PHL backs international initiatives against biological weapons
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the Philippines is supporting multilateral efforts to thwart the catastrophic potential of biological weapons and warned that the use of instruments of destruction to harm humans remains a global threat.
Speaking at the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Conference Week for East Asia and the Pacific held in Makati City Monday night, Ochoa said the Aquino administration is committed to initiatives by foreign governments and international organizations to fight the proliferation of biological weapons and make the world safer.
“It is no comfort,” Ochoa said, “that man’s capacity for invention was for good and for bad. And while we have inventions that enhance health, vigor and longevity, there are equal number of inventions that have greater and varied capacities to inflict harm or bring death to humans and all living things.”
“Shall we surrender our optimism to the proliferation of biological pathogens of destruction? We definitely are not giving up. We are fighting for the very survival of humankind itself,” said Ochoa, head of the Cabinet cluster on security, justice and peace.
But with the help of the United Nations (UN) and the increasing number of organizations and group of experts that will monitor, regulate and control biological weapons, it brings assurance that the situation will be turned around, the Executive Secretary explained.
The Philippines is hosting a regional workshop for countries from East Asia and the Pacific until July 1 in preparation for the upcoming Biological Weapons Convention 7th Review Conference and the Biosecurity and Biosafety cooperation scheduled before the end of the year.
Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, the United States, Canada, the European Union, Norway and the UN, as well as members of the academe and scientific institutions are participating in the conference.
According to Ochoa, the conference augurs well for the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), which he also chairs, as it pursues protective, control and defensive initiatives concerning chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons and forms of warfare. Part of ATC's mandate is to enforce the BWC, an international agreement signed by the Philippines along with other countries banning the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons for purposes of aggression. (PCOO)
Coloma keynotes UN Communication for Development discussion
Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. keynoted the Communication for Development (C4D) roundtable discussion held at Astoria Plaza in Pasig City on Tuesday.
Coloma, talked about connectivity of people and the sense of national community through communication.
After his speech Coloma asked the audience about their views on what’s happening in the country today and the ways to bring about a national sense of community that will spur development.
“Sa aking pong palagay yung ginagawa natin na C4D, ay magiging makabuluhan kung tayo ay makapagtatatag ng isang community of citizens,” Coloma said.
Tuesday’s C4D roundtable discussion is one of the four global discussions organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) prior to the 12th United Nations Inter-agency Round Table Discussion scheduled in India in November 2011.
Aside from the Philippines, the three other roundtable discussions are in Uganda, Kazakhstan, and Uruguay. The UN inter-agency roundtable discussions provide a mechanism for an exchange of experiences and for discussing strategic planning and action on communication issues within UN country teams.
The concept of C4D has been in the international agenda in the 1980s but it is only lately that there has been sustained advocacy for application in development initiatives.
The UN General Assembly recognizes the importance of C4D and has adopted Resolution 50/130 that underscores the importance of communication for development programs of the UN and the need to facilitate inter-agency cooperation.
The UN General Assembly designated Unesco as the lead agency for the promotion of C4D. Unesco regularly submits report to the UN General Assembly on the C4D initiatives by various UN agencies.
Among the participants during Tuesday’s event were local Unesco officials, members of the academe, civil society organizations, government agencies, and non-government organizations. (PCOO)
Aquino to sign ARMM polls postponement bill, June 30
Malacanang today assured that President Benigno S. Aquino III will be signing into law the proposed bill which seeks to defer the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to 2013.
In a media briefing at the Palace Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed certainty that the proposed postponement of polls in ARMM will be sealed as soon as the President signs the measure on the 30th of this month.
Lacierda said that solons responsible in the passage of the legislative measure will also be present during the signing ceremonies.
“On the 30th of June, I can guarantee you that there will be a signing of the ARMM postponement bill… those who were responsible in shepherding the bill will be there, the heads of both Houses and also Senator Frank Drilon who authored the senate version the bill in Senate will also be there,” Lacierda said.
