President Aquino, sisters visit graves of
parents for All Saints' Day commemoration
President Benigno S. Aquino III and his four
sisters visited the graves of their parents on Wednesday, two days before the
traditional All Saints' Day commemoration on November 1.
The President and his sisters Ballsy Cruz, Pinky
Abellada, Viel Dee and Kris Aquino attended a Holy Mass at the Manila Memorial
Park (MMP) in Parañaque City, where their parents, former President Corazon
Aquino and martyred opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., are buried.
Wearing a yellow polo shirt, President Aquino arrived
at MMP at 10:15 a.m. escorted by the Presidential Security Group.
His sisters Ballsy, Pinky and Viel were
accompanied by their respective spouses. Celebrity and TV host Kris, meanwhile,
arrived last together with her two sons, Joshua and Bimby who were both wearing
yellow shirts. Joshua, who is known to be close to the President, immediately
approached his uncle and sat beside him.
The mass was officiated by Monsignor Daniel
Tansip, the PSG Chaplain and Father Larry Tolentino of the Diocese of Parramatta
Sydney, Australia.
In his homily, Father Tolentino reflected that
Filipinos should emulate the lives of Ninoy and Cory who "created and at
the same time built a niche in the annals of Philippine history."
"The Lord Jesus is once again inviting us to
be able to present ourselves the call to holiness of which we ourselves, I
believe, these two important people in this country have exemplified, if not
all, perhaps 95 percent of those as what is mentioned in the beatitudes were
given to us, expressed to us not only to their own families but to the society,
to the Filipinos as well, as a whole," he said.
He extolled how the late Senator sacrificed his
own life to attain democracy and how the late first Filipino woman President
played a significant role in bringing hope and in awakening the lives of the
Filipino people.
The President and his sisters, assisted by the
officiating priests, blessed the tomb of their parents after the mass.
President Aquino stayed for a while and had a
brief chat with his sisters, with Kris in one moment apparently showing him the
new commercial of her youngest son Bimby.
The mausoleum of the late democracy icons was
decorated with yellow flowers such as stargazer, Malaysian mums, carnations,
chrysanthemums and orchids. It was closed to public viewing to give time for
the Aquino family to hold a private mass.
Before they left, the Aquinos went to a nearby
mausoleum where their uncle and aunt were buried and offered a short prayer.
PND (jb)
President Aquino orders all agencies to ensure
safety and convenience of commuting public in forthcoming Undas on Friday,
Saturday
President Aquino has directed all pertinent
agencies to ensure the safety and convenience of the commuting public in the
coming Undas on Friday and Saturday.
In a statement issued by the Office of the
Presidential Spokesperson, President Aquino, along with other Cabinet
officials, will inspect terminals and other transport hubs as part of the
operations.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
has deployed additional units to help ease the flow of traffic, and the
Philippine National Police remains on alert to ensure the security of transport
hubs and cemeteries.
The Department of Transportation and
Communications has likewise 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.
As part of OPLAN Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2013, the
Civil Aeronautics Board is also conducting monitoring activities and has
installed help desks in all four NAIA terminals, along with Documentation and
Ground Assistance Roving Teams to address passenger concerns and verify flight
statuses. This is in tandem with CAAP’s increased frequency of airworthiness
inspections nationwide.
Air passengers may text 0917-TEXNAIA
(0917-8396242) for information on the status of flights. The riding public may
also call the DOTC Action Center Hotline at (02)789-0-DOTC for their concerns.
PND (js)
Aquino administration expresses elation over
reports the Philippines is among top 10 improved economies in business
regulation
The Aquino administration expressed elation over
reports that the Philippines is among the top 10 most improved economies in
business regulation over the past year in the latest edition of the World
Bank's Doing Business Survey.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. issued the statement on Wednesday following
reports that "the country is among the 10 best economies that has made
inroads in making it easier to do business in the past year."
According to the World Bank Group's "Doing
Business" report released on Tuesday, the Philippines improved its ranking
by 30 places following a series of reform measures implemented by the Aquino
government.
"Mainam na malaki ang pagtaas ng rating sa
World Bank Doing Business Index. Ang susunod na target ay isa pang mataas na
pagtalon tungo sa double digit rating (sa loob ng top 80). Kailangang pahusayin
pa sa aspeto ng pagpapadali ng pagtatayo ng bagong negosyo," Coloma said.
In its "Doing Business 2014: Understanding
Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises," the World Bank said
the Philippines was among nations that has implemented at least three reforms
in doing business the multilateral lender monitors.
The Philippines made it easier for businessmen
to deal with construction permits, get credit and pay taxes, the report noted.
According to the latest report, the Philippines
now ranks 108th out of 189 nations, up 30 notches from the 138th spot in landed
on last year.
This is the biggest improvement for the
Philippines in the annual survey's 12-year history. The country ranked 6th
highest in the ASEAN, and brought the Philippines ahead of Indonesia, which was
at 120th.
The other nations who made it to the top 10 most
improved economies are Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Kosovo, Djibouti, Ivory Coast,
Burundi, Macedonia and Guatemala.
"The introduction of a fully operational
online filing and payment system made tax compliance easier for
companies," the World Bank said about the Philippines in a statement.
