Philippines gets Europe’s backing in protecting
Filipino seafarers, Aquino says
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he advanced
the interest of the country’s seafarers during his attendance to the 9th Asia
Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Laos this week.
In his arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport Terminal 2 Tuesday evening, the President said he had a
discussion with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso concerning the plight of more than
91,000 Filipino seafarers manning European-flagged vessels.
The Philippines is concerned on a possible
blacklisting of the European Union, which will surely affect Filipino seafarers
and their families, the President said.
The President noted that the previous
administration neglected adhering to maritime rules mandated by the Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) of the European Commission.
“Ipinaalam natin sa mga pinuno ng EU na
doble-kayod tayo para makamit ang mga pamantayan ng European Commission at ng
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA),” the President said.
For the country to cope with the European rules,
the Chief Executive said he signed Executive Order no. 75 instructing the
Department of Transportation to make sure that Philippine maritime institutions
follow the guidelines set by the STCW.
Because of government initiatives, the
Philippines remains in the European Commission’s maritime whitelist, the
President said adding that he will see to it that the country will continue to
be included in the whitelist in the next EMSA audit.
“Ipinabatid natin ang kontribusyon ng
libu-libong Pilipinong seaman sa shipping industry ng European Union at ng
buong mundo, at ang potensyal na pagbulusok ng industriya kung mawala ang
masisipag nating kababayan na sumasagwan para sa pag-unlad nito,” President
Aquino stressed.
Around one-fourth of the world’s seafarers come
from the Philippines.
According to the President, Norwegian Prime
Minister Jens Stoltenberg praised the Philippines for its reforms and pro-poor
initiatives.
There are around 17,500 Filipinos manning
Norwegian-owned, -managed, or -operated ships, compelling Norway to invest in
putting up training centers to hone the skills of Filipino seafarers, the
President said.
At the same time, Norway made a commitment to
assist the Philippines to make sure that it gets the nod of the European Union
maritime audit.
Aside from hiring Filipino seamen, Norway
currently needs a huge pool of manpower especially in the medical sector and
the Philippines could seize this opportunity, the President said.
Norwegian companies are also active in investing
in the country’s stock market, he added.
The President joined 51 other leaders comprising
the ASEM member countries in the two-day meeting in Vientiane, Lao People’s
Democratic Republic this week. PND (as/11:57pm)
Aquino says ASEM member-countries voice support
for development of Mindanao
Member-countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) have committed to further support the development of Mindanao following
the signing of the Framework Agreement for peace last month, President Beningo
S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.
The President arrived at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport Terminal 2 Tuesday evening from a two-day attendance to
the 9th ASEM held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
In his arrival statement, the President said
leaders of ASEM have praised the Philippines for forging the Framework
Agreement for Mindanao peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“Nasa inisyal na bahagi pa lamang po ang
kasunduan natin sa MILF, ngunit ang mga kaibigan natin, sunud-sunod ang nais na
ipaabot na tulong, habang ang matagal na nating katuwang, dodoblehin pa raw po
nila ang kanilang pagtulong,” the President stressed.
Aside from the peace deal with the Muslim
separatists, the ASEM member-countries expressed their admiration for the
Philippines, particularly in its reform initiatives, saying they want to take
part in the transformation of the country, he added.
In his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda, the President said the discussion centered on the clear rules
in the West Philippine Sea as well as the peace in Mindanao.
“Nagpasalamat din tayo sa bansang Hapon sa
kanilang ambag upang masimulan ang kasunduang pangkapayapaan sa Bangsamoro,” he
said noting the importance of Japan’s contribution in the peace process,
particularly his Narita meeting with MILF top leaders in August 2011.
Japan, along with the UK, Turkey and Saudi
Arabia, comprises the International Contact Group (ICG), established in
December 2009 to pursue lasting peace in Mindanao.
Aside from Japan’s participation in the Mindanao
peace effort, it is also a major partner of the Philippines in defense
cooperation and anti-poverty campaign, he said.
The Philippine government and the MILF signed on
October 15 the Framework Agreement, which lays down the groundwork for the
final and enduring peace in Mindanao.
Present during the signing were President
Aquino, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak. PND (as/12:57pm)
Aquino declares Nov. 23 as special non-working
day in Benguet in commemoration of its 112th Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
November 23, which falls on a Friday, as a special (non-working) day in the
province of Benguet in commemoration of its 112th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No.485 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on October 4 to give the people of Benguet the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
In November, 1900, the Provincial Government of
Benguet was officially established by virtue of Act No. 48. PND (js)
Aquino cites contribution of country’s
neurologists in government’s public health program
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the
contribution of the country’s neurologists in helping the government advance
its goal of improving public health.
"The human mind is the great frontier of
scientific inquiry. Your field’s endeavor to elucidate its workings is
encouraging, especially as it contributes to our shared agenda of improving
public health, one of our primary concerns in empowering the citizenry,"
the Chief Executive said in his message to the Philippine Neurological
Association on the occasion of its 34th Annual Convention on Wednesday.
The association is holding its four-day 34th
Annual Convention with the theme: "Molecular Targets and Therapy in
Neurology" at the Camp John Hay Convention Center in Baguio City. The
convention started on Wednesday (November 7) and would end on November 10,
2012.
"Through this convention, you help extend
the boundaries of neurology and secure for our people the opportunity to live
fuller, more meaningful lives," President Aquino said, adding that the sector
is one of the government's important allies in nation-building.
"It is through efforts such as this that
our Filipino doctors remain at par with the best in the world. May your
gathering be guided by the standards of integrity, professionalism, and excellence,
which have distinguished the Filipino in the diverse disciplines of science and
medicine," he said. PND (js)
President Aquino congratulates Obama on his
re-election
President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulated
United States (US) President Barack Obama on his re-election Tuesday
(Wednesday, Manila time) against Republican rival Mitt Romney.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the President extended his
congratulations to President Obama by sending a letter to the White House on
Wednesday afternoon.
Obama became the second Democrat, after Bill
Clinton, to win a second four-year White House term since World War II.
"In his letter, the President of the
Philippines recalled how four years ago, President Obama’s message of hope
resonated with the American people and the world, marking the beginning of the
long road back for one of the world’s greatest countries," Lacierda said.
"President Aquino wrote that the American
people, in giving a new mandate to Mr. Obama, have trusted him to stay the
course, move them forward, and to continue harnessing the voices and ideas of
the American people," Lacierda said.
"The President also wrote that in their
encounters, it has been easy for the presidents of both nations to understand
each other given the common set of aspirations they have for their respective
peoples—inclusive growth and renewed prosperity," Lacierda stressed.
As a treaty ally and strategic partner of
America, Lacierda said, President Aquino told the US President that the
Philippines looks forward to deepening the cooperation between the two
countries in his second term.
"The President closed his letter by expressing
best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Obama and their family, and to the American
people," Lacierda said. PND (js)
