President Aquino welcomes Myanmar President
Thein Sein in Malacanang Palace
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed
President Thein Sein of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar during arrival
honors in Malacañang Palace on Thursday.
A 21-gun salute was rendered in honor of the
visiting head of state during the playing of the national anthems of both
countries at 10 a.m. at the Malacañang grounds.
After the arrival ceremonies, the President
ushered President Thein Sein to the traditional signing of the Palace Guest
Book before proceeding to the Music Room.
President Thein Sein arrived in Manila on
Wednesday for a three-day state visit.
The Myanmar President first went to Rizal Park
in Manila for the wreath-laying rites at the foot of the monument of the
national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, before proceeding to Malacanang Palace.
Joining the President in welcoming the visiting
head of state in Malacanang Palace were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras,
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del
Rosario, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho
Petilla, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
“Sonny” Coloma Jr., and Presidential Management Staff head Secretary Julia
Abad, among others.
Upon the invitation of President Aquino,
President Thein Sein arrived here to hold bilateral talks in Malacanang Palace.
The Communications Secretary said the two
leaders are scheduled to attend the signing of several agreements such as
cooperation on trade and investments, food security and agriculture, Agreement
on renewable energy, information cooperation in the fields of news exchange,
radio, and television broadcasting, film industries, public relations, and
printing and publishing and an agreement on visa exemption of ordinary passport
holders.
The Representatives from the chambers of
commerce and industries of both countries are also set to sign an agreement to
expand business opportunities and trade relations.
After the signing of the agreements, Coloma said
the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement of Myanmar and the
Department of Social Welfare and Development will exchange notes on the
turnover of Myanmar’s donation for the victims of the Central Visayas
earthquake and typhoon Yolanda.
The President will tender a state luncheon in
honor of the visiting head of state following the bilateral talks.
The Myanmar President will visit the
International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna and Cebu province to
explore investment opportunities in the agricultural sector and to visit some typhoon-affected
areas, Coloma said.
The state visit is President Thein Sein’s first
visit to the Philippines since his assumption to office in 2011. The last time
a head of state from Myanmar visited the Philippines was in 2005 when Prime
Minister Soe Win visited Manila.
President Aquino and President Thein Sein had
their first bilateral meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on June 07, 2013, when the Chief
Executive attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia hosted by
Myanmar. It will be the Philippines turn to host the said forum in 2015.
Myanmar donated seven (7) tons of relief goods
and US$100,000 to the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The Philippines and Myanmar established
diplomatic relations in 1956 and will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their
relations in 2016. PND (js)
President Aquino, Myanmar leader U Thein Sein
lead bilateral talks
Top Philippine and Myanmar officials on Thursday
held an expanded bilateral meeting in Malacañan Palace on the second day of
Myanmar President U Thein Sein's state visit to the Philippines.
President Benigno S. Aquino III and the Myanmar
leader led their respective delegations at the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, President Aquino
extended to the Myanmar delegates the welcome of the Filipino people.
Representing the Philippine side were:
Albert del Rosario, secretary of foreign affairs
Cesar Purisima, secretary of finance
Proceso Alcala, secretary of agriculture
Carlos Jericho Petilla, secretary of energy
Jose Rene Almendras, Cabinet secretary to the
President
Julia Andrea Abad, head of Presidential
Management Staff
Herminio Coloma Jr., head of the Presidential
Communications Operations Office
Ponciano Manalo, undersecretary of trade
Philippine ambassador to Myanmar Alex Chua
Ma. Theresa Lazaro, assistant secretary of the
DFA Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs
Representing the Myanmar side were:
U Wunna Maung Lwin, minister of foreign affairs
U Soe Maung, minister for President Office
U Myint Hlaing, minister for agriculture and
irrigation
U Zayar Aung, minister for energy
Dr. Myat Myat Ohnn Khin, minister for social
welfare, relief and resettlement
Gen. Hla Htay Win, chief of the general staff of
the Defense Ministry
U Ye Htut, deputy minister for information
Dr. Win Myint, deputy minister for President
Office
Dr. Than Aung, deputy minister for health
U Win Aung, president of the Republic of the
Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Myanmar Ambassador to the Philippines U Ye Myint
Aung
PND (jl)
New pact allows Filipinos visa-free entry to
Myanmar
Filipinos can now stay in Myanmar for up to 14
days without need for a visa, following the signing Thursday of an agreement
between the Philippines and Myanmar.
