Malacanang says Philippine economy grew by 7.1
percent in third quarter this year
The
Philippine economy grew by 7.1% in the third quarter this year beating
government targets and besting other Southeast Asian economies, a Palace official
said on Wednesday.
"Among our neighbors the country’s GDP
(Gross Domestic Product) growth was higher than Indonesia’s 6.2%, Malaysia’s
5.2%, Vietnam’s 4.7%, Thailand’s 3.0%, and Singapore’s 0.3%," Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement during the regular press
briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
"This impressive expansion from 3.2% in
the same quarter last year, places the country’s nine-month growth rate at 6.5%
and on track to surpass the 5-6% full year growth target set by the National
Economic Development Authority," he said.
The
Philippine economy has shown both resilience and resurgence despite the global
economic slowdown, Lacierda said.
Lacierda
said the 7.1-percent GDP growth in the third quarter was made possible due to
sustained confidence in the leadership of President Aquino who has consistently
equated good governance with good economics.
"Underscored by deft fiscal management,
responsible and transparent public spending, and a continuously strengthening
partnership between government and business has resulted in a virtuous cycle
for the Philippine economy," Lacierda noted.
"Government has also pushed to ensure
this economic growth is felt by the broadest number of people. Within the same
nine-month period, the Aquino administration has enrolled more than three
million beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer program and has
distributed P20 billion for this priority social investment," he said.
On top of
this, Lacierda said, the spending for public health has also increased
resulting in an expansion of health care safety nets and improvements in
hospitals and health centers all over the country.
"Equitable and inclusive growth is a
commitment of the Aquino administration that has prioritized the establishment
of both social and physical infrastructure, which continues to redound to a
more robust economy for the benefit of all Filipinos," Lacierda said. PND
(js)
President Aquino declares December 9 as National
Anti-Corruption Day
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared every December 9 as National Anti-Corruption
Day to raise public awareness on issues of corruption.
The Chief
Executive issued the declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 506 signed by
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on November 16.
President
Aquino said the General Assembly of the United Nations Convention Against
Corruption (UNCAC) has designated December 9 as international Anti-Corruption
Day.
The
Republic of the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Convention
Against Corruption, the President noted.
"It
is recognized that corruption poses serious problems and threats to the
stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of
democracy, ethical values and justice, and jeopardizing sustainable development
and the rule of law," the President said. PND (js)
Philippines welcomes position of the United
States over China’s new map
Malacanang said it welcomes the decision of
the United States to discuss the new Chinese map in the nation’s revised
passport which created a diplomatic row among countries having territorial
disputes with China.
China
printed in its revised passport the country’s new map that stakes claims to the
whole of South China Sea and many other disputed areas. The US said it hasn’t
endorsed China’s revised passport containing the controversial map.
“It is
something that we welcome na ginawang decision ng United States to discuss this
with China,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press conference
in Malacanang on Wednesday.
As a
reaction to the said move of China, Lacierda said the Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) has created an inter-agency task force to look into the new
diplomatic issue.
While
some countries don’t recognize the new Chinese passport, Lacierda said the DFA
in the meantime will accept it while Philippine authorities thresh out the
issue with China.
“We’ve
asked Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, ang sabi, in the meantime
ire-recognize nila. So rerespetuhin ng ating mga Immigration officials ang
bagong passports,” Lacierda said noting that Chinese citizens shouldn’t be
blamed for having the passports.
Lacierda
pointed out that the Philippines will continue to insist its position, as he
expressed the belief that putting a new map on China’s revised passport
wouldn’t affect the country’s claim in the West Philippine Sea.
“Our
position has been amplified by the President in ASEAN and we see no reason why
it should weaken our position,” he said in reference to suggestions that
recognizing the new Chinese passports might impact on the country's claim.
Lacierda
also said the new diplomatic issue with China will not affect the country’s
tourism industry although many foreign tourists arriving in the country come
from China. The Philippines also has a huge number of tourists originating from
other countries such as South Korea.
China’s
new passports have stoked the already existing territorial disputes between
China and its Southeast Asian neighbors including India.
Also
included in the new Chinese map are disputed border areas with the Philippines,
Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia. PND (as)
President appoints officials in various
government agencies
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed new officials in various government
offices, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday that the
Chief Executive signed the appointment letter of retired Lieutenant General
Ernesto G. Carolina as Acting Administrator (Director V) of the Philippine
Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) under the Department of National Defense (DND).
Prior to
his appointment as PVAO Acting Administrator, Carolina served as Undersecretary
for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs, Presidential Assistant and designated
Chairman of the Joint Defense Assessment Planning and Implementation Group and
subsequently as Undersecretary for Philippine Defense Reform. He also assisted
the Secretary of National Defense in overseeing the Office of Civil Defense and
the National Disaster Coordinating Council.
A
graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1970, Carolina obtained a
Masters Degree in Business Economics from the University of Asia & the
Pacific and another degree in Mathematics from the University of the
Philippines. He also attended numerous training programs, seminars and
conferences, both local and international.
