDCC Chairman, the Vice President also sits as ex officio Chairman of four key shelter agencies (the Home Development Mutual Fund [hereinafter, the “HMDF” or “Pag-IBIG Fund”], the National Housing Authority [hereinafter, the “NHA”], the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation [hereinafter, the “NHMFC”] and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board [hereinafter, the “HLURB”]) and ex officio Vice Chairman of the fifth key shelter agency, the Home Guaranty Corporation (hereinafter, the “HGC”).

Briefly, the Vice President’s “housing blueprint” sought to address the country’s pressing need for housing, which was estimated to be 3.756 million shelter units from 2005 to 2010. These estimated number of units will require a total of P752 billion to build at an average cost of P200,000 per unit. The blueprint also included proposed legislative measures to jumpstart housing development in the country. These measures involve the creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Socialized Housing Finance Corporation, as well as amending the charter of the Pag-IBIG Fund, which is the main financier of the government’s shelter program.

Finally, last 20 November 2004, the Vice President was assigned by President Macapagal-Arroyo to be the nation’s price czar. That is, the Vice President was tasked to spearhead the government’s nationwide campaign to keep the supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities stable and affordable during the Christmas season. Satisfied with the Vice President’s performance as price czar, the President was expected to make the assignment permanent.

In a recent survey conducted by one of the nation’s leading pollsters, the Vice President remained immensely popular with a net approval rating of fifty-one percent (51%). The survey, conducted in the last quarter of 2004, had one thousand two hundred (1,200) people as respondents and had a margin of error of three percent (3%). The Vice President’s rating was the highest among the five senior government officials.

If the recent survey results are genuine indicators of the pulse of the Filipino people, then one can safely conclude that the Vice President, with the able help of his support staff and other concerned groups and individuals, has made significant accomplishments in his first half-year in office. With the continuing trust and support of the Filipinos, there is every reason to hope that the Vice President will be successful in achieving his goals and dreams for our beloved Philippines for the remaining five and a half years of his six-year term.

A. THE OVP PROPER

The Vice President instituted administrative reforms in the OVP to better and efficiently serve the Filipino people in the constantly and rapidly changing context of the new millennium. Within the strict confines of the OVP's budgetary appropriations, the OVP is slowly but surely reengineering its operations and functions.

The office structure was reorganized for better coordination and management. Directly reporting to the Vice President are his Private Staff (Ms. Ana Gwendolyn Hilario, Appointments Secretary) and the Office of the Chief of Staff (hereinafter, the “COS”). In turn, directly reporting to the COS (Atty. Jesse H.T. Andres) were the respective offices of the Deputy Chief of Staff (hereinafter, the “DCOS”), the Assistant Chief of Staff (hereinafter, the “ACOS”), the Director for Administration and Finance (hereinafter, the “Director”) and the Commanding Officer (Lt. Col. Inocencio Silbol) of the Vice Presidential Security Detachment (hereinafter, the “VPSD”). The DCOS (Atty. Raul M. Luna) was in charge of supervising the newly created Vice Presidential Management Staff (hereinafter, the “VPMS”) as well as the existing Research and Development Studies Division (hereinafter, the “RDSD”), the Management Information System Division (hereinafter, the “MISD”) and the Public Assistance and Local Affairs Division (hereinafter, the “PALAD”). The ACOS (Atty. Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada) was tasked to oversee the Media Bureau, the Legal Services Division and the Protocol and Ceremonial Staff. The Director (Ms. Melanie G. Sinsuat) remained in charge of the Administrative Division, the Budget and Management Division and the Accounting Division.

With the ongoing renovation of the Philippine International Convention Center (hereinafter, the “PICC”) within the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex and the PICC’s impending complete shutdown in the early part of the coming year 2005, the OVP, which is currently housed in the PICC, was forced to look for another place where it may relocate. Hopefully, by the first quarter of 2005, the OVP would have transferred to its new and regular office. Among the possible relocation sites being considered were Ang Tahanan Maharlika (popularly known as the Coconut Palace) also located within the CCP Complex and the Philippine National Bank Financial Center located along the nearby President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard. Other office buildings, both government-owned and privately-owned, located in the cities of Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Quezon were also being considered.

Each division and unit of the OVP performed as follows for the latter half of the year 2004:

• The Deputy Chief of Staff

1. Vice Presidential Management Staff

The VPMS, under the leadership of Mr. Samuel R. Flores, was formed to optimize the direct staff support that the Vice President would need for public engagements.

A significant portion of the VPMS’ work was spent researching and preparing for the Vice President’s various speaking engagements. For the period, a total of thirty-seven (37) speeches were prepared by the VPMS for occasions such as the Philippine Normal University and Martinez Memorial College respective celebrations of Buwan ng Wika, the NAPC’s Official Turn-over Ceremonies, the Launching of Project Mabasa-Sulu, the 108^th Anniversary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin, the Coconut Trade Fair Festival, the 12^th Area Business Conference of the Employers Confedaration of the Philippines, the 58^th Mid Year Orchid Show, the 6^th Founding Anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, the Jerusalem Summit, the 30^th National Quran Reading Competition, the 108^th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Nueva Ecija, the Launching of the English-Filipino Book on the Rules of Civil Procedure at the University of the Philippines College of Law, the video-taped message for the annual convention of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations, the Badjao Project Hope and the Bangsa Moro Pabahay that were both held in Basilan, the University of the East Accounting Honors Alumni Club, the Launching of Vazcom-Vazbuilt in Cubao, the Elderly Filipino Week, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Grand Centennial Night, the Southern Tagalog Tourism Summit, the 27^th Philippine Furniture Festival, the National Convention of Government Employees, the 16^th Commencement Exercises of Mary Boystown School and the Valenzuela Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies.

The VPMS also prepared thirty-three (33) briefer notes for the Vice President. These notes were prepared to assist the Vice President in various meetings, including courtesy calls by Saudi Arabia Ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali, United States Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, European Union Ambassador Jan de Kok, United Kingdom Amabassador Paul Dimond, International Organization for Migration Director General Brunson McKinley, the Chinese Communist Party, the World Islamic Call Society, and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long.

2. Research and Development Studies Division

The RDSD, under the leadership of Ms. Ma. Carmelita S. Warren (Vice Presidential Staff Officer V), is primarily tasked to undertake research and other related miscellaneous work for the Vice President and the OVP management staff. It also is regularly tasked to prepare and send messages solicited by various public and private organizations to mark significant events and milestones.

For the period, the RDSD prepared two hundred seventy-three (273) messages. Of this number, two hundred seventy-two (272) messages were approved and released. One hundred ten (110) messages were mailed while one hundred sixty-seven (167) messages were personally picked-up. The RDSD likewise received and filed requests for three hundred eight (308) messages and other correspondence. Research was undertaken and materials gathered for one hundred eighty-four (184) matters. Ten (10) reports and three (3) recommendations were also prepared.

3. Management Information System Division

Integral to the reengineering of the OVP is the adoption of the Issues Management System (hereinafter, the “IMS”) software, which is directly being handled by the MISD, under the leadership of Mr. Al-Ransted E. Lagarde (Information Technology Officer III). Cleared by the National Computer Center, the OVP acquired the IMS software through a donation made by its creator, Mr. Lozano Cruz (a consultant of the OVP for information technology) in favor of the OVP.

