Monday 5 August 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Monday, August 5, 2013

President Aquino administers oaths of office to 49 government officials

President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oaths of office to 49 newly appointed government agency officials in ceremonies held in Malacanang on Monday.

Leading the list of new government agency officials were: Alexander Pama – Undersecretary, Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the President; Jose Justiniano – Undersecretary, Department of Justice; Dina Joana Cristobal – Undersecretary, Department of Education; Ciriaco Lagunzad III – Undersecretary, Department of Labor and Employment; Janette Garin and Madeleine De Rosas Valera – Undersecretaries, Department of Health; Ponciano Manalo, Jr. – Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry; and Julianito Bucayan, Jr. – Undersecretary, Department of Transportation and Communication.

The other officials who were sworn in by the President were: Tonsito Umali – Assistant Secretary, DepEd; Maria Gloria Abragantango – Asec., DOLE; Ceferino Rodolfo, and Blesila Lantayona – Assistant Secretaries, DTI; Camille Alcaraz Campos – Asec., DOTC; Raymundo Liboro – Asec., Department of Science and Technology; Celso Santiago, Jr. – Asec. for Special Concerns, Presidential Communications Operations Office;

Winston Ginez – Chairman, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; Rowena Guanzon – Commissioner, Comission on Audit; Nieves Osorio – Commissioner, Civil Service Commission; Lorna Flores and Jerry Gracio – Commissioner Representing the Languages of the Southern Cultural Communities, Commission on Filipino Language; Conrado Sillada – Commissioner, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor; Maximo Mejia, Jr. – Administrator, Maritime Industry Authority; Roland Manalaysay – Executive Director, Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board; and Teresita Hatta – Executive Director, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;

Franklin Jesus Bucayu – Director, Bureau of Corrections; Roberto Cabrera III – Executive Director, LTFRB; Richard Ritual – Rear Admiral, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy; Joselito Dela Cruz, Danilo Ubaldo, George Ursabia, Ferdinand Velasco, Leopoldo Laroya and Rolando Legaspi – Commodores, Philippine Coast Guard; Nelson Laluces – Deputy Director General, Intellectual Property Office; Ray Roderos – Assistant Director General, National Security Council;

Rolando Gosengfiao – Member, Board of Directors, Bases Conversion and Development Authority; Milagros Isabel Cristobal – Member, Representing the Women Sector, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; Elmoise Afurong – Member, Representing Luzon Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council; Jonathan Aldeguer – Member, Representing Visayas SMEDC; Mary Ann Montemayor – Member, Representing Mindanao SMEDC;

Honorito Chaneco – Member, Board of Directors, Light Rail Transit Authority; Ralph Pastor Salazar – Member, Board of Directors, PNOC Renewables Corporation; Lucita Reyes – Member, Board of Governors, Board of Investments; Ernesto Albano and Reagan De Guzman – Members, Board of Directors, North Luzon Railways Corporation; Alexander Padilla – Member, Board of Directors, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Leah Navarro – Member, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board; Nievelena Rosete and Francis Gealogo – Members of the Board, Martial Law Historical Advisory Committee; and Orlan Calayag of the Department of Agriculture.

Joining the President for the occasion were Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Health Secretary Enrique Ona. PND (rck)


President Aquino declares August 15 as special non-working day in Bulacan

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared August 15, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working) day in the province of Bulacan in commemoration of its 435th Foundation Day.

The Chief Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 627 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on July 30, to give the people of Bulacan the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

According to the research conducted by the Center for Bulacan Studies, Bulacan was established as a province on Aug. 15, 1578. It is one of the most progressive provinces in the Philippines. PND (js)


President Aquino orders Roxas to lead resettlement of informal settlers

President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas to immediately spearhead the transfer of informal settler families living in danger and high-risk areas to decent housing sites, a Palace official said on Monday.

The Chief Executive issued the directive by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 57 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on August 2, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.

Under Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development Housing Act of 1992 (UDHA), the local government units (LGUs), in coordination with the National Housing Authority (NHA), shall implement the relocation and resettlement of persons living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways, and in other public places.

The President, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22, reiterated his administration's thrust "to provide refuge to our countrymen living in the danger or high-risk areas by providing them better housing, with access to public transport."

"The Administration's thrust is to prioritize their safety (informal settler families) in properly reassigning their residential locations after clearing the clogged waterways of our cities; and guarantee their protection and well-being in this exercise by ensuring proper coordination among government agencies concerned," the memorandum order said.

“Now, therefore, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government is hereby directed to immediately spearhead the transfer of informal settler families living in danger and high-risk areas to decent housing sites, as may be applicable, and pave the way for the clearing of clogged waterways, pursuant to the DILG’s mandate under Republic Act No. 6975 and EO 262 and the provisions of the UDHA," the order said.

In order to pursue this directive, the DILG shall coordinate with LGUs, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, NHA, and other relevant agencies of the government.

The memorandum order shall take effect immediately. PND (js)


President Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley in MalacaƱang

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Datu Katangiang Ginto (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on outgoing Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Christopher Thornley, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the bilateral partnership between the Philippines and Canada, during a simple ceremony in Malacanang on Monday.

The Chief Executive awarded the Order of Sikatuna on Thornley during a simple ceremony at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace on Monday.

The award was given to the outgoing ambassador for promoting deeper and vibrant relations between the Philippines and Canada through close people-to-people ties, security cooperation and trade and investments.

He was cited for his role in making the economic relations vibrant and more robust as manifested in the sustained increase in bilateral trade and Canadian investments in the Philippines, notably in the business process outsourcing sector and manufacturing.

Thornley was recognized for his involvement in establishing the Philippines-Canada Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation and the conduct of the Inaugural JCBC meeting on February 5, 2013.

"Thornley was recognized for securing Canada's generous contribution to our counter-terrorism efforts, consisting of in-kind contributions of equipment, training and services to help strengthen our counter-terrorism and anti-crime capacity," the citation read.

He was also cited for facilitating Canada's immediate relief assistance for the flood victims of typhoons Sendong and Pablo and for his humanitarian commitment as manifested by the Gawad Kalinga Villages donated by Canadian firms in the Philippines.

"He was cited for his role in organizing the visit to the Philippines of Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada in November, 2012, the highest level visit of a Canadian official in the last 15 years and the visit of Canada's Minister for Foreign Affairs John Baird in July, 2012," the citation read.

Thornley was likewise recognized "for facilitating the signing of the DND-Canadian Commercial Corporation Memorandum of Understanding on Government-to-Government Transactions in Defense and Military Related Equipment Materials, Systems and/or Services on Nov. 10, 2012."

He was also cited for pursuing activities that nurtured friendship, mutual appreciation and understanding between Filipinos and Canadians.

Thornley was accompanied by Senior Trade Commissioner Karra Lee Gerrits. Witnessing the conferment and farewell ceremonies were Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Brillantes and Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta of the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of American Affairs.


The Order of Sikatuna was established in 1953 and is conferred by the President of the Philippines to give recognition to individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines, and to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines as well as personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service. PND (js)