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)
