Thursday 4 April 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Wednesday, April 3, 2013



President Aquino urges midwives to sustain their excellence and embody the core values of integrity, professionalism and accountability

President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the country's midwives to sustain their excellence in accordance to global standards, and embody the core values of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

"Midwives, being key providers of health care to mothers and newborns, are in the frontline of our goal for an empowered, productive citizenry," the Chief Executive said in his message to the Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives Inc. (PLGPMI) on the occasion of the 14th General Assembly of Midwives.

The PLGPMI opened on Wednesday the 14th General Assembly of Midwives at the Legend Palawan Hotel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The event, which has for its theme "Iwagayway ang Kalusugan Pangkalahatan ng mga Ina, Anak at Midwives," would end on Saturday.

"May this gathering further strengthen your League, as you equip your members with advanced, relevant knowledge and skills that redound to the welfare of your patients," the President said.

"The Filipino people are called upon in this era of daylight to uphold our movement for change with passion and dedication. Let us be steadfast on the straight and righteous path of equitable progress," he noted.

The assembly aims to equip the midwives with the necessary skills in accordance to the Global Standards set by the International Confederation of Midwives through the enactment of appropriate legislative and regulatory measures. PND (js)


President Aquino directs DOJ to look into Burgos case

President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed the Department of Justice, headed by Secretary Leila De Lima, to look into the circumstances leading to the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday.

In a press briefing held in Malacanang, Lacierda said the President issued his instructions “in fulfillment of the President's pledge that any receipt of new evidence or leads will receive the scrutiny the case deserves.”

In response, De Lima immediately instructed the National Bureau of Investigation "to conduct a focused, dedicated, and exhaustive investigation on the case of Jonas Burgos,” Lacierda noted.

“Upon the direction of the President, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has instructed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a focused, dedicated, and exhaustive investigation on the case of Jonas Burgos,” Lacierda said.

“As chief executor of our laws and as commander-in-chief, the President is mandated to do justice to every man,” he added.

Jonas, a political activist and son of the late press freedom fighter Jose Burgos, was abducted in a restaurant at the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on April 28, 2007. PND (rck)


President Aquino declares April 19 as a special non-working day in Tarlac City in celebration of 15th Charter Day

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared April 19, which falls on a Friday, as a special non-working day in the city of Tarlac in celebration of its 15th Charter Day.

The Chief Executive issued the declaration by virtue of Proclamation No. 561 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on March 13, to give the people of Tarlac City the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion.

The citizenry overwhelmingly supported the conversion of Tarlac town into a component city through a plebiscite held on April 18, 1998.

Tarlac town was proclaimed as a component city on April 19, 1998 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8593. PND (js)


Philippine-Malaysia relations remain strong despite Sabah conflict, says Palace

Close relations between the Philippines and Malaysia remains the same despite the recent conflict in Sabah, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

“There has been no change in the relationship with Malaysia,” Presidential spokesman Edwin lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

“There has been no strain with our relationship in Malaysia. We recognize that this was an attempt by a few that should not affect the relationship of the whole.”

Lacierda was responding to questions whether the conflict in Sabah has affected the relations between the two countries. Malaysian forces assaulted a group of Filipinos claiming Sabah as part of the Sulu Sultanate.

The violence resulted to hundreds of Filipinos living or working in Sabah going home to avoid the conflict or being rounded up by Malaysian authorities.

At the same time, Lacierda made an assurance that the Philippine government continues to help Filipinos affected by the conflict.

“If they need assistance, we will provide them; if they need employment, we will help them; if they need to go back to Sabah, we will provide legal documentation for those who would like to return to Sabah,” he told Palace reporters.

Asked if the government could provide jobs to thousands of returnees from Sabah, Lacierda said several government agencies are working together to address the problem.

While the government can’t provide jobs to displaced Filipinos in one day, agencies such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Overseas Filipinos Welfare Administration (OWWA) are doing everything to help Filipinos who lost their jobs in Sabah.

The government is assisting those who want to return to their respective provinces and also working to help those who had opted to return to Sabah.

“Most of them may mga probinsya. Alam naman nila saan sila galing, so umuuwi sila at saka dumidiretso sila sa probinsya. But they leave with us their numbers in case some of them would like to go back to Sabah,” Lacierda said.

Some estimates said around 100,000 Filipinos are expected to return to Mindanao as a result of the instability in Sabah. But Lacierda said the government has a lesser figure than the current estimates.

The Palace official also made an assurance that regardless of the figures, the government is ready to assist displaced Filipinos returning from Sabah. PND (as)


Palace: Transition Commission could effectively draft Bangsamoro Basic Law

Malacanang expressed optimism that the Transition Commission (TransCom) could do its mandate of drafting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law based on the Framework Agreement agreed upon by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last year.

“Ang mandato nila [TransCom] is to come up with the Basic Law. Yun ang magiging trabaho nila: to draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law with provisions consistent with the 2012 Framework Agreement,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.

“Ang kailangan natin dito gumawa ng Basic Law. So I think that’s something that is doable. All the members of Transition Commission are members of the Bangsamoro. So I don’t see any problem there. They will be discussing it,” he said on the first en banc of the TransCom.

He said that the discussions will push through because the common aspiration of both sides is peace and development in Mindanao.

With regards to the postponement of the peace talks that might affect the timeline in crafting the Basic Law, Lacierda said the government thinks otherwise, echoing the statement of the MILF saying that the final peace pact will be signed.

Asked to comment whether the recent dissolution of the Malaysian parliament to give way for an election may affect the peace talks, Lacierda said he can’t speculate on the outcome of Malaysia’s political process.

The election in Malaysia is supposed to be held within 60 days from the dissolution of the parliament.

“I can’t speculate right now as to whether it will have an effect on the peace talks. But, as a matter of policy, Malaysia has been our facilitator for these talks and they have been very helpful,” he said. PND (as)