President Aquino announces P10k bonus for DPWH
personnel
President Benigno S. Aquino III announced that
he had authorized the release of P10,000 bonus for each official and employee
of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The President made the announcement in his
speech keynoting the 115th Founding Anniversary of the agency held at its main
office in Manila on Thursday.
He said he authorized the release in recognition
of their hard work and dedication to provide excellent service to the Filipino
people.
"Malinaw po sa atin na malaki ang
ginagampanang papel ng DPWH sa pagsisilbing tulay sa kaunlaran ng mga kababayan
nating Pilipino. Kaya naman, nagpapasalamat po ako sa bumubuo ng ahensiyang
ito— mula kay Secretary Babes Singson, na nagtimon sa kinatatayuan ngayon ng
DPWH, sa bawat grupong pinarangalan natin sa araw na ito, hanggang sa bawat
indibidwal, na hindi man napangalanan ngayon, ay naging malaking bahagi sa
pagbibigay ng bagong mukha sa inyong mga kawani. Kayo ang gumawa ng pagbabagong
ito," the President said.
"Sa isang patas pong lipunan, sinusuklian
ang mabuting gawain. Kapag nagsumikap ka, may kaakibat itong karampatang balik
sa iyo. Kaya naman, hindi po ako nag-atubiling lagdaan ang sampung libong
Anniversary Bonus para sa bawat opisyal at kawani ng DPWH ngayong taon,"
he added.
He said he hoped this gesture would serve as an
inspiration for all employees of the DPWH to continue their hard work and
dedication.
"Magsilbi po sana itong inspirasyon upang
higit pa ninyong pagbutihan ang serbisyo sa bayan sa mga darating na
taon," the President said.
In a statement, the DPWH said that from being
considered as one of the most corrupt national government agencies in the past,
it had instituted reforms under the tutelage of its Secretary Rogelio Singson
promoting the right projects, at the right cost and right quality, and
accomplished right on time with the right people has become one of the most
notable examples of good governance of the Aquino administration.
The announcement of the President was gladly and
loudly received by the agency's personnel who number some 19,253. PND (rck)
President Aquino declares June 21 as special
non-working day in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur in celebration of 6th Charter
Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 21, which falls on a Friday, as a special (non-working day) in Bayugan
City in the province of Agusan del Sur in celebration of its 6th Charter Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 602 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 14, to give the people of Bayugan the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On March 23, 2007, Bayugan became a chartered
city through Republic Act No. 9405. Bayugan's cityhood was ratified by a
plebiscite held on June 20 the same year. PND (js)
President Aquino declares June 24 as special
non-working day in Manila in celebration of 442nd Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 24, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working day) in the city of
Manila in celebration of its 442nd Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 604 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 14, to give the people of Manila the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Manila became the seat of the colonial government
of Spain when it gained sovereignty over the Philippine Islands in 1565.
The seat of the Spanish government was situated
within the fortified walls of Old Manila (now referred to as Intramuros,
meaning within the walls). The walls were constructed to keep invading Chinese
pirates and protect the city from native uprisings.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish
governor-general of the Philippines, proclaimed Manila as the capital city of
the country on June 24, 1571, calling it a “distinguished and ever loyal city.”
PND (js)
President Aquino leads commemoration of 115th
Founding Anniversary of Department of Public Works and Highways
President Benigno S. Aquino III led officials
and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways in commemorating
the agency's 115th Founding Anniversary held at its main office in Manila on
Thursday.
In his speech, the President said the DPWH has
come a long way from being considered as one of the most corrupt government
agencies to becoming one that continuously gives fast and reliable service.
This, he said, came about through his
administration's tuwid na daan advocacy that sought to weed out graft and
corruption from government by implementing reforms that streamlined processes
and clearly defined boundaries and rules.
"Sa umaga pong ito, kasabay ng pagdiriwang
ng kanilang ika-isandaan at labinlimang taong anibersaryo, nagtitipon tayo
upang kilalanin ang isa sa mga pinakamatayog na halimbawa sa pagbabagong hatid
ng tuwid na daan, ang Department of Public Works and Highways," the
President said.
