Aquino cites strong relationship with Brunei Darussalam
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his profound thanks and gratitude to the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam for taking good care of some 18,000 overseas Filipino workers here.
In his speech before the members of the Brunei Royalty led by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah during the State Banquet in his honor on Wednesday at the Istana Nurul Iman (or the Royal Palace), the Chief Executive also cited the warm welcome and the excellent accommodations given by the Brunei government.
"This journey also gave me a chance to talk to several hundreds of my countrymen earlier today. Their laughter came easily, and in their faces I saw the same comfort and happiness that I see back home, proof of how kind your country -- their second home -- has been to them," the President said.
"My indebtedness to Brunei Darussalam, especially in the person of His Majesty extends even further," he added.
The President noted that his late mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino never benefited from a transition when she was catapulted to power after the People Power Revolution in 1986.
"During those years, Your Majesty and the rest of Brunei did not only stand as allies -- you stood as friends, you gave, and asked nothing in return. And still you continue to give," he stressed.
The President mentioned the grand mosque, which he described as "a beautiful place of worship" that was built in large part through the kindness of His Majesty.
"We eagerly await the day --hopefully soon -- when His Majesty himself will step into the mosque, and see the results of his and his people's kindness," he said.
He assured the Brunei government and it's Royal hierarchy that his administration is likewise very eager to repay the continuing kindness of Brunei.
"Count on us to respond positively when the opportunity to do so arises. Let me reiterate now that our hearts are as open to you, as your hearts are to us," the President said.
The President pointed out that as the mosque in Cotabato City stands and was built with the strongest stones it blazes bright as gold under the sun--so does the friendship between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam. So does our partnership as we move together toward a future when true friendship will be the most resource," he said.
"Together, let us build the Brunei, the Philippines, and the Southeast Asia we all envision," the President concluded. (PCOO)
Aquino says adoption of divorce in PHL is not a priority
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno S. Aquino III said proposals seeking the adoption of divorce in the country will not get Palace backing at this time because it’s not a priority of his administration.
The President, who met the members of the Philippine media during a coffee break at the residence of Philippine Ambassador Nestor Ochoa here, said his administration is busy with other priority measures and will not bother to include the debate on divorce.
“Ang pangako ko kasi job generation, education, health, judicial reform, and we are doing all of that already. The responsible parenthood bills, with the ability of the state to help all these families… yung divorce I think is not a priority at this time,” the President said.
The government must first set the momentum for the priority agenda before venturing to another contentious issue like proposals on divorce.
While not supporting such proposals at this time, the chief executive said he favors extensive debate on the issue in line with his personal position during the presidential campaign last year.
“Ayokong padaliin yung proseso na ang impression ay katulad na nga ng lahat sa Las Vegas--kasal ka sa umaga, puwedeng ma-divorce ka sa hapon. Napaka-importante ang pamilya na dapat ma-address ang lahat ng concerns,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that there are marital break-ups that are beyond repair and these should also be considered.
“There has to be a way out where they are able to regain the right to marry but they have to go through a very exhaustive process that will give them stuffs to rethink whether or not they want to dissolve the family,” he said. (PCOO)
PNP to dismantle illegal fish cages in Taal lake – Malacañang
The government is moving to prevent another fish kill episode from happening within Taal lake by ordering local authorities to begin clearing up illegal fish cages that have been found to be responsible for depleting oxygen levels in the water.
Malacañang on Thursday said the Department of Interior and Local Government will issue instructions to the Philippine National Police in Batangas province to begin dismantling illegal fish pens put up in Taal lake based on an assessment report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the DILG order is in line with an order from the Protected Management Area Bureau in 2009 recommending bringing down the number of fish pens to 6,000 from an initial high of 14,000.
“Unfortunately, some followed while some disregarded the order and so, as a result, we have this recent phenomenon of fish kill,” Lacierda said.
“(So) today DILG Secretary (Jesse) Robredo will order the Batangas PD (police department) to dismantle illegal fish cages in the municipalities surrounding Taal lake,” he added.
He added that the PNP would also put up checkpoints within the province to prevent the proliferation of the double-dead fish in the market.