The IMS software is an information technology management tool designed to accommodate issues and concerns within an organization. With the IMS software, it is envisioned that the OVP’s management would be better equipped to individually monitor the efficiency and effectivity of the entire OVP personnel, which will hopefully lead to better strategic and planning decisions.

Preliminary data gathering and coordination for the purchase of the required hardware have been completed. As of the end of the year, file build-up monitoring, network configuration, as well as the training of the MISD’s personnel were ongoing. The document tracking system through the IMS implementation has been completed up to eighty percent (80%). It is hoped that the adoption of the IMS would be fully completed in the early part of the coming year 2005.

The MISD is principally tasked with developing and administering the management information programs and activities of the OVP, particularly those related to data collection, processing, storage and retrieval through a computerized central information system.

The MISD researched and reviewed the usage by the OVP of the OpenOffice software. It also studied the feasibility of using Linux-based software (such as Amigo Linux, Ark Linux, Bayanihan Linux, Dynebolic Linux, Mandrake Linux and Sol Linux) in preparation for eventual migration to free open source operating systems to generate savings in licensing expenses. It also studied the use of Lumisoft, MailEnable and other mail servers for the migration of the locally-hosted web server (currently using Argosoft) to free internet web servers.

The MISD likewise installed a router and 16 port switches in order to provide a more stable internet access for the OVP’s local area network. It also maintained, repaired and restored fifty-two (52) computers and three (3) electric typewriters.

The MISD also updated the following information systems of the OVP: Records Information System, the COS Office Information System, the VP Private Staff Database and the Documents Tracking System. The MISD likewise continued the development of the OVP’s official website (www.ovp.gov.ph). It is also tasked with regularly checking the Vice President’s email address (vpkabayan@fastmail.fm). It has also completed forty percent (40%) of the requirements for the ISSP.

4. Public Assistance and Local Affairs Division

Even during his stint in broadcast communications and media, the Vice President has been actively involved in various forms of public service and constituency work. The Vice President continued this penchant for public service in the legislature when he topped the 2001 senatorial elections. As expected, more people sought the Vice President's assistance now that he has been elected to serve as the second highest official of the country.

The PALAD, under the leadership of Dr. Yvonne C. Lee (Vice Presidential Staff Officer VI), assists various constituents in their social and basic needs. It regularly serves around two hundred persons per day and is able to assist people on various concerns such as medical, educational, burial, employment, transportation, livelihood, housing and legal problems. Non-governmental organizations, civic groups and even local government units also seek funding assistance for their respective projects. The number of constituents served is continuously increasing in light of the various assignments given the Vice President, including anti-poverty concerns, housing problems and OFW matters.

Since the Vice President assumed office last 30 June 2004, the PALAD has actually served fourteen thousand six hundred eleven (14,611) constituents. The nature of the assistance requested included medical (hospitalization, medicine and other medical and surgical procedures), economic (food and shelter), employment, education, transportation, burial, housing and other family problems.

Referrals to other government agencies were made on requests from various constituencies on matters such as: legal, political, infrastructure (road, bridges, public market, water facilities, electrification, school buildings, sports complex, sea walls, irrigation), peace and order, housing, land disputes, PVAO pension, GSIS/SSS insurance claims, agriculture, OFW problems, livelihood and other requests.

In view of the number of constituents seeking various forms of assistance, the OVP proposed the creation of a Vice President’s Social Fund to be funded from the general budget. Certainly, with proper fund support, the PALAD will be of adequate service to more constituents in the coming year 2005. The proposed Vice President’s Social Fund has been submitted for the consideration of Congress as well as the Department of Budget and Management (hereinafter, “DBM”).

• The Assistant Chief of Staff

1. Media Bureau

The Media Bureau, under the leadership of Ms. Ronadale Zapata, is functionally divided into three groupings: (1) Media Monitoring Unit, (2) the Media Bureau proper and (3) Media Relations Group.

The Media Monitoring Unit provides the Vice President and the OVP’s senior management staff with daily news briefs of all national and international issues, principally those published in the five major broadsheets. Clippings of news articles and opinions pertaining of special concern to the Vice President (that is, OFW matters, anti-poverty issues, housing concerns and price monitoring items) published in nine newspapers and nine tabloids are likewise provided the Vice President and the OVP’s senior management staff. The Unit also regularly monitors television and radio news, and updates the Vice President on an hourly basis. For the period, the Unit provided five thousand two hundred eighty-one (5,281) news clippings for the Vice President and the OVP’s management staff.

The Media Bureau proper drafts the Vice President’s media releases and statements. It attends all functions graced by the Vice President. For the period, the Bureau covered ninety-three (93) events and prepared one hundred seventy (170) media releases (twenty-nine [29] of which were photo releases).

The Media Relations Group coordinates media interviews of the Vice President, as well as photo opportunities with the Vice President during meetings and events. The MR likewise attends to media questions that demand immediate consideration. Needless to say, the Group is in charge of establishing a friendly rapport between the OVP and various media outfits and groups.

2. Legal Services Division

The Legal Services Division, under the leadership of Atty. Filbert Catalino F. Flores III, controls and directs the legal activities of the OVP, provides legal counsel to the Vice President and the OVP’s officers and employees and gives legal aid to the OVP’s constituents. The Division also renders legal opinions and advises the COS on matters affecting the enforcement and administration of office rules and regulations. It prepares and reviews contracts and instruments to which the OVP is a party. It is also tasked to represent the OVP, with the assistance of the Solicitor-General, in litigation involving the OVP.

For the period, the Division provided legal advice to one hundred sixty-seven (167) walk-in clients. One hundred sixty-five (165) requests for assistance were also endorsed or referred to the proper government office and agency, including: Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bureau of Pardons and Parole, Department of Agrarian Reforms, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Transportation and Communications, Government Service and Insurance System, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, National Housing Authority, National Irrigation Administration, National Labor Relations Commission, Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the Solicitor General, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Navy, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Public Attorney’s Office, Securities and Exchange Commission and Social Security System.

3. Protocol and Ceremonial Staff

The Protocol and Ceremonial Staff, under the leadership of Mr. Robert C. Andres, directly assists the Vice President in his meetings and engagements, especially those held outside the office.

For the period, the protocol and ceremonial staff assisted the Vice President in eighty (80) speaking engagements and social events, sixteen (16) of which were held out-of-town. They also assisted in nineteen (19) courtesy calls and in-office meetings.

• The Director for Administration and Finance

1. Administrative Division

1. Personnel Unit

The Personnel Unit, under the leadership of Ms. Remedios A. Aguila, is principally tasked with the following: recruitment, selection and appointment; employee relations, welfare and benefits; employee classification/compensation; employee discipline and personnel records management.

For the period, the Unit, in its recruitment, selection and appointment activities, prepared appointments and contracts for twenty-one (21) itemized, fifteen (15) contractual and eight (8) casual personnel, as well as for eighteen (18) consultants and one (1) contractor for services. The Unit likewise prepared fifty-seven (57) oaths of office and forty-four (44) assumptions of office and forty-five (45) position description forms. It also prepared list of vacant positions for publication for nineteen (19) career positions and twenty-two (22) non-career positions.

