Aquino receives donation for 'Yolanda' victims
from Filipino community in Japan
(TOKYO, Japan) President Benigno Aquino III
received Y1 million or amounting to P426,007 donation for the victims of super
typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) during the meeting with the Filipino community
(FilCom) here Thursday.
The symbolic check was handed over by Ms.
Jenavila Shigemizu, Chairperson of the Philippine Barrio Fiesta Executive
Committee and Ms. Olive Akatsu to the President at the FilCom event held at the
National Olympics Memorial Youth Center.
According to Philippine Ambassador to Japan
Manuel Lopez, the Y1 million was the profit from the Philippine Barrio Fiesta
Festival in Yokohama held last September which attracted more than 100,000
visitors.
“Hindi lamang po mahusay ang mga Filipino sa
Japan, sila rin po ay may gintong puso at tunay na nagmamalasakit sa kapwa,”
Lopez said.
In addition to their donation, Lopez said the
collections during the mass for the traditional Simbang Gabi at Meguro Catholic
Church, which will be organized by the Philippine embassy here with the support
of the Filipino Community organizations, will also be donated to the Yolanda
victims through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Super typhoon Yolanda caused massive destruction
to some parts of the Visayas and Southern Luzon last November 8, leaving behind
nearly 6,000 dead and more than P35-billion in damage.
President Aquino was joined by Finance Secretary
Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Transportation Secretary Jun
Abaya, Presidential Management Staff Chief Secretary Julia Abad and
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma during the FilCom event.
It was the first event of President Aquino upon
his arrival here Thursday afternoon to participate in the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit. PND (jb)
Aquino wishes Bb. Pilipinas International Bea
Rose Santiago good luck on pageant
(TOKYO, Japan) President Benigno Aquino III
wished Bb. Pilipinas International Bea Rose Santiago good luck as she is slated
to compete in the Miss International Beauty Pageant to be held in this city on
Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Filipina beauty was one of the
special guests during President Aquino’s meeting with the Filipino community at
the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center Thursday afternoon.
“Iyong atin pong contestant sa Miss
International, we really wish you good luck and hopefully I will have the same
experience that I had in Bali, Indonesia --- dahil marami doon nagsasabi ‘Oh!
Philippines! Miss World!’,” the President said referring to the historic win of
TV personality Megan Young as the first-ever Filipino crowned as Miss World.
The Chief Executive led the entire Filipino
nation in supporting Santiago who reportedly has become one of the early
favourites in the pre-pageant activities.
He is optimistic that the morena stunner from
Masbate, Bicol would be able to bring home the crown making her the fifth
Filipina Miss International if ever.
Miss International 2013 will take place at the
Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hall here on December 17. The reigning Miss
International is Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan.
The last time Philippines won Miss International
title was in 2005 when the country was represented by Precious Lara Quigaman.
PND (jb)
President Aquino receives honorary doctoral law
degree from Sophia University
(TOKYO, Japan) President Benigno S. Aquino III
received an honorary doctoral law degree from Sophia University on the second
day of his visit here to attend the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit.
In his commemorative lecture, the President
recalled the life of Jesuit priest Horacio dela Costa, the last Filipino who
received an honorary doctorate from Sophia University in 1973 and who had
served as an inspiration to the President and his late father Senator Benigno
Ninoy Aquino.
"As a member of a younger generation, both
as a product of a Jesuit education and as a Filipino, I am heir to the wisdom
of Father Dela Costa, and to the wisdom of all the great men and women who have
come before me. I am duty-bound to continue where they left off, helping my
country tread the path towards social justice and economic progress ---
pursuing not merely growth, but inclusive growth," the President said.
He thanked the Japanese people for their
steadfast support for Filipinos especially in times of disaster like in the recent
super typhoon "Yolanda" destruction.
He cited two videos of Japanese nationals that
went viral on the internet during the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. One was
Shigehiro Matsuda, a young Japanese man engaged in relief operations in Leyte
and Samar who speaks Filipino fluently and a Japanese preschooler donating his
5,000 yen savings to typhoon victims.
President Aquino also highlighted the reforms he
had instituted in government and his effort to reestablish accountability and
forwarding cause of justice.
"Everything we have achieved, we have
achieved by doing what the Filipino people have asked us --- by fighting for
the rule of law, even if that meant stepping on toes of influential people with
very deep pockets," he said.
