PIA Dispatch - Monday, April 11, 2011

Aquino urges SCAP to help in nation building efforts for social transformation

President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the officers and members of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP) to continue helping his administration in the transformative process of nation building that he initiated since he assumed the presidency.

The President issued the appeal in his impromptu speech at the 10th SCAP National Leaders Conference and Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Student Catholic Association (SCA) on Monday at the Fleur-de-lis Theater of St. Paul University in Malate, Manila. The theme of this year’s conference is “Change: A Call to Every Juan!”

Being involved in the spiritual formation that produces the Christian leaders, the President cited the important role of the youth in society.

“Kayo talaga ang pagasa ng kinabukasan pero kayo rin ang puwedeng maging solusyon ng kasalukuyan. Kayo kasi ang makakaalam kung ano ang tama at ano ang mali. Kayo ang puwedeng gumising sa mga nagtutulog-tulugan at pilit pinaiiral ang lumang sistema. Bottomline nito, talagang nasa interes ninyo ang makialam, makilahok at makisama sa pagsasaayos ng ating lipunan,” the President said.

The President thanked the SCAP for supporting his good governance and reform measures campaign.

“In last year’s election you did support my candidacy and if I have an opportunity to do the actual changes it is because of your help. Then I am looking forward for the same help as we continue the transformative process in our country,” the President said.

The President informed the teachers and students that about the good things in the government for the past nine months, particularly when he implemented reform measures such as the intensive graft and corruption drive.

One of these good news is the decrease in the carnapping incident in the first quarter of 2011. The President noted that based on data from the Philippine National Police, 489 cases of combined 4-wheel and motorcycles carnapping were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 255 in the same quarter this year.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also reported to the President that the pollution index in Metro Manila has been improving.

On job employment, the President said that both the AG&P and the Convergys, one of the leading call center and business process outsourcing company, vowed to expand their operation in the country and help his administration create jobs for Filipinos.

Bishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, SCAP national chaplain and Bishop of the Prelature of Infanta, Quezon said the SCAP leadership still believes that personal and social change, which are the key components for progress, would happen under the auspices of the President. (PCOO)


Aquino reiterates calls for text vote for Palawan's Underground River

President Benigno S. Aquino III reiterated his call for the 80 million Filipino cellular phone users to text vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and help push the country’s bid for a spot in the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature title.

The Chief Executive made the pitch for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) at the sidelight of his speech during the 10th Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP) National Leadership Conference Monday morning at the Fleurde-lis Theater of St. Paul University in Malate, Manila.

“I need your help. I need text votes so that the Palawan underground river will be proclaimed as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature,” the President said as he urged the teachers and students present during the SCAP conference to take part in the government’s campaign to promote Palawan’s Underground River.

He noted that the Philippines has 80 million cell phones and one text vote for every cell phone user is really essential for the PPSRNP to win in the wonders of nature title. “Just TEXT PPUR and send it to 2861,” he stressed.

Puerto Princesa’s Underground River is one of the finalists competing with 28 other sites for the New 7 Wonders of Nature title.

The PPSRNP, formerly St. Paul Subterranean National Park, is located at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, in the Midwest coast of Palawan and some 81 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City.

PPSRNP is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world at a length of 8.2 kilometers that winds through spectacular limestone formations before emptying out into the South China Sea.

In 1999, the park was declared as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Natural World Heritage Site. It was also proclaimed “National Geological Monument” in the year 2003 by the National Committee on Geological Sciences. (PCOO)


OP respects Jalandoni's decision to resign

Malacanang is respecting the decision of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni to quit his job although the Office of the President has yet to receive his letter of resignation, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.

“That’s his prerogative and we will respect his decision. We might as well accept his resignation, if indeed he has decided to resign,” Ochoa said in a radio interview.

“But I have not seen his letter of resignation. Perhaps, if that’s true, his letter might reach our office only (within this week),” he added.

According to news reports, Jalandoni forwarded his resignation letter to Malacanang via registered mail last Friday.

