Agri chief denies rice crisis, vows to go after ‘saboteurs’

 Entertainment
Sep 122013
 
Agri chief denies rice crisis, vows to go after ‘saboteurs’

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the National Food Authority will name the parties behind the hoarding of rice will be named soon, but not while an investigation is still ongoing. She said the NFA is not keen on publicizing names at this time, lest those involved be tipped off. MANILA, Sept 9 (Mabuhay) – There is no rice crisis. This was the categorical statement from the government as it vows to go after “influential people” potentially involved in rice smuggling who are floating the rice shortage scenario, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Monday. In an interview after his agency’s budget hearing at the Senate, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala belied reports that the government will import more rice this year to address a supposed rice crisis. “Hindi ko nga po alam kung saan nanggagaling ang kwento na magi-import na naman ng panibago ang bansa natin. Hindi po tayo magi-import. Wala pong crisis sa bigas,” he said. During the hearing, National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Orlan Calayag said the country currently has a total rice buffer stock of 1.7 million metric tons, which he said is enough to last for 51 days. “That’s even more than what we are required to keep,” Calayag said. “Wala po kaming nakikitang shortage in terms of production.” The NFA chief added that some rice traders may be behind reports of rice shortage in an effort to hike up the prices of their remaining stocks ahead of the harvesting season. “Ito po kasi ang kaunting window Read More …

PNoy signs Toy Labeling Act

 Entertainment
Sep 092013
 
PNoy signs Toy Labeling Act

President Benigno S. Aquino III leads his official family in prayer before presiding over the Cabinet Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (September 04, 2013). In photo are DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr.,Department of Finance Cesar Purisima and , Education Secretary Armin Luistro . (MNS photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law a measure requiring manufacturers to properly label toys which may contain hazardous materials. During a press briefing on Friday, deputy presidential spokesperon Abigail Valte said Aquino signed Republic Act 10620 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013 last September 3. “Kung napapansin niyo po doon sa mga nakaraang buwan, mga nakaraang taon, meron po tayong mga balita nung mga ibang hazardous materials na naisasama po doon sa mga laruan nung ating mga anak, ating mga pamangkin, at dito ho sa batas na ito, kailangan na hong lagyan ng label yung mga laruang ito,” said Valte. Section 4 of RA 10620 provides that “all toys and games locally or internationally manufactured that are imported, donated, distributed, and sold in the Philippines shall comply with the appropriate provisions on safety labeling and manufacturer’s markings found in the Philippine National Standards for the safety of toys.” RA 10620 also says that “any cautionary statement shall be displayed in its entirety on the principal display panel of the product’s package Read More …

Palace: Aquino wants pork-related cases to go beyond press releases

 News
Sep 082013
 
Palace: Aquino wants pork-related cases to go beyond press releases

President Benigno Aquino wants all cases that will be filed in relation to the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam to go beyond press releases and stand up in court, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino gave strict orders that the cases to be filed must be backed by solid evidence. “(M)ariin ang utos ng Pangulong Aquino sa investigation na kailangan matibay ang ebidensya. Ayaw ng pangulo ang nagsasampa ng kaso para sa press release lang,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She also reiterated the investigation will not spare even administration allies, so long as the evidence [is strong]. In the meantime, she asked the public not to have preconceived notions or assumptions of the outcome of the investigation. “Ang importante, pupunta tayo kung saan tayo dinadala ng ebidensya, hindi pwede ang preconceived notion o assumption,” she said. She said the Palace is still leaving the matter to the Department of Justice, which she said considers this case a priority. Meanwhile, Valte said the hunt is still on for Reynald Lim, the brother of suspected pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles. She also said the reward for information leading to his capture is still holds. — LBG, GMA News

Palace: Opposition using 'pork' issue for politicking

 News
Sep 062013
 
Palace: Opposition using 'pork' issue for politicking

Malacañang on Friday accused members of the opposition of using the pork barrel scam issue for politicking. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she’s “quite amused” by the recent “string of press releases” asking for the resignation of different Cabinet members. “Hindi ko po alam sa kanila kung sino po talaga ‘yung mga pinupuntirya nila. But, in the past week, there have been more than three na binabanggit. Isa po, mag-resign daw, dapat liable, dapat ganito,” she said. Valte was reacting to criticisms on how quickly the Palace has been supposedly clearing government officials linked to the scam, including Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, a close ally of President Benigno Aquino III. “We have the ability to quickly discern what is a substantial allegation and what is an allegation borne out of politicking,” she said. Other officials who have been implicated in the scam were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. Self-righteous Reacting to Valte’s statement, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said Malacañang was being “self-righteous.” “Ang pinapalabas nila sila lang ang may karapatan to discern. Napaka-self righteous naman ‘yun. Ibig sabihin sila lang ang judge? Same COA report naman ang pinagbabasehan,” Tiangco, secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), told GMA News Online by phone. He was referring to a Commission on Audit (COA) report detailing the alleged misuse of pork barrel funds by several government officials, most of them lawmakers. The report said Roxas, during his stint as Read More …

