Wednesday 1 January 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Sunday, December 29, 2013

President Aquino to lead Rizal Day rites in Tarlac

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday will lead rites marking the martyrdom of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in Tarlac province, Malacañang said Sunday.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., the President will lead the flag-raising ceremony at the Rizal Park in Tarlac City.

“Sisimulan niya ang pagdiriwang sa pagtataas ng bandila katapat ng oras ng pag-aalay ng buhay ni Rizal para sa bansang Pilipinas noong umaga ng ika-30 ng Disyembre 1896 sa Bagumbayan o Luneta, Maynila (He will highlight the occasion by leading the flag-raising ceremony at approximately the time Rizal gave his life on the morning of Dec. 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan or Luneta),” Coloma said in an interview on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

He also said similar flag-raising rites to mark Rizal’s martyrdom will be held in various cities nationwide.

In Manila, the Light and Metro Rail Transit (LRT/MRT) will offer free rides from 7 to 9 a.m., and from 5 to 7 p.m. PND (jl)


President Aquino calls for safe, happy welcome for 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday appealed to the public to make sure they welcome 2014 in a safe but happy manner.

The appeal was aired through Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., in an interview on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

"Ang panawagan ng Pangulo, magkaroon ng ligtas at masayang Bagong Taon (The President's appeal is to have a safe and happy New Year)," Coloma said.

But he also said more than 1,800 hospitals nationwide, including those run by the government, are preparing to accommodate revelry-related injuries.

Coloma said the appropriate government agencies had already aired warnings against the use of harmful fireworks to welcome the New Year.

Yet, he lamented many Filipinos who defied the warnings and insisted on using such fireworks ended up wounded or even dead.

"Nais nating iwasan ang kaganapang ito. Nais natin magdiwang ang bansa ng matiwasay at maayos na Bagong Taon (We want to avoid such incidents. We want to welcome 2014 on a safe and happy note)," he said. PND (jl)


President Aquino to lead Rizal Day rites in Tarlac on Monday

President Benigno S, Aquino III will lead the Philippines in honoring the country’s national hero in Rizal Day rites that will be held in Tarlac province on Monday, Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said on Sunday.

In an interview aired over government station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Coloma said the President will lead flag-raising ceremonies at the Rizal Park in Tarlac City. This event is one of many simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies that will be held all over the country in commemoration of Rizal day on Monday.

“Pangungunahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang pagbibigay pugay ng bansang Pilipinas sa araw ng Kabayanihan ni Dr. Jose Rizal bukas ng umaga. Ang Pangulo ay mamumuno sa Rizal day celebration sa Rizal Park, Tarlac City. Sisimulan niya ang pagdiriwang sa pagtataas ng bandila katapat ng oras ng pagaaalay ng buhay ni Rizal para sa bansang Pilipinas nung umaga ng ika-30 ng Disyembre 1896 sa Bagumbayan o Luneta, Manila,” Coloma said.

“Magaganap din ang pagtataas ng bandila sa iba’t ibang panguanahing lungsod na lalahokan ng mga samahang sibiko at komunidad ng mamayanag Pilipino,” he added. PND (rck)


Palace: Sanctions await lawmen who will fire weapons to welcome New Year

Sanctions await law enforcers who will needlessly fire their weapons to welcome the New Year, Malacañang stressed on Sunday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said this is aside from the Philippine National Police securing areas where people converge.

Coloma said the muzzles of firearms of some 148,000 police personnel had been taped to prevent them from firing the weapons indiscriminately during the New Year revelry.

"Pagkatapos ng pagdiriwang, muling sisiyasatin ng mga hepe ng mga presinto at himpilan ang mga baril ng kani-kanilang tauhan, upang mabatid kung sino ang lumabag sa nasabing panuntunan at para mapatawan ng kaukulang parusa (After the New Year celebration, the chiefs of police will inspect the firearms and see who violated the rule, and will mete appropriate sanctions)," Coloma said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

On the other hand, Coloma said the PNP under Director General Alan Purisima is taking added steps to secure areas of convergence.

