Palace happy over survey showing Pinoys hopeful in 2011
Malacañang on Wednesday expressed elation over a recent survey result showing that 93 percent of Filipinos are facing the new year with hope, near the record high levels set in 2002.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda thanked the Filipino people for the show of trust and confidence in the Aquino administration.
“We thank the Filipino people for their trust… they view our government as an engine of hope. What we promised during the campaign, the eradication of graft and corruption will bear fruit, so that is something that we are going to fulfill. Again we are very elated with the survey results”, Lacierda said.
The Social Weather Station (SWS) poll conducted Nov. 27 to 30 revealed that nine out of 10 or 93 percent of Filipinos are facing the coming year 2011 with hope, just two points off the 95 percent peak registered in December 2002. It was also higher than the 89 percent of 2009.
Those who said they would start the year “with fear" was only seven percent, down from last year’s 11 percent.
The SWS said optimism was widespread across all areas and shared by all socioeconomic classes.
It improved to 96 percent from 87 percent in Metro Manila; to 94 percent from 90 percent in Balance Luzon [Luzon minus Metro Manila]; to 97 percent from 88 percent in Visayas; and to 89 percent from 87 percent in Mindanao.
By socioeconomic classes, the number of those expressing hopefulness rose to 97 percent from 91 percent among the class ABC; 95 percent from 89 percent among the class D or masa; and 89 percent from 87 percent among the class E.
Considering the latest welcome development, Lacierda noted that the people, especially the poor could expect more from the government.
He said that the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs of the government will move forward more aggressively targeting to benefit at least 2.5 million households in 2011.
“We need to address the concerns of the poor and poverty reduction is only one of them”, Lacierda said. “The budget that we had envisioned and which had been approved is something which we had in mind and we intend to implement all the programs and policies of President Aquino”, he added. (PCOO)
Debt cap not needed at this time – Lacierda
The national debt cap veto was meant to take advantage of the bullish market conditions and effectively manage the positive outlook of both domestic and foreign investors, according to Presidential Spokesman Atty. Edwin Lacierda.
“We would like to take advantage of the favorable market conditions in the country right now. We got a strong peso, we could pay our debt services right now and we could issue bonds in peso,” he said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Lacierda dismissed the claim of Senator Joker Arroyo that the P1.6-trillion first financial blueprint of President Benigno S. Aquino III was copied from the previous administration.
He pointed out that President Benigno S. Aquino III vetoed the debt cap because the bullish performance of the stock market and the outpouring investment pledges from foreign investors.
“That’s why (this administration) believes that debt cap is not proper at this point. We believe that we would better serve and manage the economy if we have no debt cap at this time,” he said.
Lacierda recalled that when Senator Arroyo was the executive secretary of then President Corazon Aquino, debt cap was also an issue. The good senator he said is practically raising the same ghost (question) against himself.
According to Lacierda, the debt cap was also a hot issue since the term of former President Elpidio Quirino in the 50’s and former President Ferdinand Marcos who scrapped the debt cap law through an executive order he issued during martial law. (PCOO)
Aquino to lead Rizal Day rites
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the nation in commemorating the 114th death anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, who was martyred on Dec. 30, 1896, precipitating the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonial rule.
The President will raise the flag and offer wreath in ceremonies at the Rizal Park in Manila Thursday morning.
On hand to assist the President are Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairman Ambeth Ocampo.
Simultaneous flag-raising and wreath offering rites will also be held at Rizal monuments nationwide including his birthplace in Calamba, Laguna and in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte where he was exiled in July 1892.
This year’s observance will focus on the theme “Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan.” It will be highlighted by the unveiling of the logo of the 114th anniversary of Rizal’s martyrdom signaling the kick-off celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of the national hero.
Born on June 19, 1861, Rizal became one of the country’s leading reformists and inspiration of the revolution particularly through his writings and novels such as Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. His works are now being taught in public and private schools to educate students about the concept of nationalism.
Imprisoned in Fort Santiago and tried by a military court, Rizal was convicted of rebellion and shot at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park) at around 7:03 a.m. of Dec. 30, 1896.
Two years after his execution, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo issued on Dec. 20, 1898 a decree designating Dec. 30 as the death anniversary of Rizal’s death and also a national day of mourning for other victims of the oppressive Spanish rule.
The directive emphasized that all national flags shall be hoisted at half-mast from 12 noon on Dec. 29 and all offices of the government shall be closed the whole day on December 30 as a sign of mourning.
On Dec. 30, 1898, Filipinos celebrated Rizal Day for the first time and chose Club Filipino in Manila as venue. (PCOO)