“The PNP will be putting up checkpoints in those towns surrounding Taal lake to prevent the double dead fish from penetrating the wet market,” Lacierda said.
Some 375 tons of milkfish (bangus) were killed in Taal lake last week due to lack of oxygen in the water. (PCOO)
DBM releases P3.430-billion for Nat’l Rice Program
In line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s social contract commitment to reduce poverty and ensure rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth, especially for those living in the countryside, the Department of Budget and Management announced recently that it has released P3.430-billion for the National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture.
In a statement, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad said the release would help farmers increase their harvest yields towards achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2013.
“The DA’s National Rice Program highlights the Aquino Administration’s commitment to rice self sufficiency by 2013. Through this program, the government makes sure that facilities, technologies and other interventions are in place to help us achieve this target,” he said.
Under the National Rice Program, farmers are provided with quality seeds, irrigation, credit and marketing assistance to improve farm productivity and profitability. The total budget for the National Rice Program for 2011 is P5.217 billion.
| P3.430-BILLION FUND RELEASE FOR DA’s NATIONAL RICE PROGRAM | |
| Implementing Unit | Amount |
| Office of the Secretary-Proper (DA) | P1,459,947,280 |
| Agricultural Training Institute | 104,158,000 |
| Bureau of Agricultural Research | 15,000,000 |
| Bureau of Agricultural Statistics | 35,000,000 |
| Bureau of Plant Industry | 76,800,000 |
| Bureau of Soils and Water Management | 500,000,000 |
| Regional Field Unit I | 131,888,500 |
| Regional Field Unit – CAR | 38,883,200 |
| Regional Field Unit II | 124,505,150 |
| Regional Field Unit III | 251,199,810 |
| Regional Field Unit IV | 117,182,070 |
| Regional Field Unit V | 85,735,700 |
| Regional Field Unit VI | 110,922,500 |
| Regional Field Unit VII | 27,027,650 |
| Regional Field Unit VIII | 81,999,040 |
| Regional Field Unit IX | 50,986,660 |
| Regional Field Unit X | 49,995,470 |
| Regional Field Unit XI | 40,360,670 |
| Regional Field Unit XII | 90,884,650 |
| Regional Field Unit XIII | 37,739,470 |
| GRAND TOTAL | P3,430,215,820 |
Moving a step closer to rice self sufficiency, the DA expects to produce 17.45 million metric tons (MT) of palay this year; and plans to increase that by 10 percent to 19.2 million MT in 2012; and by another 10 percent to 21.11 million MT in 2013 to achieve rice self sufficiency.
In a technical budget hearing conducted by the DBM, Alcala said that DA aims for 91.9 percent rice self-sufficiency by 2012 from 84.4 percent this year, and to attain this, proposed increases in its 2012 budget for its banner program for rice.
Abad meanwhile emphasized the need for DA to strengthen its capability and refocus its investments towards achieving its Philippine Food Staple Self-Sufficiency Roadmap in line with achieving 100-percent rice self-sufficiency. (PCOO)
International organization certifies Phl as foot-and-mouth disease-free zone
Apart from the anticipated good news to be delivered by President Benigno S. Aquino III as he returns home today from a successful 2-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam, Malacanang bared that the country has been granted a certificate as foot and mouth disease (FMD)-free zone from an international organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
The recognition further boost the country’s livestock and meat production sector.
In a regular press briefing at the Palace Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the World Organization for Animal Health also known as Office International des Epizooties (OIE) has approved the Philippines as a foot and mouth disease-free zone.
“The World Organization for Animal Health declared the Philippines as foot-and-mouth disease-free… we have a certificate,” Lacierda said.
The said certification from the OIE allows the local meat producers to export their products abroad.
Lacierda said that this would also be advantageous for the local hog raisers considering the interest raised by some foreign business groups in the industry.
“The immediate effect of this, it allows our country to export meat products abroad… if you remember when the President was in Thailand there was a particular group called the Charoen Pokthand or the CP group which mentioned that they were interested in investing here in the Philippines because we are FMD-free,” Lacierda said.
“This will be a big advantage for us, for our hog raisers and our meat products will be recognized abroad as FMD-free,” he added.
