Aquino declares January 23, Chinese New Year as special non-working day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared January 23, 2012 as a special non-working day in the country in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 295 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on November 24, 2011, the President declared Jan. 23 which falls on a Monday as a special non-working day in the country to give both Chinese-Filipinos and Filipinos alike the opportunity to celebrate the holiday.
"On January 23, 2012, the Chinese nationals all over the world will celebrate Spring Festival, popularly known as the Chinese New Year, which is one of the most revered and festive events celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines by both Chinese Filipinos and ordinary Filipinos as well," President Aquino said in the proclamation.
"The joint celebration is a manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people;” the President said.
Last December, Malacanang announced the list of the regular holidays, special (non-working) days and special holidays (for all schools) for the year 2012.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 295, President Aquino declared certain days as special or regular holidays.
The following regular holidays and special days for the year 2012 shall be observed in the country:
A. Regular Holidays
New Year’s Day January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday April 5
Good Friday April 6
Araw ng Kagitingan April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day August 27 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day December 30 (Sunday)
B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Chinese New Year January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints Day November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special (non-working) day November 2 (Friday)
Last Day of the Year December 31 (Monday)
C. Special Holidays (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary February 25 (Saturday)
"The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall," the President said in the proclamation.
President Aquino directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to promulgate the implementing guidelines for this proclamation, which shall take effect immediately. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang taps government agencies to attend to victims affected by landslide in Compostela Valley
Malacanang has tapped the various concerned government agencies to ensure the Aquino administration’s immediate actions to attend to the needs of the people who were affected by the massive landslide that claimed at least 25 lives and injuring 16 others in Mindanao.
In a media briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the military has been conducting search and rescue operations in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, particularly in Sitio Diat Uno and Diat Palo, Barangay Napnapan where the landslide occurred to save the lives of those who may have survived the accident and retrieve the remains of those who did not make it.
Lacierda also bared that apart from the military personnel that were deployed, the local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has been actively conducting operations in the area. Other national government agencies involved include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The military is already there… the search and rescue operations are being undertaken right now, the regional DRRMC of the local government is already there, iincluding the OCD. The military also has its incident command post and the DENR is already there,” Lacierda said.
“Right now ang mahalaga muna ay yung search and rescue, and. I'm sure the DSWD will be going there to assess the situation,” he added.
Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, Lacierda said, has sent a team of experts to make sure that the lives of the rescuers will not be put into extreme danger in their efforts to save the lives of the victims.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, for his part, has been closely monitoring the situation through constant coordination with the local officials of the province.
“The reason why nandun ang DENR ngayon, nagpadala si Secretary Mon Paje ng geologists kasi yung area na yun ay medyo hazardous so they want to be sure that in addition to helping those who have been affected by the landslide yung mga rescuers po ay hindi rin maaapektuhan, so it is important to first assess the geological situation of barangay Napnapan,” Lacierda said.
“Secretary Robredo has been asking for updates from the governor on the status of the areas in Pantukan and he will be going to Compostela Valley to confer with the local government officials,” he added.
Lacierda noted that the DILG will be looking into what are the lapses that resulted to the event that again claimed several lives of people in the area.
“The responsibility of force evacuation is with the local government officials. There will be an investigation and there will be some accountability,” Lacierda said.
Military officials said some 100 individuals are still missing due to the landslide, which happened at around 3 a.m. following incessant rains.
It will be recalled that in April of last year, a landslide also occurred in Pantukan where small-scale miners have been digging for gold. (PCOO)
.
Palace defends economic achievements from criticisms
Malacanang expects to post significant growth in the agriculture sector given the increased budget allotted to the Department of Agriculture this year, which is expected to uplift the national economy as a whole.
In a press conference on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda fended off criticisms that say the country will not experience much economic growth this year due to weak government policies.
Lacierda said the country posted increased agricultural production despite the storms and calamities that hit the Philippines last year.
“Agricultural productivity is growth, is real and equitable growth. So many people would be benefited from increased agricultural productivity,” he said in response to comments claiming that the government hasn’t produced more jobs.
“This is growth for the farmers; agricultural productivity will benefit a great number of our people,” he stressed.
With a bigger budget this year, the DA said it would vigorously pursue initiatives that will ensure sufficiency in major staples by 2013 that include rice, white corn, cassava, and other basic commodities.
In his 2011 year-end report, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said a big chunk of the DA’s 2012 budget of P61.73 billion will be spent to implement the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), which is the centerpiece program of the Aquino administration.
The program intends to frontload investments, particularly on infrastructure such as irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and postharvest facilities, Alcala said.
With an allocation of P24.5 billion for 2012 for irrigation, Secretary Alcala said the DA will construct new irrigation systems, and restore and rehabilitate existing ones that service a total of 224,850 hectares of farm lands nationwide.
For postharvest and other infrastructures, the DA has alloted P11.28 billion. This will be spent to construct drying, storage, and processing facilities, storage and milling equipment, including dairy equipment and machineries.
