Aquino lauds Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino for
holding Filipino Language Congress
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) for holding the first Pambansang Kongreso ng
Wika which he said was an important tool for enhancing our love and
understanding of our national language.
In his speech keynoting the event held at the
Leong Hall of the Ateneo de Manila campus in Quezon City on Monday, the
President expressed confidence that the participants to the congress would be
able to find ways and means to uplift our understanding of the Filipino
language.
“Kaya naman isang malaking hakbang ang
pagtitipong ito sa pagpapayabong ng ating wikang pambansa. Nananalig akong sa
pagtutulungan ng mga kalahok na sektor, maitutulay ng Unang Pambansang Kongreso
sa Wika ang ilang mga hamon at suliraning pangwika na matagal nang nabalewala
sa ating lipunan, at magsimulang maitaas ang antas ng pakikilahok at diskurso
ukol dito,” the President said.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa kasalukuyang pamunuan ng
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, sa inisyatibang likumin ang mga kaisipan at
opinyon ng mga eksperto sa pagtitipong ito, gayundin sa masigasig na
pagpapatupad ng mandato ng komisyon. Nananalig akong magiging mabunga ang Unang
Pambansang Kongreso sa Wika, at magagamit tungo sa paghubog ng mas progresibong
lipunan ang anumang resulta ng inyong talakayan,” he added.
The Filipino Language Month, which is embodied
in Presidential Proclamation No. 1041 of 1997, is commemorated by the KWF every
August. This year’s theme is “Wika Natin ang Daang Matuwid.”
Joining the President were KWF chairman Virgilio
Almario and ADMU president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J. PND (rck)
Malacanang orders suspension of classes in all
levels and work in government offices affected by Typhoon Maring
Malacanang ordered the suspension of classes in
all levels and work in government offices in areas affected by Tropical Storm
Maring and the enhanced southwest monsoon, a Palace official said on Monday.
Upon the recommendation of the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Executive
Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. has ordered the suspension of classes in all
levels over Pangasinan, Benguet, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan,
Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Metro Manila,
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement issued on Monday.
"Likewise, the Executive Secretary has also
ordered the suspension of work in the Government Offices in Metro Manila except
those involved in disaster risk reduction and management, Lacierda said.
Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, CALABARZON and the
provinces of Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Bicol
region will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flashfloods and
landslides, the PAGASA said in its website. PND (js)
Aquino wants more strict control, closer
monitoring of Priority Development Assistance Fund
President Benigno S. Aquino III maintained his
earlier stand against the outright abolition of the Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF) saying he wanted stricter control and closer monitoring on the use
of the fund to ensure that it goes to its intended use.
In an interview after keynoting the first
Pambansang Kongreso ng Wika held at the Leong Hall of the Ateneo De Manila
University in Quezon City on Monday, the President said the recent Commission
on Audit report finding irregularities in the use and disbursement of the PDAF
did not mean that the whole fund was “bad.”
He pointed out that the government is stepping
up its efforts to bring the individuals involved in the scam to justice.
“Ang premise siguro ‘nun lahat ng paggamit of
pork barrel mali. Pero palagay ko naman, ‘pag tiningnan natin ‘yung COA report,
hindi nilalahat,” the President said.
“May tinutukoy na parte ng pork barrel o iyong
paggamit ng PDAF na mali; at ‘yon tinutuluyan natin ng Number One,
imbestigasyon. May kaso ng naisampa laban kay Ginang (Janet Lim) Napoles, may
warrant of arrest na para sa kanya,” he added.
He cited as an example his stint as a congressman
of Tarlac province where he used his pork barrel to fix a portion of the
McArthur Highway that had frequently been left damaged due to rains and had
greatly eased travel time to and from his province.
“For instance, noong ako po’y kongresista,
ginamit ko ‘yung PDAF ko para maayos iyong MacArthur Highway. Alam naman po
natin national road ‘yan. Hindi po dapat saklaw ng Congressional funds pero
walang nag-aasikaso,” the President said.
“So lahat ho nakinabang ‘nung naisaayos natin
‘ang kalsadang ‘yan, lalo na ‘yung parte na binabaha parati tuwing tag-ulan, e
dapat ba pinagtiis nalang natin --- para magpatuloy iyong paghihirap na dumaan
sa Tarlac lalo na pagdating ng tag-ulan dahil nga nasisira ‘yung kalsada?,” he
said.
