Aquino government joins the nation in grieving
for the death of retired Justice Andres Narvasa, Palace says
The Aquino goverment extended its deepest
sympathy and condolences with the family of retired Chief Justice Andres
Narvasa who died on Thursday morning, Presidential Communications Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
"Kaisa natin ang buong sambayanan sa
pakikidalamhati sa pamilya ng pumanaw na dating Supreme Court Chief Justice
Andres Narvasa kaninang umaga. Nagbibigay pugay tayo sa kanyang matapat na
paglilingkod sa bayan bilang mahistrado, manananggol, at Law dean," Coloma
said in a statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday.
Narvasa, the 19th Chief Justice, died at 6:05
a.m. Thursday. He was 84.
Narvasa was appointed as 112th Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court by then President Corazon C. Aquino on April 11, 1986,
Coloma said.
Aquino appointed Narvasa as the Chief Justice on
December 8, 1991. He served as Chief Justice until his retirement on Nov 30,
1998.
He was also the general counsel of the Agrava
Fact-finding Commission, which investigated the assassination of Senator
Benigno Aquino Jr.
"Hinangaan ng buong bayan ang mahusay
niyang pangangasiwa sa prosekusyon laban sa mga isinakdal hinggil sa
assassination ni dating Senador Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. bilang general
counsel ng Agrava fact-finding board na binuo upang siyasatin ang pagpaslang sa
dating senador," Coloma said.
"Itinanghal din ang kanyang husay sa
larangan ng akademiya bilang Dean ng University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil
Law, kung saan siya nagtapos ng abogasiya noong 1951 magna cum laude, at
pumangalawa sa pumasa sa bar examination ng taon ding 1951," Coloma
said. PND (js)
President Aquino leads launch of PhilHealth
benefit package for people with disabilities
President Benigno Aquino III led the launching
of PhilHealth's benefit package for persons with disabilities particularly
those with lost or deficient limbs in a ceremony at the Heroes Hall in
Malacanang Palace, Thursday.
In his speech, the President commended the
PhilHealth for its newly-launched Z-MORPH (Z Benefits Rate for Mobility,
Orthosis, Rehabilitation, Prosthesis Help) benefit package that aims to provide
assistance such as prosthetic legs and other health care services for
individuals without lower limbs.
"Nalulugod din po tayong ipakilala ang
Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package—ang kauna-unahang PhilHealth benefit package
na nakatuon para sa mga kababayan nating kabilang sa sektor ng Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs)," the President said in his speech.
The Z-MORPH benefit package covers initial
fitting of external lower limb prosthesis at a package rate of P15,000 per limb
or P30,000 for both limbs for the entire pre and post-prosthetic management of
either the foot, symes and ankle or below knee levels of amputation.
The PhilHealth launched its historic Z Benefits
Packages on June 21, 2012, to provide assistance to members with illnesses like
prostate cancer, acute lymphocytic leukemia, breast cancer, kidney transplant,
coronary artery bypass, total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot and closure of
ventricular septal defect.
President Aquino also lauded PhilHealth’s
complete shift from traditional Fee-for-Service (FFS) to case-based payment
system for all compensable medical and surgical cases.
“Dahil mas mabilis at mas tiyak nang malalaman
ng mga miyembro ang sasaguting gastusin ng PhilHealth, maiiwasan na ang
posibilidad ng sobrang singil sa mga pasyente, at masusulit ang kanilang
benepisyong-medikal,” President Aquino said.
The case-based payment system is accepted
internationally and will now pay a pre-determined amount for all compensable
treatments and procedures. It enables members to immediately know how much they
are entitled to in terms of benefits for a specific disease whether in
government or private hospitals.
Also present during the event were Health
Secretary Enrique Ona, PhilHealth President and CEO Alexander Padilla. PND (jb)
Aquino lauds PhilHealth for its new benefit
package to persons with lost or deficient limbs
President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the
PhilHealth for introducing new benefit package for persons with lost or
deficient limbs in a bid to bridge the social barrier between mainstream
society and the disabled.
