Aquino underscores commitment to provide fair,
just and equal opportunities for Filipinos
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the
government remains focused in its commitment to provide fair, just and equal
opportunities for the people as he assured to preserve the integrity, honesty
and accountability in the government.
In his speech during the Akbayan Citizens Action
Party 5th Regular Congress at the Philippine International Convention Center in
Pasay City on Friday, the President cited the various challenges along the way
that were successfully hurdled through perseverance and the concerted efforts
of the administration and the Filipino people.
“Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, nanatiling malinaw
ang ating adhikain at patuloy tayong nanindigan sa kung ano ang tama… wala
tayong inatrasan, di natin isinuko ang interes ng taumbayan. Umugong ang
nagkakaisa nating adyenda para sa reporma at namayani ang pagsusumikap nating
paghatid ng patas, makatarungan at makatuwirang oportunidad para sa lahat,” the
President said.
“Naghangad tayo ng tunay na pagbabago sa bayan
sa mapayapang paraan, kumilos tayo para makamtan ito at ngayon, katulong ang
Akbayan at sambayanang Pilipino, natatamasa natin ang bunga ng adhikaing ito,”
he added.
Apart from reaping the results of a transparent
and accountable government, the Chief Executive also assured the continued
delivery of social services that will significantly uplift the lives of the
citizenry.
“Kapit-bisig tayong bumubuo ng mga serbisyong
panlipunang tunay na may pakinabang sa karaniwang Pilipino, todo-kayod nating
isinusulong ang karapatan at pantay na pagkilala sa mga kababaihan… higit sa
lahat kapwa natin binibigyang halaga ang pagtataguyod ng integridad, katapatan
at pananagutan sa pamahalaan,” President Aquino said.
“Makakaasa naman kayo, bilang inyong kasangga,
ako po ay kasama ninyong maninilbihan na may malasakit, may katapatan at wagas
na hangaring ibangon ang atin pong bayan,” he further noted.
Present during the event were other government
officials that include Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas,
Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection Nereus Acosta, National
Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Joel Rocamora, Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority Secretary Joel Villanueva, Commission on Human Rights
Chairperson Loretta “Etta” Rosales, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Ricardo
David and some members of the House of Representatives.
Akbayan was conceived as an effort to
institutionalize people power and thereby deepen Philippine democracy. It is
the most vigorous and determined effort from the Philippine progressive
community to break the hold of traditional politicians and political parties on
Philippine politics.
In January 1998, Akbayan was formally
established through its Founding National Congress. In May of the same year,
the new party tested its strength by participating in the local and party-list
elections and won seats in the House of Representatives, and several local
government units. (PCOO)
.
Aquino government to remove beneficiaries of
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from cycle of poverty—Malacanang says
Malacanang assured that it would be able to
remove all Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program's household-beneficiaries from
the cycle of poverty during President Benigno S. Aquino III's presidency, a
Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that the
administration believes that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a solid
foundation for improving the quality of life of Filipinos.
The government has already extended assistance
to over three millions households as of March this year as it pursues its
economic and social reforms to alleviate the condition of the country’s
impoverished families.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the
Conditional Cash Transfer’s program of the Aquino administration through the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) aims to immediately
mitigate the burden of the poor families amid the global crisis.
"Based on the experiences in Mexico and in
Brazil, the CCT program does work as long as maayos po ang pagtarget sa mga
mahihirap at hindi pinupulitika. And that's why we have the National Household
Targeting System," he said.
Apart from the significant increases in school
enrolment of poor children, the program improves the number of child
immunization and prenatal medical care.
Various studies showed that the said program for
the poor is also expected to raise the annual income of beneficiaries by 12.6
percent.
While the increase in household incomes is
indeed an intended objective of the program, the government’s overall social
program also aims to ensure that beneficiaries remain healthy, educated, and
productive.
The government expanded the coverage of the program
to reach out to more poor families across the country. (PCOO)
.
Aquino government remains committed to prevent
proliferation of HIV cases in the country
The Aquino government assured its commitment to
prevent the proliferation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the
country through a more focused and multi-sectoral approach and an efficient
implementation of the prevention and control programs, a Palace official said
on Friday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday amid
news reports that the number of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) cases in the country remains alarming.
The Department of Health (DoH) has launched an
information drive to teach the public about the fatal infection of the HIV-AIDS
and the possible ways to protect them from the illness.
"The DOH has asked the assistance of PCDSPO
(Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office) in the
information drive. It requires really a sustained and focused-information
campaign in the fight against HIV," he said.
According to the United Nation Joint Programme
on HIV/AIDS ((UNAIDS), the vaccine called the RV 144 showed 31.2% efficacy in
preventing the virus.
