No need to suspend EVAT on fuel - Aquino
SINGAPORE (via PLDT and Smart) – President Benigno S. Aquino III thumbed down the proposal to temporarily suspend the imposition of expanded value added tax on fuel products as a measure to stave off the effects of the weekly price increases on the commodity saying the move posed no direct and tangible benefit to the public.
In an informal interaction with members of media at the Shangri-la Hotel here, the President said suspending the EVAT on fuel would do more harm than good.
He said the government stood to lose P5-billion in revenues which would in turn result in the ballooning of its deficit as it would need to source funds from other budget allocations to fund its programs and projects.
It would also result in lower credit ratings from credit watchdogs such as Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s who would deem the suspension of EVAT as a “fiscally imprudent” move.
The President added that suspending the EVAT on fuel would only give a false sense of security that the government is doing something as “artificially maintaining lower fuel prices would only discourage people from changing their habits of using fuel and save less.”
Instead, the President said, studies looking towards giving exemptions to the public transport sector and fast-tracking energy conservation measures and the use of alternative sources of fuels will be undertaken to address the fuel issue.
He said the government is focused on ensuring the “certainty of oil supply and we are targeting at least 60 days buffer stock on hand.” (PCOO)
Aquino thanks President Nathan for warm welcome on his State Visit
SINGAPORE – (via PLDT): President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his profound thanks and gratitude to President S.R. Nathan and the people of Singapore for the warm welcome and the excellent arrangements accorded him during the duration of his three-day State Visit here.
“I am likewise grateful for the support you have extended my nation – in the form of investments that have generated jobs for my countrymen; of enhancement capability programs undergone in the spirit of solidarity; and of your graceful hosting of the more than 177,000 Overseas Filipino Workers in your country,” the Chief Executive said in his speech before proposing a toast to President Nathan during the State Banquet hosted in his honor on Thursday at the Singapore Istana Banquet Hall.
Describing his visit as brief yet very productive, the President told President Nathan that Singapore’s “drive toward progress was fueled by the desire to empower your people so that they may live better lives.”
“I spent the past day seeing this first- hand: in how a people so diverse were able to unite under one vision and one banner; in how an island little more than 700 square kilometers was transformed into a hub of culture and enterprise in the region, if not the world,” he stressed.
The President noted that his State Visit to Singapore reaffirmed his belief that any nation, governed by leaders focused on the other rather than the self, is limited only by the imagination.
“Every Singaporean has been empowered to fulfill his or her potential, and I believe that the same potential holds true for my own people. You made me realize what we can someday achieve,” he added.
The President said that he intends to lead the Filipino people on a path to progress stressing that he was grateful to the Singaporean government for their example of what can be achieved.
After his speech, President Aquino offered a toast to the health of President Nathan and the Singaporean people who, he said that together with the Filipinos “are working to create a more prosperous Southeast Asia. (PCOO)
President Nathan confident Aquino's visit to Singapore will deepen regional cooperation
SINGAPORE – (via PLDT): President S. R. Nathan of Singapore expressed confidence that the three-day State Visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III here will “work in even closer partnership to deepen regional cooperation in this globalized world.”
“Let us continue with our strong partnership to preserve the centrality and relevance of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in the evolving regional architecture in Asia,” President Nathan said as he proposed a toast to President Aquino during the State Banquet the Singaporean leader hosted on Thursday night at the Singapore Istana Banquet Hall here.
Nathan noted that bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore have always been strong. “We are bound together not only by strong historical connections but also by our increasingly robust economic ties.
Besides being your country’s fourth largest trading partner last year, he said, Singapore is also a major investor in the Philippines with registered cumulative investments reaching some $4.2 billion as of end 2009.
President Nathan likewise cited the recent expansion of the two country’s bilateral air services which, he said, can be expected to further strengthen these bonds of friendship, “with more of our peoples getting together for trade and tourism.”
He said the people-to-people ties between the two countries have also remained strong noting that they “complement our strong political and economic ties and provide our bilateral relationship.”
In this connection, President Nathan said he was pleased to learn that Singapore is now the top visitor-contributor to the Philippines from the ASEAN countries.
“Many Filipinos similarly visit Singapore for both work and leisure. I am glad to learn that we have shared experiences among our peoples. More than 2,000 Filipino officials have attended various training programs under our Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) since the SCP was started in 1992, forging even closer friendships in the process, Many Filipino students are also studying here,” he said.
