President Aquino says his administration
continues to pour huge investment to implement country’s electrification and
infrastructure projects
(LUCBAN, Quezon) President Benigno S. Aquino III
assured on Monday that his administration continues to pour huge investments to
implement the electrification and major infrastructure projects in order to
boost the agriculture, commercial and tourism sectors in the province.
In his speech during his meeting with local
leaders and the community at the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU)
Gymnasium in Barangay Kulapi here, the Chief Executive said the Department of
Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA), are working
together in carrying out the electrification project in the entire country,
including the province of Quezon.
"Reporma rin ang dahilan kung bakit ang
dating tatlumpu’t anim na libong sitio na nangangapa sa dilim, unti-unti na
nating nabibigyang-tanglaw. Sa ngayon po, may mahigit pitong libo at
dalawandaang sitio na tayong napapailawan doon sa 36,000 na ‘yan, halos
isandaan at limampu ay mula sa inyong lalawigan. Pumapaspas na po sa trabaho
ang DOE at NEA para sa lalong madaling panahon, mapaliwanag na ang bawat sulok
ng Quezon at ng buong bansa," the President said.
The Aquino government has put electrification at
the forefront of the country's development measures through the Sitio
Electrification Program (SEP) that is being implemented by the National
Electrification Administration (NEA) and the electric cooperatives (ECs)
nationwide. The program involves the electrification of grid and off-grid
sitios through the electric cooperatives.
The President said that a slew of infrastructure
projects, including the Lucena Diversion Talao-Talao Port Road, will boost the
province's tourism and commercial industries.
"Nariyan ang mahigit walong kilometrong
Lucena Diversion Talao-Talao Port Road, kung saan ang pagbiyahe ng mga kalakal
at produkto mula sa pantalan ng Talao-Talao ay makakarating sa lungsod nang mas
mabilis. Idagdag pa natin ang halos animnapung kilometrong extension ng SLEX na
babagtas mula Batangas hanggang Lucena," he stressed.
"Isama na rin po natin ang labing-anim na
farm-to-market road projects sa Calauag, Gumaca, Quezon, at Tagkawayan para sa
mabilis na pagdaloy ng mga produkto," the President said.
The government, through the Department of
Agriculture (DAR) under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala,
continues to expand the agriculture sector, including the coconut industry.
"Kasama rin sa handog natin sa magsasaka
ang halos walumpu't dalawang milyong piso para makumpleto ang labingwalong
irrigation projects," he added.
According to the President, the government
remains committed to implement programs for the improvement of public schools'
infrastructure, equipment, facilities, among others.
"Kaya naman po sa loob lamang ng dalawang
taon at sampung buwan, ang dating 66,800 eskwelahan na kakulangan ay malapit na
pong mabura. Ang pangako sa atin ng DepEd, dito po sa katapusan ng 2013, wala
na po tayong kulang na classroom. Dito lang nga po sa Quezon, may halos
isanlibo’t pitondaang silid aralan na tayong naipatayo," he said.
The President expressed his gratitude to the
people of Quezon who affirmed his administration’s commitment to tread the
straight and righteous path in transforming the Philippines into a progressive
nation.
"Umaangat na tayo, at ang dating bukbuking
tahanan, ngayon ay tumitibay, umaayos, at lumilinis, at puno na rin po ng
dekorasyon. Sa sobrang ganda nito, baka pwede na rin po nating isali sa Pahiyas
Festival," he said. PND (js)
Palace calls on government workers, media to
participate in local absentee voting
Malacanang called on government workers and
media practitioners to take advantage of the three-day local absentee voting
period and exercise their right to vote.
“We encourage all eligible voters to participate
in the electoral process and exercise your right to suffrage,” Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on Monday in Malacanang.
The local absentee voting for the synchronized
national, local, and regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao began last Sunday, April 28 and will end on April 30, Tuesday.
Pursuant to Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
Resolution No. 9637, s. 2013, those entitled to vote are some government
officials and employees, members of the Philippine National Police, members of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and members of the media whose
applications to avail of local absentee voting were approved by COMELEC.
“Today and tomorrow, all eligible voters under
this scheme may cast their ballots from 8 o’clock in the morning until 5
o’clock in the afternoon,” said Lacierda.
Absentee voters could only vote for 12
senatorial candidates and a party-list as required in the local absentee
voting.
