Aquino declares November 23 a special
non-working day in Angono, Rizal in celebration of 'Higantes Festival'
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared November 23, which falls on a Friday, as a
special (non-working) day in the municipality of Angono in the province of
Rizal, in celebration of the "Higantes Festival."
The Chief
Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 503 signed by
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Nov. 15 to give the people of
Angono the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with
appropriate ceremonies.
"Higantes Festival" is celebrated
every November 23 in Angono in honor of the municipality's patron saint San
Clemente. The image of San Clemente, the patron saint of fishermen, is carried
by male devotees during a procession alongside the so-called higantes.
The
higantes are made of paper mache, usually 10 to 12 feet in height and four to
five feet in diameter, and paraded in the town of Angono. PND (js)
Gov’t. allots P11-M for President’s
participation in 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia
The
government has earmarked around P11 million for President Benigno S. Aquino
III’s attendance to the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which will be
held in the Kingdom of Cambodia from November 18 to 20, Executive Secretary
Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Saturday.
The Chief
Executive left Saturday night for Phnom Penh to participate in the regional
conference, accompanied by a 53-member delegation that includes Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary
Jose Rene Almendras, PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., and Socio-Economic
Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
“President Aquino’s participation in the
regional meeting reinforces our firm commitment to promote cooperation, not
only in terms of economic development, but also in maintaining peace in the
region and protecting and enhancing human rights,” Ochoa said.
The
estimated cost of the presidential trip covers the delegation’s chartered
flight to Cambodia, accommodation, transportation, food, and equipment and
telecommunications requirements, among others.
With the
theme “ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny,” the Leaders’ Summit is expected to
finalize the preparation for an ASEAN community by 2015, the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
According
to the DFA, the President will have a series of meetings with his counterparts
from ASEAN and leaders of the East Asian Partners (EAS) to further advance
regional integration and cooperation in the dynamic East Asia.
At the
leaders' meeting, the President is expected to express the country's position
on maritime security and cooperation in the West Philippine Sea, human rights
and protection of migrants workers, among others.
The DFA
also said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will formally open the Summit on
November 18 with the official launching of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and
Reconciliation (AIPR) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RCEP), which establishes an ASEAN-led process for engaging the regional bloc's
dialogue partners.
The DFA
said the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD), which is envisioned as the
ASEAN's articulation of its human rights principles that would serve as the
guiding document for activities aimed at promoting and enhancing regional
cooperation on human rights, is also up for signing during the regional
conference in Cambodia.
Aquino government firms up operational
guidelines to ensure peaceful and orderly 2013 mid-term elections
The
Aquino government started firming up operational guidelines to ensure a
peaceful and orderly mid-term elections next year, a Palace official said on
Saturday.
In an
interview aired over government-run station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday,
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement following
reports that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has already
identified the 15 "high-risk" provinces for 2013 polls.
Interior
and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas said the 15 "high-risk"
provinces for 2013 polls are Abra, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan,
Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Samar, Misamis Occidental,
Maguindano, Lanao del Sur, and Basilan.
The
government has already activated the Task Force SAFE-2013 or Secure and Fair
Elections to ensure a peaceful and orderly mid-term elections in 2013,
according to Valte.
The
Philippine National Police started firming up operational guidelines or the
Letter of Instruction (LOI) to guide the newly-activated Task Force SAFE-2013
in implementing its mandate to help ensure a peaceful and orderly elections.
The
campaign against private armed groups and loose firearms is part of the mandate
of the newly-activated Task Force SAFE-2013.
Another
mandate of the task force is identifying the high-risk areas for the 2013
polls, Valte noted. PND (js)
President Aquino leaves for Cambodia Saturday to
attend 21st ASEAN Summit
President
Benigno S. Aquino III left Manila on Saturday to attend the 21st Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit that will be held in Phnom Penh, Kingdom
of Cambodia from November 18 to 20.
