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DOST tasks expert panel to evaluate Corpus' wind turbine invention

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has constituted and tasked a multi-disciplinary panel of technical experts to evaluate the wind turbine machine invented by retired Philippine Army Gen. Victor Corpus that can potentially revolutionize the country's power generation industry.

Corpus calls his invention the "Nautilus." Included in the expert panel to evaluate his invention are engineers from DOST's Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC),  Industrial Technology and Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), and the Department of Energy-Renewable Energy Management Bureau (DOE-REMB).

From the academe, the panel also includes engineering faculty members from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Rizal Technological University, and the Technological University of the Philippines; and experts from the state energy company PNOC Renewables Corporation. The panel will conduct its initial inspection of the Nautilus miniature-sized prototype, stored at the Folk Arts Theater compound, Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City.

Corpus said he is inspired and excited to have his Nautilus prototype, along with is concept and design, inspected. "I'm fully prepared for it," he added. He expressed hope the evaluation will hopefully result to validation and  endorsement from the government, particularly the DOST, which can help his efforts to secure venture capital funding for the development of the Nautilus' full-sized prototype and its eventual commercial-scale production.

Jose Patalinjug III, regional director of DOST in the National Capital Region, agreed to support the further development of Corpus' Nautilus design.  "If we need further R&D on this, we are willing to fund this.  If we need further testing to collect the necessary data, we will do that, until finally we can say that this invention, this innovation is commerciable," Patalinjug says.

Corpus, now 73, stressed it is better to have an endorsement from the government, especially from the DOST," if its passes the panel's critical evaluation.

The retired my General said the Nautilus' vertical axis wind turbine design has solved has solved the technical flaws of both the horizontal axis wind turbine, the technology behind the giant and towering windmills seen in "wind farms" all over the world; and the vertical axis wind turbine that has long been regarded as not viable for commercial wind energy generation.

The Nautilus wind turbine features an enclosing structure that makes use of the principle of "weirs" built in rivers to redirect water flow either for hydropower or to trap fish, "to achieve multiple maximum areas of 'wind attack' that generates energy."

Corpus said his Nautilus wind turbine invention offers many advantages. "Unlike other windmills, you don't have to build high towers. It's ground- based, so it's cheaper and easier to build, operate and maintain. Existing power generation wind farms, now connected to the power grid, can install the Nautilus wind turbines under their giant windmills, thereby maximizing their huge land areas," he explained.

He said the vast Sierra Madre mountain range can be developed as a giant Nautilus wind farm that can generate tremendous energy like what China does now.

After his retirement from the military in 2004, Corpus was appointed to the board of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Corporation's Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC), where he earned an extension education on alternative energy. He left the firm in 2006 and has since then been quietly doing research and development on renewable energy. He initially focused on ocean tidal energy.

Corpus said he was working on tidal energy in Lubang Island,  Mindoro in 2009 when a strong typhoon blew away his tidal turbine prototype and  pushed his R&D to veer to wind energy which later turned out to be in the right direction. He recounted that while undertaking tidal energy study off  Lubang, they set the tidal turbine prototype by the beach when they noticed that the winds blowing incessantly easily sent the turbines spinning effortlessly and angrily, generating power for a generator connected to the turbine. "It was the Eureka moment for the Nautilus," Corpus added.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1967, Corpus said the general engineering courses offered at PMA, helped him in his R&D. He led a colorful life as a soldier and officer. He was an instructor at the PMA in 1970, during the Marcos dictatorship, when he defected to the communist rebel  New People's Army (NPA) and led a raid on the academy's armory. Frustrated by what he saw in the NPA, however, he surrendered to his PMA mistahs in 1976, and remaine in prison for about 10 years. He was reinstated into the AFP after the EDSA Revolution of 1986.

He retired as a Brigadier General.

Photo Caption: Retired Gen. Victor Corpus (second from right), together with (from left) Filipino Inventors Society Producers Cooperative president Francisco 'Popoy' Pagayon, Department of Science and Technology regional director for NCR Jose Patalinjug III and FISPC director Davis Pagayon, showcases a model of the improved Nautilus vertical-axis wind turbine innovation in Pasay City.

REP. HENRY C. ONG
2nd District of Leyte
Vice Chair, Committee on Banks & Financial Intermediaries
BUSINESSMAN-SOLON URGES BUSINESSES TO COMPLY SOON WITH TRAIN LAW INCOME TAX PROVISIONS

Employers in the private sector should be able to iron out within the first quarter of this year the transition kinks in their implementation of the TRAIN P250,000 income tax exemption and new income tax computations.

Three months should be more than enough time to recalibrate the payroll software most businesses use.

One probable reason many private sector employers are unable to implement TRAIN is that they have not yet finished their withholding tax computations for the 2017 taxable year. Those computations are the basis for the issuance of the withholding tax certificate to their employees. For taxable year 2017, the old income tax laws are still in effect.

May I also take this opportunity to remind income tax payers this early to file or prepare for filing their income tax returns on or before this year's deadline, which is April 16 (April 15 falls on a Sunday).

Next year and onwards, according to the TRAIN Law, the ITR filing deadline is on May 15. One reason the date was moved from April 15 to May 15 is the Holy Week holidays that sometimes fall on or the days before April 15.

Please be aware also that the BIR has recently issued four directives about the following:

1. Instructions for taxpayers subject to Percentage Tax and those required to withhold other Percentage Taxes and VAT, including VAT on government money payments and payments to non-residents;

2. All National Government Agencies shall use BIR Form No. 0605 in the filing and remittance of creditable and final withholding taxes thru the Electronic Filing and Payment System;

3. Withholding Agents shall remit their creditable and final withholding taxes for the first two (2) months of every quarter using BIR Form No. 0605 and indicating MC 200 for the ATC and WE or WF for the tax type, whichever is applicable; and

4. Taxes withheld within the first two (2) months and on the 3rd month of every taxable quarter shall be remitted thru BIR Form 0605 and BIR Form 1601EQ, respectively.

Concerned taxpayers and employers, please be guided accordingly. (END)

REP. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA-DY                         
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Chair, Committee on Women and Gender Equality

NEW HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN CHAIR IS EXPANDED MATERNITY LEAVE CHAMPION

Newly appointed House Committee on Women and Gender Equality Chairperson, Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, in a dialogue with women leaders of Workers for Expanded Maternity Leave (Work4EML) group, vowed to give full support to the passage of the proposed Expanded Maternity Leave Bill.

The current consolidated house version of the bill proposes 100 days maternity leave. Giving their "yes" to the bill so far are Rep. Raymond Mendoza of TUCP Party-list and Rep. Tom Villarin of Akbayan Party-list, who helped organize the meeting of women and trade unions with Representative BH as soon as she assumed chairpersonship of the Committee.

"Dagdag na maternity leave, pusuan," said one of their placards. Present laws allow women who had normal delivery to take 60 days of maternity leave; and 78 days if by caesarian section.

Their spouses get seven days of paternity leave. Under the ILO and the World Health Organization's standard, a minimum of 98 days is recommended for maternity leave. The Philippines has the fewest days for maternity leave in the ASEAN.

"This is a most fitting Valentine's Day gift to working mothers. We hope Congress approves the bill soon," the women's groups said in a statement.  Women's groups and trade unions are asking for up to 120 expanded days of maternity leave with pay for women workers so as to enable them to fully recover and take care of their newborn babies.

The group is composed of women leaders of political parties, women groups and worker's unions, namely Akbayan Women, IndustriALL, Nagkaisa-Women, Sentro Women, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation, Mangagawang Kababaihan Mithi ay Paglaya (MAKALAYA), Building and Wood Workers International, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Labor Union, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, United Cavite Woodworkers Union , Partido Manggagawa and Sanofi Aventis Employees Union.

The proposed measure effectively allows additional paternity leave, too. The bill provides that part of the maternity leave may be availed of by the spouse or the kin or the partner who will help the working mother take care of her baby.

"Nagagalak po kami sa pagsusulong ng Bagong Hirang na chairperson ng Komite ng Kababaihan sa Kongreso ng dagdag na maternity leave," the women's groups said.

Workers for Expanded Maternity Leave (Work4EML), group courted other members of Congress for support to the bill by distributing roses. "Sana ay makuha namin ang kanilang matamis na 'oo' para sa dagdag maternity leave," the groups said. (END)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Philippine Association of Agencies to Kuwait (PHILAAK)
Contact Person/Reference: Chester Lobramonte - 0917 729 2437

PINOY REMITTANCES MULA KUWAIT, HIGIT $50M ANG IBINABA NOONG 2017 DULOT NG PAGHINA NG EKONOMIYA NG KUWAIT
Remittances inaasahang bababa pa sanhi ng deployment ban - PHILAAK

Higit limampung milyong dolyar ($50.23 million) ang ibinaba ng kabuuang ng overseas Filipino remittances mula sa Kuwait sa buong taon ng 2017 kumpara sa 2016, ayon mismo sa mga pinakahuling datos ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (http://www.bsp.gov.ph/statistics/excel/ofw.xls )

Sa palitang $1 = P50, lumalabas na dalawa't kalahating bilyong piso (P2.5 billion) ang katumbas niyang $50 million; habang P40.32 billion naman na remittances mula Kuwait para sa buong taon ng 2017 ang katumbas ng $806.48 million.

Gayunman, para lamang sa buwan ng Disyembre 2017, nagawa pa rin ng mga OFW sa Kuwait na makapagpadala ng $71.249 million ng kanilang kinita roon bilang pamasko sa kanilang mga pamilya rito sa Pilipinas.

Noong Mayo 2017, $84.46 million ang remittances mula Kuwait. Sa buwanang basehan, iyan ang pinakamataas kumpara sa lahat ng buwan ng taon. Pinakamababa naman ang padala noong September 2017 na $43 million lamang ang naging padala.

Sa tingin ng Philippine Association of Agencies to Kuwait (PHILAAK), ang 5.9 percent o $50.23 million dollars na ibinaba ng halaga ng mga padala mula Kuwait ay epekto paghina ng ekonomiya ng Kuwait dahil sa pagbagsak ng presyo ng langis sa world market mula sa kataasan nitong $100 dollars per barrel noong 2015. (http://www.arabnews.com/node/1238756/business-economy)

Kung mayroon man, masasabi naming kaunti lang ang naging epekto ng naging gusot sa pagitan ng Kuwait at Pilipinas dahil sa pagkamatay ng pitong Pilipino doon. Enero 2018 na kasi nang ipatigil ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang deployment ng mga bagong OFW papuntang Kuwait.

Dahil sa pagbagsak sa presyo ng langis mula 2015, humina ang kakayahan ng gobyerno roon na pondohan at gastusan ang mga programa ng kanilang pamahalaan. Humina rin ang gross domestic product ng Kuwait at kasabay niyan ang kita ng kanilang mga mamamayan at negosyo.  (http://www.arabnews.com/node/1235421/business-economy)

Ngunit ayon sa mga ekonomista, makakabawi ang ekonomiya ng Kuwait ngayong 2018.

Pero pinangangambahan ng PHILAAK na kung magtatagal pa ang ban ng bagong deployment at kung marami pang OFWs mula Kuwait ang uuwi sa Pilipinas ngayong 2018, maaaring mas lalaki pa sa $50 million ang ibababa ng OFW remittances mula Kuwait.

Malaking bagay iyan sa mga naghihirap na pamilyang Pilipino at ekonomiya ng bansa. Masakit iyan para sa mga pamilyang umaasa lamang sa mga padala ng OFWs sa Kuwait.

Kaya naman, hangad naming maresolba agad ng mga pamahalaan ng Pilipinas at Kuwait ang kasalukuyang suliranin. Umaasa ang PHILAAK na magbubunga nang mabuti at sa lalong madaling panahon, ang mga solusyon nina Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, at Special Envoy Eduardo Manalo.

Lady pusher yields P140K drugs in Cebu buy-bust
By Luel Galarpe February 16, 2018, 4:21 pm

CEBU CITY -- A newly-identified drug personality in Talisay City was arrested in a buy-bust operation Thursday night in Barangay Tangke.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office identified the suspect as 31-year-old Marry Grace Seguisabal of Purok Rattan, Barangay Tangke.

Packs of methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" with an estimated value of PHP142,000 were recovered from her possession.
Although newly identified, Seguisabal, who admitted selling illegal drugs for a month now, is believed to be a major player in the drug trade and a direct down-line of an arrested drug lord, meaning she gets her supply directly from the source and jacks up the price.

Another newly-identified drug pusher in the same barangay, however, managed to evade arrest during the same operation Thursday night.

The suspect identified as Jayme Medilo, also known as "Imot," was able to elude arrest and is now at large and being pursued by the Talisay police.

Meanwhile, the Talisay City police also tracked and apprehended a French national with a warrant of arrest for violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, or falsification of public documents, also on Thursday.

The arrested foreigner, David Chetrit, is now detained at the Talisay City police station. (PNA)

By Joann Villanueva February 16, 2018, 4:37 pm

MANILA -- The Finance department supports House Bill 7105, which pushes for a tax amnesty program, in a bid to help the government collect taxes easily.

The bill, which involves Part B of Package 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, is now being deliberated on by the House Committee on Ways and Means. Aside from amnesty for unpaid taxes in 2017 and prior years, the same bill eyes the relaxation of the Bank Secrecy Law.

The proposed bill is expected to be approved within the first quarter of this year.

"In principle we support it not because we need the money at this point but because we want a complete database of taxpayers and their networth level so that in the future it will be easier for us to collect more taxes in a more efficient manner," Finance Assistant Secretary Mark Dennis Joven said.

The Department of Finance (DOF), under the proposed tax reform program, is pushing for a tax amnesty in a bid to improve collections and correct inequities in the past.

Asked whether pending tax evasion cases will be included in the tax amnesty, Joven said a Senate bill on the same issue exclude pending cases.

"But we are studying whether or not to include them because there are a lot of pending cases which will take a long time to resolve," he said, citing that the Finance department wants to make sure that the government will not be disadvantaged if these cases are settled.

On the interest to be slapped on the uncollected taxes, the Finance official said they are still considering the proposal for an 8 percent interest, which he said is already on a high side.

He said the last tax amnesty program only sets a 5 percent amnesty on networth.

"Compliance was really low so we need to consider that as well...so probably not 8 percent."

The last time the government had a tax amnesty program was in 2008 wherein about PHP13 billion was collected.

Earlier, Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua said they expect the collection from the proposed tax amnesty program of the Duterte government to double the amount of the previous amnesty program since domestic growth has also doubled.

Asked for the expected collections once the current proposal is approved, Joven said this still depends on taxpayers' acceptance of the rules. (PNA)

Economic activity is seen to get an additional boost from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) cut of banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR) to 19 percent effective March 2, 2018, according to the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).

In a statement Friday, BAP said the decision of the central bank's policy-making Monetary Board (MB) to cut banks' RRR supports the government's bid to further uplift the growth momentum of the domestic economy.

"The reserve adjustment means that borrowers will have access to more sources of funds and more efficient cost of borrowing that is expected to propel more economic activity in the country," it said.

The latest RRR cut is expected to release about PHP90 billion worth of liquidity into the system.

On Thursday, the central bank said the RRR cut "reaffirms the BSP's commitment to gradually lessen its reliance on reserve requirements for managing liquidity in the financial system."

"The Monetary Board believes that the BSP has attained sufficient progress in its shift towards the use of market-based monetary instruments since the adoption of the interest rate corridor (IRC) framework in June 2016," it said, citing that the central bank now has ample scope to ease the potential liquidity impact of the gradual RRR cut.

