Aquino appoints Padilla as chief negotiator for CPP-NPA-NDF talks
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla as the government’s chief negotiator for peace with the rebel groups.
Presidential Peace Adviser Teresita Quinto-Deles said the appointment is an indication of the government resolve to resume peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.
Joining Padilla in the newly-reconstituted peace panel are seasoned public servant and justice and human rights promoter lawyer Pablito Sanidad of Baguio City; Mandaya and strong advocate for the welfare and rights of indigenous peoples Ednar Gempasaw Dayanghirang, who is based in Davao; leading gender and labor rights advocate and organizer Jurgette Honduada, who is based in Zamboanga; and staunch peace and environmental advocate from the private sector Maria Lourdes Tison , who is based in Negros.
Deles said the reconstitution of the peace panel was “another major step forward” in putting an end to the protracted and tumultuous peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF in the past 24 years.
She added that the appointment of the reconstituted peace panel also signals the President's resolve in restarting the peace process that is aimed towards addressing the root causes of the armed conflict and forging a political settlement.
According to Deles, the Chief Executive directed Padilla’s team “to pursue time-bound and agenda-bound peace negotiations anchored on the principles of peace, justice and human rights.”
She expressed hope that with the new panel, the CPP-NPA-NDF will respond positively to government’s peace efforts by returning to the negotiating table with commitments towards a peaceful conclusion of the armed conflict.
She also expressed gratitude to the Norwegian Government for accepting the Philippine request for Norway to resume its role as third party facilitator.
Padilla, for his part, said new peace panel will exert all efforts to thresh out the many problems confronting the peace process. "Hopefully, during the term of President Aquino, a successful conclusion can be had," he said.
Peace negotiations between the government and the CPP-NPA-NDF were stalled after the CPP-NPA-NDF demanded the withdrawal of criminal charges against the rebels' negotiators and consultants. (PCOO)
High investor confidence due to govt’s determination to institute change -- Palace
Malacanang on Thursday said the bullish outlook of investors on the Philippine economy was another testament of the growing confidence in the Aquino Administration’s policy of good governance and level playing field for the business sector.
According to the Dutch financial giant ING’s quarterly Investor Dashboard Survey, investor confidence in the Philippines remained at a record high in the third quarter of 2010, mainly due to higher level of trust in the Aquino government.
The survey also revealed that investors are confident in the local market despite continued signs of slowdown in the US economy.
The Philippines scored 157 in investor sentiment during the third quarter, the same as the second quarter and up from 139 in the first.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said the policy of good governance by President Benigno S. Aquino had set the tone for the bullish outlook on the economy and has inspired confidence among investors.
“The high investor confidence can be attributed to the President’s commitment to ensure a level playing field for investors, untangle a complicated regulatory environment for businesses and his no-nonsense determination to curb corruption,” Coloma said.
As a result, the Philippines foreign direct investments (FDI) showed a net inflow of US$222 million in July, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed last week.
Net inflows increased from US$128 million in June, reflecting positive investor sentiment on the back of the nation's stronger growth momentum, expectations of manageable inflation for the rest of the year, and healthy external payments dynamics, the BSP said.
ING said the country ranks considerably higher than the overall pan-Asia rating, which rose 7 percent to 146 in the third quarter from 136 in the previous quarter, and is leading among emerging markets in Southeast Asia.
"Local and foreign investors alike have reflected this optimism by pumping more money into Philippine stocks," said PJ Garcia, head and chief investment officer of ING Investment Management Philippines. Garcia noted that average daily turnover in the local bourse has doubled to over P6 billion in September from only P3.9 billion in the previous months.
Garcia said investors are confident that the performance of the Aquino administration, whose main platform is to curb graft and corruption, will translate to gains for the local economy.
In the second quarter, 69 percent of Philippine investors responded positively when asked about the impact of the new administration on economic growth.
Garcia also said investors believe that the country's strong macroeconomic fundamentals will offset any negative effect of the continued slowdown of the US, a key market for Asian exports.
"The Philippines, along with many emerging market economies, is increasingly becoming more resilient to external developments. Record high OFW remittances and the strengthening of the peso against the US dollar have made a strong case for consumption-driven growth," Garcia explained.
Net inflows in July were largely driven by the other capital account, which summed up to US$186 million.
Year-to-date, FDI net inflows through July 2010 reached US$954 million. The biggest contribution to the net inflows also came from the other capital account consisting largely of intercompany borrowings from foreign direct investors by their subsidiaries/affiliates in the Philippines.
In addition, the stock market hit a record high this week and is up 38 percent this year. The peso has gained about 7 percent against the dollar and risen to its strongest in two-and-a-half years.
In previous pronouncements, President Aquino has stressed his administration’s commitment to restore integrity in leadership and governance, battle corruption, cut red tape and exact the highest standards of performance from the bureaucracy. (PCOO)
PNoy’s Vietnam trip simple and less expensive, Palace assures
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s state visit to Vietnam next week which will coincide with Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit will be “simple and less expensive” similar to the United States visit, Malacanang said Thursday.
