President Aquino appeals to Sultan of Sulu to
recall followers and end Sabah Standoff
President Benigno S. Aquino III appealed to
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of Sulu to recall his followers holed up in a portion
of Lahad Datu town in the eastern province of Sabah, Malaysia in order to
peacefully end the two-week standoff between Malaysian authorities and the Sulu
Sultan who has been pressing his people’s claim to said land.
The President aired his appeal in a press
conference with the Malacanang Press Corps that was aired over government-run
television and radio stations People’s Television (PTV-4) and dzRB Radyoo ng
Bayan on Tuesday.
“And so this is my appeal to you: These are your
people, and it behooves you to recall them. It must be clear to you that this
small group of people will not succeed in addressing your grievances, and that
there is no way that force can achieve your aims,” the President said.
“You are a leader of your clan, and every leader
seeks the well-being of his constituents. These times require you to use your
influence to prevail on our countrymen to desist from this hopeless cause,” he
added.
According to the President, Philippine and
Malaysian authorities have been coordinating efforts to peacefully resolve the
situation...and have not ceased.”
“What is clear is that a peaceful resolution of
this issue is to everybody’s interest. Even if we assume, for the sake of
argument, that there are legitimate grievances, the presence of an armed group
in Lahad Datu will only bring us further away from resolving these issues,” the
President said.
“From the three extensions of the deadline given
by Malaysia, to the constant coordination as events unfolded, our efforts have
not ceased,” he stressed.
He pointed out that it was not too late for all
parties to sit down and discuss the issues concerned peacefully and according
to law.
“The avenue of peaceful and open dialogue is
still available to us. Let us therefore sit down as brothers to address your
grievances in a peaceful, calm manner according to our laws and according to
correct processes when your people arrive home,” the President said.
“Let us ease the tensions first then within two
weeks later, then we can sit down with Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and precisely
map out their grievances and see the way forward after that,” he concluded. pnd-rck
President Aquino declares February 27 as special
non-working day in General Santos City in commemoration of 74th Foundation
Anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
February 27, which falls on a Wednesday as a special non-working day in the
city of General Santos, in commemoration of its 74th Foundation Anniversary and
the 24th Kalilangan Festival.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration by
virtue of Proclamation No. 552 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa
Jr. on February 21, to give the people of the city of General Santos the full
opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate
ceremonies.
Every year, General Santos City marks its
foundation anniversary on February 27 with various activities culminating in
the celebration of Kalilangan Festival.
Kalilangan is derived from the Maguindanaoan
word “kalilang” which means “festival” or “celebration.”
The anniversary celebration commemorates the
landing of the city’s founder, General Paulino Santos, along with the first
settlers from Luzon, at the shores of Sarangani Bay on February 27, 1939.
Organized under the National Land Settlement
Administration (NLSA) of the Commonwealth Government headed by President Manuel
L. Quezon, Gen. Santos led the relocation of 62 Christian settlers with the
mission to industriously cultivate the city’s fertile expanse of land.
Thousands of settlers from Luzon and the Visayas
have subsequently migrated into the area. PND (js)
Coloma reaffirms Aquino government’s commitment
and support for information for all programme
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. reaffirmed the Aquino
government’s commitment and support for Information for All Programme (IFAP),
an intergovernmental programme created in 2000 in response to the challenges
and opportunities of the Information Society (IS).
Speaking at the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) + 10 Review Event, High Level Panel: Towards Knowledge Societies
for Sustainable Development, held on February 25 at the UNESCO Headquarters in
Paris, France, Sec. Coloma said the Philippines is committed to the propagation
of the concept of media and information literacy.
Coloma, who serves as the UNESCO National
Commission (UNACOM) vice-chair and UNACOM Communication & Information
Committee chair, joined the ministers from other UN member countries in the
three-day event held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The global event
opened on Feb. 25 and would end on Feb. 27.
"We wish to take this opportunity to
reaffirm the Philippines’ abiding commitment and support to our Information for
All Programme (IFAP), in terms of its four major thrusts on information for
development, information ethics, information preservation and on media and
information literacy and multi-lingualism," Coloma said.
"The emergence of social media channels and
platforms that complement and expand the reach of traditional mass media of
information underlines the critical significance of this domain," he
noted.
The global event in Paris coincided with the
Philippine celebration of the 27th anniversary of the EDSA People Power
Revolution. He pointed out that one of the significant gains from the EDSA
People Power Revolution in 1986 was the restoration of the freedom of the press
in the country.
"I am privileged to speak at this forum on
this day that marks a significant milestone in the history of my country.
Twenty-seven years ago today, the world witnessed how the people of the
Philippines, while peacefully gathering outside the headquarters of their armed
forces, succeeded in bringing about a nonviolent transition from dictatorship
to democracy," Coloma said.
"Thus did the concept of People Power enter
the lexicon of global politics and praxis: first in Manila; then in South
Korea, Berlin, and in the former Soviet Union. Decades later, People Power ---
aided by social media channels --- gave rise to the Arab Spring in the Middle
East," he said.
