Palace declares June 30 as special non-working holiday
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said this would give the public a chance to witness the transfer of presidency from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who steps down at noon of June 30, to Aquino.
"These important moments in our democratic processes should be given attention and one way of ensuring this is by declaring a non-working holiday," Saludo said.
Saludo has also praised the transition committees of both camps in the exchange of information and ensuring the success of the inauguration despite political differences.
Meanwhile, Presidential Management Staff chief Elena Bautista-Horn, who also heads the Palace transition team, said that Aquino has already agreed to join President Arroyo on her way to the Quirino Grandstand from Malacanang.
"Nagkaroon kami ng meeting kahapon para maplantsa na ang inagurasyon ni President Aquino... nagkasundo na kami na si President Aquino ay pupunta sa Malacanang at pagkatapos ay sabay sina President Arroyo at Aquino sa isang sasakyan at pupunta ng Quirino Grandstand (We had a meeting yesterday to finalize the inauguration of President Aquino... we agreed that President Aquino will go to Malacanang and then both President Arroyo and Aquino will go to Quirino Grandstand in one vehicle), Horn said in a radio interview.
Saludo said this gesture between the two presidents is "an act of peaceful transfer of power in a democratic exercise". (PNA)
CHED bats for more scholarships, assistance to poor students
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) today batted for the continuity of government scholarship and assistance programs, putting at 10 percent of the national college population the ideal proportion of students to be covered by the programs.
In today’s news briefing in Malacanang, CHED Executive Director Julito Vitriolo also reiterated the call more funds for the college education sector.
He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has already spent some P7 billion for such programs which benefited about 650,000 poor and deserving students since 2001.
This is on top of some P1.2 billion already spent on training programs to upgrade the capabilities of almost 4,000 faculty members and about P2.5 billion for laboratories, libraries and other instructional facilities of government as well as some private partner learning institutions.
Vitriolo said there are now 72 centers of excellence and 122 centers of development identified in the country’s higher education profile which are comparable to quality learning institutions in some ASEAN neighbors.
Vitriolo said the CHED is currently developing educational models to upgrade the curriculum program including the 15-year college educational program patterned from
For his part, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Pastor Guiao reported that the number of TESDA scholars who got into high-paying jobs increased almost seven-fold from 42,216 in 2000 to 357,509 in 2009.
Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said noteworthy among the President’s education program include providing Cabinet rank to the TESDA Director General and the adoption of the ladderized education joint undertaking with CHED which not only provided immediate jobs but credited units taken in tech-voc trainings scholarships in formal college courses.
Saludo noted that the trainings, scholarships conducted by TESDA and CHED have provided high-level education and academic qualifications for poor but deserving Filipinos so that they easily land in high-paying jobs in information and communications technology (ICT), tourism, business process outsourcing (BPO) and shipbuilding industries among others. (OPS)
PGMA inspects thriving Go Negosyo, SME ventures
LUBAO, Pampanga -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo strategy of using small and medium scale entrepreneurship programs in the fight against poverty was recognized by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship during the Go Negosyo Seminar for residents of Pampanga's 2nd District held here today at the compound of the
Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the President’s policies in support of the Go Negosyo program for the past four years have inspired many entrepreneurs in the country.
A plague of appreciation designed by Cebu-based international designer Kenneth Cobonpue cited the President for pushing and innovating positive enterprising mindset on entrepreneurship.'
''The Negosyo Seminars have the strong support of President Arroyo as she clearly sees the importance of a thriving entrepreneurial climate for the country. She understands Go Negosyo and having an enterprising mindset, is a solution to poverty,''
Officials said that under the Arroyo administration, the number of banks supporting small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) increased from only about five to at least 212 today, servicing some 900,000 SME clients.
The President also toured the ''one town one product'' (otop) trade exhibit where Go Negosyo beneficiaries such as Navarro Foods, which manufactures original Kapampangan delicacies like burong mudfish, burong dalag, shrimp paste and crab aligue, have availed of financial assistance to expand their domestic businesses into exports.
Neri-Mars Sweets and Delicacies, which makes pastillas, and other sweet delicacies, also have expanded operations due to Go Negosyo's technical assistance. (OPS)
