PIA Dispatch - Thursday, July 2, 2009

PGMA has no A(H1N1), checks out of Asian hospital
By Bradley de Leon 

President Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday checked out of Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City without any signs that she was infected by A(H1N1) virus.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde revealed that the President checked out of Asian hospital at around 2p.m with a “clean bill of health”.

Remonde also said that the President underwent certain check ups while on quarantine and all results were okay.


Poll automation is PGMA’s pet project; should push through -– Ermita

MANILA, July 2 – Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said on Thursday the poll automation is a pet project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and it must be implemented in the national and local elections next year. 

”It’s her pet project for an honest and clean election. But we are not pressuring the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to go on with it because they are independent body,” Ermita told reporters at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall where he represented the President at the awarding ceremonies for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). “I hope no one would give a bad impression on what’s happening at the Comelec. The Palace has nothing to do with it,” Golez said. 

”Malacañang will exhaust all legal means to push for the automated elections next year,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Golez appealed to the Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) and winning bidder Smartmatic International to reconcile their differences in the interest of the successful implementation of the poll automation. 

Golez is hoping the issue can still be resolved by the Comelec, an independent Constitutional body, trusting that whatever decision it may take will be good for the country’s electoral system. 

In a last-ditch effort to automate the 2010 national and local elections, the Comelec scheduled a meeting with top officials of Smartmatic and TIM on Tuesday afternoon and discussed matters and issues surrounding what they described as a “forestalled” partnership. 


PGMA to RP’s top students: Help gov't in pursuing national economic recovery

MANILA, July 2 – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the country’s top student leaders on Thursday to help the government in pursuing national economic recovery as the nation wages war against the global economic crisis. 

In her speech read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita at the awarding ceremonies of the 2009 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) this morning at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall, the President also said she has launched the National Youth Service Corps to provide jobs and opportunities for the Filipino youth aged 18 to 24 years. 

”We want to make sure these young people have a way to positively contribute to the nation and their own well-being. I hope some of our 10 outstanding students can help us coordinate this,” the President said. 

This year’s TOSP, whom President Arroyo congratulated through Ermita, are Roger Montepio Flores (Philippine Military Academy, BS Naval Science); Miguel Antonio Barreto Garcia (University of San Carlos, AB Economics); Aidel Paul Garcia Belamide (University of the Philippines Los Banos, BA); Ann Bernaldez Crusit (University of Bohol, BS Education); Paul John Basubas Gesta (University of Cebu, BSC Management); Adrian Clark San Pascual Mundin (Ateneo de Manila University, BS Management Engineering); Stacy Danika Sia Alcantara (Silliman University, AB Mass Communication); Stephen Alexeus Gorgonio Baltazar (University of San Carlos, BS Accountancy); Nicole Marie Regner Villarojo (De La Salle University, BSC Marketing Management & AB Economics); and Carlos Ramos Gerogalin Jr. (West Negros University, BS Education). 

”Similarly, I continue to promote the One Scholarship, One Town Program to aid in the academic and intellectual development of our most promising youth,” President Arroyo said. 

”Education is cherished here in the Philippines. It is a ticket to better life. We must stay focused on giving our best and brightest a chance for a better life. You, the youth of our nation, are a national treasure. The youth must be aided in the pursuit of a better life,” she said. 

In a brief interview, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Atty. Emmanuel Y. Angeles told the Philippines News Agency that the student awardees are outstanding and inspiring. 

Ermita, who represented the President, handed out the glass trophies to the awardees. He was assisted by Angeles, Republic Flour Mills (RFM) chairperson and TOSP founder Jose Concepcion Jr., RFM Foundation president Marie Concepcion Young, RFM Corporation president Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III, and National Book Store (NBS) president Alfredo C. Ramos.


Education is ticket to better life-PGMA

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said through a message read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, that investing in human resource, particularly in education, is tantamount to giving the future generation a ticket to a better life.

The president’s message was read during the recognition rites for the 2009 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) this morning at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.

“My administration gives premium to education because investment in human resource is one of the best investments for any country,” Ermita quoted the President in her message.

Through the Department of Education (DepEd), the President said various scholarship programs and jobs expo have been providing employment and other opportunities to thousands of youth every year in the State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) and through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). 

The President said her “One Town, One Scholar” program has ensured that the best public high school graduate from each of the country’s 1,500 municipalities, especially those who have no financial means, will get a college education starting June this year.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allocated some P46 million from its existing budget for the program that started June this year, while succeeding funding requirement for the town scholars would be incorporated under CHED’s annual proposed budget. 

As a signatory to the “One Town, One Scholar” program, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has expressed support to the CHED’s plan to double or even triple the number of town scholars depending on the capacity of member municipalities. 

The President said these programs will provide enough opportunities and a ticket to a better life for the country’s youth.

Before reading the President’s message, Ermita led the awarding rites for the 2009 TOSP winners who were selected from among the 33 finalists.

The 2009 TSOP were Roger Flores of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA); Miguel Antonio Garcia (University of San Carlos, Cebu City); Aidel Paul Belamide (UP Los Banos); Ann Crusit (University of Bohol); Paul John Gesta (Univesity of Cebu); Adrian Clarc Mundin (Ateneo de Manila University); Stacy Danika Alcantara (Silliman University); Stephen Alexeus Baltazar (University of San Carlos); Nicole Marie Villarojo (De La Salle University); and Carlos Gerogalin Jr. (West Negros University).

Assisting Ermita were CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles, RFM Foundation chairman Jose Ma. Concepcion III, Jose “JoeCon” Concepcion Jr. and National Book Store president Alfredo Ramos. 

TOSP is an annual nationwide search that started in 1961 which honors outstanding Filipino students who have excelled not only in their studies but also in fulfilling their social responsibilities.

The TOSP is organized by the RFM Foundation in cooperation with CHED and National Book Store. 


Palace joins nation in praying for President Cory Aquino’s recovery
By:Bradley de Leon

Malacanang on Thursday joined the whole nation in praying for former President Cory Aquino’s immediate recovery. She was admitted anew in a hospital in Makati City.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said that they started the meeting with a one minute prayer offered to President Aquino’s immediate recovery. 

Golez also said that Malacanang is one with the nation in praying for the former President on her battle against cancer. “Aside for the prayers for the former President, we also prayed for her family’s strength while they in their trying times,” Golez added.

Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer last year. Reports reaching Malacanang said that she had been undergoing treatment, but was no longer receiving treatment.