President Aquino
arrives in Auckland
AUCKLAND,
New Zealand) President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived at the Aerobridge 5,
Auckland International Airport Monday to begin his two-day engagement here
filled with meetings with state leaders and attendance to business forums on
top of his other activities.
President
Aquino took the Philippine Airlines flight PR001 from Manila which landed at
exactly 11:15 a.m. (New Zealand time), 45 minutes earlier than scheduled.
He was
welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia Benavidez and Minister
Giovanni Palec of the Philippine Embassy in Wellington.
“Sa
pagbisita ng ating pangulo dito lahat kami ay excited kasi lahat nararamdaman
ng mga kababayan natin dito kung gaano ka-importante sila sa ating pangulo at
gaano sila kalapit sa puso ng ating pangulo. Bakit? Dahil ang kauna-unahan
niyang gagawin paglapag niya dito sa Auckland…ay makipag-panayam at makasama
ang ating mga kababayan,” Benavidez said.
The
Filipinos just had a grand reunion to celebrate this occasion hosted by
Noblejas’ group in cooperation with the Council of Auckland Filipino
Organizations and the New Zealand-Philippines Business Council, according to
the ambassador.
“Malaking
bagay ang planong pagpunta ni President (Aquino) dito kasi mas lalong
makikilala ang lakas ng Filipino; na hindi kami abandoned; na they (are)
continuously looking after our welfare kasi ‘pag may mga problema Philippines
pa rin ang tumutulong,” Noblejas said for his part.
At
present, New Zealand has around 36,000 Filipinos comprising one percent of its
total population and its largest Filipino community can be found in Auckland
numbering to more than 23,000, according to the Philippine Embassy here.
After his
engagement with the Filipino community, President Aquino will grant an
interview with Radio New Zealand before concluding the day with a private
dinner at the SkyCity Grand Hotel where he is billeted
President Aquino to keep a busy schedule in New Zealand
AUCKLAND,
New Zealand) President Benigno S. Aquino III will keep a busy schedule during
the second and final day of his visit here on Tuesday before embarking on
another trip to nearby Australia.
The
President will begin his day by delivering a speech and fielding questions from
top business executives of various New Zealand-based companies at SkyCity
Auckland Convention Center.
He is
expected to be given a ‘vote of thanks’ by Minister Maurice Williamson
(Minister of Customs and Minister for Building and Construction, Customs,
Statistics, and Land Information) before signing a memorandum of understanding.
Thereafter, the President shall hold a
business meeting with the Energy Development Corporation and Alliance Select
Foods International, Inc. at the SkyCity Grand Hotel.
He will
then depart for Wellington where he will be given arrival honors and welcome
ceremony that is usually accorded by the host country to the visiting
heads-of-state at the North Lawn Government House.
President
Aquino will sign the guestbook and attend a diplomatic reception before holding
his bilateral meetings with Governor General Jerry Mateparae and Prime Minister
John Key respectively.
Shortly
after their meetings, President Aquino and Prime Minister Key will sign
bilateral agreements between the Philippines and New Zealand as well as answer
questions from the media in a joint press conference.
President
Aquino will then proceed to the National War Memorial for a wreath-laying
ceremony to be followed by a courtesy call from David Shearer, the leader of
the opposition, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Wellington.
The
President will cap his day with an attendance to the state dinner hosted by
Governor General Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae at the Ballroom of the
Government House before heading towards the airport to begin the Australian leg
of his trip. PND (hdc)
Potential investments in agriculture, tourism
eyed in President Aquino's state visit in New Zealand
AUCKLAND,
New Zealand – Potential investments in the sectors of agriculture and tourism
are among the targets of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s two-day state visit
here thus expanding the economic relationship between the Philippines and New
Zealand.
In a
press briefing here, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic
Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang said President Aquino will witness
agreements to be signed between business groups on top of a few executive
agreements that the Chief Exexcutive will sign himself.
Carandang
said one of the main purposes of President Aquino’s state visit here is to
“link up our businessmen with those from New Zealand” so as to raise the level
of awareness of its people when it comes to having economic ties with the Philippines.
"They are quite surprised to learn, for
example, that the Philippines is probably the third or fourth largest market
for their milk products. So we have a very thriving economic relationship with
New Zealand but the problem is people here are not very aware of these economic
links,” he said.
“So isa
sa mga gusto nating mangyari, if we are able to hookup our businessmen with
their businessmen, ay lumawak pa ‘yung trade natin para medyo makabawi tayo
because we sell maybe about one third of what they sell to us,” Carandang
added.
A
business delegation from the Philippines including those involved in the
agri-business sector were with the President’s trip to engage in potential
business ventures with their counterparts.
