President Aquino joins National Prayer Assembly in celebration of
55th Anniversary of World Vision Philippines in Quezon City
President
Benigno S. Aquino III joined people of different faiths and religious
denominations during the National Prayer Assembly in celebration of the World
Vision Philippines' 55th Anniversary on Friday in Quezon City.
The Chief
Executive was the guest of honor and speaker during the event dubbed
"Mahal Ko ang Pilipinas National Prayer Assembly" at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The event
gathered people of different faiths and religious denominations to pray for the
country and its leaders led by President Aquino. After delivering his speech,
the President was prayed over by church leaders and other members of the
religious congregations.
In
partnership with the K4 Philippines Prayer Movement, the World Vision said the
prayer assembly culminated its anniversary celebration that had for its theme
“Sharing the Joy of Hope.”
"The
National Prayer Assembly is a way of celebrating our anniversary by committing
to prayers our national leaders headed by the President. We want to have a
transformed Philippines for the sake of the Filipino children," according
to Rev. Joey Umali, Strategic Engagement Advisor of World Vision.
The
program included prayer intentions for the leaders of different government
bureaucracies and departments, non-government organizations (NGOs), overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs), media organizations, the Filipino families, children
and youth and for peace and economic stability of the country.
The
National Prayer Assembly was participated in by various Catholic, Christian and
Muslim congregations and leaders, notably former World Vision Board Chairman
Bishop Deogracias Iniguez; former sponsored-child Bishop Leo P. Alconga of the
Philippines for Jesus Movement, Bishop Jonel Milan, president of K4
Philippines, Prayer Movement, Bishop Fred Magbanua of the Philippine Council of
Evangelical Churches and Sheikh Ahmad G. Ampuan of the Ulama League of the
Philipppines, as well as World Vision celebrity advocate Gary Valenciano, among
others.
Meanwhile, the World Vision Development
Foundation Inc., an international child-focused organization, called for a
massive action to reduce child deaths. The foundation lined up several programs
for its Global Week of Action to be held on November 13-20.
Also in
attendance were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno; Senator Franklin Drilon,
Senator Francis Pangilinan, Samar’s First District Representative Mel Senen
Sarmiento, Deputy Speaker Erin Tañada, Cebu's 6th District Rep. Gabriel “Luigi”
Quisumbing, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas,
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio
"Jun" Abaya, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma, Jr., Presidential Communications Development and Strategic
Office Secretary Ramon Carandang, WVP Board of Trustees chairperson Atty.
Liwayway Vinzons-Chato; WVP Board of Trustees member retired Chief Justice
Reynato Puno, World Vision International South Asia and Pacific Regional leader
Trihadi Saptoadi; World Vision International Global Field Operation partnership
leader Dirk Booy and World Vision Development Foundation Executive Director
Elnora Bailen-Avarientos, among others. PND (js)
President Aquino cites contributions of World
Vision to improve the lives of chilren and poor communities
President
Benigno S. Aquino III cited the World Vision Philippines for its contributions
to national growth, particularly improving the lives of the children and the
poor communities in the Philippines.
In his
keynote speech at the World Vision Philippines 55th Anniversary celebration
dubbed "Mahal Ko ang Ang Pilipinas National Prayer Assembly" held at
the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday, the President assured the
World Vision to support its advocacy to help transform the world's poorest
children and families.
The World
Vision is an international Christian, child-focused, relief, development and
advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families and
communities worldwide to overcome poverty and injustice.
"World Vision has given children a chance
to realize their dreams, while also giving those with resources a chance to
enrich their lives by helping others," the President said.
"Your work has empowered many from
different sectors to defeat the culture of negativity, and replace it with a
culture of compassion. For that, I thank you and congratulate you. I also thank
as well all those who have contributed to your causes," he stressed.
President
Aquino reiterated his administration's commitment to strengthen its programs to
improve the lives of the children and their families."
