PIA Dispatch - Monday, April 18, 2011

Aquino receives Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from U.P.

President Benigno S. Aquino III was accorded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines during the school’s 100th General Commencement Exercises held at its Diliman, Quezon City Campus on Sunday.

The country’s premiere state university presented the honorary degree, its highest rank and honor, to Aquino “For providing leadership in rallying the people to stamp out corruption, campaigning for institutional reforms, and creating an environment for agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to act with dispatch on malfeasance in government, promote the rule of law, and respect people’s constitutional rights.”

In his speech, the President thanked the University for the Honorary Degree as he cited three of its esteemed alumnus – Supreme Court Justice Meilou Sereno, and newly appointed Commission on Audit Commissioner and Chairperson Heidi Mendoza and Grace Tan, respectively, for being inspirations in his administration’s fight against corruption.

“Nariyan sila (Sereno, Mendoza and Tan) para ituwid ang baluktot, itama ang mali at tumulong upang maabot ang minimithi nating kinabukasan: Isang kinabukasan kung saan kung may pangarap ka, maaari kang magtrabaho tungo sa katuparan nito. Isang lipunan kung saan kapag nagbukas ka ng ilaw, may kuryente; nagbukas ka ng gripo, may aagos na tubig; nagbukas ka ng wallet, may laman itong salapi na pinagpaguran mo nang marangal, at hindi mo kinailangang magsanla ng prinsipyo para makamit,” the President said.

With the degree, President Aquino joins 13 other Filipino presidents who were bestowed Honorary Degrees by the University of the Philippines.

Other former Philippine presidents conferred with the degree were Manuel L. Quezon (March 16, 1929), Sergio S. Osmeña (March 25, 1930), Manuel A. Roxas (April 13, 1948), Elpidio R. Quirino (February 12, 1949), Emilio F. Aguinaldo (June 12, 1953), Ramón D.F. Magsaysay (April 5, 1955), Carlos P. García (April 7, 1959), Diosdado P. Macapagal (May 30, 1965), Ferdinand E. Marcos (May 22, 1966), José P. Laurel Sr. (April 20, 1969), Corazón C. Aquino (April 20, 1986) and Fidel V. Ramos (April 24, 1993). (PCOO)


Aquino vows to see Responsible Parenthood Bill passed into law

President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Sunday that he is committed to seeing the Responsible Parenthood bill passed into law despite the growing number of those opposed to it.

In his speech keynoting the 100th General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. the President said that he is ready to go “door-to-door” to discuss the salient features of the said bill in order to win their support.

“Buo ang loob ko na maisabatas ang prinsipyo ng Responsible Parenthood,” the President said.

“Mulat ako na may mga tutol dito, subalit obligasyon ko bilang pinuno na lumapit sa lahat ng sektor, para kausapin at magpaliwanag sa kanila nang mahinahon—kahit pa ang sabi ng iba’y dapat i-excommunicate na ako,” he added.

He said that as President of the Republic of the Philippines, the final decision that will benefit the majority of Filipinos has to be made.

“Pero sa huli, kailangan kong magdesisyon. Kailangan ko pa ring sundin ang aking kunsensiya. Kailangan kong gawin ang tama,” the President said. (PCOO)


Never forget your obligations to the country, Aquino tells 'Iskolars ng Bayan'

President Benigno S. Aquino III challenged this year’s graduating batch of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City to fulfill their obligations to the Filipino people whom he said had “pitched in” to fund their tuition as “iskolars ng bayan.”

The President, in his speech keynoting the 100th General Commencement Exercises held at the University Amphitheater Sunday, said this will be the student’s contribution to nation building.

“Hiling ko lang po sa inyong mga Isko at Iska: Habang umaaksyon kami at humahakbang sa pagkukumpuni sa pamahalaan, maisabuhay din sana ninyo ang inyong mga obligasyon bilang mga ‘Iskolar ng Bayan.’ Malaki po ang inaasahan mula sa inyo. Masuklian po sana nang husto ang ipinuhunan sa inyo ng taumbayan,” the President said.

He likewise challenged the graduate’s to never forget the fundamentals taught by their teachers and the University itself.

“The question now is: will you still remember the slogans you screamed your hearts out in opposition of when you are in a position of power? If you have a chance to let your fraternity brother or sister or org(anization) mate go scot-free despite his or her being guilty of a crime, would you? Would you still choose to return to the Philippines even if you start earning a lot abroad? Would your heart remain the bastion of integrity and honor and not chose the easy way to achieve your company’s quota requirements?” the President asked.

Remember, like us in government, you are here because of the people and for the people. You owe the Filipino people the honor of studying and graduating from the University of the Philippines,” the President said.

