MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Wednesday reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to deal with drug syndicates, saying this will not help improve the lives of their families. “Iwasan ang mga ganitong sitwasyon. Kung sakali man ay mas mapapabigat ang kalagayan ng kanilang mga mahal imbes na magpaginhawa ng buhay,” deputy presidential spokesperon Abigail Valte said […]
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang said it is open to having discussions with lawmakers to allay fears of some senators who said the planned bases access agreement with the US may be violating the Constitution. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino administration is willing to discuss the issue with the senators while the defense […]
The P18,000 to be given to families living near Metro Manila waterways is not meant to boost Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s chances of winning the presidency in 2016, a Palace spokesperson said Tuesday. At a news briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the relocation of informal settlers living near waterways has been planned even before Roxas’ stint at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). She added that it was the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo who began planning moving the informal settlers away from the waterways. “Everybody understands na hindi naman po agaran na makakapagtayo ng medium-rise structure. It took some time to plan and, also, natagalan din po tayo sa pagpili ‘nung mga communities,” Valte said. The President’s spokesperson also said that the DILG is not the only agency in charge of the plan to give P18,000 to enable families near waterways to find temporary housing. She said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be the one to supervise the disbursement of this amount. Valte further said that Vice President Jejomar Binay, who also has plans to seek the presidency in 2016, will also participate in the relocation project, being the head of the Housing & Urban Development Coordinating Council. Senator Franklin Drilon, the Liberal Party (LP)’s vice chairperson, said early this year that Roxas will be the ruling party’s standard-bearer in 2016. Roxas was Aquino’s running mate during the 2010 national elections, but lost the vice-presidency to Binay. — BM, Read More …
As more heavy rains threaten Metro Manila, President Benigno Aquino III met with Cabinet officials on Tuesday afternoon to tackle the status of flood control projects in the country’s capital region. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President called for the meeting last week to “be apprised of all the flood control projects that is going on” in Metro Manila. The meeting was ongoing as of posting time. “The master flood control plan is in various stages. Those that are doable are already being done,” Valte said at a press briefing. She added that Aquino will also tackle contingency measures during floods and the relocation of informal settlers in waterways during his meeting with the Cabinet officials. PAGASA earlier warned of more heavy rains over Metro Manila until the weekend due to cyclone
President Benigno Aquino III has yet to issue any instructions on the report he received earlier this week about the incident wherein a Taiwanese fisherman died on May 9 during an encounter involving the Philippine Coast Guard. “Let’s just wait. Everyone is anticipating what the results will be. At this point we have not received any instructions apart from confirming that the report has been submitted to the Office of the President,” Deputy presidential spokespersons Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. Earlier this week, the National Bureau of Investigation’s final report on the May 9 incident was submitted to Malacañang, more than a month after the encounter between a Philippine fisheries surveillance ship and a Taiwanese fishing vessel. A Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead in the incident, prompting Taiwan to demand an apology from the Philippine government. Taiwan has frozen the hiring of new labor from the Philippines, and issued a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines. The tension has since eased somewhat after a parallel investigation of the incident by both sides. — ELR, GMA News
President Benigno Aquino III is satisfied with the results of the investigation on last Friday’s explosion at the Two Serendra condominium building in Taguig City that left three people dead, Malacañang said Friday. Aquino, however, asked investigators to continue being vigilant to truly determine the source of the gas leak that resulted in the explosion, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. “The president was updated last night [and he] was satisfied with the results,” Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang. “Kung matatandaan ninyo po ang mahigpit na bilin ng pangulo doon sa interagency task force ay siguraduhin that the findings will stand the scrutiny of anyone and that findings will be based on the evidence that was gathered on site,” she added. Earlier in the day, Interior and Local Goverment Secretary Mar Roxas II announced based on the result of the investigation, a gas leak and not a bomb caused the deadly blast. Valte said Aquino has instructed the investigators to continue their probe with the same thoroughness. “Itutuloy po ‘yung thoroughness, hindi pa ho tapos ‘yung imbestigasyon. Na-rule out na po that the explosion was caused by any device, na-rule out na po ‘yon at nandoon na po sa stage na nasasabi na po ng mga imbestigador na this is attributable to a gas explosion most likely LPG (liquefied petroleum gas),” she said. PNoy to attend Ayala-hosted luncheon Meanwhile, despite the ongoing investigation on the property owned by Ayala Land Inc., Valte said Aquino, who is in Read More …
Philippine Daily Inquirer 3:37 am | Wednesday, May 29th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Aquino administration will soon identify “alternative fishing grounds” for Filipino fishermen so as not to exacerbate tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). At the same time, the government will endeavor to beef up its maritime assets to establish “a minimum credible defense,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told a Palace briefing on Tuesday. Valte explained that the government would continue to pursue its “nonengagement policy” on the issue of the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea, in answer to a question about the presence of a fleet of Chinese fishing boats, accompanied by patrol vessels, at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Reef). On May 10, the Philippines protested the presence of the Chinese boats since Ayungin lies 196 kilometers from Palawan province, and thus well within the Philippines’ 370-km exclusive economic zone. According to Valte, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has designated a particular area to be opened as an alternative fishing ground for Filipino fishermen.—Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine government officials on Monday welcomed the plan of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to form a political party that will participate in the 2016 elections, saying it is “consistent” with the peace process. In a text message, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the MILF’s political plan “demonstrates its commitment to prepare itself for the challenge of democratic and inclusive governance” in the Bangsamoro region, which is set to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “It is consistent with the goals of any negotiated political settlement to transform the engaged armed party into an unarmed political and socio-economic force for continuing change and reform,” Deles said. Last week, the MILF, the country’s largest secessionist group, announced that it is set to form its political party this year to participate in the 2016 national elections. The announcement came months after the MILF and the Philippine government signed a framework peace agreement last October. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte welcomed the MILF’s “preparation” for its participation in the political process. “As you all know, the road map towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro ends in 2016 and, understandably, the MILF needs to preparate for that,” she said. Valte, however, said that she is not aware of any plan from the government to help the MILF transition from an armed group to a political party. The peace panels of the Philippine government and the MILF are currently in the process of ironing out issues in Read More …
MANILA, May 23 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law a measure imposing stiffer penalties against the importation or sale of hot meat. “This particular law now provides for the definition of hot meat in light of the sale of double-dead or illegally smuggled meat,” deputy Malacanang spokesperson Abigail Valte said in […]
MANILA, Apr 6 (Mabuhay) – Despite North Korea’s advice to foreign missions to consider evacuating their posts due to nuclear tensions, the Philippines still sees no need to raise its alert level in Korea as of Saturday morning. In a radio interview, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the situation at least in South Korea […]