PCOO_insidepage_NEWS
13 May 2015

President Aquino receives P36.36 billion from Government-Owned Corporations
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday lauded the efficiency of the Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GOCC) sector, which remitted some P36.36 billion to the national treasury.

The President received the checks amounting to P36.36 billion from 48 GOCCs during the ceremonial turnover billed as “GOCC Dividends Day” at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace.

In his speech, President Aquino thanked the officials and employees of the GOCCs for their achievements.

“Kayo po, na mga kabilang sa GOCC, dapat naman talagang palakpakan ang bawat isa sa inyo na talagang tumulong din sa pagrerepormang ito, na talagang nagpakita kung ano ang puwedeng mangyari at dapat sanang nangyari mula noong umpisa pa,” he said.

President Aquino also reminded the GOCCs not to be complacent and to double their efforts to increase their dividends.

“Ang pakiusap ko po: Huwag tayong titigil; huwag tayong makontento sa nagawa na; mag-isip pa tayo ng paraan para ba lalong mapaganda ‘yung iiwan nating biyaya, pakinabang, serbisyo sa taumbayan na siya namang lumikha at talagang tumatangkilik sa atin at sumusuporta sa atin,” he further said.

President Aquino also directed Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Governance Commission for GOCC (GCG) Chairman Cesar Villanueva, and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to look into the bonuses of the employees of GOCCs for additional incentives.”I am directing Secretary Purisima, and Mr. Villanueva, and also Butch Abad: I want a review of the bonuses that have been accruing all of the people involved in the GOCCs. Dahil in our interest to make you more efficient, baka naman kayo ang nakalimutan. Pinasaya ninyo ang bansa, baka kayo naman ang pinalungkot nang todo-todo. So, I expect the review to happen in about a month’s time and we will seek to maximize the benefits accruing everybody as empowered by the pertinent laws,” the President added.

The GCG said the 2014 dividends and other remittances improved from P32.31 billion in 2013.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) posted the highest dividends, remitting a total of P10.137 billion, followed by Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) with P6.254 billion.

Joining PAGCOR and LBP in the Billionaires Club, an elite class of contributors that have declared P1 billion or more in dividends, are the Bases and Conversion Development Authority (P3.201 billion); Development Bank of the Philippines (P3.135 billion); Food Terminal Inc. (P2.305 billion); Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (P2.1 billion); Philippine Ports Authority (P1.817 billion); Philippine National Oil Company (P1.525 billion); Manila International Airport Authority (P1.339 billion); and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (P1.2 billion).

Republic Act No. 7656 requires GOCCs to declare and remit at least 50 percent of their income as dividends to the national government.

The holding of the GOCC Dividends Day began in 2011 to recognize the significant contributions of GOCCs to national development. PND (jm)


President Aquino receives Manny Pacquiao
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao paid President Benigno S. Aquino III a courtesy call on Wednesday, following his May 2 fight with American boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada.Pacquiao arrived at the Palace at about 3 p.m.

Also present during the courtesy call were Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., Solar Sports President and Chief Executive Officer Wilson Tieng, and Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz.

Pacquiao, who lost the fight against Mayweather via a unanimous decision, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Los Angeles, California at about 3:46 a.m. on Wednesday.

He told reporters shortly after his arrival that he has accepted his defeat and that he would focus on recovering from his shoulder injury, spending time with his family, and fulfilling his role as a public servant.

The surgery, which was done in the United States, went well and his shoulder will be back to 100 percent normal in six months, he added.

Pacquaio serves as representative of Sarangani province. PND (as)


Palace appoints new government officials and judges, nominates ambassadors
Malacañang on Wednesday announced the appointment of new government officials and Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges, and the nomination of new ambassadors.

Appointed as undersecretaries were Kenneth Hartigan-Go of the Department of Health; and Mildred Yovela Umali-Hermogenes of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Council under the Office of the President.

