President Aquino recognizes works of two
Filipino Scientists
President Benigno S. Aquino III has conferred on
Angel Chua Alcala and Ramon Cabanos Barba the title of National Scientist
because of their contributions to advancing science and technology in the
country.
Through Proclamation 782, the title of National
Scientist was given to Alcala on June 6 for his works on biological sciences
that contributed to national progress.
Alcala, who has a Doctor of Philosophy degree,
was recognized as a national genius who made many advancements in science and
technology.
Through Proclamation 783, Barba was given the
title of National Scientist also on June 6 for his works in the field of
horticulture. He also has a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
The proclamations state that the government
considers science and technology essential tools for national development, and
the state should give priority to research, development, invention and
innovation.
The title was given to Alcala and Barba through
the recommendation of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the
National Academy of Science and Technology pursuant to Presidential Decree
1003-A dated December 16, 1976, the Administrative Code of 1987 and the Honors
Code of the Philippines. PND (as)
Malacanang condemns killing of Mindoro–based
broadcaster
Malacanang has condemned the killing of
Mindoro-based radio broadcaster Nilo Baculo, Sr., who was shot near his home in
Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro by unidentified gunmen on Monday.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said Tuesday the Philippine National Police has
been directed to “exert all efforts to arrest the assailants and to bring them
to the bar of justice”.
Malacanang also expressed its openness to
cooperate with all the concerned sectors to give justice to Baculo.
“We would like to work closely with the National
Press Club and other organizations through the operation of Administrative
Order No. 35, which is an inter-agency body created on orders of the President
to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of suspects in media killings,” Coloma
said during a press briefing.
Baculo, 67, had hosted the program “Isumbong Mo
Kay Ka Nilo” at the local radio station dwIM in Calapan.
He filed a petition in 2008, requesting court
protection after discovering a plot to kill him.
The case was elevated to the Supreme Court,
which granted him temporary protection. It was however remanded to the Court of
Appeals, which denied Baculo’s plea for failing to prove that his life was in
danger. PND (ag)
Palace expects higher GDP with drop in
unemployment rate
The Palace on Tuesday expressed confidence that
the country would register a higher gross domestic product (GDP) in the later
part of the year, as unemployment rate decreased during the second quarter.
“We share the optimism that these positive
indicators bode well for a higher GDP growth rate in the succeeding quarters,”
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.
said during a press briefing.
The National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA) has reported that the unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent in April
2014 from 7.6 percent in the same month last year.
It said underemployment improved as well to 18.2
percent from 19.2 percent over the same period.
“This growth has brought about a total of 1.7
million additional employed persons. According to NEDA Secretary (Arsenio)
Balisacan, the improvement in employment is broad-based, covering agriculture,
industry, and the services sectors,” Coloma added.
The Philippines’ GDP for the first quarter of
the year was registered at 5.7 percent. PND (ag)
Rule of law must take its course, says Palace
The public should allow the judicial process to
take its course with regards to the P10-billion pork barrel scam, the Palace
said on Tuesday.
"We note that these judicial processes
shall be carried out by the Ombudsman, an independent Constitutional body, and
the Sandiganbayan that belongs to an independent and co-equal branch of the
executive. Let the rule of law take its course," Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters
during a press briefing.
Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman filed
graft cases against incumbent public officials and other personalities
allegedly involved in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) issue.
The Office filed graft charges against suspected
pork barrel scam mastermind Janet-Lim Napoles as well as senators Juan Ponce
Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla, Jr on Monday.
Also charged were officials of the Technology
Resource Center: Director General Dennis Cunanan, Director General Antonio
Ortiz, group manager Francisco Figura, group manager Ma. Rosalinda Lacsamana,
and chief accountant Marivic Jover; Napoles' brother Ronald Lim and her
driver-bodyguard John Raymond de Asis; Revilla's chief of staff Richard Cambe;
Estrada's chief of staff Pauline Therese Mary Labayen; and Enrile's chief of
staff Jessica Lucila Reyes. Also included in the graft charges is Budget
Undersecretary Mario Relampagos.
Last week, the Ombudsman filed plunder charges
at the Sandigandbayan against Napoles, the three senators and six others. PND
(as)
President Aquino receives credentials of 10
non-resident ambassadors to the Philippines
President Benigno S. Aquino III received the
credentials of 10 non-resident ambassadors designated to the Philippines in a
simple ceremony at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.
They are Ambassadors Hannes Heimisson of
Iceland, Michal Slivovic of the Slovak Republic, Clifford Borg-Marks of Malta,
Senkoun Sylla of the Republic of Guinea, Raisa Vardanyan of the Republic of
Armenia, Thomas Kijiner of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Betty Grace
Akech-Okullo of the Republic of Uganda, Pantelakis Eliades of the Republic of
Cyprus, Andres Unga of the Republic of Estonia, and Clement Philip Ricardo
Allicock of Jamaica.
In his speech, President Aquino welcomed them to
the country and expressed hope that their presence would continue to deepen
relations and further enhance partnerships between the Philippines and their
respective countries.
“In a continuously shrinking world, we have to
acknowledge our interdependence with one another, and work shoulder to shoulder
to promote stability, which is a necessary condition for growth that leaves no
one behind. And truly, I am thankful that our country has been able to work
with diplomats who have not just maintained our good relations, but have worked
tirelessly to maximize our partnership,” he said.
