IBM Philippines vows support for President Aquino’s administration
Business service provider IBM Philippines pledged its support Thursday to the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III during a courtesy call at the Premiere Guest House of Malacañang.
IBM Phils. president and general manager James Velasquez said the President could expect the company’s commitment on four of the Chief Executive’s advocacies on good governance, business process outsourcing (BPO) leadership, talent development and innovation.
Velasquez also invited the President to grace the inauguration of the company’s expanded facilities at the University of the Philippines – Ayala Technohub in Diliman, Quezon City on December 1 and the Smarter Cities Summit to be held at the Makati Shangri-la on December 2.
Velasquez was accompanied by Peter Lynt, general manager, Business Process Delivery, Global Technology Service; Cassandra Soto, president, IBM Business Services; Alejandro Melchor III, Governmental Programs Executive; Marian Castillo, Country Brand and Communication Manager and; Owen Cammayo, External Relations Leader.
Joining the President were Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Commission on Information and Communication Secretary Ivan Uy, and Presidential Communication and Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma. (PCOO)
Proposed PCOO 2011 budget slashed by P184.02 million
On the recommendation of the Department of Budget and Management, the Presidential Communications Operations Office reduced its proposed budget for 2011 by P184.021 million or 15.86 percent. The reduction stems from the removal of capital outlay as additional belt tightening measures.
Only the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Bureau of Broadcast Services (BBS), which are joint proponents of the Philippine Administrative Network Project (PANP) Phase 2, a foreign-funded project involving the operation and maintenance of a satellite-based ICT (information and communication technology) network, were each allocated P16.221 million for capital outlay.
The PCOO proposed 2011 budget was pegged at P976.178 million, down from 2010’s level of P1.16 billion. The bulk or P552.164 million will be spent on personnel services, which now reflects the first tranche of the 2009 salary increase and the filling up of positions in bureaus/agencies attached to the department.
The budget for maintenance and other operating expenses was pegged at P391.551 million, a reduction of P145.622 million or 27.11 percent.
The PCOO proposed 2011 budget is broken down as follows: PCOO proper—P99.137 million (down from P107.817 million last year); BBS, P292.653 million (down from P392.823 million in 2010); Bureau of Communication Services, P28.952 million (down from P30.111 million); National Printing Office, P136.964 million (up from P131.678 million); News and Information Bureau, P91.073 million (down from P93.129 million); PIA, P249.569 million (down from P327.943 million) and Presidential Broadcast Staff (RTVM), P77.809 million (up from P76.677 million).
Worth mentioning is that the 2011 budget of PCOO proper reflects a decline in traveling expenses from a high of P80.4 million in 2009 to P10.581 million in 2010 to P9.523 million in 2011.
The budget for professional services (consultants) was reduced to P22.752 million from P25.279 million last year. (PCOO)
Elite security force in the works, says Aquino
The government will train an elite national security force capable of responding to any eventuality such as the unfortunate hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand last August 23.
In a panel interview by television news anchors Mel Tiangco (GMA7), Ted Failon (ABS-CBN 2) and Paolo Bediones (TV5) at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacanang Thursday, the President said the creation of the elite unit will beef up the capability of the police and military units in responding to crisis situations.
With tourism being one of the growth drivers of the economy, the President found it odd that not even a tourist police was stationed during the hostage taking incident last month.
The President said the training and maintenance of the elite force will be patterned after the Special Air Service (SAS), a special forces regiment of the British Army, that has served as a model for the elite forces of other countries.
He said the 200 to 400-man elite force will be a composite unit from the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“We will copy to a degree the formation of that national unit while the PNP and the AFP are fully integrated. They will be somewhere between 200 and 400 capable of responding anywhere in the country, given any threat be it air, sea or land,” the President said.
