6 million land jobs in SME lending programs - PGMA
|
| |
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said today that her administration has loaned out some P340 billion through
various lending schemes to micro, small, medium entrepreneurs and these helped generate some six million
jobs.
In her message during the 2nd Go Negosyo Women Entrepreneurship Summit held today at the World Trade
Center, the President said that of the total loans granted, 90 per cent were availed by women.
“Women, indeed, are successful entrepreneurs,” she said.
“In 2004, I said I will create three million enterprises during my administration but with Secretary Favila’s report,
we have doubled our target,” the President said.
The President said that the Arroyo administration is very supportive of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
through loans given by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE)
giving guidance to make beneficiaries good managers.
This, she said, she is doing because “we want to create a stronger middle class.”
To ensure the continued support of the SMEs, the President announced that Favila will move to the Monetary
Board from the Trade Department. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus will take over Favila’s present post.
Recognizing the Summit as part of the celebration of the “International Women’s Day,” the President stressed
that the Arroyo administration has always been guided by the principle that empowering women will pave the
way to building a stronger nation.
The President said the Arroyo administration has identified three core concerns for development: human rights,
economic empowerment, and gender responsive governance.
“Our achievement in gender imbalance is truly remarkable,” the President said, adding that for three years now,
the Philippines remains the leading Asian country in the top rankings of the Global Gender Gap Report
published by the World Economic Forum.
The President also led the launching of the fifth book of Go Negosyo—“Tagumpay,” a compilation of success
stories of 100 entrepreneurs.
The President also led the awarding of nine women who serve as inspiration to Filipinos. They are Leonarda
Camacho of the Metro Manila Linis Ganda; Singer/Entrepreneur Pilita Corrales; Linda Legaspi of Marylindbert
International; Regina Paz Lopez of ABS-CBN; Lecturer Solita Monsod of the UP School of Economics; Marixi
Prieto of the Philippine Daily Inquirer,; Esther Vibal of Vibal Publishing House, and Rosalinda Wee of the
Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women.
|
| |
Lapus to DTI, Valisno to DepEd, Favila to Monetary Board
|
| |
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today announced the appointment of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus as the
new Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), replacing Peter Favila who will be joining the
Monetary Board as member.
The President also said she has designated Presidential Assistant for Education Mona Valisno to replace
Lapus in the Department of Education (DepEd).
The President announced the newest changes in her cabinet in two separate engagements today: the first
during the graduation ceremonies for 248 high school students of the San Sebastian College (SSC-Recoletos)
along Claro M. Recto, Manila and the second at the Go Negosyo Summit at the World Trace Center in Pasay City.
In her speech before some 3,000 San Sebastian students, the President said that almost 50 percent of all high
school students are now on government scholarships.
Earlier in the program, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Nenalyn Defensor told the
students that since the start of the President’s term in 2001, a total of 636,581 students have availed of
government scholarships for which government has spent P6.5 billion through programs followed by the CHED,
DepEd and in partnership with private colleges and universities.
Included are the 1,500 students in the PGMA One-Town One-Scholar (OTOS) Program; 71,960 students in the
Assistance Financial Education Program; 30,850 students in the Emergency Financial Assistance for
Education; 15,867 students in the PGMA Higher Education Loan Program (HELP); 43,344 students in the
Students' Assistance Fund for a Strong Republic (SAFE 4 SR) Program; and 473,060 students availed of the
CHED Students Financial Assistance Program.
The President expressed hope that these unprecedented scholarships for college and high school students will
be continued by the next administration.
The President said that for the remaining months of her term, she will continue with her hands-on governance,
focusing on providing more power and growth to the regions to decongest Metro Manila; the 3Es – education,
economy, environment – to create sustainable and equitable development; and the youth who are the “hope for
a better and brighter Philippines.”
Among those present were SSC president Fr. Anthony Morillo, SSC high school principal Cristina Aliwalas, and
Manila Rep. Zenaida Angping.
|
| |
PGMA confers Lakandula Award on Ermita
|
| |
Malacanang today conferred on former Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita the Order of Lakandula award
with the rank of Bayani, a high government honor given to an individual who has dedicated his/her life to the
service of society, worthy of emulation by the Filipino people.
The Bayani rank specifically honors one who has devoted his life to the peaceful resolution of conflict, a mission
that Ermita has long followed since he took part in the Marcos Tripoli Talks in Libya on the Muslim problem in
Mindanao in the mid 70s, when he became defense undersecretary in 1988 and during most of his senior
government career.
Ermita used to be the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and had been chairman of the Government
Peace Negotiating Panel before he became defense secretary in 2003.
He has been executive secretary to President Arroyo for over five years. He resigned last week ending 53 years
of government service, most of it spent in the military. He is seeking a congressional post in Batangas where he
hails from and where he had served in that capacity already for nine years.
In giving him the award, President Arroyo cited Ermita, who is now 74, for his meritorious contribution and
services to the government.
The Order of Lakandula is one of the highest honors given by the Republic of the Philippines. It is an order of
political and civic merit, awarded in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership,
prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.
|
| |
GMA swears in Dureza as new MinDA chair
|
| |
MALACANANG--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today swore into office presidential adviser on Mindanao
Jesus Dureza as chair of the newly-created Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in ceremonies at
Malacañang’s Ceremonial Hall.
MinDA was created under Republic Act 9996 which President Arroyo signed into law last Feb. 17, ending five
decades of wait for the establishment of a permanent body that would integrate peace and development efforts
in Mindanao.
It strengthens the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), which Dureza headed during
the Ramos administration. Under the MinDA Law, the chairperson serves a fixed term of six years.
Aside from his role as MinDA chair, Dureza also serves as the Philippine senior official to the Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and sits as an ex officio member of the National
Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority
(TEZA) Board.
Before his latest appointment, Dureza takes a broad range of responsibility, including taking decisive role in
addressing critical issues on peace and development, especially those that require immediate Presidential
intervention.
He also led efforts to accelerate development in southern Philippines, and ensured sustained coordination of
key national agencies, Local Government Units and the donor community, in the implementation and monitoring
of vital government programs and projects throughout Mindanao.
He is among the very few Cabinet members under the Arroyo administration who had held different key Cabinet
positions since 2001—previously as Presidential Assistant for Mindanao and concurrent Chair of the Mindanao
Economic Development Council, Chair of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel for Talks with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Press Secretary and Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel.
Backed by his wealth of experience in foreign relations and diplomacy, Dureza is part of an influential
international pool of experts holding roundtable fora on various global concerns.
He has served twice as congressman of the 1st district of Davao City from 1987 to 1989, and from 1992 to 1995.
During those terms (7th and 9th Congress of the Philippines), he served as the official spokesperson of the
House of Representatives.
Dureza graduated cum laude at the Ateneo de Davao University, and placed 10th in the 1973 Philippine Bar
Exams. He also received distinct citations that include Datu Bago Award (highest award given to a Dabawenyo)
and the Presidential Award of Merit from then President Fidel Ramos.
|
|
