Philippine Embassy News Release 08 October 2010

Philippine Embassy
News Release
08 October 2010

Poll wants Aquino to focus on jobs creation, good governance

Jobs creation and good governance—the top priorities of President Benigno S. Aquino III -- jibe quite well with the results of a recent survey on what the people want the Chief Executive to focus on.

A nationwide poll conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on Sept.28 to 29, showed majority of Filipinos want the Chief Executive to focus on job generation and livelihood programs as well as eradicating corruption.

The survey was conducted 10 days before the President reported to the nation his accomplishments in the first 100 days of his administration.

On Thursday, in his “Report Sa Boss,” the President stressed that his government’s first priority is jobs creation. He cited the $2.4 billion new investments he brought home from his recent working visit to the United States, which he said would create 43,000 jobs.

“That is only the beginning. If we do not let the investors pass through the eye of the needle, we can convince businessmen to invest in the Philippines which will result in more jobs,” he said in the vernacular.

He added that his 100 day-old campaign against corruption has restored business confidence in the Philippines, yielding tens of thousands of new jobs, massive savings in government funds and better economic growth.

The PIA survey involved face-to-face interviews with 629 sectoral leaders, including elected officials, businessmen, religious, media, and the uniformed services.

Of those polled, 78 percent said jobs and livelihood should be on top of the government’s priority list, while 66 percent considered the fight against corruption as of utmost importance.

More than half (59 percent) of the respondents also urged the administration to improve access to quality education even as almost the same number (57 percent) recommended the implementation of measures that will control the spiraling of prices of basic goods.

“The people’s wish list is being addressed and the Aquino administration aims to fulfill its social contract with the Filipino people,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said.

The survey also shows that people (34 percent) see President Aquino’s integrity, simple lifestyle, and the people’s continued trust in him as his strongest point even as almost the same number (33 percent) considered his handling of the Manila hostage incident as his weakest point during his first 100 days.

He was praised for the investments generated during his trip to the United States (10 percent) and the prudent spending (6 percent) being practiced by his administration.

On the other hand, 19 percent of those polled pointed to factionalism in the Cabinet and appointment of underserving/corrupt officials as one of his low points during the same period.

The survey wants President Aquino to prosecute officials linked to various anomalies (48 percent); stop jueteng and other illegal gambling activities (45 percent); pursue peace initiatives (44 percent); and fast track vital infrastructure projects (43 percent).

“The survey also gives us a clear idea of what the Boss wants. I am sure the President will respond in the best possible way he can,” Coloma said.


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Aquino orders DA, state universities and colleges to teach farmers modern agri technology

REINA MERCEDES, Isabela: President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered on Friday all state universities and colleges as well as the Department of Agriculture to help agriculture professionals, farmers and growers use modern technology to produce high quality seeds.

The Chief Executive issued the directive in his speech keynoting the closing ceremony of the three-day 7th Philippine National Corn Congress at the compound of the P500 million state-of-the-art Reina Mercedes Corn Processing Center (RM-CPC), the biggest post harvest facility in the country and probably in South East Asia.

He also encouraged the private sectors and non-government organizations to support the government’s effort to develop the agriculture sector, especially the corn industry.

“Ang ating pagtutulungan po ang magiging puhunan natin upang matiyak ang pangmatagalang food security, at mas matatag na ekonomiya ng bansa,” the President pointed out.

He expressed optimism that the culmination of the 7th corn congress will serve as a signal for all stakeholders to unite and further enhance the agricultural sector.

“Wala pong duda: ang mga binhi ng pagbabago na ating itinanim ngayon ay magbubunga ng magandang kinabukasan, na aanihin at ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Napakaganda na po ng ating nasimulan; ituloy po natin ang sama-samang pagtahak sa tuwid na landas,” he said.

The President cited Dr. Alfonso Uy, president and chairman of the Mindanao Grain Processing Co., Inc., for selecting Reina Mercedes town to host the 30-hectare Corn Processing Center for the benefits not only of the small farmers but the whole of Region 2, as well.

The 7th Philippine corn congress is a three-day event organized by the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc., in conjunction with the celebration of World Food Month and the Launching of the Reina Mercedes Post Harvest Facility and Corn Processing Center.

The Corn Congress is an annual gathering of more than 3000 small corn farmers and leaders, government and private sector agricultural technicians and other private sector industry stakeholders.

