• Palace welcomes Senate approval of 2016 national budget
• Authorities find no credible terrorist threat in the country, says Palace official
• President Aquino to leave for three-state European trip

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that after the approval, the Senate budget bill will now go to the bicameral conference committee for deliberation.

“Ikinagagalak natin ang pagpasa ng Senado sa 2016 National Budget at ito ay nagbibigay-daan para sa panimula ng kanilang conference committee deliberation. Karaniwang inihahambing ang bersyon na inaprubahan ng Kamara at ‘yung sa Senado at tinitiyak nila na magtutugma ‘yung ipipresenta nila na pinal na bersyon o pinal na batas na tatawaging “General Appropriations Act of 2016″,” said Coloma in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

The Palace official is optimistic that the budget bill will be ready for President Aquino’s signature next month.

“Katulad ng naganap para sa budget ng 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 at 2015, umaasa tayo na maihahanda ito para lagdaan na ni Pangulong Aquino sa loob ng papasok na buwang Disyembre; at para naman maging epektibo sa unang araw ng budget period na tinutukoy at iyon ay ang calendar year 2016,” said Coloma.

“Sa lahat po ng nakaraang pagkakataon, tuwing January 1 ng natukoy na taon ay effective na kaagad ang ating national budget at ito ay magandang senyales na hinggil po sa kalidad ng pamamahala ng ating administrasyon at pagtupad din po ito sa pangako na open, transparent at accountable ang ating pamahalaan,” Coloma further said.

The proposed P3-trillion budget for 2016 was approved by the Senate on November 26 while the House approved their version of the budget on October 9 after Malacañang submitted it in July.

The biggest share in the budget will go to the Department of Education followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of National Defense and Department of Health.

Aside from the K-12 Basic Education Reform Program, DepEd’s proposed budget includes Basic Education Facilities program amounting to P82.3 billion for the construction of 47,553 classrooms and technical-vocational laboratories. PND (jm)

In an interview over Radyo ng Bayan, the Palace official said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police issued similar statements based on reports from the intelligence community.

Malacañang on Friday directed authorities to verify possible links of the eight men killed in an encounter in Sultan Kudarat to international terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“Ito po ang posisyon ng Philippine National Police: “There is no credible terrorist threat that directly leads to the ISIS. Validation of information gathered thus far has produced no basis to confirm such reports. The intelligence community continues to monitor threats to ensure proper response by the security forces,” Coloma said.

“Mula naman po sa AFP, kahalintulad din po ang kanilang pahayag: “No credible and verified foreign terrorist presence has been established in our country and this is the reason we need not unduly raise our alert level. We call on our people to always remain vigilant and alert and to cooperate with the authorities. Our constant call is for a collective and participative security awareness and preparedness among our people,” Coloma said.

“Magkahalintulad po ang kanilang pananaw. Marami lang pong nababalita at mga ulat hinggil diyan sa mga banta na binabanggit ang pangalan ng ISIS pero batay naman po sa pagsusuri ng ating AFP at PNP, wala naman pong batayan para kumpirmahin iyang mga haka-haka o ispekulasyon hinggil diyan,” added Coloma.

According to reports, Indonesian Sucipto Ibrahim Ali, alias Abdul Fatah, was killed when soldiers of the 61st Marine Company under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 patrolling Sitio Sinapingan in Barangay Butril, clashed with the suspected terrorists at about 5:40 a.m. on Thursday.

Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Felimon Tan, Jr. said the eight killed were members of the Ansar Al Khalifa, an ISIS terror cell operating in Mindanao.

The military is still verifying if the slain Indonesian was indeed Sucipto, a member of the Mujahidin Indonesia Timur, which has direct links to the ISIS. PND (jm)

The President’s first stop will be Paris, where he will attend the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled on November 30 to December 11 in Le Bourget.

The Philippines committed a 70 percent emission reduction by 2030, as part of its intended nationally determined contribution to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change with provisions coming from the developed countries on finance, capacity building, and technology transfer.

