Aquino meets Czech Republic First Deputy Prime Minister
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Czech Republic First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg during a courtesy call in Malacanang on Tuesday morning.
Schwarzenberg is currently on a scheduled visit to the Philippines and Vietnam. This visit to the Philippines is expected to forge stronger economic and trade relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic that both countries have been enjoying for more than 50 years.
In 2004, relations between the two countries deepened after the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004 and also its entry to Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in October 2004.
Both events opened the door for Philippine business community into the Czech Republic and to all members of the European Union.
While the bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries is not limited to the investments of private companies, the government of the Czech Republic has been granting the Philippines official development assistance particularly for infrastructure projects.
Czech Republic also supports the Philippines in areas of sanitation, agriculture and energy.
The Philippines on the other hand exports to the Czech Republic electronics components including garments, furniture, tropical fruits and agricultural products.
Accompanying Schwarzenberg were Czech Republic Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar, Section of the Foreign Ministry Dir. Gen. Katrina Weissova and Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dir. Gen. Vit Kolar.
Also present were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Evelyn Austria-Garcia. (PCOO)
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World Bank quarterly report on PHL underlines Aquino administration’s efforts to push fiscal and inter-institutional reforms – Palace
Malacañang cited on Tuesday the World Bank’s Philippines Quarterly Update (PQU) saying the report underlined the efforts of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration to implement fiscal and inter-institutional reforms.
The said report entitled “From Stability to Prosperity For All,” and released last March 19, said the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals have strengthened the Philippines’ resiliency against the global turmoil.
In a press conference, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that under President Aquino’s leadership, the government has been vigorously pursuing the adaptation of inclusive economic growth.
She said government activities to improve public financial management, streamline public budgetary processes, and tax enhancement without imposing new taxes have resulted in “boosted revenues and enhanced competitiveness.”
“Economic indicators are encouraging. So far exports have rebounded this year, inflation is down, job generation continues to improve and public spending has been intensified and fast tracked,” Valte said.
“All these have been possible, as the report correctly stated due to strong macro-economic fundamentals, political stability and a popular government that is seen by many as committed to improving governance and reducing poverty,” she added.
Prepared by the World Bank’s Poverty and Economic Management (PREM) team, the Quarterly Report provides updates on key economic and social developments as well as policies in the Philippines. It also presents findings from recent World Bank studies on the country. (PCOO)
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Malacanang welcomes Syrian government’s move banning Filipinos from woking in Syria
Malacanang welcomed the move of the Syrian government banning Filipinos from working in Syria in light of the Philippine government's efforts to fast-track the repatriation and extraction of all Filipinos from the conflict-torn country.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday following reports the Syrian Ministry of Interior issued the Decision Order No. 500 dated March 4, excluding Filipinos from the list of foreign nationals allowed to work in Syria.
"If you consider the situation in Syria, this will actually help us. Remember we are trying to get our people out from Syria. The ban will help us in such a way that will prevent entry of new OFWs to Syria from the time being," Valte said.
A deployment ban imposed by the Philippine Government is currently in place because of the worsening security situation in that country.
The DFA already relayed this recent development to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the issuance of proper guidelines.
The DFA raised crisis alert level 4 in Syria last December 22, and the mandatory repatriation of all Filipinos in the country is underway.
A Rapid Response Team composed of the DFA, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) personnel, remains in Syria to help in the repatriation of Filipino nationals in the country’s conflict-stricken areas, especially in the governorates of Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Dara’a. (PCOO)
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Palace reminds government offices to conserve fuel, power
Malacanang reminded government offices about the existing energy conservation guidelines in the midst of the continuing increases in the fuel prices.
“There is a standing order Administrative Order 126 Series of 2005, the administrative order that mandates energy conservation among all government agencies,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Valte was asked by Palace reporters if Malacanang has plans to carry out an order that will cut fuel and energy consumption among government offices as petroleum and energy costs skyrocket.
“In fact, one of the measures taken in the AO is to implement a power-off scheme kapag lunch time ay dapat naka-off po yung mga aircon at mga ilaw para naman po makapag-conserve tayo ng kuryente,” she said.
But for now, Valte said offices in Malacanang have already adopted office plotting system, which charts the most recent gas and energy consumption to eventually reduce the use of fuel and electricity.
Administrative Order 126 or the order “Strengthening Measures to Address the Extraordinary Increase in World Prices, Directing the Enhanced Implementation of the Government’s Energy Conservation Program and for other Purposes” was issued by the previous administration in 2005.
The order calls on government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations and financial institution to adopt additional measures aimed at limiting the use of petroleum products supplies and power.
