Refer to: Ms. Dale Zapata

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DE CASTRO REITERATES CALL FOR SOBRIETY, DISCERNMENT

 Amidst the political crisis besetting the country, Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro reiterated his call for sobriety and prayerful discernment.

 During the third commencement exercises of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in MAAP-Kamaya Point, Mariveles, Bataan yesterday, the Vice President asked the Filipino people to trust that their leaders will solve the country's political problems with the interest of the country and the greater number of Filipinos in mind.

 Speaking before 141 graduates and officials of the academy led by Capt. Gregorio Oca, De Castro stressed that in a democratic society like ours, the constitution and rule of law must be paramount.

 He also said that Filipinos need to trust themselves and make their own sacrifices as the country tries to rise up from disunity brought by the present political turmoil.

 “Mga kababayan, ang kailangan natin ngayon ay mga Pilipinong handang magtiwala muli sa mga namumuno sa ating mga institusyon, sa kinabukasan at sa ating mga sarili. Kailangan natin ng mga Pilipinong handang magsakripisyo para sa kapakanan ng iba. Kailangang mabuo muli ang sambayanan upang sama-sama nating harapin ang mga darating na pagsubok” De Castro said.

                

 In his message, De Castro said he is working harder as the Vice President of the country and he assured everyone that politics won’t hamper him from serving the people.

 “Ako po ay pumasok sa gobyerno dahil gusto kong magserbisyo. Sana naman ay hindi maging sagabal ang pulitika sa hangarin kong maglingkod.” he added.

 The Vice President urged the newly graduates to remain faithful in the ability of the nation’s leaders to address their concerns, among which are job security, sufficient pay, safety at work, and the promotion of the international seafarers bill of rights.

 De Castro said he will ensure that the said matters are taken care of by the concerned agencies of the government.  Hopefully, there will be a comprehensive program that will respond to the needs of the local seafarers.

Vice President Noli "Kabayan" De Castro observes the advanced simulator of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) when he was given a tour of the school’s hi-tech training facilities by Vice Admiral Eduardo Santos (Ret.). De Castro was the guest of honor during MAAP’s 3rd commencement exercises last Friday in Mariveles, Bataan.

 At the same time, De Castro lauded the school officials behind the academy’s success in bringing to fore world-class training in seafaring. He congratulated MAAP for receiving a citation from a European Union mission in 2000 which tagged the school as “one of the best equipped schools in the world.

 He said such citation is a testament to the capability to lead of the officials and management of the academy.

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