PNoy admin satisfied with first-year results

Days before celebrating its first year in office, the Aquino administration on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with its performance but said it would let the public be the judge. “We would let you judge the performance based on what the President will be saying," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing. President Benigno Aquino III will deliver a speech at the launch of “Pilipinas Natin," a campaign to mobilize the people in nation building, at the Philippine Sports Arena (formerly ULTRA) this June 30. The launch will mark his first year in office. “Certainly, we in government feel very satisfied that while we have been doing all the reforms, we have put a system that has replaced the old one and we are in the process of continuing to improve the system financially, physically towards poverty reduction and curbing graft and corruption," Lacierda said. A press statement from Malacañang stated that “Pilipinas Ngayon" is a campaign for a partnership between the government and the people towards achieving the country’s progress and development. It is also in response to the people’s call for change, harnessing the sentiments of People Power, empowering a nation that imbibes and cultivates the innate Filipino culture of “Bayanihan." Renewed volunteerism At least 8,000 youth leaders and multi-sectoral volunteers are expected to grace the event where the President will issue a call for renewed volunteerism and active participation toward sustainable stability. The event also coincides with the presentation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016. The PDP is based on the chief executive’s social contract with the Filipino people that served his campaign platform and which he reaffirmed during the inaugural a year ago. A memorandum of agreement will be signed to build 1000 classrooms involving the Department of Education, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Gawad Kalinga. President Aquino will also be signing into law the bill which seeks to defer the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to 2013. Lacierda said that lawmakers responsible for the passage of the legislative measure will be there. “On the 30th of June, I can guarantee you that there will be a signing of the ARMM postponement bill… Those who were responsible in shepherding the bill will be there, the heads of both Houses and also Senator Frank Drilon who authored the senate version of the bill in Senate will also be there," he said. The measure seeks to synchronize the ARMM elections, originally scheduled next August, with the May 2013 midterm polls. It also gives President Aquino the power to appoint officers-in-charge in the ARMM government until new officials are elected on May 13, 2013 national midterm elections. — VS, GMA News