Aquino government lauds passage of Responsible
Parenthood Bill
The
Aquino administration lauded the legislators for the passage of the Responsible
Parenthood Bill, paving the way for the Filipinos to raise their respective
families in a manner that is just and empowered, a Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
issued the statement following the passage of the Responsible Parenthood Bill
on 3rd reading at the Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday night.
"The
passage of the Responsible Parenthood Bill signals not only a new chapter in
our agenda of inclusive growth; it also begins a process of healing for the
wounds that may have been opened by an often feisty democracy," Lacierda
said.
The
Aquino administration expressed confidence that positive and meaningful
engagement among the different branches of government will continue, Lacierda
said.
Lacierda
said the administration thanked the legislatures who made a historic vote on
Monday and successfully passed the Responsible Parenthood Bill.
"We
are particularly grateful to Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Majority Floor Leader
Boyet Gonzales; Congressman Edcel Lagman who authored this bill and shepherded
it through for more than a decade; Senator Pia Cayetano, who waged an equally
difficult battle in the Senate; and every legislator who voted for this
measure," Lacierda said.
"They have made it even clearer ---that
the people now have the government on their side as they raise their families
in a manner that is just and empowered," he said.
"As
President Aquino asked, our representatives voted according to conscience.
Discussions regarding this bill were heated and did not lack for passionate
advocates from either side," Lacierda noted.
Lacierda
stressed that the legislators fulfilled their duties with honor when they
crafted a law that can truly address the needs of the people. PND (js)
President Aquino formally installs Purisima as
chief of the Philippine National Police
President Benigno S. Aquino III formally
installed Police Deputy Director General Alan Purisima as acting chief of the
Philippine National Police during the Change of Command ceremonies held at the
multi-purpose hall of Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday.
Purisima,
who served as a member of the Presidential Security Group protecting former
President Corazon Aquino, replaces Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome
who, after serving as Chief PNP for over a year, opted to retire today.
In his
speech, President Aquino lauded Bartolome for his honest and dependable service
which has strengthened the dignity of the police force and, as well as safety
and peace of mind to the Filipino people.
“Nagpupugay tayo kay Director General Nicanor
Bartolome; na sa loob ng mahigit isang taon ng pagiging mahusay na timon ng
Philippine National Police, ay nanguna sa tapat at maaasahang serbisyo,” the
President said.
“Tinanggap niya ang hamong itindig ang dangal
ng ating kapulisan na tanging puso at hindi luho ang pinapairal; kapuwa, at
hindi sarili ang pinagsisilbihan; katuwiran, at hindi transaksyonalismo ang
pinapanigan,” he added.
The
President also thanked Bartolome for his selfless act of retiring early in
order to give Purisima a free hand to prepare for next year’s elections.
“Batid po
ni Nic (Bartolome) ang kahalagahan ng maigting na pagpaplano, at
pagsasakatuparan ng ating mabuting adhikain para sa mas nakakarami. Napaaga nga
po ang kanyang pagbaba sa puwesto upang magbigay daan sa bagong lideratong
nakatakdang magbantay sa darating na halalan. Kaakibat po nito ang sapat na
panahon upang ihanda ang kapulisan para sa malinis at mapayapang eleksyon. Para
kay Nic: Maraming salamat sa pagmamalasakit at pagkukusang pagsilbihan ang atin
pong bayan. Mabuhay ka, Nic,” the President said.
The
President expressed his utmost trust and confidence to Purisima, saying the new
Chief PNP would always side with what is right and good and bring honor and
prestige to the police force.
“Kaya
naman mataas ang kompiyansa kong papanig lamang siya sa tama, at pihadong
makapagdudulot siya ng katangi-tanging pagbabago sa hanay ng kapulisan kumpara
sa sistemang amin pong minana. Dahil nga po sa kaniyang pambihirang
inisyatiba’t paglilingkod—mula sa pagpapanday ng matibay na ugnayan ng pulisya
at ng komunidad, hanggang sa paghihikayat sa pakikilahok ng pamayanan sa
pagsugpo ng kriminalidad—kaliwa’t kanan po ang pagkilala’t parangal na kanya
pong nakamit sa loob at labas ng bansa,” the President said.
