Aquino meets with Australia-New Zealand Banking Group CEO in Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ-BGL), chief executive officer Michael Smith who called on him in Malacañang on Monday.
Joining the President in welcoming Smith were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.
In an interview, Purisima said that the purpose of ANZ-BGL’s courtesy call on the President was to commit its support to developing and further expanding Australian-New Zealand businesses in the country.
“Basically they have committed to support the Philippines in developing Australian-New Zealand business using their network,” Purisima said.
Aside from this, Purisima added that the company, which offers a full range of institutional and personal banking services, plans to expand its call center business in the Philippines by the end of 2011.
“They (ANZ-BGL) have a call center that employs around 400 Filipino personnel and they plan to open another call center by the end of this year and maybe bring up the number of Filipino employees to more than 2000,” Purisima said. (PCOO)
Aquino welcomes Sri Lankan PM to Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Prime Minister Disanayaka Mediyansalage Jayaratne to the Philippines during a courtesy call on the Chief Executive in Malacañang on Monday.
The Prime Minister, who is on a three-day working visit to the country, was accompanied by Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Philippines Naualage Bennet Cooray and Rajeewa Wijesinghe, a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns Jose Brillantes, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs Cristina Ortega and Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya joined the President in welcoming the esteemed guests to Malacañang and the Philippines.
In an interview, Brillantes said the two leaders, whose meeting lasted some 45 minutes, talked about developing relations on a wide array of fields and interests.
Brillantes noted that the two leaders discussed, among others, the disaster risk reduction, foreign workers, the problem of illegal drugs and how to ease the process of acquiring visas to both countries.
He added that the Sri Lankan government asked the Philippines for assistance in procuring dairy products as well as extending assistance to its nationals in the country.
“The President discussed (with the Prime Minister) our efforts to address climate change through our development of electric tricycles and the Philippines’ open skies policy,” Brillantes said. (PCOO)
EO 43 formally organizes Cabinet clusters
To ensure efficiency, effectiveness and focus in carrying out the programs and policies of the government, President Benigno Aquino III has signed an executive order which formally establishes the five Cabinet clusters that will address key priority areas, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.
Ochoa said that under Executive Order No. 43 signed by the President on May 13, 2011, the five Cabinet clusters are Good Governance and Anti-Corruption; Human Development and Poverty Reduction; Economic Development; Security, Justice and Peace; Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.
The clusters are primarily based on the proposals submitted by the Executive Secretary and the Cabinet to the President during a workshop held at the beginning of the year.
The cluster system was subsequently adopted during the first Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting. Subsequent Cabinet meetings have been organized along this line, consistent with the President’s policy of convening the Cabinet in clusters.
“The President believes it is more productive and efficient to meet Cabinet secretaries on specific concerns rather than have officials join meetings on concerns that do not involve their portfolios,” Ochoa explained.
According to Ochoa, members of the President’s official family also agreed that the cluster system is an effective and efficient way of carrying out the programs of the Chief Executive.
“The cluster system will help the President in the effective implementation of the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, which is essentially the blueprint we will use to guide us in hitting the development targets we have set based on the 16-point agenda of the President,” Ochoa said.
“The clusters will also serve as advisory committees for the President and shall recommend policies related to their respective cluster’s concerns,” Ochoa stressed.
Each cluster will be chaired by a Cabinet member, with a line agency or office designated as secretariat. The Executive Secretary and the Presidential Management Staff will attend all cluster meetings, with the Executive Secretary exercising supervision over the cluster system in the performance of his “general monitoring and oversight functions.”
Cluster chairs may also require the participation of the heads of other departments or agencies when necessary.
The Good Governance and Anti-Corruption cluster is chaired by the President with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) serving as secretariat. Its members are the secretaries of the Departments of Finance (DOF), the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Justice (DOJ); the head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office; and the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
The Human Development and Poverty Reduction cluster is led by the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) serving as secretariat and lead convenor. The members are the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC); the secretaries of the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA), Environment and National Resources (DENR), Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Labor and Employment (DOLE), DILG, DBM, and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); and the chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The secretary of DOF leads the Economic Development cluster and NEDA as its secretariat. The members include the secretaries of NEDA, DA,DBM, DILG and the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Energy (DOE); Science and Technology (DOST), and Tourism (DOT).
The Executive Secretary chairs the Security, Justice and Peace cluster with the National Security Council serving as secretariat. Its members are the secretaries of DILG, Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Defense (DND), and DOJ; and the presidential adviser on the Peace Process.
The Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation cluster is chaired by the DENR Secretary with the Climate Change Commission functioning as secretariat. Its members are HUDCC chair, the secretaries of DOST, DILG, DPWH, DSWD, DA, DAR, DOE, and DND; and the head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. (PCOO)
Postponement of ARMM elections to provide Comelec time to cleanse voters' list/introduce reforms
The government expressed hope that the postponement of the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) this August will provide ample time for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cleanse the voters’ list as well as dismantle the remaining private armed groups in the region.
