President Aquino declares July 26 as special
non-working day in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay in celebration of 64th ‘Araw ng
Ipil’
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 26, which falls on a Friday, as a special (non-working) day in the
municipality of Ipil in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay in celebration of the
“64th Araw ng Ipil.”
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 610 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 25 to give the people of Ipil the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On July 26, 1949, Ipil became a municipality by
virtue of Executive Order No. 249 signed by the late President Elpidio Quirino.
PND (js)
Malacanang elated over survey showing govt fight
against corruption gaining headway
Malacanang said on Wednesday that President
Benigno S. Aquino III’s effort to rid the government of corruption is gaining
headway as more Filipinos have noticed that corruption numbers have gone down
in 2013.
It cited a recent Transparency International
survey saying 38 percent of Filipinos believe that the government’s effort to
wipe out corruption is gaining ground.
In a press conference in Malacanang on
Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the fact that
more Filipinos have taken stock of President Aquino’s anti-corruption advocacy
show that his good governance program is working.
“In 2013, 32 percent—only 32 percent believe
that corruption increased; 41 percent (said it) remained the same; and, from
six percent of those who felt in 2010 that corruption decreased, it is now 38
percent believe that corruption decreased,” Lacierda said.
“We recognize that there are still some levels
of corruption but the people have seen that there is a consistent fight against
corruption under this government and so that has been recognized by those
surveyed. From a six percent in 2010, it’s now 38 percent,” he added.
He said President Aquino’s plan to make
government corruption free would continue “to the very last day of this
administration.”
“Those who were surveyed, at the very least,
recognized that there have been an increase in the recognition that corruption
has decreased under this administration and we continue to fight against
corruption. This is an ongoing process and it will continue to the very last
day in our administration,” Lacierda said.
According to the Global Corruption Barometer of
2013 released by Transparency International on Tuesday, the perception of
Filipinos on the corruption level in the country has significantly improved
over the past two years.
Initiated in 2003 and conducted biennially, the
Global Corruption Barometer is the largest cross-country survey to collect the
general public’s views and experiences of corruption. PND (rck)
Govt remains focused on achieving inclusive
growth
Malacanang said achieving inclusive growth will
remain the administration’s goal to address economic inequality but told the
public that such a target will not be achieved overnight.
The National Statistical Coordination Board
reported on the widening gap between the rich and the poor that may have
economic and social implications.
But Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda
doubted the NSCB report’s correctness in a press briefing in Malacanang
Wednesday.
“There has been a growth even in the lowest
levels and if you notice the growth, for instance, there’s a growth of eight
percent in the lowest level; four percent in—three-plus in the middle income;
and, from the high, it is about 10,” he explained.
“All those growths, if you notice, are above
inflation rates. Inflation is 3.2 percent. There’s real growth even in the low
level.”
But the real challenge for the administration is
addressing inclusive growth, he said.
“From the very start of our administration, we
have said that we are going to bat for inclusive growth and it’s not going to
happen overnight. We are continuously doing it and making sure that no one
would be left behind,” he said.
Part of the government thrust is job creation.
Producing jobs not only for the unskilled laborers but also for skilled
workers, he noted.
For instance, the government eyes to create more
jobs in the Business Process Outsourcing sector, he said. It is also ready to
grant loans to those who want to venture on entrepreneurship.
The government also wants to make sure that the
business environment is conducive for more foreign investments, he said
believing the administration is already in that track.
“We are in the right track. In fact, Secretary
Arsenio Balisacan has mentioned that we are now in a new growth trajectory,” he
said. PND (as)
