Aquino cites Department of Agriculture and
PhilRice for improving country’s efficient use, distribution of rice
SCIENCE
CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija) President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the
Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)
for leading the government’s quest for rice self-sufficiency.
In his
speech read by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the President thanked the
DA and PhilRice for adhering to the Aquino administration’s battle cry of
“Tuwid na Daan” (straight path), particularly for their efforts to improve the
country’s efficient use and distribution of the staple through the development
of rice varieties more palatable but resistant to pests and forces of nature.
“Kung
dati milyon-milyong tonelada ng bigas ay nabubulok sa mga warehouse dahil sa
maling pamamalakad, ngayon dahil sa tapat at tamang pamamahala, hindi lamang
rice self-sufficiency ang habol natin kundi, kung pakikisamahan tayo ng panahon
sa 2013, tayo na din ang mage-export ng bigas,” the President told participants
who attended the 27th anniversary of PhilRice which coincided with the formal
launching of 2013 as the "National Year of the Rice."
“Nagawa
natin ito dahil may mga kabalikat tayong walang ibang hangad kundi baguhin ang
tiwaling kalakaran. Nagawa natin ito dahil sa loob ng 27 taon, hindi bumitiw
ang PhilRice sa mandatong bigyan ng mahusay at sapat na binhi ng palay ang mga
Pilipino,” he added.
“Nagawa
natin ito dahil sa buong dedikasyon ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura na humanap ng
iba-bang solusyon upang tumaas ang produksyon at kita ng ating magsasaka at
mangingisda. Nagawa natin ito sa likas na sipag at sigasig ng ating lahi,” the
President concluded. PND (rck)
Aquino renames Caticlan Airport in Panay Island
in Aklan to 'Godofredo P. Ramos Airport'
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has renamed the Caticlan Airport in Panay Island, Aklan
to "Godofredo P. Ramos Airport" in honor of the former Aklan
Congressman, Governor and Court of Appeals Justice.
The Chief
Executive renamed the seventh busiest airport in the country by virtue of
Proclamation No. 500 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa on November
7.
Ramos was
called the Father of Aklan because as a congressman, he authored House Bill No.
334, proposing the separation of Aklan from Capiz.
The bill
was approved by the House of Representatives on May 9, 1955 and was later
approved by the Senate on April 16, 1956. It was finally signed by President
Ramon Magsaysay as Republic Act No. 1414.
"The
renaming of Caticlan Airport to 'Godofredo P. Ramos Airport' is in recognition
of his dedication to public service and unwavering commitment to the
development of the Province of Aklan," President Aquino said. PND (js)
President Aquino underscores need for country’s
leaders to seek God’s help to achieve sustained economic growth
President
Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the need to seek God's help in leading the
nation to achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth.
In his
speech at the opening day of the Asia for Christ Movement (AFCM) Mission
Congress 2012 held at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International
Convention Center, along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Tuesday, the Chief Executive
acknowledged God's intervention to help the country's leaders in initiating
changes in the fulfillment of their aspiration for the country’s stability and
prosperity.
"Aminin ko sa inyo ho, nung nagumpisa
kami sa ating panunungkulan eh talaga hong bigay ang katapusan ng bawat araw sa
dismaya na natutuklasan natin na mga problema na kailangan ayusin," the
President said.
The
President said he is seeking God's guidance in dealing the issues and concerns
of the country and the Filipino people.
"At
ang naaalala ko lang nga ho, siguro ngayon lalo na napatingkad, na kada nga ho
sitwasyon kung saan binibigyan tayo ng kalbaryo natin o ang mga mabibigat na
problema, eh talagang binibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang Diyos na tayo’y
tulungan at ipakita, number one... ipaalala, na tao ka, mayroon kang
kakulangan," he stressed.
"Sa
lahat ng nangyayari sa ating bansa, ako na siguro ang unang aamin... Ito ba ay
dahil nga ba sa napakagaling ko? Hindi naman siguro.... Ako ba ay napapaligiran
ng mas magagaling pa sa akin? Nakakatulong po iyon... pero maski naman
magaganda ang plano natin, maski na honest ang ginagawa natin, maski na
talagang nagsumumikap tayo... pero hindi po tayo pinagpapala... eh wala naman
rin pong mangyayari. Pero magtiwala ka at hindi mo kaya, sagot ka Niya,"
the President said.
He cited
the congregation's long track record of Christian services and civic work that
has inspired many of the Filipinos in their pursuit and continuing journey of
national transformation.
"Nakakagalak talagang nakikita kayong
lahat dito, nagkakasama sa pananampalataya at pagtitiwala sa kapangyarihan ng
pagdarasal," the President noted.
During
the event, the President was prayed over by the church leaders led by Brother
Eddie C. Villanueva, chairman of the AFCM and Spiritual Director and
International president of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide.
