Aquino to lead commemoration of Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the country in celebrating Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary during the Chief Executive’s visit to the National Hero’s birthplace in Calamba, Laguna on Sunday, June 19.
The President is set to unveil what is touted to be the tallest statue of Rizal in honor of the hero’s supreme sacrifice for the Filipino.
The said monument, which stands 22 feet tall on a 6.7-hectare property in front of Calamba City Hall complex, represents the 22 different languages used by Rizal, such as English, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian and Spanish.
The new Rizal monument is expected to be the newest tourist and historical landmark, not only in Calamba, but in the whole world. With this as the tallest statue of the hero on record, it will very well be the newest pilgrim site for people honoring Rizal around the world.
The construction of Rizal’s tallest monument, which was made possible through the coordination between the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Calamba local government, is only one of the activities in celebrating his 150th birthday. (PCOO)
Palace welcomes WTO ruling on Philippine tobacco case vs Thailand
Malacanang expressed elation over the decision made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday favoring the Philippines in a cigarette export case filed against Thailand noting that the ruling will level the trade playing field between the two countries.
In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace welcomed the decision hoping that it would benefit Filipino tobacco farmers.
The case stemmed from the allegations of the Philippines that Thailand carried out unfair trading practice. The Philippines requested a consultation in the WTO in February 2008 against Thailand regarding the Philippine cigarette exports.
The Philippines said a number of Thailand’s fiscal and customs measures were affecting cigarettes from the Philippines, as Thailand's customs valuation practices, excise tax, health tax, TV tax, value added tax (VAT) regime, retail licensing requirements and import guarantees imposed upon cigarette importers.
The Philippines claims that Thailand administers these measures in a partial and unreasonable manner and thereby violates the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
The Philippines also raised Thailand's dual license requirement that requires tobacco and cigarette retailers hold separate licenses to sell domestic and imported cigarettes contradicting GATT 1994.
The Philippines also told the WTO that Thailand's ad valorem excise tax, health tax and TV tax, on both imported and domestic cigarettes, are inconsistent with GATT 1994 which requires the publication of trade laws and regulations of general application.
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the country in celebrating Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary during the Chief Executive’s visit to the National Hero’s birthplace in Calamba, Laguna on Sunday, June 19.
The President is set to unveil what is touted to be the tallest statue of Rizal in honor of the hero’s supreme sacrifice for the Filipino.
The said monument, which stands 22 feet tall on a 6.7-hectare property in front of Calamba City Hall complex, represents the 22 different languages used by Rizal, such as English, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian and Spanish.
The new Rizal monument is expected to be the newest tourist and historical landmark, not only in Calamba, but in the whole world. With this as the tallest statue of the hero on record, it will very well be the newest pilgrim site for people honoring Rizal around the world.
The construction of Rizal’s tallest monument, which was made possible through the coordination between the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and the Calamba local government, is only one of the activities in celebrating his 150th birthday. (PCOO)
Palace welcomes WTO ruling on Philippine tobacco case vs Thailand
Malacanang expressed elation over the decision made by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday favoring the Philippines in a cigarette export case filed against Thailand noting that the ruling will level the trade playing field between the two countries.
In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace welcomed the decision hoping that it would benefit Filipino tobacco farmers.
The case stemmed from the allegations of the Philippines that Thailand carried out unfair trading practice. The Philippines requested a consultation in the WTO in February 2008 against Thailand regarding the Philippine cigarette exports.
The Philippines said a number of Thailand’s fiscal and customs measures were affecting cigarettes from the Philippines, as Thailand's customs valuation practices, excise tax, health tax, TV tax, value added tax (VAT) regime, retail licensing requirements and import guarantees imposed upon cigarette importers.
The Philippines claims that Thailand administers these measures in a partial and unreasonable manner and thereby violates the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
The Philippines also raised Thailand's dual license requirement that requires tobacco and cigarette retailers hold separate licenses to sell domestic and imported cigarettes contradicting GATT 1994.
The Philippines also told the WTO that Thailand's ad valorem excise tax, health tax and TV tax, on both imported and domestic cigarettes, are inconsistent with GATT 1994 which requires the publication of trade laws and regulations of general application.
In February 2008, the European Communities requested to join the consultations and in September that year, the Philippines requested the establishment of a panel.
The WTO Dispute Settlement Body released on November 15, 2010, its official report findings in favor of the Philippines, “that Thailand acted inconsistently with WTO rules in valuing Philippine cigarette exports for customs purposes and in failing to treat imported cigarettes the same way as locally-manufactured cigarettes.”
