Month: June 2023

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Friday commended the Spanish government and development partners for their support in various programs and projects of the Philippine government. This, as she attended as guest of honor during the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day and 125th Anniversary of the Historic Siege of Baler in Baler, Aurora. In her speech, Pangandaman expressed gratitude to Spain for its donation of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines to the Philippines, as well as its investments in various infrastructure projects, including railways and bridges all over the country. “To our Spanish development partners, we express our deepest gratitude for your support and trust. Thank you for partnering with us and manifesting to us that you are here to invest and that you are here to support our endeavor toward a progressive Philippines,” Pangandaman said. By virtue of Republic Act (RA) 9187 signed in 2003, the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day is celebrated every June 30 of the year. The Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day pays tribute to the Siege of Baler which tells the story of Spanish soldiers who survived the war. The occasion serves as a reminder of a simple act of benevolence extended by the Philippine Republic under President Emilio Aguinaldo to the last Spanish soldiers who were left out inside the Baler Church from June 1898 to June 1899. RA 9187 commemorates the cultural and historical ties, friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Pangandaman urged the people of Baler to continue the efforts to ‘enrich its history, culture and identity.’ ‘Because by doing so, you not only promote your municipality but also contribute to cultivating nationalism in the hearts of our fellow Filipinos. The DBM and the NHCP (National Historical Commission of the Philippines) are one with you,’ she said. Pangandaman also assured Aurora province of the Marcos administration’s continued support, recognizing that its rich culture, history and developments in the areas of tourism, agriculture, health and education have paved the way for its growth over the years. “I believe, everyone here today can attest to how Baler, Aurora, has grown, developed and flourished over the years. And now, it is even considered one of the country’s thriving tourist destinations,” she said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday met with outgoing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla at Malacañan Palace in Manila. Medalla made a farewell call on Marcos at Malacañan Palace’s Study Room before his term as BSP governor ends on July 2. A video of his farewell call was uploaded on the official Facebook page of state-run Radio Television Malacañang. Medalla was accompanied by BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Medalla was appointed as head of the BSP on June 30, 2022 to replace then governor Benjamin Diokno who was tapped as Finance secretary. He has been a member of the central bank’s Monetary Board since July 2011. Medalla also served as Socioeconomic Planning secretary and director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) from 1998 to 2001. He also taught at the University of the Philippines’ School of Economics, serving as dean for four years starting 1994. Medalla earlier thanked Marcos for giving him an opportunity to lead the BSP. ‘I am grateful to the President for having given me the chance to serve as BSP Governor, which is, by far, the best opportunity that I have received to truly make an impact and serve the Filipino people,’ he said. Medalla will be replaced by Eli Remolona who will serve a six-year term as BSP Governor and Chairman of the Monetary Board beginning July 3.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Friday cited the importance of protecting and showcasing the Philippines’ cultural richness through an intercultural exchange in the empowerment of every community in the country. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Homecoming Exhibition of Philippine Pavilion’s ‘Andi taku e sana, Amung taku di sana / All of us present, This is our gathering’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in Taguig City, Legarda said the exhibition is a way of keeping the true essence of Filipino society thriving through exhibits that showcase the rich tradition of the Philippines. The exhibit is part of the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia which started last April 21, 2022. It is a collaborative project that involves musical notation, sound, video, painting, and design, as well as textile weaving. ‘The exhibition initiated a conversation on transmitting culture that involves an interdisciplinary approach which created a nexus between the traditional with the contemporary, embodying the collaboration among traditional weaving and chanting practices, ethnomusicology and visual arts,’ said the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts. Legarda, the project visionary of the Philippines’ return to the Venice Biennale in 2015 after a 51-year hiatus, also emphasized the exhibit’s ways of collectively promoting Philippine traditions and ensuring their endurance through intercultural exchange. She pointed out that the nation’s cultural richness should always be protected through policies to ensure order and persistence. ‘Today, the exhibition has finally come home where it seeks to reinforce its aspirations to represent the translation of cultural data into visual communication… And thus, through this exhibition, we share with our fellow Filipino how we can keep the essence of community alive,’ Legarda said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday directed the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to make sure that the anti-poverty programs are synchronized with the local government units’ (LGUs) initiatives. On its official Facebook page, state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) shared a short video clip of the first NAPC en banc meeting convened by Marcos at Malacañan Palace’s Heroes Hall. ‘President Marcos Jr. stresses the importance of identifying local communities that are most in need and the sectors that are most disenfranchised, as well as NAPC engaging with the concerned government agencies to synchronize the appropriate programs and services that will be provided,’ according to RTVM’s Facebook post. During the meeting, Marcos ordered the NAPC to ‘keep their ears open’ by listening to local government officials’ suggestions since they know very well the problems in their respective communities. Marcos said the LGU inputs could be used to identify the critical issues that the national government needs to address. Marcos ordered the NAPC to identify the ‘problematic areas’ that need government assistance. He also stressed the importance of coordination among the national and local governments to combat the long-standing problem of poverty. ‘So, those are the things, I think, that the NAPC should be doing,’ Marcos said. ‘Then, engage natin lahat ng ibang departamento para (let us engage all other agencies so) the other departments can come in.’ During the meeting, Santos informed Marcos that the NAPC is targeting the completion of the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda and the National Poverty Reduction Plan by September and October this year, respectively. Santos also noted that the NAPC is eyeing the rollout of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan in 2024, which will be mainstreamed in all provincial development and fiscal framework plans and comprehensive development plans of LGUs. He added that the agency has come up with the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda, which will be aligned with the PDP 2023-2028. ‘Since February this year, we conducted a series of consultations and workshops for the formulation of this plan involving all NGAs (national government agencies), leagues of LGUs and the basic sector. The NAPC secretariat is currently integrating all inputs and the draft shall be presented for approval in the next en banc,’ Santos said. Based on the RTVM’s Facebook post, Marcos and the NAPC discussed the alignment of all development plans to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, as well as the formulation of the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda. Other issues raised during the meeting were the National Poverty Reduction Plan, guidelines on the preparation of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan; and conduct of the National Sectoral Assembly of the 14 basic sectors. The first NAPC en banc meeting was attended by Cabinet secretaries and officials from majority of the 25 national member agencies, LGU leagues and sectoral representatives from the 14 Basic Sectoral Councils. Created by virtue of Republic Act 8425 or the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act signed into law on June 30, 1998, the NAPC serves as the coordinating and advisory body in the implementation of the Social Reform Agenda. The NAPC exercises oversight functions in the incorporation of anti-poverty strategies and programs in national, regional, sub-regional and local development plans. It aims to institutionalize basic sector participation in the formulation, planning, implementation and monitoring of anti-poverty policies, strategies and programs in line with the Social Reform Agenda. Earlier this month, NAPC lead convenor Lope Santos III said Marcos is set to receive a draft copy of the revised implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 11921 or the Magna Carta of the Poor by end of June. RA 11291, which was signed into law on April 12, 2019, guarantees the rights of the poor to adequate food, decent work, relevant and quality education, adequate housing and the highest attainable standard of health. Under Magna Carta of the Poor, the government is mandated to establish a system of progressive realization or implementation to provide the requirements, conditions and opportunities for the full enjoyment or realization of the five fundamental rights of the poor which are essential requirements towards poverty alleviation. The first IRR of RA 11921 was signed in 2021. Marcos’ newly appointed Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon will launch the ‘Batang Busog Malusog (BBM)’ initiative in July, in line with the celebration of National Nutrition Month.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The World Bank on Friday approved a USD600-million loan to further increase the market access and income of almost half a million farmers and fisherfolk in the country. In a statement, the World Bank said the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-Up, would expand on the implementation of the PRDP launched in 2014 by the Department of Agriculture. Its financing will come from a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). ‘Almost 60 percent of the poor work in agriculture in the Philippines, so accelerating the growth of agriculture and fishery is vital for the country’s development overall and for poverty reduction,’ said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. ‘Improving access to markets will help farmers and fisherfolk in rural areas raise their incomes, provide for their families, and elevate their standards of living.’ The Rural Development Project, which is being implemented in 80 provinces, including 640 municipalities and 32 cities, has reached almost 633,000 farmers, raised incomes, and improved connectivity to markets through the construction of roads and bridges, and the provision of post-harvest facilities, among other interventions. The World Bank said Scale-Up would support access for micro- to medium-scale agricultural and fishery enterprises to resources, knowledge, and income-generating activities. Funding will support inputs, production, procession, marketing, and enterprise management. The project also aims to increase the participation of women in these activities. ‘The Rural Development Project concentrated on spurring growth among farming and fishing enterprises. The Scale-Up takes this further, emphasizing support throughout the value chain, from production through to marketing, ultimately increasing the competitiveness and profitability of these businesses,” World Bank Senior Agriculture Economist Mio Takada said. World Bank said the scaling up of rural development support would also fund climate-proof infrastructure, including more roads, bridges, irrigation systems, and post-harvest storage facilities, such as warehouses, drying, and cold storage. It will also provide improved technology to reduce post-harvest losses and put in place more efficient logistics to ensure a stable supply of food and agricultural products in markets. Scale-Up will prioritize fewer but larger programs, increasing support for investments that will have benefits beyond the immediate project area, including research and development, infrastructure, market connectivity, and biosecurity. In addition, it will provide enterprise grants to support farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives, associations, and local government units.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Xu Liping, director of the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has said that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to China and attendance at the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently have contributed to enhancing mutual political trust, and improving Vietnam’s international position.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency after the PM’s visit, Xu noted that on the occasion of the visit, China and Vietnam signed various bilateral cooperation agreements in the fields of maritime cooperation, market supervision, and border gate construction.

At the same time, the two sides reached common understanding on controlling disagreement in the sea issue, speeding up consultations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), thereby enhancing political mutual trust between the two countries.

According to the scholar, Chinh’s visit took place on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, which would bring the bilateral relations to a new height.

On the one hand, the visit helps sum up experiences and achievements of China-Vietnam cooperation in the past 15 years; and on the other hand, outlines high-level strategic planning for the bilateral relationship for the next 15 years, Xu said, stressing that the two sides have maximised their potential, jointly promoted the socialism cause, achieved each country’s modernisation goals, and built an increasingly close common community.

Regarding Vietnam’s position at the WEF meeting, Xu held that Vietnam has a prominent position at this meeting, as this year’s annual meeting set up a special theme dedicated to Vietnam, which demonstrates Vietnam’s example in the process of global economic recovery as an emerging Asian economy.

This has strengthened confidence for countries around the world, especially developing countries, in overcoming the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, soon recovering and developing further, which shows Vietnam’s international influence, he added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency