Aquino maintains near historical high results from survey firms
Malacanang expressed President Benigno S. Aquino III’s gratefulness to the Filipino people over the latest survey results that reflect a wide-ranging support for the administration’s efforts to curb corruption, pursue inclusive growth, and deliver basic services.
In a media interview at the Palace Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the President’s performance and trust ratings remained at near-historical highs as shown in the recent Pulse Asia “Ulat sa Bayan Survey” both recorded at 71 percentage points for the survey period of May 21 to June 4, 2011.
Lacierda said that the results from surveys conducted by the two different firms, Social Weather Station (SWS) and Pulse Asia, merely shows almost the same results which disprove attempts by some opposition groups to convince the public on the eroding support of the people to the Aquino administration.
“There is a difference in the way survey results are being handled by both survey firms… SWS would report on the net satisfaction rating but if you look at the gross satisfaction rating or the gross approval, they are almost near the same… SWS says 64 while Pulse Asia has 71… so we believe that this would disprove the opposition’s attempts to convince the public that the people are no longer behind the President, this just proves otherwise,” Lacierda said.
“Sa Pulse Asia 71, which is near historical high… his highest was I think 80 or 79? So mataas pa rin so hindi nag-iiba masyado sa SWS gross satisfaction numbers…” he added.
In a recent study, the Pulse Asia said that based on its face-to-face interviews with 1,200 people, 71 percent or seven in 10 Filipinos trust and approve of the performance of President Aquino.
Pulse Asia said that the difference from the President's ratings compared to the March 2011 survey "do not vary significantly."
In a separate survey released by the SWS, the President’s net rating slipped from a record high of 64 in November last year to 46 this month, with 64 percent of Filipinos saying they were satisfied with his performance and 18 percent dissatisfied.
The survey was conducted from June 3 to 6 among 1,200 respondents.
SWS said the Chief Executive’s new scores, despite the drop, were all in the “good” and “very good” ranges across all areas, social classes and sex.
The President assured that he will remain committed to leading the nation to the straight and righteous path towards equitable progress. (PCOO)
Aquino says China must follow international law
COTABATO CITY: China must adhere to international law in resolving the dispute in the South China Sea, President Aquino III said on Wednesday in a press conference in Cotabato City.
The President was reacting to a question from the media regarding the call of US Republican Sen. John McCain who said the US government must help Southeast Asian countries build up naval defenses to counter aggressive Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
The US should aid the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to build their maritime defense and detection capabilities and to develop and deploy basic systems such as early- warning radar and coastal security vessels, according to McCain in his speech in Washington.
The President said claimant countries must adhere to international law by using the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to settle the dispute in the South China Sea.
UNCLOS which was promulgated in 1982, says that an exclusive economic zone of a country is defined as 200 miles from its continental shelf, he said.
The President noted that Reed Bank, which is not part of the dispute until China came up with its 9 dash theory, is 80 miles from Palawan and about 570 miles from Hainan Island in China, the closest point from Chinese territory.
“So pag sinabi nating adhere to international law and we expect China to adhere to that and with America backing us up and other Asean claimants we expect that the UN, America and other interested parties who have to traverse this body of water will insist their freedom of navigation and adherence to UNCLOS,” he said.
But the President stressed that the Philippines’s actions shouldn’t be interpreted as aggressive posturing towards other claimant countries in the South China Sea.
“I don’t think that I would be doing my duty to the people and to the state if you agree na ‘sige lahat ng gusto n’yo sa inyo na lang dahil ang laki nyo sa amin.’ Mukha hong maling prinsipyo iyun. Our basis for our claim is well-founded especially under this treaty ratified by so many countries including China,” the President added.
McCain, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, said China’s aggressive behavior and its unsubstantiated territorial claims in the South China Sea are exacerbating tensions.
Tensions have been high in the area as the Philippines and Vietnam claim Chinese ships had harassed their oil and gas survey vessels. (PCOO)
Aquino assures LGUs of his support in its problem with water lilies
COTABATO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III assured all local government units in Region 12 and the residents of Cotabato City that the national government will continue to help them in its war versus water hyacinths along Mindanao River Basin specifically in Rio Grande de Mindanao and its tributaries.
“The government will definitely help you, and the LGUs to resolve the problem on water hyacinths. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang clearing and removal of water lilies,” he said in a press briefing at the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Gonzalo Siongco in Awang, Maguindanao.