Named as assistant secretaries were Bienadel Elizabeth Yap of the Department of Public Works and Highways; Elvin Ivan Uy of the Department of Education; Noel Macalalad of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and in an acting capacity, Katherine Brimon of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Toni Angeli Coo has been designated as Chief Privatization Officer of the Privatization and Management Office under the Department of Finance.

Appointees under the Department of Transportation and Communications are Gilbert Rueras as President/CEO and Rene Abad as member of the Board of Directors, both of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation; and Tomas Carmelo Araneta as member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine National Railways.

Under the Department of Agriculture, Florabelle Uy-Tap has been named as Acting Deputy Executive Director III of the Philippine Council of Agriculture and Fisheries; and Roy Abaya, Vero Librojo, Carlos Magnaye and Zenaida Villegas as acting Directors IV.

Benjie Zabala has been appointed as Director III of the Office of the Political Adviser under the Office of the President; and Josephine Leyesa as Local Government Operations Officer VIII of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

New appointees at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority are Irene Isaac as Deputy Director General; and Florencio Sunico, Jr. as Director IV.

At the Philippine Foreign Trade Service Corps of the Department of Trade and Industry, Paisal Abdullah has been designated as Special Trade Representative; John Paul Iñigo as Foreign Trade Service Officer I; Alma Argayoso as Foreign Trade Service Officer II; and Benedict Martinez Uy and Magnolia Misolas Uy as Foreign Service Officer III.

Under the Parole and Probation Administration of the Department of Justice, Angelito Ilano has been appointed as Director II, and Benita Maramag and Marissa Alquetra as acting Directors II.

Named as new members of the Professional Regulatory Commission were Maria Graciela Gonzaga, Clarita Maaño, Eleanor Galvez, Eleanor Almoro, and Nora Uy.

Other appointees are George Francisco, Jr. as member of the Board of Directors of the LBP Insurance Brokerage, Inc.; Celia La Madrid Dy as member representing the employer sector of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Region II, National Wages and Productivity Commission of the DOLE; and Francis Jude Lauengco and Richeliue Remandaban as Director III of the National Security Council.

Appointed as new Quezon City RTC judges were Lyn Ebora-Cacha for Branch 82; Marilou Runes-Tamang for Branch 98; Mitushealla Manzaner-Casiño for Branch 228; Cleto Villacorta III for Branch 229; and Maria Gilda Loja-Pangilinan for Branch 230.

Nominated as ambassadors were Constancio Vingno, Jr. for the United Arab Emirates; Daniel Espiritu for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Evelyn Austria-Garcia for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; and Maria Fe Pangilinan for the Republic of Hungary. PND (ag)


President Aquino thanks Pacquiao for bringing honor to country
President Benigno S. Aquino III has thanked Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao for bringing honor to the Philippines by fighting with courage and skill, especially during his May 2 fight with American boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Pacquiao, who arrived from the United States on Wednesday morning, paid President Aquino a courtesy call at the Music Room of Malacañang Palace at about 3 p.m. on the same day.

The Filipino boxing icon lost to Mayweather via a unanimous decision.

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., who was present during the 30-minute meeting, said the President inquired about Pacquiao’s shoulder injury, which the boxer sustained during the fight.

Pacquiao said he felt pain in his right shoulder in the final seconds of the third round and that this injury hampered his movement for the rest of the fight, according to Coloma.

When asked by the President about his immediate plans, Pacquiao said he would take a rest to recover from his injury, which according to doctors might take three months to heal.

“They compared and exchanged observations on a topic of mutual interest: shooting as a recreational activity,” Coloma said.

The President shared some practical shooting tips and Pacquiao recalled how he joined the President at a shooting event a few years ago.

He asked the President if he could join him again as soon as he recovers from his injury, which the President welcomed.

At the end of the meeting, Coloma said Pacquiao presented the President with two black jackets as souvenirs of his fight with Mayweather.

Pacquiao was accompanied by his adviser Michael Koncz, and president of Solar Sports Wilson Tieng. PND (as)