"My people have shaken themselves out of
apathy; they have voted for leaders who had the true spirit of public service;
and they fervently supported those leaders as they pursued their reform
agenda," he added.
Sophia University president Tadashi Takizawa
formally awarded the Honorary Doctorate Degree to President Aquino.
Takizawa lauded President Aquino's significant
triumph in his three years of governance particularly in improving the
country's economy and promoting peace in Mindanao through the signing of a
Framework Agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
He also thanked the President for extending help
to Japan when it was hit by tsunami in 2011.
Chancellor Toshiaki Koso congratulated President
Aquino saying that it is an "exceptional honor" for the university to
confer an honorary doctorate on him for his essential consistency in
implementing political reforms that benefit his nation.
He also conveyed his sympathy to the victims of
super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) that struck the Philippines last November 8
leaving behind at least 6,000 people dead.
President Aquino also received a commemorative
token from Sophia University students.
Sophia University is a Jesuit educational
institution and has exchange agreements with Jesuit universities including
Ateneo de Manila University, President Aquino's alma mater.
The event was attended by some 150 guests from
government, business leaders, think tanks, the diplomatic corps and Filipino
community members and Filipino students.
Cabinet secretaries present were Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Transportation
Secretary Emilio Abaya, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Presidential
Management Staff Chief Julia Abad and Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma.
Following this event, President Aquino proceeded
to the Prime Minister's official residence for a bilateral meeting and working
lunch with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. PND (jb)
Filipinos in Japan held in high regard by
employers
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) - Thanks to their
professionalism and caring spirit, some 220,000 Filipinos in Japan are held in
very high regard by their Japanese and foreign employers here, Philippine
Ambassador to Tokyo Manuel Lopez said Thursday.
Lopez, who delivered the opening remarks at a
gathering of the Filipino community at the National Olympics Memorial Youth
Center here, said the Filipinos here have earned the respect of their
employers.
"They are solid and united as a community.
They have no serious rift or division," he added.
In his remarks, the ambassador noted 70 percent
of crewmembers aboard Japanese ships are Filipinos, while Filipinos are highly
valued as caregivers.
He cited as an example the case of some Filipino
caregivers who refused to leave their wards during the great Tohoku earthquake
and tsunami.
On the other hand, he said many Filipinos have
married Japanese nationals, and their Japanese-Filipino children serve as a
bridge between the two peoples.
Meanwhile, Lopez reiterated his call for
Filipinos in Japan to attend the Simbang Gabi at the Meguro Catholic Church in
Tokyo starting this Sunday.
He said the collections from the Masses will go
to the victims of super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) through the
Department of Social Welfare and Development. PND (jl)
Busy President Aquino to let God deal with
critics
TOKYO, Japan via Smart/PLDT) Saying he is too
busy because of the problems he has to face, President Benigno Aquino III on
Thursday said he will let God deal with some of his critics who he said
continue to nitpick his every move.
The President, speaking before the Filipino
community at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center here, said he will
continue to do his job and address the problems brought about by natural and
manmade disasters this year.
"Bahala na si Lord sa inyo, busy ako eh (To
my critics, the Lord will deal with you. I'm very busy)," he said.
He also said that as the nation's leader, he
cannot give in to despair and hopelessness even if there is temptation to do
so.
"Tinanggap kong boluntaryo itong hamon na
ito at pagsubok noong ako’y tumakbo bilang inyong Pangulo. Bilang pinuno hindi
tayo pwedeng bumigay, hindi tayo pwedeng mawalan ng pag-asa. Maski na napipikon
ka na doon sa ibang taong namumulitika pa (I voluntarily accepted this
challenge when I ran for President. As your leader, I cannot allow us to
despair or lose hope, even if some quarters are trying to annoy me)," he
said.
President Aquino said 2013 had given him a very
heavy burden, due to the natural and man-made calamities it brought.
The President said this was a year when the
problems from such calamities piled up one after the other, with one problem
cropping up even before he could resolve another.
Some of those calamities included the floods
brought by monsoon rain earlier this year, the attempted siege by followers of
Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari last September,
the magnitude 7.2 quake that devastated Bohol and parts of Central Visayas last
October, and super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) last November.
