Aquino extols SBC for honoring De Lima as 2010 Most Outstanding Law Alumna
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded San Beda College for honoring Justice Secretary Leila De Lima who was awarded the San Beda College Most Outstanding Bedan Law Alumna for 2010 in simple ceremonies on Wednesday at the Club Filipino in San Juan City.
In his speech, President Aquino said De Lima, an SBC alumna, who joins a long list of “past and present legal giants” has further cemented SBC’s track record as the premiere law school in the country.
The Chief Executive also said that he remains confident that through her strong will and determination, De Lima will be able to effect “progressive change” in the country.
“I have full confidence in her integrity and desire to effect progressive change, as evidenced by her strong will and determination in pursuing the cause of justice,” he said. (PCOO)
San Beda College adopts Aquino as Honorary Alumnus
President Benigno S. Aquino III was adopted an Honorary Alumnus by the San Beda College of Law during the law school’s 2010 alumni homecoming at the Club Filipino in San Juan on Wednesday.
On hand to present the honor to the Chief Executive were Avelino V. Cruz and Justice Francisco Acosta; chairman and president of the San Beda Law Alumni Association, respectively; San Beda Rector-President Fr. Aloysius Maranan, OSB and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.
Maranan said the President was cited for his inspiring leadership, his faithful embodiment of the Benedictine ideals of ora (pray) et labora (work) and the Bedan values of fides (faith), scientia (knowledge) et virtus (virtue).
In his acceptance speech, the President challenged SBCL to remain true to the course of perfecting the justice system.”
“As daylight casts its warm and nourishing rays on our country, may San Beda Law Alumni remain to contribute in nation building by delivering complete and true justice for all: may we all stand as equals before God and the law, unafraid of dark times ever returning,” the President said.
“With your commitment to the rule of law and your perseverance in perfecting the justice system, you have a major role to play in achieving and maintaining a transparent, accountable government,” he stressed.
He stressed the need to do more “if we want to reach the full potential of our country.”
“As lawyers who swore to defend the truth in the name of justice, when confronted with such uncertainty, instead of compromising to the detriment of your fellowmen, may you step up to the plate and remain steadfast in becoming an embodiment of the Benedictine ideals of faith, knowledge and virtue,” the President said.
“I count on all Bedan lawyers to make their paramount vocation the promotion and protection of the rights of every Filipino, without prejudice or discrimination, and to serve as a guide in your respective circles of influence towards our beloved nation continuing its current successful path,” he added.
The President’s parents, the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. finished high school at SBC while the late former President Corazon Aquino, had her schooling at St. Scholastica’s College. Both schools are being operated by the Benedictine religious order. (PCOO)
Club Filipino renames Kalayaan Hall after Cory
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the marker unveiling rites formally renaming the well-known and historic Club Filipino Kalayaan Hall to President Corazon C. Aquino Kalayaan Hall in simple ceremonies on Wednesday in San Juan City.
Upon his arrival at the main lobby of Club Filipino, the President, who was assisted by members of the Club Filipino Board of Directors led by members of the Club of Filipino Board led by its president Roberto De Leon, jointly parted the drapes to uncover the marker depicting the resolution of the Board to rename its Kalayaan Hall in honor of the former President, who was “admired by the world for her extraordinary courage in restoring democracy and the rule of law to the Filipino nation at a time of great peril.”
“In consecration and in dedication, let this august hall be a reminder of President Cory’s great legacy, and her unwavering faith in the Filipino; hoping that the many generations of Filipinos will continue to emulate her selfless life of service to country and God, and strive as one to become a strong moral force of peace, democracy and freedom to live on,” the resolution read.
In his speech, the President reminisced the time his family spent with the Benedictine fathers who took care of them during the dark years of martial law and his mother’s presidency.
“As I entered this hallway, now renamed President Cory Cojuangco Aquino Hall, I felt very much welcomed with your greetings and all the banners,” the President said.
“During the time of martial law, the Bedan community sheltered our family and extended to us kindness, love, support and understanding. During my mother’s presidency, at the time of the very dangerous 1989 coup attempts, I remember Fr. Bernando Perez’s giving my mom and sisters a special blessing for our family’s safety in the presidential residence in Arlegui,” the President said.
“It was also in your Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat Chapel where mom and the rest of our family used to hear Sunday mass, and where my sister Viel Aquino-Dee got married,” he added.
He also recalled how happy her late mother was when the San Beda College Alumni Association elevated his late father to the prestigious San Beda Hall of Fame in 2007, the last time my mother attended a Bedan gathering before she passed away two years later.”