It also assisted the OVP Personnel Selection Board by preparing a matrix of information of all OVP employees as well as the qualification standards for all OVP career employees. The Unit likewise prepared two (2) recommendations for promotion.

In the performance of its functions relating to employee relations, welfare and benefits, the Unit processed five hundred sixty (560) applications for leave (including vacation, sick, forced, terminal and monetization) as well as fifty-five (55) applications for GSIS loans and ten (10) for GSIS membership, seven (7) for HDMF loans and forty-five (45) for HDMF membership and ten (10) for PhilHealth membership. It also processed one (1) application for retirement benefits, thirty-three (33) applications for terminal benefits, one (1) application for maturity benefits and three (3) for cash surrender value. It also prepared one hundred seventy-five (175) service records and issued nine (9) step increments, thirty-eight (38) certificates of employment, forty (40) certificates of clearance and four (4) certificates of last salary received.

In its employee classification and compensation function, the Unit prepared thirteen (13) payrolls each for the itemized, contractual and casual employees of the OVP as well as six (6) payrolls for the grant of allowance to members of the VPSD. It also prepared five hundred twenty-five (525) individual vouchers for salaries, allowances and overtime pay, as well as eight hundred fifteen (815) pay slips and ninety-three (93) certificates of service. It likewise computed sixty (60) overtime claims.

In the performance of its employee discipline function, the Unit monitored personnel movement and the daily attendance of all employees by issuing, collecting and filing seven hundred fourteen (714) daily time records and bundy cards. Likewise, it assisted the administrative panel created by the COS to investigate an alleged altercation at the premises of the OVP involving two regular personnel. After appropriate proceedings and upon the recommendation of the panel, the two involved employees were found guilty of committing serious misconduct and accordingly suspended for thirty (30) days pursuant to civil service rules.

In undertaking its personnel records management function, the PU updated eight hundred fifty eight (858) leave records and seventy-eight (78) employee service cards. It likewise created and/or updated five hundred ninety-nine (599) folders representing the 201 and central files of all the OVP’s employees.

The Unit also assisted the OVP’s senior management staff by preparing twenty-five (25) special orders, thirty-nine (39) travel orders and one (1) office order. It also drafted fifty-one (51) transmittal letters to the Civil Service Commission, GSIS and DBM, forty-seven (47) summaries of the Statement of Asset, Liabilities and Net Worth of the OVP’s employees and ten (10) certificates of appearance.

2. Cash Unit

The Cash Unit, under the leadership of Ms. Emma A. Abanador, is in charge of preparing checks for approved vouchers and of issuing payments for the OVP’s obligations to its employees and creditors. Thus, the Unit maintains records of Notice of Cash Allocations issued by the DBM to the OVP as well as checks and cash disbursements.

For the period, the Unit prepared one thousand three hundred nineteen (1,319) checks and submitted the corresponding number of vouchers to the Accounting Division, prepared one hundred ninety (190) advice of checks issued and cancelled, prepared three thousand nine hundred twenty-five (3,925) payslips, prepared one hundred seven (107) encashment of payroll checks, paid sixty (60) payrolls, released one thousand two hundred ninety-eight (1,298) checks, released four thousand seventeen (4,017) salaries, bonuses and cash incentives, three hundred seventeen (317) allowances for members of the VPSD, indexed one hundred fifty-two (152) cash and check payments to consultants and contractors of service and four thousand three hundred fifty (4,350) itemized, contractual and casual employees.

3. Property Unit

The Vice President mandated the efficient and judicious use of government resources especially in the light of recent austerity measures being undertaken by the executive branch of government. The Property Unit, under the leadership of Ms. Ma. Adoracion L. Camangeg, takes charge of all the physical property and equipment of the OVP. In line with the Vice President’s mandate, the Unit ensured that the OVP’s assets were safeguarded and properly utilized.

For the period, the Unit processed and released eighty-eight (88) purchase requests, two hundred thirty-eight (238) requisition and issue slips, one hundred forty-three (143) inspection and acceptance reports, two hundred thirty-nine (239) acknowledgment receipts for equipment and twenty-nine (29) return slips for property and equipment.

The physical inventory of the OVP’s equipment as of 30 August 2004 was completed in September. The first batch of unserviceable properties of the OVP was also successfully disposed through public bidding.

The total cost of supplies and materials issued/released for the period amounted to four hundred one thousand seven hundred twenty-seven pesos and forty-six centavos (P401,727.46).

4. Transport Unit

The Transport Unit, under the leadership of Ms. Madolin D. Abuan, is principally tasked with the maintenance and upkeep of the OVP’s motor vehicles as well as the proper utilization of the mentioned vehicles in support of the functions of all the divisions and units of the OVP.

For the period, the Unit registered and insured nineteen (19) motor vehicles. The Unit prepared five hundred seventy-six (576) trip tickets and other documents for payment of gasoline and other expenses as well as two hundred eighty-eight (288) purchase requests, purchase orders and vouchers. It also issued five hundred twelve (512) purchase orders to the OVP’s drivers for fuel, motor oil and other lubricants. One hundred nine (109) minor repairs and purchases of spare parts were likewise performed. The Unit was in charge of maintaining the roadworthiness of all the motor vehicles of the OVP.

Two hundred twenty-six (226) official trips to transport officials and personnel of the OVP were made using the motor vehicles of the OVP. On the other hand, forty (40) official trips were made to transport documents to various government offices and agencies.

5. Records Unit

    The Records Unit, under the leadership of Mr. Romeo C. Corona, is the depository of all communications addressed to the OVP. It is tasked to receive, store and dispose of incoming and outgoing communications.

    For the period, the Unit received and recorded seven thousand seven hundred ninety-eight (7,798) pieces of communication. The Unit has encoded six hundred thirty-seven (637) incoming pieces of communication and mailed and encoded two thousand seven hundred thirty-seven (2,737) pieces of outgoing communication. It also numbered and disseminated 78 issuances of the OVP. It also performed messengerial services seven hundred ten (710) times, including delivery of outgoing pieces of communication to different government agencies and private offices, submission of various financial reports to the DBM, the Bureau of Treasury and the Land Bank of the Philippines as well as delivery of remittances to the BIR, Pag-IBIG Fund, GSIS and PhilHealth. The Unit likewise delivered six thousand nine (6,009) newspapers to the different divisions and units of the OVP.

2. Budget and Management Division

The Budget and Management Division, under the leadership of Ms. Myrna S. Aure (Budget Officer V), implements the budgetary appropriations for the OVP in the General Appropriations Act. It likewise prepares the expenditure program of the OVP for inclusion in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) annually submitted by the DBM to Congress. Budgetary documentary requirements for the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance were prepared and submitted.