The last time the central bank adjusted RRR was in 2014 when it was hiked by a total of 50 basis points as the growth of domestic liquidity grew stronger than in the past years at a level of more than 20 percent.

To date, the country has one of the highest RRR in the world, which is why some analysts have been projecting a cut as domestic inflation continues to rise and the MB keeps key rates steady.

BAP managing director Benjamin Castillo said he expects their member-banks to "be able to extend additional credit to consumers and enterprises that require adequate funds for their personal and business needs."

"We are confident to this move of the Monetary Board for the gradual reduction in the reserve ratio which clearly demonstrates a strong regulatory framework and supports the BSP's ability to further manage liquidity while policy rates are within its framework to continuously promote economic growth," he added. (By Joann Villanueva/PNA)

Tok hang fat tai

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PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Canadian short track speed skater Kim Boutin's dream of winning an Olympic medal has quickly turned into a nightmare with her social media accounts inundated with abuse and threats from angry South Korean fans after she won bronze on Tuesday.

Feb 13, 2018; Pyeongchang, South Korea; Kim Boutin (CAN) celebrates winning bronze in the women's short track speed skating 500m finals during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Gangneung Ice Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The 23-year-old grabbed third place in the women's 500-metre final at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Tuesday but her joy was short-lived.

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REP. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA-DY                          
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Chair, Committee on Women and Gender Equality
 
UNIFORM NATIONAL CURFEW FOR KIDS YOUNGER THAN 18 PUSHED IN CONGRESS

We see nearly every day and night on television news the CCTV footages of children and teenagers figuring in gang wars, petty theft, street crimes, and violent skirmishes.

House Bill 7110 seeks to mandate and strictly implement a set of hours during night time within which minors are prohibited from remaining outside of the home, not only as a means of maintaining public order and safety and preventing the further rise in criminality, but also in order to protect minors from potential threat that may arise in the remote environment which may be harmful or detrimental to their development.

We filed this bill because of the increasingly alarming number of children who have gone missing for over 24 hours, children that are abused by syndicates and unscrupulous individuals, as well as have been involved in crimes concerning abduction, rape, abuse, and theft, murder, among others.

HB 7110 seeks to protect children below the age of 18 because they are vulnerable to abuse leading to exploitation, drug addiction, and the commission of criminal acts, as well as also being at the risk of committing criminal offenses themselves.

The Quezon City Ordinance which the Supreme Court upheld as constitutional on August 8, 2017 is the template of this bill. https://goo.gl/eKSJJB  (END)

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In today's verse from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called His followers "the salt of the earth." It was a way to describe how we as Christians are to influence the society around us. Who we are, what we say, and the things we do in the world can be compared to the role and effect of salt.

Salt flavors. Have you ever eaten a baked potato without salt? It probably tasted bland, didn't it? Whenever salt is added to food, the taste is enhanced, and that's how Christlike character, words, and actions can flavor our witness and open the door for people to hear our message.

Salt preserves. In biblical times, salt was used to preserve food so it wouldn't spoil. In the same way, our lifestyles offer an alternative to the corrupting ways of the world and point people to Jesus for salvation.

Salt impacts what it touches. The chemical reactions caused by salt may be invisible, but the changes it brings are evident. We never know how a timely word, an act of kindness, or a stand for righteousness may affect someone.

Salt causes thirst. When those who don't know Christ see how we handle suffering with calmness, endurance, and hope, they will thirst to know how we do it. Telling them of our reliance on God and His sufficiency could lead them to our Savior.

Do the people around you sense something special about you and thirst to know what it is? Becoming salt of the earth isn't simply a matter of being good; it's the work of the Holy Spirit. When His fruit is produced in us (Gal. 5:22-23), our life will bear the flavor of Christ.

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Maybe there's not enough money in the bank to cover that bill. Or a loved one died. Or your family is facing hard times. In difficult or painful circumstances, many believers turn to the Bible in search of comfort and guidance. Within its pages, we find assurance that encourages us through every season of life: "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22-23).

God truly is faithful. In other words, we can count on Him to be and do exactly what He says. For instance, the Bible assures us that the Lord is trustworthy, loving, and incapable of failure (Psalm 37:5; Rom. 5:8; Josh. 1:5). Out of deep love for us, He'll  use any aspect of His multifaceted nature to provide exactly what He knows we need. He's our Savior, Comforter, and Discipliner, who safely guides us through life's changes and challenges.

No matter what hardships we face, we can trust God because He knows all things. He's aware of the duration and intensity of our current season and uses His knowledge to offer us the best possible help and support. What's more, the Lord is all-powerful, which means He is more than adequate to meet needs and change circumstances according to His plan. And our Father is everywhere, including right beside us in whatever we face. He promises, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).

Difficulties may cause us to question God's dependability. But if we'll place our trust in our omniscient, omnipotent Father, we can begin each morning with a fresh sense of His faithfulness, which will carry us through the day.

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U.S. Embassy to Launch Workshops for PH English Teachers

Manila, February 16, 2018 — On Tuesday, February 20 the Regional English Language Office at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines will launch a series of professional development workshops for over 400 English teachers to support English language teaching at schools and institutions of higher learning in Bataan and Metro Manila.  The workshops will take place over a three-week period. 

Dr. Donna M. Brinton, a distinguished American expert and author of textbooks on Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (TESOL), will conduct the workshops for public school teachers, university faculty, and students preparing for teaching careers.  

Dr. Brinton will be visiting the Philippines for the first time as a participant in the U.S. Department of State's English Language (EL) Specialist Program.  The EL Specialist Program is just one of several Embassy programs that promote the professional development of English teachers through face-to-face instruction and distance-learning programs taught by American experts in the field of TESOL. 

We invite media to cover the opening event on Tuesday, February 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Giardino Room of the Bayview Park Hotel in Manila.

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IRM Philippines to conduct CPD for Real Estate Salespersons, Brokers and appraisers

            The IRM Philippines in cooperation with the National Real Estate Association, Cebu Chapter and the Central Cebu Board of Realtors, Inc. will conduct a Continuing Professional Development seminar or CPD on February 24 and 25, 2018 at the JJ's Seafood Village, Gallares St., Tagbilaran City, Bohol.  The CPD will highlight important aspect on the New CPD Law and updates on the real estate service industry. This CPD is a requirement for Real Estate Salesperson Accreditation with PRC and for the Renewal of licenses for Brokers and Appraisers. This seminar is accredited by PRC for 16 credit units.

         For more details, please call Ms. Richel B. Jumawan at tel. nos. (032) 254-5780; (032) 412-5676; 0919-6500753; 0922-7880851.

 

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EducationUSA Hosts 3rd Annual Education Fair in the Philippines

Manila, February 13, 2018 — EducationUSA, the U.S. government's official resource for students interested in pursuing higher education opportunities in the United States, will host its annual university fair in Manila on Thursday, March 8 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.  The EducationUSA Fair will feature 33 U.S. colleges and universities.

The Fair will provide an opportunity for students, parents, and school administrators to interact with university representatives, learn about the U.S. college application process, and identify educational programs and resources available to Filipino students.  This free event is open to the public. 

EducationUSA provides free advising services to prospective international students in more than 170 countries and helps students navigate the five steps to U.S. study—researching schools, financing, completing the application, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure—and offers resources and tools for each step.  There are more than 4,500 accredited higher education institutions in the United States and an EducationUSA adviser can assist students narrow their options, define their priorities, and plan their college careers.  The program does not offer scholarships, but can assist students in locating scholarship opportunities as they consider their options for funding a degree.

You can find more information about EducationUSA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/educationusa.philippines and on Twitter @EducationUSA_PH.  Attendees are encouraged to register here: https://goo.gl/RRB2MU.

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Statement of Atty. Vic Rodriguez, spokesperson of former Senator Bongbong Marcos

Schooled in the art of deception, this is nothing but another vain attempt of Mrs. Robredo to explain the presence of boxes on the ballot images instead of the circles. The people deserve nothing but a credible and authentic reason why the squares, instead of the original circles, are there.

Let me remind him that when Senator Marcos first came out and presented the squares in the ballot images, he discredited it and claimed that those were fraudulent, tampered and manipulated pieces of evidence.

Now Atty. Macalintal appears to be lawyering for the Comelec by claiming that the squares are a new feature and that the parties were informed of the presence of the squares in the ballot images.

I dare him now to produce any briefing made by the Comelec on the presence of the squares because I have yet to meet anyone – be it a political party or candidate or Information Technology expert - who had ever been informed of the existence of squares on the ballot images. Either Atty. Macalintal is just being consistently untrue or he had a special briefing from Comelec exclusively for the then ruling Liberal Party.

Either way, the existence of the square is an unlawful insertion and alteration of the digital image. If they did the insertion clandestinely, we wonder what other alterations they did to alter the digital results?

Weighed in the balance and found wanting, the excuses are so feeble and insulting to the intelligence of the Filipino electorate as it provides them too little too late. The squares should not be there because during the source code review, no boxes were shown. If ever, the boxes must have been added after the source code review which is against the law.

Atty. Macalintal has declared that he is confident that the results of the recount will be the same because no election protest has ever been successful. He seemed to have forgotten that he is the lawyer of protestants in three election cases in Nueva Ecija, Leyte and Bulacan. In those cases, he is moving for the nullification of the proclamation of the winning candidates alleging among others defective vote counting machines and questionable transmissions, which are some of issues also raised by former Senator Marcos himself in his election protest.

By asserting that the recount will not change the results of the elections, is Atty. Macalintal now saying that he misled these clients of his into filing frivolous and baseless protests?

And if indeed Atty. Macalintal is confident that the results of the election will be the same, why did his client file a counter-election protest covering 13 provinces against Senator Marcos? Atty. Macalintal's arguments seem to be more and more confusing and contradictory as the days pass.

They have trampled on the right of the Filipino people and deprived them of their duly elected vice president. Now two years on, they are continuing their web of lies even in the face of direct and solid evidence of rampant cheating. This is the grandest and longest deception ever committed against the Filipino people.

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TAIWAN OFW QUAKE VICTIM'S REMAINS ARRIVE IN MANILA FEB 14, TO BE FLOWN TO TUGUEGARAO FEB 15

Relatives of the Filipina OFW who died in Taiwan during the recent earthquake there will wait for the remains of their beloved Melody Albano Castro at the Tuguegarao City on Thursday morning of February 15, the Pilipino Association of Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAAT) said on Tuesday in a news release.

Castro's remains will arrive in Manila at the NAIA Wednesday morning (CI-701 from Taipei; arrival time: 9:40am). PILMAT officials said.

After offloading from the aircraft, Ms. Castro's remains will be brought to the PAIR-PAGS Center, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, NAIA Complex, Pasay City.

PILMAAT President Aida Gerodias, VP Ampy Domagas, and INSANA agency President Marife Vilora will attend to the arrival details and other necessary coordination at NAIA and with other government agencies. They will also be available for media interviews.

PILMAAT officials said their group had coordinated well with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and worked on the insurance claim for Ms. Castro. PILMAAT will also deposit their group's P55,000 aid for the Castro family to the family's bank account. Insurance proceeds for Castro's family will also be deposited directly to the Castro family bank account. (END)

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EducationUSA Hosts First-Ever Education Fair in Cebu City, Philippines

Cebu, February 15, 2018— EducationUSA, the U.S. government's official resource for students interested in pursuing higher education opportunities in the United States, will host its first-ever university fair in Cebu on Friday, March 9 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Radisson Blu Hotel.  The EducationUSA Fair will feature 22 U.S. colleges and universities.

The Fair will provide an opportunity for students, parents, and school administrators to interact with university representatives, learn about the U.S. college application process, and identify special programs and resources available to Filipino students.  This free event is open to the public. 

EducationUSA provides free advising services to prospective international students in more than 170 countries and helps students navigate the five steps to U.S. study—researching schools, financing, completing the application, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure—and offers resources and tools for each step.  There are more than 4,500 accredited higher education institutions in the United States and an EducationUSA adviser can assist students narrow their options, define their priorities, and plan their college careers.  The program does not offer scholarships, but can assist students in locating scholarship opportunities as they consider their options for funding a degree.

You can find more information about EducationUSA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/educationusa.philippines, on Instagram at educationusa.philippines, and on Twitter at @EducationUSA_PH.  Attendees are encouraged to register here: https://goo.gl/CKz3kE.

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U.S. Commits Php5.2 million in Mt. Mayon Emergency Assistance

Manila, February 15, 2018 — The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed Php5.2 million in emergency assistance to address the immediate needs of people most affected by the Mt. Mayon volcanic eruption.  This follows the Albay provincial government's declaration of a state of calamity.

USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, in coordination with the Philippine government, will distribute vouchers for families to purchase essential household items and hygiene kits in order to improve living conditions and help prevent illness in evacuation centers.  In addition, USAID will construct latrines, bathing cubicles, and handwashing stations, as well as promote safe water and hygiene practices through educational materials.  Overall, this assistance is expected to benefit 4,000 people.

"The U.S. government's support is a testament to our unwavering partnership with the Philippines," said Ambassador Sung Kim.  "In the last 10 years, the United States has provided nearly $277 million (over Php14.4 billion at today's exchange rate) in disaster assistance to the Philippines.  This assistance has saved lives, alleviated human suffering, and reduced the economic and social impact of disasters."

USAID will continue to coordinate with the Philippine government and relief agencies in Albay to monitor the humanitarian situation and channel aid to people most in need.

About USAID:

USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.  In the Philippines, USAID partners with the national government to build a more stable, prosperous, and well-governed nation. For more information, visit http://www.usaid.gov/philippines or email infoph@usaid.gov.

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Philippine Association of Agencies for Kuwait (PHILAAK) February 14, 2018
Contact Person:
Edith Fider (09174631332)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW SPECIAL ENVOY FOR OFW CONCERNS

We welcome the appointment of Special Envoy for OFW Concerns Eduardo V. Manalo considering the significant presence of the Iglesia Ni Cristo worldwide especially in countries where there are many Filipino migrant workers.

We trust in the judgment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in choosing Special Envoy Manalo as his emissary. Manalo's stature as leader of the INC community and his familiarity with the situations of Overseas Filipinos worldwide make him suited for the mission President Duterte has placed in his hands.

Special Envoy Manalo's entrance into the OFW scene at this time is particularly needed given the urgent and crucial need to advance the human rights and social welfare of OFWs in Kuwait, in Taiwan, and many countries worldwide.

We hope Special Envoy Manalo will be able to convince the Government of Kuwait to quickly iron out the issues on just protection and promotion of the welfare of OFWs in that Middle East country.

We are also hopeful Special Envoy Manalo's leadership abilities and powers of moral suasion will make many Filipino recruitment agencies commit to and abide by ethical best practices in the manpower placement industry.

Considering that thousands of Filipinos are victims of international human trafficking, we expect Special Envoy Manalo will coordinate well with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in significantly reducing the number of Filipinos who unwillingly and willingly fall prey to human traffickers and smugglers.

We also express the hope that Special Envoy Manalo will encourage OFWs around the world to handle their personal finances better, practice tithing, and make sound choices on how they spend their hard-earned income. (END)

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GUILFORD, Maine (PRWEB) February 14, 2018

Puritan Medical Products announced today that the manufacture of its line of forensics and genetics products now meets the next level of industry standard for environmental control, according to the International Standards Organization (ISO).

ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 161 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant international standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.

