Wednesday 24 April 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Wednesday, April 24, 2013



President Aquino declares May 13 National and Local Elections as special public (non-working) holiday nationwide

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared May 13, 2013 as a special public (non-working) holiday throughout the country to enable the people to properly exercise their right of suffrage.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday that the Chief Executive issued the declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 571 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on April 23.

The national and local elections will be held on May 13 which falls on a Monday.

"The Constitution designates national and local polls to be held on the second Monday of May and by virtue of Proclamation No. 571, s. 2013, the President wishes to enable the Filipino people to exercise their right of suffrage," Lacierda said.

"We enjoin all those eligible to vote to use this non-working holiday to participate in the electoral process that forms the bedrock of our democracy," Lacierda stressed.

Last January, the Chief Executive has ordered the deputation of law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible conduct of the May 13 automated national and local elections. PND (js)


Gov’t. allocates P7-M for President Aquino’s attendance to ASEAN Summit in Brunei Darussalam

The government has set aside around P7 million for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s attendance to the 22nd high-level meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Brunei Darussalam from April 24 to 25, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Wednesday.

President Aquino left this afternoon for Bandar Seri Begawan via a chartered Philippine Airlines flight accompanied by 51-member delegation that includes Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary to the President Rene Almendras, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.

The expenses cover the charter lease, accommodation, transportation, food and equipment, among others, for the President and the delegation.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), President Aquino is expected to focus on maritime security and cooperation in the region when he meets other ASEAN leaders in Bandar Seri Begawan for the annual summit.

The DFA said the Chief Executive will push for the full implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the West Philippine Sea and the early conclusion of a substantive and legally binding code of conduct, as well as the review of the ASEAN Charter with the objective of streamlining the work and meetings of the regional bloc.

The DFA added that the 9th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit is also set on the sidelines of the summit meeting.

The DFA said the 22nd ASEAN Summit’s theme “Our People, Our Future Together” emphasizes the importance of ASEAN citizens in realizing the vision of an ASEAN Community by 2015.


Malacanang says Aquino government remains committed in providing jobs for Filipinos

The Aquino government remains focused on generating jobs for Filipinos in the urban areas and countryside in keeping with its goal to mitigate poverty, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday following reports that the percentage of Filipinos living below the poverty line has remained almost unchanged in the past six years.

"These are Year 2012 numbers, these are not current numbers. The survey yesterday (Tuesday) that was conducted by the NSCB (National Statistical Coordination Board) was for the first semester of 2012, which means the first half of 2012," Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the government remains optimistic that the next rounds of poverty statistics will give better results that will reflect the government’s massive investment in human development and poverty mitigation.

In the second quarter of 2012, Lacierda said the economy grew by 5.9 percent, which was later revised to 6.0 percent.

"And in the third quarter, the GDP growth was 7.1, the fisheries sector grew by 4.1 from .7 of the second quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter, the GDP was 6.8 and the agricultural-fisheries sector grew by 4.7," he said.

"We have also seen an increased in investments on the part of the private sector. We have also accelerated our disbursement program," he continued.

Lacierda said the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet cluster has come up with an action plan to generate jobs for people living in the urban areas, as well as the countryside. He said various programs to support the farmers are now in place to improve the agricultural sector.

"Ang focus ng ating problema ngayon is agriculture. Doon medyo mababa ang growth. What’s also important right now is we’re trying to link farmers and technology, sources of technology and sources of credit," he said.

"Now with respect to industries, we have seen private investments coming in. The private sector during the latter half of 2012, has really poured in their investments. Malaki ang improvement ng ating private sector as based on our figures during the last year. So we will expect a greater improvement in our numbers with respect to poverty," he said. PND (js)


Aquino to push for binding code of conduct in South China Sea during ASEAN Summit

President Benigno S. Aquino III said he would push for the crafting of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea when he attends the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Summit (ASEAN) Summit in Brunei Darussalam Thursday.

“Sa pagtitipong ito, muli tayong nabibigyan ng pagkakataong ibahagi sa ating mga karatig-bansa ang saloobin ng Pilipinas ukol sa mga napapanahong isyu, at ang kahandaan ng mga Pilipinong makipagtulungan sa iba’t ibang larangan,” the President said in his departure statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

Peace and stability are important because any instability in one area could affect the entire global economy, the President said.
“Wala tayong ibang hangad kundi ang magtaguyod ng kaayusan at kapayapaan, kaya naman itutulak nating isabuhay ng lahat ang mga prinsipyong nakapaloob sa Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea o DOC,” he said.

“Hihikayatin din natin ang ibang pinuno sa pagpapanday ng isang Code of Conduct sa lalong madaling panahon, na kikilalanin at susundin ng lahat. Sa liderato ng kasalukuyang ASEAN Chairman, si Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah ng Brunei, buo ang kumpiyansa nating mas makakausad nang patas ang paksang ito,” he added.

The President’s attendance to the summit would be brief and he said he would seize the opportunity to push the country’s interest in the regional gathering. The President also hopes to build stronger relations with fellow ASEAN countries.

The ASEAN and China agreed in 2002 on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to maintain peace and stability in the contested area, a major lane for global trade and believed to be rich in mineral resources.

Some claimant countries including the Philippines are pushing for the crafting of a binding Code of Conduct for the eventual peaceful resolution of the South China Sea issue. PND (as)


Palace to communist rebels: Join us in progress

Malacanang asked communist insurgents to lay down their arms and join the nation reap the fruits of an improved economy and developing country.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday that the Aquino government has been focusing on achieving progress and inclusive growth for the benefit of all Filipinos.

He said the government is pushing for more jobs in the countryside, improving the productivity of the farmers so there’s no sense for the rebels to spend time in the mountains.

“Come down and join us in sharing the wealth and sharing the progress of the country. They have been reduced to a bandit group, and it makes no sense for them to continue their nefarious ways, and just help us,” he said.

Part of the government initiative to entice the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to go back to the fold of the law is the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s Bayanihan program, he said.

The present activities of the rebels such as extorting politicians for permit-to-campaign fees, destroying telecommunication facilities, as well as harassing the members of the police and the military are not constructive, Lacierda said.

To counter these activities, Lacierda said the government will remain committed to uplifting the situation of the masses.

Despite the continuing operations against the rebels, Lacierda said the government wants the members of the NPA to be part of the current developments.

“Whether or not there is an ongoing peace talks, we are telling these people: It makes no sense for you to stay in the mountainside. It makes no sense for you to conduct ambushes,” he said.

“This government is committed to equitable progress; this government is committed to inclusive growth. And now is the best time for you to come down and be part of this campaign of making sure that you will be part [of] and share the progress that this country is experiencing,” he added.

This week, the President instructed the AFP to dismantle roadblocks set up by the rebels in areas they control.

The Palace also asked local candidates to shun the demands of the NPA for campaign fees in exchange for allowing them entry to rebel strongholds. PND (as)