Aquino, Triet witness signing of 4 agreements between RP and Vietnam
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): The Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam signed four agreements which aim to further strengthen and enhance bilateral relations between the two countries specifically in the fields of Education, Defense, Environmental Concern and Search and Rescue at Sea.
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam witnessed the signing of said four memoranda on Tuesday in Hanoi during the expanded bilateral meeting of the two heads of state.
The meeting took place shortly after President Aquino arrived at the Noi Bai International Airport Tuesday morning for a two-day state visit and to attend the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.
The agreements signed include Academic Cooperation, Defense Cooperation, Oil Spill Preparedness and Response and Search and Rescue Operations at Sea.
Higher Education Commissioner Patricia Licuanan signed the MOA on Academic Cooperation in behalf of the Philippines. The agreement aims to promote cooperation on higher education and professional training, provide a framework within which detailed proposals for programs of education cooperation are to be jointly considered.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the agreement on Defense Cooperation that intends to create a framework for boosting bilateral cooperation between the defense agencies and armed forces of both countries. Such cooperation specifically covers defense and military, equipment and technology, and defense industries.
Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo signed for the Philippine Government the MOA on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response. It will undertake Philippines-Vietnam cooperation in oil spill preparedness and response, particularly in the areas of human resources development, mutual assistance, information exchange, research and development, and other areas of cooperation.
Apart from these, Admiral Tamayo also signed the MOA on Search and Rescue at Sea that further aims to enhance the efficiency of search and rescue operations for ships and aircrafts and persons in distress.
“These agreements will improve the lives of the poor”, President Aquino said.
After the signing ceremonies, the Chief Executive met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The President congratulated the Vietnamese leader for Hanoi’s 1000th Founding Anniversary.
In turn, the Vietnamese Prime Minister congratulated the President for his success in the May 2010 polls.
In the evening, President Aquino attended a State Banquet hosted by the Vietnamese President in his honor at the Presidential Palace.
Philippine Ambassador to Hanoi Jerril Santos said the state visit and the President’s attendance to the ASEAN Summit is a good start citing the importance of the Chief Executive’s meeting with the leaders of ASEAN and Dialogue partners that will benefit the people.
The President’s state visit was upon the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart during their meeting last month in New York at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Before the bilateral talks, the President had a 15-minute tete-a-tete with President Nguyen Minh Triet at the yellow room of the Presidential Palace where he expressed profound thanks and gratitude for the warm welcome. (PCOO)
Aquino expects more Vietnamese businessmen to invest in RP
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III hopes to attract more Vietnamese investors to fuel their capital to the Philippines after his two-day state visit here.
In a press conference, the Chief Executive cited a Vietnamese business process outsourcing (BPO) firm for “leading the way” by putting up a shop in the Philippines, saying this would further strengthen the relations between the two countries.
“There is a Vietnamese BPO company that I understand is already setting up in the country. It’s small but this will enhance the trade between our countries,” the President said.
In a separate interview, Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office noted that “the Philippines rice from Vietnam.”
Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Jerril Santos said that a total of $308.97-million has been poured into the country by companies from the Philippines, making RP the fourth top ASEAN investor in Vietnam. These include investments in agriculture and information technology.
President Aquino expressed hope that with his visit here, more Vietnamese businessmen will be enticed to invest in the Philippines.
“There is a sizeable Filipino investment here in Vietnam at the present time so we would like to see more in the opposite direction,” the President said. (PCOO)
Aquino's state visit makes front page of Vietnam News
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III’s state visit here and his attendance at the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit from October 26 to 30 has reached fever-pitch prompting the Vietnam News, the national English daily of Vietnam, to feature the Chief Executive on the front page of its Tuesday edition.
In its article entitled “Philippine leader begins Vietnam visit,” Vietnam News cited the “friendship and comprehensive cooperative relation between the two countries” which it said “has been continuously developing and consolidating.”
“The two sides regularly exchange delegations at all levels and maintain close cooperation at international and regional forums,” the Vietnam News said.