Conforming to the ISO 18385:2016 standard certifies that Puritan's forensics products are manufactured in an environment where stringent controls are in place to "minimize the risk of human DNA contamination in products used to collect, store and analyze biological material for forensic purposes."

"By meeting the ISO 18385:2016 standard, Puritan gives customers yet another reason to maintain complete confidence when using our products in the field," said Timothy Templet, Puritan's executive vice president of sales. "And they can rest assured they will receive the consistent quality results they have come to trust in the Puritan brand."

For details on the standard, click here.

About Puritan:
Puritan Medical Products is an American company known worldwide as the most trusted manufacturer of swabs. A registered US FDA medical device manufacturer since 1978, Puritan makes use of the most up-to-date materials and manufacturing processes to deliver innovative solutions for even the most demanding applications.

Contact:
Timothy Templet
Executive VP of Global Sales
tltemplet(at)puritanmedproducts(dot)com
+1.207.876.3311

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB) February 14, 2018

It wasn't gold, silver or even precious stones, but copper that caught treasure hunter Ben Benson's interest this time. Buried away in a nondescript US Government warehouse lay the original master copper engraving plates used to create maps of areas within the United States. Authorized by Congress in 1880, the hand-etched engravings were typically 17" x 21" each requiring hundreds of hours of careful work, resulting in true works of art that were the most accurate maps of our country for many years.

In 2015, with little fanfare, the US Government decided to dispose of those historical treasures. Any governmental agencies and museums that were aware of the disposition could apply to receive some of the engravings, with the rest to be auctioned off.

That's where Benson came in. He regularly peruses the government auction website and has bid on many unusual and varied items, such as a Cold War-era, 140-acre underground nuclear protected complex in Kansas, a small town in the Virginia Mountains formerly used as an NSA-Navy Base and a massive ice-breaking tugboat. In 2013, Benson even bought the USS Baylander, a helicopter landing ship billed as the US Navy's smallest aircraft carrier.

"I first saw the copper plates on the government auction website, listed, oddly enough, in the jewelry section," Benson said. "What I saw truly amazed me. The plates capture America as it once was, a moment frozen in time. Think of it, Newport Beach, CA-1894, with just a handful of buildings along the coastline; Malibu, CA-1900, as a nearly undeveloped coast; and also a (back-then) "small town" — Bridgeport, CT in 1889.

"The map plates are national, historic treasures. I am surprised that the US Government would dispose of them. Wouldn't it be a shame if they were melted down for the scrap copper value?"

Keenly aware of the risks of finding lost "treasure", Benson nonetheless spent a small fortune acquiring 862 sets of the plates, encompassing some 44 states and weighing 16 tons. Now he hopes to connect them with others who care about history.

Currently, Benson is focusing on reaching out to people in the areas represented by the maps, who, Benson believes, will find meaning and pride in owning a part of their local history. He will begin auctioning the California plate collection this month.

"This project isn't about making money," Benson said. "I would be happy just to break even. It's about saving these local treasures from the trash bin of history."

Mindanao forum set on scaling up people initiatives in post-conflict communities

KIDAPAWAN CITY (2 July 2005) -- The Mindanao Land Foundation Inc., a social development institution responding to the complex development problems of poor communities in Mindanao organizes the 2nd NGO Forum on July 17-20, 2005 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City with the theme "Scaling Up People Initiatives in Post Conflict Communities."

Expected forum participants are heads of organizations who have assisted or presently assisting communities on the ground that have demonstrated good practices in governance, community credit fund, agri-livelihood, water system projects, and the like. Among the 30 expected participants, five will stage a 15-minute presentation championing community initiatives.

Guest speaker Dr. Abas Candao, the BOD Chairman of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) shall discuss updates on the peace process and the role of the BDA in supporting and reaching out communities in conflict-affected areas.

While the forum held last year was able to look at diverse frameworks for development being implemented in various parts of Mindanao and has allowed the participants to explore complementation possibilities between and among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the development framework, this forum will be a venue for sharing the gains that have been reaped by communities and their partner CSOs in the application of its development framework and also to learn from each other their plans for scaling up community initiatives. (MinLand)

Muslims solidly behind PGMA

Manila (1 July 2005) -- Some 300 Filipino Muslim organization leaders, representing the majority of Muslims in Metro Manila and Mindanao, came in droves and filled the entire second floor of a restaurant along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City shortly before lunch today to express their unwavering support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration.

Under the umbrella of the Filipino Muslim Democratic Alliance (FIMDA), the leaders insisted that President Arroyo is the legitimate and duly elected president of the country and that "there was no cheating in Mindanao during the last elections because we made sure of it."

Sultan Mohammad Bano, President of the Taguig Muslim Association, said in his privilege speech that the country is suffering too much from the bickering and power grab initiated by the opposition.

"By 2007 there will be another election. Let the opposition wait for that chance," Bano suggested.

He also advised the people not to listen to those whose only motive is to push for their own selfish dreams.

"We can't afford to have another people power again," Bano stressed.

Baebayolan Marhahombsar, who represents the Muslim women's sector, supported Bano's pronouncements and added that the country should move on.

"President Arroyo already admitted her fault and we should forgive her. If Allah can forgive why can't we," Marhahombsar said.

She also said that they are supporting President Arroyo because of the reforms she instituted.

"Muslims and Christians in Mindanao benefited much from the reforms and economic developments that the President initiated in that part of the region. Let her continue and finish her term and stop all destabilization plots," Marhahombsar remarked.

The group joined hands and signed a manifesto of support for the President and appealed to Congress and the Senate to cut short all the investigations they are currently doing.

"The role of these two august bodies is not to investigate but to legislate. They should focus more on creating bills and laws that would benefit our poor countrymen," the group unanimously said.(PIA-MMIO)

Prices in Central Visayas stable
by Minerva BC Newman

Cebu City (1 July 2005) -- The National Food Authority has kept the price of rice within the reach of ordinary consumers despite the rising cost of other socially sensitive products, like oil and electricity. Rice and other agricultural products are exempted from E-VAT.

According to the Regional Information Officer of NFA-7, Ernesto Lariosa, the price of rice is not expected to increase in the next six month because Central Visayas enjoys a very comfortable level of rice supply.

He said the price of NFA rice remains at a special price of P16/kilo and these are sold at the "Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke," a mitigating program of the Arroyo administration to cushion the impact of price increases of other commodities.

Lariosa added that from January-June 2005, 2-million bags of rice had arrived in Cebu from Vietnam for distribution to regions 7 and 8. As of today, NFA region 7 has an inventory of 1.7 million bags of rice that can supply the entire Visayas for the next six to ten months, Lariosa bared.

In the same development, the Dept. of Trade and Industry in region 7 has dispatched price monitoring teams in the various markets and malls in Cebu City to closely monitor the prices of basic/prime goods and commodities such as coffee, steel bars, detergent, sardines and other canned goods and milk.

Zayde Bation, Chief Trade & Industry Regulatory Division of the Dept. of Trade & Industry region 7 said the prices of Cebu City are considered as the prevailing prices in Central Visayas.

According to Bation, price-monitoring statistics showed that the price of laundry soap bars from January to June 2005 remained at P24.25/bar while detergent soap (480 g) also remained at P14.65. Sardines and tomato sauce (155 g) has a slight increase of 15 centavos from P9.60/can in January to P9.75/can in June. Coffee (25g) also remained at P15/bag as well as evaporated filled milk (370 ml) at P26.10/can from January to June 2005.

Bation also revealed the price of steel bars had gone down from P143.80/12mm bar in January, increased to P152.50 in March and April but continued to decrease at P138.50 in June 2005. She commented that this could be due to the low demand of steel bars in the global market today. However, other construction materials had gone by 3-5 percent compared to the last week's monitoring.

With the implementation of the E-VAT on July 1, prices of some basic and prime commodities are expected to increase, but rice and other agricultural products will remain stable. (PIA-Cebu)

Unity called, sobriety and rule of law should prevail

Tacloban City (1 July 2005) -- Amidst the din and chaos bought about by calls of giving up the highest post of the land, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo calmly goes about doing her job of governance, the delivery of basic services and pushing for economic reforms she is advocating for the country.

"She might be hurting as she is only human, but she is not threatened," says DENR Secretary Michael T. Defensor of the beleaguered president.

The President is firm in her resolve not to falter amid the growing restlessness of some sectors on her leadership as she is focused on her promise to push the country forward towards development.

For her, the plight of the country and the people are more important that even the blatant insults and heckles have been relegated to the sides.

It is apparent that the emotional upheaval being experienced by the people as a result of the President's statement on the wiretapping incident is being used by the opposition as a means to bring the President to her knees and consequently out of the palace.

Some sectors of the country might be calling for her ouster but others do not share such sentiments. At this point in time that the country is in economic crisis, it is more fitting that people unite to get the country out of crisis.

While rallies and demonstrations are constitutional rights to let government know of people's sentiments it should not be used as an excuse to bring the country to the brink of collapse.

The country and the government have more pressing problems to solve and calling for the President's ouster is untimely. The opposition should refrain from making provocative statements which fire the ire of the people against implied injustices but should instead lead in letting people understand the consequences and repercussions of the people's reactive behavior to the political crisis the country is undergoing.

Sobriety and the rule of law should prevail as what Ex-President Corazon Aquino, the National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (NASSA-CBCP) and some cause-oriented groups are advocating.

The President has humbled herself and asked for forgiveness. It was not an easy task but she did it.

As of now, the impact of the EVAT is more important than a President stepping out of the palace. It is more important that people be made aware that prices of basic commodities are not affected by the EVAT and that the government is intensifying efforts on tax and revenue collection as indicated by exposure of tax evaders both in the private and government sectors. It has also exacted performance in the bureaucracy as seen by the expulsion of non-performers in the government. (PIA)

Commentary: Of sobriety and patriotism

Baguio City (1 July 2005) -- The events that transpired the other night at the House of Representatives demonstrated not only the clear separation of powers between the Executive and the Congress, but the rule of law and due process which all sectors of the society should uphold. It was a display of the independence of the House from the Executive although majority of them are allies.

The way the President's detractors have become numb to the repercussions of their acts on the economy-- pushing perceptions of uncertainty to the limit and inflicting untold hardships upon the people, is so appalling that a lot are aghast at the amount of heckling and insults hurled at the Presidency.

These people must already heed the call to keep to Constitutional standards, for sobriety and patriotism in the midst of the crisis, if only to push our economy forward. At the moment, the situation is causing more negative impact to the economy, which makes it even harder for the Filipinos.

The expressions of support the President has been receiving from well-meaning sectors-the Church, business sector and even former President Cory Aquino, give her more strength as she carries forward the bold reforms that will continue to uplift the lives of average Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the best way to deflect the insults and challenges directed at the Presidency is direct, massive reforms--- cushioning the impact of the EVAT on the price of fuel and basic goods by selective suspension of EVAT implementation while intensifying tax and other revenue collection efforts, curbing corruption, broader implementation of austerity measures, and exacting performance in the bureaucracy; call for an immediate institution of political reforms possibly through amending the constitution, centering on the shift from presidential-unitary-bicameral legislature to parliamentary-federal-unicameral legislature form of government; and purging and consolidation of non-performing GOCC's and GFI's to optimize resources to promote entrepreneurship and micro-finance to generate employment and job opportunities.

The strong actions of the entire government in vital fronts will project her true power. (PIA)

Marami pa ang may tiwala sa Pangulo - Bunye

Cotabato City (1 July 2005) -- Ang bugso ng damdamin na ipinakita ng mga detractors ng Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo kaugnay ng pag-amin at paghingi nito ng kapatawaran dahil sa pakikipag-usap sa isang opisyal ng Commission on Elections pagkatapos nang halalan noong 2004 ay masyado umanong malayo sa kapatawarang ipinagkaloob sa Pangulo ng mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan.

Ayon kay Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, marami pang malalaking problemang kinakaharap ang ating bansa.

Sa kabilang ng economic hardships na kinakaharap ng ating bansa, naniniwala pa ang maraming Filipino sa kakayanan ng Pangulong pamunoan ang bansa at ipagpatuloy ang economic gains na ating natamasa sa ilalim ng kanyang liderato.

Dito sa lungsod ng Koronadal, sinang-ayonan ng ibang mga mamamayan ang kahilingan ng Malakanyang na ihinto ang congressional inquiry na isinasagawa ng kongreso hinggil sa wire-tapping controversy.

Anila, may marami pa umanong economic reform bills na nakabinbin sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso na napabayaan lamang dahil sa nagpapatuloy na imbestigasyon na isinasagawa ng kongreso. (ATRUDA)

Malacañang assures consumers E-VAT has mitigating features

MANILA (1 July 2005) -- The Palace has assured the public that the implementation of the new tax law is imbued with strong mitigating features to cushion its impact on consumers, and will not at all affect the prices of basic commodities.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye made the assurance as the expanded Value-Added Tax (E-VAT) has took effect last night.

Bunye said E-VAT is a load that the nation must carry in order to save the country from more economic misery but pointed out that the government has lifted tariffs and excise taxes on petroleum products to ease the burden of the new tax measure.

"We need revenues that will be generated to build up our coffers, win investor confidence, and generate more jobs, as these will enable us to expand social services, improve the infrastructure, and push vital programs to fight poverty," he added. (PIA-MMIO)

Congress' playing of "audiotape" demonstrates rule of law, due process - Bunye

MANILA (1 July 2005) -- Malacañang considered the House of Representative's playing of the "audiotape" not only as a demonstration of the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislative branches but of the rule of law and due process.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye made the statement after legislators finally agreed Thursday to play the controversial wiretapped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and an election official.

As this developed, Bunye asked the Filipino nation to keep the Constitutional standards as the country unite to shake off the heady aftermath of political crisis and push the economy forward.

The Palace official acknowledged the expression of support of well-meaning sectors to the administration of President Arroyo the Chief Executive carries out the bold reforms that will continue to uplift the lives of average Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the present administration is appalled by the amount of heckling and insults hurled at the Presidency, and how the Arroyo Government' detractors have become so numb to the repercussions of their acts to the economy - pushing perceptions of uncertainty to the limit and inflicting untold hardships upon the Filipino people. (PIA-MMIO)

"Guardians", civilians hold rally supporting MGen Palparan
by Tita Cardenas

Catarman, Northern Samar (01 July 2005) -- Some 200 members of the "Guardians" including some civilians held a rally yesterday at the Freedom Park in Catarman to express their support to the leadership of Major Gen. Jovito Palparan, Jr., Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan, Samar.

According to the rally organizer Col. Manuelito Usi, commanding officer of the 63rd Infantry Battalion, based in Catubig, Northern Samar, he called on his civilian supporters to show to the local militant groups that the military can get the support of the people, and that it is not only the militant groups who can hold rallies. He also added that the military has already proven several times that they could organize bigger groups compared with the militants who could barely generate twenty to thirty people in holding rallies.

Usi also explained that they learned that said militant groups will be holding rallies again to "malign the good name of the general (MajGen. Palparan)." The said rally according to Usi is an expression of support to the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division.

Usi further said that they will uphold the constitution and will implement their mandate to support the programs of the government.

The rally was participated in by the "Guardians", tricycle and motorcycle drivers and members of the 63rd Infantry Battalion. Usi said that the rallyist came from Catarman, Bobon, Mondragon, all towns from this province.

