• National Disaster Risk Reduction Council updates President Aquino on Metro-Wide quake drill
• Presidential Security Group has protocols in ensuring President’s safety during an earthquake
• Palace clarifies issues on alleged inclusion of pork barrel fund in 2016 budget
• Government ready to meet with truckers to discuss extension of one-truck lane policy

One of the reports the President received came from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

“Habang isinasagawa ng MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) ang shake drill, nagpupulong naman ang NDRRMC sa Camp Aguinaldo upang tutukan ang mga kaganapan,” Secretary Coloma said.

He said the NDDRMC discussed its readiness to respond immediately to emergencies in the aftermath of an earthquake in the metropolis.

Part of the council’s plan is to set up a command post to manage and monitor rescue operations, he added.

Coloma also said that the Metro Manila Council, composed of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino and the 16 mayors of Metro Manila, would function as the DRRMC in the National Capital Region.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin chaired the NDRRMC meeting, which was attended by Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Health Secretary Janette Garin, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Peace adviser Teresita Deles, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri, as well as representatives of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard.

The quake drill began at 10:30 a.m. in different parts of Metro Manila. PND (as)

“Sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay buong-buo ang kahandaan ng Presidential Security Group na gawin ang tama at nararapat para tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng Pangulo,” he said when asked to reveal the protocols in securing the President during an earthquake.

He however declined to give more details.

“Basta ang mahalaga dito ay ang deklarasyon na mayroong mga nakahandang protocol ang ating Presidential Security Group hinggil sa mga dapat na hakbang na kanilang isasagawa sa takdang panahon,” he added.When asked if the PSG participated in the Metro Manila-wide “shake drill”, Secretary Coloma said all government offices were enjoined to participate in the exercise, as directed by Memorandum Circular No. 79, signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. PND (ag)

Asked whether President Benigno S. Aquino III would veto any attempt to revive the pork barrel in the 2016 budget, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the President issued a veto message in the 16th Congress with regards to the General Appropriations Act of 2015.

Quoting the President’s veto message on local government unit (LGU) shares, Secretary Coloma said, “The succeeding provisions on LGU shares are properly placed under conditional implementation to avoid conflict with existing laws and jurisprudential rules, and ensure their orderly execution.”

He noted that “Memorandum Circular No. 91-A dated November 28, 1993, which requires legislative consultation respecting the portion given to cities or municipalities in the congressional districts of a beneficiary province, will be supplanted by new guidelines by the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) to cover release of the subject LGU shares.”“Maliwanag dito sa probisyon — sa aking inilahad na sinusunod ng pamahalaan ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema,” he said.

The public must understand that the Palace follows the decision of the Supreme Court, particularly the Belgica et al. vs. Ochoa et. al. case, he said, referring to the case where the Supreme Court (SC) made a ruling on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

After the SC declared the PDAF unconstitutional, the Executive branch removed it from the 2014 and 2015 budgets, Coloma said.

“Kaya malinaw po na sinusunod ng pamahalaan ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema dahil tungkulin po ng ehekutibo na ipatupad ang mga batas ng bansa.”

On the SC petition of former Senator Panfilo Lacson on some provisions of the 2015 budget, Coloma said they would wait for the petition before responding to it.

“Aantabayanan namin ang ihahaing petisyon ni Senador Lacson para mabatid ang mga kongkretong batayan ng kanyang kritisismo. Kapag ipinag-utos ng korte, tungkulin ng pamahalaan na magbigay ng kaukulang katugunan,” he said. PND (as)

Truckers have threatened to stage a protest against the MMDA decision, leading to fears of delays of the delivery of basic goods to consumers.

During a press briefing in Malacañang, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. expressed the government’s readiness to talk to truckers to address their concerns.

“Ayaw naman natin magkaroon ng anumang pagkabalam ang maayos na daloy ng mga kargo at mga produkto dahil maaaring magkaroon ito ng epekto sa supply ng mga essential goods at sa presyo na rin,” he said.

“Kaya’t handa naman po ang pamahalaan na makipagdayalogo sa kanila at tukuyin kung ano ang magiging mainam at katanggap-tanggap na solusyon,” he added.

According to reports, the MMDA’s policymaking body, the Special Traffic Committee of the Metro Manila Council, decided to extend the implementation of the one-truck lane policy from August 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016 due to the success of the traffic scheme along C-5 and Katipunan Avenue. PND (as)