Aquino welcomes members of Socialist International to Malacanang Palace
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes to Malacanang Palace the members of Socialist International, a worldwide organization of social democratic and labor parties, who paid a courtesy call on him on Friday.
Luis Ayala, the secretary general of Socialist International, led other members of the organization in meeting with the President.
The members of Socialist International who were present during the Palace call were: Konstantin Woinoof, Social Democratic Party, Germany; Shazia Makri, Pakistan; Ugo Papi, Democratic Party, Italy; Konstantinos Foutzopolouz, Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Greece; Paulina Lampsa, secretary International Department (PASOK), Greece; Estanislao Da Silva, former prime minister, Timor Leste;
Bayak Sanjaa, Mongolia delegation head, former prime minister of Mongolia, Mongolia People’s Party; Tracey Robinson, Australia Labor Party, Australia; Takuwa Kawal, Social Democratic Party, Japan; Otgonbayar Yondon, Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Mongolian People’s Party; Yaka Suos, People’s Party of Cambodia; and Nokiyuki Suzuki, secretary general, International Trade Union Confederation, Asia Pacific.
Socialist International, which was organized in 1951, currently brings together 162 political parties and organizations from all continents.
Labour, social democratic and socialist parties are major political forces in democracies around the world, with numerous member-parties of Socialist International either leading governments or representing the main opposition force. Today, close to 50 member parties of the Socialist International are in government.
The organization works intensely throughout the year to strengthen and develop social democratic policies in the world, including through the activities of its regional committees.
The London-based organization regularly sends missions and delegations to various countries and regions to help promote peaceful resolutions of conflicts and to support the strengthening of democracy including election monitoring. (PCOO)
Malacañang suspends 3 LWUA trustees
The Palace has placed three board trustees of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) under preventive suspension for at least 90 days in connection with the misappropriation of at least P480 million in public funds to acquire a troubled thrift bank.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. issued on Friday the suspension order to LWUA trustees Bonifacio Mario Peña, Susana Dumlao Vargas and Renato Velasco based on the complaint filed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima with the Office of the President on April 6, stemming from the anomalous purchase of shares of stocks of the Laguna-based Express Savings Bank Inc. (EXSBI) using agency funds.
Based on Ochoa's order, Peña, Vargas and Velasco are suspended “for a period of at least ninety (90) days, and to continue until the preventive suspension is lifted or the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated."
Purisima stood as the complainant versus the LWUA board members, in his capacity as secretary of finance and member of the Monetary Board (MB) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which regulates banks in the country.
Ochoa said Purisima sought the preventive suspension of Peña, Vargas and Velasco for "alleged grave misconduct arising from their direct and willful participation in facilitating the highly irregular and anomalous takeover and acquisition of shares of stocks of Express Savings Bank Inc., resulting in the dissipation and misappropriation of public funds."
In their defense, Vargas, Velasco and Peña contend that the possession by LWUA of the majority of shares of stock of EXSBI were never taken up in any of their board meeting from the time they assumed office.
To support this claim, the three trustees submitted to the Office of the President Legal Affairs Office a certification by the LWUA Corporate Legal Counsel/Board Secretary, which indicated that Peña was appointed LWUA board member on February 10, 2010; Vargas on March 1, 2010; and Velasco on March 9, 2010.
The suspension order pointed out, however, that “at the very least, the inaction of respondents... constitutes neglect in the performance of duty, if not grave misconduct.”
“As members of the Board of Trustees, it was incumbent upon them to know matters affecting LWUA,” the order stated.
The three trustees also insisted that the acquisition of the 445,337 shares of stock, constituting approximately 60 percent of the outstanding capital stock of EXSBI for the amount of P80 million, was dated May 26, 2009 and the deed of absolute sale transferring the shares to LWUA was dated June 3, 2009.
