President Aquino declares February 13 as a
special non-working day in Parañaque City in celebration of 16th Cityhood
anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
February 13, which falls on a Thursday, as a special non-working day in the
Paranaque City in celebration of its 16th cityhood anniversary.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration by
virtue of Proclamation No. 715 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa
Jr. on February 7, to give the people of Paranaque City the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion
On February 13, 1998, Parañaque was made into a
chartered city by virtue of Republic Act No. 8507.
The name "Parañaque" is derived from
the phrase "para na aque," which was commonly used in the past when
people wished to disembark from kalesas (horse-drawn carriages). PND (js)
Long enduring Mindanao peace at hand with
people’s collective effort, says Aquino
DAVAO CITY: A lasting peace is at hand in
Mindanao with the signing of several components of the Framework Agreement on
the Bangsamoro, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday, as he
rallied people’s support for the peace initiative to make it successful in the
long term.
“Pagkatapos nating sunod-sunod na nalagdaan ang
mga bahagi ng Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, abot-kamay na natin ang
ganap na pagtutuwid ng sistema sa rehiyong ito, at ang permanenteng pagbabago
sa Lupang Pangako,” the President said in his message during the 2nd Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Local Government Units (LGUs) Summit on
Governance and Development.
The President underscored the spirit of
volunteerism and collective effort of the people in attaining a lasting peace
in Mindanao. He added that the current leadership of the Autonomous Region in
Munslim Mindanao did a lot of sacrifices as the region transitions into another
phase of its history.
“Ang pinamagandang payo na natanggap ko ay, ‘We
win when we think of how the other can win, instead of how we can win,’” he
said.
Mindanao starts to move to a new era of better
governance towards an improved society, the President said, noting the region
is now able to free itself from repeating the errors of the past.
“Nananabik na po tayo sa araw na maipasa na ang
Bangsamoro Basic Law, upang tuluyan na ngang mabuksan ang bagong kabanata ng
kasaysayan sa Muslim Mindanao.”
The President thanked the leadership of ARMM
Gov. Mujiv Hataman for carrying out reforms in the region, calling him the
ARMM’s “ghost buster.”
The only hurdle in Mindanao’s quest for long
enduring peace are the doubts and fears of the people to commit the same
mistakes that happened in the past, he said.
This is the reason, he said, why he calls on the
people to give peace a chance in Mindanao.
“Makakaasa po kayong sa bawat kasunduang ating
nilalagdaan ay nakataya ang aming dangal at pangalan. Hinihimok ko po kayong
tumaya rin sa pag-asang makakamit natin ang malawakan at ganap na pagbabago sa
ARMM. Tiyakin po nating hindi na tayo babalik pa sa dilim ng nakaraan—totoong
maliwanag na kinabukasan po ang inyong matatanglawan,” the President said.
And as he steps down from power more than two
years from now, the President said the people of Mindanao will choose new
leaders who will guide them in the right direction, he said. He added that
while he returns to private life, he will be willing to support the development
of the region.
The second ARMM local government summit aims to
highlight the role of ARMM LGUs in the Mindanao peace process and in
preparations for disaster management, mitigation and response.
The ARMM leadership hopes that through the
summit, it could strengthen LGUs on disaster risk management and prevention
down to the lowest level.
“Strengthening Regional Stakeholders’
Partnership towards Revitalized ARMM in Transition to Bangsamoro” is this
year’s summit theme. PND (as)
Palace: Government taking steps to ensure
availability of LPG at reasonable prices
The government is taking steps to ensure the
availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at reasonable prices, Malacañang
reassured the public Wednesday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
head Herminio Coloma Jr. said there are established procedures for dealing with
price movements under a deregulated industry.
"May prosesong sinusunod sa price movements
... Ang mahalaga ay tiyakin ang availability of supply and reasonable prices
following the law (There are procedures to be followed in dealing with price
movements. What is important is to ensure the availability of supply and
reasonable prices following the law)," Coloma said at a media briefing.
He added it is the duty of the government to get
a clear picture of the situation and come up with the proper solution.
Coloma's reassurance came amid reports that LPG
prices may go up by P5 per kilo with the decommissioning of an LPG import
terminal in Batangas.
Earlier reports indicated the terminal's closure
resulted in a supply deficit of LPG in Southern Luzon. PND (jl)
President Aquino reports on gains of ARMM reform
initiatives
(DAVAO CITY) The government was able to improve
the conditions of the Autonomous Region in Mindanao (ARMM) with its new
leadership from major infrastructure to agriculture and peace and order,
President Benigno S. Aquino III said during a local government summit here.
