Aquino declares February 11 as a special
non-working day in Iriga City in Camarines Sur
President
Benigno S. Aquino III has declared February 11, which falls on a Monday, as a
special (non-working) day in the city of Iriga in the province of Camarines Sur
in celebration of the Tinagba Festival.
The Chief
Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 538 signed by
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on January 28 to give the people of
Iriga the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion.
Iriga
City celebrates the Tinagba Festival, an ancient Bicolano First-Harvest
Offering, every 11th of February. The festival coincides with the feast of Our
Lady of Lourdes.
The word
Tinagba is derived from the Bicol word "Tagba" which means "to
gather the first harvest and offer it to God." PND (js)
Aquino highlights NEDA’s contribution to nation
building
President
Benigno S. Aquino III acknowledged the contributions of the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA) in nation building as the agency celebrated
Tuesday its 40th anniversary.
The
Philippine economy is growing, the President said in his message during the
celebration held at NEDA’s head office in Pasig City.
The chief
executive said that while the economy grows, NEDA must strive hard to attain
sustainable and broad-based growth for the benefit of the Filipinos.
“We have
much left to do, and NEDA will become an even more important partner in the
years ahead. If we want to be sure that our efforts will yield the best
results, our next moves must be calculated,” he said.
“We are
counting on you. Today, I am asking each one of you to strive for even better
performance of your duties,”
To
sustain this growth, the government must continue its efforts to level the
playing field, weed out corruption, and step up the country’s competitiveness
in the global market.
The
government will also continue to invest in human capital through education,
health, and social services, he said adding the administration also identified
key sectors for growth and have put in place initiatives that will facilitate
growth.
The
President said he’s glad NEDA is truly dedicated to fulfilling its mandate and
serving the people not based on political convenience or self-aggrandizement.
This is
the reason why in 2010, NEDA translated the administration’s commitments in its
Social Contract with the Filipino People into specific strategies and programs.
NEDA
formulated the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, which set the
administration’s goals of achieving inclusive growth, creating employment
opportunities, and reducing poverty, as well as the strategies it employs to
realize important goals, the President said.
The
President also thanked former Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, and current
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan for their dedication to make the NEDA event better.
Also
present during Tuesday’s event were Secretary Balisacan, former Secretary
Cayetano Paderanga, and employees of the NEDA and its attached agencies. PND
(as)
Unity could propel the Philippines to progress,
says Aquino
The
Philippines could fully succeed economically in the future if there is national
unity and every Filipino makes individual commitments, President Benigno S.
Aquino III said during the 40th anniversary celebration of the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday.
The
President, who arrived last weekend from attending the World Economic Forum
annual meeting in Switzerland, recounted his experiences while in the European
country.
There is
a disparity in terms of the number of people between the Philippines and
Switzerland, he said, noting that the latter even had to deal with a more
hostile environment.
But
despite the challenges, he said Switzerland has become a very rich country
after striving hard to maximize the effects of its comparative advantage
particularly in finance.
“Simple
lang ---talagang mapaparating tayo sa paroroonan natin kung lahat tayo
kumakayod at humahatak tungo sa isang direksyon, kung ibibigay natin ang kaya
natin. Kung lalampasan natin ang akala nating kaya natin ay baka naman mapadali
ang parating natin doon,” the President said in his speech.
The use
of timely and accurate government data is also important so that economic
managers can formulate the right strategy and decision for the national good,
he said.
“May
kasabihan sa mahilig sa computer, ‘Garbage in, garbage out.’ Kapag mali ang
datos, o hindi naaangkop ang lunas, lalong maaantala ang desisyon,” he said.
The
country also changed a lot since the administration took office more than two
years ago, he said. Today, foreign investors are scrambling to put their
businesses here. Several years ago, the Philippines wasn’t even in their radar,
the President said.
The
country is also an example to other countries for its anti-corruption fight, he
said. The President noted that while other countries are struggling to make an
effective anti-corruption strategy, the Philippines has been successful in
carrying out anti-graft and corruption initiatives. PND (as)
