Aquino keynotes Mindanao Rural Development
Programs People's Organization Congress in Lanang, Davao City
LANANG, Davao City: President Benigno S. Aquino
III assured the Filipino people of the government’s continued efforts to
implement reforms and empower them to participate in developmental endeavors
that will uplift their standards of living and promote the country’s
sustainable progress and development.
In his speech during the Mindanao Rural
Development Program 2 (MRDP2) People’s Organizations Congress at the Grand
Ballroom of the Grand Regal Hotel, here on Monday, the President expressed his
desire to leave a legacy of a renewed nation to the Filipino citizenry.
“Paiigtingin pa natin ang mga reporma dahil alam
nating mayroon pa tayong ibubuga. Hindi puwede ang “puwede na,” at hindi tama
ang ugaling “bahala na.” Sa halip na isantabi ang interes ng nakakarami,
itinataboy natin ang kaisipang makasarili… sa halip na magpalakas sa
kapangyarihan, binibigyang-lakas natin ang mamamayan na makilahok sa
pagpapaunlad ng kalakhang lipunan,” the President said.
“Pangarap ko pong magpamana ng isang bagong
Pilipinas sa susunod na salinlahi. Buo ang loob kong tuparin ito dahil marami
tayong kabalikat sa tuwid na daan. Kasama ang People’s Organizations,
tuloy-tuloy na po tayo sa paghahatid ng liwanag ng pag-asa at masaganang bukas
sa bawat sulok ng Pilipinas,” he added.
The Chief Executive acknowledged the effects of
the laudable projects such as the MRDP in realizing the government’s
initiatives to provide sufficient food and augment the income of the people.
“Sa pamamagitan naman ng MRDP, may kabalikat ang
ating gobyerno sa pagkalinga sa kapakanan at pangangailangan ng mga kababayan
natin sa Mindanao,” President Aquino said.
“Hindi po biro ang laki at lawak ng tagumpay ng
inyong samahan. Balita ko nga po, tumaas ang kita ng ating mga kababayan dito
ng halos labimpitong porsyento buhat ng magsimula ang programa. Katumbas ito ng
mahigit labing-isang libong piso na karagdagang kita kada taon,” he stressed.
President Aquino also bared the use of advanced
and latest technology in ensuring that public funds are spent in tangible
projects that will serve the people.
“Gamit ang “geo-tagging”, mababantayan at
masusuri ninyo ang pagsa-sakatuparan ng ating mga proyekto. Matutukoy dito ang
mga overlapping road projects, at kung may hokus-pokus na nangyayari,” he said.
“Bukod sa mga ito, kaliwa’t kanan pa ang mga
kongkretong patunay sa tagumpay ng MRDP. Kasama sa mahabang listahan nito ang
kilo-kilometrong farm-to-market roads, mga tulay, patubig, at solar dryer.
Idagdag pa rito ang pagpapagawa ng mga lansangan at agri-fishery infrastructure,
na talaga naman pong nagpapaaliwalas at naghahatid ng oportunidad sa mga
Mindanaoans,” he further noted.
Present during the event were Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala, Mindanao Development Authority Luwalhati Antonino and
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as well as the local government officials
from Mindanao and members of the House of Representatives.
President Aquino witnessed the awarding of
plaques of recognition and certificates of award to the best performers under
the program.
The Mindanao Rural Development Program –
Adaptable Program Loan Phase 2 continues to implement poverty reducing
interventions in more poor communities across Mindanao.
Now on its second phase, it covers 225
municipalities in all of Mindanao’s 26 provinces. The program implemented under
the Department of Agriculture, MRDP1 accomplished various projects and provided
significant learning experiences on which MRDP2 took off.
Jointly funded by the World Bank, the National
Government and the local government units (LGUs), MRDP2 seeks to improve
further the incomes in rural areas and achieve food security through
agri-fisheries infrastructure, livelihood enterprise and bio-diversity
conversation projects. (PCOO)
Aquino declares June 11 as special non-working
day in Rizal province in celebration of its 111th Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 11 which falls on a Monday as a special (non-working) day in the province
of Rizal in celebration of its 111th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 377 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on Thursday, May 10, to give the people of Rizal the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
The province of Rizal was created on June 11,
1901, by virtue of Act No. 137. It was composed of 19 towns of Manila, and 14
municipalities of Morong Politico-Military District or a total of 33 towns.
