President Aquino declares September 12 as
special non-working day on Lipa City, Batangas for the holding of National
Pilgrimage and Sanctification of the Clergy
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
September 12, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working) day in Lipa
City in the province of Batangas for the holding of the National Pilgrimage and
the Sanctification of the Clergy.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 639 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on August 22, on request of the Office of the Mayor in order for the people of
the City of Lipa to participate in the event
The President noted that the city of Lipa will
host thousands of devotees for the National Pilgrimage, a day of prayer for
Peace and the Sanctification of the Clergy.
On September 12, 2004, Archbishop Ramon
Arguelles of Lipa approved the holding of the 1st National Marian Pilgrimage to
Lipa as the National Day of Prayer and Reparation for World Peace and the
Sanctification of the Clergy. The move of Archbishop Arguelles was supported by
the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. PND (js)
Malacanang says NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas
retains Aquino administration's trust
Malacanang said on Monday that National Bureau
of Investigation Director Nonnatus Rojas remains as one of President Benigno S.
Aquino III’s top government official who retains the Chief Executive’s trust
and confidence.
In a press conference in Malacanang,
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda spoke highly of Rojas despite his
submission of an irrevocable letter of resignation to the President, to which
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima would recommend its outright rejection.
Lacierda cited Rojas’ work on high profile cases
such as the Atimonan, Quezon rubout case allegedly involving 32 soldiers and
policemen for the killing of 13 people in Atimonan, Quezon, last January 6; and
the Balintang Channel report that looked into an alleged shooting by personnel
of the Philippine Coast Guard on Taiwanese fishermen.
“Yes (Rojas retains the government’s trust), if
you recall a number of investigations, a number of reports have been initiated
under his watch: you’ve got the Atimonan, you’ve got the Balintang Channel
report, and some other reports and also there are a number of sensitive cases
that have been handled by Director Noni Rojas coming from Secretary Leila De
Lima,” Lacierda said.
“Malaki at marami ang nagawa ni Director Rojas
kaya ang rekomendasyon ni Secretary De Lima ay i-reject ang kanyang
resignation,” he added.
He stressed that while there was still no
official action from the President on Rojas’ resignation letter, “the work goes
on.
“Wala pang action doon sa resignation letter.
Let's be clear. Pangalawa, patuloy na ginagawa ni Director Noni Rojas at ng
kanyang team yung case build up dito sa investigation (on the alleged pork
barrel scam),” Lacierda said.
“So the work goes on. There’s no word yet as to
the resignation letter. What we have heard so far is the recommendation of
Secretary De Lima that the resignation of Director Noni Rojas be rejected,” he
added. PND (rck)
President Aquino signs a bill into law aimed at
ensuring the protection of students against possible abuses by Higher
Educational Institutions in relation to right of students to choose their
review centers
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into
law a bill aimed at ensuring the protection of students against possible abuses
by Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in relation to the right of students
to choose their review centers.
The Chief Executive signed on August 23 the
Republic Act No. 10609 otherwise known as the “Protection of Students’ Right to
Enroll in Review Centers Act of 2013”.
The new Act was finally passed by the House of
Representatives and the Senate on December 8, 2010 and June 5, 2013,
respectively.
While the state recognizes the complementary
roles of public and private institutions in the enhancement and strengthening
of the educational system, President Aquino said the state has the
responsibility to ensure the protection of students against possible abuses by
HEIs in relation to the right of students to choose their review centers.
The new law covers all public and private HEIs,
including local colleges and universities, offering courses that require
professional licensure examinations.
Under the new law, the HEIs cannot compel
students enrolled in courses requiring professional examinations to take review
classes, which are not part of the curriculum, in a review center of the HEI’s
choice.
The law prohibits HEIs to make such review
classes a prerequisite for graduation or completion of the course. It is
unlawful for the HEIs to force students to enroll in a review center of the
school’s choice, and to pay the corresponding fees that include transportation
and board and lodging.
The law prohibits HEIs to withhold the
transcript of scholastic records, diploma, certification or any essential
document of the student.
Any HEI official or employee, including deans,
coordinators, advisers, professors and other concerned individuals found guilty
of violating any of the unlawful acts under this Act shall suffer the penalty prision
correccional or imprisonment from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6)
years and a fine of Seven hundred fifty thousand pesos (P750,000.00).
The violator shall also be suspended from
office. The violator’s professional license will also be revoked.
In addition, the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) may impose disciplinary sanctions against an HEI official or employee
violating this Act pursuant to Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise
known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1994”.
President Aquino tasked the CHED to issue the
implementing rules and regulations of this Act within thirty (30) days after
this law takes effect.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation. PND (js)
Aquino signs into law creating two additional
RTC branches in Polomolok, South Cotabato
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed a law
creating two additional branches of regional trial court (RTC) in Polomolok,
South Cotabato, in a bid to unclog court dockets and speed up the dispensation
of justice.
The Chief Executive signed on August 22 the Republic
Act No 10608 otherwise known as “An Act Creating two (2) additional branches of
the regional trial court in the Eleventh Judicial Region to be stationed at the
municipality of Polomolok, Province of South Cotabato, further amending for the
purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “the Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980,” as amended, and appropriating funds thereof.”
This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate
Bill No. 3020 and House Bill No. 6743, was finally passed by the Senate and the
House of Representatives on October 15, 2012 and June 5, 2013, respectively.
The new law mandates the Supreme Court to assign
the respective branch numbers for the newly created branches. The Chief
Justice, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall
immediately include in the Court’s program the implementation of this Act.
The funding shall likewise be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.
The funds necessary for the operation of the
newly created courts shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual
organization of the courts and the appointment of its personnel.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation. PND (js)
President Aquino signs bill into law aimed at
expanding the coverage of Science and Technology Scholarship Program
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into
law a bill aimed at expanding the coverage of the Science and Technology
(S&T) Scholarship Program and building a pool of highly qualified science
and math teachers in the country.
The Chief Executive signed on August 23 Republic
Act No. 10612 otherwise known as the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of
2013”.
The newly-signed Act, which is a consolidation
of Senate Bill No. 3400 and House Bill No. 6860, was finally passed by the
Senate and the House of Representatives on June 6, 2013.
“This Act builds on the current Science and
Technology Scholarships offered by the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), through its Science Education Institute (SEI), as provided for in
Republic Act No. 7687, otherwise known as the “Science and Technology
Scholarship Act of 1994,” the President said.
The law envisions a fast tracking of more
science, technology, and engineering graduates by offering scholarships to
deserving students in their third year of undergraduate study, based on their
competitiveness and merit.
The state also offers additional incentives to
attract the graduates of the scholarship program to pursue a career in teaching
science, mathematics and technology in high schools, especially in their home
regions.
The DOST- SEI shall be responsible for
evaluation, award-giving and monitoring of scholarship grants and awardees.
The Department of Education is hereby tasked to
ensure job placement and hiring of qualified graduates under this program as
secondary school teachers in science, mathematics and related technology
courses, and to ensure that these teachers are hired at Special Science Teacher
salary grade levels, as specified in this Act. The DepEd is also tasked with
the evaluation and monitoring of hired teachers under this program.
Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this
Act, the DOST and the DepED shall promulgate the rules and regulations to
effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
The amount necessary to carry out the
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s
appropriations of the SEI under the DOST.
“Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary to
augment the Science and Technology Scholarship Fund, as provided for in
Republic Act No. 7687, shall he included in the annual General Appropriations
Act,” the President said.
In addition, the SEI is authorized to accept
grants, contributions and/or donations from domestic and foreign sources for
scholarship grants.
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation. PND (js)
