Aquino sends off participants to legislative liaison workshop
President Beningo S. Aquino III led send off rites for participants attending a three-day legislative liaison workshop in Clark, Pampanga in ceremonies held in Malacañang Wednesday.
The workshop, organized by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) in cooperation with the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council Secretariat, the Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Development Program, will be attended by some 150 ranking officials from the national government bureaucracy.
It aims to reinvigorate the Legislative Liaison Service, the formal coalition of executives and officials, mostly undersecretary and assistant secretary level, tasked to shepherd the legislative priorities and address sector-oriented concerns of their respective agencies in Congress, in coordination with the PLLO.
It will also impart on the workshop participants the rudiments of the legislative process, the complex art of legislative lobbying, the socio-political configuration and dynamics under the Philippine setting as well as the strategic importance of effective communications in reaching out for support in building partnerships.
In his speech keynoting the event, the President underscored the importance of this workshop saying that “all legislation should be beneficial to all people or all our peoples, preferably all of the time.”
“That has to be the over-arcing concern, that has to be the overriding theme and that is why there is a need for this particular session or session days that you will be spending in (the Clark Freeport Zone) Pampanga,” the President said.
“In that process, you will be the active agents in attaining that betterment of our people’s lot by primarily doing your function to be that legislative liaison,” he added.
The President told the participants that he had utmost “faith” in them to learn “as much as you can” from the workshop “and that you will work even harder in the future to do your part in creating an effective government.
“This workshop is expected to give you the critical lobbying and advocacy skills that will enable you to use the relations we have with Congress to energize the bureaucracy and improve the way we serve our bosses,” the President said.
“So as your President, allow me to say today that I am putting my faith in all of you—that you will learn as much as you can in the next three days and that you will work even harder in the future to do your part in creating an effective government,”
Joining the President in the ceremonial send-off were Presidential Legislative Adviser Antonino Roman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., United Nations Resident Representative Jacqui Badcock and Human Rights Commissioner Loretta Ann Rosales.(PCOO)
President Beningo S. Aquino III led send off rites for participants attending a three-day legislative liaison workshop in Clark, Pampanga in ceremonies held in Malacañang Wednesday.
The workshop, organized by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) in cooperation with the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council Secretariat, the Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations Development Program, will be attended by some 150 ranking officials from the national government bureaucracy.
It aims to reinvigorate the Legislative Liaison Service, the formal coalition of executives and officials, mostly undersecretary and assistant secretary level, tasked to shepherd the legislative priorities and address sector-oriented concerns of their respective agencies in Congress, in coordination with the PLLO.
It will also impart on the workshop participants the rudiments of the legislative process, the complex art of legislative lobbying, the socio-political configuration and dynamics under the Philippine setting as well as the strategic importance of effective communications in reaching out for support in building partnerships.
In his speech keynoting the event, the President underscored the importance of this workshop saying that “all legislation should be beneficial to all people or all our peoples, preferably all of the time.”
“That has to be the over-arcing concern, that has to be the overriding theme and that is why there is a need for this particular session or session days that you will be spending in (the Clark Freeport Zone) Pampanga,” the President said.
“In that process, you will be the active agents in attaining that betterment of our people’s lot by primarily doing your function to be that legislative liaison,” he added.
The President told the participants that he had utmost “faith” in them to learn “as much as you can” from the workshop “and that you will work even harder in the future to do your part in creating an effective government.
“This workshop is expected to give you the critical lobbying and advocacy skills that will enable you to use the relations we have with Congress to energize the bureaucracy and improve the way we serve our bosses,” the President said.
“So as your President, allow me to say today that I am putting my faith in all of you—that you will learn as much as you can in the next three days and that you will work even harder in the future to do your part in creating an effective government,”
Joining the President in the ceremonial send-off were Presidential Legislative Adviser Antonino Roman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., United Nations Resident Representative Jacqui Badcock and Human Rights Commissioner Loretta Ann Rosales.(PCOO)
Aquino to meet Filipino Dragon Boat warriors in Malacanang on Friday
President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to meet with the Philippine Dragon Boat team following their highly-successful victory in an international competition in the United States last week.
During the regular press briefing at Malacanang on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the Dragon Boat team will pay a courtesy call on the President on Friday (August 12) at 1 p.m. in Malacanang.
“We were able to schedule a courtesy call on Friday at 1 p.m., my understanding is that they will be arriving on Friday at 6 a.m., so since the President has an event in the morning, we were able to find a schedule in the afternoon,” Lacierda said.
“We will be more than glad to see them here in the Palace,” he added.
Lacierda also lauded the team for bringing honor for the country saying that the team serves as an inspiration for the Filipino people.
“We are very very proud of the number of gold (medals) that they have received and the silver (medals) … We are really proud of the Philippine Dragon Boat Team and I hope they will continue to set an example of excellence among Filipinos in terms of sports and discipline,” Lacierda noted.
