| 95.4% of Nat'l Budget released by end-July; Abad: DBM committed to executing budget in remaining months |
| Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported that agency allotment releases in 2015 continue to outpace last year’s rates, with 95.4 percent of funds has already been made available to departments as of July 31. This figure is 2.5 percent or P203.08 million higher than allotment releases to agencies over the first seven months of 2014.
“We continue to focus on implementing the current year’s budget efficiently, even as the 2016 budget planning process is underway. Now that most of the 2015 Budget has been released, we urge agencies to make the most of the funds released to them. You see, faster agency spending isn’t just a matter of supporting economic growth. It’s also a matter of ensuring the timely delivery of goods and services to the public,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.
The budget chief also countered recent claims that the government is holding back releases until the second half of the year.
“The figures clearly show that most of the 2015 National Budget has already been released to the appropriate agencies in the first half of the year. This alone disproves allegations that we’re holding back releases as part of an absurd, grandiose strategy for the 2016 polls,” Abad added.
Allotment releases in July 2015 bring the percentage of the original P2.606-trillion program already released up to 88.7 percent. This represents a slight increase over last year’s proportion, when 88.4 percent of the P2.265 trillion budget had been released by July.
“We’re following through with our commitment to release agency allotments at the soonest possible time. The GAA-as-Release-Document regime, in place since last year, has largely allowed agency to focus on project execution,” Abad said.
To help agencies in the quicker execution and implementation of projects and programs, the DBM has already introduced several measures aimed at strengthening and improving procurement processes and project implementation, including Administrative Order No. 46 in March and National Budget Circular No. 2015-558 in June. |
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| P9.48-M to jump-start historic theater rehab; Abad: Proper management of our heritage to boost tourism |
| Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P9.48 million to cover the initial conservation work on the Manila Metropolitan Theater (MET), after the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) purchased the historic theater from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) with a P270-million fund release made available by the budget agency.
“The Aquino Administration had made the first step in purchasing this iconic landmark from GSIS, and now the NCCA can begin the worthy task of restoring the MET to its former glory. Ultimately, funding the MET’s rehabilitation will not only preserve a piece of history from our country’s storied past. It is also a cultural investment for future generations of Filipinos,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.
The amount of P9.48 million is a special budget release that will be charged against the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA). The latter represents the NCCA’s 10-percent share from the travel tax collected by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA, formerly the Philippine Tourism Authority), and is treated as an Automatic Appropriation.
The release will fund the conservation efforts to rehabilitate the theater, which includes the mobilization expenses for the physical cleaning as well as the establishment of security.
“Rehabilitating the MET will restore dignity to the Crown Jewel of Manila Theaters after years of neglect and disrepair. Bringing the MET into the modern age will also boost our country’s tourism industry, as the proper management of our cultural heritage will support the gains of our economic growth,” Abad said.
Designed by architect Juan Arellano and opened in 1931, the MET was constructed in the Art Deco style. It had undergone restoration and rehabilitation several times through the years, especially in the wake of the damage it incurred after World War II. Despite being a National Cultural Treasure, it had been closed due to the theater’s state of decay and issues with regard to its ownership since 2012. |
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| DSWD, LGUs continue relief ops for ‘Ineng’ |
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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| As Typhoon Ineng continues to weaken and moves out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Field Offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Regions I, II, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) continue to assist local government units (LGUs) in relief distribution to affected families. As of 4 am today, August 24, assistance worth ₱3.1 million has been provided to affected families from the combined resources of the DSWD which extended ₱2.8 million and LGUs with ₱307,809.20. DSWD is now preparing for the delivery of 50,000 food packs to Region I. Last night, the first batch of 10,720 packs were transported to Region I with the assistance of the Philippine Navy. Today, a convoy of 19 trucks will deliver 6,840 packs more to the region while the remaining 32, 440 will follow in the succeeding days. As of presstime, a total of 24,058 families or 106,984 persons from 329 barangays of 68 cities and municipalities have been affected by ‘Ineng’. Of this number, 703 families or 2,644 persons are still in 30 evacuation centers. DSWD disaster teams continue to be on alert to provide resource augmentation to the affected LGUs. |
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| DSWD taps academe’s support for homeless families |
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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To help address the prevalence of homeless families in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has engaged the support of public and private academic institutions in the metropolis for the implementation of its project called Oplan Balik Bahay, Sagip Buhay (OBBSB).
OBBSB aims to address the prevalence of street dwellers in the major thoroughfares in NCR, particularly in the cities of Manila and Quezon through the provision of a package of services designed to meet the needs of the beneficiaries and to keep families and their children out of the streets.
Under the OBBSB, DSWD is targeting a total of 3,500 street families to be removed from the streets and who shall receive a package of educational, health, shelter, and livelihood assistance in preparation for their community reintegration.
Earlier this month, DSWD through its Field Office-NCR gathered around 235 representatives from various academic institutions around the cities of Manila and Quezon. They were oriented on the current status of homelessness in these two areas and on the Department’s ongoing implementation of OBBSB and the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF).
The MCCT-HSF is an expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which provides a complete package of assistance to street families, including responsive shelter program, access to social services, and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions. It also extends house rental assistance of up to P4,000 per month for six months to one year.
To date, there are a total of 2,586 beneficiaries of the MCCT-HSF in NCR.
During the activity, the participants expressed their commitment to help the Department by conducting feeding programs and community activities, monitoring of MCCT-students in their schools, and raising awareness, among others.
Among the academic institutions represented during the orientation were the University of Santo Tomas, Lyceum of the Philippines, St. John’s Academy, Philippine Normal University, Arellano University, St. Jude College, National Teacher’s College, as well as public schools.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that addressing the concerns of homeless families cannot be handled solely by the Department, and that DSWD continues to coordinate with various stakeholders such as the academe to solidify convergence in the implementation of projects for the sector.
The Secretary also urged the public to report sightings of street children/street dwellers to the DSWD Twitter Account, @savestreetkids, for rescue, profiling, assessment and subsequent provision of appropriate interventions. |
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| Launching of Malaybalay CSF today |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
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The Malaybalay City Credit Surety Fund (Malaybalay CSF) will be formally launched today at Loiza’s Pavilion, Malaybalay City. The ceremony will be highlighted by the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement among stakeholders headed by Malaybalay City Mayor Ignacio W. Zubiri and BSP Monetary Board Member Valentin A. Araneta, the participating cooperatives and partner institutions.
The Credit Surety Fund (CSF) Program aims to help cooperatives and micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) gain easier access to the credit facilities of banks at relatively lower costs, even without acceptable collaterals. It is a trust fund set up from pooled contributions of participating cooperatives, local government units and other partner institutions. As of 30 June 2015, the total accumulated loans approved by lending banks and secured by the CSF amounted to P1.8 billion, of which P1.5 billion have already been released to 14,591 beneficiaries.
The City Government of Malaybalay, through Mayor Zubiri, committed to contribute P5 million, while nine cooperatives in the province committed P2.2 million to the Malaybalay CSF. The partner institutions, represented by the Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund, Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, have also expressed strong support to the CSF Program by way of their contributions which will eventually augment the Fund.
To ensure the sustainability of the Fund, the CSF Program also has a training component designed to enhance the capabilities of the participating cooperatives and MSMEs in the areas of financial and risk management, entrepreneurship and business management and credit appraisal and monitoring. |
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| DOJ embarks on Government Quality Management System |
| Source: http://www.doj.gov.ph |
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In its effort to meet international standards in public service, the Department of Justice in partnership with the European Union under the EU-Philippine Justice Support Programme II (EPJUST II) conducted a Government Quality Management Standard (GQMS) seminar-workshop at Hotel Kimberly, Tagaytay City last August 17 to 20, 2015.
The four-day activity discussed quality standards in delivering Department functions, Total Quality Management System, Strategies for its Implementation, Methods and Techniques, among others, followed by group workshops and activities which identified critical processes by frontline services.
Team-work and unleashing employees’ capabilities and skills to champion their careers as public servants were also stressed during the activity.
The Quality Management Standard serves as guidelines for performance improvements to work for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification.
ISO provides international specifications in assuring the quality of services offered and adds credibility to an institution, demonstrating that services meet client expectation and delight.
“ISO certification is one of the Department’s Good Governance Index to ensure that the services delivered to the public are benchmarked on international standards. It is a top management priority for the Department to adopt continuous improvements and technological advancements if we intend to deliver justice efficiently,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima underscored.
“Things have progressed here in the DOJ. We are currently assessing our systems and procedures to determine how we can further rationalize and make them effective to satisfy the demands of both our internal as well as external customers, the general public,” the Secretary added.
The seminar-workshop was actively attended and participated in by representatives from the National Prosecution Service, Legal Staff and Support Services. |
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| Philippines warns against using exchange rate as a trade tool |
| Source: http://www.dof.gov.ph |
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Purisima: We must be mindful of the trade-offs involved
Amid the biggest depreciation of the yuan in two decades, currency markets throughout the region continue to experience turbulence. Strong macroeconomic fundamentals and sound economic stewardship has continued to enable the Philippines to navigate the current volatilities and anchor it in safe harbors. However, Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima expressed concerns against using the exchange rate to shore up weak growth.Purisima said, “We must be mindful of the trade-offs involved in using the exchange rate as a trade tool to boost competitiveness. There are unintended consequences. For one, it may trigger competitive devaluations across the region as other currencies adopt similarly interventionist measures to reprice their currencies.”
“As currencies weaken, debt service requirements increase and imports become more expensive,” he added. The Department of Finance has consistently called for macroprudential measures to protect financial stability. It warned that gains from devaluation would eventually be weighed against costs as investors may view the weakening yuan as one-way bet and stoke fears of capital flight, resulting in further weakening of the currency.
However, Purisima projected that higher Chinese growth will be beneficial for Asia, including the Philippines. China ranked 3rdamong the Philippines’ top destinations of exports with revenues amounting to USD 3.07 billion for the period of January to June 2015. Chinese economic recovery is expected to improve export performance after exports to China suffered a 31.8% decline over the comparable level in 2014. Higher growth prospects in China will contribute to our virtuous cycle as China provides a lift to the economy towards sustained and higher growth.
Continued vigilance and pre-emptive actions will be adopted by the National Government to ensure sustained economic stability. “We continue to be proactive as virtuous cycles quickly spiralling into vicious cycles are the last thing we want to see happen. We continue to advocate for market-determined exchange rates and curbed excess volatility,” Purisima emphasized.
During the last Monetary Board (MB) meeting, the MB maintained the current monetary policy stance due to high liquidity growth (9% as of June), high loan growth (14.5% as of June), low real lending rate (4th lowest among 11 Asian countries), and low inflation rate. The weakness in the peso is broadly in line with regional peers and the Bangko Sentral has ample firepower to rein in excessive volatility. |
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| Providing for the family is Filipino cultural trait; sending money and gifts ‘very Filipino’—Baldoz |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sending money to their families, as well as goodies and gifts to loved ones and friends in the Philippines is very Filipino and an enduring Filipino cultural trait.
“The balik-bayan box is part of Filipino culture and tradition and I don’t think OFWs will abuse this tradition to send in or smuggle contraband that will put them and their families in danger,” said Baldoz in the wake of reports the Bureau of Customs will implement more stringent inspection of balik-bayan boxes, a move that has infuriated many OFWs.
Baldoz said she believes the BOC has sufficient means to ensure that balik-bayan boxes conform with tariff and customs regulations and it has the technology to examine them for health and safety to avoid abuse of the privilege.
