President Aquino visits Zamboanga 3 months after
failed siege, gets update on rehab
ZAMBOANGA CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III
on Sunday visited this city three months after fighting between government
troops and followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur
Misuari.
The President, who visited Compostela Valley earlier
in the day, arrived after noon and received an update on government efforts to
help the residents.
Officials led by Mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar
welcomed the President, wearing shirts that bore the message "Build Back
Better Zamboanga."
With the President were Cabinet members
including: Voltaire Gazmin of defense, Rogelio Singson of public works, Corazon
Soliman of social welfare, Carlos Jericho Petilla of energy, Chito Cruz of
National Housing Authority, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and
Presidential adviser on Yolanda rehabilitation Panfilo Lacson.
Figures from the Department of Social Welfare
and Development showed at least 23,794 families or 118,819 people from 14
villages had been affected by September's clash.
Of these, 4,883 families or 23,011 people are
staying in 13 evacuation centers.
The DSWD has so far extended P273.79 million in
relief to the affected residents, including food and non-food items, and
P1,364,300 for cash-for-work programs.
The Department of Public Works and Highways said
its reconstruction plan focuses on 46 hectares of land that was affected by
fighting. This covers 7,248 families in nine villages.
Singson said the plan also includes providing
for restoring mangroves and residents' security.
He committed to complete roads and drainage work
in 12 months, adding the delivery of houses on stilts may be completed in 18
months.
Presently, he said government is acquiring 25
hectares of land to relocate displaced residents.
Mayor Climaco presented a resolution thanking
President Aquino for his help to the affected residents.
After the briefing, the President was to inspect
the bunkhouse units for internally displaced persons at the Joaquin Enriquez
Memorial Sports Complex in Zamboanga City.
Following the Zamboanga visit, President Aquino
is scheduled to visit residents in areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas.
Several residents in Zamboanga City were
displaced after MNLF members tried to occupy some parts of this city last
September.
They engaged government troops in nearly a month
of fighting but the government's forces eventually retook the occupied areas.
PND (jl)
Ban Ki-moon: We don't want to lose momentum in
Philippine rebuilding efforts
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
rreiterated the UN’s commitment to assist the Philippines recover from the
devastation brought about by Typhoon "Yolanda" and also promised to
support the country in its long-term development priorities.
In a joint-press conference with Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario, Ban said his focus is to rally support from
governments to continue aiding the Philippines in its reconstruction efforts to
ensure that the development momentum is not lost.
One of the major focuses of the UN is reviving
people’s livelihood such as in agriculture.
“Our aim is to ensure that at least 72,000
hectares can be planted, so the vital upcoming 2014 harvest is not lost,” Ban
said in his message during the press conference held at the Manila Peninsula
Hotel in Makati City Sunday.
So far, the UN was able to distribute rice seeds
to more than 10,000 farming households in preparation for the next cropping
season.
“In the longer term, the United Nations will
continue to work with the government on its development priorities,” he added.
There is excellent cooperation between the UN
and its partners and the Philippines authorities at every level in terms of
delivering aid to the people, he said.
In recent days, deliveries of assistance have
scaled up significantly, Ban said noting that more than four million affected
people have received food assistance.
Some 100,000 hygiene kits and 65,000 water kits
have been distributed and 30 water treatment units are now in place.
Ban also reported that more than 200,000
households have received emergency shelter. Cash assistance has also been
provided to help people rebuild damaged and destroyed houses.
In terms of healthcare, he said more than 180
foreign and national medical teams have provided emergency health aid and
nearly 260 mobile clinics are now functioning.
Aid agencies have also screened more than 40,000
children for acute malnutrition, the UN chief said.
The UN fully supports the Philippine government’s
launch of the $8.17 billion Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda which will be
carried out in over four years.
To that end, the UN and partners have launched a
one-year Strategic Response Plan for $791 million dollars, Ban said urging
donors to extend more assistance for Philippine reconstruction.
Ban, who arrived in the country Friday, left for
New York Sunday afternoon with Secretary del Rosario leading the send off party
at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I. PND (as)
United Nation chief commends President Aquino
for successful work for Mindanao peace
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
praised President Benigno S. Aquino III for the success of the Mindanao peace
process during their meeting in Malacanang on Saturday, Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Sunday.
“Let me further commend the Secretary-General
for the UN’s contributions to find durable solutions to peace and security
problems around the world,” Del Rosario said in his remarks during a joint
press conference with Ban at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
“In this regard, let me recall that the
Secretary-General praised President Aquino for the success of the peace process
in Mindanao during their meeting yesterday,” Del Rosario said.