As the nation continues to reflect on the
significance of People Power, Coloma noted that the government reaffirms the
central role played by information and knowledge in social transformation.
"Our President Corazon Aquino recognized
this only too well when she initiated a reform of our government’s information
infrastructure. She emphasized the need for government to communicate with the
people, and in turn, for the people to vigorously express their opinions, views
and beliefs to their government," he said.
The IFAP is closely integrated with UNESCO's
regular programme, especially in the area of communication and information.
Through IFAP, governments of the world have pledged to harness the new
opportunities of the information age to create equitable societies through
better access to information.
The other speakers during the three-day global
event are Mongi Marzoug, Minister of Information and Communications
Technologies, Republic of Tunisia; Edmunds Sprudzs, Minister of Environmental
Protection and Regional Development, Republic of Latvia; Ita Okon Bassey Ewa,
Minister of Science and Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Esther
Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs,
United States of America; Jose Clastornik, Executive Director of the Agencia de
Gobierno Electronico y Sociedad de la Informacion, Republic of Uruguay; Michael
Gurstein, Executive Director Centre for Community Informatics, Research,
Development and Training, Canada; and Kathryn C. Brown, Senior Vice President
for Public Policy Development & Corporate Social Responsibility, Verizon,
United States of America. PND (js)
Coloma cites Aquino government’s five-year
digital strategy to provide Filipino people reliable, affordable, secure
information access
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. said President Benigno S.
Aquino III's government has adopted a five-year digital strategy to provide the
Filipino people a reliable, affordable and secure information access in the
Philippines.
Speaking at the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) + 10 Review Event, High Level Panel: Towards Knowledge Societies
for Sustainable Development, held on February 25 at the UNESCO Headquarters in
Paris, France, Sec. Coloma underscored the need for every Filipino to have
access to information and communication technology.
"The Philippine government has adopted a
five-year digital strategy anchored upon this vision: A digitally empowered,
innovative, globally competitive and prosperous society where everyone has
reliable, affordable and secure information access in the Philippines. A
government that practices accountability and excellence to provide responsive
online citizen-centered services. A thriving knowledge economy through
public-private partnership,” Coloma said.
Coloma noted that the Aquino administration is
currently implementing five strategies to provide service for the people in all
matters concerning communications.
"Firstly, the development of e-Government is
a priority in order to facilitate greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the
delivery of basic social services and minimize opportunities for
corruption," he said.
Coloma said the government is also adopting the
"strategy of digital inclusion and capacity building" to foster an
enabling environment through a broadband policy that aims to reach previously
unserved areas and customers.
He said the Philippines recently enacted a law
that will protect women and children against the evils of human trafficking
perpetrated through the internet.
"Thirdly, we are supporting the continued
growth of the information and communication technology-driven business process
outsourcing industry to provide opportunities for investment and jobs,"
Coloma added.
"Fourth, the strategy of “investing in
people” further promotes digital inclusion by addressing not only the needs of
formal sectors, but also of marginalized communities," Coloma said.
"Lastly, our strategy is anchored on
continuing support to innovation, and on affordable development and deployment
of information and communication technology not only in micro, small and medium
enterprises but also in local governments," he said.
Coloma likewise said the Philippine government
is pleased to have participated in the crafting of the Moscow Declaration on
Media and Information Literacy in June 2012 under the auspices of the
International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).
"Our common task is to push further its
frontiers into the propagation of Knowledge Societies that will bring about the
attainment of the peace and sustainable human development," he said.
The other speakers during the three-day global
event are Mongi Marzoug, Minister of Information and Communications
Technologies, Republic of Tunisia; Edmunds Sprudzs, Minister of Environmental
Protection and Regional Development, Republic of Latvia; Ita Okon Bassey Ewa,
Minister of Science and Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Esther
Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs,
United States of America; Jose Clastornik, Executive Director of the Agencia de
Gobierno Electronico y Sociedad de la Informacion, Republic of Uruguay; Michael
Gurstein, Executive Director Centre for Community Informatics, Research,
Development and Training, Canada; and Kathryn C. Brown, Senior Vice President
for Public Policy Development & Corporate Social Responsibility, Verizon,
United States of America. PND (js)
Aquino inspects Laguindingan Airport project,
expects new facility to boost tourism
LAGUINDINGAN, Misamis Oriental: President
Benigno S. Aquino III visited Tuesday the ongoing construction of the
Laguindingan Airport that is expected to boost tourism in the Northern Mindanao
region once it becomes operational.
Transportation officials told the President in a
briefing that the P7.8 billion airport project will be operational on April 30
this year. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is currently
in the process of approving the first flight that will land in the new airport
by April, they said.
The Laguindingan Airport can accommodate large
aircrafts such as the Airbus A330-300, transportation officials said adding
that the airport’s runway could be expanded to accommodate even bigger
airplanes like the Boeing 747.
The new facility, with two boarding bridges and
five aircraft parking bays, can cater up to 1.6 million passengers each year,
officials said.
The project started in 1988 during the
leadership of the first Aquino administration but hasn’t materialized until the
present administration of President Aquino, 25 years after it was
conceptualized.
