Aquino declares March 22 as non-working holiday in Cavite in commemoration of 143rd birth anniversary of General Aguinaldo
President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 351 declaring March 22 as a non-working holiday in the Province of Cavite in commemoration of the 143rd birth anniversary of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine Republic.
The proclamation, which was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on March 8 is intended to give the people of Cavite an opportunity to commemorate and give a fitting tribute to General Aguinaldo, a major figure in the country’s history.
Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite, to a well-to-do family. He led a Filipino insurrection against Spanish rule in 1896, and also became active during the Spanish-American War.
When the Philippines declared independence from Spanish rule in 1898, Aguinaldo was nominated president of the new republic. He eventually became the head of the Filipino provisional government in 1899 and resisted American occupation.
He fought the American forces until his capture in March 1901. In April of the same year, Aguinaldo took an oath of allegiance to the United States and retired to private life.
In 1935 when the commonwealth government of the Philippines was established in preparation for its independence, Aguinaldo ran for president but was decisively beaten.
In the later years of his life, Aguinaldo devoted his attention to improving veterans' affairs, promoting nationalism and democracy in the Philippines, as well as strengthening the Philippine-US relations.
He died in Manila on February 6, 1964. (PCOO)
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Malacanang welcomes country's world ranking in Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom report
Malacanang welcomed the considerable improvement of the Philippines’ ranking in the latest index of economic freedom report by the Heritage Foundation.
“We welcome the country’s improvement in the world ranking of Economic Freedom of the Heritage Foundation (HF) that placed the Philippines eight notches higher compared to last year’s results,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacanang on Thursday.
“Despite the decline in the economic freedom of most countries, the Philippines’ economic freedom has continued to increase. The country now ranks 107th freest of the 179 economies surveyed in 2012 with an Economic Freedom Score (EFC) of 57.1 in contrast to last year’s ranking of 115th and an EFC of 56.2.,” Lacierda said.
The Heritage Foundation cited the sincere and steady economic reform efforts being implemented by the Aquino government considering the challenges hounding the various economies of several countries and the world per se.
It also noted the necessary attention needed to further develop the country’s judicial system to fully realize growth.
“The Heritage Foundation report noted that despite the challenging economic environment, the Philippine economy has been on a steady path of economic reform," he said.
"An inefficient judiciary, however, continues to be a deterrent, according to the report, as it 'remains susceptible to political interference' and “does not provide effective protection for property rights or strong and transparent enforcement of the law'," Lacierda said.
He also stressed that the Aquino government is committed in achieving inclusive growth for all the Filipinos as part of the President's social contract with the Filipino people.
“Equitable and inclusive economic growth is the cornerstone of the Aquino administration’s Social Contract with the Filipino people. The HF report is an affirmation of the bold, results-oriented reforms this administration has initiated and continues to pursue in the economy and its institutions,” Lacierda noted.
Established in 1995, the Index of Economic Freedom is a series of ten economic measurements created by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal which aims to gauge the degree of economic freedom in the world's nations.
According to the Heritage Foundation, the creators of the Index took an approach similar to Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations that noted "basic institutions that protect the liberty of individuals to pursue their own economic interests result in greater prosperity for the larger society." (PCOO)
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Aquino meets with members of Japan Business Federation in Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with the members of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) following the group’s courtesy call on him in Malacanang on Friday.
“The President met with the Japan Business Federation this morning, I am told that there were around 18 members of the delegation who paid a courtesy call to the President,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang.
The Ambassador of Japan was also present during the meeting as well as the Minister for Economic Affairs of Japan and the second secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Valte said.
Joining the President during the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez.
“The President discussed with the members of the delegation possible investment areas that they may be interested in, namely, infrastructure, energy and tourism and the President likewise stressed the importance of the strategic trade partnership between the Philippines and Japan,” Valte stressed.
Among the members of the Japan Business Federation who met the President include Nobuo Kuronayanagi, chairman, The Bank-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd; Mutsutake Otsuka, chairman, East Japan Railway Co.; Fumiaki Watari, chairman of the board of councilors, Japan Business Federation; Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman Japan Business Federation and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd; Katsuaki Watanabi, senior adviser, Toyota Motor Corp.; Atsutoshi Nishida, chairman of the board Toshiba Corp.; Nobuo Katsumata, chairman Marubeni Corp.; and Katsutoshi Saito, chairman of the board, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
The Japan Business Federation, established in May 2002 by the amalgamation of Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations) and Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Associations), is a comprehensive economic organization in Japan.
It has a total membership of 1,603 comprised of 1,281 companies, 127 industrial associations, and 47 regional economic organizations (as of June 15, 2011). The Federation was put up to accelerate the growth of Japan and the world economy and to strengthen Japanese corporations and transform the overall economy into a sustainable and private sector driven one. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 351 declaring March 22 as a non-working holiday in the Province of Cavite in commemoration of the 143rd birth anniversary of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine Republic.
