by magnolia_eic | Aug 26, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that at least six agreements will be signed during President Benigno S. Aquino III’s five-day State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from August 30 to September 3, 2011.
Assistant Secretary of the DFA’s Office Asia and Pacific Affairs Cristina Ortega said that these agreements will be signed during the business fora and meetings the President will be having with Chinese business leaders in the different cities he will be visiting.
The three cities the President will visit are Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.
Ortega said the agreements include the Joint Statement (PH-PROC) on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines-China Five-Year Development Program for Trade and Economic Cooperation, an MoU between the PCOO and State Council Information Office on Friendly Exchanges, an MoU on Sports Cooperation, Implementing Program on the MoU on Tourism and Exchange of Letters on
the Executive Program of the Philippines-China Cultural Agreement.
On the Joint Statement on the West Philippine Sea, Ortega said that the document will be released but only after the State Visit.
“We will have a Joint Statement of the Philippines and China (on the West Philippine Sea)…that will be crafted during and right after the State Visit to China so hindi pa natin alam yan. I don’t think we can preempt the Joint Statement but I would assume that there would be a line or two on the West Philippine Sea,” Ortega said.
On the Philippine-China Five-Year Development Program for Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ortega said the targeted sectors of this program are in infrastructure, mining, energy, information and tourism. (End)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 13, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino’s efforts to provide a stark difference in the presidency, and new hope and trust in government were not left unnoticed early on in his administration.
A survey conducted by the Philippine Information Agency showed that nearly 7 out of 10 Filipinos gave the President a good starting score for his first 100 days in office despite a botched hostage crisis and the jueteng controversy.
The survey, which was conducted a week before the President marked his 100 days in office, showed that 69 percent of respondents across all geographical areas and sectors were satisfied with the Aquino administration’s initial performance while only 31 per cent were dissatisfied.
The same survey also showed that Filipinos perceive the President’s credibility and simple lifestyle, good governance and strong political will, and fight against graft and corruption as his strongest marks as a leader.
Sec. Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) credited this to the President’s unwavering commitment to good and honest leadership as embodied in his campaign slogan “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
He added that President Aquino is focused on the work ahead and remains committed to eradicate corruption and alleviate poverty.
The policy against the use of wang-wang or sirens on the road earned for the Chief Executive highest satisfaction rating of +82. He was also rated highly for ensuring transparency (+74) and fighting graft and corruption (+52).
President Aquino gained a good rating of +34 both for reducing the budget deficit and investigating officials linked to anomalies, +28 for controlling dengue, while recording moderate ratings in the areas of jobs and livelihood (+14), education (+10), Cabinet appointments (+9), and public-private partnerships (+6).
About half of Filipinos rated the administration fairly for its efforts to alleviate poverty and control the spiraling prices of basic commodities.
On the other hand, only 17 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the government’s handling of the Manila hostage crisis last August 23 where eight Hong Kong tourists died and which made international news.
The PIA poll was fielded nationwide with 629 respondents from various sectors,including elected and appointed government officials, business groups, religious leaders, uniformed men, laborers, and members of the media. (PIA)
