NO LONGER DEPENDENT ON OFW INFLOWS
[PHOTO - BAGONG
BAYANI AWARDEE: President Benigno Simeon Aquino III shares the
stage with some of the winners of the 2011 Bagong Bayani Awards in a ceremony at
the Rizal Ceremonial Hall, Malacañang Palace, on December 1, 2011. The Bagong
Bayani Awards (BBA) is a private sector-led national search for the country's
outstanding and exemplary Overseas Filipino Workers. (MALACAÑANG Photo)]
MANILA,
DECEMBER 2, 2011 (BULLETIN) By MADEL R. SABATER —
President Benigno S. Aquino III Thursday hailed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
for their contributions to the country as he led the awarding of the 2011 Bagong
Bayani awardees in Malacañang.
"Palatandaan na malapit na dumating ang Pasko ay ang pag-uwi ng mga OFWs
nitong Disyembre [One indication that Christmas is near is the homecoming of our
OFWs this December]," he said in his speech.
Aquino lauded the OFWs' sacrifices for their families, saying: "Pinapalaya
ninyo ang bansa sa pagkakagapos nito sa kahirapan [You are freeing the country
from being bound by poverty)."
He said he is optimistic that in the future, Filipinos would no longer go
abroad to work.
Aquino said his administration continues to address the welfare of OFWs,
noting efforts of the government to repatriate Filipino workers from countries
in political turmoil or heavily affected by natural disasters such as Japan in
March.
He also said the government continues to assist OFWs who plan to put up their
own businesses, saying that it will create additional jobs in the country.
"Isa sa talagang naging pagsubok sa atin itong kaguluhan sa Middle East at
talaga naman pong may dinatnan tayong maraming kakulangan, damang-dama ko po ang
dagdag na panganib kaya naman po minabuti natin na talagang pag-ayusin ang
serbisyo sa tulong ng ating mga ahensya sa
pangunguna ng DoLE at saka ng DFA (One of the biggest challenge was the
turmoil in the Middle East and we had really encountered lapses and I myself had
felt the danger it could bring to our fellowmen that is why I made sure that
government agencies would improve their services, led by the DoLE and the DFA],"
he said.
Aquino said OFWs can be assured of government assistance, noting that he has
tasked ambassadors and consular officials to take care of the OFWs.
Among this year's 2011 Bagong Bayani awardees for Outstanding Employees
include 14 Filipino crew of MT Diamond Champ and 19 Filipino crew of MT
Nichihiko for risking their lives during the Japan earthquake and tsunami in
March, and 20 Filipino crew of MV South Islander, who rescued 27 crew members of
fishing vessel Daichi Shoei Maru No. 1, which was engulfed by fire in the
Pacific Ocean on April 17, 2011; Capt. Autonomo Amano, Marcos Antonio Torres for
carrying the Olympic torch in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Analiza Liezl Amurao
who was conferred the Teacher of the Year award in a university in Thailand, and
Josefina Omalsa, a chief nurse in Saudi Arabia.
Bagong Bayani awardees for culture and the arts, meanwhile, include Rosalito
Nebre, who is the 2010 Manager of the Year of the Summit Park View Hotel in
Myanmar and Elmer Dumlao, who designed advertisements for Royal Jordanian
Airlines.
Bagong Bayani Awardees for Community and Social Service include Dr. Celerino
Umandap of Kuwait, Dr. Eduardo Malagapo of Saudi Arabia, Marilyn Kasimieh of
United Arab Emirates, Frank Jamandre of Saudi Arabia, Irma Tobias of Italy, and
caregivers in Fukushima, Japan, namely Mercedes Joie Aquino, Sandra Otacan,
Gemma Juanay, and Juliet Tobay.
FROM THE PHILSTAR
Phl no longer dependent on OFW inflows - P-Noy By
Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated December 02, 2011 12:00 AM Comments
(0) View comments
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine economy is now focused on
"investment-led growth" and is no longer heavily dependent on the remittances of
overseas Filipino workers," President Aquino said yesterday.
"The fact that we are a little bit more insulated now points to the fact that
we have more investment-led growth rather than purely consumption resulting from
OFW remittances," Aquino said in an interview on the sidelines of the awarding
ceremonies of the 2011 Bagong Bayani at Malacañang.
Gross domestic product grew 3.2 percent during the third quarter, below the
projection of state economic managers of a growth of between 3.8 percent and 4.8
percent.
Aquino said this is because of the ripple effect of the global recession,
natural disasters and political turmoil in various parts of the world. He said
this is precisely the reason for the release of the P72 billion stimulus package
last October.
He noted that the Philippine semi-conductor and automotive industries were
affected by the production shortfall in Japan when it experienced a nuclear
crisis early this year.
Aquino said that compared to other economies, the Philippine economy remained
resilient and because of this, has received several credit upgrades.
In the first half of the year, international credit rating agencies Moody's
Investors Service, Standard and Poor's, and Fitch Ratings raised their credit
rating on the Philippines because of favorable developments.
Aquino is optimistic that growth targets for this year and 2012 will be met.
Budget Secretary Butch Abad earlier said that P20 billion more may be added to
the stimulus package but Aquino did not confirm this.
"Well, we are hoping and we are marching towards that goal (achieve projected
growth targets)," Aquino said.
The President said there are also "substantial developments" in the
government's efforts to address classroom shortage.
"We're very close to meeting the target for the classrooms for this year and
hopefully that will lay the basis for the really expanded school building
program for next year amongst other things," he said.
He said the same is true for the programs of the Department of Public Works
and Highways. Palace officials earlier said the effects of faster disbursement
of funds in the third quarter would be felt this quarter.
The government was criticized for underspending for the first three quarters
of the year but Palace officials said this was done to make sure that funds are
used wisely.
"From the DPWH, they have learned from the first two quarters safeguards that
have to be built in order to prevent leakages. So we did not spend unwisely, I
think we spent wisely and we'll have more acceleration in the second semester,"
Aquino said.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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