In his speech during the launching of the
Z-MORPH (Z Benefits Rate for Mobility, Orthosis, Rehabilitation, Prosthesis
Help) benefit package in a ceremony at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang on
Thursday, the Chief Executive thanked the PhilHealth and other stakeholders for
introducing a benefit package that aims to benefit persons with lost or
deficient limbs.
"Ang pakikilahok at pagdadamayan pa rin ng
ating mga Boss ang pinakamabisang tugon tungo sa mas masiglang bansa," the
President said.
The government’s mandate, as embodied in the
PhilHealth program, is to create a safety net for all Filipinos, including
persons with disabilities.
"Kung kwalipikado kang PhilHealth member o
dependent, at nangangailangan ka ng lower limb prosthesis na mas mababa sa
tuhod, maaari mo nang makuha ang serbisyong ito sa halagang 15 libong piso kada
limb prosthesis. Ibig-sabihin: Kung nabaldado ka, o naputulan ng paa, ipakikita
mo lang ang iyong PhilHealth card, at maaari mo nang makuha ang kinakailangang
serbisyo-medikal," he said.
Institutions that have expertise and capability
in providing services for limb prosthesis such as University of the East Ramon
Magsaysay Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, and Philippine General
Hospital, are already available to provide the Z-MORPH services for eligible
PhilHealth members and qualified dependents.
Raissa Laurel-Subijano, a girl who lost both
legs during the 2010 Bar examination bombing on Taft Avenue, was given a chance
to speak during the ceremony. She recalled her ordeal of losing both her legs
and how she was able to survive and to walk again using prosthetic legs.
“My first goal was to be able to stand again.
That was the first time I tried using my prosthesis. I was successful because I
was fitted with good quality prosthesis and I was really blessed because of the
doctors and donors and the collaborative efforts of the UP-PGH, the UERM-MMCI,
Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, in less than six months, I was
out of my wheelchair, walking like nothing happened,” she related.
She lauded the PhilHealth, on behalf of persons
with disabilities, for launching a benefit package that will provide good
quality prosthesis for persons who lost their limbs to be able to restore their
confidence and to live a normal life again. PND (jb)
Aquino government ready to help undocumented
Filipinos in Saudi Arabia following November 3 deadline for fixing legal status
The Aquino government assured it is always
prepared to extend assistance to undocumented Filipinos in Saudi Arabia after
the oil-rich kingdom gave foreign workers until November 3 to obtain legal
status in the country, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
"Puspusan po ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating
pamahalaan sa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) sa pamamagitan ng ating Department
of Foreign Affairs. Nakikipag-ugnayan din po ang Presidential Adviser on
Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs, si Vice President Jejomar Binay,"
Coloma said during the regular press briefing in. Malacanang on Thursday.
Coloma said Vice President Binay, concurrent
Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, had already sent a letter to Saudi King
Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to appeal that foreign workers be given another
extension to correct their working status in the kingdom.
After the Nov. 3 deadline, the Saudi government
is expected to crackdown on illegal foreign workers.
"Isa sa mga naisulong na petisyon ng ating
pamahalaan at partikular na isinusulong ni Vice President Binay, sa ulat na
ating natanggap in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs ay ‘yung
representation of the request of our OFWs for possible extension ng deadline at
kung pwede rin silang bigyan ng due consideration sa iba pang mga
administrative aspects nitong issuance na ito ng KSA," Coloma said.
"Pinagtutulungan po ng lahat ng ahensya ng
pamahalaan ‘yung pagtulong at pagsuporta sa ating mga kababayang hindi pa
nailalagay sa ayos ang kanilang documentation sa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Binibigyan po sila ng assistance ng Department of Foreign Affairs through our
embassy in Riyadh," Coloma stressed.
The crackdown against illegal workers started on
March 28 because of the kingdom’s Saudization policy or nitaqat which
encourages the employment of Saudi nationals in private firms.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah stopped the
crackdown against illegal immigrants and foreign workers in April, giving them
three months to fix their status.