“In good times and in bad, San Beda College has become our family’s second home,” the President concluded. (PCOO)
Government committed to weeding out barriers to doing business in PH
President Benigno S. Aquino III said today his administration is committed to weeding out barriers in doing business in the Philippines and potential investors in Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects will be provided protection against regulatory risks.
Speaking at the grand opening of Infrastructure Philippines 2010 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, the President assured investors, that they’re no longer dealing with a government whose right hand is offering a handshake while the left hand is trying to pick their pockets.
“If we are truly interested in a square deal for all, then what we shake hands on should be what endures. To this end, what we will be doing in so far as solicited projects are concerned is to minimize your risk in a meaningful and fair manner,” he said.
The President cited as an example the power supply contracts and road projects during the previous administration where the government provided politically difficult guarantees to investors against financial and market risks.
To address regulatory risk, the President informed them that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board has authorized a separate Single Borrowers Limit (SBL) of 25 percent of a bank’s equity for lending specifically to PPP projects.
This, he said, will apply for the next three years, and to be eligible to be counted against the separate SBL (as opposed to the normal SBL), a bank will have to lend to a project certified by the NEDA Director General as part of the government’s PPP program.
The President told investors that one of the areas available for investment is in the tourism sector because the Philippines, has beautiful beaches, rich landscapes and natural attractions.
And to tap this, the President noted that the government is now embarking on a new campaign to rebrand the Philippines as a tourist destination, reviving tourist police that would deal with visitors concerns and rationalizing airports networks by expanding runway and terminal capacities in areas identified as tourist hubs.
He said that he will pursue the full implementation of Executive Order 219 in international aviation that would provide necessary framework for liberalizing the country’s air policy way back in 1995.
The President is convinced that liberalizing air policy will enable more aviation and tourism-related jobs through the increase in local and tourism, trade and investment.
“Our national development requires promoting an open and competitive international aviation sector that enables Philippine and foreign air carriers to expand their operations, maintain a strong Philippine-based aviation industry, and ensure international connectivity in order to allow Philippine and foreign air carriers to plan and make long-term investments in our market,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino to investors: Transparency is name of game
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured investors Thursday that all transactions under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects would be transparent and open for scrutiny.
“We call it daylight,” the President said in speech at the opening of Infrastructure Philippines 2010 at the grand ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Villamor, Pasay City.
“The way forward is to move together in the broad light of day, where everything we do and how we do it is clear, honest and transparent,” he said.
The President explained that “daylight” is the administration’s strategy for rectifying errors and standard of performance by both government and private partnerships.
He told investors that being the Chief Executive, his mandate is to prove that corruption and poverty can be reduced to the extent that the Philippines of 2016 will be a far different place than the Philippines of June 2010.
For now, he said, the goal of his administration is “to prove that the straight path is the path not only to success, but already a path marked by ever-increasing successes.”
The President reiterated that the present government is committed to a positive, productive partnership with private stakeholders based on measurable and quantifiable-building measures.
“Here is a Philippines that has the clarity of vision and firmness of mission, to accomplish what we all desire. A Philippines that has turned the corner that believes in its capacity to succeed, a country willing to share that success with partners who are one with our optimism about integrity and openness as strategies to development,” he added. (PCOO)
10 PPP projects for next year presented to investors
The government unveiled today the vital infrastructure projects to be opened for private investment, both local and foreign under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.
During the culmination of the “Infrastructure Philippines 2010: Investing and Financing in Public-Private Partnership Projects” at the Mariott Hotel in Pasay City, Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus presented the 10 transportation priority projects to be tendered next year under the PPP program.
“The projects presented today have completed feasibility studies, have completed right of way requirements, and have been budgeted to the required government counterpart for award and implementation by the fourth quarter of 2011”, De Jesus said.
He added that this year, they have been updating feasibility studies of such projects for actual implementation.
The 10 PPP infrastructure projects are as follows:
1. Cavite-Laguna Expressway project (Cavite side) -- The US$262 million project will provide vital access between various economic zones in the Cavite Province and NAIA, the Ports of Manila and Batangas and will contribute to the economic development and decongestion of traffic along Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite. This will be implemented from May 2012 to Dec. 2015.
2. NAIA Expressway (Phase II) – It will link the Skyway and the Manila-Cavite Coastal Expressway and provide vital access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3 as well as the Cavite Economic Zone. The US$235.33 million project will be implemented from Nov. 2011 to Sept. 2015.
3. LRT Line 2 East Extension project. -- This involves the expansion, operation and maintenance (O&M) of existing LRT Line 2. The expansion covers the construction of a four-kilometer eastern extension of LRT Line 2 from Santolan in Pasig City to Masinag Junction, Antipolo, Rizal with additional two passenger stations to be located at Sta. Lucia Mall and Masinag.