She urged the BOC to reconsider its plan to open and inspect balik-bayan boxes because these are very personal, and close to the heart, of OFWs, hence, not a commercial transaction.
“Filipinos in general, and OFWs in particular, have a long-cherished tradition of caring and sharing with families, neighbors, and friends, and this tradition is symbolized by the balik-bayan box,” she said.
“Majority of OFWs set aside, and patiently wait for months, whatever material possession they have acquired abroad—clothers, shoes, perfumes, canned goods, home appliances, and personal gadgets—and send these home as gifts and as symbols of their generosity and love, not as items or objects of commerce, hence, their monetary value may not be so high or great to merit BOC’s special interest for revenue generation,” she added.
“I urge the BOC to reconsider this plan,” she said. |
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| Fifth batch of OFWs who availed of Oman’s amnesty for overstaying expat workers arrives |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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Twenty-four overseas Filipino workers who availed of the Sultanate of Oman’s amnesty offer for overstaying foreigners arrived yesterday, composing the fifth batch of OFWs who were provided repatriation assistance by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Muscat, Oman.
POLO Oman chief Labor Attaché Nasser S. Mustafa, in a report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, said the fifth batch of repatriated OFWs left Muscat on 20 August 2015 via Oman Air WY 843 and arrived in Manila the same day after.
“POLO Oman accordingly assisted the repatriates early on. The Amnesty Program Committee also gave them instructions before they left,” he said.
Citing the report, Baldoz said the returning OFWs were briefed on the programs and services of the DOLE’s National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration that they can avail of in their respective localities in the Philippines, especially on starting livelihood activities.
The DOLE’s built-in of package assistance to the repatriates, which starts from arrival in the airport, or the Assist WELL (Welfare, Employment, Legal, and Livelihood) program, was also provided to the returning OFWs upon their arrival in the country.
The 22 OFWs composing the fifth batch of repatriates are Leonabel Al Hajri of Baretbet, Bagabag, Nueva Viscaya; Mary Jane Apuya, of Bangued, Abra; Joanne Baccay of Libag Norte, Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Jennifer Briones of San Juan, Dasmariñas, Cavite; Julieta Cortez of Pakak Sotero, Nuesa Roxas, Isabela; Andresa Daniel of Mangosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur;
Warda Esmail of Tomita, Libungan, Cotabato; Risalyn Gaquit of Navotas, Metro Manila; Faissa Kemod, Cotabato City; Abdalla Khalifa, of Sitio Burol, May-Iba, Teresa, Rizal; Sittie Aquisah Macalpang, Nunungan, Lanao del Norte; Vanessa Madarang, Vira, Roxas, Isabela; Rhian Jill Madarang, Vira, Roxas, Isabela; Mayones Marco of Budiao, Daraga, Albay; Mylene Olgado of Sitio Burol, May-Iba, Teresa, Rizal; Racquel Pablo of C. Aguila St., Quiapo, Manila;
Cory Padduman of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte; Fatima Samlani of Manicahan, Zamboanga City; Norhana Sarip of Lupon, Davao Oriental; Arsenia Sedan, General Trias, Cavite; Imelda Sambrano of Sta. Cruz, Alicia, Isabela; Marissa Toledo of Sisay Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Rachel Velarde of Lupao, Nueva Ecija; and Jamma Ventic of Campokpok, Tabangao, Leyte.
Oman has declared an amnesty for illegal foreign workers to regulate their presence in Oman, urging them to leave without being penalized. The amnesty has been extended until October.
With this, Secretary Baldoz has promptly enjoined and repeatedly urged all illegal overseas OFWs in Oman to avail of the Sultanate’s amnesty offer to overstaying foreigners, to avoid legal sanctions, including deportation.
According to POLO Oman, the first batch of 67 OFWs who availed of the amnesty left Muscat on 27 May, while the second batch of 43 OFWs left last 10 June. The third batch, composed of 24 OFW amnesty availees, left 28 June, and the fourth batch totalling to about 101 OFWs more, were repatriated after the holy month of Ramadan.
OFWs in Oman are strongly enjoined to avail of the amnesty. For assistance, they must contact the POLO-Muscat hotline, (+968) 9355-7931. Notices and a guide on how to avail of the program have been posted in the Philippine Embassy in Muscat website (www.muscatpe.dfa.gov.ph) and its Facebook page. |
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| Roxas to discuss 'Servant Leadership' in CSO workshop |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
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Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas is set to join various Civil Society Organizations in?a Daang Matuwid People's Forum?on the principles of servant leadership?today?(Aug. 24) at the Cebu Normal University.
Servant leadership is one of the core values of Daang Matuwid, which transformed the government into an institution that engages and empowers the local communities.
According to Roxas, no task?too small for the CSOs, who are also the frontliners in voicing out the concerns of the public on important issues.
Through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the CSOs play a vital role in determining Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) projects in every municipality, helping the local government units (LGUs) address the most pressing needs of the people.
The DILG also maintains that CSOs must treat the Filipino masses as their “Bosses”, for they are the priority of the Aquino Administration.
Roxas believes that servant leadership is timeless, and that a lifetime offered to will always be more meaningful than a luxurious life anywhere in the world. |
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| Through the Eyes of Mar: Why it's hard to forget Jesse Robredo |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
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Jesse Robredo will always be remembered as the Orgulyo kang Bicol (Pride of Bicol) after a life of devoting his leadership to Daang Matuwid.
As a staunch believer of the straight path, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas paid tribute to the former DILG Secretary on his 3rd Death Anniversary on Tuesday (Aug. 18) in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
“Ibinuhos niya, ipinundar niya ang kanyang paglilingkod bayan sa prinsipyo na ang kinabukasan ay hindi lang basta-basta,” Mar said, referring to his predecessor and close friend, Jesse.
An outstanding three-term mayor of Naga City and a "brother" of local chief executives when he was the DILG Secretary, Robredo became Mar's ally in sustaining transparency and integrity in governance to win the Filipino people's trust.
“Ang kinabukasan ay pinapanday, hinuhubog, pinagtratrabahuhan, pinagsasakripisyuhan para mangyari ang ating ninanais para sa ating sarili, para sa ating pamilya, komunidad, at bayan,” Mar explained.
According to Mar, Jesse was a leader and a doer at the same time. There was no job too big nor too small for him. What was even more admirable was his simplicity and how it empowered others.
Jesse was loved not just because of his skills and knowledge, but because of his heart to help others.
"Alam nating lahat kung gaano kasimpleng tao si Sec. Jesse. Tahimik siyang nagtrabaho, sinusubukang iwan ang mundo sa mas mabuting kalagayan kaysa sa nadatnan," Roxas said.
Mar even recalled parts of the tragic incident. Three years ago, Jesse's plane crashed into the sea of Masbate. His closest friends and colleagues were worried like a father to his missing child.
Mar and colleagues in PNoy's cabinet immediately organized an operations center to facilitate the search and rescue operation for Jesse and his companions. A few days later, the plane's wreckage was found and the death of a friend was confirmed.
"I will never forget that sinking feeling, that hollowness that followed after knowing that Jesse was no longer with us," Mar said.
The country lost a champion of inclusive development. Cong. Leni lost her dear husband. Three girls lost their "most favorite person in the world." Mar lost his comrade.
The nation mourned with Jesse's beloved wife Leni and daughters Aika, Tricia, and Jillian at that time.
"Si Jesse, maagang tinawag [ng Panginoon] pero iniwan niya o naiwan niya ang Naga City na mas maayos kaysa sa nadatnan," Roxas said.
"Ang mamatay nang dahil sa'yo" resonates in Robredo's life. Roxas believes that a lifetime offered to servant leadership is more meaningful than living a high-class life abroad. |
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| PNP busts 21 illegal drug personalities in Metro Manila |
| Source: http://pnp.gov.ph |
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The Philippine National Police nets 21 Illegal-Drug Personalities during separate Lambat-Sibat police operations from August 10 to 17, 2015.
According to PNP Director for Intelligence (DI) PDir Generoso Cerbo Jr., from the 440 individuals listed on the Top 10 Illegal Drug Personalities in NCRPO, its five (5) Districts and Police Stations, 33% or 146 were arrested in just six (6) weeks since Lambat-Sibat Phase II started on July 6, 2015.
Latest to fall is an Indian National, identified as Prakash Gulraj Mantani, arrested by the elements of Southern Police District Anti-Illegal Drugs Division (SPD-DAID) in a buy-bust operation on August 17 , 2015, at about 7:00 in the evening, along Pasong Tamo, Makati City for violation of Sec 5 & 11, RA 9165 also known as "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”.
Drugs seized from Mantani during the buy-bust operation were:
Valium 10 mg- 5,600 pcs tablets; Ketamine HCI 50mg-31 pcs of vials;
Mogadon- 5,160 pcs tablets; Xanax 1 mg-560 pcs tablets;
Nitravet 10 mg-1,645 pcs tablets; Cialis-20 pcs tablets;
Zopalet 10 mg- 38 pcs tablets; Alpraquil 0.05 -150 pcs tablets;
Bitalin 10 mg- 30 pcs tablets; Dormicum 7.5 mg- 80 pcs tablets;
Pinix 1 mg- 200 pcs tablets; Rivotril 2 mg- 40 pcs tablets;
Codine Sidus- 50 pcs tablets; Ecstacy -15 pcs tablets; and
Marijuana- 5 sticks
Another noteworthy accomplishment of SPD-DAID are the arrest of four (4) suspects identified as Arafas Dipatuan@ Ramil, Abdul Cader Y Mohammad@ Kids, Nasse Sugadol Y Kitaw @ Naskie, and Kasen Naser Y Antao @ Nash. DAID Special Operations Task Group arrested the said suspects during a buy-bust operation on August 15, 2015 at about 3:00 pm of along Earth Rd., Purok 7, Napindan , Taguig City for violation of Sec 11, RA 9165 and RA 10591.
Drugs and firearms seized from the suspects were 28.802 grams of Shabu; 1 unit 357 magnum revolver; and 1 unit 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition.
