Aquino declares July 16 as special non-working
day in Cordillera Administrative Region in celebration of its 25th Foundation
Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 16, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in the
Cordillera Administrative Region in celebration of its 25th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 391 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on May 29, 2012 to give the people of the Cordillera Administrative Region the
full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate
ceremonies.
President Aquino granted the request of the
Regional Development Council-Cordillera Administrative Region to declare July
16 instead of July 15 which falls on a Sunday as a special (non-working) day in
the region.
In July 15, 1987, Executive Order No. 220 was
issued creating the Cordillera Administrative Region consisting of the
provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao and the Mountain Province.
(PCOO)
Malacanang cites country’s GDP growth in first
quarter of 2012; says it’s the highest growth rate in entire ASEAN region
Malacanang bared the significant growth in the
country’s economy that were attributed to the continued confidence by the
private sector on the Aquino administration, including the increase in exports
and the increase in expenditures by the Filipino people.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte read a statement on
the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2012
which, she said, was the highest in Asia and in the entire Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
“The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 per cent in
the first quarter of 2012. The better than expected economic growth was due to
sustained private sector confidence and accelerated government spending. There
were healthy increases in the services sector, complemented by growth in
exports and increases in household consumption expenditures,” Valte said.
“The first quarter GDP figure validates the
optimistic outlook of the President and his economic team. It is the highest
first quarter GDP growth in a non-election year since 2006; the second highest
in Asia; and the highest growth rate in the entire ASEAN region for this
period,” she added.
“We are confident that the positive trajectory
of our GDP growth will be sustained in the latter quarters of this year, which
has traditionally demonstrated more robust and dynamic economic performance.
Moreover, this affirmation of our country’s steady advance toward inclusive
growth comes at the heels of Moody’s Investors Service upgrade of our credit
outlook to positive from stable. All indications point to the global economy’s
continued confidence in the Philippines, as well as to a more optimistic
outlook within the country,” Valte explained.
At the height of these achievements, Valte
assured that the government will continue to pursue its reform agenda and
efforts to ensure the improvement of the lives of the Filipinos.
“The hard work continues, on the firm
foundations of these recent achievements. As the Aquino administration has been
resolute in carrying out its agenda of reform and in institutionalizing good
governance, it will continue to be equally steadfast in translating our
economy’s gains into employment opportunities, programs geared toward poverty
alleviation, and the systemic improvement of the way of life of Filipinos,”
Valte noted. (PCOO)
Palace announces approval of two major projects
The National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) Board approved on Wednesday two projects for implementation, Malacanang
announced on Thursday.
The NEDA Board, chaired by President Benigno S.
Aquino III met on Wednesday in Malacanang.
During the regular press briefing in Malacanang,
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that out of the eight
projects discuss during the meeting the board approved only two.
The first project is the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Project, the Phase 2 of the Expressway
project which has a total project cost of P15.8 billion.
The second project is the National Sewerage and
Septage Management Program, a project in a pilot phase, which has a total
capital cost of P26.3 billion.
Two weeks ago, the Investment Coordination
Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC CabCom) of the NEDA Board approved five
projects on transportation, infrastructure and health worth P32.67 billion
aimed at building and rehabilitating vital infrastructure such as roads,
bridges, and hospitals.
The NEDA Board, chaired by the President, is the
country’s highest development planning and policy coordinating body. The board
is comprised of various Cabinet secretaries, the president of the Union of
Local Authorities of the Philippines, the governor of the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao and the deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP).
The ICC, which is one of the interagency
committees of the NEDA Board, evaluates the fiscal, monetary and
balance-of-payments implications of major national projects. (PCOO)
Aquino receives Iraqi Foreign Minister in
Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III received on
Thursday Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during a courtesy call in
efforts to advance the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Iraq.
The meeting was held at the Music Room of
Malacañang Palace. Foreign Minister Zebari was joined by Iraq Ambassador to the
Philippines Wadee Batti Hanna Al-Batti.
Also in attendance were Foreign Affairs
Secretary Alberto F. del Rosario and Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda
Baldoz.
Zebari arrived in the country for a three-day
official visit from May 31 to June 2 upon the invitation of Secretary del
Rosario.
Del Rosario and the Foreign Minister of Iraq are
expected to discuss wide-ranging bilateral issues, including the convening of
the 7th Philippines-Iraq Joint Commission Meeting this year.
During his visit to Iraq last January 29, 2012
Sec. del Rosario extended the invitation to Minister Zebari.
"The Foreign Minister’s visit is an
important milestone in Philippine-Iraq relations as it is the first visit of an
Iraqi Foreign Minister to the Philippines," the Department of Foreign
Affairs said in a statement.
There is an estimated 279 Filipinos registered
with the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and 192 in the Kurdistan Autonomous
Region. (PCOO)
Aquino to attend International River Summit in Iloilo
City
President Benigno S. Aquino III is visiting
Iloilo City on Friday to attend the First Philippine International River
Summit, inspect ongoing projects in the city and distribute health cards and
land certificates to the poor beneficiaries.
Upon his arrival, the President will proceed to
Jaro, Iloilo City for the international river summit. He will lead the
inauguration of the new Iloilo City Hall and will be briefed on different
ongoing projects in the city.
The President will likewise lead the awarding of
PhilHealth cards and certificate of lot awards to residents affected by the
river development project.
The Chief Executive will also inspect the Iloilo
River Esplanade Project in Bgy. San Rafael, Iloilo City.
The Philippines is presently holding the First
Philippine International River Summit which started last May 30 and ends on
June 1 at the Centennial Resort and Convention Center in Jaro, Iloilo City.
The summit is part of the continuing effort of
the government to effectively manage the country’s rivers and river basins.
The meeting, with the summit theme “My River, My
Life,” will focus on four major issues such as governance, biodiversity
conservation and management, climate change, disaster risk management and
quality water management.
Leading experts in the field of river
management, aquatic biodiversity and global climate change from the US, Canada,
South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and other Asian countries are meeting in Iloilo
City to share sustainable river basin management practices that can be
replicated by other cities.
The Iloilo City river summit is the first ever
in the Philippine initiative that seeks to provide a global platform for action
on environmental, economic and social issues confronting rivers and river
basins.
The global forum serves as a venue for leading
experts, scientists, policy makers and local leaders to identify challenges,
opportunities and best practices for effective river and river basin
management.
The summit will particularly focus on rivers in
the urban centers that are supportive to the attainment of sustainable cities.
Joining the President during the event will be
Sen. Franklin Drilon, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje,
Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor and other local Iloilo leaders. (PCOO)
