by magnolia_eic | Sep 2, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Malaysia remains the third party facilitator at the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after the Holy Feast of Ramadan on Sept. 9.
In a news briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the stalled peace talks with the MILF will definitely resume after the Ramadan as announced by President Benigno S. Aquino III in his State of the Nation Address last July.
“What we have right now and what we have been informed is that Malaysia is still the third party negotiator,” Lacierda said.
Concerned government officials he said, have been given a briefing on the peace process last week.
The President, according to him, has expressed determination to put an end to the decades-old conflict in southern Philippines and finally achieve a long-lasting peace for Muslim-Filipinos.
Peace talks between the Philippine Government and the MILF were stalled since August 2008 following the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD). (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Sep 1, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines – As Aquino has promised, President Benigno Aquino III has abolished redundant and underperforming agencies such as the Presidential Anti Graft Commission (PAGC) and the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG), Aquino has however extended the existence of problematic government-owned and controlled corporations.
Secretary Ricky Carandang quoted Budget Secretary Florencio Abad that the PASG and PAGC will not have any budget for the next year. Carandang added that in paper the PASG and PAGC may be existent, however, there will be no more budget allocations for them.
Curbing smuggling is the job of the Bureau of Customs while the Office of the Ombudsman handles graft cases involving government officials and personnel.
Regarding the GOCC’s, even those whose abnormalities have been spotted have been included in the proposed P1.645 trillion national budget for next year. This proposal has already been submitted to the Congress for hearing. Although extensions have been given to the “in the red” GOCC’s, their allocations have been cut to subsistence levels. A briefing paper from the DBM shows that the government is no longer interested in supporting the programs of GOCCs like the NFA, LRTA, MRTC and other GOCC’s.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Aquino administration is determined to cut excess fat, specifically the outlandish bonuses, perks and privileges of GOCC executives — and put a uniform basis on their salaries and other emoluments.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 28, 2010 | Headlines
Foreign investor confidence in the Philippines remains at an all-time high despite the bungled rescue attempt of Hong Kong nationals held hostage by a disgruntled former Manila policeman, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday.
The President said officials of a multi-national bank based in the United States have already signified their intent to invest in the country.
He said his forthcoming trip to the US would solidify the prospective investor’s plans which he said would generate jobs for the Filipino people.
“By the end of September, we will be going to America and upon our return, I believe that we will be bringing gifts for the Filipino people in the form of additional jobs,” the President said.
He said Deutsche Bank officials met with him in Malacañang after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident to express their collective confidence on the country as an investment venue.
“I met with bank officials in Malacañang a day after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and they told me that what we are going through right now is only temporary,” the President said.
“Our confidence in the Philippines is still complete, in fact we plan to increase our exposure here over three times because we believe that the Philippines is on the path to progress,” the President quoted the bank officials as saying.
He said that with the increase in investments, the country’s economy would also grow and with a growing economy, the search of funding sources to bankroll various infrastructure projects would become easier.
The President called on all Filipinos: “If we help each other, if we focus on our responsibility to others, nothing can impede the growth of the Filipino people. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed that justice will be served to those found accountable for the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and subsequent botched rescue attempt by security forces last Monday that led to the death of eight Hong Kong nationals.
The Chief Executive made this statement in his speech on Thursday at the ground breaking and time-capsule laying ceremonies for the construction of the Teacher Education and Law Center Building of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.
The President, however, said that due process will be maintained and the results of the investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation into the case will be the basis for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The President gave assurance that they have started to rectify whatever mistakes had been committed Monday evening, and that the public will be informed of the outcome of the investigation to be conducted by DOJ and the NBI.
“There were shortcomings, but there will be justice”, the President said. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 26, 2010 | Headlines, National News
The Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections will go on as scheduled, after all.
This, after Congress has acceded to President Benigno S. Aquino’s request to pursue the conduct of the said polls in October this year.
President Aquino announced the development in a news briefing with Malacanang reporters Wednesday.
The confirmation came after the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms on Wednesday had dismissed and ‘archived’ all bills and resolutions of the minority bloc to suspend the Barangay and SK polls.
“I appealed to members of the ruling coalition in both chambers to support us in our drive to continue with what has already been scheduled by the pertinent law and that is the conduct of Barangay and SK elections by October of this year. And that was again a primary appeal that they have acceded to,” the President said.
During his meeting with members of Congress, the President explained that ‘a renewal of mandate’ and the conduct of Barangay and SK elections this coming October is necessary in governance as being ‘the primary instrumentality in carrying out any and all programs of the state.’
He stressed that “without the renewed mandate the support of the populace essential in attaining success of this objectives will be severely put to the test.” (PCOO/ PIA)