In a letter sent to then Executive Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and through consistent follow-up with the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Division repeatedly reiterated the earlier request for the release of the OVP’s Confidential and Intelligence Fund. In another letter sent to DBM Secretary Emilia Boncodin, the Division appealed for additional budgetary allocation for FY 2005 in the amounts of P112 million for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (including P100 million for the Vice President’s Social Fund) and P8.22 million for Capital Outlay. Although increased compared to last year’s budget, the proposed NEP by the DBM for FY 2005 does not provide for any allocation for the OVP’s Capital Outlay. It cannot be gainsaid that the requested additional allocation is necessary to fund programs of the Vice President in support of President Macapagal-Arroyo’s ten-point agenda.

Together with the OVP’s senior management staff and the Accounting Division, the Division was able to successfully oversee the House of Representative’s approval of the OVP’s budget for FY 2005 as well as the approval, with an additional twelve million pesos, of the Senate Committee on Finance.

For the period, the Division prepared eight hundred thirty-three (833) ALOBS, eight hundred thirty-four (834) vouchers, thirty-two (32) payrolls, eighty-eight (88) purchase orders and nineteen (19) job orders. Monthly and quarterly statements of allotments, obligations and balances for the period were also prepared and submitted to concerned agencies. A total of thirty million two hundred eighty-nine thousand two hundred sixteen pesos and seventy-four centavos (P30,289,216.74) of the OVP’s appropriations were incurred for this period.

3. Accounting Division

The Accounting Division, under the leadership of Ms. Julieta L. Villadelrey (Chief Accountant), maintains the accounting system and records including books of accounts, journals, ledgers, subsidiary ledgers for the proper management and recording of day-to-day financial transactions of the OVP. The Division is responsible for the following tasks: recording in the proper books of accounts the day-to-day financial transactions of the OVP; examination and verification of documents in support of disbursement; certification as to availability of funds; and preparation and submission of periodic financial reports.

For the period, the Division processed eight hundred ninety-eight (898) vouchers and forty-two (42) payrolls for payment. It likewise prepared the financial reports (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cashflow Statement, Breakdown of Disbursement) for the OVP. It also took care of asking various OVP employees to settle their unliquidated cash advances. It also prepared remittances to various government offices (BIR, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, NHMFC) as well as private entities (OVP Employees Cooperative and PLDT). The Division also prepared bank and treasury reconciliation. The Division also issued two hundred sixty-two (262) tax certificates to various creditors of the OVP, fifty-five (55) certifications to the OVP’s officials and employees regarding their GSIS and Pag-IBIG contributions.

It also prepared reports for the COA regarding the Audit Observation Memorandum as well as assisted in the disposal of unserviceable equipment by providing the costing.

B. Presidential Adviser on OFWs

As PA for OFWs, the Vice President was expected to look into the needs and welfare of the almost eight million Filipinos working all over the world, who collectively contribute an estimated eight billion dollars annually to the local economy. The Vice President was likewise tasked with supervising two key agencies dealing with overseas employment: the Philippine Overseas Workers Administration (POEA), including overseeing the controversial Artist Record Book, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). As of the end of 2004, however, the necessary executive issuance transferring control and supervision over the POEA and OWWA to the OVP has not yet been issued.

When he was still a legislator, the Vice President authored and principally sponsored Republic Act No. 9174 (popularly known as the 2002 Balikbayan Law), which provided additional benefits and privileges through the Kabuhayan program for OFWs so that they would become economically self-reliant upon their return to the country.

In view of the austerity measures being undertaken by the government, the Vice President traveled sparingly outside the country in 2004. He had to respectfully decline invitations from various sources, both governmental and private, to travel to different countries. In fact, the Vice President made only two foreign trips, both at the express direction of the President.

Last 12 November 2004, the Vice President was designated by the President to be her representative to the state funeral of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, Palestine. The funeral, attended by various world leaders, was the Vice President’s first official trip abroad.

Arafat, long-time head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and first President of the Palestinian Liberation Authority, was a Nobel Peace Price Laureate and was highly regarded for his efforts to finally bring peace to the war-torn Middle East.

During this trip, the Vice President successfully got the assurance of Palestinian Authority President Rawhi Fattuh, Arafat’s successor, that the latter will support the Philippines’ bid for an observer status in the influential Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Last November 2004, the President sent the Vice President to Libya in order to, among others, explore possible employment opportunities for OFWs in that country. The trip was a success as the Vice President was able to get the Libyan government's commitment to hire more skilled OFWs and to resume RP-Libya oil talks.

The Vice President met with Libyan Foreign Secretary Abdel Rahman Mohammed Shalgam to discuss the enhancement of the labor conditions of OFWs in Libya and the preferential options for OFWs in the $50 billion reconstruction of Libya. The Vice President also met with Libyan General Services (Labor) Secretary Matuq Mohammed Matuq on the needs of the Libyan government for additional Filipino doctors, nurses, medical technologists and para-medical workers who will be employed in five large public hospitals to be constructed next near. Mutuq also informed the Vice President that Libya intends to hire English language and aquamarine science teachers.

The President also sought the Vice President’s advice and views, as PA for OFWs, on various and mostly controversial OFW matters, notably: the abduction and eventual release of Iraq-OFW Angelo dela Cruz, the ban on deployment of OFWs to Iraq and the brewing controversy regarding the Overseas Performing Artists in Japan in light of stricter immigration laws. The Vice President was also instrumental in assisting in the repatriation several distressed OFWs, such as Malaysia-OFW Andy Bagindah and the body of the late Saudi Arabia-OFW Romeo Nierre.

C. Price Czar

The Vice President's latest assignment as price czar is in line with the President's firm resolve to keep the prices of milk, poultry, pork, rice, processed and canned meat, and fish products, among other food items, within the reach of the average Filipino consumer. The President expects the Vice President to ably use his experience in broadcast communications and mass media to effectively persuade manufacturers, dealers, wholesalers and retailers to refrain from using the holiday season as a convenient excuse to unreasonably increase the prices of basic and prime goods. The Vice President was also expected to adequately communicate and explain to the consuming public the prevailing price situation.

After being briefed by the Departments of Agriculture (hereinafter, the “DA”) and Trade & Industry (hereinafter, the “DTI”), the Vice President immediately buckled down to work by conducting hand-on inspections of various public markets, such as the Commonwealth Market (incidentally owned by the HGC) in Quezon City, the Marikina Public Market and the Pritil Public Market in Manila. The Vice President was also in close consultation and coordination with concerned representatives from the private sector and food industry, as well as relevant government agencies, notably the National Price Coordinating Council (hereinafter, the “NPCC”). These market inspections sought to promote public awareness that the government was closely monitoring the prices of basic and prime goods.

Last 2 December 2004, the Vice President presented an update to the President and the NEDA cabinet group on the ongoing nationwide campaign to keep the supply and prices of basic and prime goods stable especially in the aftermath of the recent spate of calamities that befell our country. The day before, the Vice President called an informal meeting of the members of the NPCC, including representatives of the private sector representing manufacturers, agricultural producers, traders and consumers.

Among the items that the Vice President reported to the President were:

1. The DA would conduct daily monitoring of basic agricultural commodities in wet markets and the DTI for processed goods until 01 January 2005. Daily reports would continue to be sent to the Vice President’s residence updating him on the price situation of these basic goods.