Palace: Aquino's openness to receive fugitives only on case-to-case basis

 News
Aug 312013
 
Palace: Aquino's openness to receive fugitives only on case-to-case basis

President Benigno Aquino III’s openness to receiving high-profile fugitives will only be on a case-to-case basis, a Malacañang spokesperson said on Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stressed this after Aquino explained why he agreed to receive suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Napoles. “Case-to-case basis yan,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio, when asked if Aquino was open to receiving other high-profile fugitives if they send him surrender feelers. Valte explained that Aquino had learned from an experience with retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., who now remains in hiding after Aquino supposedly ignored his surrender feelers. Aquino had told the Philippine Daily Inquirer he received Napoles at Malacañang on Wednesday night because of the Palparan episode. “Kwento niya dati, may nagpapadala ng surrender feelers para gusto siya makausap, hindi pumayag. Sabi niya anong nangyari pagkatapos, hinahanap natin siya,” Valte said. On Wednesday night, Napoles surrendered to Aquino at Malacañang, hours after Aquino announced a P10-million bounty for information leading to her arrest. Napoles is accused of setting up bogus non-government organizations to siphon Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) or “pork barrel” funds from lawmakers. The scandal triggered outrage that led people to call for the abolition of the pork barrel system. Aquino also called for the abolition of PDAF but wants it replaced with a new mechanism. – VVP, GMA News

Explain why you availed of 'pork,' Palace urges militant solons

 News
Aug 042013
 
Explain why you availed of 'pork,' Palace urges militant solons

Malacañang on Sunday challenged militant lawmakers who are calling for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, to explain why they availed of their share in the first place. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte gave this reply to the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc, which called for the unconditional abolition of the pork barrel. “They should be the ones to explain why they are calling for abolition yet they avail of the funds under PDAF,” she said on government-run dzRB. She also said there is no need for the lawmakers to plead with the Palace to give their share of the pork barrel funds to them. “I don’t think pleading is needed considering most of it has been released in the past year,” she said. A report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited documents from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showing five members of the bloc have received P481 million since President Benigno Aquino assumed office in 2010. — LBG, GMA News

Immigration chief Ricardo David resigns

 News
Jul 152013
 
Immigration chief Ricardo David resigns

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David has resigned from his post, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced Tuesday. Valte said President Benigno Aquino III accepted David’s resignation, stated in a letter dated July 12. The President’s spokesperson said she has no information on David’s replacement at the moment. David also served as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA News

Govt working to secure OFWs in Libya after rescue of abducted nurses, says Palace

 Entertainment
Jul 152013
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacanang said Libyan authorities were able to rescue the three Filipino nurses abducted in Libya last Wednesday and the Philippine government is working with the Libyan government on how to secure Filipinos in that country. In a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Department of […]

Palace says it is 'not imputing any motive' in Congress scrutiny of 2014 budget

 News
Jul 132013
 
Palace says it is 'not imputing any motive' in Congress scrutiny of 2014 budget

Malacañang on Saturday welcomed lawmakers’ plan to scrutinize parts of the proposed P2.268-trillion national budget for 2014, saying it is within their mandate to do so. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte downplayed speculations that some lawmakers may have political motives in taking a closer look at the proposed budgets of some agencies. “We welcome scrutiny when it comes to the budget. That is the province of any legislator who may want to look at the budget of any program or any agency,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She added the Palace is not in any position to “impute any motive” when legislators say they want to take a closer look at the budget.  Some reports quoted Sen. Ma. Lourdes “Nancy” Binay as saying she plans to scrutinize the proposed 2014 budgets of the Departments of Interior and Local Government and Social Welfare and Development. Sen. Binay’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, defeated now-DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II in the 2010 vice presidential race. The elder Binay and Roxas have been projected to possibly run for the presidency in 2016. But Sen. Binay maintained there was no political color in her interest to scrutinize the DILG’s proposed budget.  — ELR, GMA News

Palace echoes optimism over RH Law’s constitutionality

 Entertainment
Jul 122013
 

MANILA  (Mabuhay) — Malacanang is confident that the Reproductive Health (RH) Law could withstand legal questions and could be implemented soon. “We are confident that the Office of the Solicitor General will be able to—will ably represent the position of the government in this particular matter,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press […]

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