The certification issued last May 26 was signed by the group’s president Carlos Correa Messuti and Director General Bernard Vallat.
Based in Paris, France, OIE is an inter-governmental organization created to fight animal diseases at a global level through an international Agreement signed on January 25th 1924.
In May 2003 the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health but kept its historical acronym OIE.
It is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2011 had a total of 178 Member Countries and Territories. The OIE maintains permanent relations with 36 other international and regional organizations and has Regional and sub-regional Offices on every continent.
The OIE provides technical support to Member Countries requesting assistance with animal disease control and eradication operations, including diseases transmissible to humans. The OIE notably offers expertise to the poorest countries to help them control animal diseases that cause livestock losses, present a risk to public health and threaten other Member Countries.
Since it was created, the OIE has played a key role in its capacity as the sole international reference organization for animal health, enjoying established international recognition and benefiting from direct collaboration with the Veterinary Services of all its Member Countries. (PCOO)
Aquino meets Mashhor Group of Companies for development of energy infrastructure
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: Recognizing energy development as the most promising potential of the Philippines for its transport sector, President Benigno Aquino III met the officials of the Mashhor Group of Companies here for the development of energy infrastructure in the country.
Secretary Herminio “Sonny“ Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office told the Philippine media during a press briefing after the President’s meetings with business groups that the administration is determined to pursue the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for public transportation.
The Philippines is eager to develop CNG for its transport because it has available natural gas supply from the Malampaya fields in Palawan.
“We want to develop distribution facilities but this will require massive resources considering the number of public transport that need to be prepared for conversion to CNG use,” he said noting that this is the reason why the President approached Mashhor for possible collaboration.
However, Coloma said all the meetings are just initial steps and discussions between the Philippines and Mashhor will continue for the plan to materialize.
“Although not yet of the scale that we like to see, this is the reason why this visit is aimed at bringing it to the next level so that we can increase the quantum of trade and investment between the two countries,” he said.
Earlier, the President said that energy development in the Philippines is the brightest prospect of the visit. He said his government wants Brunei to assist it in laying the ground works for a wide use of CNG for public transport since Brunei has been in the business for a long time.
Established in 1972, Mashhor has been involved in the oil and gas industry providing services in the field of provision of transportation, waste management, engineering construction, fabrication, IT, access scaffolding, earthmoving and sandfilling and many others.
The company, which is headed by Haji Hameed Mashhor, has offices in West/East Malaysia, India Bangalore and Muscat Oman. (PCOO)
Aquino meets with QAF Brunei for possible tie up on banking, food certification and aquaculture
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno Aquino III started the second day of his two-day state visit here by meeting investors and business organizations.
On Thursday morning, he met the officials of QAF Brunei Sdn Bhd Co. Ltd for possible cooperation on Islamic banking, halal food certification and aqua culture development.
During a media briefing at the Times Hotel here, Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said the President met the head of QAF Brunei, Prince Abdul Qawi, the first cousin of the crown prince.
Among the highlights of the discussion between President Aquino and Prince Qawi is cooperation in the promotion of Islamic banking within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) initiative.
The Philippines has the Philippine Al Amanah Islamic bank that is under the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). But the bank has been dormant for many years and Coloma said the President’s discussion with QAF Brunei official may pave the way for the reopening of the bank.
“We’re asking the support of Brunei in exploring the possible revival of this bank and the response of his royal highness, the prince, is that this could be a vehicle in promoting the BIMP EAGA investment,” Coloma said.
The Philippines and QAF are also looking in possible joint ventures in property developments. Brunei has been aggressively engage in property development and public housing.
Another issue brought out by the Philippines to QAF was assistance in developing capability for certification in halal food processing, Coloma said.
“We want to go significantly into halal food processing but to be able to achieve a break-through we need to tool up and become capable in certification so that there will be quality assurance of the products,” he said.
Another proposal raised by the Philippines is aqua culture with the President discussing the Philippine aquaculture industry.
“We have sea urchin development in Bolinao, Pangasinan as well as milk fish development. They [QAF] are also interested in pursuing this,” he said.
