• Duterte creates EICC, SERG
• Military vows intensified manhunt against Maute rebels
• Presidential Museum launched on Google Arts & Culture
• President Duterte cites sacrifices, heroism of military, cops in Marawi City

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed two Executive Orders creating the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) and the Strategy, Economics, and Results Group (SERG) in the Department of Finance (DOF).

EO No. 30 established the EICC, which will lead and coordinate national government efforts on matters relevant to the development of energy investments in the country, particularly Energy Projects of National Significance (EPNS).

To streamline the regulatory procedures affecting energy projects, the EO stated the baselines in the processing of EPNS, from prior approvals of applications to actual approval, which are not to exceed the 30-day time frame.

For the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) for EPNS, the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) will formulate a guideline consistent with the objectives and provisions of this Order.

To be headed by a representative from the Department of Energy (DOE), the EICC will convene within 30 days from the effectivity of the EO and will exercise functions such as the establishment of a simplified approval process, preparation of rules governing the resolution of inter-agency issues, maintenance of an information database and a web-based monitoring system, creation of inter-agency subcommittees, submission of quarterly progress reports, among others.

On the other hand, EO 31 organized the SERG to provide strategic advice to the DOF Secretary, who likewise chairs the Economic Development Cluster (EDC); conduct fiscal economics policy research; and manage and coordinate transformative reforms of the Finance Department.

Under the direct control and supervision of the DOF Secretary, the SERG is composed of Strategy and Results Office (SRO) and Fiscal Economics Research Office (FERO), each headed by a Director IV.

The SRO is primarily tasked to develop strategy maps and plans converting priority socioeconomic agenda into executive and legislative action from a fiscal perspective. It will likewise provide fiscal policy advice, manage up-to-date fiscal economic data bank, prepare implementation plans and build fiscal reform coalitions in support of the priority programs of the Duterte administration

The FERO, meanwhile, is in charge of the research and analysis, simulation, and monitoring of priority programs. It will also initiate and participate in the discussions and collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders.

The SERG is co-terminous with the tenure of the DOF Secretary under the current Administration. ###PCO-Content

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday, July 5, assured that its members are striving to hunt down individuals involved in the ongoing rebellion in Marawi City.

“We are doing our best to locate all these individuals in the arrest orders,” AFP Spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla Jr. said during the Mindanao Hour briefing in Malacañan.

Padilla said most of the arrested individuals have already been charged in court. He also noted that several arrests have been made recently.

“So the manhunt is continuous. It does not involve the areas of Mindanao only, it is also all over the archipelago,” he said.

The AFP official said all the piers, ports, and airports are guarded by security forces and identities of personnel are strictly checked.

At the same time, Padilla called on the public to inform government authorities on information about individuals who may be supportive of the rebellion.

Padilla said the progress of military’s operations in the Islamic City remain “very positive.”

He, however, noted that challenges for the government troops includes their fight to retake many of the buildings in the remaining four barangays.

“And that is why our troops continually are engaged the whole day as they make their way inside the interior areas of these barangays,” he said.

Agencies agree on early recovery phase for Marawi City

Padilla said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads the Task Force Bangon Marawi, met on Tuesday the full council of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and discussed the need to start the early recovery of Marawi City.

“It was considered and it was agreed to that an early recovery phase would be conducted. And the early recovery phase involves helping those evacuees who are now in temporary shelters relocated to a resettlement area that would more or less provide better conditions for their stay,” the AFP Spokesperson said.

He said the national, provincial and the local government gave assurance that the preparation of the ground area for the selected resettlement area for our evacuees has already started.
According to Padilla, the area has been selected and the ground works will be starting this week.

During the same briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Director Omar Alexander Romero said the government troops has recovered Dansalan College, a former stronghold of the Maute group.

As of July 3, 2,911,540.98 has been donated for government casualties while 717,530.71 for internally displaced persons.

There have also been 1,722 civilians rescued while 39 civilians and 85 government troops have been killed by terrorists.

Government forces have killed 343 terrorists and recovered 420 high-powered firearms.###PND

The Presidential Museum and Library, through the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), collaborated with Google to unveil on Wednesday, July 5, an online exhibition on Google Arts & Culture.