This is the first time the COMELEC allowed media
personnel to vote ahead of the Election day. In the past, only government
officials and employees including policemen and soldiers, assigned to poll
duties were permitted to participate in absentee voting.
Based on the COMELEC data, a total of 18,322
have applied for local absentee voting but only 12,732 have qualified, and 501
are media personnel. PND (jb)
President Aquino says country has started
reaping the fruits of reforms instituted by his administration
(LUCENA CITY, Quezon) President Benigno S.
Aquino III said on Monday that the Philippines has started reaping the fruits
of the reforms that his administration instituted as he called on the people to
continue their steady march towards the realization of their collective
aspiration for equitable progress.
In his speech during his meeting with local
leaders and the community at the Alcala Sports Complex Grandstand, Quezon
National Highschool in Barangay Iyam here on Monday, the Chief Executive said
the massive investments in the people through social services, education, and
health, among others, have all led to the renewal of the people’s trust in
their leaders.
"Halos magtatatlong taon pa nga lang po
tayo sa panunungkulan, pero talaga naman pong ang laki na ng pinagkaiba natin
sa sitwasyong ating dinatnan," the President said.
President Aquino said the reforms instituted in
key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure; and the
establishment of a culture of integrity in governance have led to a resurgent
economy in the face of uncertainties in the global arena.
"Sa problema sa bigas. Dati, talagang
nasanay na po tayo sa pag-aangkat ng bigas na nagbaon sa atin sa utang. Dati
pinaniwala tayo na ang kailangan nating angkatin na bigas para mapunan ang
ating mga pangangailangan ay 1.3-million metric tons kada taon," he noted.
"Sa ating panunungkulan: halos 855,000
metric tons na lamang po ang kinailangan nating angkatin noong 2011. Kasama na
po iyong buffer. Noong 2012, limandaang libong metriko tonelada na lang ang
ating kinailangang angkatin. Ayon nga sa ating butihing Kalihim Procy Alcala,
harinawa, ay hindi na natin kailanganin pang mag-import ng bigas. Kung
papalarin pa, baka maging net exporter na rin tayo ng matataas na variety ng
bigas kung makikisama ang panahon," the President said.
He said the government's electrification project
is one of the major achievements during his leadership.
"Sa ngayon, umabot na sa mahigit pitonlibo
at dalawang daan na sitio ang ating napailawan. Bago po mag-SONA, dadagdagan pa
po natin," he assured.
Anchored on the principle of "Tuwid na
Daan," the President stressed that his government was able to build on the
gains of the anti-corruption campaign and reduce poverty.
"Binibigyang liwanag na rin natin ang
kinabukasan ng kapus-palad nating kababayan. Kung dati, halos walondaang libo
lang ang kabahayang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; ngayon
po sa ating panunungkulan, napaabot na natin sa mahigit 3.9 million ang
household beneficiaries ng programa. Kabilang po rito ang halos 92,500 na
kabahayang natutulungan ng Pantawid Pamilya dito sa Quezon," he said.
The President said various initiatives and
development projects are now in place to boost the tourism and business
sectors.
"Dumako naman po tayo sa turismo, ang
target po nating domestic tourist arrival para sa 2016, ay 35.5 million. Pero
2011 pa lang po, umabot na sa 37.5 million ang naitala nating domestic tourism
arrivals. Kaya naman binago na po natin ang ating target ---ginawa na nating
56.1 million para sa 2016," he said.
"At alam po nating magtutuloy-tuloy pa ang
pag-engganyo natin sa mga turista at paglago ng ating ekonomiya sa pagpapaunlad
natin ng imprastraktura. Dito pa nga lang po sa Quezon, nariyan ang pagpapagawa
natin sa susunod na taon ng limampu’t walong kilometrong South Luzon Expressway
extension mula Batangas hanggang Lucena," he stressed.
"Isama na rin ang Quezon Eco-tourism Road
na babaybay sa Sariaya hanggang Lucena, pati na ang pagpapaunlad natin ng mga
daungan sa Lucena, San Andres, Mauban, Cotta, at Gumaca," he added.
Both the international and local communities
recognized the positive changes in the Philippines as manifested by the latest
Fitch rating, the President noted.
The Philippines has finally won its much-coveted
investment grade status from Fitch Group, one of the three major international
credit rating agencies that assess the government’s ability to pay back its
debt and the chance of non-payment. PND (js)
Nothing wrong with the President's health, he's
in the pink of health, Palace says
There is nothing wrong with the health of
President Benigno S. Aquino III, Malacañang said on Monday, in response to some
observations that the Chief Executive may be under the weather given the tight
schedules of activities that he was having since last month.
