Aquino fetes retailers and mall owners for 3rd quarter growth
President Benigno S. Aquino III has praised the entrepreneurship of the country’s retailers and shopping mall owners for their contribution in the country’s third quarter growth which was shored up by robust consumer spending.
The Chief Executive paid tribute to the entrepreneurs comprising the trade industry as he graced the 14th Outstanding Filipino Retailers and Shopping Centers of the Year awards night of the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pasig City on Wednesday night.
“Recent data has shown that Philippine retailing has been a major contributor to the growth of our national economy. In the third quarter of this year, the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the Retail Subsector posted a 14.1 percent growth rate. As a result, the Trade Industry, which is made up of the Retail and Wholesale Subsectors, posted a double digit growth of almost 12 percent,” the President said.
The National Statistical Coordination Board has reported a 6.5 percent third quarter growth backed by remittances and strong consumer spending.
Robust consumption spending is seen to last until the Christmas holidays which may push the country to exceed the 5 to 6 percent growth target for this year.
Since 1996, the President said the PRA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have been partners in the “Search for World Class Retailers” program, the awardees of which have inspired aspiring entrepreneurs to continue to excel.
More recently, the President said, the DTI and the PRA have collaborated in the “DTI Bagwis Award” program, which was established to implement a self-regulation mechanism to promote honest and fair dealings, maintain high ethical standards, and to build and preserve consumer trust and confidence.
“There are also the “Diskwento” projects, which sell commodities at reduced prices to help ease the burden of rising prices on the average Filipino consumer. Moreover, the PRA has been an ally of the government in implementing the provisions of the Consumer Welfare Act—including the Price Tag Law and the prohibition of the No Return, No Exchange Policy,” the President said.
During the event the President led in honoring former Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. who was the recipient of the PRA President’s Award as the “father of luxury retailing.”
Their Rustan’s business established with his wife Gliceria in 1951 made the Philippines the first country to be granted a license to distribute Christian Dior products outside of France.
The ambassador’s acceptance speech was read by his son and namesake Bienvenido Jr. who bared his father’s simple secret to success – “live honorably, treat customers and employees fairly, and serve others.”
Aside from Tantoco, the President also commended the retailers and shopping center owners including the esteemed members of PRA such as Henry Sy, Sr., Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Jorge Araneta, Mrs. Socorro Ramos, and John Gokongwei Jr., who, he said, have led the way in showing the virtues of acting with honesty, dignity, and humility.
“Rest assured, we will continue to work overtime to foster a market environment that is ethical, efficient, and free. What the retail sector has accomplished to date is an example of what can be done when the Filipino entrepreneur is left to work in a free market. You have our trust. We believe that you will continue to excel in your field. On our part, we will make certain that we remain worthy of your trust as well,” the President concluded. (PCOO)
Aquino defends Truth Commission, vows to stamp out corruption
Unfazed by the recent Supreme Court decision declaring the Truth Commission as “unconstitutional,” President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed on Wednesday to remain true to his election promise to get to the bottom of alleged corruption perpetrated by officials of the previous administration.
In a statement, President Aquino said that though many people were dismayed by the decision of the High Tribunal, he remains determined in searching for the truth that will finally bring to a close this “dark chapter in our nation’s history.”
Voting 10-5, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declared as unconstitutional President Aquino III's Executive Order No. 1 creating the Philippine Truth Commission, saying it "violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution" for concentrating on the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Aquino slammed the High Court’s ruling saying the Commission’s mandate was not to train its sights on just one person but to go after the whole group.
“Lilinawin ko po: Hindi nakatutok ang Truth Commission sa iisang tao lamang kundi sa maraming iba’t ibang mga insidente (To make it clear: the Truth Commission is not concentrating its investigative powers on just one person but on different incidents),” the President said.
The President pointed out that among the burning issues the Commission is tasked to find answers to are the Hello Garci case, the scuttled NBN-ZTE deal, the fertilizer fund scam, the typhoon Ondoy and Reming relief fund, and on the various “midnight appointments and deals.”
He said it was his duty and obligation to all Filipinos as President of the country to unearth answers to these issues especially to “those who are ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice and tell the truth on alleged corruption.”
He called on those “pretending” to be deaf and blind not to get in the way in his campaign against corruption.
“I will do everything under the law to stop those who take advantage of the people. Have no doubt that before myself or others, I will put the interests of the people first.”
As long as I am President, I will never allow the Filipino people to be taken advantage of. (PCOO)
Aquino exhorts youths to pursue productive developmental project
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III called on the Filipino youth from various organizations to continuously pursue productive and developmental projects that will not only benefit themselves but the whole country as well.
