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| 12 NOVEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 12 NOVEMBER 2007 | ||
| World Boxing Council awards PGMA "Symbolic World Boxing Belt" |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo graced this
morning the 45th founding anniversary celebration of the World Boxing
Council (WBC) which gave her a giant “Symbolic World Boxing Belt” to signify
the opening of the three-day event. In a dress of her seemingly favorite color, Marian blue, the President accepted the colorful belt from WBC officials led by WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman. Sulaiman revealed in his speech at the WBC festivities cum-convention at the Manila Hotel about the international organization’s plans to set up local boxing schools. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who also spoke during the opening ceremonies, commended the feat of Filipino boxers, including Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, Luisito Espinosa, Gerry Penalosa, and Manny Pacquiao, for whom he added: “For what Manny is doing for the country, we salute you.” At least 66 flags, including the WBC flag, adorn the hotel’s Fiesta Pavilion which is the venue of the three-day event that hopes to gather boxers from 161 member countries and local boxing enthusiasts. Among the early-bird attendees were WBC featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao, fellow Filipino boxing champion Rolando Navarette; and Latin boxer Oscar Larios. Boxer Roberto Duran is also expected to arrive for the event, according to the emcees of the opening ceremonies enlivened by the 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps. |
| P100-M more to buy rice to ensure enough supply of staple during holiday season |
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Following up her assurance that the less
fortunate among the Filipinos will have access to affordable rice during the
Christmas season, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered today the
release of P100 million to beef up the government’s kitty for the
acquisition of the staple. The President announced the additional allocation in her address before the 13th Convention of the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (PAMS) this morning at the Isla Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City. “I am instructing Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to contribute P100 million to help ensure that the needy throughout our nation have access to affordable rice during this holiday season,” the President said. A government-owned and controlled corporation, Pagcor is mandated to raise funds for the government’s socio-civic and national development efforts through the operation of casinos. Last Saturday, she told the Philippine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCCI) that rice is not “only a staple for our people, it is symbolic of our ability to deliver on our promise to feed those less fortunate.” She pointed out that her administration is “committed to ensuring that the needy throughout our nation have access to affordable rice during this important holiday season. I ask you to help me in this project.” Earlier last week, the President ordered the release of P1 billion to bolster the government’s food production and distribution program to mitigate hunger for the remainder of 2007. Under the President’s directive, a non-government organization (NGO) network will be organized to support the feeding programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). During the Christmas season and beyond, “we will do everything in our power to bring rice to those who need it most, and work hard to protect the poor from high prices,” she told the Filipino-Chinese business group. In her keynote address at the PAMS convention, the President stressed that eradicating “poverty is the central mission of this government and our society. As we enter the holiday season, it is essential that every person of means help those in need. The government is doing everything in its power to be a catalyst for this process.” |
| PGMA orders release of P100-M for mobile clinics |
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In a move to ensure the delivery of enhanced
health services to the poor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo authorized
today the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to release P100
million for the setting up of mobile clinics throughout the country. In her message at the 13th Convention of the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (PAMS) at the Isla Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City this morning, the President said the more mobile clinics there are in support of the outreach programs of PAMS the better. “Thank you for the medical missions and self-help programs of the medical profession, notably those that support our goals to cut cost of medicine and bring specialized training to the provinces,” she told members of the medical association. One of the largest associations of specialized medical professions with about 6,000 members nationwide, the PAMS extends medical and surgical assistance to indigent families in far-flung areas through medical missions. Dr. Rene Catan, PAMS national president, said doctors with different fields of specialization, including surgical, obstetrics and gynecology, “serve their poor and sickly countrymen.” Today, medical and dental healthcare providers are increasingly turning to mobile medical and dental clinics to expand their community outreach programs, especially in rural areas. The mobile medical and dental clinics are known for their flexibility and efficiency in delivering vital healthcare services, especially for underserved populations. The President said the government has been upgrading municipal hospitals and steps are being taken to raise the capability of secondary hospitals to perform simple surgical procedures such as ceasarian operation. |