In a media briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said that part of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s goals is to institute long-term electoral reforms in the country’s poorest region beyond 2016.
He said that through the postponement of ARMM elections the government will be able to push through with the reforms that will eventually lead to the development and improvement of the quality of life of the people in the ARMM.
“We are looking at reforms that will go beyond 2016 even if the administration's term has already ended”, Robredo said.
“So what do we intend to do kung ma-postpone… we are given the opportunity to introduce reforms, we would like to clean up the electoral process. Nais namin na linisin muna ang voters’ list, magsagawa ng programa na matuto yung mamamayan ng paraan para mas magkaron ng kahulugan yung kanyang boto,” he added.
Robredo also said that the government is considering the establishment of a satellite regional office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Sulu.
“We would also like to dismantle all the private armed groups, right now there are 41 more than half or almost half of the private armed groups in the country… that we are looking at establishing a satellite PNP regional command office in Sulu”, Robredo said.
Robredo likewise noted that the 20-month postponement, to synchronize ARMM elections with the May 2013 mid-term elections, will also allow the administration to strengthen the bureaucracy in the region.
“Meron nang ginagawang personnel audit, palagay ko maaaring linisin yung beaurokrasya…,” Robredo said.
Aside from the reforms within ARMM’s provincial government, Robredo said that there should also be an oversight body that will monitor the continuance of the positive changes in governance particularly on the swift implementation developmental projects in the region.
“Maliban sa inayos natin ang pamamahala sa loob, mayrong oversight bodies na tumitingin kung talagang inaayos ang trabaho…kasama nito ay maisagawa na yung mga delopmental projects sa ARMM,” Robredo said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles for her part said the postponement of elections in the ARMM will likewise “facilitate” the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“The postponement will provide us with flexibility. We are hopeful to arrive at something within 18 months, a reasonable timeframe that is within the 20-month postponement,” Deles said.
The MILF has already submitted its draft comprehensive pact to the government panel which includes a proposal on territory in which the ARMM will be the core bloc.
The government is drafting its counterproposal which will be submitted in June during the exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur.
“The ARMM is the core territory. The MILF as well as the Moro National Liberation Front, at the very least, we will not object to the postponement,” Deles said. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ-BGL), chief executive officer Michael Smith who called on him in Malacañang on Monday.
Joining the President in welcoming Smith were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya.
In an interview, Purisima said that the purpose of ANZ-BGL’s courtesy call on the President was to commit its support to developing and further expanding Australian-New Zealand businesses in the country.
“Basically they have committed to support the Philippines in developing Australian-New Zealand business using their network,” Purisima said.
Aside from this, Purisima added that the company, which offers a full range of institutional and personal banking services, plans to expand its call center business in the Philippines by the end of 2011.
“They (ANZ-BGL) have a call center that employs around 400 Filipino personnel and they plan to open another call center by the end of this year and maybe bring up the number of Filipino employees to more than 2000,” Purisima said. (PCOO)
Aquino welcomes Sri Lankan PM to Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Prime Minister Disanayaka Mediyansalage Jayaratne to the Philippines during a courtesy call on the Chief Executive in Malacañang on Monday.
The Prime Minister, who is on a three-day working visit to the country, was accompanied by Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Philippines Naualage Bennet Cooray and Rajeewa Wijesinghe, a member of the Sri Lankan Parliament.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns Jose Brillantes, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs Cristina Ortega and Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya joined the President in welcoming the esteemed guests to Malacañang and the Philippines.
In an interview, Brillantes said the two leaders, whose meeting lasted some 45 minutes, talked about developing relations on a wide array of fields and interests.
Brillantes noted that the two leaders discussed, among others, the disaster risk reduction, foreign workers, the problem of illegal drugs and how to ease the process of acquiring visas to both countries.
He added that the Sri Lankan government asked the Philippines for assistance in procuring dairy products as well as extending assistance to its nationals in the country.
“The President discussed (with the Prime Minister) our efforts to address climate change through our development of electric tricycles and the Philippines’ open skies policy,” Brillantes said. (PCOO)
EO 43 formally organizes Cabinet clusters
To ensure efficiency, effectiveness and focus in carrying out the programs and policies of the government, President Benigno Aquino III has signed an executive order which formally establishes the five Cabinet clusters that will address key priority areas, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.
Ochoa said that under Executive Order No. 43 signed by the President on May 13, 2011, the five Cabinet clusters are Good Governance and Anti-Corruption; Human Development and Poverty Reduction; Economic Development; Security, Justice and Peace; Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.
The clusters are primarily based on the proposals submitted by the Executive Secretary and the Cabinet to the President during a workshop held at the beginning of the year.
