Malacanang says strong performance of
Philippines Stock Exchange index reflective of sustained investor confidence
The strong performance of the Philippine Stock
Exchange index (PSEi) is reflective of sustained investor confidence in the
local bourse, a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
issued the statement after the PSEi broke the 6,000-point mark and closed at
another record high of 6,044.91 points on Monday - the fourth day of trading in
2013.
The PSEi closed at a new all time high at
6,044.91, gaining 73.46 points or 1.23 percent. This level eclipsed the record
close posted on January 4 at 5,971.45.
Valte said this record-breaking advance is an
indicator of the bullishness and vibrancy of the Philippine economy.
"The strong performance of the PSEi is a
validation of the Aquino administration’s bold reforms and tireless commitment
to good governance that has resulted in growth," she said. PND (js)
Palace assures no whitewash in ongoing Quezon
shootout probe
No whitewash.
This was the assurance echoed by Malacañang on
Tuesday regarding the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Philippine
National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation on a shootout between
the government security forces and the alleged criminals at a checkpoint in
Quezon province last Sunday.
In a briefing held in Malacañang, Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President was intently following the
proceedings of the investigation and was awaiting its official results.
“There won’t be any whitewash. You can be
assured that there won’t be any whitewash. The President is interested in the
details of the case and whatever the results will be we will look into it, and
we will make a judgment call but certainly we can assure you that there will be
no whitewash in so far as PNP, and in so far as the NBI investigations are
concerned,” Lacierda said.
“Interesado ang Pangulo diyan, he wants to get
to the bottom of it. So you can be assured na magkakaroon ng resulta ang
imbestigasyon dito at isa-submit kay Presidente,” he added.
He pointed out that although the President did
not specify a timetable as to when the investigation should conclude, Lacierda
said, the President wants “a full and exhaustive investigation into the
incident.” PND (rck)
Aquino to meet Japan’s Foreign Minister in
Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III is meeting with
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in a courtesy call in Malacanang on
Wednesday where he is also expected to discuss a wide range of issues with the
visiting Japanese official.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda made the
announcement during the regular press briefing on Tuesday in Malacanang.
“The Japanese Foreign Minister will be
discussing their new foreign policy directives and I remember Japan is our
strategic partner. The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) already issued a
press release on the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to the
Philippines,” Lacierda said.
Citing a press statement from the DFA, Lacierda
said the visit of the Japanese official is an opportunity for both countries to
advance the Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership under the new Japanese
administration.
“Japan is one of only two strategic partners of
the Philippines, and is one of the most important economic partners in terms of
trade, investments and development assistance,” Lacierda said quoting the DFA
press release.
Kishida and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del
Rosario will discuss bilateral and regional issues on the ministerial level,
Lacierda said, adding that the President will also join the talks.
Asked by reporters if the Philippines is looking
for a multilateral solution that may involve Japan in resolving the West
Philippine Sea dispute, Lacierda noted that the Palace will await the
conclusion of the discussions between Del Rosario and Kishida.
Kishida is visiting the Philippines after the
assumption of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the new Japanese premier in
December.
Abe, 58, has become Japan’s prime minister for
the second time following the landslide win of his conservative Liberal
Democratic Party last month.
Abe’s top priority is to revive the stalled
economy of Japan since taking office on December 26. He also wants to loosen
the limits of Japan’s 1947 pacifist constitution on the military and recast
wartime history with a less apologetic tone. Education reform is also his
current major priority.
During Abe’s 2006-2007 stint as premier, he
revised a key education law to put patriotism back in Japan’s school
curriculum. PND (as)
Aquino government appeals to devotees of Black
Nazarene to avoid over crowding Quezon and Macarthur bridges during procession
The Aquino government appealed to Black Nazarene
devotees to avoid overcrowding parts of the Quezon and MacArthur bridges which
are found to have corroded, a Palace official said on Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
announced the government's appeal during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Tuesday to ensure the safety of the devotees in celebration of
the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday.
