President Aquino: Spirit of bayanihan resides in
Filipinos worldwide
President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday hailed
the spirit of bayanihan among Filipinos worldwide, as he welcomed in Malacañan
Palace a group of US-based Filipino professionals who conducted medical
missions in areas hit by super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).
In his remarks at the courtesy call of the
Philippine Medical Association of Chicago, the President said it is this spirit
of solidarity that has helped Filipinos overcome the challenges in the
country's history.
"The message we sent as one people was clear.
The spirit of bayanihan continues to reside within all of us, wherever we may
be in the world. It is this spirit that has helped us overcome so many
challenges in our history," he said.
He added this same spirit will help the
government continue its efforts to "build back better."
The President recalled the PMA of Chicago had
for more than a generation come back every year to promote the well-being of
Filipinos through medical missions.
"This is a reminder to all of us that as
was the case during Martial Law and during our family's time in exile, Filipino
professionals abroad remain some of the most committed to the advancement of
our people and our nation," the President said.
But he said the group's visit this year is
particularly timely as the country welcomes all the extra help it can get to
help communities affected by Yolanda recover.
"In one of our country's darkest hours,
there is unity, there is resilience, there is compassion," he said.
The President updated the delegation on the good
news for the country in the last part of 2013, including an economic growth of
6.5 percent near the end of last year, to push the Gross Domestic Product
growth to 7.2 percent for the entire 2013.
He said this made the Philippines one of the
fastest growing economies in Asia, second only to China.
Also, he said his administration, with the
support of the people, streamlined government spending and held erring public
officials accountable.
It also fostered a business environment that
rewards ingenuity and hard work over a willingness to bend the rules.
Also, the President said his administration
focused on social inclusiveness, and boosted the budgets of the concerned
agencies.
Because of this, he said about 3.9 million
families now receive cash grants on condition that school-age children attend
classes, pregnant mothers get regular health checkups, and children are
immunized from diseases.
More Filipinos - nearly 77 million - are
enrolled in the PhilHealth health insurance program, such that they can walk
into hospitals, show their PhilHealth cards and get treatment for free.
"Make no mistake, your association had a
significant part in this. Each peso and dollar you gave from your own pocket,
each patient you treated in a medical mission, each small effort that you made
is part of the accumulation of positivity and inclusiveness that has made our
country's turnaround possible," the President said.
He also assured the PMA in Chicago that while
there will be more challenges in the future, his administration with the
backing of the Filipino people will continue its work. PND (jl)
Philippine Medical Association in Chicago thanks
President Aquino for support in medical mission
Filipino medical professionals based in the
United States on Tuesday paid a call on President Benigno Aquino III in
Malacañan Palace to thank him for his support in its latest medical mission.
The Philippine Medical Association of Chicago
also gave the President an award and a memento for supporting its medical
mission in areas including those hit by super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).
Members of the association also hoped to
continue visiting the Philippines to help Filipinos who need medical
assistance.
"I hope in the near future we will continue
to do this because this is our passion, this is our compassion. We love our
country and we want to serve our country," the association's president
Nida Blankas-Hernaez said during the courtesy call at the Heroes Hall of Malacanang.
During their stay in the Philippines, delegates
of the association held medical missions and disaster relief in areas hit by
Yolanda, including Tacloban and Leyte.
They also helped several people in six towns in
Marinduque province, she said.
"With this, we probably helped over 1,000
recipients .... For this mission alone, we had $300,000 spent for this. We had
a lot of donations," she said.
"We are so lucky because we were able to
serve the Philippines, and we love to come to the Philippines," she added.
PND (jl)
PCOO Assistant Secretary Marfil promoted to
Undersecretary
Malacañang on Tuesday announced the promotion of
Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Renato Marfil
to the rank of undersecretary.
PCOO Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr.
announced Marfil's appointment by President Benigno Aquino III at Tuesday's
regular media briefing.
"I'm pleased to announce President Aquino
has appointed ... Renato M. Marfil as undersecretary of the Presidential
Communications Operations Office," he said.
"We wish to congratulate him on this
well-deserved promotion," he added.
Marfil has been with the Aquino administration
since it assumed office in 2010, as assistant secretary for media relations.
