Palace releases midterm update of Philippine
Development Plan
The Palace released on Sunday the midterm update
of the Philippine Development Plan for 2011 to 2016 from the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA).
“Maaari itong ituring na report card ng gobyerno
kung hanggang saan na humantong ang mga reporma at programa hinggil sa
pagpapahusay ng serbisyo publiko,” said Presidential Communication Operations
Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a briefing over radio station dzRB
Radyo ng Bayan.
“According to the President: We have witnessed
the gradual transformation of our country from an economic laggard to one of
the fastest-growing economies in the world,” said Coloma quoting the President.
“Through sound management of economic
fundamentals, we have climbed out of severe financial and economic deficits,
and achieved a healthy cash position to financing priority development
projects; and from being regarded as the ‘sick man of Asia’ to earning an
investment grade rating that reflects the confidence of the local and
international communities,” he continued.
Coloma said the country has made a significant
headway in the campaign against corruption, prosecuted government officials and
eliminated leakages in government procurement.
He added that due to the government’s
trustworthiness it resulted to attracting big-ticket investments in
manufacturing, tourism, agri-business, logistics and other productive sectors
that resulted to higher employment and more remunerative jobs for Filipinos.
The Communications Secretary said that the
President emphasized that there are more still to be done particularly in
reducing poverty which maybe addressed through focusing on health, education
and employment.
“That is why we are exerting every effort to
ensure that the process of reducing inequality happens at a much faster rate
and that our programs and projects will have a much more palpable impact on
peoples’ lives,” Coloma added.
He encouraged the public to visit the NEDA
website to see the so called report card.
“Makikita nila doon sa plans.neda.gov.ph.
Chapter by chapter meron tayong performance indicators kaya komprehensibo.
Nag-umpisa sa macroeconomic policies, nandoon din ‘yung competitive industry
and services, pagkatapos agriculture and fisheries, pagkatapos ‘yung financial
system, tapos ‘yung social development,” said Coloma. PND (ag)
Disaster readiness of the country above average,
say Palace official
The Philippines’ disaster readiness is above
average, a Palace official said on Sunday.
Presidential Communication Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., is reacting to a report from the United Nation
(UN) rating the Philippines disaster preparedness between 6 and 7, where 10 is
the highest.
“Siguro naman maituturing na rin na above
average kahit na sabihing sixth or seventh. Ibig sabihin, hindi naman po tayo
naging malamya sa ating pagtugon sa mga hamon na ‘yan,” said Coloma in a press
briefing over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Margareta Wahlstom, UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-Moon’s special representative for disaster risk reduction made the
assessment of the Philippines’ capability.
The Philippines is located in the Pacific ring
of fire, where most volcanoes are active; it is also in the Typhoon belt where
an average of 20 typhoons pass through each year; and it has fault lines that
generate earthquakes.
Coloma said the government is continuously
making preparations and educating the public on how to prepare themselves in
times of disaster.
“Matibay po ang paninindigan ng ating Pangulo na
ang kinakailangan nating itatag ay ‘yung mga disaster resilient communities.
Hindi na dapat maulit ‘yung itinuturing niyang vicious cycle of destruction and
reconstruction. Dapat ay matigil na ang aspeto ng destruction sa pamamagitan ng
pagtatag ng mga mas matibay na komunidad,” he added.
Here in the capital the Metro Manila Development
Authority is constantly conducting earthquake drills.
“Iba na po kasi ang maging handa para kapag
dumating ang panahon—huwag naman sanang pahintulutan ng Poong Maykapal—ay mas
mataas na po ang antas ng kahandaan ng mga mamamayan,” Coloma said. PND (ag)