The DA said it would also construct major agri-fishery trading centers in many areas throughout the country. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared January 23, 2012 as a special non-working day in the country in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 295 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on November 24, 2011, the President declared Jan. 23 which falls on a Monday as a special non-working day in the country to give both Chinese-Filipinos and Filipinos alike the opportunity to celebrate the holiday.
"On January 23, 2012, the Chinese nationals all over the world will celebrate Spring Festival, popularly known as the Chinese New Year, which is one of the most revered and festive events celebrated not only in China but also in the Philippines by both Chinese Filipinos and ordinary Filipinos as well," President Aquino said in the proclamation.
"The joint celebration is a manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people;” the President said.
Last December, Malacanang announced the list of the regular holidays, special (non-working) days and special holidays (for all schools) for the year 2012.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 295, President Aquino declared certain days as special or regular holidays.
The following regular holidays and special days for the year 2012 shall be observed in the country:
A. Regular Holidays
New Year’s Day January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday April 5
Good Friday April 6
Araw ng Kagitingan April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day August 27 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day December 30 (Sunday)
B. Special (Non-Working) Days
Chinese New Year January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints Day November 1 (Thursday)
Additional special (non-working) day November 2 (Friday)
Last Day of the Year December 31 (Monday)
C. Special Holidays (for all schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary February 25 (Saturday)
"The proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall hereafter be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra) or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations, whichever is possible or convenient. To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall," the President said in the proclamation.
President Aquino directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to promulgate the implementing guidelines for this proclamation, which shall take effect immediately. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang taps government agencies to attend to victims affected by landslide in Compostela Valley
Malacanang has tapped the various concerned government agencies to ensure the Aquino administration’s immediate actions to attend to the needs of the people who were affected by the massive landslide that claimed at least 25 lives and injuring 16 others in Mindanao.
In a media briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the military has been conducting search and rescue operations in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, particularly in Sitio Diat Uno and Diat Palo, Barangay Napnapan where the landslide occurred to save the lives of those who may have survived the accident and retrieve the remains of those who did not make it.
Lacierda also bared that apart from the military personnel that were deployed, the local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has been actively conducting operations in the area. Other national government agencies involved include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The military is already there… the search and rescue operations are being undertaken right now, the regional DRRMC of the local government is already there, iincluding the OCD. The military also has its incident command post and the DENR is already there,” Lacierda said.
“Right now ang mahalaga muna ay yung search and rescue, and. I'm sure the DSWD will be going there to assess the situation,” he added.
Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, Lacierda said, has sent a team of experts to make sure that the lives of the rescuers will not be put into extreme danger in their efforts to save the lives of the victims.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, for his part, has been closely monitoring the situation through constant coordination with the local officials of the province.
“The reason why nandun ang DENR ngayon, nagpadala si Secretary Mon Paje ng geologists kasi yung area na yun ay medyo hazardous so they want to be sure that in addition to helping those who have been affected by the landslide yung mga rescuers po ay hindi rin maaapektuhan, so it is important to first assess the geological situation of barangay Napnapan,” Lacierda said.
“Secretary Robredo has been asking for updates from the governor on the status of the areas in Pantukan and he will be going to Compostela Valley to confer with the local government officials,” he added.
Lacierda noted that the DILG will be looking into what are the lapses that resulted to the event that again claimed several lives of people in the area.
“The responsibility of force evacuation is with the local government officials. There will be an investigation and there will be some accountability,” Lacierda said.
Military officials said some 100 individuals are still missing due to the landslide, which happened at around 3 a.m. following incessant rains.
It will be recalled that in April of last year, a landslide also occurred in Pantukan where small-scale miners have been digging for gold. (PCOO)
.
Palace defends economic achievements from criticisms
Malacanang expects to post significant growth in the agriculture sector given the increased budget allotted to the Department of Agriculture this year, which is expected to uplift the national economy as a whole.
In a press conference on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda fended off criticisms that say the country will not experience much economic growth this year due to weak government policies.
Lacierda said the country posted increased agricultural production despite the storms and calamities that hit the Philippines last year.
“Agricultural productivity is growth, is real and equitable growth. So many people would be benefited from increased agricultural productivity,” he said in response to comments claiming that the government hasn’t produced more jobs.
“This is growth for the farmers; agricultural productivity will benefit a great number of our people,” he stressed.
With a bigger budget this year, the DA said it would vigorously pursue initiatives that will ensure sufficiency in major staples by 2013 that include rice, white corn, cassava, and other basic commodities.
In his 2011 year-end report, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said a big chunk of the DA’s 2012 budget of P61.73 billion will be spent to implement the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), which is the centerpiece program of the Aquino administration.
The program intends to frontload investments, particularly on infrastructure such as irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and postharvest facilities, Alcala said.
With an allocation of P24.5 billion for 2012 for irrigation, Secretary Alcala said the DA will construct new irrigation systems, and restore and rehabilitate existing ones that service a total of 224,850 hectares of farm lands nationwide.
For postharvest and other infrastructures, the DA has alloted P11.28 billion. This will be spent to construct drying, storage, and processing facilities, storage and milling equipment, including dairy equipment and machineries.
The DA said it would also construct major agri-fishery trading centers in many areas throughout the country. (PCOO)
