Dispatch for September 3 , 2014 (Wednesday ), 4 Weather Watch, 6 Reg’l. Watch , 1 OFW Watch , 2 PNOY Speech , 1 Radio INTERVIEW OF SEC. COLOMA, 16 Online News , 55 Photonews (Sept. 1)

 

24-Hour Public Weather Forecast




Issued at 5:00 a.m.,03 September 2014
Valid beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow

Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis for 8 a.m., 03 September 2014

Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind  Analysis for 8 a.m., 03 September 2014

Satellite Image

Synopsis:

At 4:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 350 km East of Baler, Aurora (15.5ºN, 125.0ºE).

Forecast:  

Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central
Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol region, Caraga and Visayas will have cloudy
skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of
the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or
thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Light to moderate winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will
prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the southwest to west
over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be
slight to moderate.

Thunderstorm Advisory No. 09 #NCR_PRSD
Issued at 04:05 AM September 03, 2014


Thunderstorm is affecting #Cavite (Maragondon, Naic and Ternate) and
#Batangas (BatangasCity, Lobo and Taysan) which may persist within 2
hours.

Meanwhile, light to
moderate with occasional heavy #rains affecting #NuevaEcija, #Quezon,
#Rizal, #Bulacan, and portions of #MetroManila, #Tarlac, #Pampanga, as
well as the other areas of Cavite and Batangas which may persist within 2
hours.

All are advised to take precautionary measures against
heavy rains, strong winds, lightning and possible flashfloods. Keep
monitoring for updates.

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Weather Watch

4 hours ago

PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura on DZMM:

-Asahan pa rin ang mahina hanggang katamtamang pag-ulan at pagkidlat sa
Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol
Region,Caraga at Visayas ngayong Miyerkules.
-Huling namataan ang LPA sa layong 350 kilometro silangan ng Baler, Aurora.
-Sa ngayon, hindi nakikitang magiging ganap na bagyo ang LPA sa loob ng 24 oras dahil sa mahinang sirkulasyon ng kaulapan nito.

-Samantala may isang nakikitang mamumuong sama ng panahon sa silangan
ng Mindanao. Oras na mabuo ito, malulusaw na ang LPA sa silangan ng
Aurora at sasanib dito.
-Sa ngayon ito ang nakikita nating mas malaki ang tsansang maging bagyo.

Weather Watch

15 hours ago

ABS-CBN:
Huling namataan ng PAGASA ang LPA 400km east ng Baler, Aurora.
Inaasahang tatama ito sa lupa pero pagkatapos ay malulusaw. Asahan bukas
ang may kalakasang pag-ulan sa Visayas, sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon gaya
ng Palawan. Sa oras na maging bagyo ang LPA ay papangalanan itong
'Karding' imbes na 'Kanor.' Pinalitan ng PAGASA ang pangalan ng bagyo
dahil hindi raw ito magandang pakinggan.

September 3, 2014 (Wednesday)as of 6:00-7:00 AM

CAVITE            :  Cloudy 

LAGUNA          :  Cloudy 

BATANGAS    :  Cloudy 

RIZAL                :  Cloudy 

QUEZON           :  Cloudy 

               

1. PIA Regional Watch

17 hours ago

PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
Nagsagawa ng awareness campaign kaugnay ng crime prevention ang Tanuan City PNP
sa Christian College of Tanauan. Tinalakay ang sitwasyon ng katahimikan at
kaayusan sa lungsod at ang kahalagahan ng suporta ng komunidad sa paglaban sa
kriminalidad.

2. PIA Regional Watch

17 hours ago

PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
Nagsagawa ng pagbabakuna ngayong araw kontra tigdas at polio ang mga tauhan ng
Municipal Health Office ng Padre Garcia sa Barangay Banaba bilang pagpapatupad
ng Ligtas Tigdas program ng Department of Health na naglalayong mabawasan ang mga
batang nagkakasakit ng tigdas at polio.

3.
PIA Regional Watch
PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
Humigit kumulang na 38,000 bata edad 9 hanggang 59 na buwan ang inaasahang
makikinabang sa libreng bakuna kontra tigdas at 44,831 bata naman ang
makikinabang sa free oral polio vaccine na ipagkakaloob ng pamahalaang lungsod
ng Batangas sa ilalim ng Ligtas Tigdas program ng Department of Health.

4. PIA Regional Watch

17 hours ago

PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
Members of Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines,
Inc. (TCCIPI) paid a courtesy visit to the Batangas City government to
discuss the possibility of producing halal beef from the
newly-constructed Batangas City Slaughterhouse.

PIA Regional Watch

18 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON:
DTI-Quezon provincial office along with Rotary Club of Cosmopolitan
Lucena and Quezon- Lucena Chamber of Commerce and Industry is scheduled
to conduct the first Quezon entrepreneurship summit 2014 at the event
theater, 3rd level of Pacific mall, Lucena City on September 5, 2014.
The summit aims to strengthen entrepreneurship in the province.

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PIA Regional Watch

18 hours ago

PIA-4A/QUEZON:
Sinimulan na ngayon sa lalawigan ng Quezon ang malawakang Ligtas tigdas
campaign o measles, rubella and oral polio vaccine mass immunization.
Ito ay magkakatuwang na programa ng integrated provincial health office,
DOH at World Health Organization na naglalayong mapangalagaan ang mga
bata laban sa tigdas sa pamamagitan ng pagbabakuna. Sinabi ni Joeann
Reyes, provincial EPI coordinator na sa lalawigan ng Quezon ang target
na pabakunahan sa buong buwan ng Setyembre ay 11.5 percent o 250,000
batang limang taon pababa.

PIA OFW Watch

14 hours ago

DFA Asec.Charles Jose on DZMM:
Re: Dalawang OFW sa Vietnam na nasa death row
-Magkahiwaly na insidente ito, magkahiwalay na kaso.Isang babae at isang lalaki.
-Ang sirkomstansiya, parehong pinabitbit ng iligal na droga, drug mules ang tawag sa kanila.
-May pag-asa pa na mabawasan ang kanilang sentensiya, pwede pang iapela.
-Ia-appeal muna natin ang legal process kung talagang provided by law. Kung sa SC ay ina-affirm yung death sentence usually isinasaalang-alang ang political, pwedeng sumulat ang Pangulo.

-Pero sa Vietnam may provision doon na yung mismong sentensyadong tao
ay sumulat ng kanilang personal letter addressed sa president ng
Vietnam.
-81 sa kabuuan na Pinoy ang nasa death row sa buong mundo, 41 doon dahil sa iligal na droga.
-Talagang minsan may pagkakamali ang ating mga kababayan, dahil nga sa compassion kailangan natin silang tulungan.
- Sa Vietnam usually ang mode of execution by lethal injection.

-Muli po tayong nanawagan sa ating mga kababayan na umaalis ng bansa na
mag-ingat at huwag tatanggap ng ganoong gawain na maging tagabitibit ng
mga iligal na droga.

02 SEPT 2014

1.Budget reforms highlithted in good governnace meet; Abad: 2-day Forum kicks off regional fora on open governance

2.  GSIS declares moratorium on loans of Glenda-hit members, pensioners in Albay

3.  BSP's "AlertoAko" launches in Cebu

4.  Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary cites PhilHealth benefits

5.    Mostly positive, feedback on new LLCS indicate business establishments are willing to
comply with labor laws

6.  In Region 10, DOLE's multi-industry assessment produces 96 establishments compliant with general labor laws, 51 of which were also compliant with OSH standards

7.  DOE intensifies the protection of the oil industry

8.    CSC conducts ARTA survey in high-traffic service offices

9.   Statement of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law

10.  Chinese General Hospital assures medical care for wounded cops

11.  Fil-Korean families given schooling aid by Korean NGO

12.  New Yorkers experience why it’s more fun in the Philippines

13.  NTA gives livelihood courses for tobacco farmers, dependents

14.  Hacienda Luisita agrarian reform beneficiaries train on modern farming and entrepreneurship

15.  August 2014 Sanitary Engineer Licensure Examination results released in Two (2) days

16.LANDBANK announces 2014 Gawad PITAK winnersJoint DOH and WHO Biennium Planning Workshop

17.  Joint DOH and WHO Biennium Planning Workshop

Budget reforms highlithted in good governnace meet; Abad: 2-day Forum kicks off regional fora on open governance

Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph

As part of the Aquino Administration’s continued bid to further intensify greater transparency and accountability in government, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said that the Good Governance Dialogues will serve as an appropriate venue to engage various stakeholders in actively supporting and participating in the government’s good governance reform agenda. Kicking off today at the Crown Plaza Manila, the two-day national forum—which is spearheaded by the Aquino administration’s Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Cluster—will bring together around 200 participants coming from various Local Government Units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs), business groups, academe, international partners, and the media, to talk about reforms on open governance and fiscal transparency. “The Good Governance Dialogues will allow us to assess how far we have actually gone in pursuing our good governance agenda. We will be discussing current reform initiatives—including budget reforms that are currently being implemented—that have been rolled out to enhance transparency and accountability in how government works. At the same time, we will be engaging our participants to support these initiatives as the government strives to institutionalize key governance reforms,” Abad said. The forum seeks to sustain the momentum of successful open governance events conducted earlier in the year, including the Good Governance Summit and the Daylight Dialogues. Abad explained that the Good Governance Dialogues is also in line with the country’s membership in the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a global governance transparency initiative of which the Philippines is a founding member. The OGP aims to secure concrete commitments from governments in pushing for greater transparency, citizen participation, anti-corruption, and use of technology to strengthen governance. The Budget Chief added that the forum will officially kick off a series of regional fora to raise awareness and support for priority programs and initiatives to help the Philippines meet its OGP commitments. “Improving stakeholder engagement will enable us to meet our open governance commitments. Key to this is facilitating fruitful dialogue with the country’s governance reform champions and encouraging them to take a more active role in our reform agenda. We’re also going to spotlight the Administration’s priority programs and initiatives that we plan to localize and realistically implement nationwide,” Abad added. The first day of the event will discuss various budget reforms in enhancing fiscal transparency and accountability, most especially the Zero-Based Budgeting approach adopted by the Budget Department in 2010. The second day of the forum will tackle open government opportunities and challenges and highlight notable best good governance practices in local governance. The Good Governance Dialogues was organized in partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and civil society members of the Philippine OGP.