He told
Purisima that the first test of his leadership was to show to the people his
dedication to the service by working towards further uplifting the image of the
force.
“Ito nga
marahil ang unang hamon sa inyong bagong liderato: Umaasa ang taumbayan na
maitataguyod natin ang kaayusan mula sa kasagsagan ng kampanya hanggang maidaos
ang halalan. Ito ang layunin ng Secure and Fair Elections o SAFE 2013 na
pinamumunuan mismo ni Deputy Director General Purisima,” the President said.
“Batid
nating sa pamamagitan lamang ng malayang pagboto, malalaman ang totoong pasya
ng sambayanan: Itutuloy ba natin ang pagtahak sa tuwid na daan, o susugal tayo
sa mga umaambang ibalik tayo sa baluktot na sistema?” he added. PND (rck)
President Aquino appeals to all members of
police force to do their part in improving image of Philippine National Police
President Benigno S. Aquino III called on all
the members of the police force to band together and do their part in improving
the image of the Philippine National Police in order to remove the doubts and
speculations clouding the integrity of the country’s premiere police force as a
true and dependable protector of the people.
The
President issued the call during the Change of Command ceremony he spearheaded
which formally installed Police Deputy Director General as acting chief of the
PNP in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday.
“Kung
nais nating mabura ang anino ng agam-agam at pagdududa ng publiko sa kapulisan,
kailangang mag-ambag ang bawat pulis para umusbong ang kultura ng dangal at
kabayanihan sa inyong hanay,” the President said.
“Kailangan ninyong maipabatid na kaligtasan
nila ang itinataguyod ninyo; kailangang makaramdam ng kapanatagan, at hindi
takot, ang publiko sa tuwing nakikita kayo,” he added noting that the PNP’s
“Pulis N’yo Po sa Barangay,” a police-visibility program where 31,600 policemen
have already been deployed to 4,000 barangays nationwide since November, is a
positive step towards this goal.
He
pointed out, however, the need to rid their ranks of rogue cops who taint the
sterling image of the police force with their nefarious dealings, saying that
they will be dealt with the fullest extent of the law.
He warned
that the days of their misdeeds is drawing near.
“Mulat
tayong sa kabila ng mga reporma, may mga kabaro pa rin kayong nagbabahid ng
mantsa sa inyong ahensya. Hindi po tayo makakapayag na ang mga inaasahang
maglingkod sa bayan, ay sila pang pasimuno ng katiwalian,” the President said.
“Sa tuwid
na landas, bawal ang mga parak na nagsisiga-sigaan; bawal ang mga unipormadong
pulis na nagmamaneho nang walang helmet o lisensya pa; bawal ang mga utak
'wang-wang' na sagabal sa isinusulong nating reporma. Kung pulis kang
tumatanggap ng suhol upang ipagkanulo ang kalikasan; kung pulis kang
nagbubulag-bulagan sa ilegal na pagtotroso; kung pulis kang humihithit ng
droga, o nagbebenta pa, o sangkot sa pagnanakaw at pangongotong, bilang na ang
mga araw ninyo,” he added.
“Malinaw
ang atas ko, at hindi optional ang pagsunod sa batas. Oras na mag-krus ang
landas natin, hindi lang n’yo isu-surrender ang inyong tsapa’t uniporme.
Papalitan pa natin iyan ng t-shirt na kulay orange at may malaking letrang 'P'
sa likuran,” the President said. PND (rck)
Aquino appeals for more assistance to typhoon
victims
President Benigno S. Aquino III appealed to the
Filipino citizenry to extend their hands in helping the Mindanao residents
affected by Typhoon "Pablo" that hit the region this month.
