President Aquino orders continued updates on
'Basyang,' help for those affected
As he continues to monitor the situation in
affected areas, President Benigno Aquino III has ordered concerned agencies to
provide him with constant updates on Tropical Cyclone Basyang (Kajiki) and to
help those affected, Malacañang said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said President Aquino wants regular reports from the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration.
"The President has asked for continuous
reports from the NDRRMC and PAGASA on the status of (Basyang) ... Kagabi kasi
humingi ang pangulo ng patuloy na pagpapadala ng update sa kanya ng PAGASA
(Since last night, he asked PAGASA to provide him with constant updates),"
Valte said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The NDRRMC's Saturday morning update indicated
more than 18,000 people had been displaced due to bad weather conditions
brought by Basyang.
Valte said the President wants the NDRRMC and
other concerned national government agencies to help the local government units
of affected areas.
But PAGASA's 11 a.m. advisory indicated Basyang
has weakened into a tropical depression, after making landfall several times
since Friday night.
PAGASA also expects Basyang to speed away from
the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday morning.
"Ang atas ng Pangulo sa NDRRMC at national
government agencies, bigyan ang lahat ng tulong na kakailanganin ng pamahalaang
lokal na maaapektuhan ni Basyang (The President's order to the NDRRMC and other
national government agencies is to help the LGUs in areas affected by
Basyang)," Valte said. PND (jl)
Palace condemns IED attack, use of minors by
armed group in Mindanao
Malacañang on Saturday condemned the use of an improvised
explosive device and so-called child warriors by armed groups fighting the
government in Mindanao.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
also urged the media to coordinate with officials on the ground especially in
areas where fighting is likely to take place.
"Hindi maganda ang balitang yan at hindi
tayo natutuwa (What happened on Saturday morning was not good and we are not
amused)," she said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Initial reports of Saturday's incident showed at
least six people were injured in an IED explosion in Maguindanao. Two were
reportedly journalists.
The military does not discount the possibility
the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front, could be behind the attack.
In the meantime, Valte appealed to media
agencies to abide by a safety protocol and to cooperate with government
representatives, including those of the police and the military, especially in
controlled areas.
Meanwhile, Valte said the Palace is quite
disturbed by the discovery of the remains of three child soldiers in one of the
areas where fighting between the BIFF and government troops took place.
"Kahindik-hindik ang balita na may tatlo
sila ginagamit na child soldiers, beyond the fact that it violates so many
laws, not just ours but of international laws. We condemn the practice of using
child soldiers...Walang lugar ang paggamit ng menor de edad sa ganitong labanan
(We are outraged that this group used child soldiers. This violates not just
our laws but international laws as well. We condemn the practice of using child
soldiers. Minors have no place in the battlefield)," she said.
She said the government can help address the
situation thorugh child support services, as well as the commitment of its
security forces that they will not use child soldiers or warriors.
But she also appealed to parents to make sure
their children are not recruited for such exploitation.
"(S)a magulang, pakiusap natin sana huwag
natin payagan ang anak, huwag natin payagang magamit sa ganitong paraan (We
appeal to parents not to allow their children to be exploited this way),"
she said. PND (jl)
Palace: Philippines keeping lines open with Hong
Kong on visa row
The Philippines will maintain open lines of
communication with Hong Kong in the wake of visa requirements the Hong Kong
government imposed on holders of red and blue (official) Philippine passports,
Malacañang said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the Philippine government is always ready to resolve the issue through
dialogue.
"Siguro nakita ninyo sa ating pahayag sa
nakaraang araw, we take it as it is. Pinapakita natin na patuloy ang ating
pagiging bukas (You have seen in past days that the Philippine government has
kept communication lines open)," she said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
She also said there have been
"consultations" ongoing on the matter.
The Hong Kong government earlier implemented
further sanctions against the Philippines by requiring visas for holders of
Philippine official and diplomatic passport holders. Such passports are used on
official travel.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs had
said the Philippine government "regrets" such an act, which it also
branded as "unfortunate."
It added the Philippines "remains committed
to manifest compassion for the victims and their families and is ready to turn
over the additional tokens of solidarity from the Filipino people."
Hong Kong's action stemmed from its repeated
demands for an apology from the Philippine government over the death of eight
Hong Kong tourists in a hostage crisis in 2010. PND (jl)
Palace: Return of PDAF funds a matter between
solons and Commission on Audit
An order to at least four senators to return
their Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations is strictly a matter
between the lawmakers and the Commission on Audit, Malacañang said Saturday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the Palace cannot compel the four to comply with the COA order since the
senators are from a coequal branch of government.
"Kami, wala kaming power of compulsion,
knowing the senators belong to a separate and coequal branch of government (The
Palace does not have the power to compel the senators to comply, knowing the
senators belong to a separate and coequal branch of government)," Valte
said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
"This is a matter between the COA and the
four senators who were issued notices of disallowance," she added.
Earlier reports indicated the senators had been
linked to a multibillion-peso pork barrel scam after their PDAF allocations
were alleged to have been funneled to bogus non-government organizations. PND
(jl)
Optimism high in the Philippines following
developments in economy, Mindanao peace process, says official
The recent developments in the economy, the
continuing efforts to rebuild the typhoon-devastated areas in the Visayas and
the successful peace process in Mindanao are indications of even greater
achievements for the country, a Palace official said in a statement.
In a statement, Deputy presidential spokesperson
Abigail Valte said the entire country welcomes the good news about the economy
growing by 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, which puts economic
growth for the entire 2013 at 7.2 percent.
This makes Filipinos to be optimistic as the
country continues on an upward trajectory even with the devastation caused by
Typhoon Yolanda affecting the first quarter growth this year.
Also the visit of the Right Honorable William
Hague MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United
Kingdom, strengthens the country’s confidence as it strives for a better
economic growth this year.
In meeting the President, the Vice President, as
well as the Foreign Affairs Secretary, Secretary Hague renewed his government’s
commitment in the reconstruction program for Yolanda-affected communities.
The UK is one of the countries that extended the
most assistance to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. Secretary
Hague also met with prominent members of the business community to discuss how
to further expand partnerships between the Philippines and British companies.
“These events represent even more cause for
optimism—even greater strides—as we tread the path towards inclusiveness and
prosperity,” Valte said in the statement.
The Palace official also said that with the
completion of the final Annex on Normalization and the Addendum on Bangsamoro
Waters, attaining long-term peace in Mindanao is now at hand.
Quoting the President in a speech this week,
Valte said “’outstanding’ does not refer only to personal excellence. It refers
to excellence that harnesses the energies of the vast majority; excellence that
recognizes its duty to fellowmen and country; excellence that does everything
in its power to leave to future generations a society that is inclusive,
prosperous, and teeming with opportunity.” PND (as)