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GSIS declares moratorium on loans of Glenda-hit members, pensioners in Albay

Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph

State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) today announced that a six-month moratorium will be implemented for Glenda-hit members and pensioners in Albay to help in their recovery efforts. "The moratorium will enable our members and pensioners to use the deferred payments on their outstanding GSIS loans for the repairs of their homes and other urgent needs," GSIS President and General Manager Robert Vergara said. Effective this September until February 2015, loans covered under the program include conso-loan, emergency loan, optional policy and regular policy loans, pension loan, pensioners' emergency loan and pensioners' restructured loan. To qualify for the moratorium, the loan accounts should still be within the payment term and should have no arrears for six months or more. GSIS already advised government agencies in Albay to stop the loan amortizations from the salaries of employees for loans covered by the moratorium. The System will also suspend collecting monthly loan amortizations from pensions. Vergara said that all qualified members and pensioners in Albay do not need to apply for the moratorium program. "They have already been electronically identified and tagged in our database." Housing loans, however, which are covered by a separate restructuring program until December 31 this year, are excluded from the moratorium. In the storm's aftermath, GSIS also opened a Php20,000 emergency loan window for members and pensioners in areas declared under a state of calamity. For inquiries on the loan moratorium program, members and pensioners may call the GSIS contact center at 847.4747.

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BSP's "AlertoAko" launches in Cebu

Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will open its first AlertoAko, a BSP Proactive Exhibit on Financial Consumer Protection Advisories on 02 September 2014 at the BSP Cebu Regional Office, Cebu City. BSP Assistant Governor Johnny Noe E. Ravalo, will lead the launching and ribbon cutting ceremony of the exhibit. Key officials from Cebu City’s banking community, trade and industry sector, local government units, different government agencies and various universities will grace the opening ceremony. The AlertoAko exhibit is a financial consumer protection campaign that primarily aims to provide financial consumers greater awareness through advisories on various financial products and services, thus empowering them to make informed financial decisions. This is also a pro-active approach to address the need of the public to identify financial frauds/scams. The exhibit mainly features display panels showing the various financial scams, how to detect them and tips to avoid them, BSP’s key advisories, interactive games and activities, audio visual presentations, and short individual lectures on Financial Products, Frauds and Scams and Consumer Protection. The target participants for this event are the students and working sector in Cebu City. The AlertoAko, which is spearheaded by the BSP’s Financial Consumer Affairs Group, is open to the public from 2-4 September 2014 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. at the BSP Regional Office at Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City The exhibit will be put up across the country to enable the BSP to cover more ground in teaching the citizenry to become smart financial consumers who are vigilant of financial scams and frauds.

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Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary cites PhilHealth benefits

Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph

Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental – A Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program cited the benefits of being a member of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and urged her fellow cash grantees to also avail of the health package to help them meet their medical needs, when needed. Rizalyn Real, of this city, is thankful that her 16-year-old son, Jokring, who underwent a bone surgery in a government hospital, was able to avail of PhilHealth benefits. “Wala po akong binayaran pagkatapos ng operasyon (I did not pay a single cent after the operation),” Rizalyn said. Partnership In 2012, DSWD and PhilHealth partnered to provide health care for the poor. Some 14.7 million indigent individuals aged 21 and above identified through the DSWD’s Listahanan database of the poor are now Philhealth card holders. Of the total, 3.9 million, Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are enrolled under the Philhealth program, as of March 2014. Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are afforded with PhilHealth coverage as Sponsored Members. Help in times of needs She recalled that Jokring had an accident during one of his basketball games with his friends. He fractured his arm and was advised to undergo an operation to attach a steel plate on his broken bone. Being a low-salaried utility worker, Rizalyn was reluctant to bring her son to the hospital since she knew she could not afford to pay for the hospital bill, let alone for a bone surgery operation that costs far more than what she earns. “Pero may nakapagsabi sa akin na may PhilHealth benefits daw ang mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya. Dinala ko na rin siya sa ospital kaysa makita ang anak ko na hirap na hirap (But someone had informed me that Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries can avail of Philhealth benefits. I then brought him to the hospital rather than just see him in so much pain),” Rizalyn said. She said that she only presented her son’s birth certificate and her Pantawid Pamilya identification card to the hospital’s admission office. “Sinabi nila na gagaling daw ang aking anak (I was assured then that Jokring is going to be okay),” she added. Rizalyn could not describe how relieved she was when the hospital staff told her that everything has been taken care of. She did not need to pay anything for her son’s operation. “Dapat ay mga P25,000 ang aking babayaran para sa operasyon lang, pero dahil ako ay Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, ay wala akong binayaran (I could have paid more than P25,000 for that surgery alone, but because I am a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, I was exempted from paying),” Rizalyn said. Today, Jokring is doing fine and is back in school. A mother’s love and responsibility Rizalyn’s family is a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary since 2009, receiving P800 monthly for one of her children’s education and health. For five years, Rizalyn has been attending the Family Development Sessions (FDS) required by the program. FDS is a regular gathering of Pantawid Pamilya parent-leaders where they discuss parent effectiveness, home and financial management, values formation, and disaster preparedness, among others. Attendance to the FDS is one of the conditions of the program that beneficiaries should comply. The other conditions are sending children to school, and bringing them to health centers for check up. The FDS is a unique feature of Pantawid Pamilya. Other countries implementing the program do not have this as one of their conditions. According to her, she learned from the FDS that being a mother is more than just feeding her children, but rather being there to provide social, emotional, and spiritual support as well. She said that the well-being of her children is paramount. Rizalyn also shared that she is supportive of Jokring’s dream to go to college, get a good-paying job, and someday be able to buy their own house. “Kaya nga sinisigurado ko na lagi siyang pumapasok sa paaralan. Tinuturuan ko din siya at ang kanyang mga kapatid sa kanilang mga aralin. Sa ganitong paraan, naniniwala ako na papalapit din siya sa kanyang mga pangarap (I make sure that he continuously attends his classes and help him and his siblings study their lessons. I believe that each day, his dreams get closer to becoming real),” she stated. “Kaya ko ang pagbabago. Sa tulong ng gobyerno ay maitataguyod ko ang pag-aaral, kalusugan, at kapakanan ng aking mga anak (I can change for the better. With the help of the government, I will be able to support the education, health, and secure the future of my kids),” Rizalyn ended.

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Mostly positive, feedback on new LLCS indicate business  establishments are willing to comply with labor laws

Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

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In Region 10, DOLE's multi-industry assessment produces 96 establishments compliant with general labor laws, 51 of which were also compliant with OSH standards

Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph

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DOE intensifies the protection of the oil industry

Source: https://www.doe.gov.ph

(Taguig City) Strengthening the  nation’s campaign in ensuring the safety of the Filipinos in their utilization of petroleum products, the Department of Energy lead by Sec. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla launched six Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) Mobile Testing Vans at the DOE grounds last September 1, 2014. Among those present were DOE Sec. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, USec. Zenaida Y. Monsada, USec. Raul B. Aguilos, Asec. Daniel A. Ariaso, and Mr. Teddy M. Reyes of the Philippine Institute of Petroleum (PIP). Representatives from the different petroleum companies also witnessed the launching such as Petron Corporation, Shell Philippines, Chevron Philippines, PTT Philippines, Eastern Petroleum Corp., Sea Oil, Uni Oil, Jetti and PhilOil. During the launching, Sec. Petilla emphasized the importance of the vehicles in upholding the thrust of the Department in protecting the consumers and the assurance of quality oil products in the market. “As we welcome this improvement, we must double and even triple our efforts to enforce laws ensuring the quality of products sold to our people.” said Sec. Petilla. Of the 6 vehicles, 5 were acquired by the DOE while 1 unit was donated by the PIP. The mobile vans are equipped with two instruments, namely the sulphur analyzer which determines the levels of sulphur present in the fuel product and the fuel analyzer which measures the research octane number (RON), percentage of ethanol and density for gasoline and the levels of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and density for diesel. The units are set to be entrusted to the OIMB and the three field offices of the DOE located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

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CSC conducts ARTA survey in high-traffic service offices

Source: http://web.csc.gov.ph

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) announced that it will conduct the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Report Card Survey (RCS) in various service offices of the following government agencies, namely, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Government Service Insurance System, Home Development Mutual Fund, Land Registration Authority, Land Transportation Office, Philippine Statistics Authority – National Statistics Office, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Professional Regulation Commission, and Social Security System. “High-density, meaning those that receive a large volume of clients, and most complained of agencies are the ones subjected to the RCS,” said CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III. For 2014, the CSC targeted 1,026 service offices to undergo the RCS. CSC completed the survey in 462 service offices as of first semester of the year. “The ARTA RCS is an evidence-based survey. It is conducted face to face with clients who have just availed of any frontline service of the office being inspected,” said Chairman Duque. The head of office or agency shall be primarily responsible for the implementation of the Republic Act No. 9485 or the ARTA law.