The prices of these basic goods remained stable except for pork which expectedly was hovering in the P140 to P150 per kilo range. The price of chicken was still below the promised P100/P110 level. Chicken may be bought at prices ranging from P90 to P110 per kilo.

As expected, due to the typhoons, the prices of low land vegetables went up. Initially, the price increase ranged from 50 to 100 percent. For example, the price of eggplants increased from P40 per kilo to about P60 per kilo immediately after the typhoons. After a few weeks, the price began to normalize and was decreasing by about five to ten pesos per kilo.

Other basic goods, such as bread (tasty and pan de sal), canned goods (sardines, corned beef and meat loaf), fish and beef, essential drugs (both branded and unbranded) remained stable at their price levels before the holidays. If at all, any price increase for these goods was not significantly high.

2. In consultations with private sector representatives, the foremost complaint mentioned was the conduct of “kotong operations” along the routes traversed by viajeros (transporters of vegetables, fish, meat and poultry). The Vice President was informed of so-called “cash points” along the national highways where a viajero loses about P1,000 to P1,500 per truck per trip. This “tong” collection is exemplified along the vegetable trading route from la trinidad, benguet to metro manila passing through the provinces of pangasinan, tarlac and pampanga.

The Vice President immediately referred the matter to Philippine National Police Director-General Edgardo Aglipay. Director-General Aglipay did not waste time and took action right away by issuing a directive deactivating checkpoints manned by the PNP-Traffic Management Group (hereinafter, “TMG”) along the highways. Instead of focusing on traffic enforcement, TMG personnel would concentrate on anti-carnapping, anti-hijacking and anti-highway robbery operations.

In any event, PNP regional chiefs were instructed to strictly implement and closely monitor the anti-kotong campaign and to institute appropriate criminal and administrative actions against erring personnel. With general aglipay’s directive, we were elated to hear that the incidence of “tong” collection has subsided.

Nonetheless, it was reported that “kotong operations” were still being conducted by other groups (like the Metro Manila Development Authority [hereinafter, “MMDA”], Philippine National Construction Corporation [hereinafter, “PNCC”], Land Transportation Office [hereinafter, “LTO”], local PNP groups and other unknown groups). The attention of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, PNCC President Pastor Ramos, LTO chief Anneli Lontoc and Director-General Aglipay have been called on this matter and they have acted accordingly.

To further assist the viajeros during the busy Christmas season and until the formulation of guidelines on traffic rules and regulations for traders/transporters in the proper management and distribution of consumer goods to markets in Metro Manila, a holiday on the enforcement of traffic rules against traders/transporters of consumer goods was implemented by the LTO, MMDA and PNP from 16 December 2004 until 6 January 2005.

3. The local governments would also be tapped to help in this nationwide campaign. Before the Vice President’s assignment as price czar, the NPCC already sent letters to all local government units, mainly through the Department of Interior and Local Government (hereinafter, “DILG”), informing them of their tasks in price monitoring, particularly the activation of their respective local price coordinating councils (hereinafter, “LPCCs”). The Vice President sent follow-up letters, stressing the need to activate the LPCCs and seeking the local government units’ help in curbing “kotong operations” by local police and the strict enforcement of the price tag law and regulations on weighing scales in public and private markets.

4. Among the crops devastated by the typhoons were newly-planted onion seedlings. To address the expected shortage in supply, it was suggested by certain private sector representatives to look into the feasibility of introducing confiscated smuggled onions into the market.

Since the National Anti-Smuggling Task Force (NASTF), then headed by DILG Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, has reportedly confiscated smuggled onions, it was suggested that the Vice President look into the feasibility of utilizing the confiscated goods to fill the expected shortage. The OVP got in touch with the just revived NASTF. The OVP was informed our office that the smuggled onions that they confiscated sometime in September 2004 were turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC). In addition, the BOC may have probably destroyed these onions confiscated in September 2004. In any case, it was suggested that there were recent shipments of smuggled onions that the BOC was able to apprehend and confiscate.

The Vice President then called the attention of then BOC Commissioner George M. Jereos on this matter. Commissioner Jereos replied that he would discuss the proposal with the DA since there is a policy set by the Bureau of Plant industry against the disposal of confiscated products. As of the end of 2004, the matter was still being worked out by the DA and the Department of Finance.

5. The DTI was studying the feasibility of using alternative modes of packaging in order to lower the ultimate retail prices of basic goods and commodities. The DTI, through the NPCC, embarked on a project called Generic and Alternative Packaging to maintain price stability. The target products of the project are food choices of the price-sensitive segment of the population: noodles, sardines, canned meat, sugar, soy sauce and other condiments, vegetables, coffee, powdered milk and dried fish. Alternative packaging being considered included sachets, aluminum pouches, tetra pack as well as the “takal” system of distributing soy sauce and other condiments.

6. With the help of the NPCC, the commitments of various industry groups were sought to keep the prices of their goods stable for the duration of the Christmas season. Among the groups that committed not to raise their prices were producers of chicken, flour, milk and canned goods.

Given all these constraints plus the successive onslaught of disasters and calamities that severely affected various parts of Luzon and the supply chain of several agricultural products (and factoring the irrepealable law of supply and demand), last Christmas turned out to be relatively affordable.

2. VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA

(January to June 2004)

Recognizing the vital need to promote, accelerate and implement various socio-economic programs, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Administrative Order No. 45 [25 November 2002] (hereinafter, “AO 45”) designating the OVP to oversee, supervise and implement the following agreed development programs: (1) the Overseas Filipino Investment Bond; (2) the Housing Program for Overseas Filipino Workers (hereinafter, “OFWs”) and others; (3) the establishment of an integrated steel plant in Mindanao; and (4) the establishment of a Seafarers Welfare Program. AO 45 also covers other socio-economic programs, particularly those involving the development of Mindanao.

In the then trying times, when the national government needed the assistance of all sectors of society in addressing the problems of the nation, it was vital that the Vice President support the national goal of improving the economy and moral fabric of the nation. Then Vice President Guingona performed this task by continuously sharing his vision through the issuance of policy statements and through public appearances in order to restore the confidence of business and civil groups in the government.

A. EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

Then Vice President Guingona coordinated with other government agencies, non-government organizations (hereinafter, “NGOs”) and other members of civil society and had a dialogue with them regarding projects that aim to empower Filipinos. Through various speaking engagements before different organizations, he was also able to share his vision in achieving the nation’s goals.

Even if he had resigned from his cabinet post (Department of Foreign Affairs) in July 2002, the President still promised to support vital programs he had previously identified or initiated. Foremost of these projects were the Overseas Filipino Investment Bond, the Housing Program for OFWs and others, the establishment of an Integrated Steel Plant in Mindanao and the establishment of a Seafarers Welfare Program.

Consequently, he staged a Strategic Planning Workshop for OFWs in line with his desire to help OFWs with their legal and social problems.

