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| 04 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 04 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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PGMA's Statement at the
National Security Council-Cabinet Group Meeting Aguinaldo State Dining Room, September 4, 2007 |
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Mga kababayan, hindi man gaanong nababalita,
nagdaragsaan na ang mga positibong ulat ng mga eksperto tungkol sa
kagila-gilalas na paglago ng ating ekonomiya, pinakamalakas sa dalawang
dekada. Mangyari, nagaganap na sa Pilipinas ang uri ng growth rate na
ipinamalas ng Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore at Tsina: mahigit 7% ang
paglago ng ekonomiya at 10% ang pagtaas ng pamumuhunan o investment. Ito ang
itinuro ng Asian Development Bank na susi sa paglaya ng bansa sa hirap.
Sama-sama nating ituloy ito, at maaabot ng Pilipinas ang kasaganaan at
kaunlaran, gaya ng ating mga kalapit-bansa. Sa pagsisikap nating ito, mahalagang pag-ibayuhin ang ating mga reporma sa ekonomiya, lalo na ang pagkolekta ng tamang buwis, upang mabalanse ang budget, lalong mapalakas ang investment, at mapondohan ang imprastraktura, paaralan, pagamutan, pabahay, patubig at iba pang serbisyong bayan. Mahalaga rin sa investment ang kapayapaan at katatagan ng bansa, upang mapanatag ang mga investor at lalo silang mamuhunan at lumikha ng trabaho. Kaya naman pinulong natin ngayon ang mga liga ng gobyernong lokal at ang ilang pinunong relihiyoso, kasama ang Gabinete, upang ilunsad ang plano para sa mga inisyatibong pangkapayapaan sa iba’t ibang rehiyon ng bansa. Kasama ng balangkas pangkapayapaan ang amnestiya at kabuhayan para sa mga rebeldeng ibig bumalik sa panig ng batas. Kalahating bilyong piso ang paunang pondo rito, upang mabilis na itanim ang matibay na kapayapaan at seguridad sa mga rehiyon, sa pangunguna ng mga pinunong lokal at relihiyoso, at katulong ang buong gobyerno ng bansa. Sa mga dekadang nagdaan, nagkaroon din ng pagkakataong ganito ang ating bansa, subalit dahil sa mga ligalig sa politika, natakot ang mga investor at nahinto ang pag-unlad. Ngayon, bumabalik na ang capital at negosyo, at dapat tayong magkapit-bisig upang wakasan na ang hidwaan, ligalig at dahas na tumakot sa mga mamumuhunan noon. Ito ang kailangan ng bayan ngayon: reporma sa ekonomiya, kapayapaan sa bansa at panatag na politika, upang isulong ang pamumuhunan ng gobyerno, negosyo at mundo sa sambayanang Pilipino. |
| Full agenda awaits President, 20 other APEC leaders in Sydney meet |
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A full agenda awaits President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and 20 other leaders attending the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) in Sydney, Australia on Sept. 7-9. Topping the list of principal issues up for discussion are APEC’s support for the World Trade Organization (WTO), the integration of regional economy, structural reforms, energy security, climate change and human security, and APEC reforms. The key objective of the gathering is the establishment of a regime of greater sharing of economic prosperity among the APEC member countries. A briefing paper issued by the Australian embassy in Manila stated that the APEC Secretariat has been building on the outcomes of the 14th APEC Leaders’ Meeting held in Vietnam last year. “The APEC agenda this year is very broad. If you look at the website you will see the huge range of activities the APEC deals with,” the AELM background material said. The highlight of APEC’s annual activities, this year’s AELM will bring together some of the world’s most powerful leaders, including US President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao. President Arroyo is expected to participate actively in the discussions of issues of common concern to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as APEC member countries. She is scheduled to arrive in Sydney Friday, in time for the opening of the AELM. APEC is a group of economies which discusses trade issues of common concern for the 21-member countries. It is the only inter-governmental group committed to reducing trade barriers and increasing investments without requiring its members to enter into legally binding obligations. This year, APEC goes back to Sydney where the concept of the multi-national conference among member countries was conceived in 1989. The APEC member-economies are Australia,
Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore,
South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. |
| PGMA bares allocation of P500-M rebel returnee fund |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced
today the initial allocation of P500 million for the processing of amnesty
applications and as seed capital for livelihood projects of communist rebels
