Thursday 30 October 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, October 7, 2014

President Aquino receives credentials of three new envoys

President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed three new ambassadors to the Philippines in a simple ceremony at the Music Room of Malacañang Palace on Tuesday.

President Aquino first received the credentials of Luis Lillo as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Chile. Lillo was accompanied by his wife Toni Patchett, daughter Maria Jesus Lillo, Second Secretary and Consul Fernanda Villa, and Honorary Consul Juan Rocha.

Next to present his credentials was Ephraim Ben Matiyau as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel. He was joined by his wife Lizia Zenaida Lu, Deputy Chief of Mission Adam Michael Levene, Consul Menashe Doron Abudi, and Chief of Security Roy Artzi.

The last ambassador to submit his letter of credentials was Jan Top Kristensen as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Denmark. Kristensen was accompanied by his wife Thien Kieu Thi Phung, and Attaché Pia Heide Salman.

Joining the President in welcoming the new ambassadors was Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario.

President Aquino welcomed the three envoys to the country. In return, the three ambassadors assured the President of their respective countries’ commitment to further enhance bilateral relations with the Philippines.

The President had a brief closed-door meeting with all three envoys. PND (jb)


Palace satisfied with result of survey on people's support for President Aquino

The Palace on Tuesday welcomed the result of the recent Pulse Asia survey, which shows that most Filipinos continue to appreciate the performance of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

"We are gratified that, as noted by Pulse Asia and I quote: 'Most Filipinos remain appreciative of the President’s performance,' and that he continues to enjoy majority performance approval and trust ratings, as he has done so for the past 17 quarterly surveys," Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said in a statement.

"This indication of broad support serves to spur the administration to greater efforts towards fulfilling its reform agenda and the President’s social contract with the Filipino people," Coloma added.

He said the President will continue to pay close attention to public opinion surveys to improve the quality of services extended by the government to the people.

Coloma noted that the President continues to focus on carrying out significant programs for the people, with the end in view of making current reforms permanent.

Based on Pulse Asia's September 2014 Ulat ng Bayan Survey, President Aquino got a 55 percent approval rating and a 14 percent disapproval rating. Some 31 percent of the respondents were undecided.

The survey put the President’s approval and trust ratings in the Visayas at 65 percent and 61 percent, respectively; in Mindanao at 68 percent and 65 percent, respectively; among members of Class D at 54 percent and 52 percent respectively; and among members of Class E, both at 61 percent.

The President also enjoys support from the people of Metro Manila and Luzon.

According to the survey, appreciation and trust are the plurality sentiments toward the Chief Executive in Metro Manila (48 percent and 47 percent, respectively); the rest of Luzon (46 percent and 48 percent, respectively); and among members of Class ABC, (48 percent and 49 percent, respectively). PND (as)


Improvements being made on NAIA: Palace

The government continues to improve the facilities and services of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a Malacañang official said on Tuesday.

"Patuloy naman ‘yung pagsasagawa ng mga major physical improvements sa NAIA Terminal 1 at isa ngang mahalagang hakbang na isinulong ng ating pamahalaan ay ang full operationalization ng Terminal 3," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing at the Palace.

The website Wall St. Cheat Sheet has listed NAIA as one of the 10 Worst Airports in the World, citing that "travelers complained about the airport’s rundown facilities, impolite staff and officials, and long wait times."

Secretary Coloma said the government has transferred five major international carriers from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 to ease the congestion at the airport.

"Because to the extent na na-ease natin ‘yung congestion ng mga tao sa Terminal 1 ay nagkakaroon ngayon ng puwang na mas ma-implement ‘yung mga physical improvement programs dito," he added.

Wall St. Cheat Sheet however noted that the Philippine government is “planning to build a new one, which it hopes to have up and running in five years."

The three other worst airports are from the United States: New York’s LaGuardia Airport; Los Angeles International; and the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Arkansas.

Also included in the list are the Charles De Gaulle in Paris; Italy’s Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport; Zurich International in Switzerland; Chad’s N’Djamena International Airport; Russia’s Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport; and, India’s Calcutta Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.


Wall St. Cheat Sheet described itself as a provider of “succinct, value-added analyses for busy news consumers in a mobile world." PND (ag)