The agreement was signed in Malacañan Palace, on
the occasion of the state visit of Myanmar President Thein Sein to the country.
Signing the agreement were Philippine Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Myanmar Foreign Affairs Minister Wunna
Maung Lwin.
Under the agreement, Filipino nationals holding
ordinary passports are granted a no-visa entry to Myanmar for stays not
exceeding 14 days.
Myanmar nationals may already enter the
Philippines without a visa for up to 30 days under Executive Order 408.
Temporary visits covered by Executive Order 408
include conferences, company meetings, workshops/seminars, medical treatment,
and trips of a personal nature for pleasure, such as tourism/sightseeing,
visiting relatives and/or friends, recreation and amusement. PND (jl)
Philippines, Myanmar to cooperate more closely
on food security
The Philippines and Myanmar will cooperate more
closely in ensuring food security, with the signing of a memorandum of
understanding on Thursday.
Philippine and Myanmar officials signed the MOU
at the Malacañan Palace, during the state visit in the Philippines of Myanmar
President Thein Sein.
Signing the MOU were Philippine Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala and Myanmar minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
Myint Hlaing.
Under the MOU, the two countries will have a
general framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of food security and
agriculture.
It provides for the promotion of investments
through joint venture arrangements. PND (jl)
Philippines, Myanmar sign agreement on renewable
energy
The Philippines and Myanmar can now work on
improving their use of renewable energy with the signing Thursday of a
memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the matter.
Both sides signed the MOA in Malacañang Palace,
during the state visit to the Philippines of Myanmar President Thein Sein.
Signing the agreement were Philippine Energy
Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and Myanmar Energy Minister Zayar Aung.
Under the MOA, both countries will exchange
technical expertise as well as joint research and development activities in
renewable energy resources.
They will also engage in information exchange
and networking and other related activities in the successful adoption of
renewable energy technology and their commercialization. PND (jl)
New pact allows information cooperation,
exchange between Phl and Myanmar media
Media entities in the Philippines and Myanmar
can now strengthen their information cooperation following the signing of a
memorandum of understanding in Malacañan Palace on Thursday.
The memorandum of understanding was signed on
the second day of Myanmar President Thein Sein's state visit to the
Philippines.
Signing it were Presidential Communications
Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. and Myanmar Deputy Minister for
Information Ye Htut.
The MOU provides for an exchange of visits of
journalists, cooperation between private radio and TV networks, and sharing of
best practices in media's role in national development and the peace process.
It covers news exchanges, radio and television
broadcasting, film industries, public relations, printing and publishing. PND
(jl)
Philippines, Myanmar bolster trade ties with new
agreements
The Philippines and Myanmar on Thursday
bolstered their trade ties with the signing of two agreements in Malacañan
Palace on Thursday.
Both agreements were signed during the second
day of the three-day state visit of Myanmar President Thein Sein to the
Philippines.
First to be signed was a memorandum of
understanding between the Philippines and Myanmar for cooperation in trade and
investments.
Signing it were Philippine Trade Undersecretary
Ponciano Manalo Jr. and Myanmar Ambassador to the Philippines Ye Myint Aung.
Under the MOU, both sides will have closer
cooperation in the facilitation of investments to the Philippines and Myanmar
via the dissemination of investment information and consultations with the
business community.
Meanwhile, the trade groups of both countries
also signed a memorandum of agreement to ensure closer ties.
