Tacloban City (July 1) -- President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III in no simple words revealed his resolve to practice leadership by example.
"Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin."
True enough, on his way to the Quirino Grandstand with former President Arroyo, their car stopped when the traffic lights turned red.
President Aquino knows that becoming a leader means that one must now possess much more than good intentions; he must also have the ability to translate intention into reality and to sustain it with action and behavior.
During the first press conference under the new Administration, the new Justice Secretary said that she would make a research on what particular law, the prohibition on the use of sirens, is found.
The Philippine Information Agency found Presidential Decree NO. 96 dated January 13, 1973, declaring unlawful the use or attachment of sirens, bell, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including domelights, and other signaling or flashing devices on motor vehicles and providing certain exceptions therefore.
That it shall be unlawful for the owner or possessor of any motor vehicle to use or attach to his vehicle any siren, bell, horn, whistle, or other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sound, including domelights, blinkers and other similar signalling or flashing devices.
The gadgets or devices mentioned above may be attached to and use only on motor vehicles designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Land Transportation Commission, Police Departments, Fire Departments, and hospital ambulances.
In compliance with the directive of President Aquino, the Philippine National Police, immediately after the Presidents Inaugural Address, has banned the use of sirens for its vehicles escorting VIPs. At the same time, the PNP will no longer allow its vehicles to counterflow when escorting VIPs. (olive tiu)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
P-Noy highlights role of media as sentinel of democracy
Tacloban City (December 3) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III stressed the active role of media in protecting the well-being of the people.
President Aquino made the statement speaking at the silver anniversary of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the launching of the commemorative book entitled "From Ninoy to Noynoy: 25 years of the Philippine Daily Inquirer" on December 1, at the Makati Shangrila in Makati City.
"There is no doubt that media plays an active role in guarding our freedoms and making the powerful accountable," the President said, stressing that when our institutions were weak, "the media put truth to power for the well-being of our citizenry."
The President underscored that media does not operate in a vacuum or was it not immune from the pressures heaped by influential people in the government, he urged all journalists and broadcasters to watch their own ranks and condemn their colleagues who try to exert a corrupt influence on the government.
He also asked the assistance of media to help the government in maintaining the highest form of professionalism, integrity, and truth-telling.
"Together, it is vital for us to raise the level of public discourse so that important issues are distinguished from vulgar personalities and trivial stories," he added.
Quoting his late father and icon of people power, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., the President said that "a free media is indispensable if a democracy is to function efficiently, if it is to be real. The people, who are sovereign, must be adequately informed all the time."
The President acknowledged the contribution of Inquirer for igniting and catalyzing professionalism through its fair reporting and exposes against the government, having started before martial rule and continuing to the present.
He assured the men and women of the country's leading broadsheet that his government is not after fame but to protect the meaning of democracy which the Filipino people had recovered from 20 years of dictatorial rule of former President Ferdinand R. Marcos.
"This is the path the Filipino people have committed to, and we all have a role to play in defending it," he said and admitted that he will personally proudly claim and inform his late parents, Senator Ninoy and former President Corazon Aquino, if his administration succeeds in defending democracy during his term which would be ending in 2016. (olive tiu)
President Aquino made the statement speaking at the silver anniversary of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the launching of the commemorative book entitled "From Ninoy to Noynoy: 25 years of the Philippine Daily Inquirer" on December 1, at the Makati Shangrila in Makati City.
"There is no doubt that media plays an active role in guarding our freedoms and making the powerful accountable," the President said, stressing that when our institutions were weak, "the media put truth to power for the well-being of our citizenry."
The President underscored that media does not operate in a vacuum or was it not immune from the pressures heaped by influential people in the government, he urged all journalists and broadcasters to watch their own ranks and condemn their colleagues who try to exert a corrupt influence on the government.
He also asked the assistance of media to help the government in maintaining the highest form of professionalism, integrity, and truth-telling.
"Together, it is vital for us to raise the level of public discourse so that important issues are distinguished from vulgar personalities and trivial stories," he added.
Quoting his late father and icon of people power, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., the President said that "a free media is indispensable if a democracy is to function efficiently, if it is to be real. The people, who are sovereign, must be adequately informed all the time."
The President acknowledged the contribution of Inquirer for igniting and catalyzing professionalism through its fair reporting and exposes against the government, having started before martial rule and continuing to the present.
He assured the men and women of the country's leading broadsheet that his government is not after fame but to protect the meaning of democracy which the Filipino people had recovered from 20 years of dictatorial rule of former President Ferdinand R. Marcos.
