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| 28 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
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| 28 SEPTEMBER 2007 | ||
| Statement of the President on Myanmar |
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We call on Myanmar to act in its own best
interests to avoid its further isolation and to redeem its democracy without
any further delay. We have patiently but persistently advised Myanmar within
ASEAN that it must make greater and faster progress toward that goal. Recent events in Myanmar, therefore, are of concern to the Philippines and to the region as a whole. The Philippines asks the Government of Myanmar to act with the utmost restraint and to take immediate steps to preserve what advances have been made in its roadmap to democracy. Specifically, we ask the Government of Myanmar to now allow all interested parties to take full part in the effort to national reconciliation through peaceful and inclusive dialogue. This means the release of all those who have been detained and who can contribute to the process of national renewal, including Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi. In addition, we ask that the Government of Myanmar invite the UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, to visit the country as soon as possible. |
| Exciting times for investors in RP, PGMA tells top American business leaders |
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NEW YORK (via PLDT) – These are exciting times
for business and investors in the Philippines, with the country firmly on
track to permanent economic growth and stability. With this as the defining theme of her three-day investment mission here, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regaled top American leaders with the bright prospects of doing business in the Philippines. “I believe the Philippines offers one of the best values in Asia for domestic and foreign investors,” the President told the US business executives during the Outsourcing Summit: Roadmap 2010 held at the Starlight Rooftop of Waldorf Astoria Towers Thursday evening (Sept. 27, New York time). She pointed out that the Philippines is ranked as one of the most attractive off-shoring destinations in the world not only in terms of cost competitiveness, but more importantly the “country’s highly trainable, English-proficient management manpower.” No less than the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its 2007 Global Sourcing Study cited the Philippines as the No. 2 “most preferred offshoring destination after India,” the President said. The difference is that India has a billion population from which it draws its offshoring manpower compared to the Philippine population of 80 million, she added. Now the fastest growing sector of the economy, the $3.6- billion business services industry has created 300,000 new jobs since 2000, the President said. She pointed out that after years of sluggish if not negative growth, the Philippine economy has registered some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in two decades. “Six years ago, no one thought we could get more revenues, cut down on tax cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market. And no one thought we could bring our budget into balance, which we did last month, lower our debts and raise employment, but we have,” the President said. She said that the heavy investment inflow into the Philippines has been anchored by the billion dollar plus investments by several major international corporations, among them Texas Instruments, Hanjin of South Korea, Marubeni and Tokyo Electric of Japan and AES of the US. The upsurge of investments is taking place across a broad spectrum of the economy and her administration is working to ensure that the inflows will be sustained, she added. “We are committed to consolidating the gains in the new revenue by making long overdue investments in human and physical infrastructure” by pouring billions of pesos into education, healthcare, skills training, new roads, bridges and ports to further raise the level of competitiveness of the Philippines, the President said. She urged those who have invested in the Philippines to “continue to do so. And to those of you who are just getting to know the Philippines, we urge you to come and explore all that the country has to offer you and your business.” |
| PGMA urges Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi, Buddhist monks |
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NEW YORK (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
on Thursday (Sept. 27, New York time) urged the government of Myanmar to
release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and scores of Buddhist monks
who have been rounded up for staging protests against the country’s military
rulers. In a statement that she distributed personally to members of the Philippine media at the Waldorf Astoria Towers where she is billeted during her three-day official trip here, the President said freeing Suu Kyi from years of house arrest serves Myanmar’s own best interests and avoid further isolation of the country from the rest of the world’s democracies. Myanmar is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) along with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. “Recent events in Myanmar, therefore, are of concern to the Philippines and to the region as a whole,” the President said, and called on Yangon to act with “utmost restraint and to make immediate steps to preserve what advances have been made in its roadmap to democracy.” She said it was important that all stakeholders engage in a common search for a peaceful resolution of the current unrest in the country and bring about national reconciliations.. “This means,” she added, the “release of all those who have been detained and who can contribute to the process of national renewal, including Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.” She also called on Rangoon’s military leaders to invite United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari to visit that country as soon as possible to look into the situation there. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was democratically elected prime minister of Myanmar in 1990 but the military refused to hand over power to her winning National League for Democracy Party. Suu Kyi has been under house address since 1989. The President will address the UN General Assembly before noon Friday (New York time) as she winds up her official visit to the Big Apple. She is scheduled to head back to Manila Friday afternoon, (New York time). |
| Declaration of RP as NCLEX testing site hailed as a triumph for Filipino nurses |
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NEW YORK (via PLDT) – The declaration of the
Philippines as an international testing site for the Filipino nurses wanting
