President Aquino leads groundbreaking of
Mindanao State University Information Technology building in Marawi City
MARAWI CITY, President Benigno S. Aquino III led
the groundbreaking ceremony of the P45-million Information Technology building
of the Mindanao State University (MSU) as he expressed hope that the project
would empower the youth in Mindanao for the benefit of the entire region.
“Oras na matapos ang proyekto, makikinabang ang
mga estudyante at komunidad ng pamantasan sa mas modernong computer training
center, bagong teleconferencing at multimedia room, at mas maraming
silid-aralan at laboratoryo para sa pagtuturo ng information technology,” the
President said in his message during the groundbreaking rites here on Monday.
The President underscored the importance of
information age noting that the new facility will improve the quality of
training in the field of technology and modern communication. This will
eventually pave the way for bigger opportunities for the people of Mindanao, he
said.
The construction of the new MSU facility is part
of the government’s thrust to strengthen the strategy to invest in people
through education, the President said.
Part of this initiative is the launching of the
K to 12 Program of the government that will prepare Filipino graduates to
become competitive with their foreign counterparts.
Also, the government is carrying out the
Industry-based Training for Work Scholarship Program of the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority having more than 76,300 scholars undergoing
training for IT.
This is in addition to the Public Higher
Education Roadmap of the Commission on Higher Education aimed at enhancing the
facility and teaching methods in the country’s state universities and colleges,
the President said.
The President pointed out that the Department of
Education was able to eliminate the textbook backlog last year and adding that
it is working to address the 66,800 shortage in classrooms before the end of
2013.
“Malinaw po na walang ibang hangarin ang ating
administrasyon kundi gawing abot-kamay ang mga pangarap na dati’y hindi man
lang natin matanaw. Hindi natin masisikmurang isugal ang kinabukasan ng ating
kabataan, lalo pa’t alam nating sila ang susunod na magtitimon sa ating bansa,”
he stressed.
“Ang gusaling ito ay tagumpay hindi lamang ng
MSU, kundi ng buong bayan. Buhat ito ng ating pagbabayanihan at pagkakaisa para
isulong ang magandang bukas para sa susunod na henerasyon. Ang pundasyon nito
ay simbolo ng ating paninindigan na isulong ang kapakanan at interes ng
kabataang Pilipino,” the President said.
The President expressed his gratitude to the MSU
administration for honing skillful and talented graduates, which he said, made
the state university a major academic institution.
According to the President, the MSU has posted a
high average of board-passers in medicine and mechanical engineering and has
been leading in chemistry, nursing, and other science-related courses.
With the current development in Mindanao, the
President expressed confidence that the region will soon have lasting peace and
continuing progress. He also foresees Mindanao to experience an influx of
tourists and investors in the near future and eventually become a hub for
commerce and trade.
Among those who joined the President during the
event were Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya,
Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, Senator Franklin Drilon, and ARMM Governor
Mujiv Hataman. PND (as)
Aquino government commends chairman of the
Commission on Elections for staying in his post
The Aquino administration commended the decision
of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. to stay in
his post during this crucial election period, a Palace official said on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday
following the decision of Brillantes not to resign for the sake of national
interest and the Filipino people.
"We certainly commend chairman Brillantes
in putting the country’s interest ahead and ensuring that he will oversee the elections
this 2013," Lacierda said.
Last Friday, President Benigno S. Aquino III
said in an interview that he would ask Brillantes to stay in his post because
the country needs a Comelec chairman in this crucial election period.
“Siyempre, papakiusapan ko naman ang ating
chair. Medyo less than a month na lang ang eleksiyon. Ang hirap namang
magtalaga pa ng bagong chair," the President said in an interview during
his visit to Cebu.
However, Lacierda said Malacanag has yet to
receive information if President Aquino had already talked with the Chairman
Brillantes regarding the matter.
"We have no information if they spoke. But
certainly Chairman Brillantes heard the President speak when he was interviewed
by media. Maybe he realized and considered the words spoken by the
President," Lacierda noted.
Brillantes earlier said that he might resign
from his post after the Supreme Court issued decisions against the poll body's
resolutions. He expressed disappointment over the latest High Tribunal's
decision stopping the COMELEC rules limiting the airtime of the political
advertisements for the May polls.
The SC also ruled against the poll body's Team
Patay/Team Buhay tarpaulin in Bacolod City, the disqualification cases of 52
party-list groups, and the mayoral dispute in Imus City. PND (js)
Aquino government appeals to election candidates
to reject reported 'permit-to-campaign' fees of CPP-NPA-NDF
The Aquino administration appealed to
politicians who are campaigning for the May 13 elections to reject the reported
demand of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National
Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to pay "permit-to-campaign" fees, a
Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday
following reports that the CPP-NPA-NDF is demanding from candidates substantial
fees for permission to campaign in the areas where the movement operates.
