President Benigno S. Aquino III views the miniature “Tuwid Na Daan” made of glass presented as a gift to the President by organizers of Bulong-Pulunganforumat Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila Friday, (December 11). The President is the guest of honor at the Annual Bulong-Pulungan Christmas Party. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — As he signed the 2016 budget, President Benigno Aquino III got a ribbing from his Executive Secretary on the win of Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach who was once linked to the chief executive.
“Isang Miss Universe na umaga sa inyong lahat,” Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said, drawing a knowing laughter from the audience in Malacañang as he prepared to introduce the President.
Aquino retorted, “Executive Secretary at kumpare ko pa na nagmula ang relasyon natin sa ating mga magulang, sinira mo itong araw na ito.”
In an interview yesterday afternoon, Kris Aquino spoke up on rumors that Wurtzbach and her brother, President Aquino, were dating.
Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (right) reacts as she is crowned the 2015 Miss Universe after a gaff by the emcee, Steve Harvey, announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez (left) as the winner on Sunday (Monday Manila time) at the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.(MNS photo)
“All of us kaming mga sisters, from before pa, noong naru-rumor that they were dating, we like her. Because one, she could have easily denied [that they were dating] because that was the time na ‘yung SAF big deal, and Noy was being hit left and right. But she spoke up for him. Kaya sabi ko ay matapang itong girl na ito, hindi nang-iiwan, hindi nagde-deny kaya bongga,” she said.
Ms. Aquino, however, drew laughs when she quipped that she doesn’t think Wurtzbach also liked her brother.
“I think she entertained him but the thing is, you can tell from her character na single-minded. Kinailangan na ito ang focus ko muna. Grabe naman ‘di ba nangalahati ang katawan and lahat ng training, pinagdaanan. Pero ‘di ba pinadalahan [ni Noy] ng flowers bago umalis?” she said.
Aquino signed the 2016 General Appropriations Act worth P3.002-trillion, with education and health taking the lion share of the pie. The education sector gets P436.5 billion while health services would get a P128.5 billion allocation.
In his speech, Aquino took pride in the budget’s timely signing, pointing out that it was the sixth straight year that the budget was being signed before the new year started.
He criticized the previous administration for the delayed enactment of the budget and raised suspicion about the practice of reenacting the same items in the previous year’s budget.
“Bakit po nandoon pa rin ang mga items na bayad na? Saan naman kaya napunta ang mga sobrang ipinagkaloob?” Aquino said.
Aquino said the new budget will give the next administration the capacity to continue his administration’s reforms. “Nakasaad nga po sa mga pahina ng librong ito ang matino at maayos na detalye upang tugunan ang pangangailangan sa susunod na taon. Ang hangad po natin: Huwag nang ipasa sa iba ang minana nating problema,” he said.
The rest of the top ten departments are: public works and highways (P400.4 billion); national defense (P175.2 billion); interior and local government (P154.5 billion); health (P128.5 billion); social welfare and development (P111 billion); agriculture (P94 billion); transportation and communications (P48.5 billion); finance (P33.2 billion), and; environment and natural resources (P24.8 billion).(MNS)