President Aquino leads ceremonial signing of 2013
General Appropriations Act in Malacanang
President
Benigno S. Aquino III led the ceremonial signing of the P2.006-trillion 2013
General Appropriations Act (GAA) in ceremonies held in Malacanang on Wednesday.
Dubbed
the Empowerment Budget, the 2013 GAA was signed into law by President Aquino at
the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace.
The 2013
National Budget aims to give the Filipinos more opportunities for governance
engagement by investing in strategic programs and projects that spotlight the
citizens' role as economic movers.
Next
year's national budget is P2.006 trillion, about 10.5 percent higher than this
year's budget of P1.816 trillion.
Of the
2013 budget, the lion's share will still go to social services, most notably to
the Department of Education (P232.6 billion), the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (P56.3 billion) and the Department of Health (P51.1 billion).
Meanwhile, the economic development will also
be supported by next year's budget for Capital outlay which rose to P325.5
billion and through the implementation of the infrastructure programs under the
Department of Public Works and Highways which will receive P155.5 billion.
The 2013
GAA was crafted with the aim of investing significantly in the people's
capabilities by prioritizing funding for public services that provide jobs,
educate our youth, ensure a healthier citizenry and empower each Filipino to
participate in economic activity.
For his
part, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said that expenditures
next year are expected to sustain or even levels posted in 2012. He also
stressed that the improved budget execution and project implementation may help
drive further growth in the country next year.
"The
2013 GAA was crafted together with civil society groups and communities
on-the-ground, who gave us tremendous insight on the ways through which we
could reconcile our citizens' needs with the government's expenditure
plan," Abad said.
Also in
attendance were Senator Franklin Drilon, Senator Edgardo Angara, House Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. Budget
Secretary Florencio Abad, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, Deputy Speaker Lorenzo
Tañada, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, and 1st district, Negros Oriental
Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong.
Other
members of the Cabinet, House of Representatives and leaders from the business
sectors, civil society partners for the Budget process also attended the event.
PND (js)
President Aquino says 2013 General
Appropriations Act is designed to create more opportunities for Filipinos to
participate in governance
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the
P2.006-trillion 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is aimed at pursuing
"empowerment" by creating more opportunities for Filipinos to
participate in governance.
In his
speech during the ceremonial signing of the 2013 GAA held at the Rizal
Ceremonial Hall of Malacanang Palace on Wednesday, the Chief Executive said he
signed the 2013 national budget which he calls the "2013 Empowerment
Budget" in order to fulfill his administration's Social Contract with the
Filipino people.
"Noong ika-24 ng Hulyo ng taong ito,
isang araw matapos ng aking ikatlong State of the Nation Address, inihain natin
sa Kongreso ang panukalang “Empowerment Budget of 2013.” Dinisenyo natin ang
Budget na ito bilang instrumento upang maibalik sa mamamayan ang kapangyarihang
panghawakan at itakda ang sarili nilang kapalaran," he said.
The
President said the 2013 Empowerment Budget was anchored on five principles,
namely, greater and deeper commitment to the Social Contract, accelerated
completion of priority program targets, stronger government accountability to
perform, fiscal transparency for faster and clearer results and deeper
participation in public expenditure.
The
President assured the Filipino people that every peso of the 2013 GAA spent
would be used wisely.
"Sa
araw pong ito, hindi lamang natin isinasabatas ang bawat pisong planong
gastusin ng pamahalaan sa taong 2013, higit pa sa mga numero’t legal na
probisyong nakasaad sa makapal na librong atin pong pinirmahan kanina,
paniniwala natin na nakapaloob sa pambansang gugulin na ito ang mga adhikain ng
mamamayang Pilipino," he said.
"Ipinagkatiwala ng mamamayan sa atin ang
pangangasiwa sa bawat pisong buwis na kanilang pinaghirapan, kaya marapat
lamang na gamitin natin ito para sa ikauunlad ng kanilang buhay. Ipinapakita
natin sa budget na ito ---nasa poder tayo hindi para atupagin ang pansariling
interes, kundi para siguruhing bumubukas ang mga pintuan ng pagkakataon para sa
taumbayan, lalo na sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan," the President said.
President
Aquino also thanked the legislators for their efforts to come out with an
improved national budget.
"Ginawa ninyong posible muli ang maagang
pagsasabatas sa budget, kasabay ng inyong pagganap sa iba pang mahahalagang
trabaho sa Kongreso, kabilang na ang pagpapasa ng Sin Tax Reform, at ang
pagtalakay sa Responsible Parenthood Bill. Siyempre po, inaasahan nating
lalapag sa aking mesa upang malagdaan ko ang mga batas na natukoy sa lalong
madaling panahon, preferably this year," he said.
"Napatunayan po natin ---walang
imposible, kung ang tanging isinasapuso natin ay ang interes ng taumbayan.
Ngayon naman, sa ikatlong pagkakataon, nasiguro nating muli ang maagang
pagsasabatas sa ating budget. Kung sa nakaraang rehimen ay naging kalakaran ang
baluktot na proseso ng reenactment, ngayon po, sinasabi natin: posibleng bumuo
ng bagong tradisyon ng maagap na pag-aapruba at pagpapatupad sa pambansang
gugulin," he said. PND (js)
President Aquino hosts Christmas Party for Metro
Manila street children in Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III played Santa
Claus to 1,500 street children from Metro Manila by hosting a grand Christmas
party at the grounds of Malacañang’s Kalayaan Hall on Wednesday.