"Meron na ho tayong Zamboanga, meron pa
yung monsoon rains noong ‘Santi’, sinundan ng Bohol at siguro iyon na nga...,
bumabangon palang ang Bohol, biglang meron namang ‘Yolanda’ na dinali na naman
ng kapiraso ang Bohol," he said.
After Yolanda, he said 240 to 260 transmission
towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines had collapsed, and
some P120 to 130 billion may be needed to rebuild.
However, the President commended the Filipino
people for their unwavering spirit. He said many Filipinos at home and abroad,
including in Japan, lent a helping hand to those affected by the calamities.
Now, he said many of the affected areas are
working to recover.
As of December 1, he said the government had
extended P1 billion in relief assistance to those affected by Yolanda. Last
December 11, the government had distributed three million food packs in
Yolanda-affected Eastern Visayas.
"Pero tinanong nga ako at siguro ang
isasagot ko sa lahat ng mga nagtatanong ng 'kamusta ka ba?' at sa totoo lang
ho, feel na feel ko po. Talagang isang malaking karangalan na mamuno ng isang
sambayanan na maraming pagsubok na dinaanan, nadadapa, bumabangon at palaban pa
rin (I had been asked how I am doing. And I can reply, I can feel the honor of
leading a people who face challenges head on, and get up even after they
fall)," he said.
"Hindi tayo titigil sa pagdala ng lingap...
‘build back better’ (We will not stop bringing the help they need. We want to
build back better)," he added. PND (jl)
Presidential Sister Kris Aquino visits Tacloban
City, defends brother against criticisms
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Actress and television
host Kris Aquino visited here today where she spoke to defend her brother,
President Benigno S. Aquino III, against persistent criticisms over his
administration’s response to the crisis spawned by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’
(Haiyan).
“I don’t think my brother has any pagkukulang
(shortcomings), and you can’t blame me for wanting to speak up for my brother,
because no leader would want this to happen to his country,” Aquino was quoted
saying in an interview.
Aquino, the youngest among President Aquino’s
four sisters, also said it was “unfair” for anybody to put any political color
into the situation as the most important thing to do right now is to help each
other “because we are all Filipinos.”
Aquino arrived here at about 6:51 a.m. via a
Cebu Pacific flight to shoot an episode for her television show, "Kris
TV," aired weekdays at ABS-CBN Channel 2. She was reportedly accompanied
by ABS-CBN news reporter Atom Araullo during her visit at the Anibong town.
After filming, Aquino joined other ABS-CBN
talents, workers, and executives, who entertained, gave gifts, led medical
missions, and distributed relief goods to displaced families that are currently
sheltered at the Tacloban City Astrodome. PND (hdc)
President Aquino appoints new officials in
government offices
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials in the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of
National Defense (DND), a Palace official said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that the Chief
Executive signed on December 11 the appointment letters of the new presidential
appointees.
In a transmittal letter signed by Executive
Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. addressed to Education Secretary Armin Luistro,
President Aquino appointed Luz C. Arriola, Germelina H. Pascual and Ramir B.
Uytico as Acting School Division Superintendents.
The President also appointed Delfin N. Lorenzana
as Presidential Representative/Head, Office of Veterans Affairs, Washington,
D.C., United States of America.
According to the transmittal letter signed by
Ochoa to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, the term of office of Lorenzana
would be co-terminus with the appointing authority. PND (js)
President Aquino conveys Filipinos' deepest
gratitude to Japan for solidarity, help in 'Yolanda' wake
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
S. Aquino III on Friday conveyed to the Japanese government and people the
Filipino people's deepest gratitude for the solidarity Japan showed the
Philippines in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
President Aquino said he conveyed this message
to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their working lunch and bilateral meeting
at the Prime Minister's official residence.
"Today I conveyed the deepest gratitude of
the Filipino people to His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito, the Japanese
people and Japanese government for the messages of condolences, sympathy and
solidarity, and for the assistance they extended and continue to extend for us
in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan," he said.
He said the donations by private citizens and
groups as well as the official aid from the Japanese government prove the
friendship that Japan has shown the Philippines "is truly
extraordinary."
President Aquino also thanked Prime Minister Abe
for leading in all of these efforts, and for his hospitality in Friday's
meeting.
