PCOO_insidepage_NEWS
06 December 2015

Preparations underway for 5-day visit of Japanese imperial couple to Ph
The government has begun its preparations for the five-day visit of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in the Philippines in January next year.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the Department of Foreign Affairs has been in constant communication with Japan’s Foreign Ministry and their embassy to finalize the itinerary of the Japanese royal couple.

“Sa kasalukuyan po ay ginagawa na ang mga kinauukulang preparasyon para sa pagdalaw nina Emperor Akihito at Empress Michiko sa susunod na buwan, sa Enero 2016,” Coloma said in a radio interview on government-run Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, December 6.

Coloma said the royal couple’s forthcoming visit would be “historic” noting that the two last visited the country in 1962.

He added that the visit would be more significant since 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines.

Last Friday, the Japanese embassy in Manila formally announced that the imperial couple would be leaving Tokyo on the 26th of January to embark on a five-day trip to the Philippines upon the invitation of President Benigno Aquino III.

In a statement, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he and the people of Japan felt “immense pleasure” for the royal couple’s visit to Manila adding that it would “further strengthen the intimate relations of friendship and goodwill” between Japan and the Philippines.

President Aquino was given a royal welcome when he visited the Imperial Palace, the primary residence of Japan’s Emperor, during his state visit in Japan last June.

It was that time the President reiterated his invitation for the royal couple to visit the Philippines. PND (jb)


Palace congratulates Angelia Ong for winning Miss Earth 2015 title
 Malacañang on Sunday congratulated Filipina Angelia Ong for winning this year’s Miss Earth beauty pageant.

The 25-year-old Ong was crowned Miss Earth 2015 during the coronation night held in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), giving the Philippines its first back-to-back win.

Filipina Jamie Herrell won the Miss Earth title in 2014.

“Ipinaparating po natin kay Binibining Angelia Ong ang pagbati ng buong bansa dahil sa kanyang tagumpay sa pageant ng Miss Earth,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during an interview over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Ong bested 85 candidates from different countries in this year’s Miss Earth pageant.

“Ito po ay pagpapatunay muli sa kagandahan, katalinuhan at kahusayan ng kababaihang Pilipina at ng mga Pilipino sa mga pandaigdigang kompetisyon na idinaraos din naman para palawigin ang pakikipagkaibigan at kooperasyon ng iba’t ibang bansa,” Coloma said.

Also crowned as runners-up to Ong were Dayanna Grageda of Australia as Miss Earth – Air (first runner-up); Brittany Payne of USA as Miss Earth – Water (second runner-up) and Thiessa Sickert of Brazil as Miss Earth – Fire (third runner-up).

Miss Earth is considered one of the world’s largest beauty pageants, along with the Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International. PND (co)


Palace: Measures taken to ensure peaceful, credible 2016 elections
The national government is taking all the necessary measures to ensure next year’s national and local elections will be orderly, peaceful and credible, Malacañang assured the public on Sunday.

“Lahat po ay isinasagawa para matiyak ang seguridad, kaayusan at katahimikan sa pagdaraos ng eleksyon sa darating na taon, kasama na rin po ‘yung seguridad ng bansa all throughout the campaign period,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Secretary Coloma said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are closely coordinating with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for a peaceful and orderly election.

“Batid po natin na ang Armed Forces of the Philippines at Philippine National Police ay deputized ng Commission on Elections bilang mga pangunahing pwersa sa pagtitiyak ng seguridad, katahimikan at kaayusan sa pagdaraos ng pambansang halalan sa Mayo 2016,” he said over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Secretary Coloma said the AFP and the PNP met with COMELEC officials last week to discuss security preparations for 2016 elections, one of which is the strict implementation of a gun ban.

“Sa kanila pong pagpupulong noong nakaraang linggo ay tinalakay po nila ang mga kinakailangang hakbang. Isa pong aspeto dito ay tungkol sa pagpapatupad ng gun ban,” the secretary said.

“Napatunayan na po na ang pagkontrol sa baril at ang pagsabat sa paggamit ng ilegal na mga sandata ay isa sa mahahalagang susi sa pagkakaroon ng maayos na halalan. Kaya ito po ay isang prayoridad na programa na isasagawa ng AFP at PNP bilang deputized agents ng COMELEC,” he added.

Coloma said law enforcement agencies would also establish checkpoints in strategic places to strictly enforce the gun ban during election period. He said authorities are also focusing its campaign against private armed groups.

“Ang pagkontrol po, ang pagpigil sa paggamit at sa operasyon ng mga private armed groups ay isa rin sa mga dahilan kung bakit noon pong 2013 elections ay napanatiling generally peaceful po sa buong bansa, at sisikapin muli ito ng pinagsamang pwersa ng COMELEC, AFP at PNP,” the secretary said.