The
President laid out the red carpet for the street children, aged between six and
16 years old, by providing them with food, drinks and gifts of school supplies,
Noche Buena food packs and various footgear, in order to bring the festivity of
the Christmas season nearer to them.
In his
speech, the President said his Administration was working towards improving the
Filipino way of life by providing them, especially children, with opportunities
they can take advantage of to bring prosperity into their lives.
He said
he did not want the children to experience the dark feeling of despair and the
oppressive curtailment of basic rights and privileges he and his family as well
as countless other Filipinos experienced during the Martial Law years.
“Ayaw
naming maulit pa sa inyo ang dinaanan naming pahirap at pasakit sa mga panahong
iyon ... kaya ginagawa namin ngayon ang lahat, hindi lang para magkaroon kayo
ng magandang buhay bilang bata kundi upang maitaguyod din ang inyong magandang
kinabukasan,” the President said.
“Tinutulungan namin ang inyong mga magulang na
magkatrabaho, at arugain ang kalusugan ng inyong pamilya. Gusto naming
paunlarin ang inyong kaalaman at magkaroon kayo ng maayos na hanap-buhay
paglaki ninyo,” he added.
He said
his government has poured in more resources to improve the education system in
the country so that children like them can receive decent education that will
be their tool to a better tomorrow.
“Kaya
tinututukan namin ang mga classroom, textbook at ang buong sistemang edukasyon.
Higit sa lahat, nagsisikap tayo para magkaroon ng katuparan at magkaroon ng
kabuluhan ang malawakang pagbabago,” the President said.
He
stressed it was the obligation of government to leave the state of the country
better than it was when he first assumed the Presidency.
“…lahat
ng ginagawa namin... hindi naman puro para maisaayos ang lumipas, ang ginagawa
natin para maiayos ‘yung maganda at maisaayos lalo ‘yung kinabukasan dahil
palagay namin obligasyon na iiwan ng ating bansa na ‘di hamak na mas maganda
kaysa sa dinatnan namin,” the President said.
“At kapag
’yon po ay napagtulung-tulungan natin ay palagay ko kumpleto na kami at masaya
na kami sa aming naging buhay basta kayo po ay umunlad at umasenso,” he added.
Joining
the President were Social and Welfare Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky”
Soliman, Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Public Works
Secretary Rogelio Singson, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis
Tolentino, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras,
Higher Education Chair Patricia Licuanan, Peace Process Chair Teresita Deles
and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel
Villanueva. PND (rck)
President Aquino presides over the change of
command of the Philippine Navy
President Benigno S. Aquino III presided
Wednesday the change of command of the Philippine Navy and the retirement
ceremony for the outgoing navy chief.
The
President led the turn-over of the service to Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano as
the new Flag-Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy from Vice Admiral
Alexander Pama.
In his
speech during the event, the President said he expects Vice Admiral Alano to
continue the reforms initiated by Vice Admiral Pama in the Philippine Navy,
particularly the thrust to increase the capability of the navy from internal
and external threats.
“Ang
ganitong uri ng pamumuno ang inaasahan nating ipagpatuloy at higit pang
lilinangin ni Vice Admiral Alano bilang bagong Flag Officer-in-Command ng
Philippine Navy,” the President said.
The
Filipino public expects Alano to defeat the threat of terrorism, to help the
country rise from calamities that hit Mindanao, and to fight corruption in the
service, the Chief Executive said.
Because
of the navy’s dedication to improve itself and prepare the Philippines for
future challenges, the President said, every member of the Navy, as well as the
entire Filipino nation can now be proud of themselves.
The
President praised the Navy for its role in asserting the country’s sovereign
rights in the contested West Philippine Sea, the Navy’s dental and medical
missions as well as its feeding programs and disaster response initiatives.
To
inspire the members of the Armed Forces to do more, the President said, the
government allocated more than P28 billion in one year and seven months of the
administration for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization
Program.
As a
result of the increased budget for the AFP, the country was able to acquire
Hamilton class cutters: the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, and
the locally built BRP Tagbanua.
The
President noted that with the signing of the New AFP Modernization Act last
week, the Philippine Navy could continue to modernize its fleet adding that
under the new government's spending plan, it allotted P75 billion in the next
five years to modernize the AFP.
According
to the President, the government will also continue to provide decent shelter
to the members of the police and military noting that by August next year, he
expects the National Housing Authority to complete the additional 31,200 houses
for police and military personnel.
The
government has so far built 21,800 low-cost housing units intended for the
police and the military, he said.
Among
those who joined the President during the event were Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, and Philippine Coast
Guard Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isoreno.
Born on
May 1, 1958, in Quezon City, Alano is a graduate of the Philippine Military
Academy Class Matapat of 1979. He has served the military for 37 years.
Among the
awards and decorations he has received include three Distinguished Service
Stars, an Outstanding Achievement Medal, a Gawad Sa Kaunlaran and a Military
Merit Medal with Spearhead Device.
Alano is
married to Maria Hildelita, a corporate lawyer. The couple is blessed with two
daughters, Maria Gabriela, 13, and Sofia Lourdes, 12. PND (as)