who return to the folds of the law. The Chief Executive disclosed the setting up of the rebel-returnees fund during the National Security Council-Cabinet Group (NSC-CG) meeting in Malacanang this morning. She said that the last few months saw a series of significant developments in the country, notably the 7.5 percent second quarter 2007 growth of the economy, the strongest in 20 years. With the 7.5. percent growth rate, plus the 10 percent increase in investments – the Philippines has finally reached the stage of economic growth earlier experienced by Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and China. “Mangyari, nagaganap na sa Pilipinas ang uri ng growth rate na ipinamalas ng Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore at Tsina: mahigit seven percent ang paglago ng ekonomiya at ten-percent pagtaas ng pamumuhunan o investment.” Unfortunately, the people hear very little of these cheerful economic news, but these positive developments are happening, the President said. “Hindi man gaanong nababalita, nagdaragsaan na ang mga positibong ulat ng mga eksperto tungkol sa kagila-gilalas na paglago ng ating ekonomiya, pinakamalakas sa dalawang dekada,” the President said, as she called on the Filipino people to unite to preserve the gains achieved by the country so far. The growth combination, according to the President, is the Asian Development Bank’s recommended formula for countries to be able to rise from poverty: “Ito ang itinuro ng Asian Development Bank na susi sa paglaya ng bansa sa hirap.” “Ngayon, bumabalik na ang capital at negosyo, at dapat tayong magkapit-bisig upang wakasan na ang hidwaan, ligalig at dahas na tumakot sa mga mamumuhunan noon.” The Chief Executive enumerated three things that she said the country needs to maintain and even improve on the gains already achieved: economic reform, peace and a stable political climate. “Ito ang kailangan ng bayan ngayon: (1) reporma sa ekonomiya, (2) kapayapaan sa bansa at (3) panatag na politika, upang isulong ang pamumuhunan ng gobyerno, negosyo at mundo sa sambayanang Pilipino.” “Sama-sama nating ituloy ito, at maaabot ng Pilipinas ang kasaganaan at kaunlaran, gaya ng ating mga kalapit-bansa. “Sa pagsisikap nating ito, mahalagang pag-ibayuhin ang ating mga reporma sa ekonomiya, lalo na ang pagkolekta ng tamang buwis, upang mabalanse ang budget, lalong mapalakas ang investment, at mapondohan ang imprastraktura, paaralan, pagamutan, pabahay, patubig at iba pang serbisyong bayan. “Mahalaga rin sa investment ang kapayapaan at katatagan ng bansa, upang mapanatag ang mga investor at lalo silang mamuhunan at lumikha ng trabaho. “Kaya naman pinulong natin ngayon ang mga liga ng gobyernong local at ang ilang pinunong relihiyoso, kasama ang Gabinete, upang ilunsad ang plano para sa mga inisyatibong pangkapayapaan sa iba’t ibang rehiyon ng bansa. “Kasama ng balangkas pangkapayapaan ang amnestiya at kabuhayan para sa mga rebeldeng ibig bumalik sa panig ng batas. “Kalahating bilyong piso ang paunang pondo rito, upang mabilis na itanim ang matibay na kapayapaan at seguridad sa mga rehiyon, sa pangunguna ng mga pinunong lokal at relihiyoso, at katulong ang buong gobyerno ng bansa.” |
| President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's statement during a round table discussion with the country's Math & Science champions at Malacañang's Heroes' Hall, September 4, 2007 |
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Nagagalak tayong makasama dito sa Malacanang bilang panauhing pagdangal sa testimonial merienda ang mga pangkat ng science at matematika na nagwagi ng mga medalya sa mga international competition na nabasa natin sa peryodiko dalawang buwan nakaraan: Ang ating mga science champions mula sa Philippine Science High School: Paulo Miguel Manzanila at Lawrence Medina. Ang ating mga math champion mula sa Philippine Science High School: Amiel Sy, Arvin Alba at Joana Patricia Santelices. Ang ating math champion mula sa Chiang Kai Shek College: Henry Jefferson Morco. Ang ating math and science champion mula sa Naic Central School: Robert Allan Buendia. Bilang parangal sa kanila at upang dumami pa ang ating mga magagaling na esudyante, ibig nating gamitin itong pagkakataon na iulat ang sumusunod na mga programa para sa agham at teknolohiya sa 2008 budget: Itataas ng 51% and budget ng Department of Science and Technology mula P3.5 billion tungo sa P5.5 billion. Sa dagdag na ito, maitataas ng DOST ang budget ng Philippine Science Hgh School at iba pang science high school ng 68%. Siya nga pala, malaking karangalang sa aming pamilya na ang pangulong nagtayo ng Philippine Science High School ay ang aking ama si Diosdado Macapagal. Kaya namang karangalang ko ring bigyang paraang lumago pa itong pugad ng mga magagaling. May dalawang proyekto ng U.P. na nagkakahalagang P1.5 billion, upang magtayo ng cluster ng research at technology incubation facilities sa information technology zone ng pamantasan. Kasama ito sa ating pamumuhunan sa human and physical infrastructure upang masustento ang ating paglago ng ekonomiya na lampas na sa pitong porsyento. Uulitin ko ang sinabi ng mga dalubhasa tungkol sa ating ekonomiya: Revisions in the first quarter 2007 data occurred mainly in construction. Public construction was the reason as it expanded 39.6 percent in second quarter 2007 from 24.6 percent the previous quarter. The huge increase in public investments shows the government is delivering on its ambitious medium term capital spending program that concentrates on physical infrastructure upgrades. When investment, especially basic infrastructure, is one of the economy’s growth engines, there can be little doubt of sustainability. This is relevant, in light of the U.S. Subprime mortgage crisis. Public investment is possible due to fiscal reforms that hiked government revenues significantly. Spending increased even as the budget deficit narrowed. It will not be affected by the U.S. credit crunch. The success in implementing the government’s spending program inclines us toward more optimism. Hindi lamang physical infrastructure kundi pati human infrastructre ang pinagkakagastusan ng malaki ng ating pamahalaan. May P1 billion para sa pagsasanay sa matematika, agham at ingles. P700 million para sa maramihang paggawa ng mga equipment sa pag-aaral ng math at science. P55 million para sa bagong programa ng DepEd upang magturo ng engineering science sa mga high school. Lahat ng ito ay sa 2008 budget. Makakaya natin ito dahil nakamit na naman ng BIR at Customs ang kanilang target para sa buwan ng Agosto. Congratulations sa kanila. |
