Aquino underscores government support to
military and police forces for efficient service to the people
President Benigno S. Aquino III stressed the
importance of government support to the country’s military and police forces to
ensure efficient service to the people and in maintaining peace and security.
In his speech during the premiere showing of the
documentary on the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) entitled: “Tagaligtas” at the
AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday, President Aquino cited
the relevance of this kind of documentary that show the innate positive
characteristics of the men and women in uniform which, he said, serves as an
inspiration to all Filipinos.
“Ang mga ganitong uri ng dokumentaryo ay
nagsisilbing inspirasyon upang buhayin ang ating pagka-makabayan, at ipamulat
sa atin kung bakit may kakambal na pagpapahalaga, katapatan, at pananagutan ang
tinatamasa natin ngayong kalayaan,” the President said.
“Subalit maging makatotohanan po tayo: wala pong
magagawa ang mga katangiang binanggit ko kung wala namang suportang natatanggap
ang ating mga kawal at pulis mula sa pamahalaan na kumakatawan sa sambayanan.
Lumalabnaw ang mga prinsipyong ito kung wala sa panig natin ang taumbayan...
madaling ipagyabang na nasa likod ng ating mga kawal at sundalo ang sambayanan.
Sa tuwid na daan, hindi po tayo basta lang nangangako. nagtatrabaho tayo para
gawing kongkreto ang paghahatid ng serbisyo,” he added.
The Chief Executive also noted the developmental
programs being implemented by the Aquino government to further enhance the
capabilities of the security forces.
“Kaya naman inaaruga at pinapalakas natin ang
kakayahan ng ating mga tagapagligtas.Para sa ating pambansang kapulisan,
nakabili tayo nitong nakaraang taon ng 144 patrol jeeps, 100 patrol utility
vehicles, 182 motorcycle units, 500 assault rifles, 148 na 40mm grenade
launchers, at 57 squad automatic weapons. Upang suklian ang kagitingan ng mga
alagad ng batas, bukod sa 21,800 na pabahay na naipatayo natin, magdaragdag pa
tayo ng 31,200 na pabahay ngayong 2012. Makalipas ang halos dalawang taon ng
mabuting pamamahala, 'di po ba’t tinutuldukan na natin ang inyong mga kalbaryo?
Ngayon, ang mga tagapagtanggol ng naaapi ay hindi na kailangan pang maapi,”
President Aquino said as he acknowledged the positive results of the
government’s efforts in effecting reforms.
“Nagbubunga na nga po ang mga ipinunla nating
reporma: natatalikuran na ang kulturang wang-wang, nanunumbalik na ang
kumpiyansa sa sundalo't kapulisan, at napapangalagaan ang seguridad ng
taumbayan. Ituloy po natin ang laban sa tuwid na daan; sama-sama nating
pagsilbihan ang bandila, at pabilisin ang pag-arangkada ng bayan tungo sa tunay
na kasaganahan,” the President said.
Present during the film showing were former
president Fidel V. Ramos, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior and Local
Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie D.
Dellosa, among others.
The documentary, produced by former Interior and
Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III and directed by Bernard Dacanay,
recounted SAF’s beginnings, multi-missions and contributions to internal
security and public safety.
Former president Ramos, who founded the unit in
1983,said that the documentary also intends to raise the public’s trust and
confidence in their law enforcers apart from raising the PNP and SAF’s
prestige.
The short film showcased the SAF’s strategic
role in defending Camp Crame and overthrowing the Marcos regime in February of
1986; its defense of President Corazon Aquino’s government against several coup
attempts in 1987 and 1989; and its contributions to counter-insurgency,
anti-terrorism and anti-crime from the 1980s to the present.
Former SAF commanders, officers and
non-commissioned officers, and other key personalities who helped shape its
history, shared their stories as they experienced it. (PCOO)
Aquino assures government’s commitment to
empower the people; wants to show that country is ready to take its rightful
place in community of nations
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured the
government’s commitment to empower the people and reclaim the country’s stature
as one of the best performers within a community of nations.
