Gov’t budgets P6-M for President Aquino’s
participation in WEF on East Asia
The government has earmarked some P6 million for
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s participation in the 22nd World Economic
Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Myanmar that will gather over 900 participants,
mostly key decision-makers, from 55 countries to discuss the challenges facing
the region, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Friday.
President Aquino left early this morning for Nay
Pyi Taw via a chartered Philippine Airlines flight accompanied by a 57-member
delegation that includes Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade Secretary
Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary to the President Jose Rene Almendras, Energy
Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio
Balisacan, Presidential Management Staff head Julia Andrea Abad and
Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.
Other members of the official delegation are
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., Budget
and Management Secretary Florencio Abad and PCDSPO Secretary Ramon Carandang,
who all left ahead of the Chief Executive.
The expenses cover the charter lease,
accommodations, transportation, food and equipment, among others, for the
President and his official delegation.
This is the first trip of President Aquino to
Myanmar and also a first by a Philippine leader since former President Fidel V.
Ramos, who visited the ASEAN neighbor in 1997.
According to Ochoa, the Chief Executive will
return in the evening after a series of meetings with business leaders to
encourage them to invest in the Philippines.
During the WEF on East Asia meeting, President
Aquino will also participate in the discussions on several important issues
such as regional integration and the challenges confronting it, the Executive
Secretary added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said
President Aquino is set to meet with Myanmar President Thein Sein and Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate who is now a parliamentarian
and leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, at the sidelines of
the forum.
Timor Leste to pattern Public Private
Partnership program implementation after Philippines
The Republic of Timor Leste will emulate the
Philippines’ own Public Private Partnership (PPP) program to raise revenue that
will be used in its Strategic Development Plan 2011 to 2030, Timor Leste Prime
Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said on Thursday.
Speaking at a welcome dinner interaction with
potential investors at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay
City, Gusmao cited the successes gained by the Philippines in implementing its
PPP program that has been instrumental in driving progress in the country and
has helped raise GDP (gross domestic product) for the first quarter of 2013 to
7.8 percent, one of the highest in the region.
Gusmao said that with the implementation of PPP
in his country, his government will be able to fund social capital and
infrastructure development particularly in the key sectors of agriculture,
petroleum and tourism while focusing on rural development and private sector
investment.
Earlier, Gusmao met with President Benigno S.
Aquino III at a luncheon in Malacanang were he expressed his support for
Timor-Leste’s bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is
looking forward to working with Timor-Leste in advancing dialogue for regional
development.
Gusmao and President Aquino also witnessed the
signing of agreements on education, infrastructure development, and foreign
relations that is seen to further strengthen relations between the two
countries. PND (rck)
Overseas Filipinos in Myanmar want President
Aquino to continue the good policies and reforms
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar --- Noting the various
accomplishments of the Aquino administration, Filipinos living and working here
in Myanmar are expecting President Benigno S. Aquino III to continue the good
policies and the reforms he initiated since he assumed office in 2010,
Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Alex Chua said.
During an interview with PBS-RTVM, Ambassador
Chua said that there are around 500 Filipinos living and working in Myanmar,
most of them are concentrated in Yangon, the commercial capital of Myanmar.
“Filipinos in Myanmar are in wide range of
occupations—they are teachers, engineers, architects, journalists, technical
experts, business professionals,” he said. “Most Filipinos in Myanmar are
well-respected for having contributed to the advancement and development of
this nation.”
Ambassador Chua said that President Aquino is
popular in Myanmar and that he even topped the presidential elections in
Overseas Absentee Voting precinct here in 2010.
He also said that the Filipinos here have noted
the various developments in the country, as well as the accomplishments of the
Aquino administration, particularly in the economic sector.
“Our countrymen in Myanmar, like most Filipinos
back home, expect him to continue his good policies and constructive programs
for the welfare and better future of our country and people,” he added.
