• Palace mourns passing of DepEd Undersecretary
• President Aquino leads commemoration of National Heroes Day
• Philippines sees trade with APEC member economies rising over 6.8% yearly
• President Aquino amends some provisions constituting the Bangsamoro Transition Commission
• Palace continues to monitor Iglesia ni Cristo action

APEC News Release

• Philippines sees trade with APEC member economies rising over 6.8% yearly

In a statement released Sunday morning, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. extended condolences to Varela’s bereaved family, saying his untimely death is a ‘big loss’ to public service.

“DepEd Undersecretary Francisco Varela served with distinction and contributed significantly in implementing reforms in the education sector anchored upon good governance and the judicious utilization of public funds,” Secretary Coloma said.

“He opted to join government at the start of the Aquino administration after carving an exemplary track record in the academic and investment banking sectors,” he added.

Varela was appointed DepEd Undersecretary for Finance and Administration in 2010 and was considered by the agency as ‘very instrumental’ in leading education reforms.

An investment banker by profession and a staunch advocate of the administration’s anti-corruption drive, Varela played an essential part in ensuring that ethical standards are observed in all transactions involving DepEd. PND (hdc)

“Pangungunahan ni Pangulong Aquino bukas ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan at kinatawan ng diplomatic corps sa pag-aalay ng bulaklak sa Libingan ng mga Bayani sa Fort Bonifacio,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

“Nakikiisa ang Pangulong Aquino at ang buong pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan sa paggunita ng Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani bukas, ika-31 ng Agosto,” he added.

Upon arrival the President will be accorded with full military honors together with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri.

After the 21-gun salute, the President will be accompanied by General Iriberri to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers for the wreath-laying ceremony.

“Sa araw na ito marapat na bigyang pugay ang ating mga bayani na nagbuwis ng kanilang buhay upang ipaglaban, itaguyod, at itanghal ang ating kasarinlan na siyang naging pundasyon ng ating tinatamasang pag-unlad. Nawa’y patuloy silang maging bukal ng inspirasyon sa ating mga Pilipino at sa mga susunod na salinlahi na naghahangad ng magandang buhay sa kanilang mga pamilya,” said Coloma.

Among those expected to be in the event are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano, and Taguig District 2 Representative Lino Cayetano. PND (ag)

Ambassador Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina said the country’s hosting of APEC widens opportunities for increased regional trade in goods and services, specifically intra-APEC trade, including global trade.

Sta. Catalina cited a trend indicating Philippine trade growing by about 6.8 percent every year since its APEC membership in 1989.

“So if there has been an improvement in our trade figures as a consequence of APEC, then we are looking forward to more increased trade because of the kind of initiatives that we are undertaking in the various discussions,” she said in a press briefing.

The ambassador said Philippine total external trade with APEC members reached $ 96.104 billion, or 80.7 percent of the country’s entire trade, in 2013.

Philippine exports amounted to $ 47.63 billion, or 84 percent of the country’s total exports to the world; while imports reached $ 48.47 billion or 77.7 percent of the total imports.

“We do have a balance trade here (APEC) in our favor… There is a lot trade that takes place among different APEC economies,” added Sta. Catalina.

Apart from increased trade opportunities, she said the Philippines is also benefiting from APEC’s hosting through increased investment funds.

“These are funds that will fuel our national capacity to develop our human capital, to improve our physical infrastructure and to further assist and develop financial and economic enterprises, in other words our SMEs (small and medium enterprises), which we see as our engines of growth,” she added.

Cebu City is hosting the 16-day APEC Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and Related Meetings until Sept. 6.

Following the SOM are two Ministerial-level meetings: the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM) on Sept. 7-8 and the Finance Ministerial Meeting (FMM) on Sept. 9-11. The meetings will be chaired by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DOF), respectively. PNA (ldv)

Ambassador Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina said the country’s hosting of APEC widens opportunities for increased regional trade in goods and services, specifically intra-APEC trade, including global trade.

Sta. Catalina cited a trend indicating Philippine trade growing by about 6.8 percent every year since its APEC membership in 1989.

“So if there has been an improvement in our trade figures as a consequence of APEC, then we are looking forward to more increased trade because of the kind of initiatives that we are undertaking in the various discussions,” she said in a press briefing.

The ambassador said Philippine total external trade with APEC members reached $ 96.104 billion, or 80.7 percent of the country’s entire trade, in 2013.

Philippine exports amounted to $ 47.63 billion, or 84 percent of the country’s total exports to the world; while imports reached $ 48.47 billion or 77.7 percent of the total imports.

“We do have a balance trade here (APEC) in our favor… There is a lot trade that takes place among different APEC economies,” added Sta. Catalina.

Apart from increased trade opportunities, she said the Philippines is also benefiting from APEC’s hosting through increased investment funds.

“These are funds that will fuel our national capacity to develop our human capital, to improve our physical infrastructure and to further assist and develop financial and economic enterprises, in other words our SMEs (small and medium enterprises), which we see as our engines of growth,” she added.

Cebu City is hosting the 16-day APEC Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and Related Meetings until Sept. 6.

Following the SOM are two Ministerial-level meetings: the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM) on Sept. 7-8 and the Finance Ministerial Meeting (FMM) on Sept. 9-11. The meetings will be chaired by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Finance (DOF), respectively. PNA (ldv)

Among the provisions amended is the inclusion of the clause that allows the drafting the preparation a “Code of Parliamentary Procedures for the future Bangsamoro Parliamentary and Bangsamoro Administrative Code for the consideration of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.”

The other provision expands the duration of the commission.

Formerly, the commission shall cease to operate upon the enactment of Congress, under the EO 187, the commission will continue to function until the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

In December 2012, President Aquino signed Executive Order No. 120, which established the 15-member transition commission that will “draft the purposed Bangsamoro Basic Law provisions consistent with the 2012 Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro.”

The 15-man commission is composed of 8 nominees from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and 7 members nominated by the government. PND (ag)

“Patuloy na sinusubaybayan ng ating mga awtoridad ang mga kaganapang Ito … para matiyak na mananatiling tahimik at maayos ang ginagawang pagpupulong; na ito ay sumusunod sa ating mga batas at hindi nakakaabala sa mga mamamayan na ginagampanan ang kanilang pangkaraniwang aktibidad, lalong-lalo na ngayon ay isang weekend na may holiday pa kinabukasan,” said Coloma in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma noted that public safety remains priority of the government.

“Ang mahalaga rito ay ang pagkilala natin na ang paggamit ng kalayaan, katulad ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag, ay may kaakibat itong responsiblidad na obserbahan ang mga batas at maging magalang din sa karapatan ng ibang mga mamamayan. Kaya ang pokus ng ating pamahalaan ay ang pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng publiko at kaayusan ng ating kapaligiran,” said Coloma.

The said protest action of some INC members choosing to hold a rally along EDSA has caused heavy traffic since Friday. PND (ag)