Other illegal-drug personalities arrested through different buy bust operations were:
John Carlo Barzal y Delmendo for violation of Sec. 11 RA 9165 on August 15, 2015 at 8:00 AM, along Maya St., Bgy Rizal, Makati City (detained);
Pablito Reyes y Ga @ Manok for violation of Sec. 5&11 RA 9165 on August 15, 2015 at 2:00 PM, along Guijo St., Bgy Cembo, Makati City (detained);
Luis Reynaldo Y San Juan @ Luis for violation of Sec 11, Art. II on August 14, 2015 at 09:00 PM in Sunrise, Purok 2, Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa City (detained);
Gil Montillano Y Lucena @ Gilbert for violation of Sec 11, Art. II on August 13, 2015 at 10:15 AM in #820, Purok 6, Brgy. Cupang, Muntinlupa City (detained);
2 minors for violation of Sec. 11 RA 9165 on August 13, 2015 at 11:00 AM in Laperal Cmpd.,Bernardino St., Bgy.Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City and was turned-over to DSWD;
Angelito Pagtakhan y Lunar @ Angel Pakpak, 54 years old, for violation of Sec 12 on August 13, 2015 along Facundo Street, Brgy 123 Zone 12, Pasay City, and is temporarily detained at SAID-SOTG Detention Cell;
Roberto Villanueva y Losa @ Tarik, Jason Dizer y Tanciatco @ Jason, Marlord Almario y Yumol @ macdo, and Vincent Junio y Cinco @ Buloy for violation of Sec. 11 Art. II RA 9165 and PD 1602 on August 11, 2015 at 9:40 PM along JP Rizal St., Bgy. South Cembo, Makati City (detained);
Erick Christopher Amor Y Encelan And Robert Surio Y Oliva for violation of Sec 11 on August 10, 2015 at 11:30 pm in Ramos Compd., Purok 7, Brgy. Moonwalk, Paranaque City. Suspects were temporarily Detained at Paranaque Detention Cell;
Ervin John Tomas Y Berin @ Ervin for violation of Sec 11 Art II of RA 9165 on August 11, 2015, 2:50 am along Col. E De Leon Street, Brgy. Sto Nino, Paranaque City (detained);
Domingo Bacabac Jr. y Añonuevo for Sec 11 on August 11, 2015 at 5:00 P.M. in Saging St., Brgy., CAA, LPC and detained at UI Detention Cell LPC;
Clarence Vasquez y Bargas @ Kayen, 49 years old, for violation of Sec 11 on August 10, 2015 inside Partas Bus Co. located at 2264 Aurora Blvd., Pasay City and detained at SAID-SOTG Detention Cell;
Freda Kalaw y Zarah for violation of Sec. 11 Art. II RA 9165 on August 10, 2015 at 1:40 PM along Anahaw St., Bgy. Comembo, Makati City (detained);
Mark Errol Dita @ Makmak for violation of PD 1619 on August 10, 2015 at 5:30 PM, along JP Rizal St., Bgy. Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City (Detained); and
Ricky Gravador Y Guamos @ Jr for violation of Sec 11, Art. II on August 10, 2015 at 11:45 PM in Bautista St., Brgy. Bayanan, Muntinlupa City (Detained).
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| Substitute Bangsamoro bills’ ‘strategic minerals’ clause, a step back - Gov't panel |
| Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph |
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Jesse Robredo will always be remembered as the Orgulyo kang Bicol (Pride of Bicol) after a life of devoting his leadership to Daang Matuwid.
As a staunch believer of the straight path, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas paid tribute to the former DILG Secretary on his 3rd Death Anniversary on Tuesday (Aug. 18) in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
“Ibinuhos niya, ipinundar niya ang kanyang paglilingkod bayan sa prinsipyo na ang kinabukasan ay hindi lang basta-basta,” Mar said, referring to his predecessor and close friend, Jesse.
An outstanding three-term mayor of Naga City and a "brother" of local chief executives when he was the DILG Secretary, Robredo became Mar's ally in sustaining transparency and integrity in governance to win the Filipino people's trust.
“Ang kinabukasan ay pinapanday, hinuhubog, pinagtratrabahuhan, pinagsasakripisyuhan para mangyari ang ating ninanais para sa ating sarili, para sa ating pamilya, komunidad, at bayan,” Mar explained.
According to Mar, Jesse was a leader and a doer at the same time. There was no job too big nor too small for him. What was even more admirable was his simplicity and how it empowered others.
Jesse was loved not just because of his skills and knowledge, but because of his heart to help others.
"Alam nating lahat kung gaano kasimpleng tao si Sec. Jesse. Tahimik siyang nagtrabaho, sinusubukang iwan ang mundo sa mas mabuting kalagayan kaysa sa nadatnan," Roxas said.
Mar even recalled parts of the tragic incident. Three years ago, Jesse's plane crashed into the sea of Masbate. His closest friends and colleagues were worried like a father to his missing child.
Mar and colleagues in PNoy's cabinet immediately organized an operations center to facilitate the search and rescue operation for Jesse and his companions. A few days later, the plane's wreckage was found and the death of a friend was confirmed.
"I will never forget that sinking feeling, that hollowness that followed after knowing that Jesse was no longer with us," Mar said.
The country lost a champion of inclusive development. Cong. Leni lost her dear husband. Three girls lost their "most favorite person in the world." Mar lost his comrade.
The nation mourned with Jesse's beloved wife Leni and daughters Aika, Tricia, and Jillian at that time.
"Si Jesse, maagang tinawag [ng Panginoon] pero iniwan niya o naiwan niya ang Naga City na mas maayos kaysa sa nadatnan," Roxas said.
"Ang mamatay nang dahil sa'yo" resonates in Robredo's life. Roxas believes that a lifetime offered to servant leadership is more meaningful than living a high-class life abroad. |
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| Science chief Montejo is now Honorary Datu |
| Source: http://www.dost.gov.ph |
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| Sec. Mario Montejo receives the title Datu Mahimugnanon as Bae Noreta Gabao, the keeper of the Tiguahanon, a Manobo culture from the northern tribe of Bukidnon, prays the Panubad-tubad for God to bestow upon Sec. Montejo the skills as datu. Mahimugnanon is from the Manobo word “mugma” which means “to create and innovate”, aptly describing the Secretary’s role as head of the Department of Science and Technology which spearheads innovations in research and development in the country. The conferment was officiated during the “Gabi ng Sining at Siyensya”, part of the Science Nation Tour, a nationwide information campaign that aims to make Filipinos, especially those in the countryside, “feel” science and technology integrated in their daily lives. The tour hopped its sixth leg in Northern Mindanao region on Aug 20-23. |
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| DAR turns over P54.4M farm equipments in N. Mindanao |
| Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph |
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The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over P54.4-million worth of common service facilities (CSFs) in Northern Mindanao region to boost the agricultural productivity of the farmer-beneficiaries.
WEB 2015r10 002DAR Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Felix Perry Villanueva said the CSFs, implemented under the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) Program, included 37 floating tillers, 27 rice threshers, 18 corn shellers, two 120-horsepower heavy tractors, which are suitable for sugarcane farming, and 14 90-horsepower tractors, good for corn growers.
ARCCESS is an alternative rural development approach wherein support services provided by the DAR are delivered directly to selected agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs).
Villanueva said during the procurement, the DAR decided to procure more high-end equipment that last longer rather than buy many cheaper equipment that are prone to breaking down.
“The DAR prefers quality over quantity and we were able to turnover farm equipments to ARBOs nationwide that are built to last longer,” Villanueva said.
Regional Director Faisar Mambuay said the CSFs were provided to maximize the productivity of the farmer-beneficiaries and improve their economic conditions. |
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| DAR-DA-SRA extends P424.6M support to 99 sugar block farms |
| Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph |
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| Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes (seated, 2nd from right) together with Sugar Regulatory Administrator (SRA) Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (seated, 3rd and 4th from right) sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU), which seeks to increase the income of agrarian reform beneficiaries engaged in sugarcane farming. Under the MOU a total of P424.6 million fund will be set aside for the provision of farm equipment, farmers’ trainings, construction of farm-to-mill roads and establishment of livelihood activities. The project will be implemented over a three-year period starting this June and will cover 99 sugarcane block farms in Cagayan, Isabela, Tarlac, Pampanga, Batangas, Albay, Camarines Sur, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Leyte, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur and North Cotabato. Looking on is DAR Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted & Special Projects Herman Ongkiko (extreme right). -Pinky Roque (Photo by Xenar Dimalanta) |
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| LTO activates 25 sites for driver's license issuance |
| Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph |
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Agency Aims to Erase 900,000 Backlog by Start of October 2015
After testing the new system for the issuance of driver’s licenses at 19 of its sites last week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) activated 25 sites for driver’s license, student’s permit, and conductor’s license applicants beginning today, August 24.
“Our effort to break a 30-year monopoly in driver’s license cards supply is finally about to bear fruit. It is unfortunate that we had to resort to temporary licenses for several months, but good governance principles demanded an open, fair, and transparent bid. We will now work double time to normalize this service,” said Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya.
The 25 sites are located in Metro Manila and Regions 3, 4-A, and 8. These are the following:
Angeles District Office
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Manila South District Office
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Batangas Licensing Center
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Marikina District Office
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Biñan Licensing Center
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Muntinlupa Extension Office
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Bulacan Licensing Center
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Pampanga Licensing Center
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Cavite Licensing Center
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Parañaque Extension Office
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Kalookan Licensing Extension Office
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Pasay Licensing Center
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La Loma District Office
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Pasig District Office
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Las Piñas License Extension Office
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Quezon City District Office
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Makati Licensing Center
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San Juan Licensing Center
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Mandaluyong Extension Office
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Tacloban Licensing Center
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Manila East District Office
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Taguig Extension Office
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Manila Licensing Center
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Valenzuela District Office
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Manila Renewal Section
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“We will print licenses during Saturdays and after office hours on weekdays, in order to erase the current backlog of around 900,000 licenses by the beginning of October this year,” said LTO chief Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan, Jr.
These license cards sport a new, color-coded design: orange cards will be issued to student drivers, yellow cards to conductors, and the current blue card to both professional and non-professional drivers.
The DOTC recently awarded the LTO License Cards Supply Project to Allcard Plastics, whose P 336.868-million bid was 25.3% lower than the P 450 Million budget for the contract. Allcard is responsible for the delivery of five (5) million pieces of license cards over a 12-month period, which supply is intended to cover demand for the next three years.
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| PRC Iloilo observes Iloilo City 78th Charter Day |
| Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph |
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Manila, August 24, 2015 – The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that the PRC-Iloilo office shall be closed on August 25, 2015 (Tuesday) in observance of the 78th ILOILO CITY CHARTER DAY.
The Holiday declaration is stipulated in Proclamation No. 1104, declaring Tuesday, 25 August 2015, as a SPECIAL (Non-Working) Day in the City of Iloilo.
PRC Iloilo Regional Office will resume services on August 26, 2015 (Wednesday). |
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| Fun, free services and awards to mark TESDA's 21st year |
| Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph |
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It will be a week of fun, service and recognition as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) celebrates its 21st Anniversary from August 24 to 28.
As the government agency tasked to manage and supervise technical vocational education and training in the country, TESDA, for the last 21 years, has been at the forefront of the development of the Filipino workforce with world-class competence and positive work values, Secretary Joel Villanueva, the agency's Director General, said.
"Relevant and quality training has sparked a wave of entrepreneurial activity in the country and higher employment rate for tech-voc graduates, translating to improved lives of Filipino families," Villanueva, who was appointed in the agency in July 2010, said.
"We will help more Filipino youth train and connect to jobs, so that by the end of our term, we can look everyone straight in the eye and declare job done," Villanueva said.
Opening the event on Monday, August 24, are a host of activities such as a mass, dance contest and a motorcade that will depict TESDA's accomplishments from 2010 up to the present.
Highlighting the day will be TESDA's "Libreng Serbisyo sa Barangay Program” in Western Bicutan, Taguig where TESDA will provide free health and wellness services and skills demonstrations featuring its TESDA Specialistas.
On Tuesday, August 25, the guests will be treated to a showcase of TESDA partnerships, techno demo of dairy products and the skills competition among employees of the agency. In the afternoon, TESDA will recognize outstanding graduates and partners from institutions, the private sector and local government units with the annual Kabalikat and Idol ng TESDA Awards.
The “Kabalikat Award” gives due recognition to the agency's outstanding partners in the promotion and enhancement of TVET. It is conferred to outstanding institutions, private firms and companies, local government units and legislative partners because of their good practices and contribution in the promotion and development of Filipino skilled workers.
The “Idols ng TESDA” will be conferred to graduates of various TVET courses, who are gainfully employed either as wage workers or are managing their own businesses and have contributed to the socio-economic improvements in their respective communities.
