Aquino cites need for OIC of ARMM to share his vision of good governance
President Benigno Aquino III Aquino underscored the need for the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to share his vision of good governance and reform to the people in the region.
The President signed into law on Thursday the bill postponing this year's ARMM elections to be synchronized with the national and local elections in 2013.
“Siyempre importante iyong vision, pareho noong vision natin. Iyong hindi magpapatuloy ng sistemang nakaugalian na sa ARMM.
So ibig sabihin naka-focus, magde-deliver ng basic services na due to them,” the President told reporters in an ambush interview after the signing of the bill.
The usual practice, according to the President, are ARMM officials engaging in rampant corruption, compromising the quality of education and health care and ultimately the lives of the people in the region.
The President also noted that he wants an OIC who has a doable roadmap so that projects are completed in a particular time frame.
“Iyong essence nito, iyong magpapatupad noong pangarap natin na maranasan lahat ng taga-ARMM,” he said.
The President reiterated his position that it is in the best interest of the people in ARMM to have an OIC who has no intention in running for the 2013 election, so that he can concentrate in reforming the region in the next two years.
Asked about the intention of Eid Kabalu, an official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), for the OIC job, the President said he’ll consult his peace adviser on the matter.
“We have to hear from the peace adviser, the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process. We will have to study that matter, as there is a selection process for the OIC of ARMM,” he stressed.
Republic Act 10153 mandates that the next ARMM elections for the regional governor, vice governor and members of the regional legislative assembly shall be held simultaneously with the midterm elections on the second Monday of May 2013.
Succeeding regular elections in the ARMM will be held on the same date every three years. (PCOO)
Aquino signs ARMM Polls Postponement Act
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10153, an Act Providing for the Synchronization of the Election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the National and Local Elections and for other purposes.
In his speech following the signing of the landmark legislative measure on Thursday the President stressed the government’s all-out efforts in curbing the irregularities in governance in ARMM. He also thanked the administration allies in both Houses of Congress for supporting and pushing for the passage of the law saying that the new measure serves as proof of the cooperation of the legislative and executive branches of government.
“Upang mahinto ang mga iregularidad sa pamamahala sa ARMM, isinulong natin ang pagpapaliban ng ARMM elections para isabay na natin ito sa lokal at pambansang halalan,” the President said.
“Maraming salamat po sa ating mga kaalyado sa Senado at Kongreso sa pamumuno po ni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at House Speaker Sonny Belmonte at sa mga nanguna at sumuporta sa pagsulong ng batas na ito dahil sa pakikiisa at pagkakaisa ng lehislatura at ehekutibo pinagtibay na natin ngayon ang repormang matatanglaw na tunay na demokrasya sa ARMM,” he added.
The Chief Executive said that RA 10153 also aims to let the real voice of the people be heard and put a halt on the unscrupulous acts of some political clans during elections.
“Malinaw ang ating hangarin para sa ARMM… upang marinig ang tunay na saloobin ng taong bayan. Tutuldukan na natin ang pag-hahari-harian ng mga political na angkan na pasimuno ng dayaan sa eleksyon,” the President stressed.
He added that a reformative roadmap for the region will be applied by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to make sure that the rule of law prevails during the electoral process in the region.
“Isasakatuparan din ng DILG ang isang roadmap para sa mga reporma sa rehiyon, tungo sa tunay na kaunlaran at kapayapaan sa ARMM. Kaakibat po ng repormang electoral na ating isinusulong dito lilinisin natin ang voters’ list sa pamamagitan ng muling pagpapatala ng mga botante at pagiging modern ng eleksyon,” President Aquino said.
The government will also encourage the participation of civil society groups that will conduct voters’ education efforts and will serve as watchdogs.
In simple ceremonies held at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacanang Palace, President Aquino signed RA 10153, in the presence of Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., and other government officials.
In the House of Representatives, the new measure was principally authored by Representative Bai Sandra Sema with Speaker Belmonte, Deputy Speaker Maria Isabelle Climaco, Majority Leader Gonzales, among others, as co-authors.
