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| 21 JULY 2007 | . | |
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| 21 JULY 2007 | . | |
| RP has put into action Asean theme of 'One Sharing and Caring Community' |
| The Philippines is
implementing several socio-economic projects in line with the theme of the 10-member
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is "One Sharing and Caring
Community," according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. Romulo, who is the chairman of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), said that theme, which was adopted during the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu last January, is basically pro-people. The AMM will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) starting July 29, 2007. The concept deals primarily with poverty eradication, employment generation, gender equality, environment protection, primary education and HIV-AIDs prevention and cure. On the aspect of caring, Romulo said that ASEAN aims to stress human resource development, sustainable environment and promoting health and welfare among the people in the region. According to Romulo, in 2004, the ASEAN adopted a road map called the Vientiane Plan of Action, whose objective was to come up with an ASEAN Community by 2020 To achieve this goal, the ASEAN leaders have decided to come up with three areas of cooperation-in politics, security, and economic and socio-cultural aspects. It was during these discussions that the Philippine delegation pushed for the adoption of the "One Sharing and Caring Community" concept, Romulo said. Among the major accomplishments of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration that are in line with the ASEAN theme are: Ø Increased high school scholarships from 50,000 to 240,000 in 2006; this year the number of beneficiaries would reach 600,000 costing the government some P3 billion. Ø Launched a P4 billion fund for student loans, increasing beneficiaries of student loans from 40,000 last year to 200,000 this year. Ø For job training, 800,000 Filipinos have graduated from technical and vocational courses in 2004. This year the number is expected to go up to 1.5 million. Ø Through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), spent P.2.4 billion for its training programs, including P600 million for scholarships. This year, TESDA will spend P1.1 billion for ladderized education. Ø Philhealth has enrolled four million indigent families or 20 million poor Filipinos as of this year. Ø Released P500 million for the upgrading of 35 local government hospitals. Ø Set up some 10,000 Botika ng Barangay that sell cheap but effective medicines. ***** Refer to: |
| PGMA sends off company of PSG men to help hunt down killers of 14 marines |
In a move that could be tantamount to sacrificing her own personal security, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sent off this morning a company of Marines detailed with the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to help hunt down the Moro Islamic Liberation Army (MILF) fighters who mercilessly killed 14 of the Marines’ comrades in Basilan last July 10. Of the 14 Marines slain while on a mission to rescue kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi from his captors, 10 were beheaded and mutilated by their sadistic attackers. President Arroyo, escorted by PSG chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, sent off the 93rd Marine Security Escort Company (MSEC) headed by Marines Capt. Danilo Guzman in solemn ceremonies at the Kalayaan Hall grounds of Malacañang. With the PSG Band softly rendering "Amazing Grace," the President saluted the Basilan-bound company and reviewed them with the PSG head as three other companies of the PSG witnessed the send-off ceremonies. In full battle gear, the 65 members of the 93rd MSEC rode in three 6x6 trucks that brought them to their waiting aircraft. They will be stationed in Basilan for 45-60 days, according to Gen. Prestoza. Earlier in his invocation, PSG chief chaplain Col. Pelagio Namocatcat Jr. called on the Almighty God to "make them (the Marines) lovers of peace but ever prepared to defend it…" To assist Marines Capt. Guzman are two platoon sergeants, Technical Sergeants Manolo Alnas and Angel Sergio; and four squad leaders – Technical Sergeants Rodrigo Embile, Benjamin Mamaspas, Alfredo Fernandez and Rey Nero. The President had earlier ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) "to hunt down and arrest those who treacherously killed and beheaded the soldiers," stressing "there can be no excuses or alibis for these acts of savagery." The barbaric killing and mutilation of the 14 Marines also led the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) to announce its support for any "punitive action" by the military against the group that perpetrated the "cruel and animalistic conduct of decapitating and chopping off private parts, ears, arms and legs of the dead Marines (that) cannot but evoke anger as it is horrifying." In a statement, the AGFO, headed by retired Brig. Gen. Jaime Echevarria, said justice has to be "meted against the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf for perpetrating such hideous and dreadful crimes." |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Ex-Press Secretary Jesus Sison |
Veteran Filipino journalist and former Press Secretary Jesus "Jess" Sison has written -30- on a newsman's remarkable journey that saw the passing of different administrations. He will be remembered for his columns and writings and service to the nation. An icon to several of his peers, his death marks the passing of a great journalist and a good friend to many. President Arroyo and the entire Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) family join the members of media and his countless readers in extending sympathies to his bereaved loved ones. |
| PGMA mourns death of ex-Press Secretary Jesus Sison |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo extended today her condolences to the family of veteran journalist and former Press Secretary Jesus C. Sison who died this morning at the age of 76. "President Arroyo and the entire Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) family join the members of media and his (Sison’s) readers in extending sympathies to his bereaved loved ones," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye said in a statement. "Veteran Filipino journalist and former Press Secretary Jesus ‘Jess’ Sison has written -30- on a newsman's remarkable journey that saw the passing of different administrations," Bunye said. "He will be remembered for his columns and writings and service to the nation. An icon to several of his peers, his death marks the passing of a great journalist and a good friend to many," the Malacañang official added. Fondly called Manong Jess by his younger colleagues, Sison had been a journalist throughout his life, starting with being editor-in-chief of the official student publication in his high school in Pangasinan and then the top honcho of the Thomasian and news editor of the Varsitarian, official publication of the University of Santo Tomas where he finished his Bachelor of Literature major in journalism in 1953. He was the Press Secretary from May 1993-June 1995 during the term of President Fidel V. Ramos and the chairman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) from September 1995 to July 1998. Sison’s remains lie at Chapel 2C in Funeraria Nacional, Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. |
