President Aquino leads Philippine Military Academy 2012 graduation ceremonies
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City: President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead graduation ceremonies of the 2012 “Bagwis” Class of the Philippine Military Academy during his visit here on Sunday, March 18, 2012.
The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will commission 187 first-class cadets of the PMA as second lieutenants and ensigns of the AFP during the PMA graduation rites that will be held at the Borromeo Field here on Sunday.
Cadet First Class Tom V. Puertollano, 21, of Lipa, Batangas, who will join the Army, will receive 11 major awards, including the Presidential Saber and presidential academic excellence award.
His other awards are: JUSMAG award, Australian Defense Award, Philippine Army Saver, Academic Group Award, Humanities Plaque, Social Sciences Plaque, Management Plaque, Army Professional Course Plaque, and Spanish Armed Forces Award.
Meanwhile, the top 10 graduating cadets are First Class Cadets Jose Mari V. Cabrera, from Cebu City, second place; Lucien Jay Gumban Caima, from Fort Bonifacio Taguig City, third place; Angeline Osorio Esmeria, from Taguig City, fourth place; Jethro C. Olavidez from Zamboanga Sibugay, fifth place; Aron Lessler Q. Regimen, from Tanawan City, Batangas, sixth place;
Dyan Karl T. Cabigas, from Caloocan City, seventh place; Fel Balambao Saguin, from Zamboanga del Sur, eighth place; Rone Jo O. Manganaan from Rosales, Pangasinan, ninth place; and Christopher C. Juan, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, 10th place.
Of the 187 graduates, 91 males and 11 females will join the Army, 41 males and seven females will join the Navy; and 36 males and one female will join the Air Force. (PCOO)
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Greater public-private sector unity could propel country to progress, Aquino says
Strong cooperation between the public, private and labor sectors would be the major factor in transforming the Philippines into a progressive country in decades to come, President Benigno S. Aquino said on Friday.
Speaking during the 20th anniversary of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (AYFCE), formerly known as Anvil Business Club, at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Friday night, the President acknowledged that challenging tasks remain even his administration has done a lot over the past year and a half.
The President said that even before he ran for the presidency, he knew the weight of the country’s problems and the amount of work required to turn the Philippines around.
“So please, let us work together, government and the private sector. We are on the road to becoming one of the world’s more successful economies -- HSBC recently predicted that by the year 2050 we will be the 16th largest economy in the world,” the President told businessmen present during the gathering.
There are also other good assessments for the country like the Japanese JETRO agency after it surveyed Japanese firms in Asia and Oceania, concluding that the Philippines has significant advantages particularly in the cost of doing business, the supply and quality of labor, and employee salaries, compared to other countries in the region.
This makes the Philippines the number one business destination in Asia, whether in the manufacturing or service sectors, the President said.
Locally, the President mentioned the recent record posted by the stock market setting record highs 21 times in as many months in office by the administration. On Friday, the stock market closed at 5,145.89, he said.
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City: President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead graduation ceremonies of the 2012 “Bagwis” Class of the Philippine Military Academy during his visit here on Sunday, March 18, 2012.
The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will commission 187 first-class cadets of the PMA as second lieutenants and ensigns of the AFP during the PMA graduation rites that will be held at the Borromeo Field here on Sunday.
Cadet First Class Tom V. Puertollano, 21, of Lipa, Batangas, who will join the Army, will receive 11 major awards, including the Presidential Saber and presidential academic excellence award.
His other awards are: JUSMAG award, Australian Defense Award, Philippine Army Saver, Academic Group Award, Humanities Plaque, Social Sciences Plaque, Management Plaque, Army Professional Course Plaque, and Spanish Armed Forces Award.
Meanwhile, the top 10 graduating cadets are First Class Cadets Jose Mari V. Cabrera, from Cebu City, second place; Lucien Jay Gumban Caima, from Fort Bonifacio Taguig City, third place; Angeline Osorio Esmeria, from Taguig City, fourth place; Jethro C. Olavidez from Zamboanga Sibugay, fifth place; Aron Lessler Q. Regimen, from Tanawan City, Batangas, sixth place;
Dyan Karl T. Cabigas, from Caloocan City, seventh place; Fel Balambao Saguin, from Zamboanga del Sur, eighth place; Rone Jo O. Manganaan from Rosales, Pangasinan, ninth place; and Christopher C. Juan, from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, 10th place.
