President Aquino supports Filipino film
industry, watches MMFF movie
President Benigno S. Aquino III showed his
support for the Philippine movie industry by watching one of the film entries
to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this year.
On Christmas Day, the President watched the
movie “My Little Bossings”, which stars his nephew Bimby and sister TV-host
actress Kris Aquino.
According to Film Development Council of the
Philippines Chairman Briccio Santos, 2013 proved to be a "landmark year”
for the Filipino movie makers citing an increase in output and quality of films
especially with Sineng Pambansa "that gathered the masters filmmakers each
with their new acclaimed masterpieces.”
He stressed that the Philippine cinema have
become a force to reckon with in the stage of world cinema.
"We hope 2014 to be even bigger for
Philippine cinema as we maintain an enviable place in the hearts and minds of
movie audience both here and abroad,” Santos added.
Wearing a dark blue polo, President Aquino
arrived at SM Manila at 4 p.m. together with Kris, Bimby, Joshua and child star
Ryzza Mae Dizon.
The President was seated in the middle of Bimby
and Kris’s eldest son Joshua during the movie.
In an interview with Kris, she said that she is
proud of his son’s first movie as it is one of the top grossing films during
the MMFF’s first showing day.
Aside from the Kris’ family, the two-hour movie
was also enjoyed by some family members of the Presidential Security Group who
were invited to watch the film.
The President got a chance to take pictures with
some children who were inside the movie house.
After the film, the President was seen carrying
Ryzza, who had become close to his nephew while shooting the film. Kris earlier
said that she wanted her son to do another movie with the 8-year-old child
actress.
Watching a movie is part of the relaxation of
the President as he was earlier advised by Health Secretary Enrique Ona to take
a break from work.
The MMFF is now on its 39th year. It features
eight movies this year, which will be shown from Christmas Day until January 8.
Other movie entries include Kimmy Dora (Ang
Kiyemeng Prequel); Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy; 10,000 Hours; Boy Golden:
Shoot-to-Kill; Pedro Calungsod: Batang Martir; Pagpag Siyam na Buhay and
Kaleidoscope World. PND (jb)
President Aquino to complete priority programs
of the Philippine Development Plan regardless of survey results, Palace says
President Benigno S. Aquino III and the members
of his Cabinet are determined to pursue and complete the priority programs of
the Philippine Development Plan regardless of survey results, Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said.
"As the President emphasizes, we will do
right by our people and endeavor to fulfill their aspirations for a better
future," Coloma said in a statement during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Thursday following the release of the Fourth Quarter 2013 Social
Weather Stations Survey (SWS).
According to Fourth Quarter 2013 SWS Survey
published by the BusinessWorld, majority of Filipinos remain satisfied with
President Aquino’s performance. The 4th quarter survey was conducted from
December 11 to 16 using face-to-face interviews of 1,550 adults.
The SWS survey put President Aquino’s net
satisfaction score at a "good" +49, with 69% claiming they were
pleased with how the Chief Executive was doing his work and 21% declaring otherwise.
This was unchanged from three months earlier,
although at that time fewer respondents – 19% – said they were dissatisfied and
68% had a positive opinion.
The fourth-quarter result instead brought the
President’s full-year score to a "very good" +55, up from 2011 and
2012’s similarly "very good" +53. The President recorded a "very
good" +62 during his first year in office. PND (js)
Palace: Admin to focus on reconstruction in
Yolanda-hit areas
While it welcomes the "good" net
satisfaction ratings of President Benigno S. Aquino III for the fourth quarter
of 2013, the Aquino administration will remain focused on its work, especially
in the rehabilitation of areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny Coloma Jr. said the government is aware of the big
work ahead in terms of helping people affected by Yolanda recover from their
losses.
"Siyempre kung yan ang opinyon, tinatanggap
namin ang kanilang pagpapasiya. Nguni't isinasaalang-alang pa rin natin na
napakalaki ng dapat gawing programa (If that is the opinion of our people, we
accept it. But we still keep in mind there is a huge task ahead)," he said
at a media briefing.
Pollster Social Weather Stations' survey from Dec.
11 to 16, showed 69 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with President Aquino's
performance, while 21 percent are not.
This translated to a "good" +49 net
rating for the President.
But Coloma said the government is aware of the
major challenges in implementing reconstruction programs for areas affected by
Yolanda, which left more than 6,100 dead.
"We still have to surmount major challenges
in terms of implementing reconstruction and rehabilitation programs. Kaya sabi
natin mas mabuti mag-focus na lang sa trabaho na dapat gawin (That is why we
believe it is better to focus on the task ahead)," he said.
He also said the survey results could be an
indicator that President Aquino is not affected by criticisms against
government regarding post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts.
