Palace announces that remains of the late
Interior and Local Government Secretary Robredo will lie in state in Malacanang
for two-day wake starting Friday
Malacanang bared that the remains of the late
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo will be brought to
Malacanang Palace for a two-day wake following the Aquino government’s plans to
give him a state funeral in honor of his valuable contributions to the
country’s progress and development.
In Bulletin No. 4 issued on Thursday by the
Committee on Funeral Arrangements and Burial of the former Secretary, it stated
that Robredo’s remains will be brought to the Kalayaan Hall of the Malacanang
Palace.
“On Friday, August 24, 2012, the remains of the
late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo will be brought to Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan
Palace. A wake will be held there for two days before the remains are returned
to Naga City,” it said.
In acknowledging his contributions and public
service that is worth emulating by other government officials, the committee
said that it is fitting to hold the wake in Kalayaan Hall which is a symbol of
the restoration of democracy in the country.
“A quarter century ago, President Corazon C.
Aquino renamed the edifice, formerly known as Maharlika Hall, to “Kalayaan
Hall” to commemorate the restoration of democracy in the Philippines. As part
of the generation inspired to enter public service by the EDSA People Power
Revolution, it is only fitting that the late Secretary lie in state in Kalayaan
Hall, Malacañan Palace,” the Bulletin read.
“Kalayaan Hall is the oldest extant section of
Malacañan Palace, having been built in the American Era. It is likewise one of
the most intact pre-war buildings in the Philippines where Governors-General
and, later on, Presidents of the Philippines prior to Martial Law held office.
Situated amid sprawling grounds, it is most accessible to the public that would
wish to pay final respects to the late Secretary,” it added.
The Committee said that they will be releasing
further details in the next Bulletin. (jcl/9:25 a.m.)
Ochoa rallies DILG employees: Don’t let
Robredo’s reforms go in vain
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on
Thursday met with the heads of various offices under the Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG) to make sure that the agency functions
normally and delivers uninterrupted services to the public during the
transition period.
This is the first meeting of Ochoa, whom
President Benigno Aquino III temporarily assigned to oversee DILG operations,
with department heads to rally them to continue performing their tasks and the
reforms started by the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse
Robredo.
“Upon the directives of the President, I am here
to ensure that the services provided by the DILG run smoothly even as the
entire nation mourns the untimely death of Secretary Robredo,” Ochoa said.
“In this period of transition, we urge everyone
to do their share and do their best so that all the programs and reforms that
Secretary Robredo has started will not go in vain, for the benefit of our
countrymen whom he faithfully served,” he added.
Last Wednesday, the Executive Secretary made his
first visit to the DILG office and ordered the compilation of all the programs
and projects in the pipeline to ensure that these are implemented, particularly
the reforms being undertaken in the Philippine National Police and the Bureau
of Jail Management and Penology. Robredo has also begun putting together a
comprehensive plan for the relocation of informal settlers.
To make sure that logistics and administrative
matters are addressed without delay, Ochoa has drawn up a signing and approval
system for the meantime until the President names a permanent head of the DILG.
Aquino declares 4th Monday of September of every
year as ‘Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga’ Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the
fourth Monday of September of every year as “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day in
conjunction with the annual celebration of the Family Week.
In Proclamation No. 326 signed by Executive
Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on January 26,, the President issued the
declaration "to highlight and celebrate the value of families sharing
meals together as a national tradition that should be observed annually and
sustained by all Filipino families."
Proclamation No. 1895 (s. 2009) declared the 4th
Monday of September of 2009 as the “Salu-Salo ng Pamilya Mahalaga” Day.
In issuing Proclamation No. 326, the President
underscored the need to amend Proclamation No. 1895 and rename the event as
“Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” Day to distinguish the latter as a regular annual
event.
"One of the meaningful traditions of
Filipinos is the common family meal where all members of the family are present
to signify their unity and thanksgiving for God’s abundant blessings,"
President Aquino said.
"Having a common family meal encourages
parents to stay connected with their children and understand the challenges
they face," he noted.
The Chief Executive directed the National
Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF) to lead the national observance of
Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day.
He, likewise, enjoined the heads of all
departments, agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs),
local government units (LGUs), and other government instrumentalities to
support NCFF in its activities related to the event.
