Aquino says attaining peaceful and prosperous
country rests in the hands of citizens, especially the youth
President Benigno S. Aquino III said attaining
the goal of establishing a peaceful, stable, and prosperous country rests
largely in the hands of the Filipino citizens, especially the younger
generations.
"As future leaders, the youth must be
guided to become responsible, conscientious individuals who are ready to
perform their respective roles in society," the Chief Executive said in
his message to the Philippine Society of Young Good Citizens on the occasion of
"I Transform! Young Leaders Convention: Believe, Excel, Serve, Transform!
(B.E.S.T) Mindanao Wave."
The Philippine Society of Young Good Citizens
opened on Friday the four-day convention which has for its theme: "United
Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDGs): Global Action. Innovation. Peace
and Solidarity" at the Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases, Davao City.
"Your government considers the involvement
of our youth crucial in this time of our revitalization, as their idealism and
energy serve as fuel to sustain us on the straight and righteous path,"
the President said.
"May you all emerge from this event more
passionate and committed in our collective responsibility to improve the lot of
our people. May integrity, excellence, and compassion continue to characterize
all of our pursuits, that we may bequeath a better, more equitably progressive
Philippines to future generations," he stressed.
The activity aims to give young Filipinos the
avenue to share innovative ways to address pressing social problems at the
local level using the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development
Goals.
The "I Transform..." campaign was
launched in September 2012 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol where 650 youth leaders
representing 130 organizations were participants. PND (js)
Security forces to continue operations in
Zamboanga City until all hostages are freed, says Palace
The government has not set a timetable when to
end the Zamboanga City standoff but assured the public that security forces
will continue to push forward until all the hostages are freed, the Palace said
on Friday.
“On the side of the government, we will continue
to push forward what we have been doing in the past days, which is to make sure
that none of the citizens are harmed or put in harm’s way,” Deputy presidential
spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday.
The military and the police will continue to
constrict the movements of the rebels and the President has asked for an
inquiry to determine why the MNLF fighters still have the resources to wage
battle after more than a week of fighting.
“The President has also asked to check, to look
into reports… iyong tuluy-tuloy ang supply or bakit parang hindi nauubusan ng
supply? He has asked some officials to look into that as well,” Valte said.
The military and the police have also started
clearing operations and have requested for the assistance of barangay officials
to determine the identity of people staying in evacuation centers to make sure
that no rebels were among those present in temporary shelters.
Asked if the President’s presence in Zamboanga
was a sign for the immediate conclusion of the standoff, Valte said his
presence was a manifestation of the President’s resolve to be with the
residents until the crisis is over.
“The President’s presence there is testament
really to his statement to the people of Zamboanga City na hindi namin kayo
iiwan, nandito kami para i-extend lahat ng puwedeng gawin ng pamahalaan para sa
inyo,” she said. PND (as)
Aquino readies P3.9 billion funds to speed up
rehabilitation efforts for affected communities in Zamboanga City
The Aquino government is readying the P3.9
billion funds to speed up rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for the
communities affected by the attacks of forces loyal to Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari in Zamboanga City, a Palace official said on
Friday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that the
government will be releasing additional funds for the affected communities in
Zamboanga City.
"Siguro po’y napansin ninyo kahapon ‘yung
sinabi ng Pangulo (Benigno S. Aquino III) na meron pong tinatayang 3.9 billion
pesos na kakailanganin para makatulong tayo sa ating mga kababayan sa Zamboanga
City," Valte said.
Valte said government officials were already
mobilized to assist the residents who were displaced following the MNLF-Misuari
faction attacks.
"Una po, kasama diyan iyong continuing
relief assistance for short-term para doon sa 23,794 families na apektado doon
sa Zamboanga City. Ano iyong computation dito ‘nung continuing relief
assistance? Ito po iyong 250 pesos per pack per family for 30 days or one
month," Valte said.
"Susunod po diyan iyong balik-probinsiya
program. Tina-target po natin dito iyong 2,125 families or 10 percent ng total
number of displaced families in evacuation centers at para po ito doon sa
transportation and other incidental assistance," Valte said.
Valte said the government is allocating a total
of P10.63 million for the displaced families qualified for the Balik-Probinsya
program. "Lalabas po ng 5,000 pesos each for the families amounting to
10.63 million pesos," she said.
Valte said the government will be allocating
educational assistance funds for the students who are residing in the affected
barangays.
"Isa pang programang tinitingnan natin para
po doon sa ating mga kababayan doon ay iyong supplementary feeding program...iyong
cash-for-work or cash-for-training, for all affected families at the rate of 75
percent of the daily minimum wage in Region 9 for 30 days, kasama din po diyan.
Iyong construction ng bunkhouses for all families with totally burned down or
damaged houses," she said.
President Aquino remains in Zamboanga City until
the crisis ends. He is presently in Zamboanga City to preside over a series of
meetings with concerned cabinet secretaries and officials, to assess the
situation and provide the needs of displaced residents. PND (js)
Aquino administration used P15B Malampaya fund
to implement 10-energy related projects
The government used the Malampaya funds to carry
out 10 energy-related projects since President Benigno S. Aquino III took over
in June 2010, the Palace said on Friday.
The administration started to source from the
Malampaya fund in 2011 with a total amount of P15,255,416,490, Deputy
Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang.
Valte clarified that all the 10 projects that
used the fund are all energy-related projects based on the requirement of the
law.
Among these projects include the fuel
requirement for Small Power Utilities of the National Power Corp. (NPC),
Pantawid Pasada Program, acquisition of the Hamilton-class cutters for the
Philippine Navy, fuel requirement for generator sets lease rental and capital
expenditures of NPC,
Upgrading capabilities for the security and
protection of Malampaya natural gas projects; sitio electrification, short-term
facility of NPC, missionary electrification, barangay line enhancement and
sitio electrification projects and the transfer ride docking periodic haul
maintenance costs.
According to the energy department, the current
balance is P130 billion. PND (as)
