Aquino promises shorter, more precise speeches
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday
that he would shorten the length of his speeches in his future speaking
engagements promising it would be more precise and direct to the point.
In his speech keynoting the National Career
Advocacy Congress held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, the President said he
did not want to be accused of just rambling on and on as he underscored the
importance of acting on and following through on one’s word.
The President’s speech would usually consist of
five to seven pages but during this congress of guidance counselors, the Chief
Executive said he had narrowed it down to three.
“Three pages lang po ito. Wag kayong mag-alala,
binibigyan ko ng importansya ang ating Gabinete na kailangan maiksi, kailangan
diretso sa punto at kailangan kumilos po tayo... ayokong ma-akusa na walang
sinabi pagkatapos magsalita ng tatlong oras,” he added. (PCOO)
.
Aquino says National Career Advocacy Congress to
address job mismatch problem
The problem of job mismatches or the phenomenon
where new graduates cannot find jobs that match their courses due to
oversaturation of the industry may soon be remedied with the holding of the
National Career Advocacy Congress in Manila, President Benigno S. Aquino III
said on Thursday.
In his speech, the President lauded the
participants, career guidance counselors, and stakeholders for taking time to
formulate plans and programs that will be used to guide students in picking the
right course which in turn will guarantee them stable jobs after graduation.
“Saludo po tayo sa DOLE (Department of Labor and
Employment), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DepEd (Department
of Education), CHED (Commission on Higher Education), TESDA (Technical
Education and Skills Development Administration), PRC (Professional Regulation
Commission) at DOST (Department of Science and Technology) sa pagsulong ng
National Career Advocacy Congress,” the President said.
“Nagsisilbi itong lunsaran ng mga plano at
programang magtataguyod sa kinabukasan ng kabataang Pilipino. Maraming salamat
sa ating career guidance counselors sa paggabay sa ating kabataan tungo sa
pag-asenso. Sa tulong niyo, maiiwasan ang ura-uradang pagpasok sa larangang
wala namang trabahong maaasahan,” he added
The National Career Advocacy Congress is the
flagship activity of the Career Guidance Advocacy Program, one of the four
convergent programs under the auspices of the Human Development and Poverty
Reduction Cabinet Cluster in pursuit of addressing the issue of job-skills
mismatch in the labor market.
The CGAP is also a two-pronged program geared
towards resolving issues on the employment aspects of both the Labor and
Employment Plan and the Aquino administration’s 22-point labor and employment
agenda.
With the theme, “Follow the guide. Tag a career.
Like the future!” the NCAC specifically aims to: 1) Exchange relevant labor
market information trends and updates in the conduct of career guidance
activities; 2) Elicit new ideas on organizational management and scheme on
network sustainability of career guidance counsellors; 3) Recognize the
exceptional performance and good practices in career guidance; and 4) Strengthen
the partnership and cooperation between and among the members of the Networks
of Guidance Counselors and other stakeholders through mutual assistance and
exchange of information; and 5) Promote career guidance as a relevant tool in
youth development, contributing to the prosperity and welfare of the nation.
(PCOO)
.
Aquino notes government reforms paying off
Government reforms to weed out corruption,
improve the country’s fiscal position and making it more appealing to investors
are finally paying off with more investments coming in, President Benigno S.
Aquino III said on Thursday.
Without naming the investors, the President
said, in his speech keynoting the National Career Advocacy Congress in Manila,
that four major international companies have seen the improving business
atmosphere in the Philippines and have thus committed to invest P2-trillion in
the next five years.
“Isipin po ninyo, nakahanda at namumuhunan na
ang pinaka-mauunlad na kompanya sa bansa ng mahigit dalawang trilyong
piso—uulitin ko lang po ‘yun dahil maganda pong numero ‘yan, ‘no—four private
companies have already committed to investing two trillion pesos in the next
five years,” the President said.
These investors, the Chief Executive said, have
taken notice of the increasing approved investments pouring into the country
since 2011 that have been pegged at P746.8-billion – a 37.6 percent increase
from the 2010 figure of P542.7-billion.
“These investments have created 194,917 more
jobs,” the President said, adding that his administration will not rest in
doing what is right so that all Filipinos will benefit from these reforms.
