Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing envoy of the People's Republic of China
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna on the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchiao in recognition of his important role in further strengthening the foundation of bilateral relations between the two countries.
In his farewell call at the Music Room of the Palace on Monday, Ambassador Liu received the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu, Grand Cross (Gold Distinction) from President Aquino for outstanding efforts in strengthening relations through the conduct of high level meetings between the Philippines and the Peoples’ Republic of China, the preparations of visits of high-ranking officials from both sides including the State Visit of President Aquino to China.
The Chinese envoy was regarded for his part in convening the bilateral consultative mechanisms including Foreign Ministry Consultations and facilitation activities between the two countries in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Philippine-China diplomatic relations, the signing of key bilateral agreements and his constructive role following the Hong Kong hostage crisis.
The President also noted Ambassador Liu’s efforts in enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries, making China one of the top trading partners of the Philippines and one of the largest source of development assistance.
Ambassador Liu was accompanied by his wife, Wang Yihong and other officials of the Chinese embassy during his farewell call in Malacanang.
Also present during the event were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, among others.
Later, the incoming Ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Panama presented their respective Credentials to President Aquino.
First to present his credentials was Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Mohammadi who is on his second tour of duty to the country. Ambassador Mohammadi extended his President’s best regards to President Aquino, who in return, expressed gratitude in welcoming the envoy.
Panamanian Ambassador Roberto Carlos Vallarino Moreno also presented his credentials to the President. The former maritime lawyer has served the Panama Maritime Authority before assuming his position as envoy to the country. Ambassador Moreno is married to a Filipina. (PCOO)
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Aquino condoles with Czech Republic on death of former President Vaclav Havel
The Aquino government extended its condolences to the people of the Czech Republic following the death of former Czech president Vaclav Havel who died on December 18 (Sunday) after a lengthy illness at the age of 75, a Palace official said on Monday.
"We mourn the loss of Mr. Vaclav Havel," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
"He was a shining light in the fight against communism. He was able to provide a leadership during those troubled times and was able to shepherd the Czech Republic," Lacierda said.
Associated Press (AP) reported that Czech leaders and foreign officials paid tribute to Havel, the dissident playwright who led the 1989 Velvet Revolution that peacefully toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas called him “the symbol of 1989″ and said Havel “did a tremendous job for his country,” the report said.
Born in 1936 to a wealthy family in Czechoslovakia, Havel first came to international fame as a dissident playwright in the 1970s through his involvement with the human rights manifesto Charter 77.
Havel presided over Czechoslovakia's transition to democracy and a free-market economy. He oversaw Czechoslovakia’s peaceful 1993 split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, according to BBC News.
He was elected first president of the Czech Republic in January 1993, serving until 2003 when he resigned as his health deteriorated. Havel returned to literature and to supporting human rights activists around the world. (PCOO)
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Aquino swears in Hataman as officer-in-charge of ARMM
Newly appointed officer-in-charge governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) took his oath of office before President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday in Malacanan Palace.
President Aquino administered the oath of office of Hataman, a former Anak Mindanao Party-list representative, and Hadja Bainon Karon, who was appointed as OIC-regional vice governor of ARMM.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino has instructed the newly appointed OIC governor of ARMM to ensure the proper implementation of reforms in the region.
“He is a former congressman and he knows the politics and the people of ARMM. We believe that he could be a person who can advance the reforms in ARMM,” Lacierda said during a press briefing.
President Aquino signed into law on June 30 this year Republic Act 10153, postponing the elections set in August 2010 at the ARMM and synchronizing the elections to the national and local polls in May 2013.
“The reason why we went for a synchronization and also, in particular, the ARMM, is to make sure that all the excesses of the past, all the corruption be eradicated and make sure that ARMM … would really push to advance the welfare of the people from ARMM,” Lacierda said.