The proclamation, which was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on March 8 is intended to give the people of Cavite an opportunity to commemorate and give a fitting tribute to General Aguinaldo, a major figure in the country’s history.
Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite, to a well-to-do family. He led a Filipino insurrection against Spanish rule in 1896, and also became active during the Spanish-American War.
When the Philippines declared independence from Spanish rule in 1898, Aguinaldo was nominated president of the new republic. He eventually became the head of the Filipino provisional government in 1899 and resisted American occupation.
He fought the American forces until his capture in March 1901. In April of the same year, Aguinaldo took an oath of allegiance to the United States and retired to private life.
In 1935 when the commonwealth government of the Philippines was established in preparation for its independence, Aguinaldo ran for president but was decisively beaten.
In the later years of his life, Aguinaldo devoted his attention to improving veterans' affairs, promoting nationalism and democracy in the Philippines, as well as strengthening the Philippine-US relations.
He died in Manila on February 6, 1964. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang welcomes country's world ranking in Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom report
Malacanang welcomed the considerable improvement of the Philippines’ ranking in the latest index of economic freedom report by the Heritage Foundation.
“We welcome the country’s improvement in the world ranking of Economic Freedom of the Heritage Foundation (HF) that placed the Philippines eight notches higher compared to last year’s results,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacanang on Thursday.
“Despite the decline in the economic freedom of most countries, the Philippines’ economic freedom has continued to increase. The country now ranks 107th freest of the 179 economies surveyed in 2012 with an Economic Freedom Score (EFC) of 57.1 in contrast to last year’s ranking of 115th and an EFC of 56.2.,” Lacierda said.
The Heritage Foundation cited the sincere and steady economic reform efforts being implemented by the Aquino government considering the challenges hounding the various economies of several countries and the world per se.
It also noted the necessary attention needed to further develop the country’s judicial system to fully realize growth.
“The Heritage Foundation report noted that despite the challenging economic environment, the Philippine economy has been on a steady path of economic reform," he said.
"An inefficient judiciary, however, continues to be a deterrent, according to the report, as it 'remains susceptible to political interference' and “does not provide effective protection for property rights or strong and transparent enforcement of the law'," Lacierda said.
He also stressed that the Aquino government is committed in achieving inclusive growth for all the Filipinos as part of the President's social contract with the Filipino people.
“Equitable and inclusive economic growth is the cornerstone of the Aquino administration’s Social Contract with the Filipino people. The HF report is an affirmation of the bold, results-oriented reforms this administration has initiated and continues to pursue in the economy and its institutions,” Lacierda noted.
Established in 1995, the Index of Economic Freedom is a series of ten economic measurements created by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal which aims to gauge the degree of economic freedom in the world's nations.
According to the Heritage Foundation, the creators of the Index took an approach similar to Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations that noted "basic institutions that protect the liberty of individuals to pursue their own economic interests result in greater prosperity for the larger society." (PCOO)
.
Aquino meets with members of Japan Business Federation in Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with the members of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) following the group’s courtesy call on him in Malacanang on Friday.
“The President met with the Japan Business Federation this morning, I am told that there were around 18 members of the delegation who paid a courtesy call to the President,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang.
The Ambassador of Japan was also present during the meeting as well as the Minister for Economic Affairs of Japan and the second secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Valte said.
Joining the President during the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez.
“The President discussed with the members of the delegation possible investment areas that they may be interested in, namely, infrastructure, energy and tourism and the President likewise stressed the importance of the strategic trade partnership between the Philippines and Japan,” Valte stressed.
Among the members of the Japan Business Federation who met the President include Nobuo Kuronayanagi, chairman, The Bank-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd; Mutsutake Otsuka, chairman, East Japan Railway Co.; Fumiaki Watari, chairman of the board of councilors, Japan Business Federation; Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman Japan Business Federation and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd; Katsuaki Watanabi, senior adviser, Toyota Motor Corp.; Atsutoshi Nishida, chairman of the board Toshiba Corp.; Nobuo Katsumata, chairman Marubeni Corp.; and Katsutoshi Saito, chairman of the board, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
The Japan Business Federation, established in May 2002 by the amalgamation of Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations) and Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Associations), is a comprehensive economic organization in Japan.
It has a total membership of 1,603 comprised of 1,281 companies, 127 industrial associations, and 47 regional economic organizations (as of June 15, 2011). The Federation was put up to accelerate the growth of Japan and the world economy and to strengthen Japanese corporations and transform the overall economy into a sustainable and private sector driven one. (PCOO)
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Malacañang joins Catholic faithful in mourning the death of His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez
Malacanang said the Catholic Church will feel the passing of His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez as the Palace joins the faithful world over in mourning the death of the Filipino Cardinal.