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Statement of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law

Source: http://www.opapp.gov.ph

Presidential review of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was completed almost two weeks ago. On the basis of the President's comments, there were further discussion and exchange of notes between MILF and the Office of the President, the results of which were also submitted to the President. The draft BBL is now undergoing final stages of refinement. By the estimate of MILF panel and BTC chair Mohagher Iqbal, the draft bill is now '99.99% done.' It is expected to be submitted to Congress before the President leaves for Europe next week. - See more at: http://www.opapp.gov.ph/milf/news/statement-presidential-adviser-peace-process-teresita-quintos-deles-draft-bangsamoro-basic#sthash.8NGeJtlc.dpuf

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Chinese General Hospital assures medical care for wounded cops

Source: http://pnp.gov.ph

Expressing their desire to provide comprehensive medical assistance for wounded police personnel, the Philippine-Chinese Charitable Association Inc. (PCCAI), owner of Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, signed accord with the Philippine National Police during simple ceremonies yesterday (Sept 1) at Camp Crame, Quezon City. PNP Chief Director General Alan Purisima and PCCAI Chairman of the Board, Dr. Benito Goyokpin, and President, Dr. James Dy, signed the Memorandum of Agreement witnessed by other PNP and PCCAI officers. In the agreement, PNP and PCCAI jointly agreed to provide police officers in Metro Manila who are wounded “in line of duty” free of any charge including the provided preliminary medical aid and treatment at the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center. Diagnosis and treatment will be also provided to policemen including surgery and major operations as well as the use of the hospital’s medical equipment and facilities, from their admission to release. “In line of duty” is determined if the policeman is engaged in actual police operations or during hot pursuit of criminals and organized crime syndicates in Metro Manila; and while in the performance of official duties from the time of departure at their residence and to the time and place of reporting for work, up to the time of departure from work (at the place of duty). The PNP, on its part, should cause the immediate transportation of the wounded PNP personnel (Metro Manila based only) from the field of operations to the Chinese General Hospital for immediate medical attention. Since human resource is the most important component of an organization, the PNP expressed its utmost appreciation to PCCAI for their incessant support to improve the morale and welfare of PNP personnel. (PNP-PIO)

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Fil-Korean families given schooling aid by Korean NGO

Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph

02 September 2014 – Forty-five (45) Filipino-Korean children were awarded scholarships and educational materials from a family-oriented Korean non-governmental organization (NGO) in an event held on August 23 at the Citizen’s Hall of Seoul City Hall. Five Filipino-Korean received 200,000KRW (US$ 200) each as financial educational assistance while 40 others received materials worth 50,000KRW (US$50) each during the multicultural event “Love You Philippines, Thank You Korea” organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and United Filipinos in Korea (UFILKOR), a Filipino community organization based in South Korea. In his congratulatory remarks, Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez thanked UPF President Yoon Cheong No and UFILKOR President Grace Tadili Park for organizing the event and for providing for the children under an agreement made in February 2014 between UPF and UFILKOR. Since the signing of the agreement, around 200 children from Filipino-Korean families in various parts of South Korea have been given educational assistance. “The love and concern that we provide to our children today will be repaid a many times over by their future responsible leadership of our countries and their wise stewardship of our future generations,” said Ambassador Hernandez. During the program, famous Korean songs were performed by famous Korean artists. A group composed of Filipina spouses also performed a native Filipino dance, while another Filipina gave a song number. The audience was also impressed by a group of Filipino-Korean children who performed a martial arts exhibition.

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New Yorkers experience why it’s more fun in the Philippines

Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph

02 September 2014 - Another ‘fun’ homecoming full of exciting activities marked this year’s 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour to the Philippines (ACGTDT). Despite the threat of Tropical Depression Inday brewing at the northeast of the Philippines area of responsibility, the 9th ACGTDT, held from July 28 to 31, was generally blessed with good weather with only scattered rain showers that did nothing to dampen the high spirits of this year’s tour participants. Close to 300 Filipino‐Americans from all over the United States under the jurisdiction of Foreign Service Posts in Agana, Honolulu, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. arrived to a VIP reception on July 28 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Out of this number, 28 were from New York and the US Northeast, including Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) President Fe Martinez, Grand Marshalls Dr. and Mrs. Emilio Quinones, and Filipino American Young Leaders’Program (FYLPro) participants Adette Contreras and Ryan Letada. The group was accompanied by Philippine Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. The next three nights and four days were a whirlwind of activities for the participants who were entertained, serenaded, wined, dined and were accorded with some of the best receptions organized by Tourism Promotions Board, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT’s) marketing arm and Rajah Tours Philippines, the ground handler of ACGTDT. Cultural presentations highlighted the welcome reception especially arranged for the tour participants held at the Makati Shangri‐La Hotel. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia Jr., who headed the delegation from Washington D.C., warmly welcomed the participants and further encouraged them to often visit the Philippines for deeper appreciation of all things Filipino. Meanwhile, the fellowship night hosted by Western Union at Dusit Thani Hotel on July 29 was marked by lots of music, entertainment by a live band, and a lot of dancing among participants. The all‐white‐dress themed fellowship night was made more exciting by the surprise raffle prizes with a lucky participant winning a round trip ticket to the United States and the Philippines. Those who joined the Studio Tours of GMA Network and ABS‐CBN TV had a blast as they met and had selfies with showbiz personalities when they attended GMA’s noontime game show “Eat Bulaga” and ABS‐CBN’s musical variety show “It’s Showtime.” The special Makati and Manila city tours also included visits to Intramuros, Metropolitan Museum at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, San Agustin Museum, and Manila’s Ocean Park, among others. One of the highlights of this year’s visit was a guided tour to the Pico de Loro Cove at Hamilo Coast resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. Traveling to Nasugbu via the Cavite Expressway or popularly known as Cavitex, was without delay courtesy of the Philippine National Police motorcyle cops who provided escorts the tour participants. On hand to welcome and joined the tour participants throughout their stay at Pico de Loro were Mayor Charito Apacible of Nasugbu, Batangas, DOT-Region 4 Director Rebecca V. Labit and Ms. Emily Katigbak, Batangas Provincial Tourism Officer who represented Batangas Governor Vilma Santos. At Pico de Loro the participants were treated to whole day of fun activities that included a warm VIP welcome with festive cultural entertainment, VIP dancers, rondalla music, a sumptuous lunch, and lots of opportunities for swimming, diving, snorkeling or simply strolling around the resort. Even the send-off party was done in style with upbeat music and mob dancing as participants started to board their buses for the trip back to Manila. Participants also joined the traditional wreath‐laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta. Thereafter, they motored to Malacañang for a tour and a luncheon at the Palace. Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario were on hand to welcome the delegates. Ambassador Cuisia presented this year’s participants to the 9th ACGTDT and introduced each delegation from all Foreign Service Posts. Secretary Coloma gave the welcome address. Secretary Del Rosario in his speech talked about the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the strong Philippines‐US relationship and the two countries’ economic partnership. As the four‐day tour ended, Rajah Tour Philippines, arranged optional out‐of‐town tours for participants who want to have additional travel experience in other Philippine destinations. ACGTDT, which was launched in 2005 during the term of then Philippine Ambassador to the United States and now Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, is now nine years old and has consistently attracted hundreds of participants every year. It is a joint project of all Philippine Foreign Service missions in the United States. The program, which DOT cited as a banner tourism project in 2011, is aimed to encourage Filipino‐Americans to visit the Philippines’ various tourist destination and to develop a deeper appreciation of the history, heritage and cultural of our country. Based on the DOT’s most recent industry performance report for the first half of 2014, visitors from the United States constituted the second biggest arrivals for the period.

