Aquino government remains committed to raising the quality of education
Marking this year’s celebration of the World Teachers’ Day, Malacañang on Wednesday renewed its commitment to raise the quality of education in the Philippines as it honored thousands of men and women who belong to the teaching profession.
In a statement issued by the office of Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, the Aquino administration maintained its commitment to elevating the quality of the country’s educational system and uplifting the noble vocation of teaching.
“Our administration is one with the Filipino people in celebrating World Teachers’ Day. We honor the thousands of men and women who have made it their life’s work to educate our children, youth, and adults—sharpening their minds, shaping their values, and encouraging them to become dynamic and productive members of society,” the statement said.
Improving the country’s education system is one of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s top priorities.
Proof of which was his decision to include the K-plus 12 program of the Department of Education or an Act Enhancing the Curriculum and Increasing the Number of Years for Basic Education among his list of priority bills during a Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting held last February.
President Aquino also mentioned during a roundtable meeting with business leaders in his recently concluded visit to Japan that his administration plans to build 10,000 school buildings as part of the first four priority infrastructure projects under the government’s Public-Private Partnership program. (PCOO)
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Aquino commiserates with typhoon victims in Tarlac, assures them of government support
LA PAZ, Tarlac : President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed sincere concern to the victims of the recent typhoons as he assured them of full support from the government not only in their present needs but also in restoring what has been destroyed by calamities the past weeks.
Speaking before some 500 people during his informal interaction with the flood victims at the La Paz Plazuela (Evacuation Center) in front of the La Paz Municipal Hall here, Wednesday, President Aquino urged the people to live by the spirit of “Bayanihan,” especially now that they have been severely affected by the recent typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel”.
“Ang gobyerno po ninyo nandito para paglingkuran kayo, di kayo pababayaan… magdamayan lang po tayo dito at alagaan natin ang ating mga kalusugan at dadamay po ang gobyerno ninyo sa lahat ng sandali,” President Aquino said.
He asked the victims regarding their concerns and encouraged them to inform their local officials for immediate action. He also urged them to keep on praying and ask for Divine Intervention considering the possibilities of more typhoons hitting the country.
“Mayroon pa po tayong dalawang bagyo pa na binabantayan parating, huwag natin tigilan ang pagdadasal po, importante po yan… si Governor Yap kasama po natin, ang inyong buthing mayor nandito rin po, si Congressman Bong Lapuz nandito rin… kung ano pa po ang kailangan sana iparating ninyo sa kanila para malaman ko at maaksyunan natin kaagad,” the President noted.
The Chief Executive said that Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who is the concurrent chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), are set to finish their studies on the present situation in the area to mitigate, if not totally address, the problem of flash floods.
“Ang imprastraktura diyan nire-review na po ngayon ng DPWH kung tama o di tama ang mga disenyong ito at kung nakatutulong o nakapeperwisyo. Kapag natapos na po ang pag-aaral nila, iaayos na po natin iyan para po naman di na maulit itong pagbabaha,” he added.
He also bared the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan of concerned government agencies that include silting and dredging of the water tributaries adding that the needed equipment will be available soon.
“Pabababain po muna ang tubig para matrabaho iyan, pero ipadadala na po natin ang mga equipment na kakailanganin para maumpisahan na ang proseso. Asahan po ninyo, yung dredging muna ang una nating gagawin,” the President said.
Following his visit to Tarlac, the President proceeded to the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan, which were also affected by the typhoons, to assess the situation.
Before the President’s arrival, the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed 128 family packs in La Paz Plazuela. Each pack amounting to 250 pesos contains three kilos of rice, six canned goods, six packs of noodles and six sachets of coffee. Also distributed were 59 pieces of blankets and 59 pieces of mats.
Apart from the his visit in the evacuation center, President Aquino also inspected the Rio Chico Bridge in Barangay San Roque, which connects Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, where he was briefed by Secretary Singson and La Paz Mayor Michael Manuel.
The President and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. were received by local officials led by Governor Victor Yap and Tarlac District Three Representative Jeci Lapuz.
The Rio Chico Bridge was constructed in 1992, which has 19 spans and length totaling to 246 meters. It was not damaged but due to the heavy rains, the Rio Chico River overflowed and caused flooding in La Paz that damaged the access road to the bridge. (PCOO)
Aquino vows ‘full support’ for Pampanga flood control projects
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga: Flooding in this province may soon be a thing of the past after President Benigno S. Aquino III pledged the administration’s “full support” for the local government’s plans to finally control the unpredictable rise of floodwaters that has plagued the people for a long time.
The President told Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, during a briefing on the status of the third phase of the Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project here, that he has instructed Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson to carefully study the cause of flooding in the region and to come up with clear, feasible solutions to such.
In an interview, Pineda said the President pledged to augment the calamity fund of the province in order to provide the basic needs to its constituents.
“The President told me that once the calamity fund of the province of Pampanga is used up, we should submit the pertinent documents and he will augment the fund by providing additional funding for our use,” Pineda said.
“Ang sabi niya (President Aquino) tutulong ang National Government na hindi na kaya ng local government,” she added.
The President assured Pineda and the people of Pampanga that they have the full support of the National Government.
“Aayusin natin yan. Basta tapusin muna ang mga study (on the causes of flooding) para hindi pa-chamba-chamba,” the President said.
Pineda said the main cause of the unpredictable rise of floodwaters that has affected six towns and displaced 35,000 families in the province was the inability of the Pampanga Bay to transport floodwaters away from the province effectively.
