Government: President Aquino will be bringing home nearly $2.4 billion in investments

'We had discussions with a total of 19 companies' -President Aquino said, adding that all the business entities they talked to praised the economic performance of the Philippines.

President Benigno Aquino III 'Pnoy' will be bringing home nearly $2.4 billion in investments from his 4-nation European trip.

"From our engagements in Europe alone, we are expecting around 2.3 billion dollars in investments in the sectors of manufacturing, energy, the IT-BPM sector, infrastructure, transport. Now, 'yung manufacturing, there is a -- kung pwedeng ano 'yung ating paniniwala na huwag mausog -- meron kaming tatrabahuhin bukas na talagang extra effort mag-lobby to set up manufacturing in the Philippines, really major," he said.

The investments are expected to generate more than 55,000 jobs.

The President, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to the European Union for lifting the ban on Philippine carriers.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has already resumed flights to London, and is negotiating air agreements in France.

In France, the Philippine government signed a new Air Service Agreement, and the Aquino administration's steps taken for compliance to the 1978 Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

Aquino said the problem has been unattended since 2006, requiring a single agency to deal with SCTW in the Philippines. He said under Republic Act 10635, the agency tasked is Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

"Ang trabaho nito, now 'yung ipo-professionalize natin itong Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping monitoring system. Tapos ngayon gagawin natin 'yung conflict of interest para 'yung mga kasama sa industry sila rin ang nagsi-certify na name-meet 'yung standard. So 'yung company nila ayaw nila 'di ba may potential na conflict of interest, ngayon hiwalay na. Wala sa industriya, pinipilit nating mai-professionalize itong committee na ito," he said.

ILLEGAL FISHING

Another issue that was dealt by Aquino during his European trip was the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The Philippines was issued by EU with a yellow card, indicating a warning.

Aquino said there was a 16-item checklist of things that the Philippines has to comply with and fortunately, he said, 14 of the 16 have already been met. The remaining steps are the amendment to the Fisheries Code and the other is manning of the new inspectors.

"So, I think we managed to convey that we are striving really hard to comply with all of these requirements so that our fishing industry and the people benefiting from the fishing industry will not suffer a ban on exports from the Philippines to the EU," said the President.

Aquino said the Philippine delegation also made strides with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between École Nationale D'Administration (ENA), France's most prominent school for public service.

The MOU is between ENA and the Development Academy of the Philippines, which will open up several areas for academic exchange and collaboration, specifically for more expertise, efficiency, and professionalism for civil servants.

Philippines and Germany also inked a social security agreement, which entitles Filipinos in Germany and their dependents to the social security benefits of German nationals, and vice versa, Germans in the Philippines will also be entitled of benefits.

"Parang we recognized each other... We recognize and synchronize each other SSS coverage. It will contribute to equality of treatment and eliminate dual coverage amongst others," Aquino said.

LAGUNA DE BAY

During the trip in Brussels, Aquino said he was also able to clarify with the Belgians why his administration did away with the contract with the Belgium-based company for the dredging of Laguna Lake.

He said, during their talk with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, the topic was discussed in passing, noting that the issue was already before arbitration and the Philippine government will be bound by the result.

He said they explained to the Prime Minister the main contention that there is an 18.7-billion project, and basically, it will remove silt from one portion of the lake and move it to another portion of the lake.

"There was no belligerence because again, almost said in passing. So I think they were able to say it, we were able to respond appropriately without causing any tension and conflict."

NAIA TERMINAL 3

The issue with Fraport, which constructed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, was also discussed with the German government, said the President.

"Nabanggit rin at sinabi natin na meron tayong mga limitasyon, dalawa in particular, nasa korte natin 'yon, nasa Korte Suprema 'pag kaintindi ko, 'yung tungkol doon sa award."

He said the German government was assured that whatever the outcome of the arbitration, the Philippine government will abide by the court's decision.

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

Another big achievement that Aquino considered in his European trip is the support that the Philippine government was able to receive from European allies on developments in the West Philippine Sea.

Aquino recalled that in the 2012 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit held in Vientiane, Laos, it was the European Union that supported the Philippine government's stand, which is to settle matters through peaceful means and in accordance with international law.

With this trip and the discussions made with Spain, Belgium, France and Germany, he said there's a deeper appreciation of exactly what the issue is and who are involved.

"Meaning it's not just us and our big brother to the West that says them and Vietnam, but even countries outside the region," Aquino said.

The President also expressed to leaders of the countries he visited, and also to the leadership of European Union, the profound gratitude of the Filipino nation for the help extended to the Philippines when super typhoon Haiyan hit the country in November of last year.

President Benigno Aquino III 'PNoy' takes swipe at Noli De Castro in ex-VP’s turf

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday took an apparent swipe at former Vice President Noli de Castro, whom he described as a vocal critic who supposedly helped worsen Filipinos’ suffering.

In a speech, Aquino told officials and citizens in Oriental Mindoro that their “kabayan” is sowing negativism towards the administration.

De Castro, who returned to broadcasting after his six-year stint as vice-president during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term, was born in Oriental Mindoro. He uses “Kabayan” as his nickname.

“Bagaman tinutugunan na natin ang mga problemang ipinamana sa atin, hindi pa rin nagsawa sa paghirit ang itinuturing kayong ‘kabayan’,” the President said in his speech.

Aquino, who was in Oriental Mindoro for a briefing on infrastructure projects, also blasted this critic for having the gall to give negative comments against his presidency.

“Ganado pang magkomento ng negatibo, gayong kasama naman sila sa mga naging pinuno ng bansa. Imbes na maibsan ang pagdurusa ng nasasakupan, pinalala pa ito,” the President said.

He further once again warned the public against those undermining his reform programs.

