Radio Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday, May 10, 2014

OPENING STATEMENT

Statement of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on the week of May 5-9, 2014

In between his meetings and other engagements, President Aquino received two courtesy calls at Malacañan Palace this week. 

On Tuesday, the President received a delegation from the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League (JPPFL) to discuss strengthening the relationship between our two nations further, as well as our combined efforts to rehabilitate areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Outgoing Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq also made a farewell call at the Palace, during which the President conferred upon him the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross, Gold Distinction.

The President also presided over the oath taking of former senator, now Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as the Presidential Adviser for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization.

Sec. Pangilinan will oversee four agricultural agencies—the National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA). Foremost among his responsibilities are the tasks of addressing agricultural concerns and advancing the welfare of our farmers.

Today, the President leaves for the 24^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, to be held from May 10-11 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Through this summit, we hope to foster fruitful dialogue on a range of international concerns, with the ultimate goal of promoting peace and prosperity. 

The President will be emphasizing the challenges posed by climate change, the need for concerted efforts against the trafficking of human persons, and the rule of law as a fundamental foundation of our collective desire for prosperity, peace, and progress in our region.

The President’s activities this week manifest a strong commitment to concretizing our vision of a better Philippines—whether in strengthening our partnerships with countries involved in post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts, to further strengthening mechanisms of food security in the country, to pushing for the rule of law and ASEAN centrality. 

In this, we recognize that the work of achieving lasting prosperity involves the efforts not just of our own government, but also those of other nations.

That is the end of the statement.

Radio Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday, April 5, 2014

OPENING STATEMENT

USEC. VALTE: Good morning, Oliver. Good morning, Lany. At good morning sa mga nakikinig sa atin sa Radyo ng Bayan. Siyempre, ‘yung Saturday group ng Malacanang Press Corps, ang lagi nating special mention; at doon sa mga laging nakikinig talaga sa atin dito.

So bago ko sagutin ang inyong mga tanong, Lany at Oliver, meron lang akong maikling paunang pasalita.

On the week of March 31-April 4, 2014:

On Monday, the President attended the 35th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy, impressing upon the Mandilaab Class of 2014 that, as full-fledged law enforcement officers, they must protect and empower their countrymen by serving them with integrity throughout their careers—just as government today empowers our soldiers and policemen by seeing to their needs.

The President further expounded on the meaning of duty and professionalism, as he led the first Araw ng Parangal sa Kapulisan, honoring the men and women of the Philippine National Police for demonstrating genuine service and courage in responding to recent calamities and incidents. The President said that millions of Filipinos depend on our police force, and that it is therefore incumbent upon them to live by their mandate every day without hesitation.

Later in the week, the President welcomed the President of Singapore, His Excellency Tony Tan Keng Yam, on his first State Visit to the country. The President expressed his gratitude to the President of Singapore for the hospitality that the government and people of Singapore have demonstrated to around 180,000 Filipinos living and working in Singapore, and for the kindness that Singapore continues to show as we strive to build back better Yolanda-stricken communities. The two Heads of State also underscored the values shared by the Philippines and Singapore, reaffirming the commitment of our two nations to work hand-in-hand in propelling our peoples and our region to even greater heights.

The President’s activities this week reflect the administration’s commitment to stability and progress in both our nation and our region. The positive transformation we continue to see today in government and society is, without doubt, the result of our people’s sincere determination to usher in meaningful change—to take part in nation-building.

On this note, may we encourage the public to visit www.knowyourtaxes.ph, a dynamic website from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which outlines the pertinent steps that each of us must take in fulfilling our civic duty of filing taxes. Resources are also available on the Official Gazette (http://www.gov.ph/2014/04/01/april-is-tax-month-sort-of/), as an added guide to filing taxes. These will prove helpful, especially since we are ten days away from the deadline of filing income tax returns on April 15.

That is the end of the statement. 

Radio Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Sunday, February 2, 2014

OPENING REMARKS

USEC. VALTE: Bago tayo kumuha ng inyong mga tanong, ‘yung magandang balita lang po natin ay ibinaba na ho ng PAGASA lahat ‘nung public storm signals natin relative to ‘yung sama ng panahon na si ‘Basyang’, low pressure area na po siya. 

At ‘yung ni-report po natin kahapon na mga affected population ay nabawasan na po at ang displaced persons po natin, according to the NDRRMC ngayon, 5,646 persons or that translates to 1,130 families at ngayon po kinakalinga po sa loob ng 32 evacuation centers ng DSWD.

So ngayon po meron po kasing ibang mga na-monitor tayong mga insidente dahil doon sa bagyo, ngunit pinagsisikapan naman po ng mga pamahalaang lokal na ‘yung iba hong roads ma-clear na rin.

So ‘yun po, ‘yun lang naman po ‘yung balita po natin from our end—oh, and by the way, kausap po natin si Colonel (Ramon) Zagala kanina ng AFP at sinabi po niyang meron po silang balitang mailalabas po mamaya, so hintayin daw po natin. Tungkol po ‘yan doon sa mga ongoing law enforcement operations po natin sa Maguindanao.

Press Briefing with Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Wednesday, January 8, 2014

OPENING STATEMENT 

SEC. LACIERDA: Good afternoon, Marie. Good afternoon, Paul. Good afternoon, members of the Malacañang Press Corps. I have a statement on the presentation of credentials of new non-resident ambassadors. 

This morning, the President received the credentials of the eight new non-resident ambassadors-designate and the letter of recall of their predecessors. These non-resident ambassadors represent their respective governments in more than one country.

Present to witness the event and to assist the President were Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and the Chief of Presidential Protocol, Ambassador Celia Ann Feria.

Press Briefing with Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte on Friday, 29 November 2013

OPENING STATEMENT

Hi, Marie, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have a short statement. I will read the appointments and then we can proceed to taking your questions.

On the online commemoration of the Andres Bonifacio sesquicentennial

Tomorrow, we celebrate the sesquicentennial of the birth of Andres Bonifacio, the emblematic father of the Philippine Revolution and once the President of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan.

We likewise commemorate the 80th anniversary of the unveiling of one of the country’s most enduring landmarks, the Bonifacio Monument, designed and wrought by National Artist for Sculpture Guillermo Tolentino.

In culmination of its year-long tribute to Andres Bonifacio, the Presidential Museum and Library [www.malacanang.gov.ph] launches tomorrow its online commemoration, featuring a comprehensive essay, videos, and rare glimpses of Tolentino’s masterpiece.

On the 150th year since the birth of the man it honors, we trace the history of the Bonifacio Monument and the legacy it has left—and, in effect, the role Andres Bonifacio has played in securing Philippine independence and in shaping our national narrative.