Aquino govt committed to complete peace deal with breakaway communist group
Malacanang said it is committed to complete peace agreement with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB ) and will release the money intended for the rebel group.
“The Aquino administration is committed to the five negotiating tables that are pursuing a just and lasting peace,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement on Wednesday.
Valte said the government will release the funds to the local government units (LGUs) in areas that will be identified for community development and livelihood assistance.
Under the agreement, which was signed in December 2000 during the Estrada administration, the government made a commitment to fund the reintegration and development projects for the rebel organization.
This includes livelihood projects, housing assistance, education and training, primary health care, agriculture and irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, microfinance, among others.
Valte also said the military expressed its support for the peace process with the RPMP-RPA-ABB, acknowledging its impact on security concerns on the ground.
The Aquino administration plans to give P31 million to RPMP-RPA-ABB that will come from the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or Pamana, a P329-million fund administered by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP).
RPMP-RPA-ABB is a breakaway organization from the mainstream group of Jose Maria Sison. (PCOO)
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Malacanang congratulates Filipino students for achievements in 2011 Australian Mathematics Competition
Malacanang has congratulated the Filipino students who excelled in the 2011 Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), saying that their recent achievements “are testaments to the well-rounded and world-class talent of the Filipino.”
“We are proud to congratulate our Pinoy Math whiz kids for their recent achievements in the 2011 Australian Mathematics Competition,” Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement.
Adrian Reginald Sy, a high school student from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, garnered a perfect score in this year’s AMC. Sy was one of 27 students worldwide who got a perfect score in the competition.
Besides Sy, 10 Filipino math whiz kids were awarded this year, as 60 other Filipino students placed in the top two percent of the 300,000 students who took the AMC test on August 4 here in Manila.
“Sy, along with the ten Filipino participants who were awarded for their high scores in the same test, and the 60 other Filipino students who placed in the top 2 percent of the 300,000 participants of the AMC, are testaments to the well-rounded and world-class talent of the Filipino,” Valte said.
“They, and the many others who have excelled in numerous fields, assure us of our nation’s bright future,” the Presidential Deputy Spokesperson added. (PCOO)
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Malacanang supports Department of Education’s activities in celebration of National Reading Month
Malacañang on Wednesday backed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) activities lined up in celebration of National Reading Month this November aimed at encouraging school children and the youth in general to make reading a habit.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that November has been declared by DepEd as National Reading Month for which a set of month-long reading activities has been arranged, enjoining schools and learning centers to participate.
“We fully support the Department of Education’s campaign to encourage school children to participate in the month-long reading activities, such as read-a-thons, storytelling sessions, shared readings, and reading camps,” Valte said in a statement.
The DepEd came up with its declaration on October 25 by virtue of Memorandum No. 244, making November of every year as National Reading Month and November 25, 2011 as Nationwide Araw ng Pagbasa.
These particular events are anchored on the 10-point Basic Education Agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the institutionalization of the “Every Child a Reader” Program (ECARP) by the DepEd.
Quoting Secretary Armin Luistro, Valte said the DepEd is initiating programs that would: promote reading and literacy among the pupils and students; motivate our youth to learn from the lives and works of eminent Filipinos; uphold one’s heritage and values; and make reading a shared physical experience, specifically among the youth, thereby increasing its relevance amidst the growing reliance on the internet and inclination to on-line activities.
The observance of the National Reading Month further coincides with the celebration of the National Book Development month (Proclamation 1436 series of 2007) and the fourth week of November is National Book Week (Proclamation 109 series of 1936), Valte added. (PCOO)
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Phl strongly supports UNESCO stand on press freedom
The Philippines has thrown its support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stand on press freedom saying it jives with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s social contract with the Filipino people.
In his statement at the opening ceremonies of the CI (Communication and Information) Commission meetings held during the 36th UNESCO Conference in Paris, France on Monday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the Philippine government is committed to protecting the citizenry, particularly journalists, in the practice of their profession.
