Gov’t plans to infuse P9 B for poverty reduction projects

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – With the 6.4 percent economic growth in the first quarter of this year, the government plans to infuse an additional P9.02 billion for “priority poverty reduction projects.”
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director-general Arsenio Balisacan said this was “to combat poverty and attain” Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.
Balisacan told members of the Regional Development Councils in their 4th national convention here that the funds would include the budget for the conditional cash transfer (CCT), also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (PPP) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“The government will not let up in its efforts to accelerate economic growth, recognizing that there is still considerable room for faster spending. We will also remain vigilant against growth risks, including those posed by the euro area woes and the uncertainties in the world price of oil,” Balisacan said.
The NEDA chief also bared plans to “strengthen consumption and investments at the household level, in particular among the poor and vulnerable.”
This is through the creation of “decent and productive employment” and the implementation of CCT, he said.
“Most recent data show that CCT has reached more than three million household beneficiaries,” Balisacan said.
He said that “to combat poverty and attain MDG by 2012, the Department of Budget and Management is infusing an additional P9.02 billion for priority poverty reduction projects of participating government agencies through the bottom-up budgeting approach.”

“Growth over the near-term will also be supported by major infrastructure projects identified by the Private-Public Partnership Center. So far, the PPP Center listed 22 projects,” he said.
Balisacan said these PPP projects “are intended to improve transportation connectivity through roads, airports and seaports, boost agricultural productivity, increase water service areas, and raise the quality of education and health.”
He noted that the 6.4 percent economic growth in the first quarter of 2012 translated in employment of 1.101 million. “Employment generation was more pronounced in the services sector, followed by industry,” Balisacan said.
“The continued strong inflows of remittances, robust inbound tourist receipts and low inflation environment contributed to significant increases in employment creation, particularly in the services sector which fueled domestic spending,” he added.
Militant groups have criticized the government’s plan to give a higher P45-billion budget for DSWD’s CCT next year, in the face of reports of “corruption and political patronage” marring the project.
“It is turning the country into a republic of mendicants and beggars,” said Anakpawis party-list chair Fernando Hicap and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) led by Salvador France.
This year, the CCT budget is P34 billion.
The group cited complaints from fishing areas in Sorsogon, Cavite and Laguna where supposed beneficiaries reportedly get less of their monthly allocation of about P1,400, while others report not getting their share at all.
France and Hicap said the P45 billion of “hard-earned taxpayers’ money” should not be treated as a “national charity fund” and would find better use in “creating jobs, implementing social justice-driven land reform, and providing the country the much needed resources for education, social services, and mass housing.”
They said the fund could also be used “to fund agricultural development and rural industrialization which is liberating, productive and thorough-going compared to the useless and corruption-driven CCT.”
They lamented the CCT has only perpetrated mendicancy and turned poor folk into “objects of charity.” They said Washington and the International Monetary Fund-World Bank are authors of the project.
“Instead of approving the CCT budget of P45 billion for next year, senators and congressmen should instead pursue in-depth investigation and audit-performance of the CCT program which was introduced by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” the statement of the two leaders said.
They also called on Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to “prioritize the oversight review of the CCT and study its relevance as soon as the President has finished with his State of the Nation Address.”
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad earlier said the 30 percent increase in the CCT budget would represent about two-thirds of the DSWD budget for 2013.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, however, said her department is seeking a total of P67 billion for next year, including the P45 billion for CCT to cover an additional 700,000 poor families nationwide.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=819709&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Good picnic spots can be found in some of the best resorts in Pampanga. The good resorts and hotels in Clark Philippines offer safe and clean outdoor facilities for family bonding and picnics. For many reasons Manila families and residents of Angeles City Pampanga as well as Subic and Baguio consider Clearwater as one of the best resorts in Pampanga and certainly the best hotel in Clark Philippines. Guests of this child friendly resort in Clark Pampanga often relax and unwind by the beautiful lake and beach. Hotel accommodation is also available here in this resort in Clark. Function room for meetings and seminars is also available in this popular resort in Clark Philippines. This hotel in Clark is also a favorite holiday destination near Manila during Holy Week, Easter, Christmas and New Year holidays.

Families with small children prefer outdoor resort in Manila clean and safe place in Pampanga Clark to bring kids to relax and unwind. Highly recommended resort for family reunion near Manila is Clearwater Lake Hotel Clark Pampanga.

Philippines Travel Guide just unveiled recommendations and tips for Holy Week and Easter Holidays in Philippines. The report covers highly recommended resorts and hotels in North Luzon, nice getaway destinations for families with children, safe and convenient place for tourists to relax and unwind, good restaurants, resto bars, pubs and fine dining establishments in Pampanga, frequently visited places as well as historical sites in Angeles City, Pampanga, Clark Philippines. Clearwater is one of the best hotels in Clark. This resort in Pampanga is a very popular venue for rest and relaxation especially for golfers after a round of golf at one of the best golf courses near Manila. Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga.

Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Generally regarded as the best hotel in Clark Philippines, Clearwater Resort gives its guests a sense of safety, peacefulness and security, things that families and tourists look for when they plan a trip to Pampanga. These are some of the virtues that tourists coming to the Philippines and visitors of Pampanga Clark Philippines look for. That’s why most visitors prefer to stay at this top rated hotel in Clark whenever they make a trip out of town from Manila towards the north, Pampanga, Subic or Angeles city.

Residents or Manila travel out of town to head north to Pampanga to relax, unwind and spend a few nights in the new hotel rooms situated right on the lake of Clearwater Resort in Clark Airbase. Many visitors and tourists enjoy the feeling of waking up by the lake. The sunrise produces a spectacular sight with the sunlight reflection on the calm surface of the three-hectare fresh water lake of this famous resort in Clark. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good and safe destination and vacation spot for family trips in Pampanga.

Where to go during Holy Week and other holidays in Philippines? Highly recommended private resort in Pampanga is popular destination for Easter Holidays and other celebrative occasions. Manila residents travel out of town on holidays to relax and unwind with families, children and friends in private resorts in Pampanga. These exclusive hotel resorts are frequently visited by tourists and residents of Manila for vacation or even a day trip out of town to the north in Subic, Pampanga Angeles City and Clark Philippines. Clark Pampanga is where tourists and families can enjoy the laidback leisure lifestyle that is so relaxing for people who feel the stress from city living. Event organizers laud this resort in Pampanga for its great outdoor venues ideal for team building and company outings near Manila.

Top rated destination for family reunion, bonding, retreat, picnic and getaway out of town from Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort; frequently visited spots are lake, picnic grounds; water sports, boating, swimming, kayak, camping. The private resort’s child friendly facilities are attractive to Manila residents and family tourists also.

Located inside the ring of the lazy river is one of the largest herb gardens in North Luzon. The Herb Garden of this private resort in Pampanga also serves as an event venue for company outings, family picnics, team building and other outdoor corporate and social functions. The river provides a high degree of privacy for this venue making it an attractive option for wedding planners to consider the Herb Garden Picnic Grounds as a possible choice for garden style wedding receptions also.

What really defines the ambience and lifestyle of this private outdoor resort in Clark is its spacious picnic grounds. The largest one is called the Brunello Garden which can easily accommodate functions and events for 3000 or more. Being several hectares in area, this amenity of Clearwater Resort is frequently visited for family picnics. Visitors from Manila travel to Clark to unwind and relax underneath old Acacia trees in the Brunello Gardens. This is one way for stressed out city residents to spend quality time in a leisure laidback pace.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for.

For inquiries and bookings, Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations now

Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Please click here to contact Clearwater Resort to reserve a venue for your upcoming event now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com

Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)