B. CEREMONIAL FUNCTION

As the ceremonial alter ego of the President, then Vice President Guingona represented the Republic of the Philippines in official gatherings both here and abroad. He was present at the arrival and departure ceremonies for Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held at the Villamor Air Base and at the official luncheon tendered in Prime Minister Badawi’s honor at Malacañang Palace. He hosted courtesy calls by Iranian Ambassador to the Philippines Jalal Kalantari and Dr. Norbert Lammert, Vice President of the German lower house. He also gave separate farewell calls to Ambassador Wang Chunghui and Korean Ambassador Son Song-ha and had a lunch meeting with Ambassador Parungao.

He also met with Chinese-Filipino Business Club members, General Delos Santos, Commissioner Remedios Balbin, Carol Araullo and Fr. Joe Dizon.

He was also interviewed in ANC Live by Ces Drilon and in The Probe Team by Che-che Lazaro. He had television guestings in Strictly Politics with Pia Hontiveros and ANC Live with Frankie Evangelista.

His out-of-town engagements included sorties to the cities of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. He was also chosen as commencement speaker of the Foundation University in Dumaguete City. He was also the keynote speaker in the following events: Philippine Councilors League National Assembly Closing Ceremonies, PHILCONSA Constitution Day Celebration held at the Manila Polo Club, and at the 3rd National Convention of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club. Then Vice President Guingona also led the memorial services in honor of a noble and illustrious statesman, Salvador “Doy” H. Laurel, the first Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines after the historic 1986 EDSA Revolution.

C. ADVISORY FUNCTION

Then Vice President Guingona advised the President in matters concerning the above-mentioned development programs and provided analyses and recommendations on policies and operational issues, particularly those relating to the development and progress of Mindanao. He was tasked to review all aspects related to these programs and to recommend short and long-term measures and the appropriate action in order to address policy, institutional implementation, as well as operational issues and concerns related to the said development programs.

D. CONSTITUENCY FUNCTION

Then Vice President Guingona extended support and assistance to local government unit (hereinafter, “LGU”) officials, civic groups and ordinary citizens. The OVP extended employment, medical, education, transportation, livelihood and legal assistance to walk-in and referred individuals.

He keynoted the first Asian Victims Forum on the International Criminal Court held at the SEAMO Innotech Compound, Commonwealth, Quezon City. Likewise, he actively advocated nationalism when he attended the People’s Action Forum for Nationalists.

He was also the distinguished guest at the 16th Anniversary of the Vanguard of the Philippines Constitution held at the Philippine Columbian Association clubhouse, at the NCR Convention of the Anak Bayan Youth Party held at the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology campus, at the DLSU Angelo King Institute for Economics and Business Studies, and at the Oath-taking Ceremony of new KASAMA members at the St. Mary’s Academy at Grace Park, Caloocan City.

He also had appointments with the following constituents: Linggoy Alcuaz; teachers from Guimba, Nueva Ecija, the Geronimo family; La Salle students; media executives; and barangay kagawads from Valencia, Bukidnon.

E. ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION

Then Vice President Guingona sought to promote efficiency in the use of government resources. The OVP engaged the services of a preventive and maintenance firm to ensure the good working condition of all office equipment, particularly office computers.

Staff development as well as training and skills enhancement programs were undertaken by the various divisions and units to learn and incorporate new technology and systematize work-flow and output.

The following OVP offices provided administrative, staff, legal and technical support to then Vice President Gungona:

• The Office of the Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff (hereinafter, the “COS”) directly supported and assisted the Vice President in the discharge of his functions. He implemented the executive, administrative and operational functions of the OVP and carried out other special tasks assigned by the Vice President.

• The Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff

    The Assistant Chief of Staff (hereinafter, the “ACOS”) rendered public assistance upon request through the preparation of recommendations, job referrals and other forms of assistance. The ACOS also edited and validated the messages of the Vice President.

• The Office of the Director for Administration and Finance

The Director for Administration and Finance (hereinafter, the “Director”) supervised all administrative and financial divisions, namely: Administrative, Accounting and Budget & Management. The Director was also responsible for the subordinate units of the Administrative Division, which include the Personnel, Cash, Records, Transport, Property and Procurement.

1. Administrative Division

• Personnel Unit

The Personnel Unit, with prime concern on human resources training and development, classified their activities under six major categories, namely: Recruitment, Selection and Appointment; Human Resource Development; Employee

Relations, Welfare and Benefits; Employee Classification/Compensation; Employee Discipline; and Personnel Records Management.

With regard to its Recruitment, Selection and Appointment duties, the Unit prepared the following appointments: itemized (6); contractual (1); casual (19); consultancy agreement 36); contract of service (10). The Unit also prepared six Position Description Forms as well as a list of vacant positions in the OVP, intended for publication.

The Unit, through the Personnel Selection Board/Personnel Development Board, made a summary of qualifications for thirty-five (35) employees. It prepared a notice of vacant positions for publication and announced the promotion of employees. Likewise, the Unit evaluated three (3) Personal Data Sheets of personnel for submission to the Civil Service Commission (hereinafter, the “CSC”). It also prepared and issued a Certificate of Completion for a student trainee as well as the following personnel documents: Service Records (185); Step Increment (9); Certificate of Employment (31) and Clearances (2).

The Unit was also able to send participants for training in the following seminars: three (3) OVP employees to Creating Interactive Web Content Using Macromedia Fireworks MX; three (3) employees to eGovernment 101; and four (4) employees to MS Access for Users.

The Unit likewise prepared six (6) payrolls for Contractual, Casual and Itemized employees; three (3) summaries for representation and transportation allowance (hereinafter, “RATA”) and other allowances for military personnel officially detailed to the OVP; the summary for one-half (1/2) of the year-end benefits given in advance to qualified employees; three hundred twenty-seven (327) indivudal vouchers for salaries, allowances and overtime pay; and eighty-eight (88) claims for overtime.

The Unit also processed one hundred ninety (190) applications for monetization of leave benefits as well as vacation, sick, forced and terminal leaves. It also prepared forty-six (46) applications for Government Service Insurance System (hereinafter, “GSIS”) loans; nine (9) applications for GSIS membership; one (1) application for Home Mutual Development Fund (hereinafter, “HDMF” or “Pag-IBIG Fund”) loan and membership; and one (1) application for retirement and terminal leave benefits. It also prepared and issue the following personnel documents: Service Records (42); Step Increment (3); Certificate of Employment (23); Clearances (48) and Certificates of Service (120).

To instill discipline among the OVP employees through effective monitoring of personnel daily attendance and movement, the Unit issued, collected and filed three hundred thirty two (332) daily time records (hereinafter, “DTR”) and bundy cards.

Corollary activities of the Unit included providing assistance to top OVP management on certain issuances and external communications. The Unit prepared seventy-five (75) Travel Orders, seventeen (17) Special Orders, four (4) Memoranda, and seventy-five (75) transmittal letters to the CSC, GSIS and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (hereinafter, “Philhealth”). It also issued five (5) Certificates of Appearance, one (1) Acceptance of Resignation, one hundred ten (110) Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and twenty-one (21) descriptions of duties and responsibilities for all Unit heads.

In the performance of its periodic management function, the Unit prepared three (3) Monthly Reports on Separation of Government Personnel and updated six (6) summaries of Plantilla of Personnel for submission to the Department of Budget and Management (hereinafter, “DBM”) and the CSC.