The
President, who was seen off by Vice President Jejomar Binay and members of the
Cabinet that included Public Work Secretary Rogelio Singson, Health Secretary
Enrique Ona, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Transportation Secretary Jun
Abaya, Budget Secrertary Florencio Abad, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda, Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan and Metro Manila Development
Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, boarded a chartered Philippine Airlines
flight PR001 at 7 p.m.
He was
accompanied by a 53-member delegation that consisted of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario,
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Trade
Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Socio-Economic
Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Presidential Communications
Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
In his departure speech delivered before
boarding, the President underscored the importance of the summit, saying this
was one of the rare times when leaders from different countries came together
under one roof to discuss regional and global issues such as maritime security
and strengthening relations with member countries.
“Iilan
lamang po ito sa bibihirang pagkakataon kung saan magbubuklod sa iisang bubong
ang mga pinuno ng maraming bansa. Sa pakiki-panayam sa iba’t ibang bayan, hindi
lamang mga isyu sa rehiyon ang mabibigyan natin ng kaukulang pansin, kundi
maging ang mga usaping may implikasyon sa buong mundo,” the President said.
He said he would take the opportunity to discuss
with his counterparts issues concerning security, piracy and ensuring peace and
stability in the seas surrounding ASEAN.
“Pagkakataon ito upang maiparating ang ating
posisyon sa mahahalagang usapin, at marinig ang mungkahi ng ibang bayan tungo
sa malawakang kaunlaran—sa bansa, sa rehiyon, at sa buong mundo. Ipapabatid
natin ang halaga ng seguridad, pagsisiguro ng kalayaan sa paglalayag, paglaban
sa pamimirata, at pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan at estabilidad sa mga dagat ng
Timog-Silangang Asya,” the President said.
At the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC),
the President said a healthy exchange of information and experience on how to
further strengthen the ASEAN Economic Community would be undertaken.
“Habang patuloy nating pinapaaliwalas ang
kondisyon ng pamumuhay sa Pilipinas, hindi natin kakaligtaan ang ating
tungkulin bilang bahagi ng isang mas malawak na komunidad sa Timog-Silangang
Asya. Sa pakikipag-bayanihan sa mga karatigbayan, tiwala tayong mahahanap ang
tamang solusyon sa mga suliraning kinakaharap ng ating bansa, at patuloy pang
maisusulong ang kolektibo nating hangad para sa kaunlaran ng lahat,” the President
said.
“Sa huli po, sa iisang diwa pa rin nakasandig
ang biyaheng ito: ang muli’t muling maipakilala ang bagong Pilipinas sa buong
mundo—mas aktibo, mas progresibo, at mas handang humarap sa mga hamon ng
panahon. Hatid ito ng tapat at mabuting paglilingkod; hatid ito ng sama-samang
pagpili ng mga Pilipino na isulong ang makabuluhang pagbabago,” he added. PND
(rck)
President Aquino arrives in Cambodia to attend
the 21st ASEAN Summit
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia) President Benigno S.
Aquino III arrived here on Saturday night to join fellow leaders for the 21st
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Summit and Related Summits.
The
Philippine Airlines Flight PR 001 carrying the President and his delegation
touched down at Phnom Penh International
Airport at 8:40 pm.
Among
those who welcomed the President upon his arrival were Cambodian Minister of
Education Im Sothy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Protocol Prak Nguon
Hong, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Philippine Ambassador to
Cambodia Noe Wong.
President
Aquino’s 53-member delegation include Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del
Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,
Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras,
Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
The
President is expected to attend a series of meetings with his counterparts from
ASEAN and leaders of the East Asian Partners to further advance regional
integration and cooperation in the dynamic
East Asia.
He will
also push the country’s position on maritime security and cooperation in the
West Philippine Sea, human rights and protection of migrant workers, among
others.
The President, together with his fellow ASEAN
leaders are also meeting their dialogue partners such as the leaders of the US,
Russia, China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
The
government said it allocated P11 million for the President’s attendance to the
21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which will be held from November 18 to
20.
“ASEAN:
One Community, One Destiny,” is this year’s summit theme. PND (as)