He also mentioned the sizeable Filipino community residing in Singapore who are mostly professionals occupying top positions in business and industry and making significant contributions to the development of Singapore.
President Nathan said that the two countries also share strong common interests in promoting regionalism.
“As maritime countries, our links have historically been with the seas around us. We naturally share common interests in the freedom of navigation and safety at sea,” he stressed.
He added that as founding members of ASEAN, the two countries also share the same interests “to keep ASEAN cohesive, strong and relevant as we head towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community by 2015.”
“With the worst of the 2008 global financial crisis behind us, our region is well poised for growth. We must be focused on our common goal of achieving an ASEAN Community,” the Singaporean leader said.
According to President Nathan, the ASEAN Master Plan “is an innovative idea that seeks to enhance physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity in ASEAN.”
He told President Aquino that he looks forward to working with him to “strengthen our ASEAN links with the globalized international community.” (PCOO)
Bayanihan centers helping Filipinos working in Singapore
The condition of Filipinos working in Singapore has improved tremendously in recent years as a result of the continuing cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore, Secretary Herminio Coloma said.
“It’s important to note that the profile of our overseas Filipino workers [OFWs] in Singapore has changed. Currently, they are around 177,000. And since 2007, many of them now belong to professionals and highly-skilled technical workers compared to the domestic employees,” Coloma said during an interview with RMN radio Friday.
There are around 108 Filipino associations in Singapore not to mention the bayanihan centers in that country, Coloma said describing the Filipino community there as “very cohesive.”
The bayanihan centers conduct year-round courses for the OFWs, upgrading their skills so that they can easily integrate domestically if they opt to go back to the Philippines.
“This is being sustained by the two countries, Philippines and Singaporean government. And I think this is the reason why there is a significant drop in the problems of OFWs in Singapore,” Coloma said.
Coloma is part of President Benigno Aquino III’s entourage in Singapore for a two-day visit to that country aimed at strengthening the ties between the two Asean neighbors.
The President had met the Filipino community in Singapore and thanked them for their support during the last election that catapulted him to power.
President Aquino is due to arrive in the country Friday evening. (PCOO)
Aquino says tackling corruption is key to economic growth
President Benigno S. Aquino III is now faced with the big challenge of tackling corruption which he said is the key to improving the country’s economy and uplifting the lives of the poor.
In an interview with BBC's Sharanjit Leyl in Singapore, the President said cases against smugglers and tax evaders are being filed on a weekly basis.
The Chief Executive further said that the government will be compiling the evidence, preparing the cases for officials involved in crimes and for those that have plundered the national treasury.
"There was an attitude by certain quarters that they were beyond the law, we want to prove that that is not the case,” he said adding that “there has to be certainty of being incarcerated if you commit a crime.”
He also discussed the critical and important role the Ombudsman plays in graft and corruption cases against government officials involved in allegations of wrong doing and how the long and tedious impeachment process the present ombudsman is undergoing in Congress delays government’s war against corruption.
The President also said that the government is focused on assisting the poor that it has expanded its "conditional cash transfer" program that makes up the biggest part of the social spending plan, by signing up last year some one million families to the program adding that another 1.3 million families will be added.
The President noted that some 4.6 million families need support and government intends to enroll all of them in the CCT program in two years. (PCOO)
Aquino hopes for peaceful resolution to Spratlys issue
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday expressed hope for a peaceful resolution of the Spratlys issue, noting that the disputed group of islands is an area of opportunity for economic development because of its vast natural resources, particularly oil and gas.
“There is a lot of oil and gas in the area and nobody has exploited the resources. We are talking to ASEAN to join efforts to resolve the issue,” the President said in an interview with BBC’s Sharanjit Leyl in Singapore.
He said it will be ideal if claimant-countries can agree, at least, to perhaps, set up a joint corporation amongst them.
“At the end of the day we all get to exploit the resources for the benefit of our respective people,” the President stressed.
Claimant-countries include the Philippines, People’s Republic of China, Republic of China (Taiwan), Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. (PCOO)
OWWA has P13-B for repatriation of OFWs, Palace says
The Department of Budget and Management has issued a total of P13 billion in stand by funds to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the repatriation of overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in troubled Middle Eastern countries, Malacanang said Friday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has explained that OWWA has funds to return the OFWs back to the Philippines should the need arise.
