President Aquino cites role of physicians who
continue to explore, refine solutions for diagnosis, mitigation and prevention
of disease
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the role
of physicians who continue to "explore and refine solutions" for the
diagnosis, mitigation, and prevention of disease.
"Our professionals are at the forefront of
this age of rapid development, confronting its challenges with our fellow
Filipinos and empowering them to secure their personal growth and that of our
society," the Chief Executive said in his message to the participants of
the 16th Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) Midyear Convention.
The Philippine College of Chest Physicians
Northern Mindanao Chapter opened the 16th PCCP Midyear Convention which has for
its theme "The Pulmonary X Factor” in Grand Caprice, Lim Ket Kai Mall,
Cagayan de Oro.
"The challenge of sustainable development
is a key concern in your field and in our overall movement of revitalization.
May you be steadfast in this advocacy, which is also crucial to the development
of your proud region," he said.
"May this assembly reaffirm the role of our
physicians, as you unite towards collaborative discovery that contributes to
our nation’s advancement. May this convention imbibe the vigor and renewed hope
of Mindanao, and galvanize your organization as you march, together with our
countrymen, on the path towards equitable progress," he noted. PND (js)
Aquino appoints new ambassadors
President Benigno. S. Aquino III appointed new
ambassadors that will fill several posts around the world, Malacanang announced
Friday.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigal Valte
said in a press briefing on Friday that among the appointments made by the
President include the designation of Cecilia B. Rebong as the country’s
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Maria
Rowena M. Sanchez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkey with
concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Azerbaijan;
Victoriano M. Lecaros, Ambassador to the Czech
Republic; Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, Ambassador to the French Republic with
concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco; Victor B. Ledda,
ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Catalino R. Dilem Jr., Ambassador
to the United Mexican States; Narciso T. Castaneda, Ambassador to the Sultanate
of Oman;
Edsel P. Barba, Ambassador to the Republic of
Iraq; and Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo ambassador to the Peoples Republic of
Bangladesh.
The President also expanded the area of
jurisdiction of Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., who is the Philippine ambassador to
the United States with concurrent jurisdiction over the US Virgin Islands,
Granada and Puerto Rico.
With the expanded jurisdiction, Cuisia will have
concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and
Haiti.
Aside from designating new ambassadors, the
President made new appointments at the Department of Energy and the Energy
Regulatory Commission.
Valte said that last July 23, the President
appointed Josefina Patricia A. Magpale-Asirit as Commissioner of Energy
Regulatory Commission with a seven-year term of office.
The President also appointed Aina Asirit as
undersecretary of the Department of Energy, according to Valte. PND (as)
Palace hopes for Moody’s rating upgrade soon
Malacanang said its hopes to hear good news soon
as the Moody’s Investors Service reviews the country’s credit rating for
possible revision to investment grade.
“Hopefully, we will get good news. They’re
reviewing the status. I am not quite sure how long the review will take but,
hopefully, we will get good news soon,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson
Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang Friday on the Moody’s
review.
In a statement this week, Moody’s said the
review focuses on the country’s domestic economic sustainability, the stable
and favorable government funding conditions, improvement of fiscal and debt
situation, and the political stability and strengthened mandate of the
government.
The credit rating agency will also review the
government’s foreign currency shelf rating, as well as the the central bank’s
liabilities.
The ratings agency upgraded the country’s credit
rating to a notch below investment grade at “Ba1” with “Stable” outlook after
noting the continued improvement in the economic and fiscal performance amid
negative global economic developments, better medium term economic prospects,
and stable financial system.
Moody’s is the only major credit rating agency
that has not given the Philippines an investment grade rating.
Last March, Fitch Ratings upgraded the country's
long-term foreign currency issue default rating (IDR) to ‘BBB-‘ from ‘BB+’ with
‘Stable’ outlook citing the continued improvement of the country’s external
position, domestic growth, and fiscal management among others.
It also upgraded to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-‘ with
‘Stable’ outlook the country’s long-term local currency IDR, the Philippines’
Country Ceiling to 'BBB' from 'BBB-' and the Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR to
'F3' from 'B'.