August 26 will be devoted to health and wellness with free medical examination and services such as haircut, massage and foot and hand spa. TESDA directors and staff will also join a badminton exhibition in the afternoon.
On August 27, employees will have a fun run and a sports fest featuring games such as volleyball, basketball and badminton.
On the last day on August 28, the agency will award employees who have excelled in service and retirees. The winners in the various contests and sports competition during the week will also be feted. |
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| PDIC to continue processing claims of Rural Bank of Taysan (Batangas), Inc. depositors |
| Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph |
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The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) announced that it will continue to receive and process deposit insurance claims from depositors of the closed Rural Bank of Taysan (Batangas), Inc. at the PDIC Public Assistance Center, 3rd Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City until June 29, 2017. Claims may also be filed through mail.
Rural Bank of Taysan, which was ordered closed on June 26, 2015, has P48.8 million in total estimated insured deposits involving 1,117 accounts. A total of P32.9 million in insured deposits covering 140 accounts was paid during the onsite claim settlement operations (CSO). Another P6.5 million was settled thru postal money orders sent via registered mail to 769 accounts of depositors with balances of P100,000 and below where filing of claims was waived by PDIC.
As of July 16, 2015, PDIC has yet to receive deposit insurance claims for P8.8 million covering 201 accounts. In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC Charter, the last day for filing deposit insurance claims in the said bank is on June 29, 2017. After said date, PDIC shall no longer accept any deposit insurance claim.
When filing deposit insurance claims, depositors are advised to personally present their duly accomplished Claim Form, original evidence of deposit, and two (2) valid photo-bearing IDs with signature. The same set of documents must be enclosed when claims are filed through mail.
Depositors who are below 18 years old should submit either a photocopy of their Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly certified copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional requirement, with the Claim Form signed by the parent. Claimants who are not the signatories in the bank records are required to submit an original copy of a notarized Special Power of Attorney. In the case of a minor depositor, the Special Power of Attorney must be executed by the parent.
The procedures and requirements for filing deposit insurance claims are posted in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. The Claim Form and format of the Special Power of Attorney may also be downloaded from the PDIC website.
For more information, depositors may contact the Public Assistance Department at telephone numbers (02) 841-4630 to 31, or e-mail at pad@pdic.gov.ph. Depositors outside Metro Manila may call the PDIC Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342). |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the "Gathering of Friends" |
| Cebu Coliseum, Sanciangko St., Cebu City, Cebu |
| 24 Aug 2015 |
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Umpisahan ko ang aking talumpati na talaga namang ikinagagalak ko na ang dami ng ating mga kasamahan [na] simula’t simula, hanggang ngayon nandito pa. Nandiyan po si Tita Nonie Uy, nasa ating harapan pero asawa po niya at tatay ko ang mga unang nagkasama, sinuportahan ang aking ina, at tinulungan tayo; si Manong Mokring Barcenas dito po sa bandang kaliwa, Constitutional Conventional pa lang ipinaglalaban na ang tama, hanggang ngayon talagang masigasig na masigasig na talagang ipinaglalaban pa rin lahat.
Kanina po narinig natin si Vice Mayor Rey Calooy ng Libagon, Southern Leyte. Noong araw po tumutulong sa atin sa kampanya, ngayon po siya na ang tumakbo. Next year ho retirado na ako, meron nang mga kahalinhin tulad ni Rey.
Kadalasan ho sinasabi sa akin, salamat dito, salamat diyan. Kanina binanggit ‘yung salamat sa bottom-up budgeting. Parati ko hong sinasabi, huwag n’yo akong pasalamatan. Kumbaga, ako ‘yung inulo sa bala ng kanyon, ako ‘yung gagawing dart board nung mga walang tigil bumatikos na akala ninyo ang gagaling. Akin lahat ‘yon, pero hindi ko ho magagawa ito kung wala kayong lahat. At kayong nakita kong nandito pa kayong lahat, talagang lumalakas po loob ko.
Ito, alam naman ninyo, ni minsan ho hindi ako nagsinungaling sa taumbayan, lalo na sa inyo, kayong aking mga kakampi. Ito hong pagtitipon natin ngayon, tingnan n’yo sabi nila, “Hati-hati na sila. May nakadilaw, may naka-orange, may naka-green, may naka-red. Palagay ko nagkakamali sila. ‘Yung naka-orange ho, tingin ko, mustard; dark yellow. ‘Yung orange namang nasobrahan ng konti, papunta na rin ‘yan. ‘Yung green ho, pinili nilang green, apple green. Puwedeng tawaging yellow green.
Pero siguro ho ang importante dito, ‘yang mga camera ng ating media, mamaya titingnan ng ating mga crowd. Kayo ho ‘pag may narinig na audio na may taong pumapalakpak, nakikita ‘yung taong pumapalakpak. May napanood kasi akong nagtipon kamakailan, may pumapalakpak, ‘yung tao pumapaypay. Di ko ngayon alam kung magkaiba ‘yung venue nung pumapaypay at pumapalakpak. Pero huwag na natin pag-usapan ‘yon. Wala tayong pakialam do’n.
Noon pong nakaraang Martes, bumiyahe tayo ng Naga para sa ikatlong anibersaryo ng pagpanaw po ni Secretary Jesse Robredo. Doon po, ginunita natin ang kanyang buhay, at kasama ang ating Gabinete at iba pang kasangga, nagkaroon tayo ng pagkakataong makakuwentuhan ang ating mga kababayan. Doon po sa pagpupulong, may benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya ang nagtanong sa akin, at ang tanong po niya: Paano ko raw kaya masisigurong magpapatuloy ang programang nagdadala sa kanya ng pag-asa, kahit–at ito po ang pinakaimportante, o lalo na–sa pagbaba ko sa puwesto?
Sa totoo lang po, napaisip tayo sa tanong na ito. Sa isang banda kasi, nagalak tayo dahil kinikilala niya at kinikilala ng iba pa nating mga kababayan sa benepisyong hatid ng ating mga programa, gaya ng Pantawid Pamilya. Ikinagagalak ko rin po ang oportunidad na pamunuan ang pagbubukas ng pinto ng pagkakataon para sa ating mamamayan, lalo na doon po sa pinakanangangailangan. Sa kabilang banda naman po, talagang nais po nating mabawasan ang agam-agam nila sa kinabukasan, at tiyakin sa kanilang magpapatuloy ang atin pong serbisyo.
Habang tayo na nga po’y lumalapit sa halalan ng 2016, mas nagiging karaniwan ang ganitong klaseng mga tanong, hindi lang sa mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya, pero pati na sa marami pang ibang nakikinabang sa positibong transpormasyong dala ng Daang Matuwid. Ito pong paglawak ng oportunidad at pagbaba ng unemployment; itong mga all-time high sa direct investments, pati na ang credit ratings upgrades kung saan sa unang pagkakataon sa ating kasaysayan ay nakamit natin ang investment grade status; ang mga ipinapatayong imprastruktura sa buong bansa, kabilang na ang Cebu Bus Rapid Transit dito sa inyong lungsod; ang makabagong kagamitan para sa ating unipormadong hanay; ang pagsugpo sa katiwalian at paghaharing muli ng katarungan; ang pagbabawi natin sa ating pambansang dangal. Sa lahat ng pagbabagong ating naipunla dahil sa mandatong handog ng ating mga Boss noong 2010, nakikita natin ang nabubuong sentimyento: Dapat siguruhing hindi masasayang ang mga ito, sa halip ay ipagpatuloy pa upang lalong lumago at magbunga para sa mga susunod na salinlahi.
Ang sa akin lang po, kung Daang Matuwid ang nagdala sa atin ng transpormasyon, marapat lamang tayong manatili dito. At ang napakalaking sangandaan nga pong kinakaharap natin ay ang halalan sa susunod na taon, na tumatayong referendum para sa lahat ng ating pinagsikapan. Ang tanong: Tama ba ang direksiyong tinatahak natin? Di ba tama ang usigin at panagutin ang mga nangakong maglilingkod, pero inapi lang tayo at nagkasala sa atin? Di ba tama na ituloy ang pag-angat ng ekonomiya at ang mga serbisyong nagpapalawak ng kakayahan at oportunidad? Para sa mga gaya kong makatwiran ang pananaw, dapat lang pong ituloy natin at lalo pang ipaarangkada ang ating mga nasimulang reporma. Ang tanging susi po at ang may tangan ng kapangyarihan para maisakatuparan ito, walang iba kundi ang ating mga Boss: ang taumbayan.
Ngayon nga po, nakikita naman nating nagsisimula na ang tunggalian para sa hahalili sa atin. May mga nagdeklara na, at may malapit nang magdeklara ng kandidatura. Merong sigurado tayong ipagpapatuloy ang ating nasimulan dahil nakasama na natin; na talagang nakita kung saan sinsero at hindi po oportunista.
Meron ding namang tiwala tayong kahanay natin sa maraming paraan–sa mabuting hangarin at tiwala. Tayo po ay wala namang duda sa kaniyang kakayahan. Ako naman po ay naniniwala sa mabuti niyang intensiyon, kaya nga po tayo nagsisikap na makasama siya upang ipresenta sa publiko ang isang nagkakaisa at malakas na tandem. Ang maganda pa nga po, kung magiging kasama natin ang taong ito, mahahasa at mabibigyang-lalim ang kanyang kaalaman at karanasan, at ang mabuting intensiyon ay talaga naman pong mapapagyaman pa ng sapat na kasanayan sa pamamahala. Lalo pong lalakas ang ating pag-asang maski pa sa 2022 ay patuloy pa rin ang Tuwid na Daan.
Pero huwag po natin kalimutan, hindi lahat ng naghahangad pumalit sa atin, kasama natin sa Daang Matuwid. Sa kabilang banda, meron din namang klarong-klaro na ang pinagsasasabi ay taliwas sa Daang Matuwid; na sabi nga po ng iba ay tila nagsamantala lang sa pakikisama sa Daang Matuwid. Dagdag pa nila, ‘yun daw limang taon niyang pinapalakpakan, ngayon tinatawag na niyang palpak. Ang tanong nga: Kailan ba siya naging totoo, sa limang taon ng pagpuri, o bukas makalawa pa dahil hanggang sa ngayon hindi pa yata makatotoo ang sinasabi?
Kung ang usapan po ay ang susunod na halalan, siyempre po, di natin maiwasang isipin: Pagdating sa mga masalimuot na problema, pagdating sa mga hamon na kailangan ng matinding political will, pagdating sa lawak ng kaalaman at estratehiya, kanino po ba tayo babaling? Wala naman po siguro sa inyong nag-iisip pang ibalik tayo sa daang baluktot. Doon ba tayo sa baka kayang ipaglaban ang tama? Papanig ba tayo doon sa baka kayang ipagpatuloy ang Daang Matuwid? Siguro naman po walang papanig sa atin doon sa talagang sisirain na’ng lahat ng nagawa ng Tuwid na Daan.
Ang paniniwala ko po, masyadong malaki ang nakataya para ipagkatiwala sa “baka maipagpatuloy ang Daang Matuwid,” at lalo naman po siguro doon sa “hindi magpapatuloy sa Daang Matuwid.” Doon na po tayo sa siguradong ipagpapatuloy ang lahat ng nasimulan natin. At sa tingin ko po, alam na alam na ninyong lahat kung sino ang aking tinutukoy at walang iba ‘yan kundi si Mar Roxas na kasama natin ngayon.
