(SAN JOSE, Tarlac) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday defended himself from criticisms that he lacks empathy, especially during crisis situations, saying he has always acted as a true chief executive who thinks of restoring calm and putting things in order. During an interview here, the President cited two examples — the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda and the Zamboanga siege. He recounted that he went to Tacloban two days Read More

(SAN JOSE, Tarlac) President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday led the launch of the second phase of the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project (BBMP), which is expected to supply irrigation water and mitigate flooding in Tarlac province. “Ngayong araw po, minamarkahan natin ang simula ng isa na namang proyektong magdadala ng benepisyo sa ating mga Boss — ang Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase 2,” the President said in his speech during the Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday unveiled the Angat Water Transmission Project at the Ipo Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. The project involves the construction of a new tunnel (Tunnel No. 4) from Ipo to Bigte in Norzagaray that aims to ensure a sustainable water supply and to reduce the risk of a partial or total disruption of water supply to Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan and portions of Cavite. The Read More

Malacanang said it expects president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to adhere to the principles protecting women’s rights enshrined in the Magna Carta for Women when he takes office on June 30. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday ruled that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte violated the Magna Carta of Women when he gave a controversial comment on the rape and killing of an Australian missionary many years ago. “In adopting Read More

Malacañang on Wednesday assured that the government is exerting “determined efforts” for the rescue of kidnap-for-ransom hostages. “Government continues to exert determined efforts to bring about the safe release of the kidnap-for-ransom hostages through a combination of law enforcement and military operations,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday evening. President Aquino met with the security cluster at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. “The President and Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III led Tuesday the closing ceremonies of the $434-million grant from Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) aimed at reducing poverty and propping up development in the country. “The signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in 2010 made $434 million in much-needed funding available to the Philippines for projects specifically targeted to reduce poverty,” the President said during the event held in Malacanang. “This was a manifestation Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday welcomed four new resident ambassadors to the Philippines in a ceremony held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace. President Aquino, assisted by Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Chief of Presidential Protocol Celia Anna Feria received the credentials of Ambassadors-Designate Rodrigo do Amaral Souza of the Federative Republic of Brazil; Ali Ibrahim AI Al-Malki of the State of Qatar; Hazim Ahmed Read More

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III at Malacañang Palace on Monday afternoon. Prince Alwaleed was accompanied by Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Bussairy, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Philippines; Hassna Alturki, Executive Manager for International Relations Private Office of His Royal Highness; Fahad Al Otaibi, Senior Executive Assistant to His Royal Highness; and Hani Agha, Head Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into law Republic Act No. 10844, which creates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). In a statement issued on Monday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the DICT shall be headed by a Secretary, who will be assisted by three Undersecretaries and four Assistant Secretaries.  “The new law also provides that two of the three Undersecretaries and two of the four Assistant Read More

Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) have remitted a total of P164.33 billion during President Benigno S. Aquino III’s six years in office. “Sa halos 6 na taon ng ating pamamahala, P164.33 billion na ang nai-remit na dibidendo ng ating GOCCs. Halos dobleng pag-angat kung ikukumpara natin sa naabot ng nakaraang administrasyon na P84.18 billion mula 2001 hanggang 2010. Ididiin ko lang po: Siyam at kalahating taong nasa poder ang ating Read More

President Aquino received the checks from the chairpersons and chief executive officers of GOCCs during the ceremonial turnover of dividends, billed as “GOCC Day”, held at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace. This year’s GOCCs dividends increased from P36.36 billion last year. In his speech, the President thanked the officials and employees of the 54 GOCCs for their contribution. “Kaya naman sa ngalan ng sambayanang Pilipino, taos-puso akong nagpapasalamat sa Read More

Malacanang has expressed confidence on the expeditious and impartial canvassing of votes for president and vice president by the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC). The House of Representatives, which will resume sessions on Monday following a three-month break, and the Senate are scheduled to meet on May 24 to form the NBOC, which is tasked to proclaim the country’s new president and vice president. The canvassing will be held on Read More

A Palace official on Sunday has assured that the implementation of the senior high school program will be subsidized by the government. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said he was informed by Education Secretary Armin Luisto that the government subsidy is through the voucher system. “The senior high school program, which will be offered this year, will include a government subsidy through the voucher system. Around 90 Read More

Malacanang said it hopes that the next administration will prioritize the peace process with the Muslim rebels because the current government has already invested a lot in attaining peace in Mindanao. Incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said they will not prioritize the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and they will concentrate on the pushing of federalism as championed by president-elect Rodrigo Duterte. In a radio interview Saturday, Communication Secretary Read More

The Palace welcomes the plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to carry out reform in the electoral process to ensure the conduct of orderly and honest elections in the future. “Napakahalaga ng pagtiyak ng ating prosesong elektoral na ang paghahalal ng mga opisyal ng bansa ay may integridad at maayos itong maisasagawa,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said in a radio interview on Saturday. “Kaya most welcome ang reporma Read More

The Palace defended the implementation of the K to 12 program saying the country will benefit from it in the long term. In a radio interview Saturday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the public must understand the adoption of K to 12 for the country’s school system because it has benefits. “Mainam po siguro na itong ating mga kababayan, mga kapatid, mga magulang, mga mag-aaral na mayroong ganyang saloobin Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday night attended Senator-elect Leila de Lima’s thanksgiving dinner at the Quezon Memorial Circle, assuring the former justice secretary of his support as she begins her career as a legislator. Since de Lima is a newbie at the Senate, other veteran legislators could give her advice, President Aquino said in his brief speech. “Siguro, the only sad part is itong kampanya was the far Read More

The Palace has expressed elation over the announcement of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that showed the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth reaching 6.9 percent in the first quarter of the year. “We welcome this morning’s announcement by the National Economic and Development Authority that our country’s GDP growth reached 6.9 percent during the first quarter of 2016,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement issued Read More

  President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday signed into law a bill that aims to improve the care and protection of children affected by disasters. President Aquino inked Republic Act No. 10821, known as the “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act”, in the presence of ranking government officials, led by Senate President Franklin Drilon and House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., and other stakeholders in a ceremony held at Read More

Malacañang has clarified reports that the government has spent almost 84 percent of the 2016 National Budget as embodied in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). “Allegations of the government’s ‘mad rush to spend during the election season’, leaving the incoming administration with ‘only 16 percent of the National Budget’ are untrue and without factual basis. These statements only reflect a lack of knowledge and understanding on how the National Budget Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Proclamation No. 1258 as a special (non-working) holiday in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte to mark the celebration of the Balangay Festival on May 19. The President likewise issued Proclamation No. 1260 declaring August 2 as a special (non-working) holiday to allow the people of Butuan City to celebrate and participate in the commemoration of “Adlaw Hong Butuan”. The Chief Executive also declared Read More

A Palace official on Sunday said the Philippines is right in seeking the assistance of the international arbitration court to resolve its case against China over disputed territory in the South China Sea. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the participation of the Philippines in the arbitration proceedings is in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has refused to Read More

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday vowed that the government will not stop until the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is ended. “The full resources of the State are being brought down on the ASG. Our primary objective is to rescue the hostages and ensure the safety of our civilian population. We will leave no stone unturned and are studying every instrument, both military and legal, Read More