Among
those who participated during the event were Dr. Dexter Low, vice chairman,
AFCM; Bishop Dan Balais, National Director, Philippines for Jesus Movement,
National chairman, Intercessors for the Philippines; Bishop Leo Alconga, National
chairman, Philippines for Jesus Movement, Treasurer, AFCM; Dr. Andrew Liuson,
chairman, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, and Rev. Reuben
Seevaratnam, Senior Pastor, Global Harvest, Malaysia, among others. PND (js)
President Aquino says pilot of ill-fated Piper
Seneca plane that killed DILG Secretary Robredo failed to adhere to aviation
industry's standards
President
Benigno S. Aquino III said the pilot of the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane that
killed Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo failed to
adhere to the aviation industry's standards that affected the air worthiness of
the aircraft which crashed off the coast of Masbate on August 18.
Citing
the initial findings of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP),
President Aquino noted pilot error and the plane operator's insufficiency of
experience as factors that affected the air worthiness of the plane.
"Heto po ang resulta ng imbestigasyon:
Bagaman marami ang nagsabing ekspertong piloto si Captain Jessup M. Bahinting,
wala siyang angkop na karanasan at kasanayan sa one-engine inoperative
emergency. Malinaw ito nang nabigo niyang panatilihin ang ligtas na paglipad ng
eroplano nang iisang makina na lamang ang gumagana," he said during the
press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.
President
Aquino said evidence showed that the pilot committed errors on that fateful
day.
"Bukod dito, dalawampu’t tatlong minuto
matapos silang mag-take-off sa Mactan, batid na ng piloto na palyado ang
kanilang makina, subalit sa halip na bumalik, tumulak pa rin sila sa Naga.
Inabot pa sila ng pitumpung minuto sa himpapawid bago ang kanilang pagbagsak.
Ibig sabihin, kung agad silang bumalik sa Mactan, mataas ang posibilidad na
naiwasan ang aksidente," he said.
"Pangalawa,
taliwas sa Piper Seneca Flight Manual Procedures for twin-engine planes ang
pagbababa niya ng landing gear at flaps kahit na hindi tiyak kung aabot sila sa
runway ng Masbate," he said.
Aviatour’s mechanics, who maintained the Piper
Seneca, were not authorized to conduct any form of maintenance on the aircraft,
the President noted.
Based on
a number of documents collected by the investigation panel, the President said,
apparently Aviatour’s has allegedly been in connivance with one inspector from
CAAP to violate regulatory requirements.
"Nobyembre 2011 nang pinalitan ang
right-hand engine propeller ng bumagsak na Piper Seneca di umano. Upang matiyak
na ligtas sa paglipad ang eroplano, nag-file ng propeller overhaul report si G.
Nelson Napata, ang Director for Maintenance ng Aviatour’s noong Enero, na agad
namang inaprubahan ng CAAP Airworthiness Inspector na si G. Fernando Abalos.
Ayon sa aircraft test flight report ng CAAP, nabigyan ng test flight clearance,
inabot ng isang oras ang test flight, at “satisfactory” ang kondisyon ng Piper
Seneca," he said.
"Subalit ayon sa isinagawang
imbestigasyon, walang record sa aircraft logbook ang nasabing test flight. Wala
ring nakatalang flight plan dito, ayon sa Mactan International Airport. Malinaw
po ang ginawa nilang panlilinlang at pandaraya. Ang naging kabayaran: buhay ng
tatlong tao," he said.
Aquino
vowed to rid corruption in the industry and to hold those responsible
accountable for their acts.
The
President tasked the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC),
the CAAP, and other concerned agencies, to continue strengthening and
expediting the reforms for the aviation industry. He directed the re-auditing
of all the permits and licenses approved by CAAP.
"At
kung may makita tayong dumaan sa shortcut at lumabag sa mga nakasaad sa
Philippine Civil Air Regulations, agad po nating babawiin," he said.
President
Aquino said the administration is now studying and enhancing the regulations in
the management of Flying Schools, Air Taxis, approved Maintenance
Organizations, and other groups related to the country’s aviation industry.
He,
likewise, directed the DOTC and the CAAP to craft new mechanisms that will be
more strict in implementing industry regulations.
"Ayaw na nating mangyari ang ganitong
trahedya sa kahit kanino. Wala ni sinuman sa atin ang gugustuhing mawalan ng
magulang, ng anak, o ng kaibigan dahil lamang sa katamaran, pagkukulang, o
panlalamang ng iba. Higit sa luha’t pagluluksa, higit sa mga parangal at
pagkilala, tiyak pong mas makabuluhan, at mas gugustuhin ni Jesse kung may
matutuhan tayo sa trahedyang sinapit niya. Huwag nating hayaan na mapunta sa
wala ang kaniyang pagkawala," he said. PND (js)
