Aquino reaffirms government commitment to
preserve country's water resources
JARO, Iloilo City: President Benigno S. Aquino
III reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserve the country’s water
resources through the fulfillment of various programs which are being
spearheaded by concerned agencies as he underscored the importance of unity and
cooperation among the Filipino people to ensure its effective realization.
In his speech during the 1st Philippine
International River Summit at the Eon Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention
Center of the Tierra Village, here on Friday, the President cited the various
initiatives of the administration involving the government, the private sector
and the citizenry which, he said, are geared towards sustainable national
development.
“Rest assured your government is doing its
share, apart from improving our efficiency in protecting and managing our water
resources, we also have our national greening program which would have allowed
us to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land by the time I
step down (from office),” the President said.
“The DENR has had much success in their Adapt an
Estero/River program. Right now they are working with 272 different partners
from the private sector who have adopted 186 different bodies of water. These
partners of ours from the private sector have agreed to be guardians, so to
speak, fulfilling an important role in reducing water pollution, increasing
dredging activities and preserving our rivers and esteros,” he added.
The President urged the people to spread the
spirit of cooperation among themselves and support the government programs on
environmental protection.
“Collaboration is key if we want to succeed… we
already have partners in the national and local governments and in the private
sector, and we have you who are here today. What we need to do now is to extend
this partnership to each and every Filipino,” he stressed.
“The DENR has taken the first step by proposing
the observance of Philippine River Day every year on March 22 to increase
awareness of our campaign to restore and preserve rivers all over the
Philippines… such commemoration will give us a venue to unite our efforts to
save our rivers and will bind us of our duty to the environment, a duty that
must be fulfilled every day,” he further explained.
The Chief Executive also noted the adverse
effects of daily human activities to the different bodies of water as he
encouraged them to be vigilant and cooperative in balancing their activities
which will be favorable to the country's water resources.
“Our presence here today signifies that all of
us, whether we are members of the government or members of civil society…
whether we are Filipinos or foreigners, have taken on the shared responsibility
of protecting our rivers. Knowing as we do that human activities have
contributed to the degradation of this important resource, we can now take the
necessary steps to correct our mistakes,” the President said.
“We have been given a chance to learn from each
other and this summit has shown us that there are ways for us to balance our
needs with our wants, to make use of our rivers and other water resources
without destroying or derailing them,” he said.
Among those present during the event were other
government officials that include Senator Franklin Drilon, Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. and Transportation
and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II.
Also in attendance were local government
officials led by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Iloilo City Representative
Jerry Trenas and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
The summit is part of the continuing efforts of
the government to effectively manage the country’s rivers and river basins.
The event, anchored on the theme “My River, My
Life,” focuses on the 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 United
States, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and other Asian countries convened
to discuss and share sustainable river basin management practices that can be
replicated by other cities.
The Iloilo City river summit is the first ever
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, issues, concerns and best practices for effective management and
sustainable development of rivers, particularly focusing on rivers in the urban
centers that are supportive to the attainment of sustainable cities.
Marikina City will be the next host of the
Philippine International River Summit during its second holding in the country
next year. (PCOO)
Aquino to meet with President Obama in his
working visit to the United States
President Benigno S. Aquino III is scheduled to
meet with President Barack Obama during his three-day working visit to the
United States to discuss various issues of mutual interest that would further
strengthen the Philippines’ strategic partnership with its longstanding western
ally.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for American
Affairs Patricia Ann Paez t said during a pre-departure briefing on Friday at
Malacañang that this particular visit of President Aquino from June 06 to 08
reflects the heightened engagement between the Philippines and the United
States.
The President will be received by President
Obama at the White House Oval Office in Washington, D.C. on June 8 where they
are expected to discuss a wide range of topics including the country's close
strategic, economic, and people-to-people ties with the US.
Paez said the two leaders will also touch on the
Philippines’ cooperation in the Asia Pacific region as the US refocuses its
attention in the area characterized by economic dynamism as well as the fresh
challenges.
“President Aquino’s visit to Washington, D.C.
reflects the heightened engagements between our two countries. This is
evidenced by the upward trajectory of high-level engagements that include our
first bilateral strategic dialogue in Manila in January 2011 and the second
bilateral strategic dialogue in Washington, D.C. in January 2012," said
Paez.
There were also visits of four top-level
congressional delegations in 2011 and 2012,” she explained.
Paez added that the first ever two-plus-two
meeting between the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the two
countries was held last April in Washington, D.C. The Philippines is also the
country coordinator for the ASEAN-US dialogue partnership.
Paez said President Obama has also expressed
interest in being updated about President Aquino’s vision for the Philippines
and his development agenda specifically to promote inclusive growth, create
equal opportunities for all, and foster good governance.
She said the Oval Office meeting between the two
presidents is already their fourth in a span of two years. Their first meeting
was held in September 2010 during the ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting in New York.
This was followed by another meeting at the
launching of the Open Government Partnership in September 2011 also in New
York. Their last meeting was in November 18, 2011 during the ASEAN-US Leaders’
Meeting held in Bali, Indonesia.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
meanwhile, will be hosting a luncheon in honor of President Aquino and his
delegation with some 200 guests. The President will also meet with the top
leaders of the US Senate at a reception hosted by Senate President Pro Tempore
Daniel Inouye.
Senator Inouye has been described by Paez as the
“champion of Philippine interest" in the US Congress who has manifested
steadfast support for the Philippines as chairman of the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Apart from meeting the top US government officials,
President Aquino is also expected to speak with some business leaders and
investors while in Washington, D.C. In addition, Paez said, the President will
also grace the launching of the US-Philippine Society that aims to provide
information on the Philippines to US policy makers. It will convey to the
Philippine government objective feedbacks on perceptions in the US regarding
the country, and undertake partnership programs with NGOs and other
institutions to increase public exposure of Philippine issues.
