President Aquino declares July 8 as special
non-working holiday in Isabela City, Basilan in celebration of its town fiesta
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 8, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in Isabela City
in the province of Basilan in celebration of its town fiesta.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 596 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 6, to give the people of Isabela City the full opportunity to celebrate
and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
Isabela City celebrates its annual fiesta on
July 8 of every year in honor of its patron St. Elizabeth of Portugal, or Sta.
Isabel de Portugal. PND (js)
President Aquino vows support for Philippine Air
Force pilots whose plane crashed
(CLARK AIR BASE, Pampanga) President Benigno S.
Aquino III vowed to provide support and assistance to the families of two
Philippine Air Force pilots whose plane, a light attack OV-10 Bronco crashed
off the coastal waters of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan last month.
In his speech keynoting the 66th Founding
Anniversary of the PAF here on Monday the President said that he had been
following closely the progress of the search and retrieval operations of the
concerned agencies.
"Kamakailan lang, bumagsak ang OV-10 630
Bronco bomber lulan ang dalawa sa ating mga kawal. Kasalukuyan pa rin pong
nagaganap ang search and retrieval operations, at makakaasa po ang pamilya ng
mga piloto sa karampatang tulong at suporta ng gobyerno," the President
said.
"Ang ganitong mga pangyayari nga mismo ang
iniiwasan natin simula't sapul pa, kaya naman, nakatutok tayo sa modernisasyon
ng ating pambansang tanggulan," he added.
Col. Miguel Okol, PAF spokesman, said that the
light attack aircraft with tail No. R630 went missing following their takeoff
at around 6:37 p.m. last June 23 to conduct a night flying proficiency training
mission. PND (rck)
President Aquino cites Defense Secretary Gazmin
for being instrumental in modernizing Philippine Air Force
(CLARK AIR BASE, Pampanga) President Benigno S.
Aquino III cited Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin for being instrumental in
modernizing the Philippine Air Force to be at par with world standards.
The President made his citation of Gazmin during
his speech keynoting the 66th Founding Anniversary of the PAF here on Monday.
"Ngayong umaga, sa pagdiriwang natin ng
ika-animnapu't anim na anibersaryo ng Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, bagong
mukha ng gobyerno, at bagong dangal ng kasundaluhan ang humaharap sa mundo. Sa
loob lamang ng tatlong taon, pinatunayan natin na ang Philippine Air Force ay
muling bumabagwis tungo sa makabagong lakas, at matatag na bukas," the
Ptesident said.
"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa dedikasyon at
inisyatiba ni Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin upang itaas ang kakayahan at
ang kalidad ng kagamitan ng ating buong kasundaluhan, gayundin sa mahusay at
tapat na pamumuno ni Lieutenant General Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz sa inyong hukbo.
Kitang-kita naman sa inyong aktibong pagtatanod kung paano ninyo
pinagsisilbihan ang mga Pilipino," he added.
He vowed that before he stepped down in 2016,
the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines would have benefitted from the AFP
Modernization Act.
"Mulat po tayo sa mga kasalukuyang
limitasyon ng ating sandatahan, kaya naman nagpapasalamat tayo sa inisyatiba ng
Air Force na kumpunihin upang muling mapakinabangan ang ilang eroplano't
sasakyan, gaya ng labimpitong M-35 trucks, isang N-22 Nomad transport aircraft,
isang UH-1H Utility Helicopter, isang LC-210 aircraft at MG-520 attack
helicopter," the President said.
"At dahil sa pagsasabatas ng New AFP
Modernization Act, pitumpu’t limang bilyong pisong pondo ang mailalaan natin sa
Tanggulang Pambansa sa susunod na limang taon. Asahan po ninyong bago tayo
bumaba sa pwesto, tumatanod na sa ating himpapawid ang mga makabago't modernong
kagamitan gaya ng lead-in fighters, long-range patrol aircraft, close air
support aircraft, light-lift fixed-wing aircraft, medium-lift aircraft, attack
helicopters, combat utility helicopters, air defense radars, at flight
simulators," he said.
"Nananalig ako na sa pagsasanib ng mga
pagkilos ng pamahalaan upang gawing mas moderno ang inyong mga pangangailangan,
at ang panibagong dangal at kumpiyansa ng taumbayan sa ating kasundaluhan,
talagang magiging abot-langit ang serbisyong hatid ng Hukbong Himpapawid ng
Pilipinas," the President further said. PND (rck/12:57pm)
President Aquino declares July 15 as special
non-working day in Cordillera Administrative Region in celebration of its 26th
Foundation Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 15, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in the
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in celebration of its 26th Foundation
Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 608 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 20 to give the people of CAR the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
This year's celebration has for its theme
“Bridging One Green Cordillera.”
In July 15, 1987, Executive Order No. 220 was
issued which resulted to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region
(CAR). It consists of provinces, namely: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga
and Mountain Province.
The Cordillera Administrative Region encompasses
most of the areas within the Cordillera central mountains of Luzon. The region
is home to a number of indigenous tribes. PND (js/3:06pm)
President Aquino to lead distribution of new
handguns at PNP rites Tuesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the
distribution of brand new Glock17 pistols to selected personnel of the
Philippine National Police in ceremonies to be held at the PNP multi-purpose
center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday (July 2).
The new handguns form part of the 60,000 pistols
purchased by the Philippine National Police through a P1.2-billion budget
allocated through the PNP modernization program.
According to a PNP advisory, around 600
individuals composed of officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), PNP, and the National Police Commission will receive the Glock17
pistols.
Joining the President will be DILG Secretary
Manuel Roxas II and PNP Director General Alan Purisima. PND (rck/3:50pm)
