President Aquino calls on business sector to pay
proper taxes to support the government's programs and projects for the benefit
of the Filipino citizenry
President Benigno S. Aquino III called on the
business sector to pay appropriate taxes in order to support the government’s
programs and projects for the benefit of the Filipino people.
In his speech keynoting the opening ceremony of
the 29th Biennial Convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) held at the SMX Convention Center of the
Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Friday, the Chief Executive said businessmen have
a corporate social responsibility to declare their correct earnings and pay the
right taxes.
"But perhaps it is time to ask ourselves:
am I contributing in the right way—not just through corporate social
responsibility, but also through my personal obligations—through contributions
to the policies that have helped us build our success," President Aquino
said.
He pointed out that the country is now on the
right track towards progress and reform, stressing that under his
administration the peoples' taxes now go to projects for the benefit of the
people.
"Gone are the days when your taxes
disappeared into the pockets of an unscrupulous few, or when bending the rules
may have been the only way for otherwise honest companies to keep
operating," he stressed.
"Aside from being your civic duty, paying
taxes fits into our strategy of empowering the Filipino people. The money you
pay to government now also goes to classrooms, teachers, textbooks, healthcare,
food, disaster relief, and other initiatives that ensure that our people are
given the opportunity to live dignified lives," the President said.
The President reiterated his administration's
commitment to tread the straight and righteous path in transforming the country
into a progressive nation.
"We are continuing to remove hindrances to
the success of the Filipino people, the Chinese-Filipino community included:
from weeding out corruption in government, to empowering our people through
health, education, and social services, to enhancing transportation and
infrastructure, to maintaining stability and order by advocating peaceful
solutions to conflict," he added.
The President likewise, said the government
remains focused in strengthening its efforts to improve the business climate.
"Allow me to reiterate: back in 2011, I
told you that you can count on us—that we in government will do everything in our
power to see you thrive. This is a promise we have kept and continue to keep.
So far, the majority of our efforts have been aligned—we have seen the wisdom
of empowering the Filipino people by meeting their most basic, and at the same
time, most urgent needs, " the President said.
During the event, the President thanked the
businessmen who are supporting his administration’s agenda in ensuring that the
benefits of the country's growth are both equitable and inclusive.
"Collectively, we have done so much—and we
can still do more. This is why that I hope that your support for our
administration’s programs still remain—that today will stand as an affirmation
of the partnership that has already yielded so much benefit for our countrymen.
In this way, we can align the rest of our efforts, and walk the straight path
together," he concluded. PND (js)
Palace encourages government offices to join
Earth Hour 2013
Malacanang is encouraging government departments
and entities to participate in this year’s Earth Hour to raise awareness on
climate change and environmental protection.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. issued a
memorandum dated March 21, enjoining all the heads of departments, and agencies
of the national government to participate in this year’s Earth Hour, Deputy
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
The memorandum also covers government owned and
controlled corporations, state universities and colleges and also local
government units.
“We are all encouraged to switch off or dim our
non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. tonight. We go
on further by asking everybody to also participate in this activity. Katulad ng
sinabi ng DENR, let’s shine during Earth Hour 2013,” Valte said.
Earth Hour is the single, largest, symbolic mass
participation event in the world hoping to mobilize people to take action on
climate change.
The event now inspires a global community of
millions of people in 7,001 cities and towns across 152 countries and
territories to switch off lights for an hour as a massive show of concern for
the environment.
Organizers said the world is facing one of the
most critical environmental challenges in its history and addressing these
challenges need collective efforts throughout the world. PND (as)
Palace announces new appointees
President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed
Eduardo Martin R. Meñez to become the country’s ambassador to Iran with
jurisdiction over Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the Palace announced on
Saturday.
The President also designated Evan P. Garcia as
undersecretary for policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced during a radio interview over
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday. Garcia replaced Erlinda Basilio who was
designated as the Philippine ambassador to China.
Other appointments include: Dina Joana Saltiva
Ocampo-Cristobal, Acting Undersecretary, Department of Education; Lesley Jean
Cordero, Undersecretary, Office of the Cabinet Secretary; Fides Barbara B.
Borja, Deputy Executive Director, Performance and Project Management Office,
Office of the Cabinet Secretary; Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Assistant Secretary,
Department of Trade and Industry,
Camille R. Alcaraz-Campos, Assistant Secretary,
Department of Transportation and Communications, Rodolfo John Paul C. Palattao
III, Director III, Office of Transportation Security; Eriberto C. Suria,
Director IV, Office of Transportation Security,
Lawyer Florin T. Hilbay, Senior State Solicitor,
Department of Justice, Nieves L. Osorio, commissioner Civil Service Commission;
Antonio A. Fleta, Undersecretary, Department of Agriculture; Madeleine De
Rosas-Valera, Undersecretary, Department of Health, and Raymund E. Liboro,
Assistant Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.
Other appointees also include Mildred Yovela
Umali-Hermogenes, Marguerite Therese Lucila-Tesoro and Lyra Miragrace C. Flores
as assistant secretaries for the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel. PND (as)
Govt carries out measures making release of pork
barrel more transparent
The government has instituted measures since
President Benigno S. Aquino III assumed office in 2010 to make the use of the
Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) more transparent and accessible to
the public, the Palace said on Saturday.
The Catholic Bishop Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) has called for the removal of the legislators’ pork barrel
arguing it to be a source of corruption among government officials.
“Pagdating diyan sa pork barrel, marami na
tayong naging hakbang to make the use of the pork barrel more transparent, at
nakikita naman natin ngayon ‘yan sa DBM [Department of Budget and Management]
website,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio
interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“The public can easily see when the funds are
released. At pangalawa, nakipagtulungan tayo sa ating mga mambabatas sa
pamamagitan ni Secretary Butch Abad kung ano ang mga guidelines, kung papaano
mag-identify ng proyekto.”
Valte also clarified that the PDAF doesn’t go
directly to the legislators. The lawmaker identifies a project under a
particular menu and then sends the required papers to the DBM, she said.
“If that is approved already, or if it is
released, the fund goes to the implementing agency and not to the legislator
himself or herself,” she explained.
Some candidates have expressed support for the
CBCP saying they will push legislation that will scrap the pork barrel as a
measure to reform the government system of spending. PND (as)