The Philippine dragon boat team is composed of men from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Air Force
.
The Filipino Dragon Warriors won five gold and two silver medals in the recently concluded 10th International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships held in Tampa Bay, Florida.
The Philippine team dominated five rowing events and set two new world records, besting countries such as Australia, Hungary, Italy, and Trinidad and Tobago.(PCOO)
Malacanang wishes former President well on her surgery
Malacanang wished former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo well as she undergoes another surgery after the bone implant on her spine was dislocated.
“Although we don’t belong to the same side of the political fence, again as always, we wish the surgery to be successful and we wish her well that she’ll be able to recuperate in due time,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
The former President underwent a five-hour operation on Wednesday at St. Luke’s Medical Center after doctors discovered that the titanium plate put in her spine during the first operation was dislocated.
Doctors for the former president said the second operation is more risky but it is necessary to avoid complications from developing that could numb Mrs. Arroyo’s upper extremities or affect her breathing.
The implants, which were inserted during the first operation, got dislodged for still unknown reasons so a second surgery is very important to correct it.
At the same time, Lacierda clarified that the inclusion of the former president in the watchlist saying that it’s not the handiwork of the administration.
“Let me clarify that the watchlist that was issued by Leila de Lima on the First Gentleman was because of the request of the Senate. With respect to the watchlist issued by Secretary Leila de Lima on the former president that was a result of the plunder case filed before the Ombudsman,” he explained.
Lacierda said that under the rules of the watchlist the secretary of justice can issue such orders based on factual grounds adding that the acts of De Lima are not out of vengeance.
De Lima placed Mrs Arroyo in the watchlist because of her alleged involvement in the anomalous sale of the old Iloilo airport property four years ago, the P550-million allegedly misused welfare funds for migrant workers, and the P1.6 billion fund diversion for the 2004 presidential elections.(PCOO)
Aquino declares Aug 19, 2011 as special non-working day in Davao City
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared August 19, 2011 as a special non-working day in the city of Davao in celebration of the “Kadayawan Festival.”
By virtue of Proclamation No. 215 signed on August 4, 2011 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr., the President declared Aug. 19 which falls on Friday as a special non-working holiday in the city upon the request of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enable the people to participate in the event.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Davao be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation said.
The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in the city of Davao in the Philippines. Its name derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful.
The week-long festival, dubbed as 'Mother of All Philippine Festivals," happens every third week of August.
The Kadayawan Festival speaks of the beauty, and the diverse culture and tradition of the Dabawenyos (or the people of Davao). It spreads the message of racial harmony.
Davao City is home to at least 10 major indigenous tribes in the country including the "Lumads" like the Bagobos, Manobos, Mandayas, Mansakas,Matigsalogs, and Tbolis.
August 19 coincides with the birth anniversary of the late President Manuel Luis Quezón. Born on August 19, 1878, Quezon served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944.
He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines. Quezón is considered by most Filipinos to have been the second president of the Philippines, after Emilio Aguinaldo (1897–1901).
He is known as the "Father of the National Language". He died on August 1, 1944. (PCOO)
Palace says government to spend more in second half of 2011
The Aquino administration will carry out more aggressive spending in the second half of 2011 particularly in major infrastructure projects even as it ensures that public money will be spent wisely, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
In a regular press briefing on Wednesday in Malacanang, Lacierda said the Aquino leadership has to fix the excesses of the past administration by restructuring and reviewing the whole process of allocating and releasing money.
“It took some time for us to do that. We don’t want to waste taxpayers’ money. That’s precisely why there was under spending – to make sure that the money we spend will be spent prudently and wisely,” he said.
He reiterated that there was under spending in the first half of the year because the present administration has to clear some processes, do some changes and studies to avoid the mistakes of the past administration.
Lacierda also noted that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad assured the senators this week during a budget hearing that the country could expect increased spending in public infrastructure in the next half of the year after the government initiated the reform measures.
Some senators have raised the necessity for an aggressive spending in the first half of the year to boost the local economy which could protect the country from possible fallout from the U.S. economic slowdown following a credit rating downgrade.(PCOO)
The Aquino administration will carry out more aggressive spending in the second half of 2011 particularly in major infrastructure projects even as it ensures that public money will be spent wisely, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
In a regular press briefing on Wednesday in Malacanang, Lacierda said the Aquino leadership has to fix the excesses of the past administration by restructuring and reviewing the whole process of allocating and releasing money.
“It took some time for us to do that. We don’t want to waste taxpayers’ money. That’s precisely why there was under spending – to make sure that the money we spend will be spent prudently and wisely,” he said.
He reiterated that there was under spending in the first half of the year because the present administration has to clear some processes, do some changes and studies to avoid the mistakes of the past administration.
Lacierda also noted that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad assured the senators this week during a budget hearing that the country could expect increased spending in public infrastructure in the next half of the year after the government initiated the reform measures.
