Wednesday 2 October 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, October 1, 2013

President Aquino declares October 28 as special non-working day for Sychronized Barangay Elections

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared October 28, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) holiday throughout the country for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections, a Palace official said.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang Palace on Tuesday that the Chief Executive issued Proclamation No. 656 on September 25.

President Aquino noted that it is important to give the people the fullest opportunity to participate in the said elections and exercise their right to vote.

"Wala pa ang bill on postponement that’s why, it says “Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections”....I would refer you to the special pay rules issued by the Department of Labor (and Employment) on pay rules for special non-working holidays," Valte said.

The President earlier directed the law enforcement agencies and other concerned agencies to coordinate and cooperate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 28.

The directive was issued by virtue of Memorandum Order (MO) No. 56 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on July 23.

The Comelec, through its Resolution No. 9731 (s. 2013), resolved to request the concurrence of the President in the deputation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other law enforcement agencies, in connection with Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

"Pursuant to Section 2 (4), Article IX-C of the Constitution, the COMELEC is empowered to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections," the MO read.

The Chief Executive concurred with COMELEC Resolution No. 9731, deputizing AFP, PNP and other law enforcement agencies, to assist COMELEC in ensuring the free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible conduct of October elections. PND (js)


Malacanang appeals to Filipinos to take time to review facts about the Disbursement Acceleration

Malacanang appealed to Filipinos to take time to review the facts on the Disbursement Acceleration Plan (DAP), which it said had been in operation since 2011.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the DAP, a program that identifies fast-moving government projects that could be accorded additional funding from savings, was used to fast track disbursements and push economic growth in light of the global slowdown and the onslaught of recent calamities.

“Perhaps, at this point, it would be good to point out that while some are attempting to paint DAP with the same brush as they have done with PDAF, it’s good to just go through the information that we have already released on this, since the inception of the DAP in 2011,” Valte said.

She added the idea that the initial tranche of P72.11-billion of the DAP approved in 2011 went entirely to lawmakers is a misconception.

“That is a misconception because I can tell you now that a very big percentage of the fund was actually coursed through the implementing agencies themselves; meaning, agencies in the executive,” Valte said. PND (rck)


Palace shares public perception on peace deal with MILF

Malacanang shared the public’s optimism over the perception that the government could seal a peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end four decades of conflict in Mindanao.

A recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey conducted from June 28 to 30 nationwide said 70 percent of the 1,200 respondents showed optimism that a peace deal with the MILF can be achieved.

The 70 percent who showed optimism over a peace deal included 28 percent who were “very hopeful” and 42 percent who were "somewhat hopeful."

The figures are a lower than the survey results recorded last March, when 79 percent of the respondents were hopeful that the peace deal with the MILF can be completed (41 percent "very hopeful" and 38 percent "somewhat hopeful").

But Malacanang is still hopeful, saying at least majority of Filipinos believe a peace deal is possible although the survey found the people’s declining optimism about the peace agreement happening within the Aquino administration.

Valte said negotiators from both sides have just concluded their discussions in Malaysia and will reconvene to continue working on the remaining annexes of the peace agreement.

Also, the SWS survey found that the number of Filipinos who think that the peace deal will be forged within the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III decreased from 49 percent last March to 35 percent in June.


The survey also said that among the four major areas polled, Mindanao showed the most optimism on a peace deal with 34 percent “very hopeful” respondents, followed by Visayas (30 percent), Metro Manila (27 percent) and Balance Luzon (24 percent). PND (as)