President Aquino says his State of the Nation
Address to reflect the country’s real status, administration’s commitments
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that next
Monday's State of the Nation Address (SONA) will reflect the real status of the
country as well as his administration's commitments and principles to achieve
an inclusive growth.
In his speech during the celebration of the 67th
Founding Anniversary of the University of the Philippines (UP) Beta Sigma
Fraternity Alumni Association at the Grand Ballroom of the Eastwood Richmonde
Hotel in Quezon City on Monday, the Chief Executive said this year's SONA will
lay down realities besetting the country to spur collective action among the
citizenry towards economic progress.
"Sa susunod nga pong linggo, magaganap ang
State of the Nation Address. Mahalaga pong imulat ang mamamayan ukol sa tunay
na estado ng ating bayan, upang lalo pang tumaas ang antas ng pampublikong
diskurso, at lalong dumami ang mga kababayan nating nakikisagwan sa tama at
iisang direksyon," President Aquino said.
The President underscored the importance of the
collaboration between the government and the fraternity to advance the interest
of the Filipino people.
"Nananalig ako sa pakikiisa ng inyong
samahan sa pagtahak natin sa tuwid na daan. Sa pagsasanib ng ating mga tinig,
at sa patuloy na pagkakapit-bisig, lalong lumalakas ang ating puwersa sa
pagpapaunlad ng kabuhayan ng lahing Pilipino. Ituloy po natin ang sama-samang
pag-aangat ng bayan; at taas-noo nating tunguhin ang katuparan ng ating
pangarap," he stressed.
The President expressed hope that the gathering
may inspire the country's fraternity members to participate more actively in
nation-building while his government continues its efforts to widen the avenues
towards far-reaching and sustainable opportunities for the Filipino public.
"Kumpiyansa po tayong sa ikalawang yugto ng
ating termino, lalo pang aarangkada ang ating serbisyo. Magandang pagkakataon ito
upang patibayin pa ang ating pagtutulungan sa pag-abot ng ating kolektibong
hangarin bilang nagkakaisang bansa," he said.
"Umaasa akong patuloy ninyong isasabuhay
ang mga prinsipyong tumitimon sa UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, sa ngalan ng
katuwiran at pananagutan. Ang hangad natin ay patuloy na isakatuparan ang mga
makabuluhang serbisyong nagmamarka sa kasaysayan, itaguyod ang pangmatagalang
kapayapaang nagbubunsod ng kaunlaran; at magsilbing bukal ng pag-asa at kalinga
para sa kapwa," he stressed.
The President also lauded Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Environment Secretary
Ramon Paje who belonged to UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, for helping his government
to revitalize the country.
"Naka-ukit sa kasaysayan ng UP Beta Sigma
Fraternity ang mismong kasaysayan ng Ikatlong Republika ng Pilipinas. Sampung
araw nga po matapos kilalanin ng mundo ang ating kasarinlan noong ika-4 ng
Hulyo 1946, itinatag naman ang inyong kapatiran. Kasabay na hinarap ng inyong
samahan ang mga hamon at pagsubok sa ating pagsasarili, at ang pinagdaanan ng
sambayanan sa nakaraang animnapu’t pitong taon," he said.
"Lumipas man ang mahigit anim na dekada, di
pa rin kumukupas ang pagpapakitang gilas ng inyong mga brod sa iba’t ibang
larangan. Nariyan ang labinlimang Betan na kabilang sa Outstanding Young Men
awardees ng bansa. Siyempre, proud din tayo sa tatlo ninyong alumni na kasama
nating naglilingkod at tumutugon sa mga problema ng bayan; sina Kalihim Volts
Gazmin, Procy Alcala, at Mon Paje," he said.
This year’s theme is “The Good and Noble Man in
Nation Building.”
The U.P. Beta Sigma Fraternity was the first
post-war fraternity in the Philippines - a brotherhood transcending the
barriers of regional origins, creed and social status. It is currently one of
the largest fraternities in the country in terms of the number of established
university based and alumni chapters.