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NTA gives livelihood courses for tobacco farmers, dependents

Source: http://www.da.gov.ph

The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is now conducting livelihood training courses for women and children of tobacco farmers. A total of 1,320 trainees are expected to complete the courses which started in batches last June and to end November this year. The selected trainees are dependents of tobacco farmers from different municipalities in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, and Pangasinan. The livelihood training is the agency’s attempt at providing solutions to food sufficiency, health and employment. Some 60 dependents of tobacco farmers are now attending the two-day training for the Bread, cake and pastry making course from August 19 to 22 at the NTA AgriPinoy food processing plant in Brgy. Nanguneg, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The number comprised the last two batches of the said training. The training on bread, cake and pastry making is the fourth module of the livelihood training courses, following the course on Meat Processing in June, Organic fertilizer/Off-season vegetable production in July, and Herbal tea making in the early week of August. Trainors for the training modules are technical experts from the Department of Agriculture, PHILRice, and educational/training institutions such as the Mariano Marcos Statue University and Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State Colleges. Next course will be noodle making in September. Other courses are Therapeutic massage (September and October); Hair/nail care (September and October); Dragon fruit production (October); Dressmaking (November), and Novelty items making (November). According to NTA Administrator Edgardo D. Zaragoza, with this series of livelihood training courses, the NTA showed the farmers that the agency is serious in empowering them and their dependents. “We want them to participate dynamically in the improvement of economic and living conditions and raise the quality of life of their own families,” he said. All the trainings are conducted at the NTA AgriPinoy plant in Brgy. Nanguneg, except for the practicum for organic fertilizer production which was held in the farm site of the selected participants. The training is spearheaded by the agency’s Farm Technology and Services Department (FTSD), headed by Luzveminda R. Truong. (Neyo Valdez/DA-NTA) Next Schedule: Noodle making – Sep 2-3; Sep 4-5; Sep 16-17; Sep 18-19 Therapeutic massage – Sep 24-25; Sep 26-27; Oct 28-29; Oct 30-31 Hair/nail care – Sep 9-10; Sep 11-12; Oct 14-15; Oct 16-17 Ice cream making – Oct 7; Oct 8; Oct 9; Oct 10 Dragon fruit production – Oct 21; Oct 22; Oct 23; Oct 24 Dressmaking – Nov 4-5; Nov 6-7; Nov 18-19; Nov 20-21 Novelty items making – Nov 11-12; Nov 13-14; Nov 25-26; Nov 27-28 Reference: Administrator Edgardo Zaragoza Tel No: (632)374-3987/ 09175680232 Neyo E. Valdez PRO III, NTA Mobile No.; 09771417901 / 3718279 Tel No. (02) 374-3987

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Hacienda Luisita agrarian reform beneficiaries train on modern farming and entrepreneurship

Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently signed an agreement with two agricultural institutions to train 1,240 agrarian reform beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita on modern farming and entrepreneurship with the end in view of helping them sustain their on-farm and off-farm activities. DAR Regional Director Arnel Dizon said that the department sees the need for these farmers-turned-landowners to learn additional skills and knowledge to prepare them for greater chalenges ahead--sustaining farm productivity and being adept at transacting business. Dizon said that the two partner agricultural institutions, the Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) and the Tarlac State University (TSU), have shown their competencies in these fields so that they are expected to transform the farmers into complete entrepreneurs. “Now that these former farmworkers finally own the land they till, they need to learn modern ways of farming. We also want them to learn to become entrepreneurs so that they will be able to manage their farm products efficiently and market them properly,” said Dizon. The DAR mobilized 10 farmers’ cooperatives covering 10 barangays in Tarlac whose members are mostly agrarian reform beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita. These cooperative members totalling 1,240 will be the farmer-students of TCA and TSU. Under the DAR’s Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS), the department signed a contract with TCA and TSU to share with the farmers the technical know-how of modern farming and entrepreneurship. Under the contract, the schools will provide instructors, lecturers and trainers to teach the farmers about modern farming techniques and practices, optimizing crop production and the use of modern farm equipment. The schools will also provide professionals to enhance the farmers’ basic knowledge on bookkeeping, cash flows, market surveys, costing and labor and proper packaging of their products. “These trainings will be intensive and will end in August next year. After a year of training, we expect our farmers to confidently stand on their own, able to sustain their farm and to negotiate and conduct business like a pro,” Dizon said. Dizon also said that the DAR will release funds worth P700,000.00 to the 10 farmers’ cooperatives and provide farm machineries and equipment as income-generating assets of the cooperative to improve farm-based income of their members.

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August 2014 Sanitary Engineer Licensure Examination results  released in Two (2) days

Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 106 out of 166 passed the Sanitary Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Board of Sanitary Engineering in Manila last August 2014. The members of the Board of Sanitary Engineering who gave the licensure examination are Engr. Corazon De los Reyes-Romero, Chairman; Engr. Alfredo B. Espino and Engr. Florimond M. Lara, Members. The results were released in two (2) working days from the last day of examination. Schedule of registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on September 8, 2014. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2014-2017. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals. The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.

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LANDBANK announces 2014 Gawad PITAK winners

Source: https://www.landbank.com

This year’s roster of winners in LANDBANK’s Gawad PITAK is led by a cooperative in Agusan del Norte that was established by small bangus, shrimp and crab farmers. Through hard work and determination, the Baug CARP Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BCBMPC) grew exponentially and transformed the lives of its members, creating a positive impact in the community. The cooperative’s success is validated with the conferment of the Ginintuang Gawad sa Pinakatanging Kooperatiba (Gawad PITAK) under the Agri-Based category where it won P1.0 million worth of fixed assets. Meanwhile, the Ginintuang Gawad PITAK Non-Agri Based category, was won by Sta. Cruz Development Cooperative (SACDECO) which began with a starting capital of P5,000 and has now become a “one-stop shop” that intends to leave  a legacy of promoting financial literacy. LANDBANK’s Gawad PITAK, now on its 24th year is a pioneering program that searches and recognizes outstanding Agri and Non-Agri Based Cooperatives in the country which serve as effective conduits in providing financial and technical support to the economic endeavors of small farmers, fishers and other sectors in society. Vice President Jejomar C. Binay led the conferment of the awards at the LANDBANK Plaza, Malate, Manila, together with Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chairman Cesar V. Purisima and LANDBANK President and CEO Gilda E. Pico. “Our goal is to encourage cooperatives to continually improve and excel in becoming major forces in the development of collective and social enterprises, and thus contribute to the growth of the economy at large,” said Pico. The following are the winners under the Outstanding Agri-based Category with their respective prices in the form of fixed assets: 1st Place – Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural PMPC in Talavera, Nueva Ecija: P500,000.00 2nd Place – Luntian MPC in Tiaong, Quezon: P400,000.00 3rd Place – Talabutab Norte Primary MPC in Natividad, Nueva Ecija: P300,000.00 4th Place – Sindangan FACOMA Community MPC in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte: P200,000.00 5th Place – Buenavista Development Cooperative in Buenavista, Guimaras: P100,000.00 Winners under the Outstanding Non-Ari-based Category are as follows: 1st Place – Iwarhori MPC in Mariveles, Bataan: P300,000.00 2nd Place – Watchlife Workers MPC in Mariveles, Bataan: P250,000.00 3rd Place – Socorro Empowered People’s Co-op (SOEMCO) in Pila, Laguna: P200,000.00 4th Place – NIA Region IV Employees MPC (NEMCO) in Pila, Laguna: P150,000.00 5th Place – Golden Group Gabay Puhunan Brotherhood MPC in San Fernando, Pampanga: P100,000.00 This year, LANDBANK also hailed Florencio G. Sudoy of Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija as Ulirang Magsasaka, for his outstanding contribution to community development as well as his exemplified performance in the operation of a farming business. Meanwhile, Bagumbayan Primary MPC in Llanera, Nueva Ecija and Barbaza MPC in Cubay, Barbaza, Antique bagged the Hall of Fame Award under the Agri and Non-Agri based categories, respectively, where both received P100,000 worth of fixed assets.

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Joint DOH and WHO Biennium Planning Workshop

Source: http://www.doh.gov.ph

The Joint DOH and WHO Biennium Planning workshop took place 28-29 August 2014 at the Diamond Hotel. The just concluded process will ensure that WHO resources will address key resource gaps that will improve health indicators in the five categories of work: health system, non-communicable diseases, communicable disease, promoting health through the life-course, preparedness, surveillance and response.

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02 SEPTEMBER 2014.

1. Impeachment proponents given fair day during deliberations, says Palace

2.President Aquino wants detailed report on Golan Heights incident

3. Office of the Solicitor General presents top-notch lawyers

4. Draft Bangsamoro Basic Law in final stages of refinement, peace adviser says

5.  President Aquino orders investigation on bomb threat in NAIA Terminal 3

6.  Palace: Gilas Pilipinas can still make it, let us support them

7. Government agencies agree on measures for immediate decongestion of Port of Manila

Department of Energy calls for drafting of regional energy plans

Impeachment proponents given fair day during deliberations, says Palace

Groups wanting to oust the President through impeachment were given an opportunity to make their case in Congress but their move did not prosper, the Palace said on Tuesday. "The Committee on Justice of the House, after a thorough review of the allegations in terms of its substance, has dismissed the complaints against the President," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement on the dismissal of the impeachment cases against the President. "We take note that the process took place with transparency, not just according to the rules, but to give the proponents every opportunity to make their case," she said. The Justice Committee of the House of Representatives on Tuesday trashed the three impeachment complaints against the President after the cases were found insufficient in substance. With a vote of 54 against each complaint, the three complaints were dismissed separately by lawmakers. Only four votes favored each of it. The first two complaints stemmed from President Aquino’s Disbursement Acceleration Program. The third complaint is over the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States. The agreement seeks for a greater American military presence in the country. PND (as)

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President Aquino wants detailed report on Golan Heights incident

