RP'S NEWEST WARSHIP DEPLOYED SOON
MANILA, DECEMBER
15, 2011 (REUTERS)
President Benigno Aquino signed into law on Thursday the 2012
national budget of P1.816 trillion ($41.2 billion), up 10.4% from 2010, and
officials said pump priming aimed at boosting growth will start early in
January.
The Southeast Asian country, criticised for its weak spending that pulled
down overall economic growth so far this year, aims to kick-start 2012
expenditures with at least P140 billion worth of infrastructure projects to be
rolled out as early as Jan. 2.
"In contrast to 2011, when infrastructure spending was delayed, we intend to
begin 2012 on a very strong note," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said in a
statement, adding notices to proceed with infrastructure projects could be
issued in January.
"The swiftness of the budget signing also means that government can hit the
ground running with its programmes, starting with key infrastructure projects."
Abad said.
Aquino's budget signing was the earliest by any president since the 1986
"people power" revolt that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, a
reflection of the strong support enjoyed by Aquino in Congress.
Most budget approvals in previous years, particularly under the
administration of Aquino's predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, were stalled by
bickering in Congress.
Aquino vetoed a move to impose caps on public sector debt to allow the
government room to manage its finances and support growth. Public sector debt at
the end of 2010 was 73.3% of GDP, above the limit set by Congress in the
spending bill.
Abad said Manila would continue to use next year unspent funds from the 2011
budget allotted for infrastructure-related projects that were delayed by
revisions, documentary requirements and approvals.
Manila has forecast growth of 5% to 6% in 2012, slightly faster than this
year's growth goal of 4.5% to 5.5%.
Next year's budget assumed a fiscal deficit of P286 billion pesos or 2.6% of
GDP, lower than this year's fiscal gap target of P300 billion or 3% of GDP.
FROM PRESIDENTIAL GAZETTE
Message of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III President of
the Philippines To The Fifteenth Congress of the Philippines On the Budget for
2012 [July 26, 2011]
Ladies and Gentlemen of the 15th Congress of the Philippines:
Through the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, I have the honor to submit, for your consideration, the
proposed National Budget for 2012.
THE DIVIDENDS OF REFORM
Last year, you gave your overwhelming support for the 2011 National Budget,
this administration's first financial blueprint. You diligently and meticulously
scrutinized the same, while making sure that it is enacted before the Fiscal
Year 2011 started: the first time in over a decade.
But that timeliness meant not only promptness: it also meant relevance. It
reflected your belief that the programs we proposed are able to respond to the
immediate and pressing needs of our people, while making sure that our long-term
agenda for reform is on track. And I laud you, the men and women of Congress,
not only for enacting the current year's budget on time but also for giving this
administration a stable first footing by supporting the 2011 Reform Budget.
Our pursuit of reform in the long-term cannot blind us from our people's
current concerns. In other words, change also has to be felt now.
This administration was hoisted to power by the overwhelming mandate of our
people, fatigued by the preponderance of corruption and abuse of power. They
have expressed their deep yearning for Philippine society to be transformed into
one that truly empowers them to pursue their aspirations for themselves, their
families, their communities and the country. Through People Power via the
ballot, they have demonstrated their longing to be emancipated from poverty and
helplessness through honest and effective governance.
This is the core inspiration by which this administration crafted the 2012
National Expenditure Program that I am hereby proposing to Congress: to deepen
the reforms we are setting in place; to go one notch higher in our fight against
corruption and our pursuit of good governance, in poverty reduction, and in
employment generation from inclusive and sustained economic growth.
Noong nakaraang taon, tinangkilik po ninyo ang aming pakay na tahakin ang
landas Tungo sa Paggugol na Matuwid.
Sa paparating na taon, hinihikayat ko po kayong patuloy na sumama at lumahok
sa biyaheng ito: sa pagsiguro na ang benepisyo ng Paggugol na Matuwid ay
nakatutok sa ating mga prayoridad at Diretso sa Tao.
FOR MORE CLICK: http://www.gov.ph/2011/07/26/president-aquinos-2012-budget-message/
FROM THE TRIBUNE
RP's newest warship deployed soon in West Philippine
Sea By Mario J. Mallari 12/15/2011
The Philippine Navy will deploy its newest warship BRP Gregorio del
Pilar, which was officially commissioned yesterday along with a Philippine-made
landing craft, in the disputed West Philippine Sea, before Christmas Day.
Capt. Alberto Cruz, who will take charge of the first ever Hamilton class
cutter of the Navy, said they will steam to the West Philippine Sea where the
disputed Kalayaan Islands Groups (KIGs) are situated, before Christmas Day.
Cruz will lead 11 other Navy officers and 88 enlisted personnel in manning
the BRP Gregorio del Pilar which was acquired from the United States Coast Guard
last August.
Aside from BRP Gregorio del Pilar, also commissioned was Philippine-made
landing craft utility BRP Tagbanua. BRP Pagasa was also renamed back to its
traditional name BRP Ang Pangulo, the presidential yacht. The event has the
Commander in Chief President Aquino as guest of honor.
Aquino's sisters, Maria Elena Aquino-Cruz, Victoria Elisa Aquino-Dee and
Aurora Corazon Aquino-Abellada also graced the event as sponsors to the
christening of BRP Gregorio del Pilar, BRP Tagbanua and a newly refurbished
helicopter donated to the Navy by the Department of Tourism.
For his part, Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Adm. Alexander Pama
reiterated that the addition of BRP Gregorio del Pilar to the Navy fleet "is not
only a realization of one of our dreams but also the symbol and icon of our
capability upgrade and modernization program."
"She will now steam and as the vanguard of your Navy as she now leads our
fleet in fulfilling our obligation to secure our maritime nation's territorial
integrity and sovereignty and protect our exclusive economic zone," Pama said.
Pama thanked the President for his continued support to the Navy's capability
upgrade program.
The Navy is hoping to acquire two more Hamilton-class cutter and helicopters
next year as part of its modernization.
The Aquino government has allotted P10 billion for military upgrade next
year.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