The President made the response when asked by a local reporter if the military from the 6th Infantry Division and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) will continue its dredging and removal of water hyacinths along Rio Grande de Mindanao River even if he already left and end his more than 4-hours of visit in Cotabato City.
“Sinisiguro ko sa inyo kahit wala ako dito (at nasa Manila) dapat may nag-aasikaso dito at itutuloy ang clearing at removal ng water lilies,” he stressed.
Also in the same press conference, the President ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure that all basic needs of families such as blankets, food supplies, medicines and potable water in the evacuation centers are addressed upon.
He also said that he will ask the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) to conduct a feasibility studies on the possibilities of using water lilies to be converted as bio-fuel or alternative source of fuel.
Earlier, the President made an aerial inspection to personally oversee and assess the extent of damage of massive flooding and where the water lilies that clogged at the Delta Bridge in Cotabato City came from.
After the aerial inspection, the President received a briefing from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos and observed the soldiers from the 6th ID and volunteer residents in the ongoing dredging and removal of water hyacinths stocked along the banks of Rio Grande de Mindanao River.
Some 3,271 evacuees are housed at the Norte Dame Village Elementary School evacuation center.
The NDRRMC reported to the President that 48 municipalities including 5 cities, and some 395 barangays in four regions in Mindanao have been affected by flashfloods.
The NDRRMC also informed the President that as of June 15, 2011, at least 7,025 hectares of agricultural crops have been damaged in Region 12 while in Maguindanao more or less 5,391 hectares of agricultural crops were totally destroyed by floods.
In Cotabato City, the Office of Social Welfare and Development reported that 26 barangays, 3,965 families (12,297 individuals) are displaced by floods and they are now presently sheltered in 16 evacuation centers while in Maguindanao some 17 towns are affected with 53,188 families (394,261 individuals) are homeless. (PCOO)
Aquino unfazed by survey results
President Benigno Aquino III is not bothered by the recent survey results on his popularity believing the Filipino people is behind him in carrying out reforms in the government, Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said on Wednesday.
Coloma described the President as “resilient and strong” in facing problems and challenges such as the recent survey results.
“Matatag na matatag at napakatibay. Sapagkat para sa ating pangulo ang pinakamahalaga ay iyong pagtitiwala ng ating mga kababayan na iginawad sa kanya nang siya ay inihalal bilang pangulo,” Coloma said in response to a question propounded to him by a listener during the Barangay PBS program aired Wednesday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Ang paghalal sa kanya ay para sa isang buong termino na anim na taon. Hindi naman niya ipinangako na lahat ng problema ay malulutas sa loob lamang na ilang buwan o isang taon,” Coloma added.
While the Aquino administration faces challenges, some simple and some difficult, Coloma said the president and his administration continue to work to realize the dream of every Filipino--to attain a better life.
“Yan po ang batayan ng ating pangulo sa kanyang pamumuno na nagtitiwala ang ating mga kababayan na siya ay tapat sa tungkulin, hindi siya nagnanakaw, hindi siya corrupt, at sinsero ang kanyang pagnanasa na maglingkod sa bayan. Yan po ang giya na gumagabay sa kanya sa araw-araw na pamumuno sa ating bansa,” Coloma said.
With less than two weeks before the end of his first year in office, the President’s satisfaction rating slightly dropped based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
In a separate Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan Survey, President Aquino’s performance and trust ratings remained at near-historical highs as both recorded numbers at 71 percentage points for the survey period of May 21 to June 4, 2011.
“Given the margin of error of +/-3 percentage points, the President’s performance rating of 71 percentage points remains statistically unchanged from the previous rating of 74 percentage points recorded in March. An incremental decrease from a trust rating of 75 percentage points in March to 71 during the latest survey period was also reflected in the survey,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement on Wednesday. (PCOO)
Good economic management pushes overall investments up, says Coloma
The increase in the country’s overall investment is a result of good stewardship of the economic managers of the Aquino administration, Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communication Operations Office said.
During the Barangay PBS program aired over government run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Wedesday, Coloma said there are many aspects of knowing the economic status of a country and one of these is the rating being undertaken by investment rating agencies.
