MikeLigalig.com

by pna

The discovery of additional petroleum reserves at the offshore Bertam oil field located near Pahang, will not only benefit the state, but other states, as well.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said, the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that Pahang was expected to receive around RM100 million annually in royalty, would greatly impact its economy.

"The discovery will benefit Pahang and other states, as well. God willing, we will use the money to give development to the people. (Therefore) I take this opportunity to thank the federal government," he told reporters after opening a state co-curriculum excellence ceremony organised by the Pahang Foundation here Tuesday.

Najib had announced today that Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and Lundin Oil found additional oil reserves at the Bertam oil field located at Block PM 307.

The offshore oil field is located about 160km off Pahang at a depth of 76 meters.

by pna

Hungarian economy minister said on Monday that his country was taking measures of increasing investments and introducing news taxes to kick-start economic growth.

Gyorgy Matolcsy told the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary that his country eyed the sectors such as vehicle industry, agriculture and tourism as potential growth areas for more investments.

Hungary has introduced a series of new taxes in an effort to cut its budget deficit to below 3 percent of its GDP to avert suspension of European Union development funds.

Hungary is now mired in recession, with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) predicting that its economy will contract by 1.5 percent this year.

But the bank also predicted the country might manage a 0.4 percent growth in 2013. The government has projected a 1.2 percent decline in 2012 and a 0.9 percent growth in 2013.

Hungary announced its intention to negotiate a loan of 19.5 billion US dollars with the EU and IMF last November, but so far talks have not gotten off the ground.

Matolcsy said that the Hungrian government had managed since 2010 to consolidate the budget, reduce the national debt and increase jobs, albeit by offering community jobs at less than minimum wage to the unemployed.

Matolcsy said one of the biggest problems facing the Hungarian economy was that the investment rate was much lower than that among its neighbors.

by pna

French President Francois Hollande on Monday said competitiveness was a prerequisite for economic growth, but should be mobilized by reforms and changes, after a meeting with major international economic organization chiefs in Paris.

The French leader attributed the country's deteriorating competitiveness to the "lack of political decision," adding that decisions would be "taken in November in all spheres of competitiveness."

"Competitiveness requires reforms and changes which are transparent and understandable to all," Hollande told a press conference at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) headquarters.

The French head of state held talks with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, World Trade Organization Director-General Pascal Lamy, International Labour Organisation Director-General Guy Ryder and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, focusing on discussion about measures to increase growth, jobs and competitiveness.

The French president identified three challenges that France faces: debt "which could become unbearable in the long term," a worrying economic situation particularly marked by rising unemployment, and ways to stimulate French competitiveness.

The Socialist politician reiterated his government's commitment to address each of these challenges. "We also have to restore our public finances and put them on a healthy base. This was the most urgent task we had to face," Hollande stressed.

The president admitted "because of high unemployment, our productive capacity cannot be entirely efficient."

However, he affirmed that a five-year plan would be introduced to ease the sluggish economy and achieve growth. Hollande said he would propose a "competitiveness pact" to help areas as housing, education, innovation and labor costs.

The pressure has been mounting on the French government in recent days as nearly 100 business leaders called for cutting employer contribution to welfare charges by 30 billion euros (38.7 billions U.S. dollars) in a bid to reduce labor cost which is seen as main obstacle for companies' falling competitiveness.

by pna

Hong Kong's currency authorities have intervened in the currency market for a second week in a bid to stop the local currency from appreciating sharply against the U.S. dollar, officials said Wednesday.

Marking the third day of intervention in two weeks, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) injected HK$ 2.7 billion (US$ 360 million) into the foreign exchange market, the officials at the HKMA said.

The intervention comes as the Hong Kong dollar hit its highest limit late Tuesday amid quantitative easing by economic powers. The greenback was purchased at HK$ 7.75, the lowest limit at which the U.S. dollar is allowed to trade against the Hong Kong dollar.

The move also followed the MKMA's purchase of the greenback last week, which amounted to US$ 1.46 million in total.

Under Hong Kong's exchange rate mechanism, the Hong Kong dollar is pegged at HK$ 7.80 to the U.S. dollar but is allowed to trade between HK$ 7.75 and HK$ 7.85.

