Tuesday 15 January 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

President Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Ambassador of Egypt

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu Katangiang Pilak (Grand Cross Silver Distinction) on outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary Ahmed Mahmoud Maher Abbas of the Arab Republic of Egypt in simple ceremonies at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace on Tuesday.

The President awarded the Order of Sikatuna on Ambassador Abbas, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the bilateral relations between the Philippines and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Abbas had rendered meritorious and exceptional work to foster better relations between the two countries.

Witnessing the conferment and farewell ceremonies were Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose S. Brillantes.

Ambassador Abbas was cited "for his effort to sustain the momentum for more vigorous bilateral relations in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring through the Convention of the 7th Round of the Philippines-Egypt bilateral Consultations held in Cairo, Egypt in July 2012, which included negotiations on the Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Health, Medical Services and Pharmaceutical Production and Tourism Cooperation.”

Abbas was also cited for his role in expanding the bilateral trade between the Philippines and Egypt which has led to the increase of US$31.8 million in 2009 to US$97 million in 2011, creating strong momentum for trade expansion.

The Order of Sikatuna was established in 1953 and is conferred by the President of the Philippines to give recognition to individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines, and to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines as well as personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service. PND (js)


Aquino government elated over the success of DOLE in enhancing the services extended by Phil-Job Net in providing job vacancies

The Aquino administration expressed elation over the reported success of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in enhancing the services extended by Phil-Job Net in providing at least 100,000 job vacancies at any given time, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the administration is looking forward to the continuing development of the Phil-Job Net website to be able to give assistance to the job seekers.

"We are pleased to share the report of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to the President regarding Phil-Job Net (www.phil-job.net), the official job portal of the Philippine Government," Valte said.

"For the first time in its history, the number of vacancies on the website has outpaced the number of applicants. As of today, there have been more than 264,000 vacancies posted by employers compared to a little over 117,000 applicants. The number of vacancies is also at an all-time high compared to only an average of 40,000 a month as of July 2010," Valte said.

Since Secretary Baldoz took over the helm of the DOLE, Valte said she enhanced the services provided by Phil-Job Net to include job postings from skilled workers as well as legitimate employers.

Under Baldoz's stewardship, Valte said the DOLE has also expanded the website’s coverage to provide at least 100,000 job vacancies at any given time.

"We look forward to their continuing development of the Phil-Job Net website into an even more responsive and inclusive tool for both job seekers and job matching, which redounds to the benefit of our countrymen," she said. PND (js)


Palace says resignations of officials from NDRRMC, DTI and PhilHealth coincidental

Malacanang said on Tuesday that the resignations of officials from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) one after the other is just coincidental.

In a briefing in Malacanang, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the resignations of NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos, DTI Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio and Philhealth chief executive officer Eduardo Banzon were borne out of their personal choices to move on and change career paths.

“There are times that people need to move on and need to change into different career paths,” Valte said noting that Ramos, who submitted his third resignation letter to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin last week, “has signified his intent to leave the service in order to attend to his wife (who is suffering from complications arising from diabetes).”

Panlilio, who had already tendered his resignation last month to return to private life, had agreed to stay on only until January 16, 2013; while Banzon, who had already submitted his resignation letter to the Philhealth board, is leaving public service for “personal reasons.”

“I think nagkakataon lang ito (na nagkasabay-sabay ang resignations from government service),” Valte said.

She pointed out that since there is an ongoing ban in appointing new officials or staff to vacant government positions due to the upcoming elections in May, temporary officers-in-charge from within the concerned agency may be considered.

“There is also an election ban and appointment ban in effect so Health Secretary Enrique Ona will be acting temporarily as the OIC of Philhealth,” Valte said.

She added that she would “double check” who would head the positions vacated by Panlilio and Ramos. PND (rck)


MalacaƱang announces appointment of Lt. Gen Emmanuel Bautista as new AFP Chief of Staff

MalacaƱang announced on Tuesday the appointment of Lieutenant General Emmanuel T. Bautista as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines replacing outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa who is set to retire.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte made the announcement in a statement released by Malacanang.

She said Bautista, who is currently the Commanding General of the Philippine Army and who is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Dimalupig” Class of 1981, will assume his new position on January 20, 2013.

Valte thanked Dellosa “for having served the country and our uniformed personnel with exemplary dedication and commitment.”

The complete text of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte follows:

"We are pleased to announce the appointment of Lieutenant General Emmanuel T. Bautista as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines effective January 20, 2013. He will be replacing General Jessie D. Dellosa who is set to retire.

Lt. Gen. Bautista is currently the Commanding General of the Philippine Army and prior to his appointment had served as Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy’s 'Dimalupig' Class of 1981, he completed his Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

We thank outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Dellosa for having served the country and our uniformed personnel with exemplary dedication and commitment. We look forward to the stint of the incoming AFP Chief of Staff in continuing the reforms set in motion by the President and implemented by his predecessors in advancing the interests of our soldiers and the enhancement of the defense capabilities of our country." PND (rck)