President Aquino also encouraged all national
and local publications, television and radio stations to help generate
awareness and public support for activities in promoting the observance of
Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day, in conjunction with the annual celebration of the
Family Week.
Proclamation No. 60 (s. 1992) also declared the
fourth (4th) week of September as “Family Week” to focus on the importance of
strengthening and promoting unity, solidarity and stability of the Filipino
Family as the basic unit of society. (js)
Malacanang says government is monitoring recent
oil price hike
Malacanang made an assurance on Thursday that
the government will continue monitoring oil price increases after some oil
companies adjusted their prices recently.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang,
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of Energy
(DOE) will see to it that the recent price increases are justified based on the
movement of oil prices overseas.
“Binabantayan ‘yan ng DOE. Titingnan nila kasi
kung sumusobra, they call the attention of the oil companies. But again in a
deregulated environment, sanay tayong tataas, bababa, tataas according to
several factors na walang control ang pamahalaan,” Valte said.
Oil companies agreed to temporarily suspend oil
price hikes after the monsoon rains caused massive flooding in many areas
particularly in some parts of Metro Manila. The move is aimed at easing the
burden of communities affected by the floods.
With regards to the impending increase in the
prices of major commodities, Valte said, the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) will also be monitoring the situation adding that the public can get
information from the DTI’s price watch.
“Ang DTI kasi kini-compute kapag may tumaas sa
isang lugar, kung ano ’yung nagiging kaukulang epekto doon sa presyo ng mga
bilihin. That being said, we do release the price monitoring watch every
Friday,” she said.
“We can use it as our guide kung sa inyong
paniniwala ay merong mga masyadong mataas o mga pang-aabuso, ipaalam natin agad
sa DTI, " Valte said. (as)
Malacanang bares schedule of activities for the
two-day wake of the late DILG Secretary Robredo at Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang
Malacanang released the detailed schedule of
activities for the two-day wake of the late Interior and Local Government
Secretary Jesse M. Robredo at the Kalayaan Hall of the Malacananag Palace.
In Bulletin No. 5 issued by the Committee on
Funeral Arrangement and Burial of the late Secretary Robredo read by
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office
Undersecretary Manolo Quezon III during a regular press briefing in Malacanang,
on Thursday, the Aquino government bared to the public the day-to-day schedule
for ceremonies, memorial services, masses, and state funeral.
“During the public viewing, access for the
public to Kalayaan Hall will be through Gate 7. For the family and friends,
access will be through Gate 6. For food donations, please send them to Gate 4,”
Quezon said.
On Friday (August 24), at exactly 7:45 in the
morning, the remains of the late secretary will be transferred from the
Archbishop’s Palace to Pili Airport in Camarines Sur. Departure honors will be
rendered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to be hosted by the PNP
Regional Director. Six honorary pallbearers will be designated by the family.
Also on Friday at 10:30 a.m., the remains is
expected to be at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City where there will be
arrival honors to be rendered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Military host is the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force.
The six pallbearers will be Budget and
Management Secretary Florencio Abad, Transportation and Communications
Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Rep. Jun Abaya, Harvey Keh of the Kaya Natin
Movement, Alice Murphy of the urban poor groups and Joan dela Cruz of the
Department of Interior and Local Government.
At 11 a.m., the remains will be brought to the
Malacanang Palace to be escorted by the Presidential Security Group (PSG).
Arrival honors in Malacanang Palace will be rendered by the PSG.
Upon its arrival at the Palace, ceremonies will
be witnessed by President Benigno S. Aquino III that includes bringing down of
the casket from the hearse by the eight casket bearers and six honorary
pallbearers. Thereafter, arrival honors led by the President will be rendered,
followed by a 19-gun salute.
Other events include the following, on Friday
afternoon (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Memorial service sponsored by the Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG), attached agencies, and local
government leagues. At 3:15 p.m.–4:15 p.m., Memorial service sponsored by urban
poor groups; 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Memorial service sponsored by Kaya Natin
Movement; 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Holy Mass; 7:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. Public viewing.
On Saturday, August 25, public viewing starts at
8 a.m. which will run until 5 p.m. Public Mass is scheduled at six to seven in
the evening. 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Memorial service sponsored by the Liberal
Party of the Philippines; 8:15 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Memorial service sponsored by
fellow Cabinet Members.