Alam ko po, marami sa atin ang nakakakilala na sa kanya; alam natin ang tunay niyang pagkatao, labas sa kung nakatutok lang ang kamera, at labas sa mga paninira ng mga taong pilit siyang ibinababa. Alam natin na si Mar, may integridad, maaasahan, at malalim ang kaalaman. Pero batid din po natin: Hindi lahat ng tao, mulat sa tunay na pagkatao ni Mar. Tulad ko, hindi niya naging ugaling magtaas ng sariling bangko. Sa Tagalog po, ibig sabihin nun, kada may nagawa kang kapiraso, kailangang purihin mo ang sarili mo nang sampung beses. Sa amin pong pananaw, tahimik lang na ginagampanan ni Mar ang sinumpaan niyang tungkulin sa taumbayan, at hindi naman kailangang ipagbanderang “dapat pasalamatan n’yo ako,” di ho ba? Ang trabaho po natin ngayon: Siguruhing makikita ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino ang katotohanang si Mar ang karapat-dapat at siguradong magtutuloy ng Daang Matuwid.
Mulat din po ako: Maaaring may ilang nag-aalinlangan pa rin kay Mar—hindi dahil sa kanyang kakayahan o katapatan, pero dahil magiging masalimuot ang laban na ipakilala siya sa ating mga kababayan upang maiakyat ang kanyang mga numero.
Ang masasabi ko po sa inyo: Hindi laging madali ang paggawa ng tama, at kung ikukumpara nga po sa atin ngang mga pinagdaanan nitong mga nakaraang taon, alam kong kayang-kaya nating magtagumpay. Di ba, lahat po ng bagay na mahalaga, dapat ipaglaban, at dapat pagsikapan? Ang masisiguro natin, kapag tayo’y nagtiyaga, kapag pinili natin ang tama, tiyak may ihahain tayong bagong nilaga. [Palakpakan] Maipapangako ko po sa inyo, kasama ninyo ako sa pagtatrabaho; iaambag ko ang lahat ng kaya kong iambag; hindi ko po iiwan si Mar.
Batid ko rin po: Ang mga Cebuano, alam na alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng pagtahak sa Daang Matuwid. Panahon pa ng aking ina, ipinakita na ninyo ang pakikiisa sa mabuting pamamahala, at naging haligi kayo ng pambansang suporta para labanan at iwaksi ang diktadurya. Kayo nga pong mga Cebuano ang kumupkop sa aking ina noong simula ng EDSA. Talaga naman pong panatag ang loob ko noon; sa piling ng ating mga kababayan dito, alam kong nasa mabuting kamay at ligtas ang aking ina sa anumang panganib. Naaalala ko rin po: Isang buwan matapos paslangin ang aking ama, unang beses ko pong magsalita sa publiko, dito po nangyari sa Cebu, doon po sa Fuente Osmeña.
Pagbaba ko po ng eroplano ng PAL noong panahon na iyon, ‘yung babaan ay nasa buntot. Sa baba po noong eroplano, ang naghihintay [ay] AVSECOM. Ang mga nasentensiyahang pumatay sa aking ama, mga taga-AVSECOM. Napalingon ‘yung crew ng PAL, lumingon sa akin at nagsabi sa akin, “Good luck po sa inyo.”
Pero sa totoo lang po, ang ipinamalas nga pong matinding suporta at sigasig ng mga taong nakahalubilo ko, para pong damang-dama kong nakalaya na noon, 1983 pa lang, ang bansa sa Batas Militar; at dito po nangyari sa Cebu ‘yan. Pagkatapos din po ng diktadurya, patuloy ninyong ipinadama ang inyong pagkalinga. Nang lumapit ako sa inyo nang tumakbo ako bilang Senador at Pangulo, kasama si Tita Margot na nag-house-to-house, naroon po ang inyong di-nagmamaliw na tiwala’t suporta. Sa nakaraang limang taon naman ng ating administrasyon, ipinakita ninyong talagang kahanay kayo sa agenda ng pagbabago. Nang humagupit naman ang Yolanda, apektado man kayo, lalo na sa Bantayan Island, kusang-loob kayong nakipagtulungan at dumamay para mapalawak ang paghahatid ng ayuda sa napakaraming naapektuhan ng kalamidad, sa pangunguna po ni Governor Junjun Davide.
Di-biro po ‘yung Yolanda, alam n’yo ‘yan. At si Junjun Davide po ang isa sa mga nagbawas ng problema ko. Una kong tanong, “Junjun, kumusta na ang Cebu?” Sagot sa akin, “Okay pa naman ho kami dito. ‘Yung Bantayan lang ho ang pupuntahan namin. Mukhang iyon ho ang tinamaan.” Pero pagkatapos po noon, nandoon na siya. Sabi niya, “Handa na po ‘yung mga volunteers natin para mag-repack para doon sa itutulong sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng Yolanda, tulad po ng Leyte.”
Paalala ko lang po, 44 sa 81 probinsiya natin ang apektado ng bagyong Yolanda, kaya’t napakalaking tulong po talaga ng mga Cebuano upang tugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan. Kaya nga po, dito sa darating na referendum sa Daang Matuwid, kumpiyansa ako na ang mga Cebuano, patuloy na maninindigan para sa tama.
Klarong-klaro po: Kailangan nating ipagpatuloy ang pagbubuklod tungo sa malawakang kaunlaran. Ang tanong ko nga lang po: Sang-ayon ba kayo sa mga nagsasabing itigil na lang natin ang benepisyong natatanggap ng mahigit 4.4 milyong kabahayan sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program? Ngayong taon po, 333,673 ang unang batch na nagtapos sa high school sa tulong din po ng ating Pantawid Pamilya Program; [palakpakan] kabilang sila sa unang batch ng ating mga benepisyaryo sa pinalawak na Pantawid Pamilya. Ang maganda pa po diyan, 13,469 sa kanila ang tumanggap ng honors at iba’t ibang gantimpala noong nag-graduate sa kani-kanilang high school. May makakapagsabi po ba, na kung inihinto natin ang programang ito, nakapagpatuloy kaya sila ng pag-aaral? Sila po ang kabataang muntik nang mawalan ng pagkakataong itaguyod ang magandang kinabukasan kung hindi lang nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Sa kabila nito, meron pa ring may ganang batikusin ito; na dapat daw itong imbestigahan dahil may leakage ang programa na ito. Pero ang totoo, ang datos na ginagamit nila, 2009 pa pala. Paalala ko lang po sa kanilang nagbubulag-bulagan at nagbibingi-bingihan: Pangulo po ako 2010–second half na po ng 2010. Di ko pa ho responsibilidad noong 2009 ‘yan. Ibang Pangulo po yata ang dapat nilang singilin. At ang tanda ko nga ho, ‘yung bumabatikos sa akin, kasama na ng isang nagdeklarang tatakbo bilang presidente. Baka doon na lang sila magtanong.
Dito naman po sa Cebu, papayag po ba kayong matigil na lang ang ating mga programang tulad sa pang-imprastruktura, kung saan mahigit P22.8 billion na ang naipagkaloob mula 2011 hanggang sa kasalukuyan?
Tingnan po natin. Noong 2005 hanggang 2010, ang average annual budget ng DPWH dito sa Cebu: P1.6 billion. Sa unang limang taon po natin sa puwesto, umabot ng average na P4 billion mula–ulitin ko po–sa P1.6 billion. [Palakpakan] Ngayong taon po, pumalo na sa P7 billion ang budget ng ahensiya, at sa susunod na taon, pag inaprubahan ng Kongreso, ang panukalang budget natin sa DPWH para sa Cebu, P9 billion po. Di-hamak naman pong mas malayo ang kaya nating marating sa pondong ito. Mayroon ho ba kayang nagsasabing dapat bumalik tayo sa P1 billion na lang?
Kung babalikan din po: Noong nakaraan, naging kontrobersiyal din ang overpriced lamps na binili ng nakaraang liderato para sa mga lampara patungo sa inyong Convention Center. Ayon po sa ulat, bawat lampara ay nagkahalaga ng P224,000. Mahal ho pala ng lampara, dahil ngayon po gumagawa tayo ng socialized housing sa halagang iyan. Gusto ba nating maulit ang ganitong baluktot na pamamalakad? Malinaw naman po kung saan tayo dapat pumanig.
Ididiin ko po: Nakamtan natin ang mga tagumpay sa nakalipas na limang taon dahil sa matinong pamamalakad, at nang hindi nagtatakda ng bagong buwis maliban sa Sin Tax. Anuman pong mayroon tayo ngayon ay naabot natin dahil sa pag-aambagan. Di po ba: Hindi ko naman mag-isang sinagupa ang mga tiwali; nagtatagumpay ang ating pakikipaglaban dahil nasa likod ko kayo at ang bawat disenteng Pilipino. Nagtatagumpay ang ating mga inisyatibang iwaksi ang kahirapan dahil sa inyong suporta, at dahil sa matinong pagpapatupad ng mga direktiba sa iba’t ibang antas ng pamahalaan. Nagtatagumpay ang ekonomiya dahil kasama natin ang mga pribadong sektor at ang sektor ng manggagawa na nagpapakita ng kumpiyansa sa ating agenda ng reporma. Tiwala sa kapwa Pilipino, tiwala sa Daang Matuwid: Iyan ang susi upang maabot ang dakilang potensiyal ng ating lahi.
Alam po n’yo, ipagdiinan ko lang po’ yung budget. Noong araw, pareho lang naman ang pagkakataon namin ang kayang ipagkaloob sa inyo na tinawag pa kayong “country” nila. Pinakamataas na po yata ‘yung P1.6 billion. Kami naman po ay napababa na natin ‘yung debt to GDP ratio, kaya hindi naman natin masasabing lalo pang pinalawak ‘yung utang. Hindi rin tinaasan ang buwis n’yo, pero mula P1.6 billion, nag-average ng P4 billion, nasa P7 billion ngayon, P9 billion next year. Siguro naman ho, dalawa ang dapat nating malaman diyan: Malayo ang nararating sa tamang paggugol. Pero ‘yung mas importante po ‘yung pangalawa: Na ang gumawa nito, kayo ang gumawa ng susi para maiwasto ang sistema, mapunta sa inyo ang dapat na nalalagay sa inyo.
Mas kaunti na ang binigay sa inyo noon, napupunta pa sa kung ano-anong bulsa. Maliban sa kapakinabangan n’yo, sino kaya ang magsasabing balik tayo sa dati?
Kumpiyansa po ako: Balang-araw, babalikan natin itong sangandaan na ito, at sasabihin natin: Hindi ako umatras sa hamon; ginawa ko ang nararapat; nakiambag ako sa pagpapatuloy ng Daang Matuwid. Nandoon ako noong simula, at tumulong ako sa pagpapatuloy nito, tungo sa katuparan ng kolektibong pangarap ng sambayanang Pilipino.
