President Aquino says Filipino peacekeepers in
the Golan Heights remain safe
(PUERTO GALERA, ORIENTAL MINDORO) President
Benigno S. Aquino III said here Friday that Filipino soldiers serving as United
Nations (UN) peacekeepers in the Golan Heights remain safe despite a stand-off
with Syrian rebels.
"Sa ngayon, bagama’t tense ang sitwasyon ay
tila wala naman ho talagang masasabi nating panganib na inuulat sa ating
Kagawaran ng Tanggulan," said President Aquino.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said
in a bulletin issued on Friday that Syrian rebels surrounded the camp of Filipino
peacekeepers in Golan Heights on Thursday (August 28), demanding the troops
surrender their weapons.
The Filipino peacekeepers however refused,
resulting in a stand-off with the rebels.
Earlier, the rebels occupied the camp of 43 Fiji
peacekeepers, demanded they surrender their firearms, and took them as
hostages.
President Aquino, who was in Oriental Mindoro to
inspect infrastructure projects, said he was asked to return to Manila immediately
after the event.
“Ang plano ho kasi masubukan kong maging turista
ngayong gabi dito sa Mindoro Oriental. ‘Yon ho ‘yung plano. ‘Yung katotohanan
ho pinababalik na ako sa Maynila pagkatapos nito dahil meron tayong konting
problema sa Golan Heights, doon sa ating mga peacekeepers na nadamay ‘dun sa
civil war na nangyayari po sa Syria,” he said in his speech.
“Pero, so far e mukhang--huwag ho tayong
kabahan. Ang balita e mukhang stable ang sitwasyon,” he added.
Expressing concern over the safety of the
Filipino soldiers, the AFP said the government and UN officials are already
trying to peacefully resolve the situation.
“We are in direct communication with our
peacekeepers and with the UN Force Headquarters in the Golan Heights, as
options and contingency plans are being drawn and considered,” it said in the
bulletin.
“We will exert all efforts to ensure the safety
and security of our peacekeepers,” the AFP said. PND (ag)
President Aquino inspects proposed road project
in Mindoro
(PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro) President
Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday inspected the P1.93-billion proposed road
project that will connect the provinces of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental
Mindoro.
During a program held at Sitio Talipanan,
Barangay Aninuan, Puerto Galera, where the paved road ended in Oriental
Mindoro, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson briefed the
President and guests on the major infrastructure projects in Mindoro.
Singson described the project to link Abra de
Ilog town in Occidental Mindoro to Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro as
"environmentally sensitive", as the road will either go through a
rainforest or along a shoreline with existing beach resorts.
President Aquino however underscored the
importance of bridging the two provinces of Mindoro to bring growth to the
island, particularly in terms of tourism and agriculture.
“Siyempre, pag kumpleto na ‘yung kalsada,
makakatulong nang malaki sa turismo na isang malaking industriya po ng Mindoro,
hindi ho ba. At sa kabuhayan ng maraming mga Mindoreño,” he said in his speech.
Once constructed, the 20.33-kilometer Abra de
Ilog--Puerto Galera Road will complete the Mindoro Island Circumferential Road.
"So, pagtulungan natin ito, minimize natin
‘yung impact on the environment. Pero ‘yung kailangang imprastruktura ng tao,
sana po matuloy na, para mayroon tayong kalsadang buo, at hindi parang
horseshoe, na may kabilaang dulo pero hindi nagkokonekta," the President
said, describing the incomplete circumferential road.
Present during the program were Interior
Secretary Manuel Roxas, Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso “Boy” Umali,
Occidental Mindoro Governor Gene Mendiola, Oriental Mindoro Representative Doy
Leachon, Occidental Mindoro Representative Josie Sato, Bishop Warlito Cajandig,
and other local government officials. PND (ag)
President Aquino vows to continue developing
Mindoro Island's infrastructure
(PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro) President Benigno
S. Aquino III said here Friday the government has so far spent P10.71 billion
to develop major infrastructure in Mindoro Island.
The President visited Mindoro to inspect major
infrastructure projects in the island, aimed at boosting its tourism and trade
sectors.
Based on the assessment of the Budget
Department, the government has poured in P6.1 billion from 2011 to 2014 for
Oriental Mindoro alone.
The amount was spent for the construction of
roads, bridges, flood control facilities, airports and seaports, as well as
irrigation systems, the President said in his message.
The construction of the island's farm-to-market
roads is either completed or ongoing, he added.
The Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) has spent P6.1 billion for Oriental Mindoro and P4.6 billion for
Occidental Mindoro, the President reported.