In his speech before various clubs during the
Business Forum of Joint Alumni Clubs (U.S. Universities) at the Rigodon
Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City on Wednesday, President
Aquino bared the legacy he wanted to leave to the people that is a country more
developed and a revitalized economy that will uplift the living standards of
the people.
“Your government is here to empower you and not
to serve as a hindrance to progress. We wanted to reclaim our national pride to
show the world that the Philippines is ready to take its rightful place in the
community of nations and so we are standing our ground prepared to defend our
dignity,” the President said.
“In a little over four years, I will be stepping
down as your President… the only thing I want out of this position is to leave
the country in a far-better state than what I inherited, with a government
unshackled from corruption and dishonesty, with the steadily growing economy
that leaves no one behind and with an empowered and engaged citizenry much like
yourselves, ready to take on the task of nation-building together, I’m certain
that these are goals that we all share, we are well on our way to achieving
this,” he added.
“Let’s continue to work together. Let’s continue
to believe in what this country can do. Let’s make the Philippines into what we
all desire it to be: a country of potential fulfilled,” the President further
noted.
The Chief Executive also bared the valuable
contribution of prominent business entities in pushing for the country’s
sustainable progress and development.
“The core of the country’s biggest corporations
have committed to invest over 2 trillion pesos in our economy not in the next
generation but over the next five years. The business sector is making a big
bet on the economy and on our people… in so doing they are creating
opportunities for our countrymen and so to those of you who have actively
participated in improving the lives of our people, to those whose dreams did
not leave any of our countrymen behind. You have the gratitude of our people,”
the President said.
“Building opportunities and empowering our
people are the same principles that have fuelled the new-found vitality of the
Philippines, step by steady step, we have faced every obstacle head-on... we
are all well aware that many of our problems have systemic rules and thus
require systemic solutions that is why I have always maintained that no
individual, not even our administration can do it alone, fixing the system
requires contributions from all fronts,” he added.
The event dubbed as “General Assembly of the
Joint Philippine Alumni Clubs” of US universities such as Columbia, Cornell,
Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern-Kellog, Stanford
and Wharton-Penn.
The forum is aimed at strengthening the role of
the alumni clubs in support of President Aquino’s socio-economic agenda for the
country.
Present during the event were cabinet officials
led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory
Domingo, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Energy
Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo. (PCOO)
Designation of special envoys to People’s
Republic of China a gesture to fix relations, Palace says
The appointments of two special envoys to the
People’s Republic of China is a gesture of the government as both countries are
embroiled in the Panatag Shoal dispute, a Palace official said.
During the regular press briefing in Malacanang
on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that the Philippines is
not confined to a single level of relation with China and has been exploring
other areas of common interest.
“We have different levels of exchanges or rather
relations with China.
We’re not only confined to a situation that is
very prominent right now, which is the Panatag Shoal standoff,” Lacierda.
“We have several levels of relationships with
them and these are levels that we are emphasizing. “As you see, we have the
cultural, we have business, and we have tourism,” he stressed.
China is a vast country and the Philippines
needs special envoys in the absence of an ambassador as President Benigno S.
Aquino III looks for one. Designating an ambassador would take some time,
Lacierda explained and an appointee must undergo confirmation before the
Commission on Appointments.
The President appointed Cesar Zalamea, who is
known to have extensive contacts in China, Lacierda said adding that the
President asked him to be the country’s special envoy to actively seek out
Chinese investors.
The Chief Executive also designated Domingo Lee
to get the support of the Filipino business community and the Filipino-Chinese
community as well as to persuade a greater number of Chinese tourists to come
to the Philippines, Lacierda said.
According to Lacierda, there are around 800,000
Filipino tourists going to China and 200,000 Chinese tourists visiting the
Philippines.