| PGMA renews call on legislators to stop politicking, concentrate on law-making |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sounded anew
today her call for the country’s lawmakers to stop politicking and join the
national effort to achieve political, spiritual and physical healing to keep
the country on the path of sustained economic growth. In her message at the 13th Convention of the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (PAMS) at EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City this morning, the President said Congress could produce much-needed legislations that would improve the quality of life of the people “when it sets aside self-interest,” the most notable recent example of which was the passage of the Cheaper Medicine bill. “Help me call on the legislators to stop political wrangling and concentrate on legislating,” the President said to the over 800 PAMS officers in attendance as she noted that “much more needs to be done to improve human rights, secure budgets for health care and education, invest more in peace and order and to advance our national interests with other nations on trade, economy and security issues.” She thanked the PAMS for its “Heal the Nation Now” project that offers physical, spiritual and political healing. “Unity is a real aspiration that manifests itself through progress,” she said. “People want to know: are we strong, are we stable, are we growing as a nation? Is everyone benefiting equally, is there social justice in the land, do people feel good about themselves and the society in which they live? Unity of purpose is driven by a common desire to know where we are going as a nation, that our leaders are strong, honest, hard-working, and committed to the best interests of the people,” the President said. She added: ”Unity is about action, not discussion. It is about working together not just talking together.” While there should be room for dissent among the various political factions, more importantly, there should be collective hope, commitment, and confidence at the end of the day, she said. On spiritual healing, the President said a leader must be driven by a strong vision for the nation and the determination to deliver a better life. “I am driven by my faith in God and my faith in the people of this nation. I get up every day and fight on behalf of the average, hardworking Filipino. We share the same values of family, hard work and faith,” she said. Her administration, the President said, seeks to root out corruption and set a new standard of governance as the people deserve an honest, hardworking government . On physical healing, she noted that the practice of doctors of prescribing generic or cheaper but quality drugs heal the sick and temper the prevailing attitude that only expensive medicines can work. “Working all together, we will heal the nation,” the President said. |
| PGMA lauds PAMS offer to train rural doctors on specialized medical fields |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded today
the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists (PAMS)
for giving doctors in the rural areas the chance to specialize in the
medical field of their choice by offering them specialization courses
leading to diplomates and fellowships. “Thank you for your plan to offer specialization courses leading to Diplomates and Fellowships in the provinces,” the President told some 800 officers and members of PAMS nationwide. Under the PAMS training project, rural doctors can take their specialization training at the secondary-turned tertiary hospitals in the countryside. The President stressed that education is the “foundation of economic prosperity and individual liberty, social justice and self-worth,” as she underscored the urgent need for medical specialists in the government’s enhanced healthcare program. “Education is a core value of Philippine society and family life. The hard working men and women of this nation put their family first. And the best gift any family can give a child, and any nation can give to its people, is access to a good education,” she said. It is in this context, she said, that her administration will continue to invest heavily in the construction of new elementary school buildings as well as bolster its college scholarship program for deserving high school students and help them pursue higher education. Last year, the classroom gap narrowed down with the construction of 13,242 classrooms, or more than double the 6,000 units originally targeted for construction in 2006. The classroom gap is expected to contract further next year with the construction of more classrooms throughout the country. Also in 2005, 1.26 million new textbooks were distributed among the country’s elementary schools, resulting in the increase of the textbook-pupil ratio from 1:1 to 1:3. The Department of Education (DepEd) is also set to beef up its nationwide book inventory through the acquisition of more books, especially on mathematics, science and English. DepEd has also granted at least 509,564 scholarships in basic education under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASPE) Program in 2006, while an average of 20,000 college students received financial assistance or educational loans in SY 2005-2006. PAMS said the training of doctors in the rural areas in specialist medical fields is in keeping with its goal of improving the delivery of health services to the poor. |
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PGMA's Speech during
the 13th Academic Meeting and Annual Convention of the Philippine Academy of