Among the DPWH's projects are the ongoing
construction of the Mindoro East and West Coast Roads and the Abaton-Maidlang
Bridge II.
"Ang maganda po rito, marami pang
nakapilang proyekto na tiyak maghahatid ng de-kalidad na serbisyo sa atin pong
mga mamamayan," he said.
"Pinag-aaralan na rin po ng DPWH ang
minumungkahing Abra de Ilog-Puerto Galera section ng Mindoro Island
Circumferential Road na magkokonekta sa hilagang bahagi ng Occidental at
Oriental Mindoro," he added.
Once Mindoro's major roads are constructed,
travel time will be faster, resulting in the speedy delivery of goods to major
markets that will eventually boost the island's businesses, he said.
These improvements will also enhance tourism, as
more tourists will be encouraged to visit Mindoro Island, he said.
"Sa maayos na kalsada, ang mga taga-Maynila
o taga-Tarlac na gaya ko, lalong mawiwiling bumisita sa magagandang beach ninyo
tulad dito sa Puerto Galera o dumayo sa iba pang magagandang destinasyon gaya
ng Apo Reef diyan po sa Occidental Mindoro," the President said.
A vibrant commerce and tourism will open up more
opportunities to the people of Mindoro, he said.
He further said that as the government develops
Mindoro's roads and bridges, it is also rehabilitating airports and seaports in
the island, particularly the airports in Pinamalayan, San Jose, Lubang, and
Calapan.
"Ongoing na rin po ang pagpapalawak ng
bagong San Jose port, ang pagpapaunlad ng Calapan at Bulalacao port, habang
tapos na ang pagpapaunlad ng mga daungan sa Roxas, Bansud, at Abra de
Ilog," he said.
The government has also completed flood control
facilities in Pinamalayan, Bongabong, and Calapan City that would ease flooding
in Mindoro's communities, the President noted.
Despite these successes, the President said his
job is not yet finished and he has to continue focusing on improving the
country's infrastructure to ensure a sustainable economic growth.
In the proposed 2015 National Budget, he said
his administration allotted P562.3 billion, or 21 percent of the total budget,
for infrastructure development for the entire country.
Under the watch of Public Works and Highways
Secretary Rogelio Singson, the department does not tolerate corruption, bribery
and payments of kickbacks, the President said.
"Dahil nga po sa mga repormang
isina-kongkreto ni Secretary Babes Singson sa DPWH, mahigit P27 billion na ang
natipid ng ahensya sa kanilang mga proyekto mula Hulyo 2010 hanggang Mayo
2014," he added. PND (as)
President Aquino spells out major agricultural
projects in Mindoro
(PUERTO GALERA, Oriental Mindoro) President
Benigno S. Aquino III said Friday his administration is striving to enhance
Mindoro Island’s agricultural sector, as well as its people's welfare.
The President, here to inspect major
infrastructure projects, said in his speech that several projects for the
agricultural sector have been completed.
He reported that in Oriental Mindoro, 152
farm-to-market roads have been built, benefitting 31,300 farmers, while 63
irrigation projects have been completed and five more are ongoing, benefitting
more than 4,700 farmers.
The government has also funded the construction
of post-harvest facilities, such as hand tractors and flatbed dryers for the
benefit of 133 farmers' associations in the province.
"Malinaw ang hangad natin: mapalago ang ani
ng ating mga magsasaka, mapabilis ang biyahe ng mga produkto mula sakahan
hanggang pamilihan, at sa huli, madagdagan ang kita ng ating mga
kababayan," he said.
As for the government's social protection
program, President Aquino said a total of 62,095 households have received state
support under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Oriental Mindoro.
They form part of more than four million
beneficiaries across the country who have received assistance under the
program.
He also noted that the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa
Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services
(KALAHI-CIDSS) has 128 subprojects being carried out in the municipalities of
Bulalacao, Mansalay, Bongabong, Gloria, Roxas, and Bansud.
Under the KALAHI-CIDSS, the government funded
the construction of classrooms, health stations, day-care centers, and other
infrastructure in 128 barangays.
The President also reported that from January
2011 to July 2014, more than 11,200 families had received assistance through
the Sustainable Livelihood Program.
The government has also provided training and
capital so that families could start their own small businesses, he added.
"Anuman pong tayog ng nararating natin
ngayon ay bunga ng pag-aambagan ng mga Pilipino. Patuloy ang paglaban natin sa
katiwalian at paglikha ng pagkakataon sa ating mga kababayan," the
President said.
President Aquino called on the people of
Mindoro, as well as all Filipinos, to guard the gains of the government against
those trying to sow negativism. PND (as)