“The day will come when you will be faced with many challenges and temptations. On that day, I hope you remember this challenge from an ageing Atenean. I hope you continue to bring with heads raised high the name of your school: the University of the Philippines,” he added. (PCOO)


Palace welcomes BIR's increased first quarter collection

Malacañang welcomed the news that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had exceeded its collection targets for March as well as the first quarter of the year.

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed hope that the BIR would continue its revenue collection surpassing streak to meet its year-end target of P940-billion.

“So we hope it (BIR’s revenue collection target surpassing streak) will continue but then again it will depend on the business conditions,” Lacierda said.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said recently that the bureau had exceeded its March collection target by P3.5-billion or by about 5.13 percent from P68.07-billion last year to P71.56-billion due to an increase in income tax filers as well as enhanced collections efforts.

She said the agency raised a total of P 58.31 billion, an expansion of this year’s actual tax by P13.25 billion for a growth of 22.7 percent.

Because of this, the government was able to raise P199.55 billion in the first quarter, exceeding the goal for the period by P2.51 billion.

This first quarter performance also marks an expansion over the actual collections for the same period last year (2010), at P173.89 billion, by more than P25.65 billion for a growth of 14.75 percent. (PCOO)


Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Japanese envoy

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) on Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura in recognition of his significant efforts to cultivate and support a meaningful engagement between the governments of the Philippines and Japan by means of official visits and dialogues on policy to the mutual benefit of both nations for over three and a half years of his tour of duty in the country.

The Chief Executive conferred the award on Monday during Ambassador Katsura’s farewell courtesy call at the Yellow Room of the Premier Guest House in Malacañang.

The Japanese envoy was accompanied by his spouse, Yasuko Katsura; Motohiko Kato, Minister-Deputy Chief of Mission; Shinsuke Shimizu, Minister-Head of Chancery; Hitoshi Ozawa, Minister-Political.

Also present to witness the conferment rites were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Ambassador Miguel Perez-Rubio, Chief of the Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs.

During his stint in the country, Ambassador Katsura has advocated active and productive economic and development cooperation between the two countries to enhance bilateral trade, Japanese investments and Japanese official development assistance in support of the Philippines’ development priorities and for supporting the conclusion and effective implementation of bilateral economic agreements.

The Japanese envoy has also supported the extension of vital Japanese emergency and reconstruction assistance to the country in the wake of national emergencies prompted by severe natural calamities.

The President also commended Ambassador Katsura for ardently supporting the peace and development initiatives of the government, particularly in Southern Philippines through his advocacy of Japan’s participation in the International Contact Group and International Monitoring Team, as well as of sustained Japanese support for key development projects in Mindanao.

He pursued activities that helped nurture friendship, amity and understanding between the Filipino and Japanese peoples.

It was during Ambassador Katsura’s term as ambassador that the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) was ratified.

The JPEPA is a free-trade agreement and bilateral investment treaty between Japan and the Philippines, and is the first bilateral trade treaty which the Philippines has entered into since the Parity Right Agreement of 1946 with the United States.

The agreement aims primarily to liberalize and facilitate trade in goods and services between Japan and the Philippines. (PCOO)


Palace urges residents to evacuate near Taal Volcano

As the seismic activities getting stronger, Malacanang urges all residents near Taal Volcano to follow the directives of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for them to evacuate to a safer place.

In a press briefing on Monday at Malacañang, Lacierda said there is a need now for the residents to leave their houses and Taal Volcano premises as the quakes produced by the restive volcano have increased in number and in intensity.

“We are now requesting the residents near Taal Volcano to evacuate the premises and their residences voluntarily. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide assistance,” Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda said.

In case the people does not follow the government’s request, Lacierda said, concerned authorities through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will forcibly evacuate them.

In an advisory issued on Sunday, Phivolcs said it recorded 10 seismic activities in Taal Volcano and on Saturday, it recorded 20 quakes in the past 24 hours. (PCOO)


Aquino declares Black Saturday as special non-working day nationwide

In order for the Filipino people to enjoy a longer lenten break, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 150 declaring Saturday, April 23, 2011, as a special (non-working) holiday nationwide.

The Chief Executive issued the proclamation in observance of the Holy Week which he described as one of the Filipino people’s most cherished traditions.

The President said Saturday, April 23, which falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday has been traditionally declared as special (non-working) day throughout the country.

“Our people must be given the full and uninterrupted opportunity to ponder on the significance of the Holy Week and to properly observe its traditions with religious fervor, without prejudice to public interest,” the proclamation stated. (PCOO)