He deferred the deadline from July 3 to November
3, the end of the Islamic year, in response to requests made by Saudi companies
and employers, who reportedly cited the backlog in the processing of documents
in certain offices. PND (js)
President Aquino inspects NAIA Terminal 3 in
preparation for All Saints' Day break
President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday
conducted inspection at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal
3 in Pasay City to ensure that proper security measures are in place in the
four-day long weekend for All Saints' and All Souls' days observance.
The NAIA Terminal 3 was the last stop of the
President in his regular inspection of public transport stations to check
security measures being implemented by concerned agencies.
President Aquino, along with Interior Secretary
Manuel Roxas II, Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya, Presidential Management
Staff Chief Julia Abad, and Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma, arrived at
the NAIA Terminal 3 around 2:30 p.m. after inspecting the new Coastal bus
terminal and new Manila North Harbour Port in Manila.
The Chief Executive was welcomed by NAIA General
Manager Jose Angel Honrado, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)
Director General William Hotchkiss, and NAIA Terminal 3 Manager Octavio Lina.
President Aquino led the inspection of X-ray
machines, check-in counters, restrooms, and other airport facilities.
At the departure area, he interacted with
several passengers and checked their convenience while waiting for their
flights, even allowing some to take pictures with him.
While inspecting, the President was briefed by
Honrado on status of the volume of passengers who will be going home to their
respective provinces for the observance of the holidays.
After the inspection, the President, together
with his Cabinet men, dined in a burger restaurant where he ordered burger,
french fries and softdrink.
President Aquino earlier directed all pertinent
agencies to ensure the safety and convenience of the commuting public in the
coming Undas weekend.
The PNP has already beefed up security and
police visibility in public cemeteries as they expect a surge of people on
November 1 and 2.
The Department of Transportation and
Communications, meanwhile, came up with an OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2013, a
centralized plan to ensure access to convenient, affordable, reliable,
efficient, safe, and secure transportation in the holidays.
As part of this security and safety plan, the
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has been tasked to conduct monitoring activities
and has installed help desks at NAIA terminals to address passenger concerns
and for faster flight status verification. The CAAP has also increased
frequency of airworthiness inspections nationwide.
For traffic mitigation, the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority has deployed additional units to help ease the flow of
traffic in the metro. PND (jb)
Aquino inspects major terminals in Metro Manila
President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected
Thursday the North Port Passenger Terminal Complex in Manila and the Southwest
Integrated Provincial Transport System in Paranaque City to ensure safe and
comfortable travel of people going to the provinces for the holidays.
The President first visited the new North Port
Passenger Terminal Complex in Tondo, Manila, considered as the country’s most
modern seaport passenger terminal complex today. President Aquino inspected the
terminal’s security system and the passenger area.
The North Port terminal can handle two million
passengers a year, twice the annual capacity of the old port terminal. The
complex has facilities ensuring passenger safety, security, and comfort.
The Manila North Harbor is undergoing
modernization, redeveloping the port facilities and introducing modern cargo
handling equipment and IT facilities.
After inspecting the North Port terminal, the
President proceeded to the Southwest Integrated Provincial Bus Terminal in
Paranaque City.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair
Francis Tolentino briefed the President on the ongoing projects in the
provincial bus terminal that operates 24-hours a day and dispatches 900 buses
every day with approximately 54,000 passengers.
Bus routes include Nasugbu, and Calatagan in
Batangas. For buses with routes in Cavite taking the Aguinaldo Highway
destinations include Alfonso, Amadeo, Mendez, Tagaytay, Silang, Imus and
Bacoor.
And for buses using CAVITEX, destinations
include Cavite City, Ternate, Maragondon, Naic, Tanza, Tejeros and Kawit. PND
(as)
President Aquino believes public vigilance is
key to successful budget reforms, Palace says
President Benigno S. Aquino III believes that
public vigilance is the key to successful budget reforms to curb corruption,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr.
said on Thursday.