It may be recalled that Major Gen. Palparan is being criticized by militant groups in Samar Island in the way he allegedly "neutralizes" supporters and sympathizers of the communist rebels in the area. (PIA-8)

PILIPINO ASSOCIATION OF MANPOWER
AGENCIES ACCREDITED TO TAIWAN (PILMAT)
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE (Version 2)
For morning of February 14, 2018

TAIWAN OFW QUAKE VICTIM'S REMAINS ARRIVE IN MANILA FEB 14

Melody Albano Castro's remains are expected to arrive in Manila at the NAIA Wednesday morning at 9:40am flown in from Taipei on flight CI-701 from Taipei, Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAT) officials said.

Relatives of the Filipina OFW who died in Taiwan during the recent earthquake there will wait for the remains of their beloved Melody Albano Castro at the Tuguegarao City on Thursday morning of February 15, PILMAT said on Tuesday in a news release.

After offloading from the aircraft, Ms. Castro's remains will be brought to the PAIR-PAGS Center, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, NAIA Complex, Pasay City.

PILMAT President Aida Gerodias, VP Ampy Domagas, and INSANA agency President Marife Vilora will attend to the arrival details and other necessary coordination at NAIA and with other government agencies. They will also be available for media interviews.

PILMAT officials said their group had coordinated well with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office and worked on the insurance claim for Ms. Castro. PILMAT will also deposit their group's P55,000 aid for the Castro family to the family's bank account. Insurance proceeds for Castro's family will also be deposited directly to the Castro family bank account. (END)

For more information, contact:
INSANA Agency President Marife Vilora - 0917-848-8789 and 0998-858-8789

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REP. SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.
1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader

FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION LAW, WALA PA RING IRR HANGGANG NGAYON

UniFAST Board, dapat managot – Rep. Belaro

Anim na buwan matapos maisabatas ng Republic Act 10931, ang batas na nagtatadhana ng libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo sa mga State Colleges and Universities at Technical and Vocational Institutions, isiniwalat ni 1-Ang Edukasyon Representative Salvador Belaro, Jr. na wala pa rin umano itong implementing rules and regulations (IRR) hanggang ngayon.

Ipinag-uutos ng RA 10931 na ang IRR ay dapat makatha at malagdaan sa loob lamang ng animnapung (60) araw mula sa petsa ng pagiging epektibo ng batas.

Noong nakaraang Disyembre, sinabi na ng noo'y CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan sa isang education summit na tapos na raw nilang balangkasin ang IRR at ang kulang na lamang ay ang mga pirma ng UniFAST Board.

"Ngayon ay Pebrero 2018 na, si Dr. Licuanan ay nag-resign na, at ang CHED ay may OIC na sa katauhan ni CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera, ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa tayong IRR para sa RA 10931," pagkadismaya ni Belaro.

Dagdag pa ng mambabatas, "Binigyan ng batas ang UniFAST Board ng 60 araw para matapos ang IRR. Labis na kapabayaan sa tungkulin ang maaaring maging tingin ng Kongreso sa kawalan ng aksyon na ito ng UniFAST Board."

Ang UniFAST Board ay hindi lamang ang CHED Chairman. Pitong ahensya ang kinakatawan sa Lupon, kabilang ang mga pinuno ng CHED, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), at Department of Education (DepEd).

"ilang buwan lang ay papasok na ang school year 2018-2019. Dapat maipabatid ang IRR sa lahat ng SUCs at TVIs. Ang cascading ay aabot rin ng ilang buwan kaya dapat ay magkaroon na ng IRR sa lalong madaling panahon para di kapusin sa oras," ani Belaro.

Hamon ni Belaro sa UniFAST Board na pinamunuan ngayon nI CHED OIC Prospero de Vera: "Kailan magkakaroon ng IRR? Magpapatuloy ba kayo sa pagkaantala o gagawin ninyo ang inyong trabaho?" (WAKAS)

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LONDON (AP) — A judge upheld a British arrest warrant for Julian Assange on Tuesday, saying the WikiLeaks founder should have the courage to come to court and face justice after more than five years inside Ecuador's London embassy.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot rejected arguments by Assange's lawyers that it is no longer in the public interest to arrest him for jumping bail in 2012 and seeking shelter in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden. Prosecutors there were investigating allegations of sexual assault and rape made by two women, which Assange has denied.

Arbuthnot did not mince words in her ruling at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court, saying that by jumping bail Assange had made "a determined attempt to avoid the order of the court."

She said Assange appeared to be "a man who wants to impose his terms on the course of justice."

"He appears to consider himself above the normal rules of law and wants justice only if it goes in his favor," the judge said, drawing exclamations of dismay from Assange supporters in the public gallery.

Assange can seek to appeal, though his lawyers did not immediately say whether he would.

Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation last year, saying there was no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden in the foreseeable future. But the British warrant for violating bail conditions still stands, and Assange faces arrest if he leaves the embassy.

Assange's lawyers had asked for the U.K warrant to be withdrawn since Sweden no longer wants him extradited, but the judge rejected their request last week.

Assange's attorney had gone on to argue that arresting him is no longer proportionate or in the public interest. Lawyer Mark Summers argued the Australian was justified in seeking refuge in the embassy because he has a legitimate fear that U.S. authorities want to arrest him for WikiLeaks' publication of secret documents.

"I do not find that Mr. Assange's fears were reasonable," the judge said.

"If the United States initiates extradition proceedings, Mr. Assange would have the ability to raise any bars to the extradition and challenge the proceedings" in a British court, she said.

Arbuthnot dismissed another plank of Assange's case — a report from a U.N. working group which said the 46-year-old was being arbitrarily detained.

"I give little weight to the views of the working group," the judge said, noting that Assange had "restricted his own freedom for a number of years."

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tens of thousands of revelers thronged Mardi Gras festivities, many yelling "throw me something, Mister!" in the universal call to float riders who tossed them coveted beads and trinkets on Tuesday's raucous finale to Carnival season in New Orleans.

The 300th anniversary of this Louisiana port city featured prominently in Fat Tuesday's festivities as costumed tourists and locals alike packed parade routes under mostly blue skies and balmy temperatures. Merrymakers also jammed French Quarter bars and narrow streets to party with abandon.

New Orleans' oldest parading Carnival group, Rex, celebrated the tricentennial with 21 of its 28 floats commemorating the city's history starting with those who lived in the area before Europeans settled it in 1718 to the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Other floats included one for St. Louis Cathedral, the descendant of a church built the year of the city's founding, and the yellow fever, which killed more than 41,000 people between 1815 and 1905.

Rex and Zulu are the two major parades in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday, a state holiday. And families jam the sidewalks and camp out in the broad medians to watch with small children often perched in wooden seats atop ladders near the front.

REP. SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.
1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader 

UNIFAST BOARD HAS NEGLECTED TO APPROVE IRR OF FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION LAW 

Six months after the signing of RA 10931, which is the law providing for free college education in state universities and colleges and technical-vocational institutions, Congress has not yet seen the IRR or implementing rules and regulations which was supposed to have been promulgated within sixty days from the effectivity of the law.

Last December, then CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan said during an education summit that the crafting of the IRR was completed and all that was needed to get the work done was the signing. It is now February 2018, Dr. Licuanan has resigned, CHED has an OIC in the person of CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera, but we still do not yet have an IRR for RA 10931.

The UniFAST Board is now in breach of a very specific mandate of RA 10931 to promulgate the IRR in 60 days, which should have been in October 2017.

Strictly speaking, this lack of output can be tantamount to gross neglect of duty. This is the composition of the UniFAST Board according to its charter:
 
ARTICLE IV: THE UNIFAST BOARD

SEC. 14. Creation of a UniFAST Board. – To carry out the purposes of this Act, there is hereby created a UniFAST Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be attached to the CHED, composed of the following:

(a)           The CHED Chairperson as ex officio Chairperson;

(b)           The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as ex officio Co-Chairperson;

(c)            The TESDA Director-General as ex officio Co-Chairperson;

(d)           The Secretary of the Department of Education (DepED) as ex officio member;

(e)            A representative from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as ex officio member;

(f)             A representative from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as ex officio member; and

(g)           A representative from the National Youth Commission (NYC) as ex officio member.
 
Note that the UniFAST Board is not just the CHED Chairman. Seven agencies are represented in the Board, including the heads of CHED, DOST, TESDA, and DepED.

Our questions now to the UniFAST Board, now headed by CHED OIC Prospero de Vera, is this: When will the Board approve the IRR? Will they continue to delay or will they do their job?

The next school year is just a few months away. The IRR still has to be cascaded through the higher education system, to the SUCs and TVIs. That cascading takes time and the implementing mechanisms take time. Most of the schools open in June while some now open in August.

Free college education is a major commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the 17th Congress. Now is not the time for the UniFAST Board to neglect their duty. We expect swift action from them in the next several days or else.  (END)

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BLANCO / Bohol / 2-11-18 PRESS RELEASE
HOSPITAL

House considers on 2nd reading bill upping DEDVMH beds from 50 to 300

By JUNE S. BLANCO

THE House has considered on second reading the bill seeking to increase the bed capacity and upgrading the services, facilities and professional health care of the Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital (DEDVMH) in Ubay town.

Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol's 2nd District, together with Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles of Davao City's 1st District, authored the bill that also seeks the authorization of the corresponding increase in the number of hospital personnel and providing funds therefor.

Rep. Angelina Tan, chair of the Committee on Health, Aumentado and Nograles sponsored the bill that replaces the earlier bill that Aumentado filed as the latter had sought a bed capacity increase of only up to 200 beds.

Aumentado determined that 200 beds will not be enough to accommodate the growing number of patients, some of whom are already occupying extra beds along the aisles.

The unprecedented number of patients came when DEDVMH acquired new equipment with competent personnel to operate them – and continuing to do so – and with an International Standard Organization (ISO) certification to boot.

This made the hospital attractive to patients coming from nearby towns and even other districts, hospital records would show.

Aumentado said the upped bed capacity also aims to accommodate islanders who now come in at an average of 80 to 100 persons a week after he mobilized his sea ambulance to ferry them to and from Ubay free of charge to get medical attention.

Some are good to go after consultation in the Out-Patient Department. Others need to be confined. To marginalized islanders, the fare for patients plus watchers, their food and accommodations as only the patient gets a bed, can be prohibitive. The cost even skyrockets if they have to bring their patients to Tagbilaran or to Cebu.

Parallel to the increase in bed capacity, the hospital is also gearing up for the arrival, installation and operationalization of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine that is part of the P45-million allocation from the surplus budget of the Department of Health (DoH) that Aumentado bagged during the other year's budget hearing.

The machine will be the first to be installed in a national government hospital in the province.

A Computed Tomography (CT) scan and five more dialysis machines round up the equipment procured with the P45 million.

The DEDVMH used to be only an extension of the now Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Regional Hospital in Tagbilaran City. The Aumentado bill gives it independence.

 "There can be no development under a sick constituency," Aumentado said, hence he is pushing for the upgrading and modernization of the health industry especially in Bohol's northeastern part.

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Harbour City opens at Island City Mall

Experience Hong Kong dining at its best as everyone's favorite Dimsum restaurant, Harbour City, is now here in Tagbilaran City at the Lower Ground Level of Island City Mall.
       
         Inspired by the Hong Kong landmark destination, Harbour City brings to Bohol the classic Dimsum and tea house experience. Just like its famous tagline, it is "Everyday Hong Kong" in the city.

          The highlight of the Harbour City experience is the iconic Dimsum trolley or cart which is wheeled over to customers' table sides for fast and easy selection, just as it would be in the Dimsum and tea houses that dot the Hong Kong harbour.

           Once the carts are beside the table, diners are treated to a sumptuous array of Dimsum dishes with steam still emanating from the bamboo baskets. Best sellers from the wide selection include different varieties of Shaomai, Empress Rolls, Chicken Feet, Spring Rolls, Sweet & Sour Pork, and Stuffed Taro.

           All these are delectable complements to the signature dish, the best sellers Original Steamed Fried Rice, which is a perfect combination of savory pork and shrimp toppings over seasoned fried rice. Moreover, the flavors are enhanced by the different signature sauces that pair well with each dish. For noodles, don't miss to taste their Beef Sate Noodles or Lomi.

          Harbour City is also geared up for the very competitive, wide and diverse market. What's unique about Harbour City is their menu, which have authentic, traditional recipes that are homegrown. The restaurant is also known for using all natural ingredients in their menu.

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Press Release - LAWMAKERS PRESENT VARIOUS NFA RICE POLICY OPTIONS

Rep. Mercado: Raise palay buying price to P22 to P25

Rep. Romero: Replace rice quotas with tariff of about 40 percent

Rep. Calalang: Bridging buffer stocks can be commercial-quality sold at a loss

Southern Leyte Representative Roger G. Mercado said that, in the future, instead of importing rice, "the NFA should buy its NFA rice buffer stocks from Mindanao or the Visayas to augment NFA inventories in its warehouses in Mindanao and the Visayas."

Mercado also said the NFA should raise its buying price for palay from P17 per kilo to the range of P22 to P25 per kilo and increase its rice incentives to a full P1.00, so local farmers would immediately and directly benefit in the form of higher earnings.

"To compensate for the increase in the price of rice sold to the poorest consumers, the DSWD should start implementing in March its 4Ps subsidies for rice purchases," Mercado added.

1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Michael "Mikee" Romero, member of the House Committee on Food Security, said the NEDA-proposed 35 percent tariff to replace the country's non-tariff barriers is too low.

"The better and right policy is to make local rice cheaper than imported rice by lowering farming and post-harvest costs so our farmers will have better profit margins whether they sell their rice to the NFA or to the rice traders," Romero said.

On the rice tariff, Romero said its effect should be "to make the cost of imported rice at least equal to local rice prices."

"For this to happen, the tariff must be higher than the 35 percent NEDA is proposing. A tariff rate of 40 percent or thereabouts is what would be fair to Filipino farmers and consumers," Romero said.

Rep. Romero also proposed the creation of a "strictly-regulated online exchange or marketplace for harvested palay."

"This would weaken the hold or cartel-like influence of middlemen on our domestic market for rice," Romero said.

To address the present-day problem of NFA rice shortage, Romero suggested that "instead of importing rice from Thailand or Vietnam, buy rice from Filipino farmers who are harvesting in late February and early March. The NFA should help Filipino farmers, not farmers of other countries."

For his part, KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ciriaco Calalang suggested to the NFA that it buy "at least 10 to 15 days' worth of commercial-quality rice at commercial prices but sell these stocks at a loss at NFA rice price levels."

"The 10 to 15 days of commercial-quality rice stocks should be enough to bridge the gap between the current limited NFA rice inventory and the arrival of the NFA-imported rice," Calalang said.

He asked that the NFA make sure the poor are the ones who will have access to these bridging rice stocks.

"Avoiding hunger affecting hundreds of thousands of Filipino families is more important than the financial health of the NFA. The NFA can charge this loss to experience and as an extraordinary expense to avert a hunger disaster," Calalang also said. (END)

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Philippine Association of Agencies for Kuwait (PHILAAK), February 12, 2018
Contact Person:
Edith Fider (09174631332)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

PHILAAK ACCEPTS OFW DEPLOYMENT BAN TO KUWAIT, EXTENDING AID TO FAMILY OF JOANNA DANIELA DIMAPILIS

First, we thank President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for taking up the cudgels for our OFWs in Kuwait. Only he as President can spur the government of Kuwait to take clear and decisive action to put in place and implement measures to protect the human rights of our OFWs. Only President Duterte can convince the leaders of Kuwait to make sure that justice will be served to our OFWs who died there.