He noted that almost all of the leading rating agencies have adjusted their ratings for the Philippines obviously as a result of good economic management of the Aquino administration and the continuing confidence of investors for the Philippines.
“Lahat naman nitong mga rating agencies ay binago na iyung ratings nila pataas at ngayon lamang natamo ang kasing-taas na rating na nagpapahiwatig lamang na malaki ang kumpiyansa ng mga mamumuhunan, mga mangangalakal at ng finance and investment communities dahil bilib sila sa kalidad ng economic management at political leadership dito sa ating bansa,” Coloma said.
In an article, former Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ceilito Habito said that despite the significant drop in foreign direct investment in the country, its foreign investment approval increased as well as other aspects like public investment with the overall investments reaching 37 percent because of the growth in private and domestic investments. (PCOO)
Aquino to convene LEDAC next month
President Benigno S. Aquino is set to convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) next month in line with his directive to push for the passage of more legislative measures for the benefit of the Filipino people.
During a regular news briefing at Malacanang on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the LEDAC is set to hold a meeting on July 12.
Following the signing into law of four legislative measures in the fields of energy, labor and health care that impact on the social reform agenda of the Aquino administration, the Chief Executive wanted to push more legislative measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.
Lacierda stressed that the President signed the four measures on energy, labor and healthcare into law, saying that these will provide more opportunities for concrete, dynamic development across the nation.
Among the priority bills discussed last February include the proposed creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the amendments to the National Health Insurance Act, the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the proposed reorganization of the National Food Authority (NFA), among others.
Last June 6, Aquino signed into law Republic Act 10149 or the Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Act of 2011 that aims to promote financial viability and fiscal discipline in GOCCs and strengthen the role of the State in its governance and management to make them more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.
Lacierda noted that the Aquino administration is looking forward to further working in solidarity with Congress as part of the service to the countrymen.
“We are heartened by the hard work of our allies in the Senate and the House of Representatives, especially their leadership under Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Sonny Belmonte. We look forward to further working in solidarity with them, in service to our countrymen,” he said.
Created in 1992, the LEDAC has as regular members the President as chairman, the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, seven Cabinet members, three senators, three House members, and one representative each from the local government, the youth, and the private sector. (PCOO)
Malacanang expressed President Benigno S. Aquino III’s gratefulness to the Filipino people over the latest survey results that reflect a wide-ranging support for the administration’s efforts to curb corruption, pursue inclusive growth, and deliver basic services.
In a media interview at the Palace Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the President’s performance and trust ratings remained at near-historical highs as shown in the recent Pulse Asia “Ulat sa Bayan Survey” both recorded at 71 percentage points for the survey period of May 21 to June 4, 2011.
Lacierda said that the results from surveys conducted by the two different firms, Social Weather Station (SWS) and Pulse Asia, merely shows almost the same results which disprove attempts by some opposition groups to convince the public on the eroding support of the people to the Aquino administration.
“There is a difference in the way survey results are being handled by both survey firms… SWS would report on the net satisfaction rating but if you look at the gross satisfaction rating or the gross approval, they are almost near the same… SWS says 64 while Pulse Asia has 71… so we believe that this would disprove the opposition’s attempts to convince the public that the people are no longer behind the President, this just proves otherwise,” Lacierda said.
“Sa Pulse Asia 71, which is near historical high… his highest was I think 80 or 79? So mataas pa rin so hindi nag-iiba masyado sa SWS gross satisfaction numbers…” he added.
In a recent study, the Pulse Asia said that based on its face-to-face interviews with 1,200 people, 71 percent or seven in 10 Filipinos trust and approve of the performance of President Aquino.
Pulse Asia said that the difference from the President's ratings compared to the March 2011 survey "do not vary significantly."
In a separate survey released by the SWS, the President’s net rating slipped from a record high of 64 in November last year to 46 this month, with 64 percent of Filipinos saying they were satisfied with his performance and 18 percent dissatisfied.
The survey was conducted from June 3 to 6 among 1,200 respondents.
SWS said the Chief Executive’s new scores, despite the drop, were all in the “good” and “very good” ranges across all areas, social classes and sex.
The President assured that he will remain committed to leading the nation to the straight and righteous path towards equitable progress. (PCOO)
Aquino says China must follow international law
COTABATO CITY: China must adhere to international law in resolving the dispute in the South China Sea, President Aquino III said on Wednesday in a press conference in Cotabato City.