"Your generosity towards our people only
shows the strength of the relationship between our two countries, and our
shared commitment to work together in order to uplift our peoples. These are
also evident in this visit of mine," he said.
Also, he said the exchange of notes on the
post-disaster standby loan from Japan will be a big boost to the Philippines'
efforts to recover from Yolanda.
He said the government's initial estimates show
it will need some $3 billion to "support critical immediate actions and
short-term and medium-term interventions post-Haiyan."
"This will definitely help get our people
get back on their feet at the soonest possible time," he said.
The President described his discussions with Prime
Minister Abe as "extensive and productive," and touched on matters of
mutual interest.
He noted Japan has consistently been one of the
Philippines' top trading partners, and this visit allowed the Philippines to
"reaffirm our commitment to stronger economic cooperation."
President Aquino added the Philippines is
thankful for the yen loan from Japan to provide 10 patrol vessels for the
Philippine Coast Guard, enhancing the Philippines' maritime capabilities.
He also said the enhanced partnership between
the Philippines and Japan extends far beyond trading ties.
Meanwhile, President Aquino informed Prime
Minister Abe that the Philippines has officially adopted Japan's ISDB-T system
for digital terrestrial television broadcasting.
"Since the superior features of the
Japanese system, particularly of its Emergency Warning Broadcast System, will
be essential in our desire to save lives, especially during calamities,"
he said. PND (jl)
Japanese Prime Minister willing to address regional,
international issues under closer coordination with President Aquino
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) Citing the
personal trust they have developed, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on
Friday said he is willing to address regional and international issues in
closer coordination with President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Speaking after a working lunch and bilateral
talks with President Aquino, Prime Minister Abe said he and President Aquino
developed "stronger personal trust" after attending the last three
summit meetings.
"I feel that President Aquino and I have
developed stronger personal trust in each other over the last three summit
meetings we have had this year," he said after the two leaders witnessed
the exchange of notes for post-disaster management and reconstruction, maritime
safety, and amendments to the air services agreement between the two countries.
"Given the increasingly difficult regional
security environment, I am willing to address regional and other international
issues under much closer coordination with the President," he added.
The Philippines and Japan are strategic partners
in terms of trade, even as the Prime Minister cited their special relations.
Japan had actively contributed to helping the
Philippines in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Prime Minister Abe cited the Japanese people's
wish to reciprocate the warm assistance the Philippines had given Japan in the
wake of the Great East Japan quake in 2011.
He also reiterated Japan's commitment to
continue assistance in the recovery and reconstruction processes in
coordination with the Philippines. PND (jl)
President Aquino: New air services agreement
schedule to boost tourism goals
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) A new schedule
for the air services agreement between the Philippines and Japan should give
Philippine tourism a big boost, President Benigno Aquino III said Friday.
President Aquino said the exchange of notes for
this arrangement should benefit the air carriers of both countries and help the
Philippines realize its tourism goals.
"(It) will benefit our respective air
carriers and help realize our country's tourism goals. This will also heighten
people-to-people exchanges between our countries, which are important in
fostering understanding and in maintaining the strength of our relations,"
he said after he and Prime Minister Abe witnessed the exchange of notes on
three agreements.
Earlier, the President and the Prime Minister
witnessed an exchange of notes for post-disaster management and reconstruction,
maritime safety, and amendments to the air services agreement between the two
countries.
President Aquino and Prime Minister Abe also had
a working lunch and bilateral talks at the Prime Minister's official residence.
Meanwhile, President Aquino thanked Japan for
the development assistance it has given the Philippines in the infrastructure
sector.
He cited Japan's feasibility study on a
transportation road map for Greater Manila.
"Their help will allow us to make great
strides in our desire to vastly improve the state of infrastructure in the
Philippines, while at the same time protecting our environment through pursuing
the development of an efficient transport system that can minimize
pollution," he said. PND (jl)
Japanese Prime Minister lauds Filipinos for
'admirable spirit' in responding to disaster
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) As he reiterated
his sympathies over the destruction brought by super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan)
last month, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday lauded the Filipino
people for what he called their "admirable spirit" in responding to
disaster.
Prime Minister Abe stressed this after a working
lunch and bilateral meeting with President Aquino at the Prime Minister's
official residence.