Although, the vaccine is modestly protective,
UNAIDS and the US Centers for Disease Control are working hand-in-hand to see
the impact of this vaccine in preventing HIV/AIDS, the reports said. (PCOO)
.
Aquino attends National ROTC Alumni Association
annual meeting
President Benigno S. Aquino III spearheaded
Friday the 17th National ROTC Alumni Association (NARAA) annual convention
underscoring the importance of unity between the national government, the armed
forces and the public in securing the country’s sovereignty and democracy.
“Tandaan po natin: mahalagang magkaroon ng mas
masusing ugnayan at pagbabayanihan ang ating pamahalaan, Hukbong Sandatahan, at
lalung-lalo na ang taumbayan. Bukod-tangi’t mahalaga ang pagkakataong tangan ng
mga sibilyan nating reserve officers,” the President said in his speech during
the convention held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The President said reserve officers have
significant roles in bridging the gap between the people and the Armed Forces
leadership. Being civilians, he said reserve officers could easily convey the
message of the armed forces to the people for the benefit of the country.
“Ang pagkakaisa nga pong ito ang ating
pinagsusumikapan, sapagkat alam nating ito ang magbibigay ng kakayahan upang
higit nating maipagtanggol ang ating mga karapatan. Ito ang landas na magdadala
sa atin tungo sa isang lipunang mas patas, at may higit na pagkakataon para sa
lahat,” he said.
According to the President, maintaining a
reserved force in the country is important for national good adding that ROTC
instills in the hearts and minds of college students their obligation to
preserve the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While he acknowledge the dwindling number of
college students enrolling under the ROTC program, the President said that the
number of individuals isn’t important as long as the government would be able
to modernize its military, giving soldiers proper equipment and training.
“Mas matibay na koordinasyon at pagtutulungan,
sapat at pinagbuting armas at kagamitan, ang pagpapalalim sa pagmamahal sa
bayan—iilan lang po ito sa mga larangan at aspetong atin nang tinututukan.”
Based on the data cited by the President, from
more than 800,000 in school year 1999 to 2000, the number of enrollees dropped
to less than 150,000 in 2011.
In the first quarter of 2011, more than 500
colleges and universities offered ROTC program. This is far smaller than the
2,000 schools offering the program before the adoption of the National Service
Training Program.
To boost the sagging number of enrollees, the
President said students must be encouraged by NARAA to join the ROTC program.
Aside from ensuring a reserve force in times of
uncertainty, the President said reservists contribute a lot in peace time
activities. They are partners in disaster risk reduction and management, relief
and rescue, and peace efforts through the Internal Peace and Security Plan or
IPSP Bayanihan, he said.
The President also noted that progress and
development lie on their hands stressing that nobody will help Filipinos except
themselves.
“Wala na pong ibang tao tayong aasahan—tayong
mga Pilipino mismo ang titindig, lalaban, at sisiguro ng magandang kinabukasan
para sa atin pong bayan. Nawa’y ipamana natin sa susunod na salinlahi ng mga
Pilipino ang isang mas mapayapa, mas makatarungan at mas maunlad na Pilipinas,”
he said.
Joining the President during Friday’s event were
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa,
NARAA chairman Commodore Amado Sanglay (ret) and NARAA national president Brig.
Gen. Joel Joseph Cabides. (PCOO)
.
Government preparing assistance package to help
local banana growers, Palace says
The government is working on an assistance
package to help local banana farmers affected by the trade row with the
People’s Republic of China and could come up with a relief plan next week.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Friday, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President met yesterday
with the respective government agencies dealing with the banana issue.
“The exports to China account for 30 percent of
our market. Now, the long-term position is we have to broaden our markets. The
short-term is we are providing assistance to the banana growers,” he said.
“We are going to identify who the banana growers
are because as I said, the exports in China only constitute 30 percent; 70
percent we are doing well. We are going to provide… and we’re still looking at
ways to provide assistance--cash for work, financial assistance and assistance
to the packaging houses of the bananas,” he added.
The details of the assistance package will be
finalized and the President asked the economic team, the respective government
agencies to come up with a definitive package assistance plan by next week,
Lacierda said.
Lacierda also clarified that not all the banana
exports are suffering as a result of the stricter quarantine guidelines of the
Chinese contrary to the claims of export associations.
The Philippines is one of the world’s top banana
exporters with much of the fruits being grown in Mindanao. Among its major
markets include Japan, South Korea, PROC and New Zealand. In 2010, the total
export earnings for fresh Cavendish bananas amounted to $720 million.
The PROC is the country’s second biggest export
market for bananas next to Japan. Records show that as of February 2012, the
Philippine banana exports to the PROC accounted for 19 percent of the total
export during the first two months of this year. (PCOO)