“Today, we partner with Google to share invaluable exhibits, artifacts, and architecture that will be preserved for our progeny,” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said in his keynote speech.

Bringing the Presidential Museum and Library online is in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s mandate to make Malacanan Palace accessible to the people.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said this is the Palace of the people. He started opening the doors of the Presidential Museum and Library, at no cost. All one needs is to schedule an appointment. This collaboration with Google takes it one step further,” Andanar continued.

Google Arts & Culture is an online platform through which the public can virtually tour Google’s partner museums, galleries and art exhibits. It uses a powerful technology called Street View ‘trolley’ to collect views from the site, which in turn provides viewers to a 360-degree view of the interior of the museum.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s government thrives in using innovative and connective technology, from utilizing social media as a way to disseminate information to all corners of the country and the world,” the Presidential Communications Chief said.

Through Google Arts & Culture, online viewers can read about the history of Malacañan Palace, and find curated exhibits such as artwork, furniture, and other items from the collection of the Presidential Museum and private institutions as well as books, journals, portraits, and other memorabilia of Philippine presidents.

Two exhibits highlight the Presidential Museum and Library collection on Google Arts & Culture, bringing the story of the Philippine presidency at the world’s fingertips.

The “Malacañang as Prize, Pulpit, and Stage” exhibit presents Malacañan Palace as the tangible symbol of the people’s trust, as platform from which decisions and orders that affect the Filipinos’ lives emanates, and as stage from which the pomp and pageantry of the Philippine presidency is preserved.

The exhibit “Relics of Power: Remembering the Philippine Presidents,” meanwhile, chronicles the country’s past and current presidents through historical artifacts and artwork.

“They will see Malacañan Palace not just as a venue of frivolity and authority, but as the repository of a collective story about a nation of individuals who struggled and fought for a better life with each leader and government,” Andanar emphasized.

To explore the collections, online users may simply visit Google Arts & Culture website or download the mobile application, available on Android and iOS, and search for ‘Malacañang Presidential Museum and Library’.

“The Presidential Museum and Library just showed the world that the private and public sectors can create meaningful works that will have a lasting impact on our lives,” Andanar concluded.

Other speakers who joined the momentous event were Director Edgar Ryan Faustino, head of the Presidential Museum and Library; Kenneth Lingan, Google Philippines country manager; and Pierre Caessa, Google Arts and Culture program manager.###PCO-Content

Malungon, Sarangani — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, July 5, commended the military and the police for their sacrifices and hard work in putting an end to the month-long siege in Marawi City.

Speaking before the troops of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, President Duterte said the skirmishes in Marawi is nearing its end.

“Sasabihin ko lang lalo sa mga pamilya nila, they did not die in vain kasi it’s winding up in Marawi,” Duterte said as he lamented the deaths of the soldiers and policemen in the Islamic city.

The Chief Executive again asked for understanding and forgiveness from the family of the slain soldiers but explained that he had to declare martial law in Marawi as the situation there had reached a “critical” level.

“I could sense that it was really critical as they were shooting people already and trying to remove part a territory of the Philippines from the effective control of government,” he said.

“So I had to do it. So, I am very sorry for those guys who died along the way. They have my eternal prayers and my honorable salute,” he further said.

Showing his relentless support for the troops, Duterte promised to provide them with new weapons and equipment, medical facilities, as well as education for the soldiers’ children.

“But I assure you, by the time I get out of the Presidency, I would have left something, a big amount, na para talaga sa inyo,” the President said, adding that a trust fund he promised them will be administered by the Central Bank to avoid corruption.

“Lahat talaga, kung gusto lang mag-aral, makakatapos. ‘Yan ang pangako ko sa inyo, before I leave the Presidency,” he added.

He also told the soldiers that he will provide each of them with a gun.

Duterte then expressed his gratitude to political leaders and local government units who supported the military operations in Marawi City.

“I would like to also express my support to the civilian government — Senator Pacquiao — they supported me, mga local government units mostly because alam nila ang danger,” he said.

The President also showed his appreciation to Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, who are former police and military officials, respectively. ###PND