Palace to pursue corruption probe against previous administration, says Ochoa
The Aquino Administration will pursue steps to make officials of the previous administration accountable for allegations of corruption and wrongdoing, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Tuesday.
Ochoa made the statement after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Executive Order No. 1, which seeks to establish the Truth Commission whose task is to investigate reports of graft and corruption committed by officials of the previous administration and their cohorts from the private sector.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of Executive Order No. 1 will not deter us from pursuing measures necessary to look into the allegations of corruption by the previous administration,” Ochoa said.
“While this decision may hamper and perhaps delay our efforts to obtain justice for the people, we remain steadfast in our commitment to scrutinize the numerous allegations and accusation in our quest for truth,” he added.
According to the Executive Secretary, Malacañang will file a motion for reconsideration and explore other options within the bounds of the law to investigate, try and punish those who may have used and abused their positions to enrich themselves while in office.
President Benigno Aquino III created the Truth Commission in response to urgent call from the people to determine the truth behind reports of large-scale graft and corruption allegedly perpetrated by his predecessor and her officials.
The executive order was also envisioned to deter other officials from committing inappropriate conduct while in office and restore the people’s faith and confidence in the government and in their public servants.
The five-man Truth Commission is headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide and has so far identified cases that it planned to cover in the investigation, among them the aborted multi-million-dollar NBN-ZTE deal, the fertilizer scam and allegation of vote-rigging in the 2004 elections that gave Arroyo another mandate. (PCOO)
Aquino inaugurates typhoon resistant core shelters in Pangasinan
BANI, Pangasinan: President Benigno S. Aquino III inaugurated on Tuesday the first typhoon resistant core shelters in the province of Pangasinan as part of the administration’s effort to provide cheap but decent homes to victims of calamities.
In a speech, the President said the newly-completed Olanen Housing Project located at the hillside of Barangay Dacap Sur here is a joint undertaking of the municipality of Bani, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the representatives of the United Nations World Food Programme.
“Sagisag ang proyektong ito ng modernong bayanihan upang muling maibangon ang isang komunidad na nalugmok sa kalamidad,” the President said.
The Chief Executive urged the project-recipients to help the government in the community outreach program and activities intended to improve their living conditions.
“Makilahok po kayo, sa halip na magreklamo. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang pakikibahagi sa solusyon. Marami pa tayong kailangang gawin, marami pa tayong kailangang kumpunihin sa ating bayan,” the President stressed.
During the brief program, the President awarded a check to two cooperative leaders of Olanen Housing for the establishment of the consumer store and food processing livelihood projects for the residents.
At present, there are four core shelters that have been constructed in Region 1, particularly in Bani, Rosales, and Sta. Barbara, all in Pangasinan including one in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
The total number of core shelter projects in Barangay Dacap Sur San Antonio is 108 units. The core shelter amounts to P75,000 per unit. The recipients are the families who have been affected by Typhoons Emong and Pepeng in May 2009.
The core shelter project has a total cost of P9.10 million funded under the DSWD’s Core Shelter Program. The project is located in a 6 hectare lot donated by the municipality of Bani for the 130 families displaced by the typhoons. (PCOO)
Palace debunks communications group revamp
Malacañang assured on Tuesday that there will be no reorganization within the three-headed communications group of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing that the statement of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ricardo “Ricky” Carandang last week was merely taken out of context.
“There is no such thing. What Secretary Ricky Carandang mentioned was for better ways of spreading the good news to the people,” he stressed.
The reported revamp in the Communications Group stemmed from a meeting of the Cabinet late last week where, Lacierda said, they discussed the 16-point Social Contract of President Benigno S. Aquino III with the Filipino people as part of the Medium Term Development Priority Plan of the government.
Also during the workshop, several concrete measures were raised on how to effectively implement such programs within the next five years.
“It was a very healthy discussion, we were broken into several groups and some concrete measures were suggested. There are programs already on line and there were also some suggestions on how to implement some others,” Lacierda said.
The officials concerned is set to convene again next week to firm up these suggestions. (PCOO)
Palace to seek reconsideration of SC decision on Truth Commission
Malacanang on Tuesday said it would seek reconsideration of the Supreme Court decision declaring as unconstitutional Executive Order No. 1, which creates the Truth Commission, pointing out that the verdict will set back efforts for reforms and accountability in government.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda described the decision as unfortunate, saying it will set back the reforms the Aquino administration has implemented in pinpointing the accountability of the previous administration. “We will not be stymied by these decisions.”
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa meanwhile said that while a motion for reconsideration will be filed, “we will explore other options within the bounds of the law to investigate, try and punish those who have used and abused their positions to enrich themselves in office.”
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to scrutinize the numerous allegations and accusations in our quest for the truth,” he added.
Lacierda said the government will do whatever is appropriate under the circumstances.”
“We will continue exploring our options with respect to accountability and reform efforts and investigate the truth in all the scandals of the past administration,” Lacierda stressed.
