Aquino opens Presidential Situation Room for effective response to crisis
The government can now effectively respond to crisis and emergency with the full operations of the Presidential Situation Room (PSR).
President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his message at the inauguration of the PSR on Thursday, said the PSR has produced 104 concise, accurate and insightful reports that have kept him up to date on important events since October 2010.
These reports, the Chief Executive added, have also given the Cabinet relevant information that is needed to better respond to different challenges.
He also said that while the PSR was set up to provide him the capability to handle situations of critical importance to national security, it is also “a reminder of how much more effective we can be if we acknowledge the value of cooperation and unity.
“It is through enhanced cooperation that we can better serve our people at times when they need us most,” he stressed.
The President expressed confidence that in the years to come, the PSR, and the people who work in it will continue to deliver as the country faces the reality that the people are exposed to different kinds of threats to their lives and safety.
According to the President, in his short time in office, his administration has had its share of crises that included a hostage crisis, a bus bombing, and floods in different parts of the country. Thus, on Sept. 17, 2010, he issued Administrative Order Number 2 creating the PSR so the government can respond to these situations in the most effective way.
He further said that the PSR will soon be equipped with centralized electronic connections with the key national security agencies, primarily the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Office of Civil Defense, and the Department of National Defense.
The President noted that in times of national crisis, the PSR will be the nerve center of the government’s response, centralizing information flows and assisting in the coordination of the different agencies tasked to deal with crises. (PCOO)
No need for apology to Taiwan - Malacanang
There is no need for the Philippines to apologize to the Taiwanese government for the deportation of Taiwan nationals believed to be members of an international crime syndicate.
In a media briefing at the Palace on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the government respects Taiwan’s decision concerning its citizens but the Philippine government is standing pat on its decision to deport them.
He stressed that the government does not want to be a haven of international crime syndicates and the action was based on the protection of the country’s national interest.
“We do not wish to be a haven of international crime syndicates. The evidence is in China, the crime was committed in China… so it was in our best interest, in our national interest to deport them to China”, Lacierda said.
Lacierda said that they have asked the Manila Economic Coordinating Office (MECO) to make representations for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), the de facto embassy of Taiwan in Manila, to the Taiwanese government concerning the issue.
The government, Lacierda said, has concerns for the welfare of at least eighty thousand Filipino workers and other Filipinos residing in Taiwan.
He added that they are hoping that China will recognize the actions taken by the Philippine government in accordance with its national interest.
The Taiwanese government on Wednesday demanded a public apology from the Philippine government over what it called the "surreptitious" deportation of its 14 citizens last week to mainland China.
The deported Taiwanese nationals will be facing prosecution for cross-border fraud involving some $20 million in swindled money. They were accused allegedly for having been involved in a large-scale investment scam that victimized Chinese citizens in the mainland, Singapore, and Hong Kong. (PCOO)
AFP riding high under Aquino leadership, says Mabanta
Despite ongoing allegations of corruptions, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III, remains solid and professional.
In a media briefing in Malacanang, AFP Spokesperson General Jose Mabanta Jr. said the Aquino administration has already instituted reforms even before whistle blower Col. George Rabusa exposed the alleged misuse of funds and corruption within the organization.
“The Armed Forces right now is much, much better than few years back and we will pledge to perform better and be more professional,” Mabanta said adding that the military leadership fervently supports President Aquino’s “daang matuwid” (straight and honest path) campaign to professionalize their troops.
Mabanta urged both chambers of Congress to speed up its investigation of malpractices in the AFP “so that they can move on.”
He added that since the Aquino administration took over, malpractices in the AFP has stopped. “Malaki na ang ipinagbago (sa AFP) then and now,” he said.
Mabanta stressed that the AFP supports the administration’s pledge of right conduct and good governance, the promise of ‘daang matuwid’ that includes a commitment to genuine public service and transparency.
He admitted that before the expose’ came out, they already heard of such corruption within the organization. To prevent demoralization among the soldiers, the AFP, he said started implementing reforms in 2005.
Among these were the following: 1) organizational - abolition of J6 (comptrollership office) and replaced resource management office, office of the internal auditor and management and fiscal office;
2) systems - imposing a no conversion/cash advance system, devolution of funds particularly the provision for command directed activities (PCDA); and leadership – by instituting the daang matuwid campaign of the Commander-in-Chief.
Mabanta added that the AFP has implemented the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) which endorses the AFP’s “whole nation” approach in prioritizing the people and their rights and in winning the peace. (PCOO)
Aquino to distribute relief goods to Sulu flood victims
JOLO, Sulu: President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit Jolo, Sulu on Friday to distribute relief goods to an estimated 300 victims of the flash floods in two municipalities and six barangays at the provincial capitol here.
The President will be accompanied to Jolo by Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin of National Defense, Corazon “Dinky” Soliman of Social Welfare and Development and Jesse Robredo of Interior and Local Government.
During his visit, the President will be briefed on the recent flash floods that struck the province. The briefing, which will be held at the Governor’s Conference Room, will be presided by Gazmin as chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, DND Undersecretary Benito Ramos, who is also administrator of the Office of Civil Defense and Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.