At the Senate, Senator Franklin Drilon was its principal author and sponsor with the following as co-authors: Senate President Enrile, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Sotto, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Manuel Lapid, Senator Gregorio Honasan, and Senator Antonio Trillanes, among others.
Apart from upholding the Philippine Constitution and reflecting the ideals of true democracy, the synchronization of ARMM elections is a first step towards ensuring sustainable peace and stability in the region.
It also gives power to the President to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs) for the regional elective officers from among the recommendations submitted by a screening committee. The OICs shall perform the functions pertaining to their respective offices until the officials are duly elected. (PCOO)
Aquino’s first year of office gains positive indicators of the country’s steady march toward progress
President Benigno Aquino III has gained several positive indicators of the country’s steady march toward progress and development as evidenced by several upgrades in our credit ratings, landmark policies and laws for economic and political reform, increased private domestic investments and jobs generation leading to a decrease of the number of unemployed Filipinos.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that these indicators “are all proofs that our people’s optimism is well founded.”
President Aquino marked the first year of his six-year term on Thursday.
“In the span of a year, we have seen several upgrades in our credit ratings, landmark policies and laws for economic and political reform, increased private domestic investments, hundreds of thousands of jobs generated leading to a decrease in unemployment, and other indicators of our country’s steady march toward progress,” Lacierda said.
“These also come while the administration continues to lay firm enduring foundations for inclusive growth, even as the enemies of reform try to stoke the fires of negativism,” he said.
“Let us be firm in our resolve to keep the window of opportunity for those who selfishly want to reestablish the old system firmly shut. Let us never return to the era where the rich and powerful were allowed to run roughshod over the poor,” he said.
In the span of one year, Lacierda said apathy has been replaced by a renewed sense of partnership between government and the people.
“With our mandate from the people, and our commitment to uphold our people’s expectation that they are our boss, the Aquino administration will not be cowed. We are living in a different neighborhood now, where our people are assured that justice is being served; and where those responsible for the suffering we have all endured for almost a decade will be held accountable,” he said.
Lacierda noted that the present administration has already begun to establish the necessary reforms and no amount of naysaying will derail it from the straight and righteous path.
“If anything, these orchestrated attacks against the accomplishments of this new system of good governance only strengthen our resolve to continue building on our successes of the past year,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino approves P1.816 trillion budget for 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved Wednesday night the proposed P1.816 trillion national budget for 2012.
In a press conference at the New Executive Building on Thursday, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said the 2012 proposed budget is 10.12 percent higher than the current budget of P1.645 trillion.
Abad said that after an almost 5-hour cabinet meeting on Wednesday the President approved the 2012 proposed budget that “seeks to escalate public expenditure reform by ensuring focus on the President’s 16-point social contract.”
The 2012 proposed national budget is set to be submitted to Congress on July 26, a day after President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Nasimulan na nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa paggugol na matuwid. Ngayon naman, pinag-iibayo natin ang reporma sa pamamagitan ng pagsiguro na ang benepisyo ng paggastos ng gobyerno ay diretso sa tao (We have started the journey towards prudent and effective public expenditure management. We are now escalating reform by ensuring that the benefits of public spending will go directly to the people),” Abad said.
He said the 2012 proposed budget is focused on the five key areas of the social contract, which is the anti-corruption and good governance, poverty reduction and the empowerment of the poor, inclusive economic growth, just and lasting peace, and the rule of law and integrity of the environment.
Of the total proposed budget, social services got the lion share of P573 billion or 31.6%, which is an increase of 10 percent compared to this year’s allocation of P521.4 billion.
Abad said the social services are focused on modernization of public basic education, expanding public health to the majority of the people, and expanding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
In order to support rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth, the economic services sector received the second biggest allocation of P442.1 billion or 24% of the proposed budget, an increase of 22.2% over its P361.9 billion this year’s budget.
“In particular, infrastructure and other capital outlays – especially those supporting agriculture, tourism and industrial development – has been given greater emphasis with a 27.2% increase to P243.9 billion in 2012 from P191.7 billion,” Abad said.
