Aquino updates Filipino community in London on
positive developments in government
LONDON (via PLDT): President Benigno S. Aquino
met with the members of the Filipino community Wednesday night here in the
United Kingdom and updated them with the positive developments in the
Philippines. This was following a photoshoot with one of the iconic London
double-decker buses sporting the country’s “It‘s more fun in the Philippines”
tourism campaign ad.
The President is in London for a three-day
official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from
June 4 to 6 to meet with UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
During his speech before the Filipinos,
President Aquino relayed to them a number of good news about the Philippines
that took place under his watch, including the 6.4 percent economic growth in
the first quarter of this year.
The President said that the 6.4 percent growth
in gross domestic product (GDP) posted in the first quarter of 2012 was the
highest in the entire ASEAN region and the second highest in Asia.
“Ang pagkaintindi ko po this is the second
highest in Asia and the highest in Southeast Asia. Dahil po sa matinong
pamamalakad, marami ng kakayahan ang atin pong gobyerno,” he said.
The President also noted infrastructure developments,
including the construction of classrooms and housing units for the military and
police authorities. He also cited the proposed NLEX-SLEX connector road
projects.
President Aquino also relayed the improved rice
production and the government‘s conditional cash transfer program, as well as
the stock market's remarkable performance under his watch.
Besides the good news, he also mentioned the
anomalies and irregularities the Aquino administration has uncovered from the
previous administration including the pre-fabricated bridges worth billions of
pesos.
The President also urged the Filipinos living
and working here in the UK to help the Philippine government with its
initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the Filipino people.
“Ituloy na po natin hanggang 2016 ‘yung ating
partnership dahil kaya naman nating mabago, at marami nang nagbago pero kaya pa
natin lalong pabilisin ‘yung mga pagbabago para sa ikabubuti ng lahat,” he
said.
Prior to his meeting with the Filipinos living
and working here, President Aquino led the photoshoot with one of the iconic
London double-decker buses sporting the country’s tourism slogan, at the front
of the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel.
The Department of Tourism-London launched last
month the Philippines’ tourism campaign through a 45-minute fun motorcade that
featured advertisements on London’s double-decker buses and black cabs.
So far there are 25 double-decker buses and 50
iconic black cabs spotted around the bustling streets of London. The subway
stations also display images of the famous Ifugao Rice Terraces and the Puerto
Princesa Underground River, both proclaimed as World Heritage Sites. (CO)
Philippines to welcome UK, US backing of its
West Philippine Sea claim
The Philippines will welcome any statement of
support from the governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the
United States of America when President Benigno S. Aquino III meets the leaders
of those countries this week, Malacanang said on Wednesday.
President Aquino, who is in a seven-day trip to
the UK and the US, said prior to his departure that he expects to discuss the
West Philippine Sea issue with US President Barack Obama and British Prime
Minister David Cameron.
“From the Philippine side, we will definitely
welcome the statement of support. And I am sure that the statement will echo
the interests of both nations that they are interested and support the freedom
of navigation in the West Philippine Sea,” Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in a press conference in Malacanang on Wednesday.
Lacierda was asked whether the Palace believes
that any statement of support from both the UK and the US could be a
counterbalance against China.
“I think that Secretary Hillary Clinton and
Secretary Leon Panetta in the ratification hearing of the UNCLOS before the
Senate have mentioned and supported our position there, and that has been the
position of the US government. They are also interested in the freedom of
navigation in the West Philippine Sea,” Lacierda said in explaining the US
position.
The UK, one of the Philippines’s largest
European trading partner, has also expressed its interest in maintaining the
freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea, Lacierda stressed.
Lacierda also noted that the international
community recognizes international law, the UNCLOS is a major component in
keeping the area free of any interference, and that all other nations agree on
the parameters of the UNCLOS. Both China and the Philippines are signatories to
the UNCLOS.
Prior to his UK visit, President Aquino said he
expects Prime Minister David Cameron to inquire on the status of the West
Philippine Sea issue.
The President noted that the body of water is a
major sea lane for substantial amount of world trade, making it a concern for
everybody.
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.
The President left Monday for a three-day
official visit to the UK. After that he will fly to the US to meet with
President Obama in Washington. He is also scheduled to meet American
businessmen and the Filipino community in California during his US trip. (as/2:03pm)
Aquino declares June 11 a special non-working
day in City of Sagay, Negros Occidental
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 11 which falls on a Monday as a special (non-working day) in the city of
Sagay in the province of Negros Occidental in celebration of its 16th Charter
Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 392 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 1, 2012 to give the people of Sagay the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 11, 1996, the municipality of Sagay was
converted into a city by virtue of Republic Act 8192. The name of the city
comes from the semi-spherical shell called “sigay”, which can be found in the
area. (js)
Aquino expresses his vision of change and reform
for the country to Filipinos now based in London
President Benigno S. Aquino III, speaking before
the Filipino community in London, said he envisions a progressive and reformed
Philippines by the time he steps down from power in 2016.
At the same time, the President asked the
Filipino community in the UK to continuously support his administration noting
that change and reform are possible when all Filipinos unite and work together.
“Talagang gusto kong makaharap kayong lahat sa
2016 at sabihin sa inyong lahat...‘Hindi ba talagang nagbago na tayo?’ Magagawa
po natin ‘yan, nagtiwala kayo noong tinulungan ninyo akong mabigyan ng
pagkakataon dito sa ating tinatalakay ngayon,” the President said in his
speech.