On Sunday, August 26, 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., the late
secretary’s remains will be brought to the Villamor Airbase en route to Pili
Airport in Camarines Sur. Departure honors will be rendered by the PSG in
Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace, which include a 19-gun salute. Departure
honors will also be rendered by the AFP in Villamor Airbase.
On the same day, the remains will be transferred
from Pili Airport to the Naga City Hall to be escorted by the PNP. Arrival
honors will also be rendered at the Naga City Hall. Honorary pallbearers will
be designated by the family.
On Monday morning, August 27 at 8 a.m. the
remains will be brought to the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia
with the PNP providing the departure honors. Arrival honors will also be
rendered by the PNP at the Basilica Minore.
A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday morning
at 10. Other activities following the holy mass include: Start of the state
funeral Response of the family; The President will also deliver a eulogy for
Secretary Robredo.
The casket will then be brought out of the
Basilica by casket bearers, accompanied by the designated honorary pallbearers
of the family; with accompanying departure honors and a 19-gun salute rendered
by the AFP.
The casket will be loaded onto the caisson,
where the funeral cortege will proceed to the Funeraria Imperial with
accompanying military band and the participation of the PNP.
At the Funeraria Imperial, a three-volley
salute, given by a company of 21 soldiers, followed by the playing of Taps,
will take place.
Following the Taps, the national flag will be
taken off the casket, folded, and presented to the widow by the President.
The presentation of the flag concludes the state
funeral. The remains are then brought inside Funeraria Imperial for cremation.
After the cremation, the PNP shall provide an escort for the family as they
undertake the private interment of the ashes. (jcl/3:22 p.m.)
Aquino signs into law the People's Survival Fund
Bill to address problem of Climate Change
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law
the People's Survival Fund (PSF) Bill to enable the government to effectively
address the problem of Climate Change.
The Chief Executive signed Republic Act No.
10171 otherwise known as "An Act Establishing the People's Survival Fund
to provide long-term finance streams to enable the government to effectively
address the problem of Climate Change, Amending for the purpose Republic Act.
No. 9729, otherwise known as the Climate Change Act of 2009," and for
other purposes" last August 16, according to Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday.
The People's Survival Fund Law amended the
Climate Change Act of 2009 by establishing the People's Survival Fund with an
initial P1 billion per year.
"There will be a People’s Survival Fund
board composed of nine members chaired by the Secretary of Finance to provide
policy and strategic guidance in the management and the use of the survival
fund itself," Valte said.
Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate
Committee on Climate Change, described President Aquino's signing into law of
the People's Survival Fund bill as a triumph for Filipinos and a concrete move
towards a disaster-resilient Philippines.
"The enactment of amendments to the Climate
Change Act of 2009, primarily the creation of the People's Survival Fund (PSF),
strengthens the three-year-old law by helping achieve its objectives through
the provision of funds to local governments and communities for their climate
change adaptation programs," she said.
"As we have seen clearly over the past few
weeks, there is a pressing need to financially support disaster prevention
efforts of local government units. The President's approval of the PSF affirms
our nation's commitment to building communities' resilience to disasters,"
she said.
Legarda, principal author and sponsor of the
Climate Change Act of 2009, and principal sponsor of the amendatory measure to
the climate change law, said that Congress approved the PSF bill last June. The
bill was immediately transmitted to President Aquino who signed the law last
August 16.
The law provides that the PSF is a special fund
in the National Treasury—in the amount of one billion pesos that will be
appropriated annually under the General Appropriations Act--for the financing
of adaptation programs and projects based on the National Strategic Framework
on Climate Change. The fund may also be augmented by donations, endowments,
grants and contributions.
"The degradation of our environment,
coupled with the effects of climate change, such as heavy monsoon rains,
prolonged droughts, and other extreme weather events, places us on a highly
precarious position and endangers the lives of our citizens. The PSF will help
local governments' adaptation activities, such as in the areas of land and
water resources management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure
development, and natural ecosystems," Legarda explained.
