President Aquino says reforms implemented to
re-establish culture of integrity in government has yielded real, tangible
results
After two years in office, President Benigno S.
Aquino III told a private-sector led campaign aimed to promote common ethical standards
among various sectors in society that his administration’s reform program to
re-establish a culture of integrity in government has yielded “real and
tangible results.”
In his speech keynoting the 2nd Integrity Summit
at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City on Tuesday, the President said
these reforms have allowed the government to bolster funding for infrastructure
and social services, which in turn, has propped up the Philippine economic
situation to its highest levels.
“Last year I reported to you the inroads that we
have achieved in terms of re-establishing a culture of integrity in government:
From appointing good people to key posts, reforming our budgeting process, and
fostering transparency in our bidding processes; to urging private entities to
engage more actively in nation-building through corporate social responsibility
and clean, honest, efficient entrepreneurship,” the President said.
He pointed out that because of these reforms
implemented since he assumed office, “we have garnered, so far, eight positive
credit ratings actions, and two of the three major credit ratings agencies rank
us one notch away from investment grade.”
He added that the Philippines now ranks 65th out
of 144 economies in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, a
first for the country since being included in said report in 1994.
“This comes after two consecutive ten-place
jumps in two years-- clearly indicating that we must have been doing the right
thing since we came into office,” the President said.
He added that the country’s targeted gross
domestic product (GDP), the market value of the goods and services produced by
a country, for the entire year is within reach as second quarter figures peg
the country’s growth at 5.9 percent, well above the average market forecast of
5.3 percent and the government’s projection of 5 to 6 percent.
The President noted that because of the
country’s sterling economic performance, the government has been able to
channel these gains into projects and programs that will make the country even
more competitive.
“ Our budget for social services has seen a steady,
upward trend since we took office: 698.8 billion pesos of the proposed 2
trillion-peso national budget for next year have been allocated towards social
services-- 13.9 percent higher than this year's 613.4 billion pesos,” the
President said.
“As for infrastructure: As early as June, we
have already released 73.66 percent of funds for the year's infrastructure
program. That's 151.6 billion pesos out of the 205.8 billion that has been
allotted for this year,” he said.
“We have been channeling the budget into
investments in our people ---in education, health, poverty alleviation, and
infrastructure--- because we recognize that sustaining our economic momentum
requires a citizenry that can compete in the global arena,” the President said.
The 2nd Integrity Summit, with the this year’s
theme “Driving Culture Change,” gathers experts and authorities to present ways
on how to strengthen ethical business practices and institutionalize them so
that “business with ethics” becomes the country’s norm, rather than the
exception. The event dovetails with the President’s battle cry – “Kung walang
corrupt, walang mahirap.”
The summit was organized by the Makati Business
Club and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, in partnership
with the Management Association of the Philippines, American Chamber of
Commerce, and the Asian Institute of Management. PND (rck)
President Aquino says government is working
diligently to come up with 'creative solutions' to all challenges
President Benigno S . Aquino III said on Tuesday
that his administration is working diligently to come up with “creative
solutions” so that all challenges may be addressed” in the shortest possible
time.
In his speech keynoting the 2nd Integrity Summit
held at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City on Tuesday, the President
said that he would rather solve problems than just pass it on to the next
person.
“I am faced with a choice: I can just kick the
can down the road, and let the next set of leaders deal with this problem. After
all, the politically prudent thing to do would be not to rattle the cage, not
to make any noise about something that is, at the moment, not yet an issue,”
the President said.
“But as a friend of mine said, my mindset and
the way I do things, is not very typical of politicians. I prefer to pick up
the can rather than kick it down the road. I’m here to solve problems, and I
believe a person of integrity is also a person of foresight—he will not pass on
a problem to someone else when he can solve it himself,” he added.
“So that is why my administration is studying
creative solutions to all of these challenges, and hopefully we can find a way
to make these problems gone in the shortest possible,” the President said.
The 2nd Integrity Summit, with the this year’s
theme “Driving Culture Change,” gathers experts and authorities to present ways
on how to strengthen ethical business practices and institutionalize them so
that “business with ethics” becomes the country’s norm, rather than the
exception. The event dovetails with the President’s battle cry – “Kung walang
corrupt, walang mahirap.”
The summit was organized by the Makati Business
Club and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, in partnership
with the Management Association of the Philippines, American Chamber of
Commerce, and the Asian Institute of Management. PND (rck)
Aquino declares September 26 as special
non-working day in the municipality of Naval, Biliran province in commemoration
of its 152nd Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 26 which falls on a Wednesday as a special (non-working day) in the
municipality of Naval in the province of Biliran in commemoration of its 152nd
Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 464 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on August 29 to give the people of Naval the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
In 1860, Naval, once named Bagasumbol, became an
independent parish that was eventually recognized as an independent town.
Naval is the capital municipality of Biliran.
PND (js/1:21pm)
Aquino instructs DILG to continue dismantling
private militias and ensure peaceful 2013 elections
President Benigno S. Aquino III instructed newly
appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas to continue
dismantling private armed groups in the Philippines as the country prepares for
the 2013 midterm election.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG), with the supervision of the late
Interior and Local government secretary Jesse Robredo, has been carrying out a campaign
to disband private armed groups in the country.