On November 7, 1975, by virtue of Presidential
Decree No. 824, the 12 most progressive towns of Rizal namely: Las Piñas,
Muntinlupa, Taguig, Parañaque, Pateros, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Malabon,
Navotas, Pasig and Marikina were incorporated in the newly formed Metro Manila
Area. The Metro Manila also included the town of Valenzuela (formerly of
Bulacan), and the four cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan and Pasay.
At present, Rizal Province is composed of San Mateo,
Rodriguez (formerly known as Montalban), Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Antipolo,
Binangonan, Teresa, Morong, Cardona, Tanay, Pililla, Baras, and Jalajala. (PCOO)
ES Ochoa to law enforcers: Protect gains of
democracy
Law enforcers must continue to do their part in
preserving the gains of democracy and do their share to contribute to growth
and development of the country, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said
on Monday.
“The times have changed, and the nature of
threats against our country has changed with it,” Ochoa said during the flag
raising ceremony at the Philippine National Police (PNP) National Headquarters
in Camp Crame as part of the 29th founding anniversary celebration of the PNP
Special Action Force (SAF).
“With our democracy more secure as a result of
the passage of time and the strengthening of our institutions, it is now time
to focus our energies on protecting the gains of democracy and do our part to
ensure that every Filipino enjoy its fruits,” he added.
According to Ochoa, the government is embarking
on a “full-court press to energize our economy and bring in investments and
jobs and to expand the economic opportunities for our people,” and no less than
President Benigno S. Aquino III himself is leading the efforts to restore faith
in the economy that has so far raised investor confidence to all-new highs.
To preserve these benefits, Ochoa called on
every man and woman in uniform to tirelessly work to continue their mission:
keep the people and foreign guests safe, crush crimes, defend democracy, and
uphold justice and the rule of law.
“It is now up to all of us in government to do
our part to contribute to the growth and development in our country,” the
Executive Secretary said in his message.
At the same time, Ochoa lauded the PNP SAF for
exemplifying the best characteristics of the police forces—individuals known
not only for their might in field, but for being on the side of what is
right—as exemplified in the critical role they played in history to defeat the
threats to democracy.
“With threats against our people evolving over
the years, particularly the growing concerns involving terrorist activities,
our people have come to depend on the PNP SAF’s high-level training and
continued search for excellence to prepare our police forces for the worst that
our country’s criminal elements can dish out,” Ochoa said. (PCOO)
.
Aquino says government exhausting efforts to
address delays of country's banana exports to People's Republic of China
LANANG, Davao City: President Benigno S. Aquino
III said that the government has been exhausting efforts to address the mass
delays of the country’s fruit exports specifically bananas to the People’s
Republic of China saying that the administration is considering additional
countries where the products could be exported to.
In an ambush interview following his attendance
to the Mindanao Rural Development Program 2 (MRDP2) People’s Organizations
Congress at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Regal Hotel, here on Monday,
President Aquino stressed the need to diversify the exportation of the
country’s fruits to provide more options for business people in the sector.
“Ang kailangan ngayon at ang instructions ko sa
kanila (concerned government officials) from last year ay dagdagan ‘ang mga
bansang pinapadalhan natin para hindi naman tayo natatali sa isang bansa lang
(na) ‘pag may problema sila ay kaagad naapektuhan nang malaki ang ating
industriya ng saging,” the President said.
“Iyong napakaraming saging natin napupunta sa
iilang bansa. So importante i-diversify din natin ‘yung pinag-e-exportan natin
para naman hindi tayo nakatali sa desisyon ng iisang bansa (na) naaapektuhan
nang husto ang industriya,” he explained.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who is
also present during the event, for his part said that talks are underway
between the government and their Chinese counterparts to prove that the
Philippine fruits are safe for consumption and free of any pests.
“This week po mayroong isang team tayo na
papupuntahin sa China at magdadala po sila ng credential para kaharap sila sa
pagbubukas ng ating mga produkto sa exports. Pero, at the same time, kasama ang
imbitasyon naman natin sa kanila para pumunta ang delegasyon dito at i-check po
nila ‘yung protocol natin. Ang importante po dito mai-prove natin na ang mga
produktong iniluluwas hindi lang po sa China kundi sa ibang bansa man ay wala
pong peste,” Alcala said.
Government data showed that bananas are the
country’s second largest agricultural commodity export next to coconuts. The
total shipment cost for last year was pegged at 470.96 million dollars.
