President Aquino signs K-12 Act into law
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law
the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012 or the K to 12 Basic Education Program
in ceremonies held in Malacanang on Wednesday.
The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12
years of basic education (six years of primary education, four years of Junior
High School and two years of Senior High School) to provide sufficient time for
students mastery of concept and skills, develop lifelong learners, and prepare
graduates for tertiary education, middle-level skills development, employment
and entrepreneurship.
In his speech, the President said it was the
duty of the State to provide for the needs and ensure fair and equal
opportunities for all Filipinos, especially the poor and thus the
implementation of this education program will strengthen the basic education
requirements of students which in turn, will bring them closer to the
fulfillment of their dreams and ambitions.
“Nagtitipon po tayo ngayon upang saksihan ang
isa na namang makasaysayang araw sa ating bansa—ang paglagda natin sa batas na
magsisilbing pundasyon para sa mas maaliwalas na bukas ng bawat kabataang
Pilipino: ang Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 o mas kilala bilang ang K to
12 Act,” the President said.
“Dahil na rin sa tiwala ng sambayanan,
matagumpay nating nakamit ang adhikaing magkaroon ng isang sistemang
pang-edukasyon na tunay na pumapanday sa kakayahan ng ating mga kabataan, at
naglalapit sa kanila tungo sa katuparan ng kanilang mga pangarap,” he added.
“Malinaw ang batayang prinsipyo ng batas na ito:
karapatan ng bawat Pilipinong mamuhay nang marangal; tungkulin naman ng
estadong siguruhing may patas na oportunidad ang ating mamamayan, lalo na ang
pinakamahihirap nating kababayan. At isang matatag na haligi ng kanilang
pag-ahon ang pagkakaroon ng mataas na antas ng edukasyon. Sa pagsasabatas ng K
to 12, hindi lang tayo nagdaragdag ng dalawang taon para sa higit pang
pagsasanay ng ating mga mag-aaral; tinitiyak din nating talagang
nabibigyang-lakas ang susunod na henerasyon na makiambag sa pagpapalago ng
ating ekonomiya at lipunan,” the President said.
Witnessing the President’s signing were major
proponents, authors and co-authors of the bill from the Senate and House of
Representatives led by Senators Franklin Drilon, Edgardo Angara, Ralph Recto,
Speaker of the House Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Representatives Neptali
Gonzales II, Sandy Ocampo and Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. PND (rck)
President Aquino says government remains focused
in providing quality education for Filipino students
The government’s quest to provide quality
education for all Filipino students remains a top priority as it continues to
introduce reforms and programs designed to uplift and improve the delivery of
knowledge and learning of schools, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on
Wednesday.
Speaking to authors, co-authors, development
partners, the steering committee and technical working group, teachers and
students after signing into law Republic Act No. 10533 otherwise known as the
Enhanced Basic Education Act or the K to 12 Basic Education Program in
Malacanang, the President said that since he assumed Office in 2010, his
Administration has been working towards creating quality education for Filipino
students.
He said by steadily increasing the budget for
education and by fully supporting scholarship programs such as the Training for
Work Scholarship Program of the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority as well as implementing the Public Higher Education Roadmap of the
Commission on Higher Education, teachers, students and schools are now
better-equipped to impart and receive lessons.
“Totoo po na hindi nalilihis ang tutok natin sa
pagsusulong ng dekalidad na edukasyon. Mula nang tayo’y manungkulan, taon-taon
nating inaangat ang budget ng basic education. Sa katunayan mula sa mahigit 161
billion pesos na budget noong 2010, naitaas na natin ito sa mahigit 232 billion
pesos ngayong 2013,” the President said.
“Sa Technical Education naman, nariyan ang
Industry Based Training for Work Scholarship Program ng TESDA, na may higit sa
150,900 scholars nang hinasa at natulungan sa pamumuno ni Joel Villanueva,” he
added.
“Samantala, para sa ating mga state universities
and colleges, umaarangkada na ang Public Higher Education Roadmap ng CHED na
ang isa sa mga layunin ay paunlarin ang mga pasilidad panturo ng ating mga
State Universities and Colleges,” the President said.
