by magnolia_eic | Jun 1, 2012 | Headlines, National News
MALACAÑANG bared the significant growth in the country’s economy that were attributed to the continued confidence by the private sector on the Aquino administration, including the increase in exports and the increase in expenditures by the Filipino people.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte read a statement on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2012 which, she said, was the highest in Asia and in the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
“The Philippine economy grew by 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2012. The better than expected economic growth was due to sustained private sector confidence and accelerated government spending. There were healthy increases in the services sector, complemented by growth in exports and increases in household consumption expenditures,” Valte said.
“The first quarter GDP figure validates the optimistic outlook of the President and his economic team. It is the highest first quarter GDP growth in a non-election year since 2006; the second highest in Asia; and the highest growth rate in the entire ASEAN region for this
period,” she added.
“We are confident that the positive trajectory of our GDP growth will be sustained in the latter quarters of this year, which has traditionally demonstrated more robust and dynamic economic performance. Moreover, this affirmation of our country’s steady advance toward inclusive growth comes at the heels of Moody’s Investors Service upgrade of our credit
outlook to positive from stable. All indications point to the global economy’s continued confidence in the Philippines, as well as to a more optimistic outlook within the country,” Valte explained.
At the height of these achievements, Valte assured that the government will continue to pursue its reform agenda and efforts to ensure the improvement of the lives of the Filipinos.
“The hard work continues, on the firm foundations of these recent achievements. As the Aquino administration has been resolute in carrying out its agenda of reform and in institutionalizing good governance, it will continue to be equally steadfast in translating our
economy’s gains into employment opportunities, programs geared toward poverty alleviation, and the systemic improvement of the way of life of Filipinos,” Valte noted. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Jul 21, 2011 | Headlines, National News
MALACANANG welcomed China’s recent position supporting the creation of a legally binding guideline that sets the conduct of all the claimant countries in the disputed West Philippine Sea. “We welcome the development. That’s a step forward. As we always say, we need a rules-based
regime in governing our relations there in those disputed areas. So certainly it’s a welcome development for us,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
It was reported that a senior Chinese diplomat said his country had agreed to draft guidelines for behavior in the disputed region with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after a meeting of the Asian security officials in Bali, Indonesia.
China has long resisted previous calls for a legally binding code of conduct that would settle disputes in the West Philippine Sea and solving the problems through peaceful means.
What is currently in place is the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea but the declaration is not a legally binding one. It was signed on November 4, 2002 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia by the member states of ASEAN and China and was aimed at promoting peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment in the West Philippine Sea.
It also aims to ensure peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity in the region. (PCOO)
by magnolia_eic | Sep 2, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Instead of making two separate trips, President Benigno S. Aquino III has re-scheduled his visits to Indonesia and Vietnam next month so that a study can be conducted on how these trips can be squeezed into one.
This, he said, was in line with his advocacy to limit his foreign trips to those that are absolutely necessary.
The President was scheduled to visit the two countries in September upon invitation of their respective heads of state.
“I understand Indonesia can only accommodate us sometime in October. There is also an ASEAN summit in Vietnam scheduled on the same day. We asked if we can do what has to be done in Vietnam in one trip rather than two trips,” the President said.
“I did promise that I would limit the trips to those that are absolutely necessary. As you see Vietnam is the host for ASEAN this year and we should visit Vietnam. In keeping with our promise to be more judicious in the way we spend the people’s money, especially the fact that we have very little left, I felt it was prudent to have one trip rather than two,” the President said. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 7, 2010 | Features, Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
The magically lit Abatan river and the equally spectacular performance by the Teatro Abatan conspired to assert Bohol’s hold as Asia’s Cultural Capital in July.
At a place where time flows with the ebb of tides, Abatan was all the while, different last July 22.
There, time paused from its flow and momentarily sat along the banks of the river; a spectator of the rare meeting of the classical East and the ethnic and indigenous Bohol cultures which later exploded in a myriad of colors in the light of the celebration.
July 22 this is year is 156th Bohol Day, an event marked by the official declaration of the island province as independent from Cebu.
That day also brings the Asian spotlight to the province as Asia’s Cultural Capital for the month.
Brandishing nothing but a track record as one of the country’s most successful engagements of culture as tool for community mobilization against poverty, Bohol’s cultural renaissance program has earned international admiration.