4. MRT/LRT Expansion Program: Privatization of LRT 1 Operation and Maintenance aims to integrate LRT Line 1 operation and maintenance to a private sector service provider during the interim period of three to four years. After the O&M period, the LRT 1 South Extension Project contractor is expected to assume overall responsibility for the integrated LRT Line 1 and MRT Line 3 systems. Project costs US$171.11 million with implementation schedule of 2011-2014.
5. MRT/LRT Expansion Program -- Privatization of MRT 3 Operation and Maintenance will integrate MRT Line 3 O&M to a private sector service provider during the interim period of three to four years. After this O&M period, the LRT Line 1 South Extension Project contractor is expected to assume overall responsibility for the integrated LRT Line 1 and MRT Line 3 systems.
6. The MRT/LRT Expansion Program: LRT 1 South Extension project -- This involves the extension of the existing 15-km LRT Line 1 system southward to Bacoor, Cavite with an additional 11.7 kilometers which includes eight passenger stations with provision for two additional future passenger stations, a satellite depot for light maintenance to be located at the southern end of the proposed line. Inter-modal facilities installed at high-demand stations, including the provision of additional rolling stocks to meet the current demand and additional load requirements once the MRT Line 3 and LRT Line 1 are integrated. The project costs US$1,555.55 million.
7. New Bohol Airport Development – It will involve the construction of a new airport of international standards with 2,500m by 45m runway to replace the existing Tagbilaran airport. Implementation will be from 2012 to 2014 with a total cost of US$ 168.89 million.
8. The Puerto Princesa Airport Development project – It will rehabilitate and improve the existing Puerto Princesa Airport to meet the standards of the International Aviation Organization (ICAO) through the construction of new landside facilities in the north western side of the existing runway such as passenger terminal building, control tower, administration and operation building, cargo terminal building, rescue and firefighting building and other support facilities. Also to be constructed are new apron and connecting taxiways, upgrading of existing 2.6-km runway and its strip and the provision of new navigational and traffic control equipment. Implementation is from year 2012 to 2014 with a project cost of US$ 168.89 million.
9. New Legaspi (Daraga) Airport Development -- the US$1.11 million-project involves the preparation of the detailed engineering design and construction of the airport facilities. It also includes land acquisition of about 180 hectares. The project components are the following landside – Passenger Terminal, Cargo building, Control Tower, Administration building, Vehicle Parking area and other site developments. To be implemented from year 2012 to 2014.
10. The Privatization of Laguindingan Airport Operation and Maintenance project -- involves privatization of its O&M in Misamis Oriental to reduce government expenditures and increase current and future service levels of the airport.
The O&M through concession covers the newly-constructed airport on a 393-hectare property complete with facilities of international standards. The airport can accommodate 1.2 million passengers per year based on it master plan. This project costs US$33.33 million with implementing schedule from year 2011 to 2013.
These projects de Jesus said. are only part of a long list of PPP projects to be opened for bidding and implementation in the years to come.
Other projects fall under the Medium-Term roll out and implementation, he said. (PCOO)
Philippines a reliable place for business, says Aquino
As President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Thursday afternoon Global Payments Processing Center Inc. (GPPCI) in the country he asked its executives, based in several parts of the world, to tell clients and partners that the Philippines is a reliable place for business.
Citing the country’s cost effective edge in highly-skilled, English proficient human resources, the President said the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, of which Global could be a part of, is truly a :”sunshine industry.”
The President made the remarks at the launch of GPPCI’s global payment center in Asia located at the Robinsons Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong City.
The BPO industry Aquino said has been going “from strength to strength” from its beginnings in 2001 and earning for the country $7.3 billion, creating 550,000 jobs. It is expected to hit $9.4 billion by the end of 2010.
According to the President, the BPO sector has become a more preferred investment priority area of the Board of Investments in recent years.
He thanked the company’s top officials for considering locating their facility in the Philippines which would not just give employment to more Filipinos but would earn more business for their company and clients.
“By locating in the Philippines, you have shown your trust and confidence in the Filipino talent and your steadfast commitment to support the country’s economic development through its highly skilled, creative and hardworking, English- proficient agents,” the President stressed.
The facility will employ 700 agents, once fully operational by summer 2011 and will run on 24 hour shifts, seven days a week.
The President assured the company that the Philippines can provide world-class service to its clients and markets. “Our country meets all the requirements for foreign businesses setting up their businesses here,” he said.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), he said is collaborating with the private sector, principally BPO companies, to determine their required agent seats and skills proficiencies.
“My administration will prioritize job generation and I am grateful that your company chose to set up a facility that will hire 500 full time agents in the first quarter of 2011,” the President added. (PCOO)