Signing the MOA were Philippine Chamber of
Commerce president Miguel Varela and Win Aung, president of the Republic of the
Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Under the MOA, both groups will establish
business contacts via conferences, seminars, study tours, exchange of trade
groups, and participation in trade fairs. PND (jl)
Myanmar gives $100K for Yolanda victims, $50K
for quake victims
Myanmar on Thursday gave victims of two recent
natural calamities in the Philippines a big boost with a donation of $150,000,
on the occasion of Myanmar President Thein Sein's state visit to the
Philippines.
The donation included $100,000 for victims of
super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) that devastated parts of Visayas and
Southern Luzon in November, and $50,000 for victims of a magnitude 7.2 quake
that hit Central Visayas last October.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del
Rosario and Dr. Myat Myat Ohn Khin, minister of Myanmar's Ministry of Social
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement took part in the exchange of notes on the
turnover of Myanmar's donation.
Myanmar President Thein Sein said Myanmar
sympathizes with the Philippines, having experienced the effects of a big
cyclone in 2008. He is to visit some Yolanda-affected areas in Cebu on Friday.
Yolanda left more than 5,600 people dead and
more than P30 billion in damage after battering the Visayas and parts of Luzon.
President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked Myanmar
for its donation of $100,000 and relief goods for the victims.
"Myanmar was one of the countries that
reached out to us in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda, and I thanked the President
for his message of sympathy and solidarity for our countrymen who were victims
of this calamity. In particular, I expressed our deepest gratitude for the
Myanmar Government’s donation of $100,000 in humanitarian aid, and for the
seven tons of relief goods flown in by the Myanmar Defense Services,"
President Aquino said. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Philippines, Myanmar to learn
more about each other, advance cooperation
The state visit to the Philippines of Myanmar
President Thein Sein has given both countries an opportunity to learn more from
each other and strengthen their relationship, President Benigno S. Aquino III
said Thursday.
In his statement following the signing of
agreements between the two countries, the President also thanked Myanmar for
its donation of $150,000 for victims of October's magnitude-7.2 quake and super
typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) last November.
"Our meeting this morning — in fact,
President Thein Sein’s visit to the Philippines — is a testimony to our desire
to learn more from each other and advance cooperation in various fields. We
look forward to an even stronger relationship with Myanmar, as we prepare for
the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of our
diplomatic relations in 2016," he said.
On the second day of the Myanmar leader's state
visit, the two countries signed several agreements, including those on
business, information exchange, renewable energy, and food security.
Myanmar also donated $150,000 to victims of
recent calamities, including $100,000 to victims of Yolanda and $50,000 to
victims of the Oct. 15 quake that hit Central Visayas.
President Aquino said he thanked President Thein
Sein for his message of sympathy and solidarity for Filipinos who were victims
of the calamities.
"In particular, I expressed our deepest
gratitude for the Myanmar Government’s donation of $100,000 in humanitarian
aid, and for the seven tons of relief goods flown in by the Myanmar Defense
Services," he said.
He noted President Thein Sein and his delegation
will fly to Cebu Friday to show support for ongoing relief efforts, and will
bring with him a team of doctors and two tons of relief goods.
Also, President Aquino said the warm welcome to
the Myanmar leader and his delegation is returning the warm hospitality that he
and the Philippines received last June, during his official visit to Myanmar
for the World Economic Forum on East Asia.
The President added he and President Thein Sein
discussed the historic developments in Myanmar under the Myanmar leader's
administration, including the democratic and economic reforms that he has
instituted.
He said these reforms include the holding of
free elections, the release of political prisoners, dialogue with the
opposition, the expansion of political rights, and the promulgation of new
economic laws such as the new Foreign Investment Law.
President Aquino said the Philippines supports
these initiatives and has offered assistance on capacity building through
technical cooperation.
The Philippines also offered technical
assistance to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, as well as training
courses to relevant agencies on entrepreneurship, culture, ecotourism, culinary
arts, agriculture and fisheries, food processing and preservation, and gender
issues, he added.
Also, President Aquino said he and President
Thein Sein shared their experiences on the peace processes within their individual
nations.