The RM-CPC was established to improve agricultural efficiency, increase farming income, develop long-term food security and promote social justice not only among the farmers of Isabela but also for the whole region.


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Enough funds for OFWs’ legal relief, says Aquino

President Benigno S. Aquino III today said there are enough funds for the legal requirements of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) wanting to go back home.

The President bared this in a video conference with a Filipino medical practitioner in Saudi Arabia during the First 100 Days Town Hall Meeting at the La Consolacion Gym in Mendiola, Manila on Thursday.

“Meron hong pondo na talagang nakalaan para maihire iyong tamang mga lawyers para naman ho matugunan hindi lang po sa Saudi pero sa ibat-ibang parte po ng mundo,” he said.

The President pointed out that the Assistance to Nationals Fund (ANF) for OFWs under the proposed P10.9-billion proposed fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was reduced to support his administration’s austerity policy and properly address the country’s projected P325-billion budget deficit this year.

While there is a reduction in budget, the President said his administration will ensure that there are no leakages in the disbursement and use of government funds.

“Sisiguraduhin natin na iyong ating budget, bawat piso ay mapunta sa kanyang pakay at hindi ho mapunta sa kung ano-ano hong tinatawag sa ingles na leakage, iyong pagwawaldas. So, maski mas kaunti, mas marami pa ring magagawa dahil mas sisiguraduhin natin iyong paggastos ho niyan,” he explained.

The President cited the 25 percent savings generated from the typhoon rehabilitation fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways where only P600 million from the programmed budget of P900 million was spent due to his administration’s efficient use of government funds.

While OFW remittances contribute considerably to the national coffers, the President said that government can easily augment the fund assistance for OFWs with the expected bigger savings next year due to the efficient disbursement of funds.

The President disclosed that King Abdullah bin Abdulazziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia has granted a six-month amnesty to illegally staying foreigners including OFWs allowing them to go home without punishment from Sept. 25 this year to March 23 next year.

The President said he has already directed the Department of Labor and Employment to conduct an investigation particularly on the activities of illegal recruiters who deploy OFWs even to war-torn areas.

“Nakatutok rin tayo doon sa mga situwasyon na nalalabag iyong ating mga batas, for instance, iyong deployment to areas na war-torned. Iyon ay talagang pinaiimbestigahan ko paano na-deploy diyan, paano nailagay sa alanganin ang ating mga kababayan,’ the President said.


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Gov’t determined to attain food security--Aquino

President Benigno S. Aquino III said his administration is determined to attain food security for the country by becoming self sufficient in rice while augmenting the income of farmers.

The President bared this during an interaction with multi-sectoral representatives Thursday at a Town Hall Meeting at the La Consolacion Auditorium in Mendiola.

“With the Department of Agriculture as a lead agency, gusto nating pagandahin ang antas ng kabuhayan ng magsasaka para manatiling nagsasaka. Gusto natin ng food security. Gusto nating i-augment iyong income at saka iyong higher value crops na binabanggit, iyong pagbabawas ng mga middleman para iyong farmer at saka iyong consumer mas mabilisang magkaugnayan mapababa iyong presyo ng consumer, mapataas iyong kinikita ng magsasaka,” he said.

For so many years, the President said neighboring countries have been exporting rice to the Philippines after learning much from it’s agricultural
expertise.

At present, the President said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) are conducting inventories on rice production and consumption which will then become the basis in importing rice, sugar or other agricultural products.

Iyong diperensiya noon kung mayroon man iyon ang magdidikta kung mag-aangkat tayo o hindi. Pero magmumula iyan hindi lang naman sa bigas pati sa asukal at sa iba pang mga produkto. Magmumula ho iyan na mayroong base ang desisyon natin at hindi kuwentong kutsero.

The President said the Philippines needs to become self sufficient in rice production as we need not rely much on exporting the commodity from our neighbors particularly in the event that they be severely affected by climate change.

To help attain food security, the President said government will also establish additional agricultural trading centers in strategic areas nationwide.

Early in his term, the President directed agriculture authorities to improve rice production towards self-sufficiency within three years and end rice importation where billions of funds are spent.

Aside from rice production, the agriculture department is also urging farmers to practice organic farming and plant other high-value crops to increase their income.


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Reference:

First Secretary and Consul Emil T. Fernandez
Press and Information Officer
Email: info@philippinesusa.org
Tel: 202-467-9432