Wednesday 29 February 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Aquino lauds private education association for partnering with government in implementing reforms

President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) for joining the administration’s efforts in implementing reforms in government.

The COCOPEA is holding its 4th National Congress at the Quadricentennial Pavillion of the University of Santo Tomas from February 28 to 29 to discuss and examine the current reform initiatives in Philippine education, scrutinize the legislative agenda of the 15th Congress; and identify priority issues and challenges of these reforms.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Commission on Higher Education Secretary Patricia Licuanan and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Emmanuel Joel Villanueva will represent government to this two-day event.

In his speech keynoting the event, the President said this 4th National Congress of the COCOPEA was in line with his administration’s “major theme” to get everyone involved in implementing changes in government.

“First of all, a major theme of our administration is the idea of getting all stakeholders involved in the process of crafting the reforms,” the President said.

“So, I assume you will have no problem in dealing with both Brother Armin and Patty Licuanan who are both long time educators,” he added.

Since he assumed office in 2010, President Aquino has been leading the war on corruption in government by implementing reforms to weed out its source. (PCOO)

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Aquino remains committed to providing education for all

President Benigno S. Aquino III remains committed to providing all Filipinos with the opportunity to learn and become educated individuals so that they may “reach the fullest of their potential.”

In his speech keynoting the 4th National Congress of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on Tuesday, the President said it was his dream to be able to give all Filipinos a chance to study the same way his parents accorded him the opportunity to learn.

He cited his father, the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., for having inculcated in him the importance of education early in life.

“He (the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.) said ‘Today you may be famous but tomorrow you may be nothing, today you may be rich, tomorrow you may be poor… but once you have imbibed from the fountain of knowledge, that is yours forever regardless of whatever happens’,” the President said.

“My parents gave me the opportunity to face up to the challenges that may come my way so I would like to give the same opportunity to each and every Filipino so that they will reach the fullest of their potential,’ he added. (PCOO)

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Classroom shortage to be resolved nationwide by 2013 – Aquino says

The government will be able to eliminate the perennial problem of classroom shortage by 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.

The President told participants attending the 4th National Congress of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) that this would be possible through the reforms that will be implemented throughout the bureaucracy and investment programs such as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program.

He said that upon assuming office in 2010, the Department of Education had reported that there was a shortage of 66,800 classrooms for students to use.

Since then, the DepED has been steadily bringing down that number by building 15,000 classrooms in 2011 with 35,000 more this year.

He noted that the DepED was confident it would bridge the classroom gap next year.

“Therefore, by 2013, there will be further 15,000 (classrooms) that will come clearly from the public private partnership program plus the other donations plus other sources, will eliminate the shortage of 66,800 classrooms roughly in the third year of our administration,” the President said. (PCOO)

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Aquino underscores reports indicating the country is primary investment destination in the region

The P1.995-trillion earnings of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the favorable outlook of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) show that the Philippines is the “primary investment destination” in the region, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.


The President said reports prepared by PEZA Director General Lilia De Lima and officials of JETRO showed that the country had earned its title of top investment destination.

“PEZA Director General Lilia De Lima came to me and she basically gave me a report of what PEZA has accomplished from the time it was created in 1995 up to 2011: the contribution of investors under PEZA to the national economy has reached the figure by the end of 2011 at P1.995-trillion,” the President said in his speech keynoting the 4th National Congress of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA).

He added that 22 percent or P413-billion of the total PEZA earnings since 1995 was earned by PEZA in the last 18 months since he assumed office in 2010.

JETRO, the President said, had conducted a survey on the problems encountered by countries in the region in doing business with each other and found the Philippines as having the least.

“Among the results, when it comes to the availability and cost of land to set up their factories, the least problematic is the Philippines among our neighboring countries. When it comes to retention of employees, we have the highest (rating). When it comes to the quantity and quality of labor that can be hired, again, we have the least problems in our country,” he stressed.

“Basically the report was saying the Philippines is the least problematic of our neighboring competitive countries and therefore there is an assurance that we are looked upon as the primary investment destination,” the President concluded. (PCOO)

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Aquino extols local artists for showing innate talent and unique genius of Filipinos to the world

President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the country’s local artists for showing the innate talent and unique genius of the Filipinos to the world as he encouraged them to continue inspiring the people through their art and master pieces.

In his message delivered by Undersecretary for Special Concerns Frederick Michael Musngi of the Office of the Executive Secretary during the Ani ng Dangal Awards 2012 and the closing ceremony of the Philippine Arts Festival at the Heroes Hall of the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, President Aquino said that the artists deserve the recognition and accolade of their countrymen for sharing excellence to the world through their craft.

“Your paintings and voices, cameras and choreography have appealed to our countrymen and audiences in other countries and this is what you have shown to the rest of the world, the unique genius and empowered spirit of the Filipino artist at any stage, at any age, for these, you truly deserve the praise and support of the entire nation,” the President said.

“I am hopeful that, like the previous awardees of the Ani ng Dangal Awards, you will continue to pursue excellence in your respective fields and that you will continue to inspire our countrymen through your craft, through your art…may your unwavering dedication to your art continue to inspire others and make our country proud,” he said.

The Chief Executive also commended the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for its continuous efforts to promote the Filipino talent and skills.

“I would like to congratulate the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for its consistent efforts in recognizing exceptional Filipino artists and their talents through the Ani ng Dangal Awards, this yearly celebration of our creative genius does not only recognize the talents of our countrymen but it also raises our artists’ level of pride in their cultural identity and strengthens their commitment to the nation,” he stressed.

According to the President, this award ceremony is certainly a fitting end to the month of hard work of the NCCA has put in toward organizing the Philippine Arts Festival, the country’s grandest and longest gathering of artists and cultural workers held this month.

President Aquino also expressed profound gratitude to the commission for showcasing the Filipinos’ art that has brought pride to the country.

“To the NCCA, my deepest thanks for your work in sustaining and promoting Philippine arts and culture. I feel very privileged indeed to be standing in a room full of Filipinos who have exceptional talents and creativity whether in dance, film, the visual arts, music and perhaps even in combination of all of these… has brought great pride to our country,” the President said.

Also present were National Artists Ildefonso Santos, Abdulmari Asia Imao, NCCA Youth Ambassador Dingdong Dantes and other NCCA officials.

The Ani ng Dangal Award honors the exceptional accomplishments of Filipino artists who have made significant contributions to Philippine culture and arts the previous year. The artists include dancers and singers, literary writers, film directors and performers, architects, visual artists and designers, including multi-disciplinary artists. (PCOO)

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Aquino lauds Iglesia ni Cristo for its contribution to nation building

President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his gratitude to Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to its contribution nation building as the religious group conducts its Grand Evangelical Mission at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila Tuesday.

At the personal level, the President thanked the INC for supporting him when he ran for public office in 2007 and in the 2010 presidential elections.

“So for that, also, thank you. Like any other Filipino, we are really endeavoring to provide each and everyone all the opportunity towards personal advancement regardless of faith, regardless of political beliefs,” the President said in an interview following his attendance at the National Congress on the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations event at the University of Santo Tomas on Tuesday.

The Iglesia ni Cristo marks on Tuesday’s event at the Quirino Grandstand the start of the group’s centennial celebration in 2014, the President said.

“That will be a very major event in their calendar and these are activities geared towards maximizing their 2014 centennial celebration, the President noted.

While there are people giving political dimension to the INC’s gathering, the President said, the official communication of INC said this is part of its religious obligations and faith.

INC said in a statement that the assembly was part of the group’s campaign for the intensive propagation of God’s words, led by INC’s executive minister Eduardo Manalo. (PCOO)