HE pointed out that under the helm of Education
Secretary Armin Luistro, the textbook and table and chair gap has been already
addressed while the classroom shortage of 66,800 will be fully complied with by
the end of 2013.
“Walang duda: ang K to 12 Act ay bunga ng ating
patuloy na pagsisikap na itulak ang makabuluhan at positibong reporma hindi
lang sa sistemang pang-edukasyon sa ating bansa, kundi maging sa lahat ng sektor
ng ating lipunan. Ito’y tagumpay na sumasalamin sa ating nagkakaisang hangarin
na mamuhunan sa pinakamahalaga nating yaman—ang mamamayang Pilipino. Patunay
ito sa isang panata: na walang maiiwan sa pagtahak natin sa landas tungo sa
kaginhawaan,” the President said.
“Sa ating mabuting pamamahala, abot-kamay na po
ng bawat Juan at Juana de la Cruz ang mga pangarap na dati’y ‘di man lang natin
matanaw. Patuloy po tayong humakbang sa iisang direksyon at sama-sama nating
iangat ang ating minamahal na bayan. Sa paglalatag natin ng tamang balangkas
para sa ating sistemang pang-edukasyon, nilalatag din po natin ang saligan para
sa isang Pilipinas na maunlad, mapayapa, at bukal ng pagkakataon para sa bawat
Pilipino,” he concluded. PND (rck)
Palace sees winning governors from opposition to
support government reform agenda
Malacanang expects winning local executives
belonging to the opposition to support its agenda on reform and good governance
as it benefits everyone.
In a press conference in Malacanang on
Wednesday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said they expect winning
governors coming from the opposition to welcome the reform agenda of the Aquino
administration because it aims to uplift the conditions of the poor.
The President campaigned hard to rally support
for the administration’s gubernatorial bets in the provinces of Laguna, Tarlac,
Pampanga, and Pangasinan but they lost during Monday’s election.
“I think whoever will become the governor will
certainly believe in our campaign for good governance. There is no reason for
them not to adhere to our program of good governance. So it will profit them as
well to walk along the path of ‘tuwid na daan’,” Lacierda said when asked if
they were dismayed by the loss of the administration bets in those areas.
“I’m sure they will welcome the agenda of good
governance. No politician will defy any program that will support our programs
for the poor, for the economic upliftment of our countrymen.”
On Tuesday, Malacanang expressed satisfaction
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, Lacierda lauded the Filipino people whom he said “undertook this
exercise and the right of suffrage with tenacity and good cheer.”
Comelec said nine out of the 12 seats for
senators are from the ruling party—the 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.” PND (as)
President Aquino orders Manila Economic and
Cultural Office to convey his and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology
President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amadeo R. Perez to convey
his and the Filipino people’s deep regret and apology to the people of Taiwan
and the family of the fisherman who died during last Thursday's shooting
incident between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and a Taiwanese fishing
vessel off the Batanes group of islands.
"The President has appointed MECO chairman
Amadeo R. Perez as his personal representative who will convey his and the
Filipino people’s deep regret and apology to the family of Mr. Hung Shi-chen as
well as to the people of Taiwan over the unfortunate and unintended loss of
life," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement issued
on Wednesday.
Upon orders from the President, Lacierda said
the National Bureau of Investigation has already started the investigation into
the unfortunate incident.
"The NBI is committed to a thorough,
exhaustive, impartial and expeditious investigation of the incident has given
this case the highest priority," Lacierda said.
"We understand the grief and hurt of the
family and of the people of Taiwan over this unfortunate loss and we empathize
with them," he noted.
Hung Shi-chen was the lone fatality in the May 9
shooting incident between the PCG and a Taiwanese fishing vessel that was
reportedly poaching in Philippine waters off the Batanes group of islands.
The PCG initially reported that the incident
occurred when the Coast Guard personnel tried to apprehend one of the four
fishing vessels inside Philippine archipelagic waters. PND (js)
