SWS survey showing high ratings for President
Aquino affirms mandate for change, says Malacanang
The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey
showing public satisfaction for President Benigno S. Aquino III soaring to 77
percent validates the brand of leadership that the Chief Executive has
continuously espoused to achieve significant changes in institutions and
governance, a Palace official said.
The public satisfaction with President Aquino
has rebounded to the highest so far for his administration.
The SWS Third Quarter rating represents an
impressive 14-point jump from the President’s 63 percent satisfaction rating in
the May 2012 Second Quarter survey, according to Presidential Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda in a statement.
"The consistently strong numbers affirm the
President’s mandate for change; they are tangible indicators of the people’s
support for the difficult yet necessary reforms the President has championed
since Day One," Lacierda said.
Since the first SWS Survey on public
satisfaction in September 2010, Lacierda said the President’s ratings have not
dipped below 63 percent and have increased to the current high of 77 percent.
Lacierda said the SWS ratings are indicative of
sustained satisfaction in the performance of the President.
"These results mirror the strong showing of
the Philippines, especially with respect to its institutions and governance, in
the recent Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum. The
international community has recognized the reform initiatives of the Aquino
administration and at home, the embodiment of positive change is President
Aquino himself," he said.
"The results of these surveys, both within
and beyond our borders, validate the brand of leadership that the President has
continuously espoused—of transparency and accountability, of restoring social
trust and rebuilding public institutions, and of honesty and integrity in
public service," Lacierda noted.
The SWS Third Quarter survey involved 1,200
adults nationwide and utilized sampling error margins of ±3% for national and
±6% for area percentages.
President Aquino’s net satisfaction score rose
25 points to a "very good" +67 in the August poll, from the
"good" +42 three months earlier, with 77% of respondents saying they
were satisfied with his performance, up from 63% in May.
"Public confidence and trust in the
President also suggests high morale in a public increasingly empowered, and
itself sustained in its positive feeling about our nation’s direction and prospects
for the future," Lacierda said. (js)
Aquino declares special non-working day in Los
Banos, Laguna to celebrate Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 17 which falls on a Monday as a special (non-working) day in the
municipality of Los Baños in the province of Laguna in celebration of its
Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 451 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on August 9 to give the people of Los Baños, the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Los Baños was originally a barrio of Bay called
Mainit, alluding to the town’s thermal springs.
Los Baños became a municipality on September 17,
1615. The town's present name is derived from the Spanish word for "the
baths.” (js)
Government earmarks P15.3-M for Aquino's trip to
Russia for APEC Summit
The government is spending some P15.3 million
for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s official trip to Vladivostok, Russia to
attend the gathering of world leaders for the 24th Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Summit from September 7 to 9, Executive Secretary Paquito N.
Ochoa Jr. said on Friday.
President Aquino left Friday afternoon for
Russia along with a 66-member delegation that includes Foreign Secretary Albert
Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo,
Energy Secretary Rene Almendras, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio
Balisacan, PAGCOR Chairman Cristino Naguiat Jr., and Presidential Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda.
Philippine Ambassador to Moscow Alejandro
Mosquera, Presidential Protocol Chief and Presidential Assistant on Foreign
Affairs Miguel Perez-Rubio, and Foreign Undersecretary for International
Economic Relations Laura Del Rosario are also part of the presidential
delegation.
The expenses cover accommodations,
transportation, food, and equipment, among others, for the President and his
official party.
The Russian Federation hosts this year’s meeting
of the leaders of the 21 member-economies, with the theme “Integrate to Grow,
Innovate to Prosper.”
President Aquino is expected to participate in
the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue, one of the highlights of
this year's 20th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM).
The Chief Executive is also expected to hold
bilateral talks with other heads of states on the sidelines of the two-day
leaders' meeting.
According to Foreign Undersecretary Laura Del
Rosario, the Philippines is set to announce in Russia that it will host the
APEC summit in 2015.
Aquino sees fruitful outcome of his Russia trip
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he hopes
for a fruitful outcome of his trip to Vladivostok, Russia as he joins other
world leaders in the 20th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic
Leaders’ Meeting.
In his pre-departure statement at the Ninoy
Aquino Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Friday,
President Aquino said he will seize the opportunity to invite more investors to
come to the Philippines as the reforms he has initiated started to take root
making the country more conducive to business.
“Masigasig nating ilalatag sa APEC ang mga
oportunidad sa Pilipinas, nang lalo pa silang mahikayat na magnegosyo sa atin
pong bansa. Bawat kapital na naipapasok nila sa ating bayan ay dagdag na
pundasyon para sa mas matibay na kinabukasan ng ating mamamayan,” the President
said.
“Makakaasa kayong sa ating pakikiisa sa APEC
Economic Leaders Meeting sa Russia, ilalaan natin ang ating bawat minuto para
ilapit sa katuparan ang ating mga pambansang pangarap. Hindi po magbabago ang
ating panata: sa bawat paglalakbay natin, walang ibang nagtitimon kundi ang
makapagdala ng mabuting balita sa ating pagbalik sa bansa,” he added.
The President said he will join the APEC
Business Advisory Council to talk trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific
region for the benefit of the country.
Aside from forging stronger economic tie-ups
with other APEC-member countries, the Chief Executive also highlighted the
importance of joining world events such as the APEC meeting, saying it would be
a perfect venue to discuss current global issues affecting the international
community of nations.
“Mahalagang makibahagi sa ganitong pagtitipon
dahil mulat tayong walang isang bansa sa mundo — gaano man kadambuhala, o
kaliit sa mapa — ang kakayaning umusad nang mag-isa. Namumuhay tayo sa isang
daigdig na dapat lamang pagsaluhan ng lahat ng mga bansa. Habang tinutugunan ng
bawat nasyon ang kani-kanilang hamon at pangangailangan, ang katuparan ng
pandaigdigang kaunlaran ay posible lamang kung sabay at nagkakaisa ang lahat sa
pagsagwan,” President Aquino said.
Present during the send-off ceremonies were
government officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Franklin
Drilon, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines
Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa and Philippine National Police chief Police
Director General Nicanor Bartolome.
Also present were members of the cabinet that
include Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala, Higher Education Secretary Patricia Licuanan, Science
and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima,
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Transportation
and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Metro Manila Development
Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,
Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon
Carandang and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
“Sonny” B. Coloma Jr., among others. (as/jcl/3:00 p.m.)