“We join the Catholic faithful in mourning the passing of His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez, Archbishop Emeritus of Nueva Segovia,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement she read before the members of the media during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday.
“The loss of Cardinal Sanchez will be deeply felt by the Catholic Church the world over,” she added.
Cardinal Sanchez, a native of Pandan, Catanduanes, was born on March 17, 1920. He was ordained in Naga City on May 12, 1946. He was proclaimed cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of June 28, 1991.
Prior to his death, Cardinal Sanchez served as Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of People in the Roman Curia from 1985 to 1991, and was the first Filipino to have served in different capacities in the Holy See.
Cardinal Sanchez is one of the six Filipino cardinals since the papacy of John XXIII. He was made Cardinal of San Pio V of Villa Carpegne in 1991 and was subsequently appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy as well as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.
He died in the early morning of March 9 at the age of 91, in Rome, his home for more than two decades. (PCOO)
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Coloma cites commitment of Aquino government to expedite the realization of development plans for the Armed Forces of the Philippines
AIR FORCE CITY, Clark, Pampanga: Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny’ B. Coloma Jr. cited the commitment and persistent efforts of President Benigno S. Aquino III to realize the development plans for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the procurement of advanced and modern technology equipment for the military enabling them to fully perform their tasks to the Filipino citizenry and the country as a whole.
In an interview following the turn-over ceremony of the Four W-3A Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters, here Friday, Coloma stressed the all-out initiatives of the Aquino government to expedite the implementation of reforms and the advancement in equipment of the military under the AFP Modernization Program.
“Ito ay nagpapahiwatig ng determinasyon ng ating Pangulong Aquino na isulong ang AFP modernization, palakasin ang pag-depensa sa ating territorial integrity sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng mga modernong kagamitan”, Coloma said.
He added that the total procurement of the government for the AFP’s modernization program has already reached P28 billion in just 18 months as compared to the P33 billion total of the previous administrations in the past 15 years.
“Mapupunto rin natin sa labing-walong buwan ng Aquino administration ang ating total procurement for AFP modernization ay umabot na sa 28 billion kung ihahambing doon sa nakaraang labing-limang taon mula sa administrasyong Fidel Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada at Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na umabot ng 33 bilyon, so masasabi natin na sa nakaraang isa’t kalahating taon ay bumilis yung takbo ng AFP modernization at magpapakita talaga ito na masigasig ang ating Pangulo at ang Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa at ang AFP na isulong ang AFP modernization para sa isang mas malakas na tanggulang bansa,” Coloma said.
During the event, PZL-SWIDNIK SA, a Polish manufacturing company headed by its president Mieczyslaw Majewski, turned-over the initial four of the eight SOKOL multipurpose Combat Utility Helicopters (CUH) to Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.
The four newly-acquired combat helicopters will be added to the fleet of the Philippine Airforce (PAF) that will be very useful in their search and rescue, medical evacuation and combat utility missions.
Also present to witness the turn over rites were AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa, PAF Commanding General Major General Lauro Catalino dela Cruz and other senior officials of the military.
The arrival of the brand new combat helicopter is part of the P2.8 billion acquisition contract between the AFP and PZL-SWIDNIK SA.
Certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), these six-tonne class twin-engine helicopters have been proven to be effective and reliable in all weather conditions. An added feature of the SOKOL helicopter includes its high flexibility and significant internal and external cargo capacity, making it capable of performing a wide range of operations and an excellent utility chopper.
Dubbed as “Back to Basics,” the first phase of the Modernization Program focuses on improving the AFP’s ability to conduct Internal Security Operations. Under this phase, the target acquisition include eight combat utility helicopters, seven attack helicopters, one C-130 aircraft, a long-range patrol aircraft and 18 basic trainer aircraft.
For the Capability Upgrade Program, more advanced aircrafts are expected in Phases 2 and 3 where PAF-related components are grouped into the “Horizon Programs” with Horizon 2 expected to begin in the 2012 to 2016 time frame.
Under the Horizon 2, the Air Force expects the delivery of Territorial Defense assets such as Surface Attack Aircraft, Lead-in Fighter Trainers, Long-Range Patrol Aircraft, Air Defense Radar and a Special Mission aircraft, among other that will greatly boost the country’s defense stance against external threats.
Republic Act No. 7898, otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act of 1995 has provided the military an opportunity to modernize with a total fund of P331 billion. The plan follows a strict schedule for upgrades in order to modernize the AFP to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty and protect and preserve the patrimony of the Republic. (PCOO)
Malacañang joins Catholic faithful in mourning the death of His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez
Malacanang said the Catholic Church will feel the passing of His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez as the Palace joins the faithful world over in mourning the death of the Filipino Cardinal.