The third biggest budgetary allocation is intended for the general public services sector with P322.3 billion or 17.7 percent, or an increase of 11.9% from this year’s P288.1 billion budget.
The defense sector will receive P111.4 billion or 6.1 percent of the proposed budget, or an increase of 9.9% over the current budget of 101.4 billion.
To further sustain fiscal consolidation efforts, Abad said the share of the debt burden on the national proposed budget was decreased to P367.2 billion or 20.2 percent from P372.1 billion or 22.6% of the 2011 budget.
Abad added that the Department of Budget and Management is targeting a fiscal deficit of P286 billion or 2.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012, which is lower than this year’s target of P300 billion or 3 percent of GDP.
Abad also announced that the top ten departments with the largest budgetary allocation are the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Agriculture.
He said the DepEd will receive P237 billion or 14.4 percent compared to P207.3 billion budget for 2011 that will support in filling critical resource gaps in classrooms, teachers and learning materials such as textbooks, among others.
DSWD will receive P53.6 billion or 56% from current P34.3 billion national budget intended to support 3 million households under the conditional cash transfer program from this year’s 2.3 million; DPWH, P125.9 million or an increase of 13.8 percent from this year’s P110.6 billion that would support the paving of all national primary and secondary roads and bridges within the term of President Aquino;
Department of Agriculture, P52.9 billion or an increase of 50.4 percent from P35.2 billion, primarily intended to restore irrigation systems for more than 54,000 hectares of agricultural lands and rehabilitate more than 86,000 hectares to achieve the country’s rice self-sufficiency goals.
“The 2012 budget is the first budget that will be fully prepared, legislated and executed under the Aquino administration so we want to really ensure that the Aquino brand of governance is fully reflected in the national budget,” Abad added. (PCOO)
Aquino cites positive change of attitude among Filipinos as one of his greatest accomplishments
As he marks his first year in office, President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the positive change of attitude of the Filipino people as one of the greatest accomplishments of his administration.
In an ambush interview following the ceremonial signing of Republic Act (RA) 10153 also known as an Act Providing for the Synchronization of the Elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the National and Local Elections on Thursday at the Palace, President Aquino said that in the past, the Filipino people resort to being passive, exerting not much interest in the undertakings of the government. He added that due to anomalies being exposed, the people have lost hope in their government.
“Greatest achievement palagay ko iyong transformation in the attitude of the people. Iyong dati resignation, rejection at apathy… ngayon ang dami na po talagang nakikialam para may patunguhan tayo na talagang mas maayos,” the President said. “So mas marami na pong tumutulong dito, mas mararating natin ang gusto nating paroonan ng mas maaga,” he added.
“Noong panahon na iyon apathy ang nasa tao, iyong pagiging manhid, iyong para bang wala nang inaasahan sa gobyerno…” the President said. “Kanina nagbabasa ako ng dyaryo, sinasabi passing mark, tingin ko parang ang hinahabol sa atin ay maging perpekto at maganda na rin po iyon na talagang may tumutulak para lalo pa nating pag-igtingin ang ating mga efforts,” the President said.
Recent surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Station (SWS) show that the President maintains near-historical high results as a result of his administration’s stringent efforts to curb corruption, pursue inclusive growth and deliver the basic services to the people. (PCOO)
Aquino witnesses PAGCOR turnover of P1-B to DepEd
President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed Thursday the turn-over of P1 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for the construction of 1,000 classrooms as part of government’s thrust for education.
Pagcor gave the fund to DepEd during the launching of the Pilipinas Natin program, a campaign for nation building spearheaded by the President marking his first year in office.
The project called “Matuwid na Landas sa Silid-Aralan” intends to build 1,000 classrooms for public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
The project is the biggest program for Pagcor, an agency mandated by law to donate part of its income for social projects.
The project is Pagcor’s contribution to the national program of President Aquino for improving the quality of education in the country. DepEd and Pagcor hope to complete all the 1,000 classrooms in the next school year so that poor communities will benefit from the project.