Medical Specialists (PAMS) Isla Ballroom, EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City 12 November 2007 |
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Thank you so much Dr. Rene Catan and congratulations to you! To Dr. Daisy Camitan, to PAMS treasurer Dr. Elmer Punzalan and Dr. Gerry Genuino, and all your officers and members for being at the vanguard of a healthy and energetic society at the forefront of a strong economy. Maraming salamat sa inyo. Noong una inimbita ako, akala ko ang PAMS, Philippine Association of Medical Specialists. Pero marami akong nalaman sa unang mga minuto ng ating pagpupulong ngayon, academy of medical specialists, and that makes you very special indeed. But before we talked about your uniqueness, let me first thank you for the medical missions and self-help programs of your academy. Notably those that support our goals to cut the cost of medicine and of bringing specialized training to the provinces. Kanina nung pinag-uusapan namin na academy pala and "A" doon sa PAMS, pinapaliwag sa akin ni Dr. Catan na itong grupo ninyo ay nagbunga noong nagkaroon ng debolusyon. At yung mga doktor na nalipat mula sa national payroll, napunta sa mga payroll ng mga local governments, eh mas maliit kasi ang... Dahil sa linipat ang mga district hospitals naging mabigat para sa local governments ang iba't-ibang mga gastos para sa mga local health services lalo na 'yung specialization, doon pumasok yung inyong academy, tumulong para sa tuloy-tuloy na specialization ng mga devolved medical personnel. Napaka-marangal na layunin. At sa ibabaw noon, dahil kayo ay tumutulong sa mga pamayanang lokal, doon nagbunga rin yung inyong mga medical and surgical missions. And that is why, I would also like to... That's why I have authorized PAGCOR, ng kakapasok ni President Butch Francisco dito, dalawa ang aking i-aatas sa iyo Butch. Makinig ka hanggang sa dulo ng diskurso ko kasi doon ko ibibigay ang pangalawa. Pero una, I have authorized PAGCOR to release 100 million pesos to set up mobile clinics. This is in support of the outreach programs of your organization. Pasalamatan natin si Dr. Catan sa PAMS goal for medical advancement. At pasalamatan natin si Dr. Genuino na nag-follow up noong proposal doon sa PAGCOR. Pati na rin for initiating the "Heal the Nation Now" project. As I understand it, the "Heal the Nation Now" project aims for physical, spiritual and political healing. 'Yung political healing. Unity is a real aspiration that manifest itself through progress. People want to know: are we strong? Are we stable? Are we growing as a nation? Is everyone benefiting equally? Is there social justice in the land? Do people feel good about themselves and the society in which they live? Unity of purpose is driven by a common desire to know where we are going as a nation. To know that our leaders are strong, honest, hardworking and committed to the best interest of the people. Unity is about action not discussion. It is about working together not just talking together. Within unity there can be and must be room for dissent, even conflict as part of the process of moving the nation forward. At the end of the day, unity is measured by collective hope, commitment and confidence. At yun ang inaasahan natin sa "Heal the Nation Now" movement. 'Yung spiritual healing. A leader must be driven by a strong vision for the nation and the determination to deliver a better life. I, as your leader, I'm driven by my faith in God and my faith in the people of this nation. I get up everyday and fight in behalf of the average hardworking Filipino. We all share the same values of family, hardwork and faith. The people deserve an honest, hardworking government just as they are honest and hardworking. And so with your help, with the help of the "Heal the Nation Now" movement. We aim to renew our efforts to stamp-out corruption and set a new standard of governance for our nation. Maraming salamat sa inyong kontribusyon. Hindi pa ako tapos. And 'yung physical healing. Dahil naglilingkod kayo sa maraming mahihirap. The prescription of generic or cheaper drugs by your members has healed the sick and tempered the prevailing attitude that only expensive medicines can work. Yung inyong panawagan, nanawagan kayo sa mga legislators. Congress has demonstrated that when it sets aside self-interest it can produce legislation that improves the quality of life of all Filipinos. The most notable recent example is the bill that reduces the cost of life-giving medicines. But much more needs to be done to improve human rights, to secure budgets for health care and education, to invest more in peace and order and to advance our national interests with other nations on trade, economy and security issues. And since you have made you call on legislators, indeed, continue to help me call on the legislators to stop political wrangling and concentrate on legislating. Kasama pa rin sa physical healing, thank you for offering specialization courses leading to diplomates and fellowships in the provinces. Education is a core value of Philippine society and family life. The hardworking men and women of this nation, including you, put their family first. And the best gift any family can give a child, and any nation can give its people, is access to a good education. Education is the foundation of economic prosperity and individual liberty, social justice and self worth. That is why we continue to invest in new school construction at the elementary school level, and to bolster our college scholarship program for those high school students ready for higher education. At doon naman sa nagtapos na ng college gaya ng medicine at nagtapos na ng kanilang board exams at ngayon ay nagpa-practice sa mga local governments, maganda yung