Some senators have raised the necessity for an aggressive spending in the first half of the year to boost the local economy which could protect the country from possible fallout from the U.S. economic slowdown following a credit rating downgrade.(PCOO)
Palace expects Cultural Center of the Philippines management to review its policies
Following the shutting down of the controversial art exhibit “Kulo,” Malacanang on Wednesday said that it was expecting the management of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to review its policies to avoid a similar situation from happening again.
The CCP on Tuesday closed down the “Kulo” exhibit showing defaced religious images of Jesus Christ and other religious icons after several sectors criticized the exhibit and threatened to sue the CCP Board members. President Benigno S. Aquino III has supported the closure of the exhibit.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino was personally offended by the art exhibit. “We were able to show him the exhibit and as a Christian and as a Catholic, he found it quite offensive,” Lacierda said.
“I think ‘yung sinabi po ng Pangulo is very clear. He’s not after censorship but it’s also to remind the Board that this is not just art for art’s sake. You have to also remember that you’re using taxpayers’ money for this exhibit,” Lacierda said during a regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
“So sana lang ang pakiusap namin sa CCP Board [is] to be more sensitive with the use of taxpayers’ money. We recognize that, as they put it, ang buhay po ng CCP is the arts but [have] a little bit of sensitivity when it comes to whether it would offend a certain religious group,” the spokesman added.
Lacierda said that the CCP management has already said that it would study its objectives. “They have to do some refinements of their rules and guidelines, I understand, so we expect them to review their policies and to avoid a similar situation [as] what we saw,” he said.
“Ang pakiusap po lang natin sa mga taong nagbabanta sa mga members ng CCP ay tigilan na po ‘yan dahil hindi po nakakatulong ‘yan sa diskurso. Iakyat po natin ang antas ng diskurso dito sa freedom of expression at para mas magkaroon tayo ng mas maayos na discussion dito po when it comes to art,” he said.
Lacierda also clarified that the CCP did not ask for the consent of the Palace when it decided to put up the “Kulo” exhibit. “They made the decision independent of the Palace,” he said.(PCOO)
Following the shutting down of the controversial art exhibit “Kulo,” Malacanang on Wednesday said that it was expecting the management of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to review its policies to avoid a similar situation from happening again.
The CCP on Tuesday closed down the “Kulo” exhibit showing defaced religious images of Jesus Christ and other religious icons after several sectors criticized the exhibit and threatened to sue the CCP Board members. President Benigno S. Aquino III has supported the closure of the exhibit.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino was personally offended by the art exhibit. “We were able to show him the exhibit and as a Christian and as a Catholic, he found it quite offensive,” Lacierda said.
“I think ‘yung sinabi po ng Pangulo is very clear. He’s not after censorship but it’s also to remind the Board that this is not just art for art’s sake. You have to also remember that you’re using taxpayers’ money for this exhibit,” Lacierda said during a regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
“So sana lang ang pakiusap namin sa CCP Board [is] to be more sensitive with the use of taxpayers’ money. We recognize that, as they put it, ang buhay po ng CCP is the arts but [have] a little bit of sensitivity when it comes to whether it would offend a certain religious group,” the spokesman added.
Lacierda said that the CCP management has already said that it would study its objectives. “They have to do some refinements of their rules and guidelines, I understand, so we expect them to review their policies and to avoid a similar situation [as] what we saw,” he said.
“Ang pakiusap po lang natin sa mga taong nagbabanta sa mga members ng CCP ay tigilan na po ‘yan dahil hindi po nakakatulong ‘yan sa diskurso. Iakyat po natin ang antas ng diskurso dito sa freedom of expression at para mas magkaroon tayo ng mas maayos na discussion dito po when it comes to art,” he said.
Lacierda also clarified that the CCP did not ask for the consent of the Palace when it decided to put up the “Kulo” exhibit. “They made the decision independent of the Palace,” he said.(PCOO)
Palace asks Filipinos to avoid areas considered high risk in United Kingdom
Malacanang appealed on Wednesday to Filipinos who are living in the United Kingdom (UK) to avoid places that were considered by British authorities as “high risk” areas following the riots in London and its neighboring cities on Sunday.
“We ask our Filipino citizens there to try to avoid areas which are considered high-risk areas. ‘Yun lang naman po ang aming pakiusap sa mga Pilipino roon,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
According to Lacierda the government expressed concern over the safety of Filipinos residing and visiting London and other parts of UK. “We’re concerned over what’s going on in London right now. That’s why we’re asking the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for updates on the situation in London and the other cities in England,” he added.
The DFA on Wednesday confirmed that a Filipino was hurt in the on-going riot in Birmingham, a metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England.
The British Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday that riots erupted in Birmingham, where a police station was burned, stores looted.
At present, London was largely peaceful after British authorities deployed thousands of police.
The riots began last August 6 in Tottenham, North London, spreading to other parts of England.(PCOO)