"I extended once again my sympathy to His
Excellency President Aquino for the immense damage to the Philippines caused by
a typhoon that hit the country in November. I also expressed my tribute to the
people's admirable spirit in responding to disaster," he said through an
interpreter.
Earlier, the two leaders witnessed an exchange
of notes for post-disaster management and reconstruction, maritime safety, and
amendments to the air services agreement between the two countries.
The Prime Minister also cited the special
relations between the Philippines and Japan, and the Japanese people's wish to
reciprocate the warm assistance the Philippines had given Japan in the wake of
the Great East Japan quake in 2011.
Prime Minister Abe also reiterated Japan's
commitment to continue assistance in the recovery and reconstruction processes
in coordination with the Philippines.
He expressed hopes the standby loan and the new
grant aid "will be fully utilized" while the Japanese experts'
knowledge will become useful in making reconstruction plans.
Meanwhile, he said the Philippine-Japan
strategic partnership has been augmented further through the Philippines'
formal decision to adopt the Japanese system of digital terrestrial TV
broadcasting.
The partnership has also been enhanced through
the exchange of notes on the provision of patrol vessels to the Philippine
Coast Guard, and the signing of notes for further liberalization of the air
services. PND (jl)
Phl reiterates commitment to uphold rule of law
and peaceful settlement of disputes in region
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) The Philippines
on Friday reiterated its commitment to uphold the rule of law and promote the
peaceful settlement of disputes while ensuring freedom of flight in
international airspace.
President Benigno Aquino III said he stressed
this during his lunch meeting and bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe at the Prime Minister's official residence.
"We reiterated our commitment to uphold the
rule of law, to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to ensure
freedom of flight in international airspace," he said on issues affecting
the region.
Both the Philippines and Japan have been
pursuing peaceful means to resolve territorial disputes with China.
Meanwhile, President Aquino said 2013 has been a
"banner year" for high-level exchanges between the Philippines and
Japan.
He said both countries have had dialogues and
discussions where they "always expressed a consistent desire to deepen our
relations and to enhance our strategic partnership."
"We do this knowing that stronger
engagement will benefit both the Japanese and the Filipino people, foster
development, security and peace in our countries, and build a more peaceful and
more secure Asia Pacific region," he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino thanks Japan for help in
Mindanao peace process
(TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Friday expressed appreciation for Japan's "tireless
efforts" to support the peace process in Mindanao.
President Aquino stressed this following a
working lunch and bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at
the Prime Minister's official residence here.
"We also expressed our appreciation for
Japan's tireless efforts in supporting the Mindanao peace process. They were
responsible for fostering the millieu through which we made our initial
breakthrough, even at a very short notice when they hosted our talks with the
MILF here in August 2011. Now we are in the penultimate stage of the framework
agreement we are working on with the MILF," he said.
In August 2011, President Aquino met with Moro
Islamic Liberation Front Chairman Al Haj Murad to bolster the peace efforts
between the government the MILF.
Now, he said the two sides are nearing a peace
agreement that will benefit the Mindanao area.
On the other hand, the President said Japan
continues to help the peace process through its participation in the
International Contact Group, International Monitoring Team and the Independent
Commission on Policing.
"They also supported our people at the
grassroots level through reconstruction and development efforts in
conflict-affected areas through the Japanese-Bangsamoro Initiatives for
Reconstruction and Development," he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino invites Keidanren to invest in
Philippines
TOKYO, Japan - via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III invited the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) to further
explore opportunities of investing in the Philippines during a meeting here
Friday.
President Aquino, who arrived here Thursday, met
with 11 members of the comprehensive economic organization Keidanren on the
sidelines of his participation to the 40th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.
In his remarks during the meeting, the President
made an investment pitch to foreign businessmen highlighting his
administration’s accomplishment during his three years as President.
He underscored the country’s continuing
“accelerated path towards growth” citing the successive quarter of having at
least seven percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and the investment
grade by three major credit rating agencies.
He also stressed some priority sectors the
Japanese business group might be interested in investing including
infrastructure and tourism.
“It might be of interest to you that
infrastructure remains ripe for investment as we have successfully bid out some
of our major Public Private Partnership projects such as those for the public
school buildings, two major connector roads, an automatic fare collection
system and most recently the international airport in Cebu,” he said.