“Early this year ang napag-usapan diyan ay
merong 80 armed groups, halos nangalahati na ang mga na-dismantle na private
armies. In fact, kasama din ‘yan doon sa mga marching orders kay incoming DILG
Secretary Mar Roxas na ituloy ang pagdi-dismantle sa mga private armies na
‘yan,” Valte told Palace reporters.
Amnesty International has urged the government
to revoke Executive Order 546, which it said allowed private militias to
operate since 2006.
But Valte clarified that EO 564, signed by
former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, doesn’t explicitly allow local
government officials or politicians to have their own private militias.
Amnesty International had earlier noted that the
government must immediately prohibit and disband private armies and
paramilitary forces responsible for election-related attacks particularly in
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). PND (as/2:31pm)
SWS survey indicates radical progress in
government fight against corruption since 2009
The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey
of Enterprises on Corruption showing that the fight against corruption has
radically progressed from 2009 is an indication that the business sector
recognizes the results of the Aquino administration’s relentless drive against
corruption.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail F.
Valte issued the statement on Tuesday following the release of the preliminary
report of the 2012 SWS Survey of Enterprises on Corruption.
"Based on interviews of 826 company executives
representing large, medium and small enterprises, 71% see less public sector
corruption now compared to the previous administration," Valte said citing
the SWS survey conducted from July 16 to September 14.
"Of all the government institutions rated
for sincerity in fighting corruption this year, the Office of the President
shot up the most, from -37 in 2009 to +81 this year, an improvement of
+118," she noted.
The 2012 SWS Survey of Enterprises is the tenth
in a series since 2000, the last survey being in 2009. The 2012 round has the
largest sample size (target 950 companies) and broadest area coverage (National
Capital Region, Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Cagayan de
Oro-Iligan, and, for the first time, Metro Angeles and Metro Iloilo) of all ten
rounds, according to the SWS in a statement.
"Indeed, the President leads by example and
the Filipino people see in his leadership the embodiment of positive change and
honest public service. This is indicative of the overwhelming trust,
confidence, and support in the President as he undertakes anti-corruption
initiatives. In the eyes of the business community, good governance is good
economics," Valte said.
"The mandate of reform is one of hope,
change, and the belief that corruption is at the root of our country’s social
ills," Valte said.
Valte said the results of this survey affirm the
Aquino administration’s commitment to pursuing the straight and righteous path
throughout the public sector – from Malacañang to Barangay Halls that serve our
people.
The 2012 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption was
supported by the Australian Agency for International Development through The
Asia Foundation. The survey was done in partnership with the Makati Business
Club’s Integrity Initiative program and the National Competitive Council. PND
(js)
NEDA board approves education, health-related
projects
The National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) board chaired by President Benigno S. Aquino III approved on Tuesday
several projects concerning education, health care and trade.
Among the projects approved by the NEDA board
include the modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center worth P5.6
billion that will be implemented starting next year until 2015.
The board also approved the P3.9 billion Basic
Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM). The project will be
implemented by the Aquino government starting this year until 2018.
Other projects approved conditionally by the
NEDA board were the P8.9 billion Development Objective Agreement between the
Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America on Family Health
to be implemented starting this year until 2017.
The board also gave its nod to the P2.7 billion
Additional Financing for the WB-based Second Land Administration and Management
Project (LAMP-2). This project will be implemented in three years, starting
this year until 2015.
The projects were approved on the condition that
the breakdowns of the amount will be validated.
Aside from these projects, the NEDA board also
approved the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature 2012, which is part of the
efforts of ASEAN to harmonize tariff structures among member countries.
Likewise, the board approved the 9th Regular
Foreign Investment Negative List, which is a regular review of the foreign
investment negative list that will be valid in the next two years.
The members of the NEDA board met Tuesday
afternoon in Malacanang. PND (as)
President Aquino to honor exemplary state
workers in Malacañang Wednesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will honor this
year’s newest batch of exemplary state workers in ceremonies to be held in
Malacañang on Wednesday.
The President will lead in conferring the
Presidential Lingkod Bayan, Dangal ng Bayan and Pagasa Awards to government
employees for their dedication and outstanding performance in the completion of
their jobs.
Awardees include former DILG Secretary Jesse M.
Robredo (posthumous); Governor Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas; Mayor Oscar
Rodriguez of San Fernando City, Pampanga; retired Police Chief Superintendent
Arturo G. Cacdac, Police Deputy Director General; B/Gen. Romeo T. Tanalgo,
Chief of the AFP Command Center; Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III of Balanga
Bataan; and Mayor Cesar C. Carolina Sr. of Maragusan, Compostela Valley.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) administers
the Honors Awards program (HAP), an annual undertaking that rewards and
recognizes public officials and employees for outstanding performance and/ or
contributions and for consistent ethical behavior.
The goal of the Honors Awards Program is to
motivate and inspire state workers to improve the quality of their performance
and instill deeper involvement in public service.
The awarding ceremony for the 2012 Outstanding
Public Officials and Employees is one of the highlights of the 112th Philippine
Civil Service Anniversary celebration.
Joining the President will be CSC Chairman
Francisco Duque III. PND (rck)