Also last May, Standard and Poor’s (S&P)
made a similar upgrade adjusting the country’s rating to ‘BBB-A-3’ from ‘BB+B’
with stable outlook because of the “strengthening external profile, moderating
inflation, and the government's declining reliance on foreign currency debt.”
S&P also raised upwards its long-term ASEAN
regional scale rating on the country to ‘axA-‘ from ‘axBBB+’ as well as the
transfer and convertibility assessment to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-‘.
The Philippines posted last year one of the
highest GDP growth in Asia at 6.8 percent while expansion in the first quarter
this year further rose to 7.8 percent. PND (as)
Aquino appoints new ambassadors to Europe,
Middle East, Asia and other countries
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed new
ambassadors to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other countries.
In a transmittal letter to Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said
the Chief Executive signed the appointment letters of the new ambassadors on
July 19.
President Aquino named Cecilia B. Rebong as
Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to the United
Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Maria Rowena M. Sanchez as Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey with concurrent
jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan; Victoriano M. Lecaros
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Repubic, Ma.
Theresa P. Lazaro as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French
Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco; Jaime
Victor B. Ledda as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom
of the Netherlands;
Catalino R. Dilem Jr. as Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Mexican States with concurrent
jurisdiction over Belize, the Republic of Coasta Rica, the Republic of El
Salvador, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Repubic of
Nicaragua, the Republic of Panama, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the
Dominican Republic and the Republic of Cuba; Narciso T. Castaneda as Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the Sultanate of Oman, Edsel P. Barba as
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Iraq and Vicente
Vivencio T. Bandillo as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the
People's Republic of Bangladesh with concurrent jurisdiction over the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives.
Jose L. Cuisa Jr., presently Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the United States of America with
concurrent jurisdiction over the United States Virgin Islands, Grenada and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to
the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth of Jamaica and Republic of
Haiti .
Eleanor Jaucian, presently Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the Republic of Hungary with concurrent
jurisdiction over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Republic of Serbia,
was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Romania, Republic of Bulgaria
and Republic of Moldova.
Enrique Manalo, presently Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, was designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Republic of
Ireland.
Bayani Mercado, presently Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to the Kingdom of Norway with concurrent
jurisdiction over the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Denmark was
designated in concurrent capacity as envoy to Republic of Finland and Kingdom
of Sweden.
Particia Ann V. Paez, presently Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Republic of Poland was designated in
concurrent capacity as envoy to Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia and
Republic of Lithuania.
George B. Reyes, presently Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary to United Mexican States with concurrent
jurisdicion over Belize, the Republic of Costa Rica , the Republic of El
Salvador, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic
of Panama was designated in concurrent capacity as the envoy to Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Republic of Cuba.
The President, likewise, appointed Josefina
Patricia Magpale-Asirit, as the Commissioner of the Energy Regulatory
Commission for a term of seven years beginning on July 11, 2013 until July 10,
2020. PND (js)
Combating poverty remains government’s top
priority, says Palace
Fighting poverty is a continuing effort on the
part of the Aquino administration and although it posted successes in some
areas it won’t stop carrying out the program that alleviates the plight of poor
Filipinos, a Palace official said on Friday.
Reacting to a Pulse Asia survey on poverty,
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the public must take it
from the President’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, noting the
things that the administration was able to do and what it is doing.
“We’re not stopping just because we were able to
achieve success in some areas but, yes, the efforts will go on,” Valte said.
“We knew that poverty is not something that we
could resolve in a week or in a month in office, and it is a continuing effort
on the part of the President and his Cabinet,” Valte said when asked why the
administration has taken a longer time in eliminating poverty.
The Palace noted the thrusts mentioned by the
President in his SONA to tackle poverty like the introduction of intercropping
to coconut farmers as well as the creation of more cold storage facilities.
“Those are just some of the things that we’ve
managed to do in the time that the President has been in office and we intend
to do more,” she said.
Pulse Asia survey conducted on June 20 to July
4, showed that Aquino’s performance in poverty reduction earned an average
grade of 75. The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus three percentage
points.
Pulse Asia asked 1,200 adult respondents
nationwide to rate the President’s performance in 11 national concerns on a
scale of zero to 100.
