President Aquino declares February 18 as special
non-working day in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental in celebration of Tawo-Tawo
Festival
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
February 18, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in the
city of Bayawan in the province of Negros Oriental in celebration of the
Tawo-Tawo Festival.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 540 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on January 28 to give the people of Bayawan City the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion.
Tawo-Tawo Festival reflects the culture of the
city being a rice granary of the southern part of the province of Negros
Oriental.
The farmers in Bayawan are using scarecrows or
tawo-tawo to drive away the little native birds called “maya” that feed on the
ripening golden rice grains. This agricultural method was what led to Bayawan's
Tawo-tawo Festival. PND (js)
Aquino renews commitment for Mindanao
development
DAVAO CITY) The tremendous potential of Mindanao
for development makes it a top priority for the government to set its sight on
the region for further development, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on
Tuesday.
Speaking before the participants attending the
2013 Philippines Development Forum (PDF) on Tuesday at Marco Polo Hotel here,
the President said Mindanao has always been known to be the Land of Promise,
because of its great potential for growth and development, but unfortunately
the region remains untapped.
“For the longest time, this potential remained
untapped, and its promise, unfulfilled; instead, some parts of Mindanao were
known by many for violence, inequality, and corruption in local governance,” he
said.
“This history is precisely why the development
of Mindanao is a priority for our administration. We know it is necessary to
step up reform here if we are to foster inclusive growth.”
According to the President, among the major
government initiatives to develop Mindanao began with the synchronization of
elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the national
and local elections scheduled this year.
He noted that the government also alloted P8.59
billion for the ARMM’s transitional investment support plan, which will fund
the construction of necessary infrastructure in transportation and health,
improve the quality of education and strengthen the region’s food industry.
One of the major achievements is the signing of
the Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) he said,
a move that will bring an end to the decades-long insurgency, and ensure
lasting peace in Mindanao.
The President also thanked international donors
and partners for helping Mindanao communities during the recent calamities,
assisting local people strengthen their communities and build peace, work to
improve access to social services, health and education.
Joining the President were Peace Adviser
Teresita Deles, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Socio-economic Planning
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. PND (as)
Aquino says US government to send volunteers for
immediate Tubbataha Reef recovery
DAVAO CITY) The United States government will
send Peace Corps Volunteers to speed up the rehabilitation of the damaged
Tubbataha Reef aside from the compensation it promised, President Benigno S.
Aquino III said on Tuesday.
“It was Ambassador (Harry) Thomas who said that
they are not just going to compensate us in terms of paying the necessary
fines, but they are also envisioning how to assist the rehabilitation of
Tubbataha to include posting Peace Corps Volunteers to the area to accelerate
the rehabilitation of the reef,” the President said during an interview with
the media at the Marco Polo Hotel following the 2013 Philippines Development Forum
(PDF) here.
Asked if his administration is open at looking
at other possible international conventions that can be applied to the
incident, the President insisted that he wants to imposed the country’s laws as
a response to the crisis.
“Palagay ko una muna rito ‘yung ating laws.
There is a specific law governing Tubbataha,” the President said adding that he
already met with US Ambassador Thomas and US Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Carney.
He noted that he hasn’t seen the salvage
operations plan and he expects Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun
Abaya to present the plan today or tomorrow.
The USS Guardian, a US Navy minesweeper, became
grounded on the Tubbataha Reef on January 17 after visiting the Philippines.
The reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in a remote part of the Sulu
Sea. The incident damaged 4,000 square meters of reefs, officials said.
American authorities said they plan to dismantle
the 224-foot ship to ensure that the reef will not be further damaged by
salvage operations, which is expected to take a few months. PND (as)
President Aquino cites importance of
public-private partnership towards development
DAVAO CITY) The assistance of government
partners from the private sector, the academe and international backers make it
easier for the government to push development and improve the lives of
Filipinos, President Benigno S. Aquino III said Tuesday during the 2013
Philippines Development Forum (PDF) held at Marco Polo Hotel here.
In his message, the President said he wants to
look back on both his government’s successes and its shortcomings as the
administration approaches the midpoint of its term.
