Aquino joins ASEAN leaders in 23rd ASEAN Summit
in Brunei
(BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) President Benigno S. Aquino
III joined fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Wednesday morning in the 23rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the
International Convention Center here.
The President arrived at the convention center
at around 9:50 a.m. before joining other leaders for the summit opening.
President Aquino landed here in Brunei Tuesday afternoon from Bali, Indonesia,
where he attended the APEC meeting.
After attending the 23rd ASEAN Summit the
President will meet other leaders for the 16th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 16th
ASEAN-South Korea Summit, the 16th ASEAN-China Summit, and the 1st ASEAN-United
States Summit respectively.
In a media briefing at Times Hotel, Secretary
Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic
Planning Office announced the three bilateral meetings of the President with
the leaders of Australia, Japan, and Vietnam.
After which, there will be the Gala Dinner for
the ASEAN heads of state and the other leaders state who are here in Brunei
hosted by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Carandang said.
Carandang said the President will push for a
rules-based approach in resolving the West Philippine Sea issue during his
meetings with other ASEAN leaders particularly those who have claims over the
disputed territory. PND (as)
Aquino to push for rules-based mechanism in
ASEAN to settle West Philippine Sea issue
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno S. Aquino
III will advocate for a rules-based approach with leaders of claimant countries
in the West Philippine Sea to finally settle the dispute peacefully.
In a press briefing on Wednesday at Times Hotel
here, Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development
and Strategic Planning Office said the general message that the Philippine
government is sending throughout the ASEAN Summit and other summits is for the
adoption of a rules-based mechanism so that the West Philippine Sea issue could
be resolved peacefully.
“We have consistently pushed for moving forward
on a rules-based peaceful resolution to the different territorial claims that
have become issues among the countries here in this part of the world,”
Carandang said.
“We continue to press for a rules-based solution
and we will take the opportunity of the ASEAN and other summits to urge all the
claimants to participate in what we hope can be a peaceful resolution to these
disputes,” he added.
Asked by reporters if the Philippines expects
other dialogue partners such as Japan to speak out on the issue during the
forum, Carandang said he can’t predict the moves of other countries noting
however that the Philippines remains consistent in its position on the issue.
The country’s message is that these issues can
be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with international law and by
using rules-based mechanisms like the Code of Conduct.
“And we are going to, and we have been, urging
other countries to support this framework for resolution of these issues,” he
said.
If all the claimant countries favor a
rules-based solution, which is consistent with the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), since most of them are signatories to, Carandang
said, there is nothing to worry if they craft a rules-based mechanism to
resolve the issue.
“Isa itong bahagi ng ating istratehiya na
pumunta sa UN. Yung pagpunta natin sa UN, ‘yung pag-advocate natin ng Code of
Conduct na binding—lahat ito ay bahagi ng isang mapayapa at rules-based,
legally-based resolution,” Carandang said.
Although there are some reservations on the way
China responds to different positions of other claimant countries, Carandang
said the good thing is that China continues to talk and engages other claimants
in discussing the issue that could eventually bear fruit in the future. PND
(as)
Philippines ready for ASEAN community by 2015,
Palace official says
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: The Philippines is prepared
for the envisioned ASEAN community by 2015, which would mean elimination or
reduction of barriers to trade and flow of goods that may affect certain
industries, a Palace official said.
“We’re doing our best to prepare for that,”
Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and
Strategic Planning Office said in a media briefing at the Times Hotel here
Wednesday.
Carandang is one of the members of the
Philippine delegation accompanying President Benigno S. Aquino III in his
attendance to the 23rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here in Brunei.
“We believe that this is in the interest of
consumers in all of our countries, which is why this has been pursued. It will
enhance the competitiveness and the efficiency of our businesses. And, at the
same time, it will provide competition in the retail and it will provide
competition for supply of goods, and that should lead to lower retail prices,
so we believe that the consumers will benefit from something like this,” he
said.
Despite certain benefits however, Carandang said
there are certain industries that need to do more preparation than others, and
the government is helping those industries prepare.
