 |
||
| 22 OCTOBER 2007 | ||
|
|
||
| 22 OCTOBER 2007 | ||
|
|
| Press Statement from the Office of the Executive Secretary |
|
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita departed last
night for an official trip to New York, USA, to meet with officials of the
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It will be recalled that a few months back, UN officials led by UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston visited the country to look into allegations made by some groups of widespread unexplained killings in the country. In light of Mr. Alston's impending submission of a UN report on the matter, the President decided a couple of weeks back to send ES Ermita as Chairman of the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC) to New York to personally update UN officials on government's efforts in dealing with the situation and to underscore to them the government's continuing resolve and commitment to address all forms of human rights violations, especially in light of the country's recent election to the UN Human Rights Council. The Philippine delegation jointly led by the Executive Secretary and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Purificacion Quisumbing will be in New York for about a week. For the duration of ES Ermita's absence, the President has designated Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye as Acting Executive Secretary. |
| Ermita to brief UN on RP's efforts to address extra-judicial killings |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
has dispatched Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to New York to personally
update UN officials on her administration’s efforts to address the
extra-judicial killings in the country. |
| Task force submits climate change framework to PGMA |
|
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Less than a month after
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made her commitment to the United Nations
(UN) that the Philippines would join global efforts to address climate
change, the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change (PTFCC) has come up
with the Philippine Climate Change Response Action Plan (PCCRAP). The PCCRAP outlines various strategies on climate change and the role the Philippines will play to address climate change. The action plan was submitted to the President today in ceremonies marking the first-ever National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation in the country held at the Albay Astrodome here. In her address before the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York last month, the President said her administration would come up with strategies outlining the Philippine action plan on global warming. The action plan was submitted by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, PTFCC chair, who told the President that the document was the task force’s "preliminary substantive program elements contained in Version 1 of the Philippine Climate Change Response Action Plan (PCCRAP)" and symbolized the country's share in mitigating climate change as part of a global community. In his speech, Reyes stressed that the increasing occurrence of "warming and precipitation trends, the frequency and intensity of typhoons, the occurrence of devastating floods and landslides, the alternation of severe El Nino and La Nina events, and the seasonal outbreak of health hazards like dengue and red tide" highlight the need to do something about climate change. "It brings to the fore not just the sense of urgency with which government, alongside our partners in the private sector and civil society, must confront the challenges of climate change, but also the key role that local governments and communities must play in mounting such a response," he said. "It is precisely to assess the magnitude and proximity of the threat and to mount an appropriate and cohesive response that our Task Force has been formed," Reyes added. Under the PCCRAP, the PTFCC is tasked to implement the framework response based on a "critical balance between mitigation and adoption measures.” Reyes explained some of these measures as: the DOE, in collaboration with the members of the Task Force, shall take decisive action to achieve a climate-friendly energy supply mix and the pushing for Congress to immediately pass the Renewable Energy Bill that "would be a strategic impetus to raise the share of renewable energy sources to 20 percent of the overall portfolio." Additionally, the “Task Force will design adaptation responses to address vulnerabilities of specific sectors and areas." "Focus will be on disaster-prone settlements, high risk population centers and food production areas," he said. Reyes pointed out that the PTFCC shall "look" for financial resources and technology solutions to be able to achieve the recommendations set forth in the PCCRAP and to address the cause and effects of climate change. "These include official development assistance (ODA) funds, market-based incentives, subsidies targeted at lowering costs for power generation and using solar, wind and other clean technologies and innovative lending schemes," he said. At the mitigation level, Reyes called on the communities to pull their share to help in addressing climate change. "To carry out mitigation strategies, local communities would need access to climate-friendly technologies to establish low-carbon infrastructure for transportation, energy, agriculture, industry and settlements," he said. "On the adaptation side, farmers would need to be introduced to technologies for producing drought-resistant crops and the like. The Task Force will facilitate transfer of technology through bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements," he added. |