Next year’s national and local elections will be held on May 9. PND (co)


Soliman has ordered probe into spoiled rice controversy — Palace
Malacañang on Sunday assured that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already been addressing the issue regarding food packs and sacks of rice that were spoiled and dumped in Dagami, Leyte.

In his regular media briefing on state-run dzRB, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma read a statement from DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman in response to the controversy.

“I have ordered a thorough investigation of the incident to find out who are liable and to file administrative charges against them in accordance with Civil Service rules,” Coloma said reading the statement of Soliman.

Coloma said Soliman explained to him that the relief goods were “unfit for human consumption” and should be disposed immediately.

“Ang mahalaga po kasi sa atin ‘yung pagtitiyak na ang lahat na ipapamahagi ay ‘yon lamang pong ligtas at kaaya-aya at karapat-dapat pa pong magamit ng ating mga kababayan,” the Palace spokesperson said.

Aside from punishing the culprit, Coloma said Soliman made an assurance that the DSWD has been undertaking efforts to improve its repacking system.

He cited the inauguration ceremony of the modernized repacking system installed at the DSWD’s National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City last December 3.

He said the implementation of the project was made possible through the help of the World Food Programme and the United Kingdom’s Department of International Development.

“Kaya po kapag natapos itong mga bagong pasilidad na ito iyong kasalukuyang storage capacity na 200,000 ay maitataas pa sa 270,000 packaged and unpackaged family food packs at ito pong pasilidad na ito ay magsisilbi ding ligtas na storage facility sa iba pang mga non-food items katulad ng blankets, cooking implements and mosquito nets,” he said.

He likewise noted the “regional island warehouses” being built by the DSWD in Clark, Pampanga for Luzon; in Cebu for Visayas and in Davao for Mindanao.

“Ito pong tatlong malalaking regional island warehouses ay dadagdagan din ng regional warehouses sa lahat ng DSWD field offices na ipapatayo sa pakikipagtulungan sa Australian government,” he added.

He said Soliman is hoping that the improved facility at NROC and the upgrading of warehouses in DSWD field offices would enable the agency to become more responsive in meeting the needs of families affected by calamities and disasters.

Soliman came under fire after admitting that the spoiled rice and food packs uncovered in Leyte were from the DSWD warehouse. PND (jb)


President Aquino declares December 8 a special holiday in Agoo, La Union
President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued a proclamation, declaring December 8 (Tuesday) a special non-working day in the Municipality of Agoo, Province of La Union in celebration of its 437th Foundation Day.

Proclamation No. 1171, which President Aquino signed on December 1, stated that it is fitting and proper for the people of Agoo to celebrate the municipality’s foundation day.

“The Municipality of Agoo, La Union marks the celebration of its 437th Foundation Day on Tuesday, 8 December 2015,” President Aquino said in issuing the proclamation.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Municipality of Agoo, La Union be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the President said. PND (co)


President Aquino declares December 8 a special holiday in Antipolo City
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared December 8 (Tuesday) a special non-working day in the City of Antipolo in celebration of its 424th Foundation Day.

The declaration was made through Proclamation No. 1172, which President Aquino signed on December 1.

“The City of Antipolo marks the celebration of its 424th Foundation Day on Tuesday, 8 December 2015,” the proclamation stated.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Antipolo be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” it added. PND (co)


President Aquino declares December 8 a special holiday in the Province of Batangas
President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued a proclamation, declaring December 8 (Tuesday) a special non-working day in the Province of Batangas.

Proclamation No. 1173 signed by President Aquino on December 1, the Province of Batangas is marking the celebration of its Foundation Day on Tuesday, December 8.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Batangas be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation stated. PND (co)


President Aquino declares December 8 a special holiday in the Batac, Ilocos Norte
President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued a proclamation, declaring December 8 (Tuesday) a special non-working day in the City of Batac, Province of Ilocos Norte.

President Aquino signed Proclamation No. 1174 on December 1. Tuesday, December 8, marks the celebration of the Founding Anniversary of the City of Batac.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Batac be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamation stated. PND (co)


President Aquino declares December 8 a special holiday in Taguig City
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared December 8 (Tuesday) a special non-working day in the City of Taguig in commemoration of its foundation day.

The declaration was made through Proclamation No. 1175, which President Aquino signed on December 1.

December 8, which falls on Tuesday this year, marks the Foundation Day of the City of Taguig.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Taguig be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the President said in issuing the proclamation. PND (co)