Alam po n’yo, kanina nabanggit ‘yung ating mga kinatawan mula sa BPO, o ‘yung mga Business Processing Outsourcing center. Ang nagtayo po niyan, baka nakalimutan na natin, si Mar Roxas. Mga 15 years ago, bilang kalihim ng DTI, ipinasok ‘yan. Noong nag-umpisa, mga ilang daan ang nagtrabaho diyan. Noong Setyembre po noong taong lumipas, 2014, umabot ako sa isang milyong diretsong empleado ang BPO sector. Ngayon po, mayroon pang factor na tinatawag na multiplier factor na 3.5 to 4. Ibig sabihin, bawat diretsong employee ng BPO, mayroong nagmamaneho ng taxi, mayroon ‘yung gumawa ng mga condominium para sa kanila, mayroon ‘yung tumatao sa convenience store. ‘Yun po ‘yung dagdag na trabaho dahil may BPO diyan. Ang magandang balita po, sabi nga ng isang malaking BPO, noong nag-umpisa kami, sabi niya, ang target nila makaabot ng 30,000 na empleado bago ako matapos sa termino. Noong huli pong nakapanayam siya, at medyo matagal-tagal na ‘yon, ang sabi niya sa akin ay nasa 50,000 na po ‘yung iisang kumpanya sa na-hire nila. Pero ang pinakamagandang balita niya sa akin, doon lang po sa Maynila, magkaroon lang ng building na nasa EDSA, at malapit sa sakayan, kayang-kaya raw niyang punuin maski gaano kalaki ‘yung building na ‘yun. Ganoon po ang kumpiyansa ng industriyang ito kaya next year po, 1.3 million na ang sinasabing empleado, $25 billion ang itutulong sa ating ekonomiya.
‘Yung Tsuneishi na mayroong shipyard dito sa Cebu, kada makausap ko sila, parating sinasabi sa akin: Fully booked ang orders nila sa pagpagawa ng mga barko. ‘Yung isa pa hong kumpanya, ibinalita sa atin ng TESDA, Hanjin ang ngalan, Korea, nasa Subic po. Sila raw po ay kailangan ng 2,000 welder sa susunod na tatlong buwan dahil ‘yung ginagawa raw ho klaseng barko doon sa Korea na sampu, ang kanilang parent company gusto nila gumawa ng dalawampu kada taon dito sa Subic. At sila po’y tuwang-tuwa nga sa atin.
Noong Labor Day ho, kanina nandito ang ating kapatid na may kapansanan. Doon po marami tayong problemang dala-dala, pero nung nakita natin na merong training program para mabigyan ng kabuhayan ang ating mga kababayan na talagang may kapansanan, idinesenyo ‘yung programa, pati equipment mino-modify, at talagang pati ‘yung machine works pinapasukan nila. Talagang sabi ko, mukhang wala na nga yata tayong problemang hindi kaya laktawan kung sama-sama tayo.
So, mga kasama, bago po ako magtapos, papunta na tayo sa halalan. Maraming magbibidahan, maraming magyayabang, maraming batikos, maraming putik na itatapon. Darating na naman ‘yung panahong sasabihin ng lahat, “Napakaingay na naman ng sitwasyon.” Siguro paalala lang: Tingnan natin kung saan nanggaling ‘yung nangako para malaman natin kung saan tayo dadalhin ng kanyang mga pangako. At doon po, sa anumang sukatan, ako po’y nagdesisyon matagal na, si Mar Roxas ho talaga ang dapat magtimon sa atin.
Magandang hapon. Maraming salamat sa inyo po. |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech during a briefing on the major infrastructure projects in Cebu |
| Equipment Management Division, DPWH VII, Sergio Osmeña Blvd., Corner V. Sotto, Cebu City |
| 24 Aug 2015 |
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Pasensiya na ho kayo, kanina pa ako nakapansin–kung titingnan ho natin ‘yung graph na pinakita kanina ni Babes Singson–noong 2000 na ito raw po ay country noong aking pinalitan, ang level ho kasi ayan: P2 billion noong 2010, at saka bahagyang umangat noong 2011. Baka may magsabi ho, “Noong 2011, ikaw na Presidente, bakit hindi umangat ‘yung budget?” Simple lang ho ‘yun: ‘Yung budget ho noong 2011, ginawa na rin ho ng pinalitan ko. ‘Yung 2010 kasi, well June 30, 2010 ako umupo. ‘Yung SONA is the last Monday in July, so ‘yung pagitan ho ng pag-upo ko, pag-deliver ng SONA, mga isang buwan. Tapos mayroong constitutional mandate na kailangan i-submit ‘yung budget, one month after ng SONA. So, ‘yung buong proseso ng pagtatawag ng budget call–tatawagin lahat ng departamento, ano ba’ng kailangan n’yong budget, paghahatian ‘yung revenue, etc, mga apat na buwan minimum ang tinatakbo niyan. Sa madaling salita po, ‘yung 2011 budget, ang nagawa lang namin doon [ay] hanapin ‘yung pinakakuwestiyonableng mga transaksiyon o mga potensiyal na puwedeng pagmulan ng mga korupsiyon. At iyon ang pinagtatatanggal po natin.
Masasabi ho natin, noong 2012 na talagang aming budget, nasa P3 billion mahigit na. Tapos last year ho ay nasa P7 billion na tayo mahigit. At next year ho, P9 billion. Ito, Cebu lang ho ‘to; so P9 billion. Ngayon, gusto kong idagdag lang din ho, na ‘yung P7 billion this year, P9 billion next year, hindi ho napupunta doon sa mga lamparang pagkamahal-mahal ‘yan ah. Importante ho, ano ba ang pangangailangan ng mga taga-Cebu at karatig na mga lugar dito sa inyong region, para talagang mapalago at mapaginhawa ang inyong buhay? So pinakita naman kanina ni Babes Singson, lahat itong mga proyekto… Puwedeng makita ‘yung kabilang tarpaulin?
Siyempre ‘yung Sinulog ho, alam na alam na natin ‘yan; pero ‘yung butanding, ngayon ko lang pala narinig ‘yan. Pupunta pala tayo dito, sa Oslob, at lahat ng other areas na ito. Sa next year po, binabalak kong dalawin isa-isa niyan, siguro mga bandang July 2. Puwede na ho ako next year na madalaw ‘tong mga lugar na ‘to. Baka naman dapat August 25. Puwede rin ho ako, August 25 next year. Baka kaibigan ko po ‘yung governor dito next year. Ano na lang po ako, turista. Maii-tour na namin itong lugar na ‘to.
Ngayon, gusto ko lang ring purihin, alam n’yo itong Regional Director n’yong si Ador Canlas, galing ho sa amin ‘to, kapwa ko Kapampangan ‘to. Mukhang talagang tagasunod ko: Unahin ang kapwa bago sarili. Ngayon bakit ko ho nasabi ‘yon? Pansinin po n’yo ‘yung mga jalousie dito, kulang. Doon din ho sa kabilang building; tapos pati ‘yung kisame din ho doon eh. ‘Yung gilid ho ng bubong medyo… Ador, hindi ko alam kung disenyo [ay] kumukurba o lumulundo na ‘yun. Ngayon, doon ho sa makikita ninyo sa kabilang building, parang wala na talagang jalousie. Siguro patunay lang ho iyan: Bago intindihin ang sarili, intindihin muna ang kalakhan, di ba?
Pero Babes, sa P9 billion naman siguro puwede tayong magtabi ng konti para makumpleto ‘yung jalousie dito. [Tawanan] Sa bagong budget ho, isasama na raw ‘yan. Siguro pa ‘yung yerong ‘yan.
Alam n’yo, kung palagay n’yo maayos akong magbihis, dahil kay Kris ‘yan at saka kay Paul Cabral. Kung ako lang ho, kung ano’ng mukhang ayos diyan, puwede na. So hindi tayo masyado doon sa burloloy, ano ba ‘yung importante? Pero dahil ito DPWH, lalo na ‘yung mga mukhang… Di ko alam kung saan nanggaling ‘yung [sulog ho ‘yang] yero diyan eh. Pero ulit, hindi dahil sa kapabayaan ‘yan dahil ‘yung dinaanan ko namang mga kalsada kanina ay talagang maaayos naman ho ang dating, pati ‘yung mga plano tulad doon sa UN Avenue. ‘Yung UN Avenue, medyo masikip na intersection. Kung magagawa natin either overpass o underpass, at mukhang may plano na tungkol doon, magkasundo-sundo lang lahat ng ating opisyales, talagang mapapagaan ‘yung trapiko diyan. Kung mauna ‘yon bago ‘yan, okay rin ho siguro. Baka naman next year, pagbalik ko ng August 25 na turista na lang ako, hingan pa ako ng kontribusyon sa jalousie dito, pero okay rin ho iyan.
Bago ho ako nakarating dito, dumaan tayo at nag-inspeksiyon sa ilang bahagi ng inyong probinsiya. Talaga pong kitang-kita na kung gaano kaganda at kaunlad dito po sa inyo, partikular na sa larangan ng imprastruktura. Sabi ko nga po kay Sec. Babes Singson, tinagurian nating Man of Steel and Concrete: Good job, pero ‘wag ka sanang maging kampante. Marami pa tayong tatapusing proyekto sa kalakhang bansa sa huling bahagi ng ating termino. Kailangan pa rin natin ang siyento porsiyentong lakas at dedikasyon para magtuloy-tuloy ang arangkada natin sa Daang Matuwid.
Unahin po natin ang rehabilitasyon ng Serging Osmeña Boulevard, Port Corridor sa Cebu City. Mula nitong June 25, 2015 po, 100 percent complete na ang pagsasakongkreto ng dalawa’t kalahating kilometrong kalsadang ito. Ang benepisyo po nito: Bumilis ang biyahe papunta sa mga pantalan dito sa Cebu, at naging mas maginhawa ang paglalakbay doon ng mahigit 9,000 Pilipino kada araw.
Sinilip din po natin ang isa sa mga pangunahing kalsada sa Lapu-Lapu City at Cordova-Mactan Circumferential Road. Patuloy po nating isinasaayos ang daang ito, na may kabuuang 28 kilometro ang haba, at pinapalawak ang mga congested nitong bahagi na walang problema sa right of way.
Napakalaking tulong po nito sa lalong paglago ng turismo sa Cebu; lalo pa’t mapapaginhawa nito ang biyahe mula Mactan International Airport, patungo sa mga world-class n’yong tourism sites. Oras na makumpleto, ang dating biyaheng Cebu City-Mactan na tumatagal ng isa’t kalahating oras, sabi po sa akin magiging isang oras na lang. Kung magiging mas mababa pa sa isang oras, malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa inyo. Ang makikinabang po rito: tinatayang 21,282 katao kada araw.
Idagdag na rin ho natin ang ginagawang rehabilitasyon ng kalsada mula Brgy. Curva sa Medellin patungong Brgy. Poblacion sa Daanbantayan. Tutumbok ang kalsadang ito sa Maya RoRo Port, patungong Malapascua Island sa Medellin hanggang Daanbantayan. Oras na makumpleto, ang travel time mula Daanbantayan papuntang Cebu City na inaabot ng tatlong oras, magiging dalawa’t kalahating oras na lang. Kabilang po ang proyektong ito sa tinatawag nating DOT-DPWH Tourism Convergence Road Project, na layuning mapaginhawa ang biyahe ng mga turista sa inyong magagandang destinasyon.
Alam po ninyo, sa kabila ng mga proyektong atin nang naisasakongkreto, may nagagawa pa ring bumanat sa atin. May nagsabi nga po: Hindi raw natin binigyang-pansin ang imprastruktura sa Cebu. Parang gusto ko hong iabot sa kanya itong mga briefer na atin pong inaaral at naging makumpleto ang kanyang datos. Mula sa mga kalsada at tulay, mga estrukturang pang-flood control; sa paliparan, pantalan, hanggang sa farm-to-market roads at pangangailangang pang-irigasyon—ang nailaan po nating pondo para sa programang pang-imprastruktura dito sa Cebu, mula 2011 hanggang sa kasalukuyan, pumalo na po sa mahigit P22.848 billion. Ito po ba ang tinatawag nilang itinaboy at hindi tinutukan ang Cebu?