In 2003,
Carolina retired with the rank of Lieutenant General in the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. While in the military service, Carolina held other positions,
namely, Commander of two Unified Commands, the Southern Luzon and the Southern
Command; and Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP, among many others.
President
Aquino, likewise, signed the appointment letters of Arturo O. Gabrieles as
Deputy Administrator of the Parole and Probation Administration under the
Department of Justice; Edita K. Buemio, Jeorgette C. Paderanga and Lorna A.
Yumul as Acting Directors II and Angelito A. Ilano and Victor S. Salmon as
Acting Directors I of the Parole and Probation Administration.
The Chief
Executive appointed lawyer Robert Anthony P. Yu as Provincial Agrarian Reform
Adjudicator of the Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board, Department of Agrarian
Reform.
The other
presidential appointees are Virgil M. Getes as member of the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan, 1st District Agusan del Sur; Christine June P. Cariño as Acting
Director III of the Department of National Defense and Cristine L.
Macoy-Casiple and Maria Elnora D. Puday as Register of Deeds I, Land
Registration Authority under the DOJ. PND (js)
AFP, PCOO launch Bayanihan music video
The Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) together with other government agencies launched a music video in Fort
Bonifacio Wednesday that encourages Filipinos to work together to attain a
lasting peace in the country.
The music
video entitled Bayanihan, conveys the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan
(IPSP) to achieve peace in the Philippines. It will be performed by
actress-singer Sarah Geronimo.
IPSP is
aimed at reducing internal armed threats that could affect the stability of the
state and public safety, according to Col. Boyet Burgos, the AFP’s spokesman.
The Bayanihan IPSP is distinct from AFPs’ previous security plans because it
focuses on winning the peace and highlights the role of different stakeholders
in the society, Burgos said.
“It is
not enough to tap the government mass media channels only for the showing of
the video, we need to be able to reach out to more people and inspire them to
contribute and get involved in the Bayanihan peace advocacy,” PCOO
Undersecretary Leslie Cordero said of the music video launch.
Kailangang mapanood ng mga nasa iba’t ibang
probinsya ang MTV. This is a powerful and inspiring video that should go viral.
We urge people who have seen the video to share it,” she added.
The
government will use many mediums such as television, LED boards and social
media platform to disseminate the video and to encourage young people to take
part in the peace advocacy, Cordero said.
The PCOO
partners with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, private media
organizations and Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines to show
the music video and air the song.
Optical
Media Board Chair Ronnie Rickets said he is glad that a lot of artists have
shown interest in taking part in the Bayanihan para sa Kapayapaan advocacy.
“Ms Sarah
Geronimo is very talented and popular. She can inspire more people to be part
of this,” Ricketts said.
The Movie
Television Review and Classification Board also encouraged cinema and theater
owners to show the music video in cinemas all over the country.
The music
video launch was spearheaded by the AFP Major Services Commanding Generals, AFP
Chief of Staff Gen. Jesse Dellosa and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
Officials from other government agencies as well as participants from
non-government organizations and civil society stakeholders were also present
during the launch.
Other
participating agencies include the National Telecommunications Commission, the
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority. PND (as)
Philippines will not stamp revised Chinese
passports
The
Philippines joined Vietnam in protesting against revised Chinese passports by
not stamping on them that might legitimize China’s nine-dash line territorial
claim over the West Philippine Sea, the Palace said on Wednesday.
“The
Philippines, through the DFA ‘will no longer stamp its visas on the Chinese
e-passport. Instead, the Philippines will stamp it on a separate visa
application…in order to avoid the Philippines being misconstrued as
legitimizing the nine-dash line’ claim of China,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in a text message to the media on Wednesday.
Vietnamese authorities refused to stamp
Chinese passports featuring a map that includes disputed islands in the West
Philippine Sea as Chinese territory.
Vietnam
instead issues visas on a separate piece of paper fearing that stamping visas
in such passports may indirectly recognize Beijing’s claims to the disputed
territory.
Like the
Philippines and Vietnam, Taiwan also severely criticized Beijing for the
inclusion in the newly revised passports of an outline of China that includes
the entire South China Sea, hemmed in by dashes.
The
Palace also welcomed the decision of the United States to discuss the new map
with China which created a diplomatic row among countries having territorial
disputes with that country.
China
printed in its revised passport the country’s new map that stakes claims to the
whole of South China Sea and many other disputed areas. The US said it hasn’t
endorsed China’s revised passport containing the controversial map.
In a
press conference in Malacanang, Lacierda pointed out that the Philippines will
continue to insist its position, as he expressed the belief that putting a new
map on China’s revised passport wouldn’t affect the country’s claim in the West
Philippine Sea.
“Our
position has been amplified by the President in ASEAN and we see no reason why
it should weaken our position,” he said in reference to suggestions that
recognizing the new Chinese passports might impact on the country's claim.
China has
a longstanding claim over the West Philippine Sea in its entirety, though parts
of the waters are also claimed by Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the
Philippines,
A major
sea lane for international trade and commerce, the West Philippine Sea is
believed to be rich in natural gas and mineral deposits. PND (as)
