Aquino says it is not far-fetched for government
to reach its goals; nothing is impossible to achieve for a country that is
united
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that
nothing is impossible to achieve for a country that is united, a people that
cares for each other and are supportive to their government that is incessantly
pushing for reforms that will result to a better and progressive nation as he
bared the Aquino government’s continuous efforts to effect reforms and
development in the fields of health, education, economy, agriculture, energy,
peace and order, tourism and jobs generation, among others.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA)
during the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Session Hall, House of
Representatives Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City on Monday, President
Aquino said that through sincere and devoted public service and the support
from the people, it is not far-fetched that the government will reach its goals
in making the country one of the best within the region.
“Heto po ang aking natutuhan sa dalawampu’t
limang buwan ng pagka-pinuno: Wala pong imposible… walang imposible dahil kung
nakikita ng taumbayan na sila ang tanging boss ng kanilang pamahalaan,
bubuhatin ka nila, gagabayan ka nila, sila mismo ang mamumuno tungo sa
makabuluhang pagbabago,” the President said.
“Hindi imposible para sa Pilipinas na tumindig
at sabihing --- Ang Pilipinas ay para sa Pilipino – at handa kaming ipagtanggol
ito… hindi imposible na ang Pilipinong kaytagal nang yumuyuko tuwing may
makasasalubong na dayuhan – ang Pilipino ngayon, taas-noo, tinitingala ng buong
mundo,” he added.
“Talaga naman pong ang sarap maging Pilipino sa
mga panahong ito,” he further noted.
The Chief Executive also expressed thanks to the
groups and individuals who tirelessly worked with the government and made sure
that its goals are realized.
“Hindi po biro ang mga pagsubok na dinaanan
natin, kaya angkop lamang na pasalamatan ang mga taong nakibalikat sa
pagkukumpuni sa mga maling idinulot ng masamang pamamahala… sa lahat ng
miyembro ng aking gabinete: maraming, maraming salamat,” President Aquino said.
The President also acknowledged the cooperation
of the Filipinos saying that all things were made possible with their support.
“Noong nakaraang taon, ang hamon ko sa inyong
iwaksi ang kultura ng negatibismo, sa bawat pagkakataon iangat ang kapwa
Pilipino… batid po sa tinatamasa natin ngayon --- Hindo kayo nabigo, sa inyo
nagmula ang pagbabago,” President Aquino said.
“Humaharap po ako sa inyo bilang mukha ng isang
gobyrenong kayo ang boss at kayo pa rin ang lakas. Inuulat ko lamang ang mga
pagbabagong ginawa ninyong posible,” he added.
“Inuulit ko po: posible ang dating imposible.
Humaharap po ako sa inyo ngayon at sinasabing: hindi ko SONA ito… kayo ang
gumawa nito, SONA ito ng sambayanang Pilipino,” the President said. (jcl/10:40
p.m.)
Malacañang assures that government has been
providing equal attention to all sectors including Overseas Filipino Workers
Malacanang assured the people that the Aquino
government has been providing equal, necessary attention to the needs and
development of various sectors of the society, particularly the Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs), who are one of the major players in sustaining the
economic progress of the country.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that although they
were not mentioned in President Aquino’s State Of the Nation Address (SONA),
the OFW sector is assured that the government will continue its efforts to
attend to their needs and concerns.
“Huwag naman po sanang sumama ang loob…
naiintindihan po natin yung ganito because everybody wants to be mentioned in
the SONA pero hindi po ibig sabihin na nakalimutan ng Pangulo Aquino. Hindi
lang po ang SONA ang pagkakataon ng Pangulo na bigyan ng pagkilala ang ating
mga OFW,” Valte said.
“Kayo pong press corps na nagco-cover sa Pangulo
alam ninyo na madalas silang nababanggit sa mga talumpati, sa mga interview at
hindi po dahil hindi sila nabanggit ay hindi sila binibigyan ng kaukulang
pansin,” she added.
On Monday, President Aquino delivered his third
SONA during the Joint Regular Session of the 15th Congress where he bared the
stringent, reforms being implemented by the administration in efforts to
sustain progress and development that uplift the living standards of the Filipino
people. (jcl/1:50 p.m.)
Malacañang condoles with the family of former
government official and journalist
Malacanang expressed sincere sympathies and
condolences to the family of a former government official and newspaper man who
was killed by a group of unscrupulous men in Laguna over the weekend as it
clarified that the case is an isolated incident and does not reflect the
present crime rate in the country.
In a regular press conference in Malacanang on
Tuesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte assured the family of
former tourism official and journalist Nixon Kua that the government is
monitoring the progress of the case to ensure that justice will be served.
“Nakikiramay po kami doon sa mga kaibigan, mga
mahal sa buhay at mga naiwan po ni Ginoong Kua… binabantayan po namin yung
progreso ng kanyang kaso, sa akin pong pagkakaalam, kaninang umaga ay mayroon
na po silang (PNP) mga suspect… may apat na kalalakihan na kanila pong nasakote
na at ipepresenta po yata nila sa media mamaya,” Valte said.