Among the departments tasked by the President to devise a strategy and carry out the order were the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Czech Republic First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel Schwarzenberg during a courtesy call in Malacanang on Tuesday morning.
Schwarzenberg is currently on a scheduled visit to the Philippines and Vietnam. This visit to the Philippines is expected to forge stronger economic and trade relations between the Philippines and the Czech Republic that both countries have been enjoying for more than 50 years.
In 2004, relations between the two countries deepened after the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004 and also its entry to Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in October 2004.
Both events opened the door for Philippine business community into the Czech Republic and to all members of the European Union.
While the bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries is not limited to the investments of private companies, the government of the Czech Republic has been granting the Philippines official development assistance particularly for infrastructure projects.
Czech Republic also supports the Philippines in areas of sanitation, agriculture and energy.
The Philippines on the other hand exports to the Czech Republic electronics components including garments, furniture, tropical fruits and agricultural products.
Accompanying Schwarzenberg were Czech Republic Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar, Section of the Foreign Ministry Dir. Gen. Katrina Weissova and Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dir. Gen. Vit Kolar.
Also present were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to the Czech Republic Evelyn Austria-Garcia. (PCOO)
.
World Bank quarterly report on PHL underlines Aquino administration’s efforts to push fiscal and inter-institutional reforms – Palace
Malacañang cited on Tuesday the World Bank’s Philippines Quarterly Update (PQU) saying the report underlined the efforts of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration to implement fiscal and inter-institutional reforms.
The said report entitled “From Stability to Prosperity For All,” and released last March 19, said the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals have strengthened the Philippines’ resiliency against the global turmoil.
In a press conference, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that under President Aquino’s leadership, the government has been vigorously pursuing the adaptation of inclusive economic growth.
She said government activities to improve public financial management, streamline public budgetary processes, and tax enhancement without imposing new taxes have resulted in “boosted revenues and enhanced competitiveness.”
“Economic indicators are encouraging. So far exports have rebounded this year, inflation is down, job generation continues to improve and public spending has been intensified and fast tracked,” Valte said.
“All these have been possible, as the report correctly stated due to strong macro-economic fundamentals, political stability and a popular government that is seen by many as committed to improving governance and reducing poverty,” she added.
Prepared by the World Bank’s Poverty and Economic Management (PREM) team, the Quarterly Report provides updates on key economic and social developments as well as policies in the Philippines. It also presents findings from recent World Bank studies on the country. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang welcomes Syrian government’s move banning Filipinos from woking in Syria
Malacanang welcomed the move of the Syrian government banning Filipinos from working in Syria in light of the Philippine government's efforts to fast-track the repatriation and extraction of all Filipinos from the conflict-torn country.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday following reports the Syrian Ministry of Interior issued the Decision Order No. 500 dated March 4, excluding Filipinos from the list of foreign nationals allowed to work in Syria.
"If you consider the situation in Syria, this will actually help us. Remember we are trying to get our people out from Syria. The ban will help us in such a way that will prevent entry of new OFWs to Syria from the time being," Valte said.
A deployment ban imposed by the Philippine Government is currently in place because of the worsening security situation in that country.
The DFA already relayed this recent development to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for the issuance of proper guidelines.
The DFA raised crisis alert level 4 in Syria last December 22, and the mandatory repatriation of all Filipinos in the country is underway.
A Rapid Response Team composed of the DFA, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) personnel, remains in Syria to help in the repatriation of Filipino nationals in the country’s conflict-stricken areas, especially in the governorates of Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Dara’a. (PCOO)
.
Palace reminds government offices to conserve fuel, power
Malacanang reminded government offices about the existing energy conservation guidelines in the midst of the continuing increases in the fuel prices.
“There is a standing order Administrative Order 126 Series of 2005, the administrative order that mandates energy conservation among all government agencies,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Valte was asked by Palace reporters if Malacanang has plans to carry out an order that will cut fuel and energy consumption among government offices as petroleum and energy costs skyrocket.
“In fact, one of the measures taken in the AO is to implement a power-off scheme kapag lunch time ay dapat naka-off po yung mga aircon at mga ilaw para naman po makapag-conserve tayo ng kuryente,” she said.
But for now, Valte said offices in Malacanang have already adopted office plotting system, which charts the most recent gas and energy consumption to eventually reduce the use of fuel and electricity.
Administrative Order 126 or the order “Strengthening Measures to Address the Extraordinary Increase in World Prices, Directing the Enhanced Implementation of the Government’s Energy Conservation Program and for other Purposes” was issued by the previous administration in 2005.
The order calls on government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations and financial institution to adopt additional measures aimed at limiting the use of petroleum products supplies and power.
Among the departments tasked by the President to devise a strategy and carry out the order were the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (PCOO)