to find employment in the United States is viewed by Filipino communities in
the US as a momentous achievement of the Philippine Nurses Association of
America (PNAA). The PNAA, with the full backing of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, spearheaded the Philippines’ bid as a testing venue through its Task Force on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Led by Ms. Filipinas Lowery, the other members of the Task Force were Leo Felix Jurado, Lolit Compass, Seny Lipat, Rosario May Mayor and Reynaldo Rivera. “It was a historic win for the PNAA and the Filipino nurses who wish to land a job in their chosen careers in the US now and in the future,” enthused a young, bright-eyed Filipino nurse who arrived here recently. Clearly, the approval of the Philippines as an NCLEX testing site was a big win for the country as well. Then, too, the PNAA achievement could be associated to the rising political clout of Fil-Americans in the US. But for the PNAA, winning the nod of the US National Council of State Boards for Nursing (NCSBN) for the Philippines was not a walk in the park. It took years of dogged persistence and group mobilization to gain the NCSBN’s approval. But undaunted by roadblocks to its aspirations, the PNAA Task Force plodded on. This single-minded purpose is encapsulated in the certificate of recognition presented by President Arroyo to the association during her reunion with leaders of the Filipino communities in Northeast United States at the Waldorf Astoria Towers on Wednesday evening (Sept. 26, New York time). The citation hailed the PNAA for “undauntingly carrying on the cause, in spite of the long wait and disappointments, never giving up hope, but instead soliciting partners and supporters, traveling regularly to the Philippines and back, campaigning vigorously for success. “For showing the true spirit of commitment, reflecting that the measure of generosity and compassion, dedication and professionalism, thus facilitating the ways and means for better opportunities for career advancement in the healthcare industry of the United States,” the citation added. The PNAA said there are around 90,000 Filipino nurses in the United States. Every year 12,000 to 14,000 Filipino nurses migrate to the US. |
| PGMA to stress importance of being globally engaged in UN address |
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NEW YORK (via PLDT) – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
will address Friday morning (Sept. 28, New York time) the 62nd session of
the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and call for concerted
international cooperation in addressing pressing problems facing
member-countries such as poverty, security, energy supply, environmental
degradation and trade and economic relations. She will be the third speaker of the morning session of the General Assembly. The President indicated to members of the Malacañang Press Corps covering her US trip some of the issues she would highlight in her UN address, including the “importance of being globally engaged.” Although her speech was still a work in progress, she said her country report will give her the opportunity to talk about the Philippines and “what we have been achieving in recent years and months.” Among other things, “I will talk about sustainable development. At the APEC Summit, we kept stressing that resolutions on environmental issues should be resolved (at the UN level), so we are affirming that,” she said. She added that she will also tell the UN “a few things about the Philippines… about sustainable development…” “We will talk about the region, the UN, regional relations, the APEC, ASEAN, Myanmar, China, the US, aside from the ASEAN Charter, and other matters…” she said. The President added that she will cite “global cases to alleviate poverty” and later discuss the stalled Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations. She said she will tell the United Nations that the DOHA Round “should push through like what I said in my ADB speech. Don’t forget that it is good for development.” The President said that she will also remind wealthier countries about “capacity building for countries that are not yet ready to compete head on head in all sectors… and remind the developed nations of the Monterey consensus of their commitment of allocating point 7 percent of their GNP (Gross National Product) for ODA (Overseas Development Assistance).” “And then I will push for promoting South-South development assistance, this is something, well, like trilateral (development relations)…” Under her proposed South-South mode of assistance, three parties will help each other out in development projects, with the Philippines contributing “technical expertise” on the one hand; plus the recipient underdeveloped country, on the other hand; and the multilateral or rich country that would fund the project. The President said she had proposed the South-South development mode to Tonga whose prime minister visited the Philippines recently. “We have a proposal together to the ADB (Asian Development Bank) for South-South Cooperation.” “This is really being done in the context of the UN, that’s why I will take this opportunity to push for that,” she added. “It is very helpful. And as far as the Philippines is concerned, you know, we are not a capital-rich country so we can’t be giving ODA to other countries.” “We are a human-resource-rich country and that’s our contribution. It already exists but I want to (push it even) more… It is called South-South cooperation or triangular cooperation…” |
| PGMA says U.N. Sec-Gen a friend of RP |
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UNITED NATIONS, New York (via PLDT) – “I feel
that we have a good friend in the secretary general of the United Nations
Ban Ki Moon.” Thus remarked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during a coffee tete-a-tete at the presidential suite at the 41st floor of the Waldorf Astoria Towers Thursday afternoon (Sept. 27 New York time) with members of the Philippine media delegation covering her three-day visit to New York. The President arrived here Wednesday for a series of meetings with top US business leaders on possible investments in the Philippines and to address the 62nd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Friday (Sept. 28, New York time). During a brief break in her hectic schedule, the President gave the media a glimpse of her “still-a-work-in-progress” speech before her fellow world leaders: “Of course, I will congratulate... the secretary-general of the United Nations. You know, Ban Ki Moon… He was the foreign affairs minister of South Korea. He was very, very helpful…” “And that is why we have these beautiful projects from South Korea – the South Rail, the Olongapo-Gapan Road – so many good projects,” she