Malaysia remains facilitator in GRP-MILF talks
Malaysia remains the third party facilitator at the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after the Holy Feast of Ramadan on Sept. 9.
In a news briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the stalled peace talks with the MILF will definitely resume after the Ramadan as announced by President Benigno S. Aquino III in his State of the Nation Address last July.
“What we have right now and what we have been informed is that Malaysia is still the third party negotiator,” Lacierda said.
Concerned government officials he said, have been given a briefing on the peace process last week.
The President, according to him, has expressed determination to put an end to the decades-old conflict in southern Philippines and finally achieve a long-lasting peace for Muslim-Filipinos.
Peace talks between the Philippine Government and the MILF were stalled since August 2008 following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). (PCOO)
P-Noy receives P5M Metrobank Donation
President Benigno S. Aquino III today received the P5 million check donation of the Metrobank Foundation for his chosen advocacy, in simple ceremonies held in Malacañang.
In an interview, MFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña said the President, had chosen the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission as his advocacy prior to the turnover rites.
Sobrepeña said the amount would be used to help finance the construction of an island reactor at the Estero de Paco that will serve as a sewerage treatment facility in the area.
“We hope our donation will encourage other private companies to support the program of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission as part of our public-private partnership,” he added.
Present during the turnover ceremonies were MFI chairman George S.K. Ty, PRRC chair Gina Lopez, to whom the President gave the check for P5-million and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, who witnessed the event. (PCOO)
President Aquino vows to improve working conditions of teachers
In line with his advocacy to implement change in government, President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to improve the working conditions of teachers whom he called “our nation’s treasure.”
In his speech keynoting the awarding ceremonies for the 2010 Metrobank Foundation’s Search for Outstanding Teachers on Tuesday at Malacañang, the President said the days of corruption and the wasteful use of our resources are nearing its end.
The President said the recent submission of the Department of Budget and Management of the government’s proposed P1.645-trillion national budget to Congress for approval is a sign that change is coming.
“Sagisag po ito ng ating paninindigang tapos na ang panahon ng paglulustay, tapos na ang panahon ng mga proyektong walang pinatutunguhan. Ang pera ng taumbayan ay mapupunta sa taumbayan lamang,” the President said.
He said the proposed “Reform Budget,” which mirrors his commitment to lift the nation from poverty through honest and effective governance, will be used to fund priority items such as salary increases, teacher-trainings, classrooms and equipment to ensure our ability to provide quality education to our students.
In this connection, the President said, the incidences where a teacher has to make do with a piece of chalk for the whole week, when classes are held under a tree or worse when students are crammed into a small classroom or share a book full of errors will never happen again.
The President added that he is working closely with the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Home Development Mutual Fund, the Department of Education and Gawad Kalinga to continue a DepED project to provide homes for teachers.
The President said programs such as the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) and the National Competency Based Teacher Standards (NCBTS) of the DepEd and Commission of Higher Education would be fully supported and strengthened to give educators a chance to improve their craft.
“Manalig po kayo. Nasa likod ninyo ako at ang aking administrasyon,” the President said. (PCOO)
President Aquino resets Indonesia and Vietnam trips
Instead of making two separate trips, President Benigno S. Aquino III has re-scheduled his visits to Indonesia and Vietnam next month so that a study can be conducted on how these trips can be squeezed into one.
This, he said, was in line with his advocacy to limit his foreign trips to those that are absolutely necessary.
The President was scheduled to visit the two countries in September upon invitation of their respective heads of state.
“I understand Indonesia can only accommodate us sometime in October. There is also an (ASEAN) summit in Vietnam scheduled on the same day. We asked if we can do what has to be done in Vietnam in one trip rather than two trips,” the President said.
“I did promise that I would limit the trips to those that are absolutely necessary. As you see Vietnam is the host for ASEAN this year and we should visit Vietnam. In keeping with our promise to be more judicious in the way we spend the people’s money, especially the fact that we have very little left, I felt it was prudent to have one trip rather than two,” the President said. (PCOO)
Call on Pinoy a ‘major, major’ event for venus
For Miss Universe 4th runner-up Ma. Venus Raj, her first encounter with President Benigno S. Aquino III is one ‘major major’ event she would never forget.
Stunning in her off white Philippine terno, the dusky 22-year-old considers meeting the President for the first time Wednesday as one big gift following her impressive showing in the yearly beauty international pageant.
“Of course, it’s an honor to be here at the Palace being congratulated by no less than the President of the Philippines,” she said after her brief courtesy call at the Ramos room of Malacanang.
The 5-foot-9 beauty was accompanied by her mother, Ester Payonito, Binibining Pilipinas Charities head Stella Marquez Araneta and Uniprom Director for Entertainment Sienna Maris Olaso.
Among those who welcomed Raj were Tourism Secretary Albert Lim, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Chief Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang, and former Senator Mar Roxas.
In their one-on-one talk, President Aquino III thanked Raj for providing positive news about the Philippines when she competed in the Miss Universe pageant a day after the tragic hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand.
Raj said the President counseled her that “since I am now entering public life, I should be careful of the people surrounding me,” she quoted the President as saying.
The President, she said, confessed that he is just learning the difficulties of being in the highest position and having the “most public exposure.”
Raj, a journalist by profession used to lay out the reading materials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 5. She grew up in Bato, Bicol and is the youngest of five children. Their father, Architect Vincent Raj, lost touch with his family after the floods that hit India several years ago.
On the eve of the pageant, she recalled to reporters, “I have not read the papers. But a lot of my friends told me about the hostage taking. I really had no time to watch the television. But my counterparts were also asking me about the tragic incident here.”
Asked if she is considering show business, Raj said, “if there are offers, why not.”
She said she would be willing to help the government in promoting tourism in the Philippines. “If they will ask me, I will gladly help.” (PCOO)