The name was derived from the Greek letters Beta
(β) and Sigma (Σ) which stands for "Brotherhood of Scholars."
Scholastic excellence, one of the core ideals of the fraternity, is a
requirement to qualify for membership. PND (js)
Aquino enjoins all government agencies to
support nationwide observance of National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
President Benigno S. Aquino III has enjoined all
heads of government agencies and instrumentalities to support the nationwide
observance of the "National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation
(NDRP) Week" from July 17 to 23, this year.
The Chief Executive issued the directive by
virtue of Memorandum Circular No. 50 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N.
Ochoa Jr. on July 9.
The President noted that Proclamation No. 1870
(s.1979) declared the third week of July as NDPR Week to highlight the nation’s
efforts towards disability prevention and rehabilitation leading to the
effective integration of persons with disabilities into the mainstream of
society.
Proclamation No. 361 (s. 2000) declared that the
annual observance of the NDPR Week shall culminate on the birthdate of the
sublime paralytic, Apolinario Mabini, on July 23 of every year.
The celebration of the 35th NDPR Week has for
its theme: “Building an Inclusive and Non-Handicapping Environment for Persons
with Disabilities.”
The President enjoined all government agencies
and instrumentalities, including Government-Owned or –Controlled Corporations,
State Universities and Colleges and Local Government Units, to support and
participate in the nationwide observance of the National Disability Prevention
Week.
"Further, the mass media and the entire
citizenry are encouraged to extend their support and full cooperation in this
undertaking," the President said.
This Memorandum Circular shall take effect
immediately. PND (js)
Malacanang welcomes SWS survey showing
satisfaction with how democracy works at an all-time high
Malacanang welcomed on Tuesday the latest Social
Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that the majority of Filipinos were
satisfied with the democratic situation in the Philippines, saying the rating
was the highest figure recorded since 1991.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, reading from a prepared statement,
said that the latest survey by the polling firm, which was conducted from March
19 to 22, had surpassed the previous record high of 70 percent recorded in
September 1992 and July 1998.
“We welcome the results of a survey conducted in
March this year by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), on satisfaction with how
democracy works at a record level of 74%. It is the highest figure since the
polling firm began running the survey in 1991, surpassing the previous
record-high of 70% in September 1992 and July 1998,” Valte said.
“Notably, in the four surveys conducted yearly
under the Aquino administration, the figure has not dipped below 64% —the
longest period of sustained satisfaction recorded throughout the five
administrations since the restoration of democracy in 1986,” she added.
She said that President Benigno S. Aquino III
remains firm in his decision to continue to institute reforms that will help
the government and the Filipino achieve true democracy.
“True democracy includes what the President’s
father called freedom from hunger. This is why we have invested in both
strengthening and expanding our social safety nets so the fruits of democracy
may be enjoyed by as many Filipinos as possible,” Valte said.
“Realizing that democracy is a work in progress,
the Aquino administration is determined to continue reforms that will help
restore trust in our public institutions, renew faith in government, and
empower the Filipino people,” she said. PND (rck)
Government to abide with Supreme Court’s ruling
extending status quo ante order on the implementation of the Reproductive
Health Law
The government will abide with the status quo
ante (Latin for “the way things were before”) order the Supreme Court imposed
on the implementation of the Reproductive Health Law, Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Valte called
the recent ruling of the high court as “unfortunate” and noted that there will
be no implementation of the provisions laid out by the RH Law while the status
quo ante order is in effect.
“The extension is unfortunate however the
extension will be respected by government,” Valte said.
“The net effect (of the ruling) is that there
will be no implementation while the status quo ante order is in effect. It
essentially extends the non-implementation of the RH Law,” she added.
Voting 8-7, the Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday
an status quo ante order on the RH Law extended until further orders effective
immediately.
The status quo ante order directs the parties to
observe the status or situation before the implementation of the RH law.