After being ratified by both Houses of Congress, the ARMM elections postponement bill was transmitted to the Palace for the signing. This bill is part of the landmark measures of the administration anchored on the Chief Executive’s social contract with the Filipino people.
The said measure seeks to synchronize the ARMM elections, originally scheduled in August, with the May 2013 midterm polls.
It also gives President Aquino the power to appoint officers-in-charge in the ARMM government until new officials are elected on May 13, 2013 national midterm elections. (PCOO)
Aquino welcomes Clinton’s citing efforts in global campaign against human trafficking
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the statement of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton citing the Philippines as among the “countries that have made a lot of progress” in the global campaign against human trafficking.
In a press briefing on Tuesday in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Chief Executive was elated by the citations made by the US official.
“Certainly the President is very, very appreciative of the upgrade made by the US Secretary of State,” Lacierda said adding that the Aquino administration is firm in its commitment to resolve the problem against human trafficking.
Lacierda noted that Mrs. Clinton’s remarks came on the heels of her department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, in which the Philippines together with Singapore and Laos have been upgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2 which, he said means the three countries do not fully meet the standards for resolving human trafficking “but are making efforts to do so.”
In an interview on Monday with CNN, Mrs. Clinton cited the Philippines’ efforts against human trafficking.
“Look at what the Philippines have done in a change of administration,” Mrs. Clinton told Jim Clancy of CNN International’s Freedom Project.
“The Philippines probably export more people of their citizenry than nearly any other country in the world. They go all over the world to work in many different settings. And until the new administration of President Aquino, we didn’t really have the level of commitment we were seeking. We do now, and we see a sea change of difference,” Mrs. Clinton said.
According to Lacierda, the Aquino administration is “certainly doing our best to improve and we are going to exert all our efforts so that the Philippines would be removed from the watch list in the soonest possible time.”.
During the briefing, Lacierda said the President also acknowledged the efforts of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and other government agencies concerned in dealing with the problem on human trafficking.
Lacierda stressed that the upgrade made by US to the Philippines is in response to what the present administration is doing in order to put an end the problem against human trafficking in the country. (PCOO)
Aquino launches ‘Pilipinas Natin’ campaign towards progress and development
In efforts to mobilize the Filipino people to become active participants in nation-building, President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the launching of “Pilipinas Natin,” a campaign for the partnership between the government and the people towards achieving the country’s progress and development.
The “Pilipinas Natin” launch, which also marks the President’s first year in office, will be held at the Philippine Sports Arena (formerly ULTRA) at 1:00 p.m. on June 30.
At least 8,000 youth leaders and multi-sectoral volunteers are expected to grace the event where the President will issue a call for renewed volunteerism and active participation on the way to sustainable stability.
The campaign underlines the importance of unity and solidarity among all Filipinos that transcends political and sectoral affiliations. It emphasizes the need for all Filipinos to step up to their individual as well as collective responsibilities to build the foundations and framework for long-term development.
“Pilipinas Natin” represents the point of departure from the failed policies of incremental, trickle-down economic growth that characterized previous development plans. Vigorous job creation, educational reform and comprehensive social welfare and development programs will be implemented to ensure attainment of sustained economic growth while attaining the Millennium Development Goals in terms of poverty alleviation and improvement of health of the people.
The campaign is also in response to the people’s call for change, harnessing the sentiments of People Power, empowering a nation that imbibes and cultivates the innate Filipino culture of “Bayanihan.”
The event coincides with the presentation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016.
The PDP is based on the Chief Executive’s social contract with the Filipino people that served his campaign platform and which he reaffirmed during the inaugural a year ago.
The PDP embodies the aspiration of the Filipinos for a meaningful change. It is both a roadmap and a comprehensive program of action that was formulated after extensive multi-sectoral consultations with all relevant stakeholders. It is the translation into action of the Filipinos’ hopes and aspirations.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed to build 1000 classrooms involving the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Gawad Kalinga.
An audience activity will feature the rope-pulling event that will show the importance of concerted efforts in achieving more for the country.