Reports revealed that Philippine fruit exports,
including bananas, were rotting in ports in China after the Chinese government
alleged that these products were contaminated with pests. These allegations
prompted the Chinese government to impose stricter quarantine inspections on
the said Philippine agricultural produce.
The People’s Republic of China is the
Philippines' second-largest banana market after Japan. (PCOO)
Aquino welcomes transport groups' plan to lower
fares
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed the
move of transport groups to voluntarily lower fares on public transportation
following the oil companies’ biggest rollback on the price of fuel this year.
In his speech keynoting the National Transport
Conference held at the Marikina Hotel and Convention Center on Monday, the
President said the group’s gesture was a symbol of their compassion to the
plight of the common man.
“Saludo ako sa ginawa ninyong rollback sa
pasahe; sa pagbalik ninyo nito sa 8 pesos, mula sa 8.50,” the President said.
He lauded the transport groups, headed by
1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-UTAK) and its members for generously agreeing
to bring down the fares.
“Walang pilitan, walang tulakan, walang
bangayan—nagbukal po ito sa pagkukusa, nagbukal ito sa malasakit ninyo sa kapwa
Pilipino. Kabaligtaran nga po ng 1-UTAK ang utak-alimango; nakatuon kayo sa
kolektibong pag-angat ng sambayanang Pilipino,” the President said.
1-UTAK and its members: the Federation of
Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of
Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and Liga ng
Transportasyon at Opereytor sa Pilipinas, Inc., presented a manifesto to
President Aquino during the event symbolizing their agreement to lower fares
immediately.
The Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board on Monday said the minimum fare of P8 would take effect on
Tuesday, May 15, after it signed an order for the automatic rollback in jeepney
fares, which were raised to P8.50 last March. (PCOO)
Aquino cites as 'triumphant' the partnership of
government and transport groups to address concerns
After only eight months since having had a
dialogue with transport groups to address their concerns, President Benigno S.
Aquino III said their partnership with government has borne fruit with benefits
redounding to all.
“Unang usapan natin noong Setyembre ng 2011;
Mayo ngayon ng 2012. Sa walong buwan nating pagtahak sa landas ng
pakikipagtulungan, meron na tayong makabuluhang napagtagumpayan,” the President
told participants of the National Transport Conference held at the Marikina
Hotel and Convention Center on Monday.
He said that in just a span of eight months, the
government has moved to address the concerns of the transport groups
specifically on the price of fuel, fares and “kotong” cops.
He said that by strengthening further transport
cooperatives’ scope, reach and access to purchase spare parts in bulk offered
transport members a chance to save on transport costs.
“Ngayon po, mayroon na po tayong mga kooperatiba
kung saan ang mga miyembro ay maaaring makabili ng mga gulong sa mas murang
halaga. Susunod na po rito ang mga baterya at spare parts. Ang layunin ay ang
mapababa ang gastusin ng ating public transport drivers at operators, habang
nabibigyan din sila ng pagkakataon na madagdagan ang kanilang maiuuwing kita.
Tiyak ko po, sa matitipid na pera't extra income ng ating mga drayber, lalo
kayong magiging mga sweet lover,” the President said.
On kotong cops and the perennial problem of
“kolorum” vehicles, the President said that concerned agencies namely the Land
Transportation Office, the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory
Board, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and
the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority are on a “full court press” to
prevent the proliferation of these operators.
“Nakapag-deploy na po tayo ng tinatawag nating
"Honesty Teams" para magmanman nang husto sa pitong lugar kung saan
talamak ang kotong at kolorum,” the President said.
As a result, the President pointed out, more
than 40 kolorum vehicles and 21 unregistered motorcycles have been apprehended
from February to March 2012.
“Ang MMDA naman po, mahigit animnaraan at
limampung kolorum vehicles ang nahuli mula Enero ng taong ito, hanggang ngayong
Mayo. Dahil naman sa pangongotong, dalawampu't limang MMDA personnel na rin ang
na-terminate, at halos animnapu naman ang pinatawan ng preventive suspension
mula noong 2010,” the President said.
He pointed out that the government will not tire
to ensure that these achievements will not go to waste as he vowed to continue
working towards making the lives of Filipinos better.
“Malinaw po: dito tayo dinadala ng pagkakaisa.
Malawak ang kalsada sa tuwid na daan, hindi kailangang magsiksikan sa ating
biyahe tungo sa kaunlaran. Wala na po talagang makakapigil sa sama-sama nating
pag-arangkada,” the President said. (PCOO)
