President Aquno declares July 1 as special
non-working day in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte in celebration of 100th
Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 1, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in Dipolog City
in the province of Zamboanga del Norte in celebration of its 100th Foundation
Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration through
Proclamation No. 595 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on June
6 to give the people of Dipolog City the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasions with appropriate ceremonies
In 1912, Governor John J. Pershing of the
Department of Mindanao and Sulu decreed the separation of Dipolog from Dapitan,
and the following year, on July 1, 1913, as a municipality with Pascual T.
Martinez as its first municipal mayor.
On June 6, 1952, the Philippines Congress
approved Republic Act 711, making Dipolog municipality the capital town of
Zamboanga del Norte.
Dipolog became a chartered city by virtue of
Republic Act 5520 on January 1, 1970. PND (js)
President Aquino lauds Department of Health
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the
Department of Health for constantly being able to provide quality service to
boost the health of all Filipinos during ceremonies marking the agency's 115th
anniversary held at the DOH Headquarters in Manila on Tuesday.
In his speech before officials, employees and
guests, the President said the DOH had been a clear barometer of the
government's ability to perform its mandate to the Filipino people.
"Ang tagumpay natin bilang isang bansa ay
nasusukat sa kakayahan nating paglingkuran ang mga maralita nating kababayan.
Ang bawat Pilipinong nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makamit ang inaasam na
kapalaran—sa pamamagitan man ng mga bagong silid-aralan sa mga liblib na baryo,
o sa mga modernong pagamutan sa mga kanayunan—ay patunay na nagagawa ng
pamahalaan ang mandato nito sa taumbayan," the President said.
"Sa loob ng isandaan at labinlimang taon,
may isang ahensya na walang-patid sa paghahatid ng malusog at masiglang buhay
sa mga Pilipino, wala pong iba kundi ang Department of Health," he added.
He personally extended his deepest appreciation
to the dedicated men and women of the DOH led by its Secretary Enrique Ona, for
their service towards uplifting the agency to greater heights.
"Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa bawat Pilipinong
bumubuo at patuloy na nagpapalakas sa Department of Health, mula Luzon,
Visayas, at Mindanao. Ikaw man ay isang doktor o nurse na hindi alintana ang
pagod at puyat, para magsalba ng buhay ng iyong kapwa; o kawaning nagpapabilis
sa mga tungkuling administratibo ng mga pagamutan; o guwardyang sumasalubong sa
mga pasyenteng itinatakbo sa emergency room, hindi matutumbasan ng anumang
salita ang laki ng naiaambag n’yo sa bansa," the President said.
"Hindi kalabisang isipin na kung wala ang
DOH, at siyempre, kung wala ang masipag, at maaasahang pamumuno ng ating
Kalihim Enrique Ona, malamang ay walang lakas, walang sigla, at naghihikahos pa
rin ang milyun-milyong Pilipino sa bitag ng gutom, sakit, at kahirapan.
Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. Lahat ng bungang napipitas natin
sa tuwid na daan ay umusbong dahil sa pakikiambag ng DOH. Kayo po ang gumawa ng
lahat ng ito," he said.
The DOH is the premiere institution tasked with
the mission to guarantee equitable, sustainable and quality health for all
Filipinos, especially the poor, and to lead the quest for excellence in health.
It has 17 bureaus, centers and services in the
DOH central office, 16 centers for health development across different regions;
70 hospitals; and four attached agencies working on particular health concerns
involving the planning, development and implementation of health programs. PND
(rck)
President Aquino vows to provide Filipinos with
equal opportunities against poverty
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed on Tuesday
to provide all Filipinos with equal opportunities that will help uplift their
lives out of poverty and in turn help them become responsible and fruitful
citizens of the Republic.
In his speech delivered during ceremonies
marking the 115th Anniversary of the Department of Health in Manila, the
President said that government initiatives were being put up left and right
which the people could use to combat poverty.
These, the President said, include the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that provide financial assistance to families
that keep their children in school, the education program K to 12, universal
health care Philhealth and jobs generated by advancements in the agriculture,
infrastructure and tourism sector.
