Government determined to reconstruct
typhoon-devastated areas amid criticisms, says Palace
The Palace said it remains committed to helping
Typhoon Yolanda survivors get back on their feet despite criticisms from some
groups. Some groups said the government hasn’t done enough to help the people
in typhoon-ravaged areas start normal lives.
But Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
said those criticism were just political statements and the government won’t be
cowed by such negative assessments.
“We will not be deterred by those political
statements. Our responsibility is to bring them back on their feet. There will
always be criticisms but our determination will never diminish, will not wane,
because that is our responsibility,” he told reporters in a press briefing on
Thursday in Malacanang.
“The government’s responsibility is to restore
them, to bring them back to build back better. Our resiliency comes not only
from the people but from the government itself.”
The administration is committed tackle
reconstruction of the Typhoon Yolanda-devastated areas and it will always be a
priority for the government, Lacierda said.
But Lacierda also said normalization will not
happen overnight and the government expects reconstruction and rehabilitation
works to take several years.
The good thing is that the government is doing
everything and the private sector is also extending assistance, the Palace
official said.
Quoting reconstruction czar Secretary Panfilo
Lacson, Lacierda said the private sector has already made commitments in a
number of private sector initiatives.
“On the part of government, we have the DPWH,
DOH, DSWD, all the necessary resources of government to respond to the needs of
the Typhoon Yolanda victims. It's for you to decide but whether you agree or
not, our decision is to continue to help the people affected by Typhoon
Yolanda,” Lacierda said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to
tour calamity-affected areas in the country next week to see the progress of
the government rehabilitation initiatives. PND (as)
Palace backs PNP’s policy on media interviews
Malacanang defends the Philippine National
Police policy barring ordinary personnel from talking to media during an
investigation to avoid misinforming the public.
The PNP has barred ordinary police officers from
giving information to the press unless tasked by the leadership.
“They just want to be very clear that when we
relay information to the public it is accurate, so that it will not lead to
wrong information being relayed to the public,” Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
“There is no effort to hide the truth from the
public. It’s just that we want to be sure that whatever we release to the
public is accurate.”
The media has to report to the public a certain
crime accurately so that the police could investigate it properly, he said.
The PNP said the move aims to prevent policemen
from unduly disclosing information to the media and eventually to the public.
Several police officers are being investigated
for unduly disclosing sensitive information to the media, it said. Some of them
gave personal opinion in an ongoing case during an interview with the press,
the PNP added. PND (as)
President Aquino wants government prosecutors to
come out with a strong case to merit conviction of pork barrel scam
perpetrators
President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed
government prosecutors to come out with solid and strong evidence to ensure
conviction of the persons who were involved in the misuse of the Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a Palace official said on Thursday.
The Chief Executive wants the Department of
Justice (DOJ) to thoroughly prepare for a successful prosecution of those who
were involved in the pork barrel scam, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
"The role of the prosecution is to gather
all evidence that would come up with, not only a situation that would merit a
probable cause for filing, but also to ensure a successful prosecution. That
has always been the instruction of the President. It’s not enough that we file
a case, it should merit a conviction," Lacierda said.
The testimonies of the prospective witnesses
will be thoroughly evaluated by the DOJ , Lacierda said.
"So the Secretary of Justice, Leila de
Lima, is the one—her teams are the ones evaluating the evidence, so I would
defer to them. If, for instance, Secretary Leila de Lima says ‘it’s a slam dunk
evidence’, we would presume that there is basis for her to say so,"
Lacierda said.
"Let’s not forget that apart from the oral
testimonies that have been submitted to them for evaluation, there are the
documentary evidence, which are already in the possession of the DOJ, for
instance, the COA (Commission on Audit) reports and all the other documentary
evidence that are already in the possession of government," he said.
Last year, the President abolished the PDAF amid
allegations of misuse of public funds through releases to bogus non-government
organizations (NGOs).
The President decided to abolish PDAF to put an
end to abuses being committed by some groups at the expense of the public that
need major services and government projects.
Established in 1990, the PDAF was intended to
bring development to every part of the country by giving congressmen
allocations regardless of their political affiliations.
The PDAF fills the limitations of the national
government in spearheading development projects. Under the system, lawmakers
propose projects to be funded by their PDAFs. PND (js)
President Aquino maintains position on Charter
change
President Benigno S. Aquino III maintains his
position not to support moves to amend the present Constitution noting the
country could prosper even without such revision, a Palace official said.
The issue on Charter change resurfaced as Palace
allies in the House of Representatives continue to be active on pushing for
ChaCha.
“The latest update is that he maintains his
position that there is no need to amend the economic provisions of the charter
considering a number of things,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in
a media briefing at the Palace Thursday.
