President Aquino lauds municipal mayors who
chose to be with constituents during onslaught of ‘Pablo’
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the
municipal mayors who chose to be with their constituents before, during and
after the onslaught of Typhoon "Pablo" (international codename:
Bopha) which pummeled large portions of Mindanao and the Visayas regions on
Tuesday.
In his speech keynoting the League of
Municipalities of the Philippines General Assembly and induction of the group’s
National Executive Committee at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, the President
said that the mayors’ choice of leading relief and rescue efforts in their area
of jurisdiction showed their dedication and seriousness in performing their
duties and obligations to their constituents.
State weather bureau PAGASA (Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) said in its
bulletin update on Wednesday that the center of typhoon “Pablo” was located at
180 km east of Puerto Princesa City with maximum sustained winds of 130
kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to of 160 Kph. It is forecast to move
west northwest at 24 kph.
It had cut a path of destruction in Mindanao
after making landfall in Davao Oriental on Tuesday.
“Batid ko pong mas marami sanang mga pinuno ang
kasama natin sa pagtitipon ngayong umaga, subalit nabawasan ito dahil ilan sa
mga alkaldeng lumuwas pa mula sa Visayas at Mindanao, ay kinailangang bumalik
sa kani-kanilang munisipalidad upang paghandaan ang pagdating ng bagyong
'Pablo',” the President said as he expressed his heartfelt thanks for their
actions.
“Iyan naman po talaga ang mandato nating mga
lingkod-bayan: nakasalalay ang oras natin sa sitwasyon ng ating mga
nasasakupan, at kung may problemang nagbabanta, kailangang handa tayong
rumesponde sa frontline, at ilayo sa kapahamakan ang ating kapwa,” he added.
“Hindi po ito sakripisyo; ang tawag dito,
tungkulin. Ang tawag dito, obligasyon— na dapat gampanan sa ngalan ng mga
nagtiwala, at patuloy na nagbibigay sa atin ng mandato,” the President
stressed.
This year’s LMP General Assembly, which has for
its Theme: “LMP: Layunin ang Matuwid na Pamahalaan at Pagkakaisa 2012 and
Beyond,” is an important organizational development strengthening event where
LMP-members renew their commitment to the collective and shared goals among all
members and its officers to maintain the LMP as a development oriented
organization whose position and contribution to several national issues and
programs contribute to achieving success in national development.
The President cited the holding of the LMP
General Assembly as it showcased each municipality’s desire to join the
government efforts in improving the lives of all Filipinos.
“Higit sa panunumpa ng mga bagong halal na
opisyales ng League of Municipalities of the Philippines, o sa gaganaping
general assembly ng inyong mga miyembro, sinasagisag ng pagpupulong na ito ang
kahandaan at pagkukusa ng bawat munisipalidad na makilahok sa pagpapanday ng
mga estratehiya't pamamaraan— na magpapabuti sa kalagayan, hindi lang ng
kani-kaniyang nasasakupan, kundi lalo na ng kinabibilangang lalawigan, at ng
buong bayan,” the President said. PND (rck)
President Aquino announces choice of Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio as new Ambassador to China
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced on
Wednesday his choice of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio as the
new Ambassador to China replacing former Ambassador Sonia Brady who suffered a
stroke last August in Beijing.
In an interview after keynoting the League of
Municipalities General Assembly at the Manila Hotel, the President said he
would be submitting the name of Basilio, a senior official at the Department of
Foreign Affairs to the Commission on Appointments as his choice to the highly
sensitive post.
“…we will submit her name to the Commission on
Appointments (and) once they confirm (her), therefore, we can seek the—the
French term is ‘agrément’—parang the agreement for the designation of Usec.
Basilio as our new ambassador to China,” the President said.
The President said he based his decision to
choose Basilio on the recommendation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del
Rosario, adding that Basilio’s “wealth of experience” would show China “how
important” our relations with them are.
“Basically the high recommendations by our
Secretary of Foreign Affairs, given her wealth of experience; given that she’s
already a senior undersecretary sends a signal of how important our relations
are with China and how serious we are in trying to achieve an understanding
with them,” the President said. PND (rck)
P8-billion ready for typhoon 'Pablo' expenses,
President Aquino says
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on
Wednesday that there are “sufficient funds” from which regions affected by
typhoon Pablo (international codename: Bopha) may draw from to fund the
“necessary expenses and emergency infrastructure” such as roads damaged by the
weather disturbance.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the
League of Municipalities of Philippines General Assembly at the Manila Hotel,
the President announced the availability of P8-billion that may be immediately
dispersed with to those affected by Pablo.
He said that the availability of these resource
came from the government’s calamity fund and “revenues from unexpected sources”
such as the recent government sale of the Food Terminal complex in Taguig City.
“So Secretary (Florencio) Abad informed me last
night that there is at least P8-billion ready to take care of all of the
necessary expenses here and also in the necessary emergency
infrastructure—‘yung mga roads that were closed, etcetera, kung may damages.
There is sufficient fund at this point in time,” the President said.
He also reiterated his appeal to Filipinos to
heed storm warnings and vacate the premises if need be.
“Nakikiusap rin ako sa ating mga kababayan
---Kung kinakailangang lumikas, lumikas na po tayo agad. Huwag nang maghintay
pa ng pang-apat, o pang-limang bisita ng mga rescue units bago tayo lumikas.
Buwis-buhay po ang trabaho ng ating mga rescue teams, kaya’t malaking tulong po
kung manatili tayong disiplinado, may kooperasyon at mahinahon habang
isinasalba nila tayo,” the President said. PND (rck)
President Aquino declares December 7 as special
non-working day in San Mariano, Isabela in celebration of its ‘Aggau na San
Mariano’
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
December 7, which falls on a Friday, as a special (non-working) day in the
municipality of San Mariano in the province of Isabela in celebration of the
"Aggau na San Mariano (Araw ng San Mariano)."
The Chief Executive issued the declaration by
virtue of Proclamation No. 509 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa
Jr. on Nov. 21 to give the people of San Mariano the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
San Mariano will celebrate on December 7 its
85th Foundation Day, highlighting the diverse culture of the town's people.
San Mariano became a municipality by virtue of
the Philippines Legislature Act No. 3416 dated December 7, 1927. PND (js)
Aquino government elated over reports that
inflation slowed down to 2.8 percent for November
The Aquino administration expressed elation over
reports that the inflation for the month of November had slowed down to 2.8%
from 3.1% in October, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement following reports that the Philippines' rate of inflation
decreased in November from the previous month, further stimulating the
country's economic growth.
"This comes at a time when the Philippine
economy is growing at a strong 7.1%, contrary to the common notion that rapid
economic growth is usually accompanied by inflationary pressures,"
Lacierda said.
According to the National Statistics Office
(NSO), the easing of inflation is due to stable prices of food and
non-alcoholic beverages, utilities, and transportation.
"This small reduction in inflation brings
the consumer price index from January to November this year to 3.2% or well
within the lower range of the medium-term target of 3-5% set in the Philippine
Development Plan," Lacierda said. PND (js)