“Kaya si Secretary Singson, may team na siya na pupunta sa Pampanga Bay para sukatan ang tubig at tingnan yung flow ng tubig para malaman kung bakit napaka-bagal,” Pineda said.
She said an initial study conducted by the province suggests that there are blockages in the tributaries of Pampanga Bay that lead overflowing water to Manila Bay. (PCOO)
Aquino elated over government’s disaster response
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan: President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed satisfaction over the performance of his cabinet in responding to the aftermath of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel that hit central Luzon deflecting criticisms about his visibility during the crisis.
The President said that in the past it took time for the government to respond to calamities obviously because most of the agencies were not prepared. This time, however, he said that agencies needed no instruction from him because everything was in place even before typhoons and other calamities hit the country.
“Dati umaabot ng dalawang linggo bago nag-uumpisa ang caravan patungo sa Bicol para dalhin yung relief, ngayon naghihintay na yung relief goods bago pa lang dumating yung bagyo—testigo kayong lahat diyan,” the President said in a media interview after attending the briefing by different agencies in Malolos City on Wednesday.
“Siguro pag nakikita na mag-uutos ang Pangulo sa iba’t ibang ahensya sa kasagsagan ng isang sakuna, ang ibig sabihin lang po nun ay hindi nakahanda ang gobyerno,” he said.
The present administration has contingences in place even before disaster hit vulnerable areas, the President said, noting that this is the reason why there’s no need for him to issue instructions.
Because of this government’s readiness, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) didn’t have to ask for donations to start relief efforts for the victims of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel, he stressed.
According to the President, the DSWD response is very different from the previous administration, saying that in the past the DSWD would ask for help after devastations have occured.
Despite the criticisms, the President said he’s happy with the performance of his Cabinet with regards to disaster response adding that there were just some groups that politicize the way his administration acts.
“Sa akin po maayos ang konsensya ko. Masaya ako sa performance ng buong gobyern. Siguro naman po mas di hamak na maganda ang resulta natin ngayon kumpara natin dun sa Ondoy,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino says it’s up to govt panel to ask for ceasefire from NPA following attacks of mining firms in Surigao del Norte
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan: President Benigno S. Aquino III said he would leave it to the government peace panel whether to ask for a ceasefire from the New People’s Army (NPA) after the communist rebels attack several mining firms in Surigao del Norte.
“We leave (the decision) to the peace panel, as they are actively engaging the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) in a continuing dialogue,” the President said in an interview after attending a briefing in Malolos City, Bulacan on the government’s response to typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” that hit the country last week.
The government is currently holding peace dialogues with CPP-NPA-NDF.
“At the same time, I have instructed our security forces that I was not happy with their performance in this particular incident in. Iyong potential for risk, iyong mga disaster was very evident. To that end, maraming na-relieved sa kanilang mga puwesto, nagdagdag ng mga security forces ang estado at ina-undertake iyong mga corrective actions,” he said adding he is asking for explanations from the security forces why the incidents happened.
The President also reiterated that government forces will go after the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to justice.
The attacks also have an economic impact locally, the President said noting that it could result to the suspension of mining operations that would also mean loss of jobs to host communities.
The President said he received a report that said mining employees receive around P12,000 monthly salary and stopping mining operations would affect them heavily.
“So ngayon pa lang tinitingnan na nila na ang Pasko nila mukhang malungkot. Iyan po ang idinulot nitong mga NPA na ito sa pagsalakay na ito,” he said.
NPA guerrillas staged coordinated raids on Taganito Mining Corp. (TMC), Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. and Platinum Group Metals Corp. (PGMC) operating in Claver, Surigao del Norte, on Monday, killing three security guards.
The rebels burned 10 dump trucks, eight backhoes, two barges and a guest house, the police and the military said. The rebels also seized several guns from private security guards.
The military said the refusal of the three mining firms to pay revolutionary tax prompted the attacks. (PCOO)
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Aquino says, government has sufficient funds for rehabilitation of typhoon-ravaged areas
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan: The government has enough resources to start restoration and rehabilitation efforts following the devastation in Central Luzon by Typhoons Pedring and Quiel, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.
“We have something like about P8-billion calamity funds carried over from 2010. For 2011, may mga releases na tayo, we still have about P8-billion more or less to utilize,” the President told reporters during an interview in Malolos City after he attended a regional disaster council meeting.
“Mukhang dito sa assessment at least for Central Luzon, yung pinakita kanina is about P325—over P300-million. So with P300-million para sa restoration, kayang-kaya nating gawin,” he said when asked about government funds in response to the disasters.
The president said they still don’t have the total amount of damages but he said major departments, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), have made an assurance that there were sufficient resources for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructures.
The current thrust however, is to replenish quick reaction funds of line agencies like the DPWH and the Department of Health (DOH) for them to provide necessary services to the people in hard-hit areas.
President Aquino attended a meeting with the regional disaster council in Malolos City Wednesday where he was briefed about the devastation and the ongoing restoration and rehabilitation of the government on several Central Luzon areas.
The President visited flooded areas as well as an evacuation center in Calumpit, Bulacan, before going to the council meeting in Malolos City.
The Chief Executive was accompanied in the council meeting here by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., along with members of the that include Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo and Presidential Communications Development Strategic and Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang.
Before coming to Bulacan, the President also visited La Paz, Tarlac and Pampanga. (PCOO)
