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25/01/2012: Aquino honors mother’s birth anniversary by joining Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities
President Benigno S. Aquino III honored the 79th birth anniversary of his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquino, by joining the victims affected by Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Office of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the President is in Mindanao today to ensure that the rehabilitation process for the victims is going on smoothly and on track in order for them to “get back on their feet at the soonest possible time.”
“Today, on the birth anniversary of the late President Corazon C. Aquino, the President paid tribute to the values espoused by his mother by traveling to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro to join shelter builds and conduct inspections in areas that were devastated by Typhoon Sendong,” the statement read.
“President Aquino is committed to a rehabilitation process that will help the victims get back on their feet at the soonest possible time, while also ensuring that the assistance provided to local government units will reach those who need it the most. He also believes that communities should be rebuilt in areas out of harm’s way,” it added.
“Through the joint initiatives of the DSWD, the local government units, the National Housing Authority, and volunteers from Habitat for Humanity and Gawad Kalinga, the Aquino administration is showing its commitment not just to restoring communities stricken by disaster, or to the people who lost their livelihoods, but also to the very principle that no one should be left behind,” the statement said.
The former President was born on January 25, 1933 in Tarlac. She served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 and has the distinction of being the first female president of the Philippines.
She succumbed to cancer on August 1, 2009.
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Aquino says people power spirit very much alive in Iligan City rebuilding efforts
ILIGAN CITY---Visiting the permanent relocation site of the victims of Typhoon Sendong in Iligan City, President Benigno S. Aquino III likened the rebuilding of the city to the period where the country rose in the aftermath of the Marcos dictatorship.
The fight against the Marcos’s tyranny was spearheaded by the President’s mother, former president Cozaron C. Aquino who died in August 2009 after a fight with colon cancer. The country commemorates today the birthday of the former leader.
“Napapanahon din po siguro ang pagdiriwang natin ngayon sa paggunita sa kaarawan ng aking yumaong ina. Maaari po nating maihambing ang ginawang pagbangon ng mga Pilipino noong matapos ang diktadurya sa pagbangon natin ngayon pagkatapos ng trahedya (Our celebration today is also very timely as we remember the birthday of my late mother. We could compare the rise of the Filipino during the end of dictatorship to our rise after the tragedy),” the President said during his speech in Sta. Elena, Iligan City, where houses are being built for flood survivors.
“Bilang paggunita po sa iniwang biyaya sa atin ng aking yumaong ina, patuloy nawa nating ipamalas ang diwa ng People Power upang harapin ang iba’t ibang suliranin ng ating bansa at mapaunlad ang kabuhayan ng ating kapwa (In remembrance of the blessings left by my late mother, may we continue to manifest the spirit of People Power as we face the different challenges of our country and to uplift the quality of life of our fellowmen).”
With the ideals that former president Cory Aquino fought for the country, President Aquino said it inspired Filipinos to rise from the ruins of the Marcos dictatorship. And with the reforms being initiated by the present government, President Aquino said Filipinos are witnessing the transportation of the nation as a new society.
Filipinos responded to the call of former President Cory Aquino to restore democracy in the Philippines and the President said he’s calling on the Iligan City residents to live with that call of the icon of Philippine democracy.
“Tulad po ng ipinamalas natin sa araw na ito, muli’t muli po nating patunayan sa mundo ang bisa ng pagkakaisa at pagkakapwa-tao (As evidenced today, let us again prove the power of unity and regard for others),” President Aquino said.
The President added that he’s proud of his Cabinet members who immediately acted to respond to the disaster particularly by assisting people in need during the December 16 flashfloods in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City.
The building of new homes for the survivors of the Iligan City flashfloods won’t be possible without the dedication of all the government agencies as well as the local government unit that gave their all out efforts, the President said.
At the same time, the chief executive vowed to provide the additional money needed to complete the housing project in Sta. Elena in Iligan City, in addition to the fund already donated by private corporations.
The local government of Iligan City partnered with Gawad Kalinga to build the new community for the survivors of the flashfloods. Proponents intend to build 300 new homes in the 16-hectare area until February.
According to local officials, the location can accommodate up to 1,900 new homes for the survivors. They are also eyeing for another 15-hectare land in another site in the city to relocate other survivors.
Each house costs around P110,000, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
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Aquino orders security forces to guard urban centers from bomb attacks
ILIGAN CITY--President Benigno S. Aquino III said he has instructed the police and the military to increase security measures in the country’s urban centers following the Makati bomb blast this week.