He was reacting to a report that OWWA is asking for fund augmentation to its remaining P200 million (of the P500 million) originally given for the repatriation of OFWs.
OWWA already has the P13 billion as reported by Budget Secretary Abad, Lacierda said.
On Filipino nurses who have expressed their desire to stay on in Libya and Saudi Arabia, Lacierda said “the government only wants to ensure their safety. The offer to repatriate them is always there. I think they would also be able to realize and appraise for themselves the dangers they are facing,” he added.
“If and when they feel it is necessary to leave Libya, the Department of Foreign Affairs, through our embassies, will be more than willing to repatriate them,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda downplayed claims by some sectors that the DFA had been basing its assessments on the Middle East situation from rumors and Facebook accounts.
“We receive information on the ground from the Embassy in Saudi Arabia. I am receiving regular updates on the situation not only from Saudi Arabia but also from other Middle East countries where we have OFWs and where they face possible repatriation,” he maintained.
Lacierda said that he and Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Strategic Planning and Development Office receive regular updates from the DFA and the embassies through Undersecretary Rafael Seguis. (PCOO)
PHL, Indonesia vow to help secure safety of their citizens in Saudi – Coloma
In case violence escalates in Saudi Arabia, the governments of the Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to help each other ensure the safety and welfare of their respective citizens, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said Friday.
In an interview over RMN Radio Friday morning, Coloma said President Benigno S. Aquino III and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono discussed the joint cooperation through the ‘mandatory consular notification’ of the two countries.
He said the agreement was cemented during the two leader’s bilateral meeting last Tuesday as among the outcome of President Aquino’s state visit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Coloma said both Presidents Aquino and Yudhoyono agreed to apply the conduct of “mandatory consular notification” in protecting their respective citizens in case violence worsens in Saudi Arabia.
Under the agreement, Coloma said, the two countries would pull out resources for the possible emergency relocation of their citizens from troubled areas.
The Philippines and Indonesia have huge numbers of contract workers in Saudi Arabia and to other Middle East countries who are now facing political crisis and civil unrest.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda assured the families of overseas Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia that the national government is closely monitoring the situation.
He said aside from the information they receive from the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis has regularly updated him on the situation.
“We receive regular updates from Undersecretary Seguis on the situation not only in Saudi Arabia but also in other Middle East countries which we have OFWs and where there is a possible cause for concern for us,” Lacierda said during this press briefing. (PCOO)
Aquino invites Singapore to invest in PH
SINGAPORE (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday invited the business community here to invest in the Philippines saying the overall climate in the country is now more conducive to business and investments under his leadership.
In his speech keynoting the Singapore Business Forum/International Enterprise (SBF/IE) Eminent Leaders Lecture at the Shangri-la Hotel Friday morning, the President said it would be a “wonderful opportunity” to be partners with leaders of Singaporean commerce as the Philippines “rises to the sky.”
He said the Philippines stood to learn and earn a lot from doing business with Singapore which he cited as a source of inspiration for good leadership.
The President lauded the ingenuity, perseverance and dedication of Singaporeans to continually improve themselves saying the Fullerton Hotel was a classic example of these Singaporean traits.
“Yesterday I met with your business leaders inside the Fullerton, and learned that it was once a post office building. But rather than let it fall into disrepair and neglect, you have transformed it into one of your country’s prime hotels,” the President said.
He said that what was done with the Fullerton “inspired” him and offered a clearer picture of what being the President of the Philippines entailed.
“I see myself as a sort of building administrator, tasked to look after a building in a state of disrepair. I lead a nation that has for so long been neglected. My job is to fix the things that need fixing, so that the building—my nation—may perform to its fullest capacity, and my people may live better lives,” the President said.
“The challenge is to find the things that need to be fixed; the need to redesign, retrofit, and enhance the building while the occupants continue to use it, while at the same time making their occupancy more comfortable while reconstruction is ongoing,” he added.
Simply put, this means making sure that no one goes hungry; that the welfare of the people is treated as a priority; that each citizen is granted the opportunity to fulfill his potential and no one gets left behind, he said.
The President lauded the Singaporeans for showing the way to achieving this not so impossible feat.
“Your nation has shown the world that good leadership translates into progress. We intend to join your ranks among developed nations; the next question, then, is how?” he said.