Considered the first phenomenon in the province, the flash floods followed two days of storm surges last Feb. 1 and 2, which prompted Jolo Mayor Hussin Amin to declare a state of calamity in the entire municipality last Feb.4 to help the affected barangays utilize their calamity funds.
Affected by the flash floods were two municipalities, namely, Jolo and Patikul and six barangays in the province of Sulu.
After the briefing, the President will motor to the expansive multi-purpose gymnasium where some 300 of the more than 2,000 flood victims will be waiting to receive relief goods from the DSWD.
Some parts of Jolo are still under flood water since rains normally come at 8 p.m. everyday but no longer the magnitude of a surge, according to local residents here.
Invited to attend the briefing and the distribution of relief goods are the local officials of Jolo, Indanan, Patikul, Talipao, H.P. Tahil, Maimbung, Lugus, Parang, Pata, Pandami, Pangutaran, Omar, R. Caluang, Estino, Panamao, Tapul, Luuk and Siasi. .
Also expected to attend are congressmen Habib Tupau Loong (1st district) and Nur Ana Sahidula (2nd district) of Sulu along with Vice Gov. Benjamin Loong with the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Sulu. (PCOO)
Memorandum of Agreement strengthening anti-poverty program presented to Aquino
The government’s flagship anti-poverty program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), was further strengthened today with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units.
The signed agreement was presented to President Benigno S. Aquino III in simple ceremonies at Malacañang’s Heroes Hall Thursday.
Aside from the MOA, a signed Joint Memorandum Circular as well as Administrative and Department Orders on the 4Ps were presented to the Chief Executive as part of the Departments of Health, Education and Social Welfare and Development’s commitment to support the poverty alleviation project of the Aquino administration.
The MOA, which was presented by Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr. and San Fernando, Pampanga mayor Oscar Rodriguez concretizes the LGUs commitment to support the 4Ps.
“The ceremonial signing serves to advocate and promote joint endeavors with the Local Government Units and highlight joint efforts and thrusts in meeting the country’s Millennium Development Goals,” a statement from the DSWD read.
“It is also deemed necessary to formalize the partnership of the DSWD and LGUs to strengthen the implementation of Pantawid Pamilya (4Ps) and for the LGUs to pledge commitment to providing and delivering health and educational services necessary to meet the requirements of the program,” the statement further read.
Through this MOA, the Pantawid Pamilya aims to benefit 2.3 million families covering 936 municipalities and 74 cities in 79 provinces nationwide by December 2011.
Pantawid Pamilya utilizes the conditional cash transfer scheme made popular by successful social programs in Latin America. It provides cash grants to poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education.
The program seeks to alleviate the immediate needs of a chosen household and at the same time, invest in human capital for long term results. The convergence strategy of the DSWD for a synergized holistic approach in delivering social services serves to strengthen the sustainability of the program.
The three other documents presented to the President were: the Revised Joint Memorandum Circular on Pantawid Pamilya specifying the role and responsibilities of each partner agency to ensure availability of supply on health and education; the signed Administrative Order on Project RN-HEALS (Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service) which will employ 10,000 registered nurses who will undergo learning and development during their one year deployment to Pantawid Pamilya areas; and the signed Department Order declaring January 29, 2011 as early registration day for SY 2011-2012.
The Department Order hopes to achieve the country’s Millennium Development Goals in education and is aimed at reaching out to all five and six year old children to register early to ensure enrollment in SY 2011-2012 which will also guarantee the early enrollment of the graduates of grade six students. (PCOO)
MOA strengthening 4Ps a step towards full realization of help for poor – Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday lauded the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units strengthening the implementation of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) saying “it brought us a step closer into realizing a true poverty alleviation program for our less fortunate brethren.”
The MOA, which was signed in simple ceremonies in Malacañang this afternoon, was witnessed by the Chief Executive.
The MOA aims to benefit 2.3 million families covering 936 municipalities and 74 cities in 79 provinces nationwide by December 2011.
“Sa ating pagsasanib-pwersa, humahakbang tayo papalapit sa katuparan ng programang magsusulong sa kalusugan, nutrisyon at edukasyon ng mga maralitang Pilipino,” the President said.
“Ang pagkaka-isa po natin ang susi para magtagumpay ang 4Ps.
He called on all stakeholders and concerned citizens, whom he called “frontliners” to work with dedication to ensure the success of the 4Ps, also known as the conditional cash transfer (CCT).
The 4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0 – 14.
The President also called on stakeholders and concerned citizens to show to the world that the 4Ps is not a simple dole-out.
“Patunayan natin sa mga nagdadalawang isip na ang CCT ay hindi isang limos sa halip ito ay isang bagong simula para sa maralita nating kababayan upang tuloy na silang maka-ahon sa kahirapan,” the President said.
He vowed that the government would do all it could to ensure the success of the 4Ps.
“Doble kayod ang ating administrasyon sa pagtitiyak na hindi mabibigo ang pagpapatupad ng 4Ps,” the President said. (PCOO)
