by magnolia_eic | May 6, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE government is spending about P4.2 million for President Benigno Aquino III’s trip to
Indonesia for the annual gathering of the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) from May 7 to 8.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the P4.2 million covers expenses for hotel
accommodations, food, transportation, telecommunications and equipment requirements,
among others, excluding air fares.
The President will be accompanied by a 54-man delegation including Foreign Secretary
Albert del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar
Purisima, and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras.
Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and
Strategic Planning Office, Mindanao Development Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino, DFA
Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio, Chief Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant Miguel
Perez-Rubio, Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente Kabigting, and DFA
Assistant Secretary Victoria Bataclan are also part of the President’s delegation.
The President’s attendance to the 18th ASEAN Summit, a yearly meeting of the heads of
states and governments of the regional bloc composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is his second
since he became the Chief Executive last year. His first was in Vietnam in November 2010.
(PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 3, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III will convene the National Security Council (NSC)
Wednesday to discuss the capability of the country in the fight against terroristic attacks
despite the death of Osama bin Laden.
In an ambush interview Tuesday, the President said that immediately after the news broke
out confirming the death of the top international terrorist Monday, he issued a memorandum
directing all security concerned agencies and staff to convene and assess the threat of
possible retaliatory acts of Bin Laden’s supporters in the country.
Among the agencies required to brief the President in the security council meeting were the
top officials of the National Security Agency (NSA), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
(NICA), the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Director General
of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI), Secretary of National Defense, Secretary of Interior and Local Government and the
Secretary of Justice.
Following the death of Bin Laden, the PNP has already increased its security patrols over the
diplomatic areas in Metro Manila and provinces to ensure that the areas of convergence are
all protected and enhanced.
Stressing that the death of Bin Laden “should not lull us into complacency,” the President has
called world leaders to continue to consistently and courageously raise its collective voice
against religious hatred, political intolerance, and terrorism of all kinds.
The Philippines joined the US-led coalition against international terrorism right after the
September 11, 2001 attacks in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 2, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III called on various labor groups including the employers,
as well as government agencies, to conduct quarterly meetings to discuss and assess the
various issues hounding the labor sector in efforts to formulate ways in addressing these
concerns and promoting a harmonious relationship.
The Chief Executive issued the call before the major stakeholders in the labor sector
during the 109th celebration of Labor Day at Malacañang’s Heroes Hall on Sunday as he
underscored the relevance of putting together a labor policy based on regular consultations.
The President noted the fast-changing labor situation that has to be considered to avert any
dispute in the sector.
During the event, leaders of various labor groups presented to the Chief Executive the issues
and concerns within their ranks as they called on his intervention to address the problems.
President Aquino also encouraged the labor groups to report the developments during their
meetings and the progress of their common thrusts. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | May 2, 2011 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III announced the availability of a P4.23-billion rice subsidy
program for farmers and fisher folk that will augment their incomes during the lean months
following a harvest season.
The Chief Executive made the announcement in his speech marking Labor Day celebrations
held for various labor groups in Malacañang on Sunday.
The President said this subsidy forms part of his administration’s efforts to address the
ever increasing prices of fuel and food as well as to provide gainful employment for our
countrymen.
The subsidy, the President stressed, will be used to pay the fishermen and fisher folks’
wages in exchange for their services such as the preparation and cleaning of the farms to be
used during the next planting season. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Apr 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Aquino government started distributing emergency shelter assistance (ESA) to the
families affected by a landslide in a remote gold mining area in southern Philippines’
Compostela Valley.
In a news briefing at Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda announced on
Tuesday that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) started distributing
ESA in the amount of P5,000 each to victims of the landslide that buried shanties last week.
Lacierda said the government started undertaking measures to extend assistance to victims
of the landslide by providing them ESA as well as food packs.
The government, Lacierda stressed, will also implement a self-employment assistance
program through the DSWD for the qualified local residents who were affected by the
tragedy.
“For a more long-term assistance, the DSWD will assess if those who have been affected by
the landslide are eligible for the self-employment assistance program of the DSWD,” he said.
Relocation efforts in the affected areas were intensified with the local government working at
the forefront. “With respect to the relocation efforts in these areas, the local government will
be taking care of that,” he said.
The landslide caused by heavy rains buried shanties in a mining area at Compostela Valley
before dawn on Good Friday, killing several people and leaving scores of residents missing.
(PCOO)