Ban said in his message that while in the
Philippines he was able to discuss with President Aquino and Secretary Rosario
other issues of national importance.
He said: “I commend the Philippine Government’s
efforts to promote peace and democracy and inclusive growth.”
Ban congratulated the government on the progress
in the Mindanao peace process, particularly the power-sharing agreement reached
between the parties in December.
“I hope a final agreement will be reached soon,”
Ban said.
Ban arrived in the country last Friday to assess
the damage of Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas region, oversee the ongoing
reconstruction works and show solidarity to the affected communities. He left
for New York Sunday afternoon.
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) signed in October 15 last year the Framework Agreement
for Mindanao peace aimed at ending the decades-old separatist struggle of Muslims
in the South.
Malaysia has been the facilitator of the ongoing
discussions for Mindanao peace.
Last year’s signing came after 15 years of
negotiation between the government and the MILF, and 40 years of conflict in
Mindanao with a recorded casualty figure of more than 150,000. PND (as)
President Aquino believes that the provinces
affected by recent calamities will get to their feet faster with the signing of
2014 budget
President Benigno S. Aquino III believes that
the provinces recently affected by the ravages of natural calamities will once
again be on their feet after the government has the necessary funds from the
passing of the 2014 national budget, Presidential Communication Operations
Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr, said on Sunday.
In a briefing aired over government station dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan, Coloma said with the backing of the P2.265 billion budget, the
government now has the resources for social services as well as for work and
other economic services.
“Matibay ang paniwala at paninindigan ng Pangulo
na mapapabilis ang pagbangon at pagpapanumbalik ng sigla ng lokal na ekonomiya
ng mga nasabing bayan at lalawigan matapos niyang lagdaan at isabatas noong
Biyernes ang Pambansang Budget para sa 2014,” Coloma said.
“Sa ilalim ng 2.265-trilyong piso na kabuuang
halaga ng budget, mahigit sa 37.2 na porsyento o 841.8-bilyong piso ang inilaan
para sa social services, samantalang tutustusan ng 593.1-bilyong piso ang mga
gawain at serbisyong pang-ekonomiya,” he added.
He said that aside from this, P100-billion has
been set aside for the rehabilitation and construction of buildings and roads
damaged by the natural calamities.
“Naglaan din ang pamahalaan ng kabuuang
100-bilyong piso para sa pagbabagong tatag at pagsasaayos ng mga mahahalagang
gusali, daan, at pampublikong pasilidad sa mga lugar na tinamaan ng iba’t ibang
kalamidad at sakuna, bukod pa sa pinalaking P13-billion na calamity fund na
dati ay P7.5-billion na siya ngayong tinaguriang National Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Fund,” Coloma said.
He said the President vowed to be transparent
and trustworthy with the spending as he noted the budget would be spent in
strict compliance with what it was meant for.
“Ipinapangako ng Pangulo na magiging wasto at
masinop ang paggugol ng pamahalaan sa budget, at ang lahat ng gastusin ay
magiging bukas sa pagsusuri ng mamamayan, alinsunod sa hangaring inclusive
growth and development sa ilalim ng prinsipyong daang matuwid,” Coloma said.
PND (rck)
Phl receives fresh technical assistance from US,
Palace announces
The Philippine government received a fresh
technical assistance from the United States that is geared toward helping our
country brace for various environmental challenges ahead, Malacañang announced
Sunday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. said the details of which shall
be announced formally by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima upon his return to
Manila from his recent trip to Washington, D.C.
Purisima has met with his US counterpart,
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, who presented the new assistance which, Coloma
said, may consist of intriducing new systems and training of personnel to
combat the recurring challenges of climate change.
“Ito ay isa sa pinaka-komprehensibong technical
assistance na iginagawad ng Estados Unidos, at kasunod ito ng partnership for
good governance na kung saan ay malaking halaga ang iginawad sa atin, at doon
din po sa Millennium Challenge Account,” Coloma said of the technical
assistance during an interview over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma added Purisima and Lew also discussed the
idea of "fiscal risk management" for the concept of insurance to help
the people recover from the potential damaging effects of natural disasters
into their households and livelihoods.
The US is among the many countries which is
actively supporting the Philippines in its recovery in the aftermath of super
typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan) and other devastating calamities
experienced by the country these past few months. PND (hdc)
President Aquino visits residents in Compostela
Valley, one year after 'Pablo'
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday
brought some Christmas cheer to residents of Compostela Valley, who lost their
homes last year to Typhoon "Pablo."
The President arrived in Laak town Sunday
morning and inspected the core shelter housing units set up for the affected
residents.
During the inspection, he even approached some of
the families to ask them about their conditions.