It further cited that trade between the Philippines and Vietnam reached $1.87-billion in the first eight months of the year. These included import and export of rice, electronic components, agricultural products, fertilizer, machines, liquid gas, pharmaceutical products and building materials.
The President’s visit, which is his first to an ASEAN member-country since he assumed office in June this year, aims to further strengthen diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries which first established ties in 1976. (PCOO)
Aquino says Vietnam to remain important partner of RP
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Vietnam will continue to prosper during his presidency.
“As the Philippines takes the first steps toward a more transparent, responsive, and economically competitive government, be assured, Excellency, that Vietnam remains an important partner of the Philippines,” the Chief Executive said in his remarks at the State Banquet hosted in his honor by Socialist Republic of Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet at the Government Guest House on Tuesday night.
The President stressed that the friendship between the Philippines and Vietnam is vibrant and strong as cooperation in diverse areas, particularly in trade, fisheries, meteorology and hydrography, sports, and finance have been in place.
He pointed out that the sealing of four more agreements during his state visit to Vietnam, cooperation between the two countries in higher education, defense and maritime affairs was further strengthened.
The President also said that his state visit to Vietnam, his first ever state visit to an ASEAN member country since he assumed office in June, is also a testament to the mutual commitment of both countries to find additional areas of cooperation that will benefit the Filipino and Vietnamese peoples.
He also noted that the warm welcome accorded him and his delegation by the Vietnamese people and government, which he said, is a clear sign of the close relations between the Philippines and Vietnam.
“It is a pleasure to be here, tonight, to express our best wishes to the government of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people as you chair the ASEAN. In regional unity, we have the means to sustain economic growth, advance our shared development agenda, and promote regional peace and stability,” he said.
According to the President, the Philippines and Vietnam will celebrate next year the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Saying that it will be an excellent occasion for cultural exchanges and people-to-people activities to commemorate RP-Vietnam relations.
For his part, the Vietnamese President thanked the Philippines for its support to Vietnam’s ASEAN chairmanship this year. (PCOO)
Coloma convenes gov’t info officers
Anchored on disseminating the “gospel of good governance” as its main thrust, Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma convened some 26 chief public information officers (CPIOs) from various government entities under the Office of the President (OP) on Tuesday at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.
Communications officers from Cabinet-level departments, Social Security System, Landbank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the major branches of the military, among others participated in the forum.
Coloma urged the information officers to promote the Aquino administration’s efforts in pursuing good governance through transparency, accountability and moral ascendancy.
The event also served as a venue in shaking off from the PCOO (formerly the Office of the Press Secretary), the government’s official communications arm, the traditional propaganda machinery image that has been attached to it for the longest time.
Coloma also presented PCOO’s directions in optimizing the use of New Media as an additional platform for reaching out to the people particularly in getting the people’s feedback on certain issues.
“One story told well. Spread the word”, said Secretary Coloma is how he summed up the government’s gospel of good governance.
He explained that every government officer and employee is an alter ego of the President and how their work and words represent the Chief Executive’s own efforts and commitment to good governance.
Coloma further said that every achievement gained by a government worker, or every Filipino for that matter, not only reflects the effectiveness of the particular agency where he is attached to, but more importantly, the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III who is the ultimate in-charge of the whole bureaucracy.
“Communication on behalf of the President is not the duty solely ascribed to PCOO. It is the duty of every government communication officer”, Coloma said.
He also revealed to the information officers various strategies how to deliver the “good news.”
Coloma challenged the information officers to go beyond the press releases as a tool in image building. He likewise encouraged them to look into their own agencies’ inspiring success stories that will make Filipinos feel good and confident not only about the nation’s leadership but more importantly about themselves.
The forum was followed by a workshop on how the CPIOs could contribute to the achievement of the PCOO’s new thrust.
The event, participated in by DEVCOMNET, a development communication network composed of CPIOs, was hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) under the leadership of its new Director General, lawyer Jose Fabia. (PCOO)
Aquino vows quick review of poaching case vs 32 Vietnamese fishermen
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III Tuesday promised Vietnam a quick review of the poaching cases filed by the Philippines against 32 Vietnamese fishermen caught fishing within Philippine waters.
