Lao PDR Prime Minister Thongsing ends successful
2-day official visit
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Prime
Minister Thongsing Thammavong left the country after attending to various
activities as part of his two-day official visit to the Philippines.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala were among the well-wishers during the
Lao-PDR leader and his official delegation’s departure.
During the visit, the government of the
Philippines and the government of Lao-PDR signed several memoranda of
understanding in the areas of trade, education, foreign service and sports
cooperation.
The Lao-PDR leader also attended meetings with
various government and private groups to discuss the ways to further develop and
strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between the Philippines and
Lao-PDR, including a business forum with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
PM Thongsing Thammavong, addressing the forum,
cited it as an excellent opportunity for enhancing cooperation between the
business sectors of the two countries in the areas of business, trade and
investment.
The Lao PDR delegation left on board Lao
Airlines (Airbus 320) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in
Pasay City at 12:30 p.m., Saturday. (PCOO)
Aquino appoints UP School of Economics Dean as
Acting Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan as Acting Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and
Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), a
Palace official said on Saturday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said during an interview aired over government-owned radio station dzRB Radyo
ng Bayan on Saturday that the Chief Executive signed the appointment letter of
Balisacan on Thursday, May 10.
President Aquino issued the appointment
following the resignation of Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA
Director-General Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr.
Paderanga cited health reasons for his
resignation, according to Valte. "We are very happy to have worked with
Secretary Paderanga and for the help that he has given the President for the
past two years," she said.
Valte said Balisacan is Dean and Professor of
the University of the Philippines School of Economics, Adjunct Professor of
Australian National University, Executive Director of the Philippine Center for
Economic Development, and Academician of the National Academy of Science and
Technology.
He served as the Director (Chief Executive) of
the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
(SEARCA) in 2003-2009 and Undersecretary at the Department of Agriculture in
2000-2001 and 2003. While in Government, he was the country’s chief negotiator
in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agriculture Negotiations and in various
bilateral agriculture negotiations. Before joining the faculty of the
University of the Philippines in 1987, he was Research Fellow at the East West
Center in Honolulu and Economist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.
Balisacan has served as adviser and expert in
poverty, food security, agricultural and rural development, human development,
impact assessment, and governance issues to public chief executives and
legislators, non-governmental organizations, and multilateral development
institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and various
United Nations agencies.
He is the author or co-editor of seven books and
has published about 100 academic papers and book chapters. He founded and
continues to serve as the Editor of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and
Development, an internationally refereed journal.
Balisacan has held leadership positions in
professional associations, including serving as President of the Philippine
Economic Society in 2006, President of the Human Development Network in 2003-2009,
Founding Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Agricultural Policy Forum in
2003-2006, and Executive Secretary of the Southeast Asian University Consortium
for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2003-2009.
Currently, he is President of the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists.
Balisacan obtained his bachelor’s degree in
Agriculture, magna cum laude, from Mariano Marcos State University. He holds a
master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines
in Los Baños, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Hawaii. (PCOO)
Aquino attends Special Action Force Anniversary
Challenge
MORONG, Bataan: President Benigno S. Aquino III
attended Saturday the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Special Action Force
Anniversary Challenge at Westnuk resort at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
complex.
The President also led that presentation of
awards to the winners of the Special Action Force (SAF) Challenge.
In his speech, the President said the event is
an effort to improve the skills of the police and the military as well as to
develop camaraderie among the members of the armed services.
The police and military continuously work to
improve its capability even in peace time having in mind that the people’s lives
and safety depend on their works, the President said.
In the last three decades, the leadership of the
armed services was able to strengthen camaraderie among soldiers and policemen
especially those in the special units.
“Saludo ang buong bansa sa inyong mga tagumpay
na nagbukal sa inyong disiplina, sipag at propesyunalismo. Maraming salamat sa
inyong di nagmamaliw na dedikasyon upang labanan ang terorismo, sagipin ang mga
kababayan natin sa panahon ng kalamidad at tugisin ang masasamang elemento sa
lipunan,” the President said in his message.
As the finest members of the police and military
service, the President said the people expect them to remain loyal to their
mandates to serve the public and to defend the Constitution.
Their special skills in combat and endurance
should also mean readiness and capability to respond to the people’s call,
President Aquino said, adding he expects them to shun corruption and ill deeds.
“Manatili po tayo sa panig ng katarungan,
katuwiran at pananagutan. Ito ang panig na nagdudulot ng pagbabagong sumasaklaw
hindi lang sa iilan kundi sa kalakhang lipunan. Ang mga prinsipyong sinasagisag
ng paligsahang ito ay isinasabuhay ng ating gobyerno sa pagtataguyod ng
mabuting pamamahala.”
Despite the continuing confidence for the
country’s economy, the President said his administration continues to exert
effort to improve the lives of Filipinos. He also vowed to continue pursuing
reforms in government.
“Samahan po ninyo ako paigtingan natin ang pagkakapit-bisig
sa tuwid na daan: ang landas na ginawang possible ang pagbabago sa Pilipinas.
At taas-noo nating ipapamana sa mga susunod na Pilipino,” he said.
The SAF competition was conceptualized by then
SAF director Leocadio Santiago aimed at developing individual and team skills
of the participants and fostering greater camaraderie among other units of the
police and the military.
The SAF Challenge, previously being done every
three months among different SAF teams, eventually became an annual event. It
is now called the SAF Anniversary Challenge. The police unit will celebrate its
anniversary on May 16.
Joining the President during Saturday’s event
were Police Dir. Gen. Nicanor Bartolome, SAF chief Police Dir. Catalino Cuy,
AFP Northern Luzon command chief Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara and Region 3
director Police Supt. Edgardo Ladao. (PCOO)
