Thursday 11 April 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Thursday, April 11, 2013



Fruits of administration’s good governance advocacy seen in increased budgets of government agencies and approvals from international credit rating companies, Aquino says
 
STA. BARBARA, Iloilo) President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday that the fruits of his administration’s good governance advocacy can be seen in the increased budgets of government agencies that provide basic services and in the approval ratings accorded by international credit rating companies due to the country’s progress to break free from the shackles of graft and corruption that has long bound and prevented it from taking off.
After only two years and nine months in Office implementing strict reforms to weed out graft and corruption, cut inefficient government spending and bring down the time to complete projects, the President said that the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Education, Health and Public Works and Highways now enjoy bigger budgets which they can use for the benefit of the people.

The President said the DSWD now has a 260 percent increase in its budget with which it can use to bring more beneficiaries to the government’s pro-poor program: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which is now pegged at 3.85-million households; that the DepEd enjoys a 44 percent budget increase which it can now use to finally close the 66,800 classroom and books, tables and chairs deficit by the end of this year.

“Ang resulta: ang 66,800 na iniwan sa ating classroom backlog, mabubura na natin bago matapos ang taong ito; kaakibat ang pagtugon natin sa mga kakulangan sa libro, mesa at upuan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” the President said in a meeting with local leaders and the community here on Wednesday.

The President added that the DOH, whose budget has been increased by 78 percent, has been able to register 86 percent of Filipinos to the government’s health care program – Philhealth while the DPWH, long thought to be the most corrupt of government agencies, holds above board bidding processes and has cut down unnecessary spending and the time to complete projects; with its budget increase of 23 percent.

“Ang good news po: ang pinaka-kapuspalad nating mga kababayan ay makakapagpagamot na nang walang binabayaran ni isang kusing. Sa DPWH naman po, dalawampu’t tatlong porsyento na ang itinaas,” the President said.

“Dahil sa mabuting pamamahala, may tapat at patas nang bidding; natatapos natin ang proyekto nang mas mababang halaga ang ginagastos, at sa mas mabilis na panahon,” he added.

“Wala na pong tagas, wala na pong mga tongpats, wala nang mga paliko-likong transaksyon kung saan dumidiretso lang ang pondo sa bulsa ng kung sino,” he stressed.

The President further said that Fitch credit rating agency has taken notice of the government’s good governance advocacy and has recently rated the Philippines investment grade status.

“Ngayong mas may tiwala na sila sa atin, ngayong wala na silang dapat na ipagduda, mas may mataas na tayong kakayahan na pondohan ang ating mga makabuluhang serbisyong panlipunan,” the President said. PND (rck)


President Aquino commits more infrastructure projects to boost Iloilo industries, commerce and economic development
 
PASSI CITY, Iloilo) President Benigno S. Aquino III has committed to augment the hardworking Ilonggos’ industries, commerce and economy by vowing to provide more infrastructure projects in the province.
The President gave his commitment in his speech during a meeting with local leaders and the community here on Wednesday.

Among the infrastructure projects include 34 farm-to-market road projects and 23 irrigation projects of which the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Phase II, that aims to provide fresh water to 32,000 hectares of farmland all year round and benefit 20,000 farmers in the province, tops the list.

“Para sa inyong probinsya, nakatutok po tayo sa pagpapatayo ng imprastraktura’t mga pasilidad upang mapalago ang mga kilala ninyong industriya,” the President said.

“Umabot na po sa tatlumpu’t apat na farm-to-market road projects, at dalawampu’t tatlong proyektong pang-irigasyon ang naipagawa natin dito. At oras po na matapos ang Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II, buong taon na rin ang maihahatid na irigasyon para sa halos tatlumpu’t dalawang libong ektarya ng lupa, na magdidilig ng ginhawa sa dalawampung libong Ilonggong magsasaka,” he added.

He pointed out that the tourism and commerce stand to benefit the most from the completion of the Metro Iloilo Radial Road project and the Iloilo Circumferential Road Project that will cut down travel time and decongest traffic along the Jaro-Leganes Road in Iloilo City, Leganes and in Zarraga.