In his speech during a meeting with Cagayan de
Oro officials, the President said the new airport will serve tourists who want
to visit the island of Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro City or Iligan City.
With the new airport, Cagayan de Oro will
surpass the 460,000 tourist arrivals in 2011 and will reach the 2.5 million
foreign and domestic tourist arrivals before the end of 2016, he said.
Aside from building the new airport, the
government will compliment its tourism thrust by constructing road projects in
Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, and the Iligan City road project, the Chief
Executive said. The administration is also constructing five bridges that will
speed up the travel time to Laguindingan Airport from these areas.
If the Misamis Oriental-Bukidnon bypass road is
finished, travel time from the two provinces will be cut from two hours to one
hour, he said.
“Sa mga proyekto pong ito na nagpapasuwabe sa
daloy ng transportasyon, tiyak ko pong aapaw din ang dami ng turistang dagdagsa
rito at higit pang magpapaunlad sa Kalakhang Mindanao,” the President said.
The President said that when he took office in
2010, there were three million tourist arrivals in the country but last year
the Philippines recorded 4.3 million foreign tourist arrivals.
According to the President, in 2016, as he steps
down from power, he expects that tourist arrivals in the country will reach 10
million per year. PND (as)
Aquino asks Kagay-anons to support coalition
line up for continued reforms
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino
III wooed the support of Kagay-anons as he asked them to back coalition
candidates in this coming May 13 polls so that reforms in government could
continue.
In his speech during the meeting with local
officials of Cagayan de Oro City, the President said that in less than three
years of his administration, it was able to push its reform agenda and major
anti-poverty and anti-corruption initiatives.
He cited, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
that was able to collect P1-trillion tax, a historic development in the bureau,
he said. The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) also
signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and both sides are currently
working to iron out the final peace pact that will once and for all end the
decades-long conflict in the region.
Infrastructure projects are also in full swing
in Northern Mindanao such as the new Laguindingan Airport project, major road
and bridge projects that are expected to boost tourism and local economic
activity, the President said.
“Lahat po ng mga tagumpay na ito, dahil po ito
sa inyo. Kayong mga mamamayang nakikiisa sa tuwid na daan, kayong humihindi sa
mali at ipinaglalaban ang tama— Kamo mismo ang nagbuhat ni-ini. Daghang salamat
kaninyong tanan,” the President said during his message to the people of
Cagayan de Oro City.
“Dito po tayo dinadala ng mabuting pamamahala.
Dalawang taon at walong buwan pa lang ang nakalipas, pero nakikita na natin ang
laki ng ipinagbago ng Pilipinas,” he stressed.
“Hindi na po natin maibabalik ang nakalipas,
pero di ba’t may silbi rin ang pagtanaw sa mga pagkakamali ng nakaraan, para
mapagbuti ang sama-sama nating pagkilos sa ngayon at sa darating pang panahon?”
he said.
To continue the ongoing reforms in government, the
President reiterated his appeal to the Kagay-anons to support the coalition’s
candidates from national to local levels.
The President arrived here to personally inspect
a resettlement project, the Laguindingan Airport project in Misamis Oriental
and to meet with local city and provincial leaders.
Joining him during his visit were Transportation
and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Misamis
Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and the coalition’s senatorial candidate and their
representatives. PND (as)
Aquino visits Resettlement site for Typhoon
Sendong survivors
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino
III inspected the Xavier University Ecoville Resettlement site at Brgy. Lumbia
in this city as he told the survivors of Typhoon Sendong that the government is
working hard for them to rebuild their lives.
“Natutuwa ho akong makita kayong lahat. Nagkita
tayo ‘nung una kakatapos ng trahedya. Ngayon talagang nakikita na natin
pabangon na kayo nang pabangon,” the President said in his speech on Tuesday
after his site inspection and briefing.
“Ngayon, ‘yung ipinakita ninyong pakikitulungan,
pagsasamahan sa isa’t isa, siyempre mapapaunlad niyo ang komunidad ninyo kung
ipagpapatuloy natin na walang kanya-kanya at nagmamalasakit tayo sa kapwa,” he
said.
Seeing the people fighting and working to start
normal lives is an inspiration for the government to assist the community in
rebuilding efforts, the President said.
The President also vowed to improve the
infrastructures in the resettlement site particularly roads, as he solicited
the support of the local population to help the government.
To prevent flooding, the President said there is
an ongoing dredging project at the mouth of the river to ensure better water
flow. A dike will be built and the government is currently in the process of
bidding the project which will be awarded by March, he said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
have been working to provide the people livelihood and skills for employment.
At present, there are 166 units that are already
completed. The government is eyeing to build 568 units in the Lumbia
resettlement site. Each unit costs 110,000, according to a project briefer.
Among the government’s major partners in
building permanent houses for the survivors of Typhoon Sendong include the San
Miguel Corp., Union Bank, and the Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
As for temporary houses or shelters, the
government partner is the International Organization for Migration.
As of February 16 this year, 2,586 individuals
were to be transferred to resettlement areas. PND (as)