Of the 187 graduates, 91 males and 11 females will join the Army, 41 males and seven females will join the Navy; and 36 males and one female will join the Air Force. (PCOO)
.
Greater public-private sector unity could propel country to progress, Aquino says
Strong cooperation between the public, private and labor sectors would be the major factor in transforming the Philippines into a progressive country in decades to come, President Benigno S. Aquino said on Friday.
Speaking during the 20th anniversary of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (AYFCE), formerly known as Anvil Business Club, at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Friday night, the President acknowledged that challenging tasks remain even his administration has done a lot over the past year and a half.
The President said that even before he ran for the presidency, he knew the weight of the country’s problems and the amount of work required to turn the Philippines around.
“So please, let us work together, government and the private sector. We are on the road to becoming one of the world’s more successful economies -- HSBC recently predicted that by the year 2050 we will be the 16th largest economy in the world,” the President told businessmen present during the gathering.
There are also other good assessments for the country like the Japanese JETRO agency after it surveyed Japanese firms in Asia and Oceania, concluding that the Philippines has significant advantages particularly in the cost of doing business, the supply and quality of labor, and employee salaries, compared to other countries in the region.
This makes the Philippines the number one business destination in Asia, whether in the manufacturing or service sectors, the President said.
Locally, the President mentioned the recent record posted by the stock market setting record highs 21 times in as many months in office by the administration. On Friday, the stock market closed at 5,145.89, he said.
The chief executive said he wants it to grow bigger, with more record highs than his months in service, adding such strive is very possible.
“This is just the start. Management has the vision and the resources; workers have the wherewithal to use these resources and make that vision a reality. Imagine what heights we can soar to, if management and labor can propel each other upward by truly working together,” he said.
“Make no mistake: we are on the threshold of transforming this country, our society, and the lives of our people. We can, and we have already been doing it. The challenge before us is to accelerate this transformation further. Together, it will be done,” the President said in concluding his message. (PCOO)
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Aquino attends 20th anniversary of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs
President Benigno S. Aquino III attended Friday night the 20th foundation anniversary of the Association of Young Filipino Chinese Entrepreneurs (AYFCE) at the Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City noting the challenges that the association has to overcome in the coming years.
“Today, we commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Anvil Business Club. Over the years, we have seen newer, younger sets of leaders in the business community stepping up to the plate. As you begin another year, you build on the achievements of the great men and women who came before you,” the President said in his speech before AYFCE officers and members.
The way companies do business today is changing, the President said, stressing that businessmen have to deal with balancing their business interests as well as the interests of their workers.
“In whatever industry you may be from, and in whichever country, the challenge is the same: to think on your feet, to keep nimble, and to adapt to changing paradigms,” he said.
Aside from celebrating its 20th anniversary Friday night, AYFCE also launched its new name. AYCFE is formerly known as the Anvil Business Club.
With the anniversary theme “Linking Young Entrepreneurs in Asia: Promoting Investments in the Philippines,” organizers said it would focus on AYFCE’s entrepreneurship thrust, philanthropy, culture, the sciences, arts and nation building.
Founded by a group of young Chinese entrepreneurs in 1991, AYFCE aims to promote traditional Confucian and Filipino values and encourage civic consciousness, entrepreneurial courage, professional excellence, leadership and global competitiveness.
Among AYFCE’s civic and cultural projects include the donation of the Confucius monument at the Rizal Park’s Chinese Garden, the support for the Dragon Boat Festival in the country, assistance to the Math Trainers Guild of the Philippines, and scholarship grants for poor but talented students.
The organization also conducted international economic, investment and trade exchanges with Chinese entrepreneurs worldwide.
Also present during Friday’s event were Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Ke Qing, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Anvil Business Club chairman Jeffrey Ng, Anvil Business Club Honorary chairman George Siy and Anvil Business Club president Roy Chua. (PCOO)
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Aquino: Govt working to make public employment system at par with private sector
The government is working on a management system for the public sector to get the most qualified workers and at the same time make the government sector at par with the private sector with regards to granting incentives to workers, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday.