“We would like to explore all avenues of our
relationships not only to focus on the contentious one. And as we’ve always
stated, we believe that insofar as the Panatag Shoal standoff is concerned, we
are actively seeking a peaceful resolution,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino appoints new judges to lower courts
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new judges to the lower courts in various cities and municipalities in the
country, a Palace official announces.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made
the announcement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
The Chief Executive signed on May 11 the
appointment letter of Judge Juvencio S. Gascon as the presiding judge of the
Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 68. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree
from the University of the East in 1984 and passed the Bar Examinations in
1986. He served as San Fernando City (La Union) Regional Trial Court Judge
since 2009 until his appointment.
Judge Gregorio L. Vega. Jr. was appointed by
President Aquino to the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157. He obtained his
Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1971 and was
admitted to the Bar in 1972. Prior to his appointment, he served as Sinoloan
(Laguna) Regional Trial Court Judge since 2010.
President Aquino also appointed Judge Jennifer
Albano Pilar to the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 164. She earned her
Bachelor of Laws degree from the San Sebastian College in 1993. She graduated
salutatorian and was admitted to the Bar in 1995. She served as Agoo (La Union)
Regional Trial Court Judge since 2007 until her appointment.
Other presidential appointees are the following:
- Judge Joseph A. Elmaco as Judge of the
Regional Trial Court Branch 36 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. He obtained
his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Siliman University in 1982 and was
admitted to the Bar in 1984. He served as 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court,
Bindoyoayungon-Manjuyod in Negros Oriental since 2006 until his appointment.
- Judge Cenon Voltaire B. Repollo as Judge of
the Regional Trial Court Branch 38 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. He
obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the Xavier University, Ateneo De Cagayan in
1997 and was admitted to the Bar in 1998. He served as Presiding Judge of the
Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2 in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
since 2006 until his appointment.
- Judge Sisinio C. Virtudazo as Judge of the
Regional Trial Court Branch 4 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. He obtained his
Bachelor of Laws from the University of Bohol in 1982 and was admitted to the
Bar the following year. He served as Executive Judge of the Municipal Trial
Court in Cities Branch 1 in Tagbilaran City.
- Judge Alexader Nicandro V. Acosta as Judge of
the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Cebu City, Cebu. He graduated Bachelor of
Laws from the University of the East in 1996 and was admitted to the Bar in
1998. He worked in the Department of Justice -National Prosecution Service in
Cebu City as Prosecutor.
- Judge Ma. Lynna Pacamalan Adviento as Judge of
the Regional Trial Court Branch 58 in Cebu City, Cebu. She obtained her
Bachelor of Laws from the University of San Carlos in 1991 and was admitted to
the Bar the following year. She worked as Attorney in the Securities and
Exchange Commission, Legislative Consultant from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of
Cebu City and Partner in Tanco & Partners Law Offices.
- Judge Constantino F. Esber as Judge of the
Regional Trial Court Branch 37 in Caibiran, Biliran. He obtained his Bachelor
of Laws from the Leyte Collges in 1986 and was admitted to the Bar in 1989. He
served as Clerk in the Commission on Elections in Leyte, Trial Attorney in the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Leyte and Public Attorney in
the Public Attorney's Office and Prosecutor in the Office of Public
Prosecutions both in Leyte.
- Judge Mory A. Nueva. as Judge of the Regional
Trial Court Branch 38 in Gamay, Northern Samar. He obtained his Bachelor of
Laws degree from the Divine Word University in 1994 and was admitted to the Bar
in 1997. He served as Legal and Collection Officer, Legal and Administrative
Officer in Herway, Inc., Legal Officer of the AMA Computer College and lawyer
in the Capoquian and Nueva Law Offices.
- Judge Tarcelo A. Sabarre Jr. as Judge of the
Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Basey, Samar. He obtained his Bachelor of
Laws degree from the Divine Word University in 1984 and was admitted to the Bar
in 1985. He served as Special Prosecutor in the Department of Social Welfare
and Development, Region 8 in Tacloban City and taught law in the universities.
