Government austerity starts with Malacanang household
MALACANANG household under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has set the example for austerity, spending only 40% of what the previous tenant at the Palace, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was spending since he took over.
President Aquino himself revealed the savings of 60% in a press briefing Wednesday last week, August 18, saying the Internal House Affairs Office (IHAO), which handles the upkeep of Malacanang household, had informed him the previous week that its expenses today under the new administration amounted to only 40% of what was spent for the past occupants covering the same period in previous years.
The President made the disclosure when he was asked by a reporter how he was leading by example on government austerity in the light of the move of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to adopt austerity measures to contain the budget deficit this year. The budget deficit is expected to hit P325 this year, up from about P298 billion last year.
Among the austerity measures outlined by the DBM were a freeze on the government purchase of new vehicles and the construction of new buildings, except the building of classrooms.
The government is forced to adopt austerity measures after the new administration of President Aquino found that the government is left with only 10% of the budget to spend for the second half of the year.
Last Friday, President Aquino confirmed government’s move toward austerity even next year by telling an All Leaders’ Forum with volunteer groups during his presidential campaign about a hiring freeze next year in most agencies of the government, except the hiring of teachers by the Department of Education.
The President said DBM Secretary Florencio Abad had advised him against hiring more people in government due to budgetary constraints.
Abad had cited to the President that next year’s national budget has no allocation for salaries if the government hires additional employees.
In line with this move, the government also won’t be hiring many advisers and consultants to keep a lean bureaucracy and save money.
Austerity measures will also be adopted on President Aquino’s travels abroad, including his trip to the United States next month and his visits to Indonesia and Vietnam before that.
President Aquino will be traveling abroad with a small delegation compared with the big groups being brought by President Arroyo when she would travel abroad. (OPS)
Secretary Coloma’s statement clarifying Inquirer story
Presidential Communications Operations Chief Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Thursday clarified an Inquirer online report headline “Palace Exec Doubts Hongkong Chief called Aquino during (Monday’s) Hostage Crisis.”
“The headline is not correct,” Coloma said.
The transcript of the TV interview reads: “Di kapanipaniwala yan dahil accessible siya (President Aquino) sa lahat ng oras, (That is unbelievable as he was accessible at all time),” Coloma said.
“What I meant by ‘di kapanipaniwala iyan’ is the allegation that the President was inaccessible during the hostage crisis,” Coloma explained.
In his TV interview Thursday over “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Coloma noted:
“Kung lumabas man siya ng panandali ay tiyak naming mare-reach din siya dahil dala dala ng kanyang mga aides iyong mga teleponong maaring magamit para makontak siya,” (If he did leave his office, he could still be reached through the mobile phones held by his aides) Coloma said. (OPS)
P-Noy vows justice to those accountable in the hostage-taking incident
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed that justice will be served to those found accountable for the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and subsequent botched rescue attempt by security forces last Monday that led to the death of eight Hong Kong nationals.
The Chief Executive made this statement in his speech on Thursday at the ground breaking and time-capsule laying ceremonies for the construction of the Teacher Education and Law Center Building of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.
The President, however, said that due process will be maintained and the results of the investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation into the case will be the basis for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“Ginagarantiya ko sa inyo: winawasto na nung gabi pa lang noon yung pagkakamali na nangyari at yan po ay ilalabas natin sa nalalapit na imbestigasyong pangungunahan ng DoJ at ng NBI (I assure you, we started to rectify whatever mistakes had been committed Monday evening, and you will be informed of the outcome of the investigation to be conducted by DOJ and the NBI),” the President said.
“May mga nagkulang, may mga magbabayad (There were shortcomings, but there will be justice),” he declared. (OPS)
Foreign investor confidence in RP remains high – P-Noy
Foreign investor confidence in the Philippines remains at an all-time high despite the bungled rescue attempt of Hong Kong nationals held hostage by a disgruntled former Manila policeman, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday.
In his speech keynoting the groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of the Rizal Technological University’s Teacher Education and Law Center Building in Mandaluyong City, President Aquino said officials of a multi-national bank based in the United States have already signified their intent to invest in the country.
The President said his forthcoming trip to the US would solidify the prospective investor’s plans which he said would generate jobs for the Filipino people.
“By the end of September, we will be going to America and upon our return, I believe that we will be bringing gifts for the Filipino people in the form of additional jobs,” the President said.
He said Deutsche Bank officials met with him in Malacañang after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident to express their collective confidence on the country as an investment venue.
“I met with bank officials in Malacañang a day after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and they told me that what we are going through right now is only temporary,” the President said.
“Our confidence in the Philippines is still complete, in fact we plan to increase our exposure here over three times because we believe that the Philippines is on the path to progress,” the President quoted the bank officials as saying.
The President said that with the increase in investments, the country’s economy would also grow and with a growing economy, the search of funding sources to bankroll various infrastructure projects would become easier.
He cited the RTU’s dream of finishing the construction of its Teacher Education and Law Center Building and other buildings of learning would certainly be within reach because funds would be readily available to finish construction of such.
“The building that we are going to build will help nurture talent that we need to generate jobs and opportunities,” the President said.
“If jobs are generated, our economy will expand, while our economy is expanding, the state will have the capability to address the needs of the people,” he added.
In closing, the President called on all Filipinos: “If we help each other, if we focus on our responsibility to others, nothing can impede the growth of the Filipino people.” (OPS)
Warm welcome from two Mandaluyong City schools lift P-Noy’s spirits
President Benigno S. Aquino III said today the warm and rousing welcome accorded him by students and faculty of two schools in Mandaluyong City Thursday morning have lifted his spirits which, he said, had been burdened by the tragic hostage taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand last Monday.
In his speech keynoting the groundbreaking and time-capsule laying ceremonies for the construction of the Teacher Education and Law Center Building of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City, the Chief Executive described the day as extraordinarily full of promise.
“It’s truly a beautiful day today,” a beaming President Aquino told a throng of teachers and students gathered at the school’s quadrangle for the President’s first visit to the state university.
He intimated that two days before his visit, he found himself asking, “why have I come back to being alone,” referring to his pondering over the tragic incident.
“We’ve felt grief and sorrow recently but here in Mandaluyong today, I feel renewed optimism,” the President said.
“Thank you very much to all,” he added.
Prior to his visit to RTU, President Aquino visited the Isaac Lopez Integrated School in Barangay Vergara to lead groundbreaking and capsule- laying ceremonies signalling the start of the construction of a three- storey, 45 classroom school building. (OPS)