The survey results also indicate the President
is not affected by criticisms over the Zamboanga City standoff in September,
and the Bohol quake in October. PND (jl)
President Aquino to have last say on tenure of
Cabinet members, says Coloma
President Benigno S. Aquino III will have the
last say on whether to accept or not the resignation of members of his Cabinet,
Malacañang maintained Thursday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. stressed this point ahead of a meeting
between President Aquino and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla.
"The President is the final arbiter of who
works with him in the Cabinet. Of course, every member of the Cabinet serves at
his pleasure and (is) subject to his full trust and confidence," Coloma
said at a media briefing.
He also noted all Cabinet members have a
performance contract as part of the culture of good governance.
"We are all bound to abide by our
performance contracts," he said.
Coloma said he received word from Petilla that
he is to fly to Manila from out of town and meet with President Aquino in the
afternoon.
Petilla had said he would keep his word to quit
his post if he failed to restore power to areas in the Visayas hit by super
typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last November.
"Sa aking personal na nasaksihan bilang
kasama niya sa Gabinete, nakita ko sa kanya isang taong professional sa kanyang
pagkilos (From what I personally witnessed as a colleague in the Cabinet, I see
in Petilla a professional person)," he said.
He added Petilla had told him, "I am not a
quitter and I am not quitting on our people. But I gave my word."
"Para sa akin yan ay kahanga-hangang
deklarasyon ng lingkod bayan (To me, that is a declaration of true public
service)," he said.
On the other hand, Coloma said President Aquino
has not criticized Petilla over his efforts to restore power to the calamity
areas.
Besides, he said the extent of the damage caused
by Yolanda had been massive, with at least 250 transmission towers of the
National Grid Corp. of the Philippines affected.
Coloma said Petilla's promise to restore power
by Dec. 24 sought to convey to Leyte residents "some kind of message od
determination and willpower to build a better situation."
He noted Petilla, before he was tapped to head
the Department of Energy, was governor of Leyte province. PND (jl)
Palace: Government to take steps vs Mexican drug
cartel in Phl
Malacañang assured the public Thursday the
government will take the needed measures to neutralize a Mexican drug cartel,
which has made its presence felt in the Philippines.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said authorities have a duty to arrest
lawbreakers and protect the public.
"Siyempre po pag-iibayuhin ang pagsisikap
na masabat o mahuli ang mga lumalabag sa batas, itigil ang kanilang krimen, at
pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan (Of course, the government will seek
to arrest these lawbreakers, stop their crimes, and protect the
citizenry)," he said at a media briefing.
Earlier Thursday, the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency said the dreaded Sinoloa drug syndicate has made its way to
the Philippines.
PDEA head Arturo Cacdac Jr. said this following
a raid in Batangas that netted 84 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride
(shabu) worth P420 million. PND (jl)
President Aquino rejects Secretary Petilla’s
resignation
President Benigno S. Aquino III rejected the
resignation of Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla following their meeting on
Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
Petilla has been criticized for failing to fully
restore power in typhoon-affected areas in the Visayas region despite his
pledge to energize the region by December 24.
Lacierda said the President did not accept the
resignation believing the energy secretary has done enough and that restoring
power will take three to six months in town centers considering the extent of
the damage.
The major grid in the Luzon-Visayas was down,
the major geothermal plant in Leyte was also out of service and generation,
transmission, and distribution lines were down, Lacierda said.
Despite the huge task, the President believes
Petilla accomplish a lot, according to Lacierda.
First, from his original target of six months
Petilla was able to restore power in roughly 40 days, Lacierda said.
Second, within that period, Petilla was able to
energize 317 out of 320 affected towns, leaving 0.93 percent still to
accomplish, he added.
“By any measure this is excellent performance.
The President noted that foreign observers who have seen work being done in the
Visayas, and in comparison to disasters of lesser magnitude in other countries,
pointed out that repair and rehabilitation of energy infrastructure was done
faster,” he noted.
“For all these reasons, the President, in
rejecting Secretary Petilla’s offer to resign, reiterated that he has no
intention of losing the services of an honorable public servant.”
While visiting devastated areas in the region
last November together with the President, Petilla said he targeted to restore
the supply of electricity in the Visayas region by December 24.
Petilla said he was hopeful of energizing the
region by December 24 considering the availability of manpower and equipment
with the help of volunteers from Mindanao electric cooperatives as well as from
Meralco.
He said at the time that there were available
materials particularly those being used for the sitio electrification program
that could be used to fix damaged lines and poles in the Visayas region.
Petilla also reported that the most number of
damaged towers was in Panay Island with 134 toppled towers. PND (as)