“…the Philippines wishes to express its strong support for the CI sector’s vigorous promotion of freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and freedom of information as these freedoms are hallmarks of our government’s Social Contract with the Filipino people under the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III,” Coloma said.
“We wish to particularly underline our support for IPDC’s (International Programme for the Development of Communication – a multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community to discuss and promote media development in developing countries) function as an oversight body on the safety of journalists. Our government is fully committed to the creation of an environment that will ensure the safety and protection of journalists in the practice of their profession,” he added.
He said the government is working towards enacting the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act that aims to strengthen the protection of this fundamental right.
Coloma also said the government is adapting a UNESCO-inspired communication for development (C4D) framework that hopes to “create a community of citizens and strategic guide of the different communication and information agencies of government towards an authentic two-way dialogue between the people and the state.”
The Communications Secretary also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promote the five major programs of the Organization’s Information for All Programme (IFAP), particularly the program on Media and Information Literacy.
The overall goal of IFAP is to help UNESCO Member States develop and implement national information policies and knowledge strategies in a world increasingly using information and communication technologies (ICT).
In order to achieve this goal, the Programme concentrates its efforts on the five priority areas: 1) Information for Development focuses on the value of information for addressing development issues; 2) Information Literacy empowers people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goal; 3) Information Preservation will be predominantly executed by strengthening the underlying principles of the Memory of the World Programme, beyond its registers, which serve as catalysts to alert decision makers and the public at large; 4) Information Ethics cover the ethical, legal and societal aspects of the applications of ICT and derive from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and, 5) Information Accessibility encompasses the many issues surrounding availability, accessibility and affordability of information, as well as the special needs of people with disabilities.
Coloma said the government has partnered with the Philippine Social Science Council and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology to develop an electronic science hub which will serve as an open access repository of Philippine social science publications and materials.
“This project seeks to attain the full potentials of digital technologies in building the research capability of academic institutions, so that these may contribute more significantly to knowledge creation,” Coloma said. (PCOO)
Malacanang said it is committed to complete peace agreement with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB ) and will release the money intended for the rebel group.
“The Aquino administration is committed to the five negotiating tables that are pursuing a just and lasting peace,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement on Wednesday.
Valte said the government will release the funds to the local government units (LGUs) in areas that will be identified for community development and livelihood assistance.
Under the agreement, which was signed in December 2000 during the Estrada administration, the government made a commitment to fund the reintegration and development projects for the rebel organization.
This includes livelihood projects, housing assistance, education and training, primary health care, agriculture and irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, microfinance, among others.
Valte also said the military expressed its support for the peace process with the RPMP-RPA-ABB, acknowledging its impact on security concerns on the ground.
The Aquino administration plans to give P31 million to RPMP-RPA-ABB that will come from the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or Pamana, a P329-million fund administered by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP).
RPMP-RPA-ABB is a breakaway organization from the mainstream group of Jose Maria Sison. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang congratulates Filipino students for achievements in 2011 Australian Mathematics Competition
Malacanang has congratulated the Filipino students who excelled in the 2011 Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), saying that their recent achievements “are testaments to the well-rounded and world-class talent of the Filipino.”
“We are proud to congratulate our Pinoy Math whiz kids for their recent achievements in the 2011 Australian Mathematics Competition,” Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement.
Adrian Reginald Sy, a high school student from St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, garnered a perfect score in this year’s AMC. Sy was one of 27 students worldwide who got a perfect score in the competition.
Besides Sy, 10 Filipino math whiz kids were awarded this year, as 60 other Filipino students placed in the top two percent of the 300,000 students who took the AMC test on August 4 here in Manila.
“Sy, along with the ten Filipino participants who were awarded for their high scores in the same test, and the 60 other Filipino students who placed in the top 2 percent of the 300,000 participants of the AMC, are testaments to the well-rounded and world-class talent of the Filipino,” Valte said.