Song and dance presentations from various artists are also expected to add luster and energy to the occasion. (PCOO)
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the Philippines is supporting multilateral efforts to thwart the catastrophic potential of biological weapons and warned that the use of instruments of destruction to harm humans remains a global threat.
Speaking at the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Conference Week for East Asia and the Pacific held in Makati City Monday night, Ochoa said the Aquino administration is committed to initiatives by foreign governments and international organizations to fight the proliferation of biological weapons and make the world safer.
“It is no comfort,” Ochoa said, “that man’s capacity for invention was for good and for bad. And while we have inventions that enhance health, vigor and longevity, there are equal number of inventions that have greater and varied capacities to inflict harm or bring death to humans and all living things.”
“Shall we surrender our optimism to the proliferation of biological pathogens of destruction? We definitely are not giving up. We are fighting for the very survival of humankind itself,” said Ochoa, head of the Cabinet cluster on security, justice and peace.
But with the help of the United Nations (UN) and the increasing number of organizations and group of experts that will monitor, regulate and control biological weapons, it brings assurance that the situation will be turned around, the Executive Secretary explained.
The Philippines is hosting a regional workshop for countries from East Asia and the Pacific until July 1 in preparation for the upcoming Biological Weapons Convention 7th Review Conference and the Biosecurity and Biosafety cooperation scheduled before the end of the year.
Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, the United States, Canada, the European Union, Norway and the UN, as well as members of the academe and scientific institutions are participating in the conference.
According to Ochoa, the conference augurs well for the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), which he also chairs, as it pursues protective, control and defensive initiatives concerning chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons and forms of warfare. Part of ATC's mandate is to enforce the BWC, an international agreement signed by the Philippines along with other countries banning the development, production and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons for purposes of aggression. (PCOO)
Coloma keynotes UN Communication for Development discussion
Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. keynoted the Communication for Development (C4D) roundtable discussion held at Astoria Plaza in Pasig City on Tuesday.
Coloma, talked about connectivity of people and the sense of national community through communication.
After his speech Coloma asked the audience about their views on what’s happening in the country today and the ways to bring about a national sense of community that will spur development.
“Sa aking pong palagay yung ginagawa natin na C4D, ay magiging makabuluhan kung tayo ay makapagtatatag ng isang community of citizens,” Coloma said.
Tuesday’s C4D roundtable discussion is one of the four global discussions organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) prior to the 12th United Nations Inter-agency Round Table Discussion scheduled in India in November 2011.
Aside from the Philippines, the three other roundtable discussions are in Uganda, Kazakhstan, and Uruguay. The UN inter-agency roundtable discussions provide a mechanism for an exchange of experiences and for discussing strategic planning and action on communication issues within UN country teams.
The concept of C4D has been in the international agenda in the 1980s but it is only lately that there has been sustained advocacy for application in development initiatives.
The UN General Assembly recognizes the importance of C4D and has adopted Resolution 50/130 that underscores the importance of communication for development programs of the UN and the need to facilitate inter-agency cooperation.
The UN General Assembly designated Unesco as the lead agency for the promotion of C4D. Unesco regularly submits report to the UN General Assembly on the C4D initiatives by various UN agencies.
Among the participants during Tuesday’s event were local Unesco officials, members of the academe, civil society organizations, government agencies, and non-government organizations. (PCOO)
Aquino to sign ARMM polls postponement bill, June 30
Malacanang today assured that President Benigno S. Aquino III will be signing into law the proposed bill which seeks to defer the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to 2013.
In a media briefing at the Palace Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed certainty that the proposed postponement of polls in ARMM will be sealed as soon as the President signs the measure on the 30th of this month.
Lacierda said that solons responsible in the passage of the legislative measure will also be present during the signing ceremonies.
“On the 30th of June, I can guarantee you that there will be a signing of the ARMM postponement bill… those who were responsible in shepherding the bill will be there, the heads of both Houses and also Senator Frank Drilon who authored the senate version the bill in Senate will also be there,” Lacierda said.
After being ratified by both Houses of Congress, the ARMM elections postponement bill was transmitted to the Palace for the signing. This bill is part of the landmark measures of the administration anchored on the Chief Executive’s social contract with the Filipino people.