In a statement, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ramon Carandang said the President made the promise to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet during the two-leader’s meeting at the Presidential Palace here.
President Aquino according to Carandang, vowed an expeditious probe of the case but stressed it would to be done “in accordance with Philippine laws.”
“The Vietnamese asked for the release of the 32 fishermen arrested in the Philippines for fishing in our territory,” Carandang said.
“The President promised a quick review of the case in accordance with our laws. He said that 11 of the fishermen had already been freed,” he added. (PCOO)
Aquino proposes more cultural exchanges between RP, Vietnam
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III proposed the holding of more cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Vietnam to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year.
In a toast at the state banquet hosted by President Nguyen Minh Triet at the government guesthouse here Tuesday evening, President Aquino assured his Vietnamese counterpart that relations between the two countries will continue to prosper under his administration.
The President expressed great satisfaction with the signing of four agreements between the Philippines and Vietnam which will strengthen cooperation in higher education, defense and maritime affairs. He said the mutual commitment of both countries to find additional areas of cooperation will benefit the Filipino and Vietnamese peoples.
Triet in turn, expressed his gratitude for the strong support given by the Philippines during it's chairmanship of the ASEAN, and reiterated his confidence that the Philippines will make even bigger progress under President Aquino's leadership.
Vietnam has been a strategic partner of the country for the past 34 years after the establishment of bilateral ties between the two nations in 1976.
Since then, relations between the two countries have consistently grown to encompass not just politics, but more importantly, trade and investments, education, defense, fisheries, maritime and ocean affairs, and environmental concerns, among others. (PCOO)
Aquino offers aid to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday expressed sorrow and concern for the people of Indonesia devastated by the recent earthquake and tsunami.
The President, who is here for a two-day state visit and to attend the three-day 17th ASEAN Leaders Summit, also ordered Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to send search and rescue teams to Indonesia.
The Chief Executive expressed confidence that the country’s southern neighbor will be able to ”meet this challenge with the resolve compassion, and unity that has marked their response to national calamities in the past.”
The President disclosed that Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also here for a state visit and to attend the ASEAN Summit will have to travel back to Indonesia to lead his people in the rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts.
His scheduled bilateral meeting with the Indonesian President on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Summit may no longer push through.
At least 108 people were killed, and hundreds remained missing Wednesday, after a tsunami smashed into a remote Indonesian island chain while in central Java a volcanic eruption left 13 people dead.
The 7.7-magnitude quake struck in the Mentawai Islands area west of Sumatra late Monday, generating waves as high as three meters (10 feet) that swept away 10 villages.
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire — a series of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia.
The country's most volatile volcano, Mount Merapi, 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to the east, started to erupt at dusk Tuesday as scientists warned that pressure building beneath its lava dome could trigger one of the most powerful blasts in years.
The 7.7-magnitude quake that struck late Monday just 13 miles (20 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor was followed by at least 14 aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (PCOO)
Aquino visits Filipino-owned BPO in Vietnam
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III paid a visit to a Filipino-owned business process outsourcing (BPO) company as part of his two-day state visit to Vietnam which ends Wednesday.
The President arrived at the SPi Global headquarters at the 3rd floor of the De Tech Building along Pham Hung Road in this city’s Tu Liem district at around 9:30 a.m.
He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, PMS head Julia Abad, CHED chair Patricia Licuanan, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang.
SPi vice president Patricia Bales briefed the President on the operations of the company, one of the world’s largest and most diversified BPO companies in the industry.
SPi Global is a leading full-service BPO provider with offices and facilities in 24 locations in North America, Europe and Asia.
Its employee base of 14,000 help deliver a wide range of Knowledge Process, Customer Relationship Management and Health Information solutions to diversified markets including financial, healthcare, legal and publishing services to its 500 company-clients worldwide.
Founded in Manila in 1980, SPi Global started out as SPi Technologies and offered content outsourcing services to Fortune 500 companies.
