Aquino assures Central Visayas region will have
more development projects
BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental) President Benigno S.
Aquino III vowed more projects for Negros Oriental and Central Visayas region
to help boost the country’s agriculture, tourism and business process
outsourcing sectors.
In his speech during his meeting with the local
leaders and the community at the Bais City Football Field, President Aquino
highlighted the positive changes in the government and the major reforms that
it had put in place.
President Aquino cited the 35.5 million domestic
tourists target for 2016 has been exceeded in 2011. He said that the
government’s new target now is 56.1 million tourist arrivals for 2016.
The President mentioned the 16-billion savings
of the Department of Public Works and Highways as well as the increased budgets
of DepEd, DoH, DSWD, DPWH.
President Aquino also cited some of the
developments being done in Bais City, such as the reconstruction of
Bais-Kabankalan Road and the Guihulngan-Baloc-Isabela Road that will allow easy
travel among the municipalities.
He also noted the rehabilitation of roads that
will connect Santa Catalina and Pamplona in Tanjay City to allow more tourists
who want to visit Luparan falls and caves, the Mabulong lakes or the Pamplona
Golf and Country Club.
“Ilang halimbawa pa lang po ito sa mga inisyatiba
natin para sa Kabisayaan,” the President said.
“Makakaasa naman kayo na dadami pa ang mga
proyektong magsusulong sa mga kilala ninyong sektor, tulad ng agrikultura,
pangingisda, ICT-BPO, at turismo kung sa iisang direksyon hahakbang ang lokal
at pambansang pamahalaan,” he added.
In his speech, he emphasized the importance of
the cooperation between national and local leaders to ensure that the reforms
that the Aquino administration had put in place will continue.
“Wala na ngang isang buwan gaganapin na ang
halalan. Muling nakasalalay sa mga kamay ni Juan dela Cruz ang kapalaran ng
sambayanan. Nawa’y hindi na tayo lumihis pa sa landas ng pagkakaisa’t
pagmamalasakit sa kapwa,” he said.
After the program, the President proceeded to
Dumaguete City for another meeting with the local leaders and the community
there. PND (co)
Malacanang elated over President Aquino's
inclusion in 2013 Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World
Malacanang expressed elation over President
Benigno S. Aquino III's inclusion in the 2013 TIME Magazine’s 100 Most
Influential People in the World for his role in stabilizing and invigorating
the country's economy.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement after the Time Magazine released its annual list of 100 Most
Influential People on Thursday (Manila time).
The Time 100 list is categorized into 5: Titans,
Leaders, Artists, Pioneers and Icons. President Aquino is in this year's
Leaders list.
"President Aquino was recognized for
stabilizing and invigorating the economy, for his leadership in pushing vital
legislation such as the Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood law, as
well as his bravery and regional leadership in asserting our national
sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea," Lacierda said.
This is the first time President Aquino appears
in the list.
"The article is a recognition of the true
grit which characterizes his leadership, and the optimism, dynamism and renewed
pride which has restored the standing of our nation in the eyes of Filipinos
and the world," Lacierda noted.
"We take pride in how the ideas of good
governance and inclusive growth that are the major thrusts of the Aquino
presidency resonate not just with Filipinos but with the entire world. This is
especially relevant today, as countries all over are trying to become more
inclusive economically, politically, and even culturally, President Aquino is
already doing it in the Philippines," he concluded.
The Time Magazine issue with the list of 100
Most Influential People (April 29 issue) will hit the newsstands on April 19.
PND (js)
President Aquino leads groundbreaking ceremony
for Mactan Circumferential Road Project
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu) In anticipation of the
estimated 56 million domestic tourist arrivals by 2016, as targeted by the
administration, President Benigno S. Aquino III led on Friday the
groundbreaking rites for the Mactan Island Circumferential Road Widening
Project.
This is an existing paved road with a total
length of 26, 334 kilometers that will link the villages of Pajo and Poblacion
while traversing the Municipality of Cordova, with three component bridges
namely Gabi, Pilipog I, and Pilipog II that have a combined length of 49.02
meters.
The project aims to ease traffic from the Mactan
International Airport on the way to the various world class tourist
destinations which the island is popularly known for such as the Imperial
Palace Water Park Resort and Spa, Mactan Shrine, Plantation Bay, and Shangri La
Hotel to name a few.
Speaking before local residents and officials
here, the President emphasized the significance of having this facility to
provide convenience for the millions of tourists who are regarded as important
contributors to the country's economy.