QAF Brunei has been engaged in several businesses including publishing, computer technology, communications, air conditioning products, automobiles, food industries, shipping and the production of gases for industrial use.
The organization boasts of a vast resource of business expertise, both in Brunei Darussalam and around the region. (PCOO)
DILG tapped to identify local government units that tolerate illegal harvesting of black corals, Palace says
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was tapped to help identify the cities and municipalities that are reportedly tolerating the illegal harvesting of black corals that resulted to the destruction of biodiversity in the country, the Palace said on Thursday.
In a regular news briefing at Malacanang, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje had requested DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo to extend assistance in identifying the local government units (LGUs) that are reportedly allowing some traders to extract black corals within their respective jurisdictions.
“The black corals are raised within 15 kilometers (from the shores) and these are considered municipal waters. Corals will require sunlight and so they are within the municipal waters so obviously there are some LGUs that are involved in this illegal trade,” Lacierda told reporters.
He also said the DENR, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) are set to jointly file a case against those involved in the illegal trade of black corals.
“You cannot extract these black corals without some measure of cooperation from LGUs concerned,” said Lacierda.
The Palace earlier urged the local and international buying public to boycott traders involved in the illegal business of black corals in an effort to protect biodiversity not only in the country but also in other parts of the world.
“We call on all consumers the world over to make a similar commitment to saving the biodiversity of our seas, by refusing to buy black coral items,” he said.
Lacierda said in an earlier statement that: “We must bear in mind that even as our authorities such as the BoC, BFAR, and departments like the DENR work to interdict the poachers and their contraband, establishing protected areas and making them successful is, ultimately, what will stem the tide of environmental destruction.”
The BoC foiled a plot to smuggle out of the country sacks of rare black sea corals worth P15 million last May 19. These black sea corals were seized in Cebu.
Customs officials suspected that the black sea corals were somehow linked to their earlier catch of dead rare sea turtles, black corals and sea shells shipped from Cotabato.
The bureau touted it as its first biggest catch involving endangered marine species. (PCOO)
Aquino meets with Brunei investment agency for tourism development and hotel investments in Phl
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno S. Aquino III met a state-owned investment organization here on Thursday for tourism development and hotel investments in the Philippines.
“The main thrust of the discussion is tourism development and hotels,” Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), said of President Aquino’s meeting with Brunei Investment Agency (BIA).
Coloma said in a media briefing that BIA has nine hotels in Europe and they also are in hotel development in Mindanao and possibly pursue joint ventures in Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
All the business meetings of the President have been fruitful and substantial, Coloma said in summing up the business meetings of the President. He noted that the members of the President's delegation have expressed optimism that they’ll be able to bring the discussion to the next level, which is project conceptualization and implementation.
The BIA is a government-owned investment organization that manages the sovereign wealth fund for Brunei. It has approximately $30 billion in assets under management as of 2009.
The funds deposited with the Brunei Investment Agency are primarily the surplus revenues from the development of Brunei's oil reserves.
The agency is headed by Brunei’s Minister of Education, Pehin Abubakar. (PCOO)
Aquino meets with Brunei Economic Development Board for agriculture, shipping and logistics, and design tie up
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno S. Aquino III met with the officials of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) headed by it's chief executive officer Vincent Cheong on Thursday at the Istana Edinburgh here.
In a press briefing at the Times Hotel, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said that one of the points discussed during the President's meeting with the BEDB officials was in the aspect of agriculture.
Coloma said that the BEDB would like to invite Philippine companies to go into crops processing in Brunei.
"First they discussed the possibility of raw materials sourcing from the Philippines. And if the raw materials can be sourced from us then we could go on forward integration into food processing and then this could set the stage for certification. So that is the process that they envision," Coloma said.
He said that the BEDB also tackled with the President the aspect of shipping and logistics adding that their main proposal is for the two countries to cooperate in building transshipment traffic in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP-EAGA) Region.
Coloma noted the President's visit to the Muara Port where "our own company ICTSI has established the Muara Container Terminal.
He stressed that Brunei sees this as a "significant platform for this concept of BIMP-EAGA transshipment since we have the logistics capability.” We have the capability to build the infrastructure as demonstrated by the ICTSI.