There are also initiatives from the industries
themselves, not just from the government for them to prepare, he said.
He added that Industries and companies intending
to do business throughout the region in the coming years, are themselves aware
of the challenges and are preparing in their own ways to meet those challenges.
“We’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this. This
is not something that is a surprise. So we feel that, by 2015, we should be
prepared to deal with it and we should actually benefit from it,” Carandang
said.
With regards to some trade barriers, he noted
that there are certain restrictions that will be allowed to be retained but he
made an assurance that the Philippines will be ready for any stumbling block
ahead. PND (as)
President Aquino cites role of internal auditors
in nation building
President Benigno S. Aquino III acknowledged the
crucial role of internal auditors in nation-building through the cleaning of
bureaucracy and removing graft and corruption.
"As we embarked on our journey towards
meaningful change, we committed ourselves to upholding a culture of
transparency and accountability," the Chief Executive said in his message
to the Association of Government Internal Auditors (AGIA) on the occasion of
its Annual National Convention.
The AGIA opened on Wednesday its three-day
convention held at the Crown Regency Resort and Convention Center, BORACAY Main
Road Station 2, Malay, Aklan.
"We promised to clean our bureaucracy and
remove graft and corruption, for we believed that doing so levels the playing
field, and gives our citizens equal opportunities for growth and
empowerment," he said.
The President stressed that the internal
auditors play a crucial role in nation-building, through the use of a
systematic and disciplined approach to monitor and improve the efficiency of
risk management, control, and governance processes in their institution.
He expressed hope that the convention will help
internal auditors to further enhance their faculties in the fulfillment of
their mandate to ensure that financial management and organizational operations
in government are on the right track.
"In this period of resurgence, our country
relies on our people’s capabilities and adherence to our agenda of honesty and
integrity: I exhort you to help build the legacy of righteousness and join in
the continuing transformation of the Philippines into an equitably progressive
society," the President said. PND (js)
Philippines welcomes ongoing talks on Code of
Conduct on West Philippine Sea
(BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) The Philippines welcomed the
recent developments in the discussions between the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China with regards to the crafting of the legally
binding Code of Conduct in the West China Sea.
Foreign ministers discussing the COC seemed to
believe that the talks in the recent months have moved towards the Code of
Conduct, Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office said in a press briefing at the Times
Hotel here.
“There has been some progress, but it’s
difficult to say when we can expect something to happen, because as you know
these things do take time. They have taken more than 10 years, about 11 years.
We’re just happy to note that all sides seem to be reporting some progress on
these talks,” Carandang said.
And if ever the ASEAN comes up with a Code of
Conduct that is binding among its members, China should not be forced to adopt
it because it is an active participant in the discussions.
“We presume that any Code of Conduct that is
agreed upon by all parties would include China,” Carandang said, adding that
the Philippines is glad that despite all of the tensions arising China
continues to participate in the talks for the COC,” Carandang said.
“And that shows us they are also committed to
preventing tensions from escalating in the region,” he added.
ASEAN members have been discussing the adoption
of the legally binding COC to eventually settle conflicting claims in the West
Philippines Sea.
In 2002, the regional grouping, together with
China agreed on the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea to avoid tensions in the disputed territory.
The West Philippine Sea, a major sea lane for
trade, is believed to be rich in mineral resources, making it a flashpoint in
the region.
Among the claimant countries include China,
Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. PND (as)
President Aquino underscores importance of the
rule of law in resolving territorial disputes among ASEAN, non-ASEAN members
(BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam)
President Benigno S. Aquino III underscored on Wednesday the importance of
observing the rule of law toward addressing the persistent territorial issues
that bothered several Southeast Asian states through the years.
In his opening statement at the 23rd Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here, President Aquino said our
development as a region cannot be realized in an international environment
where the rule of law does not exist.
“The recognition of the rule of law ensures that
every member state's interest is upheld and respected,” he emphasized.