Non-government organization or volunteer organizations will help Pagcor and DepEd to construct the classrooms based on DepEd’s construction standards and specifications.
Partnering with NGOs promotes the spirit of volunteerism in the communities that draws different sectors to also get involved in this project, they said.
Just recently, Pagcor has provided an initial funding of P100 million for the P-noy Bayanihan project in partnership with DepEd, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) which aims to construct thousands of school desks out of the confiscated logs from illegal logging. (PCOO)
Aquino reports major gains in first year in office
President Benigno S. Aquino III reported significant achievements by his administration in its first year in office saying that the future is bright for the Filipino people and the entire country in the next five years.
In his speech at the launching of “Pilipinas Natin” program in Pasig City on Thursday, the President noted major gains of his government in cleaning the bureaucracy and carrying out reforms that benefit more Filipinos notably the poor.
For instance, the President said the previous administration left incurring huge debt for the National Food Authority; P177 billion when former President Gloria Arroyo left office in 2010.
The previous government imported too much volume of rice that is often wasted because of poor storage system, but the President said they were able to change the practice and cut the volume of imports that resulted to significant government savings.
Today, the NFA only imports 660,000 metric tons of rice, the President said, noting this is half of the imports made during the Arroyo administration.
Around 240,000 farmers also benefited from the 2,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads built by the government ensuring better income and food self sufficiency for the country.
By the end of 2013, President Aquino said the agriculture department vowed to achieve rice self sufficiency so that the country would no longer resort to costly rice importations.
Government employees like soldiers and policemen also benefited from the housing program initiated by the government in the first year of office of his administration, he said.
The President said 21,800 families of soldiers and policemen are now entitled to have decent dwellings before the end of this year.
“Dalawang linggo po, o halos dalawang linggo, inaasahan ko na tutuparin ng NHA [National Housing Authority] na 4,000 doon sa unang 21,000 iyan ang ipagkakaloob na natin sa mga nararapat na kawani po ng gobyerno na bibilang sa hanay ng kapulisan at kasundaluhan—at umpisa pa lang ho iyan,” he said.
The government also made major gains in helping the poor by widening the coverage of the conditional cash transfer (CCT), the President said, adding that he’ll also witness the listing of the two-millionth awardee of the CCT program of the social welfare department.
The President also mentioned the reform measures carried out by his administration in stopping abuses in the Philippine National Construction Corp., which has been losing money because of excessive salaries and perks by its officials.
There are also anomalies discovered at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the President said.
But while there are achievements, the President acknowledged some calls of the people for a bolder approach to the country’s problems with immediacy.
“Di ko naman po masisi ang taumbayang dumaan sa isang dekada ng katiwalian, at ayaw nang maniwalang posibleng magkaroon ng gobyernong handang tumahak sa tuwid na daan. May ilan pong nahihirapang mapagtanto na kailangan nating magtulungan, magsaluhan, at mag-ambagan para maabot ang ating mga mithiin,” he said.
Despite the skeptism, the President said he would rather choose a slower pace of reforming the government than employing stop-gap measures that are often ineffective.
“Alam ko pong mulat din kayo na wala ring maitutulong ang mabilisan, ngunit walang bisang solusyon. Kailangan ang maingat na paglalatag ng reporma, ang pagsigurong epektibo ang ating mga programa, at ang pangmatagalang mga tugon na hindi na magpapamana ng problema sa susunod na salinlahi,” he stressed.
With the strong partnership between the government and the people, the President said the future is bright and the goal is clear for the people.
“Malayo na po ang narating natin sa loob lamang ng isang taon. Isipin na lang po ninyo kung gaano pa katayog ang mga maaabot natin sa susunod na limang taon. Saksi ang Pilipino at ang buong mundo: Nagbubunga na ang pagbagtas natin sa tuwid na landas. Ngayon pa ba tayo aatras?” he said reiterating that the public remains his boss.
Aside from the crowd that was composed mostly of young people, other government officials joined the President during the Pilipinas Natin launching at the PhilSports Arena.