The WTO directed the Thailand government to “bring its inconsistent measures into conformity with its WTO obligations.” (PCOO)
Malacanang says Executive Secretary can handle Anti-Organized Crime Commission well
The Palace made an assurance Saturday that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa can effectively lead the re-organized Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) despite having other obligations.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte assured the public in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday that Ochoa can still handle the PAOCC well while also serving as the executive secretary. She said Ochoa is competent to handle the job.
President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order (EO) 46 on June 13 amending Executive Order 8 (signed 1998), to further strengthen and organize the PAOCC.
The EO recognizes the need for an "unwavering campaign to eradicate organized crime, along with graft and corruption." The President designated the executive secretary as the chairman of PAOCC.
Being the PAOCC chairman, the President authorizes Ochoa to issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations to implement the order.
Valet added that according to Ochoa the reorganization is just a restructuring and will focus more on putting things in order under one commission head. At the same time Valte said Ochoa will be supported by other officials from the Office of the President (OP).
The President re-organized the PAOCC to put more teeth on the government’s fight against offenses such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, carjacking, gunrunning, robbery/hold-up, kidnapping for ransom, smuggling and transnational crimes.
The members of PAOCC will be the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary of Justice, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, National Security Adviser, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Philippine National Police Director General, National Intelligence Coordination Agency Director General, National Bureau of Investigation Director and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC) Executive Director. (PCOO)
Aquino keynotes 57th Liberal International Congress
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Saturday that the market might be used as a plow to cultivate the fields of social justice for the greater good of the people.
In his speech keynoting the 57th Liberal International Congress at Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacanang on Saturday, President Aquino said: “This is also why this Congress has chosen to locate Human Rights as parallel to Free Trade in the articulation of our theme --- because we believe that the latter must be pursued to ensure that the former is upheld.”
The 4-day event dubbed as the 57th Liberal International Congress on Human Rights and Trade started last June 17, 2011 and would end on June 20, is being hosted by the Liberal Party of the Philippines.
President Aquino, as chairperson of the Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines, led the gathering of at least 200 high-ranking Liberals from all corners of the world.
“As I have mentioned once before, governments must ensure direction, so that the market might be used as a plow to cultivate the fields of social justice. In rhetorical terms, how can an individual enjoy the rights he has on paper, when from birth he has been denied the tools to take his destiny into his own hands?” the President said.
While his government’s policies are in response to the needs of the people, President Aquino said the policies are also firmly in keeping with principles first laid down by his party--- the Liberal Party of the Philippines--- that was founded in 1946.
“In essence, it is also what has called our people to rally along the “tuwid na daan”—the straight and righteous path. It is also what binds us all as Liberals, even in this so-called post-ideological century of ours: the respect for the individual’s rights and freedoms; the commitment to make growth inclusive and equitable, so that every man and woman may have the means to fulfill their fullest potential; and the unwavering compassion for those with little means to pursue their dreams,” he said.
“We continue to be guided by these principles in every aspect of governance.” He stressed. “Whether it was in my appeal to the Supreme Court to permit the Maguindanao Massacre trial to be televised, so our people may have an opportunity to witness justice served, and to understand the causes of impunity in our country; or whether it was in my pursuing a pocket open skies policy as part of our liberalization and deregulation efforts; or even in my recent signing of Executive Order 45, which allows our Department of Justice to take legal action in the case of monopolies and cartels—what we are pursuing are these broad things, unbound by narrow-minded dogma, but consistent with our obligation to pursue the greater good.”
“When I announced my candidacy for the presidency, I said my job is about the efficient allocation of resources. We made zero-based budgeting the basis of all our public spending. We refused to accept previous assumptions and went back to basics,”
“We also felt that only through a thorough reexamination of contracts and expenditures could we achieve the fiscal prudence that has allowed us, in April, to record our highest monthly surplus in 25 years. In turn, this has allowed us to ensure that we will have adequate resources for the administration of justice as well as programs such as conditional cash transfers for the poor,” he said.
The President also said the Liberals will continue to rise to the challenges they are facing as he pledged his support to the ultimate flourishing and concretization of their principles as liberals around the globe.
Officials of the Liberal International (LI), Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) paid a courtesy call on President Aquino on Saturday in Malacanang.
