President Aquino calls for ‘sense of urgency’ in
anticipating natural disasters
President Benigno S. Aquino III, in a recent
Cabinet meeting, underscored the need for a “sense of urgency” among all
government agencies and local government units in anticipating natural
disasters, a Palace official has said.
“President Aquino emphasized the need to promote
a sense of urgency among all national agencies and local government units in
the aspect of capability building, considering the country’s vulnerability to
natural disasters, ” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr. said in a note sent to members of the Malacañang Press Corps on
Thursday.
The President presided over the meeting, held on
Wednesday (August 6) to discuss the Climate Change Cluster Roadmap.
In attendance were representatives of the
departments of environment, agriculture, interior and local government,
agrarian reform, energy, and public works, the Metro Manila Development
Authority, Climate Change Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council, and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
The President noted that there must be broad
awareness on the use of geo-hazard maps that indicate landslide- and
flood-prone areas in each province, municipality or city, “so that the local
disaster risk-reduction and management councils can respond in a timely and
appropriate manner,” Secretary Coloma said.
During the meeting, the Climate Change Cluster
reported the occurrence of 543 natural disasters between the years 1900 and
2014, 58 percent of which were storms and 25 percent were floods.
“Responding to the challenge of climate change
adaptation and disaster risk management, the cluster has adopted a strategy of
improving resiliency to climate change,” Coloma said.
He said the cluster will focus on carbon
sequestration through forests and oceans, energy efficiency and conservation,
renewable energy development, and greater reliance on cleaner energy sources,
such as natural gas and geothermal energy.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation is one
of the pillars of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
Last June, the United Nations’ (UN) special
representative for disaster risk reduction assessed the Philippines’ disaster
preparedness at between 6 and 7 or “above average," with 10 being the
highest. PND (ag)
President Aquino honors outstanding policemen
during 113th Police Service Anniversary
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the
celebration of the 113th Police Service Anniversary at the Philippine National
Police (PNP) Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday.
During the event, President Aquino recognized
several police personnel and PNP Units for their outstanding achievements.
“Bilang mga alagad ng batas, malinaw ang inyong
responsibilidad: Ang ipagtanggol ang ating mga kababayan at maipadama sa mga
kriminal na hindi nila matatakasan ang katarungan; na sa oras na makalap natin
ang sapat na ebidensya, sa oras na mahuli natin sila sa akto, mararamdaman nila
ang lakas ng estado,” the President said in his speech.
He commended the Zamboanga City Public Safety
Company for being the first unit to respond during the Zamboanga City siege in
September last year, as well as Police Superintendent Lambert Suerte of the
Benguet Provincial Public Safety Company for seizing the largest camp of the
New People’s Army (NPA) in the Cordillera and capturing the group’s leader in
2013.
He also cited the Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group, headed by Police Director Benjamin Magalong, for apprehending
3,453 fugitives, including 22 most wanted in the country, last year.
He recognized the achievement of Senior Police
Officer 1 Dominador Canlas, who saved three children during an operation
against the NPA in Tarlac.
“Ilan lamang sila sa magigiting nating pulis na
kinikilala natin sa araw na ito. Sinasalamin nila ang malasakit at
propesyunalismo ng iba pa nating kapulisan na talaga naman pong
nagpakitang-gilas sa serbisyo,” he said.
Other awardees include PNP Deputy Chief for
Administration Felipe Rojas Jr., Police Chief Inspector Juanito Gaces Jr.,
Police Officer 2 Crissandra Aggabao, Police Regional Office 9, Anti-Cybercrime
Group, Crime Laboratory and Cagayan Police Provincial Office, Abra Police
Provincial Office, President Roxas Municipal Police Station, and the
Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force.
The Philippine National Police celebrates August
8 as Police Service Anniversary in commemoration of the joint founding
anniversaries of the Insular Constabulary, established in 1901, and the Integrated
National Police, organized in 1975.
This year’s anniversary carried the theme:
“Pulisya Kaagapay ang Mamamayan para sa Patuloy na Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran.”
PND (jb)
President Aquino assures DAP ruling will not
hamper PNP modernization
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday
assured that the modernization of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will not
be hindered by the Supreme Court ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration
Program (DAP).
In his speech during the 113th Police Service
Anniversary, President Aquino allayed fears that the impending programs of the
PNP will not push through with the striking down of the DAP.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala na ‘di matutupad ang
ating plano para sa shoot, scoot, and communicate, dahil sa naging desisyon sa
DAP,” the President said, referring to the program that will update the
weapons, equipment, and communications facilities of both the military and the
police.
“Patuloy tayong gumagawa ng hakbang para
masigurong tuloy-tuloy ang inyong modernisasyon,” he said.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
has allocated P2.86 billion for PNP modernization and the hiring of
non-uniformed personnel.
The Aquino administration has appealed the
ruling of the Supreme Court on the DAP, insisting that the program was
implemented in good faith and with legal basis.
Pending the High Tribunal’s final decision,
President Aquino vowed to continue the reforms and modernization of the PNP.
He noted that the government is focusing on
upgrading science and the forensic-gathering capability of the police, citing
new procedures, such as the Integrated Ballistics Identification System and the
Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
He added that there is a plan to hire 7,439
non-uniformed personnel who will be assigned to regional offices to do
administrative work, in an effort to maximize police forces.
The President also assured that the welfare of
the country’s police personnel will not be neglected, citing the P2 billion
allocation for the Capability Enhancement Program and another P100 million for
the construction of 18 police stations. PND (jb)
President Aquino receives U.S. lawmakers in
Malacañang
President Benigno S. Aquino III received members
of a US congressional delegation during a courtesy call in Malacañang Palace on
Friday.
The US delegation included Sen. Ronald Wyden
(D-Oregon), member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; Sen. Robert
Corker (R-Tennessee), ranking member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee;
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-New Jersey), chairman of Subcommittee on Defense,
House Appropriations Committee; Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), vice chairman of
the House Appropriations Committee; Rep. Ken Calvet (R-California), House
Appropriations Committee; and Rep. Jim Moran (D-Virginia), House Appropriations
Committee.
The American legislators were accompanied by US
Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
Also present were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras, Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad, Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, and National Economic and
Development Authority Director General Arsenio Balisacan. PND (as)