President Aquino will visit Myanmar on Friday to
participate in the 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia, as well as to invite
the delegates of the WEF to the Philippines next year. He is also expected to
invite foreign investors to come to the Philippines and explore the business
opportunities in the country. PND (co)
President Aquino to promote the Philippines as
suitable investment venue during his visit to Myanmar
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed
optimism that his administration will be able to promote the Philippines, now
referred to as 'Southeast Asia's brightest spark', as suitable investment venue
when he attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Myanmar.
The Chief Executive departed for Myanmar on
board a chartered Philippine Air Lines flight (PR 001) at 7:45 a.m. Friday to
join world and international business leaders in the annual World Economic
Forum (WEF) that is being held in Myanmar.
In his departure speeech at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport Terminal II, President Aquino said he will invite foreign
investors to put up their businesses in the Philippines.
"Lalong nagiging makabuluhan ang pagdalo
natin dito dahil nakatakdang ganapin ang World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014
dito po sa atin sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin, pagkakataon ito upang ipaalam ang
kakaibang sigla na tinatamasa ng ating ekonomiya sa tuwid na landas, at
hikayatin pa ang mga pinuno at negosyante na huwag sayangin ang pagkakataong
makasabay sa pag-angat ng kinikilalang “brightest spark” ng Timog Silangang
Asya: walang iba kundi ang minamahal nating Pilipinas," the President
said.
President Aquino said his attendance to the WEF
will provide an opportunity to showcase before the European and international
business leaders the accomplishments of his administration in implementing
widespread and meaningful reforms in governance
The President said the world leaders remained
committed to meet key challenges such as building sustained economic growth,
mitigating global risks, improving social welfare and fostering environmental
sustainability, among others, in a bid to improve the world's economy.
"Kasama ang mga pinuno’t namumuhunan mula
sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig, layunin ng pagpupulong na ito na patibayin,
hindi lamang ang ugnayang pang-ekonomiya ng mga bansa, kundi maging ang
kooperasyon at pagtutulungan sa iba’t iba pang larangan," he stressed.
During his stay in Myanmar, the President is set
to meet with Myanmar President U Thein Sein and opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi.
"Magkakaroon din po tayo ng bilateral
meeting kasama si Pangulong Thein Sein ng Myanmar, upang bumuo ng mga mekanismo
para paigtingin ang pagkapit-bisig ng ating mga bansa sa kalakalan, pulitika,
at seguridad. Nasasabik rin po tayo sa pakikipagpulong natin kay Madam Aung San
Suu Kyi, ang pinuno ng National League for Democracy, na nagkamit ng Nobel
Peace Prize noong 1991 dahil sa kaniyang paninindigan at kabayanihan para sa
demokrasya," he stressed.
"Umaasa po tayong magiging mabunga ang
palitan ng mga ideya kasama ang mga nasabing pinuno, upang pagmulan ng mga
kasunduang magpapatibay sa ugnayan, at magdudulot ng kaunlaran sa ating mga
bansa. Agad din po tayong makakabalik mamayang gabi, bitbit ang mga positibong
oportunidad mula sa Myanmar," he noted.
"Sa ganitong mga biyahe, hindi natin
kailanman kinakalimutan ang pangunahing pakay namin bilang mga lingkod-bayan:
Ang mag-uwi ng mas marami pang makabuluhang pagkakataon para sa mga Pilipino,
at ibandila ang bagong mukha ng Pilipinas—isang bansang handang
makipagbayanihan sa ibang nasyon tungo sa maaliwalas na ekonomiya’t
pagnenegosyo; isang bansang tunay na nagniningning at tinitingala ng
mundo," he said
Aquino will also formally invite the WEF
delegations to attend the 2014 WEF on East Asia in Manila next year.
The 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia,
hosted by Myanmar for the first time, began Wednesday at Myanmar International
Convention Center (MICC) in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar.