Under RA 10153, President Aquino is authorized to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs) for the regional elective officers of ARMM. Appointed OICs in ARMM will hold office until the May 2013 synchronized elections. (PCOO)
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Aquino to visit Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete Tuesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to visit typhoon-ravaged areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Dumaguete tomorrow to personally oversee the ongoing relief efforts by the government and inspect the damages wrought by the disaster, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a news briefing on Monday in Malacanang that the President will be having briefings from local government officials in the said areas and will take some time to discuss with them their concerns.
“He (President Aquino) will be briefed also by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) there in Cagayan de Oro and he will fly to Iligan and then to Dumaguete to inspect the damages and also to provide relief efforts as well,” he added.
Lacierda said the President would have wanted to visit as early as Sunday but the Presidential Security Group as well as the Department of National Defense advised him to reschedule it for Tuesday citing bad weather conditions as the primary reason.
After he was informed of the extent of the damages inflicted by storm ‘Sendong’ on the government and the people of Northern Mindanao, President Aquino has been in touch constantly with his Cabinet officials that were already on the ground.
Lacierda said the President regularly gives instructions and receives updates from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos who were already on the ground.
“The President was very much aware of what was going on and he made sure that all relief efforts and all necessary efforts insofar as search and rescue are given to the people affected,” he stressed, dispelling talks that the Chief Executive was again missing in action in times of crisis.
Lacierda, moreover, mentioned that the President is requiring all concerned government officials and agencies to come up with a “comprehensive report” on what they have been doing for the past three days “to see if adequate service was provided for the people of Mindanao.”
Lacierda, moreover, mentioned that the President is requiring all concerned government officials and agencies to come up with a “comprehensive report” on what they have been doing for the past three days.
President Aquino, during his briefing at the NDRRMC headquarters last Saturday had already tasked Robredo and Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo to review of the country’s weather forecasting system.
“We recognize that there have been a lot of deaths in Mindanao and therefore that (weather forecasting system) is something that we should really look into and the President wants that looked into,” he said. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna on the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchiao in recognition of his important role in further strengthening the foundation of bilateral relations between the two countries.
In his farewell call at the Music Room of the Palace on Monday, Ambassador Liu received the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu, Grand Cross (Gold Distinction) from President Aquino for outstanding efforts in strengthening relations through the conduct of high level meetings between the Philippines and the Peoples’ Republic of China, the preparations of visits of high-ranking officials from both sides including the State Visit of President Aquino to China.
The Chinese envoy was regarded for his part in convening the bilateral consultative mechanisms including Foreign Ministry Consultations and facilitation activities between the two countries in celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Philippine-China diplomatic relations, the signing of key bilateral agreements and his constructive role following the Hong Kong hostage crisis.
The President also noted Ambassador Liu’s efforts in enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries, making China one of the top trading partners of the Philippines and one of the largest source of development assistance.
Ambassador Liu was accompanied by his wife, Wang Yihong and other officials of the Chinese embassy during his farewell call in Malacanang.
Also present during the event were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro, among others.
Later, the incoming Ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Panama presented their respective Credentials to President Aquino.
First to present his credentials was Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Mohammadi who is on his second tour of duty to the country. Ambassador Mohammadi extended his President’s best regards to President Aquino, who in return, expressed gratitude in welcoming the envoy.
Panamanian Ambassador Roberto Carlos Vallarino Moreno also presented his credentials to the President. The former maritime lawyer has served the Panama Maritime Authority before assuming his position as envoy to the country. Ambassador Moreno is married to a Filipina. (PCOO)
.
Aquino condoles with Czech Republic on death of former President Vaclav Havel
The Aquino government extended its condolences to the people of the Czech Republic following the death of former Czech president Vaclav Havel who died on December 18 (Sunday) after a lengthy illness at the age of 75, a Palace official said on Monday.
"We mourn the loss of Mr. Vaclav Havel," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
"He was a shining light in the fight against communism. He was able to provide a leadership during those troubled times and was able to shepherd the Czech Republic," Lacierda said.