Also present during the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Presidential Communication Operations Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma, among others. (PCOO)
President Benigno Aquino III Aquino underscored the need for the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to share his vision of good governance and reform to the people in the region.
The President signed into law on Thursday the bill postponing this year's ARMM elections to be synchronized with the national and local elections in 2013.
“Siyempre importante iyong vision, pareho noong vision natin. Iyong hindi magpapatuloy ng sistemang nakaugalian na sa ARMM.
So ibig sabihin naka-focus, magde-deliver ng basic services na due to them,” the President told reporters in an ambush interview after the signing of the bill.
The usual practice, according to the President, are ARMM officials engaging in rampant corruption, compromising the quality of education and health care and ultimately the lives of the people in the region.
The President also noted that he wants an OIC who has a doable roadmap so that projects are completed in a particular time frame.
“Iyong essence nito, iyong magpapatupad noong pangarap natin na maranasan lahat ng taga-ARMM,” he said.
The President reiterated his position that it is in the best interest of the people in ARMM to have an OIC who has no intention in running for the 2013 election, so that he can concentrate in reforming the region in the next two years.
Asked about the intention of Eid Kabalu, an official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), for the OIC job, the President said he’ll consult his peace adviser on the matter.
“We have to hear from the peace adviser, the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process. We will have to study that matter, as there is a selection process for the OIC of ARMM,” he stressed.
Republic Act 10153 mandates that the next ARMM elections for the regional governor, vice governor and members of the regional legislative assembly shall be held simultaneously with the midterm elections on the second Monday of May 2013.
Succeeding regular elections in the ARMM will be held on the same date every three years. (PCOO)
Aquino signs ARMM Polls Postponement Act
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10153, an Act Providing for the Synchronization of the Election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the National and Local Elections and for other purposes.
In his speech following the signing of the landmark legislative measure on Thursday the President stressed the government’s all-out efforts in curbing the irregularities in governance in ARMM. He also thanked the administration allies in both Houses of Congress for supporting and pushing for the passage of the law saying that the new measure serves as proof of the cooperation of the legislative and executive branches of government.
“Upang mahinto ang mga iregularidad sa pamamahala sa ARMM, isinulong natin ang pagpapaliban ng ARMM elections para isabay na natin ito sa lokal at pambansang halalan,” the President said.
“Maraming salamat po sa ating mga kaalyado sa Senado at Kongreso sa pamumuno po ni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at House Speaker Sonny Belmonte at sa mga nanguna at sumuporta sa pagsulong ng batas na ito dahil sa pakikiisa at pagkakaisa ng lehislatura at ehekutibo pinagtibay na natin ngayon ang repormang matatanglaw na tunay na demokrasya sa ARMM,” he added.
The Chief Executive said that RA 10153 also aims to let the real voice of the people be heard and put a halt on the unscrupulous acts of some political clans during elections.
“Malinaw ang ating hangarin para sa ARMM… upang marinig ang tunay na saloobin ng taong bayan. Tutuldukan na natin ang pag-hahari-harian ng mga political na angkan na pasimuno ng dayaan sa eleksyon,” the President stressed.
He added that a reformative roadmap for the region will be applied by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to make sure that the rule of law prevails during the electoral process in the region.
“Isasakatuparan din ng DILG ang isang roadmap para sa mga reporma sa rehiyon, tungo sa tunay na kaunlaran at kapayapaan sa ARMM. Kaakibat po ng repormang electoral na ating isinusulong dito lilinisin natin ang voters’ list sa pamamagitan ng muling pagpapatala ng mga botante at pagiging modern ng eleksyon,” President Aquino said.
The government will also encourage the participation of civil society groups that will conduct voters’ education efforts and will serve as watchdogs.
In simple ceremonies held at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of the Malacanang Palace, President Aquino signed RA 10153, in the presence of Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., and other government officials.
In the House of Representatives, the new measure was principally authored by Representative Bai Sandra Sema with Speaker Belmonte, Deputy Speaker Maria Isabelle Climaco, Majority Leader Gonzales, among others, as co-authors.