Prior to delivering his speech during his
meeting with local leaders and the community in Quezon province early Monday,
President Aquino was quoted apologizing to the public for having a hoarse voice
owing to a cold virus.
“Hingi po ako ng paumanhin sa inyo sa
umpisang-umpisa pa lang. Kung napapansin niyo ‘yung boses ko medyo hindi ho
pang ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’—maliban na lang kung horror ang pinag-uusapan.
Medyo nadale ho tayo ng konting sipon. Pero pipilitin pa rin nating maging
maliwanag ang atin pong kailangang sabihin,” the President said.
Asked for a clarification on this statement,
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a press briefing in
Malacañang that it is just ‘natural’ for the President to be in such condition
at times because of the changes in the weather.
“Siguro panay kampanya ni Presidente, e natural
lang ‘yan sa kanya. He wants to campaign for his (candidates). But we have no
indication of any problems.Siguro init-lamig lang but there are no indications
of any illness,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda noted that while they were in Brunei
last week, they were able to spend “quite a long time with the President”
without any problem. He was even in high spirits when he gave an interview to
the Philippine media delegation late Wednesday evening last week.
“He’s in the pink of health,” Lacierda added.
Since the campaign period started, the President
has been busy doing some rounds of relentless campaigning in various provinces
while doing governance work to ensure the victory of all his 12 senatorial
candidates in the upcoming elections. PND (hdc)
President Aquino lauds Lake Taal Circumferential
Road as concrete proof of the country's progress as economic and tourism
potential of Batangas is expected to improve
(AGONCILLO, Batangas) President Benigno S.
Aquino III lauded the Lake Taal Circumferential Road (LTCR) as a concrete proof
of the country's progress saying the economic and tourism potential of the
province and nearby areas is expected to be strengthened.
The Chief Executive made this statement during
his speech after he was briefed on the status of the Lake Taal Circumferential
Road project here on Monday.
"Ngayong araw, narito tayo para saksihan
ang isa na namang kongkretong tagumpay sa pag-usad natin tungo sa kaunlaran –
ang Lake Taal Circumferential Road, na pihadong maghahatid ng malaking
pakinabang hindi lang para sa Batangas kundi maging para sa kalakhang
lipunan," the President said.
According to Public Works Secretary Rogelio
Singson, who gave the briefing, the LTCR is a road project under the Department
of Tourism and Department of Public Works and Highways convergence program to
identify, prioritize and implement road access leading to strategic tourism
destinations as identified in the DOT Tourism master plan.
The President said the government has set aside
P285-million for the LTCR, particularly the concreting and drainage improvement
for the 40-kilometer Talisay-Laurel-Agoncillo section.
Once completed, the LTCR will cut travel time
from Tanauan City to Lemery, Batangas in half, from 3 hours to 1-1/2 hours.
"Ibig pong sabihin: mas mabilis nang
madadala sa iba’t ibang palengke dito sa Batangas ang mga produkto ng ibang
bayan, at ang mga produktong galing naman dito sa inyo, tulad ng bangus at
tubo, ay mas mabilis nang mailuluwas patungo sa ibang lugar," the
President said.
"Mas sariwang mga prutas, gulay, at
produkto ang lalapag sa inyong merkado, at mas sasaya ang mga suki ninyo. Ang
resulta ay mas malagong kalakalan dito sa inyong bayan, na maghahatid ng
malawakang kaunlaran para sa mga kababayan nating Batangueño," he added.
"Sa pagbubukas nga ng inyong pinaunlad na
circumferential road, binubuksan rin natin ang Batangas sa mas maraming
oportunidad, hindi lamang para sa komersyo kundi maging para sa turismo. Sa
pagginhawa at pagbilis ng pagbiyahe rito, asahan na rin ninyong mas dadagsain
ang inyong sikat na sikat—at talaga namang maipagmamalaking—dive site sa
Anilao, o ang inyong napakagandang aplaya sa San Juan Laiya, o maging ang
pamosong Taal Volcano. Idagdag na rin ninyo ang mas maraming turista na lalong
mae-engganyong bumisita rito para tikman ang inyong napakasarap na
Bulalo," the President noted.
Joining the President were Singson, Interior
Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Senator Franklin Drilon and Batangas Representative
Nelson Collantes. PND (rck)