“Inutusan ko ‘yung ating security forces na dagdagan pa ‘yung tinatawag na hardening aspects sa atin pong mga urban—‘yung potential areas na tatargetin para mabawasan ‘yung pagkakataon ng mga masasamang loob na maghasik ng lagim o magkaroon ng pagkakataon na magdulot ng pinsala sa ating mga kababayan (I instructed our security forces to increase what we call hardening aspects in our urban locations--potential areas that are likely targets to decrease the chances of those with evil intentions to propagate terror or otherwise bring about harm to our fellowmen),” the President said during an interview in Iligan City on Wednesday.
The President was in the city to visit shelter building efforts by the government and the private sector for the survivors of the deadly December flashfloods.
The cooperation and vigilance of the public have helped the authorities to secure the urban centers in addition to more police visibility, according to the President.
Investigators haven’t identified person or groups behind the Makati blast, the President said noting that it’s hard to speculate. But he said he had a meeting with security officials to determine what group was behind the explosion.
At the same time, the Chief Executive defended the security situation in the Philippines, saying any country is vulnerable to attacks even those in Europe and America.
The President explained that countries like Norway and Japan, both industrialized nations and have very good security capabilities, weren’t able to stop madmen from being attacked.
It can be recalled that last year, a lone attacker bombed a populated area in Norway and opened fire in a resort killing scores of people. A few years ago, a gas attack was carried out in Japan that killed several people.
“I think we are not any worse off than a lot of other countries. In the news they talk of religious strife in Africa and the Middle East and they’re talking about also ‘yung regime changes in the Middle East. So are we any less safe?” the President asked.
The President was responding to a question whether it is still safe for the tourists to stay in Philippines following the Makati blast. The government has recently launched a tourism slogan aimed at increasing tourist arrivals.
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ARMM can effectively fight illegal logging once regional body is complete, Aquino says
ILIGAN CITY: President Benigno S. Aquino III said the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman could effectively respond to the illegal logging activities in the region once a regional assembly is organized.
The region has blamed Illegal logging activities for the deadly flashfloods that killed thousands of people in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro city last December.
The President said he hasn’t lifted the state of national calamity he declared after the flashfloods enabling the government to respond more effectively to the disaster.
The President was in Iligan City on Wednesday to visit the shelter building activities in the city which will be the permanent relocation site for the survivors of the December flashfloods.
In a media interview in Iligan City on Wednesday, the Chief Executive also said he is awaiting the complete report on the disaster although he expects an initial briefing from Governor Hataman probably this week.
The President reiterated that one of his instructions to Governor Hataman is to stop illegal logging activities in ARMM to avoid similar disasters in the future.
“Isa sa mga unang iniatas natin kay Governor Hataman ay tugunan itong illegal logging na siyang dahilan kung bakit] nagkaroon ng pinsala dito, tukuyin yung may kasalanan at ihabla yung mga may kasalanan (One of our instructions to Governor Hataman is to address illegal logging, which is the reason behind the tragedy here, to pinpoint those responsible and to prosecute those who are answerable),” he said.
The government will make sure that illegal loggers do not get a market for their illegally produced products to completely halt logging activities in the ARMM, the President said.
The President also explained that the existing state of national calamity enables the government to do certain things more expeditiously particularly in finding long term solutions that reduce danger of disasters pose to vulnerable communities.
With regards to the ongoing housing project in Iligan City for the flood survivors, the President said housing agencies committed to finish the 1,700 housing units by June 2012.
“Ang punto nito, talagang sinisigurado natin na maisasaayos at the earliest possible time lahat ng mga kababayan natin, maibabalik sa normal ang kanilang pamumuhay at masiguro na yung dating risk na tinatamasa nila ay hindi na mangyari (Our point is, we will ensure that we are able to put our fellowmen in order at the earliest possible time, restore their normal life and ensure that previous risks will be addressed to prevent a repeat of the past),” he said.
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Aquino leads inauguration of permanent housing units for typhoon victims in Cagayan de Oro City
CALAANAN, Cagayan de Oro City: President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed his sincere personal commitment in carrying out the promises he made to the people especially those who were greatly affected by the devastation of typhoon “Sendong” that hit Northern Mindanao late last year as he led the inauguration of the permanent housing units for the thousands of displaced local residents here.
In his speech during the “Shelter Build Activities” where he launched the Calaanan Relocation site at Barangay Canito-an, here, President Aquino assured the people that the free housing units to be distributed to the typhoon victims are just part of the Aquino administration’s unyielding efforts to bring back to normal the lives of the people living in the area.