He noted some of the key Japanese companies that
expanded operations in the Philippines over the last 12 months namely Canon,
Epson, Brother, Morata Furukawa, Bandai, Fuji Film, Terra Motors, Family Mart,
Lion, among others.
“As you can see, our partnership continues to
reap dividends for your companies and for my people who will benefit from the
opportunities that will become available to your continued confidence in our
country. I invite you all to explore further opportunities for investment,” the
Chief Executive said.
The President also thanked the business group
for extending help to the country during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) last month.
“The financial, humanitarian, medical and
logistical aid that Japan has provided us in the wake of super typhoon Haiyan
will come a long way in relief and rehabilitation efforts as we’ve started to
build the affected communities even better than they were before,” he said.
”You have shown us in the wake of Super Typhoon
Haiyan that we are not alone in times of calamity. Perhaps we can strengthen
our solidarity further by sustaining our positive engagement in times of
prosperity and growth,” he added.
He said he is looking forward to continuing
support from Japan for the rehabilitation of areas hit by Yolanda.
Keidanren head Hiromasa Yonekura thanked the
President for accommodating them for the third time since he assumed office.
He expressed deepest sympathies to typhoon
victims and hoped for speedy recovery and reconstruction of the affected areas.
The business group is looking forward to deeper
and stronger bilateral economic ties with the Philippines. PND (jb)
Japan-Philippine friendship league turns over Y1
million donation for Yolanda victims
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) With President
Benigno Aquino III as witness, a Japan-Philippine friendship league on Friday
handed over a Y1-million donation for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan).
Representatives of the Japan-Philippines
Parliament Arians Friendship League gave the donation at a courtesy call on the
President at the Imperial Hotel here.
League chairman Kenji Kosaka turned over the
donation to Philippine ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez.
For his part, the President thanked the group
for the help extended by the people of Japan to the Philippines.
"We want to thank you for all the help, for
Haiyan," he said, adding the typhoon affected 44 provinces.
He also said Japan was among the first to
respond to the victims of the typhoon, which has left more than 6,000 dead.
With the President were Cabinet members
including Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma Jr., Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad, and Secretaries
Albert del Rosario (foreign affairs), Gregory Domingo (trade), Carlos Jericho
Petilla (energy), Joseph Abaya (transportation) and Cesar Purisima (finance).
PND (jl)
Lacson visits calamity-hit areas in Leyte, Samar
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) Secretary Panfilo Lacson
visited disaster-hit areas in Eastern Visayas Friday to get a firsthand look at
the huge responsibility ahead of him, three days after being sworn into office
by President Benigno S. Aquino III as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation
and Recovery with Cabinet rank.
Lacson reportedly went to Guiuan in Eastern
Samar, as well as the towns of Palo, Baybay, and Ormoc City in Leyte before
arriving here Friday afternoon to meet with Mayor Alfred Romualdez at the
Tacloban City Airport.
In a brief recorded conversation, shared to us
by dzBB’s Rodil Vega during the said meeting, Lacson was heard discussing
initial plans with Romualdez as to how they could possibly go about the
development plans toward rebuilding Tacloban City.
Romualdez promised Lacson that he will present
him a detailed proposal, hopefully by next week, for his information. The two
basically just exchanged pleasantries during the meeting as Lacson was still
adjusting to his new role.
“Preliminaries lang. We discussed some data that
is needed and sabi ko I’ll present it. But we will just communicate when he’s
ready next week. I will send a team to present all the data na kailangan niya,”
Romualdez told reporters.
In an interview he gave during his visit in
Guiuan, Lacson was quoted saying that he was there basically to assess the
extent of the damage wrought by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). He also said
that the response of the private sectors he managed to speak with was “very
encouraging.”
Lacson gave an assurance that there are enough
funds to support all the local governments’ plans to rehabilitate their
devastated towns and cities. He said P170-billion has been allocated so far by
the national government for this particular endeavor.
Lacson, an erstwhile Philippine National Police
director-general and senator, formally took his oath of office last Wednesday
by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 62 which President Aquino signed last
December 6.
Among his vast authority includes acting as
“overall manager and coordinator of rehabilitation, recovery, and
reconstruction efforts” of government agencies in the areas ravaged by the
storm last month, including the provinces of Samar, Leyte, Negros, Cebu, Bohol,
Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, and Palawan. PND (hdc)
