Aquino declares August 1 a special non-working
day in Compostela in celebration of its Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
August 1 which falls on a Wednesday as a special non-working day in the
municipality of Compostela in the province of Compostela Valley in celebration
of its 64th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 434 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on July 19, to give the people of Compostela the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On August 1, 1948, Compostela became a
municipality by virtue of Executive Order No. 156 signed by the late President
Elpidio Quirino. (js)
Palace welcomes World Bank’s confidence in
Philippine economy
Malacanang welcomed the World Bank’s confidence
for the Philippines by raising its 2012 growth forecast for the country
following a stronger-than-expected economic performance at the start of the
year.
“We certainly welcome their projected forecast.
We will certainly try our best and in fact we are hoping by the second quarter
mas maganda pa rin ang ating performance because of our infrastructure spending
and the economy,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio
interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“We certainly welcome… number one, the action
taken by the projections of the World Bank. And number two, we will do our best
efforts to ensure inclusive and equitable growth.”
While World Bank adjusted its 2012 growth
forecast for the Philippines it warned of headwinds from the crisis in Europe
and a Chinese slowdown that may affect the Philippine economy.
The country’s stronger economic momentum comes
in the midst of weakening global economic growth that may affect key export
markets and cause job losses in electronics and the manufacturing sector.
The Philippine economy grew 6.4 percent in the
first quarter of 2012, after posting 3.9 percent growth last year.
The World Bank hasn’t factored in the possible
intensification of the crisis in Europe and a further slowdown in China in
making adjustments in its projection for the Philippines.
The global financial institution also said
higher government spending and robust private consumption backed by remittances
by a huge Filipino overseas work force may boost domestic demand.
The bank is projecting a modest global growth of
2.5 percent this year from 2.7 percent in 2011. This slowdown may hit key
Philippine export markets like the United States, Japan, the Eurozone, and
China, according to the World Bank. (as/1:44pm)
Palace optimistic over 6-point joint statement
of ASEAN member states following Indonesia's initiative
Malacanang said it is elated over the result of
Indonesia’s mediation efforts after members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations agreed on the six point joint statement to resolve the West
Philippine Sea issue.
“We welcome the efforts made by the Indonesian
foreign minister. It’s a way to moving forward. At least lahat tayo nag-agree
unlike doon sa nangyari sa Cambodia. May six-point joint statement na ang lahat
ng ASEAN members na sumang-ayon na,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said
in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“So this is really moving forward from what
happened in the last ASEAN regional forum in Cambodia.”
With regards to some criticisms being hurled
against the Philippines and Vietnam for allegedly delaying an ASEAN statement,
Lacierda said both countries can’t be blamed for what happened in Cambodia
during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting.
The Philippines has the right to raise the West
Philippine Sea issue during the Phnom Penh meeting because the regional
grouping isn’t confined to discussing regional issues and could also talk about
bilateral issues, Lacierda said.
“This is the first time that there was a
bilateral dispute na hindi na-raise. So we made a case that it was not the
fault of the Philippines that there was no joint communiqué that was issued,”
he said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa discussed the six-point principles when the
Indonesian official visited Manila this week to fix differences among ASEAN
members on the territorial dispute with China.
The ASEAN six-point principles include the
following --- to implement fully the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in
the South China Sea or DOC; support for the guidelines of the DOC; conclude
early a regional code of conduct on the South China Sea; fully respect
universally-recognized principles of international law including the 1982 United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; continue exercising self restraint
and non-use of force; and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in accordance
with universally-recognized principles of international law and including the
1982 UNCLOS.
China claims the West Philippine Sea nearly in
its entirety, while Taiwan is also pursuing its own claim. ASEAN member
countries seeking ownership over the disputed territory include the
Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia. (as/2:21pm)
Palace says DOH prepared to handle EV-71 cases,
appeals for public participation
Malacanang made an assurance on Saturday that
the Department of Health is prepared to handle Enterovirus 71 cases in the
country after the health department reported one local case of the disease.
“Number one, DOH is itself prepared. Number two,
we need the participation of the citizenry. If you feel that there are symptoms
that would lead to Enterovirus 71, immediately bring it to the attention of the
doctors," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview
over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“We cannot wait na kung malala na saka lang
dadalhin sa hospital. We need the engagement of the citizenry. In the part of
the DOH, they will be coming out or they have come out with information on the
symptoms of Enterovirus 71,” he added.
At the same time, the Palace official also
encouraged the public to observe proper hygiene and maintain cleanliness in
their communities. The DOH is also spearheading a massive public information campaign
about EV-71 to raise awareness, he said.
The DOH reported last week that a 19-month-old
toddler from Davao has been infected with EV-71, the same virus that has killed
more than 60 children in Cambodia, but has since recovered.
The boy was the only confirmed case among eight
suspected cases in the country with the hand, foot and mouth disease or
Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) strain, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said.
The strain detected in the boy was a mild form
of EV-71 and could have been in the country long before its deadlier variant
killed Cambodian children, noted the Health Secretary.
Enteroviruses consist of 68 sterotypes that
usually cause self-limited infections in children, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) was first detected in
California in 1969. Since then, EV-71 has been isolated in many parts of the
world. Severe outbreaks associated with a high fatality rate occurred in
Bulgaria in 1975 with 44 deaths and Hungary in 1978 with 45 deaths, the CDC
said.
Severe outbreaks occurred in Malaysia in 1997
with 30 deaths and in Taiwan with 78 deaths in 1998, 25 deaths in 2000, and 26
deaths in 2001.
