Ochoa praises Filipino women in calamity-hit
areas as nation celebrates women’s month
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on
Saturday lauded all the women in areas affected by super typhoons and
earthquake for their contribution to help the country rise above the challenges
brought about by a series of calamities last year.
On the occasion of the National Women’s Month
celebration, Ochoa expressed his admiration to these women who serve “as
pillars of strength and solidarity in their respective families, communities,
and our nation.”
The Executive Secretary said the capacity of
Filipino women to endure and prevail under demanding circumstances embodies
women empowerment.
“Heroines all, women in affected areas, though
victims themselves, have inspired us with their efforts to keep their families
together, extending assistance to others as volunteers in rescue and
rehabilitation efforts, and ably performing their duties as leaders in their
respective communities,” Ochoa said.
The theme for this year’s observance of National
Women’s Month is “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at
Pagsulong.”
Ochoa also took the opportunity to announce that
the Philippines will begin this month the assessment of the progress of its
commitments under the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) of 1995 in preparation
for the 20-year global review next year.
The BPfA is an international accord of women’s
rights created during the Fourth World Conference on Women of the United Nation
in Beijing in 1995, which has the backing of some 189 countries including the
Philippines.
The BPfA includes key areas of concern needing
action such as women and poverty, violence against women, and access to power
and decision-making.
According to Ochoa, the Philippine report will
be crafted by stakeholders in the government and non-government sectors and
will be tackled during the Women’s Consultative Conference this month.
“The Philippine experience can very well be a
major contribution to this review as the world looks at more opportunities for
gender equality and empowerment, and for broadening advocacy in the promotion
and protection of women’s rights after 2015,” Ochoa said. PND
Aquino attends 28th PSG anniversary, thanks
leadership for dedication to service
President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked the
leadership of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the celebration of
its 28th founding anniversary Friday asking the organization to serve the
people with utmost dedication in the remaining years of his administration.
In his message, the President expressed his
gratitude to the PSG leadership for providing security to the Aquino family
since his mother assumed office in 1986.
And last year, when the country was hit with
calamities, both man-made and natural, the President said members of the PSG
braved everything to perform their duties of providing him security even in
risky areas.
“Pinupuntahan natin ang mga liblib na lugar, at
tumutungo tayo sa totoong kondisyon ng ating mga kababayan—ke malungkot, ke
masaya—kahit pa minsan ‘di ko maiwasang bigyan kayo ng sakit ng ulo, lalo na
ang inyong Group Commander,” the President said.
“Sa mga pagkakataong ito, kadamay ko ang PSG sa
lahat ng oras na tayo’y naglilingkod sa taumbayan. Wala tayong pinipiling
lugar, malayo man o malapit; tahimik man o mapanganib,” he added.
These sacrifices are part of PSG’s commitment to
serve their real “bosses”—the Filipino people, the President said. In less than
four years in office, the chief executive said he never felt he was alone
because of the service and dedication of men and women from the PSG that do
their job well.
And with two more years in office, the President
said there still are many challenges that lie ahead. But with PSG’s commitment
to service, he said he is confident that the PSG will be a part of the nation’s
march towards progress.
“Sa bawat sandaling ito, kasama ko pa rin kayo.
Hinihimok ko kayong higit pang pag-igihin ang inyong trabaho, habang
kapit-bisig nating isinusulong ang permanenteng pagbabago sa bansa,” he said.
“Hanggang sa ika-30 ng Hunyo 2016, sa pagbaba ko
sa puwesto bilang Pangulo, buo ang loob ko na nariyan pa rin kayo sa aking
tabi—kasama ko kayong titindig at taas-noong lilingon sa bansa at sasabihing:
‘Ibang-iba na nga ang Pilipinas ngayon kaysa ating dinatnan. Nakakamit na natin
ang ating mga pangarap, at tinatamasa na ng Pilipino ang inaasam nating
malawakang pagbabago,’” the President added. PND (as)
Philippines joins International Women’s Day
celebration
The Philippines joins global celebration of the
International Women’s Day Saturday (March 8) recognizing the contribution of
Filipino women to national progress.
“Ngayong taon, kinikilala natin ang kababaihang
Pilipina na naging katalista ng pagbabago at nagpapakita ng kakaibang tapang,
katatagan, kalinga at pagmamahal sa kani-kanilang pamilya at pamayanan sa gitna
ng unos at trahedya na puminsala sa ating bansa noong nakaraang taon,”
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said
in a statement on Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Sa pagbangon at pagbabagong-tatag ng mga lugar
na sinalanta ng mga bagyo at lindol, muli silang mangunguna upang mapanumbalik
ang sigla at liwanag sa mga komunidad at kanayunan. Patuloy ang pagtataguyod ng
pamahalaan sa isang patas na lipunan at sa pag-angat sa antas ng mga kababaihan.”
Government’s programs for the welfare of
Filipino women have started to bear fruits, he said.
Coloma said that according to the World Economic
Forum, the Philippines is the fifth country spearheading and recognizing
women’s rights and their contribution to society.
In the whole of Asia, the Philippines was the
highest in the Global Gender Gap Index last year, he said, outperforming China,
Japan, and India.