• Cash Unit

The Cash Unit is responsible for the disbursement and collection of funds in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations for the operation and maintenance of the OVP. It maintains records of disbursements and collections and prepares the necessary reports for submission to the OVP Accounting Division, the Commission on Audit (hereinafter, “COA”) and the Bureau of the Treasury (hereinafter, “BTr”).

For the period, the Unit prepared eighty (80) Advices of Checks Issued and Cancelled. The Unit also released six hundred fifty-four (654) among the six hundred eighty-eight (688) checks it prepared. For the upkeep of records, it prepared seventy-six (76) Reports of Checks Issued, nine (9) Reports of Disbursements, four (4) Reports of Collections and Deposits for the COA and BTr, four (4) Reports of Accountability for Accountable Forms and ten (10) Deposit Slips with corresponding list of deposited collections. It also issued fourteen (14) Official Receipts and indexed one hundred forty-three (143) cash and check payments to Consultants and Contractors of Service and two thousand five hundred forty-four (2,544) cash payments to Itemized, Contractual and Casual employees. The Unit also prepared five (5) Petty Cash Replenishment Reports and corresponding Liquidation Voucher.

• Records Unit

The Records Unit, the depository of all communications addressed to the OVP, is tasked to receive, store and dispose of incoming and outgoing communications.

The Unit is primarily mandated to read, classify and distribute communications. Letters from the postal service, couriers (like LBC, JRS, FedEx, Aboitiz) and walk-in clients are read, classified and sent to the pertinent OVP units mandated to act on the requests. For the period, received, classified and recorded documents totaled two thousand five hundred (2,500) while one thousand one hundred two (1,102) pieces of correspondence (i.e., referrals, recommendations, messages and stand on national issues) were sent.

The Unit aimed to maintain an efficient record system through daily filing and inventory of records, whenever found necessary. There were twenty-three (23) Special Orders, seventy-one (71) Travel Orders and thirty-one (31) Memoranda coursed through the Unit. Newspapers and other publications that were monitored and distributed totaled three thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven (3,887).

Outgoing communications were properly handled through daily messengerial services provided by the Unit including remittances/payments to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (hereinafter, “BIR”), GSIS, HDMF and many others. For the period, delivered communications totaled five hundred two (502). Prompt replies to invitations and request for messages were made in line with the diplomatic and ceremonial functions of the Vice President. Referrals, recommendations, and other communications were mailed, both local and international. During times of urgency and necessity, the Unit was also responsible for personally picking up and delivering incoming and outgoing communications to and from different government and private agencies as well as individuals.

• Transport Unit

The Transport Unit saw to it that motor vehicles of the OVP offered a speedy and safe transport for officials and personnel during the three hundred sixty two (362) official trips recorded. Five (5) of the motor vehicles were registered and twenty-three (23) were insured. Likewise, the Unit was instrumental in the forty (40) trips taken to transport documents to various government agencies. It prepared/processed five hundred seventy-four (574) trip tickets and other documents for the payment of gasoline and other expenses, as well as one hundred sixteen (116) Purchase Requests, Purchase Orders, Job Orders, Waste Material Reports and vouchers. It also issued six hundred eight (608) Purchase Orders to drivers for gasoline, oil and other lubricants.

The Unit also purchased eighty (80) spare parts and performed minor repairs on the motor vehicles including regular check-up, tune-up and oil change to maintain the roadworthiness of the said vehicles. Six (6) Monthly Reports on Gasoline Consumption were also submitted to the COA.

• Property Unit

The Property Unit sought to promote the efficient and judicious use of government resources. In consonance with the continuing drive towards economy and efficiency in the use of resources, the proper and effective safeguarding of the assets of the OVP was the priority of the Unit.

In accordance with its mandate, the Unit prepared and issued fifty-eight (58) Acknowledgment Receipts for Equipment and processed one hundred twelve (112) Inspection and Acceptance Reports and one hundred forty-nine (149) Return Slips for property and equipment. In connection with its function of providing communication services, two hundred ten (210) certifications for official calls were made and fourteen (14) monthly statements of account were processed for Smart, Globe, Nextmobile, PLDT and Home Cable. The Unit likewise performed four (4) cellular phone and landline phone repairs. The Unit also received three hundred (300) five-gallon containers of purified water consumed by personnel of the OVP for the period.

The Unit also received one hundred sixty (160) Requisition and Issue Slips (for supplies and materials) from the various units of the OVP and processed twenty-four (24) Purchase Requests. The total cost of supplies and materials issued for the period amounted to three hundred seventy-one thousand seven hundred forty-one pesos and seventy-five centavos (P371,741.75).

• Procurement Unit

The Procurement Unit was created to delineate the function of procuring/purchasing from the Property Unit’s function of safekeeping, recording and equitably distributing office supplies, materials and equipment (including motor vehicles, parts and services) for a more effective and efficient delivery of administrative services.

The Unit is in-charge of all activities related to procurement and purchase of office supplies, equipment and motor vehicle parts and services, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

For the period, the Unit prepared and accomplished three hundred sixteen (316) purchase requests. In communicating with various suppliers of materials, equipment, furniture and fixtures and other needs of the OVP, it prepared twenty-four (24) canvass sheets. The Unit also prepared eight (8) abstracts of quotation in canvassing the necessary supplies, equipment, furniture, fixture and other needs of the office both through the internet and through personal communications.

The Unit also acted upon seventy (70) purchase orders, sixteen (16) job orders, forty-eight (48) inspection and acceptance sheets and forty-eight (48) vouchers.

2. Accounting Division

Recognizing the importance of proper management and recording of day-to-day financial transactions of the OVP, the Accounting Division maintained an efficient accounting system and records, including books of accounts, journals, ledgers and subsidiary ledgers.

The Division is responsible for (a) recording in the proper books of accounts the day-to-day financial transactions of the OVP; (b) examining and verifying documents in support of disbursement; (c) certifying fund availability; and (d) preparing and submitting periodic financial reports, trial balance, and other reports relating to financial and budgetary accountability of the OVP to officers concerned.

For the period, the Division generated one hundred fourteen (114) GSIS Regular Policy Premium Payment Inquiries from itemized, casual and contractual employees. The Division created the OVP-GSIS Remittance List Database (personal share, government share and loans) and OVP-GSIS Remittance List per employee (itemized, casual and contractual employees for CY 2001-2004). It also made a comparison between the GSIS Regular Policy Inquiries against OVP-GSIS Remittance List.

The Division also prepared three hundred sixty (360) journal entry vouchers, processed nine hundred fifty-eight (958) disbursement vouchers and twenty-two (22) certifications in connection with the employees’ payroll deductions.

The Division also prepared the necessary reports to be submitted to various government agencies. These reports include the OVP’s financial statements, statements of monthly charges to accounts payable, summary lists of checks issued and cancelled, monthly remittance returns of (a) income taxes withheld on compensation, (b) value-added taxes, (c) other percentages taxes and (d) creditable income taxes, monthly remittances to GSIS, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth and NHMFC.

The Division likewise prepared two hundred seventy-five (275) certifications for OVP employees to be used in creating trust accounts for GSIS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund remittances as well as three hundred fifty-three (353) certificates of creditable tax withheld at source and certificates of compensation payment/tax withheld.

