Aquino urges public to refrain from using firecrackers to prevent injuries and loss of lives on New Year's day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appealed to the public to refrain from using firecrackers to prevent injuries and loss of lives during the New Year celebration.
"Humaharap po ako sa inyo ngayon upang makiusap: Sama-sama nating salubungin ang bagong taon, gamit ang ingay—hindi mula sa paputok—ngunit sa kolektibo nating sigaw sa isang masigla at mas ligtas na pagdiriwang," the President said in his message on the use of fireworks this New Year.
President Aquino made the appeal, citing the high number of victims of firecrackers during the last New Year's revelry. "Napakarami po kasing nalalagay sa panganib dahil sa paputok. Umabot po sa isanlibo at dalawampu’t dalawa ang nadisgrasya noong nakaraang taon. Karamihan po rito ay dahil sa paggamit ng paputok; at ilan din ang napinsala ng ligaw na bala at pagkalason," he said.
The Chief Executive said he is fully supporting the Department of Health (DOH) in its campaign dubbed as APIR - Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction. "Ang layunin po: bawasan ang mga nasasaktan at nasusunugan sa pagdiriwang ng bagong taon; ipakilala ang isang panibagong anyo ng selebrasyon," he said.
"Maaari po tayong magtipon sa kani-kaniya nating mga pasyalan at plaza upang panoorin ang mga fireworks display na isinasagawa ng ating munisipyo at ng pribadong sektor. Maaari ring mag-ingay sa ibang paraan—sa kalampag, sa torotot, o sa tugtugin. Ligtas na paraan po ang mga ito," President Aquino said.
The President, likewise, encouraged everyone to observe the APIR campaign for their own safety.
"Ngayong paganda na nang paganda ang sitwasyon natin, tatangkilikin mo ba ang mga paputok na may pangalang Goodbye Philippines o Goodbye Universe? Hindi po ba’t mas mabuting salubungin ang taon nang Goodbye Kapahamakan, at Hello Pagbabago,? the President averred.
He said the APIR campaign also aims to avoid or minimize the adverse effects of firecrackers to the environment.
"Sa pagpapaputok, napapasama po ang kondisyon ng hangin na sama-sama naman nating nilalanghap. Samaktuwid, isinusugal natin, hindi lamang ang ating kalusugan at buhay—kundi maging ang kapakanan ng iba," he said.
The President likewise issued a directive to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly enforce the law on firecrackers and pyrotechnics and arrest not only the sellers but also the revelers using such merchandise.
"Gayundin, humihingi po ako ng tulong sa inyo (public): Huwag na po ninyong tangkilikin ang mga paputok na ito; ipag-alaman din sa kinauukulan ang mga makitang nagtitinda o may tangan ng mga ito," the President stressed.
"Panahon na nga po ng bagong pag-iisip. Sama-sama nating salubungin ang bagong taon nang ligtas—nang may pagpapahalaga sa buhay at sa kapaligiran. Magdiwang tayo kipkip ang mga babala ng DOH at ng buong pamahalaan upang makaiwas sa disgrasya," he said. (PCOO)
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We will do better next year – Malacanang
The alleviation of poverty and the complete eradication of graft and corruption in government will still remain the top priorities of the Aquino Administration in 2012, a Malacañang official said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang that President Benigno S. Aquino III’s advocacy to provide a just and fruitful life for every Filipino remains the main thrust of his government next year.
”We will march on and continue with our reforms on poverty reduction and the eradication of graft and corruption,” Lacierda said.
He added that despite the strides taken to improve the country’s ability to provide for its citizens through reforms in government, Lacierda said, the President expects more to be done.
“Our marching orders are the same. We will do better next year,” Lacierda said. (PCOO)
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Lacierda urges Filipinos to support MMFF
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda urged Filipinos to “patronize” the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival which began its run on Christmas Day until the first week of January.
Lacierda told a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday that we should support our local film industry.
“Please patronize our Metro Manila Film Fest,” Lacierda said.
“It is an opportunity to support our local film industry,” he added.
The MMFF was established in 1975, during which "Diligin Mo ng Hamog ang Uhaw na Lupa" (Water the Thirsty Earth with Fog) by Augusto Buenaventura won the best film award. (PCOO)
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Government to start building homes for flood victims in Iligan City
The Aquino administration will begin building homes for the flashflood victims in Iligan City as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released more than P200 million for its core shelter program.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma are in Iligan City to oversee the reconstruction and relief efforts there.
“Secretary Soliman handed a cheque in the amount of P241,130,000 to Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan City for their core shelter program and they have already identified a 10-hectare relocation site in Iligan City,” Lacierda said.
“This money will go to the construction of the core shelter—by core shelter we mean four walls, one toilet, and one room.”
Lacierda said the project is expected to help 3,459 families in the city adding that Soliman and Cruz are expecting to build the project by the end of January to decongest the evacuations centers.
Ona and Coloma are in Iligan City to monitor the government’s response for the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the city, Lacierda said. At the same time, Ona will assess possible illnesses that may arise as a result of the flooding.
Lacierda also made an assurance that there are enough doctors as well as medicines for the affected residents.
The government is also assessing the situation in other disaster areas to know the appropriate amount of money that could be released, Lacierda said. Soliman will be visiting Cagayan de Oro Tuesday afternoon to determine the necessary allocation needed by the city, he added.
With regards to the reported flooding in other areas in Mindanao like Bukidnon, Lacierda said the government agencies concerned with disaster response were already mobilized to assist the affected communities. (PCOO)