President Aquino will also be granting
interviews with the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.
On his way back to Manila, the President will
drop by the city of Los Angeles in California to meet with the
Filipino-American community. There are about 322,110 Filipinos who reside in
Los Angeles comprising 3.1 percent of the city’s population, Paez said. (PCOO)
Aquino to discuss West Philippine Sea issue with
Obama, Cameron
ILOILO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III
said he expects to discuss the West Philippine Sea issue with US President
Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron when he meets with the
two leaders next week.
“I think it will be a general... [agenda].
Pag-uusapan‘yung kondisyon sa West Philippine Sea,” the President said in an
interview here about his agenda with Obama in connection with the current
standoff with China.
“I'm sure that when I visit the UK, Prime
Minister David Cameron will also inquire us to the status. It is a body of
water where quite a substantial amount of world trade has to pass through. So
it’s a matter of concern for everybody,” he added.
If the situation in the West Philippine Sea
changes, that will restrict the free flow of goods and services in that
particular body of water, the President said.
Asked about his marching orders to Ambassador
Sonia Brady, the newly designated ambassador to China, the President said Brady
is well-versed about China, knows who to talk to and knows the system as well
as the country’s concerns.
The President expressed optimism that Brady’s
appointment will enhance the dialogue that the Philippines has been doing with
China.
President Aquino will leave for the UK on Monday
for a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
It will be President Aquino’s first visit to the
United Kingdom since he assumed office in 2010.
The President will meet with British Prime
Minister David Cameron for a bilateral meeting. They are also expected to
discuss Philippine-UK political and economic cooperation, the UK’s
participation in the Philippine peace process, regional and international
issues as well as anti-corruption and good governance practices by both
countries.
While in London, the President will also meet
with several British investors, take part in the tourism campaign of the
Department of Tourism and will also meet with the Filipino community there.
After his London trip, the President will fly to
the US to meet with President Obama. (PCOO)
Aquino inaugurates new Iloilo City Hall,
inspects ongoing city projects
ILOILO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III led
the inauguration Friday of the new Iloilo City Hall building after attending
the international river summit held in this city.
The construction of the city hall will make the
seat of local government accessible to the people as it stands in the heart of
the city.
The new city hall, which costs P592.1 million,
features a modern building design, good air conditioning systems and service
elevators for the convenience of the city hall employees and local residents.
Aside from inaugurating the new city hall
building, the President also led the distribution of more than 63,000
PhilHealth cards to poor beneficiaries.
The recipients under the PhilHealth sponsored
program are currently enrolled under the National Household Targeting System
for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).
Western Visayas has the most number of local
government units (LGUs) in the country that committed to enroll their
constituents to the National Health Insurance Program. Out of the 133 LGUs in
the region, only three have not made commitments.
PhilHealth’s sponsored program is anchored on
the corporation’s goal to give all Filipinos easier access to quality health
care regardless of their social status. Under the program, the beneficiaries
can avail of the different outpatient packages such as TB DOTS against
tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and animal bite treatment.
There is also a package for primary preventive
services, diagnostic examinations and drugs and medicines for certain diseases
aside from the regular benefits derived from hospitalization.
Also during the same event, the President led
the distribution of certificates of lot for the families affected by the Iloilo
City River Development Project. The President gave certificates to 1,000
families affected by the development project.
The resettlement project, which costs P169
million is funded by the Office of the President and the office of Sen.
Franklin Drilon. President Aquino allotted P100 million for the project while
the remaining amount came from Senator Drilon.
After the inauguration of the new city hall
building, the President went to Barangay San Rafael in Iloilo City to inspect
the multi-million peso Iloilo River Esplanade that will become the hub for
cultural, recreational and tourism activities in the city.
The esplanade will be the converging place for
public entertainment like concerts and performances along the clean banks of
the thriving Iloilo River.
According to the Rivers of the World Foundation,
the esplanade showcases the ecological balance between human habitation and the
natural environment.
Sen. Franklin Drilon, Transportation Secretary
Mar Roxas and Communications Operations Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. joined the
President during the inspection of the projects. (PCOO)
Aquino confident that government will achieve
better brand of justice for Filipinos
JARO, Iloilo City: President Benigno S. Aquino
III expressed confidence that the government will eventually achieve a better
brand of justice for the Filipino people considering its stringent efforts to
effect reforms in the country.
In an ambush interview following his attendance
of the 1st Philippine International River Summit at the Eon Centennial Resort
Hotel and Convention Center of the Alterra Tierra Village, here on Friday, the
President said that by strengthening the justice system in general, the people
will be assured of a fair and equal implementation of the law.
“We really expect a better brand of justice in
this country and more certainty… nang dumating kami, 14% ang conviction rate.
Nirereport ni Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, nasa 25% na raw tayo sa
conviction rate in general. Pero dun sa mga may witness na nasa WPP, iyong
Witness Protection Program, over 90%,” the President said.
“So, iyon ang inaasahan natin. Kung totoo iyong
sistema ng hudikatura natin pangkalahatan, gaganda ang sitwasyon ng Pilipino,”
he added.
The Chief Executive earlier thanked the Filipino
people for their support for the Aquino administration’s quest for real
reforms. The President said that with the people’s continued backing, he felt
that he is not alone in waging the fight against corruption and in addressing
the flaws in the government. (PCOO)