PND (jl)
Palace reminds Davao City mayor to uphold rule
of law
Malacañang on Tuesday reminded Davao City Mayor
Rodrigo Duterte to uphold the rule of law even in going after criminals.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said such a policy applies to all
government officials, whether at the national or local level.
"All government officials, whether local or
national, have the basic responsibility to uphold the rule of law," Coloma
said at a media briefing.
Duterte had said at a Senate hearing Monday that
he would "gladly" kill a personality linked to rice smuggling, if he
entered Davao City.
The mayor had lamented the slow pace of justice
in going after rice smuggling.
But Coloma pointed out the Aquino administration
is now putting in place systemic reforms to address so-called loopholes in the
criminal justice system. PND (jl)
Palace: Government troops to fulfill sworn duty
to protect people from BIFF
Government troops are prepared to fulfill their
sworn duty to protect Filipinos from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters,
Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. gave the assurance amid reports the BIFF
may be gearing up for urban warfare.
"Sa lahat na pagkakataon, tungkulin ng
pamahalaan na tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mamamayan sa kanayunan o kalungsuran
(At all times, the government has a sworn duty to ensure the safety of
Filipinos, whether in the rural or urban areas)," Coloma said at a media
briefing.
He said this means the Philippine National
Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines are prepared to ensure the people's
safety as part of fulfilling their duty.
Coloma also said the PNP, AFP and intelligence
community continues to keep tabs on the movements of the state's enemies.
He added the government's forces cannot afford
to get complacent or to let down their guard at any time.
"The government cannot tolerate threats to
national and local security and the lives and security of our people," he
said. PND (jl)
President Aquino says government to work with
partners in providing sufficient, affordable and potable water for the people
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday
the government continues to work hard with the Philippine Association of Water
Districts (PAWD), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and concerned
authorities to provide sufficient, affordable, and potable water for the
people.
"Because water is life, your government
works hard with concerned authorities like the LWUA, PAWD, and all water
districts across our country to ensure that every Filipino has access to this
vital resource," the Chief Executive said in his message to PAWD on the
occasion of the 35th National Convention.
"We continue to fulfill this task by
enhancing the water service industry, extending it to even the most remote
areas, and implementing strategies that make it more accessible to all
consumers," the President said.
The PAWD, the national umbrella organization of
more than 500 local water districts in the country, is holding the Products and
Services Exhibit 2014 on the occasion of its 35th National Convention on
February 4 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center, Davao City.
The convention, which has for its theme, “Water
Districts: Addressing Challenges in Water Supply and Sanitation,” will give
emphasis to the crucial role of water districts in making sure that Filipinos
in the countryside have access to safe water supply and sanitation facilities.
"May this convention fuel your
association’s efforts to provide sufficient, affordable, and potable water for
our countrymen; may this gathering be a wellspring of fresh, innovative
concepts and action plans that will further empower your members as well as the
communities and sectors you serve," President Aquino said.
The Philippines keeps its steadfast momentum
towards an even more reinvigorated future, the President said.
"Let us all remain vibrant and inspired as
we forge ahead, cascading the benefits of inclusive growth to more of our
citizens," he said. PND (js)
Government to tap private sector to upgrade
facilities of Orthopedic Center
The government said on Tuesday that it will soon
task the private sector to help upgrade the facilities of the Philippine
Orthopedic Center in order to expand its scope of coverage and to improve the
delivery of universal health care to all Filipinos.
This was announced by Presidential
Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. in a press briefing in
Malacanang.
He said the government was seeking the help of
the private sector so that the sale of the hospital would no longer necessary.
“To enlarge the scope and improve the delivery
of universal healthcare to all Filipinos, the Department of Health is tapping
the support of the private sector in upgrading the facilities of the Philippine
Orthopedic Center mindful of its duty to provide affordable and accessible
health services to the people, the government will modernize the facilities of
the hospital without seeding or selling the hospital to the private sector,”
Coloma said.
“It will reduce dependence on the national
subsidy for its operational needs and move towards an effective and efficient
fiscal discipline that will support the hospital’s operational needs,” he
added.
Coloma further said the government “shall
protect the welfare of the employees of the Center” throughout the duration of
the project’s implementation.
