President Aquino declares January 20 as a special non-working day in the City of Pagadian in celebration of Pasalamat Festival
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared January 20, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in the city of Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur in celebration of the “Pasalamat Festival 2014.″
The Chief Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 700 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on January 2 to give the people of Pagadian City the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
The city fiesta is celebrated every third Sunday of January in honor of its patron saint, the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Niño).
The annual event is officially called the Pasalamat Festival which is highlighted with a fluvial parade (regatta), trade exhibits, the Mutya ng Pagadian beauty pageant, carnival shows and a civic military parade. PND (js)
Palace one with Cardinal Tagle's call for working for rehabilitation of calamity areas, fighting corruption
Malacañang on Thursday said it is one with Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle's call to work for the rehabilitation of areas hit by calamities and eradicating corruption.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. also said the Aquino administration joins the Catholic faith in celebrating the feast of the Black Nazarene, one of the country's strongest shows of faith.
"We are one with the Filipino people and the entire Catholic community in praying and working for the rehabilitation of calamity areas while remaining vigilant in eradicating corruption and institutionalizing reforms through good governance," he said in a statement.
Earlier Thursday, Tagle took a dig against corruption during his homily at a Mass marking the Feast of the Black Nazarene at the Quirino Grandstand.
Tagle also called on Filipinos not to forget the victims of calamities including those in past years.
Such calamities are aside from the recent ones such as the magnitude-7.2 Bohol quake and super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Meanwhile, Coloma said the administration affirms Tagle's call to exercise faith and manifest love of God in thought and in deed.
"We affirm the call of Cardinal Tagle that as Christians, we should exercise our faith and manifest our love of God both in thought and in deed. As he said, 'Ang hindi nakakalimot sa Diyos, hindi nakakalimot sa kapwa,'" he said. PND (jl)
New Pakistan envoy presents credentials to President Aquino
New Pakistan Ambassador to the Philippines Safdar Hayat on Thursday formally presented his credentials to President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang.
The new envoy called on the President at the Music Room of the Palace Thursday afternoon.
His call came a day before the President's attendance at the New Year Vin D'Honneur to hosted by the President on Friday morning.
At Friday's Vin D'Honneur, the President is expected to deliver his New Year message and offer a toast to the heads of state and government as represented by their ambassadors.
Papal Nuncio Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, the dean of the Diplomatic Corps, is also expected to deliver his response. PND (jl)
DOH on top of tackling spread of measles in the country, says Palace
The health department is doing everything to control the spread of measles in the country especially in highly populated areas, a Palace official said on Thursday.
“Ginagawa po ng Department of Health (DOH) ang lahat ng nararapat para ma-control po ang pagkalat ng sakit na ito; mapangalagaan ang kalusugan, lalong-lalo na ng mga kabataang unang naaapektuhan nito,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
“At nagbigay lang po ng impormasyon si Secretary Ona na hindi lang naman po dito sa Pilipinas nagkaroon ng ganyang karanasan, sa iba pang mga bansa tulad ng Pakistan, maging sa several parts of the US ay nakakaranas din ng increase in the incidence of measles.”
An outbreak is the occurrence of cases of the disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographical area or season, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
There is no specific treatment for measles and recovery may take two to three weeks, WHO said. Complications of measles however may result in blindness, diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis and ear infection. Vaccine is available for children to prevent them from being infected.
Among the symptoms of measles include eye redness, coughs and colds, high fever, rashes on the ears, face, neck, and the whole body, and difficulty of breathing, the health department said.
Health officials said they are looking at a possible new strain of measles that caused the cases of the disease in Metro Manila.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. PND (as)
Govt to protect consumers from unnecessary power rate hikes
Malacanang made an assurance on Thursday that the government is determined to protect the interest of the consumers particularly on the possible power rate hike.
Consumer groups worry that the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) may charge even higher once the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court is lifted
“Ang ating pamahalaan ay determinado na pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga mamamayan at protektahan sila mula sa pagsasamantala ng market power o ano mang aksyon na hindi makatwiran o makatarungan,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
Coloma said that the President knows his obligation of protecting the people’s interest particularly on unnecessary burdens like power rate increases.
“He is the Chief Executive responsible for the welfare of the citizenry, and we regard this matter as a significant issue involving the citizen’s welfare. So we will do what is possible in order to protect the welfare of the citizens in this matter.”