“Nais ko lang pong idiin na walang kakayahan ang
pamahalaan na tiyakin na sa susunod na mga taon, wala nang darating na
problema, at wala nang pagsubok na kakaharapin ang mga Pilipino. Gayumpaman,
ang kaliwa’t kanang mga inisyatiba ng pamahalaan ay itinitindig natin para
matiyak na bawat Pilipino ay mabigyan ng pantay na pagkakataon, makaahon mula
sa gutom at kahirapan gamit ang ating mga programang tulad ng Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program; pagkakataon para makipagsabayan sa edukasyon ng
ibang mga bansa gamit ang K to 12; pagkakataon para sa benepisyong
pangkalusugan gamit ang PhilHealth; pagkakataon para sa mas maunlad na
kinabukasan gamit ang mga trabahong pumapasok mula sa sektor ng agrikultura,
turismo, at imprastraktura,” the President said.
“Ang katuparan ng mga pangarap natin ay
nakasalalay sa kung tititigan lang natin ang mga pagkakataong ito, o kung sasamantalahin
natin, at pipitasin, at palalaguin ang mga ito. Matagal nang hinihintay ng
sambayanan ang magkaroon ng ganitong mga pagkakataon. Huwag na nating
ipagpabukas pa ang pagkamit sa ating mga kolektibong mga pangarap. Gawin na
natin ito ngayon,” he added. PND (rck)
Aquino says steps to improve delivery of basic
health services instrumental to country's strong economic standing
President Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the
importance of providing for the Filipino people an improved, efficient and
effective health program, saying a healthy nation was the key to the country's
strong economic showing since he assumed office.
The President said in his speech keynoting the
115th Anniversary of the Department of Health (DOH) that thIs is the main reason
why his administration had the improvement of the delivery of health sector
services to all Filipinos on its topmost priority.
He pointed out that since 2010, the budget of
the DoH had been constantly upgraded from P28.68-billion in 2010 to P51.07-billion
in 2013 in order for the Department to have funds to construct more modern
hospitals and to increase the health coverages for more Filipinos.
“Wala pa rin pong ibang susi para sa malusog na
ekonomiya kundi ang pagkakaroon ng malusog na sambayanan. Kaya naman, simula
nang tayo’y manungkulan, walang patid nating inaangat ang budget ng DOH. Mula
sa 28.68 bilyong piso noong 2010, nasa 51.07 bilyong piso na po ito ngayong
2013. Nagawa nating itaas ng 78 percent ang budget ng DOH nang walang itinataas
na buwis maliban sa Sin Tax,” the President said.
“Sa kabila nito mulat tayong hangga’t hindi ito
tumatawid at nararamdaman ng mga Pilipino, mananatiling datos lamang ang mga
ito. Ang ginawa nating aksyon mula sa 57.2 milyon na ating dinatnan, umabot na
po sa 79.1 milyong Pilipino ang enrolled sa PhilHealth,” he added.
He stressed that “catastrophic diseases” such as
breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute leukemia can now be treated for free
under the Z Benefit Package which was launched last year while an expanded Z
Benefit Package that will include heart ailment treatments such as coronary
heart bypass was launched last February.
“Ganyan po tayo kaseryoso sa ating sektor ng
kalusugan,” the President noted.
Under the DoH’s Health Facilities Enhancement
Program, the President said 4,518 hospitals, rural health units and barangay
health stations have already been put up and/or rehabilitated while 7,325 more
health facilities will be upgraded to serve more Filipinos, especially those in
remote areas where the chances of residents getting to see healthcare
professional are nil.
“Hindi tayo titigil hangga’t may mga kababayan
pa rin tayong ni hindi nakakakita ng espesyalista sa tanang-buhay nila, kaya
naman target nating i-upgrade at gawing mas moderno ang 7,325 na mga ospital,
klinika, at pagamutan,” the President said.
“Patunay din ang mga pinakabagong Modernized
Medical Centers sa limang DOH-Retained hospitals sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa
sa dedikasyon nating makamit ang kalusugang panlahat. Nananalig tayong ang mga
modernong pasilidad na napasakamay ng mga sumusunod na ospital: ang Cagayan
Valley Medical Center ng Tuguegarao City; Region I Medical Center ng Dagupan
City; Dr. Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital ng San Fernando, Pampanga; Bicol
Medical Center ng Naga City; at ang Cotabato Regional Medical Center—nawa’y magsilbi
silang tanglaw ng pag-asa para sa mga pamilyang Pilipino,” he concluded. PND
(rck)
Palace reiterates its willingness to talk peace
with communist rebels
Malacanang said it remains open to negotiating
peace with the communist rebels despite the lull in the talks and continuing
violence on the ground in the past several months.