"Agriculture ang malakas so there will be
some agri-business exploration. They’ll be exploring agri-business ventures
between New Zealand and Filipino companies. They are also very big on
geothermal company. The Philippines, as you know, is one of the biggest
producers of geothermal power in the world so there may be opportunities for
the Philippines and New Zealand companies to get together and cooperate on
things like that,” Carandang continued.
Carandang
noted that the Philippines hopes to learn more from New Zealand which is known
for its dairy and agricultural products hence Agriculture. Secretary Proceso
Alcala is part of the President’s official delegation.
"There are technologies that they employ
dito sa domestic dairy industry nila na pwede natin matutunan.
There are
also Filipino workers in the dairy industry here na tumutulong sa mga New
Zealand farms. So there’s a lot we can learn from the exchanges with the dairy
industry,” he stressed.
On the
tourism front, Carandang said the governments of New Zealand and the
Philippines will be working towards the improvement of their people-to-people
exchanges through a visitor exchange program.
"Let’s wait for the agreements to be
signed before I give you the details. But, in broad strokes, we will provide
opportunities for Filipinos to come here, get to know the country, and for New
Zealanders to come to the Philippines and also to get to know the country,”
Carandang said.
"Dito sa mga people-to-people exchanges
umaasa tayo na lalawak ang tourism both ways. Kasi naghahanap din sila ng
turista mula sa Asia. Ang mga tourist na nagpupunta sa New Zealand mostly
Australian and American. Alam naman natin naghihirap ‘yung ekonomiya nila
ngayon so gusto rin nilang makakuha ng turista mula sa Pilipinas,” he said
further.
Carandang
pointed out that while the 36,000 Filipinos living in New Zealand may help
promote the Philippines, their number is considered ‘relatively small’ so that
a government push for this bid would be better.
"The
President will meet with the Filipino community here so I’m sure he’ll talk to
them about that. … Katulad nga ng sinasabi ni Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez,
the best ambassadors for tourism in the Philippines are the Filipinos living in
other countries… 36,000 is pretty small ‘pag tiningnan mo kunwari sa Australia
where you have more than 200,000. Pero we’re the fastest growing group here, so
it pays for us to increase awareness din,” Carandang explained.
Carandang, also said that Filipinos working
and residing n New Zealand are happy, who he said, seem to be well-adjusted
already to its living conditions.
"Well-adjusted sila, masaya sila, maganda
naman ang kita nila. Wala tayong masyadong issues dito sa mga Filipinos in New
Zealand. Of course, we’re very happy to see that they’re well-adjusted and that
they’re doing well and that they continue to support their families at home.
This is a country where Filipinos have been treated very well,” he said. PND
(hdc)
Official 'Facebook' page of Malacanang Palace by
Presidential Museum and Library launched Monday
The official Facebook page of Malacañan Palace
by the Presidential Museum and Library was launched on Monday in advance of the
sesquicentennial (150 years) of Malacañan Palace next year, a Palace official
said.
"Dubbed 'Malacañan Palace' the Facebook
page features a rich heritage from its beginnings as a riverside rest house
owned by the Rocha family to its establishment as the seat of power where
Spanish and American Governors-General held office, and as the official
residence of the presidents of the Philippines," Presidential Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda said in a statement during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Monday
Published in conjunction with the Presidential
Museum and Library website (www.malacanang.gov.ph) and the Presidential Museum
and Library Tumblr account (tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph), Lacierda said these
online resources are part of the mandate of the Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) as official custodian of the
institutional memory of the Office of the President.
Lacierda said the initiative is aimed at
harnessing social media to share the history, residents, traditions, and legacy
of Malacañan Palace to a diverse online audience.
Through Facebook, Lacierda said the citizens
online can contribute their own pictures and memories of the Palace thereby
harnessing the Internet as a space for remembering.
"This way, Malacañan Palace is opened to
the public through inclusive and people-centric social media," he said.
As of Monday, the Malacañan Palace page already
has 1,177 likes which is indicative of a strong interest in the project. PND
(js)
Aquino declares every third week of October as
‘Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week'
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared the third week of October of every year as
the “Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week” to underscore the important
role of the Filipino professionals in nation-building and development.
The Chief
Executive issued the declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 487 signed by
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on October 2.
"The
Philippine Association of the Professional Regulatory Board Members, Inc.
(PAPRB), which is a non-stock and non-profit corporation registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is composed of incumbent and past
chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and members of the Professional Regulatory
Boards (PRBs) under the administrative control and supervision of the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)," the President said.
The PRBs
and PRC regulate the practice of forty-six (46) professions comprising 3.2
million Filipino professionals.