"Tomorrow is the January 9 (Feast of the
Black Nazarene) and Secretary (Rogelio) Singson issued an advisory regarding
the use of Quezon Bridge. He has coordinated already with the mayor of Manila,
the diocese, the Church leaders in Quiapo Church for the use of the MacArthur
Bridge," Lacierda said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways
cautioned the devotees who will participate in the annual Black Nazarene
activities in Quiapo, Manila, on the use of the MacArthur Bridge and Quezon
Bridge.
Lacierda said that Public Works and Highways
Secretary Singson had already coordinated with the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA), the City Government of Manila, and the
Archdiocese of Manila regarding the status of the structural integrity of these
two bridges
Singson informed Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim that
based on the technical inspection done by the Bureau of Design, the two bridges
"are found to have corroded members which affect their structural
integrity."
“We need to ensure public safety, thus, there is
a need to reduce the live load on either the MacArthur Bridge or the Quezon
Bridge during the translacion activities. Those joining the procession shall
use only one lane of the MacArthur bridge, while, the other half can still be
utilized for light vehicle traffic,” Singson said.
In a statement, Singson said there is a
possibility for devotees to crowd the Quezon Bridge to view the Black Nazarene
when it passes under the bridge.
“We should exercise extreme caution on the use
of the two bridges in order to avoid untoward incidents to happen,” Singson
added.
According to an earlier media report, the
procession will begin at the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta Park, cross the
MacArthur Bridge, turn right at Palanca, and pass under the Quezon Bridge
towards other routes. PND (js)
Aquino government welcomes drop in number of
families who experience hunger in December 2012
The Aquino government welcomed reports that the
number of families who experienced hunger in December 2012 dropped to 16.3%
from 21% in August 2012, a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
issued the statement following the release of the Fourth Quarter 2012 Social
Weather Survey on Hunger indicating the drop of the number of families who
experienced hunger last year.
"This translates to one million fewer
families who have experienced involuntary hunger in the fourth quarter of
2012," Valte said.
The Aquino administration remains committed to
addressing hunger as a result of poverty, Valte noted.
"Through social interventions such as the
Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program which puts a premium on purchasing food
for family beneficiaries and supplemental feeding programs of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development, government continues to expand and enhance
efforts to uplift living conditions for our countrymen," Valte stressed.
Valte said the CCT program and other government
initiatives mitigate and lay the foundations to help families rise above
poverty and better their lives. PND (js)
Palace sees 2013 a fruitful year
Malacanang expects 2013 to be an exciting year
considering the achievements the government posted in 2012, as it assured the
public that President Benigno S. Aquino III will remain focused on good
governance.
Some political analysts and critics have been
saying that the chief executive will set his sight on the 2013 midterm polls
instead of steering the country.
In response, Presidential Spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in a regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that 2013 is
an exciting year for the administration.
“It’s the midterm elections but it does not take
away the fact that the President is fully devoted to his job of governing the
country. We have seen a tremendous increase in our performance in 2012 and we
are not going to shortchange ourselves and the President is not going to do
that,” Lacierda told reporters.
The President is devoted to governing, but since
he’s the chairman of the Liberal Party he will do some campaigning for the
senatoriables under the party, the Palace official said.
“That’s part of his work as the LP chairman. But
hindi mawawala sa kanya ang trabaho. Focused pa rin ang Pangulong Aquino sa
pag-govern sa ating bansa,” he added.
According to Lacierda, criticizing the President
at this time is premature. While there’s a tendency for critics to pigeonhole
the chief exectuive, President Aquino has actually defied public expectations.
The President has done things which people never thought that he’ll be doing,
Lacierda said.
The year 2013 augurs well for the Philippines,
Lacierda said, adding that the administration hopes that the country could have
an investment upgrade this year and the economy to keep going strong.
The Palace has previously said that the
President’s top priorities for 2013 will be land use, conditional cash transfer
(CCT) and public-private partnership (PPP) program.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in one interview that the President has set new targets in the
implementation of the CCT program as well as the PPP projects in the country
next year.
The administration said that among its major
achievements for 2012 include the fight against graft and corruption, judicial
reform, the signing of the Framework Agreement for Mindanao peace, the
continuing thrust in education, health care and poverty alleviation.
The Philippines also recorded high gross
domestic product growth for the third quarter and posted the strong performance
of the stock market. The peso also appreciated and analysts projected that it
would gain more strength this year. PND (as)