| PGMA designates Central Luzon P.A. and NDCC Dep. Admin as deputy spokespersons |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has designated
Presidential Assistant for Central Luzon Ma. Lorelei Fajardo and National
Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Deputy Administrator Dr. Anthony Golez
Jr. as Deputy Spokespersons under Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman
Ignacio Bunye. Before becoming a Presidential Assistant, Fajardo served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff under former Secretary Mike Defensor and was a mayor of Palayan City, Nueva Ecija. Golez, who is also the current Executive Director of the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE), was with the Department of Health (DOH) as Executive Assistant to former Secretary Manuel Dayrit. Both Fajardo and Golez will maintain their present posts and will perform as Deputy Spokespersons in concurrent capacities. |
| President lauds residents of Catanduanes for resilience in face of natural calamities |
|
VIRAC, Catanduanes – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
lauded today the residents of Catanduanes for their resilience and
indomitable spirit that have enabled them to overcome the various trials and
challenges brought about by natural calamities. Catanduanes is one of the provinces often battered by typhoons. “Your religious fervor has carried you across many trials and calamities,” the President said during the kick-off ceremony of Catandungan Festival, the main feature of the 62nd founding anniversary of the province. Catanduanes was officially separated from Albay province in 1945 by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 687. “Magmula noon hanggang ngayon, naipakita ninyong mga taga-Catanduanes ang kakayahang mamuhay ng mapayapa at tahimik sa gitna ng maraming pagsubok sa inyong katatagan,” she said. Aside from their reputation as devout Catholics, the President said residents of Catanduanes are also known for their warmth and friendliness. She also praised the residents for assiduously preserving the beauty of the environment, noting that their surroundings were virtually “untouched, unspoiled and unexplored.” “Ang simpleng buhay rito sa Catanduanes ay napakasarap dahil malayo kayo sa mga kaguluhan at ingay-pulitika na bumabalot ngayon sa ibang dako ng ating bansa, lalo na sa Maynila,” the President said in allusion to the political noise prevailing in Metro Manila. The President arrived here from Legazpi City, where she led the opening program of the 1st National Congress on Climate Change, to unveil Package 1 of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Project (CCRP). She also opened the One Town, One Product (OTOP) project here to strengthen the livelihood and economic mobility of the province. |
| PGMA calls for national unity as she vows to continue fighting terrorism |
|
VIRAC, Catanduanes – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
said here today that the bombing of the Glorietta 2 shopping mall at the
Ayala Center in Makati City last Friday, where 11 innocent people were
killed and dozens of others were seriously injured, is a clear attempt by a
certain group to destabilize the government and frustrate the positive
outcome of the economy. She made the charge as she called on the nation to unite and help the government in the continuing fight against terrorism in order for the country to move forward during her speech at the 62nd founding anniversary of Catanduanes. In 1945, Catanduanes was officially separated from Albay province by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 687. “Sana ay makiisa at tumulong ang buong sambayanan upang makamit na natin ang isang matiwasay at mas maunlad na pamumuhay,” the President said. “Sana ay matapos na ang mga kaguluhan upang mas makapag-trabaho tayo ng husto,” she lamented, adding that despite the attempt to disturb the peace and order situation in the country, the economy has continued to display its bullish performance. In fact, she said, the economy has reached another new level of maturity and stability with some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in 20 years. The President flew in this typhoon-prone province to inform the residents that since she assumed the presidency in 2001, the national government has been able to generate large revenues unprecedented in history, cut down tax cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market. “And no one thought that we could bring our budget deficit down, pre-pay our debts and raise employment, but we have,” she stressed, adding that with this development the Philippines is on a path to permanent economic growth and stability. She assured the nation that in the next three years, the government will translate the positive results of the gains from the reforms that she already implemented to the real benefits of the Filipino people. |
| PGMA unveils marker of P1.1 billion, 79-km Catanduanes road project |
|
VIRAC, Catanduanes -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
unveiled here today the marker of the newly completed P1.135 billion,
79.818-kilometer San Andres-Junction Bato-Viga Section of the Catanduanes
