President Aquino lauds Philippine Spine Society
for its contribution to the development of spine surgery practice
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the
Philippine Spine Society (PSS) for its contributions to the development of
spine surgery practice in the Philippines.
"As men and women of medicine, you play a
crucial role in achieving this goal: Your advancement as professionals redounds
to improved medical services and higher quality of care for the Filipino
people," the Chief Executive said in his message to the PSS on the
occasion of the Annual Operative Course in Spine Surgery.
The PSS and the Philippine Orthopedic
Association, in cooperation with the Medical City Department of Orthopedics,
opened on Friday the two-day "Annual Operative Course in Spine Surgery:
Updates on Degenerative Conditions of the Cervical Spines" at the Medical
City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City.
"An empowered, productive citizenry is the
backbone of a revitalized, thriving country, and to secure their well-being is
to ensure our continued rise towards equitable progress. Let passion,
excellence, innovation, and dedication define your pursuits, that you may adapt
efficiently to the challenges of today’s ever-evolving milieu. Embrace
modernization as an opportunity to better enact your duties as servants of the
people," the President said.
The President called on the PSS to work together
with the government to achieve the common goal in transforming the Philippines
into a progressive nation.
"Our solidarity drives us closer to our
goal of a transformed Philippines, with a reinvigorated business environment
and increased prosphects for the determined and hardworking. Let us bolster our
resolve in treading the straight and righteous path and fulfill the great
potential of our nation," he said. PND (js)
President cites master plumbers in country’s
infrastructure and water systems
President Benigno S. Aquino III said his
administration is relying upon the master plumbers in maintaining the country's
infrastructure and ensuring the integrity of the country's water systems.
"May the master plumbers remain in
solidarity with our ideal of a truly inclusive society, where hard work is
rewarded fairly, and our actions are guided by selflessness and
patriotism," the Chief Executive said in his message to the National
Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines Inc. (NAMPAP) on the occasion of
its Visayas-Mindanao Conference.
The NAMPAP opened on Friday the two-day
Visayas-Mindanao Conference 2013 which has for its theme "Master Plumbers
on High Gear for Global Challenge" at the VCDU Prince Hotel and Convention
Center, South Montilla Boulevard, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
"Inclusive growth is the primary goal of
nation-building in this era of renewed public trust in our institutions.
Establishing good governance is only the first step in a far longer
journey," the President said .
"As we set in place systems that are meant
to elevate the public welfare, it is hoped that these endeavors create greater
opportunities for our citizenry, especially those in the vulnerable sectors of
society," he said.
President Aquino hopes that the event may inspire
the master plumbers to extend greater assistance to the Visayas and Mindanao
communities. PND (js)
Govt declares state of calamity in Aurora,
Zambales
The government declared under a state of
calamity several areas in Aurora and Zambales provinces following the
devastation of typhoon Labuyo this week, the Palace reported Friday.
Among the areas placed under a state of calamity
include Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag in Aurora; Candelaria, Santa Cruz
and Masinloc in Zambales, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said
in a press briefing in Malacanang.
Valte said the government is still in the
post-typhoon operations and as of 5 a.m. Friday, she said a total of 76
fishermen have been rescued in Pangasinan, Catanduanes, and Camarines Norte.
The casualty figure hasn’t gone up, Valte said,
which was pegged at eight. Seven people were injured, and four are still
missing.
A total of 84,571 families were affected in 87
municipalities, six cities, 16 provinces in Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, and the
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), according to the National Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC).
The number of those stranded has gone down,
Valte said, adding that at the moment there are 25 passengers who remain
stranded.
The number of damaged houses remains the same
with a total of 20,136 for Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, and CAR, the NDRRMC reported.
There is a total of P12,191,826.99 worth of relief
goods provided to affected families and stranded persons, she said. PND (as)
Palace can work with Congress, Supreme Court to
ensure transparency in judiciary’s budget
Malacanang said it is willing to work with the
judiciary and Congress to ensure fiscal autonomy and transparency in the
Supreme Court’s budget.
The judiciary was reportedly asking Congress to
delete special provisions in the 2014 proposed national budget especially on
the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) fearing it may infringe in the
independence of the judiciary.
“On the other concerns raised by the
representatives of the court, the DBM, on the Executive side, is ready, willing
and very open to working with them and with Congress on any other concerns that
they may raise regarding their budget,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson
Abigail Valte said in a press briefing on Friday.
“Ang punto lang naman natin din, at kung
makikita natin sa pagbasa ng mga special provision na ang nilalayon talaga ay
transparency; and we in the Executive know also that our counterparts in the
Supreme Court will agree to this, that fiscal autonomy and transparency can go
hand in hand,” she said.
Valte explained that nowhere in the special
provisions contain a clause that leads people to conclude that the Executive
branch is trying to infringe on fiscal autonomy or judicial independence.
She also cited in the Special Provision 6 of the
expenditure program the phrase stating: “shall be automatically and regularly
released” to the judiciary.
“It is not a pre-condition to any release of any
fund in the Supreme Court and that’s very clear in the special provisions,” she
added. PND (as)