The President was reacting to a question from the media regarding the call of US Republican Sen. John McCain who said the US government must help Southeast Asian countries build up naval defenses to counter aggressive Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
The US should aid the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to build their maritime defense and detection capabilities and to develop and deploy basic systems such as early- warning radar and coastal security vessels, according to McCain in his speech in Washington.
The President said claimant countries must adhere to international law by using the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to settle the dispute in the South China Sea.
UNCLOS which was promulgated in 1982, says that an exclusive economic zone of a country is defined as 200 miles from its continental shelf, he said.
The President noted that Reed Bank, which is not part of the dispute until China came up with its 9 dash theory, is 80 miles from Palawan and about 570 miles from Hainan Island in China, the closest point from Chinese territory.
“So pag sinabi nating adhere to international law and we expect China to adhere to that and with America backing us up and other Asean claimants we expect that the UN, America and other interested parties who have to traverse this body of water will insist their freedom of navigation and adherence to UNCLOS,” he said.
But the President stressed that the Philippines’s actions shouldn’t be interpreted as aggressive posturing towards other claimant countries in the South China Sea.
“I don’t think that I would be doing my duty to the people and to the state if you agree na ‘sige lahat ng gusto n’yo sa inyo na lang dahil ang laki nyo sa amin.’ Mukha hong maling prinsipyo iyun. Our basis for our claim is well-founded especially under this treaty ratified by so many countries including China,” the President added.
McCain, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, said China’s aggressive behavior and its unsubstantiated territorial claims in the South China Sea are exacerbating tensions.
Tensions have been high in the area as the Philippines and Vietnam claim Chinese ships had harassed their oil and gas survey vessels. (PCOO)
Aquino assures LGUs of his support in its problem with water lilies
COTABATO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III assured all local government units in Region 12 and the residents of Cotabato City that the national government will continue to help them in its war versus water hyacinths along Mindanao River Basin specifically in Rio Grande de Mindanao and its tributaries.
“The government will definitely help you, and the LGUs to resolve the problem on water hyacinths. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang clearing and removal of water lilies,” he said in a press briefing at the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Gonzalo Siongco in Awang, Maguindanao.
The President made the response when asked by a local reporter if the military from the 6th Infantry Division and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) will continue its dredging and removal of water hyacinths along Rio Grande de Mindanao River even if he already left and end his more than 4-hours of visit in Cotabato City.
“Sinisiguro ko sa inyo kahit wala ako dito (at nasa Manila) dapat may nag-aasikaso dito at itutuloy ang clearing at removal ng water lilies,” he stressed.
Also in the same press conference, the President ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DoH) to ensure that all basic needs of families such as blankets, food supplies, medicines and potable water in the evacuation centers are addressed upon.
He also said that he will ask the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) to conduct a feasibility studies on the possibilities of using water lilies to be converted as bio-fuel or alternative source of fuel.
Earlier, the President made an aerial inspection to personally oversee and assess the extent of damage of massive flooding and where the water lilies that clogged at the Delta Bridge in Cotabato City came from.
After the aerial inspection, the President received a briefing from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos and observed the soldiers from the 6th ID and volunteer residents in the ongoing dredging and removal of water hyacinths stocked along the banks of Rio Grande de Mindanao River.
Some 3,271 evacuees are housed at the Norte Dame Village Elementary School evacuation center.
The NDRRMC reported to the President that 48 municipalities including 5 cities, and some 395 barangays in four regions in Mindanao have been affected by flashfloods.
The NDRRMC also informed the President that as of June 15, 2011, at least 7,025 hectares of agricultural crops have been damaged in Region 12 while in Maguindanao more or less 5,391 hectares of agricultural crops were totally destroyed by floods.
In Cotabato City, the Office of Social Welfare and Development reported that 26 barangays, 3,965 families (12,297 individuals) are displaced by floods and they are now presently sheltered in 16 evacuation centers while in Maguindanao some 17 towns are affected with 53,188 families (394,261 individuals) are homeless. (PCOO)
Aquino unfazed by survey results
President Benigno Aquino III is not bothered by the recent survey results on his popularity believing the Filipino people is behind him in carrying out reforms in the government, Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said on Wednesday.
