Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing
Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Philippines
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the
Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu, Silver Distinction) on
outgoing Ambassador Robert Gerard Brinks of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in
ceremonies at Malacanang.
In his farewell call at the Music Room of the
Malacanang Palace on Wednesday, the Chief Executive presented the award to
Ambassador Brinks for his significant works in various fields as Netherlands's
envoy to the Philippines that further strengthened the bilateral relations
between the two countries during his five-year tour of duty in the country.
These include the maritime sector, specific visa
issuance policies, combating human trafficking, the promotion of human rights
and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The Dutch envoy has actively participated in the
country’s maritime sector through the Netherlands-Philippines Maritime
Institute in Palompon, that train cadets along Dutch standards for wok in Dutch
vessels.
He has maintained close cooperation with the Dutch
Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and the Dutch Ship-owners
association in efforts to address issues in the European Maritime Safety Agency
(EMSA) in a way that both the interests of the ship-owners and the Philippines
are served.
Ambassador Brinks also introduced a Philippine
specific visa policy to address the increasing number of visa applicants from
the Philippines, reducing the waiting period for the issuance of visas to three
days for seafarers and one week for other types.
He has likewise pushed for the enhancement of
efforts to combat human trafficking from the Philippines and adopt an
integrated approach at the Dutch Embassy dedicating most of its financial and
manpower resources to address this illegal activity.
The Dutch envoy pushed for the promotion of
human rights through close coordination and cooperation with the Commission on
Human Rights, other concerned private entities and the promotion of programs on
this cause.
Ambassador Brinks has been a steadfast friend of
the Filipino people throughout his tour of duty in the country.
Witnessing the event were Ruth G.M. Emmerink,
Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of The Netherlands in
Manila and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio, among others.
The Philippines and The Netherlands have been
enjoying close relations since 1598 when a Dutch naval merchant fleet entered
the Philippine waters for the first time. Over time, this relationship has
flourished and today the Dutch are present in the Philippines in many different
ways.
Dutch companies, both large multinationals and
Small and Medium Enterprises have strongly contributed to trade and commercial
ties and nurtured links between the two countries.
At present, Dutch companies operate within a
wide range of sectors, among these are in agriculture, shipping and maritime
services, information technology and energy supply. Equally important are the
people to people contacts, the activities of several Dutch Non-Government
Organizations and the initiatives of many private Dutch organizations and
citizens working closely with disadvantaged groups in Philippine society.
(jcl/11:30 a.m.)
Aquino declares September 4 as special
non-working day in Monkayo, Compostela Valley in celebration of its 58th
Foundation Day and 17th Kariyawan Festival
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 4, which falls on a Tuesday, as a special (non-working) day in the
municipality of Monkayo in the province of Compostela Valley in celebration of
its 58th Foundation Day and 17th Kariyawan Festival.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 450 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on Aug. 9, 2012 to give the people of the municipality of Monkayo the full
opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate
ceremonies.
On September 4, 1954, Monkayo became a
municipality by virtue of a Presidential Executive Order No. 65 by the late
President Ramon Magsaysay.
Kariyawan Festival is being celebrated together
with the Araw ng Monkayo every 4th day of September. (js)
Malacanang says President Aquino to announce
Robredo's successor before he leaves for the APEC Leaders' Summit next week
President Benigno S. Aquino III will appoint a
new Interior and Local Government Secretary before he leaves for Russia to
attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit next week,
a Palace official said on Wednesday.
But while the President is still looking for
somebody who will replace the late Interior and Local Government Secretary
Jesse Robredo, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. will remain as
Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang.
The President’s main consideration for the
replacement would be someone who can continue carrying out reforms that he
envisioned for local governance and the police.
“Secretary Robredo has done so much for the
improvement of local governance through the local governments and so reforms
that have been started by Secretary Robredo will be a continuing policy under
the new secretary of the Interior and Local Government,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda also said the Chief Executive hasn’t
spoken of any candidate that would replace Robredo but he is seriously
considering the best successor for Robredo.
Robredo, who died in a plane crash in Masbate on
August 18, was given a state funeral by the Aquino administration. President
Aquino also conferred on him the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of
Chief Commander (posthumous) prior to his burial Tuesday. (as/2:02pm)
President Aquino to leave next week for
Vladivostok in Russia to attend the 20th APEC Leaders' Summit
President Benigno S. Aquino III will travel to
Vladivostok, Russia, next week to join the 20 other world leaders attending the
20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit on September 8 to
9.
This year’s APEC summit, which has for its theme
"Integrate to Grow, Innovate to Prosper," is hosted by the Russian
Federation.
President Aquino will be joined by Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory
Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting
(AELM), the leaders will discuss four priorities namely: trade and investment
liberalization and regional economic integration, strengthening food security,
establishing reliable supply chains, and cooperation to foster innovative
growth.
Undersecretary for International Economic
Relations Laura del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs said the
President will also participate in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
Dialogue with the Leaders, a key feature of the AELM.
The APEC Business Advisory Council Dialogue
gives ABAC members the opportunity to meet with the APEC leaders to discuss the
entire year’s ABAC work program and to raise issues of pressing concern to the
business community.
ABAC Philippines will be represented by A.
Magsaysay Inc. president and chief executive officer Doris Magsaysay, Jollibee
Food Corp. Chairman and CEO Tony Tan Caktiong, and Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.
Undersecretary Del Rosario also said that during
the 20th APEC Summit in Vladivostok, President Aquino will also be holding
bilateral meetings with other countries.
Del Rosario also said that during this summit,
the announcement of the Philippines' hosting of the APEC summit in 2015 is
expected through the APEC Leaders’ Declaration.
APEC is an organization of economies in the
Asia-Pacific region. It is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth,
cooperation, trade and investment in Asia-Pacific region.
It has 21 members which account for
approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, approximately 54 percent of
the world gross domestic product and about 44 percent of world trade. (co)
Aquino urges Catholic Educational Association of
the Philippines to be partners of the government in nation building
President Benigno S. Aquino III called on the
Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) to work together
with the government to sustain the momentum along the straight and righteous
path towards the realization of the country’s great potential.
"We in government remain steadfast in
fulfilling our shared task of positive national transformation," the Chief
Executive said in his message to the CEAP on the occasion of its 2012 National
Convention on Wednesday.
The CEAP, the country's largest educational
association, opened on Wednesday the 2012 National Convention at the SMX
Convention Center in Pasay City. The convention would end on Friday.
"Your institutions play a vital role in the
values formation of our students, and we in government are pleased to have you
as part of the private education sector, transforming our youth into
God-fearing, goal-oriented, responsible citizens,” the President said.
He expressed hope that the occasion reaffirms
“your commitment to strengthening the curriculum administration and teaching
competencies of your 1,345 member-schools, in response to the challenges of our
globalized milieu.”
"Indeed, the tenets of our faith that are
essential to your collective are also vital to realizing the principles of equality
and fairness, as articulated by our Social Contract with the Filipino
People," the President said. (js/4:46pm)
