Palace orders alert for new storm
Malacañang orders the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and all local government units to be on alert mode in case a new tropical storm enters the Philippine area of responsibility.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is now closely monitoring the possible path of tropical storm “Katring” which has been spotted in the Pacific Ocean and may enter the Philippine area of responsibility anytime soon.
“Once that (path of Katring) is clearly determined the NDRRMC, DSWD and all the LGUs should be on standby to provide the necessary precautions and projected actions, if needed,” Lacierda assured.
In case the storm enters the country, Lacierda said the NDRRMC is ready to provide assistance and deploy their rescue units in areas that may be hit by Katring.
On the possible relocation of residents along the coastal areas of Isabela province, Lacierda said Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo is now studying it and coordinating with local government executives to spearhead the information dissemination and convince the affected families.
On Thursday, President Benigno S. Aquino announced the government plan to relocate settlers along coastal areas.
The President tasked Robredo to coordinate with local government officials and take necessary steps to convince residents to leave their houses along shorelines. (PCOO)
Palace to abide by SC ruling on toll hike
Malacañang will abide by the recent Supreme Court decision authorizing the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to implement toll hikes at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
In a media briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said he will immediately confer with Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus on the repercussions of the recent SC decision including the date of the effectivity of the adjusted toll rates.
On Thursday, the SC lifted the temporary restraining order to hike toll fees at the SLEX.
The SC also upheld the legality of the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA) between the TRB and the South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC).
With the SC decision, Class 1 vehicles (cars, vans, and other small vehicles) traveling from Alabang to Calamba would have to pay P77 from the current P21 once the new rates are implemented.
Class 2 vehicles (light trucks and buses) will be charged P155 from the current P43; and Class 3 vehicles, or heavy and multi-wheeler trucks, P232 from P65.
Last August, the SC issued two separate TROs stopping the Aug. 16 imposition of a 12 percent VAT on tollway charges nationwide and the implementation of the more than 200 percent hike in toll rates at the SLEX.
As it is, Lacierda said the SC has not yet decided on the imposition of the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on toll fares.
Lacierda said the constitutionality of imposing VAT on toll is still being questioned before the Supreme Court.
“If the SC says it is not constitutional, then obviously there will be no VAT on toll,” Lacierda said.
If the SC rules otherwise, Lacierda said it is up to President Benigno S. Aquino III to decide if the implementation of the VAT on toll will be pursued.
Lacierda also dismissed new oil price adjustments saying that the Department of Energy has not received any notice from oil companies on any plan to increase their prices. (PCOO)
Palace welcomes Trillanes’ assurance of good behavior
Malacañang said it welcomes the assurance of Senator Antonio Trillanes that he would not lead any revolt against the Aquino administration and that he fully supports the current leadership.
In a news briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace will not give Trillanes any reason to do so.
“The Aquino administration is optimistic that the pardoned mutineers will reciprocate with good behavior, fully support the current leadership and not be part of another exercise of military adventurism,” Lacierda said.
Last Oct. 12, President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 50 granting amnesty to over 300 soldiers and officers, including Trillanes, who took part in three mutinies during the Arroyo administration.
The amnesty allows the enlisted personnel to get reinstated after being processed by the Department of National Defense. Their officers however will not be allowed to return to their old posts.
The Palace earlier explained that the proclamation did not wait for the courts to promulgate decisions on the cases filed against the mutineers because “the President felt he needed to extend his hand of reconciliation to these soldiers in much the same way he is extending his hand of reconciliation, through the resumption of the peace process, with the New Peoples’ Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Lacierda earlier explained.
The amnesty will cover soldiers and officers involved in the Oakwood Mutiny of July 27, 2003; the February 2006 Marines’ standoff and the Manila Peninsula siege November 29, 2007, which caused a lot of destruction to property and to business operations in Makati City.
By granting the amnesty, the President is doing what he thinks is the right thing, setting things right and to send the right message, Lacierda said.
The President said that he has given the proclamation to Congress for concurrence and if approved, would pave the way for the release of detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the soldiers of the Magdalo group, who protested the corruption under the Arroyo administration. (PCOO)
Aquino off to Vietnam Tuesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will leave Tuesday for a state visit to Vietnam and attend the 17th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio said the President’s two-day state visit (Oct. 26-27) was upon the invitation of Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet during their meeting last month in New York at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
It will be President Aquino’s first state visit to an ASEAN member nation since he assumed office in June.
Basilio stressed that the President’s visit to an ASEAN neighbor “reinforces ASEAN’s continuing relevance and centrality to the Philippines foreign affairs and also underscores the robust and dynamic bilateral relations between the Philippines and Vietnam.”
She added that the visit also provides an opportunity for the President to discuss with Vietnam’s top leaders various bilateral issues and concerns that are important to both countries.
Aside from the Vietnamese President, the Chief Executive will also meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nong Duc Manh.
Four Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) are expected to be signed during the visit, including one on academic cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education, defense cooperation, oil spill preparedness and response, and another on search and rescue at sea.
The President is also expected to address Vietnamese and ASEAN business leaders in an investment conference in Hanoi on Oct. 27, where he will have the opportunity to expound on the government’s economic and fiscal policies as well as invite investors to pour in their money into the Philippines.
The Chief Executive will also meet and interact with representatives of the Filipino community in Hanoi. Some 3,500 Filipinos, mostly professionals, reside in Vietnam.
A state banquet for the President and his delegation will be hosted by the Vietnamese President.
After the state visit, the President will attend the 17th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings scheduled on Oct. 28 to 30 where he is expected to push for the Philippines’ interests in five key areas---economic cooperation, political and security cooperation, food and energy security, human rights and disaster management.
He will also meet with various leaders from ASEAN and various partners at the sidelines of the Summit, including bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Susilo BambangYudhoyono, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, among others. (PCOO)