He added police are now on heightened alert and are patrolling public areas like parks, churches, airports and transport terminals, as well as malls. PND (jl)


Palace: Government ready to cushion impact of power rate hikes

Malacañang on Sunday assured the public the government has the social protection programs to minimize the impact of upcoming power rate hikes.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said a big chunk of the P2.265-trillion budget for 2014 is for social protection and social safety nets.

"Yun pong pinakamalaking bahagdan ng ating 2014 national budget ay nakalaan na para sa social protection, kabilang riyan po yung sinasabi na social safety nets para sa kapakinabangan ng ating mga mamamayan, lalong-lalo na doon sa mga lower economic classes po natin na siyang pinakamarami sa ating mga mamamayan (A chunk of our national budget will go to social protection, including social safety nets for our people, especially those in the lower economic classes)," Coloma said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

He said the social services aim to protect the poor from the effects of high prices, including costs of electricity.

Coloma also said the government's economic cluster continues to monitor the effects of price hikes for basic services, and will adopt the appropriate measures.

According to Coloma, the economic cluster is working to ensure the effects of these price movements "do not create significant negative consequences on our people."

"Masinsin po itong sinusubaybayan ng ating economic cluster para lapatan ng karampatang aksyon at para hindi ito makalikha ng ligalig at dagdag na pasanin sa ating mga mamamayan (Our economic cluster is monitoring these developments and will adopt the appropriate policies to make sure they do not add to the burden of the people)," he said. PND (jl)


Palace assures: Government system in place to identify 'Yolanda' dead

Malacañang on Sunday reassured the public the government has a system in place to process and identify the remains of those who died in the wake of super Typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the Departments of Health and Interior and Local Government are implementing this system.

"Ginagawa naman po ang lahat ng nararapat para makumpleto ang prosesong ito, at higit sa lahat, ang pangunahin pong interes ng ating pamahalaan ay mapangalagaan ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga mamamayan diyan sa aspetong nabanggit (Authorities are doing all they can to complete the processing of the remains. The government's aim is to ensure the health and safety of people)," Coloma said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma's assurance came amid fears raised by some residents that some 1,000 bodies are rotting in Tacloban City alone and may pose a health hazard.

Tacloban was among the areas hit hardest by Yolanda, which left more than 6,100 dead in its wake after it battered Visayas and parts of Southern Luzon last November.

Coloma said the Bureau of Fire Protection, which is under the DILG, has a systematic manner of identifying the deceased.

He appealed to the public for patience, saying such procedures may take some time.

"Maaari lang pong mahaba ang oras na kinakailangan dahil sa dami ng mga kinikilalang mga nasawi (The BFP may need some time to complete its task because of the high number of fatalities)," he said. PND (jl)


Palace: President Aquino's foreign trips since 2010 generated P334.16-B, 43k jobs

President Benigno S. Aquino III's 26 foreign trips since he assumed office in 2010 have generated P334.16 billion in investments and more than 43,000 jobs, Malacañang said Sunday.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., these are aside from the stronger ties the Philippines forged with other nations via the visits.

"Mula sa 26 na bansa na binisita ng Pangulo simula ng kanyang panunungkulan noong ika-30 ng Hunyo 2010, nakakuha ang Pilipinas ng kabuuang P334.16 bilyon na halaga ng puhunan na nakalikha ng humigit kumulang sa 43,365 na trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan (From the President's 26 visits since he assumed office on June 30, 2010, we gained P334.16 billion in investments and 43,365 jobs)," Coloma said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma added the visits helped the Philippines fulfill its obligations in the international community.

The Philippines is a part of international groupings such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the United Nations, he added.

Also, Coloma said the Philippines now has 66 project commitments from 55 foreign companies, along with P611 billion in investments and pledges from China, Japan, United States and United Kingdom that may lead to 100,000 jobs.

Of the 66 project commitments, 16 had been completed while 16 more are in progress.


"Napatatag at napalawig ang lakas ng ating ekonomiya sa mga larangan ng negosyo, kalakalan, at pamumuhunan (We got a boost in terms of business, investments and trade)," he said. PND (jl)