The Supreme Court issued last month a 60-day halt order on the P4.15 per kilowatt-hour increase by Meralco.
The high court’s order is aimed at stopping both the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Meralco from implementing the power rate increase.
Oral arguments have been scheduled for January 21, 2014.
The rate adjustment was implemented by Meralco for the December billing. Meralco earlier announced the rate increase, which was to be imposed in three tranches, as a result of the scheduled shutdown of the Malampaya gas plant.
Because of the shutdown, Meralco bought more expensive electricity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) to cover for the deficit needed in its jurisdiction.
On Thursday, the high court told the Department of Energy and the ERC to send their comments on the controversial electricity rate increase not later than January 17, and to attend the January 21 oral argument. PND (as)
President Aquino convenes Cabinet Secretaries to speed up post-Yolanda rehabilitation program
President Benigno S. Aquino III convened on Thursday the members of the Cabinet to ensure that the post-‘Yolanda’ rehabilitation program is on track and to speed up its implementation, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said.
The Communications Secretary said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the Cabinet Secretaries had updated the Chief Executive of the progress of the works of their respective departments.
Presidential Adviser for Rehabilitation and Recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson had pointed out during the Cabinet meeting the need for speeding up the clearing of debris in Tacloban City, so that rebuilding efforts can proceed unimpeded, and to minimize citizen’s exposure to health and safety hazards, Coloma said.
"Environment Secretary (Ramon) Paje said that there are 30 shredders available for immediate shipment to the calamity area. This will be used to crush the debris for proper disposal and possible recycling. The possible redeployment of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority rescue battalion to Tacloban will also be considered," he said.
Coloma said the President directed Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson to implement the rebuilding program for destroyed local government facilities including town halls, public markets, and civic centers.
The rebuilding program which was approved last December is estimated to cost 4-billion pesos, Coloma said.
According to Singson 832 school sites have already been cleared for rebuilding of destroyed school buildings, Coloma said.
"The Department of Public Works and Highways is awaiting Japan International Cooperation Agency the proposed design for upgraded school facilities that will be disaster-resilient. He said that the design is being expected before the end of this month," Coloma stressed.
"Health Secretary (Enrique) Ona reported on efforts of the Department of Health to monitor and check the spread of “chikungunya,” a mosquito-borne disease resulting in body pains, but is considered less dangerous than dengue. Massive fogging operations are being conducted in ‘Yolanda’-affected areas," he said.
Coloma said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima presented to the Chief Executive the National Bureau of Investigation’s report on the identification and burial of typhoon victims in Tacloban City.
"This is for Tacloban City alone. A total of 2,249 bodies were recovered. Out of this number, 448 have been processed and buried in permanent burial sites, one of the memorial parks, while 1,801 have been buried in temporary burial sites in Barangay Vasper and at Sitio Suhi in Tacloban City—Sitio Suhi, Barangay San Isidro, Tacloban City—and will be exhumed for further identification processes," he said.
The President directed Department Budget and Management to provide additional funds to complete the cadaver identification and burial process at the soonest possible time.
"Science Secretary Mario Montejo reported that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is nearing completion of simulation studies on effects of possible storm surge occurrences similar to those that were brought about by typhoon ‘Yolanda’," he said.
He said Montejo was directed by the President to submit the report by end of January. The DOST will also submit a report on simulation studies of flood-prone areas along the country’s 18 major river systems.
Coloma said Paje reported that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has completed the mapping of ‘Yolanda’-affected areas where the government would implement a 40-meter no-build zone.
The President directed the DENR and the DILG to coordinate with the Department of Tourism in addressing specific concerns pertaining to the rebuilding of tourism facilities along the coastlines such as the Jetty port in Palompon, Leyte, which generates significant tourism revenues, Coloma stressed.
"Secretary (Joseph Emilio) Abaya reported that Department of Transportation’s and Communications is awaiting submission of a JICA study by the end of this month on the renovation of Tacloban Airport which was completely destroyed by typhoon Yolanda.
The President directed the DBM to submit recommendations on the possibility of extending financial assistance to national government employees affected by typhoon ‘Yolanda’ similar to assistance given to those affected by typhoons Pablo and Sendong.
"Budget Secretary (Florencio) Abad also asked Cabinet members to submit recommendations on realignment of department and agency budgets for the purpose of addressing the effects of typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and other natural calamities that arose during the last quarter of the year and were not considered in the preparation of the 2014 budget," he said. PND (js)