PHILAAK reiterates its support for the ban on new deployment of OFWs to Kuwait and the voluntary repatriation of distressed OFWs from that country.

We accept the ban and understand that it is a necessary step for the welfare of many OFWs and convince the Kuwait Government of the resolve of the Philippines to protect its citizens.

We also appreciate the concern for our OFWs from our legislators, especially ACTS-OFW Party-list Representative John Bertiz and KABAYAN Party-List Representatives Ron Salo and Ciriaco Calalang, Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito.

In these trying times for our industry, the compassion and support of President Duterte and of Congress motivate us to stay the course because our OFWs and their families deserve a good life and a comfortable future.

For the family of Joanna Daniela Dimapilis, 29 years old from the town of Sara in Iloilo, whose remains were found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait, PHILAAK is extending financial support, start-up capital for a small business, educational assistance for her minor dependents, and medical assistance for her family members who may need medical attention.

We also want the public to know the larger picture that many OFWs in Kuwait and around the world are not in distress situations and have good and responsible employers.

We also want the public to be aware that there are many skilled and professional OFWs working in Kuwait and waiting to be deployed to Kuwait.

We also ask government to bring together under one department all the government agencies that are concerned about the OFWs and migrant workers. Right now, there are many government agencies and they are scattered in different departments. POEA, OWWA, Commission on Overseas Filipinos, the Task Forces on Human Trafficking and Illegal Recruitment, etcetera. It is very difficult for OFWs and recruitment agencies because they are not all in one agency for better coordination and much less inconvenience and hardships.

We also seek better law enforcement measures against human trafficking, including much better monitoring of airports and seaports.
 
REFERENCES:

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/02/12/OFW-Kuwait-total-deployment-ban.html

http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/258402/800-pinoys-coming-home-from-kuwait.html

http://www.remate.ph/2018/01/kuwait-pagpapaliwanagin-sa-pang-aabuso-sa-mga-ofw/

http://www.opinyon.com.ph/index.php/3073-dfa-told-to-inquire-via-note-verbale-on-the-deaths-of-7-ofws-in-kuwait

https://rmn.ph/silipin-bilateral-agreement-ng-bansa-sa-kuwait-ipinare-review-sa-dfa/

http://www.bomboradyo.com/cayetano-hinimok-na-maglabas-ng-note-verbale-vs-gobyerno-ng-kuwait/

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/10/senators-back-dutertes-ban-on-ofw-deployment-to-kuwait/

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/11/senators-calls-on-govt-to-ensure-enough-jobs-for-returning-ofws/

https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/filipino-no-slave-anyone-anywhere-everywhere/

http://www.manilatimes.net/president-orders-total-ban-ofw-deployment-kuwait/379537/

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Canlubang seniors eye redemption

Nine-time champion Canlubang is looking for redemption when it renews its storied rivalry with Luisita in the 32nd Philippine Airlines (PAL) Senior Interclub golf team championships next month in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

Denied a third straight championship by Luisita in Davao last year, the Sugar Barons are extra motivated to return the favor.

"We are going to do this for Mike," said veteran Rolly Viray, referring to Spanish champion Mike Preysler who passed away last December.

Preysler, who took the spot of Tommy Manotoc in the lineup, had a disappointing showing last year in Davao where Canlubang slumped to its worst start ever.

The Sugar Barons struggled with just 124 points at Apo Golf and Country Club and found themselves trailing their rivals by 21 points.

Still down by 22 going into the final round, Canlubang managed to trim the deficit to 11 at the close of the four-to-play, three-to-count event.

This year, Viray said they hope to lift the trophy again, noting that Marapara (now known as Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club) and Binitin (Bacolod Golf Club) do not give long hitters much advantage.

For the second straight year, Manotoc is not playing, but Canlubang has tapped the services of a United States-based player who just turned 55 years old.

"Pem is coming to play for us," said Viray, referring to Abe Rosal's younger brother. "Sabi ni Abe, mas magaling daw kesa sa kanya."

Abe Rosal won the individual title in his senior debut last year.

Aside from Viray and the Rosal brothers, the other members of the squad are Damasus Wong, Dave Hernandez, Mari Hechanova, Zaldy Villa and Abe Avena.

The seniors' event, which serves as a prelude to the PAL Men's Interclub, will be on March 1-4.

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REP. MICHAEL "MIKEE" L. ROMERO, Ph. D.
1-PACMAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader
Twitter: @MikeeRomeroPhD

PROPOSED NEDA TARIFF ON RICE IS ANTI-FILIPINO FARMER, SAYS ECONOMIST-SOLON 

Last Friday, NEDA issued a press release on the replacement of non-tariff barriers to rice imports with a 35 percent tariff rate, so that the landed cost of imported rice would be cheaper. 

NEDA said: At 35 percent tariff rate, the landed cost of imported rice, particularly from Thailand and Vietnam, along with its transport cost to the local market would be around PhP 30.30 per kilogram.  This is about PhP 4.31 lower than the domestic wholesale price of regular milled rice. The price reduction of PhP 4.31 per kilogram will enable a Filipino household of five to save as much as PhP 2,362 per year.

As Member of the House Committee on Food Security, this kind of proposed policy is anti-Filipino farmer. The better and right policy is to make local rice cheaper than imported rice by lowering farming and post-harvest costs so our farmers will have better profit margins whether they sell their rice to the NFA or to the rice traders.

If the Philippines is to replace its non-tariff barriers with a tariff, the effect of the tariff should be to make the cost of imported rice at least equal to local rice prices. For this to happen, the tariff must be higher than the 35 percent NEDA is proposing. A tariff rate of 40 percent or thereabouts is what would be fair to Filipino farmers and consumers.

For the long term, the NFA should create and develop a strictly-regulated online exchange or marketplace for harvested palay. This would weaken the hold or cartel-like influence of middlemen on our domestic market for rice.

To address the present-day problem of NFA rice shortage, the NFA should, instead of importing rice from Thailand or Vietnam, buy rice from Filipino farmers who are harvesting in late February and early March. The NFA should help Filipino farmers, not farmers of other countries. (END)

Reference:http://www.neda.gov.ph/2018/02/09/majority-of-households-to-benefit-from-removal-of-qr-on-rice-imports/

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STATEMENT BY REP. HARLIN NEIL J. ABAYON, III
AANGAT TAYO Party-list
Assistant Minority Leader

REP. NEIL ABAYON FILES BILL SETTING ANNUAL AND MONTHLY QUOTAS ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY LTO

House Committee on Transportation Member and AANGAT TAYO Party-list Representative Neil Abayon filed House Bill 7108 (Motor Vehicle Registration and License Plate Quotas Act of 2018). Abayon believes that in order to regulate the number of new cars on the road, "quotas" on number of license plates are needed to be set.
 
For the whole year of 2017, the various car dealerships now operating in the Philippines sold 425,672 units of motor vehicles. In 2016, there were 359,572 units sold. Comparing the data for both years, there was a growth of 18.4 percent. These figures do not yet include numbers of smuggled vehicles, which could be in the thousands.

Higher taxes on motor vehicles could have some dampening effect on the double-digit growth in motor vehicle sales, but there would likely be a shift in demand and sales because the TRAIN Law provisions on excise taxes exempted electric vehicles and light commercial vehicles, while excise tax rates for hybrid cars were slashed by half.

Anticipating future increases in the number of vehicles being sold, this bill seeks to regulate the number of vehicles that are added to those already on the roads of our country and it does so by authorizing the Land Transportation Office to set annual and monthly quotas on the number of motor vehicle registrations the LTO approves and on the number of vehicle licenses plates issued.

In setting the annual and monthly quotas, as well as the rules on approval of motor vehicle registrations and license plate applications, the LTO, DPWH, and UP-NCTS shall consider various factors including, but not limited to: 

1. vehicle road-worthiness;
2. road design and capacity;
3.motor vehicle owner's fitness to drive, type of driver's license possessed, and record of compliance to or violation of traffic laws, rules and regulations;
4. payment of the proper taxes, duties and fees on the purchase and sale of motor vehicles; and
5.financial capacity of the motor vehicle owner to maintain road-worthiness of a motor vehicle as evidenced by annual income tax returns, certificates of income tax withheld, proof of exemption from payment of income tax, and certification of approved motor vehicle loan.

The LTO is required to consult with the Department of Public Works and Highways and with the National Center for Transportation Studies of the University of the Philippines. 

The LTO shall review the quotas every five (5) years to determine whether adjustments are necessary.

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STATEMENT BY
REP. CIRIACO S. CALALANG
KABAYAN Party-list

To avert possible hunger disaster:

NFA URGED TO TEMPORARILY BUY 10 TO 15 DAYS' WORTH OF COMMERCIAL-QUALITY RICE FROM FARMERS BUT SELL THESE STOCKS AT A LOSS

To prevent the greater evil of letting millions of Filipinos go hungry while waiting for the Palace-approved NFA rice imports to arrive, I appeal to the National Food Authority to buy from rice farmers at least 10 to 15 days' worth of commercial-quality rice at commercial prices but sell these stocks at a loss at NFA rice price levels.

NFA's rice imports would take about 45 days or so to arrive and be distributed to the public markets. Current NFA rice inventories would run out before those imports come. Urgent and decisive action must be taken.

The 10 to 15 days of commercial-quality rice stocks should be enough to bridge the gap between the current limited NFA rice inventory and the arrival of the NFA-imported rice.

Now NFA must make sure, take steps so that the poor are the ones who will have access to these bridging rice stocks.

Avoiding hunger affecting hundreds of thousands of Filipino families is more important than the financial health of the NFA. The NFA can charge this loss to experience and as an extraordinary expense to avert a hunger disaster.

I hope the Commission on Audit will understand the unusual nature of this situation and consider the fact that the welfare of the Filipino people especially the poor is paramount. (END)

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STATEMENT BY THE
HONORABLE ROGER "OGING" MERCADO
Southern Leyte, Lone District
Chair, Committee on Constitutional Amendments
Deputy Majority Leader
Twitter: @OgingMercado

REP. ROGER MERCADO OPPOSES ANY FUTURE NFA MOVE TO IMPORT RICE

On behalf of the farmers of Southern Leyte who plant and harvest rice from 10,000 hectares of rice lands and produce about 10 percent of the rice of Eastern Visayas, I oppose any FUTURE decision of the National Food Authority to import rice from other countries that would be cheaper than our local rice and therefore disadvantageous to our local farmers.

I am not objecting now to the latest decision to import rice now to address the current NFA rice shortage, which I believe is a belated response to the problem we are already experiencing now. NFA action on the current situation was too slow.

Moving forward, the NFA should buy its NFA rice buffer stocks from Mindanao or the Visayas to augment NFA inventories in its warehouses in Mindanao and the Visayas.

Two moves the NFA should make soon are: (1) raise its buying price for palay from P17 per kilo to the range of P22 to P25 per kilo and (2) increase its rice incentives to a full P1.00. These would immediately and directly benefit the farmers of Southern Leyte and all over the country.

To compensate for the increase in the price of rice sold to the poorest consumers, the DSWD should start implementing in March its 4Ps subsidies for rice purchases.
 
REFERENCE: https://beta.philstar.com/business/2017/12/11/1767412/nfa-defers-decision-hike-palay-buying-price  

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First Female Philippine Air Force Aviator Selected for U.S. Aviation Leadership Program, Inspired by Zamboanga Siege

2nd Lt. Catherine Gonzales stands beside a T-41 Mescalero.                                                     

Manila, February 12, 2018 — 2nd Lt. Catherine Mae Gonzales recently became the first female aviator from the Philippine Air Force to be selected for the Aviation Leadership Program (ALP), a United States Air Force scholarship program which provides undergraduate pilot training to select officers from other nations' air forces. 

Gonzales, who was among the top ten members of her graduating class at the Philippine Military Academy, will attend the program from February 2018 to May 2019.  During the program, she will receive 164 hours of flight training in the T-6A Texan II aircraft, as well as 239 hours of flight operations ground training.  Gonzales says she is excited to learn how to fly a new aircraft, as well as to experience American culture.

Gonzales' inspiration to become a pilot stems from witnessing the important role aviation assets played during the 2013 Zamboanga Siege, which took place in her hometown.
 
"Since then, I started to dream of becoming a pilot," Gonzales said.  "During those times, I really felt a great eagerness to defend my hometown, and I thought I could be of great help to that mission from above, since insurgents are vulnerable from this point."

Gonzales is honored to serve her country, and feels proud that the Philippine Air Force selection board chose her to attend the ALP.

She explained, "Serving my country as a female officer shows how the military profession has matured and opened for great changes by allowing us, female officers, to lead."

The ALP is designed to build relationships between future leaders of the United States Air Force and other participating air forces, as well as increase overall cooperation and partnership between countries.

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GUNTING UG NAIL CUTTER
Ni Tem M. Adlawan
(Kining maong sugibalak napatik na sa Budaya, usa ka indie magazine, Septiyembre 2003.)

Kay sakit na, buot na nakong barogan ang
Kaugalingon aron masumpo ang tatawng
Pag-abusar nilas pagtuo (kay wa ra man
Ko moginok, di lang motingog, batok sa
Pila na ka buwang mga insulto, naglikay
Sa bisan unsang lalis, bisan unsang away)
Nga ako kulukoy, wa makasabot, wa makamao,

Di gihapon kunong kamao (bisan pa sa
Pila na ka buwang dumdom sa buhat)
Unsaon pag-ila ang lainlaing mga pinalit
Sa mga shopper—junk foods, chocolates,
cookies, linata o kinartong kan-onos iring
O iro, wrappers, napkins, detergents...

Mga ingon ra god niana, groceries/toiletries—
Aron dili kini magkasagol, ug dili sagolon
Pagsulod (ug dalion gyod, klasehon, husayon
Pagsulod) sa mga bag, plastik o papel, sapaw

O dili, agad sa paggamit sa sentido komun, o
Agad sa gustos shoppers nga gayod ipatigbabaw.
Maong giitip nako ang pangandam nga paghinguko,

Kuyaw nga ipabiling magsiwil, lagmit masabod
Ug malaksig ahat ang kuko kon ugaling mosangpot
Man sa karambola ang panagharong inigbalikay
Ngadtos trabahoan, Commissary, isip baggers
Para tip, inay suweldo, agad sa shoppers
Nga kabubut-on. Ubay-ubay sila sa usa ka nasod,
Bisan tuod dili tanan nila, ang nagbaton sa

Maong pagtuo. Wa ko makaila sa ilang mga
Ngalan; ang ilang mga dagway, bayhon ug
Sinultihan mao lay akong gitiman-an. Anha
Sa usa ka dapit sama niini dinhi karon asa
Mag-abot ang lainlaing tawo gikan sa

Lainlaing suok sa kalibotan— Alemanya,
Panama, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Vietnam,
Pilipinas, Korea... sama namong nanag-
Baggers sagol sa Putig Itom nga mga lumad
Sa Dapit— labaw natong nailhan ang mga
Tawo sa hitsura, bayhon ug sinultihan kaysa
Ngalan. Ug niining matanga sa pag-ila,

Ubay-ubay sila, bisan lagi nga dili tanan
Nila, gikan sa usa ka nasod ang kitab lang,
Ingon sa mga mocking bird sa Dapit, sa
Pag-ingon sa inawat-awat nila, kuwang
Sa tuno (southern accent, southern drawl)
Nga Iningles: "Pop, you always bag wrong
Stuff. You very slow. You don't learn,

You don't speak. You don't understand
English? Better go home, you old anyway."
Susmarisep! Mga butang ug buhat nga wa
Magkinahanglag pagtuon adtos kolehiyo,
O pasaran bag mga eksamin sa serbisyo
Sibil, wa magkinahanglag basa sa sinuwat
Nga mga hunahunang halawon kun pilosopiya,

Sama, pananglit, sa ilang Spencer, Spinoza,
Schopenhauer... mao na lay wa hikamaohi,
Dili hisabtan? Porbidag di pa luod ug hilas
Ang paghuyop sa trumpeta alang sa kaugalingon,
Sus...! Mopay wa gyod ko malimot adtong
Ikaduhang gubat sa kalibotan, tumbas rag
Niini sa ilang gihimo ako gipahinumdom.

