Aquino vows support to strengthen country's
business process outsourcing industry
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured on
Wednesday that his administration will continue supporting the country’s
business process outsourcing (BPO) industry to maintain its leadership in the
global market.
In his message during the International Contact
Center Conference and Expo (ICCCE) in Pasay City, he said the future of the BPO
industry lies on the cooperation between the private enterprises, the
government, and the Filipino people.
“We need each other to succeed, and we need to
face these challenges together,” the President said noting that this
partnership allowed the BPO industry to become a model for others, enabling the
industry to move forward in the changing market.
Among the government’s contributions include the
partnership of the Department of Science and Technology and the Commission on
Higher Education with industry stakeholders to boost the Philippines’
competitiveness in knowledge process outsourcing.
The Service Management Program is being
implemented in institutions like the Asia Pacific College, and the University
of Makati, aimed at preparing individuals for a BPO career.
And to enhance the skills of Filipinos, the
government has approached the issues from all levels, the President said. The
implementation of the K+12 program and the increased spending for State
Universities and Colleges will improve the quality of education and help equip
Filipino graduates with the skills they need to be employable, the Chief
Executive said.
The government is also carrying out the Training
for Work Scholarship Program, or TWSP, to address the demands for skills
training in different sectors, he said.
As of August this year, the President said P769
million has been allotted for scholarships specifically for the BPO sector,
both under the TWSP and the Industry-Based TWSP.
More than 26,000 have already graduated from the
program, the President said, adding that 44 percent of the graduates are
already employed.
The government envisions the industry to achieve
or even surpass the estimated 2016 figures of $25 billion in revenue and direct
employment of 1.3 million Filipinos, President Aquino said as he stressed its
enormous contribution to the Philippine economy.
“Behind each success story and achievement you
mark are thousands more Filipinos who are earning a dignified and comfortable
living, more Filipinos who are able to send their children or their siblings to
school, and more Filipinos who are given the chance to find the path to their
success in your respective companies,” he said.
The International Contact Center Conference and
Expo, which has drawn thousands of participants every year, is a flagship event
of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP). CCAP is the
official organization of contact centers in the Philippines. PND (as/6:28pm)
President Aquino declares September 27 as
special non-working day in Malvar, Batangas in celebration of 147th birth
anniversary of Gen. Miguel Malvar
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 27, which falls on Thursday, as a special non-working day in the
municipality of Malvar, Batangas in celebration of the 147th birth anniversary
of General Miguel Malvar.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 457 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on August 14 to give the people of Malvar the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occassion with appropriate ceremonies.
The municipality was named after General Miguel
Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the American Government in
the Philippines in 1902. Malvar was born in Barrio San Miguel, Santo Tomas,
Batangas, on September 27, 1865.
In 1899, the Philippine-American War broke out and
Malvar fought the American forces.
The welfare of his family and loyal soldiers
drove him to surrender to General Franklin J. Bell on April 16, 1902. Months
after this, the Philippine Commission instituted the civil government of the
Philippine Islands.
Malvar returned to his province and pursued his
interest in agriculture. A principled man, he declined the offer for him to
become governor of Batangas. On October 13, 1911, he died of liver ailment in
Manila. His remains were brought to Santo Tomas, Batangas and was buried with
high military honors. PND (js)
Palace confident on resolving issues on new
mining policy
Malacanang expressed confidence that it can iron
out some issues raised by a mining stakeholder in the implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) of the new mining policy of the Aquino administration.
In a press conference in Malacanang on Thursday,
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary
Ramon Carandang said they are closely looking at the concerns raised by the
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines that Section 9 of the IRR is illegal and
might impact on future projected investments in the industry.
The Chamber of Mines has warned that the
government might miss its P16-billion investment target for the mining industry
because of some provisions in the new mining order.
Explaining the government side on the issue,
Carandang said, “Once these issues are ironed out, we believe that we will have
a clear set of rules with little ambiguity that will encourage mining companies
to come in.”
“We’re aware of the concerns and we’re
discussing it in the MICC Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) as to
whether or not those concerns may have some basis.”
The Palace official said the reason why
investments have not come into the mining sector is because of uncertain rules
and policies in the mining sector.
Carandang said the government tries to create a
set of general principles and rules under Executive Order 79, which will allow
more productive and responsible mining operations in the country, adding that
the IRR will refine what is contained in the EO 79.
Carandang also said that the Chamber of Mines
has been appraised by members of the MICC and that the lines of communication
remain open.
“So I don’t see any need for the MICC as a whole
to meet with the Chamber of Mines at this point. Give us time to look over the
concerns that they have expressed and we will do what we can to address them,”
he said.
Bringing the issue to court will also be counter
productive, Carandang noted, adding that the best way to move forward as quick
as possible is to avoid litigation. PND (as/2:54pm)
Aquino to lead the commemoration of 40th Martial
Law anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III will keynote the
Remembering Martial Law and the Struggle for Freedom and Justice event that
will be held at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Diliman, Quezon City on Friday.
The event themed "A Tribute to Martial Law
Heroes and Martyrs" marks the 40th Anniversary of the Martial Law.
Joining the Chief Executive during the event are
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson Dr. Maria
Serena I. "Maris" Diokno, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief
of Staff General Jessie D. Dellosa and Bantayog ng Mga Bayani Foundation
Executive Director Nievelena Rosete.
High school students in Quezon City, NHCP and
Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation officials, representatives from various local
government units (LGUs) and some descendants of the deceased heroes of the Martial
Law will also attend the event.
To honor the people who lived and died in
defiance of the repressive Martial Law regime from 1972 to 1996, a Wall of
Remembrance stands in the corner of Quezon Avenue and EDSA where the names of
the martyrs are inscribed.
"We are commemorating this occasion so that
the Filipino people will learn the lessons gained and always be vigilant in
safeguarding our democracy, the organizers said. PND (js)