At the Senate, Senator Franklin Drilon was its principal author and sponsor with the following as co-authors: Senate President Enrile, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Sotto, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Manuel Lapid, Senator Gregorio Honasan, and Senator Antonio Trillanes, among others.
Apart from upholding the Philippine Constitution and reflecting the ideals of true democracy, the synchronization of ARMM elections is a first step towards ensuring sustainable peace and stability in the region.
It also gives power to the President to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs) for the regional elective officers from among the recommendations submitted by a screening committee. The OICs shall perform the functions pertaining to their respective offices until the officials are duly elected. (PCOO)
Aquino’s first year of office gains positive indicators of the country’s steady march toward progress
President Benigno Aquino III has gained several positive indicators of the country’s steady march toward progress and development as evidenced by several upgrades in our credit ratings, landmark policies and laws for economic and political reform, increased private domestic investments and jobs generation leading to a decrease of the number of unemployed Filipinos.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that these indicators “are all proofs that our people’s optimism is well founded.”
President Aquino marked the first year of his six-year term on Thursday.
“In the span of a year, we have seen several upgrades in our credit ratings, landmark policies and laws for economic and political reform, increased private domestic investments, hundreds of thousands of jobs generated leading to a decrease in unemployment, and other indicators of our country’s steady march toward progress,” Lacierda said.
“These also come while the administration continues to lay firm enduring foundations for inclusive growth, even as the enemies of reform try to stoke the fires of negativism,” he said.
“Let us be firm in our resolve to keep the window of opportunity for those who selfishly want to reestablish the old system firmly shut. Let us never return to the era where the rich and powerful were allowed to run roughshod over the poor,” he said.
In the span of one year, Lacierda said apathy has been replaced by a renewed sense of partnership between government and the people.
“With our mandate from the people, and our commitment to uphold our people’s expectation that they are our boss, the Aquino administration will not be cowed. We are living in a different neighborhood now, where our people are assured that justice is being served; and where those responsible for the suffering we have all endured for almost a decade will be held accountable,” he said.
Lacierda noted that the present administration has already begun to establish the necessary reforms and no amount of naysaying will derail it from the straight and righteous path.
“If anything, these orchestrated attacks against the accomplishments of this new system of good governance only strengthen our resolve to continue building on our successes of the past year,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino approves P1.816 trillion budget for 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved Wednesday night the proposed P1.816 trillion national budget for 2012.
In a press conference at the New Executive Building on Thursday, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said the 2012 proposed budget is 10.12 percent higher than the current budget of P1.645 trillion.
Abad said that after an almost 5-hour cabinet meeting on Wednesday the President approved the 2012 proposed budget that “seeks to escalate public expenditure reform by ensuring focus on the President’s 16-point social contract.”
The 2012 proposed national budget is set to be submitted to Congress on July 26, a day after President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Nasimulan na nating tahakin ang daan tungo sa paggugol na matuwid. Ngayon naman, pinag-iibayo natin ang reporma sa pamamagitan ng pagsiguro na ang benepisyo ng paggastos ng gobyerno ay diretso sa tao (We have started the journey towards prudent and effective public expenditure management. We are now escalating reform by ensuring that the benefits of public spending will go directly to the people),” Abad said.
He said the 2012 proposed budget is focused on the five key areas of the social contract, which is the anti-corruption and good governance, poverty reduction and the empowerment of the poor, inclusive economic growth, just and lasting peace, and the rule of law and integrity of the environment.
Of the total proposed budget, social services got the lion share of P573 billion or 31.6%, which is an increase of 10 percent compared to this year’s allocation of P521.4 billion.
Abad said the social services are focused on modernization of public basic education, expanding public health to the majority of the people, and expanding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
In order to support rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth, the economic services sector received the second biggest allocation of P442.1 billion or 24% of the proposed budget, an increase of 22.2% over its P361.9 billion this year’s budget.
“In particular, infrastructure and other capital outlays – especially those supporting agriculture, tourism and industrial development – has been given greater emphasis with a 27.2% increase to P243.9 billion in 2012 from P191.7 billion,” Abad said.