“Tunay nga pong sa bayanihan ng pribado at
publikong sektor, napipitas natin ang magagandang bunga ng ating reporma. Pero
hindi pa rin tayo maku-kuntento. Ang gusto natin: magbunga ng ginhawa ang
pagtitiyaga ng mga magulang; siguruhing may espasyong pupunan sa merkado ang
ating mga graduates; at bigyan sila ng sapat na kakayahang itaguyod ang nais
nilang larangan at ang kalakhang lipunan,” the President said.
“Maliwanag po kung saan tayo dinadala ng
mabuting pamamahala: Umaangat tayo tungo sa kaunlaran; binabago natin ang
sistemang nagisnan; at itinitindig natin ang bagong Pilipinas, habang tinitibag
ang mga hadlang sa ating pag-usad. Patuloy po tayong humakbang pasulong, at sa
lalong madaling panahon, matutupad natin ang mas matatayog nating pangarap para
sa susunod na mga Pilipino,” he added. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang cites extraordinary talent of Jessica
Sanchez
Malacanang recognized the innate extraordinary
talent of Filipino-American-Mexican singer Jessica Sanchez following her
impressive showing at the Season 11 of American Idol garnering the loyalty and
enthusiastic support of the people around the world.
In her official statement posted in the
government website Official Gazette (www.gov.ph) which she read during the
regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte underscored the incomparable talent of the
Filipino-American-Mexican representative to the prestigious American talent
show.
“As she competed in American Idol, Jessica
Sanchez obtained the loyal and enthusiastic support of Filipinos the world
over. Throughout her long, arduous journey, people considered Ms. Sanchez a
performer imbued with an extraordinary gift of music and heart,” Valte said.
“This is only the beginning for Jessica Sanchez
whose incredible talent has been recognized and appreciated the world over,”
Valte said.
Twenty-one year old Phillip Phillips was named
Season 11 American Idol winner after a record-breaking 132.3 million votes that
were casted by the viewers Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).
For the fifth season in a row, a white guy with
guitar has won the top honors in the US talent search. (PCOO)
.
Malacanang announces increase of banana exports
to People’s Republic of China
The Aquino administration announced that the
number of the country's banana exports that have been allowed by the Chinese
quarantine officials to enter the People's Republic of China (PROC) has
increased to 170 containers, an indication that Philippine products are not
contaminated with pests.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced this development during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday amid efforts of the Philippine government to resolve the phytosanitary
issue.
"As of Wednesday, a total of 170 containers
of our banana exports have been allowed to pass through. The initial release
was 30 to 40 containers. .... As of yesterday, a total of 170 including the 30
to 40 (containers) that were initially allowed to pass through," Valte
said.
Valte said the team from the Department of
Agriculture (DA) remains in the PROC to check the country's banana exports and
verify the suspicion of contamination. Likewise, the Chinese quarantine
officials have been invited by the Philippine government to inspect plantations
and ports in the country.
News reports revealed that Beijing wants Manila
to conduct quarantine inspections of all the containers before shipping the
products to PROC.
Valte said that it was agreed that the
Department of Agriculture will double check all banana exports before these are
sent to China.
"The agreements still stand, that before
the exports leave the country, magkakaroon po ng double checking. And pagdating
doon there will be a joint inspection to be conducted by both sides," she
said.
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)
.
Aquino leads 2012 Brigada Eskwela in Manila
President Benigno S. Aquino III spearheaded on
Thursday the 2012 Brigada Eskwela of the Department of Education and its
partners in Quiapo, Manila highlighting the importance of volunteerism to
national progress.
The President went to Apolinario Mabini
Elementary School in Quiapo to meet the students, parents and teachers and
visit the ongoing work at the school aimed at preparing school facilities,
students and teachers for the school opening in June 4.
Filipinos always unite to achieve a common goal,
the President said citing the Edsa people power revolt in 1986 and the 2010
presidential election that catapulted him to power.
Today a lot of people volunteer because of a
brighter future that lies ahead, the President said, adding that in previous
years people left the country and stay abroad as a result of hopelessness.
The President thanked the parents, teachers and
those who volunteered and contribute to the Brigada Eskwela program this year.