said. With Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye to her left, the President added that she had met the UN chief during bilateral talks abroad when he was still foreign minister of South Korea. She described him as “very active and I feel that we have a good friend in the person of the UN secretary general.” Aside from Press Secretary Bunye, the Philippine media delegation also included Press Undersecretary for Broadcast Martin Crisostomo and Presidential News Desk editor Aurora Alambra, the President’s official close-in writer, and Rod del Agua of OPS-News Information Bureau. The other members of the media group are Rocky Tobias of NBN-4; Christine Avendano, Philippine Daily Inquirer; Lira Fernandez, INQ7.NET; Jovy Francisco, ABC-5; Genalyn Kabiling, Manila Bulletin; Arsenio Naniong, Radyo ng Bayan; and Lolly Acosta of DZAR. The photographers covering the President’s visit include Jerry Carual, head of the Presidential Close-In Photographers Office (PCPO); Reny Pampolina, also of PCPO; and Benjie Basug of OPS-NIB Photo. On the other hand, the cameramen are Florencio Aguinaldo of NBN-4 and Mario Lontoc of ABC-5. |
| Statement of Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo: Cabinet lauds Senate testimonies based on parameters set by Supreme Court |
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The Cabinet commends Secretary Leandro Mendoza,
Chairman Romulo Neri, and other officials for explaining the national
broadband network project to our people. We also acknowledge the information
and comments given by our senators and other parties, which the China
Projects Oversight Panel shall take into consideration. These and future exchanges of information between co-equal branches of government must abide by parameters set down by the Supreme Court for congressional hearings, including those requiring invitations to state what legislation and questions would be taken up, as well as those governing executive privilege. Executive privilege covers discussions of the President and the Cabinet, closed-door sessions of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and deliberations of the Supreme Court. It is intended to ensure full, free and frank exchange of views in the shaping of decisions, policies, and actions affecting the nation, which would suffer if presidential, congressional, and high court deliberations were not confidential. Put simply, if privileged discussions could be made public, top officials would not openly share sensitive views and knowledge, which are indispensable in crafting sound decisions in the public interest. The same cloak of silence would fall upon media sources if confidentiality of their identities and interviews were not respected. The Senate acknowledged the privileged nature of columnist Jarius Bondoc’s interview with Chairman Neri when he was allowed to ask the latter if he could reveal confidential portions of their interview. When permission was not granted, the Senate did not hold Bondoc in contempt for refusing to violate the interviewee’s confidence. Similar respect should be accorded to the confidentiality of deliberations in the highest organs of government, as affirmed by high court rulings. Executive privilege covering the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court is a cornerstone of our democracy as well as the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution. For questions and clarifications, please call Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo 0919-3959215. |
| Medics volunteer for PGMA's HERO initiative |
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In line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
Health Education Reform Order (HERO), the country’s private medical
practitioners joined hands today to help the national government promote public health education as the best tool in the fight against the spread of preventable diseases. In a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, the group of physicians said they have come out to help teach Filipinos effective health maintenance practices and knowledge to prevent common illnesses in the spirit of volunteerism. “Nagkakaisa na po ngayon ang lahat ng mga doctor para tumulong,” Dra. Cynthia Cuayo of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and Philippine Pediatrics Society pointed out in her opening remarks. The President signed Executive Order No. 595 on Dec. 27 last year institutionalizing the HERO initiative in the country. The signing marked the culmination of the advocacy efforts led by Cardiologist Dr. Tony Leachon of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), in various forums, ranging from the Senate, the House of Representatives up to Malacañang. The HERO addresses the health problems of the country by promoting preventive healthcare through education and implemented at the local government level through the combined efforts of the Hero Triad: 1) medical organizations; 2) local government units (LGUs), private foundations or non-government organizations, and private corporations; and 3) school leaders and students. Education Assistant Director Myrna Navarrez, meanwhile, assured HERO’s physicians that the Department of Education (DepEd) is now working to upgrade the curriculum of all public schools to integrate the module and concept of HERO. But while working on the curriculum, Dra. Cuayo said that a bigger challenge on preventive health was noted during their studies because 19 million school children and 500,000 school teachers in the country do not receive, or have not received, any regular medical check-ups. Culminating in the anniversary of martial law declaration on Sept. 21, 2007, the scope of HERO service through Expanded Universal Medical and Dental Check-up was simultaneously launched in the 37 public schools in Marikina, Manila, Bacolod, City, Bacoor and Dasmarinas both in Cavite, Batangas, Cebu, Iloilo, Kalibo town in Aklan, Malolos City in Bulacan, Puerto Princesa City, Naga City, Pampanga, Pangasinan and Roxas City. Some 92,080 public school students and school personnel were directly benefited in the medical and dental check-ups, provision of needed referrals to local health centers or hospitals who need further medical assistance, and engagement of schools in physicians lectures on preventive healthcare. For his part, Dr. Abundio Balgos, HERO lead for the PCP, said that LGU leaders and local medical societies, after seeing a very relevant, sustainable project resting on the spirit of cooperation, volunteerism and a unified vision for health of the children, responded very positively. The medical organizations involved in the challenge are the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), PCP, Philippine Physician Society (PPS), Philippine Academy of Opthalmology (PAO), Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAOPAFP), and Philippine Dental Association (PDA). |