"Again, we have already mentioned to our
PNP (Philippine National Police) and also to our politicians who are
campaigning not to give in to the demands of the CPP-NPA-NDF. This scheme is
not tolerated under our system of government," Lacierda said.
The Aquino administration has ordered the deputation
of law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ensure free, orderly, honest,
peaceful and credible conduct of the May 13 automated national and local
elections, Lacierda said.
"The AFP is fully aware and they have taken
steps to ensure that the politicians are spared from all this permit to
campaign," Lacierda said.
"Now, we would like to ask the local
candidates to inform us of such demands, and we will let AFP units go and make
sure that there are no NPA checkpoints. This is not tolerated under this system
of government," he stressed.
Malacanang on Sunday strongly condemned the
attack on Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona in a village in Misamis Oriental
on Saturday night.
Reports showed that unidentified gunmen ambushed
Guingona's convoy past 11 p.m. Saturday, killing a bodyguard and a driver, and
wounding Guingona.
Mayor Guingona, wife of former vice president
Teofisto Guingona, Jr. and mother of Senator Teofisto Guingona III, suffered a
gunshot wound on her foot, bruises and contusions when NPA rebels fired at her
Toyota Hilux pickup. The mayor is now in stable condition.
Lacierda said law enforcers are now pursuing the
group responsible for the attack.
"We have already been told that the army’s
58th Infantry Battalion will be spearheading the investigation," Lacierda
said.PND (js)
Aquino administration welcomes reports the
Philippine Stock Exchange index broke 7,000 mark
The Aquino administration welcomed reports that
the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) broke the 7,000 mark on Monday for
the first time in history, a Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued
the statement after the PSEi closed on Monday at 7,120.48 points.
"This marks the 88th record high in 34
months of the Aquino administration, and the 27th record high this year. This
stands as a manifestation of continued confidence in the prospects of our
economy, not only from the international community, but also from Filipinos who
are raising their stake in our country’s success," Lacierda said.
Reports showed that the PSEi surged 2.35% or
163.38 points to settle at 7,120.48, a fresh record close and intraday peak.
"This is but one among many indicators of a
resurgent Philippines. We must now ensure that our progress is sustained, and
even accelerated," Lacierda said.
Lacierda stresses that the Aquino government continues
to focus its efforts in making sure that the economic revitalization embodied
by the PSEi numbers impacts the widest possible segment of society.
"Empowering our people remains among the
priorities of our government; we are committed to the vision of a truly dynamic
citizenry that can take full advantage of the opportunities opening up in this
era of national renewal," he said. PND (js)
President Aquino’s attendance to 22nd ASEAN
Summit in Brunei Darussalam make Filipinos feel the government is taking care
of them
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) Overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs) here are upbeat and excited over the attendance of President Benigno S.
Aquino III to the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit
that will be held from April 24 to 25, 2013.
A well-known and respected Filipina manager of a
Singapore-based “helideck” (short for helicopter decks installed on high rise
buildings and off-shore oil rigs) manufacturer with a regional office here said
on Monday that the President’s visit shows his genuine concern for his
kababayans working outside the Philippines.
Josephine Jasa, a 17-year resident of Brunei
Darussalam, is one of two Filipinos working at Aluminium Technologies, a
company that designs and manufactures heavy-duty aluminium structures for the
oil and gas industry as well as other clients all over the world.
A certified public accountant by profession,
Jasa said Filipinos here are eagerly awaiting the President’s arrival on
Wednesday.
“Of course every time our President visits us,
it elevates the Filipinos once again. His visit shows the President cares for
us and that he is looking after our welfare. So we feel so proud,” Jasa said.
She added that the President’s visit gives the
OFWs an “edge” over other nationalities working and living here as it shows
that there is a personal bond between the Chief Executive and the simple
hardworking Filipinos.
“Even if there are a multitude of people from
different nationalities working in Brunei – there are Malaysians, Bangladeshis,
Singaporeans, and Europeans, you don’t see their President visiting them,” Jasa
said.
“That shows that OFWs and Filipinos are taken
cared of by their government,” she added.
She called on all Filipinos to instill within
themselves the desire to excel and be the best that they can be in any and all
their fields of endeavor as this is what it takes to succeed in life.
“You always have to go the extra mile. You have
to work more than what is expected of you so that your employer can see how
good you are, how dedicated you are and they will continue to trust you and
continue to employ you," Jasa said.
She said the Filipinos are world class and
should work hard at maintaining this distinction in order to remain ahead in
the global competition.
There are an estimated 21,028 Filipinos in
Brunei Darussalam as of December 2012, with temporary migrants comprising the
bulk of these OFWs (19,501 out of the total). Semi-skilled workers comprise 31
percent of the total number of OFWs, followed by household workers (23
percent), unskilled workers (15 percent), and skilled workers (12 percent).
Full diplomatic relations between the
Philippines and Brunei Darussalam were established in January 1984. PND (rck)