President Benigno S. Aquino III wants a comprehensive report on last week’s incident in the Golan Heights that will serve as the basis for future deployments of Filipino peacekeepers, a Palace official has said. The Filipino peacekeepers will stay in the Golan Heights until they complete their tour of duty next month, Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday. "The Philippines is committed to fulfill its commitment to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force or UNDOF," he said. He said the President has instructed the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prepare a report on the events of last week as a guide for future policies and actions in similar situations. Some observers have demanded that the UNDOF commander in the Golan Heights be investigated for putting the lives of the Filipino peacekeepers in danger. Coloma said this is why the President had asked for the report so that there will be a clearer perspective. The President has expressed his satisfaction and has commended the Filipino peacekeepers who were courageous and determined in the face of the Syrian rebel attack, Coloma said. Syrian rebels harassed camps manned by Filipino soldiers in the Golan Heights, demanding they surrender their weapons. The soldiers however refused, resulting in a stand-off. The Filipino soldiers eventually escaped following several hours of gunfight and have since been transferred to a safe location. Asked when the government could come up with a revised system of deploying Filipino peacekeepers, Coloma said it will be an ongoing study, considering that there is already an announced policy decision to complete the current tour of duty. He said the policy is the same for Filipino peacekeepers deployed in Liberia -- to complete the engagements based on the country's commitment to the United Nations. Filipino peacekeepers in Liberia will also complete their tour of duty next month, he said. Concerns over the safety of peacekeepers have been growing due to the changing security landscape overseas as well as the spread of diseases that pose health risks to peacekeepers. Prior to last week's attack on Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, some of the soldiers were wounded when bombs and munitions fell on their camp. A few months ago, a number of peacekeepers were also kidnapped by Syrian rebels. In West Africa on the other hand, the spread of the Ebola virus threatens the Filipino soldiers maintaining peace there, prompting the government to consider their pullout from the region. PND (as)

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Office of the Solicitor General presents top-notch lawyers

After the appointment of new Solicitor General Florin Hilbay last month, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) now presents its roster of solicitors ready to serve as government counsels. Outgoing Solicitor General, now a Supreme Court justice, Francis Jardeleza joined Solicitor General Hilbay and the solicitors of the OSG for a photo opportunity with President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Palace Monday. All of the solicitors of the OSG were bar top-notchers, recruited by Jardeleza, who was a 1974 bar top-notcher himself. Solicitor General Hilbay, who graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 1999 was the 1st placer in the 1999 Bar Examinations. The solicitors are: Associate Solicitor Denise Dy-Flores, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2008, 7th placer 2008 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Luz Danielle O. Bolong, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2011, 2nd placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Christian Louie C. Gonzales, University of Santo Tomas College of Law Batch 2011, 5th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Ivan M. Bandal, Siliman University Batch 2011, 6th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Irene Marie P. Qua, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2011, 8th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Ma. Graciela D. Base, University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 2012, 5th placer 2012 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Nielson G. Pangan, University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 2013, 1st placer 2013 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Rudy V. Ortea, University of Batangas Batch 2013, 3rd placer 2013 Bar Examinations, Associate Solicitor Tercel Maria Mercado-Gephart, University of San Carlos, 5th placer 2013 Bar Examinations; and Associate Solicitor Manuel Elijah S. Sarausad, University of Cebu Batch 2013, 6th placer 2013 Bar Examinations. The Office of the Solicitor General is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice. The Solicitor General is the principal law officer and legal defender of the Government. The OSG represents the government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and its officials and agents in any litigation, proceeding, or investigation on matters requiring the services of lawyers. PND (as)

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Draft Bangsamoro Basic Law in final stages of refinement, peace adviser says

The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is currently in the final stages of refinement and it will be submitted to Congress before President Benigno S. Aquino III leaves for Europe and the United States next week. "The draft BBL is now undergoing final stages of refinement. By the estimate of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) panel and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chair Mohagher Iqbal, the draft bill is now 99.99 percent done," Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said in a statement on Tuesday. The presidential review of the draft Bangsamoro basic law was completed almost two weeks ago, based on the President's comments. Both the government and the MILF panels have held discussions and exchanges of notes, and the results were also submitted to the President, Deles said. The government and the MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro last March, aiming to end the decades-long Muslim separatism in Mindanao. Once the BBL is passed by Congress, a plebiscite will be held and a transition authority will be created prior to the holding of an election synchronized with the 2016 elections. President Aquino has vowed to push for the holding of a fair and democratic election in 2016 that will elect leaders of the newly created Bangsamoro region. PND (as)

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President Aquino orders investigation on bomb threat in NAIA Terminal 3

President Benigno S. Aquino III has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the bomb threat at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. “Inatasan na ng Pangulo ang Department of Justice at NBI na magsagawa ng mas malalim na pagsisiyasat hinggil sa insidente sa NAIA Terminal 3 Lunes,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during Tuesday’s press briefing. Coloma said that according to the DOJ, the four suspects arrested over the incident have undergone an inquest investigation. “Ang nais lang nating sabihin sa kasalukuyan ay wala namang malubhang ligalig na dapat umiral dahil sa insidenteng ito. Sa pagkawari ng ating Pangulo at ng pamahalaan ay nasabat ang anumang panganib na maaaring idulot ng pangkat na ito, kaya nga’t masusing pinag-aaralan ang implikasyon ng naganap kahapon,” he said. NBI agents on Monday arrested four men caught with improvised explosive devices inside a white Toyota Revo with plate number WMK-129, parked in Parking B in NAIA-3. According to reports, the suspects apparently wanted to call the attention of the government regarding its stance on the country’s territorial dispute with China. PND (ag)

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Palace: Gilas Pilipinas can still make it, let us support them

Malacañang is hopeful that the country’s Gilas Pilipinas basketball team could still qualify in the round of 16 in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain. “Patuloy nating suportahan ang kampanya ng koponang Gilas Pilipinas sa 2014 FIBA World Cup Basketball Championship. Tunay na kahanga-hanga ang ipinapakitang husay at tapang ng mga manlalarong Pilipino bagamat ang kalaban nila ay higit na malaki at matangkad na mga manlalaro,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during the daily press briefing on Tuesday. Coloma said he believes that Gilas Pilipinas’ performance has been impressive despite its three straight losses under Group B. In its first game against Croatia, the Philippine team lost during overtime, 81 – 78. In the second game, Greece defeated the team, 82 – 70, while in game 3, Gilas lost to Argentina, 85 – 81. In Group B, the Philippines (ranked 34 by FIBA) and Puerto Rico (ranked 17th) now share the bottom of the bracket, each having three losses. Greece (ranked 5th) is in the lead with three wins, followed by Argentina (3rd), Croatia (16th) and Senegal (41st), all three sharing the second spot with 2 wins and 1 loss. The Philippines has waited four decades to reenter the FIBA World Cup competition. “Kapag nagwagi ang Gilas Pilipinas sa kanilang huling dalawang laro, may pag-asa ang pangkat nating mabilang sa apat na koponan mula sa Group B na magtutunggali sa susunod na bahagi ng kompetisyon—ang Round of 16, na susundan ng Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, at Finals sa paraang knockout o direct elimination,” Coloma said. He added that with the impressive performance of Gilas Pilipinas, hopes are still high. “Hindi naman kahiya-hiya ang performance natin…siguro para sa aking mga kapwa basketball fans dito sasang-ayon kayo sa assessment na marami tayong dahilan para mag-cheer sa Gilas Pilipinas,” Coloma said. PND (ag)

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Government agencies agree on measures for immediate decongestion of Port of Manila

Members of the Cabinet cluster for port decongestion, during a meeting on Tuesday morning, agreed on measures for the immediate decongestion of the Port of Manila, a Palace official has said. In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the President prioritizes the immediate resolution of the problem of congestion in the Port of Manila. The cluster meeting agreed that effective September 8, all cargoes cleared by the Philippine Ports Authority and Bureau of Customs will be given five days to pull out of the Manila ports or they will be shipped out by the government to the Subic and/or Batangas ports. It also agreed that effective October 1, all cargoes that have been cleared by port authorities but have failed to pull out within the prescribed five-day period will be charged a fine of P5,000 a day. Coloma further said that the meeting reached a resolution on the implementation of a 24-hour last-mile truck routes for two weeks. "Ang isang susi dito kasi ang pag-operate ng mga truckers kapag araw ng Linggo at Lunes ng umaga, so they can maximize the utilization of the 24-hour last-mile truck routes," he said, adding that the government will give incentives to truckers who will operate on Sundays. These truckers will be tagged by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) so they can use the 24-hour last-mile truck routes, he said, explaining that with the last-mile routes, truckers can complete their trip, even during the truck ban. Truck routes that will be open 24/7 include the Roxas Boulevard and Quirino Avenue truck lanes going to the south and the A. Bonifacio C3 to NLEX truck lanes going to the north. The Cabinet cluster for port decongestion is composed of the respective heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communication, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the MMDA. Joining them during Tuesday’s meeting were the respective heads of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Bureau of Customs. PND (as)

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Department of Energy calls for drafting of regional energy plans

In response to the President’s instruction for him to ensure that the growing need for energy is met, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla has called for the drafting of regional energy plans that would secure energy supply across the country. “The need for regional energy planning is essential for us to explore potential energy sources and promote energy security across the nation,” Secretary Petilla said in a statement issued Tuesday.During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last August 28, President Benigno S. Aquino III noted that despite its efforts to ensure that the increasing demand for energy is met, the government has to prepare for power plant breakdowns and maintenance, the El Niño weather phenomenon and other “unforeseen events." “We want to be completely ready so that we can avoid paralysis if the worst-case scenario arises. The goal: to have planned solutions for problems that will not arise until next year,” he said. During the presentation of the Palawan Power Situationer and Outlook, Petilla said that for the province of Palawan, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded 25.08 megawatts of Renewable Energy projects and has pending applications for 5 megawatts of projects and 1.7 megawatts of potential renewable energy sites. Most of these projects use solar and hydro power. The biggest project is the 10-megawatt Puerto Princesa City Solar Power Project, which was awarded to Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Inc. He further said that for the province of Mindoro, the DOE has already awarded 189.3 megawatts worth of renewable energy projects, the biggest of which is the 48-megawatt Puerto Galera Wind Power Project of the Philippine Hybrid Energy Systems Inc. Mindoro has 47.1 megawatts of potential renewable energy and 151.2 megawatts of potential biomass energy resources, owing to its extensive farmlands. Pitkin Petroleum operates Service Contract 53 to explore the island’s gas reserves, estimated at 76.36 billion cubic feet. Petilla said the Palawan Energy Plan is undergoing review by the Energy Planning and Policy Bureau, while the Mindoro Island energy development plan is still being drafted.The energy plans for Palawan and Mindoro are scheduled to be released by the last quarter of this year and January 2015, respectively. PND (ag)