He explained that Brigada Eskwela is significant because it encourages children
to go to school and study well.
President Aquino also stressed the
administration’s determination to improve the educational system in the country
mainly by allocating it with more funds.
“Namumuhunan tayo sa edukasyon dahil dito
nagmumula ang pangmatagalang kaunlaran ng ating bansa,” he said emphasizing
that when he noticed the lack of budget for education he pushed for an increase
of its budget.
In 2011, the government allocated P207.3 billion
for education and increased it to P238.8 billion for 2012 to ensure that there
is enough money for education, the President said.
The government also addressed the shortage of
classrooms, he added. According to the President, when he assumed office in
2010, there was a classroom shortage of more than 60,000 classrooms in the
country.
Under his watch, the President reported that the
government was able to build 10,000 classrooms and an additional 30,000 classrooms
this year with the help of the different sectors.
If the tie up with the private sector continues
by 2013 each student could have high-quality education inside high-quality
classrooms in the country, he said.
The Chief Executive also mentioned the adoption
of K+12 this school year hoping that parents and students will support the
system. This will prepare the students to the challenges of time after they
graduate, he said.
“Ngayong nagkukusa ang taumbayan na kabigin ang
Pilipinas sa landas na makatuwiran at makatarungan wala tayong hindi kayang
abutin. Ang pakikilahok ninyo sa brigadang ito, ang pagbuhay ninyo sa diwa ng
bolunterismo ay patunay sa paglalim at pagyabong ng lakas ng ating demokrasya,”
the President said.
“Huwag po sana tayong magsawang makiisa at
matiwala sa isa’t isa. Sa ating pagkakapit-bisig hindi lang bibilis kundi
aarangkada tayo tungo sa di hamak na mas maayos na buhay at mas masaganang
lipunan. Ipagpatuloy natin ang bayanihan. Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsulong sa
tuwid na daan,” he said.
Brigada Eskwela is a public-private partnership
that started in 2003. It is aimed at preparing the 45,000 schools nationwide
ready for the school opening. Stakeholders volunteer to clean, repair or build
new school buildings so that schoolchildren could go to school comfortably at
the start of the school year.
The Department of Education pegged the value of
last year’s Brigada Eskwela to around P2.2 billion which include donations and
man hours. The department expects even bigger contributions this year.
Joining the President during the event were
Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and Manila
District 3 Representative Zenaida Angping. (PCOO)
.
Ochoa warns public against individuals posing as
Executive Secretary to solicit financial aid for government projects
The Office of the Executive Secretary on
Thursday warned the public against those individuals posing as Executive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. To solicit financial aid for government projects.
Executive Secretary Ochoa issued the warning
after his office received several reports of individuals impersonating him and
asking for favors or soliciting funds.
“During the past few months, my office has been
receiving reports of individuals impersonating me to solicit financial aid for
government projects or to offer assistance to fast-track government procedures
in exchange for financial remuneration,” Ochoa said in a statement.
“The impersonators call or text their intended
victims, who are directed to deposit the requested amounts in a personal bank
account,” he said.
According to Ochoa, other government officials
have also been impersonated with the same modus operandi.
The Executive Secretary said that his office had
already ordered an investigation of the said scams, and that one group has
already been arrested by the authorities earlier this week.
“In response to these scams, I have directed the
proper law enforcement authorities to investigate, capture, and charge those
behind these crimes. Several cases are now being investigated, with one group
having been arrested by a joint NBI-PNP-CIDG team earlier this week,” he said.
Ochoa noted that the individuals who are arrested
belong to a text scam syndicate and are now in the custody of the PNP. He also
advised those who have received such calls to report them to the Office of the
President.
“The public is warned against dealing with
individuals soliciting funds using my name or that of my office for any reason
whatsoever. We are requesting those contacted by these unscrupulous individuals
to report such incidents to the Office of the President,” he said.
Executive Secretary Ochoa also warned those
involved in the said scams that they will be caught and prosecuted with the
full force of law.
“We also warn those engaged in these scams that
these criminal activities are not taken lightly, and that those involved will
be caught and prosecuted with the full force of the law,” he added. (PCOO)
