President Aquino witnesses signing of Memorandum
of Agreement between DBM, DepEd and GSIS to restore benefits of teachers
President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the
signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement between the Departments of
Budget and Management (DBM), Education (DepEd) and the Government Service
Insurance System (GSIS) in ceremonies held in Malacañang on Tuesday.
The MoA, signed by Budget Secretary Florencio
Abad, Education Secretary Armin Luistro and GSIS president and general manager
Robert Vergara, aims to implement a realistic and equitable solution to the
“chronic issue” of unpaid premiums by restoring the benefits of nearly 800,000
active and inactive employees of the DepEd since July 1997.
Under the agreement, the DBM will settle
P6.92-billion of premium-in-arrears representing the government share and
expedite payment by advancing P3.46-billion or half of the total amount. In
return, the GSIS, through its Board of Trustees, will condone P14-billion of
accrued interest as well as grant a five percent discount on the principal.
GSIS president and general manager Robert
Vergara said that with the signing of this MoA, DepEd employees will soon enjoy
a proportionate increase in their eligible benefits, higher loanable amounts
and potentially, increased retirement benefits.
He added that retired and inactive employees of
DepEd may also receive higher pensions as the GSIS will recalculate their
benefits and refund any amount that was deducted and will adjust their pensions
accordingly.
Joining the President were GSIS chairman Daniel
Lacson, Jr., Senator Edgardo Angara, Manila 6th District Representative Rosenda
Ocampo, and Alliance of Concerned Teachers Partylist Representative Antonio
Tinio, among others.
Also present were Teachers’ Dignity Coalition
chairman Benjo Basas, Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA)
president Mario Ramirez, DepEd-NEU national president Atty. Domingo Alidon and
Manila Public School Teachers Association (MPSTA) president Benjamin Valbuena.
PND (rck/11:34am)
President Aquino to lead ‘Bakas Parangal’
awarding ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will join the
National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council in paying tribute to
the brave men and women whose heroic acts led to the discovery of the late
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo in Masbate City and helped save the lives of
those affected by the recent onslaught of the southwest monsoon in Luzon and
the Visayas last month.
The President, who will be joined by Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos, will lead
in the presentation of Bakas Parangal awards that will be held at the Armed
Forces of the Philippines Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on
Wednesday.
The Bakas Parangal is given in three categories
namely: Bakas Parangal ng Kadakilaan- given to honor the noble service of units
or groups and organizations who participated in rescue efforts despite the
obvious hardships of the situation; Bakas Parangal ng Kabayanihan- given to the
leader of a unit or group that exhibited exemplary acts of heroism; and Bakas
Parangal ng Kagitingan- given to individuals who exhibited extraordinary acts
of bravery by extending assistance to those in need in times of disaster.
The President will present the third category to
the members of Task Force Kalihim and the agencies and private groups who rose
beyond the call of duty to assist their fellow countrymen affected as the
country was pummeled by the southwest monsoon.
NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said the
Bakas Parangal awards would serve as a reminder that the selfless acts during
times of need would not remain unrecognized. PND (rck/1:23am)
Aquino upbeat about continuing reforms at the
Bureau of Immigration
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed the
support of his administration to continuing reforms at the Bureau of
Immigration noting the benefits of these changes to the country’s business and
tourism sectors.
Speaking at the 72 anniversary of the BI at its
head office in Manila on Tuesday, the President said he fully backs BI’s
Development Plan until 2016 particularly by pushing the new Philippine
Immigration Act to protect the country from trafficking in persons,
transnational crimes, illegal drugs and terrorism.
Part of these changes also include building new
facilities for the BI, modernizing the way BI conducts its business and hiring
new personnel to augment the bureau’s services, he said.
“Sa pangunguna nina Kalihim Leila de Lima, at
Commissioner Ricardo David, tiwala tayong sa lalong madaling panahon—diinan ko
lang po—sa lalong madaling panahon, maisasakatuparan ang ating mga adhikain,”
the President said.
“Mahalagang patatagin ang ugnayan ng Bureau of
Immigration at ng mga katuwang nitong ahensya sa ilalim ng Kagawaran ng
Hustisya upang maabot ang buong potensyal ng pagtatanggol at pagbabantay sa
ating bayan.”
The President also reminded the BI leadership
and its employees to always remember that their main obligation is to serve the
people and not themselves, adding the guiding principles of his administration
is to lead the nation towards the righteous path.
The chief executive also made an appeal to the
BI to shun corruption and to do its duty with dedication noting that allowing
criminals to enter and get out of the country conveniently put the Filipino
public at risk.
The President cited the case of South Korean
fugitive Kim Tae Dong who was able to flee last December although there were
immigration officials guarding him at the hospital.
Also, the President wondered how former Palawan
governor Joel Reyes and his brother, suspects in the killing of a radio
commentator, were able to get out of the country despite being well-known
public figures and having highly publicized case.
“Ipakita po sana nating ginagampanan ng Bureau
of Immigration ang kanilang trabaho, at tiyaking hindi makakatuntong ng
Pilipinas ang mga taong tulad nito. Tandaan lang po nating bawat pagkakamali ay
maaaring magdulot ng peligro sa buhay at seguridad ng kapwa Pilipino,” he said.
A reformed immigration system has a lot of
benefits for the country, the President said. With better services from the
Immigration office, the government can easily achieve the 10 million tourist
arrivals it is targeting.
At the same time, he said that by guarding the
country’s entry and exit points, the government can ensure the security of
every Filipino. This will make sure that only those who have good intentions
can enter the Philippines, he said. PND (as/3:41pm)
Malacanang confirms resignation of DILG
Undersecretary Puno 'effective immediately'
President Benigno S. Aquino III has accepted the
resignation of Undersecretary Rico E. Puno of the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) after working for the administration for more than two
years.
“Last Friday, former DILG Undersecretary Rico E.
Puno submitted his letter of resignation to the President, through Executive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. The President has accepted Mr. Puno’s resignation
effective immediately,” Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday.
Puno’s resignation letter was submitted through
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. last Friday, as the President and his
official delegation left for Vladivostok, Russia to attend the 20th Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
In his two-page statement released on Tuesday,
Puno said that he believes he has effectively done his duties and
responsibilities as DILG Undersecretary for Peace and Order, thanking the Chief
Executive for his trust and confidence.
“I believe that I have carried out my assigned
duties to the best of my abilities. Moving forward, I have resigned as DILG
Undersecretary to support the President’s decision to give a free hand to the
incoming Secretary in forming a new team. I wish to thank President Aquino for
his trust and confidence in giving me the opportunity to serve our country and
people,” the statement read.
Puno has been controversial during the past
weeks following allegations that he tried to enter the offices and condominium
unit of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo last
August 19.
The former DILG official said he opted to remain
silent despite all the allegations because he was "duty-bound to act with
restraint and circumspection, even when subjected to personal attacks in the
mass media." PND (as/jcl 5:39 p.m.)