“Ilan pa lamang po ito sa mahabang listahan ng mga inisyatibang pinapangunahan natin sa inyong lalawigan. Ang gusto po natin: mabura sa listahan ang mga proyektong ito— hindi dahil sa ipinatigil ito ng kung sinong naghahari-harian— kundi dahil ganap na natin itong nakumpleto,” the President concluded. PND (rck)


Palace says government closely watching developments in Korea Peninsula
 
The Philippine government continues to monitor the developments in the Korean Peninsula particularly North Korea’s plan for a missile test, Malacanang said on Thursday.
In a press conference in Malacanang, Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said the Palace is alarmed by North Korea’s planned missile launch.

“We are certainly disturbed by the provocative actions being taken by North Korea but, of course, our number one priority is to make sure that the Filipinos, who might number as much as 40,000 if I’m not mistaken, that we’re doing what we can to keep them out of harm’s way,” he said.

“We’re closely monitoring the situation. The DFA is in touch with our allies and the governments that are involved in this, like Japan and South Korea," Carandang added.

The Philippine government is also following closely the multi-state discussions on how to resolve the situation in the Korean Peninsula, Carandang said.

But the Palace official also said that the Philippines, being a small country, is not in a position to largely influence the outcome of the discussions.

“The best we can do at this point is to support our allies who are trying to deescalate the situation and to make sure that the Filipinos living there will be provided all the necessary assistance that they need should the situation deteriorate,” he said.

Carandang also assured that the readiness of the government’s contingency measures in case hostilities break out in the region as he declined to discuss the specifics of the measures to be taken because of certain sensitivities.

Last week, President Aquino said the government is ready for any emergency and the Department of Foreign Affairs is in touch with Filipino community organizations in South Korea to make sure that they are prepared to evacuate if there’s a need.

The chief executive also said the Philippine government has a much improved logistical capability to move out Filipinos out of South Korea if a shooting war starts.

The American military is watching closely the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea is believed to have prepared mobile ballistic missiles for launch at any time.

Japan said it has deployed missile defense systems around Tokyo to protect its population from any missile launch by North Korea. PND (as)


Palace appeals to Filipinos to pay proper taxes on time
 
Malacanang appealed to the Filipino citizenry to pay their taxes properly and on time as the deadline for the filing of income tax returns will be on Monday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said the President and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares have pointed out which segments of the society need to comply with paying the right taxes.

“This is a gentle reminder to all of them who should be paying the proper taxes to please pay your taxes, the proper amount, and file them on time,” Carandang said.

“At kung puwede, huwag natin hintayin until the last minute para hindi tayo nagmamadali at hindi tayo naha-hassle. We have several days to go before the deadline so, we urge people to try to beat the rush, and again, to pay the taxes," he said.

Carandang also said that with the reforms being initiated by the Aquino administration, the people’s taxes go to the right programs and that their money is being spent wisely.

“So we have no reason, at this point, to try to avoid taxes, and this is our contribution to making our country better,” Carandang added. “So please pay your taxes early, pay the proper amount, and rest assured that it’s going to the right places," he said.

If the Filipino people really want to effectively eliminate poverty, grow the economy and fight corruption, they should fund it through paying the proper taxes, Carandang said. PND (as)


Palace hopes to achieve enhanced customs collection before year ends
 
Malacanang said it wants to see improved Customs performance before the end of the year as the government carries out its “huge plan” to reform the bureau as mentioned by the President this week.
“We’re hoping that you can see the results in terms of improved Customs collection performance before the end of the year,” Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) said in a press conference in Malacanang on Thursday.

In an interview in Roxas City on Wednesday, President Benigno S. Aquino III said the government had already come out with an action plan to effectively curb smuggling in the country.

In 2011, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) had a collection shortfall of P55 billion, and last year it had P59 billion.

Asked by reporters if there’s a warning or a marching order for Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon to avoid a shortfall this year, Carandang asked the public to give Biazon a chance to improve BOC’s performance.

“Commissioner Biazon is doing what he can. We are taking steps. Commissioner Biazon is taking steps to improve the situation in Customs. Let’s give him a chance to do that. And we hope that before the end of the year, you’ll see improvements,” he said.

The President assured the public that his administration remains committed to improve the services of the BOC by enhancing its anti-smuggling efforts.

Once the action plan is implemented, the President noted that the various smuggling activities in the country will be solved. He said the action plan is also aimed at cleansing the BOC of scalawags and misfits. PND (as)