World Bank doubles disaster aid to Philippines

 News
Nov 222013
 
World Bank doubles disaster aid to Philippines

WASHINGTON – The World Bank on Friday added $480 million in emergency aid to the Philippines, taking to nearly $1 billion its support as the death toll from super typhoon Haiyan passed 5,200. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim made the pledge, added to $500 million committed Monday, in a phone call with Philippine President Benigno Aquino, the development lender said. The new money will be provided through the bank’s existing Community Driven Development Project for the Philippines, which will allow localities to tap the funds for their own rebuilding projects. “The project will empower communities themselves to lead the reconstruction effort, by offering a transparent way for people to identify their own needs,” the Bank said in a statement. The Bank has already deployed disaster specialists to Manila to help the government assess the damages and identify rebuilding priorities in the wake of the storm, which blasted through the center of the country on November 8, flattening entire communities and leaving up to four million people displaced. Early estimates by analysts of the typhoon’s economic cost to the Philippines have been put at around $14 billion. “We have been encouraged by the resilience of the Filipino people and the determination shown by President Aquino and his team as they work to recover from a disaster of unprecedented scale,” Kim said in the statement. — Agence France– Presse

Aquino leads launch of PhilHealth benefit package for people with disabilities

 Entertainment
Nov 052013
 
Aquino leads launch of PhilHealth benefit package for people with disabilities

President Benigno S. Aquino III and his four sisters, visit the graves of their parents on Wednesday,October 30, 2013, two days before the traditional All Saints’ Day commemoration on November 1. The President and his sisters Viel Dee, Pinky Abellada, Kris Aquino and Ballsy Cruz attend a Holy Mass at the Manila Memorial Park (MMP) in Parañaque City, where their parents, former President Corazon Aquino and martyred opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., are buried. Also in photo are, Joseph Dee and Kris’ two sons, Joshua and Bimby. (MNS Photo) MANILA  (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III led the launching of PhilHealth’s benefit package for persons with disabilities particularly those with lost or deficient limbs in a ceremony at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang Palace, Thursday. In his speech, the President commended the PhilHealth for its newly-launched Z-MORPH (Z Benefits Rate for Mobility, Orthosis, Rehabilitation, Prosthesis Help) benefit package that aims to provide assistance such as prosthetic legs and other health care services for individuals without lower limbs. “Nalulugod din po tayong ipakilala ang Z-MORPH Prosthesis Benefit Package – ang kauna-unahang PhilHealth benefit package na nakatuon para sa mga kababayan nating kabilang sa sektor ng Persons with Disabilities (PWDs),” the President said in his speech. The Z-MORPH benefit package covers initial fitting of external lower limb prosthesis at a package rate of P15,000 per limb or P30,000 for both limbs for the entire pre and post-prosthetic management of either the foot, symes and ankle or below knee levels of amputation. Read More …

If only Aquino had said this …

 News
Oct 312013
 
If only Aquino had said this …

It could perhaps be described as President Aquino’s Nixon moment. Did President Benigno Aquino III’s communications team not realize that? “I’m not a crook,” Richard Nixon declared in the ’70s as he rejected allegations related to the Watergate scandal. President Benigno Aquino III delivers his speech on national television at Malacanang on Wednesday Oct. 30, 2013. Aquino said officials implicated in a corruption scandal involving the pocketing of huge development funds were muddling the issue to confuse the public instead of addressing the allegations against them. AP PHOTO Now comes Aquino proclaiming: “I am not a thief.” As I’ve noted in the past, many Filipinos still believe he is sincere in his desire to eradicate corruption in government. Until recently, they had reason to be hopeful. But the Napoles fiasco and the other scandals that followed have simply overwhelmed Team PNoy (Aquino). They were silent, then they became defensive. Then they started throwing a fit. PNoy’s speech underscored this. “The issue here is theft. I am not a thief,” he said. But it isn’t just about theft. It’s about a system that has made theft by trapos, by the country’s elites, so easy to pull off. So easy. But PNoy unfortunately gives the impression that he doesn’t get it — that he only recently discovered the brazen corruption that’s been part of the Philippine politics for generations. “We were stolen from, we were deceived—and now we are the ones being asked to explain?” he said. “I have pursued truth and Read More …