"Noon, dahil sa kaliwa’t kanang kapalpakan,
naikabit na ang kanilang pangalan sa mga proyektong sinisimento ng tong-pats,
inaaspalto ng suhol, at pinipintahan ng under-the-table. Ang kanilang mga
programa’t inisyatiba, parang habambuhay na lamang na “Under
Construction"," the President said.
"Ngayon, unti-unti nang naibabaon sa limot
ang lumang mukha ng DPWH. Sa pangunguna ni Secretary Babes Singson, nakikilala
na ng sambayanan ang isang ahensyang may mabilis, tapat, at maaasahang
serbisyo," he added.
To show the DPWH's sincerity to change, the
agency has embarked on an ambitious plan to complete its schedule of work and
projects as soon as possible.
To date, 33,095 out of 41,463 or 80 percent of
its infrastructure projects from 2010 to 2013 have been completed by May 2013.
Kapag may nakita kang karatulang “Men at Work”
sa kalsada— totoong mayroong mga arkitekto, inhinyero, at construction worker
na masigasig at tunay na nagtatrabaho para sa tao. Datos na po ang
nagpapatunay: sa 41,463 na nakapilang proyektong pang-imprastraktura ng DPWH
mula 2010 hanggang 2013, nasa 33,095 na— o halos 80 percent ng kabuuang bilang
ng mga proyekto— ang nakumpleto hanggang nitong katapusan ng Mayo,” the
President said.
These include the Quezon Avenue-Araneta Avenue
underpass and the Plaridel Bypass Road in Bulacan that aims to cut travel time
in those areas considerably.
The President also credited the hardworking and
dedicated men and women of the DPWH for being instrumental for the turnaround
of the agency's image.
He challenged them to keep up the good work and
aim to make the change in the agency "permanent."
"Ngayong sama-sama na nating nalilinis ang
sistemang panlipunan; ngayong napapatag na natin ang mga lubak sa ating
pamahalaan, ito naman ang hamon sa ating mga lingkod-bayan ---Patuloy nating
itaguyod ang mabuting pamamahala sa burukrasya at sa bawat institusyon ng
gobyerno," the President said.
"Gawin nating permanente ang sinimulan
nating pagbabago. Nawa’y isapuso at isaisip natin ang kaloob na mandato ng
taumbayan— magsimula tayo sa ating mga sariling hakbang, at hikayatin ang ating
kapwa na maki-isa tungo sa malawakang kaunlaran," he added. PND (rck)
President Aquino says slowing down flow of rain
water from Sierra Madre can help ease flooding in Metro
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday
that a possible solution to the perrenial problem of flooding in the National
Capital Region is by slowing down the flow of rain water from the Sierra Madre
mountain range in order for the river banks tributaries below to absorb the
excess water.
In an interview, the President said the
government is undertaking a "National Greening Project" to plant
trees along watersheds in the National Capital Region to improve their ability
to absorb water and thus slow down its flow.
"Ang Sierra Madre delivers water to the NCR
region. ‘Yung flow at its peak can reach 3,600 cubic meters per second na flow.
Ang dinadaluyan na rivers can accommodate, at the narrowest portions, ang
minimum is about a thousand cubic meters per second. So what has to be done is
babagalan mo ‘yung pag-flow nung 3,600 to the carrying capacity of the
river," the President said.
He added that building dams upstream can also
help slow down the flow of water but however admitted that this project would
be "extensive" as it requires careful and precise planning.
" Medyo extensive ‘yung upper na dam and
you have to put it at the correct location and the point end being, babawasan
ang nagfo-flow para bumagal at para kayang ma-absorb ng ating river systems and
the man-made waterways so that they can flow into Manila Bay," the
President said.
In an earlier press conference, Public Works
Secretary Rogelio Singson said the government is already working on a master
plan containing a three-pronged approach to solve the annual flooding and
traffic congestion problems, particularly in Metro Manila in the long term.
The plan will involve the removal of 20,000
informal settlers living along waterways, drainage system improvement and
upgrading of pumping stations especially in Metro Manila, the official said.
PND (rck)
President Aquino says Philippines still has
wealth of meteorologists to tap
President Benigno S. Aquino III is unfazed by
the resignation of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (Pagasa) Administrator Nathaniel Servando, saying the
Philippines has a wealth of personnel and resources it could easily tap to fill
the needs of the State weather agency.