Circumferential Road Project (CCRP). A priority project in support of the President’s 10-point agenda, the CCRP includes the construction of concrete pavements, five bridges and 16 reinforced concrete box culverts. Constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), the project was funded under the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC)-assisted Arterial Road Links Development Project, Phase lV. The implementation of the project, which “runs almost around and passing through the interior portion” of Catanduanes island, was supervised by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Assisting the President in the marker-unveiling ceremony were Vice President Noli de Castro, Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Aldea Santiago, Gov. Joseph Cua, and Virac Mayor Santos Zafe. Also present in the unveiling ceremonies were Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral. After the unveiling rite, the President led the ribbon-cutting in the formal opening of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) exhibit and viewed the booths of the 11 participating Catanduanes municipalities. She also handed over checks worth P10 million to Governor Cua for the construction and improvement of farm-to-market roads in the province. Aside from the allocations for infrastructure projects, the President also turned over 15 units of brand new personal computers for the provincial capitol, P545,000 worth of PhilHealth funds for the repair of various rural health centers catering to the health needs of the 594,000 families in the province. Some PhilHealth cards were also awarded by the President to the 20,000 indigent families of Catanduanes, 192 sets of assorted seeds and garden tools to small farmers of Virac. The President also tasked Governor Cua to supervise the establishment of the initial five Tindahan Natin outlets in the province. She also turned over to the governor checks amounting to P1.7 million for the tuition of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholars. |
| PGMA makes surprise inspection of airport security |
|
Underscoring the need to be vigilant in the
aftermath of the Glorietta mall blast in Makati City last Friday, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made a surprise inspection of the existing security
arrangements at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial 2
terminal in Pasay City this afternoon. After emerging from the Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane that took her back to Manila from her visits to Legazpi City in Albay and Catanduanes, the President entered Bay 43 of the Centennial terminal where she was met by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan and NAIA Assistant Manager for Security and Emergency Services Angel Atutubo, who both escorted the President around the departure area. The President’s first stop was the final X-ray machine where passengers’ non-checked-in baggage are inspected for any liquid or aerosol containers containing more than 10 ml. The President then proceeded to inspect the pre-departure area, where the first set of X-ray machines check on departing passengers’ entire luggage. Atutubo said the President asked him if the NAIA has enough security provisions for the entire airport complex that also covers Villamor Air Base, the surrounding subdivisions, and up to the South Luzon Expressway. He assured President Arroyo that the airport is ready for any emergency with an additional force of 1,500, including “augmentation from the Philippine Air Force (PAF)” whose headquarters is just across the NAIA 2 runways. Atutubo said the airport complex “normally” has around 2,500 security men at any one time, including some 600 PAF soldiers and 1,000 policemen, plus security guards. Following the Makati bombing last Friday, some 1,500-strong “augmentation force” was added, among them 1,000 “contracted security guards” and some 500 PAF soldiers nearby. He said security is now also checking on the general aviation area which, in the past, was not as tightly guarded. Atutubo added that “we have also intensified canine patrol,” from the airport’s usual eight canines, plus those brought by the Presidential Security Group (PSG). Earlier in the day, a former PBA basketball player was held by airport authorities for carrying seven caliber .38 bullets in his baggage, according to Atutubo. Before boarding her vehicle, the President chatted with a woman, who was watching over some cargo outside the departure gate. The woman, Marilou Tubli, told the President that her sister, Liza Tanaka, was rebooking her flight to Narita, Japan after arriving late for her flight. |
| DOJ to study Erap request for executive clemency without conditions |
|
Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said
today the government will study the request of former President Joseph
Estrada for unconditional presidential pardon. Devanadera was reacting to the letter of the former president to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through his lawyers led by Atty. Jose B. Flaminiano, stating that in the “highest national interest, to which President Estrada is always willing to subordinate his own, we appeal to Your Excellency (President Arroyo) to grant him full, free and unconditional pardon.” Flaminiano’s letter, dated Oct. 22, was received by Malacanang this afternoon. He said Estrada’s legal panel had withdrawn earlier today Estrada’s Motion for Reconsideration filed with the Sandiganbayan to reverse the graft court’s decision on Sept. 17, 2007, convicting the ex-president of the crime of plunder, and sentencing him to reclusion perpetua. Devanadera explained that executive clemency can be given only after a court decision has become “final and executory,” even as she stressed that executive clemency is the “sole discretion of the President.” “Nasa kanya (President Arroyo) na ‘yun,” said Devanadera, stressing that the Department of Justice (DoJ) “can only look at the legal side” of the withdrawal of the earlier Motion for Reconsideration. Interviewed by the Malacanang Press Corps, Devanadera said she would have to study how the withdrawal letter was worded, and “determine if there is finality…” She added that she could be ready with her recommendation by next week. Presidential pardon would mean the restoration of the pardoned party’s “full civil and political rights,” Devanadera said. |
