President Aquino assures urban poor of safe
long-term housing solutions
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday
reassured urban poor communities of the government's continued efforts to
ensure safe and clean shelter for them in the long run.
The President made the reassurance after
inspecting the micro medium-rise building model units in Manila's Sampaloc
district.
"Ngayon, ang tutok natin: mas ligtas na
tahanan para sa mga residente, malinis at malawak na daluyan ng tubig, at
pangmatagalang solusyon sa malawakang pagbaha sa Kamaynilaan (Our efforts are
focused on providing residents with safe homes, clean waterways and a long-term
solution against flooding)," he said.
He added his administration's solution differs
from the past where families were evicted and have nowhere to go.
Also, he noted the present solution includes
ensuring the health of residents in the community.
The President earlier inspected the micro
medium-rise building model units, which were constructed starting November 2013
and were completed last January.
Micro-MRBs are meant to maximize the use of urban
land and are easier to maintain.
President Aquino said the government is eyeing
167 informal settler families at Estero de San Miguel as beneficiaries of the
housing program.
The President also said the government had
initially set aside P10 billion to move urban poor families away from danger
zones.
So far, he said some 3,400 families had been
moved to safer communities, with another 11,000 families within three meters of
waterways being targeted by August.
"Makakaasa po kayo: Sa bawat detalye ng ating
programa, prayoridad natin ang makabubuti sa mas nakararami (You can be assured
every detail of our program prioritizes the greatest good of the greatest
number)," he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino to discuss peace, trade with
Malaysian PM during visit
President Benigno S. Aquino III expects to
discuss with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak several topics, ranging from
the peace process to enhanced trade, during his two-day visit to Malaysia.
In an interview with media, the President said the
discussions may take place during his bilateral meeting with the Prime
Minister.
"Yung peace, ‘yung trade, ‘yung commerce
(We may discuss peace, trade and commerce)," he said, but clarified the
two countries' claim to Sabah is "not part of the agenda."
The President noted Malaysia has been
instrumental in the peace process between the Philippine government and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
He added Malaysians have also offered possible
livelihood support for MILF members who want to go the way of peace.
On the other hand, the President said he may
seek an update on the condition of Filipinos involved in the Lahad Datu
incident last year.
Most of these were followers of the late Sulu
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who tried to occupy Sabah and engaged Malaysian
forces in deadly clashes.
Several of Kiram's followers face charges before
Malaysian courts.
"Palagay ko kukumustahin din natin ‘yung
kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan na nagpunta doon sa Lahad Datu incident (I may
ask about the condition of Filipinos involved in the Lahad Datu
incident)," the President said.
The President pointed out the Philippine
government is continuously monitoring the condition of the Filipinos. He added
these Filipinos are represented by lawyers.
"So pinapangalagaan din natin ang karapatan
nila through fair and due process (We are safeguarding their rights through
fair and due process)," he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Anti-Cybercrime Law not meant
to curb freedom of expression
Despite the controversy over some of its
provisions including online libel, the Anti-Cybercrime Law is not meant to curb
freedom of expression, President Benigno S. Aquino III said Wednesday.
In an interview with media in Sampaloc in
Manila, the President said citizens have nothing to be afraid if they speak the
truth.
"Ngayon, ‘yung pipigilin ba ang freedom of
expression? Hindi naman yata ‘yon ang layunin. Pero, kayo, bilang mga
responsableng mamamahayag meron ding mga—may karapatan kayo, at meron rin
namang hangganan ang karapatan ng lahat, di ho ba (Curbing the freedom of
expression is not an aim of the law's provision on online libel. But as
responsible media practitioners, you are aware you have rights, but those
rights also have limits, is that not the case)?" he said.
He said it would not be fair if an inaccurate or
wrong statement were repeated in various forms of media.
On the other hand, he said people who tell the
truth should not have anything to fear.
"Kung tama naman ang sinasabi mo, bakit ka
kakabahan doon sa libel na isyu (If you know you speak the truth, why be
worried about libel)?" he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino to revisit calamity-hit areas
next week
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday
said he plans to revisit next week some of the areas affected by last year's
natural calamities, including a magnitude-7.2 quake and Typhoons Pablo and
Yolanda.
In an interview with media in Manila, the
President said he expects to get a picture of government efforts to help
affected residents recover from the calamities.
"Well, palagay ko hintayin natin hanggang
next week kung saan ako iikot muli, ano, sa Yolanda, sa Pablo, sa Bohol
na-earthquake at maipakita sa inyo kung nasaan na tayo (Let's wait until next
week when I go around areas hit by Typhoons Yolanda and Pablo, and the quake
that hit Bohol)," he said.
Some groups had criticized the government for
its supposedly slow response to survivors of calamities, particularly of super
Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Yolanda left more than 6,200 dead after
devastating the Visayas and parts of Southern Luzon.