- Judge Romeo D. Tagra as Judge of the Regional
Trial Court Branch 273 in Marikina City. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws
degree from the University of San Carlos in 1992 and was admitted to the Bar
the following year. He served as Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Calbayog
City in Samar since 2010 until his appointment.
- Judge Giovanni E. Palma as Judge of the
Municipal Trial Court in Manaoag, Pangasinan. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws
degree from the San Sebastian College -Recoletos in 2000 and was admitted to
the Bar in 2002. He worked as Court Attorney IV at the Court of Appeals and
governnment corporate attorney at the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.
(PCOO)
Aquino assures education remains top priority of
his administration
President Benigno S. Aquino said that education
and the institutionalization of educational reforms remains his
administration’s top priority in order to ensure that Philippine education
becomes at par with world standards and so that Filipino students will have a
fighting chance to land a job of their choice after graduation.
In his speech keynoting the 18th Founding
Anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at its main office in
Quezon City Thursday, the President assured that the government would continue
to pour the much needed funds so that these reforms, such as the improvement of
a school’s infrastructure, equipment, facilities and wages may be implemented.
He noted that among the moves that the
government was making to improve education was the yearly increases his
government was putting intto the budget on education since he assumed office:
P175-billion in 2010, 207.3-billion in 2011 and for 2012, a hefty 36.5 percent
increase to P238.8-billion.
He added that this year marked the
implementation of the Department of Education’s K to 12 basic education program
that required all students to undergo a year of kindergarten and two additional
years of secondary education in order to better prepare them for the world.
“Ang gusto natin, makapalag ang ating mga
graduate sa pandaigdig na merkado—at hindi ito mangyayari kung pipiliting
isiksik ang mga kaalaman sa loob ng sampung taon ng basic education,” the President
said.
The President also announced that a supplemental
budget of P4.2-billion has been allocated for State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs) for their use to improve their delivery of education to students.
“At heto na nga po ang good news para sa inyong
sektor: karagdagang P4.2 billion po ang inilaan natin para sa ating mga SUCs.
Sa tulong ng mga katuwang na ahensya, gagamitin ang pondong ito sa pagpapaunlad
ng mga pasilidad at imprastraktura, sa pagtataguyod ng mataas na kalidad ng
pagtuturo, at pagkakaloob ng mga scholarships,” the President said.
“Ang gusto natin: mapa-karpintero man, mananahi,
mekaniko, doktor, guro, inhinyero, o abugado—anumang pangarap ng ating
kabataan—nabibigyan sila ng kakayahan upang panghawakan ang sariling tadhana,”
he added.
The President then implored the help of CHED and
its employees to join government efforts to improve further the educational
system in the country so that the benefits of these reforms will redound to
all.
“Napipitas na nga po natin ang mga bunga ng
pagtahak sa tuwid na landas. Nakita naman po ninyo kung paano nagbubuhos ng
suporta ang inyong pamahalaan sa sektor ng edukasyon; ang tangi po nating
hinihiling ay ang inyong pakikiisa sa tuwid na landas, at pagsiguro na
ginagampanan ninyo nang husto ang inyong mga tungkulin,” the President said.
“Gumigising at bumabangon na ang Pilipino.
Kasama po natin sila: Itinitindig natin ang isang makatarungan at maunlad na
Pilipinas. Ito ang ating ipapamana sa mga susunod na salinlahi: Isang lipunan
kung saan ang mga pangarap ay abot-kamay, isang sistema kung saan walang
naiiwan, at isang bayan kung saan panlahat ang kasaganahan,” he added. (PCOO)
President Aquino receives UN official in
Malacanang
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director
of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), paid a courtesy call on
President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang on Thursday to convey his support
to the government’s population management program.
Dr. Osotimehin is visiting the country May 17-19
to meet with stakeholders to mobilize support for the country to achieve its
targets for the Millennium Development Goal 5 with three years left to the 2015
deadline.
During his meeting with the President, Dr.