In July 2006, ePLDT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company acquired 100 percent share of SPi Technologies. It then created the legal entity SPi Global Holding, Inc. under which two operating entities: SPi Technologies, Inc. and ePLDT Ventus, Inc. were integrated.
Bales said SPi remains committed to spurring regional trade and investment and spreading the Filipino spirit of excellence and pride across Asia, particularly in Southeast Asian.
“Through our people, services and innovation, we hope to contribute to nation-building, economic growth, regional prosperity and global competitiveness,” Bales reported.
After the short presentation, the President was given a brief tour of the company’s work area and was shown the various work loads of its employees by SPi director Li Thi Deu Linh.
The Vietnam operations of SPi were established in 2007 in support of its Philippine operations. Its roster of 500 employees help in providing its clients with data conversion services for publishers and universities in the United States and Europe as well as video coding services to its growing clientele. (PCOO)
RP improvement in corruption index attributed to good governance
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the recent upgrade of Transparency International’s corruption perception index of the Philippines showed his administration’s seriousness in ending corruption and that this drive would gain momentum in the coming years.
In a press conference Wednesday morning here, the President said that his group’s battlecry against corruption during the Presidential campaign has been carried over now that he is President of the Philippines and that he intends to achieve this advocacy until the end of his term in 2016.
“As I maintained during my presidential campaign, we will need to eliminate corruption if we want our country to move forward,” the President said, adding that our resolve to eliminate corruption will eventually gain momentum as we move towards a corrupt-free governance.”
In a media briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed hope the President’s policy on good governance could result in a further improvement in the country’s rating in the coming years.
Early in his term, the President directed the implementation of tough anti-corruption measures in an effort to improve the country’s economy and reduce poverty.
In its 2010 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), the Transparency International survey showed the Philippines was ranked 134th among 178 countries with a score of 2.4, better than its 139th ranking last year.
The 2010 CPI measures the degree to which public-sector corruption is perceived using the scale from 10 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).
Despite the improvement in overall ranking, the Philippines still lags behind most of its neighbors in Southeast Asia, among them Malaysia which is ranked 56th; Thailand, 78th; Indonesia, 110th; and Vietnam, 116th.
Transparency International (TI) is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which is a comparative listing of corruption worldwide. (PCOO)
No special treatment for bar exam blast suspect – Palace
Malacañang assured the public today that there will be no special treatment for the suspect in last month’s bar exam blast along Taft Avenue, Manila.
Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda issued the assurance in response to speculations that suspected grenade thrower Anthony Leal Nepomuceno might get special treatment after surrendering to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Both Binay and Nepomuceno are members of Alpha Phi Omega (APO).
“Definitely, there will be no special treatment. Again, the only request of the suspect was that his rights be respected,” Lacierda said during press briefing this afternoon.
The same stand was also echoed by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima during a press conference where the suspect was presented.
"Wala kaming sasantohin. Managot ang dapat managot (we would spare nobody). It doesn't matter to us kung sino ang members ng frat na yan," De Lima said noting that Nepomuceno could face charges of frustrated murder or multiple physical injuries.
Nepomuceno, a call center agent and member of APO fraternity, was turned over by the fraternity’s councils of elders after surrendering to Binay, thirty days after the 2010 bar examinations blast.
Lacierda said they welcome the surrender of the suspect particularly the successful intervention of the Vice President.
He said the surrender will serve as signal for the Justice Department to start the prosecution and give justice to the victims. (PCOO)
Aquino allays concerns of Filipinos in Vietnam
HANOI (via PLDT & Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday met with some 150 Filipinos working in Vietnam and gave solutions to two of their concerns at the Grand Plaza Hotel here.
The concerns, as mentioned by Jun Torres of the Samahang Pinoy in Vietnam, were the recent closure of the Philippine consulate in Ho Chi Minh and the strengthening of the peso.
Torres stressed the need to reopen the Philippine Consulate in Ho Chi Minh so it can attend to the needs of Filipinos residing or working in the southern part of Vietnam.