Coloma described the President as “resilient and strong” in facing problems and challenges such as the recent survey results.
“Matatag na matatag at napakatibay. Sapagkat para sa ating pangulo ang pinakamahalaga ay iyong pagtitiwala ng ating mga kababayan na iginawad sa kanya nang siya ay inihalal bilang pangulo,” Coloma said in response to a question propounded to him by a listener during the Barangay PBS program aired Wednesday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Ang paghalal sa kanya ay para sa isang buong termino na anim na taon. Hindi naman niya ipinangako na lahat ng problema ay malulutas sa loob lamang na ilang buwan o isang taon,” Coloma added.
While the Aquino administration faces challenges, some simple and some difficult, Coloma said the president and his administration continue to work to realize the dream of every Filipino--to attain a better life.
“Yan po ang batayan ng ating pangulo sa kanyang pamumuno na nagtitiwala ang ating mga kababayan na siya ay tapat sa tungkulin, hindi siya nagnanakaw, hindi siya corrupt, at sinsero ang kanyang pagnanasa na maglingkod sa bayan. Yan po ang giya na gumagabay sa kanya sa araw-araw na pamumuno sa ating bansa,” Coloma said.
With less than two weeks before the end of his first year in office, the President’s satisfaction rating slightly dropped based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
In a separate Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan Survey, President Aquino’s performance and trust ratings remained at near-historical highs as both recorded numbers at 71 percentage points for the survey period of May 21 to June 4, 2011.
“Given the margin of error of +/-3 percentage points, the President’s performance rating of 71 percentage points remains statistically unchanged from the previous rating of 74 percentage points recorded in March. An incremental decrease from a trust rating of 75 percentage points in March to 71 during the latest survey period was also reflected in the survey,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement on Wednesday. (PCOO)
Good economic management pushes overall investments up, says Coloma
The increase in the country’s overall investment is a result of good stewardship of the economic managers of the Aquino administration, Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communication Operations Office said.
During the Barangay PBS program aired over government run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Wedesday, Coloma said there are many aspects of knowing the economic status of a country and one of these is the rating being undertaken by investment rating agencies.
He noted that almost all of the leading rating agencies have adjusted their ratings for the Philippines obviously as a result of good economic management of the Aquino administration and the continuing confidence of investors for the Philippines.
“Lahat naman nitong mga rating agencies ay binago na iyung ratings nila pataas at ngayon lamang natamo ang kasing-taas na rating na nagpapahiwatig lamang na malaki ang kumpiyansa ng mga mamumuhunan, mga mangangalakal at ng finance and investment communities dahil bilib sila sa kalidad ng economic management at political leadership dito sa ating bansa,” Coloma said.
In an article, former Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ceilito Habito said that despite the significant drop in foreign direct investment in the country, its foreign investment approval increased as well as other aspects like public investment with the overall investments reaching 37 percent because of the growth in private and domestic investments. (PCOO)
Aquino to convene LEDAC next month
President Benigno S. Aquino is set to convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) next month in line with his directive to push for the passage of more legislative measures for the benefit of the Filipino people.
During a regular news briefing at Malacanang on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the LEDAC is set to hold a meeting on July 12.
Following the signing into law of four legislative measures in the fields of energy, labor and health care that impact on the social reform agenda of the Aquino administration, the Chief Executive wanted to push more legislative measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people.
Lacierda stressed that the President signed the four measures on energy, labor and healthcare into law, saying that these will provide more opportunities for concrete, dynamic development across the nation.
Among the priority bills discussed last February include the proposed creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the amendments to the National Health Insurance Act, the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the proposed reorganization of the National Food Authority (NFA), among others.
Last June 6, Aquino signed into law Republic Act 10149 or the Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Act of 2011 that aims to promote financial viability and fiscal discipline in GOCCs and strengthen the role of the State in its governance and management to make them more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.
Lacierda noted that the Aquino administration is looking forward to further working in solidarity with Congress as part of the service to the countrymen.
“We are heartened by the hard work of our allies in the Senate and the House of Representatives, especially their leadership under Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Sonny Belmonte. We look forward to further working in solidarity with them, in service to our countrymen,” he said.
Created in 1992, the LEDAC has as regular members the President as chairman, the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, seven Cabinet members, three senators, three House members, and one representative each from the local government, the youth, and the private sector. (PCOO)