“In December of 2011, I signed Administrative Order 25, which created an inter-agency task force to propose, among others, a results-based performance management system, which will be used to determine incentives for government workers based on their individual collective performance,” the President said in a speech during the 20th anniversary of the Association of Young Filipino Chinese Entrepreneurs (AYFCE) in Makati City.
“Under the leadership of the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance, and the other agencies in this task force, they have been working on a proposal which, obviously, needs a lot of study.”
The President said that when he was a member of Congress he filed a bill requiring companies to share 10 percent of their profits with their workers. The idea is to satisfy the interests of both the management and the workers, he said, adding that as Chief Executive he has to work to instill this idea in the bureaucracy.
He also noted that at the entry level, workers in both the public and private sectors have competitive salaries. But as government employees rise through the ranks, their salaries begin to pale in comparison to those for equivalent positions in the private sector, he said.
“This country’s progress relies heavily on those working for its government; and the government has to be able to attract—and reward—the greatest minds in this country. This is why I have taken the first steps towards more competitive compensation and rewards for the 1.6 million people in our bureaucracy,” the President said. (PCOO)
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Malacanang maintains government remains active in fighting air pollution
Malacanang said government agencies continue to work to fight air pollution in the country focusing their thrusts in controlling smoke emissions of vehicles as well as getting rid of bogus emissions testing centers.
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has recently called on the government to intensify its fight against air pollution that threatens the lives of 14 million Metro Manila residents each day.
“Masigasig ho ang Pangulo doon sa pagpro-promote noong mga nagawa natin when it comes to fighting air pollution and the President said that we should stick to simple solutions,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday during an interview over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The public has to remember that 80 percent of air pollution comes from mobile sources and the remaining 20 percent coming from the power plants and other fixed sources, Valte said.
“Yung 80 percent na iyan, marami tayong mga ahensiya that have stepped up and that do cooperate until now to see what can be done,” she added.
The government’s major thrust is get smoke belching vehicles off the roads and padlock emissions testing centers that do not comply with the current government regulations, Valte said.
Smoke emission testing centers may be issuing wrong figures with regards to the number of vehicles being tested every day and the government is acting on it, Valte said. She noted that this compromises the government’s campaign against air pollution in Metro Manila adding concerned agencies must not permit erring centers to operate.
“Kaya nag-crackdown ang Land Transportation Office at ang Department of Environment and Natural Resources doon sa mga emission testing centers. At yung panawagan natin kung mayroon kayong alam na testing center na ganito, paki-report lang po, so the corresponding action may be done,” she said.
Valte also said that after the DENR and the LTO spearheaded emissions testing activities, the level of air pollution went down from the time that the President assumed office in 2010. (PCOO)
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Govt to support students, schools venturing into rare but important courses
The government is ready to provide incentives to students and schools that will open or venture on courses not previously available in the country but of great importance for national development, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday.
“There will be incentives for our students to embark on courses where there is an actual need not just by the industry but also by government,” the President said in a forum during the 20th anniversary of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (AYFCE) in Makati City on Friday.
“We are getting incentives for the schools that would set it up, and get us the people that we need that are very good in terms of providing the services that this country needs to continue its road to progress,” he added.
For instance, the President mentioned the current need for geo-physicists in the country, particularly for major infrastructure projects. While discussing the P5-billion Pasig river dredging program, the President said he discovered that there is only one geo-physicist in the country today.
Aside from geo-physicists, there are various disciplines that the country needs such as meteorologists who will observe the country’s weather.
During the forum, the chief executive was asked about future jobs and how the government aligns the present education system to the actual needs of the job market.
In addition to the disciplines that are needed in the country, President Aquino said the government is doing job matching with graduates entering the schools for future employments.
The President said he had tasked the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to talk with the business sector, basically the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, to have greater coordination so that students could easily enter the work force once they graduate.
He also reported that every month there is a discrepancy of between 50,000 to 60,000 jobs being left unfilled because of skills mismatches. (PCOO)