"This will also support the improvement of
the monitoring, controlling and prevention of diseases triggered by climate
change, establishment of forecasting and early warning systems, and
strengthening institutional development, for local governments, for preventive
measures, planning, preparedness and management of impacts relating to climate
change," she added.
The amendatory law to the Climate Change Act of
2009, authored by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Loren Legarda,
also mandates the Department of Budget and Management to undertake the
formulation of the annual government budget in a way that ensures the
appropriate prioritization and allocation of funds to support climate
change-related programs and projects. (js)
Malacanang urges public to send in donations to
chosen charities of the late DILG Secretary Robredo as requested by his widow
Malacanang encouraged the public to support the
chosen charities of the late Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary
Jesse Robredo sharing the request of Attu. Leni Robredo, widow of the departed
DILG chief to donate to these cause-oriented groups in lieu of flowers.
In Bulletin No. 5 issued by the Committee on
Funeral Arrangements and Burial of the late Secretary Robredo, Presidential
Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manolo
Quezon III enumerated the chosen charities that the public may wish to support.
“Atty. Leni Robredo requests the public that in
lieu of flowers, a donation to her late husband’s preferred charities be made.
These are the following: Physicians for Peace Philippines, Inc., particularly
for their Walking Free and Resource Center for the Blind program… (Contact
person: Dr. Josephine Robredo-Bundoc, Account details: BDO-Intramuros Branch
#004508004757); Missionaries for the Poor (Contact person: Fr. Joseph M. Ssali,
M.O.P. Account details: Metrobank, Naga, G. Luna Branch #4183418131358 Address:
Heart of Mercy Monastery San Rafael, Cararayan, Naga City, Telephone number:
(054) 475-4730 or 475-4754, Email: mopnaga@gmail.com) and Project Jose (details
to follow),” Quezon said.
He also noted that for those who still wish to
send flowers to Malacañan Palace, they may send them to Gate 6 starting Friday,
August 24, 2012. (jcl/3:40 p.m.)
Aquino appoints new government officials
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials in various government departments and agencies.
The Chief Executive signed the appointment
letter of Kenneth Y. Hartigan-Go as Acting Director IV of the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) that is under the Department of Health (DOH). He replaced
Suzette H. Lazo.
The other presidential appointees are the
following:
- Roberto C. Villanueva as Acting Deputy
Administrator III of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) under the
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), replacing Primo V.
Rivera.
- Regina S. Reyes as Acting Director III of the
National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), replacing Candido J. Astrologo, Jr.
- Alex G. Almario as Board Member III of the
Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board, under the Department of Agrarian Reform,
replacing Lorenzo R. Reyes.
- Valentin A. Araneta as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC);
Protacio T. Tacandong and Rogelio W. Manalo as members of the Board of
Directors of the PDIC representing the private sector. Their term of office
began on July 1, 2012 and would end on June 30, 2013.
- Marina Biglete-Paras as member of the 3rd
District Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Laguna, replacing Reynaldo Dela Torre
Paras; Miguel Antonio A. Magpale as member of the 5th District Sangguniang
Panlalawigan of Cebu, replacing Agnes A. Magpale and Ryan Lawrence P. Tiu as
member of the 1st District Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte, replacing Roque
A. Tiu. (js)
Aquino signs into law Data Privacy Act of 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law
on Aug. 15 Republic Act 10173 or the “Data Privacy Act of 2012” aimed at
protecting the private communications of individuals as well as the government
and private sector communication systems.
The new law, which mandates the creation of the
National Privacy Commission, will cover the processing of all types of personal
information including personal information controllers and processors not
established in the Philippines. The law also protects journalists, publishers
and their sources.
The National Privacy Commission, which will
implement the law, is mandated to receive complaints, issue cease and desist
orders, compel entities to abide by its orders and monitor compliance.
The commission is also mandated coordinate with
other government agencies and the private sector to implement plans.
The commission will be composed of a Privacy
Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and establish a secretariat.
The majority of secretariat members must have
served for at least five years in government agencies processing information
such as the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Land
Transportation Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Health Insurance
Corp., Commission on Elections, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of
Justice and Philippine Postal Corp.
The law will take effect 15 days after its
publication in at least two major newspapers of general circulation. The Data
Privacy Act of 2012 is a consolidation of the Senate Bill 2965 and House Bill
4115. (as)
