P-NOY BIKES TO PROMOTE EXERCISE / MAR'S NEW POST TO CREATE CONFUSION
[PHOTOS - EXERCISE FOR HEALTH: President Aquino is joined by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and other officials at the kick-off of the Ehersisyo Pangkalusugan para sa Lahat at the Quezon City Memorial Circle yesterday. JOVEN CAGANDE]
MANILA, MAY 17, 2011 (STAR) By Delon Porcalla - A bicycle-riding President Aquino Sunday launched along with some Cabinet members a national campaign of the Department of Health to promote exercise.
Aquino pedaled the entire Quezon City Memorial Circle, where he was joined by Health Secretary Enrique Ona and other Cabinet members in promoting "Ehersisyo Pangkalusugan Para sa Lahat 2011."
Aquino said exercising regularly reduces the risk of being vulnerable to lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases – all of which have been the primary cause of deaths among Filipinos.
"Too many Filipinos are in danger because of the lack of exercise and improper lifestyle habits. So this is why we are embarking on the campaign on this program seriously," he said.
Ona said the exercise program featuring different sports activities is meant to encourage all Filipinos to get into the healthy habit of exercising regularly to combat illnesses.
Presidential Communications for Strategic Planning and Development Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said Aquino finds time to pedal around Malacañang to work up a sweat.
"When he gets the chance he bikes. Even if he goes home to Tarlac, he brings along the bike with him," he said.
When asked if Aquino had quit smoking, Carandang evaded the question.
"It wasn't discussed. He didn't say anything about that. It wasn't discussed and it wasn't asked," he said.
Ona, on the other hand, encouraged all Filipinos to take up an exercise program.
"Exercise is for everyone. All ages from all walks of life can and must engage in regular physical activity," he said.
Ona said lifestyle diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes represent a leading threat to human health and development.
To address this, the DOH is working in close coordination with the Civil Service Commission, and other stakeholders to prevent, control and reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases through advocacy and promotion of healthy lifestyle practices.
The DOH suggested regular physical activity such as walking, jogging, running, biking, volleyball, sipa, arnis, futsal, wall climbing, badminton, basketball, aerobics for kids and tai-chi/pilates and yoga.
One said the program will be participated in by government and local government employees, non-government organizations, government and privately owned hospitals, medical professionals, schools and private individuals.
Joker: Mar's new post to create further confusion By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) Updated May 17, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (2) View comments
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Joker Arroyo warned yesterday of a "power struggle" in Malacañang following President Aquino's decision to appoint defeated vice presidential candidate and former senator Manuel Roxas II as presidential chief of staff.
"The creation of the position of chief of staff would cause confusion and pandemonium in Malacañang. To begin with, there is no such office created by law," said Arroyo, who was executive secretary during the term of the President's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.
Arroyo said the President should just choose between Roxas and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as his executive secretary to avoid overlapping of functions. He said Ochoa could be given another post with Cabinet rank.
"If the President needs the invaluable assistance of Senator Roxas in Malacañang, a man of excellent credentials, the President may just as well appoint him as executive secretary. Secretary Ochoa, whose government experience should not go to naught, can be laterally promoted," he said.
"There is no room for a chief of staff in the Philippines and historically, such an office has never been created or experimented because we already have an executive secretary," Arroyo said.
Under the Administrative Code of 1987, the executive secretary is the head of the executive office and also exercises supervision and control over the various units in the Office of the President, Arroyo noted.
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago echoed Arroyo's concern, saying Roxas' appointment could be a "recipe for disaster" since there is no chief of staff under the present structure of the Office of the President.
Santiago said Roxas' appointment might also derail his bid for the presidency in the 2016 elections.
"So I am very puzzled with this development. It's not exactly a surefire recipe for disaster, it's very close to that. Unless the lines are carefully drawn, I think that Mar Roxas as of this time is about to give up the presidency six years from now. That will be the effect," Santiago said.
"Whatever happened to Roxas for President? He's going to be part of a bureaucracy within the Palace and the public will have no access to him," Santiago added.
But for Sen. Ralph Recto, a stalwart of the Liberal Party, the "long-awaited return" of Roxas to government service "heralds the reunification of the tandem that has promised in May 2010 to bring meaningful changes to the Filipino people."
"Mar's presence in the Aquino Cabinet should translate to more healthy and no holds barred debates immune from petty factionalism," Recto said.
Recto said Roxas' background as economist, legislator and Cabinet official would "decisively enrich the doctrines of governance that is anchored on empowering the poor and cutting down excesses."
"Mar truly speaks his mind and I'm sure there will be no shortage of ears willing to listen to him in the Palace," he said. "I am not saying this because we wear the same yellow jersey and he is my party captain, I am saying this because I know an asset when I see one."
Malacañang welcomes Roxas
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said they are ready to welcome Roxas in Malacañang, downplaying speculations that his entry to the Cabinet would only fan the reported factionalism within the administration.
Carandang said they are just waiting for the administrative order defining Roxas' job and functions.
"He is welcome… Senator Mar is ready to get into the Cabinet and we are also all ready to accept him," Carandang said over Radio Mindanao Network.
He stressed that the supposed rivalry between Roxas and Ochoa was only part of the "intrigues."
Ochoa had been reported to be part of the so-called Samar group that supported then Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay for vice president instead of Roxas, the President's running mate and part of the Balay Group.
Carandang gave assurance that Roxas' position would be properly defined so it would not overlap with the functions of Ochoa and Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad.
"There are a lot of intrigues. But the reason why an AO is being drafted is to clarify everything, not just to the Cabinet but also to the public as to what Senator Roxas' role would be exactly. Once the administrative order is out, all these intrigues will be gone and everything will become clear," Carandang said. – Aurea Calica
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