Aquino authorizes all government agencies to
support 'Laro’t Saya sa Parke' program
President Benigno S. Aquino III has authorized
all government agencies and instrumentalities to extend their support and
participate in the “Laro’t Saya sa Parke” recreation program to be held every
Saturday and Sunday in various venues all over the country.
The Chief Executive issued the directive by
virtue of Memorandum Circular No. 49 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N.
Ochoa Jr. on July 4.
The President noted that Section 19, Article XIV
of the Constitution provides that the state shall promote physical education
and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports,
including training for international competitions, to foster self-discipline,
teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.
"Republic Act No. 6847 created the
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to promote physical education, encourage and
sustain the development of sports in the country to foster physical fitness,
self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the development of a healthy and
alert citizenry through a unified national sports promotion and development
program," the President said.
In pursuit of its mandate, the PSC implemented
the “Laro’t Saya sa Parke,” a park-based sports for fun and recreation program
to be held every Saturday and Sunday. The project promotes an active lifestyle
by engaging Filipino families in sports and physical fitness activities.
The President enjoined all government agencies
and instrumentalities, including Government-owned or –Controlled Corporations
(GOCCs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Government Units
(LGUs), to extend support and assist PSC in the implementation of the “Laro’t
Saya sa Parke” project.
He, likewise, encouraged the private sector to
support the project.
The memorandum circular shall take effect
immediately. PND (js)
Govt wary of sensitive Mindanao situation in
going after BIFF, Palace says
Malacanang said the military coordinated with
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) through the ad hoc joint action group
to ensure that the peace talks will not be affected by the recent violence in
Mindanao.
The ad hoc joint action group is an effort of
both the government and the MILF that seeks to interdict and isolate lawless
elements that take refuge in or near MILF communities.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the military operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
(BIFF) was done in the very limited time frame—only three days, she said in a
media briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.
“Nagpaalam sila for the operations particularly
because merong ibang miyembro ang BIFF that may have been hiding in some areas
kung saan may mga miyembro ng MILF. So iniiwasan nila ang mga ganitong
pangyayari,” Valte said.
“We’ll leave it to the AFP spokesperson to give
you more details on the progress of the three days… I checked with Colonel
Ramon Zagala kanina and tapos na ‘yung operations primarily dahil magsisimula
na ang Ramadan.”
The MILF said some of their fighters were
affected by the military operations and the Muslim group also voiced opposition
against the offensives considering the onset of Ramadan.
Clashes between government forces and members of
the BIFF started over the weekend and the military said it had captured the BIFF
stronghold in the villages of Damalabas in Datu Piang and Ganta in Shariff
Saydona Mustapha, all in Maguindanao.
The military reported at least 30 casualties in
the side of the BIFF and five in government forces.
The BIFF, led by Ameril Umbra Kato, is a
splinter group of the MILF, which is talking peace with the government.
Kato figured in several attacks on communities,
including one in 2008 following the botched signing of the Memorandum of
Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF.
The group also staged simultaneous attacks
against the military and civilian communities in August 2011. PND (as)
President Aquino declares July 23 as special
non-working day in Batangas City in celebration of Founding Anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 23, which falls on a Tuesday, as a special (non-working) day in Batangas
City in the province of Batangas in celebration of its 44th Founding
Anniversary.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 609 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 28 to give the people of Batangas City the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 21, 1969, then President Ferdinand
Marcos signed Republic Act No. 5495 creating Batangas City. Batangas City
Government was formally organized on July 23, 1969. PND (js)
Palace echoes optimism over RH Law’s
constitutionality
Malacanang is confident that the Reproductive
Health (RH) Law could withstand legal questions and could be implemented soon.
“We are confident that the Office of the
Solicitor General will be able to—will ably represent the position of the
government in this particular matter,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail
Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.
Asked if she thinks the oral arguments could
create a bad start for the administration and CBCP leadership, which has
elected new officers, Valte said the RH Law is not a new issue and nobody
designed the SC hearings to coincide with the CBCP’s change of leadership.
The SC was supposed to hold the oral arguments
on June 18 but reset it for July 9, Tuesday because it had acted on several
other petitions for and against the law.
There are 15 petitions challenging the RH Law
while six intervenors are seeking to uphold its legality.
Last March, the SC issued a 120-day status quo
ante order stopping implementation of the RH Law, and setting oral arguments on
June 18.
The restraining order was issued in response to
consolidated petitions of several groups who brought the issue to the court
wanting to halt the implementation of the Reproductive Health law soon after
its passage last year. PND (as)
Updates on newly acquired naval vessel BRP Ramon
Alcaraz set to arrive August 3 available on social media, says Palace
The Aquino government is updating the public,
through social media, regarding the country's newly-acquired Hamilton-class
cutter BRP Ramon Alcaraz which is set to arrive in the Philippines from the
United States on August 3, a Palace official said on Tuesday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a press briefing in Malacanang that the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) had sent three Philippine Navy officers to the United States (US) to join
the crew of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz and document its journey from San Diego to
the Philippines.
Valte said the team is composed of Commander
Gilbert O. Pacio, Navy Lieutenant Marineth Riano Domingo, and Lieutenant Junior
Grade Errol N. dela Cruz who are all Public Affairs officers.
In partnership with the Presidential
Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO), Valte said
the AFP officers will share, through blogs and social media, their experiences
aboard the newest ship of the Philippine fleet.
"Their articles will be uploaded through a
live blog on the official website of the Philippine Navy and the blog of Lt.
Jg. dela Cruz, one of the officers recording the journey," Valte said.
Aside from the blogs, Valte said the people may
follow the official Twitter accounts of the BRP Alcaraz, Philippine Navy, the
AFP, and the account of Lt. dela Cruz to get updates on BRP Ramon Alcaraz.
"Updates on the BRP Alcaraz may also be
read through the official Facebook pages of the AFP, the Navy, and the Facebook
account of the ship. The Official Gazette’s Twitter and Facebook will likewise
share onboard updates on Alcaraz," Valte said.
"We encourage everyone to follow the
updates on the BRP Alcaraz—the first of the Navy’s ships to be named in honor
of a Philippine Naval officer—and learn about the life and experiences of the
members of the Philippine Navy," she said.
The BRP Alcaraz with its complement of 14
officers and 74 crewmembers is now on her way to the Philippines.
Acquired by the Philippines under the
Philippine-U.S. Excess Defense Article and Military Assistance Program, the
Philippine Navy vessel is a sister ship of BRP Gregorio del Pilar.
The new naval vessel was named after Commodore
Ramon Alcaraz, a Philippine Navy officer who distinguished himself in the
Second World War. The ship is capable of conducting patrols for long periods of
time and can withstand heavy weather and rough sea conditions.
In his interview with a Filipino television
network, Deputy Consul General Espiritu said that the BRP Alcaraz is a modest
addition to the naval arsenal of the Philippines under its long-overdue
Military Modernization Program and is defensive in character, consistent with
the peace-loving foreign policy of the Philippines and its adherence to the
rule of international law. PND (js)