On Dec. 4 last year, Kidawa village in Laak was
hit hard by Typhoon Pablo, which damaged 553 houses.
With the President were members of his Cabinet,
including Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin of defense, Rogelio Singson of public
works, Corazon Soliman of social welfare, Carlos Jericho Petilla of energy, and
Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Presidential adviser on Yolanda
rehabilitation Panfilo Lacson and Chito Cruz, National Housing Authority
general manager. PND (jl)
Malacanang wants to remember 2013 with
resilience of Filipinos, looks forward to 2014 with determination
Malacañang does not wish to regard 2013 as a
year filled with devastating crises and calamities, but something that has
brought the best out of the Filipino people’s “resiliency,” as the Aquino
administration looks forward to the New Year with utmost determination in
achieving its remaining goals.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
(PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. issued this statement Sunday to preview
Malacañang’s yearend message which is currently being prepared in coordination
with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
“Batid naman po natin na sama-sama tayong dumaan
at nakaranas ng hindi lamang, ayon sa katagang ginamit ng Pangulo, hindi lamang
sa sunud-sunod na kalamidad kundi sa patung-patong na paghamon at problema; na
hindi pa tapos ang isa ay naganap na ang kasunod,” Coloma said over the
government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma was referring to the Zamboanga standoff,
the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Cebu, typhoon "Santi" in
Central Luzon, and the catastrophic super typhoon "Yolanda" that
consecutively struck the nation during the latter part of 2013.
“Sa ating paglingon sa kinabukasan, nandoon po
‘yung determinasyon natin, hindi lamang na malampasan ang mga nakaraang
pagsubok, kundi magtatag pa ng mas mainam at mas mabuti—‘yung ating sinasabing
‘build back better’ na kapag naitayo na ang lahat, masasabi nating meron tayong
mas mainam at mas katanggap-tanggap na mga pasilidad, at hindi lamang po
maipapanumbalik sa normal, meron pong pwedeng asahan ang ating mga kababayan na
isang mas maaliwalas na kinabukasan,” the PCOO chief said.
Coloma said NEDA will be issuing its ‘results
matrix’ which serves as the ‘scorecard’ for the entire Aquino administration in
its implementation of the reform programs stated under its Philippine Development
Plan.
He said this will guide various executive
agencies and department in determining which programs have already been
completed, what projects are still ongoing, and which other development plans
have to be given more attention.
“Puspusan po ang magiging pagsisikap ng
pamahalaan na isagawa ang mga repormang ito at katuwang po ng ating Executive
branch ang ating mga mambabatas dahil marami pa pong mga panukalang batas na
dapat na isalang sa ating lehislatura,” Coloma added.
Coloma said they will be releasing a year-end
report to the public before the end of the month highlighting what the
government has achieved in different aspects of governance this past year and
its outlook for the coming year. PND (hdc)
President Aquino: Future Zamboanga siege bids
wont succeed
ZAMBOANGA CITY) President Benigno Aquino III on
Sunday voiced confidence any new attempt to occupy this city - like the one by
followers of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari last
September - will never succeed.
Speaking before residents affected by
September's fighting, the President said that while the government learned its
lessons from the incident, the residents have shown they will not tolerate such
violence.
"Ang lumipas, maraming leksyon na tinuro sa
atin at meron tayong mga hakbang na pinagagawa para siguradong mapilit na di na
mangyari ang ganitong klaseng karahasan at ang pinagdaanan ninyo hindi na
maulit muli (I will say this again: What happened last September has taught us
many lessons and we will not allow this violence to happen again)," he
said.
He also noted Zamboanga City has become peaceful
again and people's lives are returning to normal following September's
incident.
The President also said that while September's
incident was no joke, the people of Zamboanga showed their strength. He said
this inspired government forces to reclaim the city.
"Hindi po biro ang pagsubok na inyong
kinaharap. Nguni't tulad ng ating nasaksihan, hindi kayo nagpadaig sa takot
(What happened last September was no joke. But you did not yield to
fear)," he said.
This courage was also shown by 5,900 police and
military forces, Red Cross volunteers, and even social workers who risked their
lives to end the attack by Misuari's followers.
So far, the President said the government has
allocated P273.8 million for food, financial and cash-for-work assistance.
Government has also allocated resources to
address the shelter, medical and health needs of those affected, he said.
"Naging posible ang ating tagumpay sa
paghaharap sa nagdaang krisis dahil sa pakikiisa at pagtitiwala ng
taga-Zamboanga. Maraming salamat po at dahil sa inyo kami ay nakahugot ng lakas
at tatag ng loob upang epektibo naming magampanan ang aming tungkulin (We
succeeded in addressing this crisis because of the unity and trust shown to us
by Zamboanga residents. We thank you and we drew inspiration from you),"
he said.