With Singapore’s example, Aquino said the Philippines has embarked on “redesigning the building of state” by “redesigning the culture of governance, alleviating poverty by curbing corruption; by instituting reforms in the military, where faulty procurement practices have robbed our soldiers of decent equipment and dignified living standards; in the judiciary, where the scales of Lady Justice tipped toward the privileged few; and all across the bureaucracy, where lack of integrity and competence has been the norm, rather than the exception.”
Other reforms the President said include: addressing the challenges rooted upon a lack of infrastructure that will make the Philippines a more attractive investment destination by pursuing greater cooperation with the private sector through the Public-Private Partnership program; cutting red tape and ensuring the proper and responsible use of government resources.
Through these reforms he said, the Philippines is saying to the world it is ready to do business and will soon reclaim its rightful place in the community of nations.
“Your government has already signified its willingness to help a brother nation reach the same heights that you have reached; I invite therefore the Singaporean business community to take part in this wonderful opportunity as the Philippines rises to the sky,” the President said.
“Partnering with us holds both tangible and intangible rewards; it means also a commitment to lifting the lives of a people who only recently had learned how to dream again,” he added.
Since he assumed office, President Aquino’s administration has put an emphasis on continuing vital economic reforms aimed at creating an even more vibrant business environment to attract foreign investments and businesses. (PCOO)
President Aquino reaffirms partnership commitment with businesses
SINGAPORE (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday reaffirmed his administration’s advocacy to help businessmen invest in the Philippines by providing them easier investment access.
In the open forum that followed the Singapore Business Federation/International Enterprise (SBF/IE) Eminent Leaders Lecture at the Shangri-la Hotel here, the President cited the importance of “being friends with the business community.”
“For too long, businesses have been treated as somebody perhaps to be pillaged rather than somebody to help nurture because this sector provides the jobs, provides the revenues that empowers government to be able to do what has to be done,” the President told the gathering of some 200 businessmen.
“So towards that end, the direction has been very, very clear: we will be friends with the business community. We will partner with them, of course ethical business practices are essential to this, seeing them as partners for the growth that we want to achieve,” he added.
Red tape, according to the President, has been cut down to ease the business community’s burden of waiting too long.
“So we are committed through the PPP (Public Private Partnership) program for the proposals to be adjudged as whether necessitating approval or disapproval within six months which means we have gone through the entire regulatory process,” the President said.
“We want those that are ready to partner with us to be facilitated in gaining profits for their entities and thereby ensuring their continued stay in our country and being partners in providing the jobs which was our first campaign promise,” he added.
Aside from helping businessmen invest in the country, the President said the PPP program will “provide the infrastructure necessary to fuel the growth that we need” by freeing our national budget to address social concerns that are still existing in the country.”
“The idea being we will not rely on the trickle down approach to alleviate poverty in our country but we will be applying more and more direct interventions by the state to alleviate the plight of our poor,” the President said.
He added that his government has pledged to be as transparent as possible in the decision-making process “because we pledge a level playing field where closeness to the powers that be is not the main determinant to who gets which project approved but rather the soundness of the proposal and the intended beneficiaries will be the overriding concern as to which investment opportunities we will concentrate in further attracting to our country.” (PCOO)
ES Ochoa sets in motion administrative proceedings against Ombudsman’s Special Prosecutors
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Friday that Malacañang had initiated administrative proceedings against Special Prosecutor Wendell Sulit of the Office of the Ombudsman, and had asked her to explain why she should not be sanctioned for entering into a questionable plea bargain deal with retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.
Ochoa issued the show-cause order directing Sulit to submit to the Office of the Executive Secretary an explanation, within five days from the time she received the order, why no administrative disciplinary proceedings may be commenced against her.
The Executive Secretary said the initiation of administrative proceedings is based on the recommendations of the Justice Committee of the House of Representatives, which looked into the plea bargain agreement with the former military comptroller.
Ochoa likewise said that the Office of the President has referred to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) the House Committee on Justice Resolution No. 3, which also recommended the filing of appropriate charges against Deputy Special Prosecutors Roberto Kallos and Jesus Micael; and Assistant Special Prosecutors Jose Balmeo Jr. and Joseph Capistrano.
“Under the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, a complaint against a civil service official may be initiated by the disciplining authority,” Ochoa said.