The local currency hit its strongest level since the 2008 financial crisis, as central banks in the United States, the eurozone and Japan conducted economic stimulus programs in September, triggering concerns over the possible flow of hot money into Asia's emerging markets.

by pna

A key gauge of Taiwan's economic health showed that the island's economy improved slightly in September, although its economic outlook still faces many uncertainties, local authorities said on Friday.

The composite index of monitoring indicators rose to 22 in September, seven points higher than in the previous month, according to the island's Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD).

The CEPD said the island's economy may slowly shed its sluggishness, citing improvements in employment, the financial industry, production, trade and consumption.

However, it also warned that the island's economy still faces many uncertainties, given the potential risks of the European sovereign debt crisis, the so-called "fiscal cliff" in the United States and slowing emerging economies.

It added that internal demand also faces downside risks, as consumers have little confidence, real wages have failed to grow and the stock market has shown no major improvements in volume or momentum.

by pna

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved 110.5 million U.S. dollars loan facility for Kenya as the East African nation moves to tighten its monetary policy to bring inflation further down.

The latest approval brings total disbursements under the arrangement to an amount equivalent to 529.6 million dollars since the first disbursement in January.

IMF Deputy MD Naoyuki Shinohara said the economic activity in Kenya is rebounding after slowing down in 2011/12, helped by improved macroeconomic stability, foreign investment in oil and natural gas exploitation, and favorable weather conditions.

"Inflation has declined substantially, net international reserves have increased, public debt is low, and pressures on the exchange rate have dissipated," Shinohara said in a statement issued in Nairobi on Thursday.

The East African nation's economy has undergone turbulent times in the recent past, but the recent IMF assessment said policies used by the government have so far prevented adverse effects and there are signs that even inflation that averaged 19 percent in November last year is coming down.

The economy has also experienced strain from drought that led to higher food prices and import of food as well as high oil price.

These economic shocks are for example attributed to the volatility of the shilling in the third and fourth quarter of 2011 that saw the shilling lose 28 percent of its value against the dollar in just three months.

The IMF said Kenya has also made progress in reducing its economic vulnerabilities despite downside risks which however remain because of global uncertainties and spending pressures associated with the upcoming elections.

The Bretton Wood institution called on the East African nation to maintain policy discipline to build on the accomplishments so far.

The IMF board approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement for Kenya on Jan. 31, 2011 for a total amount equivalent to 500.4 million dollars, or 120 percent of quota.

The arrangement was augmented on Dec. 9, 2011 for a total amount equivalent to 750.6 million dollars, or 180 percent of quota.

Shinohara said fiscal policy has remained on track, adding that revenue shortfalls in fiscal year 2011/12, arising mainly from the elimination of the VAT withholding regime, were offset by cuts in non-priority current and capital outlays.

"To boost revenue, the authorities are taking measures to strengthen VAT administration. It will be important to resist spending pressures in the run-up to the forthcoming elections," he said.

The IMF said the Central Bank of Kenya's tight monetary policy stance has helped bring inflation down. Given low inflation expectations, the Central Bank cut its policy rate recently, and there may be scope for further monetary easing if economic conditions warrant.

However, he called on the Central Bank to watch for new inflationary pressures that may emerge from higher global food and fuel prices.

"Structural reforms have also moved forward. The recently- approved Public Financial Management Law will help strengthen expenditure management and control, re-orient spending toward priority sectors, and improve fiscal transparency," Shinohara said.

He said the new VAT law is being debated in the National Assembly, noting that financial soundness indicators are healthy.

by pna

The U.S. dollar advanced against the yen on Thursday due to mounting expectations that the Bank of Japan would take easing measures to boost the economy while U.S. data outperformed predictions.

The dollar reached a four-month high against the yen during Thursday trading as investors increasingly speculated that the Bank of Japan would expand its asset-buying plans after its policy meeting on Oct. 30.

The yen retreated against all of its major counterparts, but analysts believe the yen could rebound if the central bank does not take action.

The dollar benefited from a series of statistics released on Thursday. The number of U.S. citizens initially applying for unemployment aid made a sharp downturn last week after jumping to a four-month high.

In addition, new orders for U.S. manufactured durable goods rose nearly 10 percent in September after posting the largest monthly decrease in more than three years in August.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday maintained its easing policy as expected, but investors believe the next Fed meeting on Dec. 12 would be more significant as the Fed would decide whether it would keep the current bond-buying program.