In addressing the winners of the 8th Search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacañan Palace, the chief Executive exhorted the younger generation to maximize their potentials and bright ideas to help the government in pursuing total change and development.
The President assured the youth of his continuous support by pushing various initiatives that will benefit their sector.
One of these programs include the creation of a Local Youth Development Council that will guide and hone them to pursue their dreams become productive citizens of the country.
Also, Social Welfare and Development’s umbrella project dubbed as ‘Unlad Kabataan Program,’ for the underprivileged children, which seeks to assist and equip the Out of School Youth (OSY) to help their families and the community.
The President noted that he will coordinate with various agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations Population Fund to generate programs that will actively involve the youth in every community.
“The future of the country depends on our unified moves,” said the President, adding that we need to help each other, particularly the youth who eventually will inherit and continue the pursuit for a brighter tomorrow.
During the event, the President recognized the ten winners of the TAYO Awards who have come up with innovative approaches to projects that promote education for all, solving gang wars, widespread computer literacy, food security and self sufficiency, poverty alleviation and community empowerment.
Each of the winning groups received fifty thousand pesos cash grants from Coca Cola Foundation Philippines and custom-made trophies specially crafted by artist Toym de Leon Imao.
Assisting the President during the awarding ceremonies were Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, TAYO Awards Foundation president Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, National Youth Commission Chairman Christopher Arnuco and Guillermo Aponte, president and general manager of the Coca Cola Export Corporation.
This years TAYO Awardees are Pro Drop-out Reduction Program (Pro-Dorp Team) of Surigao del Sur; Mandaya Tribal Youth Organization from Mabetas, Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compostela Valley; Pag-Asa Youth Organization Talisay City Chapter from Cebu; Pagaypay 4-H Club of Barangay Pagaypay, Passi City, Iloilo; Link.Exe-West Visayas State University of Iloilo City; Brotherhood for Peace, Baguio City; Education Revolution Movement (EdRev), Sta. Maria, Bulacan; Pochon Maanichar Centennial Batch Association, Inc., Ifugao Province; Alay ni Ignacio (ANI)-Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City and the Philippine Stagers Foundation from Balic-Balic in Manila. (PCOO)
Aquino honors outstanding 10 cops
President Benigno S. Aquino III challenged this year’s outstanding policemen and women to continue their good work as his administration is working doubly hard to improve the economy and the Filipinos’ standard of living.
“Just take the righteous path and I will take care of the rest,” the President said in his impromptu speech at the awarding rites of the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) on Wednesday afternoon at Malacanang’s Ceremonial Hall.
The President said he had ordered National Police Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo to improve the arms capability of the police force and increase its budget for training.
He added that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is currently coordinating with the National Housing Authority (NHA) to fast track the application of the PNP for decent housing units.
Coming from various regions across the nation, named ten outstanding policemen were: Supt. Leo Francisco of Taguig City; Supt. Florencio Ortilla of Davao City; Supt. Noel Ponsaran of Davao City; Supt. Sidney Villaflor of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; PO3 Edilberto Euraoba II of Sibulan, Negros Oriental; PO3 Shella Mae Sangrines of Iloilo City; PO3 Zoraida Aripin of Zamboanga City; PO3 Joey Castillon of Tobias Fornier, Antique; SPO2 Hermie Raymundo of Lingayen, Pangasinan; and PO3 Roel Paclibar of Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.
Meanwhile, Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepena said the 2010 COPS are all model citizens that can inspire fellow Filipinos to take the straight and righteous path that the Aquino administration is now promoting.
“These outstanding policemen and women are a testament to our police force’s dedication to their sworn duty and professionalism towards performing their responsibilities,” Sobrepena said.
In behalf of the awardees, Police Supt. Leo Francisco, chief of the Regional Police Intelligence and Operations Unit of the National Capital Region (NCR) said that “as policemen we have the authority to enforce the law among the people and yet, to be relevant and responsive, we must always be mindful that the authority actually emanates from the people’s mandate.”
Aside from the trophy they received from the President, each awardee also got a cash prize of P250,000 from the Metrobank Foundation. Also, the awardees received the Medalya ng Katangitanging Gawa from the PNP as an added recognition of their exemplary feats.
From a pool of almost 100 nominees, the awardees went through a rigorous screening process which involved documents review and a panel interview.
Among the board of judges of the 2010 search are the following: Justice Secretary Leila De Lima as co-chairman, Supreme Court Justice Mariano Del Castillo, Dr. Jose Ma. Arsenio Mariano, president of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Atty. Eusebio Tan, president of the Management Association of the Philippines; Atty. Jose Tale, chairman of the Couples for Christ; Paul Shafer, resident representative of the Hanss Seidel Foundation; and Joel Reyes Zobel, a broadcast journalist from Super Radyo DZBB of GMA network. (PCOO)