Speaking before the participants of the 2nd ARMM
LGU Summit on Governance and Development here at the Waterfront Insular Hotel,
the President said the new ARMM leadership successfully fought corruption,
improved public service, and maintained peace and order.
“Ngayon, narito na nga po tayo, at tinatamasa na
natin ang ilang mga tagumpay, na gaano man kahirap, ay sama-sama nating sinikap
abutin,” the President said.
With the implementation of the synchronized
election in the ARMM, the government reduced the number of precincts
registering failure of election.
The President reported that in the 2007
elections, there were 17 municipalities in ARMM that declared failure of
election. This is a huge improvement since there is only one polling precinct
that reported a failure of election during the 2013 polls, he said.
Election-related violence also dropped, he said,
citing reports from the Philippine National Police (PNP). In 2010, the PNP
reported 33 incidents of violence, but in 2013 there were only six cases.
The region also had huge improvements in terms
of healthcare, he said. In 2013, the President said the DOH-ARMM reported
45,659 pre-natal visits of pregnant women, 36,876 for post-pregnancy, and
14,179 babies undergoing newborn screening.
There is also a big number of poor families
receiving government support under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, he
noted. In 2014 there are 389,656 households in ARMM that are enrolled in the
program.
“Samakatuwid, mas marami nang kabataan sa inyo
rito ang nababantayan ang edukasyon at kalusugan, at mas nabibigyan ng
pagkakataon sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan,” he said.
Many areas in Mindanao are now receiving better
healthcare and education similar to those being enjoyed by other areas in the
country, he said.
Investors’ confidence is also high in the
region, the President noted. Based on the report by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman,
2013 investments reached P1.46 billion. This is 157 percent higher compared to
the P569 million posted in 2012.
Parts of these investments include the 9 million
liter oil depot at the Port of Polloc in Maguindanao that is expected to reduce
the price of oil in central Mindanao, he said.
The Office of the Regional Treasurer and other
agencies also improved in collecting fees in 2013 with P1.25 billion surpassing
the P1.24 billion target for that year.
“At tiwala naman po tayo sa paggugol sa
pangunguna ni Governor Hataman. Kaya hindi lang dumami na ang koleksyon,
malalagay pa sa tamang kalalagyan. Kaya talaga hong paangat na nang paangat ang
ARMM,” the President added.
Under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan
(PAMANA) and ARMM partnership, the government allocation reached P1.49 billion
for 2013, according to an ARMM briefer.
PAMANA is a government peace and development
framework aimed at strengthening peace building, reconstruction and development
in conflict-affected areas.
Among ARMM’s partner agencies include the
Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Social
Welfare and Development, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
For this year, the allocation for ARMM’s
projects, in cooperation with its partners is P2.66 billion. Among ARMM’s
partners include the DSWD, the Department of Public Works and Highways and
other agencies. PND (as)
Palace reassures families of victims in Bontoc
bus tragedy of insurance benefits
Malacañang on Wednesday reassured families of
fatalities in last week's deadly bus accident in Mountain Province that they
would get insurance benefits from the bus firm even if the vehicle was found to
be a "colorum."
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said he got the assurance from Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board head Winston Ginez, who had
coordinated with owners of G.V. Florida Transport Inc.
"Kinausap ko si Chairman Ginez at tiniyak
niyang matatanggap ng pamilya ng nasawi ang benefits... Manggagaling ito sa
tuwirang financial assistance mula sa G.V. Florida Transport Inc. at mula sa
kumpanya ng insurance (I talked to Chairman Ginez and he assured the families
would get their insurance benefits as assistance from G.V. Florida Transport
and from the insurance company)," Coloma said a media briefing.
He said this is in reply to reports that the
families of the victims are concerned they may not get assistance from the bus
firm following the accident.
At least 15 people were killed after the G.V.
Florida Transport bus fell into a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
"Inasikaso na ni Chairman Ginez ang bagay
na ito (Chairman Ginez is taking care of this)," Coloma said. PND (jl)
No singling out of Estradas in PDAF row, Palace
maintains
Malacañang reassured the family of former
President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada the Aquino administration is not
singling them out in the Priority Development Assistance Fund row.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
head Herminio Coloma Jr. maintained the investigation into the
multibillion-peso mess will depend on the evidence.
"Walang tinutukoy o sini-single out na
kahit sinong individual dahil ang pinagbabatayan ay ebidensya (Nobody is being
singled out because we are basing the investigation on the evidence),"
Coloma said at a media briefing.
He added the Department of Justice will continue
to evaluate all evidence and information on the matter.
Coloma also said that while there is a sense of
urgency in investigating the scam, the Department of Justice follows the
guideline of acting on the basis of evidence.
