Philippines presidential website back online

Manila: President Benigno Aquino III has come up with a redesigned website that not just informs the people of the activities and issues of his office, but also incorporates a mechanism for gauging the people's sentiments on key governance concerns.

A revised and less cluttered-looking Office of the President (OPS) website, president.gov.ph, made its active online presence again yesterday following several weeks' hiatus following the turnover of the helm of the presidency from former president Gloria Arroyo.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the OPS is redesigning the website to make it more responsive by incorporating public sentiment feedback mechanisms such as social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, Multiply and YouTube.

Another distinct feature of the website of the 50-year-old bachelor president is a special portion called "Tito Noy," (Uncle Noy) that urges the country's youth to play a part in nation building.

Aquino III is apparently banking on the overwhelming number of youth voters that had supported him during the May 10 presidential campaign.

"P-Noy (Aquino III) wants to involve our children, the future leaders of our country, by engaging them to be builders of the greatness of our culture," a portion in the Tito Noy section noted.