“If there is reason, why not?,” the President said adding that the reopening will not happen overnight and that a study will have to be conducted.
There are around 3,500 to 4,000 Filipinos in Vietnam, the bulk of which are in Ho Chi Minh. Most of them are professionals and are held in high esteem by the locals, according to Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Jerill Santos.
As to the further strengthening of the peso, the President made an assurance that the peso may stabilize within the present level.
Recognizing the fact that overseas Filipino workers are affected by the strong peso, the President stressed that one of the priorities of his administration is to create more jobs, so that working abroad will no longer be a matter of necessity but rather a career choice.
“What we want is a stable peso. The intervention of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in the market is needed to preserve the value of the peso,” the Chief Executive said adding that the government is in a position to do such because of high gross national reserves.
The President also informed the Filipinos here of the achievements of his new administration particularly in eradicating corruption.
He assured them that the Aquino Administration will work hard to improve the lives of the people.
“Ang focus natin ay para sa bansa hindi para sa bulsa. We will do what we have to do.” he said.
The President thus enjoined the Filipinos in Vietnam to unite and support his administration.
“We are at your beck and call. Tell us what you need and we will answer your call,” he assured. (PCOO)
17th ASEAN Summit reels off Thursday
HANOI (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III and the other nine leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will gather here on Thursday for the 17th ASEAN Summit slated from Oct. 28 to 30.
This year’s summit theme is “Towards the ASEAN Community: From vision to action."
The Department of Foreign Affairs said major topics at the meeting include accelerating ASEAN Community building process, implementing ASEAN Charter, broadening ASEAN cooperation with dialogue partners and strengthening cooperation to respond to global challenges.
The ASEAN aims to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015. As the deadline approaches, ASEAN countries are stepping up efforts in the integration process of the ASEAN region, which had a total population of 584 million and a combined GDP of $1.5 trillion.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the President is expected to input some Philippine initiatives during the meetings.
The 10 leaders will discuss a new master plan for enhancing ties and building new infrastructure that will allow ASEAN to compete with rising economies. The Master Plan of ASEAN Connectivity, which the leaders are expected to adopt, will anchor the region's bold and long-term strategy to improve its physical, institutional and people-to-people connection.
The concept of ASEAN connectivity was proposed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last year as ASEAN Chair.
A key element of the annual ASEAN leaders meeting is their dialogue with partners from the East Asia Summit umbrella. This year, the East Asia Summit in Hanoi is expected to take on added importance with the inclusion of the United States and Russia as members of the East Asia summit dialogue process.
Both the US Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister have been invited.
The first ASEAN-Australia Summit, which will also be held here will be hosted by Australia’s new Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
The ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit will likewise be held to mark the 35th anniversary of friendship between ASEAN and New Zealand.
In addition, ASEAN leaders will hold talks with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon for the third time.
This is the second summit this year that Vietnam is hosting. The first was held in April. (PCOO)
Aquino pays respect to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam war martyrs
HANOI (via PLDT-Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday paid respect to Vietnam’s famous leader Ho Chi Minh and martyrs of the Vietnam war as he capped his two-day state visit here with wreath laying ceremonies at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Vietnam War Memorial.
The President was accompanied by his cabinet members that included Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Higher Education Commissioner Patricia Licuanan, Presidential Management Staff Director-General Julia Abad, and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a large memorial to the former Vietnamese leader. It is located at the center of Ba Dinh Square, where he read the Declaration of Independence on Sept. 22, 1945. Ho Chi Minh's body, preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum, with a military honor guard, lies in a glass case with dim lights.
The structure, formally inaugurated on Aug. 29, 1975, was inspired by Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow, although it is distinctively Vietnamese with it traditional architectural elements such as the sloping roof.
The Hanoi War Memorial is a monument which commemorates the sacrifice of courageous Vietnamese men and women who served the country in a time of great danger. The Memorial’s design is an impressive combination of modern architecture and tradition Vietnamese elements. The War Memorial is located next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. (PCOO)
