THE
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
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.
-
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:
-
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 108th Anniversary of the Cry
of Pugad Lawin, the Coconut Trade Fair Festival, the 12th
Area Business Conference of the Employers Confedaration of the
Philippines, the 58th Mid Year Orchid Show, the 6th
Founding Anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption,
the Jerusalem Summit, the 30th National Quran Reading
Competition, the 108th 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 27th Philippine
Furniture Festival, the National Convention of Government Employees,
the 16th 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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”).
-
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.
-
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.
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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.
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Administrative
Division
-
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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
-
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.
-
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 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 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 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.
-
Administrative
Division
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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
prepared correspondence, messages, reports and other research and
technical studies for then Vice President Guingona.
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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.
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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.
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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).
(Source: OVP Assistant Chief of Staff - Atty. Ma.
Rodolfo Ponferrada through Vice Presidential Staff Officer IV Michelle
Angeles)