Under Section 8 of Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, “a Deputy or the Special Prosecutor may be removed from office by the President for any of the grounds provided for the removal of the Ombudsman, and after due process.”
The special prosecutor, just like the Ombudsman, can be removed from office on grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.
In this case, the congressional reports are treated as complaints and the bases of the initiation of administrative proceedings against Sulit, Ochoa explained.
Meanwhile, Ochoa wrote CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III and asked that the CSC to initiate administrative proceedings against Kallos, Micael, Balmeo, and Capistrano in accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 292 or the Administrative Code.
The Office of the Ombudsman and CSC exercise concurrent jurisdiction insofar as administrative cases against Sulit’s deputies and assistants are concerned, as they are not presidential appointees.
The Administrative Code states that the Civil Service “embraces all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters” and that the CSC can “hear and decide administrative cases instituted by or brought before it directly or on appeal.”
After conducting an inquiry into the plea bargain deal, the House Committee on Justice forwarded last February Committee Resolution No. 3 to the Palace, requesting the President to take action on the panel’s recommendation to dismiss Sulit and file appropriate charges against Kallos, Micael, Balmeo, and Capistrano. (PCOO)
PPP to help build infrastructure projects – Aquino
SINGAPORE (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III said the Public Private Partnership program launched by his administration last year would help fund the financial requirements of various infrastructure projects badly needed by the country to uplift its image as an alternative investment destination.
The President said the “dearth” in infrastructure projects such as those in the transportation sector would be addressed by the PPP since under the program, the public sector would be assisted in funding these projects by the private sector.
“The projects I am keen on seeing accomplished are light rail systems in three directions to have greater mobility between these places and the center of economic activity in the Philippines,” the President said.
Aside from this, the President said that “ports for both air and sea to cover the vast expanse of the country as well as various energy projects and dams are some of the sectors we will be focusing on.” (PCOO)
PH to embark on aggressive tourism campaign – Aquino
SINGAPORE (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III said today that the country will soon embark on an aggressive campaign to promote the Philippines as a “key tourist destination.”
The President made the announcement in his speech keynoting the Singapore Business Forum/International Enterprise (SBF/IE) Eminent Leaders Lecture at the Shangri-la Hotel Friday morning.
He said that the first order of business however is to remove “bottlenecks” hindering its imminent growth.
“We are finalizing the details of an executive order that will liberalize the entry of foreign carriers in a way that will not decimate our local carriers. We need these local carriers to address the needs of our overseas workers in case of emergencies such as those happening in the Middle East today. Under this order, we will allow foreign carriers to fly into key destinations in the Philippines,” the President said.
“Beyond that, we are also addressing technical and regulatory issues that have been allowed to worsen in the previous decade. This led to the banning of Philippine aviation into Europe and the downgrading of Philippine carriers to category 2 under US FAA regulations,” he added.
The Chief Executive said he had ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to resolve these issues within a year so that Philippine carriers can resume flights to European destinations and that we will be removed from Category 2 under FAA regulations.
“Once these bottlenecks have been resolved, we will embark on an aggressive marketing campaign that will brand and sell the Philippines as a key tourist destination in the outside world,” the President said. (PCOO)
Aquino appeals for calm amidst tsunami alerts
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday appealed for calm and sobriety in the wake of a tsunami alert issued by authorities following a strong earthquake in Japan.
The President, who is due to arrive later in the evening from a three-day state visit to Singapore, asked the people to take seriously the warnings issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and follow other safety precautions.
“Nakita po natin ang mga epekto ng nangyaring lindol sa hilagang silangang bahagi ng Japan. At mulat po tayo sa peligrong maaaring idulot nito sa mga kapantay po nating mga bansa. Hinihiling po natin ang hinahon mula sa ating mga kababayan,” the President said in a statement issued from Singapore.
The President asked concerned government agencies to coordinate their efforts in evacuating residents living the shorelines facing the Pacific Coast, the areas expected to be hit by tidal waves.
At the same time, he asked them to prepare for any eventually that may be caused by tsunami hitting the country. He said he had instructed concerned government agencies to help the people and share information.
“Nakausap ko na po ang mga kalihim ng mga ahensyang tulad ng DND, DILG, DOST, at office of the defense secretary at iba pa. Inatasan ko na po silang ibahagi sa publiko ang anumang impormasyon na makakalap nila,” the President said.