In an interview, the President said there were
around 37 meteorologist-hopefuls that could be called at any moment's notice.
"In addition to the 37, I understand, there
are 10 initial students for these colleges in specific courses, iyong BS
program and the Master’s program still continues, and there are a lot of other
scholarships that are offered to encourage people to come in, and then even if
to the extent of sending them abroad," the President said.
He noted that since 2000, five personnel from
PAGASA have left the agency for "greener pastures."
"Continuous ang training ng PAGASA. Umalis
iyong lima, pumalit 37, may sampung naghihintay pa..., huwag naman natin siguro
sabihin sa taumbayan na mawawalan tayo ng dunong para alamin ang mangyayari sa
kalagayan ng panahon," the President said. PND (rck)
Aquino wants study on Filipino peacekeepers done
before deciding to continue tours of duty
President Benigno S. Aquino III wants a study on
Filipino peacekeepers' ability to carry on with their assigned tasks abroad
done before deciding whether to recall or allow them to continue with their
respective tours of duty.
The President said in a press briefing after
keynoting the 115th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Public Works and
Highways in Manila, that he had the safety of the Pinoy peacekeepers in mind
for wanting the study conducted.
The President said he wanted the rules of
engagement refined and the necessary equipment provided for all peacekeepers as
well as all threats defined in the study.
"Kapag tinapatan ba sila ng tangke, may kakayahan
tayo? Magkakaroon tayo ng anti-armor. Kapag meron bang aircraft na
magte-threaten sa kanilang position, meron na rin tayong kinukuhang
anti-aircraft. Ano ba ang puwede ninyong gawin habang observer kayo para naman
pangalagaan ang sarili mong seguridad?" the President said.
"Kapag na-satisfy tayo in all of those
conditions e magiging tenable iyong mission, puwede sila manatili doon para
tulong na rin sa buong mundo. Pero kapag hindi naman tayo pinagkalooban noong
ating mga hiling e hindi ko iri-risk ang ating tropa na manatili doon kung
hindi nila kakayanin iyong misyon," he added. PND (rck)
President Aquino welcomes Thai Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister in Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed Thai
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul in efforts
to strengthen the cordial relations and cooperation between the two Asian
countries.
Tovichakchaikul and other Thai officials paid
their courtesy call on the President during a simple ceremony held at the Music
Room of the Malacanang Palace on Thursday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario
joined the President in welcoming Tovichakchaikul and other Thai officials.
Also in attendance were Thai Foreign Affairs
Permanent Secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Ambassador of Thailand to the
Philippines Prasas Prasasvinitchai, and Apiradee Anukrahanond, Counsellor of
the East Asian Affairs I Division, Department of East Asian Affairs, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Jocelyn S. Batoon-Garcia,
Ma. Theresa Lazaro, of Philippine Foreign Affairs- Office of Asia and Pacific
Affairs, Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal and Foreign Affairs
Undersecretary for Policy Evan Garcia.
Tovichakchaikul is in the Philippines for a
two-day official visit on June 20 to 21.
Tovichakchaikul and del Rosario will spearhead
the signing of agreements which aims to strengthen the cordial relations and
cooperation between Thailand and the Philippines, the DFA said in a statement.
The agreements which are expected to be signed
include the Convention between the Philippines and Thailand for the Avoidance
of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes
on Income, Joint Statement for the Establishment of an Energy Forum and
Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation between Thailand-Philippines and
the Philippines-Thailand Business Councils, said the Thailand Government Public
Relations Department on its website.
Del Rosario and Tovichakchaikul will co-chair
the 5th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation on June 21.
A senior official’s meeting chaired by Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Garcia and Thai Foreign Affairs Permanent
Secretary Phuangketkeow was held on Thursday, the DFA announced.
Thailand and the Philippines established the
Joint Commission for Bilateral Commission (JCBC) in 1994 as a mechanism to
enhance relations and bilateral cooperation in all dimensions.
Thailand hosted the 4th Joint Commission for
Bilateral Commission Meeting in March 2007. Among the topics for discussion in
the JCBC are technical cooperation, education, energy, law enforcement, and
defense. PND (js)