Nasawot ang sa mga manghod ug ang akong
Tinuboan kay, gamay pa kaniadto, akong
Kamaguwangan mga 11 pa lang gani, napagan
Na sa mga pag-antos sa among mga apohan
Ug ginikanan. Way maayo, nihit pa gyod,
Ang pagkaon; way maayo, nihit pod
Ang bisan tambal lang sa mga mananap

Sa tiyan; wa ganiy tarong sabon batok
Sa nuka, ap-ap o bun-i; pagpuyo diyot-
Diyot lang maungkag, way puas ang kuyawng
Nakapaulpot sa kabuhi sa kadaghanang
Nanagluspad, gitugkag mga hubag-hubag,
Nahikawan sa hustong pagpahuwayg katulog,
Ilabi na gyod kadto kon manuot-suot

Ang mga tabi-tabing kamig, daw tugnawng
Hangin sa mga gabiing umog, nga didtong
Mga dapita sa kuan, bawos sa ambus-ambus
Sa mga gerilyista nga giingong way sapatos,
Naghuwes de kutsilyo ang mga Okupante sa
Nasod. Ug sa labaw kuno ka bangis nga mga
Kaabin, ang mga sibilyang buhi-buhi pa

Gipaniwasan: batag mga tiguwang gipanuhog
Sa bayoneta. Karon, mga kan-uman na ka tuig
Liwas niadtong panahona, niay mga babaye—
Ig-unsa kaha ni adtong mga Kaabig Okupante—
Kuwang na lang mowiwi sa mga uwat sa akong
Panumdoman pinaagi sa ubos kaayo nilang
Kanako pag-ila. Matinuod man o madili

Kadtong mga tabi-tabi, ang gubat nakahimo
Og laglom nga mga samad sa panumdoman ko.
Ug wa man tuod mi mahuwes de kutsilyo sa
Pusil ug bayoneta, apan niini kami sama ra
Sa nabiktima pagkahitabo nas among pagka-
Puhag gikas pinuy-anan namong dapit nga
Gipabuhatan sa mga Okupanteg Kaabin og

Mga baraks, mga trenseras nga mikatap ug
Kami nahimo nang dili taga amo, dili na
Tag-iya sa unsay amo pinaagis pagbuot ra
Nila nga kanunayng gagunit sa ilang pusil,
Sa mga bala ug bayoneta sigeng gatangkil.
Gipakita pa mig ehemplo sa ilang jujitsu
Nga ang akong amahan, ug kinsa pay mireklamo,

Maoy nanglukapa, ehemplo sad sa tamparos
Nga ang akong apohang laki kinsa lugos
Na gani makausap sa kan-ong mais maoy
Mitulilik, dugog pila ka ngipong wan-ay umoy
Mipisik. Karon nia lagiy mga babaye (ig-unsa
Gyod kaha ni silas naasoyng mga Kaabin nga
Pareho nilag sinultian): niining Dapit

Nga dili ila (dili sad hinuon, bisan tipik,
Ako ni sa bugtong kataginasod kong kauban
Sa buhat) tabla ra kog ilang gihinginlan
Sa ila laging pag-ingon: "Better go home—"
Niana, di ba ang Dapit naingos kaugalingon?
Ug tungod lang kay labaw, sanglit una nga
Nasinatis buhat, sila katulin niini ug sa

Kahapsay sa agi, tinuod, nila di ko kay bag-o
Ikatandi, sila na lang gyod ang sigeng husto?
Apan sa tanan, sila ra may kanako nag-isig-
Isig, di man hinuon ang mga lumad nga Putig
Itom! Di ra ba sila ang nagbuot nga gidawat
Kos buhat, ang Head Bagger man ug Assistant!
Unsa may katungod nila nga kanako manghilabot?

Pagkalig-on sa akong sukaranan sa gihuna-
Hunang pakigharong! Sa akong mga pu'ng unya,
Di kaha sila mahisama sa kaniadto ilang
Terou Kosaka nga kang Flash Elorde giparang
Sa mga kumo niini nagkamuritsing? Ako sad
Sila niini nga pahinumdoman kay baya kahag
Nalimot na lang. Nakita nako ang kadaogan.


Kay hait, maayong mihimog itip, nagustoan
Nako ang gunting ug nail cutter sa balayng
Sa bayaw kong sundawo sa Dapit inabangan
Balayng akong giiponan, bayawng nagpailawom
Sa tanan aron ko makalangyaw. Nahitalunong
Ko sa akong pagbasa, nag-anteyohos, sa pinong
Mga titik sa pag-ila diin mabuhat ang duha

Ka gagmayng gamit. Dili diay ang dagko ra
Nga mga buhat sa ilang nasod sama sa mga
Awto, trak, TV, computer... kondili
Lakip pa ang gagmay, nakigharong, nakigtigi
Sa mga buhat sa ubang nasod ug nakadu't,
Sama niining gunting ug nail cutter, hangtod
Na sa kamerkadohan niining dako nga Dapit!

Sus, nakakita man tuod kog duha ka export
Gikas Yutang Natawhan nga nakasulod pod
Sa mga mall sa Dapit ug sa Commissary, pero,
Sus, di gyod tawon mahimong ikapasigarbo.
Kay Nipa Vinegar ug Banana Catsup ra gyod!
Ambot kon duna bay lain nga wa ko masayod?
Basta kay mao ra, mao pa, nay akong namatuod.

Lupig pay tore nga gabok, nahunlak, hiagian
Sa hinay lang nga linog, ang akong galamhan
Natumpag. Ang hulagway ngas hunahuna mibarog
Dili ang sa isigkatawo, sa isig na ka nasod.
Samtang ang sa mga babaye lainlaing produkto
Ang napabrika, ang sa ako mao ray labing gihimo
Ang pamolitikang labihang kabarot og matang!


Sus, lugos, lugos na ko makatindog gikan
Sa akong gilingkoran diin ko maghinguko human
Nako mabasa ngang gunting ug nail cutter
Nabuhat sa nasod sa mga babayeng mangorehir
Nako karon ug unya sa buhat. Tingali bisan
Ang labing insultador nila akong hilupigan
Sa harong. Apan kon mahisgotan ang nasod

Unsay akong garbog kusog nga ikapabarog?

The Trials of Discipline, February 10, 2018
Hebrews 12:4-13

Since difficulties and pain are a universal experience of mankind, we may not recognize when our particular trial is the result of divine discipline. In Job's day, the common thinking was that all suffering was the result of sin, but today some Christians have swung so far away from this flawed teaching that they fail to consider whether their adversity might be related to waywardness.

When this happens to us, we usually just want to find a way out of the difficulty and move on, but in every painful situation, God is working to purify our life and make us righteous. He knows our weaknesses and sees when we compromise and fall into sin. So as a loving Father, He intervenes to bring us back into obedience and fellowship with Him.

Pain has a way of bringing to light sinful attitudes and practices, of which we were unaware. It drives us to our knees, and as we draw closer to the Lord, we see more of His holiness and recognize the ugliness of our sin.

What we do with this conviction of sin is of utmost importance. If we grumble and groan but refuse to repent and change, then we lengthen the trial, which intensifies the pain and sets us up for further discipline. This is not a sign of God's disfavor; rather it shows His love for us. He knows a path of sin is unfitting for His children.

Let's choose the better option of repentance and obedience. When we let our trials train us in holiness, we will reap "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11). And compliance with the will of our heavenly Father brings joy to His heart.

Philippine Association of Agencies for Kuwait (PHILAAK)
February 10, 2018
Contact Person:
Edith Fider (09174631332)

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Although we are understandably saddened because of the impact on our industry sector, we agree with the decision of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to suspend indefinitely the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait and to repatriate OFWs there who are in distress situations and want to return home to be with their families.

We are coordinating with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

We are also in the process of formulating a set of policy and other recommendations so that the Duterte administration will have additional options on how to save our fellow Filipinos from slavery and human trafficking and be more effective in the delivery of services to OFWs not just in Kuwait but worldwide.

We will present these recommendations to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III soon so we can give him  our best advice for the welfare of OFWs.

We are advocating for unity among all recruitment agencies and their adherence to a common standard of best and responsible practices throughout the industry.

(SGD.)
AMANDA LALIC- ARANETA
PHILAAK, President
(SGD.)
THELMA UANANG
PHILAAK, Chairperson

KABAYAN PARTY-LIST
(Kabalikat ng Mamamayan)
Rep. Ron P. Salo - 09177292437
Rep. Ciriaco S. Calalang - 09202940156

KABAYAN PARTY-LIST CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF PHL-KUWAIT MOU, ISSUANCE OF NOTE VERBALE, AND SUMMONING OF KUWAIT ENVOY TO MALACANANG

We commend President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his swift decision to order the immediate voluntary repatriation of OFWs from Kuwait. In addition to this decisive move, we, the KABAYAN Party-list Representatives ask the President to also immediately suspend the 2012 labor MOU of the Philippines with Kuwait in protest of the latest revealed incident of gruesome violence against a Pinay domestic helper in Kuwait.

In 2012, there was a new "Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the State of Kuwait and The Government of the Republic of the Philippines in the Field of Labor Cooperation" signed on March 23.

The MOU  was supposed to have a joint working group tasked to: (a) ensure the implementation of the MOU; (b) jointly review and agree on a standard employment contract (for OFWs); (c) propose revisions of the MOU as may be necessary and to resolve problems in its implementation; and, (d) study emerging employment opportunities and suggest measures of technical cooperation, training skill enhancement and to provide all the sectors with technically skilled personnel for the benefit of both parties.

It is very apparent now that this bilateral pact is in dire need of strengthening and if it cannot be improved, then it may have to be abandoned.

The Kuwait Times and the Arab Times Online both reported on the tragic fate suffered by a Filipina found dead inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait.

Perhaps, it will be good to our OFWs for our President to summon to Malacanang the Ambassador of Kuwait in order to formally explain the measures being undertaken by the Kuwait Government to protect the rights of our OFWs and why the Philippine Government should not cancel the MOU.

We also urge the DFA to swiftly issue a note verbale to formally serve notice to the Government of Kuwait the disappointment of the entire Philippines at how Kuwaitis have been treating their Filipino domestic helpers. (END)

REFERENCES
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/murdered-maid-found-freezer-closed-flat/
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/dead-body-filipina-kept-freezer-1-year-found/

February 10, 2018
Refer to: Honey Rose Mercado
(+63 917 840 1277)
NEWS RELEASE
BBM TELLS SUPPORTERS: BE CALM, THE TRUTH IS ON OUR SIDE

Former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. has called on his supporters who gathered in front of the Supreme Court on Padre Faura St., in Manila to remain calm despite another delay in the recounting of votes in his election protest.

In a message to hundreds of his supporters who have been holding a prayer rally in front the Supreme Court since Wednesday, Marcos said, "I feel your frustration.  But let us remain calm.  We have come this far and I promise you that we will not stop until every one of your votes have been counted. I promise you we will not stop until we have uncovered the truth of why there are square boxes instead of oval shadings.  The truth is slowly coming out.  We shall prevail," he said.

According to reports submitted by Marcos' retrieval team, who accompanied the trucks which brought the ballots boxes to Manila, the third and last batch of ballot boxes -- totaling 424 ballot boxes altogether -- were unloaded in the Supreme Court gym at 11:30 in the evening on Thursday, 1 February 2018.

However the very next day, at 1:30 in the afternoon on Friday, 2 February 2018, the office of SC Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa met with the lawyers and supervisors of Marcos & Robredo and handed them a "Projected Timeline of Activities" for the recounting of ballots, among others.

As clearly indicated in the new timeline, the recounting of ballots is now scheduled for 19 March 2018.  The reason for the 1 month delay is for the PET to "conduct and process psychological examinations" for its revisors."

"Many of you have been asking me why the inordinate delay again. Its been almost 2 years and yet, on the eve of the arrival of the last batch of ballot boxes, that's the only time the PET will conduct psychological examinations for its revisors? Well I guess we have choice but to follow Justice Caguioa's decision. I'm just wondering . . . why do it only now?"

In the meantime, because they believed that the recounting of ballot boxes would begin this week, Marcos' supporters began their prayer vigil yesterday.

OFFICE OF FERDINAND "BONGBONG" R. MARCOS, JR.
G/F Sunset View Towers
2230 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Philippines
Telephone:  +63 (02) 821-4591
Facsimile:  (+63.2) 821-4589

info@bongbongmarcos.com
http://www.bongbongmarcos.com

THE HONORABLE RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader
REP. RON SALO: ONE DEPARTMENT ON MIGRANT WORKERS WILL IMPROVE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO OFWs

In an interview with CNN Philippines (On The Record with Pia Hontiveros) Thursday evening, KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo, the House Committee on Government Reorganization is hammering out the working draft of a consolidated bill seeking to create a separate department that will focus on Filipino migrant workers' welfare and development.

Salo said having all the various agencies dealing with migrant workers all in one department "under the baton of one conductor, the Secretary for Migrant Workers," will improve the way government delivers its services and "address many of the issues and problems OFWs and other migrant Pinoy workers face."

https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines/videos/2134756733430881/

The KABAYAN congressman said the situation now is that several agencies are spread across various departments which not only hampers coordination and response, but also creates unnecessary burdens for OFWs hopping from one agency to another.

He chairs the Technical Working Group of the House Committee on Government Reorganization that hears the creation of the proposed department. The TWG is working hard to come up with its report before the month ends.

Salo said the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration would be part of the new department of migrant workers being proposed.

At least five bills on overseas Filipinos are pending at the House of Representatives: HB00227, HB02187, HB02334, HB02813, and HB06519.

Citing Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas latest figures, the KABAYAN solon notes that cash remittances from OFWs reached $25.3 billion from January to November 2017. From Saudi Arabia, $2.28 billion from January to November 2017. From Kuwait, $ 735,236.00 from January to November 2017. The latest official BSP data available as of now is as of November 2017.

Salo is of the view that the Philippines should have more bilateral labor protection agreements, especially with the countries where we have many abused OFWs.

He also sees the need for better screening methods at our airports and seaports to stop human trafficking victims before they leave the country.

"Pre-School Bawat Barangay" expanded

Iloilo City (1 July 2005) -- Parents often have a hard time believing how the tuition of pre-school kids run by private individuals or groups could be higher than the tuition fees of college students. However this is the sad reality of things that have made private pre-school for a lot of kids impossible.

Figures show that right now sixty-percent (60%) of the country's 2.2 million five-year-olds are enrolled in private or public pre-schools. The DepED runs majority of these pre-schools, the DSWD and the local government units while a smaller number are privately owned and operated

Now parents have something to thank the government for. The Department of Education will expand and augment existing day care centers and pre-schools into what is called "Pre-school sa Bawat Barangay which will ensure that every child has access to pre-schooling before they enter first grade.