“Bawat turistang pumasok po sa atin, dagdag na
trabaho sa Pilipinas. Ang punto po nito, padaliin natin ang biyahe ng mga
turista para talaga namang lalo silang ma-engganyong dumating sa atin,” the
President said.
“’Yun ang layon ng kalsadang ‘to, sampu ng ating
export processing zone, dahil kung titignan po naman natin ang ating kalsada sa
kasalukuyan, mukha ho talagang highway: one lane in each direction. Masiraan
ang isa, ayos na ang traffic. Ang turista po na, sabihin natin pitong araw ang
bakasyon, ang kalahating araw napunta sa traffic, siguro ‘di na babalik sa
atin,” he added.
In his briefing to the President, Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Romeo S. Momo reported that their Region VII
office was able to save more than P400-million in its budget for this project.
The total cost of the project is P3.7245-billion
including the road right of way acquisition. Of this amount, P300-million has
been earmarked by the DPWH from its 2012 budget and P113-million shall be drawn
from the Department of Tourism-DPWH convergence program budget for 2011.
The remaining P3.31152-billion to complete the
four-lane road will be considered in the 2014 budget of the DPWH and the
succeeding budgets will be sourced from any available funds.
During his speech, the President appealed to the
people of Cebu for their cooperation with the DPWH while this project is
ongoing as they are still contending with some problems in the right of way.
“Sasabihin ho kasi kadalasan, ‘Tama ang
proyektong ‘yan. Maganda ang proyektong yan! Pero kung mayroon kayong
momolestiyahin, ‘huwag ako.’ Eh paano ho tayo matatapos kung medyo, ‘di ba,
parang ‘close-open, close-open’ ‘yung kalsada? Makiusap po tayo doon sa mga
tatamaan na intindihin ang kapanakan ng nakakarami," he said.
Pakiusapan ho natin, kailangan makisama tayo
ngayon para mapabilis ‘yung proseso ng dagdag na asenso para sa inyo dito, lalo
na sa Mactan at sa kabuuang probinsya ng Cebu, at sa inyo pong rehiyon at sa
ating bansa,” the President said. PND (hdc)
President Aquino says he is honored to have been
included in this year's 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time
Magazine
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu) President Benigno S.
Aquino III said on Friday he is honored to have been included by the
prestigious TIME Magazine in this year’s list of "100 Most Influential
People in the World."
The President, however, said that he owes this
recognition more to the Filipino people who continuously support the programs
of his administration that apparently helped put the country in a much better
light.
“How do I feel? Syempre, honored. Pero, at the
same time, pinaalala rin sa atin na marami tayo talagang nagawa, pero hindi
lang ako ang gumawa. Klaro sa akin na kaya kong gawin ito dahil nasa likod ko
ang taumbayan," the President said.
"Kung medyo alanganin ako sa suporta ng
bawat bayan—kapag nilabanan natin ang tiwali, kapag binago natin ang
nakaugalian nang mga sistema at proseso— baka mahina ‘yung kalooban nating
sugurin lahat ang dapat sugurin," he added.
"Pero dahil nandiyan ang taumbayan, sila
ang nagbigay muna ng pagkakataon sa akin, sila ang sumusuporta hanggang sa
kasalukuyan, ay parang tinatanggap ko ‘yung honor na ‘yan on their behalf
rather than for myself,” the President Aquino said.
The TIME 100 list is categorized into five:
Titans, Leaders, Artists, Pioneers and Icons. President Aquino is in this
year's Leaders list—his first appearance since he assumed office.
President Aquino stressed that the recognition
of the entire Filipino nation is more important to him. “I’m just the face,
kumbaga, ako ‘yung unang isusugod sa problema, tanggap ko ‘yon. Pero ‘yung
kapag meron namang tagumpay, tagumpay ito ng lahat,” he said.
Malacañang through Presidential Spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said TIME’s article is a “recognition of the true grit” which
characterizes the President’s “leadership, optimism, dynamism, and renewed
pride which has restored the standing of our nation in the eyes of Filipinos
and the world.”
"President Aquino was recognized for
stabilizing and invigorating the economy, for his leadership in pushing vital
legislation such as the Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood law, as
well as his bravery and regional leadership in asserting our national
sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea," Lacierda said in a statement.
"We take pride in how the ideas of good
governance and inclusive growth that are the major thrusts of the Aquino
presidency resonate not just with Filipinos but with the entire world. This is
especially relevant today, as countries all over are trying to become more
inclusive economically, politically, and even culturally, President Aquino is
already doing it in the Philippines," he said. PND (hdc)