The extension came a day before the original
120-day status quo ante order issued on March 19, was to expire Wednesday. In
the original status quo ante order, the justices voted 10-5. PND (rck)
President Aquino appoints new official in various
government agencies
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials in various government agencies, a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced the appointments during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday.
Valte said the Chief Executive signed the
appointment letters of seven new commissioners of the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for a term expiring on February 20, 2016.
The newly-appointed official were Zenaida Brigida
H. Pawid for Region I and the Cordilleras, Percy A. Brawner for Region II,
Bayani Sumaoang for Region III and the rest of Luzon, Dionesia O. Banua for
Island Groups including Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Panay and the rest of the
Visayas, Datu Cosme M. Lambayon for Northern and Western Mindanao, Leonor T.
Oralde-Quintayo for Southern and Eastern Mindanao and Era Colmo España for
Central Mindanao.
The President has also appointed last July 12
Teresita G. Inciong as the executive director of the Early Childhood Care and
Development Council.
The President named Ma. Gloria G. Abragan-Tango
as acting Assistant Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. The
appointment paper of Tango was also signed last July 12.
The President appointed Christopher Lawrence S.
Arnuco as chairman and administrator of Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone
Authority for a term expiring on January 17, 2014. PND (js)
Palace defends plan to relocate informal
settlers in Metro Manila
Malacanang defended Tuesday the government’s
plan to transfer informal settlers living in Metro Manila’s danger areas saying
the move has long-term positive social implications.
Some quarters have been questioning the
government’s plan arguing spending huge amount of money to move squatters from
danger areas is not the obligation of the middle income tax payers.
But in a press briefing in Malacanang on
Tuesday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said relocating more
than 19,000 families from danger zones is government’s major obligation.
“Trabaho ng pamahalaan na siguraduhin under the
general welfare clause na sila ay matulungan; at pangalawa, alam naman natin na
nagkakaroon na rin ng mga structure sa mga waterways na ito, it affects the rest
of the metro also,” Valte said.
Allowing these poor families to live in those
danger zones exposes them to health risks and disaster threats, Valte said.
Transferring them will also benefit everybody because the government could be
able to clear the waterways and build infrastructure that will prevent
excessive flooding.
“In the long run, that will also benefit the
rest of the populace,” the Palace official said.
By moving these poor families to a much safer
and comfortable location, they could start new lives and become more productive
members of society, she said.
“What they do with that opportunity that is
given to them is entirely up to them. But, on the part of government, we hope
that they will take the opportunity and use it to better their lives.”
The government eyes in-city and off-city
relocations for the informal settlers living in Metro Manila. At least 4,000
housing units all over the metropolis are said to be ready for occupancy.
Housing units for off-city relocations are also
being constructed in resettlement areas in Montalban, Trese Martirez, Baras,
Panay, Bocaue and Laguna. PND (as)
Ochoa rallies support for National Disability
Week
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on
Tuesday asked heads of all government agencies to participate in the nationwide
observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week
from July 17 to July 23.
In Memorandum Circular No. 50, Ochoa encouraged
all civil servants, the mass media and the general public to take part in the
annual celebration and show support for all persons with disabilities (PWDs) in
the country.
“We should all do our share in increasing
awareness on disabilities, how to prevent these, and take part in improving the
economic and social condition of PWDs in our society,” Ochoa said.
Two key presidential directives have been issued
in the past to push for the full cooperation and support of the public to PWDs.
These are Proclamation No. 1870 issued in 1979,
which designates the third week of July as NDPR Week to underscore initiatives
towards disability prevention and rehabilitation leading to the effective
integration of PWDs into mainstream society, and Proclamation No. 361 issued in
2000, which declares the culmination of the annual observance on July 23, the
birth date of sublime paralytic and revolutionary Apolinario Mabini.
This year’s 35th celebration of the NDPR Week
adopts the theme: “Building an Inclusive and Non-Handicapping Environment for
Persons with Disabilities.” PND