He also said that with Zamboanga now starting to
recover, the government will do what it can to help them fully return to
normalcy.
"Ngayong bumabangon na ang pinakamamahal
nating Zamboanga. Narito po ang inyong gobyerno upang akayin kayo sa bawa't
hakbang tungo sa mas mabilis at ganap na rehabilitasyon (Now that Zamboanga is
recovering, your government is here to help you every step of the way in
recovery)," he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino to Zamboanga residents: Remain
united while recovering from September attack
ZAMBOANGA CITY) President Benigno Aquino III on
Sunday exhorted residents of this city to remain united and to work as one as
they continue to recover from the effects of a failed siege by followers of
Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari last September.
In his speech before residents affected by September's
fighting, the President likened efforts by residents to recover to a group that
goes out caroling - the efforts will fail if some members sing out of tune.
"Pag nag-caroling at may sintunado o ibang
kinakanta baka walang lalabas sa caroling natin. Kailangan para mapabilis ito,
kapit-bisig. Damayan tayo, tulungan tayo dahil dapat ang pakay natin maibalik
kayo sa mas maayos sa lalong madaling panahon (When people go out caroling and
one of them sings out of tune, the singing flops. In this present situation, we
must be united and help each other if we want to recover quickly)," he
said.
Residents of this city are still recovering from
the effects of September's attempt by Misuari's followers to occupy parts of
the city.
Government forces managed to repel Misuari's
followers after nearly a month of fighting, which displaced several residents.
During his speech, President Aquino also
presented to the residents the government's strategy to rebuild their
communities.
He said the government is allocating at least
P3.5 billion for the road map to recovery and reconstruction, which includes
shelter assistance, repair of infrastructure, and assistance to some 5,600 affected
families.
On the other hand, the President stressed the
bunkhouses the affected families are staying in now are temporary.
In the meantime, he urged them to remain strong
and united and serve as a source of strength and hope for their fellow Filipinos.
PND (jl)
President Aquino turns-over bunkhouses in
Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte) President Benigno S.
Aquino III visited on Sunday anew the calamity-stricken city to inspect and
turn-over bunkhouses for the residents who were displaced by Typhoon
"Yolanda" (internationally known as Haiyan).
Upon arrival at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport
around 4 p.m., the Chief Executive was welcomed by Leyte Governor Leopoldo
Dominico Petilla and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
The President then proceeded to Barangay 62-B
National Housing Authority Bliss Sagkahan in the city for the inspection of
bunkhouse units. He, likewise, visited the site of bunkhouses located at the
Regional Government Center in Candahug, Palo in Leyte.
The President was briefed by Public Works and
Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson on the progress of the rehabilitation
efforts for the affected communities.
After inspecting the bunkhouse units, the
President led the ceremonial turn-over of bunkhouse units for 48 displaced
families in barangays Baras, San Fernando and Candahug. He was assisted by
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Secretary Singson and Gov. Petilla,
among others.
Also in attendance were Presidential Assistant
on Rehabilitation and Recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Energy Secretary
Jericho Petilla, and local officials.
Each bunkhouse with a common toilet/wash area
and kitchen will be composed of 24 rooms with a floor area of about 2.4 X 3.6
square meters to accommodate a family of five members.
Last month, the Department of Public Works and
Highways started the construction of bunkhouses in Tacloban City and Palo,
Leyte as temporary shelters for families affected by Yolanda.
Singson said that works are on-going for the
construction of bunkhouse units in various sites in Basey and Marabut in Samar.
More similar projects are on mobilization stage
with the contractors awaiting arrival of construction materials and additional
manpower to hasten work in the shortest possible time for the completion of
bunkhouses to benefit a total of 2,400 families.
DPWH designed a temporary bunkhouse made of coco
lumber wooden frames, GI sheet roofing, plywood walls and flooring, and cement
footing.
In Samar, about 240 families will benefit from
the temporary shelter being constructed at the two-hectare Basey First Housing
Area in Sitio Bangon, Basey, Samar, as the contractor starts working on the
construction of 10 bunkhouses.
Other sites with secured LGU authorization,
verified by DPWH, and contractors on the progress of mobilization includes two
hectare area for 960 families in Barangay Amambucale, Marabut, Samar; another
two hectare area for 960 families in Barangay Pago, Tanauan, Leyte; and five
hectare shelter area in Barangays San Roque and Olot, Tolosa, Leyte that will
benefit some 2,400 families.
The President departed at past 5:30 p.m. PND
(js)