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 02 SEPTYEMBRE 2014

Nabigyan ng parehas na pagkakataon sa talakayan ang mga nagsusulong ng ‘impeachment’—Palasyo Detalyadong report ang nais ng Pangulong Aquino tungkol sa pangyayari sa ‘Golan Heights’ Iniharap ng Tanggapan ng Prokurador Heneral ang mga ‘topnotcher’ na abogado Iniutos ng Pangulong Aquino na siyasatin ang ‘bomb threat’ sa NAIA Terminal 3

Nabigyan ng parehas na pagkakataon sa talakayan ang mga nagsusulong ng ‘impeachment’—Palasyo

Binigyan ng pagkakataon ng Kongreso ang mga grupong nagnanais na patalsikin sa tungkulin ang Pangulo sa pamamagitan ng impeachment, subali’t nabigo ang hangarin ng mga ito, ayon sa Palasyo Martes. “Matapos ang masusing pagsusuri sa mga isinasaad sa mga paratang, pinawalang saysay ng Lupon sa Katarungan ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ang mga sumbong laban sa Pangulo,” wika ni Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte sa isang pahayag kaugnay ng pagwawalang saysay sa mga kasong impeachment laban sa Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III. “Ang prosesong ginawa ay hayagan at hindi naaayon lamang sa mga tuntunin sapagka’t binigyan ng pagkakataon ang nagsusulong na patibayan ang kanilang kaso,” sabi ni Valte. Hayagang dininig ng ng Lupon ng Katarungan ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan Martes ang tatlong kaso ng impeachment bago ito pinawalang saysay dahil ito ay insufficient in substance. Pagkatapos ng pagdinig na live na napanood sa telebisyon buhat sa simula hanggang wakas, kabuuang 54 ang bumoto na pagwalang saysay ang bawa’t isa sa tatlong kasong iniharap laban sa Pangulo. Aapat lamang ang botong kumatig sa impeachment,. Ang unang dalawang sumbong ay dahil sa Disbursement Acceleration Program ng Pangulo. Ang ikatlong sumbong ay tungkol sa Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sa Estados Unidos. Pakay ng kasunduan na maging malawak ang military presence ng Amerika sa bansa.PND(as/zaf)

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Detalyadong report ang nais ng Pangulong Aquino tungkol sa pangyayari sa ‘Golan Heights’

Detalyado at buong ulat ang nais ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III tungkol sa naganap sa Golan Heights noong nakalipas na linggo upang magsilbing saligan sa hinaharap sa pagpapadala ng mga peacekeepers na Pilipino sa ibayong dagat. Sinabi ni Kalihim Herminio Coloma, Jr. ng Presidential Communications Operations Office na mananatili ang mga Filipino peacekeepers sa Golan Heights hanggang sa susunod na buwan na pagtatapos ng kanilang tour of duty. “Tutuparin ng Pilipinas ang pangako nito sa United Nations Disengagement Observer Force o UNDOF,” sabi ni Coloma sa pulong balitaan sa Malacanang Martes. Ayon sa Kalihim, inatasan ng Pangulong Aquino ang Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Bansa at ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas na ihanda ang report tungkol sa mga pangyayaring naganap sa naturang pook noong isang linggo para magsilbing gabay sa mga patakaran at hakbang na gagawin sa hinaharap na panahon sakaling magkaoong muli ng ganitong pangyayari. Ilang tagamasid ang huminging siyasatin ang kumander ng UNDOF sa Golan Heigts dahil sa paglalagay sa panganib sa buhay ng mga Pilipinong peacekeepers. Inihayag ni Coloma na ito ang dahilan kaya humihingi ng report ang Pangulo upang maging malinaw ang lahat. “Nagpahayag ng kasiyahan ang Pangulo at pinapurihan ang mga Pilipinong peacekeepers na buong giting na nanindigan sa harap ng pananalakay ng mga rebeldeng taga-Syria,” wika ni Coloma. Sinalakay at kinubkobng mga rebeldeng taga-Syria ang kampo ng mga Pilipino at hininging sumuko na at isalong ng mga ito ang kanilang sandata. Matatag na nanindigan ang mga Pilipino at hindi pumayag sa utos ng mga nasabing rebelde kaya umigting ang mga pangyayari. Kahit nakubkob ng mga rebelde ang mga Pilipino pagkalipas ng ilang oras na palitan ng putok, nakatalilis ang mga kawal Pilipino at nakapunta sa ligtas na pook. Binigyang diin ni Coloma na pinag-aaralang mabuti ng pamahalaan ang ano mang hakbang yamang may inihayag nang pasiya na pabayaang matapos ng mga Pilipinong peacemakers ang kanilang “tour of duty” roon. Ito rin ang patakaran sa mga Pilipinong peacekeepers na nakatalaga naman sa Liberia salig sa pangako ng bansa sa Bansang Magkakaanib. “Matatapos na sa isang buwan ang tour of duty ng mga Pilipinong peacekeepers sa Liberia,” sabi pa ni Coloma. Nakababahala ang kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino dahil sa paglaganap pa rin ng mga sakit na panganib sa kalusugan ng mga ito. Bago naganap ang pagsalakay sa mga peacekeepers na Pilipino sa Golan Heights noong isang linggo, ilang kawal ang nasugatan nang bumagsak ang mga bomba sa kanilang kampo. Ilang buwan na ang nakalilipas, ilang peacekeepers din ang dinukot ng mga rebeldeng Syrians. Sa Kanlurang Aprika naman, ang paglaganap ng “Ebola virus” ang banta sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipinong kawal na nangangalaga ng katahimikan at kaayusang pambayan doon kaya pinag-aaralan na ng pamahalaan na alisin ang mga kawal Pilipino sa naturang rehiyon. PND(as/zaf)

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Iniharap ng Tanggapan ng Prokurador Heneral ang mga ‘topnotcher’ na abogado

Matapos italagang bagong Prokurador Heneral si Florin Hilbay noong isang buwan, ang iniharap naman ngayon ng Tanggapan ng Prokurador Heneral (OSG) ay ang listahan ng mga prokurador na handang maglingkod sa pamahalaan. Ang pinalitang Prokurador Heneral na isa nang Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema ngayon, si Francis Jardeleza ay kasama ni Prokurador Heneral Hilbay at ng mga prokurador ng OSG na nagpakuha ng larawan kapiling ang Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa Malacanang Lunes. Lahat ng prokurador ng OSG ay mga bar topnotchers na kinuha ni Jardeleza na isa ring bar topnotcher noong 1974. Si Prokurador Heneral Hilbay na nagtapos sa Pamantasan ng Pilipinas noong 1999 ay nanguna sa 1999 Bar Examinations. Ang iba pang mga prokurador ay ang mga sumusunod: Associate Solicitor Denise Dy-Flores, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2008, 7th placer 2008 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Luz Danielle O. Bolong, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2011, 2nd placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Christian Louie C. Gonzales, University of Santo Tomas College of Law Batch 2011, 5th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Ivan M. Bandal, Siliman University Batch 2011, 6th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Irene Marie P. Qua, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2011, 8th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Ma. Graciela D. Base, University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 2012, 5th placer 2012 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Nielson G. Pangan, University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 2013, 1st placer 2013 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Rudy V. Ortea, University of Batangas Batch 2013, 3rd placer 2013 Bar Examinations, Associate Solicitor Tercel Maria Mercado-Gephart, University of San Carlos, 5th placer 2013 Bar Examinations; and Associate Solicitor Manuel Elijah S. Sarausad, University of Cebu Batch 2013, 6th placer 2013 Bar Examinations. Ang Tanggapan ng Prokurador Heneral ay “independent and autonomous” na tanggapang nasa ilalim ng Kagawaran ng Katarungan. Ang tungkulin nito ay maging tagapagtanggol na legal ng Pamahalaan na kinakatawan sa mga kasong dapat harapin at imbestigasyong kailangan ang serbisyo ng mga abogado. PND(as/zaf)

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Iniutos ng Pangulong Aquino na siyasatin ang ‘bomb threat’ sa NAIA Terminal 3