Associated Press (AP) reported that Czech leaders and foreign officials paid tribute to Havel, the dissident playwright who led the 1989 Velvet Revolution that peacefully toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas called him “the symbol of 1989″ and said Havel “did a tremendous job for his country,” the report said.
Born in 1936 to a wealthy family in Czechoslovakia, Havel first came to international fame as a dissident playwright in the 1970s through his involvement with the human rights manifesto Charter 77.
Havel presided over Czechoslovakia's transition to democracy and a free-market economy. He oversaw Czechoslovakia’s peaceful 1993 split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, according to BBC News.
He was elected first president of the Czech Republic in January 1993, serving until 2003 when he resigned as his health deteriorated. Havel returned to literature and to supporting human rights activists around the world. (PCOO)
.
Aquino swears in Hataman as officer-in-charge of ARMM
Newly appointed officer-in-charge governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) took his oath of office before President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday in Malacanan Palace.
President Aquino administered the oath of office of Hataman, a former Anak Mindanao Party-list representative, and Hadja Bainon Karon, who was appointed as OIC-regional vice governor of ARMM.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that President Aquino has instructed the newly appointed OIC governor of ARMM to ensure the proper implementation of reforms in the region.
“He is a former congressman and he knows the politics and the people of ARMM. We believe that he could be a person who can advance the reforms in ARMM,” Lacierda said during a press briefing.
President Aquino signed into law on June 30 this year Republic Act 10153, postponing the elections set in August 2010 at the ARMM and synchronizing the elections to the national and local polls in May 2013.
“The reason why we went for a synchronization and also, in particular, the ARMM, is to make sure that all the excesses of the past, all the corruption be eradicated and make sure that ARMM … would really push to advance the welfare of the people from ARMM,” Lacierda said.
Under RA 10153, President Aquino is authorized to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs) for the regional elective officers of ARMM. Appointed OICs in ARMM will hold office until the May 2013 synchronized elections. (PCOO)
.
Aquino to visit Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete Tuesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to visit typhoon-ravaged areas in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Dumaguete tomorrow to personally oversee the ongoing relief efforts by the government and inspect the damages wrought by the disaster, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a news briefing on Monday in Malacanang that the President will be having briefings from local government officials in the said areas and will take some time to discuss with them their concerns.
“He (President Aquino) will be briefed also by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) there in Cagayan de Oro and he will fly to Iligan and then to Dumaguete to inspect the damages and also to provide relief efforts as well,” he added.
Lacierda said the President would have wanted to visit as early as Sunday but the Presidential Security Group as well as the Department of National Defense advised him to reschedule it for Tuesday citing bad weather conditions as the primary reason.
After he was informed of the extent of the damages inflicted by storm ‘Sendong’ on the government and the people of Northern Mindanao, President Aquino has been in touch constantly with his Cabinet officials that were already on the ground.
Lacierda said the President regularly gives instructions and receives updates from Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos who were already on the ground.
“The President was very much aware of what was going on and he made sure that all relief efforts and all necessary efforts insofar as search and rescue are given to the people affected,” he stressed, dispelling talks that the Chief Executive was again missing in action in times of crisis.
Lacierda, moreover, mentioned that the President is requiring all concerned government officials and agencies to come up with a “comprehensive report” on what they have been doing for the past three days “to see if adequate service was provided for the people of Mindanao.”
Lacierda, moreover, mentioned that the President is requiring all concerned government officials and agencies to come up with a “comprehensive report” on what they have been doing for the past three days.
President Aquino, during his briefing at the NDRRMC headquarters last Saturday had already tasked Robredo and Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo to review of the country’s weather forecasting system.
“We recognize that there have been a lot of deaths in Mindanao and therefore that (weather forecasting system) is something that we should really look into and the President wants that looked into,” he said. (PCOO)