Coloma also said that the group is interested in the area of technology.
"They want to encourage Philippine companies to provide enterprise resource planning solutions and to develop mobile applications. And this is along the lines of promoting interconnectivity in BIMP-EAGA which we are also actively pursuing,” he added.
According to Coloma, BEDB also wants to encourage Philippine companies or Philippine-based multinationals to establish data centers and disaster recovery centers in Brunei citing two factors in their favor, namely, low electricity cost and that they are hardly or not at all visited by typhoons.
The fourth and most significant area of interest for BEDB, Coloma said, is in the aspect of design.
"They want a formal tie-up with the Design Center of the Philippines in product design, product design research, product development because they see this as a path for enhanced competitiveness of their local industry. And they recognize that our design center is well advanced in terms of capability and talent," he said.
During the meeting, Coloma said, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Cheongsam readily agreed to an exchange of missions so that "we can flesh out the specific proposals especially the last one, the institutional tie up between Bedb and design center of the Philippines."
The BEDB (Brunei Economic Development Board) is a statutory board established by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in November 2001 to be the leading economic development agency for Brunei Darussalam. (PCOO)
Aquino returns from successful 2-day state visit in Brunei
President Benigno Aquino III returned late afternoon Thursday following his fruitful 2-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam noting that the Philippines was able to further strengthen its deep economic and bilateral ties with the sultanate.
The President arrived at Villamor Air Base at around 5 p.m. via presidential plane Fokker 28 (F28) from the oil-rich sultanate, accompanied by Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr.
“Halos isa’t kalahating araw din po tayong naglagi sa Brunei Darussalam upang patatagin ang malalim at maganda nang ugnayan ng ating mga bansa. Nabigyan po tayo ng pagkakataong magpasalamat kay Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah sa walang-sawa niyang suporta at pakikipagkaibigan sa Pilipinas,” the President said in his arrival statement at the Bulwagan Kalayaan of Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
In his speech, the President said that during his bilateral meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah they agreed to work closely at the development of the infrastructure for natural gas as an alternative to imported fossil fuel.
He said the Brunei government expressed strong interests in the sugar, corn and cacao as well as in Halal foods industry of the Philippines.
“Interesado po sila sa ating asukal, mais at cacao. Ito nga rin pong sa pagkaing Halal na proseso sa pamamagitan ng Halal, napakalaking merkado rin, at tiyak na makakatulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya kung mapapasok natin sa lalong madaling panahon,” he said.
“Nakakasabik po ang ipinakita nilang interes sa ilang industriya natin dito, lalo na po sa sektor ng enerhiya at sa food industry. Sa enerhiya po, kung saan may malawak na karanasan ang Brunei, nagpanukala na po tayong makipagtulungan sa kanilang gobyerno upang mabahaginan tayo ng kanilang teknolohiya at kaalaman,” he added.
Aside from that, he said, the government of Brunei expressed strong interest on the quality of gravel and sand in the Philippines.
“Mantakin po ninyo, pati sa bato at buhangin natin interesado sila. Talaga naman ang sarap maging Pilipino, lalo na ngayong nababawi na natin ang ating pambansang dangal, kaya nga rin malinaw ang tiwalang ipinapakita ng mga kapitbahay natin,” he said.
He also reported that he and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah witnessed the signing of separate memorandums of understanding for cooperation and greater private-sector participation in developing shipping, tourism, agriculture and sports.
“Malayo po ang mararating nito, lalo pa’t ngayong Pilipinas ang nahirang na chair ng Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Hindi po natin bibiguin ang ating mga karatig-bayan na nagpataw sa atin ng tungkuling mamuno. Mas lalo rin pong hindi natin ipagkakait sa ating mga kababayan ang pagkakataong dumiretso dito sa tuwid na landas tungo sa kaunlaran,” he said.
The President also said he talked to the top executives of QAF Brunei, Mashhor Group of Companies, Brunei Economic Development Board and Brunei Investment Agency.
Among those who welcomed the President in his arrival were Vice President Jejomar Binay, House Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Peace Process Adviser Teresita “Ging” Deles, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban. (PCOO)
