Aquino declares June 27 as special non-working
day in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental in celebration of its 5th Charter Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 27, which falls on a Wednesday, as a special (non-working) day in El
Salvador City in the province of Misamis Oriental in celebration of its 5th
Charter Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 396 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 6 to give the people of El Salvador the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 27, 2007, El Salvador became a city by
virtue of Republic Act No. 9435. (js)
Philippines hopes to assist struggling nations
with $1 billion IMF contribution
As part of the global community, it is the
responsibility of the Philippines to assists other nations in financial
distress that is why it has contributed $1 billion to the International
Monetary Fund’s coffers.
“We have been a recipient of IMF assistance for
the past 40 years. Now that we have been considered a creditor nation, we feel
it’s our obligation to assist those nations who require funding from the IMF,”
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday. This will also help in stabilizing the crisis that is going on in
Europe,” he added.
Reporters asked Lacierda how the government can
guarantee the people that the $1 billion loan to the IMF wouldn’t be
mismanaged.
“As to whether it is risky or not, we believe
that the IMF will act judiciously on the funds. There is now a standby fund for
around $456 billion, and we have contributed $1 billion to that fund,” Lacierda
said.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a
statement on Wednesday that the Philippines is extending a $1 billion loan to
the IMF to support global efforts to stabilize the world economy and maintain
it on a growth path.
The Philippines, as a member of the global
community of nations, has an obligation to ensure economic and financial
stability across the globe, it said. IMF loans assist countries going through
financial difficulties to minimize its adverse impact on their people.
For nearly 40 years until 2006, the Philippines
was a net borrower from the IMF following the implementation of continuing
reforms that made the country’s economy stronger, according to the BSP.
“This is a loan to the IMF and we will get our
money back with interest. In effect, by extending a loan to the IMF that will
earn money for the Philippines we are also able to help other nations saddled
with financial problems,” the BSP said. (as/1:53pm)
Government vows to maintain efforts to curb
human trafficking
The United States (US) State Department's 12th
Annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which kept the Philippines in the
Tier 2 Category is a recognition of the Aquino administration's multi-pronged
and aggressive initiatives to curb human trafficking in the country, a Palace
official said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement following the release of the US State Department's 12th Annual
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which underscored several key achievements
of the Philippine government in its drive to eliminate human trafficking.
"We will continue to improve our efforts
and we would like to be taken out from Tier 2," Lacierda said.
He said the government is currently tightening
the noose against illegal traffickers and recruiter who prey on our hapless
countrymen.
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in
Persons (IACAT) formulated programs to ensure that human trafficking across the
country is put to a stop.
Other gains cited in the 12th Annual Trafficking
in Persons Report include the apprehension and filing of criminal and
administrative charges against government personnel suspected of conniving with
human trafficking syndicates or aiding their operations.
The TIP report also highlighted the continuing
accomplishment of the government in the prosecution and conviction of
trafficking offenders as well as in helping victims.
The US State Department also lauded the importance
placed by the Philippine government in training public officials, particularly
in establishing human trafficking indicators, with reference to Filipino
migrant workers' pre-deployment overseas.
The report also cited the cross-border efforts
of the government to secure the interests and rights of overseas workers
through bilateral agreements, particularly labor-related accessions with
foreign countries
A total of US$ 1.5 million or about P65 million
was appropriated by the Philippine government to support its operations against
human trafficking, prosecution of offenders, and for the protection of the
public from this global menace, according to the report.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Tier 2
status officially recognizes a country's significant efforts to adhere to the
benchmarks prescribed by the US State Department to meet the minimum standards.
Tier 1 countries fully comply with the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards while Tier 2
countries do not fully comply, but are making significant efforts. (js)
Palace enjoins nation to pray for Dolphy’s
immediate recovery
Malacanang asked the Filipino nation Thursday to
pray for the speedy recovery of Rodolfo Quizon Sr. popularly known as “Dolphy”
who has been hospitalized and now reported to be in critical condition.
“We enjoin the Filipino people to pray for the
health of Mr. Rodolfo Quizon Sr., whom the entire nation fondly knows as
“Dolphy.” We are united in our intentions for our revered icon of the
Philippine entertainment industry. The President’s thoughts are with Mr. Quizon
and his loved ones in these trying times,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda said in a statement released on Thursday.
The President very recently, awarded Dolphy the
Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart. So we recognize his contribution
to the field of entertainment. He personally believes that Dolphy has
contributed immensely to the arts,” Lacierda said.
The Quizon family is asking for prayers for
Dolphy who is back on respirator and in critical condition after a recent blood
transfusion.
Dolphy, considered as the “Comedy King” of
Philippine cinema, was diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease), a progressive disease, five years ago. (as/3:45pm)