Southeast Asian states including the
Philippines, as well as East Asian states like Japan and South Korea, all have
standing territorial claims against China over an extensive body of water
surrounding these nations.
“In the context of intertwining interests in the
sea known by many names—which is west of the Philippines, east of Vietnam,
north of Malaysia, south of China—the challenge that confronts one is a
challenge that confronts all,” the President said.
“All parties—both ASEAN and non-ASEAN, claimant
or non-claimant—have stated: Follow the rule of law. In 2002, we tried to come
up with a Code of Conduct. We failed. We came up with guidelines that became
the DOC. What better gift to all our peoples than to follow all these sincere
words by meaningful actions?” he added.
The President told his counterparts that this
‘problem’ on territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea “presents an
opportunity for ASEAN and all other parties to collectively exercise the observance
of the rule of law.”
“This belief guided the Philippines' decision to
take a two-track complementary approach to disputes in the South China Sea, an
approach that is both peaceful and rules-based. First, to manage tensions, we
are advocating an expeditious conclusion of the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct.
Second, to resolve disputes, we are pursuing arbitration for the clarification
of maritime entitlements. Both tracks are legally-binding and both are anchored
on international law,” the President explained.
The President also said he is “pleased” to note
that the first official consultations between ASEAN and China on the Code of
Conduct have already begun last month in Suzhou, China, adding that the
Philippines looks forward to the early conclusion of these talks.
“As we move towards finalizing the COC, we
enjoin all parties in the full and effective implementation of the Declaration
on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in all its aspects,
especially paragraph 5, which in effect preserves the status quo at the time
that the DOC was concluded in 2002,” the President said further.
In an earlier briefing with the Philippine media
delegation, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning
Secretary Ramon Carandang said that while there has been some progress made on
the talks about the COC, it’s still difficult to say when we can expect
something to happen.
“We’re just happy to note that all sides seem to
be reporting some progress on these talks,” Carandang said. PND (hdc)
Aquino government is implementing stricter
measures in release of funds in the DAP
The Aquino government is implementing stricter
measures in the release of funds in the Disbursement Acceleration Program
(DAP), a Palace official said on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
reiterated during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the government
is prudent and judicious in spending the DAP funds .
Conceptualized in September 2011, the DAP is a
stimulus package designed to fast-track public spending and push economic
growth. This covers high-impact budgetary programs and projects which will be
augmented out of the savings generated during the year and additional revenue
sources.
Lacierda, likewise, said that the Aquino administration
is confident that it can defend before the Supreme Court the legality of the
DAP.
"Ang DAP po kasi realigned savings po ‘yan.
Kung tatanungin niyo po ang constitutionality niyan, nasa batas po ‘yan. The
PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund), and, the DAP mechanism is being
questioned before the Supreme Court, and we respect that," he said.
Lacierda said the President earlier vowed to
bring to justice the scammers and those who benefitted from the misuse of the
PDAF, also known as the pork barrel of lawmakers.
"Sino po ang mga nagnanakaw ng kaban ng
bayan? Doon po tayo humabol. We’ve filed the first batch of cases relating to
the Napoles NGOs. People have been brought into the Ombudsman," Lacierda
said.
"Secretary Leila de Lima has already
mentioned that there’s going to be a second batch of cases to be filed, and
there’s also the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council investigating the
use of the PDAF," he said. PND (js)
Palace vows transparency on use of government
savings
(BRUNEI DARUSSALAM) The Aquino administration
has been more transparent compared to other administrations as far as the use
of government savings is concerned and it will continue to do so, a Palace
official said.
“We have been more transparent in the use of
savings than any other government that has preceded us,” Secretary Ramon
Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning
Office said in a press briefing at the Times Hotel here Wednesday.
It was the initiative of the administration in
2011 to announce its accumulated savings of about P72-billion and its intended
use, Carandang said.
“So I think there was a lot of transparency in
the use of realigned savings. The fact that we even gave it a name,
Disbursement Acceleration Program, shows that we were not hiding anything and
we were actually telling people what it was,” he said.