The main theme of the three-day forum is
Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration and the forum brings
over 900 participants including 500 business leaders from 55 countries. PND
(js)
President Aquino to discuss with President Thein
Sein how to enhance bilateral relations between the Philippines and Myanmar
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar – President Benigno S.
Aquino III will discuss with President Thein Sein how to further improve the
Philippines’ bilateral relations with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,
Philippine Ambassador to Myanmar Alex Chua said.
In an interview with PBS-RTVM, Ambassador Chua
said that during the bilateral meeting with President Thein Sein, President
Aquino will also personally invite Myanmar’s leader to visit the country.
“President Aquino will meet with President Thein
Sein and discuss broad issues on our bilateral relations and he will personally
invite President Thein Sein to visit the Philippines in the near future to
further enhance our relations and our cooperation on various fields of
interest,” he said.
President Aquino, together with the Philippine
delegation, is set to arrive here Friday morning. The President is attending
the 22nd World Economic Forum to personally invite the delegates of the forum
to the 2014 WEF East Asia Summit to be hosted by the Philippines.
The Philippines and Myanmar established
diplomatic relations on September 1956. “The two countries have maintained
close and strong relations for about 57 years now,” Ambassador Chua said.
“In recent years, there has been a noticeable
increase in the exchange of visits between our officials from the government,
academe civil society and business sectors,” he added.
Ambassador Chua expressed hope that President
Aquino’s visit to Myanmar will further improve the two countries’ relations in
the fields of trade and investment and other areas of cooperation.
President Aquino will also meet with opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the sidelines of his participation to the WEF East
Asia Summit here. Suu Kyi is the chairperson and general secretary of the
National League for Democracy. PND (co)
President Aquino arrives in Myanmar
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III arrived here Friday morning to take part in the 22nd World Economic
Forum on East Asia hosted by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The President is attending the closing session
of WEF East Asia Summit, where he will personally invite the delegates of WEF
to the Philippines, which will be the host for next year’s forum. This is the
first trip of the President to Myanmar.
On board a chartered Philippine Airlines flight,
President Aquino and members of the Philippine delegation arrived at Nay Pyi
Taw International Airport at around 10:25 a.m. (Myanmar time).
He was welcomed by the Philippine officials led
by Ambassador to Myanmar Alex Chua, and representatives from Myanmar’s Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.
From the airport, the President proceeded to the
Presidential Palace for a bilateral meeting with President Thein Sein of
Myanmar to discuss how to further enhance the bilateral relations between the
Philippines and Myanmar.
His talks with President Thein Sein will be
followed by a meeting with WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab. He
will also attend a luncheon meeting hosted by the Ayala Corporation.
The President will also meet with Aung San Suu
Kyi, chairperson and general secretary of the National League for Democracy.
The President is accompanied by a 57-member
delegation including Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Trade Secretary
Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Socio-Economic Planning
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad and
and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.
Other members of the delegation are Finance
Secretary Cesar Purisima, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Budget and
Management Secretary Florencio Abad and Communications Secretary Ramon
Carandang, who all left ahead of the President. PND (co)
President Aquino asks Congress to pass bill
modernizing weather forecasting
President Benigno Aquino III certified as urgent
House Bill 6546 or “An Act Providing for the Modernization of the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)
Providing Funds and for Other Purposes.”
The bill, signed by the President June 5, 2013,
was transmitted to the Senate, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday.
The President has certified the bill as urgent
so that Congress could pass it before its session ends, Valte said noting the
proposed law is already in the advanced stage of legislation.
“Sayang naman kung hindi ito maipapasa ng
Kongreso at importante itong batas na ito because it provides for the
modernization of Pagasa,” Valte said.
Pagasa is in dire need of funds to modernize its
equipment, the Palace official said. For instance, Valte said the weather
bureau has to allocate money for the installation of more rain gauges in
different locations to help Pagasa determine the water level and warn the
people about impending flood.