It is up
to us to show them that Filipino compassion is not seasonal. And through our
work, perhaps we may allow those in the margins to lift themselves and their
families out of poverty, and to one day likewise give to their countrymen in
need, contributing to the virtuous cycle of social good.
The
fulfillment of these hopes depends on our continuous actions today," he
said, calling on the Filipino people to support the country's campaign to
provide children access to food, education and better health service.
The
President said there is a need to seek God’s intervention to lead the country
to achieve progress.
"As
the Gospel of Matthew says: The last shall be first, and the first last. It is
this very idea that World Vision Philippines has taken to heart since its
inception. It is also the idea that serves as our administration’s guiding
star—that true leadership is servant leadership; and that true growth is one
that is inclusive—where no one is left behind," he said.
"Today, we gather to strengthen that
faith, and to pray for our collective hopes. More than that, however, we are
also celebrating an organization dedicated to giving others back their ability
to hope," he noted. PND (js)
Aquino asks government agencies and the public
to work together in addressing malnutrition
President
Benigno S. Aquino III encouraged the people, local communities and government
agencies to work together in addressing malnutrition in the country
particularly the nutritional needs of young children.
In his
address during the 2012 National Nutrition awarding ceremony in Pasay City on
Friday, the President said that while the government has achieved a lot in
fighting malnutrition, there are many challenges that lie ahead.
Part of
the government’s Millennium Development Goals targets is to provide the people
with better nutrition and healthcare, the President said particularly focusing
on underweight children under five-years old.
The
government made significant gains in the past several years, he said noting
that based on the report “Updating of the Nutritional Status of Filipinos” made
by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, from 26.5 percent underweight
children in 1992, the administration was able to reduce it to 20.2 percent in
2011.
While the
chief executive congratulated local government units and national agencies, he
acknowledged the need to achieve the target of 13.6 percent by 2015 and the
government must work harder to reach this goal.
“Marami
na tayong nagawa, ngunit marami pa rin tayong kailangang pagsumikapan. Aminin
po natin, malaki-laki ang atas na maabot ang target na ito,” he said.
“Kaya
naman, hinihikayat ko po ang bawat isa na kung maaari doblehin pa ang kayod, at
pag-igihan pa ang pagtutulungan, para sama-sama nating mapagtagumpayan ito.”
One of
the major strategies is by focusing on the first 1,000 days of each child—from
conception to two years old, the President said.
This
could be achieved by carrying out nutrition counseling for expectant mothers,
preparing them for breastfeeding, putting up lactation stations and by
promoting the regular use of alternative milk.
The President
underscored the importance of providing children with the optimum nutrition in
the first two years of their lives to ensure better foundation of their overall
well-being and health.
The
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the LGUs and
non-government organizations, is continuously implementing supplementary
feeding programs, providing children attending daycare sessions with nutritious
food.
As of
September this year, 581,388 children from 13,268 daycare centers throughout
the country were able to benefit from the program, the President said.
As part
of government initiative to invest in people, he said the DSWD will continue to
carry out the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Beneficiaries will receive government
assistance as long as they comply with the conditions set by the program, the
President said.
The
program yielded good results, from January to August this year, the compliance
rate for check-up or immunization for pregnant women and children is 96.26
percent. For deworming children aged six to 14 years old, the compliance rate
is 99.23 percent, the President reported.
“Ang
bawat hakbang naman po na isinasagawa natin ay nakasandig pa rin sa iisang
layunin ---ang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino, at bigyan sila ng mas
malawak na pagkakataon sa kaunlaran,” he said.
At the
same time, the President called on the parents to guide their children and
prepare them for the future noting the Filipino children will be the nation
builders of tomorrow.
Addressing the nutritional needs of the people
is a paramount concern of the government because unlike other problems, any
delay in solving these problems would have a long term impact on the people and
the country’s ability to develop, the President said.
The 2012
National Nutrition awarding ceremony, organized by the Department of Health, is
aimed at recognizing the contributions LGUs and Barangay Nutrition Scholars in
improving their communities. PND (as/3:54pm)
