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(File photo) MANILA -The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on Tuesday recognized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s peace initiatives, stressing that its dividends are now being felt by the nation. "Only in your third month in office, the dividends of peace are now being felt across the country, particularly in the Bangsamoro region, which for decades, was ravaged by armed conflict. Now, we can say that peace is finally at hand," OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in his message for the president's 65th birthday. He also wished the president good health and strength for him to effectively carry out his mandate as the country's "chief unifier". Since Marcos assumed the presidency, Galvez said the chief executive has become a beacon of hope, mutual understanding, unity, and solidarity among the Filipino people. This was further highlighted by Marcos' inaugural speech where he made a clarion call by stating that "we all want peace in our land." "Under your administration's banner of unity, the national government has aggressively pushed forward the comprehensive Philippine peace process, while ensuring that no one is left behind and are all part of your peacebuilding interventions," Galvez said. Galvez also lauded Marcos for leading the oath-taking of the newly-appointed members of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) last Aug. 12. He added that this occasion became a testament to the Chief Executive's strong and full commitment to the Bangsamoro peace process. "It also became a shining moment for the newest members of the BTA -- some of them the sons and daughters of the two major Moro groups -- who stood side by side and committed to continue the efforts of their parents to uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro people," Galvez said. The OPAPRU chief said the president's presence at the BTA inauguration sent a clear and strong signal that the Marcos administration is firm and determined, more than ever, to complete the implementation of all signed Bangsamoro peace agreements. "Last September 8, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and six other justices of the Supreme Court visited Marawi City as part of the Judiciary's efforts 'to actively help the Bangsamoro people achieve their dream of peace'. During a meeting we had with House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez, he threw Congress' full support behind the Bangsamoro, saying the Lower House will work closely with the region's leadership to bring genuine peace and sustainable development in the area," Galvez said. Under the Chief Executive's guidance, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. hosted a meeting on Sept. 10 in Davao City with the top leadership of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) headed by its Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim. "The gathering became a 'meeting of the minds,' as the national and BARMM governments were able to discuss pressing issues facing the Bangsamoro, and come up with key consensus points on how to address these concerns. This meeting became an avenue for unity and solidarity in the Bangsamoro homeland," Galvez said. On Sept. 11, the highest-ranking leaders of the MILF and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) -- Ebrahim and MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari -- met in Davao City and embraced each other, putting an end to the years of separation between them and their organizations. "More than anything else, Mr. President, the reconciliation between the MILF and MILF symbolizes the vision of your administration to unify the Moro groups and shepherd them towards genuine and long-lasting peace, reconciliation and unity," the OPAPRU chief said. Galvez also noted that these "grizzled warriors" who have spent most of their lives on the battlefield have now made the full transition as civil servants and have dedicated themselves to ensuring peace, security, and development in the Bangsamoro. Coinciding with the president's birthday is the 36th anniversary of the Sipat -- the peace pact forged between the national government and the Cordillera Bodong Administration -- Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA). "This is a sign that the heavens are looking down on you, Mr. President, as you celebrate another year of outstanding service to the Filipino people. Once again, Happy Birthday, Your Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.!" Galvez added. (PNA) }
(File photo) MANILA -- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has agreed to the proposal of requiring Filipinos to get a first booster dose in a bid to fight the spread of Omicron subvariants in the country. The move was also in preparation for the impending full implementation of face-to-face classes this year. This emerged during the meeting of President Marcos with the officials of the Department of Health (DOH) together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and PhilHealth in Malacanang on Wednesday, July 6. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the term "fully vaccinated" should be redefined to encourage people to get a booster shot. "So currently, Mr. President, our definition of fully vaccinated only includes the primary series: the first and the second dose. So we are recommending that we can expand that it includes also the booster doses so that we can encourage more of our Filipinos to have their boosters," she said. President Marcos agreed to this underscoring the need to increase the protection of the population against the Omicron subvariants, especially the students in anticipation of their gradual return to schools this September. "This is going to be very important lalo na in preparation for school in the coming semester. Ang plano ni VP (Vice President) Sara (Duterte-Carpio) to phase in already complete face-to-face. So sana ma-vaccinate," he said. As vaccine hesitancy remains to be an issue, the President directed the DOH to enhance their information campaign and extensively explain to the people the importance of having a booster shot. "We have to explain. The best explanation we can have is that for the Alpha and the following strains, the vaccine was two shots and it was sufficient for good immunity but still not full immunity," he explained. "But now for Omicron, you have to get the booster because it is slightly different. The vaccines that we are using were designed for Alpha, and even Delta medyo not as effective," Marcos said adding that the coronavirus continues to mutate. Vergeire said there is a need to mobilize the local governments through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the employers through Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission, and the schools through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to ramp up the vaccinations for the primary series and the first booster shot from July up to September. The President then instructed the DOH to increase the administration of booster shots by October before the planned full implementation of face-to-face classes in November. (PND) }
