Aquino receives newly elected ADB president in
Malacanang
President Benigno S. Aquino III received newly
elected Asian Development Bank president Takehiko Nakao in Malacanang on
Wednesday.
Nakao assumed office as the ninth president of
the ADB on April 28. Nakao succeeds Haruhiko Kuroda, who stepped down in March.
Nakao has held several senior positions in the
Ministry of Finance of Japan, which he joined in 1978.
Prior to his appointment at ADB, he was vice
minister of Finance for International Affairs, where he gained significant
experience in international finance and development, and established close ties
with Asia-Pacific’s leading figures, as well as those in the international
development community.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree
from the University of Tokyo, and a Master of Business Administration from the
University of California in Berkeley, California.
Nakao said he is looking forward to working with
shareholders and ADB’s development partners to continue fighting poverty and
sustaining growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
In the Philippines, the ADB has major
investments in education, agriculture, energy, finance, health, trade and
industry, public sector, as well as transportation and communication.
The ADB approved this year several projects in
the Philippines which include employment facilitation for inclusive growth,
tourism competitiveness, and a national community-driven development program.
The bank also has proposed projects on climate
resiliency and green growth, education improvement, road improvement and
institutional development projects and water supply development. PND (as)
Aquino says Philippines will remain conducive to
business
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured on
Wednesday that his administration will ensure an even playing field for
investors as he expressed his gratitude to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese
Chambers Of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) for its continuing support for
the education sector.
In his message Wednesday during the oath-taking
ceremony of the newly-elected officers of the FFCCCII and ceremonial turnover
of two school buildings, the President said it is always encouraging for the
government to see businessmen going an extra mile in reaching out to the
people.
“For our part, we are doing our level best to
forge an environment that is even more conducive to business,” the President
said.
“And even as we invest in infrastructure and
institute reforms that level the playing field, we continue to channel the
hard-earned money of our taxpayers into health, education, social services, and
other initiatives to empower our countrymen—making them true, productive
contributors to the continuing cycle of opportunity and progress,” he added.
The country’s economic strides haven’t escaped
notice, the President said, noting the Philippines is now rated investment
grade for the first time in history by three major credit rating agencies.
And in the first quarter of the year, the
economy grew by a remarkable 7.8 percent in addition to countless other
indicators of economic growth.
The Philippines is now in a situation where even
greater prosperity is within reach, he said.
The President also expressed optimism that the
country would be able to sustain these initiatives, especially since the
Philippines’s economic resurgence is granting the government greater fiscal
space to pursue its agenda of social and economic inclusiveness.
The government will always support companies for
the success of their businesses, the President said, adding that business
expansion means creation of more jobs in the country.
The President said that as companies continue to
reap the benefits of the Philippine economic revival, he expects the companies
to also share the fruits of their hard works not only through philanthropic
activities but also by setting the good example as citizens who fulfill their
obligations.
During the event, the FFCCCII turned over more
classroom units under its Barrio Schools project. The association also turned
over around P80 million in pledges, which will be realized through the
construction of 400 classrooms, or 200 school units.
Since 1961, the FFCCCII constructed more than
9,000 classrooms all over the country opening doors of learning and opportunity
to Filipino students.
In the celebration of FFCCCII’s 60th anniversary
next year, the organization is granting four-year scholarships to 60 high
school graduates pursuing a degree in Education.
Aside from building classrooms and sending
children to school, the FFCCCII also supports volunteer fire brigades, makes
donations to disaster relief and rehabilitation and spearheads medical and
dental missions.
Also present during the Palace activity were
Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel
Roxas, and Senators Franklin Drilon and Edgardo Angara. PND (as)
President Aquino to meet with President Thein
Sein during his visit to Myanmar
President Benigno S. Aquino III will kick off
his short visit in Myanmar on Friday by meeting with President Thein Sein of
the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for talks upon his arrival in Myanmar to
participate in the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia Summit.
President Aquino will keep a busy schedule
during his one-day visit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, to attend the plenary of the
WEF East Asia Summit and to personally invite the delegates of WEF to the
Philippines next year.
The President announced in January in WEF 2013
in Davos that the Philippines will host WEF on East Asia Summit next year.
President Aquino, along with the Philippine
delegation, is set to arrive Friday morning in Myanmar, and will return to
Manila on Friday evening.
Upon his arrival, the President will hold a
bilateral meeting with President Thein Sein of Myanmar to be held at the
Myanmar International Convention Center on the sidelines of WEF East Asia
Summit.
