Aquino appoints new Deputy Executive Director to
the Public-Private Partnership Center
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
Ferdinand Tolentino as Deputy Executive Director V of the Public-Private
Partnership Center (PPPC), Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Aquino appointed
Tolentino to replace PPPC Deputy Director Cosette Canilao who was earlier
appointed Executive Director of the same agency vice Phil Torio.
Valte said Tolentino, who currently heads the
F.D. Tolentino and Associates Law Office, obtained his Bachelor of Arts in
Economics degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and his Master of Laws
from the London School of Economics.
The Public-Private Partnership Program is one of
the key strategies identified by the Aquino administration to achieve inclusive
growth through infrastructure and development projects.
The program brings in the advantages of private
sector initiatives such as the efficient and accelerated provision of public
goods and services. These ensure that public needs are addressed effectively.
Moreover, it encourages the collaboration of
both the public and the private sector in achieving a shared goal of growth and
development. (PCOO)
Aquino declares 3 special non-working days in
Butuan and Gingoog Cities in Mindanao
The cities of Butuan and Gingoog in Mindanao
will have two and one special (non-working) days; respectively, after President
Benigno S. Aquino III issued three separate proclamations declaring such for
said cities.
The President issued Proclamation No. 381
declaring May 19, a Saturday, as a special (non-working) day in Butuan to allow
residents the full opportunity to commemorate the Silver Year of the Balangay
Festival.
He also declared August 2, 2012 as a special
(non-working) day in Butuan by issuing Proclamation No. 383, allowing Butuanons
the opportunity to commemorate “Adlaw Hong Butuan” or Butuan City’s Charter
Day.
The Balanghai Festival commemorates the coming
of the early migrants that settled the Philippines, on board the Balangay
boats. When the first Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, they found the
Filipinos living in well-organized independent villages called barangays. The
name barangay originated from balangay, the Austronesian word for
"sailboat."
The Adlaw Hong Festival, meanwhile, pays tribute
to Butuan’s administrative status as a city. It honors Butuan’s municipal
officials, citizens and past leaders who have contributed their loyalty and
efforts to the city. Adlaw Hong Butuan presents the city’s modern culture
through its street parties, beauty pageants and motorcades.
In Gincoog City, President Aquino issued
Proclamation No. 382, declaring May 22, a Tuesday, the city’s annual fiesta
day, as a special (non-working) day to allow Ginoogans the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
All three Proclamations were signed on Tuesday,
May 14 by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. by authority of President
Benigno S. Aquino III. (PCOO)
Aquino to keynote 7th 'Tindahan ni Aling Puring
Sari-Sari Store' Convention Wednesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will be the
guest of honor and keynote speaker during the 7th Tindahan ni Aling Puring
Sari-Sari Store Convention that will be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay
City on Wednesday.
The conference, which is organized by Puregold
Price Club Inc., one of the country’s leading supermarket chains, gathers
sari-sari store owners to give them numerous benefits and opportunities that
will help them succeed in their respective businesses.
This year’s convention, which will be held
simultaneously for the first time in two venues: the World Trade Center in
Manila, from May 16 to19 and in Camp John Hay in Baguio City, from May 16 to
17, reflects the increasing vibrancy of growth areas outside the NCR, which
Puregold has committed to support with even more store launches.
The annual holding of the convention, which
began in 2006, shows Puregold’s track record of helping the sari-sari sector.
As a result, the convention has become bigger, and more substantive and
colorful, attesting to the determination of Puregold in empowering Tindahan ni
Aling Puring members and helping fully develop their entrepreneurial skills.
It is estimated that 800,000 sari-sari stores
hold a substantial portion of the Philippine retail market, with Puregold Aling
Puring members now numbering 180,000. (PCOO)
Aquino meets officials of Terumo Philippines in
Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III received Tuesday
Terumo Philippines Corp. president and representative of director Yutaro
Shintaka, who called on him in Malacanang.
Terumo Philippines Corp., which is under Terumo
Medical Corp., has a facility in Laguna Technopark in Binan, Laguna.
For more than 80 years, Terumo Medical Corp. has
been manufacturing high-quality and innovative medical devices
Starting in 1921 as a manufacturer of clinical
thermometers, Terumo Corp. has grown worldwide to a position of leadership in
the following areas: hollow-fiber technology, blood-management systems, and
endovascular therapy.
The medical products manufactured by Terumo
Corp. are used in more than 160 countries and generate over $3 billion in
global annual sales. The company offers wide range of products through three
business divisions, namely, Terumo Interventional Systems, Terumo Medical
Products, and Terumo Transfusion Products.
Also present during the courtesy call were Trade
Secretary Gregory Domingo, Terumo Philippines President Maki Takizawa, Terumo
Marketing Philippines President Marianito Dabalos and Terumo senior manager
Corazon Ronidel. (PCOO)
Palace confident that Department of Agriculture
could fix banana export row with China
Malacanang expressed optimism on Tuesday that a
team from the Department of Agriculture could fix a trade problem with China
over the country’s banana shipments.
“We are hopeful that the DA team will be able to
communicate and will be able to thresh out the issues with their counterparts
during their trip,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during
the regular press briefing in Malacanang.
The Palace spokesperson supported calls by various
sectors to diversify the country’s exports, as previously echoed by President
Benigno S. Aquino III.
“Tinitingnan na po yang ibang merkado kung saan
puwedeng dalhin yung ating mga exports,” she said.
Agriculture officials are scheduled to go to
China this week to check on the stranded banana shipments in response to
China’s claim that Philippine bananas shipped to China have pests.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala instructed
the Bureau of Plant Industry officials to go to China to check the banana
exports and verify the suspicion of contamination. Likewise, the Chinese
quarantine officials have been invited to inspect plantations and ports in the
country.
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, China and New Zealand. In 2010, the total
export earnings for fresh Cavendish banana amounted to $720 million.
China 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 China accounted for 19 percent of the total export
during the first two months of this year. (PCOO)