"The
skills and competencies of Filipino professionals have to be developed in order
for the Philippines to become more globally competitive," the President
said.
The
PAPRB, in cooperation with the PRC, PRBs and other stakeholders, held the First
Professional Summit on October 18-19, 2012 at the Manila Hotel, with the theme,
“Convergence of Professionals for Nation-Building and Global Competitiveness.”
The
President called on all registered and licensed professionals to give their
full support for the observance of the “Philippine Professionals
Competitiveness Week.” PND (js)
Palace welcomes
Commander Bravo's support for Mindanao Peace
Malacanang welcomes the statement last week
issued by one of the Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts’ (MILF) field commanders
expressing support to the newly signed Framework Agreement between the Muslim
separatists and the government.
Commander
Bravo, one of MILF’s renegade commanders, called on the critics of the
agreement to support it before making any unnecessary comments on the peace
pact.
Bravo was
one of the MILF rebel leaders who attacked several towns in Mindanao when the
high court rejected an agreement reached by the MILF and Arroyo government a
few years ago.
“We
welcome a statement like the one issued by Commander Bravo. Ang mahalaga kasi
niyan pag-aralan nang maayos itong Framework Agreement. Nakasaad doon kung
anong magiging agreements, ‘yung framework for peace. So certainly, we
welcome—at least Commander Bravo is giving pjeace a chance where war used to
reign,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on
Monday in Malacanang.
Asked by
reporters how the government would deal with Bravo because he is wanted by the
law, Lacierda said the Palace is leaving the issue with chief government chief
negotiator Marvic Leonen to thresh out.
The
government and the MILF signed on Monday last week the Framework Agreement that
will put an end to 40 years of Muslim rebellion in the south.
The
signing was attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Malaysia Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim and
other partners.
Both the
government and MILF negotiators will go back to Malaysia to iron out the
annexes of the agreement and to come out with a comprehensive peace pact before
the end of the year.
President
Aquino is expected to issue an order creating a Transition Commission that will
work on the implementation of the peace deal. PND (as/2:36pm)
Malacañang says Aquino government remains
optimistic that amendment to Anti-Money Laundering Act would be passed by
Senate
The
Aquino administration remains optimistic that the Senate will pass the
amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) after the Philippines managed
to avoid falling into the black list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday
following reports that the Philippines remains on the gray list of the
Paris-based FATF.
The FATF
set October 19, 2012 as the deadline for the Philippine lawmakers to pass the
third amendment. However, the amendment was not passed before the Senate
adjourned last Oct. 17.
"Well, there was a deadline given to us.
In spite of the deadline given to us they decided to retain us in the gray list
and our AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) has informed them that there’s the
legislative process that is going on," Lacierda said.
"And
the President (Benigno S. Aquino III) has already mentioned in his FOCAP
(Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines) speech that he believes
that the third tranche of the amendments would pass. So we’re just waiting for
the Senate to deliberate on the third tranche of the amendments for
AMLAC," he said.
Lacierda
stressed the importance of the passage of the amendment in order to improve the
country's laws against money laundering and terrorist financing.
"We
were given until February to pass the third tranche of the amendments," he
said.
Last
June, the Philippines was upgraded from “dark gray” list to “gray” list by the
FATF.
A dark
gray listing means a country is not making sufficient progress against money
laundering and terrorist financing. On the onher hand, the gray list signifies
that a jurisdiction is making sufficient progress in the global campaign
against money launderers and terrorists.
The
Philippines will continue to contribute to and support for global efforts
against money laundering and terrorist-financing in keeping with its commitment
to good governance and upholding peace and order. PND (js)
Former rebels joining politics good for the
country, Malacanang says
Former
rebels entering politics is good for the country’s democracy, the Palace said
on Monday as it welcomed the participation of some leftist personalities in the
2013 election.
“We have
always maintained that a non-violent participation in the political mainstream
would certainly be welcomed from whatever sector you come from whether from the
extreme right or from the extreme left,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda
said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
“Because
you acknowledged the legitimacy of the process, you acknowledged the existing
laws and therefore, any participation from previous rebels identify with either
extreme left or extreme right would certainly be welcomed to us,” he added.
Lacierda
was commenting on reports saying Randall Echanis, a former political detainee
during the Marcos, Cory Aquino and Arroyo governments, is running for a post
representing the Anakpawis party-list.
Echanis,
63, is the deputy secretary general of the national peasant group Kilusang
Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). He is a peasant organizer and advocate for more
than 40 years.
Echanis
was previously arrested but freed under the Joint Agreement on Security and
Immunity Guarantee (JASIG). The military said it has information saying Echanis
is a ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader but the leftist group claims that
he is a consultant to the National Democratic Front (NDF). PND (as/3:41pm)