“Nanawagan pa rin po ako sa sambayanang
Pilipino: sa panahon ng pighati at pagdurusa, kailangang iparamdam natin sa
ating mga kababayan doon ang pagmamalasakit at pagkalinga,” the President said
during his speech at the Bulong Pulungan Christmas Party held at the Sofitel
Hotel in Pasay City on Tuesday.
“Sa
kabila ng pagkasawi, hinihiling sa ating magbuklod at makiisa sa mga nawalan ng
pag-asa; inaasahan tayong tumulong sa tunay na nangangailangan,” he said.
As the
Christmas approaches, he also asked the filipino people to pray for those who
are affected, so that they could bounce back and restart their lives normally.
The
President said the Bulong Pulungan Christmas Party is a testament of unity in
the country, and the will of the people to assist those who are in need as he
thanked media organizations that raise money for the typhoon victims.
Despite
the differences in views and positions, the President said, the government
respects the press. He also reminded media practitioners that like those in
government, the members of the press are also serving their real bosses—the
Filipino people.
“Lagi
lang sana nating tandaan ang inyong tungkulin sa lipunan ---ang makapaghatid ng
makabuluhang balita at tumpak na impormasyon sa sambayanan. Magkakaiba man ang
mga pinanggalingang pahayagan o larangan, alam kong nasa iisang pahina lang ang
ating adhikain ---ang makapagsilbi sa ating mga 'Boss' —ang taumbayan,” he
said.
Despite
the magnitude of the disaster, the President said, he sees the recent
devastation as a challenge that the country must overcome noting that he’s more
determined to make the people safer against natural calamities.
For
instance, he said, the government now has a more enhanced weather monitoring
system, timely asset repositioning, and a more improved relief and rescue
operations.
In this
connection, the President also vowed to energize the devastated areas before
New Year.
As a
response to the disaster, concerned government agencies are currently working
hard to repair damaged infrastructures, provide relief assistance and restore
electricity in disaster areas.
The
public works and highways department already cleared roads and repaired bridges
so that relief goods could reach the affected communities. PND (as)
Aquino says a united Filipino people makes his
job much easier
A united Filipino public makes his job as
president a lot easier, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.
“It makes
my job that much easier if we are united in whatever endeavor we have to face.
There are problems affecting the world where we cannot be isolated, and we, as
a people, we really march forward as one, and that helps,” the President said
when asked about his hopes for the season during the Bulong Pulungan Christmas
Party in Pasay City.
“That’s
the most personal I can get at this point in time. I want to have realistic
objectives---realistic and obtainable objectives”
The President
also mentioned the RH Bill debates, a divisive issue that was passed in the
third reading by Congress on Monday.
Despite
the heated debates on RH bill, the President said people with opposing opinions
must not treat each other as enemies noting that there are no enemies within
the country on those kinds of issues.
“When it
becomes a law, let us move on to make it… to ensure that all the positive
attributes of the bill is really what happens,” he said referring to RH Bill.
“Between
Filipinos, we shouldn’t treat each other as the enemy, but, rather as people
united by so many ways, among them belong to the same race, it should be
addressing the concerns of those who have less in life, not just these typhoon
victims but everybody else, in the various problems affecting our country and
our society.”
The RH
bill debate isn’t a battle that there are victors and losers, the President
said adding that this is a battle where the country can benefit, especially the
women and children.
“We have
to work to ensure that everybody’s committed to doing that,” he said. PND (as)
Aquino to focus on improving government bonus
granting system, land use issue next year
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he’ll
prioritize ironing out public workers’ bonuses and land use issue next year.
“We were
trying to foster what we call the performance-based bonus. In government
presently, you are rated by your supervisor—you are given the marks—and since
we want to be always ‘nakikisama,’ the least mark for government employees will
be... the supervisor will not give a rating below 'very satisfactory.' So it’s
either 'excellent' or 'very satisfactory',” he said during a forum at the
Bulong Pulungan Christmas Party in Pasay City on Tuesday.,” he said during a
forum at the Bulong Pulungan Christmas Party in Pasay City on Tuesday.
The
President said he wants to change the culture in the bureaucracy by putting a
system in which the workers will determine whether they are entitled for
bonuses or not.
