President Aquino back from two-day state visit
to Malaysia, cites gains
President Benigno S. Aquino III has returned
from Malaysia early Saturday morning following his successful two-day state
visit to Kuala Lumpur.
President Aquino, along with his official
delegation, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal
II at around 2:47 a.m., Saturday, onboard a chartered Philippine Airlines PR
001.
The President flew to Kuala Lumpur on February
27 at the invitation of His Majesty The Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan
Agong, the Head of State of Malaysia, and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri
Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.
During his arrival statement, President Aquino
cited the gains of his visit in Malaysia, such as the signing of the Agreement
on Cultural, Arts, and Heritage Cooperation; and the Memorandum of
Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Education.
The signing of the cooperation agreements came
after the President’s bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Najib.
The President said that Malaysia also expressed
readiness to help the Philippines in the field of Islamic banking and finance.
The two countries also agreed to boost bilateral trade, as well as defense and
security cooperation.
President Aquino also thanked the Malaysian
government for its support to the peace process in Mindanao, as well as for the
assistance it extended to the country in the wake of super Typhoon
"Yolanda."
The President and the Prime Minister also agreed
on the peaceful settlement of disputes in the West Philippine Sea and South
China Sea, in accordance with international law, President Aquino said.
During the visit, the President met with His
Majesty The Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, the Head of State of
Malaysia. He also met with the Filipino community there and shared the positive
outcomes of the administration’s reforms and good governance.
“Personal po nating ibinahagi sa kanila ang
positibong epekto ng ating mga reporma, at ang inaasahan nating pagpapatuloy ng
pag-aarangkada ng atin pong bansa,” the President said in his arrival
statement.
The President also met with Malaysian
businessmen and personally invited them to invest in the country, particularly
in Mindanao.
“Ngayon nga pong natatanaw na natin ang
kapayapaan sa rehiyong 'yon, umaasa din tayo sa napipintong pagpasok ng marami
pang mga negosyo at sa panganganak nito ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa
ating mga kababayan,” he said. PND (co)
Government hopes organ donation campaign helps
promote awareness
Malacanang is hoping that the recent organ
donation campaign of the Department of Health would increase awareness and
understanding about organ donation, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte said on Saturday.
In an effort to promote organ donation in the
Philippines, the DOH and the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing on Friday
held a campaign dubbed as “Organ Donation Sign-Up Campaign: I Am a Lifeline.”
The Philippines has set a new record of having
the most number of people to pledge and sign up as organ donors on Friday.
In an interview on government-run radio station
dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Undersecretary Valte said that apart from setting world
records, the government hopes that the recent campaign would promote awareness
and change public misconceptions about organ donation.
“More than setting a World Record for a single
site activity for organ donation, we hope that the activities undertaken by DOH
will have a lasting impact in terms of raising awareness for organ donation,”
Valte said.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines
recorded 3,548 individuals in one hour during the campaign, which bested the
previous record set by India with 2,755 registrants on September 17 last year.
PND (co)
Government to help four Filipino victims in
Qatar gas explosion
Malacanang on Saturday assured that it will
provide assistance to the families of the two Filipinos killed and two others
injured in a gas tank explosion in a restaurant in Doha, Qatar.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte,
in an interview on government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, expressed
the government’s sympathies on the death of two Filipinos during the blast.
Undersecretary Valte said the government will
assist in facilitating the repatriation of the bodies of the fatalities. She
further said that help will also be provided the two other Filipinos injured in
the explosion.
“Sinisigurado naman po natin na tutulong po tayo
doon sa pag-repatriate nung dalawa pa nating kababayan na sinamang palad po at
nasama doon sa naging pagsabog. Ini-extend din po natin ang ating pakikiramay
sa kanilang mga pamilya at mga naiwan na mahal sa buhay,” she said.
Valte said that of the four Filipino victims in
the blast, only one was a member of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA). Nonetheless, the government assured assistance to the three other
victims.
“Ang commitment po ng ating embassy doon ay
tutulungan po ‘yung other three para naman po makakuha ng kaukulang benefits sa
kanilang mga employer,” the deputy presidential spokesperson said.
Twelve people died when a gas tank exploded at a
Turkish restaurant in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday. About 31 others were injured in
the blast. PND (co)