Citing the President’s position, Lacierda said
the country’s economy has grown better even without amending the charter.
“The President has always cited the example of
China as a country where land is not open to foreign nationals and yet (they)
experienced growth,” he said.
The President remains firm in his position
despite the endorsement of House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte towards amending
the charter’s economic provisions, he said.
“I suppose Speaker Belmonte has a position
different from the President, but the President has always been very
transparent about his position on charter change,” he added.
There have been occasions, for instance, that
there were some people calling for the amendment of the charter, but the
President, either publicly or privately, has always stated that changing the
charter is not necessary as far as the economy is concerned, Lacierda said. PND
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Meetings on transport safety keep President
Aquino busy in Malacañang
President Benigno Aquino III was kept busy
Thursday in Malacañang by meetings with concerned officials on transportation
safety.
The President disclosed this during the courtesy
call of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee Business and Cultural
Mission at the Palace's Rizal Hall.
"We are tackling improvements in road
safety, air safety, maritime safety which took up practically the whole of this
morning and is actually a meeting I'll be going back to after I finish today's
ceremonies," he said.
President Aquino had pushed for improved safety
in transportation in the wake of recent deadly accidents involving public
transportation.
Earlier this month, a bus fell into a ravine in
Mountain Province, killing at least 14 people.
The President's schedule for the day included a
courtesy call by an Australian delegation led by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop,
Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, and Premier Barry O’Farrell of
the state of New South Wales. PND (jl)
President Aquino urges residents of San
Francisco to continue best collective effort with Phl counterparts
President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday urged
residents of San Francisco, including Filipinos based there, to continue giving
their best collective efforts for the good of their communities and countries.
The President made the call at the San
Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee Business and Cultural Mission in
Malacañang, where he thanked San Francisco for helping Filipinos recover from
recent calamities.
"I have no doubt that, if we all continue
giving our best collective effort for the betterment of our communities and our
countries, then we will be that much closer to our shared vision of more
prosperous lives for all our fellowmen," he said.
He also said he is glad San Francisco residents
who have roots in the Philippines "have chosen to stand with us during
this time of great challenge."
Also, he thanked the Philippines' friends from
San Francisco who he said came over "to demonstrate that you indeed have
our backs."
"Without doubt, your involvement will help
our country further; and I am eager to work with all of you. You have the
chance not only to take advantage of a golden opportunity in a revitalized
nation, but to open more doors for our countrymen, who have for so long been
shackled by hopelessness and cynicism, but now are dreaming again, and are
demonstrating their capacity to fulfill their vast potential," he said.
The President also said such hopefulness
reminded him of his family's exile in San Francisco and Boston.
At the time, Filipinos abroad mourned what
seemed to be the Philippines' slow and irreversible decay yet did not give in
to despair.
"Rather than curse the darkness, we chose
to light candles. In our long history as a country, this has always been the
case:
Filipinos have looked for ways to overcome
apathy, and to extend a helping hand; to rise from the rubble, to dream, and to
fulfill those dreams," he said.
The President also thanked San Francisco for its
help for the Philippine government's bid to "build-back-better."
"We can all look forward to the time when
the survivors of Yolanda can take full control over their destinies once
again," he said.
Earlier during the program, San Francisco Mayor
Edwin Lee reiterated the city's official condolences over the tragedies that
beset the Philippines.
"On behalf of the citizens of San Francisco
and the entire Bay Area, we again offer our official condolences to the
tragedies that beset you and this country during the aftermath of the Super
Storm --- the Typhoon Yolanda," he said.
He added the city commits "not only to
helping with the relief, but to also helping with the recovery for the
Philippines because we know that our own ability to recover from disasters
depends on how we help others who were similarly situated."
"These are global responsibilities not just
on the shoulders of the Philippine people, but that we share them; and, more
precisely, it is also our opportunity to learn from disaster management as
we've done throughout the day today. To exchange the best practices and to
adopt each others best ideas and go forward to making sure we improve the
ability to recover from these disasters," he added. PND (jl)
President Aquino emphasizes the need for
development of private education for efficient implementation of K-12
curriculum
President Benigno S. Aquino III emphasized the
need for the further development of private education in the Philippines in
preparation of the efficient implementation of the K to 12 curriculum.
"Our greatest task in this period of
revitalization is to empower our citizenry with the necessary knowledge,
skills, and values, so that they can help transform our society into one that
is just and equitably progressive," the Chief Executive said on Thursday
in his message to Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations
(COCOPEA) on the occasion of its 5th National Congress.
The COCOPEA is the unifying voice of private
education in the Philippines with more than 2,000 institutions among its five
national member-organizations namely Association of Christian Schools,
Colleges, and Universities, Catholic Educational Association of the
Philippines, Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, Philippine
Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities, and Technical
Vocational Schools Association of the Philippines.