“Binabantayan po natin ang kaso at umaasa po
tayong magiging mabilis ang pag-usad ng hustisya para kay Ginoong Kua,” she
added.
Valte also said that the government is still
focused on efforts to maintain the peace and order within the country and the
decrease of crime occurrence in various areas.
Kua, 49, who was a reporter and columnist for
The Philippine Star and its sister publication Pang Masa tabloid, was shot in
the face on Saturday evening at the height of the heavy downpour.
Prior to the shooting incident, the victim was
reportedly with his wife and two children and was parking his car near the
house of his brother in Greenfield Subdivision when he was attacked by four
armed men. (jcl/2:21 p.m.)
Palace says government remains supportive of the
passage of Freedom of Information Bill
Malacanang reiterated that the Aquino
administration remains committed to the passage of the Freedom of Information
(FOI) bill that intends to provide the public easier access to government
information.
Issues were raised by some quarters after the
President’s State of the Nation Address on Monday saying the Chief Executive
appeared to be uninterested in pushing for the passage of the FOI bill because
he didn’t mention it in his address to the nation.
But in a press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that some people
have been drawing wrong conclusions about the President’s support for the bill.
“That is a wrong conclusion. We have spoken to
Representative Ben Evardone and ang assurance po niya sa amin ay by August
ilalabas na daw po sa plenaryo, lalabas na daw sa komite ang FOI,” Valte said.
While the measure is not a priority bill by the
Palace, the President remains committed to its passage, Valte said, explaining
that the bill wasn’t listed as a priority measure because it wasn’t included in
the common legislative agenda of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory
Council (LEDAC).
“If you recall, sumulat si Budget Secretary
Florencio Abad sa House Speaker at kay Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile din
at in-emphasize niya ang commitment dito. If you also remember, the Palace
version that was submitted to the Lower House has also been adopted,” Valte
said.
The different provisions of the bill have
already been adopted by the principal author, Rep. Erin Tañada, Valte noted.
Likewise, Sen. Gringo Honasan, the backer of the bill in the Senate, has also
adopted the provisions that were the fruit of the committee hearings on the
FOI, the Palace official continued.
In February this year, the Palace forwarded a
draft of the FOI bill to the House of Representatives for discussion and
enactment.
The Palace version is an improvement over the
earlier versions presented to the public in an attempt to make it in line with
United Nations standards. The proposal removes the provision creating an
Information Commission (IC) in which the Palace said could add another layer of
bureaucracy and complicate the release of information to the public.
FOI advocates have been expecting the President
to make FOI a priority legislation after the Chief Executive pledged its
passage during the 2010 presidential campaign. (as/3:33pm)
Palace welcomes Senate concurrence on Status of
Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia
Malacanang hailed the Senate’s concurrence on a
defense cooperation agreement between Australia and the Philippines saying the
move will further boost national and regional security.
“The Senate with an overwhelming 17-1 vote has
taken an important step in enhancing our national and regional security by
ratifying the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between Australia and
the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement on
Tuesday.
“Long ratified by the Australian parliament, the
SOVFA has been pending in the Senate since 2008. We thank the Senate for this
historically significant action.”
First proposed in 2004, the SOVFA was signed by
Australia on May 31, 2007, and ratified by President Benigno S. Aquino III on
December 23, 2010.
The Philippine Senate needs two-third vote to
concur on the defense agreement for it to enter into force.
According to a separate statement released by
the Foreign Affairs Department, the SOVFA marked another milestone in
Philippine-Australian relations.
While the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
on Cooperative Defense Activities serves as the framework for bilateral defense
and military cooperation, the SOVFA paves the way for enhanced cooperation
between the two countries, it said.
These includes capacity-building and training of
armed forces, interoperability to undertake humanitarian assistance and
disaster response operations, counter-terrorism, border security, and maritime
security, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
“Australia has been assisting the Philippines in
strengthening its maritime security capability with initiatives such as the
Coast Watch South project and the joint Maritime Training Activity LUMBAS.
These initiatives are expected to be further expanded and strengthened under
the SOVFA,” it further said.
The Philippines and Australia are also set to
convene a strategic dialogue to be co-chaired by foreign affairs and defense
officials. The bilateral mechanism is expected to complement the SOVFA, DFA
added. (as/5:01pm)
Aquino appoints Rojas as new director of
National Bureau of Investigation
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
Nonnatus Caesar Rojas as the new director of the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) of the Department of Justice.
Rojas currently serves as officer-in-charge of
the NBI. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima named him as NBI’s OIC in January 30
this year after Magtanggol Gatdula was dismissed as NBI director.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. informed
Secretary de Lima of Rojas’ appointment as new NBI chief through a letter dated
July 20, 2012.
Prior to his appointment, Rojas was a regional
prosecutor for Region 1.
The newly appointed NBI chief also served as
state prosecutor of Region 1 from August 1999 to September of 2002, and
prosecutor of Region 1 from March 1991 to August 1999.
A law graduate from San Beda College, Rojas is
the son of former NBI deputy director Mariano Rojas. (co)