These government agencies are currently meeting on how to respond to a looming devastation that could be brought about by the tidal wave. NDRRMC will be the one providing the details of government initiatives being employed at this time, he added.
The President said they have coordinated with the Philippine embassy in Tokyo and are waiting for information about Filipinos affected by the quake.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) immediately advised 19 coastal and low-lying provinces, especially in the Pacific side for possible evacuation.
The provinces placed on tsunami alert level 2 are: Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur.
Alert level 2 means there are pinpointed areas that need to be evacuated, particularly the areas at the Pacific side of the country. (PCOO)
Aquino extends condolences to Japan
SINGAPORE (via PLDT and Smart): President Benigno S. Aquino III extended his and the Philippines’ “most profound condolences and sympathies” to the people of Japan who were hit by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake at around 2:46 p.m. Friday.
In a one-page letter addressed to Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan, the President said he and the Filipino people are ever ready to assist the people of Japan in anyway they can.
“It is with great sadness that we learned of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan a few hours ago, causing a great deal of loss and damages.
“The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the entire Filipino nation join me in expressing both our most profound condolences and sympathies, as well as our solidarity with Your Excellency and the people of Japan, as you strive to cope with this tragedy whose devastation, it pains us, are still unfolding,” the letter said.
As a close friend and neighbor, Japan has constantly stood by the Philippines, in past tribulations wrought by nature.
“Our extensive and long-standing ties of friendship means that Japan is also home to a vast number of Filipinos, whose welfare also represents a paramount concern. During this difficult time, I assure Your Excellency that the Philippine government stands ready to extend any support and assistance within its capability, as Japan strives to cope with the aftermath of this tragic event.” (PCOO)
Singapore honors Aquino with new orchid crossbreed named after him
SINGAPORE (via PLDT): Singapore on Friday honored President Benigno S. Aquino III by naming a new orchid crossbred after him in simple ceremonies at the Singapore Botanical Garden in Burkill Hall here.
The Chief Executive personally attended the orchid-naming ceremonies aptly called Ascocenda Benigno S. Aquino III which is accorded only to visiting heads of state upon their first visit to Singapore. The President is on the last day of his three-day state visit.
Ascocenda Benigno S. Aquino III is a vigorous and free-flowering hybrid that bears flowering sprays of 10 to 12 flowers each measuring 7 to 8 cm across. Its petals and sepals are bright golden yellow with many distinct reddish brown spots and tessellations.
The President was accompanied by Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma.
The President’s mother, the late President Corazon C. Aquino herself was accorded this tribute during her state visit here in 1986, with the Dendrobium Corazon Aquino described as a “robust hybrid which has inflourescences 50 to 60 cm in length over 30 spirally arranged blooms on each.
After the orchid-naming rites, the President toured the Singapore Botanical Garden. (PCOO)
Statement of President Benigno S. Aquino III on Japan earthquake
Nakita po natin ang effect ng nangyaring lindol sa Hilagang Silangang bahagi ng Japan at mulat po tayo sa peligrong maaaring idulot nito sa mga baybaying ng atin pong bansa. Hinihiling po natin ang hinahon sa ating mga kababayan. Gawin nating organisado ang ating mga kilos at makipag-ugnayan at makipagtulungan po tayo sa ating mga otoridad.
Paghandaan po natin ang anumang pinsala na maaaring idulot ng isang tsunami sa atin pong mga komunidad. Nakausap ko na po ang mga Kalihim ng mga ahensya tulad ng DND, DILG, DOST, at pati po ang Executive Secretary at iba pa. Inatasan ko na po sila na ibahagi sa publiko ang anumang impormasyon na makakalap nila. Kasalukuyan po silang nagpupulong upang pag-usapan ang mga hakbangin na gagawin pa natin.
Seryosohin po sana natin ang kanilang mga babala at alituntunin. Ang NDRRMC, siya po ang magbibigay ng mga detalye ng hakbang na ginagawa ng atin pong gobyerno. Makakauwi na po kami sa loob ng ilang oras. Harinawa po ay maiwasan natin ang pinsala at pati na rin po ang Embassy natin sa Japan ay nakausap na natin. Mayroon pong disruption sa communication sa Tokyo at naghihintay tayo ng mga karagdagang impormasyon.
Maraming salamat po. (PCOO)