He said his government wants to make the most of
this time to build on what it has achieved, to improve where it lacks, and to
fulfill its promises to the people towards attaining inclusive growth,
sustainable progress, and greater peace and stability.
“This is a daunting task, but knowing that there
are those who are willing to share this responsibility with us—such as those of
you present here today—makes it easier,” the President said.
“The Philippines Development Forum represents the
very best of the ideals behind public-private partnerships, and I am glad to be
here. It has been a while since we last met, so I hope you will allow me to
share with you the progress we all have made.”
The Chief Executive also mentioned during the
forum the successes of his administration such as the 6.6 percent full year
growth for 2012, the improved consumption capacity of Filipinos, and the
continuing commitment of the government to good governance and anti-corruption
initiatives.
The Department of Public Works and Highways,
once known to be a den of corruption, has posted a savings of P12 billion
recently, a major feat for a government office, he said.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue is also
performing well, collecting over P1 trillion for the first time in history last
year, the President said.
The Filipino people are the country’s strongest
competitive advantage and this is the reason why his administration continues
to invest heavily on people.
Among these investments the President mentioned
include the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the expanded PhilHealth
coverage, and the launch of the K to 12 program that will help bring Philippine
education up to international standards.
The President also underscored the importance of
the forum to the government’s thrust towards development.
“Through this forum, we affirm the necessity of
positive participation, not merely to point out the problems, but more
importantly, to become part of the solution,” President Aquino said.
“Nation building is never about those at the top
huddling together to impose their ideas on everyone else, it is about the whole
spectrum of society pulling together, steadily marching together towards a
single direction,” he added.
The PDF is the primary mechanism of the
government for facilitating substantive dialogue among stakeholders on the
country’s development agenda.
It also serves as a process to develop consensus
and generate commitment among different stakeholders toward critical actionable
items of the government’s reform agenda. PND (as)
Aquino says creating safe zones a top priority
for government
DAVAO CITY) Relocating communities from danger
areas will remain the government’s top priority despite its tremendous cost,
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.
In an interview after attending the 2013
Philippines Development Forum (PDF) at Marco Polo Hotel here, the President was
asked about his plans on Davao City residents living along the city’s
riverbanks.
Riverside communities in Davao City are
considered vulnerable, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau after the
recent flooding incident last week. But the Davao City local government
complains of high cost of moving the people away from danger zones.
But the President said the important thing for
the government is to find safe locations for those communities despite the
cost.
“Pinaka-importante dito ‘yung saving lives.
Kailangan nating gumawa ng paraan, maghanap ng pondo para pondohan ang magastos
na trabahong ito dahil ang priority ng gobyerno ay paglingkuran ang taumbayan,”
he told reporters. “Hindi tayo maglilingkod kung pababayaan natin sila doon sa
mga risky areas.”
The government can find money if it has the will
to help those communities, the President said. For instance, he said his
administration could use the P12-billion savings by the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) last year to fund the initiative.
“Palagay ko naman ang dami nang examples kung
saan tayo nakatipid. Kanina binanggit ko ang
DPWH, P12-billion. Palagay ko malaki-laki na ang
maililipat nating pondo sa mga savings mula ‘nung last year and even ‘yung 2011
na savings para pondohan itong pagsasaayos ng ating mga komunidad,” the
President said.
The chief executive mentioned during the PDF the
reforms at the DPWH, a department once known for rampant corruption. PND (as)
Aquino says all concerned government agencies
working together to ensure jobs for Filipinos after graduation
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured that
various concerned agencies are exerting all the necessary efforts to attain his
administration's goal of providing employment for Filipinos after graduation.
The Chief Executive told the media after
attending the Philippines Development Forum 2013 held at Marco Polo Hotel,
Davao City on Tuesday that he directed the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) to work along with its partner agencies in implementing various job
creation facilitation programs.
"Ang hinahabol nga natin dito ay ang
pagtutulong-tulong ng Labor, CHED (Commission on Higher Education), pati na rin
DepEd (Department of Education) at TESDA (Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority) na siguraduhin na meron ngang papasukang trabaho ang
ating mga kababayan ‘pag nag-graduate sila," the President said.