The project is expected to cover the current pre-school system with 2,169 barangays in 30 provinces and 11 regions across the country. An additional 168 pre-schools are planned to be set up which will serve 8,400 children. The day care center will have separate session for five-year olds and for three-to four year olds. The Department of Education will handle the training of the day care workers on pre-school curriculum for give-year olds.

The DepEd is encouraging local government are encouraged to open their own day care centers or preschools attached to a public elementary schools on a cost-sharing scheme with the DepEd, the DSWD, Council for the Welfare of Children, local government units and parent-teacher community associations.

A barangay is expected to spend fifty-thousand (P50, 000) for the operation of a day care for ten months while a pre-school would cost around one hundred fifty-thousand (P150, 000).

The Project expansion was launched in the Visayas by Secretary Butch Abad of the DepEd. The expansion is part of the Education for All thrust of government under its ten-point agenda. (PIA-6)

PhilRice bats for a rice sufficient RP

Iloilo City (1 July 2005) -- The administration of President Gloria M. Arroyo aims to make the country rice sufficient by the year 2006. The Department of Agriculture and other allied agencies are focusing their efforts toward this goal hoping that in the end, these will be food on every table of every Filipino.

Negros Occidental strongly supports the efforts of President Arroyo in fighting hunger and in the government's quest for higher yield.

Negros is a perennially rice deficit province. While efforts and policies are being shaped for Negros become rice sufficient in the next few years, the Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) is in the forefront of stirring the wheels to achieve such goal.

Recently, 46 participants joined the PhilRice two-day training on organic fertilizer production and utilization.

The aim of the training is to upgrade the participate skills on the latest technology on organic-based farming, understand the concept of sustainable agriculture and the value of organic-based farming, and formulate rice-biomass materials for the production of organic fertilizers.

It is also expected that the training will help them conceptualize and implement projects on organic-based farming and fertilizer production marketing in their respected areas.

A press release from the PhilRice said their office is promoting an organic-based farming technology to manage nitrogen fertilizer in rice production. This technology uses rice biomass and other farm and household wastes in the production of alternative organic fertilizers.

The Department of Agriculture also participated in the training wherein their allied program on "Tipid Abono" was tackled. The scheme gives on alternative measure tot he farmers who are beset by the rising cost of fertilizers and other inputs to turn to organic fertilizer.

"Tipid Abono" program also trains farmers on the proper mixing of fertilizer, selection of appropriate soil types and the amount of fertilizer grades. (PIA-LOL)

Tigum-Aganan watershed board to hold BIC congress

Iloilo City (1 July 2005) -- The Tigum-Aganan Watershed Management Board (TAWMB) will hold a Barangay Information Center (BIC) Congress on July 8, 2005, at the municipality of Alimodian, Iloilo.

The BIC Congress is the third of its kind since the formation of the TAWMB, initiated previously by the Kahublagan sang Panimalay Foundation, Inc. (KSPFI) as a show of community involvement in environmental protection and rehabilitation.

TAWMB Chairperson Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao said that the BIC Congress will showcase the initiatives and actions in managing environment issues and concerns, particularly in support of the implementation of the Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275).

Alipao said that the holding of the BIC Congress is significant because the Tigum-Aganan is chosen as pilot testing area for the Water Quality management Area (WQMA) under the Clean Water Act.

The BICs are small groups of people in different barangays in the watershed areas in Iloilo, who have mobilized themselves to undertake environment-friendly activities on their own and have turned these activities into sources of small incomes for their families.

The BICs are offshoots of watershed learning communities who were captive listeners of a school-on-the air radio program dubbed "Ugat Sang Tubig" anchored by Jessica Salas of the Kahublagan sang Panimalay and Elsa Subong of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

With the modules given them on air, the learning communities gained a stock of information which gradually helped them to evolve into conscientious residents.

Today, the BICs play a major role in the implementation of the Water Quality Management Area (WQMA), under the Clean Water Act. From applying the information they have learned through Ugat sang Tubig, the BICs are now taking action on issues in the watersheds, particularly on monitoring of water quality and sanitation.

The BIC Congress will be attended by the mayors of different municipality members of the TAWMB, the partner agencies, barangay captains and BICs themselves.

A highlight of the whole day activity is the approval of the WQMA Plan and update on the program. (PIA 6)

PBSP holds exposure trip to Tigum-Aganan, Sibalom-Baguingin watersheds

Iloilo City (1 July 2005) -- The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) led a group of watershed stakeholders in an exposure trip to the Tigum-Aganan and Sibalom-Baguingin watersheds last June 27-28, 2005.

The exposure trip was part of their learning experience in managing a watershed area as to structure, organization, private and public participation. It also included ocular views and small group discussions with different sectors and communities involved in the Iloilo watershed management.

The PBSP group was composed of three planning development officers, nine barangay captains and council representatives, nine from people organizations and two from the PBSP, Aidy Estrada and keni Fabia.

Before proceeding to the sites, the group listened to a briefing on the Iloilo Watershed Management Council, Social infrastructures and the people's initiatives of the Tigum-Aganan and the Sibalom-Baguingin Watersheds.

Leading the panel were Alimodian Mayor Juanito Alipao, Chairperson of the TAWMB, Mr. Mario Nillos of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Foresters Francisco Gallego, Bernabe Garnace, and NIA Specialist Engr. Nilo Tribunsay, and MENRO of Pavia Mr. Amado Ortaliz. The Kahublagan sang Panimalay Foundation (KSPFI) facilitated the itinerary of the team.

After the briefing, the team proceeded to the site in Bgy. Bolo Maasin, where they interacted with the the KAPAWA, a people's organization which was granted the Community-Based Forest Management Area (CBMFA) by the DENR. The development of the organization was traced through the efforts of the Kahublagan sang Panimalay and the DENR. From there the team had a view of the headwaters of the Tigum river and the CBMFA Protected Area.

The team did not miss seeing the 35-year old mahogany at the Mahogany Park. This is the location of the reservoir of the Metro Iloilo Water District that pump potable water from the headwaters of the Tigum River, for the more than 300,000 resident-consumers in Iloilo City.

The highlights of the exposure trip were the learnings which the team gathered from their interactions with people's organizations in the municipalities of Oton and Leon, particularly the women's groups.

The exposure trip is a sharing of experiences on the effective management of watershed areas, taking into big consideration the partnership among LGUs, NGOs and Pos. (PIA 6)

PIA sets journalistic writing workshops for student writers, paper advisers

Iloilo City (1 July 2005) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Office here is set to hold its series of Basic Journalism Seminar-Workshops for incoming paper writers and publication advisers, for the year 2005.

The seminar-workshops which will be held in five batches, will start July 25-27, 2005, for High School participants in Iloilo City and Province, August 8-10 for Aklan and Antique, August 15-17, Capiz and Guimaras, and August 24-26, Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. The workshops in Panay will be held at the Fine Rock Hotel, while that in Negros and Bacolod will be deternmined later.

For college participants in the regional level, the schedule is August 1-3, 2005 and will be held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel.

These seminar-workshops aim to provide the participants with basic principles, skills and styles of news writing, feature writing, opinion articles and other journalistic skills including photo journalism and page design and help them develop the appropriate perspective and understanding of their role as campus paper writers.

Resource persons, who will facilitate the learning process and give valuable inputs will come from media practitioners in Iloilo and Bacolod cities and the academe as well as free-lance journalists.

The PIA has been holding these workshops for the last 31 years, in its continuing effort to help student writers acquire basic skills in journalism and an appreciation of the role of the campus press in molding young minds for good citizenship.

Details on these workshops are available in any PIA provincial offices and at the PIA Regional Office, telephone numbers 3377301 or 3376303. (PIA)

Archbishop urges people vs violence and revolution, prefers "revolution of the heart"

Iloilo City (1 July 2005) -- Jaro Archbishop Most Rev. Angel Lagdameo, in a circular letter dated June 30, 2005, urged the clergy, religious communities and pastoral councils to pray for the country and "reject the path of violence and revolution".

Lagdameo said that the country is passing through a dark tunnel with the ills it is facing. He reminds the people that "we do not set aright a wrong with another wrong" because in the end it is the poor, innocent people who suffer most in violence and revolution.

The archbishop proposed for a "revolution of the heart", which means a personal conversion of people in governance.

He further exhorted the people to pray that "an inspired group of people" may arrive at God's solution to our national problem; that we in the Church may see the great need for genuine conversion to God and people, and stop to give mere lip service to renewal and transformation; that politicians may put their acts together for the good of the country; that President Arroyo may open to the true solution of "lost credibility" dictated by God; that more than any form of government we should work for a credible, honest, democratic civilian government; that the people may respond to evolving political scenario with sobriety, calmness, wisdom and discernment and not be swayed by heightened emotional reaction.

Lagdameo stressed on prayer to be a regular activity, and when possible to hold penitential processions, "until some light in the dark tunnel of our situation is seen."

He also expressed hope that God will see the Filipinos through all this, as He has saved them through two non-violent transitions of government. (PIA 6)

BCCI says it's hesitant to join the opposition
by Rey Anthony Chiu

Tagbilaran City (1 July 2005) -- Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) said the business community here is hesitant to join the calls of the opposition in amassing warm-bodies to initiate another EDSA march, saying that there has been noted a better business climate in the recent months of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Administration.

Speaking over a radio program here June 30, the BCCI head who is in the United States of America in the meantime, said the gains the business sector experienced during the past is just too good to be wasted.

The same basically echoed Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima's call for the Filipinos to remain focused and not lose the economic gains the country achieved in the past months.

Secretary Purisima apparently means the rise in the gross domestic products and the aggressive Administration fight to uproot corruption and run after tax evaders. The Administration also scored a major victory in passing the expanded value added tax (VAT) as a source of funds to finance its second phase of economic reforms.

In related developments, Boholanos are reportedly split in their opinions on the GMA admission of her mental lapse in calling a COMELEC official to during the counting of voted last elections, a radio survey indicated this week.

Boholanos are also split as to the calls for the resignation of the President and for the conduct of snap elections. Aired then were general ideas of letting the rule of law and respect to the Constitution prevail.

With the touchy situation stoked by the Opposition amidst bolched calls for another EDSA, the peso bobbled against the dollar in the international market, a fact that economists ascribe to the Oppositions pushing of Susan Roces' for the Presidency.

This, economists interpret as sending shivers down the back of the elites and the middleclass.

The President is bent on completing the economic and fiscal reforms that she had started no matter what it takes, because this is what the Filipino people expected her to do, Malacanang said in newspaper reports this week.

As a form of restitution of her moral impropriety against her resolve to bring economic reforms to the country, the President also announced radical reforms during a conference with businessmen recently.

One of such, it turned out was distancing his husband, Mike Arroyo, which has evidently become a convenient target for attacks on her. Palace sources also leaked some Cabinet revamp in a bid to streamline Malacanang bureaucracy. (PIA)

Integration key to tourism industry
by Rey Anthony Chiu

Tagbilaran City (1 July 2005) -- Bohol's dream showcase in the Panglao Island Tourism Estate is s step in the right direction, and the concept of integrated and consolidated product service availability inside a tourism estate zone is the key, said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, during the opening of the Regional Tourism Congress at the Cebu Grand Hotel last week.

Conceptualized and worked outs in the drawing boards of at least three administrations now, the estate has recently been granted the Philippine Estates Authority nod, says Governor Erico Aumentado.

Panglao Island Tourism Estate Zone includes a comprehensive development plan of a portion of Panglao island which sets a retirement village, airport with an international capacity, golf course, resorts, hotels and other tourism service establishments well within the vicinity of the famous white beaches and dive spots here.

Durano, during the opening rites pressed that integration and consolidation of products, services and systems is the key to the country's tourism industry.

He bared a 19% rise in tourist arrivals in the country from Jan-May 2005 compared to the same period last year. The country, he said expects 3M tourist arrivals by the end of the year.

Central Visayas, including Bohol has emerged a new tourist destination and is the core of Philippine tourist promotion and development to the world.

This ambitiously wishes to attract 5M tourists by 2010. However, the region is basically coping up with the international requirements, Durano implied.

The DOT Secretary noted, that most tourists find it difficult to avail of the various products and services that they need while they are in country. The Philippines, compared to Asian neighbors seemingly lacks capacity and experience to deal with the influx of tourists.

He said that efficiency, comfort, and convenience in information, transportation, accommodation and other services are integrated and consolidated in a tourism estate zone in other countries. He means a place where everything is located within distance from the airport, malls, banks and entertainment areas.

With this, he called on major tourism players and investors to integrate and consolidate land holdings for the establishments of Tourism Estate Zones in various parts of the country for the development of a vibrant tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism simplifies processes in all activities and investments that are geared towards integration and consolidation of tourism programs into one wholesome package that would put the Central Visayas a "brand in the global tourism market, Secretary Durano concluded. (PIA)

SEA-K program gaining momentum
By Miriam Palmes-Aquino

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (1 July 2005) -- SEA-K or the Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran Program changed the lives of less fortunate individuals thru micro-enterprise and also acquiring their own relending businesses.

This program, called the Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran or SEA-K Program which started since 1996, is a community based credit assistance launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, using the people's organizations to be uniformly called SEA-Kaunlaran Groups or Associations (SKA's/SKG's) as credit channels.

Prior to the program, the people are attuned to the problems and needs in the area, in which entrepreneurial development activities and values formation are implemented to attain the goals and objectives of the Association.

SEA-K has assisted 763 SEA-K groups thru its funds that has reached an amount of Php 65,751,134.00. With this large amount, it has helped around 16,708 families suffice their needs.

This fund has been distributed to the provinces of Pangasinan with 309 projects and capital assistance of P 28,346,000,00. Ilocos Sur with 239 projects and credit assistance of P 17,676,299.00. La Union received P10M served for 107 projects and lastly, the province of Ilocos Norte who received P9M for funding 108 projects.

According to Ms. Luz Pilar, Project Evaluation Officer for La Union, DSWD, in La Union, every town and the lone city are required to have at least two to nine groups/association with 25 to 30 members each group, as beneficiaries for a particular funding project. The initial amount granted for the first level SEA-Kaunlaran ranges from P4,000.00-P5,000.00 with a maximum amount of P100,000.00 depending on the project they are going to engage with, without interest.

Beneficiaries are engaged in different skills like broom making, bagoong making, piggery, buy and sell, batya making, fishing, tinapa making, as well as bakery, sari-sari store, carinderia and pasalubong center owners.

Ms. Glenaflor Magsakay, Municipal Social Worker based in Rosario, La Union, explained that if these groups/associations will establish good repayment records, rollbacks or have gained at least P20,000.00-P60,000.00, they will be given a chance to be upgraded to a higher level called SEA-Kabayan or SEA-K level II, where they can avail of larger amount of credit assistance ranging from P35,000 (maximum amount for individual projects) to P500,000 (for groups) and can even reach up to P1M. Compared to SEA-Kaunlaran which is for livelihood purposes only, SEA-Kabayan is intended for livelihood, home improvement/basic shelter purposes and children's education.

Successful SEA-Kabayan groups having earned much, also use their gains/earnings in relending purposes to members and non-members placing just a very small interest out of their own funds. (PIA Ilocos)

Cagayan de Oro City (1 July 2005) -- THE Cogon public market and commercial center complex in Cagayan de Oro City will be opened on July 8, this year, Mayor Vicente Y. Emano announced over the weekend as he tasked City Budget Officer Griscelda Joson, chair of the City Economic Enterprise Management Board (CEEMB), to prepare for the opening of the market.