“Sa Paris gaganapin ang 21st Conference of Parties or COP para sa United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) kung saan ilalahad ng Pangulo ang mga hakbang at programa ng Pilipinas sa pagharap at pagtugon nito sa climate change kabilang na ang ating pambansang commitment hinggil sa pagbabawas ng carbon emissions ng 70 porsiyento sa mga sektor ng enerhiya, transportasyon, waste, forestry at industriya pagdating ng Taong 2030,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

“Ang sinasabing commitment diyan ay nanatiling conditional at magbabatay sa tulong pinansiyal, teknolohiya at capacity building na ipapaabot sa Pilipinas sa COP ay nakapaloob sa isinumiteng Intended Nationally Determined Contribution ng Pilipinas sa UN noong ika-1ng Oktubre. Ipapaabot ng Pangulo sa mga delegado ng COP ang pagsuporta ng Pilipinas sa pagbabalangkas at pagsulong ng isang bagong climate change agreement na patas at epektibo sa pagtugon sa mga problemang kinakaharap ng mga tinaguriang “climate vulnerable” na bansa tulad ng Pilipinas.

“Mahalaga at makabuluhan ang pagdalo ng Pangulo sa COP sapagkat isa ang Pilipinas sa mga bansang itinuturing na higit na maaapektuhan ng panganib na dulot ng climate change lalung-lalo na sa mga sektor ng agrikultura at food security,” Coloma added.

President Aquino will deliver keynote remarks during the Climate Vulnerable Forum at the COP21.

“Pamumunuan ni Pangulong Aquino ang gaganaping Climate Vulnerable Forum na lalahukan ng 20 developing countries na kumakatawan sa tinatayang 200-milyung katao sa buong mundo. Ang Pilipinas ang napiling mamuno sa nasabing forum na unang binuo noong 2009 at naglalayong magtipon ng suportang pinansiyal mula sa pribado at publikong sektor para sa isang pangkalahatang climate action sa harap ng mga economic losses na tinatayang aabot sa 400 billion dollars pagdating ng 2030 bunga ng mga epekto ng pagbabago ng panahon,” Coloma said.

Coloma said the President will also attend business meetings in Paris. It will be President Aquino’s second trip to the French capital city after his official visit to Europe in September last year.

“Bukod sa mga gawaing may kinalaman sa COP, nakatakda ring makipagpulong ang Pangulo sa iba’t ibang mga negosyante upang pagtibayin ang mga ugnayan at pagtutulungan sa larangan ng komersyo at kalakalan,” he said.

From France, President Aquino will proceed to Rome for an official meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the latter’s official residence where they will discuss boosting Philippines-Italy bilateral relations

“Matapos ang paglahok sa COP, tutungo ang Pangulo sa Rome at Vatican City at tampok sa kanyang pagbisita sa Rome ang pakikipagpulong kay Italian President Sergio Mattarella sa kanyang opisyal ng tahanan at maging ang pakikipagkita sa Filipino community sa Italy upang ilahad ang mga programa at adhikain ng pamahalaan na nagsusulong at nangangalaga sa kanilang kapakanan. Bahagi din ng pagpunta ni Pangulong Aquino sa Rome ang pagtalakay sa pagpapalakas ng bilateral relations sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Italy sa iba’t ibang aspeto kabilang na ang prosesong pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao, programang pang-agraryo at agrikultura at pagpapalawak ng Air Services Agreement na magbubukas ng direct commercial flight sa pagitan ng Manila at Rome,” explained Coloma.

From Rome, President Aquino will go to the Vatican City for a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis, who visited the Philippines last January.

“Sa Vatican City naman ay makikipagkita si Pangulong Aquino kay Pope Francis upang ipahiwatig muli sa kanya ang patuloy na kagalakan ng mga Pilipino sa mga biyayang dulot ng kanyang pagbisita sa Pilipinas noong nakaraang Enero at upang pasalamatan din siya para sa kanyang patuloy na pagsuporta sa mga pamilya at komunidad na apektado ng Bagyong Yolanda,” said Coloma.

President Aquino will also witness the unveiling and the blessing of a mosaic sculpture of Our Lady of Peñafrancia as well as meet with Filipino priests and religious at the Vatican City.

“Makikipagpulong din si Pangulong Aquino sa mga Pilipinong pari at religious sa Vatican at sasaksihan ang unveiling at pagbabasbas ng mosaic sculpture ng Our Lady of Peñafrancia,” said Coloma.

It will be President Aquino’s first time to visit Rome and Vatican City as head of state.

Joining the President’s official delegation are Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje, Health Secretary Janette Garin and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Linglingay Lacanlale.

Lacanlale is representing Secretary Albert del Rosario,who is currently at The Hague in Netherlands, attending to the arbitration case of the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea issue. PND (jm)