President Aquino pushes for more projects in
Mindanao to boost its power sources; vows to resolve region's energy crisis in
2015
OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental) President
Benigno S. Aquino III vowed on Saturday that his government will resolve the
energy crisis in Mindanao in 2015 by establishing power plants in the region.
In his speech during his meeting with local
leaders and the community at the Misamis University Gymnasium here, the Chief
Executive said the government is pushing for projects particularly in the
energy sector to boost the power sources in Mindanao.
The President said the government started taking
measures to effectively address the power crisis in Mindanao as he assured
assured that the plants will produce sufficient energy to sustain the needs of
the residents and business sector in Mindanao by 2015.
He thanked the people of Misamis Occidental who
affirm his administration’s commitment to tread the straight and righteous path
in transforming the Philippines into a progressive nation.
"Masigasig nating itinatama ang mali, at
iwinawaksi ang mga gawaing tiwali. At kung dati, para bang tanggap na ng marami
ang pagiging kulelat ng bansa dahil sa matamlay na ekonomiya, ngayon,
kinikilala na tayo ng mundo sa kakayahan nating makipagsabayan sa
kaunlaran," the President said.
"Lahat po ng ito ay dahil sa pagtitiwala ng
ating mga Boss – ang sambayanang Pilipino – ang nagpunla, nagdilig, at patuloy
na nagpapalago ng makabuluhang pagbabago. Gaya ng lagi kong bukambibig: Kayo
ang gumawa nito," he said.
Accordimg to the President, the government
remains committed to strengthening the country's fiscal position, intensify
investments in infrastructure and enhance the business, agriculture and tourism
sectors.
"Ang hangad po natin: kung anong paghakbang
pasulong ng mga lungsod sa Luzon o Visayas, ay ganoon din ang ikukumpas, kundi
man higit pa, sa Mindanao. Naiangat na natin ng dalawandaan at animnapu’t
walong porsiyento ang pondo ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and
Development); pitumpu’t walong porsiyento naman sa DOH (Department of Health);
apatnapu’t apat na porsiyento sa DepEd (Department of Education); at
dalawampu’t tatlong porsiyento sa DPWH (Department of Public Works and
Highways)— ginawa po natin ang lahat ng ito nang hindi nagtataas ng
buwis," he said.
The President also stressed that the
institutionalization of educational reforms remain his administration’s top
priority in order to improve the country's educational system.
"Ngayong napunuan na natin ang backlog sa
mga aklat at upuan, at mawawakasan na rin natin ang 66,800 na kakulangan sa
classroom bago matapos ang taon," he said.
He assured the people that his administration
will continue to provide government funding for various infrastructure projects
to further develop the commercial and tourism industries in the province.
"Nariyan po ang pagpapalawak ng serbisyong
hatid ng inyong Ozamis at Plaridel Port, pati na rin ng Ozamis Airport— na
higit na magpapaunlad sa inyong komersiyo at turismo. Nariyan din ang
pagsasaayos ng inyong Ozamis City Coastal Bypass Road at ng Ozamis-Oroquieta
Road, na susuporta naman sa mas maginhawang daloy ng kalakal, at sa pagdagsa sa
inyo ng mga turista. Ang mga imprastraktura’t kalsadang ito ay magbibigay-daan
sa mas maraming pagkakataong umasenso para sa mga kababayan nating
Misamisnon," he said.
He said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has
instituted several programs to boost the country's rice production.
"Ngayong malapit na tayong maging
self-sufficient sa bigas, o kung papalarin ay magiging exporter pa, bago rin
matapos ang taong ito," he said.
Anchored on the principle of "Tuwid na
Daan," the President pointed out that his government was able to build on
the gains of the anti-corruption campaign and reduce poverty.
He also expressed hope that his administration's
allies in the local government will finally resolve the problem on violence in
the province. PND (js)
Malacanang allays fear of water shortage during
the summer heat; says summer heat is still manageable
Malacanang allayed fears that the “higher
temperatures” being experienced in the country would lead to a water shortage,
saying the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration has projected that the summer heat would last until the second
week of May.
In an interview aired over government-run radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte said the heat and humidity being felt was nothing to worry about.
“Since it is summer and we are experiencing
higher temperatures this particular summer season, wala pa namang nagfa-flag
na…at this point we really should be worried,” Valte said as she noted that
unlike several years ago when the state weather bureau had already begun
raising alarms on the lack of rainfall.
“Hopefully, sabi naman ng PAGASA that this kind
of weather is projected to stay until the second week of May and we can expect
the start of the rainy season then,” she added.
“So hopefully, at this point, the summer heat is
still manageable,” Valte said. PND (rck)