Aquino to encourage more investments, renew ties on his first visit to Korea

 Entertainment
Oct 222013
 
Aquino to encourage more investments, renew ties on his first visit to Korea

President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions from the media during the press briefing after gracing the 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM) at the Ballroom 2, Raffles and Fairmont Hotel in Makati Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (September 10). With theme: “Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” to highlight the need for strengthened cooperation among the ASEAN Navies for peace, stability and progress in the ASEAN region. (MNS Photo). MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday vowed to bring home more investments and forge stronger ties on his first state visit to South Korea. In his pre-departure speech, President Aquino underscored the importance of having renewed ties with South Korea whose nationals remain as one of the top tourists entering the country in recent years. “Tayo naman po ay tutungo ngayon sa South Korea, upang asikasuhin naman ang kinabukasan habang inaasikaso natin ang kasalukuyan. Alam po ng lahat na marami pong investors na galing sa Korea, layon po natin lalo pang dagdagan ang kanilang investments sa ating pong bansa,” President Aquino said. The President pushed through with his South Korea trip after visiting quake affected areas in the Central Visayas region. President Aquino said other key Cabinet members are now overseeing relief operations in devastated areas. “May mga nagtanong po kung dapat tayo tumuloy matapos ng nangyari na lindol sa Kabisayaan. Ang sagot po natin dito: Habang inaasikaso nga ho ang kasalukuyan, dapat naman ho siguro huwag natin pabayaan ang kinabukasan,” he added. The Chief Executive said Read More …

President Aquino cites Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines for cooperation to curb diseases

 Entertainment
Oct 032013
 
President Aquino cites Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines for cooperation to curb diseases

President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions from the members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) during the BCBP Grand Breakfast at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday (October 02). The BCBP develops Christian leaders to become agents for justice and sound development in the work environment. In photo are Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., BCBP national president Lito Manuel Jimenez and BCBP chairman of the board Eduardo Pelaez, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 3 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines, Inc. (NSSPI) for its cooperation with the government to curb disease. “I am confident that your solidarity will drive our efforts to curb disease at its roots, and to protect our youth from potential impediments to their individual progress,” the Chief Executive said in his message to the NSSPI on Thursday. The NSSPI opened on Thursday its two-day Annual Newborn Screening Convention 2013 entitled, “Facing the Challenges of Expanded Newborns Screening” at the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila. “Our nation relies on your collective to establish the practice of newborn screening as a determined step towards a robust tomorrow, with the fresh research and innovations you will uncover today,” the President said. President Aquino said the pursuit of development is centered on capacity-building, beginning from the empowerment of the people and extending to the advancement of the Read More …

President Aquino lauds holding of 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting in Manila

 Entertainment
Sep 132013
 
President Aquino lauds holding of 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting in Manila

President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions from the media during the press briefing after gracing the 7th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM) at the Ballroom 2, Raffles and Fairmont Hotel in Makati Avenue, Makati City on Tuesday (September 10). With theme: “Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” to highlight the need for strengthened cooperation among the ASEAN Navies for peace, stability and progress in the ASEAN region. (MNS Photo). MAKATI CITY, Sept 10 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the 7th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Navy Chiefs Meeting held at the Fairmont Hotel here on Tuesday. The President said in his speech keynoting the event that the meeting provided a venue where member-countries could come together and foster “a strong sense of regional solidarity” while upholding “our individual sovereignty.” “Our respective nations have all strived to uphold our individual sovereignty, while at the same time fostering a strong sense of regional solidarity—one that favors consensus and collaboration instead of discord, aggression, and imposition,” the President said. “And it is in meetings like this where we can make progress on that front—where we can truly solidify our ties and protect our common seas,” he added. He said the end result of the Asean Navy Chiefs Meeting was to ensure “freedom of navigation, the safety of commercial vessels, and the security of their civilian passengers” which he pointed out was in line with the goal of the ASEAN Economic Community, which we intend to establish by 2015. “This Read More …

President Aquino joins Filipinos in commemorating the 30th Death Anniversary of former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr.

 Entertainment
Aug 222013
 

MANILA, Aug 21 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III joined the Filipino people in commemorating the 30th Death Anniversary of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., saying that each Filipino carries the potential to bring about a lasting transformation in society. “As we celebrate his courage and patriotism, may we be reminded that individual […]

President Aquino lauds manufacturing industry for supporting his administration

 Entertainment
Aug 162013
 

MANILA, Aug 15 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the manufacturing industry for supporting his administration’s agenda of inclusive growth. “Achieving an equitably progressive future lies in our ability to adopt technologies that lead to the production of better goods and services. Enterprises such as yours, whose efforts anchor our nation’s pursuit of an […]

President Aquino cites Brother Industries for expanding business in the Philippines

 Entertainment
Aug 132013
 

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas, Aug 12 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the Brother Industries Ltd. for expanding its business in the Philippines that spurred the growth of the manufacturing sector and created quality employment opportunities for the Filipino people. During the inauguration of the new factory of Brother Industries Philippines at the First […]

PNoy on pork scam: Corruption has dropped

 Entertainment
Aug 072013
 

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE (Mabuhay) — President Aquino admitted that despite implementing tightened procedures, the government could not complete eliminate the opportunities for corruption. But Aquino quickly pointed out the “dramatic drop” in the amount being allegedly lost to graft compared to the previous administration. Aquino made the comment when asked by reporters about the […]

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