The President emphasized the reforms the
government has been doing for the past four years.
“These past four years, our people have
empowered us on our campaign to reform the way the government works. It has
been our people who have given us the wherewithal to truly dismantle the
vicious cycle of corruption, negativity, and underachievement that has long
held our country back, and to replace it with a virtuous cycle where true
public service, social justice, and compassion for one’s fellowmen are able to
build a true regime of opportunities for our countrymen,” he said.
He noted that the Philippines is one of the
fastest growing economies in Asia, despite the spate of disasters that befell
it in the past year.
“We have regained the capacity to undertake
large-scale programs in social services that will equip our people with the
skills they need to take charge of their own destinies. Higher, brighter
skylines are rising in our cities, while the countryside is becoming
increasingly connected to hubs of industry and commerce; and international
organizations, publications, and neighboring countries alike are finally
recognizing the potential of the entire nation,” he added.
President Aquino thanked the envoys for the help
their respective countries had extended to the Philippines during the aftermath
of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).
“Typhoon Haiyan continues to serve as a reminder
to me of just how much can be achieved when the entire global community
cooperates closely. It only emphasizes the value of our
partnerships—partnerships that will undoubtedly allow us to continue pursuing
our shared interests and serve our people in the best manner possible,” he
said.
The President wished the ambassadors a pleasant
stay in the country throughout their visit.
President Aquino was joined by Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario during the event. PND (jb)
Coloma highlights role of media in regional
integration
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. has said that the media will play a significant
role in raising awareness as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
prepares for regional integration next year.
The fulfillment of this ASEAN integration dream
will not come as one big bang but it will gradually unfold and blossom, Coloma
said.
"As ministers responsible for information,
ours is the vital yet daunting task of creating heightened awareness and
continually raising the consciousness of our peoples about the significance of
the ASEAN Community," Coloma said in a statement for the participants of
the 12th Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information being
held in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar from June 9 to 13.
He said there is a need to reach a common
understanding on the concept of “socially responsible media.”
In the Philippines, freedom of expression is
highly valued, he said, adding that freedom of the press is also guarded with
extraordinary zeal and vigilance.
The government is also firmly committed to
upholding the principles of openness, transparency and public accountability
and has institutionalized full disclosure of national and local budget, major
disbursements and procurements, and implementation of programs and projects, he
added.
He noted that the Aquino government has
endeavored to engage private media practitioners and organizations, as well as
members of civil society, in continuing dialogue to bridge differences in
perspective and build common ground for collaborative action.
At the same time, Coloma renewed the country’s
commitment to ASEAN community building.
He said that in recent meetings, the Philippines
has actively espoused the formulation of national communication plans that are
aligned with the three communication plans of the ASEAN Political-Security
Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
The Myanmar conference on information has the
theme, "Socially Responsible Media for a Peaceful and Prosperous ASEAN
Community”.
The next Conference of the ASEAN Ministers
Responsible for Information will be held in Manila in March 2016.
The members of the Philippine delegation are
Undersecretary George Syliangco and Undersecretary Jess Yu of PCOO, Asec.
Virgilio P. Nadal, Jr. of Radio-TV Malacañang, Philippine Information Agency
Director Belina Capul, Philippine Broadcast System Director Tito G. Cruz, PCOO
Directors Ma. Cristina C. Mariano and Ma. Cecilia Javillonar. PND (as)
Palace on Senator Revilla’s privilege speech:
“We agree with the people”
Malacanang would rather let the people speak for
themselves regarding Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr.’s privilege speech at the
Senate on Monday, days after plunder charges were filed against him and two
other lawmakers for allegedly mishandling their Priority Development Assistance
Fund (PDAF).
“Our new media team has been tracking citizens’
reaction to Senator Revilla’s privilege speech delivered yesterday. The
overwhelming trend is negative and we agree with our ‘bosses’,” Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Tuesday.
During his speech, Revilla again denied all
accusations of corruption leveled against him by the authorities. He also urged
President Benigno S. Aquino III to address the country's more pressing concerns
instead of focusing on his political opponents.
According to the PCOO New Media Team, 99.93
percent of those who commented in the social media and in various news websites
reacted negatively to Revilla’s speech.
Coloma said the people’s voice on this matter
noticeably became louder after the Office of the Ombudsman brought the case
before the Sandiganbayan, emphasizing strong opposition against those who have
reportedly taken advantage of public funds.
“Umaasa tayo na ang malakas na tinig ng mga
mamamayan ay maririnig at ito ang pinaka-epektibong panlaban sa panlilinlang at
sa paghahasik ng kasinungalingan,” he said.
The Palace official also said the administration
is prepared to face any kind of situation that might develop following Revilla’s
speech, including the threat of destabilization if President Aquino’s political
opponents gang up on him.
“Matalino at mapagnilay ang ating mga mamamayan.
People are intelligent and discerning to be able to separate the chaff from the
grain and to be able to separate truth from lies,” he said.
Coloma however added that at this point, the
government would rather focus and devote its energy and efforts to pursuing its
reform programs in fulfillment of President Aquino's social contract with the
Filipino people. PND (hdc)