“‘Yung iba naman, sadyang pinapahina ang pundasyon ng ating reporma para ibalik tayo sa dating sistema kung saan pansariling interes ang inuuna,” he said.

This was not the first time Aquino took a jab at the former vice president. In July 2012, the President used the 25th anniversary of ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, where De Castro serves as news anchor, to openly assail the broadcaster, who was then in the audience.

Woman went to Malacañang armed with a caliber .45 handgun

Flora Pineda (center), the woman who went to Malacañang armed with a caliber .45 handgun, is brought to the Manila Police District after she was arrested by the Presidential Security Group. Pineda wants President Aquino to step down because of poverty in the country.

Why Ninoy, Cory fought for a one-term President

Cory Aquino and Ninoy Aquino

Remember the legacy of your parents, former President Corazon Aquino.

This was the call Thursday of opposition senators to President Benigno Aquino III following his admission in a television interview that he is now keeping his options open on calls to extend his stay in power.

Memorable speech in Los Angeles, February 15, 1981.

In a speech before Filipino and American guests at a freedom rally organized by the Movement for a Free Philippines, Ninoy Aquino denounced the dictator Ferdinand Marcos for his maneuverings to perpetuate himself in power beyond the end of his 8-year term in 1972.

"In 1972, Mr. Marcos was already 7 years in office, he had one year to go. He was toying with the idea of fielding Imelda but Imelda showed very poor in the polls so what did Mr. Marcos do? Change the Constitution, sabi niya, so he called a constitutional convention in 1970," the exiled senator said. "We were a few, a handful in the Senate who denounced this, and I told the Senate we should not allow an open constitutional convention because it's very dangerous."

Luneta, the 21st of September, 1997.

Around half a million people took part in a rally to send a resounding message to then-President Fidel V. Ramos -- "Don't fiddle with the Constitution to extend your stay in power."

Leading the rally was Ninoy's widow credited with restoring democracy after the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship.

"Kung sa inyong puso ay mayroong pagnanasang tumagal pa sa kapangyarihan, magiging baluktot ang tingin ninyo sa katotohanan. Gagamitin kahit anong dahilan, gagawin kahit anong paraan, manatili lamang sa inyong puwesto. Kaya po sa pagpapasya, ang conflict of interest ay talagang dapat iwasan," the former President said.

It was her 1987 Constitution that Ramos and his backers were thinking of amending to allow him to run for a second term in 1998.

For Corazon Aquino, tinkering with the charter was not merely an ethical minefield for Ramos.

She believed it could pave the way for yet another dictatorial regime to take hold of the country in the future.

She warned that the leader of the country will hear many voices urging him to stay on.

The danger is that those voices will not belong to the people but to lackeys and those with vested interests.

"They will say you are right, when you are wrong. They will say you are successful, when you fail, and will insist you are indispensable, although you are just one of 70 million Filipinos who gave you the rare privilege to be their servant but only for your elected term. They will say that nobody can take your place, when what they mean is that they do not want to give up their places," she said.

Cory said in no uncertain terms, if you've had your turn at the presidency, you should humbly and graciously move on.

"Let me tell you now, the presidency is so great an honor, no one deserves to have it again. It imposes a duty so important - to guide a whole country and protect a whole nation - that you must do it well. And if you did it well, you won't deserve to do it again," she said. "Doing your job well was your duty and not a special favor to the country. There is a secret I would like to share. The honor of the presidency is so great, no one needs to have it more than once."

Cory's last message at the Luneta rally addressed to her successor: let your good work speak for itself.

Allow the democratic processes we fought so hard for take their course and let the true voice of the people be heard.

"I trusted in you when my term was over. Trust in the Filipino," she said.

But some now say it's just as apt a message to her son 17 years later as President Benigno Aquino III entertains the notion of another six years.

In the position his father fought to preserve the integrity of.

Metro Rail Transit (MRT) train has crashed into a barrier at the Taft Station

Manila - A defective Metro Rail Transit train has crashed into a barrier at the Taft Station Wednesday, injuring dozens of passengers, reports said.

The incident also prompted MRT to stop operations for the rest of its line, but both southbound and northbound trips resumed at around 5 p.m., its management said via Twitter.

“We are currently undergoing necessary intervention for the technical problem encountered. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the MRT management said via Twitter.

In an interview over dzBB, MRT spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said the train came to a halt at the Magallanes Station due to technical problems.

It had to be pushed by another train as it had no power, Cabrera said, adding that passengers were trapped in the troubled train as there was no safe exit for them.

“Ang naging problema po natin, nakalas po iyong coupling na nagkakabit dun sa mga tren,” Cabrera said. The uncontrolled train, he added, continued to move until it hit the barrier at Taft.

Regina Santos, one of the passengers, said passengers thought they heard a loud explosion after the south-bound train left Magallanes station.

“Sabi namin bababa na lang kami pero hindi kami pinababa. Nag stampede na sa loob,” said Santos. Passengers scrambled to the first coach, which is reserved for the elderly and pregnant women.

The train hit an electric post outside the Taft Station. Robert Granado of Pasay police said it would have been a bigger accident if the electric post wasn’t able to stop the train.

At least 20 passengers hurt in the accident have been reportedly been rushed to the Pasay City General Hospital while another 10 passengers have been brought to the San Juan De Dios Hospital.

Commuters have meanwhile been advised to avoid the area. “Derailed MRT train at Pasay-Taft Station. MMDA Rescue and enforcers on location. Expect heavy traffic,” MMDA said via Twitter.

The MRT management meanwhile vowed to assist those hurt. “The MRT regrets the unfortunate incident, the management  will extend all necessary assistance to those injured and inconvenienced,” it tweeted.

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