The said measure seeks to synchronize the ARMM elections, originally scheduled in August, with the May 2013 midterm polls.
It also gives President Aquino the power to appoint officers-in-charge in the ARMM government until new officials are elected on May 13, 2013 national midterm elections. (PCOO)
Aquino welcomes Clinton’s citing efforts in global campaign against human trafficking
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the statement of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton citing the Philippines as among the “countries that have made a lot of progress” in the global campaign against human trafficking.
In a press briefing on Tuesday in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Chief Executive was elated by the citations made by the US official.
“Certainly the President is very, very appreciative of the upgrade made by the US Secretary of State,” Lacierda said adding that the Aquino administration is firm in its commitment to resolve the problem against human trafficking.
Lacierda noted that Mrs. Clinton’s remarks came on the heels of her department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, in which the Philippines together with Singapore and Laos have been upgraded from Tier 3 to Tier 2 which, he said means the three countries do not fully meet the standards for resolving human trafficking “but are making efforts to do so.”
In an interview on Monday with CNN, Mrs. Clinton cited the Philippines’ efforts against human trafficking.
“Look at what the Philippines have done in a change of administration,” Mrs. Clinton told Jim Clancy of CNN International’s Freedom Project.
“The Philippines probably export more people of their citizenry than nearly any other country in the world. They go all over the world to work in many different settings. And until the new administration of President Aquino, we didn’t really have the level of commitment we were seeking. We do now, and we see a sea change of difference,” Mrs. Clinton said.
According to Lacierda, the Aquino administration is “certainly doing our best to improve and we are going to exert all our efforts so that the Philippines would be removed from the watch list in the soonest possible time.”.
During the briefing, Lacierda said the President also acknowledged the efforts of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and other government agencies concerned in dealing with the problem on human trafficking.
Lacierda stressed that the upgrade made by US to the Philippines is in response to what the present administration is doing in order to put an end the problem against human trafficking in the country. (PCOO)
Aquino launches ‘Pilipinas Natin’ campaign towards progress and development
In efforts to mobilize the Filipino people to become active participants in nation-building, President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the launching of “Pilipinas Natin,” a campaign for the partnership between the government and the people towards achieving the country’s progress and development.
The “Pilipinas Natin” launch, which also marks the President’s first year in office, will be held at the Philippine Sports Arena (formerly ULTRA) at 1:00 p.m. on June 30.
At least 8,000 youth leaders and multi-sectoral volunteers are expected to grace the event where the President will issue a call for renewed volunteerism and active participation on the way to sustainable stability.
The campaign underlines the importance of unity and solidarity among all Filipinos that transcends political and sectoral affiliations. It emphasizes the need for all Filipinos to step up to their individual as well as collective responsibilities to build the foundations and framework for long-term development.
“Pilipinas Natin” represents the point of departure from the failed policies of incremental, trickle-down economic growth that characterized previous development plans. Vigorous job creation, educational reform and comprehensive social welfare and development programs will be implemented to ensure attainment of sustained economic growth while attaining the Millennium Development Goals in terms of poverty alleviation and improvement of health of the people.
The campaign is also in response to the people’s call for change, harnessing the sentiments of People Power, empowering a nation that imbibes and cultivates the innate Filipino culture of “Bayanihan.”
The event coincides with the presentation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016.
The PDP is based on the Chief Executive’s social contract with the Filipino people that served his campaign platform and which he reaffirmed during the inaugural a year ago.
The PDP embodies the aspiration of the Filipinos for a meaningful change. It is both a roadmap and a comprehensive program of action that was formulated after extensive multi-sectoral consultations with all relevant stakeholders. It is the translation into action of the Filipinos’ hopes and aspirations.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) will be signed to build 1000 classrooms involving the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Gawad Kalinga.
An audience activity will feature the rope-pulling event that will show the importance of concerted efforts in achieving more for the country.
Song and dance presentations from various artists are also expected to add luster and energy to the occasion. (PCOO)