The WEF also reported that the participation of
women in many areas is noteworthy, he said. Filipino women excelled in economic
participation and opportunity, political empowerment, health and survival,
educational attainment, political participation and economic equality.
In the same study, the Philippines ranked as the
highest in the health and survival and educational attainment aspects,
outpointing other neighboring countries.
The Philippines also ranked 10th in political
empowerment and 16th in economic participation and opportunity, he added.
Data from the National Statistical Coordination
Board also shows that Filipino women have higher employment rate at 93.3
percent compared to men with 92.7 percent.
The number of professional women is also
increasing with 68.3 percent compared to men with 31.7 percent. Coloma also
said that more than half or 52.1 percent of managers and executives in
companies in the Philippines are women.
“Sa nalalabing dalawa pang taon sa termino ng
Pangulo, batid niya na may mahalagang papel ang mga kababaihan sa patuloy
nating pagsulong upang makamit ang malawakan at pangmatagalang kaunlaran para
sa ating mga mamamayan,” he noted.
This year’s women’s day celebration has for its
theme: “Juana, ang Tatag Mo ay Tatag Natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong.” PND (as)
Palace says government working with urgency to
rebuild typhoon-devastated areas
The administration said it remains determined to
carry out rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by Typhoon
"Yolanda" and appealed to all sectors to work together.
In a radio interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma
Jr. said the Aquino administration has not lost its sense of urgency and will
not waver in its rebuilding initiatives.
“Ibayong determinasyon ang hinaharap natin
diyan. At panawagan din sa lahat na pagtulungan natin ito; dapat pagtulungan
ito ng pambansa at lokal na pamahalaan,” he said adding that civic
organizations and individuals who were not affected by the calamity should also
help.
“Napakatindi po ng sense of urgency na ating
patuloy na pinaiiral hinggil sa bagay na iyan at nananatili naman pong bukas
ang ating pamahalaan kung sino man na mayroong suhestiyon o panukala kung paano
pa mapapahusay ang rehabilitation efforts natin.”
With regards to groups calling for a dialogue
with Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Coloma said the secretary is ready
to meet with thesei groups to discuss relief efforts in affected communities.
He said that since the disaster struck, Secretary
Soliman has observed hands-on approach to help the survivors. But he noted that
the people should also consider the magnitude of the problem—with Typhoon
Yolanda affecting 44 provinces and 171 municipalities and cities. Overall,
there are some 17 million people devastated by the typhoon, he said.
“Hindi talaga biro-biro ‘yung mga dapat gawin sa
pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng permanenteng pabahay, paglilipat sa mas ligtas na
lugar sa ating mga mamamayan, at ‘yung patuloy pa ring pagbibigay ng relief doon
sa mga nasa evacuation at temporary shelters,” he said.
Four months after the disaster, the government
remains determined to rebuild affected areas, the Palace official said. He
noted however that because of the severity of the problem, there are areas that
may not get enough help.
And the government needs public assistance to
get information from areas not receiving sufficient government support, he
said.
“Maibigay lang po ‘yan sa atensyon ng ating
pamahalaan ay sisikapin namang punuan kung anuman ang pagkukulang,” he said.
PND (as)
Palace says centralization of gun licensing
necessary
The Palace defended the centralization of gun
licensing in the country saying the move is intended to clean the firearms
registry of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to eventually reduce the
proliferation of loose firearms.
It was reported that pro-gun groups have opposed
the centralization on the renewal of gun licenses arguing it would only result
to more loose firearms.
But in a radio interview Saturday, Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the move is
necessary as he hopes for public cooperation.
“Paninindigan po ng PNP ‘yan at sa tingin po
namin ay makatuwiran ang kanilang ginagawa,” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Ito po ay isang mahalagang transitional measure
para matiyak ‘yung integrity ng ating firearms registry. At sana ay makiisa din
ang mga grupo ng mga mamamayan na sinasabing sila ay responsible gun owners
dahil ‘yan din po ang layunin ng kampanyang ito ng ating pambansang kapulisan.”
Coloma said that according to the Philippine
National Police (PNP) there is a total 1.7 million firearms in the country.
The PNP studied the records of the Firearms and
Explosive Office and the civil security groups and found out that 60 to 70
percent of the records of firearm holders are spurious or fictitious.
The PNP observed that there are mismatches in
the names, addresses and photos of licensed firearms owners, prompting the PNP
to cleanse its gun licensing registry.
“Ibig sabihin, nagbunsod talaga ito ng duda at
alinlangan doon sa integrity ng records. Kung sinuman ang resonableng tao na
malaman ‘yan, siyempre, magiging konklusyon na dapat itong linisin, dapat
ayusin ang records at dapat ibalik ang integridad ng firearms registry system
natin,” Coloma said.
And with regards to issues on high delivery cost
of licenses, Coloma said it could be assumed that anyone buying guns also has
the money to pay for the delivery of licenses and cost should not be an issue.
“Hindi dapat maging katuwiran na magiging
inconvenient ito dahil for anyone na gustong magkaroon ng prebilihiyo na maging
may-ari ng firearm, at nakikita naman natin, sigurado namang may kakayahan ito
dahil hindi naman biro-biro ang presyo ng isang baril,” he said. PND (as)