The complainant, however, submitted documents showing that the MB, particularly Resolution No. 605 dated April 29, 2010 and Resolution No.1301 dated September 16, 2010, denied the request of EXSBI for approval of the transfer of shares to LWUA and authority to accept deposits from government entities.
Notwithstanding these resolutions, the shares were still transferred and the bank accepted and continued to accept deposits from government entities, the order noted.
“While the MB resolutions may have been directed to (EXSBI), respondents, as trustees of LWUA, cannot feign ignorance thereof, being that LWUA is the controlling shareholder of the bank,” the order said. “This non-compliance with or defiance of the MB Resolutions transpired (and continues to transpire) during the term of these three respondents as trustees.”
“Respondents, as trustees, cannot hide behind a certification that the acquisition of the shares in (EXSBI) was not discussed in any of the board meetings they attended,” the order also said.
The two-page suspension order also justified that “the possible prejudice their continued stay in office may have on the fair determination of the case, warrant the imposition of a preventive suspension.” (PCOO)
DENR leads private sector, LGUs in launching National Greening Program in Calabarzon
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna: When President Benigno Aquino III called on the people last week to join his administration in a new reforestation program, local governments and a manufacturing firm based in Calabarzon (Cavite Laguna Batangas Rizal Quezon) responded by planting coconut seedlings recently.
Last week, President Aquino launched the National Greening Program (NGP), an ambitious government program aimed at arresting the fast-declining forest cover in the country.
The President issued Executive Order 26 early this year designating the DENR as the lead agency in carrying out the program in coordination with other government agencies.
Local government officials and the Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc. jumpstarted the greening project by planting six coconut seedlings at the firm’s compound in Calamba City in Laguna. The Yazaki-Torres is mobilizing its 10,000 workers to reforest the region as part of its reforestation commitment.
Nilo Tamoria, Region 4-A executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the support of Yazaki-Torres and other companies is important since the forested zones of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon are now just about half of the 550,000 hectares of forest cover for the entire region.
DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi revealed that only 7.2 million hectares in 15 million hectares of forest lands still have decent cover. “We have to move fast if we want to prevent natural disasters and mitigate effects of climate change,” he warned participants in the whole-day regional consultations held at the compound last Thursday.
NGP, which is led by DENR through the National Convergence Initiative (NCI), has identified Region 4-A and Central Luzon as priority areas since they host millions of high school and college students and workers in private companies.
All of them are expected to plant trees in the next six years.
The President has targeted 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares in public lands for the NGP, which harmonizes the greening efforts of private sector and civil society.
After leading in the ceremonial tree planting of the coconut tree seedlings, Yazaki Torres president Feliciano Torres committed 10,000 workers for NGP.
Gerochi said the department hopes to plant 1,000 trees per hectare in areas that are being tapped for the NGP since this is the only way to rehabilitate denuded forest areas.
Tamoria said Calabarzon is critical for NGP since it will help prevent water shortage for Metro Manila since it hosts major watersheds.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III said he has decided to take the lead in rallying his colleagues at the House of Representatives to support NGP fully since any development effort that the Aquino administration embarks on will be affected if “we continue to ignore environmental concerns.”
“Ang tunay na kaunlaran ay makakamit natin kung ating pangangalagaan ang ating kalikasan,” said Tanada.
Tamoria welcomed the enthusiasm for NGP shown by the private sector and local government units (LGUs.)
He said the regional office will set up coordinating centers in 15 DENR field offices to coordinate all NGP initiatives.
“We can easily identify areas for planting, and we are ready to provide technical assistance for the implementation of the program,” he concluded.
Among those who expressed their support for NGP were Digna P. Narvacan, manager of the Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center (STIARC), Antonio Evangelista, director for Region 4-A of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Pablito R. Alay, education program supervisor of the Department of Education (DepEd) for Region 4-A.
Sinforoso Martinez Jr., Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) of Sariaya, Quezon, represented local government units (LGUs) that support NGP, along with Dr. Milo O. Placino, vice president for research and extension of the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), who spoke on behalf of the academe.