On the status of the Commission, Lacierda said as an independent entity, its chairman, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide was supposed to be one of those drafting the rules.
“What I’m certain is that the Commission has been receiving a number of complaints (about the past administration) from the public,” Lacierda said. (PCOO)
Aquino to speak at children’s hour benefit lunch
President Benigno S. Aquino III will grace the 10th annual benefit lunch and speak before hundreds of children-beneficiaries; donors, sponsors and gracious benefactors of the Children’s Hour Philippines Inc. (CHPI) in Makati City on Wednesday.
Expected to welcome the President at Antel Lifestyle City are Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman; founding chairman of CHPI Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; CHPI chairperson, Emily Abrera; Ambassador Bievenido Tan Jr., vice chairman; Atty. Eusebio Tan, president of the Management Association of the Philippines and Elena Jao, president of Antel Group of Companies.
The Children’s Hour fund-raising is held every December where friends and donors from the business community are invited to celebrate a successful year of helping Filipino children through CHPI’s mission of “making the world a better place, one hour at a time.”
CHPI is a non profit, grant-giving organization that raises funds by enjoining companies and individuals to donate at least one hour of their salaries and earnings. The funds are then donated to selected projects that help children through education, food, shelter, protection and their total development.
As of June 2010, CHPI has raised P204 million and has funded over 500 projects nationwide benefiting 619,125 children.
On its 10th year, CHPI plans to expand its coverage by supporting more projects in Visayas and Mindanao. (PCOO)
New Clark hospital complex a vote of confidence in PH economy—Aquino
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE: President Benigno S. Aquino on Tuesday said that the $1.025 billion Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC) and its locators, including the Medical City, is a vote of confidence in the economic prospects for the Philippines.
In his message at the groundbreaking of the 120-bed world class tertiary hospital complex at the GGLC, the President said he looks forward to more investments and groundbreaking of more projects.
“Together with the Medical City and its partners, we are witnessing the dawning of a bright new day for the Philippines. A day where we face the future with optimism and confidence that all of us, not just a few, will reap the benefits of our hard and honest work,” he said.
The Chief Executive added that the expansion of the Medical City at the GGLC also supports the fulfillment of one of the challenges his administration faces—the access of the people, especially the poor, to quality healthcare.
“The establishment of a second hospital here in Clark will allow people in Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon easier access to the excellent care that Medical City is known for.It is my dream that some day hospitals all over the country can provide the level of quality care that you do at the Medical City,” he said.
The President stressed that access to adequate healthcare is one of the key elements in reducing poverty---a promise he made to the Filipino people.
Providing access to basic services such as education and health would improve the opportunities for a better life for the 4.6 million Filipino families considered the poorest of the poor, according to the President.
“This is the challenge my administration is trying to address.We have targeted programs for those who need them most,” he added.
The hospital is expected to be fully operational by 2013.
Under the terms of agreement, GGLC will construct the hospital according to TMC’s specifications. TMC will then lease, equip and operate the facility.
On the other hand, the GGLC project was conceived and developed by an American Company, Peregrine Development International and presented to a large Kuwait Investment group for financing. On July 16, 2008, KGL Investment Company of Kuwait signed a 50 year lease with Clark International Airport Authority (CIAC) for 177 hectare parcel of land to be developed by Peregrine as a state-of-the-art Aviation Oriented Logistics and Business Park.
The project is the largest foreign direct investment real estate development project in the Philippines. It will be the most modern logistics and business park in the country with underground facilities, fiber optics fully integrated ICT. Upon project completion , it will consist of 4.5 million square meters of floor space and can provide some 350,000 new jobs. (PCOO)
Aquino graces launch of SEAIR’s first air bus
CLARK FREEPORT ZONE: President Benigno S. Aquino III was the guest of honor at the blessing of the first Airbus of South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) on Tuesday at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport here.
The new 144-seat A319 jet aircraft will fly SEAIR’s first international destination—Singapore, starting Dec. 16.
SEAIR President Avelino Zapanta said that with the new aircraft, his company projects monthly air passenger traffic at the Clark Freeport Zone to increase by more than 60 percent or an additional 200,000 passengers annually.
Additional routes for the new jet aircraft, according to him will be added in the coming months.
“The introduction of these new flights will create a welcome boost to the Philippine tourism industry and create more high-caliber local jobs," said Zapanta.
SEAIR is the first airline locator at the Clark Freeport Zone and the second firm to put its trust and confidence in the Clark Development Corp. It is also the first Tiger Airways Partner Airline that will market and distribute its seats using its established internet booking system, tigerairways.com.
According to Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), an average of 25,000 passengers land every month at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at Clark.
The airline was founded in 1995 with an initial investment of P2 million and two nine-seater planes. Through the years, it has helped develop and brought travelers to some of the most breathtaking destinations in the country including Batanes, Palawan, and Boracay. It has the longest history of uninterrupted flights to Caticlan, having served this gateway to one of the world’s top beach destinations, Boracay, for almost 16 years. (PCOO)