Iniutos ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa Kagawaran ng Katarungan at sa Pambansang Kawanihan ng Pagsisiyasat (NBI) ang puspusang pagsisiyasat sa bomb threat sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. “Inatasan na ng Pangulo ang Kagawaran ng Katarungan at NBI na magsagawa ng mas malalim na pagsisiyasat hinggil sa insidente sa NAIA Termnal 3 Lunes,” sabi ni Kalihim Herminio Coloma, Jr. ng Ptesidential Communications Operations Office Martes. Ayon kay Coloma, sinabi ng DOJ na apat na pinaghihinalaan na ang nadakip tungkol sa pangyayaring ito at masusing sinisiyasat. “Ang nais lamang nating sabihin sa kasalukuyan ay wala namang malubhang ligalig na umiiral dahil sa insidenteng ito. Sa pakiwari ng ating Pangulo at ng pamahalaan ay nabuko ang ano mang panganib na maaaring idulot ng pangkat na ito kaya nga masusing pinag-aaralan ang implikasyon ng naganap kahapon,” dugtong ni Coloma. Lunes nadakip ng mga tauhan ng NBI ang apat na lalaking may dalang pampasabog sa loob ng isang puting Toyota Revo na may plakang WMK-129 na nakaparada sa Parking B ng NAIA-3. Batay sa mga ulat, ang mga pinaghihinalaan ay waring nais makatawag ng pansin ng pamahalaan hinggil sa paninindigan ng bansa sa sigalot sa teritoryo sa Tsina. PND(ag/zaf)

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President Beningo S. Aquino III's Speech at the Launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign, "Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna"

Department of Health (DOH) Convention Hall, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, City of Manila

01 Sept. 2014

[Inihayag sa DOH Convention Hall, San Lazaro Compound, Maynila, noong ika-1 ng Setyembre 2014] Kung gusto po niyong tignan ang mga relo niyo, palagay ko po ito isa sa pinakamagiging maikling talumpati ko simula nang tayo’y naging pulitiko. [Tawanan] Oras po ng trabaho at hindi po ng daldal itong mga araw na ‘to, itong mga oras na ‘to, kaya palagay ko ididiin ko lang ang ilang mga punto. Tinatayang mga mula 11 hanggang 13 milyong katao, o mga ating kababayang kabataan, ang baka “at risk” dito po sa mga sakit ng polio at ng measles at ng rubella or German measles. Matagal na po natin pinapaalala sa Department of Health. At kaya tayo’y nagagalak na talagang tinupad nila itong ating mungkahi na imbis gamutin ang pasyente, baka naman dapat ang tukuyin natin ay huwag magkasakit at hindi maging pasyente. Hindi ho ba? So ito na nga ho ay mga pagbabakuna para mailayo sa kapahamakang madudulot kung tatamaan ng polio o pati na measles, lalo na kanyang mga komplikasyon. Ngayon, ang Department of Health po ay talagang nakagayak na at binigyan ng sapat na pondo para maipaitupad ‘yung hinahabol nga nating 95% na vaccination. Sa pinakita pong mapa kanina ni Usec. Garin, may mga lugar na talagang sagad na, may mga lugar naman pong, parang masasabi nating mababa ang nabakunahan. Umaabot nga raw ho sa ibang lugar na below 50%. Gagawin ng DOH lahat ng makakaya niya pero siyempre kailangan tayong makipagtulungan sa lahat ng local government units. At ang pinakaimportante po, ‘yung mga magulang na siyang nag-aaruga at gumagabay sa kanilang mga anak, ang siyang talagang manguna para maniguradong mabakunahan ang lahat ng ating kabataan, at talaga namang mailigtas sila dito sa mga sakit na hindi naman kailangang mangyari kung tayo ay magtutulungan. Pakiusap po sa lahat, itong “Ligtas sa Tigdas” na programa po natin ay ating suportahan. Doon sa mga hindi pa ho nakakarinig nitong programang ito, makidamay na po tayong ipaalala sa kanilang obligasyon natin sa kabataan ito. Hanggang dito na lang po ako. Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Maraming salamat po.

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President Beningo S. Aquino III's Speech at the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awards

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)

31 Aug. 2014

In a sense, all of us here today are heirs of Ramon Magsaysay’s legacy. I do not refer only to those who had a personal relationship with him, or to those who still have living memories of him. Each of us who has been called to serve is challenged to live up to the standards that he set. Even before there was an ASEAN, and even before East Asia and Southeast Asia began to get to know each other better and create the strong linkages we enjoy today, the Magsaysay Award already existed to serve as a regional recognition of excellence. For more than two generations, the roster of Magsaysay laureates has been a scroll of honor and a clarion call to others. These awards have recognized those who have dedicated their lives to serving the marginalized and the oppressed, while at the same time mobilizing entire communities to follow suit. Truly, whenever one feels overcome by cynicism, one can count on the Magsaysay Awards to point towards hope—towards stories of individuals who, confronted by the darkness of despair, have chosen to serve as beacons of light. This year’s roster is no different; it is composed of individuals imbued with the missionary zeal to promote social justice, and each one of them has taken a personal stand to contribute to the improvement of the communities in which they live. For all of us who strive to make this world a more inclusive place, the road to empowerment begins in the place of learning. It is here that knowledge that enables an individual to maximize opportunities as they come is shared. The innovations of Ms. Saur Marlina Manurung and Mr. Randy Halasan, who have poured their hearts and souls into their work to educate indigenous communities, bear witness to this. Along with more traditional classroom subjects, they are teaching immediately applicable life skills, such as farming and awareness of the basic rights of each individual. Together with the example of the Citizens Foundation, based in Pakistan, which has been focused on education for all, regardless of religion, gender, or economic status, these prove that learning must go beyond entrenched methods and curricula; it is one of the most critical pathways to self-value and empowerment, and we must treat it as such. With empowerment comes the challenge of discernment: to know one’s rights and responsibilities, to safeguard the treasures of our past, and to make sense of our individual milieus for the purpose of ensuring that governments always remain true to their core mission of improving people’s lives. Therefore, we also recognize our winners in other fields. We have Mr. Wang Canfa, a lawyer from China who has worked tirelessly to protect the environmental rights of pollution victims, and to hold polluters accountable. We have Mr. Omara Khan Masoudi who, while working in the National Museum of Afghanistan, went to great lengths to literally hide his country’s cultural treasures from those who threatened to steal or destroy them. And we have Ms. Hu Shuli, a prominent Chinese journalist, who has ably fulfilled her duties as a journalist towards promoting good governance. Each of these individuals has confronted, at times, long standing problems or their latest permutations, and found innovative and inclusive ways to address them. In other words, they have not been content to complain, but have been inspired to act, with solutions that are relevant and replicable. I am hopeful that the honor they receive today will serve as a challenge to all of us—reminding us that, in our respective fields of expertise, we each have the capacity to help those who have less. In President Ramon Magsaysay’s day, the challenge was how democracy could strengthen newly independent nations in the face of tyranny and totalitarianism. Today’s challenges, on the other hand, ask us how we can harness democracy to make sure that our progress is felt by every last citizen, especially by those who are most vulnerable. President Magsaysay, in his credo, had already envisioned our pursuit of inclusive growth. He said that “the little man is fundamentally entitled to a little bit more food in his stomach, a little more cloth on his back, and a little more roof over his head.” This is precisely what all of us—including myself and our awardees today—continue to aspire for. How we respond to this challenge of uplifting our fellowmen in the margins will determine what history will write about our generation. Moving forward, I am hopeful that more men and women will follow the footsteps of Ramon Magsaysay and our awardees today, so that we may work together and rise up to the challenge of our times, fulfill the collective promise of our world, and bequeath future generations a global community that is, without doubt, better than we found it. Thank you. Good day.