Chito Panzo, manager for Quality Environment, Safety and Health (QESH) of First Gas Corp., supported the greening program on behalf of the private sector. (PCOO)
Aquino receives Pacquiao in Malacanang Friday
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Filipino pound-for-pound king and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao at the Premier Guest House in Malacañang Friday.
The courtesy call of Pacquiao occurred 6-days after the Filipino ring idol came back home from Las Vegas, Nevada where he successfully defended his WBO welterweight crown against American boxing veteran Sugar Shane Mosley.
The meeting of Aquino and Pacquaio became controversial due of the different stand of the two on the RH Bill. The boxing champion, who is also a representative of Sarangani province, is a staunch critic of the RH Bill, a measure that the President was supporting.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said the presence of Pacquiao in Malacanang shows that democracy is still active and alive in the country. It also shows that the President respects the decision or choice of each individual to support or to become critic of the RH Bill.
During the call, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President and Pacquiao had an opportunity to talk and discuss the Reproductive Health Bill pending at Congress.
In that meeting, Valte said, the President reiterated to Pacquiao that the RH Bill is against abortion and it was based on his 5-point stand that will educate married couples on the importance of responsible parenthood.
She said the President also shared to Pacquiao the stories of a 16-year old young mother from Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila and a young boy patient that he met during the inauguration of the 6th and 10th floor facilities of Sta. Ana Hospital in Sta. Ana, Manila.
During the photo opportunity, Pacquiao handed over the pair of yellow boxing gloves he used in his fight against Mosley, DVD copies of the fight, a ‘Pacman’ souvenir gray hoodie jacket and yellow T-shirt.
As a token for his new victory and another honor for the country, the President gifted Pacquiao with his coffee table book “The Inaugural: The Inside Story of the Aquino Presidency” and a decorative box.
Joining Pacquiao in his visit to Malacanang were Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson and some members of Team Pacquiao. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes to Malacanang Palace the members of Socialist International, a worldwide organization of social democratic and labor parties, who paid a courtesy call on him on Friday.
Luis Ayala, the secretary general of Socialist International, led other members of the organization in meeting with the President.
The members of Socialist International who were present during the Palace call were: Konstantin Woinoof, Social Democratic Party, Germany; Shazia Makri, Pakistan; Ugo Papi, Democratic Party, Italy; Konstantinos Foutzopolouz, Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Greece; Paulina Lampsa, secretary International Department (PASOK), Greece; Estanislao Da Silva, former prime minister, Timor Leste;
Bayak Sanjaa, Mongolia delegation head, former prime minister of Mongolia, Mongolia People’s Party; Tracey Robinson, Australia Labor Party, Australia; Takuwa Kawal, Social Democratic Party, Japan; Otgonbayar Yondon, Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Mongolian People’s Party; Yaka Suos, People’s Party of Cambodia; and Nokiyuki Suzuki, secretary general, International Trade Union Confederation, Asia Pacific.
Socialist International, which was organized in 1951, currently brings together 162 political parties and organizations from all continents.
Labour, social democratic and socialist parties are major political forces in democracies around the world, with numerous member-parties of Socialist International either leading governments or representing the main opposition force. Today, close to 50 member parties of the Socialist International are in government.
The organization works intensely throughout the year to strengthen and develop social democratic policies in the world, including through the activities of its regional committees.
The London-based organization regularly sends missions and delegations to various countries and regions to help promote peaceful resolutions of conflicts and to support the strengthening of democracy including election monitoring. (PCOO)
Malacañang suspends 3 LWUA trustees
The Palace has placed three board trustees of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) under preventive suspension for at least 90 days in connection with the misappropriation of at least P480 million in public funds to acquire a troubled thrift bank.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. issued on Friday the suspension order to LWUA trustees Bonifacio Mario Peña, Susana Dumlao Vargas and Renato Velasco based on the complaint filed by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima with the Office of the President on April 6, stemming from the anomalous purchase of shares of stocks of the Laguna-based Express Savings Bank Inc. (EXSBI) using agency funds.