For those questioning the transparency of the
Aquino government’s expenditure, at least with regards to savings, Carandang
said there is no need to go to Congress for the use of special appropriations
since there’s a law that allows the President to realign or use government
savings.
“Let me just remind you that this power has
existed way before President Aquino, and has been used by presidents before
President Aquino, but they have not always been as transparent about using it
as we have,” he said.
Carandang stressed that the Palace will go to
Congress only for appropriations that do not currently exist. He added that
even the lawyers not friendly to Malacañang have conceded that the President
has the authority to realign the savings for its intended use.
“It’s not a matter of interpretation. That’s a
clear legal power that the President has. So, if we’re simply going to take
savings and realign them to existing items, there’s no need to go to Congress.
The law already allows that,” he said. PND (as)
President Aquino bats for the realization of the
ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development for 2010-2015
(BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam) In line
with its agenda to enhance the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in
the country, President Benigno S. Aquino III announced the Philippines’ support
for the realization of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Strategic Action Plan for SME (small and medium enterprises) Development for
2010-2015.
“The Philippines will continue to support the
ASEAN-wide Self-Certification Scheme, which will help facilitate the
participation of MSMEs in regional trade,” the President said in his statement
at the 23rd ASEAN Summit here.
President Aquino also mentioned the development
of the Philippine Tariff Finder, the first of its kind in ASEAN, to facilitate
the free flow of goods in the region in support of last year’s Phnom Penh
Agenda for ASEAN Community Building.
The Philippine Tariff Finder is a free online facility
that allows users to do a quick search of Philippine tariff rates on specific
products and also enables them to access the eight existing Philippine tariff
schedules.
“We are glad that our advocacy for social
protection will be realized at this Summit through the adoption of an ASEAN
Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection. My administration believes that
a strong economy is founded on an empowered citizenry. This is why since taking
office, we have focused on improving education, healthcare, and social welfare
programs in our country,” the President said.
“I believe that the potential for development of
our nation rests in the capacity of our people to contribute in building a
resilient economy and a society that values fairness and equality. This belief
continues to define our policies and serves as the foundation of our position
for promoting social protection initiatives in ASEAN,” he added.
The President stressed that the Philippines will
continue to deepen its engagements with its external partners, urging other
ASEAN members to do the same, to enhance cooperation in trade, human rights
protection, maritime security, and people-to-people connectivity, among many
others.
“This can be done through meaningful avenues of
the ASEAN Plus Process, ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum,
the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus, and the East Asia Summit; and by
working to enhance mutual cooperation through the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership,” he said. PND (hdc)
Aquino advocates immediate conclusion of Code of
Conduct in West Philippine Sea
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: President Benigno S. Aquino
III pushed for the immediate conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN)-China Code of Conduct to manage ongoing tensions in the West
Philippine Sea.
“First, to manage tensions, we are advocating an
expeditious conclusion of the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct. Second, to resolve
disputes, we are pursuing arbitration for the clarification of maritime
entitlements. Both tracks are legally-binding and anchored on international
law,” the President said in his message during the 16th ASEAN-China Summit
here.
The core of the ASEAN-China Strategic
Partnership lies on the belief that every stakeholders’ actions adhere to the
rule of law, he said.
The President said claimant countries face a
collective problem in tackling the issue. These claims have led to tensions in
the region and also have created problems between claimant countries.
He stressed however that the problem can be
turned into an opportunity if all the claimants act together now and avoid
passing the burden to succeeding generations.
Noting that the first official consultations
between ASEAN and China on the Code of Conduct were held last month in Suzhou,
China, the President pointed out that the early conclusion of a legally-binding
Code of Conduct is necessary to foster peace, positive engagement and stability
in the region.
“As we look towards finalizing the COC, we urge
all parties to observe implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of
Parties in the sea known by many names in all its aspects,” the President said.
So far, the President said the Philippines has
taken a two-track complementary approach to settle the dispute. PND (as)
