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| 15 AUGUST 2007 | ||
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| 15 AUGUST 2007 | ||
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Suspension of Gov't Offices in NCR |
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On the recommendation of National Disaster
Coordinating Council (NDCC) Chair Gilbert Teodoro, Executive Secretary
Eduardo Ermita has issued Memorandum Circular 139 suspending government
offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) from 1 p.m. onwards, due to
continuing inclement weather. Not covered by the MC are frontline agencies performing health, relief and protective services. |
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PGMA's Speech
during the 109th Foundation Day Anniversary of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Recognition Night of the ASEAN National Organizing Committee and
Volunteers Rizal hall, Malacañang 15 August 2007 |
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Thank you very much, Secretary Romulo, and thank
you for your leadership in making ASEAN a great success. And to all the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) men and women, happy anniversary! And to all of you, the men and women of the Foreign Service and to our other friends whom we invited here tonight, thank your for the Philippines’ successful and productive chairmanship of ASEAN. We have made international relations a centerpiece of our government’s political and economic reform agenda. And that starts right here in the region. Our relationships have never been stronger at every single level, from bilateral to multilateral relations. And once more, our people recognize the inroads we have made in our foreign relations. The recent survey shows that our public gives our government the highest net approval rating in the area of foreign relations, congratulations! (applause) We believe in the power of the global trading system to alleviate poverty and modernize nations through market forces. And after all foreign relations is an instrument for our number one important part of our agenda – that is poverty alleviation. Foreign relations is an instrument in our vision to lift the Philippines into the status of a developed country in 20 years. And ASEAN, among other economic and trade platforms, provides the opportunity for economies to work together to lift up our poor, not just in the Philippines but all over the region. Thank you also for mobilizing foreign relations and foreign policy not only in our fight against poverty but also for peace and progress in Mindanao, in the region and in the whole world. Last Monday, I issued certain security directives – six of them. The Department of Foreign Affairs is relevant to three of those directives: First, keep Basilan and Sulu operations firmly controlled to minimize civilian casualties and respect ceasefire guidelines in close consultation with the International Monitoring Team. And DFA interacts closely with the International Monitoring Team. Next month the IMT’s mandate will end. It is now up to the DFA to exercise our diplomatic initiatives and persuasiveness to try to have the mandate of the IMT extended before it expires next month. The second directive that is relevant to the DFA is the directive to hold urgent talks with the MILF because these talks are under Malaysian auspices, and again, we need the DFA to keep Malaysia engage. And we need this to contain and resolve the Basilan/Sulu situation. The third directive that is relevant to the DFA is the directive to brief the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Committee of the Eight – or how many is it now, eleven? – on Mindanao developments. Underlining both the limited military operations and the continuing peace and development efforts, including the huge outlays in the 2007 and 2008 budgets for Mindanao, including Basilan and Sulu. And of course, our first line of contact with the OIC Committee is none other than their embassies here, and therefore again that is the DFA. So I will not keep my speech very long. We have many awards to give out. We have many people to acknowledge and rather than my stating the names right here and now in my speech. We will do it in the center stage and recognize them as the others have been recognized earlier. All I would like to summarize is that with the men and women of the department. We are confident that we will – as a nation – continue to move forward in pursuit of our national interests on the world stage. And together with our people and our partners like those who are here tonight who helped us make our Summit and our Ministerial Meetings a success, we will go far. To all of you, happy anniversary and congratulations for a successful ASEAN Year! Thank you. |
| PGMA orders DFA to work for extension of Mindanao monitoring team's mandate |
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With the mandate of the International Monitoring
Team (IMT) supervising the Mindanao ceasefire expiring next month, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
last night to undertake the necessary diplomatic initiatives to extend the
life of the Malaysian-led group, and keep the peace process on track. In her speech during the 109th anniversary of the DFA Tuesday night at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang, the President pointed out that the country’s foreign relations contribute not only in the fight against poverty but also in the pursuit of peace and progress in Mindanao. “Foreign relations are an instrument in our vision to lift the Philippines into the status of a developed country in 20 years. And ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), among other economic and trade platforms, provides the opportunity for economies to work together to lift up our poor, not just in the Philippines but all over the region,” she said. Last Monday, the President issued six directives to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), three of which fall under the realm of the DFA. These are laying the groundwork for the extension of the IMT mandate; the holding of urgent talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to keep the peace process which resumes on Aug. 22 in Malaysia, and keeping the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Committee of Eight posted on ongoing developments in Mindanao. “It is now up to the DFA to exercise our diplomatic initiative and persuasiveness to try to have the mandate of the IMT extended before it expires next month,” the President said. The extension of the IMT mission in Mindanao is deemed crucial to ensuring stability on the ground while the negotiations are going on.