Based on Ochoa's order, Peña, Vargas and Velasco are suspended “for a period of at least ninety (90) days, and to continue until the preventive suspension is lifted or the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated."
Purisima stood as the complainant versus the LWUA board members, in his capacity as secretary of finance and member of the Monetary Board (MB) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which regulates banks in the country.
Ochoa said Purisima sought the preventive suspension of Peña, Vargas and Velasco for "alleged grave misconduct arising from their direct and willful participation in facilitating the highly irregular and anomalous takeover and acquisition of shares of stocks of Express Savings Bank Inc., resulting in the dissipation and misappropriation of public funds."
In their defense, Vargas, Velasco and Peña contend that the possession by LWUA of the majority of shares of stock of EXSBI were never taken up in any of their board meeting from the time they assumed office.
To support this claim, the three trustees submitted to the Office of the President Legal Affairs Office a certification by the LWUA Corporate Legal Counsel/Board Secretary, which indicated that Peña was appointed LWUA board member on February 10, 2010; Vargas on March 1, 2010; and Velasco on March 9, 2010.
The suspension order pointed out, however, that “at the very least, the inaction of respondents... constitutes neglect in the performance of duty, if not grave misconduct.”
“As members of the Board of Trustees, it was incumbent upon them to know matters affecting LWUA,” the order stated.
The three trustees also insisted that the acquisition of the 445,337 shares of stock, constituting approximately 60 percent of the outstanding capital stock of EXSBI for the amount of P80 million, was dated May 26, 2009 and the deed of absolute sale transferring the shares to LWUA was dated June 3, 2009.
The complainant, however, submitted documents showing that the MB, particularly Resolution No. 605 dated April 29, 2010 and Resolution No.1301 dated September 16, 2010, denied the request of EXSBI for approval of the transfer of shares to LWUA and authority to accept deposits from government entities.
Notwithstanding these resolutions, the shares were still transferred and the bank accepted and continued to accept deposits from government entities, the order noted.
“While the MB resolutions may have been directed to (EXSBI), respondents, as trustees of LWUA, cannot feign ignorance thereof, being that LWUA is the controlling shareholder of the bank,” the order said. “This non-compliance with or defiance of the MB Resolutions transpired (and continues to transpire) during the term of these three respondents as trustees.”
“Respondents, as trustees, cannot hide behind a certification that the acquisition of the shares in (EXSBI) was not discussed in any of the board meetings they attended,” the order also said.
The two-page suspension order also justified that “the possible prejudice their continued stay in office may have on the fair determination of the case, warrant the imposition of a preventive suspension.” (PCOO)
DENR leads private sector, LGUs in launching National Greening Program in Calabarzon
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna: When President Benigno Aquino III called on the people last week to join his administration in a new reforestation program, local governments and a manufacturing firm based in Calabarzon (Cavite Laguna Batangas Rizal Quezon) responded by planting coconut seedlings recently.
Last week, President Aquino launched the National Greening Program (NGP), an ambitious government program aimed at arresting the fast-declining forest cover in the country.
The President issued Executive Order 26 early this year designating the DENR as the lead agency in carrying out the program in coordination with other government agencies.
Local government officials and the Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc. jumpstarted the greening project by planting six coconut seedlings at the firm’s compound in Calamba City in Laguna. The Yazaki-Torres is mobilizing its 10,000 workers to reforest the region as part of its reforestation commitment.
Nilo Tamoria, Region 4-A executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the support of Yazaki-Torres and other companies is important since the forested zones of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon are now just about half of the 550,000 hectares of forest cover for the entire region.
DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi revealed that only 7.2 million hectares in 15 million hectares of forest lands still have decent cover. “We have to move fast if we want to prevent natural disasters and mitigate effects of climate change,” he warned participants in the whole-day regional consultations held at the compound last Thursday.
NGP, which is led by DENR through the National Convergence Initiative (NCI), has identified Region 4-A and Central Luzon as priority areas since they host millions of high school and college students and workers in private companies.
All of them are expected to plant trees in the next six years.
The President has targeted 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares in public lands for the NGP, which harmonizes the greening efforts of private sector and civil society.
After leading in the ceremonial tree planting of the coconut tree seedlings, Yazaki Torres president Feliciano Torres committed 10,000 workers for NGP.
Gerochi said the department hopes to plant 1,000 trees per hectare in areas that are being tapped for the NGP since this is the only way to rehabilitate denuded forest areas.
Tamoria said Calabarzon is critical for NGP since it will help prevent water shortage for Metro Manila since it hosts major watersheds.
Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III said he has decided to take the lead in rallying his colleagues at the House of Representatives to support NGP fully since any development effort that the Aquino administration embarks on will be affected if “we continue to ignore environmental concerns.”
“Ang tunay na kaunlaran ay makakamit natin kung ating pangangalagaan ang ating kalikasan,” said Tanada.
Tamoria welcomed the enthusiasm for NGP shown by the private sector and local government units (LGUs.)
He said the regional office will set up coordinating centers in 15 DENR field offices to coordinate all NGP initiatives.
“We can easily identify areas for planting, and we are ready to provide technical assistance for the implementation of the program,” he concluded.
Among those who expressed their support for NGP were Digna P. Narvacan, manager of the Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center (STIARC), Antonio Evangelista, director for Region 4-A of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Pablito R. Alay, education program supervisor of the Department of Education (DepEd) for Region 4-A.
Sinforoso Martinez Jr., Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) of Sariaya, Quezon, represented local government units (LGUs) that support NGP, along with Dr. Milo O. Placino, vice president for research and extension of the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), who spoke on behalf of the academe.
Chito Panzo, manager for Quality Environment, Safety and Health (QESH) of First Gas Corp., supported the greening program on behalf of the private sector. (PCOO)
Aquino receives Pacquiao in Malacanang Friday
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Filipino pound-for-pound king and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao at the Premier Guest House in Malacañang Friday.
The courtesy call of Pacquiao occurred 6-days after the Filipino ring idol came back home from Las Vegas, Nevada where he successfully defended his WBO welterweight crown against American boxing veteran Sugar Shane Mosley.
The meeting of Aquino and Pacquaio became controversial due of the different stand of the two on the RH Bill. The boxing champion, who is also a representative of Sarangani province, is a staunch critic of the RH Bill, a measure that the President was supporting.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said the presence of Pacquiao in Malacanang shows that democracy is still active and alive in the country. It also shows that the President respects the decision or choice of each individual to support or to become critic of the RH Bill.
During the call, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President and Pacquiao had an opportunity to talk and discuss the Reproductive Health Bill pending at Congress.
In that meeting, Valte said, the President reiterated to Pacquiao that the RH Bill is against abortion and it was based on his 5-point stand that will educate married couples on the importance of responsible parenthood.
She said the President also shared to Pacquiao the stories of a 16-year old young mother from Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila and a young boy patient that he met during the inauguration of the 6th and 10th floor facilities of Sta. Ana Hospital in Sta. Ana, Manila.
During the photo opportunity, Pacquiao handed over the pair of yellow boxing gloves he used in his fight against Mosley, DVD copies of the fight, a ‘Pacman’ souvenir gray hoodie jacket and yellow T-shirt.
As a token for his new victory and another honor for the country, the President gifted Pacquiao with his coffee table book “The Inaugural: The Inside Story of the Aquino Presidency” and a decorative box.
Joining Pacquiao in his visit to Malacanang were Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson and some members of Team Pacquiao. (PCOO)