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	INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA, JR.
	DZRB / Balita at Panayam by Alan Allanigue
	02 September 2014
	ALAN: Ang una ko pong nais hingan ng update sa inyo ay itong mga kasapi ng Peacekeeping Force natin, ng United Nations; pawang mga Filipino na naunang na-trap doon ano ho at napalibutan nung ilang mga rebelde pero mukhang umiral ang kanilang “katapangan” at ang kanilang “skills” para makatakas doon ho sa mga rebelde, Sir. Ano po ang latest from the Department of Defense tungkol dito po, Sec. Sonny, Sir? SEC. COLOMA: Kahapon ay nag-ulat si Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang at ang iba pang mga pinuno ng AFP kay Pangulong Aquino hinggil sa naganap na pagsalakay at standoff sa posisyon ng mga Filipino Peacekeepers na kasapi sa UN Disengagement Observer Force sa Golan Heights nitong mga nakaraang araw, Alan. Kinilala ni Pangulong Aquino ang kanilang katapangan at katatagan sa harap ng pag-atake ng mga rebeldeng mula sa Syria na associated din doon sa terror group na Al -Qaeda. Hiniling ni Pangulo ang pagsumite ng isang After Action Report at mga recommendation mula sa DND at AFP. Kung maalala natin ay nagkaroon nga ng standoff at ayon kay General Catapang nakatanggap sila ng utos mula doon sa Commander ng UNDOF na ilapag ang mga armas ng ating mga sundalo at para bigyang-daan iyong umano’y pagpapalaya sa mga peacekeepers mula Fijian, sa mga peacekeepers mula sa Fiji, pero nung ito ay hiniling niya na ilagay sa pormal o isa-pormal or in writing ay tumanggi naman ang UNDOF Commander, at naging matatag ang ating mga tropa doon na patuloy na gampanan ang kanilang tungkulin at hindi iwanan ang kanilang posisyon hanggang nakaalis nga sila doon sa lugar ng panganib sa pamamagitan ng paglalakad sa malapit na ligtas na kampo. At ang lahat ng ating mga peacekeepers ngayon sa Golan Heights ay nasa ligtas na lugar na, sa bahagi ng Israel. Ito ang nai-ulat ng ating mga tropa mula doon at ng AFP at DND, Alan. ALAN: Ayon. So, everybody has been accounted for ika nga at nandoon sila, back to base na sila ng United Nations Peacekeepers? SEC. COLOMA: Tama iyon, Alan. Malapit nang matapos iyong tour of duty nila na nag-umpisa noong—malapit nang matapos, ang pagtatapos nito ay magaganap sa buwan ng Oktubre at kukumpletuhin nang ating mga peacekeepers ang commitment ng ating bansa doon sa pagpapanatili ng katahimikan at kaayusan sa lugar ng Golan Heights. ALAN: So, sa October magtatapos ang kanilang tour of duty. Tayo ho ba ay magpapadala ng bagong set ng Filipino contingent para dito sa United Nations Peacekeepers? SEC. COLOMA: Ang naipahayag nga na gagawin natin ay iyong pagbabalik-bansa ng ating mga peacekeepers sa Golan Heights at maging Liberia pagkatapos ng kanilang tour of duty. Kukumpletuhin natin ang ating commitment o tour of duty, Alan, at walang pahayag hinggil sa bagong engagement. ALAN: Ayon. At least, dito ho sa naging experience na ito ng ating mga sundalo, ano po, talagang kinakitaan ang Filipino soldier at ang Filipino in general ng matinding tapang, talino, kakayahan at iba pa na magpapatunay na ang Pinoy ay talagang world-class, Sec. Sonny. SEC. COLOMA: Mainam na naipunto mo iyan, Alan. Dahil talaga namang kahanga-hanga iyong pinakitang katatagan at katapangan ng ating mga kawal na Filipino sa buong kagananap nung pagsalakay sa kanila at sa standoff sa Golan Heights. ALAN: Ayon. Okay, sa ibang aspeto naman po na of course mga Filipino rin itong ating Team Gilas Pilipinas, Secretary Coloma. Eh napapalaban po ng husto, although medyo natalo po, halimbawa, nitong dito sa Argentina ano ho. Pero ang matindi rito eh, ang Filipino athlete ay muling sumisikat na naman sa international limelight, Sec. Sonny, Sir, ano po? SEC. COLOMA: Alan, hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng pag-asa at tinunghayan ko iyong website ng FIBA 2014 World Cup at nasasaad doon Top 4 teams, iyong apat na pangkat mula doon sa bawat grupo ng elimination ang mag-a-advance doon sa Round of 16. At tatlo pa lang naman iyong ating laro, meron pa tayong dalawang laro. Kung maipagwagi natin iyong ating laban sa Puerto Rico at sa Senegal ay meron tayong pag-asa maging pangatlo o pang-apat na pangkat mula sa Group B na magka-qualify para sa next phase. Malayong-malayo pa po tayo sa—ang puwede nating marating diyan, Alan. Hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng pag-asa. ALAN: Yes, at gaya halimbawa ng pinakitang kakayahan at gilas noong mga Pilipinong sundalo ay nariyan din ang pinapakitang kakayahan, gilas at sportsmanship ng Gilas Pilipinas, Sec. Sonny? SEC. COLOMA: Ganun nga, Alan ano. Iyong laban nga kagabi sa Argentina, number three, Rank 3 ang Argentina sa FIBA, one point lang ang kanilang kalamangan nung huling minuto at kung hindi kinapos nga sa oras ay maaari pa natin iyon naipagwagi. Nung isang gabi naman tayo ay natalo sa Greece, iyong Greece at rank number 5 sa mundo, iyong unang tumalo sa atin, sa overtime pa, Croatia, Rank 20. Tayo po ay Rank 34, iyong kakalabanin nating Puerto Rico bukas ay Rank 17 at iyong Senegal naman ay 37. Iyong Senegal tinalo nila iyong Croatia. Kaya may pag-asa tayo, Alan. Lalung-lalo na sa pinakitang husay, bilis, at katatagan ng ating Gilas. Ipagpatuloy natin iyong ating battle cry na “Laban Pilipinas, Puso.” ALAN: Yes, Sir, yes Sir. Of course, naku, nakaka-inspire talaga iyong mga binitiwan ninyong detalye, pati na kung titignan pala iyong rankings nitong mga nakalaban eh mabibigat, nandoon sila sa taas, ano ho? SEC. COLOMA: Number three at number five iyong Argentina at Greece; number 20 iyong Croatia. ALAN: At ang Pilipinas ay pang…? SEC. COLOMA: Number 34, tayo ang second to the lowest ranking doon sa grupo natin. At sa ipinakita ng Gilas, sa palagay ko may laban tayong makapasok doon sa Top 4. ALAN: Yes, okay. Naku, Secretary Sir, muli nais po naming magpasalamat dito sa mga inspiring na mga updates na hatid po ninyo mula sa Palasyo. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat, magandang umaga, Alan. ALAN; Thank you, Sir. Good morning.
	SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center
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01 SEPTEMBER 2014

			President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly               appointed government officials in a ceremony held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly appointed National Peace and Order Council officials in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). Also in photo is Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza. (Photo by Marcelino Pascua / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in government officials for a photo souvenir after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). Also in photo are Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Marcelino Pascua / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Jose Favia for a photo souvenir after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates National Youth Commission (NYC) Commissioner-at-Large Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). Also in photo are Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and TV host/actress Marian Rivera. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the Department of Health (DOH) Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September, 01). With the theme “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna," this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona and Health Undersecretaries Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and Dr. Janette Garin. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With the theme “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna," this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona and Health Undersecretaries Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and Dr. Nemesio Gako. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With the theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna,” this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona and Health Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With the theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna," this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona and Health Undersecretaries Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Dr. Janette Garin and Dr. Nemesio Gako. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna,” this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo is Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona leads the ceremonial “patak” of oral polio vaccine during the Launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With the theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna," this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Undersecretary Dr. Janette Garin and Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Enrique Tayag. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Randy Halasan from the Philippines as being one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Randy Halasan from the Philippines as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Wang Canfa from China as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to the representatives of the The Citizen's Foundation from Pakistan as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Saur Marlina Manurung from Indonesia as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Hu Shuli from China as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President benigno S. Aquino III poses with the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees (from left) Randy Halasan, Philippines; Wang Canfa, China; The Citizen Foundation (two representatives), Pakistan; Saur Marlina Manurung, Indonesia; and Ho Shuli, China during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message at the presentation ceremonies of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awards at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City Sunday (August 31). The Ramon magsaysay Awards, established in 1957, is Asia's highest honor and widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III sings the national anthem at the start of the program during the presentation ceremonies of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awards at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City Sunday (August 31). The Ramon magsaysay Awards, established in 1957, is Asia's highest honor and widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson during the briefing on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the briefing on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo are Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice, Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato, Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the briefing on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo is Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the briefing on the Infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo are Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato, Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., and Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali upon arrival for the briefing on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo are Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice, Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato, Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Puerto Galera Municipal Mayor Hubbert Christopher Dolor. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo are Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice, Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato and Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing on theoil nfrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Benhur Arcayan / Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III in an exclusive interview with Elmar Acol of Bombo Radyo Philippines at the Music Room, Malacañan Palace on Monday (August 27). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Peter Maurer, President of International Committee of the Red Cross during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace Tuesday (August 26). Also in photo are Alain Aeschliman, ICRC head of operarions for Far East, Paul Maucle, head of the delegation, and Graziells Leite-Piccolo, also of ICRC. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a framed photograph showing his mother, former President Corazon Aquino,receiving officials of the International Committee of the Red during a courtesy call in Malacanang in her time. Peter Maurer, President of ICRCO, gifted the President with the picture. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Gil Nartea / Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (August 26). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna on Japanese ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe in Malacanang Tuesday (August 26).  (Photo by Gil nartea/ Rolando Mailo/ Malacanang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna on Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe in Malacanang Tuesday (August 26). Also in photo are Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario, Minister Tetsuro Amano, Deputy Chief of Mission , and Minister Horonori Shibata, Political Minister.  (Photo by Gil Nartea/ Lauro Montellano Jr./ Rolando Mailo / Malacanang photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the nation in commemorating National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Taguig City 2nd District Representative Lino Cayetano, Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / by Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III troops the line during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., troops the line during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives for the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano and Taguig City 2nd District Representative Lino Cayetano. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III sprinkles holy water over the grave at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City where a Holy Mass was held to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of his late father, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., on Thursday (August 21). Also in photo are Presidential sisters Victoria Elisa (Viel) Aquino-Dee and Kristina Bernadette (Kris) Aquino and Presidential nephew James Carlos "Bimby" Aquino. (Photo by Gil Nartea / LauroMontellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III prays before the grave of his parents at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City where a Holy Mass was held to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of his late father, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., on Thursday (August 21). (Photo by Gil Nartea / BenhurArcayan / LauroMontellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in Philippine National Police officials for a photo souvenir after oath taking ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (August 20). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Gil Nartea/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office of newly promoted Philippine National Police officials in ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday(August 20). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Governor Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (August 20). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (August 20, 2014). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks at the Tuao East Town Center Gymnasium in Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meterAngag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Also in photo are League of Provinces of the Philippines national president and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino and Tuao Municipal Mayor Francisco Mamba, Jr. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, unveils the marker during the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. Also in photo are Tuao Municipal Mayor Francisco Mamba, Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba and Public Works and Highways Region II Director Melvin Navarro. (Photo by Rodolfo Manabat / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks at the Tuao East Town Center Gymnasium in Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. Also in photo are League of Provinces of the Philippines national president and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino. (Photo by Rodolfo Manabat / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III distributes PNoy baller bands to the crowd as he graces the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
			President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a warm welcome from the locals during the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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