Press Briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda with PhilHealth President and CEO Alex Padilla on Monday, May 26, 2014

OPENING STATEMENT:

SEC. LACIERDA: Magandang tanghali, Rocky. Medyo maaga tayo. [laughs] Good afternoon members of the Malacanang Press Corps. I have a statement for the President’s week.

The Philippine Navy celebrates its 116th anniversary this week. As part of the ceremony on Tuesday, the President will witness the capability demonstration of the Naval Forces West (NFW) Command Center and the conceptual master plan of Naval Station Carlito Cunanan (NSCC) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

NFW, the Navy’s primary operational command securing the West Philippine Sea, has been at the forefront of territorial defense operations in the Kalayaan Island Group. Its upgraded Command Center, equipped with secure communications equipment and a satellite-based vessel tracking system, will further bolster our defense capabilities and ensure stability in the area. On the other hand, Naval Station Carlito Cunanan—named after the first naval officer to support the 1986 EDSA Revolution—has been slated for redevelopment, which includes the rehabilitation of the pier, living quarters, and other support facilities. These efforts are in line with the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), through which we hope to further improve our defense capacities. 

During this celebration, we also commemorate the sacrifice of our Marines, who have bravely devoted themselves to protecting our territorial and maritime borders. We recognize their hard work and dedication, and in them find renewed inspiration to maintain our commitment to protect our national sovereignty.

This week, the President remains focused on making positive, lasting changes for the country, planting seeds to be reaped by current and future generations. In strengthening the defense mechanisms of our country, the administration makes progressive investments for the long term, leaning forward into the future as we pursue the path to greater national and regional stability.

Today we have… We have in our presence Secretary of Health (Enrique) “Ike” Ona, the President and CEO of PhilHealth Alex Padilla and Mr. Ramon Aristoza, the OIC and the chief operating officer for PhilHealth.

Over the… Last week, we received allegations of some concerns regarding the operation and the alleged backlog of the PhilHealth. What PhilHealth is doing right now is at the core of the public health sector reform that the President has instituted and we feel that these allegations should be responded to, and so I asked Secretary Ike Ona and President and CEO of PhilHealth Alex Padilla to shed light on those allegations.

May I ask President and CEO Alex Padilla?

MR. PADILLA: Thank you. Thank you, Secretary Lacierda. Secretary Ona, COO (Ramon) Aristoza, good afternoon po.

 

Radio Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Sunday, October 6, 2013

OPENING REMARKS 

USEC. VALTE: Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat, sa mga nakikinig po sa atin dito sa Radyo ng Bayan, at sa mga kasamahan po natin sa Malacañang Press Corps na marami po ay ngayo’y nagko-cover sa pagtungo ng Pangulong Aquino sa Bali, Indonesia para naman po sa APEC Summit. 

So we got word that the President has already arrived in Bali. Dumating po sila doon mga kani-kanina lang ho at sa mga nagtatanong, unahin na po natin ito. Nagtabi na po tayo ng P14.3-million para ho doon sa dalawang pag-alis ng Pangulong Aquino, magkadikit po ito, ang pagpunta ng Pangulo sa Bali, Indonesia at ang pag-attend po ng Pangulo sa 23^rd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings diyan naman po, October 9 and 10, sa Brunei Darussalam.

Press Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Tuesday, October 1, 2013

OPENING STATEMENT 

USEC. VALTE: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. First off, my apologies for the delayed press briefing today. I know we normally have it earlier than at this time, but I was waiting for something—for some documents for you. And before I take your questions, we have an announcement.

The President has signed Proclamation No. 656: Declaring Monday, October 28, 2013, as a Special Non-Working Holiday throughout the country, in light of the Barangay Elections and SK—because this was signed September 25. Wala pa ho ‘yung—the bill on postponement that’s why, you might ask, why it says “Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections”.

Signed by the President September 25 of this year, so that’s Proclamation No. 656, and I would refer you to the special pay rules issued by the Department of Labor (and Employment) on Pay Rules for SpecialNon-Working Holidays.

Press Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Tuesday, August 27, 2013

OPENING STATEMENT:

USEC. VALTE: Good afternoon, Rocky. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Just a few updates before I take your questions.

First, the President has signed Republic Act 10607 last August 15. The formal title is: “An Act Strengthening the Insurance Industry Further Amending Presidential Decree No. 612 Otherwise Known as the Insurance Code as Amended by Presidential Decree Nos. 1141, 1280, 1455, 1460, 1814, and 1981 and Batas Pambansa Bilang 874 and for Other Purposes”.

This is—it’s quite thick. It’s more than an inch thick. So I will give this copy to you guys, so you can see the differences between the previous laws that have been cited, and the ones that have been amended. So I’ll give this to Rocky.

Radio Interview with Budget and Management Secretary Butch Abad on Saturday, August 24, 2013

Q&A:

Q: (Ipinahayag ni) Pangulong Aquino na panahon na para i-abolish ‘yung PDAF at nilatag na nga niya kung bakit, and meron kayong bagong mekanismo na icre-create. Pero Secretary, meron lang kaming mga gusto pang mga linawin at siyempre, pagkakataon na rin ninyo ito na sagutin ‘yung mga puna. Okay ba, sir?

SEC. ABAD: Tama. At nagpapasalamat naman ako at meron tayong pagkakataon na matalakay ito nang maayos at nang makabuluhang usapan. Kasi ‘yung minsan mga ibang kausap natin, meron na silang konklusyon sa isip, at gusto nilang ilabas sa usapan ‘yung kanilang gustong palabasin. Pero sana malayang talakayan para mabigyan talaga ng liwanag ang taumbayan tungkol dito sa pahayag ng ating Pangulo.

Q: Sir, sagutin muna ninyo ‘yung mga naging puna, na sinasabing kaya daw itutuloy pa rin daw po ‘yung sa August 26 na million march. Ano muna po ang inyong pahayag doon dahil nga sinasabi nila na pork is pork, pork pa rin daw ‘yon, iba lang ang pangalan. ‘Yung mga ganoon po.

SEC. ABAD: Alam po ninyo, ‘yung pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan natin sa iba’t ibang probinsiya at distrito, sinasabi ng Pangulo, nandiya-diyaan ‘yan, maski na naglulunsad tayo ng maraming programa sa national government, katulad ng CCT, katulad ng basic education, public health, ay meron pa rin talagang mga pangangailangan na hindi natutugunan ng national government. At ‘yan ang isa ngang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon itong solusyunin na ito na dapat ‘yung mga mambabatas ay mabigyan din naman ng karapatan na magnomina ng proyekto doon sa Kongreso para itong mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga constituents na hindi natutugunan ng national government programs ay mabigyan ng katugunan o ng solusyon. So, kinikilala natin ‘yan at dapat talagang bigyan ng sagot ‘yan.