President Aquino cites Philippine Medical
Association
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the
Philippine Medical Association (PMA) for its efforts in providing excellent
healthcare delivery to its patients and the rest of the Filipinos.
"For more than a century, your association
has been a crucial stakeholder in our health care sector, and we in government
count on your constant pursuit of excellence as we secure our people’s
welfare," the Chief Executive said in his message to PMA on the occasion
of its 106th Annual Convention and Scientific Meetings.
The PMA opened on Tuesday its 106th Annual
Convention and Scientific Meetings which has for its theme “PMA: Nagkakaisang
Manggagamot Tungo sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan” at the Manila Hotel. The
convention will end on May 17.
"May this occasion serve as both a seedbed
of knowledge, and a launch pad for scientific research and interactive
discussions that would elevate the standards of your profession. Let the
momentum created by this event infuse and inspire you to further empower our
most vital resource, our citizenry," the President said.
"Universal health care emphasizes our
thrust towards a more equitably progressive Philippines. We are committed to
achieving this goal with the help of medical professionals like you. Together,
let us work as one collective and demonstrate passion, integrity, and
accountability in our endeavors in pursuit of our national aspirations,"
he noted.
The Philippine Medical Association is the
premier medical association of the Philippines, covering medical practitioners
and component medical groups from the entire country.
It is a member of the World Medical Association
and is a co-founder of the Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and
Oceania. It is also the co-founder of Medical Associations of South East Asian
Nations. PND (js)
President Aquino declares May 21 as a special
(non-working) day in the City of Malabon in celebration of its 414th Foundation
Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared May
21, which falls on a Tuesday, as a special (non-working) day in the city of
Malabon in celebration of its 414th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 576 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on May 10 to give the people of Malabon the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Malabon was once called Tambobong and was
established more than four hundred years ago. The former name originated from
the numerous tambo trees growing in the area. In 1599, Tambobong came under the
administration of the Augustinian Friars as a parish along with the town of
Navotas.
During the Spanish Era, the place became known
as Malabon. The name came from the phrase "maraming labong" which
means "plenty of labong," referring to the edible bamboo shoots.
After the American Revolution (1896-1898),
Malabon became a town of Rizal Province through the Philippine Commission Act
No. 137.
It was reunited with the town of Navotas through
the Philippine Commission Act No. 942. Six years later, in January 6, 1906,
Malabon and Navotas were reestablished as two distinct towns. PND (js)
Malacanang satisfied with conduct of 2013
midterm elections
Malacanang expressed satisfaction on Tuesday
over the conduct of the 2013 midterm elections, saying the Commission on
Elections and its “deputized agencies came together and did their utmost to
ensure free, fair, and credible elections.”
In a statement read during his regular press
briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also lauded the Filipino
people whom he said “undertook this exercise and the right of suffrage with
tenacity and good cheer.”
“By all accounts, this second automated election
has proceeded in a satisfactory manner, with the system and the vast majority
of machines working as they were intended. While there were isolated incidents
of violence and equally isolated hitches in the voting process, our
institutions—from the COMELEC to its deputized agencies—volunteers for
poll-watching, media, and the public came together and did their utmost to
ensure free, fair, and credible elections,” Lacierda said.
“The President led the administration into what
he himself has described as a referendum on this administration—one that will
determine whether there will be a continuation and acceleration of reform, or a
regression to the old, selfish ways that had harmed our country. As the
counting is completed and the official proclamations take place, it seems clear
that our countrymen have spoken overwhelmingly to confirm and expand the
mandate for reform and change that they first granted in 2010 to President
Aquino,” he added.
According to the Comelec, nine out of the 12
seats for Senators are from the ruling party – Liberal Party also known as Team
Pnoy.
Lacierda said the strong showing of Team Pnoy
“is a renewed mandate for tuwid na daan, and a vote of confidence for good
governance, the continuity of reforms, and a brighter future to come.”
He said this “greater majority in the
Senate…means we will be able to push our reform agenda.”
“Since we will have a greater support in the
Senate, that means we will be able to push our reform agenda, the laws that we
feel are our priorities for the country, and so it is certainly a desire that
we wanted during the campaign and it seems like it is going that way,” Lacierda
said.
“We thank the Filipino people for the support
they have shown President Aquino’s agenda of reform and positive change, and we
also thank them for doing their part and contributing to the success of these
elections.
"As we in government continue to fulfill
the mandate entrusted to us by our Bosses, the Filipino people, it is our hope
that the next three years will see our country taking even greater strides
along the straight path towards equitable progress, peace, and stability for
all,” he added. PND (rck)
Government aims to repatriate Filipinos in Saudi
Arabia soon
The Philippine government continues to track
down and assist Filipinos in Saudi Arabia to eventually bring them home, a
Palace official said.
In a press conference in Malacanang on Tuesday,
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said 37 workers from Saudi Arabia were
brought home by the Philippine government last Friday from Saudi Arabia.
“We are in the process of helping them complete
their documents in order for them to be brought home,” Lacierda told reporters.
“We are committed to helping our Philippine
nationals in Saudi Arabia, whether you are in Riyadh or in Saudi—whether they
are in Riyadh or in Jeddah, we are making all the efforts to do that. We are
tracking them down.”
The Philippine government is completing the
requirement processes and it is in touch with the Saudi Arabia government to
ensure that it can bring home the stranded Filipinos who would like to come
home.
Recent reports said some 10,000 Filipino workers
in Saudi Arabia may avail of the recent concessions by the Kingdom’s government
for them to go home.
The Saudi Ministry of Labor instructed all labor
offices to work double time to handle the applications of those availing of the
concessions. PND (as)