President Aquino said the K to 12 program was
designed to help address the country's employment concerns.
"'Yung pagtulak sa K+12 is meant to empower
our citizens to have better paying jobs or to give them the necessary skills to
be able to acquire job," he said.
The program also aims to address the prevailing
jobs mismatch, the President noted.
"So, ulitin ko, imbes na 'bahala na system'
talagang pinipilit natin alamin kung ano ang mga prospects ng trabaho—not today
but two years, four years from now—ipaalam sa mga mag-aaral para naman bagay
ang kanilang tinatalakay tungo doon sa kanilang pwedeng pasukan," he said.
Since the business process outsourcing (BPO) is
a growing industry in the Philippines, the President bared that there are more
schools that will be offering BPO courses.
The administration is trying to attract both
domestic and international investors to create more job opportunities for
Filipinos, he noted.
"Hina-highlight ko ilang beses ang
Phil-JobNet na website ng ating Department of Labor na ‘nung nag-umpisa tayo
mga 40,000 jobs available raw ang nandoon at mas maraming nag-a-apply," he
said.
"Ang last na report sa akin ni Secretary
(Rosalinda) Baldoz over 200—something like 230,000 postings on Phil-JobNet at
ang aplikante parang mga 117,000. So tinatrabaho rin natin na siguraduhin na
ang gine-generate na skills ay tugma or may papasukan na trabaho," he
said. PND (js)
President Aquino cites Andres Bonifacio College
as pillar of educational excellence in Region 9
DIPOLOG CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III
cited the Andres Bonifacio College (ABC) here for being a pillar of educational
excellence in Region 9.
The President said in his speech during the
inauguration of the ABC Graduate and Professional School building on Tuesday
that from its humble beginnings in 1940, the ABC is now a respected educational
institution whose students excel in every field of endeavor.
"Talaga naman pong bukal ng inspirasyon ang
kasaysayan ng inyong paaralan. Mula sa isang maliit na istitusyong itinindig ni
Ginoong Amatong noong 1940, na may pitong estudyante at limang guro lamang; isa
na kayong ngayon sa mga tinitingalang sentro ng edukasyon sa Region 9, at
talagang namang humahataw sa husay sa iba't ibang larangan ang inyong mga
mag-aaral," the President said.
"Sagisag ng tagumpay ng inyong paaralan ang
paglulunsad natin ngayon ng inyong bagong gusali. Bawat pundasyon nito ay
simbolo ng matibay na kinabukasang pamana ninyo sa inyong mga estudyante; bawat
palapag nito ay sumasalamin sa pag-angat ng kaalaman ng ating kabataan; bawat
metro-pulgada nito ay matatag na sandigan ng mga Dipolognon tungo sa magandang
kinabukasan," he added.
The President pointed out that just like leading
the inauguration of new corporations and the increasing number of investors
looking towards the Philippines as an alternative investment site, leading the
inauguration of new school buildings symbolizes not only the people's trust in
government but also the growing confidence of the international sector on the
country under his administration.
"Ang ganitong pagpapasinaya ng mga bagong
gusali, ang pagbubukas ng mga bagong kumpanya at industriya, ang sunod sunod na
pagpasok ng mga namumuhunan sa ating bansa ay simbolo; hindi lamang ng tiwala
ni Juan dela Cruz sa agenda ng pagbabago, kundi lalo na sa kakaibang kumpiyansa
ng mundo sa mga Pilipino," the President said.
Built at a cost of P70-million, the ABC Graduate
and Professional School building was constructed to meet the growing demand for
an institution to host post graduate studies for students seeking even higher
learning after college. PND (rck)
President Aquino vows infrastructure and social
projects to continue in Zamboanga del Norte
DIPOLOG CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III
assured the people of Zamboanga del Norte that his government would work
tirelessly to provide infrastructure and social projects for the continued and
sustained development of the province, as promised during his State of the
Nation Address (SONA) in 2012.
The President gave the assurance in his speech
keynoting the inauguration of the Andres Bonifacio College Graduate and
Professional School building here on Tuesday.