Meanwhile, the British pound strengthened after the GDP data of UK showed that the economy began to grow, but some argue that the growth was largely contributed by Olympic Games effect and may be not sustainable.

by pna

Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose Thursday, finding support after the U.S. Federal Reserve reiterated its commitment to ultra-easy monetary policy.

The most active gold contract for December delivery gained 11.4 dollars, or 0.67 percent, to settle at 1,713 dollars per ounce.

After the close of regular gold trading Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee made no changes to its ultra-easy monetary policy, continuing to express concerns over the trajectory of growth in the American economy as well as weak employment trends, reports say.

According to market analysts, the market was not expecting much from the Fed statement, nonetheless, the commitment to ongoing asset purchases at 40 billion U.S. dollars a month is a supportive factor for gold, and the Fed's decision to maintain its monetary policy helped gold stage a slightly recovery overnight.

Strength in the U.S. dollar tends to weigh on dollar- denominated metal prices, such as gold.

by pna

The province of Negros Oriental won the bid to host the Palarong Pambansa 2013, according to Governor Roel Degamo who said his office received a confirmation fax letter on Wednesday from the Department of Education (DepEd).

DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro, in his letter dated October 24, 2012, said the decision for Negros Oriental to host the Palaro “was reached after a tedious selection and deliberation process taking into consideration the presentations made last Oct. 19 and the report provided by the technical committee composed of officials of the Dep Ed and the Philippine Sports Commission."

The final choice was based on voting results by the Palarong Pambansa Board where 19 members were present during the voting. The letter said Dumaguete (referring to Negros Oriental) won with 11 votes over its neighboring province and contender, Negros Occidental, who got seven votes, the DepEd letter said.

At least two conditions have been set for the governor/provincial government to comply with in the next two weeks for the Palaro hosting. These are a formal letter of commitment to host the 2013 Palarong Pambansa indicating the provincial government’s offer of counterpart funding to ensure the successful conduct of the event and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to firm up the roles and obligations of the DepEd and the provincial government.

Governor Degamo said he is very happy that for the first time, the provincial government of Negros Oriental has successfully won the bidding in hosting the national games.

Former governors of Negros Oriental had also tried their luck in bidding to host the Palaro but to no avail.

The governor said he will be meeting the members of the provincial school board to discuss important matters like preparation, accommodations, security and the facilities.

Gov.Degamo is confident that the provincial government in cooperation with the Department of Education can make everything ready before the Palarong Pambansa in April 2013.

He said the government is setting aside an initial funding of P7 million for the counterpart fund as required for the hosting of the Palarong Pambansa.

The budget is taken from the Special Education Fund (SEF) of the provincial government.

by pna

The Palawan Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) is thankful that the popular travel guide "Lonely Planet" included the province in the top 10 list of the world’s best regions for 2013 which is expected to increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists who will visit many of its popular sites.

Tourism Officer Maribel Buñi said the inclusion of Palawan as No. 8 in the list of the world’s best regions and calling it “the ultimate archipelago for adventurers” is “an opportunity that would open more tourism-related possibilities to the province,” especially next year.

“We are thankful of Palawan’s inclusion in the 'Lonely Planet' list. That is already the 'Lonely Planet', and we all know it’s one of the world’s most known travel references,” Buñi said, adding they are now preparing to welcome the surge of more visitors in 2013 by rehabilitating some facilities.

Buñi said the "Lonely Planet" citation is an early Christmas gift, and Governor Baham Mitra is happy the efforts of the provincial government under the H.E.A.T. (Health, Environment, Agriculture and Tourism) Program has been recognized by the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world.

by pna

Twenty four passengers were injured, six of them critically, when a speeding bus crashed into a concrete fence after negotiating a sharp curve along the national highway in Barangay Jardin, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur last Monday night.

Senior Inspector Napoleon Gao-ay, Tagudin town police chief, said the accident happened at about 8 p.m. when a Dominion bus line driven by Benjamin Abella, 52, of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, went out of control while moving towards the south direction.

Gao-ay said the bus evaded an overtaking vehicle occupying its lane while it was approaching the sharp curve.

The bus, he said went out of control and crashed into a concrete fence. The impact caused injury to its 24 passengers.

He said that the Dominion bus was heavily damaged.

All the critically injured were brought to Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union.

The other passengers with minor injuries were brought to Southern Ilocos Sur Hospital in Barangay Bio, Tagudin town.