The presence of the peace monitors have
prevented the escalation of some conflicts and strengthened the
implementation of the agreement on the cessation of hostilities forged in
July 2003 by both parties. The OIC Committee of Eight is composed of
Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Libya, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal and Somalia. |
| PGMA okays 10% hike in SSS pension effective this month |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved a
10 percent across-the-board increase of the pension of more than one million
Social Security System (SSS) pensioners effective Aug. 1. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Corazon de la Paz said the Chief Executive approved the increase on recommendation of the Social Security Commission, the institution’s policy-making body. “Starting in September pensioners will receive in their accounts the 10 percent increase retroactive to the month of August on top of their regular pension,” De la Paz said. Covered by the increase are pensioners as of July 31, 2007. This is the second time in less than a year that SSS granted a 10-percent hike in pensions. The last pension increase in September last year was the first increase in pension benefits since 2000. The SSS has a total of 1.2 million disability, death and retirement pensioners. Pension amounts range from a monthly minimum of P1,000 to a maximum of P21,443. SSS Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary Horacio Templo said the increase does not impair the actuarial soundness of the Fund, which has lengthened to last until 2038. In the 1999 projection, the SSS actuarial fund was to last only until 2015, Templo said. He said that despite the increase in the pension of pensioners, the SSS is expected to post a surplus of P2.6 billion from contributions vis-à-vis benefit payments because of its vigorous collection campaign and an improving economic climate. The SSS, which is celebrating its 50th year anniversary on Sept. 1, was cited in a recent survey by the Social Weather Station as the number one among government financial institutions in terms of sincerity in battling corruption. SSS obtained a “very good” sincerity rating of +52 in the survey of managers of 705 companies in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao and the provincial clusters of Cagayan de Oro-Iligan and Cavite-Laguna-Batangas. To clamp down on corruption, SSS has created an Integrity Committee, which looks into its operations, systems and procedures. |
| PGMA inaugurates new BPO center in Eastwook City Cyberpark |
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Bad weather? Don’t tell that to President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo. Not even heavy rains, flood and traffic could stop the workaholic Chief Executive from performing her job today as she graced the formal opening of the new business process outsourcing (BPO) player Aditya Birla Minacs (ABM) at the company's head office at Eastwood City Cyberpark in Libis, Bagumbayan, Quezon City. Despite arriving late after braving more than an hour of nightmarish traffic brought about by a heavy morning downpour that inundated many streets in the metropolis, the President went on with the inauguration and unveiling activities for one of India’s largest BPO companies. She was met by ABM officials and employees led by its chief operating officer, Sharad Junghare, at the company's foyer and was immediately ushered to her first event -- the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The President then unveiled the marker, a circular glass ornament as large as an automobile's wheels, that showed the date of the inauguration and its guest of honor -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The last part of the inauguration ceremony involved the lighting of a symbolic Indian lamp that meant the company is officially and formally open for business. The waist-high gold lamp had four Indian candles that were alternately lit by the President and Sharad. The President was then allowed to "overhear" an actual transaction between an agent of ABM and one of its various and diversified clients. The President was impressed by the way the agent handled the call and praised the efficiency and tact with which it was carried out. "Very good!," she blurted out. The President was given a brief tour of the company's state-of-the-art facilities where she shook hands with employees and gamely posed for souvenir photos. Sharad thanked the President for her presence, saying, "With strong infrastructure, top talent and tremendous government support, the Philippines has opened up a huge opportunity for us." "We are delighted to be in the Philippines and we value the support and encouragement we have received throughout the site selection and development process for this center and the other Aditya Birla Group businesses that have been operating here," he added. ABM Worldwide (formerly TransWorks) is a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Nuvo. The company currently employs over 11,000 employees across 30 facilities in Canada, Germany, Hungary, India, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the Philippines, ADM currently employs around 150 employees in its 260-seater head office and is in the process of expanding its employee base in the near future to accommodate more and more world-class Filipino workers. |