| PGMA expresses elation over performance of Grade 6 pupils in Nat'l Achievement Test |
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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed
elation today over the outstanding performance of Grade 6 pupils in the
National Achievement Test (NAT) conducted nationwide last March. The NAT results showed that the 1.6 million Grade 6 pupils from about 30,000 public elementary schools obtained a mean percentage score (MPS) of 59.94 percent, or 5.28 percent higher than the 2 percent increase envisioned by the Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE) of the Department of Education (DepEd). Visibly pleased, the President congratulated DepEd for the fete, especially the children’s impressive showing in mathematics, science and English. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus announced the good news of the Grade 6 pupils’ performance in the NAT during the round table discussions with the math and science student champions this afternoon at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall. In his power point presentation, Lapus informed the President that based on the test results, the test-takers notched a 12.36 percent improvement in math, 10.28 percent in science, and 12.45 percent in English subjects compared to last year’s MPS. He described the 2007 NAT result as a breakthrough in DepEd’s campaign to improve and deliver the quality of education in public schools. “This is way, way above our expectations and target. Kaya ito pong 1.6 million (students) na pumasok ngayon sa high school ay puwede nating batiin. Sa pangkalahatan ay 12 percent ang improvement sa three subjects na tinututukan talaga, iyong math, science, and English,” Lapus told the President |
| PGMA raises DOST's 2008 budget by 51% from P3.5-B to P5.5-B |
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Impressed by the outstanding achievement of the
public school students in Science and Math competitions abroad, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo increased the 2008 budget of the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) by 51 percent from P3.5 billion to P5.5
billion. The increase in DOST’s budget was announced by the President in her opening statement during the round table discussions this afternoon with the country’s Math and Science student champions at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall. With the new budget, the President said, the DOST has to increase the spending of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) by 68 percent in order to create more champions in the future. The President said she considers it an honor for her family to continue the legacy of her late father, former President Diosdado Macapagal, the founding chairman of the PSHS. “Kaya naman karangalan ko ring bigyang-paraang lumago pa itong pugad ng mga magagaling,” the President said. The President said that under the increased budget, the DOST will finance the construction of two science and technology projects of the University of the Philippines (UP) on research and technology incubation at the university information and technology zone. She said the project is part of the government’s investments on human and physical infrastructure to sustain the economic growth of 7 percent. Guided by the observations of the experts in economics, the President said that her administration would sustain huge public investment expenditures to show that the government is spending on a program that upgrades not only physical but human infrastructures as well. Under the Proposed 2008 National Budget, the government has allotted P1 billion for Math, Science and English training, P700 million for Math and Science equipment, P55 million for the new program of the Department of Education (DepEd) for the teaching of engineering science in high school level. Joining the President in the round table discussions were DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro, and PSHS Executive Director Filma Brawner. The students who participated in the discussions were from Quezon City Science High School: Aaron Christopher Agtarap, Alvin Uy Lim; Henry Jefferson Morco of the Chiang Kai Shek College, Math champion in the 2007 Hong Kong Elementary Math International Contest in Hong Kong; PSHS students Paulo Miguel Manzanilla and Lawrence Medina, both science champions in the International Ozone Quiz Competition held in Bangkok, Thailand (Aug. 20-21, 2007); PSHS students Amiel Sy, Arvin Alba, and Joanna Patricia Santelices, all champions in Math competition in the 11th Leung Kuk Primary World Mathematic Contest in Hong Kong last July 14-18, 2007, and Robert Allan Buendia of Cavite National Science High School. |