“They, and the many others who have excelled in numerous fields, assure us of our nation’s bright future,” the Presidential Deputy Spokesperson added. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang supports Department of Education’s activities in celebration of National Reading Month
Malacañang on Wednesday backed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) activities lined up in celebration of National Reading Month this November aimed at encouraging school children and the youth in general to make reading a habit.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that November has been declared by DepEd as National Reading Month for which a set of month-long reading activities has been arranged, enjoining schools and learning centers to participate.
“We fully support the Department of Education’s campaign to encourage school children to participate in the month-long reading activities, such as read-a-thons, storytelling sessions, shared readings, and reading camps,” Valte said in a statement.
The DepEd came up with its declaration on October 25 by virtue of Memorandum No. 244, making November of every year as National Reading Month and November 25, 2011 as Nationwide Araw ng Pagbasa.
These particular events are anchored on the 10-point Basic Education Agenda of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the institutionalization of the “Every Child a Reader” Program (ECARP) by the DepEd.
Quoting Secretary Armin Luistro, Valte said the DepEd is initiating programs that would: promote reading and literacy among the pupils and students; motivate our youth to learn from the lives and works of eminent Filipinos; uphold one’s heritage and values; and make reading a shared physical experience, specifically among the youth, thereby increasing its relevance amidst the growing reliance on the internet and inclination to on-line activities.
The observance of the National Reading Month further coincides with the celebration of the National Book Development month (Proclamation 1436 series of 2007) and the fourth week of November is National Book Week (Proclamation 109 series of 1936), Valte added. (PCOO)
.
Phl strongly supports UNESCO stand on press freedom
The Philippines has thrown its support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stand on press freedom saying it jives with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s social contract with the Filipino people.
In his statement at the opening ceremonies of the CI (Communication and Information) Commission meetings held during the 36th UNESCO Conference in Paris, France on Monday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the Philippine government is committed to protecting the citizenry, particularly journalists, in the practice of their profession.
“…the Philippines wishes to express its strong support for the CI sector’s vigorous promotion of freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and freedom of information as these freedoms are hallmarks of our government’s Social Contract with the Filipino people under the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III,” Coloma said.
“We wish to particularly underline our support for IPDC’s (International Programme for the Development of Communication – a multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community to discuss and promote media development in developing countries) function as an oversight body on the safety of journalists. Our government is fully committed to the creation of an environment that will ensure the safety and protection of journalists in the practice of their profession,” he added.
He said the government is working towards enacting the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act that aims to strengthen the protection of this fundamental right.
Coloma also said the government is adapting a UNESCO-inspired communication for development (C4D) framework that hopes to “create a community of citizens and strategic guide of the different communication and information agencies of government towards an authentic two-way dialogue between the people and the state.”
The Communications Secretary also reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promote the five major programs of the Organization’s Information for All Programme (IFAP), particularly the program on Media and Information Literacy.
The overall goal of IFAP is to help UNESCO Member States develop and implement national information policies and knowledge strategies in a world increasingly using information and communication technologies (ICT).
In order to achieve this goal, the Programme concentrates its efforts on the five priority areas: 1) Information for Development focuses on the value of information for addressing development issues; 2) Information Literacy empowers people in all walks of life to seek, evaluate, use and create information effectively to achieve their personal, social, occupational and educational goal; 3) Information Preservation will be predominantly executed by strengthening the underlying principles of the Memory of the World Programme, beyond its registers, which serve as catalysts to alert decision makers and the public at large; 4) Information Ethics cover the ethical, legal and societal aspects of the applications of ICT and derive from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and, 5) Information Accessibility encompasses the many issues surrounding availability, accessibility and affordability of information, as well as the special needs of people with disabilities.
Coloma said the government has partnered with the Philippine Social Science Council and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology to develop an electronic science hub which will serve as an open access repository of Philippine social science publications and materials.
“This project seeks to attain the full potentials of digital technologies in building the research capability of academic institutions, so that these may contribute more significantly to knowledge creation,” Coloma said. (PCOO)