It will be followed by a meeting with WEF
Founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab.
The President will also attend a luncheon
meeting to be hosted by Ayala Corporation, CEOs and businessmen. After the
luncheon meeting, he will proceed to the closing plenary of WEF East Asia
Summit.
The President will also meet with Aung San Suu
Kyi, chairperson and general secretary of the National League for Democracy,
before heading back to Manila on Friday evening.
Aside from President Aquino, Prime Minister
Thongsing Thammavong of Lao’s People Democratic Republic and Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam are expected to attend the WEF East Asia Summit.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and former Prime Minister Helen
Clark of New Zealand are expected to take part on the said forum. PND (co)
President Aquino signs new law declaring Davao
Oriental as Tourism Development Area
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed a new
law declaring the province of Davao Oriental as a Tourism Development Area
(TDA) in a bid to boost the tourism industry.
The Chief Executive signed on May 17 Republic
Act 10560 otherwise known as “An Act Declaring the Province of Davao Oriental
as a Tourism Development Area (TDA).”
The Act was passed by the House House of
Representatives and the Senate on February 5, 2013 and February 4, 2013,
respectively.
President Aquino said that it is the policy of
the State to promote a tourism industry that is ecologically sustainable, responsible,
participative, culturally sensitive, economically viable and equitable for
local communities.
"The Tourism Development Areas in the
Province of Davao Oriental hereby include, but not limited to, its
municipalities endowed with natural beauty, small islands, waterfalls, beaches,
sea and mountain resources, historical and natural landmarks, indigenous
communities and other areas of interest to the tourism industry," the
President said.
He said the province shall be accorded priority
development by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and shall be subject to the
rules and regulations governing the tourism zones.
"The Tourism Development Plan of the
Province of Davao Oriental shall be incorporated in the DOT’s overall National
Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise
known as the “National Tourism Act of 2009″ and be jointly implemented with the local government and the
Provincial Tourism Council of Davao Oriental taking into consideration Republic
Act No. 7586, otherwise
known as the “National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992″ and its implementing rules and
regulations," the President said.
He directed the DOT, in coordination with the
Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and other
concerned agencies of the government, to delineate well defined geographic
areas within the TDA and coordinate the integrated development of these areas
for the optimum use of natural assets and attractions, as well as existing
facilities.
"The Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), in coordination with the DOT, shall set forth in place the
necessary construction and/or improvement of roads and other infrastructure
upon the promulgation of this Act and incorporate it in its infrastructure
program," the President stressed.
The Secretary of the DOT and the Secretary of
the DPWH shall include in their respective Department’s program the
implementation of this Act.
The funding for the implementation of the new
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and/or charged
against the internally generated funds of the DOT. PND (js)
San Miguel Corporation pays upfront cash for
NAIA Expressway construction, Palace says
The San Miguel Corp., through the SMC Vertex
Tollways Development, Inc. has released the P11-billion upfront payment to the
government for the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport
(NAIA) Expressway Phase II project, the Palace announced on Wednesday.
The SMC won the P11-billion bid last April 15,
and a formal notice for award was given by the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) to SMC last May 6.
With the payment, the project could start
sometime in June, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press
briefing in Malacanang.
The proposed NAIA Expressway, which has a total
length of 7.15 kilometers, will connect NAIA Terminals I and II to Diosdado
Macapagal Boulevard and the Entertainment City casino complex. The project has
two phases: Phase II-A and Phase II-B.
Lacierda said Phase II-A will be completed in
time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2015. This will
connect NAIA Terminals I and II through an elevated tollway structure to Roxas
Boulevard and the Entertainment City, he said.
“Hopefully before APEC, that will be completed.
There’s another phase which is II-B, which will connect the Skyway to the
existing tollways,” Lacierda said.
The P15.5-billion NAIA Expressway Phase II
project is the third public private partnership (PPP) project to be
successfully bidded out by the government. PND (as)
President Aquino declares June 20 as a special
(non-working) day in the City of Lipa in celebration of its 66th Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 20, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working) day in the city
of Lipa in the province of Batangas in celebration of its 66th Foundation Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 585 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on May 28, to give the people of Lipa the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 20, 1947, Lipa became a chartered city
by virtue of Republic Act No. 162.
As one of the three cities of Batangas province,
Lipa City serves as an Institutional Center. It is home to the provincial
offices of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and
Industry, and Department of Agrarian Reform, and regional offices of the Land
Transportation Office and National Statistics Office. PND (js)
