On April 1 2001, Executive Order No. 32 - Instituting the Public Transport Assistance Program (Pantawid Pasada) - was signed by the President to cushion the impact of soaring oil prices to identified vulnerable groups within the public transport sector.
A total amount of PhP 450 M is allocated for the program and sourced from the Special Account in the General Fund (SAGF) of the DOE.
Pantawid Pasada cards loaded with PhP 1,050 will be distributed to members of these vulnerable groups which they could use for the sole purpose of purchasing diesel and gasoline from participating gas stations in the country.
If you want to know more about the program read the brochure below.
Pantawid Pasada Program
Do you think this is the most cost-effective way to protect the public transport sector from rising oil prices?
Since this is a dole-out why not just give cash instead and save on the cost of producing those cards? A card would be useful if you'd be dispensing the amount in tranches, but Php 1,050 is just too small an amount that could easily be exhausted in a week's time. According to the government, having the cards would be useful in the event that the same form of assistance will be given in the future - the cards only need to be reloaded and it is assumed that the beneficiaries would be spared from undergoing the same application process. But I still argue that having the cards only brings minimum benefit in terms of user convenience, which is further reduced by the uncertainty of even having future reloads. Such benefit pales in comparison with the (assumed higher) cost of producing those cards, and giving cash instead would address some other basic needs of these groups such as food or medicine.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
NEDA Bids Farewell to Japanese Ambassador
April 26, 2011. The NEDA, led by Director-General and Socio Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, hosted a small social gathering as send-off for outgoing Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Makoto Katsura.
In his short speech, DG Paderanga expressed appreciation to the development assistance of the Japanese government to the Philippines and highlighted the outgoing ambassador's crucial role in securing eleven loan agreements, eight grants and numerous technical assistance/studies in support to Philippine development over the former's three and a half years tenure as Japanese ambassador to the country.
DG Paderanga also thanked the ambassador for the Japan Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarships or JDS that enabled twenty-eight NEDA employees and officials to obtain post-graduate studies in Japan. The DG also hailed Japan's grant aid in Increased Food Production Program or 2KR that funded a total of 139 agricultural/ecological projects that aim to improve food production in the country by mainstreaming enhanced farming techniques.
In a more serious tone, the DG expressed his sympathies over the current tragedies that befell the Japanese people. The DG likewise expressed admiration over the calm resolve of the Japanese in dealing with the tragedy, and went further to say that it is another trait of the Japanese worth emulating.
In closing, the DG wished the outgoing ambassador the best of luck and hoped that the next time they meet, the latter's "swing will be longer, putt be more accurate, and skin more tan."
View/download video of DG's speech here.
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In his short speech, DG Paderanga expressed appreciation to the development assistance of the Japanese government to the Philippines and highlighted the outgoing ambassador's crucial role in securing eleven loan agreements, eight grants and numerous technical assistance/studies in support to Philippine development over the former's three and a half years tenure as Japanese ambassador to the country.
DG Paderanga also thanked the ambassador for the Japan Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarships or JDS that enabled twenty-eight NEDA employees and officials to obtain post-graduate studies in Japan. The DG also hailed Japan's grant aid in Increased Food Production Program or 2KR that funded a total of 139 agricultural/ecological projects that aim to improve food production in the country by mainstreaming enhanced farming techniques.
In a more serious tone, the DG expressed his sympathies over the current tragedies that befell the Japanese people. The DG likewise expressed admiration over the calm resolve of the Japanese in dealing with the tragedy, and went further to say that it is another trait of the Japanese worth emulating.
In closing, the DG wished the outgoing ambassador the best of luck and hoped that the next time they meet, the latter's "swing will be longer, putt be more accurate, and skin more tan."
View/download video of DG's speech here.
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