by aimee | Apr 16, 2013 | National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has committed to further strengthen relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam, as well as “with all Southeast Asian states,” to improve not only economic and cultural engagements but also “through dialogue for maritime security.”
The President gave his commitment during the State Luncheon he hosted for Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in Malacanang on Tuesday.
“Your Majesty, the waters that separate our countries remind us that the same waves lap at our shores. As a brother nation in ASEAN, our country is committed to nurturing our relationship; we commit to enhancing cooperation with Brunei and with all Southeast Asian states, not only through economic and cultural engagements, but also through dialogue for maritime security,” the President said.
“This is our pledge: to continue working with our neighbors in implementing the commitments of ASEAN member states in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and in moving forward with negotiations for the adoption of a Code of Conduct,” he added.
The President expressed confidence that with Brunei Darussalam at the helm as chair of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit “the region will move further along the straight path towards harmony and sustainable progress.”
“I look forward to working with Your Majesty in building a Southeast Asia that is truly an abode of peace for all peoples,” the President said.
In response, Sultan Bolkiah assured the President of his country’s assistance and support in the President’s peace keeping initiatives in Mindanao.
“I would like to commend you Mr. President for the initiatives you have taken to promote peace and reconciliation in the Southern Philippines and I wish to assure you that Brunei will continue to provide assistance in your peace keeping efforts,” Sultan Bolkiah said.
He also said that as this year’s ASEAN chair, Brunei “will continue to work closely with the Philippines towards achieving concrete outcomes and economic growth and social progress and in promoting regional peace and stability.”
“We value your continued support for our chairmanship and I look forward Mr. President to welcoming you to Brunei for the ASEAN Summit,” the Sultan said. (PND)
by aimee | Apr 15, 2013 | Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 15 (PIA)–Gipasalig sa gobyerno sa Pilipinas sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) nga gihimo na niini ang tanan aron mahuman sa labing daling panahon ang peace agreement.
Kini human nipahayag og pagkadismaya ang MILF sa kapakyas sa duha ka panig nga mahuman ang bisan usa sa tulo ka “annexes” sa gimugnang Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.
Sa parte sa Malakanyang, miingon si deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte nga padayon ang ilang trabaho aron maplansta ang tanang mga isyung nahisulod sa dokumento.
“Lahat na panig patuloy ang pagtrabaho para pag-usapan at ma-discuss ang lahat na issues na involved sa natitirang annexes,” pasabot ni Valte.
Kahinumdoman nga una nang naglaum si MILF peace panel chairman Mohager Iqbal nga malagdaan na ang nahabiling annexes sa dili pa ang piniliay.
Pagkahuman na sa umaabot nga piniliay sa Mayo 13 mobalik ang duha ka panig sa negotiating table. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-sjp)
Comelec, gitun-an ang online voting alang sa OAV
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 15 (PIA)–Gitun-an karon sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) kun unsaon pagsaka sa turnout sa overseas absentee voting (OAV) nga nagpadayon karon sa nagkalin-laing dapit sa kalibotan.
Matud pa ni Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, usa sa nakita nilang makapa-aghat sa mga overseas Filipino workers nga mobotar ug mapasaka ang turnout sa OAV ang pagpatuman sa online voting.
Si Brillantes nagkanayon nga basin sa 2016 presidential elections na mapatuman ang online voting tungod kay nagsugod na ang pagbotar karon sa gawas sa nasud.
Didto si Brillantes sa Hong Kong ug gi-atubang ang Filipino community dungan sa overseas absentee voting diin sa kapin 100,000 ka rehistradong botante sa Hong Kong, 536 lamang ang mibotar sa unang adlaw sa piniliay.
Sa pagkakaron, mga naandang problema lamang ang natala sa Comelec sa unang mga adlaw sa absentee voting sama sa mga nangawalang pangalan sa mga botante ug ang wala pagbasa sa PCOS machines sa balota tungod sa sayop nga pag-fill up niini.
Ang overseas ansentee voting nagsugod niadtong Abril 13 ug hangtud kini sa adlaw mismo sa piniliay sa Pilipinas sa Mayo 13. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-gg)
by aimee | Apr 15, 2013 | National News
MALACAÑANG made an assurance on Saturday that it is always prepared to extend assistance to Filipinos asking for help in Saudi Arabia particularly those who are undocumented and wanting to go back to the Philippines.
At least 7,000 Filipino workers sought repatriation from Saudi Arabia after King Abdullah ordered a three-month delay on government crackdown against illegal and overstaying foreigners in that country.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the country’s embassy in the Middle Eastern country extends assistance to those who wants to go home.