The Liberal Party of the Philippines hosted the 57th Liberal International Congress, a 4-day event from June 17 to 20. It is the very first LI Congress to be held in Asia. The 56th LI Congress was previously held in Cairo, Egypt while the 55th, took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Former Senator and incoming Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas II, who is the president of LP-Philippines, delivered the welcome remarks. (PCOO)
The WTO directed the Thailand government to “bring its inconsistent measures into conformity with its WTO obligations.” (PCOO)
Malacanang says Executive Secretary can handle Anti-Organized Crime Commission well
The Palace made an assurance Saturday that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa can effectively lead the re-organized Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) despite having other obligations.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte assured the public in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday that Ochoa can still handle the PAOCC well while also serving as the executive secretary. She said Ochoa is competent to handle the job.
President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order (EO) 46 on June 13 amending Executive Order 8 (signed 1998), to further strengthen and organize the PAOCC.
The EO recognizes the need for an "unwavering campaign to eradicate organized crime, along with graft and corruption." The President designated the executive secretary as the chairman of PAOCC.
Being the PAOCC chairman, the President authorizes Ochoa to issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations to implement the order.
Valet added that according to Ochoa the reorganization is just a restructuring and will focus more on putting things in order under one commission head. At the same time Valte said Ochoa will be supported by other officials from the Office of the President (OP).
The President re-organized the PAOCC to put more teeth on the government’s fight against offenses such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, carjacking, gunrunning, robbery/hold-up, kidnapping for ransom, smuggling and transnational crimes.
The members of PAOCC will be the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, Secretary of Justice, Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, National Security Adviser, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Philippine National Police Director General, National Intelligence Coordination Agency Director General, National Bureau of Investigation Director and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC) Executive Director. (PCOO)
Aquino keynotes 57th Liberal International Congress
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Saturday that the market might be used as a plow to cultivate the fields of social justice for the greater good of the people.
In his speech keynoting the 57th Liberal International Congress at Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacanang on Saturday, President Aquino said: “This is also why this Congress has chosen to locate Human Rights as parallel to Free Trade in the articulation of our theme --- because we believe that the latter must be pursued to ensure that the former is upheld.”
The 4-day event dubbed as the 57th Liberal International Congress on Human Rights and Trade started last June 17, 2011 and would end on June 20, is being hosted by the Liberal Party of the Philippines.
President Aquino, as chairperson of the Liberal Party (LP) of the Philippines, led the gathering of at least 200 high-ranking Liberals from all corners of the world.
“As I have mentioned once before, governments must ensure direction, so that the market might be used as a plow to cultivate the fields of social justice. In rhetorical terms, how can an individual enjoy the rights he has on paper, when from birth he has been denied the tools to take his destiny into his own hands?” the President said.
While his government’s policies are in response to the needs of the people, President Aquino said the policies are also firmly in keeping with principles first laid down by his party--- the Liberal Party of the Philippines--- that was founded in 1946.
“In essence, it is also what has called our people to rally along the “tuwid na daan”—the straight and righteous path. It is also what binds us all as Liberals, even in this so-called post-ideological century of ours: the respect for the individual’s rights and freedoms; the commitment to make growth inclusive and equitable, so that every man and woman may have the means to fulfill their fullest potential; and the unwavering compassion for those with little means to pursue their dreams,” he said.
“We continue to be guided by these principles in every aspect of governance.” He stressed. “Whether it was in my appeal to the Supreme Court to permit the Maguindanao Massacre trial to be televised, so our people may have an opportunity to witness justice served, and to understand the causes of impunity in our country; or whether it was in my pursuing a pocket open skies policy as part of our liberalization and deregulation efforts; or even in my recent signing of Executive Order 45, which allows our Department of Justice to take legal action in the case of monopolies and cartels—what we are pursuing are these broad things, unbound by narrow-minded dogma, but consistent with our obligation to pursue the greater good.”
“When I announced my candidacy for the presidency, I said my job is about the efficient allocation of resources. We made zero-based budgeting the basis of all our public spending. We refused to accept previous assumptions and went back to basics,”
“We also felt that only through a thorough reexamination of contracts and expenditures could we achieve the fiscal prudence that has allowed us, in April, to record our highest monthly surplus in 25 years. In turn, this has allowed us to ensure that we will have adequate resources for the administration of justice as well as programs such as conditional cash transfers for the poor,” he said.
The President also said the Liberals will continue to rise to the challenges they are facing as he pledged his support to the ultimate flourishing and concretization of their principles as liberals around the globe.
Officials of the Liberal International (LI), Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) paid a courtesy call on President Aquino on Saturday in Malacanang.
The Liberal Party of the Philippines hosted the 57th Liberal International Congress, a 4-day event from June 17 to 20. It is the very first LI Congress to be held in Asia. The 56th LI Congress was previously held in Cairo, Egypt while the 55th, took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Former Senator and incoming Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas II, who is the president of LP-Philippines, delivered the welcome remarks. (PCOO)