“So tulad ng kahit anong bagay, merong mabuting
paggamit, merong maling paggamit. Siguro ang makatuwirang gawin ay iyong maling
paggamit ay talagang patungan ng kauukulang kaparusahan at iyong tama namang
paggamit ay dapat nating matulungan dahil mas diretsong nakakatulong ito sa mga
komunidad lalo na pagdating natin sa labas ng National Capital Region,” the
President further said.
He stressed the importance of constant
surveillance and due diligence in monitoring the disbursement and use of the
PDAF.
“Kailangan pong merong tumututok doon sa
kakulangan na hindi napupunuan ng national government at iyong kinatawan ng
bawat distrito ang siyang mas nakakapag-ugnayan, at saka iyong mga local
government units, para mas matukoy ng diretsuhan iyong mga pangangailangan ng
bawat komunidad,” the President said.
“So ayusin iyong paggamit nito, dagdagan ng mga
restrictions, gawing mas malawak ang tinatawag na mga safeguards at iyong
monitoring ng mga implementation,” he said. PND (rck)
President Aquino says government working hard to
mitigate the effects of heavy rains
President Benigno S. Aquino III said concerned
government agencies are working hard to carry out their tasks in mitigating the
effects of the heavy rainfall.
In an interview following his attendance to the
Pambansang Kongreso ng Wika at the Leong Hall of the Ateneo de Manila
University (ADMU) in Quezon City on Monday, the Chief Executive said the
Department of Public Works and Highways, the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority (MMDA), Department of Science and Technology, local government units
and other concerned government agencies, started putting in place interventions
to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"There are no fresh instructions.
Instructions have already been given from the start—from the very first storm
that we had to encounter. And, in fairness to the agencies you mentioned, MMDA
in particular, kagabi pa sila naglilinis ng mga trash," he said.
"'Yung paglilikas sa ating mga kababayan na
nasa danger zones --- testigo naman kayo na nag-umpisa na po ito. ‘Yung unang
grupo na apektado ng San Juan River dinala na sa San Jose del Monte, Bulacan at
mas panatag na ang loob nila doon sa San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. ‘Yung second
group is ongoing dito naman sa side ng Quezon City," the President said.
He also cited the readiness of local government
units in responding to the effects of heavy rainfall.
"Yung Marikina, kausap natin si Mayor Del
de Guzman kahapon, siguro sometime between 8:00 and 9:00, at nag-first warning
na at mukhang ready na ready na sila sa pagbagsak nga nitong maraming tubig
dahil sa kasalukuyang ulan," he said.
Aware of the country’s vulnerabilities to the
effects of climate change, President Aquino said the government has put in
place the policy framework and implementing mechanisms at the national and
local levels.
To mitigate effects of climate change and
disasters, the government had already crafted the Master Plan for Flood
Management in Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas, using the river basin
approach to flood management.
The Plan will provide a sustainable long-term
flood management strategy to be fully implemented up to 2035, covering not only
Metro Manila, but also the surrounding provinces. PND (js)
President Aquino to be guest of honor and
speaker at ‘Laban Ni Ninoy’ Photo Exhibit
President Benigno S. Aquino III will be the
guest of honor and speaker at the opening of "Laban Ni Ninoy" Photo
Exhibit that will be held at the Ayala Malls Trinoma, Quezon City, on Tuesday.
Upon arrival, the Chief Executive, to be
excorted by Sonny Camarillo, will view the photo exhibit to be held on the 4th
floor of the Cinema Lobby, Ayala Malls Trinoma. He will then attend the program
where he is expected to deliver his speech.
Joining the President are Camarillo,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
"Sonny" Coloma Jr, among others.
Camarillo, a practicing freelance
photojournalist since the mid-70s, will hold the "Laban ni Ninoy"
Photo Exhibit in celebration of the 30th Death Anniversary of former Senator
Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr .
The photojournalist had mounted numerous photo
exhibits, centering on the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution. This time, he
conceptualized a visual presentation to commemorate Ninoy's death anniversary
entitled "Laban ni Ninoy".
The exhibit is a chronicle of events in pictures
from the time of his wake and funeral march to the subsequent rallies and
street parliaments and other mass demonstrations. Many believe that the murder
of Ninoy Aquino fueled the 1986 Edsa Revolution.
The photo exhibit is aimed at educating the
viewers, especially the youth on the values of freedom and democracy, fought by
our forefathers from Lapu-lapu, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio to our soldiers
who shed blood in Bataan and Corregidor, to the hundreds of thousands of
Filipinos who risked their lives during the historic Edsa Revolution, and to
Ninoy Aquino who bannered, "The Filipino is worth dying for." PND
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