Valte also said her office received a letter last week from three Filipinos wanting to be repatriated to the Philippines. She said they endorsed them to the Philippine Embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia that will facilitate their return to the Philippines.
“Hindi naman problema sa atin ‘yan. Trabaho natin ‘yan, facilitating assistance to undocumented Filipinos who may want to go back to the country,” she said.
“Patuloy naman ang assistance na ine-extend ng ating mga posts doon sa mga undocumented workers. In the same way na kapag meron ding reklamo, ipaaabot din sa amin para nagagawan din natin ng paraan.”
According to Migrante, 7,000 have signed up for repatriation but it expects the number could go up because 20,000 were considered undocumented out of about 1.5 million Filipinos in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah stopped the crackdown against illegal immigrants and foreign workers in April, giving them three months to fix their status.
Those who will be caught without proper documents may land in jail and could be fined, deported and banned from entering Saudi Arabia. (PND)
by aimee | Apr 11, 2013 | National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday that the fruits of his administration’s good governance advocacy can be seen in the increased budgets of government agencies that provide basic services and in the approval ratings accorded by international credit rating companies due to the country’s progress to break free from the shackles of graft and corruption that has long bound and prevented it from taking off.
After only two years and nine months in Office implementing strict reforms to weed out graft and corruption, cut inefficient government spending and bring down the time to complete projects, the President said that the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Education, Health and Public Works and Highways now enjoy bigger budgets which they can use for the benefit of the people.
The President said the DSWD now has a 260 percent increase in its budget with which it can use to bring more beneficiaries to the government’s pro-poor program: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which is now pegged at 3.85-million households; that the DepEd enjoys a 44 percent budget increase which it can now use to finally close the 66,800 classroom and books, tables and chairs deficit by the end of this year.
The President added that the DOH, whose budget has been increased by 78 percent, has been able to register 86 percent of Filipinos to the government’s health care program – Philhealth while the DPWH, long thought to be the most corrupt of government agencies, holds above board bidding processes and has cut down unnecessary spending and the time to complete projects; with its budget increase of 23 percent.
“Ang good news po: ang pinaka-kapuspalad nating mga kababayan ay makakapagpagamot na nang walang binabayaran ni isang kusing. Sa DPWH naman po, dalawampu’t tatlong porsyento na ang itinaas,” the President said.
The President further said that Fitch credit rating agency has taken notice of the government’s good governance advocacy and has recently rated the Philippines investment grade status. (PND)
by aimee | Apr 11, 2013 | Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 11 (PIA)–Milagda og kasabotan ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) ug ang Department of Education (DepEd) alang sa dawatong insurance, kompensasyon ug assistance sa mga magtutudlo nga motabang isip board of election inspectors (BEIs).
Mismong si Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes pa ang nanguna sa maong aktibidad, kauban ang mga opisyal sa DepEd.
Katuyoan niining masiguro ang tabang sa mga magtutudlo kun adunay mahitabong insidente nga wala damha o kaha mga kaso kun may mga election protest nga atubangon.
Gisiguro ni Brillantes nga dili nila pasagdan ang mga magtutudlo nga may daku na usab nga responsibilidad sa umaabot nga piniliay.
Ubos sa maong kasabotan, makadawat ang mga magtutudlo og P3,000 honorarium pinaagi sa ilang ATM payroll accounts.
Gawas niini, milagda usab og kasabotan ang poll body sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ug Philippine National Police (PNP) alang sa pagpatunhay sa kahapsay ug kalinaw sa mga lugar diin ipahigayon ang piniliay.
Bisan ang Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), nihatag usab og kasiguradohan alang sa libreng legal aid sa mga magtutudlong ma-angin sa kaso kun may mga mogawas nga isyu sa eleksyon. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-hd)
Resulta sa eleksiyon, mahibaw-an dayon sulod sa 48 oras – Comelec
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 11 (PIA)–Giingong mahibaw-an sulod lamang sa duha ka adlaw ang resulta sa ikaduhang nationwide automated elections karong 2013 midterm polls.
Kini ang gibutyag ni Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes human sa ilang mga gihimong pagpangandam alang sa maong piniliay.
Alang kang Brillantes, kun nakitang dili na igo ang gidaghanon sa botong wala pa naihap ug na-canvass aron pildihon ang mga nag-una nga kandidato, mapadayag na ang mga nidaug.
Apan giingong sibo lamang kini nga sitwasyon alang sa national level o mga nidagang kandidato sa pagka-senador ug partylist organizations.
Samtang sa local level usab, posibleng mas sayo pang mahibaw-an ang resulta sa eleksyon ilabi na sa mga lugar nga gamay lamang ang rehistradong botante. (PIA-Bohol/ecb/i-gg)