Meanwhile, President Aquino said he has
appointed a resident defense attaché to Myanmar, "to further our defense
cooperation."
He also said both countries are pursuing a
stronger trade partnership, amid increased bilateral trade.
Both sides agreed to continue discussions on
establishing a Joint Trade Commission and concluding a Double Taxation
Agreement, he said.
"In pursuing a stronger partnership in this
area, we seek not only the benefit to our economies, but more importantly the
benefit to our peoples," he said.
Also, the two countries agreed to update a 1979
Air Services Agreement aside from signing a Memorandum of Agreement on Visa
Exemption that allows Filipino holders of ordinary passports visa-free entry to
Myanmar for tourism and business purposes.
"We had the chance to pay a short visit to
their country earlier this June—and we are pleased that more Filipinos will
have greater opportunities to see the beauty of Myanmar. This will also
facilitate the people-to-people exchanges that are vital to our countries’
relationship," he said.
President Aquino noted as well the two
countries' commitment to cooperate against illicit trafficking and abuse of
drugs, "as part of our joint efforts to address transnational crime."
On the regional front, President Aquino said he
and President Thein Sein expressed confidence and support for Myanmar’s
Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2014.
"As Chair, Myanmar will have the crucial
task of steering ASEAN towards its goal of an 'ASEAN Economic Community' by
2015. The theme that Myanmar has chosen as Chair of ASEAN in 2014 — 'Moving
Forward in Unity, To a Peaceful and Prosperous Community' — fittingly captures
the aspirations of all ten member states of ASEAN," he said.
President Aquino also expressed support for
Myanmar’s hosting of the 27th Southeast Asian Games this December.
For his part, President Thein Sein said he is
"very grateful" for the Philippines' support for political and
economic reforms under his watch.
He said that as Myanmar offers ample business
opportunities, he asked President Aquino to invite Philippine investors and
businesspersons to "come invest in Myanmar."
Also, the Myanmar leader expressed on behalf of
the people of Myanmar "our full condolences" to victims of October's
quake and super typhoon Yolanda. PND (jl)
President Aquino and Myanmar President Thein
Sein laud shared vision of prosperity and stability
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the
assistance extended by the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the survivors of
super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) is “a tangible sign” of the ideals
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In his message during the state luncheon hosted
for the Myanmar leader on Thursday, President Aquino thanked Myanmar President
Thein Sein for their help in the wake of the super typhoon that caused
extensive damage, especially in Eastern Visayas.
“This is a tangible sign of what ASEAN
represents: a community founded on the principles of solidarity, friendship,
and mutual regard for each other’s well-being—a community that is committed to
realizing a shared vision of progress, prosperity, and stability,” he said.
President Aquino also recognized the reforms
instituted by the government of President Thein Sein, which pursued a policy of
inclusiveness, openness, and modernization
“We are proud to be your partners as you
continue to realize our shared aspiration for your people and our region, and
look forward to witnessing your people fulfill their potential as you tread the
road to progress,” he added.
In his message, President Aquino also expressed
confidence that the ASEAN, under the leadership of Myanmar, will make
“significant progress in achieving our goal of economic integration by 2015.”
“As we move further along the straight path
towards building a truly progressive and harmonious Southeast Asia, I look
forward to working with Your Excellency in deepening the relationship our two
nations share,” he said.
President Thein Sein arrived Wednesday for a
three-day state visit upon the invitation of President Aquino.
The two leaders held a bilateral meeting and
witnessed the signing of several agreements, including those on trade and
investments, food security and agriculture, renewable energy, and information
exchange.
President Thein Sein noted that the cooperation
between the Philippines and Myanmar has been growing not only bilaterally but
also in the regional and international fora.
“I am convinced that this growing cooperation
contributes to the progress and prosperity of the peoples of our two countries
and of the region as a whole,” the Myanmar leader said in his message during
the state luncheon.