The Division maintained the necessary ledger cards (general, subsidiary, property, plant and equipment) in accordance with the New Government Accounting System (hereinafter, “NGAS”). The Division also assisted the Property Unit in conducting physical count of the inventory of supplies.

3. Budget and Management Division

The Budget and Management Division is responsible for the preparation of requirements in connection with the annual budget of the OVP and coordinates with the DBM, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations and Senate Committee on Finance on matters concerning fund requirements.

Under the direct supervision of the Director for Administration and Finance, the Division prepares reports, programs and other documents required by the DBM and the pertinent congressional committees.

At the start of the year, the Division, in coordination with the Accounting Division, worked for the reconciliation of accounts and financial data in connection with the preparation of annual reports for FY 2003. Necessary adjustments were implemented for the adoption of the NGAS.

A request for the release of the OVP’s Confidential & Intelligence Fund was made on 15 January 2004. A follow-up and reiteration was made on 2 March 2004. A Special Allotment Release Order and its corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation were requested, in two separate letters, for the funding of terminal leave benefits.

Additional budgetary documents were prepared and submitted to the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) in connection with the Senate’s plenary deliberation on the FY 2004 Budget. The COS, ACOS, Director and Budget Officer attended the deliberation to assist the OVP’s budget sponsor, then Senator (and now Vice President) Noli de Castro in the proceedings.

On 7 May 2004, personnel from the Division attended the FY 2004 Budget Forum conducted by the DBM. The Budget Officer, as well as the Chief Accountant and the heads of the Cash and Property Units, attended the Awareness Forum on electronic NGAS conducted by the COA for national government agencies.

In connection with the Division’s budget implementation functions, it processed one thousand seventy (1,070) vouchers, fifty-one (51) payrolls, fifty-three (53) purchase orders and twelve (12) job orders. A total of one thousand twenty-four (1,024) ALOBS were prepared and recorded in their respective registries. Statements of Allotments, Obligations and Balances for the Year Ending 2003 and FY 2004 monthly reports were likewise prepared and submitted to concerned agencies. The Total Allotment used/Obligations incurred for the period amounted to thirty-five million, nine hundred forty-six thousand, three hundred sixty-six pesos and thirty-four centavos (P35,946,366.34).

4. Media Affairs Division

The Media Affairs Division is tasked to coordinate, facilitate and transact with tri-media (radio, television and print) based on the media services required by then Vice President Guingona. The Division’s tasks consist of organizing press conferences, issuing press and public statements or releases, representing the OVP in media-related social functions, activities and events and conducting basic public relations work. The Division also closely coordinates and assists in media monitoring activities through its Media Monitoring Unit. The Division is also occasionally utilized as a component of advance parties to ensure smooth and trouble-free preparations and arrangements for then Vice President Guingona’s social functions and activities.

For the period, the Division organized a total of ten (10) press conferences and represented the OVP in eight (8) media-related activities.

• Media Monitoring Unit

The Media Monitoring Unit monitored the events in and out of the country for the information of the OVP staff. The Unit also maintained compilations of news clippings so that the OVP may have a better grasp of the public pulse. Particular emphasis was given on news articles, stories and photo captions appearing in all major newspapers concerning the day-to-day social functions and public services rendered to the nation by then Vice President Guingona, as well as his pronouncement and stand on major issues affecting the nation, both domestically and internationally.

The Unit secured and analyzed feedback from various segments of the population concerning then Vice President Guingona’s pronouncements and stands. The Unit also established rapport with members of the media in order to secure adequate coverage of significant events concerning the OVP. It also assisted in the physical arrangements for press conferences whenever necessary and assisted then Vice President Guingona in his meetings with the press.

For the period, the Unit was able to gather eleven thousand seven hundred ninety-one (11,791) news clippings and photo captions. There were also forty-eight thousand eight hundred eighty-four photocopies of these clippings. The Unit also produced one hundred five (105) pieces of identification cards and fifteen (15) nameplates.

• The Office of the Director for Policy and Technical Services

    The Office of the Director for Policy and Technical Services prepared correspondence, messages, reports and other research and technical studies for then Vice President Guingona.

1. Research and Development Studies Division

The Research and Development Studies Division liaised with other government agencies as well as people’s organizations and non-governmental organizations. The Division promoted awareness on recent national and global events. It was primarily tasked to draft and prepare messages of then Vice President Guingona to provide encouragement and inspiration to different associations, offices, and other sectors of society. These messages were published in supplements of major newspapers and magazines, pamphlets and souvenir programs. Necessarily, data regarding the organizations’ history and relevant facts were gathered.

For the period, forty-four (44) sets of materials/data were gathered and the corresponding report was prepared. The Division also prepared one hundred twenty-nine (129) messages. All these messages were approved and released to the requesting offices and organizations. Of the one hundred forty (140) requests for messages that the Division received, forty (40) were picked-up by the sender, forty-five (45) were sent by facsimile and fifty (50) were sent by mail. Needless to say, the Division kept a compilation of the requests and corresponding prepared messages.

The Division was also tasked to maintain the OVP’s library collection, containing around twenty (20) books, two hundred sixty (260) international newspapers and magazines and four hundred eight (408) brochures, pamphlets, journals and souvenir programs. Likewise, the Division was responsible for the upkeep of twenty-one (21) photo albums of the OVP.

2. Public and Local Affairs Division

Then Vice President Guingona performed his constituency function through the Public and Local Affairs Division. The Division is the public relations arm of the OVP responsible for the planning and implementation of programs and projects including the allocation of funds for different purposes.

Assistance was extended to one thousand two hundred eighteen (1,218) constituents, five hundred fifty (550) of which were walk-in clients while six hundred thirty-five (635) were served through mail. Most of the problems presented were economic in nature, requesting assistance for food, shelter/housing, employment, hospitalization, medicine, education, burial, transportation, relocation of urban squatters, drug addiction, family and school problems.

The Division also attended to the different needs of various requesting parties by referring their concerns to the proper government office or agency for its appropriate action. Referred matters usually concerned infrastructure projects, food and agriculture, peace and order, housing problems, land disputes, PVAO pension and claims, SSS/GSIS insurance complaints, problems of OFWs as well as requests for legal assistance.

In coordination with the Administrative Division, the Division provided consultative, technical and social assistance to all referred social activities. The Division acted upon requests for trophies and medals and, upon request of the OVP’s management, it attended meetings and other social gatherings held outside the office. The Division also participated in the upgrade of the OVP’s policies and procedures in line with the thrusts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration.

3. Policy Research Group

      The Policy Research Group undertook data gathering and analysis related to land conversion, urban and rural poor housing and food production. The Group also defined the significance of the studies. In connection with these studies, research activities were done to collect data concerning the Philippine steel industry and its implication to the national economy.

The Group employed the following research methods and procedures: field research (entails coordination with various government agencies, private corporations and non-government organizations, as well as interviews with experts) and in-house research (analysis of data gathered in the field; use of computer software [CDs], internet tools and other communications equipment to gather and/or verify data; and review of related literature, both local and foreign).