“We join the Catholic faithful in mourning the passing of His Eminence Jose Cardinal Sanchez, Archbishop Emeritus of Nueva Segovia,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement she read before the members of the media during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday.
“The loss of Cardinal Sanchez will be deeply felt by the Catholic Church the world over,” she added.
Cardinal Sanchez, a native of Pandan, Catanduanes, was born on March 17, 1920. He was ordained in Naga City on May 12, 1946. He was proclaimed cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of June 28, 1991.
Prior to his death, Cardinal Sanchez served as Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of People in the Roman Curia from 1985 to 1991, and was the first Filipino to have served in different capacities in the Holy See.
Cardinal Sanchez is one of the six Filipino cardinals since the papacy of John XXIII. He was made Cardinal of San Pio V of Villa Carpegne in 1991 and was subsequently appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy as well as President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.
He died in the early morning of March 9 at the age of 91, in Rome, his home for more than two decades. (PCOO)
.
Coloma cites commitment of Aquino government to expedite the realization of development plans for the Armed Forces of the Philippines
AIR FORCE CITY, Clark, Pampanga: Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny’ B. Coloma Jr. cited the commitment and persistent efforts of President Benigno S. Aquino III to realize the development plans for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the procurement of advanced and modern technology equipment for the military enabling them to fully perform their tasks to the Filipino citizenry and the country as a whole.
In an interview following the turn-over ceremony of the Four W-3A Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters, here Friday, Coloma stressed the all-out initiatives of the Aquino government to expedite the implementation of reforms and the advancement in equipment of the military under the AFP Modernization Program.
“Ito ay nagpapahiwatig ng determinasyon ng ating Pangulong Aquino na isulong ang AFP modernization, palakasin ang pag-depensa sa ating territorial integrity sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng mga modernong kagamitan”, Coloma said.
He added that the total procurement of the government for the AFP’s modernization program has already reached P28 billion in just 18 months as compared to the P33 billion total of the previous administrations in the past 15 years.
“Mapupunto rin natin sa labing-walong buwan ng Aquino administration ang ating total procurement for AFP modernization ay umabot na sa 28 billion kung ihahambing doon sa nakaraang labing-limang taon mula sa administrasyong Fidel Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada at Gloria Macapagal Arroyo na umabot ng 33 bilyon, so masasabi natin na sa nakaraang isa’t kalahating taon ay bumilis yung takbo ng AFP modernization at magpapakita talaga ito na masigasig ang ating Pangulo at ang Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa at ang AFP na isulong ang AFP modernization para sa isang mas malakas na tanggulang bansa,” Coloma said.
During the event, PZL-SWIDNIK SA, a Polish manufacturing company headed by its president Mieczyslaw Majewski, turned-over the initial four of the eight SOKOL multipurpose Combat Utility Helicopters (CUH) to Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.
The four newly-acquired combat helicopters will be added to the fleet of the Philippine Airforce (PAF) that will be very useful in their search and rescue, medical evacuation and combat utility missions.
Also present to witness the turn over rites were AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa, PAF Commanding General Major General Lauro Catalino dela Cruz and other senior officials of the military.
The arrival of the brand new combat helicopter is part of the P2.8 billion acquisition contract between the AFP and PZL-SWIDNIK SA.
Certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), these six-tonne class twin-engine helicopters have been proven to be effective and reliable in all weather conditions. An added feature of the SOKOL helicopter includes its high flexibility and significant internal and external cargo capacity, making it capable of performing a wide range of operations and an excellent utility chopper.
Dubbed as “Back to Basics,” the first phase of the Modernization Program focuses on improving the AFP’s ability to conduct Internal Security Operations. Under this phase, the target acquisition include eight combat utility helicopters, seven attack helicopters, one C-130 aircraft, a long-range patrol aircraft and 18 basic trainer aircraft.
For the Capability Upgrade Program, more advanced aircrafts are expected in Phases 2 and 3 where PAF-related components are grouped into the “Horizon Programs” with Horizon 2 expected to begin in the 2012 to 2016 time frame.
Under the Horizon 2, the Air Force expects the delivery of Territorial Defense assets such as Surface Attack Aircraft, Lead-in Fighter Trainers, Long-Range Patrol Aircraft, Air Defense Radar and a Special Mission aircraft, among other that will greatly boost the country’s defense stance against external threats.
Republic Act No. 7898, otherwise known as the AFP Modernization Act of 1995 has provided the military an opportunity to modernize with a total fund of P331 billion. The plan follows a strict schedule for upgrades in order to modernize the AFP to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty and protect and preserve the patrimony of the Republic. (PCOO)
