• President Aquino launches dengue immunization program for public school children in Zambales
• President Aquino to voters: Use your power to vote to pick right leaders
• Madrid Fusion Manila 2016 organizers meet President Aquino in courtesy call

The President hailed the launch of the immunization program as a milestone in public health.

“Narito po tayo ngayon para saksihan ang isa na naming patunay sa ating panata: Sa pag-unlad po, walang maiiwan. Sa Daang Matuwid, inaaruga po natin ang lahat ng ating mga Boss, lalo na po ‘yung talagang nangangailangan or ‘yung mga pinaka-nangangailangan,” he said in his speech.

He lamented the year-round incidence of dengue fever, as well as the presence of all strains of the dengue fever virus in the country.

“Kaya naman po mahalaga itong nakakuha tayo ng bakuna laban sa dengue. Ang balita natin: Pilipinas ang pangalawang bansa pa lang na nakapaglisensya nitong Dengvaxia, ang unang dengue vaccine sa buong mundo. Ang pondong inilaan po ng DOH para sa bakunang ito malaki-laki po — 3.5 bilyong piso. Isasama po ito sa listahan ng libreng bakuna sa ilalim ng ating National Immunization Program,” he said.

“Kasama naman ang DepEd, DILG at lokal na pamahalaan, ipinapatupad natin itong school-based immunization: Layon nitong mabigyan ng libreng bakuna laban sa dengue ang halos isang milyong Grade 4 public elementary school pupils, edad siyam at pataas, sa NCR (National Capital Region), Region 3 at Region 4-A,” he added, pointing out that these regions are being given priority because they have the highest incidence of dengue.

Earlier, President Aquino led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a two-storey building inside the compound of the President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital (PRMMH) here.

In lowering the capsule, the Chief Executive was assisted by Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. and hospital director, Dr. Noel Bueno.

The P24-million project will house a new Outpatient Department and offices at the ground floor, and a 50-bed ward at the second floor, raising the hospital’s bed capacity to 200.

“Sa kasalukuyan, ang PRMMH ang nag-iisang major hospital dito po sa Zambales. Dati, ang abiso sa atin, dumadayo pa sa Maynila ang iba ninyong pasyente para po magpagamot. Inaksyunan nga po natin ito: sa ilalim ng Health Facilities Enhancement Program, pinondohan natin ang pagsasaayos ng inyong ospital para makapagbigay ng agarang serbisyo dito po sa inyo sa Zambales,” the President said.

He said part of the budget will be used to renovate and rehabilitate the existing operating, delivery and emergency rooms of the hospital.

The upgrading of the hospital is expected to be completed in September, he added. PND (sm)

Reporting on what his administration has done for Zambales, he noted that the province was only given a budget of P2.19 billion for infrastructure from 2005 to 2010.

“Tayo naman po mula 2011 hanggang 2016, ang inilagay nating infrastructure — sa highways pa lang ho, highways, bridges, roads — P6.05 billion. Maliwanag pong napakalayo,” he said.

“Kasama po diyan, nakumpleto na po na ang Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road Project Phase 2. Matatapos na po ang Olongapo-Bugallon Road at ang Dampay-Salaza Access Road.”

The President further said that to support farmers, the government has allocated from 2011 to 2016 some P230 million for farm-to-market roads, and P362.95 million for irrigation systems.

“Mula 2011 hanggang 2015, nagpagawa tayo ng production and post-harvest facilities na nagkakahalaga ng P57 million. Nasa P22.83 million naman ang inilaan natin sa pagpapaunlad ng inyong Subic fish port, na target po nating matapos ngayong Oktubre,” he said.

“Sa ating National Greening Program, ang pagbabalik ng ating mga kagubatan… 7.19 milyong binhi na ang naitanim sa halos 12,000 ektarya sa Zambales. Isipin mo kapag tumubo na po itong mga punong ito…, talagang isipin niyo ang Zambales na marami na naman pong kagubatan. Sa buong bansa po, ang target ng ating National Greening Program, 1.5 bilyon na binhi ang maitanim sa 1.5 milyong ektarya. Sa kasalukuyan po, ang nalikha na nito ay 3.18 milyong trabaho,” he added.

The Chief Executive also mentioned the 9,631 people in Zambales who have graduated from TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program from 2010 to 2015.

“Sa Zambales ho, sa larangan naman ng kuryente, ang sabi po ng NEA sa atin — National Electrification Administration — itinala noong 2011, 87 sitios ninyo walang kuryente. Nitong Marso po natapos na 100 percent, energized na po lahat ng nailista noong 2011,” he said.

All these, he said, are just some of the gains enjoyed by the country in the past six years, under his government’s Daang Matuwid advocacy.

As election draws near, many promises are being bandied around, he said, urging voters to scrutinize each candidate’s platform.
President Aquino enjoined the electorate to vote for the Liberal Party’s candidates when they go to the polls in May, as they would continue the government’s reform program.

“Anim na taon natin ginawa, anong pagbabago ang nangyari sa Pilipinas? Kung may nangyari e sabihin natin siguro— Ituloy ang Daang Matuwid,” he said. PND (sm)

Among those present during the courtesy call in Malacanang include Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Calvo, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Spain’s Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs and International Development Cooperation Jesus Gracia, Administrator Miele Esteban of the Gastronomy and Special Projects, Arum Estrategias de Internationalizacion and General Manager Inigo Canedo of the Arum Estrategias de Internationalizacion.

In the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Galleon Trade that linked Asia to the Western world, the Philippines is highlighting the interaction between east and west in the second edition of Madrid Fusion Manila from April 7 to 9 at the SMX Convention Center Manila SM Mall of Asia Complex.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said Madrid Fusion became the entry point to strengthen the position of the Philippines as a center of modern gastronomy in Asia.

After introducing Filipino cuisine to the world last year, this year’s edition of Madrid Fusion highlights how the Philippines influence the world cuisine though the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade.

Jimenez said the success of the Madrid Fusion Manila can be attributed to all the passionate Filipino and foreign chefs who have shared their culinary talents, stories and techniques.

Philippine cuisine will share the spotlight with the different cuisines of the world as foreign celebrity chefs bring influences of their culture this year at Madrid Fusion Manila.

As a tribute to the gains of the Galleon Trade, Madrid Fusion Manila 2016 brings together the shared experiences between the best chefs in the world from the East and West, participating chefs will exchange ideas through culinary connectedness.

The event will feature three major activities: the International Gastronomy Congress, the trade exhibition and Flavors of the Philippines, a monthlong food festival featuring diverse array of exciting food-related activities.

Among the presenters in the Madrid Fusion Manila include Antonio Sanchez de Mora, historian and archivist, Archivo General de Indias from Seville, Spain; and chefs Dani Garcia, David Thompson, Enrique Olvera, Fernando Perez Arellano, Joan Roca, Jordi Butron, Jorge Vallejo, Jungsik Yim, Kevin Cherkas, Leah Cohen, Michael Aspiras, Tatung Sarthou, Nurdin Topham, Oscar Calleja, Richard Camarena, Virgilio Martinez, and Yoshihiro, Narisawa.

Madrid Fusion Manila is the first and only Asian edition of Madrid Fusion, the most important international gastronomy event in the world and celebrated annually in Madrid since 2003.

The event is organized by the Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Foro de Debate and Arum Estrategias Internacionalizacion. Other partners include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry and Espana Exportacion e Inversiones (ICEX).

Last year, the grastronomy congress gathered 1,381 delegates while the trade exhibition attracted more than 6,000 visitors. An equally exciting and more comprehensive Madrid Fusion Manila awaits gourmet professionals aficionados and enthusiasts this year. PND (as)