Siguro ho, sa kababayan nating itong hindi nakakakita na nangyayari at hindi nagbabasa ng datos, baka dapat ambagan ko siya ng bagong salamin para makita niya. Problema lang po, ‘yung taong nagbubulag-bulagan, maski gaano kagandang salamin ibigay natin, wala pa ring makikita. Kaya kung siya ho ay gustong manirahan sa sarili niyang mundong siya ang lumikha, problema na po niya iyon. Pero paalala po natin, libre ang pagamot. Ibahin po nila tayo dito sa Daang Matuwid, ang ating mga proyekto’t programa: purpose-driven at need-driven. Hindi nakabatay sa reward o pabuya.
Nakausap ko na rin po si Governor Junjun. Balita niya sa akin, may plano raw na magtayo ng isang center for industry and trade exposition sa Mandaue, para ipunin ang manufacturers ng furniture dito sa Cebu. Alam po n’yo, ilalapit natin ito sa airport itong tinatayang center. Ano ba’ng purpose ng center? May darating na buyer, patatakbuhin natin kaliwa’t kanan sa lalawigan ng Cebu para makita kung ano ang nandiyan. Iba ho ‘yung litrato sa computer terminal, iba ‘yung ‘pag nakikita ninyo ang kalidad ng trabaho, di ho ba? Minsanan, makikita niya ang kakayahan ng mga taga-Cebu. Siguro mapapabilis lalo ‘yung kanyang pag-iimport nitong mga ine-export ng Cebu. At ‘yan nga po ay hindi mahirap na proyekto, konti lang ho ang kakailanganin nating pondo dahil meron tayong kasanggang Junjun Davide diyan, si Mayor Jonas na isa ring pasimuno po nito, ay nakakasigurado tayong mabilis ang proyektong ‘yan dahil hindi mapupunta kung saan-saan ang pondo.
Kukunin ko na rin po ang pagkakataong ito para magpasalamat sa mga boss nating Cebuano. Naalala ko, kahit napinsala ng Bagyong Yolanda ang Bantayan Island at ilan pang bahagi ng Cebu, naging matatag pa rin kayo at isa pa nga sa nagsilbing repacking hubs sa kalakhang bansa para makatulong tayo, lalo na sa ating mga kababayang sa ibang lugar nasalanta ng Yolanda. Sa ngalan ng bawat Pilipinong inyong natulungan: Daghang salamat ka ninyong tanan. Nakauban namo sa tarong nga dalan.
Parang may konting mali ho yata ‘yung Cebuano ko doon. Sa susunod ho, hindi si Babes Singson ang tatanungin ko kung paano mag-Cebuano. Ngayon ko lang ho naalala, Ilokano nga pala si Babes Singson.
Good news naman po, mula kay Secretary Chito Cruz, ang ating bagong talaga po sa HUDCC: 1,951 units na pabahay na nagkakahalagang P546 million ang ginagawa na sa limang bayan dito sa Cebu para sa mga naapektuhan ng Yolanda. Siyempre po, doble kayod pa tayo para madagdagan ito. Mga boss, sa sandaling panahon pa lang ng ating panunungkulan, talagang nakikita natin: Walang imposible kapag nagkakapit-bisig ang lokal at pambansang pamahalaan sa paghahatid ng tapat at mabuting serbisyo sa ating mga boss. Dagdag ko po, ‘pag nakikita ng mga boss ang totoong serbisyo, talaga namang naasahan nating damayan tayo at hindi tayo nag-iisa.
Habang umuunlad ang Cebu, nandito naman ang inyong gobyerno, tinatapatan ito ng kinakailangan ninyong imprastruktura para magtuloy-tuloy ang inyong pag-arangkada at pag-asenso. Alam ko po, noon pa man talagang kasabay na natin ang Cebu sa pagbagtas sa Daang Matuwid. Tiwala naman ako sa mga darating na panahon, higit pa tayong magtutulungan para marating ang nagkakaisa nating hangarin para sa isang mas maunlad na Pilipinas.
Balik-tanaw lang po tayong kaunti: Noong dumating po ‘yung EDSA Revolution, nasaan po ang aking ina? Di ho ba nandito sa Cebu at inyong pinangalagaan. Noong ako’y naman po tumakbo bilang Senador at Presidente, ako po’y binigyan ninyo ng mandato na siyang naging tulay para naman magawa natin ang lahat ng nagawa na natin sa lumipas na limang taon.
Kadalasan po sa mga araw na ‘to, may nagtatanong ho sa akin, paano ko raw ho ba gagarantiyahan na ‘yung nangyayari ay magpapatuloy? Siyempre po, sa June 30, tanghali, hindi na po ako pangulo next year. ‘Yung garantiya ko po ay siguro garantiya lang na boboto ako nang tama.
Siguro naman ho ‘yung boto ko, isa lang ako sa isandaang milyong Pilipino. Kailangan po natin lahat, tama ang desisyon. Kung tama ang direksiyon natin sa lumipas na limang taon, ‘pag tinanong ako [kung] paano ko magagarantiya, siguro ang sagot ho diyan: Tayo ang maggagarantiya ng ating direksiyon. Tayo ang gumawa ng kasalukuyan, tayo ang gagawa ng kinabukasan.
Magandang araw po. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. |
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| President Benigno S. Aquino III's Media Interview during the Briefing on the Major Infrastructure Projects in Cebu |
| Equipment Management Division, DPWH VII, Sergio Osmeña Blvd., Corner V. Sotto, Cebu City |
| 24 Aug 2015 |
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JEN ANTIPORDA/DYMR-RADYO NG BAYAN: Good afternoon, Mr. President.
In the recent Global Competitive Index, the Philippines ranked 52nd out of 144 participating countries. This is an improvement of the country’s 59th rank back in 2013. And in the five years of your administration, Mr. President, the country has gained 33 places, the largest over the period among all countries studied.
My question is: How can the government sustain these, especially after the Presidential elections next year?
PRES. AQUINO III: Well, I think the answer is very simple. Iyong... the things that we are doing are working and are being recognized, not only in the country but also outside of the country. So, my premise is what we are doing right now is just a stepping stone towards greater heights that we can achieve. They will be building—the next of the administration will be building upon those things that we have set, in place already now. A lot of the PPP projects, for instance, that we started will be finished by the incoming administration.
So, the basic answer is: Do not change course; do not reverse course, especially; do now go back to where it was. And it’s fortunate we’re here in Cebu, you had the Convention Center with the very famous lamps; that I think has not been replicated in this administration.
So, again, what we’re doing, is working. What we think will happen in the next administration - with continuity - is an acceleration of that which has been already done. Iyong... the analogy I like to use is: think of a truck that has stalled; and when you start pushing it, just to get over the inertia - the ability of the truck to stay stationary. Once you overcome that, then continuing this motion is an easier task rather than to get just this started.
Thank you for the question, thank you for the good news. Nobody has told me that we have increased again in the Global Competitive Index. Perhaps I should tell the economic managers that if it’s good news, they can also forward it right away.
ROWENA CAPISTRANO/DYRF-CEBU: Maayong udto, Mr. President, or good afternoon. The Supreme Court recently granted bail for Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile. How will this affect the government’s campaign against the corruption?
PRES. AQUINO III: Iyong pinakaimportante ayon kay Secretary Leila ‘no—kasi parang ang plunder na isa sa mga kaso and supposed to be non-bailable. Ngayon doon sa pagiging non-bailable, marami dito sa mga non-bailable na asunto, puwede lang mabigyan ng piyansa ‘pag mababa iyong ebidensiya, iyong mahina iyong ebidensiya. Ang importante yatang tignan natin doon sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema, ay wala silang binabanggit tungkol doon sa ebidensiyang hinarap at tila nakasentro doon sa edad at kalagayan ng kalusugan ni Senator Enrile.
So, maaapektuhan ba? Hindi. Tuluy-tuloy ang kampanya natin. Tapos nag-file na naman ang DOJ, the NBI, sa Ombudsman ng pangatlong set ng kaso. Hindi ho nahihinto at tuloy pa rin iyong paglilitis. Ulitin ko, iyong piyansa ay hindi... ‘di ba, mayroon rin sigurong nagsasabi, “oh iyan ebidensiya na mahina iyong...” parang pruweba na mahina iyong ebidensiya. So, nilinaw noong desisyon na hindi pinag-uusapan – sa aking pang-unawa – iyong kalibre o iyong kalidad noong ebidensiyang inilahad. At bagkus, ‘di ba, iyong kalusugan at edad ni Senator Enrile ang binigyan ng punto.
Ngayon may mga nagkukwestiyon rin – ako’y hindi abogado, gusto kong uulitin lang iyong kanilang kuwestiyon na parang wala doon sa mga batas natin iyong grounds na iyon. So kadalasan, ‘pag clemency sa akin pumupunta iyan bilang Pangulo at kadalasan naman rin—hindi, puwede lang akong makialam ‘pag nagkaroon na ng tinatawag na final conviction.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Good afternoon Mr. President. Sir, the Bureau of Customs is drawing flak from OFWs and other groups for its plan - random inspection of Balikbayan Boxes. Do you support this measure or will you ask the BOC to stop, or at least review this new proposal?
PRES. AQUINO III: Ngayong hapon magre-review kami. I called Secretary of Finance Cesar Purisima and the BOC Commissioner Bert Lina to a meeting me as soon as I get back to Manila and to review this whole proposal. Initially, ang sabi po nila sa atin, ‘pag mayroon raw isang container lulan ay puro Balikbayan Box, iisa lang ang deklarasyon kung ano laman noong... parang pagkasabi sa akin medyo maraming Balikbayan Box kada container. Okay.
Iyong pangunahing layunin nito ay makatulong doon sa kampanya natin laban sa mga iligal na droga. Tapos, marami na rin tayong balita na nagpupuslit ng bala, mga baril. Mayroon pa raw nag-dismantle ng motorsiklo na tinatawag nilang ‘big bikes’ ‘no, hinati-hati sa ilang kahon para makaiwas rin doon sa dapat na bayarang multa.
Ang paliwanag nila sa akin, X-ray raw ho ang gagamitin sa pagsiyasat nitong mga Balikbayan Box at pagkatapos noon iyong mga may kahina-hinalang mapapakita noong X-ray, iyon lang ang bubuksan na physical. Tapos, idinagdag na magkakaroon tayo ng mga independent na observers sa Customs para bantayan iyong proseso para matanggal iyong agam-agam na pagnanakaw.
Ngayon, iyon ang unang palitan namin ng pananaw ni Secretary Purisima, at mamayang hapon hinihintay ko iyong mas komprehensibong briefing tungkol doon sa hinahabol nilang…or sa mga layunin nila dito sa pagpapalabas nitong panukalang ‘to.
GENALYN KABILING/MANILA BULLETIN: Sir, mensahe na lang sa mga OFW na natatakot, kasi baka daw abusuhin iyong ganitong sistema.
PRES. AQUIINO: Iyong sa mamayang hapon pipilitin nating ilagay lahat ng safeguards para walang abuso. Pero palagay ko naman ho, wala naman sigurong magmumungkahi na huwag na nating tingnan; dahil trabaho ng Customs iyon na pangalagaan iyong inaangkat dito sa ating bansa. Wala naman sigurong nagsasabing, “Sige, basta ‘pag Balikbayan Box eh puwede nang maipuslit iyong droga; puwede nang mailabas iyong bala, pulbura, piyesa ng baril, iyong baril mismo.” Baka naman totoo nga iyong pati iyong motorsiklo nahanap. Ayaw naman nating pumasok iyon.
