Aquino unveils faster Business Name Registration System
In line with the Aquino administration’s thrust to create a business-friendly environment to attract more investments, President Benigno S. Aquino III unveiled on Tuesday a faster Business Name Registration System (eBNRS) at the Department of Trade and Industry –National Capital Region Area 3 office at Highway 54 in Mandaluyong City.
The online registration, one of the government’s commitments to the public by giving businessmen less hassle in doing business, also makes government transactions transparent and prevents corruption in the workplace.
“Our aim in automation is to lessen people handling the process and allow technology to hasten transaction,” Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said.
It takes only 15 minutes and P300 for an applicant to get a business name. The President witnessed how the new system works and he was pleased with it.
An applicant used to fill up eight pages of the application form but under the new system, only one page has to be filled up.
Domingo said the government is constantly improving its services and breaking down business barriers to ensure that there will be unhampered flow of services to the public notably the entrepreneurs in the country.
He cited the ongoing work at the Philippine Business Registry which aims to consolidate the business registration into one system including the mayor’s permit, Security and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry and other government permits and licenses.
According to Domingo, the National Economic Research and Business assistance Center places under one roof all government agencies giving permit and licenses. (PCOO)
Aquino signs Proclamation No. 50 granting amnesty to Trillanes et al
In a move to attain national unity, harmony and reconciliation, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued on Monday Presidential Proclamation No. 50 granting amnesty to soldiers and officers charged in connection with military uprisings in 2003, 2006 and 2007 including detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The Chief Executive made the announcement on Tuesday after he unveiled the Department of Trade and Industry’s Enhanced Business Name Registration System (eBNRS) in Mandaluyong City.
The President said he submitted the proclamation to Congress for its concurrence after he signed the documents on Monday.
"The proclamation needs the concurrence of both chambers of Congress," the President said.
Trillanes, as a Navy officer then, led a band of soldiers that took over the posh Oakwood Apartments in Makati City in July 27, 2003 to demand the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ranking military officials over corruption allegations. The shortlived mutiny led to the arrest of Trillanes.
Three years later, in 2006, the Marines, led by Colonel Ariel Querubin, staged a standoff at Fort Bonifacio also to demand the resignation of Arroyo.Querubin was relieved of his post as commandant of the First Marine Brigade in Campo Ranao, Marawi City, and was put under detention until his release in July this year.
On Nov. 29, 2007 in Makati, Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim led soldiers in another protest strongly opposing the Arroyo administration. Lim was granted temporary liberty in May this year after posting bail.
The Senate asked President Aquino, through a resolution, to grant amnesty to Trillanes and other mutineers who were implicated in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the February 2006 coup attempt, and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Hotel siege.
Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution grants the Office of the President the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the members of Congress. (PCOO)
Right of media always respected by the state - Palace
Freedom of the press and the legitimate right of practicing journalists to act as watchdogs will always be respected by the state as stipulated in the Constitution.
This, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Ed de Mesa emphasized Tuesday as he assured members of media that there is no reason to be alarmed over the involvement of two of their colleagues in the probe report of the Aug. 23 hostage tragedy.
“We respect the right of media and we highly value press freedom, and so, that is why we are very careful in coming with recommendations against members of the media.” De Mesa said.
De Mesa suggested that members of the media should police their respective ranks in sensitive police operations similar to the Quirino Grandstand bus hijacking and hostage taking incident which killed eight innocent civilians.
De Mesa pointed out that the reason why they left the decision to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters n gPilipinas (KBP) to issue possible sanctions against broadcasters Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas is because the KBP has the jurisdiction over them. Tulfo and Rogas are both active members of the KBP. (PCOO)
Aquino grants amnesty to soldiers in 3 mutinies
President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Proclamation 50 last Monday granting amnesty to over 300 soldiers and officers who took part in three mutinies in the Arroyo administration.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said 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 go back to their old jobs, he said.
Asked why the Palace did not wait for the courts to promulgate their decisions on the cases filed against the mutineers, Lacierda said the President felt the need to extend his hand of reconciliation in much the same way as the pursuit of peace with the New Peoples Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
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 on 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.
Under the proclamation, the civil and political rights (of suffrage and to be voted upon) are restored; all enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces, once they file for the amnesty with the DND, will be allowed to reintegrate with their former posts; and those who are due to retire may file for retirement benefits due them and their application for amnesty must be under oath. The proclamation will take effect 90 days upon publication in major newspapers.
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.
Trillanes, a former Navy official, is facing charges before military and civilian courts for his participation in two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.
Lacierda said the Aquino administration is optimistic that the pardoned mutineers will reciprocate with good behavior and fully support the current leadership. (PCOO)
CBCP clears air on excommunication issue for PNoy
There was no intention on the part of the Catholic Church to excommunicate President Benigno Aquino III over the issue of artificial birth control.
This, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) cleared Monday during a meeting with the President, at the Bahay Pangarap in Malacanang.
The meeting between the prelates and the Chief Executive was confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a news briefing Tuesday.
Present in the meeting according to Lacierda were His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu; Bishop Nereo Odchimar of Tandag; Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Imus; and Most Rev. Antonio Ledesma, Bishop Prelate of Ipil.
Representing the government he said were Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Julia Abad, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman and Health Secretary Enrique Ona.
During the discussions, Lacierda said the prelates made it clear that there was no intention to excommunicate the Chief Executive, which stemmed from previous allegations that the President supports artificial birth control measures.
“The dialogue was very pleasant. Yun po ang description ng Pangulo sa atin, he was able to mention his position at saka maayos naman po ang pag-uusap so it will lead to further dialogue pa,” said Lacierda.
He added that President Aquino, for his part, explained to church officials his stand on responsible parenthood.
“He repeated his position at wala syang pinapanigan,” explained Lacierda.
The President also clarified that he is not supporting any form of artificial method of family planning. Both parties, according to Lacierda, realized that it would be better for them to communicate directly to each other.
“They decided to appoint coordinating persons from both sides. Bishop Odchimar was appointed lead person for the Church while Secretary Abad will be his counterpart on the side of the government,” he said.
Lacierda noted that one of the most important results of the dialogue was that the communication lines of both sides are now open. (PCOO)
Strong peso sign of improving economy, says Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday the continued strong showing of the Philippine peso is an indication that the economy is definitely improving.
The President made the statement after unveiling the Enhanced Business Name Registration System (eBNRS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Mandaluyong City.
The peso was pegged at P43.60 against the US dollar at the closing of the Philippine Dealing System on Monday.
Last October 3, the peso was also up 21 centavos closing at P43.67 against the US dollar as other major Asian currencies also appreciated.
“Undoubtedly, it is also a sign that the economy definitely is improving,” the President said.
As the peso continued its strong showing, the President said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), is doing the necessary steps to allay the fears of exporters and overseas Filipino workers on its uncertain impact on remittances and sending Philippine products abroad.
As it is, the President said inflation is quite manageable and there is no overheating of the economy.
“We are in a quite ideal situation where there is growth, inflation is moderate or controlled and the peso value is not subject to very wide fluctuations,” the President said. (PCOO)