The COCOPEA opened on Thursday the national congress
at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City. The event which has for its
theme “Leading Philippine Education for Global Excellence” will end on Friday.
"The COCOPEA has always been a staunch
partner in this mission, as you create opportunities for education leaders to
improve their expertise and share best practices with your member institutions
and students," the President said.
"May your council remain steadfast in
leading our country’s academic sector towards global excellence, and in inspiring
our countrymen to continue to do well in their chosen paths and cast their
stake in nation-building," President Aquino said.
"Your event comes at a time of renewal,
when the ideals of positive change are burning bright as ever: in our minds,
our hearts, and in the work of our hands. Together, let us make the Philippines
a place with equal opportunity for all, and where everyone strives to make a
difference in the lives of others," he said. PND (js)
Australian Foreign Minister, party pay courtesy call
on President Aquino
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
together with some officials paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S.
Aquino III at the Malacanan Palace’s Music Room on Thursday.
Bishop, Australia’s first female foreign
minister, was joined by Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew
Robb, New South Wales Premier Barry Robert O’Farrell, and Australian Ambassador
to the Philippines Bill Tweddell.
The Philippine officials were led by Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Secretary Gregory Domingo, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen Anota and
DTI Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr.
Bishop and her party arrived in the country for
the official launching of the ASEAN-Australia 40th Anniversary Commemoration
held Thursdayat The Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City.
An earlier DFA statement said that the launch
will mark 40 years of successful dialogue partnership between the ASEAN and
Australia and will also serve as a “great opportunity to chart a new strategic
direction, complementing ASEAN’s focus on strengthening regional integration
through the ASEAN Community 2015 and beyond.”
Secretary del Rosario and Foreign Minister
Bishop led the launch in the presence of ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh.
The event also envisions the gathering of top diplomats, including the Heads of
Mission/Representatives of all ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners in the
Philippines, as they reflect on the depth of ASEAN-Australia engagement in
security, culture, trade, education, people-to-people exchanges and
development.
Australia is ASEAN’s first formal dialogue
partner.
Aside from the ASEAN-Australia 40th Anniversary
Commemoration, Bishop and her party will also be attending the 4th
Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM) from February 20 to 21.
The Philippine and Australian officials are
expected to discuss regional and global developments and priorities, areas of
mutual interest, and cooperation in international relations and trade.
Australia is one of the Philippines’ closest
bilateral partners in the Asia-Pacific region. The PAMM began as the
Philippines-Australia Dialogue in 1997 and was upgraded to a Joint Ministerial
Meeting in 2005. It sets the direction and vision of the Philippines-Australia
bilateral relations and serves as the forum to discuss initiatives and
activities to strengthen the bilateral partnership.
Meantime, New South Wales Premier O’ Farrell,
who was part of Bishop’s delegation during the courtesy call, also embarked on
several engagements in the country as he met with key business leaders, and
private sector representatives wherein he discussed political and economic
cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges.
This is the first time O’Farrell visited the
country since he was elected in 2011 in New South Wales — Australia’s oldest
and largest state, which is home to almost 50 percent of Filipinos living in
Australia.
He has pledged AU$500,000 on behalf of their
government for the relief and recovery efforts for the victims of Typhoon
Yolanda (Haiyan). PND (jb)
President Aquino to celebrate EDSA People Power
anniversary touring calamity areas
Malacanang is not pushing through of holding the
28th anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25
at the Palace grounds and the President will instead visit calamity affected
areas.
In a statement, Presidential Communications
Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the President met
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa last Monday and conveyed his decision to
revisit calamity areas before he leaves for his official visit to Malaysia on
27-28 February.
“Considering that the theme for this year’s
celebration is ‘Kapit-Bisig Tungo sa Pagbangon’, the President said it was
important to rally the people in the calamity-affected areas to rekindle the
spirit of EDSA People Power in building back better communities,” Coloma said.
Coloma said that the traditional “Salubungan” or
commemoration of the meeting between the civilian and military participants of
EDSA People Power will be held on Tuesday morning at the Cebu provincial
capitol grounds.
Cebu was chosen as venue because the province
was the bulwark of the opposition to the dictatorship during the martial law
regime. It was in Cebu City where Mrs. Corazon Aquino was staying when the
military broke ranks from President Marcos on February 22, 1986.
The President also plans to revisit Leyte and
Eastern Samar to see the progress of government’s recovery and rehabilitation
efforts there.
He may also visit Bohol which was devastated by
an earthquake last October, Coloma said. The President may also proceed to
Davao Oriental to assess reconstruction works following the devastation of
super-typhoon Pablo in December 2011, he added.
The EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) will
issue the final program of events for the EDSA anniversary commemoration. PND
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