President Aquino receives new Egyptian envoy in
Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed the new
envoy of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Philippines who called on him in
Malacanang on Monday.
Egypt’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Mahmoud Mostafa Ahmed met with President Aquino at the Music
Room of Malacanang to present his credentials before settling down to work as
his country’s representative.
In a short message, Ambassador Mahmoud assured
the President of the continued friendship and cooperation of the people and
Egypt and said that he would work towards strengthening the good bilateral
relations with the Philippines.
The President then ushered Ambassador Mahmoud
into an adjoining room for a private meeting.
Prior to his meeting with the President, who was
joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosasrio, Ambassador Mahmoud was
accorded military honors by members of the Presidential Security Group at the
grounds fronting Malacanang Palace. PND (rck)
Malacañang says Taiwan will provide additional
security to protect Filipinos
The Taiwan government intends to provide
additional security to protect Filipinos in Taiwan amid reports of assault and
discrimination against Filipino nationals staying there, a Palace official said
on Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a press briefing in Malacanang that the Philippine government remains
optimistic that the harassment and assaults against Filipinos in Taiwan will be
stopped after Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou vowed last week to protect the
Filipinos there.
Last Friday, the Taiwan's leader called for calm
and promised to protect Filipinos residing and working in the island.
"I understand, that their leadership has
already expressed intent to provide additional security and we’re hoping that
the reported incidents will not be repeated," Valte said.
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO)
had already organized a team that will document reports of harassment and
assaults against Filipinos in Taiwan and relay it to Taiwan’s foreign ministry.
"Our counterparts there are already working
with the relevant ministries in Taiwan for the investigation of these attacks,"
Valte said.
Valte said the Philippine government is calling
on the Taiwanese people not to harass the Filipinos there because they have
nothing to do with the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman last May 9 off
Batanes.
The Philippine government assured that
contingencies are now in place in case there is an exodus of Filipinos from
Taiwan. The Department of Labor said it is looking at other markets such as
South Korea, the Middle East and Malaysia that could absorb Filipino workers
affected by the current diplomatic row with Taiwan. PND (js)
President Aquino directs Department of Labor and
other government agencies to address job mismatch
President Benigno S. Aquino III had already
tapped the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) to continue working to address the prevailing job mismatch, a Palace
official said on Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a press briefing in Malacanang that the Chief Executive asked the
concerned agencies to exert all the necessary efforts to attain the
administration's goal of providing employment for Filipinos after graduation.
Valte said President Aquino stressed the need
for the concerned government agencies to craft measures to help address the
country's employment concerns.
"The President has repeatedly talked about
this. It needs to be addressed by a convergence between the Labor department,
the CHED and the TESDA," Valte said.
Valte said the Chief Executive directed the DOLE
to work along with its partner agencies in implementing various job creation
facilitation programs to address the prevailing job mistmatch.
"Ang gusto po natin ay nabibigyan ng proper
advice ang ating mga estudyante kung ano ang mga kurso na kapag naka-graduate
sila ay bukas pa ang merkado para sa mga ganoong empleyo," Valte said.
"So, nakita po natin ‘yan nang nagkaroon ng
oversupply in some sectors with the number of jobs that are available after
they had graduated, and that is precisely why the President ordered these three
agencies to come together and make sure that the proper advice is given our
students who are beginning their university education," she said.
The administration is trying to attract both
domestic and international investors to create more job opportunities for
Filipinos. PND (js)