According to Gao-ay, the bus company agreed to shoulder all the hospital expenses of the injured passengers.

by pna

SM Prime Holdings Inc. has decided to name the chapel, where the national thanksgiving mass for the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod will take place on Nov. 30, after the second Filipino saint.

The chapel, designed by New York-based Filipino-American architect Carlos Arnaiz, was supposed to be named Shrine of Mary, Mother of God.

Maria Teresa Mempin of SM Prime Holdings said they also hope to have the site for the thanksgiving mass declared a national shrine.

Fr. Brian Brigoli of the committee on venue of the Cebu Archdiocese said church officials are proposing to have the site declared a historical or heritage site.

”But we were told that a declaration cannot be made until after the event. Since the lot is not owned by the Church, with the declaration comes the donation of the lot to the Church,” he said.

The completion of the chapel and thanksgiving site, located within the 30-hectare property of SM Prime at the South Road Properties, is set on Nov. 15, well ahead of the Nov. 30 event.

Bad weather hampered work on the thanksgiving site but Fr. Raul Gallego, head of the committee on venue, said the target completion of the backfilling, compacting, installation of pavers on roads will be on the second week of November.

Work will also be suspended on Nov. 2 so that construction workers can be with their families to observe All Souls’ Day.

The committee in the Cebu Archdiocese that oversees the preparations of the thanksgiving venue received another setback when Cebu City Hall backed out from its pledge to lay asphalt on the entrance road.

”The City Council did not approve the work of backfilling. The original plans was an asphalt road that costs about P4 million. We were told two weeks ago that it would not push through,” said Gallego.

The city government, though, will shoulder food expense of workers at the venue, and make arrangements with the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) and security personnel to maintain order during the thanksgiving.

The Cebu Archdiocese expects as many as 130 bishops, archbishops and cardinals to attend the national thanksgiving mass.

Committee on liturgy chairman Fr. Glenn Guanzon said they are also preparing vestments for more than 1,000 priests, 800 lay ministers and 400 religious nuns and brothers.

by pna

Local traders are expecting a boost in sales and  earnings during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

They said business activities usually peak during this season as people buy food and things in preparation for the holidays.

"This is the time of the year we’ve been waiting for because we expect to earn more," Angelina Duenas, a market vendor here, said.

Duenas said that among the goods that sell like hotcakes in the market nowadays are candles, flowers, meat, vegetables and fruits.

There is an upsurge in sales and demand for those items because a lot of people, including foreigners are coming here to visit their departed loved ones in the cemeteries, she said.

A wide array of products on sale is seen not only in the markets but also on the streets near the plaza, church and cemetery.

Stalls selling candles and flowers of different colors, sizes and varieties are crowded with people.

Food booths are also being set up near the cemeteries.

by pna

A group of leaders of fisherfolk organizations, experts and activists from 50 organizations nationwide have called for a 10-year moratorium of reclamation projects.

In a statement, the groups called for a stringent review and rationalization of the National Reclamation Plan in areas including Cordova, Cebu and Panglao in Bohol Province.

Reclamation is the process of conversion by filling, dredging, or other artificial means of foreshore land or submerged areas into land suitable for use as habitation or for cultivation.

The Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc. (Fidec) and Pamana Sugbo are among the signatories of the People’s Summit on the Impacts of Reclamation last Oct. 25, 2012.

Owen Migraso, Fidec executive director, said reclamation projects pose as a threat to the coastal habitat and livelihood of small-scale fisherfolks.

Migraso said local government units should prioritize protection, conservation of coastal marine resources to help develop local economy, particularly in the fisheries sector.

In the Summit statement, the participants pointed out that “various independent and scientific studies such as in Panglao, Bohol, in Cordova, Cebu and in the Manila Bay have extensively demonstrated how existing reclamation projects can potentially result in the decreased productivity and biodiversity, disruption of vital ecosystem functions, increased vulnerability to floods and the displacement and dislocation of thousands of families dependent on the affected environments for their livelihood.”

by pna

Four persons were wounded when their six-wheeler truck fell into a ravine in Barangay Maasin, 13 kilometers west of this city on Tuesday afternoon, a police official said.

Police Station 8 commander Sr. Insp. Arthur Alejandro identified the victims as truck driver Carlito Ebol; Boy Suarez, Rene Brillantes and Nilo Bariga, all truck helpers.