In a press briefing in the Malalacang on
Tuesday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino
administration will always be ready to talk peace with the communists as long
as there are no preconditions set to restart the discussions.
“We’ve always manifested our intent to keep
talking to them but, even from the beginning, we have said that there should be
no preconditions; we all come to the table with good intentions and with good
faith,” Valte told reporters.
“Down the line, we have seen incidents that
would cast doubt on those intentions, at least coming from the other side. But
at this point, as Alex Padilla said, the government is still open to talking to
them,” she said.
Padilla, the government’s chief negotiator with
the rebels, resigned as both sides have not conducted formal talks in the last
two years.
As the Aquino government has not wavered on
talking peace with the communists, Valte said the major issue is sincerity of
both sides.
She said the communists have not shown its
sincerity as manifested by recent events on the ground such as the attacks
conducted by the New People’s Army (NPA) and the kidnapping of five soldiers in
Davao City.
“There are several incidents that would indicate
a sincerity problem when it comes to the talks, at least on their side,” Valte
said.
One of the stumbling blocks for the talks
include the demand of the communist insurgents to free political prisoners
detained in government prisons saying some of them serve as consultants for the
talks for the rebel side. PND (as)
President Aquino receives updates on
‘sex-for-fly’ inquiry
President Benigno S. Aquino III has been
apprised about the ongoing investigation involving labor officials in the
Middle East in connection with the controversial “sex-for-fly” scheme, a Palace
official said on Tuesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that both the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are
doing their jobs to come up with the truth on the alleged anomaly involving
distressed overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East.
“I understand that the DOLE will be sending
investigative teams to the different sites, ang tawag nila on-site
investigation, para mangalap pa ng ebidensiya o kaya kung meron pang ibang
report sa mga ibang poste natin sa Middle East,” Valte said.
Valte said the DFA also asked the heads of the
Philippine posts in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore to return to the country
for consultations.
Aside from the Middle East, these three
countries also have a large concentration of OFWs, Valte said, adding that this
is the reason why the DFA wants its officials in those countries to take part
in the inquiry and watch out for any more reports in their areas.
With regards to the labor officer embroiled in
the controversy, Valte said the DFA’s findings will be turned over to the DOLE
primarily because it is the labor department that has disciplinary supervision
over labor attachés.
The Palace official also supports the plan of
the labor department to designate female welfare officers who will handle
distressed OFWs in the Middle East to avoid sexual abuses.
“As far as welfare officers are concerned,
Secretary [Rosalinda] Baldoz has said that women welfare officers will be given
priority in postings in the Middle East. Ang mga welfare officers kasi natin,
sila ‘yung mga nagpapatakbo ng mga welfare centers, kung saan dumudulog at
nagse-stay ang ating mga runaway na mga OFWs,” she said.
“The DFA also encourages na maging…mga babae ang
gawin nating—house mother—para sa mga welfare centers natin.”
The controversies surrounding sexual abuses and
exploitation were exposed last week with the revelation of partylist Rep.
Walden Bello who said he got reports about OFWs being peddled to wealthy Arab
men in exchange for their repatriation with Filipino personnel acting as pimps.
PND (as)
Aquino orders National Irrigation Administation
to improve performance, meet target
President Benigno S. Aquino III directed on
Tuesday the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to improve its performance
and finally meet its target of new irrigated farmlands for 2013 and the years
to come.
In his speech during the celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the NIA which has for its theme "NIA at 50: Serving the
Farmers with Excellence and Commitment to Continue its Legacy in the Years to
Come" held at the NIA Open Grounds, NIA Building Complex in Diliman,
Quezon City, the President underscored the need for the NIA to work harder
after it failed to meet its target of 81,170 hectares new irrigated farmlands
last year.
"Sa ilalim ng inyong Irrigation Services
Development Program, sa target ninyong 37,759 hectares ng bagong lupain na
mapatubigan noong 2011, ay 87 percent ang inyo nang natatapos— o 32,824
hectares," President Aquino said.
"Noong 2012 naman, sa target na 81,170
hectares, 52,372 hectares lang ng bagong lupain—o 65 percent ang inyong napatubigan.