The third biggest budgetary allocation is intended for the general public services sector with P322.3 billion or 17.7 percent, or an increase of 11.9% from this year’s P288.1 billion budget.
The defense sector will receive P111.4 billion or 6.1 percent of the proposed budget, or an increase of 9.9% over the current budget of 101.4 billion.
To further sustain fiscal consolidation efforts, Abad said the share of the debt burden on the national proposed budget was decreased to P367.2 billion or 20.2 percent from P372.1 billion or 22.6% of the 2011 budget.
Abad added that the Department of Budget and Management is targeting a fiscal deficit of P286 billion or 2.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012, which is lower than this year’s target of P300 billion or 3 percent of GDP.
Abad also announced that the top ten departments with the largest budgetary allocation are the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Agriculture.
He said the DepEd will receive P237 billion or 14.4 percent compared to P207.3 billion budget for 2011 that will support in filling critical resource gaps in classrooms, teachers and learning materials such as textbooks, among others.
DSWD will receive P53.6 billion or 56% from current P34.3 billion national budget intended to support 3 million households under the conditional cash transfer program from this year’s 2.3 million; DPWH, P125.9 million or an increase of 13.8 percent from this year’s P110.6 billion that would support the paving of all national primary and secondary roads and bridges within the term of President Aquino;
Department of Agriculture, P52.9 billion or an increase of 50.4 percent from P35.2 billion, primarily intended to restore irrigation systems for more than 54,000 hectares of agricultural lands and rehabilitate more than 86,000 hectares to achieve the country’s rice self-sufficiency goals.
“The 2012 budget is the first budget that will be fully prepared, legislated and executed under the Aquino administration so we want to really ensure that the Aquino brand of governance is fully reflected in the national budget,” Abad added. (PCOO)
Aquino cites positive change of attitude among Filipinos as one of his greatest accomplishments
As he marks his first year in office, President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the positive change of attitude of the Filipino people as one of the greatest accomplishments of his administration.
In an ambush interview following the ceremonial signing of Republic Act (RA) 10153 also known as an Act Providing for the Synchronization of the Elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the National and Local Elections on Thursday at the Palace, President Aquino said that in the past, the Filipino people resort to being passive, exerting not much interest in the undertakings of the government. He added that due to anomalies being exposed, the people have lost hope in their government.
“Greatest achievement palagay ko iyong transformation in the attitude of the people. Iyong dati resignation, rejection at apathy… ngayon ang dami na po talagang nakikialam para may patunguhan tayo na talagang mas maayos,” the President said. “So mas marami na pong tumutulong dito, mas mararating natin ang gusto nating paroonan ng mas maaga,” he added.
“Noong panahon na iyon apathy ang nasa tao, iyong pagiging manhid, iyong para bang wala nang inaasahan sa gobyerno…” the President said. “Kanina nagbabasa ako ng dyaryo, sinasabi passing mark, tingin ko parang ang hinahabol sa atin ay maging perpekto at maganda na rin po iyon na talagang may tumutulak para lalo pa nating pag-igtingin ang ating mga efforts,” the President said.
Recent surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Station (SWS) show that the President maintains near-historical high results as a result of his administration’s stringent efforts to curb corruption, pursue inclusive growth and deliver the basic services to the people. (PCOO)
Aquino witnesses PAGCOR turnover of P1-B to DepEd
President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed Thursday the turn-over of P1 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for the construction of 1,000 classrooms as part of government’s thrust for education.
Pagcor gave the fund to DepEd during the launching of the Pilipinas Natin program, a campaign for nation building spearheaded by the President marking his first year in office.
The project called “Matuwid na Landas sa Silid-Aralan” intends to build 1,000 classrooms for public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
The project is the biggest program for Pagcor, an agency mandated by law to donate part of its income for social projects.
The project is Pagcor’s contribution to the national program of President Aquino for improving the quality of education in the country. DepEd and Pagcor hope to complete all the 1,000 classrooms in the next school year so that poor communities will benefit from the project.
