PGMA opens road project in Guagua, Pampanga
GUAGUA, Pampanga – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo opened on Wednesday the portion of the Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo (GSO) road project that benefits the provinces of Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales.
Aboard a pick-up vehicle, the president made the ceremonial drive-through of the newly completed Guagua section of the GSO Road Widening and Emergency Dredging Project.
Previously a two-lane road, the highway has been widened to ease daily traffic congestion.
Funded by the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF), the US$22.30-million project ensures the national highway will be passable especially during floods.
PGMA honors gov’t agencies, private firms for Quality Management Programs
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will honor on Thursday this year’s winners for ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Certification and Philippine Quality Award in Malacanang.
Forty national and local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, and government financial institutions will receive their ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) Certification from the president.
QMS certification is part of government’s advocacy to reduce red tape and create a more competitive economic environment.
Three business organizations will be the recipients of the 2009 Philippine Quality Award (PQA) which is the country’s counterpart to the prestigious Baldrige National Quality Award of US. In choosing this year’s awardees, PQA used seven criteria: leadership; strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results.
The PQA is managed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and implemented by the DTI-Center for Industrial Competitiveness. The Award administrators are the
The president will also recognize the following:
• 12 youth volunteers who will receive the 2009 Volunteers Award, the highlight of the National Volunteer month celebrated in December;
• 18 awardees of the Gawad sa Kampeon ng Kabataan Pilipino 2009, which recognizes youth development in their respective Sanggunian; and
• winners in the 2nd National Service Training Program (NSTP) “Green Philippines” Awards 2009, the nationwide search for best environmental program;
The president will also lead the awarding of certificates to autonomous and deregulated colleges and universities that have consistently shown exemplary performance in providing education, research and extension services.
PGMA signs law creating 1st Pampanga state university
BACOLOR, Pampanga – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday signed Republic Act 9832 converting Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade (CHVCAT) here into the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DAVTSU).
Enrique Baking. President of CHVCAT, now DHVTSU, thanked the president for her unwavering support and assistance that led to the creation of Pampanga’s first state university.
“Today is a memorable day,” he said. “In behalf of the board of trustees, professors and students, I sincerely thank you Madam President. Without you, we will never fulfill our 18-year old dream,” Baking told the president.
Erstwhile known as “Escuela de Artes Y Oficios de Bacolor,” the school was founded in Nov. 4, 1861.
It was renamed Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades (DHVMSAT) in 1964 in honor of statesman, philanthropist and prominent son of Bacolor, Don Honorio Ventura.
The renaming was signed by the late President Diosdado Macapagal.
On May 5, 1978, DHVMSAT was converted into DHVCAT by virtue of Presidential Decree 1373. This is in response to the school’s vision and mission of providing quality technological education especially to poor and underprivileged families by offering new technological programs.
Palace confident that ML in Maguindanao is justifiable
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita expressed confidence on Wednesday that President Macapagal-Arroyo’s issuance of Proclamation 1959 that put Maguindanao under martial law can be justified.
”Yes, we are confident to justify the proclamation,” Ermita said when asked by the Senate media after the P4.259-billion budget of the Office of the President was approved during the Senate plenary deliberations of the proposed P1.5-trillion national budget for the 2010.
Ermita made his comment several hours before he and other top officials of the national defense and interior and local government departments face the lawmakers in joint session of Congress set at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
”We will be there as resource persons and ready to answer every questions. You know that before the executive makes the steps, every document is very well studied,” Ermita explained.
Ermita said the lifting of the imposition of martial law will depend on the accomplishment of the purpose which is to maintain peace and order and security in the area.
”We want to develop an environment we can assure the safety of the citizenry. Therefore, that could be very well a major consideration (for lifting of proclamation),” Ermita said.
Ermita said the military and the police are required to report periodically the accomplishment of the proclamation.
He refused to comment whether the filing of rebellion charges against the Ampatuans is enough to lift the imposition of the martial law.
”I can’t comment whether it is enough to lift the martial law. All these things will be taken up during joint session. I’m not in a position to discuss,” Ermita said.
Ermita also downplayed speculations that the imposition of martial law could lead to no election scenario.
”It is not true. That is speculation only. Everyone has freedom to express their opinion. Let’s give it to them,” he said.
On the OP’s budget, Ermita explained that the 41.5 percent increase from this year’s budget has been made due to the creation of climate change office and
Ermita eyes Batangas Congressional
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita is running for Representative in the 1st District of Batangas.
In a press conference this morning in Malacanang, Ermita said he will file his certificate of candidacy tomorrow as a substitute for the one earlier filed by his daughter, Lisa Ermita-Abad.
When asked who will replace him as executive secretary, Ermita said that the appointment in the executive office is the sole prerogative of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I think it is superfluous to mention to you there are people around here in Malacanang capable and close enough to the president to fill the position,” he said. The president is the one who will make the final choice.”
Citing the recent Supreme Court ruling, appointed and elected officials running for next year’s polls, Ermita noted, are not automatically resigned.
“So we can stay on up to the start of the campaign period which is the third week of March,” he explained. In other words, I will be still around,” he said.
Ermita was a three-term Congressman representing the First District of Batangas from 1992 to 2001. During his stint, he authored and sponsored landmark bills improving the country’s security and defense and providing benefits to members of the Armed Forces of the