“Government shall protect the welfare of the employees
of the Center while implementing this project,” Coloma said. PND (rck)
Palace: OES unit now handling complaint vs ERC
chief
A new division under the Office of the Executive
Secretary in Malacañang is now handling an administrative complaint against
Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Zenaida Ducut, the Palace said
Tuesday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the Investigative and Adjudicatory
Division of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs is
now handling the complaint.
"Natanggap nila ang complaint ng Akbayan,
at sinimulna ang pagsiyasat nito (The new office has received the complaint of
Akbayan and has started looking into the accusations)," Coloma said at a
media briefing.
He said the new unit replaces the Presidential
Anti-Graft Commission.
The new unit will be under the office of Deputy Executive
Secretary for Legal Affairs Michael Aguinaldo, he added.
Akbayan had asked the Palace to probe Ducut for
allegedly abandoning her duty to protect consumers from a power rate hike.
Earlier, Coloma said there is no basis for
asking Ducut to resign or take a leave of absence, at least for now. PND (jl)
Government working to improve agriculture
sector’s performance, says official
Malacanang said it continues to look for ways to
develop the country’s agriculture sector for it to contribute to the national
economy, attain food self-sufficiency and eliminate anomalous transactions in
rice importations.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma
Jr. said the Cabinet Economic Cluster has discussed the agriculture sector
several times to find ways on how to improve its performance.
The agriculture sector is lagging behind
manufacturing and services, Coloma said, noting that the administration wants
it to be at par with other sectors in terms of contributions to the national
economy.
For instance in 2013, while the country’s gross
domestic product (GDP) increased to 7.2 percent, the agriculture sector’s
contribution is only at 1.1 percent, way below the services and manufacturing
sectors, Coloma said.
“Kaya’t bahagi iyan ng pangkalahatang pagturing
sa buong kontribusyon ng agricultural sector lalong-lalo na’t ito ay
nilalahukan ng pinakamaraming Pilipino na magsasaka at mangingisda,” he said.
He also said the sector may need systemic
reforms to improve its productivity and contribute to overall economic
development of the country and at the same time eliminate corruption in food
importations.
And to stop anomalous transactions in rice
importations, Coloma said the Department of Agriculture, through the National
Food Authority council, decided to stop extending privileges to farmer
cooperatives that do not have the capability to import rice.
The Department of Agriculture is also preparing
new rice importation procedures to address loopholes in the system that are
being exploited by some unscrupulous traders.
With regards to attaining rice self-sufficiency,
Coloma said the administration’s mindset is not about ensuring enough supply of
rice in the country but improving the performance of the entire agriculture
sector.
“Ang nabubuong pananaw sa Gabinete hinggil dito
ay hindi sapat na tingnan lamang iyong rice self-sufficiency kasi iyong rice ay
isa lamang sa mga alternatibong produkto sa pagsasaka at maaring sa isang taon
o sa iba’t-ibang lugar, magkaroon ng insentibo ang mga magsasaka na ibang
produkto iyong kanilang pagtutuunan ng pansin,” he said. PND (as)
Aquino government to curb smuggling by bringing
smugglers to the bar of justice
The Aquino government is actively taking steps
to curb smuggling and bring smugglers to the bar of justice, Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said on
Tuesday.
Since 2010 the government has filed a total of
157 cases under the Run After Tax Evaders and Smugglers program for an average
of one case per week, Coloma said during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Tuesday.
"Following President Aquino’s directive,
the Bureau of Customs led by Commissioner (John Philip) Sevilla has taken steps
to promote transparency and openness, simplified transactions, and adopted a
systemic approach to plug loopholes and minimize opportunities for graft and
corruption," Coloma said.
The Communications Secretary said the specific
reform measures include centralized single reference for valuation information,
implementation of a single dispute resolution process for valuation,
digitization of every single formal transaction, review of the monitoring of
Customs bonded warehouses, revamp of the importer accreditation process and
intensified monitoring of sensitive imports.
The President earlier assured the public that
his administration remains committed to improve the services of the Bureau of
Customs (BOC) by enhancing the anti-smuggling efforts.
The BOC is enhancing its efforts in revenue
collection by curbing smuggling activities and to provide quality service to
stakeholders with professionalism and integrity, facilitate trade in a secured
manner and adapt measures compliant to international best practices and
standards. PND (js)