Among the projects the President said the
government would prioritize for the development of the province include
upgrading the Dipolog City Airport, which he said will be completed by 2016;
and various road projects such as improving the Liloy-Siocon Road and the
Sibuco Boundary Road project.
“Gaya ng nabanggit ko noong nakaraang SONA,
kasado na ang pagpapaunlad natin ng Dipolog City Airport, na inaasahan nating
makumpleto bago matapos ang aking termino sa 2016. Nagkaroon na po ng bidding
at inaasahang sisimulan na ang pagpapagawa nito ngayong taon,” the President
said.
“Bukod dito, tuloy-tuloy po ang pagpapaunlad
natin sa imprastraktura ng Zamboanga del Norte. Isa na rito ang pagsasaayos ng
Liloy - Siocon Road na natapos na noong Abril 2012. Nariyan din ang Zamboanga
del Sur / Zamboanga del Norte Boundary Road - Sibuco Road, na target nating
matapos ngayong taon,” he added.
“At ngayon pong 2013, tinaasan pa natin ang
budget ng DPWH para sa inyong rehiyon sa 1.5 billion pesos, na pihadong ilalaan
natin sa mga makabuluhang proyekto,” the President said.
He stressed that aside from infrastructure
projects, development of the Filipino people through the Conditional Cash
Transfer or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program would continue as part of
his social contract with the people.
He noted that 84,520 people from the various
parts of Zamboanga del Norte have benefitted or are continuing to benefit from
this government program.
“Tulad ng ating panata: Walang maiiwan sa
itinataguyod nating kaunlaran. Kaya naman tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang ating Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Ang mga dating isang-kahig-isang-tuka, ngayon ay
binibigyang-kakayahan ng pamahalaan upang makilahok sa pagpapaunlad ng sarili
at ng kalakhang lipunan. Dito po sa Zamboanga del Norte, umabot na sa halos
84,520 ang ating inaaruga sa CCT,” the President said.
President Aquino also vowed to provide
electricity to the far-flung barangays and sitios of the province to further
develop its potential as one of the country’s top tourist destination.
“Dito po sa Zamboanga del Norte, napailawan na
natin sa loob ng labintatlong buwan ang apatnapu’t dalawang sitio, at makakaasa
kayong madadagdagan pa ito,” the President said. PND (rck)
President Aquino calls on all Filipinos to be
discerning in choosing the next set of leaders during May polls
DIPOLOG CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III
called on all Filipinos to be extra discerning when choosing the next set of leaders
of the Philippines during the national and local midterm elections that will be
held in May 2013.
The President made the call in his speech during
the inauguration of the the Andres Bonifacio College Graduate and Professional
School building here on Tuesday.
He said that by weeding out the “false”
candidates from the real ones who dedicate their lives to serve the people
would ensure that the Philippines and the Filipino will achieve its dream of
genuine change.
“Ang tanong ngayon: Gusto ba nating
magtuloy-tuloy ang pagbabago? Sasagutin po ito ng taumbayan sa darating na
Mayo. Ang hamon ko sa ating lahat, lalo na sa ating kabataan na magmamana ng
ating kinabukasan --- makilahok, magbantay at makiisa sa pagtataguyod ng isang
tapat at patas na halalan,” the President said.
“Kilatisin po natin ang bawat kandidato --- sino
ang tunay na lingkod-bayan o nagpapanggap lamang?,” he added.
He expressed confidence that with the help of
the people, especially the people of Dipolog, the gains achieved by his administration
to move the country forward would continue beyond his term as President.
“Walang duda: Kinikilala na maging ng mundo ang
pagbabagong tinatamasa ng ating bayan; na ibang-iba na ito kumpara sa ating
dinatnan. Kompiyansa po akong sa pakikiisa ng mga Dipolognon at ng sambayanang
Pilipino, magtutuloy-tuloy ang pag-usad ng bansa kahit matapos ang aking
termino,” the President said.
“Sama-sama nating iangat ang bawat isa,
kapit-bisig nating tugunan ang problema, na maghahatid sa atin sa isang bansang
tunay na payapa at masagana,” he added. PND (rck)