The government, according to the Chief Executive has already organized three units both from the AFP and PNP for a demonstration Thursday and Friday to assess their capabilities. (PCOO)
Aquino appears before panel of television news anchors
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed hope that the conduct Thursday of a “no- holds- barred” panel interview with three television stations’ representatives on the August 23 hostage-taking incident will finally put to rest any doubt in the minds of the people.
ABS-CBN News Anchor Ted Failon, Channel 7 News Anchor Mel Tiangco and Channel 5’s Paolo Bediones fielded questions to the President who answered in a straightforward manner.
In the interview that was aired live on several television and radio stations nationwide, the President was candid enough to admit that the questions helped him to rethink the decisions he made.
“I am not perfect and I can learn. Thank you for the questions,” he said.
The President said the government is now taking the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
He is waiting for the results on Wednesday of the probe being conducted by the Independent Incident Review Committee (IIRC) headed by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.
He stressed that the Aquino Administration will not only be judged by the Aug. 23 hostage-taking incident but by what it has accomplished and will accomplish in the coming years.
He vowed to fulfill his promise to reduce poverty and restore an honest government. (PCOO)
Aquino to witness new anti terrorism capability of AFP
President Benigno S. Aquino will personally witness Friday, Sept. 10, the anti terrorism capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as he views the new equipment and attack techniques developed at the Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
From his earlier engagement in Sangley Point, Cavite the Presidential chopper will land at the headquarters of South Command where the Commander in Chief will be accorded honors.
The President will be accompanied by AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
The President will be motored to the HLRB Engagement area for demonstrations on sniper capability at the Fernandez Hill; the Static and Equipment Display, the Joint Hostages Capability demo at the Shoot House and the SMART (simulated, moving automated random target). Since these areas are far from each other, the entire activity is expected to last more than an hour. (PCOO)
P-Noy names Guevarra Truth Commission member
President Benigno S. Aquino III today named Ateneo faculty member Atty. Menardo I. Guevarra as member of the Truth Commission, tasked to investigate reports of graft and corruption in the past administration.
In a media panel interview at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang Thursday, the President announced that he has signed the appointment of Guevarra as the final member of the body.
With Guevarra’s appointment, the process of bringing closure to allegations of official wrongdoing and impunity during the past administration, the President said, could finally start.
Other members of the body named earlier were retired Supreme Court Chief Justice HilarioDavide Jr. as head, retired SC Associate Justice Romeo Callejo Sr., former executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center Atty. Carlos Medina Jr., and Retired Justice Flerida Ruth P. Romero.
Guevarra, 53, was graduated magna cum laude at the Ateneo de Manila University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, major in Political Science, in 1974. He worked as a staff economist at the International Division of NEDA until 1983, and economist at the Central Bank Department of Economic Research.
He is also an accredited arbitrator of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and an active faculty member of Ateneo de Manila University School of Law at the Rockwell Center, Makati City, where he teaches Civil Procedure, Special Proceedings, Provisional Remedies, Special Civil Actions, Trial Technique, Administrative Law, Legal Counseling, Security Transactions, and Property.
Guevarra also helped draft the 1987 constitution as a member of the technical staff of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. (PCOO)
Investor confidence high despite hostage aftermath -- Aquino
Investors confidence remains high and bullish in the country even after the tragic Aug. 23 Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident.
President Benigno S. Aquino III, during the “no-holds-barred” panel interview with three television news anchors at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang today, said businesses remain interested in pouring in their money into the country.
“I am happy to report that the very bright economic and business prospects have not been derailed,” the President said.
He cited the expansion of Convergys last week where 5,000 new jobs were created, and the IBM facility in the UP complex which he is set to inaugurate.
“There are so many other firms, so many other institutions that have indicated the same,” he said.
The Chief Executive added that his trip to the United States this month will give more concrete numbers of exactly what investments will come.
The Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the President will be meeting with the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and key executives of major US corporations in New York and San Francisco. This include meetings with the corporate leaders of Coach, Luen Thai, IBM, JP Morgan, Sutherland, and Hewlett Packard. (PCOO)