“We’re also putting up Doppler radars to help us
predict or tell the public the state of the weather in the country and this is
something that is needed for the modernization of Pagasa,” Valte added. PND
(as)
President Aquino updated on Serendra blast
investigation
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel
Roxas submitted a report to President Benigno S. Aquino III regarding the
Serendra Place blast last week indicating the explosion was likely triggered by
a gas leak.
In a press briefing in Malacanang Friday, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President was updated about
the Serendra investigation before he departed to Myanmar Friday morning.
The President was satisfied with the
investigation result, Valte said.
Asked by reporters if the President issued any
directive after receiving the report, Valte said the interagency team will
continue its investigation.
“Hindi pa tapos ang imbestigasyon. At this
point, nabigyan na nila tayo ng initial findings. Na-rule out na that the
explosion was caused by any device, at nandoon na sa stage na nasasabi na ng
mga imbestigador na this is attributable to a gas explosion, most likely LPG,”
she said.
Valte also commended the investigating team
doing the inquiry for its efforts highlighting the thoroughness of the team’s
work.
“They were very thorough, they were very
precise, at talagang nakita naman ang effort that was poured in and the
cooperation borne among the members of the interagency investigative team,
kasama na diyan ang Secretary of Interior and Local Government na talagang
sinigurado na matutukan, at mailabas at the soonest possible time ang findings
without sacrificing the quality ng imbestigasyon,” Valte said.
Just after the incident, the President
instructed the interagency task force to make sure that the investigation
result will stand the scrutiny of anyone and that the findings must be based on
the evidence gathered on site.
Three people instantly died during the explosion
as the blast created a huge hole in the Serendra Place building sending a
massive chunk of concrete below. Five people were also injured during the
explosion. PND (as)
President Aquino invites President Thein Sein of
Myanmar to visit the Philippines
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar --- President Benigno S.
Aquino III has invited Myanmar President Thein Sein to the Philippines for a
state visit during their bilateral meeting on Friday morning held at the
Presidential Palace.
President Aquino met with President Thein Sein
for talks on the sidelines of his participation to the 22nd World Economic
Forum on East Asia, hosted by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
The President and the Philippine delegation,
upon arrival at Nay Pyi Taw on Friday morning, immediately proceeded to the
Presidential Palace for a bilateral meeting with the Myanmar leader.
The Philippines and Myanmar established
diplomatic relations in September 1956.
During their talks, President Thein Sein
welcomed President Aquino and the Philippine delegation. He said the visit of
the President to Myanmar is a “promotion of friendly relations” of the two
countries.
In turn, President Aquino thanked his Myanmar
counterpart for the hospitality they showed the Philippine delegation. He also
took the opportunity to invite President Thein Sein for a state visit to the
Philippines.
After his bilateral meeting with the Myanmar
leader, President Aquino met with WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus
Schwab at the Myanmar International Convention Center. PND (co)
Timor Leste Prime Minister Gusmao underscores
need to pursue peace and reconciliation towards establishing national
development
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão of the
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste underscored on Friday the need to pursue the
policy of peace and reconciliation towards establishing the solid foundations
of national development.
Gusmão, who is here in Manila for a four-day
official visit to the Philippines upon the invitation of President Benigno S.
Aquino III, delivered a lecture at the University of the Philippines College of
Law held at the Malcolm Theater, UP Diliman, Quezon City.
During the symposium dubbed "Peace and
Reconciliation: Timor-Leste Now and Then," Gusmão reaffirmed the public of
his commitment to strengthen his leadership's efforts to bring about a process
of national reconciliation and to foster social cohesion.
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, under
the leadership of Gusmão, made progress in achieving political and economic
stability since 2007.
Some of the achievements include the return of
displaced people to their homes and building of new homes, the establishment
and use of auditing public bodies to promote transparency and reform of the
civil service, payments of pensions to combatants for national liberation,
legislation granting social protection to the most vulnerable groups,
especially the elderly, and the construction of a power plant to provide electricity
to the country.