The President got highest marks in managing the
economy and ensuring the delivery of basic services, with a “good” rating or
80. PND (as)
Aquino expresses belief the Armed Forces is
capable of fulfilling its mandate
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed strong
belief in the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in
fulfilling its mandate to protect the lives of the Filipinos.
In his speech during the celebration of the 24th
National Annual Convention of the School for Reserve Commission and Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Office Candidate for School (OCS) Alumni
Association Inc. held at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officer's Clubhouse
in Camp Aguinaldo on Friday, the Chief Executive cited the AFP personnel for
their integrity and bravery in fulfiling their duties to protect the lives of
the citizens and maintain peace and order.
"Sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Sandatahang Lakas,
nananalig ako sa inyong dangal at kabayanihan upang manatiling ligtas at payapa
ang bawat sulok ng bansa. Bawat problemang ating nalalampasan; lahat ng
pagkilala ng mundo sa mga pagbabagong tinatamasa ng ating bayan, at anumang
tagumpay ng ating pamahalaan, bahagi palagi ang inyong hanay dito,"
President Aquino said.
"Kayong mga kawal, kayong mga sundalo,
kayong mga bayaning Pilipino ---kayo ang mukha ng transpormasyon.
Ipinagmamalaki ko kayo, ipinagmamalaki kayo ng lahing Pilipino," he
stressed.
Aquino assured his administration's unwavering
commitment and support for the AFP to further enhance its capabilities. He also
vowed to provide more programs for the AFP personnel to improve the status of
their lives and their families.
"Hindi pa rin po nagbabago ang posisyon ko
ukol dito: Sang-ayon ako sa malawakang modernisasyon ng kasundaluhan, subalit
hindi natin maaaring isugal ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng sambayanan,
tulad ng edukasyon, kalusugan, at trabaho, para lang magmukhang matikas sa mata
ng ibang bansa," he said.
With the signing of the Revised Armed Forces of
the Philippines Modernization Act last December, President Aquino expressed
confidence that the AFP can now better perform its mandate of upholding the
sovereignty and defending the territorial integrity of the country at all
times.
"Ngayon, sa unang tatlong taon pa lamang
natin sa tuwid na daan, nahigitan na natin ito, at pumalo na sa 27.62 billion
pesos ang nai-release nating pondo para sa AFP Modernization Program. Nilagdaan
din natin noong Disyembre ang Revised AFP Modernization Act, kung saan kaakibat
ng nailaan nang 75 bilyong pisong pondo sa unang limang taon ng programa, ay
masisiguro rin ang implementasyon nito sa darating pang 15 taon," he said.
"Kumpiyansa akong hindi tayo madidiskaril
dito, lalo pa’t katuwang ko ang mga kawal na kasapi ng AFP Officers Candidate
School Alumni Association, gayundin ang mga kasama nating nagdiriwang ng ika-24
na National Convention of the School for Reserve Commission. Sakto nga po ang
tema ng ating pagtitipon: Kaisa ng sambayanan para sa pagsulong sa tuwid na
daan," he stressed.
The President also lauded the awardees belonging
to the AFP and the Philippine Coast Guard for their exemplary contributions
toward equitable progress.
"Kaisa ang sambayanan sa pagsulong sa tuwid
na daan. Saludo po ako sa inyong pakikiambag tungo sa transpormasyon, lalo na
sa 15 mahuhusay na kasapi ninyong pinarangalan ngayong hapon. Talaga naman pong
sa sakuna man o sa banta ng masasamang elemento, buwis-buhay ang kabayanihan at
paglilingkod ninyo sa bansa. Kaya naman sa ngalan ng bawat Pilipinong
nakakatulog nang mahimbing dahil sa pagpapanatili ninyo ng kapayapaan at
kaligtasan, maraming salamat po sa inyo," he said.
During the event which has for its theme
"Team OCS: Kaisa ng Sambayanan Para sa Pagsusulong sa Tuwid na Daan",
President Aquino witnessed the awarding ceremonies of outstanding graduates.
Defense Undersecretary Honorio S. Azcueta led
the presentation of awards to outstanding graduates who are now currently
belong to Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and the
Philippine Coast Guard.
Also in attendance were AFP Chief of Staff
Emmanuel T. Bautista, Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, among others. PND (js)