"Ultimate reform will come about because of
a well-informed citizenry that will make decisions that will empower their
communities and transform the nation," Coloma said during the regular
press briefing in Malacanang.
President Aquino remains committed to pushing
for greater budget transparency and participation in the country, Coloma
continued.
Coloma said the Government continues to work
towards better openness, according to the Communications Secretary, as well as
public engagement in fund expenditure management.
In a nationwide televised address on Wednesday
night, President Aquino said there were forces behind the campaign to misinform
the public and misdirect them from the real issue: stealing.
"Kagabi, tuwirang nilinaw ng Pangulo ang
mga usapin at isyu tungkol sa Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF),
Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), at ang President’s Social Fund. Ang
paggugol ng pondo ng bayan ay nagbunga ng mas masinop at mas epektibong
paghahatid ng serbisyo at nagpabilis pa sa pagsulong at pag-angat ng
ekonomiya," Coloma said.
The President believes the DAP will stand legal
scrutiny because it is consistent with the 1987 Constitution, Coloma said.
"Binigyang-diin ng Pangulo na ang paggastos
gamit ang DAP ay malinaw na nakasaad sa Kostitusyon at iba pang mga batas. Sa
nakalipas na tatlong taon at limang buwan, puspusan ang pagbabago at reporma
para magtatag ng mas mahusay at matibay na sistema ng gobyerno," Coloma
said.
"Ang dinedepensa po ng Pangulo ay ang
taumbayan. Sinabi po niya doon sa kanyang quotation from Archibald MacLeish:
“Truth is the weapon against the enemies of democracry and freedom.” Ang
katotohanan ang sandata ng bayan para labanan ang mga pwersang laban sa
pagbabago. Ito po ang konteksto nito... truth as the weapon for the people’s
advancement," Coloma stressed. PND (js)
President Aquino satisfied with preparations by
concerned agencies for Undas 2013
President Benigno S. Aquino III is
"satisfied" with the necessary preparations of the government
agencies for the safe observance of Undas, Communications Secretary Sonny
Coloma said in a statement.
President Aquino inspected Thursday afternoon
three major terminals in Metro Manila to ensure the safe and convenient travel,
as well as the security of the Filipinos during the observance of All Saints’
Day and All Souls’ Day.
The President checked the new North Port
Passenger Terminal Complex at Manila north Harbor in Tondo, as well as the
Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport System in Paranaque City, and the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
In a statement, Secretary Coloma said that
President Aquino is satisfied with the preparation of the pertinent agencies
for Undas, and that he also directed the concerned officials to observe
“focused alertness.”
“Naging katanggap-tanggap kay Pangulo ang
kaayusan sa mga transport terminal. Nasiyahan siya na komportable ang mga
pasahero at masaya sila sa kanilang pagbibiyahe,” Coloma said.
“Nagbilin siya sa mga opisyal na obserbahan ang
focused alertness hanggang matapos ang Undas,” the head of the Presidential
Communications Operations Office added.
In an interview with the media, Transportation
and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya said that the President is “generally
satisfied” with the preparation of the concerned agencies.
“Generally, mukhang satisfied, otherwise you
would see it in his face kung meron siyang nakikitang malaking pagkukulang. Mukhang
okay naman ‘yung naging appreciation niya sa pagpre-prepare po natin,” Abaya
said.
The DOTC launched OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe: Undas
2013, a centralized plan to ensure access to convenient, affordable, reliable,
efficient, safe, and secure transportation that started during the 2013
Barangay Elections, and will continue until the All Saints/All Souls Day
holidays.
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas, meanwhile, told
reporters that the Philippine National Police remains on full alert to ensure
safe and peaceful Undas weekend.
“In general, naka-alert naman ang PNP hindi
lamang dito sa mga ports and airports pero pati hanggang sa kalye at sa iba
pang kinalalagyan nila; at wala naman tayong nakikita o natatanggap na specific
item,” Roxas said. PND (co)