"This is the path the Filipino people have committed to, and we all have a role to play in defending it," he said and admitted that he will personally proudly claim and inform his late parents, Senator Ninoy and former President Corazon Aquino, if his administration succeeds in defending democracy during his term which would be ending in 2016. (olive tiu)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Tacloban, Palo, water-less till July 20?
After the rotating brownouts, comes three water-less days.
Tacloban folks walked up Sunday morning to find out that air not water come out of the faucets. Good for those who woke up before 6:00 o’clock in the morning, at least they were able to take a bath and cook their breakfast.
Telephone brigades had one message. Was this water-less day announced? The answers were the same- NO.
Verifications made from the Leyte Metropolitan Waterworks District chairman of the board showed that two water pipes were busted, one at Purisima Bridge and another one at the Diversion Road near Camella Homes and Pawing, both in Palo, Leyte.
“It might take at about three days before repairs are completed,” LMWD Board Chairman Ted de Veyra said in a phone conversation with a Leyte Board Member. This is the information he received, according to him.
This means that Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or July 18, 19, 20, the affected areas, mostly in Tacloban City, will be water-less.
Who would last three days without taking a bath, without washing the dishes, without water in the water closets, without washing clothes.
No problem for those who have overhead water tanks. What about the middle-income and poor families? They will incur additional expenses buying water from those who have in the nearby municipalities.
For those who do not have water jugs just like the writer, there is also the problem of buying water jugs which was found out to be expensive. Water jugs with faucets cost about P250. Empty jugs of soy sauce or lubricants cost about P60 but they have to be washed well, otherwise, one will smell like soy sauce or lubricant after taking a bath.
If one will buy one water jug with faucet at P250, he or she will spend more buying water.
Verifications made with the purified water suppliers showed that one jug with faucet of purified water costs P235. This is even cheaper than buying just the water jug alone.
So, ten water jugs would cost P2, 350 which is equivalent to about six months water bills if paid at LMWD. But water is so important. One whole day of brown out could be bearable but one whole day without water is unthinkable. So, never mind the additional expenses.
Water bought; there was time to patiently call other LMWD officials. At about 11:10, Manager Gang Villasin was contacted by the same Leyte Board Member.
Manager Gang confirmed that indeed, two pipes were busted. The LMWD people immediately were mobilized and started repair works as soon as the problem was reported to the Manager.
With the kind of work the LMWD people are doing, water will be restored within the day, Manager Gang informed.
What a relief! Never mind that the writer has already spent more than two thousand pesos. What is important is that the water consumers specially the disadvantaged families will not spend this Sunday without the most important necessity – WATER.
Tacloban folks walked up Sunday morning to find out that air not water come out of the faucets. Good for those who woke up before 6:00 o’clock in the morning, at least they were able to take a bath and cook their breakfast.
Telephone brigades had one message. Was this water-less day announced? The answers were the same- NO.
Verifications made from the Leyte Metropolitan Waterworks District chairman of the board showed that two water pipes were busted, one at Purisima Bridge and another one at the Diversion Road near Camella Homes and Pawing, both in Palo, Leyte.
“It might take at about three days before repairs are completed,” LMWD Board Chairman Ted de Veyra said in a phone conversation with a Leyte Board Member. This is the information he received, according to him.
This means that Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or July 18, 19, 20, the affected areas, mostly in Tacloban City, will be water-less.
Who would last three days without taking a bath, without washing the dishes, without water in the water closets, without washing clothes.
No problem for those who have overhead water tanks. What about the middle-income and poor families? They will incur additional expenses buying water from those who have in the nearby municipalities.
For those who do not have water jugs just like the writer, there is also the problem of buying water jugs which was found out to be expensive. Water jugs with faucets cost about P250. Empty jugs of soy sauce or lubricants cost about P60 but they have to be washed well, otherwise, one will smell like soy sauce or lubricant after taking a bath.
If one will buy one water jug with faucet at P250, he or she will spend more buying water.
Verifications made with the purified water suppliers showed that one jug with faucet of purified water costs P235. This is even cheaper than buying just the water jug alone.
So, ten water jugs would cost P2, 350 which is equivalent to about six months water bills if paid at LMWD. But water is so important. One whole day of brown out could be bearable but one whole day without water is unthinkable. So, never mind the additional expenses.
Water bought; there was time to patiently call other LMWD officials. At about 11:10, Manager Gang Villasin was contacted by the same Leyte Board Member.
Manager Gang confirmed that indeed, two pipes were busted. The LMWD people immediately were mobilized and started repair works as soon as the problem was reported to the Manager.
With the kind of work the LMWD people are doing, water will be restored within the day, Manager Gang informed.
What a relief! Never mind that the writer has already spent more than two thousand pesos. What is important is that the water consumers specially the disadvantaged families will not spend this Sunday without the most important necessity – WATER.
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