The cluster system was subsequently adopted during the first Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting. Subsequent Cabinet meetings have been organized along this line, consistent with the President’s policy of convening the Cabinet in clusters.
“The President believes it is more productive and efficient to meet Cabinet secretaries on specific concerns rather than have officials join meetings on concerns that do not involve their portfolios,” Ochoa explained.
According to Ochoa, members of the President’s official family also agreed that the cluster system is an effective and efficient way of carrying out the programs of the Chief Executive.
“The cluster system will help the President in the effective implementation of the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, which is essentially the blueprint we will use to guide us in hitting the development targets we have set based on the 16-point agenda of the President,” Ochoa said.
“The clusters will also serve as advisory committees for the President and shall recommend policies related to their respective cluster’s concerns,” Ochoa stressed.
Each cluster will be chaired by a Cabinet member, with a line agency or office designated as secretariat. The Executive Secretary and the Presidential Management Staff will attend all cluster meetings, with the Executive Secretary exercising supervision over the cluster system in the performance of his “general monitoring and oversight functions.”
Cluster chairs may also require the participation of the heads of other departments or agencies when necessary.
The Good Governance and Anti-Corruption cluster is chaired by the President with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) serving as secretariat. Its members are the secretaries of the Departments of Finance (DOF), the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Justice (DOJ); the head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office; and the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
The Human Development and Poverty Reduction cluster is led by the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) serving as secretariat and lead convenor. The members are the chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC); the secretaries of the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA), Environment and National Resources (DENR), Education (DepEd), Health (DOH), Labor and Employment (DOLE), DILG, DBM, and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); and the chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The secretary of DOF leads the Economic Development cluster and NEDA as its secretariat. The members include the secretaries of NEDA, DA,DBM, DILG and the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Energy (DOE); Science and Technology (DOST), and Tourism (DOT).
The Executive Secretary chairs the Security, Justice and Peace cluster with the National Security Council serving as secretariat. Its members are the secretaries of DILG, Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Defense (DND), and DOJ; and the presidential adviser on the Peace Process.
The Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation cluster is chaired by the DENR Secretary with the Climate Change Commission functioning as secretariat. Its members are HUDCC chair, the secretaries of DOST, DILG, DPWH, DSWD, DA, DAR, DOE, and DND; and the head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. (PCOO)
Postponement of ARMM elections to provide Comelec time to cleanse voters' list/introduce reforms
The government expressed hope that the postponement of the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) this August will provide ample time for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cleanse the voters’ list as well as dismantle the remaining private armed groups in the region.
In a media briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said that part of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s goals is to institute long-term electoral reforms in the country’s poorest region beyond 2016.
He said that through the postponement of ARMM elections the government will be able to push through with the reforms that will eventually lead to the development and improvement of the quality of life of the people in the ARMM.
“We are looking at reforms that will go beyond 2016 even if the administration's term has already ended”, Robredo said.
“So what do we intend to do kung ma-postpone… we are given the opportunity to introduce reforms, we would like to clean up the electoral process. Nais namin na linisin muna ang voters’ list, magsagawa ng programa na matuto yung mamamayan ng paraan para mas magkaron ng kahulugan yung kanyang boto,” he added.
Robredo also said that the government is considering the establishment of a satellite regional office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Sulu.
“We would also like to dismantle all the private armed groups, right now there are 41 more than half or almost half of the private armed groups in the country… that we are looking at establishing a satellite PNP regional command office in Sulu”, Robredo said.
Robredo likewise noted that the 20-month postponement, to synchronize ARMM elections with the May 2013 mid-term elections, will also allow the administration to strengthen the bureaucracy in the region.
“Meron nang ginagawang personnel audit, palagay ko maaaring linisin yung beaurokrasya…,” Robredo said.
Aside from the reforms within ARMM’s provincial government, Robredo said that there should also be an oversight body that will monitor the continuance of the positive changes in governance particularly on the swift implementation developmental projects in the region.
“Maliban sa inayos natin ang pamamahala sa loob, mayrong oversight bodies na tumitingin kung talagang inaayos ang trabaho…kasama nito ay maisagawa na yung mga delopmental projects sa ARMM,” Robredo said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles for her part said the postponement of elections in the ARMM will likewise “facilitate” the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“The postponement will provide us with flexibility. We are hopeful to arrive at something within 18 months, a reasonable timeframe that is within the 20-month postponement,” Deles said.
The MILF has already submitted its draft comprehensive pact to the government panel which includes a proposal on territory in which the ARMM will be the core bloc.
The government is drafting its counterproposal which will be submitted in June during the exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur.
“The ARMM is the core territory. The MILF as well as the Moro National Liberation Front, at the very least, we will not object to the postponement,” Deles said. (PCOO)