Osotimehin expressed the continued support of UNFPA to the Philippine
government’s goal of improving the lives of Filipinos through a population
management strategy that includes responsible parenthood and informed choices.
The UNFPA head is also scheduled to meet with
ambassadors from the UN donor countries and international development agencies
to secure their commitment for the attainment of MDG 5, which is least likely
to be achieved by the Philippines by 2015.
He will also meet key members of the Cabinet,
civil society organizations, youth leaders and legislators, and visit the
survivors of Sendong who remain in tent cities in Cagayan de Oro.
Dr. Osotimehin’s visit coincides with UNFPA’s
celebration of its 40-year presence in the country, supporting the government
in its efforts to enable Filipinos to exercise their right to reproductive
health.
UNFPA has been in the Philippines since 1969
with the first UNFPA Country Programme of Assistance starting in 1972.
From 1972 to 2011, UNFPA has invested some P6.2
billion to support government’s poverty reduction programs that include family
planning, safe motherhood, gender equality, and population and development.
For the current 7th Country Programme which
started this year and ending in 2016, around P1.2 billion has been raised, with
the possibility of more funds to be mobilized.
Aside from the Philippines, Dr. Osotimehin is
also visiting South Korea, Thailand and China as part of his Asian tour.
With Dr. Osotimehin were UNFPA Representative to
the Philippines Ugochi Florence Daniels, and UNFPA chief of staff Delia
Barcelona.
Cabinet officials who joined the President
include Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Health Secretary Enrique
Ona, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Socio-economic Planning Secretary
Arsenio Balisacan and Presidential Assistant for Muslim Concerns Undersecretary
Yasmin Busran-Lao. (PCOO)
Aquino leads Commission on Higher Education’s
18th Year Founding Anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the officers
and employees of the Commission on Higher Education in commemorating its 18th
Year Founding Anniversary in ceremonies held at the CHED headquarters in
Diliman, Quezon City on Thursday.
Joining the President were CHED chairperson
Patricia Licuanan, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Senator Edgardo Angara and
Representative Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora province.
The President also witnessed the ceremonial
signing of a Manifesto by representatives of the Philippine Association of
State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) led by its president, Ricardo Rotoras
signifying their commitment and promised the reforms proposed in the Roadmap of
Public Higher Education Reform 2011-2016.
The Public Higher Education Reform Roadmap has
nine proposals aimed at improving the efficacy of how SUCs are run. These are:
1) rationalizing the number, distribution and growth of public higher education
institutions; 2) rationalizing program offerings; 3) rationalizing resource
utilization, maximizing resource generation and improving financial management;
4) strengthening quality assurance;
5) upgrading qualifications of faculty; 6)
upgrading leading SUCs to international standards; 7) modernizing facilities of
developing SUCs; 8) strengthening student financial assistance programs; and 9)
strengthening public higher education management through an Executive
Development Program.
The PASUC, which is composed of 110 SUCs in the
Philippines, promised to vigorously pursue these reforms and perform such with
utmost honesty, integrity and ethical leadership.
President Aquino lauded members and representatives
of the PASUC, saying their manifesto was another step towards the straight path
of progress and beyond an antiquated educational system.
He said this manifesto further strengthens the
Philippine educational system to give its students the chance to improve their
lives.
“Nasaksihan po natin ang paglagda ng mga pinuno
ng State Universities and Colleges sa isang kasunduan para sa mga reporma sa
Public Higher Education. Isa itong hakbang pasulong sa tuwid na landas, nang di
nagpapakahon sa dikta ng nagisnang sistema,” the President said.
“Sa pagdiriwang ng inyong ika-labingwalong
anibersaryo, hindi lang natin pinapagtibay ang ipinunla nating pundasyon sa
edukasyon, dinudugtungan pa natin ito ng bloke-blokeng pagsisikap upang tuparin
ang mas matatayog nating pangarap. Sa ating agenda ng pagbabago, tinukoy po
natin ang problema, at umaksyon tayo tungo sa pangmatagalang solusyon,” he
added. (PCOO)