HEALTH MEETING. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. presides over a meeting with health officials at Malacanan Palace on Wednesday (July 6, 2022). Marcos said he wanted more students to receive Covid-19 booster shots before face-to-face classes resumes in November. (Photo courtesy of President's FB page) MANILA - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he wanted more students to receive their Covid-19 booster shots before face-to-face classes resume in November. He made the statement while presiding over a meeting with officials of the Department of Health (DOH), Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the country and efforts to improve vaccination rates. On his official Facebook page, Marcos shared photos of the meeting that took place in Malacanang Palace. The meeting took place as Marcos has yet to announce who he will appoint as Secretary of the Department of Health. "Habang masusi at maingat ang pagpili sa susunod na magiging kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, ating tinipon ang mga kasamahan natin mula sa DOH, IATF, at PhilHealth upang masiguro na ang pagbabakuna at booster shots ay tuloy-tuloy at lalong inilalapit sa taumbayan (While carefully selecting the next secretary of the Department of Health, we gathered our colleagues from DOH, IATF, and PhilHealth to ensure that vaccinations and booster shots are continued and brought closer to the people)," Marcos said. Marcos on Tuesday announced the government is targeting to fully implement in-person classes nationwide by November. He said Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte made the proposal during their first Cabinet meeting earlier on Tuesday. In a press release from Malacanang, Marcos directed the DOH to increase the administration of booster shots by October before the planned full implementation of in-person classes in November. "This is going to be very important lalo na (especially) in preparation for school in the coming semester. Ang plano ni VP Sara [The plan of VP Sara] to phase in already complete face-to-face. So sana ma-vaccinate (I hope they get vaccinated)," Marcos was quoted as saying. He also directed the DOH to enhance their information campaign and extensively explain the importance of having a booster shot. "We have to explain. The best explanation we can have is that for the Alpha and the following strains, the vaccine was two shots and it was sufficient for good immunity but still not full immunity," he added. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, for her part, emphasized the need to mobilize the local governments through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the employers through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Civil Service Commission, and the schools through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd), to ramp up the vaccinations for the primary series and the first booster shot from July up to September. She also suggested redefining the term "fully vaccinated" to encourage people to get a booster shot. "So currently, Mr. President, our definition of fully vaccinated only includes the primary series: the first and the second dose. So we are recommending that we can expand that it includes also the booster doses so that we can encourage more of our Filipinos to have their boosters," she said. Aside from Vergeire and other health officials, among those present during the meeting were Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr., and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. In a Palace press briefing, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles described vaccination among students as "an essential part of returning to face-to-face classes." (PNA) }
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (File photo) MANILA - Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Wednesday cited outgoing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his "outstanding and excellent service" to the country a day before he steps down as chief executive. "You are loved by patriotic and peace-loving Filipinos. You created the blueprint in making our country safe, secure, and connected. For these reasons alone, you are one of the most accomplished leaders the Philippines has ever had," Romualdez said in his message to Duterte. Romualdez particularly highlighted the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" program, which ushered in a new golden age for infrastructure development; as well as "no-nonsense" campaign against illegal drugs and criminality, which made it safe again for Filipinos to roam the streets even when it's already dark. Duterte's legacy, he said, will continue through his daughter, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, who has proven to be "tough but caring and unselfish leader". "Together with President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., they will see to it that President Duterte's efforts exerted in the past six years won't go to waste; instead it will be their guiding light on the exit path from the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis," Romualdez said. Romualdez, who is the top contender for speakership in the 19th Congress, vowed that the House of Representatives will be "unwavering partners" of the new officials of the executive branch "as we face the challenges of the future head-on." "This is the true essence of unity," Romualdez said. "Again, thank you, Mr. President, for a job well done." Duterte will step down from office by noon of June 30. Both Marcos and Sara overwhelmingly won in the last May 9 presidential and vice presidential elections, respectively, under the UniTeam ticket. (PNA) }
PRRD LEGACY. Chief Minister Ahod 'Murad' Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) highlighted President Duterte's legacy for the Bangsamoro people during the opening of the regional parliament's fourth regular session in Cotabato City on Tuesday (June 14, 2022). He acknowledged the creation of the BARMM as President Duterte's greatest legacy for Filipino Muslims. (Photo courtesy of Bangsamoro Information Office -BARMM) COTABATO CITY - President Rodrigo Duterte's "greatest" legacy for Filipino Muslims is the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a top regional official said Wednesday. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod "Murad" Ebrahim urged constituents not to forget what the President has done for them in terms of having a homeland in Mindanao. "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much, Mr. President," Ebrahim said in a statement. Ebrahim led the opening of the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) parliament's regular session Tuesday. Speaking during the event, Ebrahim reminded the Bangsamoro people that it was under President Duterte's administration when the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that paved way for the establishment of BARMM was passed. Ebrahim also cited some of BARMM's notable milestones for the past three years since the BTA members took their oath of moral governance in 2019. "The regional government has been working tirelessly in building and running a government we can all proudly call Bangsamoro," he said, even as he reiterated the importance of public support during the transition period. He noted that the regional bureaucracy is facing many challenges, but these are surmountable with everyone's cooperation. "Some of these challenges cannot be resolved by BARMM alone, it needs continuing support from the national government, the international community, and local stakeholders," Ebrahim said. "What is primordial is to ensure that with the challenges and imperfections, we continue to thrust forward and major and small wins for the region," he added. Changes Meanwhile, BTA Speaker Pangalian Balindong said the composition of the regional parliament may change upon the assumption of incoming President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Under the law, the term of office of members of the parliament shall end on June 30. "It is the prerogative of the incoming President to name or not to name new members of Parliament," Balindong said in a news conference Tuesday. He said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has already submitted its list of nominees as provided for by the BOL. According to Balindong, the parliament is beefing up its efforts to enact the remaining priority codes enumerated in the BOL during the transition period. To date, among the seven priority codes cited in the BOL, the following have already been enacted-the Civil Service Code, Education Code, and the Administrative Code. The Bangsamoro Local Governance Code, Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, Electoral Code, and Revenue Code are among the measures that will be prioritized during the 4th regular session. Balindong said during the third regular session of parliament that ended in March this year, the BTA managed to pass six bills and 92 resolutions. To date, he said the parliament filed a total of 120 bills and 286 resolutions. (PNA) }