Di po ba, kayo ang nagbigay ng sarili ninyong target? at malinaw na hindi ninyo
naabot ang mga ito," he stressed.
The President reminded the NIA to fulfill its
mandate to develop and rehabilitate irrigation systems in support of the
administration's Rice Self Sufficiency Program and provide an adequate level of
irrigation service on a sustainable basis to help the country's farmers.
"Tatapatin ko po kayo, dismayado pa rin
ako, dahil hanggang ngayon, lumalabas na kakarampot pa rin ang pagbabagong
nangyayari sa National Irrigation Administration. Nasa kalahati na po tayo ng
ating termino, at mahirap naman po kung hanggang ngayon, hindi mo pa rin alam
ang gusto mong gawin," he said.
"Iniluklok ako ng sambayanan upang bantayan
ang kalagayan ng bawat institusyon ng pamahalaan. Pero tao lang din po ako;
hindi ako CCTV camera na beinte-kwatro oras ay kayang magmanman sa kilos ng
bawat istitusyon ng gobyerno," he said.
The President cited the case of the Balog-Balog
irrigation project in Tarlac as among the projects that remained unfinished to
the detriment of the farmers.
"Sahod-ulan na lang ang inaasahan ng ating
mga kababayan. Kaya naman napakahalaga ng irigasyon sa Balog-Balog. Ngayon po,
dalawampu’t isang taon na ang nakalipas mula nang planuhin ang proyekto sa
Balog-Balog. Ilang administrasyon na po ba ang nagdaan? Hanggang ngayon, hindi
pa rin ito umuusad," he stressed.
The President noted that a private proponent is
willing to extend help to complete the project but the NIA has yet to do its part
to push through with the project.
"May flood control, may irigasyon, at
mayroon pang kuryente—at halos wala pong gastos ang gobyerno rito. Tatlong taon
na po tayo sa termino natin, pero hanggang ngayon, parang wala pa ring
nangyayari. Kung sa sahod-ulan, isang harvest cycle lamang ang magagawa; pag
may irigasyon, sa loob ng dalawang taon, maiaangat ang harvest cycles sa
lima," he said.
"Ngayon, kung may maayos na irigasyon, sa
tatlong taon, 7.5 harvest cycles ang magagawa ng ating mga magsasaka. Subalit
ngayon, 3 harvest cycles lang ang nagawa. Malinaw namang may 4.5 harvest cycles
na naantala na sanay napapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka. Bigas na, naging
bato pa," he said.
The President told NIA Administrator Engineer
Antonio S. Nangel and his employees that there is still time to improve their
performance to better serve the farmers.
"Hindi pa po huli ang lahat. Sa inyong
anibersaryo, nawa’y sumibol ang panibagong pagkakataon upang sama-sama nating
mapalago ang kultura ng pagbabagong ating isinusulong sa tuwid na daan,"
he said.
The NIA is a government-owned and controlled
corporation primarily responsible for irrigation development and management. It
was created under Republic Act 3601 on June 22, 1963. Its charter was amended
by Presidential Decree 552 on September 11, 1974 and Presidential Decree 1702
on July 17, 1980. Both increased the capitalization and broadened the authority
of the Agency.
The agency's forerunner was the Irrigation
Division of the defunct Bureau of Public Works, and it was placed under the
Office of the President upon its creation. It was attached to the Department of
Public Works, Transportation, and Communication under Presidential Decree 1
dated September 23, 1972.
The issuance also integrated all irrigation
activities under the Agency. The Administrative Code of 1987, dated July 25,
1987, attached NIA to both the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),
and Department of Agriculture (DA). But NIA remained attached to DPWH. It was
transferred to Office of the President pursuant to Executive Order No. 22,
dated September 14, 1992. Then, it was attached to DA under Administrative
Order No. 17, dated October 14, 1992.
The NIA is mandated to develop and rehabilitate
irrigation systems in support of the national food production program and
provide adequate level of irrigation service on a sustainable basis in
partnership with the farmers.
It also aimed at providing technical assistance
to institutions in the development of water resources for irrigation and
supporting economic and social growth in the rural areas through irrigation
development and management. It is mandated to improve and sustain the operation
of the agency as a corporation and service-oriented office. PND (js)