inyong ginagawa. At sana makatulong sa inyo yung programa rin ng pamahalaan na 'yung mga primary hospitals ay ginagawa nating secondary hospitals. At yung mga secondary hospitals kung saan marami ang mga populasyon pero kulang ang tertiary hospitals ay ginagawa nating tertiary hospitals. Hindi lang, ito ay makakapagbigay ng magandang paglilingkod sa taumbayan kundi doon din pwedeng magkaroon ng mga hours yung mga gusto niyong bigyan ng mga fellowships at diplomates. Magbibigay ako ng isang halimbawa. Noong ako ay nandoon sa Eastern Samar itong weekend nagkaroon ng diarrhea outbreak doon sa Gamay, sa eastern part doon sa pacific side ng Northern Samar. At yung hospital ng Gamay kung saan sila dinala 25 beds ang capacity pero 600 ang total number of patients. Mula sa Tacloban nagpabili ako sa PCSO ng mga dextrose at ibang gamot. At dahil meron akong military and police helicopters na kasama at 5:30 in the morning, kasi binili yung... Nakuha yung balita ng hapon ng biyernes, binili yung gamot nung gabi ng biyernes. Sabado ng 5:30 am, yung helicopter kasama ng mga doktor... At iyung mga gamot kasama ng mga doktor ng military at yung nakuhang doktor na nandoon ay lumipad sa gamay. And thank goodness, yesterday, tumawag ako sa gobernador ng northern samar ay marami nang na-discharge dahil sa dumating na mga dextrose at iba pang gamot at mga doktor na tumulong. Pero ang leksiyon dito ay yung Gamay kawawa naman. Eh hindi naman makakapunta yung mga pasyenteng may diarrhea sa Catarman dahil maraming lugar doon walang kalsada. Nagtatayo nga tayo ng mga kalsada ngayon doon sa pacific side. Kaya mas mabuti na kaysa aayusin pa natin at gagawing tertiary hospital doon sa malayong lugar, sabi ko kay Secretary Duque, gastusan na lang natin yung hospital ng gamay at gawin nating secondary hospital. At sana doon sa secondary hospital kahit na meron isa lang na espesyalistang surgeon, meron isang espesyalistang anesthesiologist, meron isang espesyalistang gynecologist dahil iyon ang mga pangangailangan for secondary. Magiging pagkakataon din na yung mga doktor sa banda roon ay makapag-diplomate or fellowship training na rin sa ilalim ng PAMS. Eradicating poverty is the central mission of this government and our society. Yun ngang lugar na yun, Northern Samar, wala na siya doon sa top 10 poorest provinces pero kasama sa top 20. Kaya kailangan ang mga kalsada, upgrading ng hospital na malayo and so on. But today back here in manila, nakikita ko nagtatayo na tayo ng mga christmas decoration sa mga kalsada. As we enter the holiday season, it's essential that every person of means help those in need. The government is doing everything in its power to be a catalyst for this process. We can't say that we have moved forward as a nation if we don't lift up the poor and hungry among us. Kaya dito darating ang aking pangalawang utos sa PAGCOR, Butch. Ewan ko kung alam ni Efraim ito. Hindi pa niya yata alam, kaya ikaw na ang bahala to make sure it happens. Aside from the p100 million for mobile clinics, I am instructing PAGCOR to contribute 100 million pesos to help ensure that the needy throughout our nation will have access to affordable rice during this holiday season. Sama-sama tayong magtulungan. Let's be united and heal the nation politically, spiritually and physically. Working all together, we will be able to heal the nation. Mabuhay ang Academy of Medical Specialists! Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. |
| Statement of the President |
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The success of the recently held Barangay
Elections again affirmed the maturity of our democracy. The free, fair and fast selection of our grassroots leaders would not have been possible without the vigor and the vigilance our teachers selflessly showed so we can all exercise our right of suffrage. Their industry will not go unappreciated. I am therefore ordering the Budget Secretary to release an additional one thousand pesos (P1,000) to all teachers who served in the last elections. This financial initiative to our teachers is extended to them by a grateful government not just for the services beyond the call of duty in the last elections but also for the sacrifices they continue to endure in molding the minds of our young. The augmentation I have ordered will bring to P2,500 the total remuneration the teachers will receive for the elections. For the record, the 2007 budget only authorized P1,500 maximum honorarium for Barangay Elections duty. Pursuant however to powers vested in me by law, I have ordered the corresponding adjustment, to be sourced from savings made possible by the prudent utilization of our fiscal surplus. I have also instructed the DBM and DepEd to coordinate with Comelec to review policies pertaining to the release of pay for teachers performing election duties so that miscommunications and delays are avoided. |
| 6,000 medics ask PGMA to "lead surgical mission to heal the nation now" |
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Stressing that the Philippine Academy of Medical
Specialists (PAMS) has no allies in the prescription of promoting medical
services to the poor, the organization asked today President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo “to lead the surgical mission that would heal the nation
