Aquino not keen on lifting state of emergency in Maguindanao
President Benigno S. Aquino III sees no need to lift the declaration putting Maguindanao province under a state of emergency following the massacre of 57 people including 32 journalists in November 2009, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang said.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Carandang said feedback from the consultations undertaken with concerned local government units found that people living in the area “wanted” the state of emergency to be implemented further.
“Based on consultations with concerned LGUs in Maguindanao, mukhang mas gusto nilang mapanatili ang state of emergency sa ngayon because there are still some armed groups roaming around, the situation is not completely under control,” Carandang said.
“Nonetheless, we have been undertaking consultations with concerned LGUs and when they see and feel it is time to lift the State of Emergency, gagawin natin yun, pero sa ngayon ang feedback sa amin ay mas gusto nilang manatili ang State of Emergency doon,” he added.
Former President and now Representative of the 2nd District of Pamapanga Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation 1946 putting Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces and Cotabato City under a State of Emergency a day after what is now referred to as the “Maguindanao massacre.”
The proclamation, which is still in effect today, intends to "prevent and suppress the occurrence of several other incidents of lawless violence." (PCOO)
Aquino declares the years 2011-2016 as Pinoy Homecoming Years
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the years 2011 to 2016 as the Pinoy Homecoming Years to encourage more Balikbayans to visit the Philippines.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 181 signed on June 3, 2011 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the President underscored the need for a special campaign, which he said, should be developed and implemented to address the specific travel needs and interests of this particular market segment, especially the overseas Filipino organizations and business groups, that will be the main driving force that will encourage them to travel to the Philippines for reunions, conferences, missions or vacations.
He said the campaign will reinforce Republic Act No. 6768, as amended, entitled “An Act Instituting a Balikbayan Program,” by providing benefits and privileges to Balikbayans and for other purposes.”
According to the President, the global economic recession calls for accelerated economic development through a more vigorous and focused effort to improve the country’s tourism industry by maximizing the benefits derived from tourism-related activities.
Apart from the traditional tourism source markets overseas, the President said alternative market sources or segments with huge potentials to supply a greater volume of visitors to the Philippines should be targeted and built as additional sources for tourist arrivals.
“Overseas Filipinos, or the Balikbayan market, have historically contributed to Philippine visitor arrivals and to the Philippine economy in terms of foreign exchange inflow and the revenues that they generate,” he said.
“Focusing on the huge Balikbayan segment, which is rapidly growing due to the continued migration of Filipinos abroad and the significant expansion of the second and third generation Filipinos abroad, is crucial in maximizing revenues that can be generated from this particular visitor group,” the President added.
President Aquino authorized the Secretary of Tourism to call upon any department, agency, office or corporation of the government to assist in the pursuit of the objectives of this Proclamation.
He also enjoined the private sector stakeholders in the tourism industry to come up with appropriate activities that would help the government in achieving and sustaining the objectives of the Pinoy Homecoming Years. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III sees no need to lift the declaration putting Maguindanao province under a state of emergency following the massacre of 57 people including 32 journalists in November 2009, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang said.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Carandang said feedback from the consultations undertaken with concerned local government units found that people living in the area “wanted” the state of emergency to be implemented further.
“Based on consultations with concerned LGUs in Maguindanao, mukhang mas gusto nilang mapanatili ang state of emergency sa ngayon because there are still some armed groups roaming around, the situation is not completely under control,” Carandang said.
“Nonetheless, we have been undertaking consultations with concerned LGUs and when they see and feel it is time to lift the State of Emergency, gagawin natin yun, pero sa ngayon ang feedback sa amin ay mas gusto nilang manatili ang State of Emergency doon,” he added.
Former President and now Representative of the 2nd District of Pamapanga Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation 1946 putting Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces and Cotabato City under a State of Emergency a day after what is now referred to as the “Maguindanao massacre.”
The proclamation, which is still in effect today, intends to "prevent and suppress the occurrence of several other incidents of lawless violence." (PCOO)
Aquino declares the years 2011-2016 as Pinoy Homecoming Years
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the years 2011 to 2016 as the Pinoy Homecoming Years to encourage more Balikbayans to visit the Philippines.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 181 signed on June 3, 2011 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the President underscored the need for a special campaign, which he said, should be developed and implemented to address the specific travel needs and interests of this particular market segment, especially the overseas Filipino organizations and business groups, that will be the main driving force that will encourage them to travel to the Philippines for reunions, conferences, missions or vacations.
He said the campaign will reinforce Republic Act No. 6768, as amended, entitled “An Act Instituting a Balikbayan Program,” by providing benefits and privileges to Balikbayans and for other purposes.”
According to the President, the global economic recession calls for accelerated economic development through a more vigorous and focused effort to improve the country’s tourism industry by maximizing the benefits derived from tourism-related activities.
Apart from the traditional tourism source markets overseas, the President said alternative market sources or segments with huge potentials to supply a greater volume of visitors to the Philippines should be targeted and built as additional sources for tourist arrivals.
“Overseas Filipinos, or the Balikbayan market, have historically contributed to Philippine visitor arrivals and to the Philippine economy in terms of foreign exchange inflow and the revenues that they generate,” he said.
“Focusing on the huge Balikbayan segment, which is rapidly growing due to the continued migration of Filipinos abroad and the significant expansion of the second and third generation Filipinos abroad, is crucial in maximizing revenues that can be generated from this particular visitor group,” the President added.
President Aquino authorized the Secretary of Tourism to call upon any department, agency, office or corporation of the government to assist in the pursuit of the objectives of this Proclamation.
He also enjoined the private sector stakeholders in the tourism industry to come up with appropriate activities that would help the government in achieving and sustaining the objectives of the Pinoy Homecoming Years. (PCOO)