After delivering the lecture at UP, Gusmão
visited the East La Mesa Water Treatment Plant where he was briefed about the
operations of the facility.
Gusmão arrived in Manila at 12:18 a.m. Thursday
for a four-day official visit to the Philippines.
On Thursday, President Aquino welcomed Gusmão at
the Malacanang Palace where the two leaders discussed areas of mutual interest
and cooperation between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, such as education,
trade and investment, infrastructure, and defense.
While in the country, he is expected to visit on
Saturday Subic and Clark Field for possible business opportunities. He will
then head up north to Olongapo City on Saturday (June 8) where he will meet
with officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and will tour the Clark
International Airport in Pampanga.
Born in 1946 in rural Timor-Leste, Gusmão
attended Catholic school and worked as a teacher and land surveyor in his
youth. After Timor-Leste unilaterally declared its independence in 1974, Gusmão
worked as the Deputy-Director of Information in the capital, Dili.
Following the Indonesian invasion in 1975 and
then the death of the then President Nicolau Lobato in 1978, Gusmão was chosen
to lead the resistance and reorganize the armed struggle against the occupation
to end widespread atrocities against his people and achieve self-determination.
Arrested in 1992 by the Indonesians, he spent
the next seven years in prison in Jakarta where he continued to command the
resistance. After a referendum vote for independence in 1999, Timor-Leste
gained its sovereignty in 2002 and Gusmão was elected its first President.
Gusmão pursued a policy of peace and reconciliation and has now served as the
Prime Minister since 2007. Gusmao concurrently served as Timor Leste’s minister
for defense and security.
The Prime Minister is widely recognized for his
leadership and has received numerous citations and awards from international
bodies such as the UNESCO Félix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize (2002) and First
Class Medal for Contribution to Humanity awarded by the President of the Republic
of Vanuatu (2011), among others. PND (js)
President Aquino pitches for more investments
citing country’s achievements
NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S.
Aquino III on Friday made an investment pitch to foreign businessmen as he
showcased the accomplishments of his administration during a luncheon meeting
hosted by Ayala Corporation.
President Aquino, who arrived Friday morning
here at Nay Pyi Taw, joined the foreign businessmen in a luncheon on the
sidelines of his participation to the 22nd World Economic Forum on East Asia
hosted by Myanmar.
In his remarks during the luncheon, the
President invited foreign businessmen to come and visit the Philippines and
look at the opportunities for investment, noting that now is the perfect
timefor them to invest in the country.
“More and more opportunities have been created
in our country, both as a result and as an affirmation of our commitment to
reform, and we are here today to share these opportunities and invite you to
work with us,” he said.
The President cited tourism, agriculture and
infrastructure as priority sectors that the CEOs and businessmen can explore
for investment. He said the three sectors have played big roles in the revival
of Philippine economy.
President Aquino noted the Philippines’
accomplishments under his term which includes the 7.8 percent Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth and the investment grade by two major credit rating
agencies.
“Today, it is clear that good governance has
created a climate of confidence in the Philippines,” he said, adding that the
Philippine stock market has soared over the past years, and analysts the world
over have called the country 'a hotspot, Asia’s Rising Tiger, or the brightest
spark' in Southeast Asia.”
President Aquino also said that his government
has instituted “key reforms and policies to level the playing field, minimize
regulatory risk, and ensure a stable environment” for businessmen.
He said that his administration has also taken
steps to secure the Philippines’ future, citing the enactment of responsible
parenthood and sin taxes, and the signing of the Framework Agreement on the
Bangsamoro between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front.
“Today, all the factors are in place: political
stability, low inflation and low borrowing rates, opportunities for growth in
almost all sectors, a government committed to integrity and empowerment, and a
people known the world over for their industry, loyalty, and creativity,” he
said.
“In our country, you have the recipe for
sustained, inclusive growth that benefits investors and public alike. All that
is left is for us to engage each other, and work together—and this is precisely
why we are here today,” he added. PND (co)