He also thanked the Philippines for its
continuous support on Myanmar’s transition towards democracy, adding that his
government “is committed to best serve the will and wishes of our people.” PND
(co)
Aquino government to protect the public from
unreasonable power rate adjustments, Palace says
The Aquino government will protect the public
from any unreasonable power rate adjustments and hold public utility firms to
be found accountable by enforcing appropriate sanctions in case of apparent abuse,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
said.
Coloma issued the statement on Thursday
following reports of the plan of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to
implement power rate adjustments.
"While the determination of power rates are
market-driven, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is mandated by law to
enforce rules and regulations that will curb possible abuses, such as excessive
rate hikes," the Communications Secretary said.
As stated in Section 43 of the Electric Power
Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) law, otherwise known as Republic Act 9136, Coloma
said the government’s mandate is to “promote competition, encourage market
development, ensure customer choice, and penalize abuse of market power in the electricity
industry.”
"In the recent past, the ERC has exercised
its power to protect consumers by ordering a refund of excess charges that had
been assessed by customers of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) in its
franchise area," he said.
According to Coloma, power utilities,
distributors and other players in the electric power industry are treated
fairly by government in accordance with law. "We do not, and will not
condone abuses of these companies," he stressed.
Although the EPIRA law instituted measures to
alleviate the burden of the most needy sector, such as the “lifeline
rate," Coloma said the administration through the Department of Energy is
exerting continuing efforts in finding additional solutions to power sector
problems.
"Especially in the calamity-affected areas,
the government will do everything in its power to protect the welfare of the
citizens who cannot afford to carry additional burdens given the extent of the
suffering they have already experienced and endured," he said.
In 2011, President Aquino signed into law the
extension of the lifeline subsidy to households consuming 100 kilowatts or
less, Coloma said. He said the subsidy covers more than two million of the
country's most needy families.
The said law known as Republic Act No. 10150
provides a ten-year extension of the lifeline rate implementation under the
Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as a socialized pricing mechanism
that benefits the marginalized end-users of electricity, Coloma said.
Previously, Section 73 of the Republic Act No.
9136 or the EPIRA of 2001 provided for a lifeline rate for the poorest
families, Coloma said.
The Communications Secretary said the Chief
Executive extended the subsidy when it expired in 2011.
Under the lifeline structure, electricity
consumption of up to 20 kWh a month is of free of charge. Households using
21-50 kWh enjoy a 50 percent discount in rates; 51-70 kWh users gets a discount
of 35 percent.
Those within the 71-100 kWh consumption range
get a 20 percent subsidy, while senior citizens are entitled to a 20 percent
subsidy. PND (js)
Government enforces price freeze on basic
commodities following massive destruction of ‘Yolanda,’ Palace says
The Aquino government assured to strictly
enforce the price freeze on basic commodities following the declaration of the
state of national calamity due to the massive destruction caused by super
typhoon "Yolanda," Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
"The government is committed to do
everything in its power to protect the welfare of the citizens who cannot
afford to carry additional burdens given the extent of the suffering they have
already experienced and endured," Coloma said in a statement issued on
Thursday (December 5).
President Benigno S. Aquino III issued on
November 11 Proclamation No. 682 declaring a state of national calamity in
order to hasten rescue and rehabilitation efforts, control prices of basic
commodities, and ensure peace and order in several areas, particularly in the
Visayas region and the province of Palawan that were devastated by
Yolanda," Coloma said.
"By law, Republic Act 10623, or the law
amending certain provisions of the Price Act (RA 7581), automatic price control
was instituted, including prices for household LPG, a basic commodity, due to
declaration of the state of calamity. However, the same law (sec 6, RA 10623),
limits the price control of household LPG to only 15 days," he said.
"It will be noted that the law does not
cover power rates or prices of gasoline and petroleum products (except
kerosene). It will be noted, further, that the oil companies – on their own
volition – did not impose price increases in the calamity-affected areas. In
the case of power rates, government will take proactive measures to curb
possible abuses, such as imposition of unreasonable or excessive rate
adjustmentsm" he noted. PND (js)