No less than NCCA Executive Director Cecille Guidote-Alvarez who used to described culture as “an engine for economic growth, a building block of social creation, an asset of national pride and a force for education and social transformation, as well as an effective tool for cultural diplomacy” heaped praises for Bohol that day.
The declaration of Asian Cultural Capital in July for Bohol allows the people to build audiences and unleash the creative power of people by art and persuasion and not by force.
The over-all goal is to be one with the Asean region in overcoming the war against poverty and environmental degradation to assure the survival and dignified life on earth of our children and coming generations,” Alvarez was quoted.
In the light of helping attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to eradicate poverty by 2015, Bohol, along with its partnerships with NCCA and UNESCO, would make art and culture performances affordable and accessible by all, explains Gardy Labad, Bohol based artistic consultant to the newly organized Teatro Abatan.
Under the program, communities are given free training in the visual arts, dance, drama, poetry, comics, media arts to discover their abilities, Labad said.
And like big events in Bohol, tradition dictates that milestone go with a hearty banquet of religious, political, artistic and cultural servings for everyone to feast on.
The day started with a celebration of a holy mass at the historic St. Joseph Cathedral. A wreath laying ceremony at Carlos P. Garcia Monument followed at Plaza Rizal.
Then the attention shuffled off to the nearby Escuela de Ninas, now the National Museum Bohol branch for the opening of exhibits.
Moments later, at the beat of the drums, higantes (giants) led by effigies of Boholano heroes Sikatuna, Tamblot, Dagohoy, Capt. Francisco Salazar and Carlos P. Garcia (giants) walked 15-feet high to banner Bohol’s claim to cultural greatness on their way to the Cultural Center.
Following the local higantes were giant puppets representing the Asean member nations and their representatives on a flag parade. Even with the loose traffic on a holiday, the larger than life higantes in their national costumes share the streets with bright tricycles in asserting its claim on local traditions.
The parade sauntered off to the refurbished Bohol Cultural Center where the biggest event in the morning unfolded.
UNESCO ASEAN Head Dr. Hubert Guizen together with NCCA Chairperson Vilma Labrador and UNESCO Commissioner Cecile Guidote Alvarez declared Bohol as the July site of the PHILIPPINES AS ASEAN CULTURAL CAPITAL.
The Provincial Government of Bohol led by Governor Edgar Chatto accepted the honor and welcomed the UNESCO guests by presenting to them the symbolic key to the province. DOT Secretary Lim praised Bohol’s emergence as a major ecological and cultural destination of the nation.
Later that night, Bohol’s claim to be the month’s Asian Cultural Capital was pushed to the limits. (racPIA-Bohol)
by Misael | Jun 2, 2008 | Features
USA ka Bol-anong lider sa mga kabatan-onan maoy mo-padayag sa duha ka dagkong sugyot sa mga kabatan-onang Pilipino ngadto sa Association of South East Asian nations Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) sa Changmai ug Bangkok sa Thailand.
Si National Youth Commissioner sa Visayas Benjie Oliva kinsa mao usab ang representante sa nasud makigtigum sa mga opisyales sa ASEAN lakip na ang China, Japan ug Korea sugod karon, Hunyo 1-6, 2008.
Itanyag ni Comm. Oliva ang laraw nga ipatuman ang ASEAN Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (ASEAN-TAYO) ug ang ASEAN Youth Summit.
Kini nga duha ka programa sa kabatan-onan, una na nga gipatuman sa Pilipinas ug naka-ani ug pagdayeg sa kadaghanan.
Dungan niini, maghatag usab si Oliva sa mga katikaran sa nasabutan sa mga ASEAN youth officials human sa nahitabo nga bansaybansay sa pag-ugmad sa batakan alang sa Coaching ug Mentoring sa mga out of school youth kabahin sa pagpamuhunan.
Kini nga kasabutan naaprobahan niadtong katapusang APEC-HRD nga tigum dinhi sa Bohol Beach Club, Panglao, Bohol niadtong March 2008.
Ang ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Youth (SOMY) matud ni Oliva, gimugna isip maoy higher level nga pundok nga magtuki sa kaparehas nga mga sulirang sosyal sa mga kabatan-onan sa mga sakop nga nasud.
Dugang niya, ang SOMY sakop na sa ASEAN institutional framework nga magtaho sa mga pangulo sa ASEAN pinaagi sa ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. (rachiu/PIA)
