Tuesday 26 March 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, March 26, 2013



President Aquino visits Pier 12 in Port Area, Manila to check preparations being undertaken for the security and safety of travelling Filipinos, tourists alike

President Benigno S. Aquino III visited on Tuesday Pier 12 in Port Area, Manila to personally check the preparations being undertaken by concerned government agencies to ensure the security and safety of Filipinos and tourists traveling to the provinces during the Lenten season.

The Chief Executive arrived at 9:15 am at Pier 12, where the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation, one of the country’s premiere shipping lines, is located.

Accompanied by Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr., the President was welcomed by Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Atty. Juan Sta. Ana, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Nicasio Conti, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, and officials of the Manila North Harbour Port Inc. and the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation.

Shortly after his arrival in the area, the President immediately conducted a brief inspection of the shipping company’s two ticketing booths, check-in counters, help desk areas (medical team and security help desk) and passengers' pre-boarding facilities, including its x-ray machines that can both scan passengers of the Princess of the South, a passenger vessel, and their luggages.

On his way to inspect the facilities of the shipping company, the President was briefed by Abaya about the preparations being undertaken by concerned government agencies to ensure the safety of the public.

President Aquino was likewise briefed on the initiatives that are being implemented to make the harbor at par with other commercial harbors in other countries.

The President then boarded the Princess of the South which was docked at Pier 12 to check on the condition of the passengers.

Following the President's visit, the Princess of the South, which has a total capacity of 2,000 passengers, left Manila for Cebu.

In an interview, the President promised that concerned government agencies will remain on heightened alert for the safety and orderly travel of passengers. PND (js)


Govt fine tuning stop-gap measure to address Mindanao power crisis

The government is working on a mechanism that will assist power distribution utilities to buy diesel-fed electric generating plants as an immediate stop-gap measure to the current energy crisis in Mindanao, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday.

In an interview during his visits to bus terminals and ports Tuesday, he said the Department of Energy presented a plan that details how the government could assist distribution utilities in purchasing generating sets.

Using diesel power plants are seen as the quickest remedy to the Mindanao power problem, he said, and with these plants the government could set these up in six months to one year.

“Yung one year kasama na doon ‘yung four months na procurement ng gobyerno,” he said. “So we’re working on the mechanism para madala itong distribution utilities nitong mga generators na ito.”

The President added that the government is working in an immediate solution that is lawful and his administration doesn’t want shortcuts.

“Ang state of emergency will only help in terms of ‘yung baka mas mapadali ang procurement. Ngayon, ayaw naman nating madaliing sobra na baka magkaroon ng shortcut sa batas, tapos sasabihin ng COA [Commission on Audit] hindi pwede lahat ‘yan. Balik na naman tayo sa wala,” he said.

“Gusto lang natin from the start, ‘pag na-deploy ‘yan, talagang sumusunod sa lahat ng mga alituntunin, lahat ng patakaran, at lahat ng batas para ‘pag naranasan na ay hindi naman mawawala kaagad,” he added.

The government response is also intended to make sure that the upcoming elections will not be affected and all the voting precincts will have enough power to transmit all the election results, he said.

But by 2015, when the permanent plants start to produce enough energy, the President said he expects the Mindanao power problem to go away.

It takes between three to four years to set up the power plants, he said noting the earliest target date is about 300 megawatts from coal-fired power plant by 2015. Similar other plants will also start going online after that until 2017, he explained.

Also augmenting the insufficiency of power in Mindanao is the Iligan diesel power plant, which has been operating and returning to its rated capacity, he said.

Asked how long Mindanao residents would wait before the remedial measure takes effect, the President said he wants to make sure that government actions complies with the law.

He noted that currently, there is 35 megawatts available off these diesel power plants. PND (as)


President Aquino orders DOTC and Philippine Coast Guard to enhance security and emergency procedures in seaports for safety of passengers

President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered on Tuesday Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena to enhance the security and emergency procedures in the seaports to ensure the safety of the passengers.

The Chief Executive issued the directive following his visit to Pier 12 in Port Area, Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Victory Liner Bus Terminal both in Pasay City to oversee the preparations being undertaken by various concerned government agencies.

Last week, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) officially launched OPLAN Ligtas-Biyahe: Kwaresma 2013 to ensure convenient, affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe travel for motorists and commuters this Holy Week.

"Doon sa ship itself, may mga signs that tells you where you are suppose to go, pero all in English. Tapos, sabi ko baka naman dapat mas simplehan ang instructions in the event that there’s an emergency.... These are being taken cared of now by both MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) and by the Coast Guard," President Aquino said.

The President, however, cited the enhanced efforts initiated by both the shipping and government authorities to prevent the shipping of drugs and prohibited items.

"Talagang thorough ang ginagawa nila to prevent all of this contraband from getting on board," the President said.

The Chief Executive was informed that the law enforcers, together with the vessel's security personnel, arrested a passenger who was found in possession of shabu.

After his visit to Pier 12, President Aquino proceeded to NAIA Terminal 4, at 10:15 a.m. and immediately inspected the operations and security preparations at the airport.

The President inspected the ticketing booth, x-ray area, check-in counters of the Sea Air and pre-boarding gate at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 4. He then went to NAIA Terminal 3 and inspected the airport facilities.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado briefed the President on the status of passenger volume and traffic, airport security and assistance measures.

The President reminded the government agencies namely, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Transportation and Communications, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Health, Bureau of Fire Protection, among others to enhance the implementation of their respective tasks to protect the travelling Filipinos and tourists.

From NAIA, President Aquino proceeded to the Victory Liner Bus Terminal on EDSA, Pasay City to inspect security preparations.

He commended the government agencies concerned and the bus operators for implementing initiatives in ensuring the safety of the riding public.

" Andito ‘yung testing for drugs and alcohol ingestion. So mukhang very thorough ang ginagawa nila MMDA Chairman (Francis) Tolentinto, voluntary on the part of the drivers and conductors and naging positive. Ngayon, they found one person out of everybody who’s driving or conducting the buses. So nakaka-impress na meron tayong ganitong equipment that is already being utilized to enhance the safety of our people," he said. PND (js)


President Aquino intends to watch a film on Jesus Christ this Lenten season

President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday that he intends to watch a film about Jesus Christ this Lenten season.

In an interview during his visit at the Victory Liner Bus Terminal on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Pasay City on Tuesday, the Chief Executive said he opted to spend the Lenten season in his official residence called Bahay Pangarap located at the Presidential Security Group (PSG) compound in Manila by watching a film about Jesus Christ.

The Bahay Pangarap is only five minutes away from MalacaƱang Palace.

"I’m trying to look for my copy of the film “Jesus Christ Superstar”. "Di ba, hindi (ito) masyadong heavy the way it reminds (us) of what our Christian faith is supposed to be; what Christ had to undergo to save all of us," the President said.

President Aquino visited on Tuesday the Pier 12 in Port Area, Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Victory Liner Bus Terminal both in Pasay City to check on the preparations being undertaken by various concerned government agencies to ensure the security and safety of Filipinos and tourists traveling to the provinces during the Lenten season.

The President vowed that the concerned government agencies remain on heightened alert for the safety and orderly travel of passengers. PND (js)