now.” The call of one of the largest associations of specialized medical practitioners in the country, with about 6,000 members nationwide, was sounded during the 13th Convention of the PAMS this morning at Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City. The convention’s theme, “PAMS Beyond Border Toward Nation Building,” manifested the need for political, spiritual, and physical healing for the nation to sustain its economic growth. The PAMS presented a framed manifesto of its “ Heal the Nation Now” movement to the President. Dr. Rene Catan, national president of PAMS, said “it is time to heal our nation…We seek a covenant with you to lead a surgical procedure…as our approach to stability.” The manifesto stated that ”both the country and its people are weakened by disease, literally and figuratively, hampering the growth and productivity.” “However, it is not the illnesses that alarm us the most but the neglect of those we put in power to care for and protect the best interests of the people,” the manifesto further stated. It noted that divisiveness is like a cancer that is “eating all of us.” They asked the leaders of the country to “stop the bickerings and endless politicking so that the process of healing the nation begins.” The manifesto further said that as doctors they could only save the lives of the people “ but you legislators can do so much” in improving the lives of the people. They added that the medical practitioners are fed up with too much politicking and asked the legislators to “administer healing ministration on our society.” “Respect the rule of law…support the mandated government, “it added |
| PGMA's increases teachers poll-duty pay to P2,500 each |
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“Their industry will not go unappreciated.” With this, a “grateful government” today increased by P1,000 the election-duty honorarium that the 2007 budget has set for each teacher who served in the Oct. 29 barangay elections. In ordering the increase of the honorarium to P2,500 per teacher, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pointed out that the “free, fair and fast selection of our grassroots leaders would not have been possible without the vigor and the vigilance that our teachers selflessly showed so we can all exercise our right of suffrage.” The 2007 budget authorized only P1,500 maximum honorarium for such extraneous duty, but the additional P1,000 increased the amount to P2,500 per election-serving teacher. “This financial initiative to our teachers is extended to them by a grateful government not just for the services beyond the call of duty in the last elections, but also for the sacrifices they continue to endure in molding the minds of the young,” President Arroyo stressed in a statement. The honorarium adjustment shall be sourced from “savings made possible by the prudent utilization of our fiscal surplus,” added the President who noted that the success of the recently held barangay elections again “affirmed the maturity of our democracy.” The President also instructed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to review policies pertaining to the oft-delayed release in the pay of teachers performing election duties to avoid further miscommunications and delays. |
| Dinagat islanders thank PGMA for road project |
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Commonly known only as a haven for adventurers
and nature-lovers, the newly-created province of Dinagat Islands actually
offered an unbstructed ringside view of one of the greatest air battles
between American and Japanese air forces in the Pacific in World War II. “Floating” north of the Surigao Strait, Dinagat Islands was the place to be, if there ever was one, to witness the play-by-play clash in the historic Battle of Surigao Strait that paved the way for Gen. Douglas MacArthur to redeem his “I Shall Return” promise to the Filipinos when he fled to Australia following the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese forces. The Battle of Surigao Strait was the culminating battle between the allied forces against the Japanese Imperial Army. The epic battle served as the last nail on the coffin of Japan’s defeat in WWll. More than 61 years after the Battle of Surigao Strait, Dinagat Islands has finally earned its place in the constellation of the country’s provinces. The Philippines’ 81st and newest province, Dinagat Islands is thankful for its latest feat. The islanders are also thankful to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for including their province’s nodal road in her State-of-the- Nation Address (SONA) last July. “It is a great honor and prestige for the people of Dinagat Islands when the province’s nodal road network was proudly announced and included in the President’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) as well as the preferential consideration for all government programs for its development,” the infant province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan said in a resolution attested by Vice Gov. and Presiding Officer Elvis dela Merced. The ongoing infrastructure and livelihood projects in the province is the President’s way of nurturing a six-month-old local government unit which was created by Republic Act 9355 after having been ratified by a majority vote during a plebiscite on Dec. 2, 2006. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary Segundino S. Basadre endorsed Resolution No. 277 to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) headed by Secretary Cerge M. Remonde. Dinagat Islands, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf, is only 60 kilometers long from north to south. It is best known for its great rock climbing sites and white sand beaches. Dinagat’s caves, rock formations and mountain lakes provide a perfect ambience for tourists, both local and foreign. |
| Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye Re: Impeachment |
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This administration is forging ahead with the
business of the people. There are those who need to be healed, jobs to
create, more classrooms, roads and bridges to build. There is no sense being preoccupied with every political noise created by those who can’t wait until 2010. |