“Yes, a lean delegation is a policy of this administration. We are not going to spend any more of the people’s money than is necessary. So we will have again a lean delegation to the Vietnam trip,” Presidential Communications Strategy Secretary Ricky Carandang said.
Just like the US trip, Carandang said the President would be joined only by selected Cabinet secretaries and business delegations.
He stressed that the state visit to Vietnam, including attendance to the ASEAN summit, is a must for President Aquino.
The President will leave for Vietnam on Monday, Oct. 25 for the 17th ASEAN summit scheduled in Hanoi, Vietnam from October 28-30, and probably be back on October 30. The President is also scheduled to meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. (PCOO)
Aquino condoles with Cotabato bomb blast victims
President Benigno S. Aquino III today expressed his condolence to the families of the victims of an explosion in North Cotabato this morning.
The President offered his sympathies after swearing in Director General Raul Bacalzo and Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares as heads of the Philippine National Police and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, respectively in Malacañang.
The President said he was meeting with Bacalzo after the swearing-in ceremonies to “get further updates” and to discuss measures “to ensure the safety of our people.”
“It’s an on-going campaign to make sure that the intelligence that we generate is provided to the operating units in a timely manner so that we are able to prevent as much as possible and at the very least go after all of these perpetrators,” the President said.
A bomb ripped through the Rural Transit Bus with plate number KVR-480 while it was traversing the national highway in Barangay Dalapitan, Matalam town en route to Tacurong City from Cagayan de Oro City at around 10:30 a.m., provincial police director Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas said.
Salinas said that initial investigation showed that the bomb was placed inside the bus’ baggage compartment.
Eight people have been confirmed dead while eight others were injured in this latest spate of attacks in Mindanao. (PCOO)
Aquino swears-in MTRCB and PNP heads
President Benigno S. Aquino III inducted today Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares and Director General Raul Bacalzo who will head the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board and the Philippine National Police, respectively in ceremonies held in Malacañang.
Bacalzo, who was accompanied by his wife Librada and three children, was appointed Director General of the 130,000 strong police organization after his predecessor General Jesus Versoza retired in September.
He briefly held the post of chief of the Directorial Staff in August and at that time also received a third star with the rank of police deputy director general.
Mary Grace Poe Llamanzares, daughter of the late actor and presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., replaced former MTRCB chair Consoliza Laguardia.
Llamanzares who was accompanied by her husband Teodoro and three children said she plans to work for the progress of the movie and television industry which she said is a partner in the economic progress of the country.
She said that she will soon submit a list of qualified personnel from the industry to fill up the vacancies in the MTRCB board. (PCOO)
No need to import rice despite onslaught of typhoon Juan, says Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said there is no need to import rice this year despite the recent onslaught of super typhoon Juan.
The President made the announcement during a press conference at the Cauayan airport after assessing the typhoon damage and spearheading the relief distribution in Barangay Baligatan in Ilagan, Isabela Thursday morning.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters that damage to rice crops in Isabela, the second biggest rice producer in Luzon, was minimal as farmers were able to harvest early in anticipation of Typhoon Juan.
Alcala said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will immediately distribute planting materials with short gestation period to enable farmers to catch up with the next planting season.
Earlier, the National Food Authority (NFA) said the rice shortfall due to the typhoon in northern Luzon is manageable and the country still has a rice buffer stock good for 52 days which is more than the grains agency’s mandate of keeping a 30-day supply of rice.
“So, at this point in time we are not contemplating on any importation,” the President said. (PCOO)
Aquino leads distribution of relief goods in typhoon-ravaged areas
ILAGAN, Isabela: A total of 557 barangays, comprised of 97,953 families or 463,375 persons benefitted from the assistance extended by President Benigno S. Aquino III to local residents here who were badly hit by super typhoon “Juan.”
The President led local officials in distributing relief goods to families affected by the typhoon, particularly in Barangay Baligatan.
Assisting the President in the distribution were Governor Bojie Dy, Vice Governor Rodito Albano and Ilagan Mayor Jay Diaz.
Also present wre Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
A total of 2,500 bags containing rice, noodles, coffee and other basic necessity were distributed.
Out of 35 municipalities, three were badly devastated by the typhoon. These are the coastal towns of Palanan, Dibilacan and Makunakon.
The government is now convincing residents of these coastal areas to move into much safer places.
Also turned over to the provincial government were some 100 tents which will be used as temporary shelters for the victims.
The President who conducted an aerial inspection in the areas damaged by the typhoon, said power is expected to be restored this weekend.
“At least 12 towers were crumpled, and to restore them that to their normal state will take several months, so we need to put up temporary towers,” explained the President.
He said he has already directed the Department of Agriculture to look into a possible distribution of seedlings and fingerlings to affected farmers and fisherfolk, respectively.
Drying facilities will also be offered to those who were able to save their produce from the rains.
The President said local government units and the Department of Trade and Industry are now monitoring prices of basic commodities after receiving reports of hoarding by some unscrupulous traders.
“Dito sa Region 2 hindi naman nasarahan ang mga kalsada, wala hong dahilan para magtaasan ang mga presyo at minomonitor na ho ng DTI at ng LGU ang mga prices para walang magsamantala,” he said. (PCOO)