Alejandro said the truck overturned after crashing on the road railings and fell into the ravine.

The driver lost control of the truck’s steering wheel after it malfunctioned while they were on the way to deliver chicken feed to a poultry farm in the village of Pamucutan, 23 kilometers west of this city, Alejandro said.

by pna

The province of Pangasinan received another feather in its cap when it received the regional award for Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL), from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The GPL, considered as the ‘mother of governance awards’, was received by Governor Amado Espino Jr., assisted by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim during the DILG's Araw ng Parangal on Oct.30 at the Vigan City Convention Center, Ilocos Sur.

DILG Region 1 director Corazon Guray, who handed the award, hailed the awardees as “mga bagong bayani ng ating bayan”’.

The two other GPL awardees were Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, for the component city category; and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, for the municipality category.

“The three local government units being awarded with GPL exemplify excellent performances in the Department’s Local Governance Performance Management System’s (LGPMS’s) Administrative, Social, Economic and Environmental Governance and Valuing Fundamentals of Good Governance, and the 2012 Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) â€" Silver Level,”Guray said.

The GPL, “a total concept” award conferred to a Province, City or Municipality implemented by the DILG in partnership with other stakeholders, gives due recognition to the efforts and contributions of local governments in the advancement of local governance.

DILG assistant regional director Julie Daquioag, who described the award as ‘the mother of governance awards’, said that awardees had set high standards in local governance with their innovative approaches undertaken in rendering services to the people.

In the case of Pangasinan, it was just recently adjudged as top contender for the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) â€" national level, second runner-up in the national Pearl award in recognition of the best tourism practices, and over-all champion in the Batang Pinoy â€" Northern Luzon Leg.

“This award (referring to the GPL) conferred to the province is for the Pangasinenses who are filled with hope for the betterment of Pangasinan,” Espino said.

Guray said: “We see the importance of civil society groups because they serve as partners for local governance serving in various capacities.”

She expressed hopes that by 2013 the Millenium Development Goals will be realized.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) Benita Pizzaro delivered the précis of the ‘Ilog Ko, Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko’, the GPL entry for innovative project. An audio-visual production on the advocacy produced by the Provincial Information Office was presented later.

The innovations in local governance of Pangasinan, Vigan and San Nicolas town the past three years enabled them to surpass the other 126 LGUs of the region.

Guray reported that the three nominees of region 1 for the national GPL were in the shortlist and of top four contenders in their respective categories validated by a national team.

The national winners will be announced in mid-November.

Joining Espino and Calimlim in receiving the award were Board Members Von Mark Mendoza, Raul Sison, Jeremy Agerico Rosario and Mojamito Libunao, Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, PPDO Pizzaro and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco.

Other LGU runners-up were: Province category â€" Ilocos Norte (1st Runner-Up), La Union (2nd Runner-Up); City category â€" Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (1st Runner-Up), City of San Fernando, La Union (2nd Runner-Up); and Municipality category â€" Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (1st Runner-Up), Agoo, La Union (2nd Runner-Up).

by pna

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday culminated the observance of the Consumer Welfare Protection Month by destroying P3.35 million worth of substandard products confiscated for the period 2008-2011.

DTI provincial director Wilhelm Malones said the substandard products were confiscated from 57 establishments operating in the city and province of Iloilo for violating Republic Act 4109 or the Product Standards Law.

Malones said that these were covered by mandatory standards but were sold in establishments devoid of the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark for imported products or Product Standard (PS) sticker for locally manufactured.

P1 million fine was also imposed on erring establishments.

by: PNA

Police filed kidnapping with ransom charges Wednesday against Korean national Song Sung Heum and his three alleged local cohorts before the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor.

The case was filed over an alleged abduction and extortion of another Korean tourist and his live-in partner on October 24.

Senior Supt. Wilfredo Cayat, Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) 7 chief, charged Song and his supposed Filipino accomplices Richard Dealagdon, Leonard Bulabon and Gregorio Dealagdon with violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code.

They allegedly kidnapped Korean national Jun Hyung Chung and his Filipino live-in partner Charise Santiago and demanded a ransom of at least P600,000.

The accused have signed a waiver for their continued detention at the Cebu City Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) stockade.

Prosecutor Rhodna Alcala-Bacatan, who conducted the inquest, gave the respondents 10 days to submit their counter-affidavits.

CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said they will investigate if the two are involved in a syndicate in Korea.

Charlie Shin, Cebu Korean Association Inc. vice president, told reporters the Korean Embassy will not provide Song with a lawyer, although they will assist him in finding a counsel.

by: PNA

Hundreds of would-be voters trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Metro Cebu on Wednesday afternoon, but many did not make it to the cut-off time.

Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said a large number of applicants were reported in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

He lamented that many were not registered since the Comelec could no longer accommodate them.

Castillano said this also happened in the 2010 elections.

The registration at that time was resumed in December 2009 and lasted for 10 days, but only for new voters.

Castillano said they will have the total number of registered voters after the election registration board hearing on December 19, when they will decide which applications should be approved or disapproved.

In Mandaue City, the Comelec stopped giving registration forms around 10 a.m. because the office would only accommodate up to 700 registrants.

In Lapu-Lapu City, more than 1,000 would-be voters turned up at the Comelec office on the last day, said lawyer Ann Janette Chua-Hu Lamban, Lapu-Lapu City election officer.

They stopped accepting registrants at 3 p.m.

Hundreds of applicants also failed to enlist in Cebu City, as they did not make it to the 3 p.m. cut-off time. Most of those who were not accommodated by Comelec personnel arrived late Wednesday morning.

Cebu City north district election officer Marchel Sarno said that as early as 7 a.m., there were already some 600 registrants waiting outside their office.

“Those who came late were not accommodated,” he said.

Sarno said those who were not accommodated cannot blame their office since they had 16 months to register to vote in the 2013 elections.

Cebu City congressional candidate Annabelle Rama’s family was lucky. Nearly all of them are now registered voters of the city.

Following their father Eddie Gutierrez and sister Ruffa, Annabelle’s celebrity son Richard and Richie Paul submitted their registration forms to the Comelec north district office at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

by: PNA

The Cebu Bankers Club is assuring people that automated teller machines (ATM) are loaded with sufficient money to ensure that needs of customers are met during the upcoming four-day long weekend.

”We assure our bank’s clients that all members of Cebu Bankers Club are always ready during long holidays. ATMs are loaded with cash to ensure uninterrupted transactions during the period,” said Prudencio Gesta, the president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the former president of Cebu Bankers Club.

Gesta said most banks have dedicated teams to monitor cash levels of ATMs and to attend to any problems of clients.

”We enjoin clients to get the hotlines or toll free numbers of their bank in case they have problems with their ATMs or credit cards,” said Gesta, who is also Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.’s (RCBC) first vice president and regional sales and marketing head for the Visayas.

He also suggested that clients get the contact number of any officer of their bank for easier assistance in case of any problem.

All RCBC branches are close on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. The banks will open on Nov. 3 for their regular Saturday banking and return to regular banking schedules on Monday, Nov. 5.

Banking operations of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) will also resume operation on Nov. 3.

”Metrobank will ensure supply of cash in their ATMs in all of its branches,” Chito Cabaero, Metrobank cluster sales head for the Visayas, said.

by: PNA

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma welcomed the suggestion for the formation of "Matuwid na Daan" movement in the provinces to bring about good governance in the local level.

The suggestion came from a member of the Pangasinan Press Club who Coloma first addressed before speaking during the Area Meeting of the Rotary Clubs at Lenox Hotel here Tuesday night.

Coloma however believes such a movement is no longer necessary if every Filipino will take the principle of public accountability at heart.

It's a laudable and most welcomed move, said Coloma, adding he too would bring this out to the Rotary Clubs but added even if there is no such movement, it is still okay "as long as we ourselves practice public accountability," Coloma said.

"Pero kung gusto po natin ng additional movement, bahala kayo," he said, reacting to a suggestion put forward by a member of the PPC who believes that such a movement could be a watchdog against graft and corruption in the provinces. .

At this juncture, Coloma said perhaps a new movement is no longer needed if all Filipinos emulate the President and follow the law, he said.

Asked by newsmen about the record of the administration as far as implementing "Matuwid na Daan" is concerned, Coloma said "lest the Filipinos will forget, it was PNoy himself who supported the move to impeach Chief Justice Renato Corona that led to his conviction by the impeachment court."