The Chief
Executive said he believes mediocrity is being promoted to the detriment of
those who are really performing a good job.
“The
basic philosophy is ---it is the worker who will determine how much of a bonus
he gets. There’s a limit cap. I think it’s about two and a half month’s pay.
But it will not be your supervisor who determines it. You set up goals. If the
goals are met or exceeded, you are entitled to the full bonus,” he explained.
Currently, there’s an ongoing study on the
issue and the President said he expects it to be completed by October next
year.
The
government will also focus on the land use issue particularly those areas
devoted to agriculture, and industrial purposes, the President said adding that
these also include areas considered uninhabitable and dangerous during
disasters, the President added. PND (as)
President issues Executive Order No. 120
creating Transition Commission that will draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic
Law
President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued an
executive order creating a Transition Commission (TC) that will draft the
proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law in accordance to the Framework Agreement signed
by the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) last October 15.
The Chief
Executive signed Executive Order No. 120 (series. 2012) on December 17 to
provide a mechanism for authentic democratic collaboration in the crafting of a
proposed law where the affected people themselves are actively involved,
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said in a
statement.
The
Executive Order “affirms the President’s resolve to move forward the peace
process for the Bangsamoro as a strategic initiative for political stability
and economic development.”
"The
Preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution articulates the aspiration of the
sovereign Filipino people to build a just and humane society, and establish a
Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common
good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and
a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace," the Chief
Executive said.
President
Aquino said the comprehensive peace process agenda in Mindanao is an
indispensable component to achieve real and inclusive regional and national
development goals.
The
Government entered into the 2012 Framework Agreement that is envisioned to pave
the way for the peaceful resolution of the armed struggle in Mindanao, the
Chief Executive said.
He said
the government acknowledges its commitment to exert all efforts towards
realizing the full implementation of the Framework Agreement.
As
stipulated in the historic Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the
Government and the MILF, a Transition Commission will be constituted for the
purpose of crafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law—the instrument that will establish
the new autonomous entity.
The
Executive Order creates a 15-member Transition Commission that will be
appointed by the President. The Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front shall come up with a list of candidates from among the Bangsamoro and
other residents in the prospective core area of the new political entity.
Under the
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, specifically Article 7, Section 5, the
Transition Commission shall be “composed of fifteen (15) members all of whom
are Bangsamoro. Seven (7) members shall be selected by the Government and eight
(8) members, including the Chairman, shall be selected by the MILF.”
The
Executive Order also provided that the Transition Commission may put up an
office and coordinate with other government agencies and Congress to get its
work done. It has an initial budget allocation of P100 million.
According
to the Executive Order, the Transition Commission may also recommend to
Congress and the people, when necessary, proposed amendments to the
Constitution.
The
Transition Commission shall also assist in identifying development programs
together with the Bangsamoro Development Authority and the Bangsamoro
Leadership and Management Institute—two institutions affiliated with the MILF.
The
Transition Commission can begin its work even as Government and the MILF
negotiating panels are still finalizing the four annexes that will complete the
Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, Deles added.
The commission
may directly coordinate with legislative bodies in order to accomplish its
functions under the Executive Order. It shall cease to operate upon the
enactment by Congress of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Consistent with existing laws, rules and regulations,
the President said all national government agencies, including government-owned
or controlled corporations and government financial institutions may be called
upon to support the Commission in the performance of its functions.
The
commission shall ensure transparency, inclusivity and utmost professionalism in
the performance of its mandate, and shall provide for appropriate and effective
mechanisms for consultations with all stakeholders, as may be warranted.
The
Transition Commission shall organize its Secretariat to be headed by an
Executive Director as may be designated by the Chair. The Secretariat shall
provide administrative and technical support to the Commission. The Commission
and its Secretariat shall hold office in such venue as the Commission may deem
appropriate.
The
commission is authorized to create technical committees and designate members,
and may engage the assistance of experts and professional advisors, subject to
government rules and regulations. PND (js)