The President said the government continues to
assist 1.4 million families affected by Yolanda.
He added he will address the concerns raised by
some of the survivors who submitted a petition to him for assistance.
Meanwhile, the President assured the government
will continue to extend assistance to Yolanda survivors, but voiced concerns
over calls to give each affected family P40,000.
He said giving the amount to about 1.4 million
families may entail some P56 billion - almost 10 percent of the P600-billion
budget for personal services and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses
(MOOE).
"Siguro ang importante nito, ‘yung ano bang
magiging pangmatagalan na solusyon ang P40,000 na ‘yan? So ‘yon hindi ko nakita
(The important thing is, do we see the granting of P40,000 leading to a
long-term solution? I have yet to see it)," he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino says government ready to extend
Napoles medical care but court must decide on her detention
The government will ensure that Janet
Lim-Napoles gets the medical treatment she needs while staying in prison but
it’s up to the court to decide whether she would be kept under hospital arrest,
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.
The camp of Napoles has been asking for her
transfer to a medical facility after it was reported that she’s suffering from
an ailment.
“Siyempre obligasyon natin manigurado iyong mga
taong nakapiit sa ating mga kulungan ay pinapangalagaan ang kalusugan. So
ipapa-check natin kung talagang meron siyang medical na reason. Tapos at this
point, korte ang magsasabi kung saan pwede siyang dalhin,” the President said
in an interview during the inauguration of Estero de San Miguel Micro
Medium-Rise Building model unit in Sampaloc, Manila.
With regards to calls for Napoles’s transfer to
a regular detention facility, the President said the government is after the
testimony of Napoles to shed light to the P10-billion pork barrel anomaly.
Napoles has kept her silence on the issue
despite the huge government expenses for her detention in Camp Sto. Domingo in
Sta. Rosa City in Laguna.
“Lahat ng ating mga kilos at hangarin, hinahabol
natin iyong ebidensiya na magagamit sa paglilitis ng mga kaukulang nagkasala,”
he said.
The President also said Justice Secretary Leila
de Lima has not submitted the list of the third batch of officials to be
charged in connection with the pork barrel scam.
The justice secretary was given a lot of
assignment and she’s probably busy with those tasks which is why she has not
come up with the list of additional names, the President said.
But he expects De Lima to submit the list as
soon as the Department of Justice is ready to file charges against individuals
being implicated in the scam. PND (as)
President Aquino cites 3 driving forces to
ensure the country's readiness for ASEAN integration by 2015
President Benigno S. Aquino III has cited
connectivity, productivity and complementarity as driving forces in enhancing
the country's competitiveness and readiness for the integration of economies
among the 10-member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) by 2015, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Wednesday.
In his keynote speech during the Financial
Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) 2nd General Membership Meeting
held at the InterContinental Manila in Makati City, the Communications
Secretary said the Chief Executive has discussed with concerned government
agencies the policy agenda in ensuring that the Philippines is ready for ASEAN
integration.
"On the sidelines of the Mindanao Business
Forum held in Davao City last August 8, the President cited the importance of
connectivity in terms of airports and seaports considering that the Philippines
is an archipelago and, unlike other ASEAN member-countries, it does not have
land boundaries with its neighboring countries," Coloma said.
The President also said the government has
crafted measures to alleviate the country's poverty, he said.
"He also talked about addressing poverty
among millions of Filipinos in the agriculture and fisheries sector," he
said.
"Product diversification is another option
that is actively pursued. According to the President, a Bicol University
college of agriculture research team headed by its dean, Dr. Justino Arboleda,
is presently drawing up a blueprint on the production of coconut by-products
such as coco coir, cocopeat, coco water and charcoal briquette in factories
that may be run by coconut farmers themselves. Initial studies show that
payback period on initial investment can be as quick as one year," Coloma
said.
President Aquino said the country's participation
in ASEAN integration aims at providing greater access to new markets.
"President Aquino himself is upbeat and
optimistic about the country's participation in ASEAN integration as it should
send strong signals to a business community that seems to be skeptical about
the country's prospects," he said.
"For those who share our President's view
that current efforts are converging towards complementarity both within the
country and in the region, then there is cogent reason to believe that, indeed,
the Philippines is well-poised to take its place among the region's competitive
economies in an integrated economic regime," Coloma said.
"We need to consolidate and fortify the
gains we have achieved in terms of breaking out of the vicious cycle that made
our country the 'sick man of Asia'," he said.
Financial executives gathered on Wednesday to
discuss the challenges and opportunities of ASEAN integration.
The ASEAN is pursuing the integration of
economies among the 10-member states with the establishment of an ASEAN
Economic Community by December 2015. ASEAN is composed of Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and the
Philippines.
The integration will allow companies based in
ASEAN member-nations to enter each other’s markets, with lowered tarriffs and
capital market integration. PND (js)