Noting that those committing graft are not being prosecuted, President Aquino saw the need for a new Ombudsman by appointing retired Justice Conchita Carpio Morales when Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resigned.

by:PNA
North Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Nancy Catamco has called the police in Kidapawan City to identify, arrest and file appropriate charges against those responsible in the killing of her personal driver.

Catamco’s driver, Jose Duerme Labrador, was sitting in front of his house along Quezon Blvd. here when the gunman wearing black sweet shirt and bull cap, approached him and shot him twice in the head.

Citing witnesses’ accounts, Supt. Renante Cabico, Kidapawan City police chief, said the gunman made sure the victim was dead before leaving using a motorbike driven by an accomplice. They fled towards Makilala, North Cotabato.

Responding policemen recovered empty shells for cal. 45 pistol.

While police are looking at deeper angles, Cabico said police investigators are looking at personal grudge as the motive.

Earlier in the day, Labrador’s daughter filed a complaint of violence against women and children (VAWC) against her live-in partner before the city police office.

Cabico could not say whether the murder has something to do with the filing of the complaint.

by: PNA
Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte recently turned over four container vans of lauan lumbers to Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy.

The hot lumbers of 39,144 board feet were donated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Davao Region to the City Government of Davao last October 24, 2012.

These were part of the 18 container vans valued at 4.3 million pesos seized by the joint operatives DENR Davao National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force and National Bureau of Investigation last July 16, 2012 in violation of Executive Order No. 23 mandating a total log ban.

Meanwhile, the Local Government of Tagum City is set to fabricate school chairs for the Department of Education (DepEd) and the City Schools Division of Davao.

Tagum City Mayor Uy officially received the four container vans containing lauan lumber after the signing of the deed of donation with Duterte, DENR, local government units and DepEd.

The DepEd regional leadership under its new regional director Gloria D. Benigno, also thanked Mayor Uy for filling the gap of school chairs shortage in public schools in the region.

Only last July, this year, Benigno, along with Schools Division Superintendent Helen Paguican of DepEd Davao City, witnessed the personal and free delivery of Mayor Uy of about 220 pieces of school chairs to Sasa Elementary School right after the signing ceremony.

Over 600 residents here were disqualified from listing up when the election registrar told them the Commission on Election (Comelec) could no longer accommodate them.

City election registrar Diosdado Javier said their computers are only allowed to list 400 registrants in a day.

The applicants that lined up since October 30 numbered to a thousand, he said.

Around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, however, a number of applicants were still lining up, waiting for their names to be called.

Javier said they have informed earlier the applicants they could only accommodate 400 registrants.

“Yet, they refused to listen,” said Javier.

Javier said the Comelec should not be blamed for the situation.

The registration of voters, he stressed, has started two years ago.

“It was extended until October 31. Yet, as expected, our tendency is to wait for the deadline and so the problem comes in,” said Javier.

However, he said they hope to remedy the problem.

“We can submit a petition at the Comelec central office with their names as petitioners that they would be allowed to register for the 2013 elections… But the decision, however, depends on the commission,” he explained.

Many of the registrants are teenagers who would reach 18 at the time of the elections.

Beverly Jane Lasid, 17, said it was only last Tuesday that she was able to list up.

by: pna
A soldier and a militiaman were injured in an attack staged by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterlands of Misamis Occidental, military official disclosed Thursday.

Army’s 1st Infantry Division spokesman Capt. Alberto Caber said the attack took place Tuesday night in the boundary of Barangay Liboron and Mansawan, Don Victoriano Chiongbian town, Misamis Occidental.

Caber did not release the name of the injured soldier and militiaman except that the soldier belongs to the 55th Infantry Battalion.

Caber said the soldiers were undertaking peace and development works when around 20 NPA rebels attacked them.

Although two were already injured, he said the soldiers fought back that resulted in a five-minute firefight forcing the NPA attackers to flee.

The NPA rebels were believed to have suffered casualties as bloodstains were visible in their withdrawal path, he said.

Lt. Col. Rommel Almaria, 55th Infantry Battalion commander, said the attack will not stop them from undertaking peace and development works in Misamis Occidental.

Almaria said the attack is a clear indication that the NPAs “are against the gains of the Bayanihan soldiers in the villages who are working to win the peace in that part of the region.”

“The objective of the incident seemingly appears to be the rebels’ effort to disrupt the locals’ mounting trust on the soldiers,” he said.