by magnolia_eic | Nov 24, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Tuesday that he is open to the possibility of
amending Proclamation No. 50 granting “amnesty to active and former personnel of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines and their supporters who may have committed acts or
omissions punishable under the revised penal code, the articles of war or other special laws
committed in connection with the Oakwood Mutiny, the Marines Stand-Off and the Manila
Pen Incident and Related Incidents.”
In a press conference held at the Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Plant in Calamba, Laguna
on Tuesday morning, the President said he was for amending said proclamation if the
discussions between the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial)
warrant such.
It was the senate that initiated this proposal for amnesty, so we expect this matter to be under
discussions, since we have three branches of government, the President said, adding that
whatever the senate decides will be taken into consideration.
“We are open to amendments that are being proposed,” the Chief Executive continued. We
are ready to improve Proclamation 50.” (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Nov 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III assured investors Thursday that all transactions under the
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects would be transparent and open for scrutiny.
“We call it daylight,” the President said in speech at the opening of Infrastructure Philippines
2010 at the grand ballroom of Marriott Hotel in Villamor, Pasay City.
“The way forward is to move together in the broad light of day, where everything we do and
how we do it is clear, honest and transparent,” he said.
The President explained that “daylight” is the administration’s strategy for rectifying errors
and standard of performance by both government and private partnerships.
He told investors that being the Chief Executive, his mandate is to prove that corruption and
poverty can be reduced to the extent that the Philippines of 2016 will be a far different place
than the Philippines of June 2010.
For now, he said, the goal of his administration is “to prove that the straight path is the path
not only to success, but already a path marked by ever-increasing successes.”
The President reiterated that the present government is committed to a positive, productive
partnership with private stakeholders based on measurable and quantifiable-building
measures. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Nov 13, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno s. Aquino III secured today a $3.655 billion worth of Japanese investments
in a series of meetings with top Japanese investors in the Philippines.
The President met with top officials of Marubeni Corp., Itochu Corp. and Toshiba Corp. at the
Okura Hotel in Tokyo before proceeding to the APEC meeting here on Friday morning.
The President met with Marubeni president and CEO Truo Asada, Toshiba president and
CEO Norio Sasaki, Itochu deputy COO Yoshihisa Nishimura and JGC president Masahiko
Yaegashi. JGC is the design and technology arm of Itochu Corp.
The President got the biggest chunk of the pie from Marubeni which will pour in $3.4 billion
for the expansion of the Sual and Pagbilao power stations; MRT Line 7; LRT 2 East and West
extension project and digital TV system and equipment.
Toshiba, on the other hand, will invest $133 million for its electronics products expansion in
the economic zone.
Itochu will invest $122 million for the development of 11,000 hectares of sugarcane plantation
in Isabela for bio-ethanol production which is expected to generate 18,000 jobs in two years
and benefit some 15,000 farmers. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Nov 13, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III said there are promising signs that management and
employees of Philippines Air Lines (PAL) could still settle their differences through a
negotiated settlement.
In an interview at the Okura Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, the President said he has
already conducted meetings with representatives of the labor sector and PAL management
so as not to inconvenience the public in case PAL employees proceed with their planned
strike next week.
“One of the last meetings I had this week was to talk to several individuals to include
representatives from the labor sector and PAL management. So we are trying to get them
closer to a negotiated settlement and ease the fears of both parties,” he said.
The President said the meeting took place before the PAL Employees Association (PALEA)
filed last Nov. 5 a strike notice with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
PALEA said the move came after DOLE Secretary Baldoz issued an order allowing PAL to
retrench 2,600 PAL employees. During their meeting, the president said they have yet to
receive PALEA’s appeal for a review of the decision of DOLE.
The President, who is Japan to attend the 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC)
Summit said meetings between the two groups are continuing to settle the issue. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 29, 2010 | Foreign Exchange, Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III hopes to attract more Vietnamese investors to fuel their
capital to the Philippines after his two-day state visit here.
In a press conference, the Chief Executive cited a Vietnamese business process outsourcing
(BPO) firm for “leading the way” by putting up a shop in the Philippines, saying this would
further strengthen the relations between the two countries.
“There is a Vietnamese BPO company that I understand is already setting up in the country.
It’s small but this will enhance the trade between our countries,” the President said.
In a separate interview, Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Office noted that “the Philippines rice from Vietnam.”
Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Jerril Santos said that a total of $308.97-million has been
poured into the country by companies from the Philippines, making RP the fourth top ASEAN
investor in Vietnam. These include investments in agriculture and information technology.
President Aquino expressed hope that with his visit here, more Vietnamese businessmen will
be enticed to invest in the Philippines. (PCOO/PIA)
