Aquino declares September 7 a special
non-working day in Cavite City
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 7 which falls on a Friday as a special (non-working) day in the city
of Cavite in celebration of its 441st Founding Anniversary.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 462 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on August 25, to give the people of Cavite City the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
In 1571, Cavite City was given a royal
encomienda or land grant by Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi. (js)
Aquino appoints Roxas new DILG chief; Abaya as
DOTC secretary
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced Friday
the appointment of Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas as the new head of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government following the death of
Secretary Jesse Robredo two weeks ago.
In a televised message, the President said he
picked Roxas to head the DILG because he is confident that Roxas can continue
the reforms spearheaded by Robredo.
President Aquino said he had a lot of
instructions to Robredo and the former DILG chief has handled sensitive and
confidential matters and a competent successor must fill the post.
A replacement must have the ability to respond
to the calls of the local governments and the national police leadership to
make sure that the said agencies could move towards the right direction, the
President added.
“Tama lang naman po na ang pinuno ng isa sa mga
pinakamatandang partidong pulitikal sa bansa ang makikipag-usap sa mga
pulitiko. Sino pa nga ba ang sasalamin sa lahat ng katangiang ito kundi ang
Pangulo ng aming partido na si Kalihim Mar Roxas. Itinatalaga natin siya ngayon
bilang bagong kalihim ng Interior and Local Government,” he said.
The President has also given Roxas the freedom
to bring in members of his team to the DILG and its attached agencies to ensure
better public service.
Because Roxas is vacating the Department of
Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the Chief Executive also announced the
appointment of Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya to replace him at the DOTC.
Abaya’s academic background as well as his
experience in local politics qualified him to handle the DOTC post, the
President said.
Abaya is a graduate of Philippine Science High
School, became a Philippine Military Academy entrance exam top notcher. He
studied at the US Naval Academy; got a master’s degree in engineering at
Cornell University and had also taken law at the Ateneo Law School.
Putting a wrong person at the DOTC may
compromise government plans and projects there, the President continued, adding
that huge and technical projects must be handled by somebody he trusts.
“Kumpiyansa tayong maipagpapatuloy ni Jun ang
mga proyekto sa DOTC. Hindi malilihis ng landas ang ahensya, at magsisilbi pa
siyang mabuting ehemplo para sa lahat ng kawani nito,” the President said.
At the same time, the President asked the
Commission on Appointments in Congress to immediately confirm Roxas and Abaya
so that the two could quickly assume their posts.
“Sa pagtatalaga natin kina Mar at Jun,
kumpiyansa tayong higit pang mapapabilis ang pag-usad natin sa tuwid na daan.
Nananalig tayo sa suporta ng taumbayan upang matiyak na malampasan natin ang
mga hamon na atin pang haharapin, at siguruhing hindi na kailanman aatras sa
baku-bakong kalakaran ang ating bansa,” he said. (as/2:55pm)