Meanwhile, Coloma said Vice President Jejomar
Binay and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima maintain cordial ties as shown by
their conduct during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
He said Binay and de Lima, who have expressed
differences of opinion on the PDAF row, appeared to discuss the matter
amicably.
"Ang alam ko napagusapan nila ang tungkol
sa pahayag na nailahad at nagpaliwanagan sila at mukhang mainam ang paguusap
(As far as I know, they talked about the matter and explained their positions,
and appeared to discuss the matter amicably)," he said. PND (jl)
Aquino directs Cabinet Secretaries to intensify
job creation and social protection programs, Palace says
President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed
Cabinet members to be proactive in delivering front-line services that will
assist Filipinos in provinces where there is a high incidence of poverty, a
Palace official said on Wednesday.
"The main agenda for the Cabinet meeting
yesterday were the action plans on jobs creation, social protection and poverty
reduction presented by the departments comprising the Cabinet's human
development and poverty reduction cluster (HDPRC)," Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in
a statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang.
The President had ordered to intensify programs
on job creation and social protection in the most needy and vulnerable
provinces, Coloma said.
Coloma said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio
Balisacan presented to the Chief Executive a mid-term assessment of the
government's performance vis-a-vis the targets and objectives of the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP).
Balisacan reported to the Chief Executive that
the government is on track with respect to its economic targets but it lags
with respect to social outcomes, Coloma said.
"Growth in gross domestic product at 7.2
percent in 2013 is within the 7 to 8 percent annual growth target. Fixed
capital formation has also been on the uptrend, reaching 21.1 percent in 2013
or just a shade below the 22 percent target," Coloma said.
Unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in 2013
compared to the forecast range of 6.8 to 7.2 percent," Coloma said.
"In consonance with the Millennium
Development Goals, the aspiration is to decrease poverty incidence by half,
from 33.2 percent in 1991 to 16.6 percent by 2015. Latest figures (meaning
2012, these are the latest full year figures) show that poverty incidence has
been reduced to 25.2 percent," Coloma stressed.
The Cabinet cluster on human development and
poverty reduction recommended for the implementation of strategies with spatial
and sectoral dimensions to ensure attainment of inclusive growth.
"Hence, the cluster mapped out specific
interventions targeted at addressing the needs of the people in provinces with
the most number of poor households (and these are known as the Category 1
provinces), provinces where the proportion of poor households is high (Category
2), and provinces exposed to multiple hazards (Category 3)," Coloma said.
"With respect to these three categories,
let me just state that the objective for Category 1 provinces is to create more
economic opportunities; for Category 2, enhance mobility of labor and goods;
and for Category 3, increase resilience since they are most vulnerable to
disasters," he said.
According to Coloma, Trade Industry Secretary
Gregory Domingo said that the Department of Trade and Industry will focus on
increasing the country's competitiveness in industry sectors with high
employment multipliers such as shipbuilding, food processing, furniture,
chemicals, automotive, copper and copper products, electronics and garments.
"Continuing support will be given to the
IT-BPM sector that has been a consistent generator of new employment
opportunities. DTI will also pursue initiatives in further improving the ease
of doing business and lowering power costs to enhance employment and job
creation," Coloma said.
"Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda
Baldoz said that through convergence programs in 30 priority provinces, (these
are the provinces in Categories 1, 2 and 3), Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) will facilitate job matching and placement of jobseekers," Coloma
said.
Coloma said the DOLE is working closely with
Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority, Department of Science and Technology and Professional Regulation
Commission, along with a network of school administrators, guidance counselors,
and career advocates, in intensifying programs on job creation.
In line with ASEAN integration, Coloma said the
DOLE is also promoting the mobility of professionals in up to 46 professions
through mutual recognition agreements or MRAs with other countries.
"TESDA's work scholarship program aims to
develop skill sets and competencies that will match available and potential job
opportunities that are focused on the following sectors: agro-fishery and
agro-industrial; manufacturing (the manufacturing sectors I already mentioned
the DTI portion), tourism, IT-BPM, infrastructure and housing, and
logistics," Coloma said.
On social protection, Coloma said Vice President
Jejomar C. Binay reported that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council is targeting to provide 561,932 families with housing assistance
estimated to cost P103.1 billion from 2014 through 2016.
The HUDCC identified the informal settler
families, calamity victims and low-salaried government employees as the three
priority sectors.
Coloma said Social Welfare and Development
Secretary Corazon Soliman reported that families presently being supported by
the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will be given sustainable livelihood
opportunities and expanded educational and health grants. PND (js)