Jalandoni was appointed deputy ombudsman for Luzon in March 2010 and prior to that he headed the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office.

Before joining the Office of the Ombudsman, he was state prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and program director of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program under the DOJ, and once served as undersecretary of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.

Last week, three complaints, including usurpation of authority, had been filed against Jalandoni with the Office of the President. (PCOO)


Ochoa: Cimatu's term as Middle East envoy until June

Former Armed Forces chief Roy Cimatu will remain special envoy to the Middle East only until June 30, 2011, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.

Ochoa told a radio interview that Cimatu’s appointment was for a “limited period of time,” and the creation of the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team (OPRT) under Executive Order No. 34 replaced the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC), which the former military general headed.

“It’s a case by case assessment. In fact, that is the process when it comes to the appointment of all special envoys,” Ochoa explained. “It’s up to the President to determine later, when the appointment expires, to say whether or not he will reappoint or not appoint a special envoy,” he added.

EO 34 expanded the composition of the crisis team and the scope of its responsibilities to allow the government to respond swiftly to the needs of overseas Filipino caught in political uncertainties and natural disasters in their host countries.

Cimatu will serve out his term until June 30 based on his reappointment by President Aquino III when the new administration took over.

Just like any other appointment, the renewal of Cimatu’s designation is subject to the assessment by the Office of the President. (PCOO)


Malacañang Smart cards for Pantawid Pasada to be released on May 1-2

Malacañang said on Monday that the release of the “Smart cards”, which will be used for the fuel subsidy from the government for public transport owners under the “Pantawid Pasada” program will be released in May contrary to reports that it will be issued today.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the clarification during the regular press briefing at Malacanang to enlighten the public on the date of dissemination of the Smart cards for the 450-million peso fuel subsidy as instituted in Executive Order (EO) No. 32.

Lacierda noted that the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the public transport assistance program was just issued last week. He added that at present the procurement and bidding process are still ongoing so the issuance of Smart cards will be by May 1 or 2.

“Clarification lang, hindi po lalabas yung Smart cards ng Department of Energy sa Pantawid Pasada as Energy Secretary Rene Almendras has already mentioned before the IRR was issued, drafted and finalized last week… the procurement and bidding out of the cards are being done right now. So by May 1 or 2 lalabas po ang Smart card”, Lacierda said.

“I think that information was very clear when they came up with that announcement, so again this is just a clarification…”, he added.

It will be recalled that President Aquino on April 1st signed EO No. 32 that institutes the Public Transport Assistance Program, aptly known as “Pantawid Pasada” to subsidize a portion of the average consumption of jeepney and tricycle drivers amid escalating fuel costs.

The Pantawid Pasada fund will be sourced out from the Special Account in the General Fund (SAGF) of the DOE under Fund 151.

Three government agencies, namely, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Energy (DOE), were jointly authorized, as per EO 32, to determine the monthly funding requirement of “Pantawid Pasada”.

The Smart cards will carry a load of P1,050 per card (P35 per day) and will be issued to some 268,245 public utility jeepney (PUJ) franchise holders nationwide, while almost 1 million tricycle drivers will get P150 fuel subsidy each (P5 per day). (PCOO)


Palace welcomes Tingting Cojuangco's resignation from PPSC

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Monday welcomed the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III’s aunt, Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, from the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), as an affirmation of support for his campaign promise not to appoint a relative to any government post.

“The President is very strict in enforcing his policy na walang kamag-anak sa kanyang stable ng mga opisyales sa paligid niya. And I think, Madame Tingting Cojuangco realized that,” Ochoa said in a radio interview.

Contrary to earlier reports, Ochoa said Cojuangco resigned on her own initiative and was not fired from her job.

In fact, Ochoa added, Cojuangco herself recommended former Upi, Maguindanao Mayor Ruben Platon as her replacement at PPSC.

Before he ran for mayor, Platon, a lawyer, served as administrative officer and legal officer of PPSC.

Cojuangco was appointed PPSC head in 2004 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (PCOO)