Tulungan natin iyong Customs na gawin iyong kanilang trabaho at siguraduhing … dapat naman hong siguraduhin ng gobyerno na wala namang, ‘di ba, iyong wala namang karapatan ang taumbayan na mapipinsala dito sa paghahabol ng pangangalaga ng kapakanan ng lahat.
ANDREO CALONZO/GMA NEWS ONLINE: Hi, sir. Sir, what are the prospects of still having Senator Grace Poe as Secretary Mar’s running mate at present?
PRES. AQUINO: Iyong umaasa pa rin kami hanggang sa ngayon ‘no. Hindi naman napuputol iyong lines of communication, mas bihira na kaming nag-uusap ngayon. Nailahad na naman namin - iyong magkabilang panig - kung ano talaga ang, ‘di ba, parang layunin. Sang-ayon naman si Senator Grace dahil marami sa…kung man hindi lahat ng nangyayari ngayon ay dapat ipagpatuloy.
So, wala kaming pinagtatalunan sa prinsipiyo at kung saan pa natin dapat dalhin iyong bansa. So kami, sa koalisyon, hindi lang nung Liberal, ay talagang umaasa pa rin na magkasama-sama lahat ng puwersang gustong magpatuloy sa nangyayari ngayon.
ANDREO CALONZO/GMA NEWS ONLINE: Sir, related po. Senator Grace said recently that some administration allies are behind the attacks against her. So what do you say to this? Is there truth that some of your allies are behind this?
PRES. AQUINO: Siguro baka ano eh…hindi natin maiwasan na talagang tumakbo siya bilang senador, kung tatakbo siya bilang pangulo o pangalawang pangulo, ‘no, na mas nakasentro, ‘di ba, iyong mga aktibidades. Pag senador ka kasi - ilan ba ang tumatakbo kada taon mga…kada may eleksyon, siguro hindi bababa sa tatlumpu. So nakakalat iyong tanong sa tatlumpu.
So, sa akin lang siguro baka dapat isipin, number one, inaakit namin siya tapos gagawa kami ng black propaganda. Parang … kung saka-sakaling makuha namin siya sasagutin namin yung black propagandang ginawa namin. So, wala yatang sense iyon. At wala naman sigurong nag-aakusa sa amin na mahina magplano. So, tignan na lang natin sa praktikalan: Gagawa iyong mga kasamahan natin ng ganiyan, na para bang …para bang…kunwari hindi mo gusto iyong ilong mo, puputulin mo iyong ilong mo, magiging pogi ka. Hindi siguro.
So, siyempre panahon ng katakut-takot na intriga, mga katakut-takot na disinformation, at lalabas din naman iyong katotohanan. Pero ulit, siguro gusto ko lang pagdiinan: Ano ang pakinabang namin kung gagawa kami ng ganoong bagay?
ANDREO CALONZO/GMA NEWS ONLINE: Sir, one last. One of your allies at the House of Representatives is calling on you to run as Secretary Mar Roxas’ running mate. So magiging role reversal daw po for 2016.
PRES. AQUINO: Habang tinatanong mo sa akin iyan parang nakikita ko na iyong mga kapatid ko naiiyak na, at iyong mga pamangkin ko humahagulgul na. At ultimo na lang si Yolly, na aking kasamahan sa bahay, ay baka naman magretiro bigla. Iyong kung gagawin ko na rin naman lahat nung trabaho, siguro dapat sumang-ayon na ako doon sa mungkahing pagtingin ng Konstitusyon ulit at term extension. Pero paniwala ko nga dito, dapat talagang – sa akin ‘no, personal – iyong naniniwala ako doon sa measure of success is your ability to train your successor. Iyong kami lumilipat na doon sa idea na personalidad ang dapat nating itulak kada kampanya, kung hindi dapat plataporma.
So katulad nga ngayon, sinasabi namin, iyong paglilipat kay Secretary Mar ay paghabol namin ng tinatawag na “continuity.” Tandaan ninyo noong una akong tumakbo, sabi sa akin ng mga nagmumungkahing tumakbo ako, “hindi naman namin inaasahan na malulutas mo lahat ng problemang dadatnan mo, pero sana maumpisahan mo iyong proseso.” Ngayon kung, ‘di ba, kung … hindi naman sa pagtataas ng bangko ‘no – alam ninyong hindi ko gawain iyon – pero kung sa atin parating iaasa iyan, baka hindi tayo nakakatulong doon sa manigurado na tuluy-tuloy itong arangkadang nangyayari sa ating bansa.
ROICES NAGUIT/TV5: Mr. President, just going back to the SC decision granting a bail for Senator Enrile. Have you ordered a review on this? And following this ruling po kasi, there are renewed calls for the SC to allow CGMA to post bail din po.
PRES. AQUINO: Sorry, allow who?
ROICES/TV5: CGMA, to post bail?
PRES. AQUINO: I think hindi na ako kailangang mag-utos eh. Secretary Leila has I think spoken rather eloquently on the topic, and others ‘no - to include the dissenting opinions expressed by the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court. Iyong kay GMA naman, huwag nating kalimutan iyong hospital arrest in itself is a privilege; and she’s under a hospital arrest to ensure that whatever available remedies, cures, therapies are needed are given in a very timely passion, okay. Ngayon, pag inuwi na ba natin sa bahay ibig sabihin noon wala nang kalusugan—wala nang isyu sa kalusugan. Kung wala nang isyu sa kalusugan, bakit nasa ospital pa. So, I think, I’ll have to ask for an update, pero the way I understand it yung lahat ng dapat at puwedeng gawin ginagawa na para i-ensure iyong kanyang kalusugan.
Ulitin ko lang, ‘no, iyong mga kaso, one of the cases is plunder eh. And plunder is not bailable. So, ang tanong ko lang dito, nandoon na nga iyong ugali ng Pilipino na, ‘di ba, madali daw magpatawad, maunawain, iyong madaling mag-simpatsiya sa mga taong may…katulad niyan, may karamdaman. Pero ang tanong ko nga lang ho dito: Ano ho ba dapat ang ipapakita natin sa kasalukuyang sambayanan at lalo na sa susunod na salinlahi. Sa akin ho kasi importante na may ginawa kang krimen, kailangang pagbayaran.
Sabi ko nga nuong nag-uumpisa kami kay Secretary, and amongst others, and I think bago ko in-appoint na Associate Justice si Chief Justice ngayon and the others that I interviewed. Iyong success natin in terms of fighting…parang making the rule of law felt, ‘no, is hindi tayo makasampa ng kaso lang, pero kailangan nang may convictions.
So, para bang okay na ba iyon, inasunto lang natin, puwede na? Or dapat ba manigurado tayo na—kagaya iyon kaso electoral fraud eh, binago iyong desisyon ng sambayanan. Doon nagmumula lahat ng pag-exercise ng power sa ating pong bansa. So kailangan kung mabigat ang krimeng ginawa mo, eh may mabigat rin naman dapat kaparusahan. Kung hindi para bang sinabi na rin natin sa lahat ng nag-iisip, ‘no, “gawin ninyo kung ano ang gusto ninyo at basta makapangyarihan ka, may salapi ka, malulusutan mo lahat.” Eh kung ganoon ang mensahe natin, paano kaya natin babaguhin iyong lipunan.
ROICES/TV5: Sir, relatedly. Your thoughts lang on the resolution passed by your House allies, or your allies in the House of Representatives passing this resolution asking or urging the Sandiganbayan to grant house arrest for the former President. Ano po ang basa ninyo dito?
PRES, AQUINO: Baka iyong, one, kulang ng impormasyon. Number two, baka iyon nga, ang daming lumapit. Siyempre nandoon na lahat eh, babae iyong pinag-uusapan, karamihan ng mga miyembro natin ng ating Kamara de Representate ay lalaki; iyong pagiging gentleman, maunawain, etc., walang mawawala. Pero baka pag tinanong natin isa-isa nung pumirma, baka marami diyan mag dalawang isip: ‘Teka muna, ganoon pala ang ibig sabihin nito.’ With all due respect to all of them, ‘no, pero baka...pag tinanong lang ‘no, ano ba ang value dadalhin siya sa bahay? IIalayo mo doon sa pagamutan. Kung ang dahilan nga nasa pagamutan siya dahil may isyu siya sa kalusugan. So ano ang magagawa doon sa bahay na hindi magagawa ng ospital. Bakit ilalayo mo pa sa gamutan.
ROICES/TV 5: Sir, meron po ba kayong mensahe sa mga mambabatas, especially in the House of Representatives, na in the past weeks, since your SONA, wala pong quorum. So, ano pong magiging effect nito sa passage ng Bangsamoro Basic Law and the budget?
PRES. AQUINO: Well, napakarami talagang mga batas na importante. Number one, iyong budget; number two iyong BBL. At lahat naman ng mga kasamahan natin diyan, nanggaling tayo diyan. Iyong naiintindihan natin may pressure rin na makakauwi sa distrito at makita ng kanilang mga constituents. Pero palagay ko at the end of the day ang pangunahing trabaho nila ay gumawa ng batas at itong mga batas na ito napakaimportante sa ikabubuti ng atin buong bansa. So, ako ay nakakasigurado na pagdating ng oras na kailangan talagang pagbotohan itong mga panukalang ito ay maglilitawan lahat, lampas-lampas doon sa quorum.
ROICES/TV 5: Sir, last na lang po. Will there a Cabinet revamp…soon?
PRES. AQUINO: Roices, pag sinabi mong revamp, meron ka kasing pinapalitan dahil hindi maayos ang performance ano. Pero magkakaroon ng pagpapalit, dahil sa Oktubre meron tayong mga kasamahan na tatakbo, nandiyan na si Mar Roxas, nandiyan si Francis Tolentino, nandiyan si Joel Villanueva. Medyo marami-rami sa ating Gabinete ang tatakbo. At hindi lang naman iyong Cabinet level ‘no, may mga ilan pang kawani ng gobyerno na nag-resign dahil nga may balak tumakbo sa 2016. So, revamp? Mali siguro yung term na revamp, ‘no. Pero kailangan nating magtalaga ng mga taong namumuno nitong iba’t-ibang ahensiya na walang balak tumakbo, at magkakaroon ng bagong mukha.
ROICES/TV5: Pero definitely, Mr. President, wala po itong kinalaman kung sino iyong susuportahan nila sa 2016, since ilan daw po sa Cabinet ang nagsabi na posibleng iba po iyong suportahan nila?
PRES. AQUINO: Alam mo talo mo ako. Nakakausap ko iyong Gabinete ko madalas. Kamakailan lang nagkaroon kami ng Cabinet meeting tungkol sa El Niño at saka sa budget performance, wala namang nagpahiwatig sa akin na may susuportahan silang iba. Walang nagpahiwatig, walang nagparamdam, walang nagpadala ng anonymous letter. So, baka naman…tanungin mo ulit iyong nagsasabi sa iyong ilan ang hindi susuporta, baka pag tinanong mo na magbigay ng pangalan, sasabihin niya, “you will know after the elections.”
ROICES/TV 5: Thank you, Mr. President.
USEC MARFIL: Thank you, Roices. Thank you, Mr. President. At maraming salamat, mga kasama sa media. Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. |
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| SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center |
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