Non-government organization or volunteer organizations will help Pagcor and DepEd to construct the classrooms based on DepEd’s construction standards and specifications.
Partnering with NGOs promotes the spirit of volunteerism in the communities that draws different sectors to also get involved in this project, they said.
Just recently, Pagcor has provided an initial funding of P100 million for the P-noy Bayanihan project in partnership with DepEd, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) which aims to construct thousands of school desks out of the confiscated logs from illegal logging. (PCOO)
Aquino reports major gains in first year in office
President Benigno S. Aquino III reported significant achievements by his administration in its first year in office saying that the future is bright for the Filipino people and the entire country in the next five years.
In his speech at the launching of “Pilipinas Natin” program in Pasig City on Thursday, the President noted major gains of his government in cleaning the bureaucracy and carrying out reforms that benefit more Filipinos notably the poor.
For instance, the President said the previous administration left incurring huge debt for the National Food Authority; P177 billion when former President Gloria Arroyo left office in 2010.
The previous government imported too much volume of rice that is often wasted because of poor storage system, but the President said they were able to change the practice and cut the volume of imports that resulted to significant government savings.
Today, the NFA only imports 660,000 metric tons of rice, the President said, noting this is half of the imports made during the Arroyo administration.
Around 240,000 farmers also benefited from the 2,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads built by the government ensuring better income and food self sufficiency for the country.
By the end of 2013, President Aquino said the agriculture department vowed to achieve rice self sufficiency so that the country would no longer resort to costly rice importations.
Government employees like soldiers and policemen also benefited from the housing program initiated by the government in the first year of office of his administration, he said.
The President said 21,800 families of soldiers and policemen are now entitled to have decent dwellings before the end of this year.
“Dalawang linggo po, o halos dalawang linggo, inaasahan ko na tutuparin ng NHA [National Housing Authority] na 4,000 doon sa unang 21,000 iyan ang ipagkakaloob na natin sa mga nararapat na kawani po ng gobyerno na bibilang sa hanay ng kapulisan at kasundaluhan—at umpisa pa lang ho iyan,” he said.
The government also made major gains in helping the poor by widening the coverage of the conditional cash transfer (CCT), the President said, adding that he’ll also witness the listing of the two-millionth awardee of the CCT program of the social welfare department.
The President also mentioned the reform measures carried out by his administration in stopping abuses in the Philippine National Construction Corp., which has been losing money because of excessive salaries and perks by its officials.
There are also anomalies discovered at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the President said.
But while there are achievements, the President acknowledged some calls of the people for a bolder approach to the country’s problems with immediacy.
“Di ko naman po masisi ang taumbayang dumaan sa isang dekada ng katiwalian, at ayaw nang maniwalang posibleng magkaroon ng gobyernong handang tumahak sa tuwid na daan. May ilan pong nahihirapang mapagtanto na kailangan nating magtulungan, magsaluhan, at mag-ambagan para maabot ang ating mga mithiin,” he said.
Despite the skeptism, the President said he would rather choose a slower pace of reforming the government than employing stop-gap measures that are often ineffective.
“Alam ko pong mulat din kayo na wala ring maitutulong ang mabilisan, ngunit walang bisang solusyon. Kailangan ang maingat na paglalatag ng reporma, ang pagsigurong epektibo ang ating mga programa, at ang pangmatagalang mga tugon na hindi na magpapamana ng problema sa susunod na salinlahi,” he stressed.
With the strong partnership between the government and the people, the President said the future is bright and the goal is clear for the people.
“Malayo na po ang narating natin sa loob lamang ng isang taon. Isipin na lang po ninyo kung gaano pa katayog ang mga maaabot natin sa susunod na limang taon. Saksi ang Pilipino at ang buong mundo: Nagbubunga na ang pagbagtas natin sa tuwid na landas. Ngayon pa ba tayo aatras?” he said reiterating that the public remains his boss.
Aside from the crowd that was composed mostly of young people, other government officials joined the President during the Pilipinas Natin launching at the PhilSports Arena.
Also present during the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Presidential Communication Operations Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma, among others. (PCOO)