“Gaya po ng ipinangako ng inyong gobyerno, matapos humagupit ang bagyong “Sendong” hindi natin hahayaang tuluyan kayong malugmok sa pagdurusa at kagipitan…. Mahigit isang buwan po ang nakalipas, nagtitipon tayo ngayon upang saksihan ang konkretong hakbang ng inyong pamahalaan upang tulungan ang mga nasalanta ng bagyo bIlang pagpapahalaga sa inyong tiwala at pagiging totoo sa aming mga binitawang salita (As promised by your government, after typhoon "Sendong" struck, we will not allow you to continue suffering... After more than one a month, we gather today to witness the concrete steps of your government to provide aid to those affected by the typhoon in appreciation for your trust and in our respect to our word of honor),” the President said.
“Titiyakin natin sa relokasyong ito, hindi mapapatid ang suporta ng inyong pamahalaan sa pagkakaloob ng mga kabuhayan at paghubog sa inyong magandang kinabukasan…talaga naman pong nakakamit natin ang tagumpay sa pagtutulungan ng pamahalaan at ng pribadong sector (Let us ensure that with this relocation, the support of your government in providing livelihood and in molding a better future will not cease to exist... we are reaping the success of the joint efforts between the government and the private sector),” he added.
The President said that the national government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in cooperation with the National Housing Authority and the private sector, has allocated some 200 million pesos for the building of permanent houses for the typhoon victims.
“Gamit ang DSWD Quick Response Fund… agad tayong naglaan ng mahigit dalawandaang milyong piso sa pagpapatayo ng permanenteng bahay sa Calaanan, nariyan din ang pag-agapay ng National Housing Authority at Habitat for Humanity upang tulungan ang mahigit walong libong pamilya na makapagtayo ng mga tahanan sa Lumbia, Balulang, Gusa, Idahag at Villanueva Misamis Oriental (Using the DSWD Quick Response Fund… we appropriated more than two million pesos to build permanent houses in Calaanan, the support of the National Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity to help more than eight thousand families in building homes in Lumbia, Balulang, Gusa, Idahag and Villanueva Misamis Oriental),” the President noted.
He further added that the reconstruction and repair of damaged roads and bridges are underway. Other forms of infrastructure are also being considered to help in hampering such disastrous events to happen again.
“Bukod pa rito, tinututukan na rin natin ang pagsasaayos ng mga inprastrakturang winasak ng bagyong Sendong, tuloy-tuloy din po ang paghahatid natin sa inyo ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan para maibalik sa normal ang inyong komunidad (Besides this, we are monitoring the rehabilitation of infrastructures destroyed by typhoon Sendong, we are also continuously delivering basic needs to you to restore the normal way of life in your community),” the President said.
“Umpisa pa lamang po ito, iyong mga problema sa mga ilog po natin na talagang mabababaw na, nakaplano na po at gagawin na po ang mga imprastraktura tulad ng tinatawag na Sabo dam para talagang mabawasan yung dalubsok ng mga baha sa mga darating na panahon ,” he added.
The Chief Executive urged the people to always be vigilant and abide by the advices of their respective local government officials especially in times of natural calamities.
“Paalala ko lang po, matuto na sana tayo sa ating mga kamalian at mga pagkukulang… huwag na sana tayong maging pasaway sabi nga ng iba… sumunod tayo sa ating mga kinauukulan sa panahon ng kalamidad at agarang lumikas sa banta ng sakuna (Just a reminder, may we learn from the wrongdoings and shortcomings of the past... let us not be hard-headed... let us follow those in authority in times of calamity and to swiftly evacuate in times of danger),” President Aquino said.
“Inaasahan ko din sa mga pinuno na huwag nating kunsintihin ang mga katigasan ng ulo ng iilan ng kanilang sinasakupan (I expect leaders to not tolerate hardheaded constituents),” he added.
Also present during the event were other high-ranking government officials led by Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., among others.
They were also joined by local government officials including Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. “Dongkoy” Emano, Representative Rufus Rodriguez and Charlito Ayco, Managing Director & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philippines.
Following his message, President Aquino led the officials in the actual building of the quadruplex housing units by personally arranging the hollow blocks and filling them up with concrete cement mixture.
President Aquino also visited nearby Sitio Centro in Barangay Lumbia, here to personally assess and inspect the built bunk houses in the relocation site donated by Xavier University.
The permanent shelter building initiative was made through the concerted efforts of the national government particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Local Government of Cagayan De Oro City with help from the private civil society groups.
Among the approved permanent resettlement sites here are located in Calaanan, Lumbia and Indahag.
The number of families in Cagayan de Oro City alone that were affected by the typhoon reached to over 38 thousand comprised of 228,576 people.
Totally damaged houses were 5,801 while 12,635 partially damaged.
It will be recalled that in December last year, typhoon “Sendong” hit the island of Mindanao wreaking havoc in its major provinces including the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan where over a thousand people died and rendered millions of pesos of damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