“Lalo hong mangyayari talaga ito---wala naman
hong iwanan noong botohan lang---ituloy na po natin hanggang 2016 ‘yung ating
partnership talaga dahil kaya naman nating mabago at marami nang nagbago pero
kaya pa natin lalong pabilisin ‘yung pagbabagong para sa ikabubuti ng lahat.”
As part of those changes, the President said he
wants to see major developments in the country’s infrastructure, education,
health care system, peace and security, social development and many others.
The chief executive also said he expects
children receiving government support under the conditional cash transfer (CCT)
program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to be in secondary
schools when he steps down from the presidency.
The indications are also good in keeping the
peace and order in country as the police successfully reduced the number of
crimes happening in the local communities, the President said.
The President also reported the recent removal
from office of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona saying the impeachment
trial that removed him from office will be good for the country’s justice
system.
Checks and balances in government system prevailed,
he said, adding government officials and employees must bear in mind that the
Filipino people should always be their bosses.
“Lahat kaming public employees should remember
that there is actually one boss. The mandate comes from the people, the power
comes from people and the people are the only masters that we should serve
collectively,” he said.
It is his vision, President Aquino said, that
the people feel that there’s a government that they can count on and there’s a
leadership that cares for them.
“Inaambisyon ko nga ho… yung nakipagtrabaho sa
gobyerno, may maaasahan kayong minimum na gagawin ng gobyerno. Na ‘pag may
dinaing kayo, may tugon na hindi ninyo masasabing pinabayaan kayo ng gobyerno
ninyo; na ‘pag merong problema, hindi nagbubulag-bulagan, hindi
nagbibingi-bingihan, hindi lang gumagawa ng kilos, gumagawa ng aksyon,” he
said. (as)
Pulse Asia Survey indicates continued support
for Aquino's good governance, reform programs
The latest Pulse Asia Survey indicating that the
Filipino's confidence in President Benigno S. Aquino III remains strong is
proof of public support for the Chief Executive's efforts to clean up the
government and to revitalize our institutions, a Palace official said on
Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday
following the release of the Pulse Asia's Ulat ng Bayan report for the second
quarter of 2012.
In the latest survey, Lacierda said the
President’s nationwide performance approval rating is at 67 percent while his
trust rating is at 65 percent.
"These figures, statistically unchanged
from last quarter, is indicative of public support for President Aquino’s
programs and initiatives, and is continued affirmation of his efforts to
establish a culture of good governance in the public sector," Lacierda
said.
Lacierda pointed out that the Aquino
administration will remain steadfast toward fulfilling its Social Contract with
the Filipino people.
"We are reaping the dividends of reform:
Our country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.4 percent in the first
quarter of 2012, beating the best estimates on GDP growth for this quarter. The
government’s efforts to invest in our most important resource—our people—have
not gone unnoticed," he said.
He noted that the criticism of the President’s
anti-poverty agenda has significantly gone down, from 31 percent in May 2011 to
15 percent in May 2012.
"We will not stop while we are ahead. The
Department of Budget and Management has released P5.5 billion this month for
the implementation of the President’s Resettlement Program, which will provide
for the housing requirements of thousands of informal settlers and families
living in high-risk or calamity-stricken areas," Lacierda said.
"No other president in recent history has
sustained such high trust and performance ratings for so long into his term.
This fact only fuels our determination to make inclusive growth a reality for
our countrymen, and to give them a government that is truly in their
service," he noted. (js)
US-Philippine organization underscores Aquino
leadership as positive and 'generationally new'
WASHINGTON, D.C. (via PLDT) – Newly established
United States-Philippines Society said President Benigno S. Aquino III’s
platform of good governance factored in their decision to invite him as their
guest of honor and speaker during the organization’s official launch here to be
held on Thursday (Friday in Manila).
Speaking to Radio-TV Malacañang in a recent
interview, US-Philippines Society president and retired diplomat John Maisto
said they want to take advantage of this opportunity because, just like their
organization, President Aquino “represents something generationally new.”
“President Aquino represents something generationally
new: his age, where he comes from, his background. It represents a new chapter
in the Philippines in terms of bringing assurances to the Filipino people
about, if you look at the campaign that elected him, its good governance,
modernity—all positive things that the United States wants to identify with,”
he said.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose
Cuisia, Jr. for his part added that the establishment of this new organization
would be beneficial for the country especially with the 6.4 percent growth it
has posted just recently that could bring in more investments.
“I think as a whole, our country has been able
to attract even more direct investments precisely because the President has
shown a very good example in terms of frugality, simple living, and—unlike I
think the past administration—he has been totally committed to good governance
and, of course, anti-corruption,” Cuisia said.
Apart from gracing the US-Philippines Society
launch and meeting top US government officials, President Aquino is also
scheduled to speak with various American business groups for possible
investments and future projects.
The US-Philippines Society was founded only last
May out of the collective interest of both Filipinos and Americans ‘to raise
the profile of the Philippines in the United States’ toward the furtherance of
the growing partnership between the two countries.
It is a nonprofit and nongovernmental
organization that is being sustained by contributions coming from both Filipino
and American entities, individuals, and businesses and fees collected from
individual memberships—$75/year for regular citizens and $25/year for students.
“The society is independent. It’s connected with
neither… It’s funded by neither the US government nor the Philippine
government. It’s non-partisan, it’s non-political, it’s independent, it’s
self-sustaining and we’re not gonna be drawn into any political coloration in
either country. We want to see the emphasis on the Philippines on the Filipino
people and on the US-Philippine relationship,” Maisto stressed. (hdc)