| Allocation for gov't housing doubled to P7 billion next year |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced
today the doubling of the government’s budget for housing in 2008 to P7
billion from this year’s P3 billion to give more Filipinos the opportunity
to own homes. The President made the announcement when she visited Barangay 175 in Camarin, Caloocan City this morning where she also led the distribution of certificates of housing unit allocation to 10 residents of the barangay. She said the increased allocation for housing was intended to sustain the momentum of her administration’s program to expand the country’s house ownership base. The President braved heavy rains spawned by typhoon “Egay” to hold the informal meeting with officials and residents of the barangay and Caloocan City officials. The 10 residents are now the proud owners of condominium units of the newly-constructed North Haven Condominium in Barangay 175, Camarin. The North Haven Condominium is part of the government's project to provide affordable housing to Filipinos through the National Housing Authority (NHA). The President explained that the implementation of fiscal reforms has boosted the country’s economy as well as the government resources and its capability to undertake various vital pro-poor projects, including mass housing. "Itong taong ito nakapaglagay tayo ng P3 billion para sa pabahay at sa isang taon dodoblehin natin yung ating budget para sa pabahay, gagawin nating P7 billion. Maraming salamat sa Itaas," she said. The announcement of the increased housing allocation by more than 100 percent was greeted with a prolonged applause by the barangay residents, many of whom attended the informal interaction dripping wet. The President also distributed PhilHealth cards to barangay residents and 120 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Training for Work Scholarships. She also awarded a certificate to operate a Tindahan Natin convenience store to Barangay Chairman Ireneo Cayetano. The President then met privately with barangay officials to discuss the relocation of some 105 families living along a creek in the barangay. |
| PGMA hands out 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival Awards |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced today
the awarding ceremonies of the 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival (CIFF)
at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang. Among those who attended the awards ceremonies was Hollywood producer Quentin Tarantino who wore Barong Tagalog over black pants with white side stripes to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award for his “continued support for the proliferation of Asian films which he claims were a strong influence in his film-making style,” according to the CIFF. The same award also went to Robert Malengreu, director of the Belgian Independent Film Festival. Pretty in an emerald-green jusi pants and barong-like blouse ensemble, the President conferred the awards on Tarantino and Malengreu, and the winners in three film categories, namely: ASEAN Film Prize; Digital Lokal; and International Cinema. Filipino moviemaker and director Cirio Santiago was also given a special citation for his pioneering work on foreign co-production for the global market starting in the early 1970s when he produced and directed English movies for American audiences. The CIFF’s 9th festival is being held at the Gateway Cineplex at Gateway Mall, Araneta Center in Quezon City. It started on Aug. 8 and will end on Aug. 19. Assisting the President in handing out the awards were Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Cerge Remonde, director-general of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS); Amable Aguiluz VI, director of the CIFF; and Rolando Atienza, chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The Best ASEAN Short Film went to the movie “Renita, Renita” of Indonesia; while the Best ASEAN Feature Film went to the movie “Mukhasini” of Malaysia. In the category “Digital Lokal,” the winners are: “The Calling” by Christopher Gozum, Best Short Film; “Delusions” by Ernest Michael Manalastas, Ishmael Bernal Award for Young Cinema; John Torres, Lino Brocka Award Grand Jury Prize; and Raya Martin, Best Director. For International Cinema, the winners are: Korea’s “Waiting Time,” Best International Short Film; Philippine entry “Neo Lounge,” Best Documentary; “The Edge of Heaven,” Lino Brocka Award Grand Prize; and Jim Libiran of the Philippine entry “Last of Tribu,” Best Actor. The CIFF is showcasing several of the region’s best films in an ASEAN Cinema Focus in commemoration of the ASEAN’s 40th anniversary. On the other hand, the CIFF started showcasing and honoring the best Filipino digital films in 2005 via the Digital Lokal whose winners have since gone on to represent the country and won accolades in international film festivals, according to the CIFF. |
