| |
P-Noy swears in VP Binay as HUDCC chair
|
| |
President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oath of office to Vice President Jejomar Binay as chair of the
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council in a simple ceremony this morning in Malacañang.
Joining the Vice President were members of his family led by his wife Elenita and son Makati Mayor Jun-Jun
Binay.
As HUDCC chair, Binay will be charged with overseeing the agency’s functions of coordinating the activities of
the government housing agencies to ensure the accomplishment of the National Shelter Program.
He will also lead the agency in:
* Formulating national objectives for housing and urban development and to design broad strategies for
accomplishment of these objectives;
* Determining the participation and coordinate the activities of the key government housing agencies in the
national housing program;
* Monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the effectively of these agencies’ exercise of their assigned functions;
* Assisting in the maximum participation of the private sector in all aspects of housing and urban development;
* Recommending new legislation and amendments to existing laws as may be necessary for the attainment of
the government’s objective in housing;
* Formulating the basic policies, guidelines and implementing mechanisms for the disposal or development of
acquired or existing assets of the key housing agencies; and,
* Exercising or performing other powers and functions as may be deemed necessary, proper or incidental to the
attainment of its purpose and objectives.
Immediately after the oath-taking rites, Vice President Binay joined President Aquino and the rest of the
members of his official family for a Cabinet meeting in the adjoining Aguinaldo State Dining Room.
|
| |
P-Noy receives representative of US President
|
| |
President Benigno S. Aquino III met with US State Department Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns
today at the Malacanan Palace.
Burns holds the highest rank among career ambassadors in the State Department and is so far the highest US
official to meet with President Aquino since he assumed office on June 30.
Talking to Palace reporters after his audience with the President, Burns said his visit underscores US President
Barack Obama’s determination to renew and extend the US-Philippines partnership in the spirit of mutual
respect.
“I am delighted to be here in Manila, and very pleased to have the opportunity to convey congratulations and best
regards from President Obama to President Aquino,” Burns told Palace reporters.
During the visit, Burns discussed with President Aquino a range of issues including bilateral relations, ASEAN
concerns and the efforts of the new Philippine government towards poverty reduction, health, education, job
creation, protection of human rights, judicial reforms and improvement of accountability and transparency. They
also discussed the status of US development assistance to the country, especially in Mindanao, where Burns is
scheduled to visit.
“I emphasize that the US wants to do everything we can in health, in progress, and in all of those areas which we
saw important to creating a better future for the people of the Philippines,” said Burns.
Asked about the significance of his scheduled trip to Mindanao, Burns said it is an indication of the continuing
commitment of the US to working with the Philippine government in trying to create a greater sense of economic
fruitfulness throughout the Philippines, including Mindanao.
“We contribute a considerable percentage of our development assistance in the Philippines and I look forward
to the opportunity to observe some of those programs. And we do take pride in the advice and training that our
security forces can contribute as well as the efforts of the Philippine government. This is an ongoing effort,”
Burns said.
|
| |
| |
|