It also noted the "simplified"
occupancy clearances that eased construction permitting as well as new rules
guaranteeing borrowers' access on their data in the Philippines' credit bureau.
Singapore continued to be the most
business-friendly economy in the world, followed by Hong Kong, New Zealand, the
United States and Denmark.
The report also noted that the pace of business
regulatory reform continues to accelerate worldwide following the 2008 financial
crisis. PND (js)
President Aquino resolute in battle against
corruption
President Benigno S. Aquino III said there will
be not let-up in his drive against corruption and vowed to hold those who
abused power and stole public money accountable.
In his televised address to the nation Wednesday
night, the President assailed those involved in the misuse of the Priority
Develoment Assistance Fund (PDAF) for misinforming the people and turning the
tables against his administration for going after them.
“This is what I say to them: If you think that
this will stop me from going after you, if you think that you can divert the
public’s attention, if you think you can get away with stealing from our
countrymen—you have sorely underestimated me and the Filipino people,” the
President said in his address.
“If there still remains some vestige of kindness
in your hearts, I hope that you stop acting in self-interest and instead act to
help your fellowmen.”
Quoting from a speech prepared by his father,
former senator Benigno Aquino Jr., before he was assassinated in 1983, the
President said "freedom should be defended by arms if attacked by arms, by
truth when attacked by lies and by democratic faith when attacked by
authoritarian dogma."
The President said he laid out the truth about
the state of the nation as “falsehood and deception are threatening the
Filipino’s right to a clean and honest government,” believing the truth stands
as the people’s most powerful weapon.
Following his address Wednesday night, the Chief
Executive said he hopes the people will have a healthy public discourse about
recent issues and arrive at an understanding and a resolve that aligns with the
truth.
“My bosses, we have fought so many battles. And
I am grateful that no matter how foul the slander and the sabotage, you never
let go, you never gave up. Together we proved that there are no tyrants if
there are no slaves,” he said.
The President said that as long as he has the
support of the people he would continue to stand for the collective principles
with the Filipino public.
“I have no doubt that, whether or not I am in
office, you, our Bosses, whose minds and hearts are in the right place, will
continue and will finish the fight. This knowledge is the source of my strength
and my courage,” he said.
“After all, is it not true that, not too long
ago, the system in place was one where the Filipino people had grown tired of
dreaming, of fighting back, of doing their part?”
And as the country collectively forges positive
and meaningful changes, the President said he is confident that the people will
choose to be on the side of what is right, truthful and just.
The President defended in his address the use of
the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), noting its importance to the
economy, infrastructure development, technical training programs and the
rehabilitation of war-ravaged Zamboanga City. PND (as)
President Aquino thanks people for standing by
his side on DAP
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his
gratitude to the Filipino people for their support in the face of confusion
engineered by his detractors to divert the public's attention from the ongoing
campaign of the administration to hold all officials and private individuals
accountable for the misuse and abuse of the pork barrel funds.
In a nationwide televised address Wednesday
evening, President Aquino said there were forces behind the campaign to
misinform the public and misdirect them from the real issue: stealing.
“My bosses, we have fought so many battles. And
I am grateful that no matter how foul the slander and the sabotage, you never
let go, you never gave up. Together we proved that there are no tyrants if
there are no slaves,” President Aquino said.
“Now, those who have abused our trust want to
cast us off the course towards the fulfillment of our collective aspirations. I
do not believe that you will let this pass. And so long as you are with me, I
will continue to stand for our principles,” he added.
President Aquino lashed out at public officials
entangled in the pork barrel scam who continue to sow confusion among the
public in order to avoid responsibility after their misuse of public funds
through the Priority Development Assistance Fund were uncovered by his
administration.
“May I remind those who have forgotten: The real
issue here is stealing. This is the topic they have constantly tried to avoid
ever since their wrongdoing was exposed,” he said.
“Those who have been accused of stealing are
those who are sowing confusion; they want to dismantle all that we have worked
so hard to achieve on the straight path.”
The Chief Executive also reiterated that the
disbursement acceleration program (DAP), the process by which the government
can spend savings and new and additional revenues to stir the economy, was
legal and should not be mistaken as pork barrel.
He said under this mechanism a number of key
projects had been put in place including the Department of Science and
Technology’s Project NOAH, the training-for-work scholarship program of the
Technical Educational Skills Development Authority, the infrastructures built
in Mindanao, as well as the benefits for the employees of the Department of
Education.
President Aquino also mentioned that DAP played
an important role in our economic resurgence, citing a World Bank statement
crediting such mechanism as primary contributor for the 1.3 percentage points
to our GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2011.
“I have no doubt that, whether or not I am in
office, you, our Bosses whose minds and hearts are in the right place, will
continue and will finish the fight. This knowledge is the source of my strength
and my courage. After all, is it not true that, not too long ago, the system in
place was one where the Filipino people had grown tired of dreaming, of
fighting back, of doing their part?” the President said.
“Today, there are so many of us who are
collectively forging the positive and meaningful changes that are taking place
in society. I have every confidence that you will more actively choose to be on
the side of what is right, what is truthful, and what is just. This is why I am
thankful today, because I know that we will continue our march on the straight
path,” he concluded. PND (hdc)
