President Aquino extols non-government
organizations as partners of government in nation building and development
President
Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the non-government organizations as partners of
government in nation building and development during rites commemorating the
20th anniversary of the Caucus of Development Non-Governmental Organization
(CODE-NGO) Networks held at the Skydome of SM North Edsa in Quezon City on
Thursday.
In his speech keynoting the event, the President
called the civil society organization-members of CODE-NGO as “pillars of good
governance” who act as “bridges” connecting the people and government through
their active participation in his administration’s reform program.
He said that NGOs serve as the eyes and ears of
government in getting the pulse of the nation and how to effectively address
its needs and wants.
“Isa po sa mahalagang bunga ng mapayapang
rebolusyon sa EDSA ang pag-usbong ng ating Non-Government Organizations. Sa
pagbagsak ng diktadurya, bumangon ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag at lumawak ang
pakikibahagi ng mamamayan sa mga isyung panlipunan. Dito tumingkad ang diwa ng
sama-samang pagkilos upang maisakatuparan ang mabubuting adhikain para sa
bayan,” the President said.
“Sa ating administrasyon, isa kayong matibay na
haligi ng mabuting pamamahala. Mga mata kayong nagbabantay laban sa katiwalian;
mga taingang nakikinig sa suliranin ng taumbayan; at mga tinig na inihahayag
ang saloobin ng mga naisasantabi sa lipunan,” he added.
This year’s celebration coincides with the
holding of CODE-NGO’s 5th Congress themed “Breaking Barriers in Civil Society’s
Constructive Engagement for Development.”
It is considered the largest gathering of civil
society leaders in the country which includes six national networks and six
regional networks, representing more than 1,600 development NGOs, peoples’
organizations and organizations nationwide and serves as the culmination of
CODE-NGO’s 20 years of influencing public policy and contributing to increasing
the effectiveness of civil society’s social development work in the country.
CODE-NGO holds its Congress every 5 years, to
evaluate its work for the past years and set its directions for the future.
This year’s congress will approve the coalition’s Strategic Plan for the next
five years.
Joining the President were Budget and Management
Secretary Florencio Abad, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon
Soliman, CODE-NGO chair Andrea Patricia Sarenas and Peace Process Secretary
Teresita Deles. PND (rck)
Aquino urges non-government organizations to
help in choosing next set of leaders in coming polls
Citing
their invaluable role as partners of government in nation building and
development, President Benigno S. Aquino III called on the non-government
organizations, particularly those belonging to the Caucus of Development NGO
(CODE-NGO) Networks to help in guiding Filipinos choose the next batch of
leaders in next year’s mid-term elections.
The President, in his speech keynoting the 20th
year anniversary and 5th Congress of CODE-NGO held at the Skydome of SM North
Edsa in Quezon City on Thursday, said that these civil society organizations
can help Filipinos make an informed choice of whom to vote for as they are now
familiar with his governing style as compared to past administrations.
“Sa Mayo, muli tayong haharap sa sangandaan na
huhubog sa ating kinabukasan at kasaysayan. Bukod sa pagbabantay ng mga balota,
maging gabay sana tayo ng mamamayan sa pagpili ng mga itatalagang pinuno,” the
President said.
“Sa matagal na panahon, nasadlak tayo sa
pag-iisip na pare-pareho lang ang lahat ng gustong maglingkod sa gobyerno. Pero
nakita ninyo ang pagkakaiba ng estilo ng aming pamumuno, sa dinatnan nating
status quo. Hahayaan ba nating pamunuan tayong muli ng mga kawatan at
nanlalamang? Huwag naman po sana,” he stressed.
He said his administration’s ability to
implement government reforms in just two years in office was made possible
through the efforts and support of the people who believe in treading the
straight path and are concerned with proper governance.
“Sa susunod na mga taon, tiyak na mas mapipintog
pang bunga ang ating mapipitas kung iisa pa rin ang direksyong ating tinatahak.
Sa tulong ng ating NGOs, kompiyansa akong patuloy tayong makakapagpunla ng magandang
bukas para sa Pilipinas at sa Pilipino,” the President said. PND (rck)
Malacanang says state of emergency in
Maguindanao remains in effect to ensure peace and order in the province
As the
country commemorates the third year of the Maguindanao massacre on Friday, the
Aquino government said the state of emergency in Maguindanao remains in effect
to ensure the peace and order situation in the province.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday that at present the
government sees no reason that would warrant to lift the state of emergency in
the province.
Former president and now Pampanga Representative
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City under
a state of emergency on November 24, 2009, a day after the massacre occurred in
Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. The massacre claimed the lives of 58 civilians,
most of them mediamen.
The country commemorates on Friday, November 23,
the third year of the Maguindanao massacre which was dubbed as the bloodiest
single-day killing in the country’s electoral history.
Lacierda said the government has yet to receive
requests from the local government officials to lift the state of emergency in
the province.
"During the first year (of Aquino's term),
December of 2010 if I remember it right, we had a meeting with the local
government officials of Mindanao. And there was a discussion as to whether to
lift it or not, the common consensus of the local government leaders, and I
include also the Governor of Maguindanao, Governor (Esmael) Mangudadatu, they
recommended that the state of emergency be maintained," Lacierda said.
"Now that there’s upcoming elections also,
there is no call from them to lift the state of emergency and I think that is
still the position taken by the local government officials there. So the state
of emergency, as of this briefing, is still in place and to ensure peace and
order in the area of Maguindanao, especially in these coming elections," he
said.
Lacierda said Interior and Local Government
Secretary Manuel Roxas has already identified Maguindanao as one of the fifteen
provinces in the priority election watchlist.
President Benigno S. Aquino III remains
committed on his promise to provide protection for the witnesses and the
victims’ relatives, Lacierda said.
He also said that the administration is doing
everything in its power to serve justice for the slain victims of the massacre
and appealed to the judiciary to expedite the trial.
"As to the others, in terms of hastening or
expediting the judicial process, we have time and again made our plea to the
judiciary to expedite the process, without of course sacrificing due process.
Hopefully, with the appointment of Justice Marvic Leonen in the Supreme Court,
they can find a way to answer the plea of the massacre victims," Lacierda
said. PND (js)
Aquino government attributes new record high set
by Philippine Stock Exchange index to country's sound fiscal and economic
fundamentals
The
Aquino government attributed the new record high set by the Philippine Stock
Exchange index (PSEi) to the country's sound fiscal and economic fundamentals
in the midst of economic turmoil in the world.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday after
the PSEi set a new record Wednesday.
Amid bullish sentiments, the index increased by
0.61 percent or 33.60 points, to 5,534.18 points, the reports said.
"We hope that the trend will still
continue. It shows that our fiscal and economic fundamentals are sound. That’s
the reason why we have renewed strength and vibrancy in our stock
exchange," Lacierda said.
"This is a sentiment shared not only by the
foreign investors, not only by the credit rating agencies, but also by the
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde. So, the
Philippines is an investment oasis in the midst of economic turmoil in the
world," Lacierda said.
"The PSEi high yesterday of 5,534.18 is the
administration’s 50th high," Lacierda said. PND (js)