"The long-awaited elevators for the market have already arrived and are now being installed, while the raffling of stalls is now in its final stages," Mayor Emano said as he bared the pre-opening activities for the market.

As of presstime, CEEMB has already awarded 900 stall owners to occupy spaces on the ground floor. Stalls on the second floor are being raffled until July 1.

The ground floor of the market will house a total of 136 stalls for rice and corn; 385 stalls for condiments, 72 stalls for cafeteria, 132 stalls for cooked food, 24 stalls for chicken, 358 stalls for fish, 77 stalls for fruits, 289 stalls for vegetables, 118 stalls for meat, 30 stalls for flowers and pottery, and 180 stalls at the market atrium for miscellaneous goods.

The second floor of the new Cogon market will house 515 stalls for newsstands, footwear, belts, perfumes, textile and ready-to-wear clothes, native products, glass and plastic wares, metal products, watch repair shops, second hand goods, assorted goods, dry goods, bags, pharmacy, and agrivet supplies.

Meanwhile, the third floor will house the commercial center that will be run by UKC Builders, the contractor of the project.

The three-storey building is situated in a 12,000-sq. m. lot. The project is under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme at a cost of P250 million. (City Information Office/Ragcom)

Muslim women's role in development cited

Cagayan de Oro City (1 July 2005) -- LANAO del Sur Governor Aleem Bashier D. Manalao this week underscored the vital role of the Muslim women in local governance, economic recovery, and peace and order in Muslim-dominated regions.

During the monthly "Mustaqbal" or religious gathering, which the provincial chief executive initiated, Gov. Manalao reiterated his call for the Muslim women in the province to always be active and effective partners in the moral and economic recovery efforts of the province.

Manalao said women are playing important roles not only in promoting peace and order, but also medium enterprises development programs and livelihood projects, including social and political affairs of the local government.

The governor said the promotion of women's active participation in promoting the development of the province is in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's thrust on enhancing women empowerment and the 10-point agenda. (PIA-Lanao del Sur)

RP milk importation dips; Mindanao milk production up 11%
by Debbie de San Miguel, Becky P. Esguerra

Cagayan de Oro City (1 July 2005) -- THE country's milk imports went down by four percent mainly due to improvements in the production of existing local herds and adoption of better farm practices.

In Mindanao, the local field office of the National Dairy Authority (NDA) reported an 11% increase in the local milk production in the area, which is equivalent to 5,000 liters of milk daily.

The increase is attributed to the herd infusion of 188 imported dairy animals, plus the local sourcing and collection of payment-in-kind scheme employed by NDA.

The said animals were dispersed to new and existing dairy farmers in Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon provinces.

Increasing the dairy herd in Mindanao has greatly contributed to the increase in milk production in the area. Local sourcing is a scheme employed by NDA to buy out dairy animals at a premium price from farmers, which shall be re-dispersed to new and interested dairy farmers.

Payments for the dispersed animals are coursed through the Quedan Credit and Development Corporation (Quedancor) as the funding institution.

Another scheme that contributes to the increase in herd is the collection of Payment-in-Kind for the animals dispersed to dairy farmers.

This encourages the farmers to pay NDA directly an offspring of the animals dispersed to them.

The strategy has proven fast re-payment of animal loans at the same time encourages more farmers to raise cows for milk.

The increase in herd has provided a chain reaction for increase in milk production and at the same time increase the market demand.

Milk production is part of the government's vision, under the 10-point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to have a vibrant local dairy industry providing wholesome, affordable milk to delighted consumers, building a nation of healthier children and wealthier farmers. (NDA-10/PIA-10)

NFA rice imports arrive
by Celeste R. Gaabucayan

Cagayan de Oro City (1 July 2005) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) regional office in Cagayan de Oro City, being one of the transshipment points in Mindanao area, has unloaded a total of 896,000 bags or 44,800 metric tons of imported rice from Vietnam.

Another 72,000 bags are expected to be unloaded within the last week of June 2005.

The imported rice stocks are strategically distributed to provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

NFA-10 Regional Director Miguel C. Wycoco said the importation of rice is being done to cover the shortfall on palay production due to damage from storms that the country experienced in the 4th quarter of 2004 and the dry weather during the 1st quarter in 2005.

Importation is also necessarily done to effectively carry out the mandate of the agency, which is stabilization of prices and maintenance of buffer stocks for food security, he said.

Wycoco further explained that the volume of rice being imported is recommended by an Interagency Committee on Rice and Cereals (ICRC) after a thorough assessment of the country's production and corresponding supply requirements.

The ICRC is composed of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic Development Authority, National Farmers Action Council, PAGASA, NFA and the Department of Agriculture as committee chair.

Wycoco said with the onset of the lean months (July to September), he has directed all his provincial managers to prioritize the distribution of NFA rice to Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke (BGP) outlets inside major markets at fixed selling prices of P16/kg for regular-milled rice and P18/kg for well-milled rice, including accredited outlets outside the markets.

Palengke Watch Teams have also been activated to conduct close monitoring to ensure visibility and availability of NFA rice in the market/outlets, Wycoco said.

NFA's food security programs and projects are among the major concerns under the 10-point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as she sees to it that rice is made readily available in the local markets and affordable by every Filipino. (NFA-10/Ragcom)

DENR speeds up land patent issuances in Northern Mindanao
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (1 July 2005) -- AT least 2,090 lots involving an area or 2,344.6733 hectares have been issued patents under the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Northern Mindanao as of June 15, this year.

"This is actually 28% of our target for the year, which is 7,545 lots involving 8,676 has.," Regional Technical Director Antonio L. Luis of DENR-10's Land Management Services (LMS) said.

"Land titles are then issued once these patents are registered with the Register of Deeds," Luis also said.

He said the highest issuance of these land patents is in the province of Bukidnon for 1,025 lots involving an area of 1,389.6551 has., followed by Camiguin for 143 lots involving an area of 89.1207 has.

Next is Misamis Occidental for patents of 29 lots involving an area of 318.1500 has., Misamis Oriental for patents of 26 lots involving an area of 367.1247 and lowest in Lanao del Norte for patents of 127 lots involving an area of 180.6278 has.

On the other hand, on-site patent distribution under the Handog Titulo Program had benefited 1,235 recipients from various parts of the region, Dichoso said.

Again, the highest number of 742 recipients of these patents were from Bukidnon, followed by Misamis Oriental with 202 recipients, Camiguin with 200 recipients, Misamis Occidental with 52 recipients, and Lanao del Norte, the lowest with 39 recipients.

As explained by Land Management Officer Edna Ferraris of LMS-10 during the "Normindanaw" TV program simulcast over COC TV and radio station DXJR in Cagayan de Oro City, the Handog Titulo Program (HTP) of DENR is the awarding of titles to the legitimate beneficiary where in the recipient receives the title to the land he is tilling, occupying and cultivating in a single transaction/office.

Conceived during the time of then Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos as "Alay Titulo Program," the HTP was continued during the administration of former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino who improved the concept of distributing titles through the Door-to-Door program but due to lack of funds, it reverted back to the community concept of distribution.

Beneficiary of the HTP is the actual land tiller, possessor and occupant of an alienable and disposable (A&D) public land who may have possessed and cultivated the land for at least 30 years by himself or through predecessor-in-interest.

Under the HTP, an applicant files a Public Land Application (PLA) in the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in whose jurisdiction the land belongs.

To acquire a patent over an unpatented agricultural land, a legitimate tiller, cultivator and possessor of the land should visit the nearest CENRO where the land is located to file his/her PLA, after which an LMO will conduct an ocular inspection and investigation and recommends issuance of patent.

Ferraris said there are three approaches in the implementation of the HTP as provided for by DENR Administrative Order No. 67:

    In areas where most of the classified A& D lands are already titled, the traditional system of individual investigation shall be applied.
    In areas where most A&D lands are not yet titled, mass acceptance of PLA and carpet investigations shall be applied.
    In areas where there are on-going additional survey projects, the approach of advance acceptance and processing of PLA shall apply.

This approach shall allow land claimants to file their PLA to the DENR representative in the area where the cadastral survey is on-going. Processing of these PLAs shall proceed while awaiting the approval of the survey returns. However, no order of approval of PLA and issuance of patent shall be issued unless the survey is approved.

Meanwhile, more than 250 has. of agricultural lands in Negros Occidental owned by the family of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo are up for distribution in the next few months, this year.

This brings to more than 1,200 has., the total of Arroyo lands distributed, the Department of Land Reform said. (PIA-10)

Canned pineapple tops Customs' list of export products in Normin
by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (1 July 2005) -- CANNED Pineapple remains first in the list of top 20 export products that were loaded at the Port of Cagayan de Oro for various destinations abroad during the first quarter of 2005.

As the records at the Bureau of Customs in Region 10 show, these top 20 export products totaled 1,115,212.868 tons in volume all valued at US$73,834,373.32.

Lawyer Roberto Sacramento, District Collector of BOC-10, said topping the list of these exports is canned pineapple with 45,663.716 tons valued at US$21,511,492.96, followed by fatty alcohol with 7,139.5 tons at US$10,361,535.24, and sintered ore with 734,307 tons at US$5,674,248.85.

Ordinary portland cement came next with 198,867.66 tons at US$5,049,450, cane raw sugar, 13,732.82 tons at US$4,698,776.48, steel scrap, 22,686.455 tons at US$2,859,000, and everyday milk powder, 1,541.581 tons at US$2,353,740.49;

Alkyl methyl amine, 948.8 tons at US$2,131,607, cane molasses, 35,773.463 tons at US$2,058,750, farmin, 924.444 tons at US$1,861,998.76, rubberboots, 262.487 tons at US$1,808,575.78, and KF finished lumber/wood products, 1,475.071 tons at US$1,784,065.11;

Steel coil, 2,770 tons at US$1,032,619.26, limestone cement, 34,700 tons at US$988,950, machine parts, 257.438 tons at US$896,310.04, and silicon metal, 1,049.824 tons at US$888,624.

Four of the top 20 products are derived from coconuts, namely: desiccated coconut, 6th in the list with 3,699.358 tons at US$3,429,466.93, crude coconut oil, 8th, with 4,300.004 tons at US$2,420,000, coconut shell charcoal, 15th, with 4,825.416 tons at US$1,294,546.92, and coconut milk powder, 20th, with 285.831 tons at US$730,615.50.

As recalled, canned pineapple also topped the regionwide list of top 10 export products of Northern Mindanao for the first quarter of the year. Featured in the said list were four coconut products: cochin coconut oil, 2nd, crude coconut oil, 4th, desiccated coconut, 9th, and copra solvent extraction pellets, 10th.

Data at the National Economic and Development Authority reveal that he region's total exports for the period was recorded at US$102.295 million.

Meanwhile, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has congratulated the Bureau of Customs under the leadership of Commissioner Alberto Lina for having increased its collections by 11% in the first five months of the year due to improved efficiency and an all-out campaign against smugglers.

So far, Lina has reassigned 40 more BOC officials and personnel in another round of reshuffle, the third one since taking over the bureau four months ago to curb rampant graft and improve revenue collections.

On the other hand, Task-Force Anti-Smuggling Chief and Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes has ordered a thorough review of accreditation of at least 16 customs bonding companies, including five of them that have yet to comply with the requirements. (PIA-10)

Trade department links up with LGUs on VAT info drive
by Nelly Dillera, AC Agad

Cotabato City (1 July 2005) -- With the implementation of the VAT Reform Law (Republic Act 933), the Department of Trade & Industrry (DTI) has launched a campaign activity to educate the public on eVAT and its impact on prices of the basic commodities. The eVAT law is part of the reform program that the Arroyo administration is carrying out as part of its promise in the 10-Point Agenda that would improve the country's revenue collection. It is a vital component of the government's fiscal consolidation program that aims to bring the fiscal deficit GDP to zero by 2010, if not sooner.

The trade department and other concerned agencies has stepped up its price monitoring activities to ensure that prices are within reach by consumers and prevent unscrupulous businesspersons from taking advantage of the passage of the new law. It has also enlisted the help of labor groups to monitor prices of basic agricultural and manufacturer commodities, and to step up consumer protection against profiteers in the market.

To further raise awareness on the impact of the VAT law, the DTI is enjoining Local Government officials to identify areas of cooperation in protecting the interest of the consumers. One area where DTI and LGUs can cooperate is in the monitoring of basic goods' prices in wet markets and supermarkets.

"We are meeting with key mayors of Metro Manila to combine our resources to assure consumers that the government is doing everything in its power to maintain price stability in the market," Trade Secretary Juan B. Santos said. "Our regional directors in the provinces are also doing it to effect a nationwide implementation."

"The increased monitoring efforts of the DTI and local government units will not necessarily bring down prices but will ensure the availability of basic goods at reasonable prices, and to protect consumers against undue price increases caused by unscrupulous individuals. Local government units are key in ensuring stable prices in the market," Santos added.

Trade Secreatry Juan B Santos earlier said that prices of commodities would remain stable in spite of the signing of the VAT reform measure into law. The 2% increase in the value added tax will have an effect on basic commodities in 2006 and if the President would at that time exercise her stand-by power, which could only be done when any of the two set conditions are met. The two conditions are when VAT collection exceeds 2.8% of the previous year's GDP and when the national government deficit exceeds 1.5% of GDP. (DTI 12/PIA12)

70% of agar-agar plantation destroyed

Dipolog City (1 July 2005) -- The office of the Provincial Agriculturist revealed that 70% of agar-agar plantation in Jose Dalman town, some 70 kilometers South of Dipolog City, was damaged by a kind of moss known as epipehs that is being produced by certain microorganisms under the sea.

Francisco Loloy, in charge of the fisheries section of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported that the damage was estimated at P60million, affecting five thousand agar-agar farmers.

Mr. Marco Imperial of Quedancor on the other hand revealed that his office has extended loans amounting to P17 million to some one thousand agar-agar farmers in this town. Quedancor has yet to recover said amount. (PIA)

Zambo jobless rate likely to rise

Dipolog City (1 July 2005) -- "Unemployment rate in the province is likely to increase this year due to new college graduates who are added to throng of the unemployed," this was disclosed by Department of Labor and Employment District Officer Mrs. Francisca Corpus.

Corpus said the government remains the number one employer in the province but there are no jobs available in almost all government agencies in the area.

Aggravating the unemployment problem was the closing down of operations of two bus companies based in Dipolog City-Lilian and Mary May last month that left 200 workers jobless.

Presently the unemployment rate of the province runs between 8 to 9 percent

Meanwhile, DOLE has scheduled a job fair on July 1 and 2 with 20 recruitment agencies signifying their participation. This is in response to the unemployment problem in the province. (PIA)

Zambo Liga nga mga Barangay says: Susan Roces is arrogant

Zamboanga City (1 July 2005) -- Liga ng mga Barangay Chairman and City Councilor Abdurahman Nuño said the statement made by Susan Roces last night against President Arroyo was very arrogant.

"To me that was a very bad statement. She became arrogant. Very much arrogant. I thought she was a lady. But last night it is only the time that I discovered that she can be very tactless. It's very arrogantly and criminally-like, Nuño said.

He said detractors of the President have gone too far already "she has apologized. We better as well give her a chance and devote her time in solving our economic problem." He emphasized.

"We are not ready yet for another destabilization and another president. We have the rule of law. Let it take its due course"

Councilor Nuño refute impression that the president has lost her moral ascendancy because of the many controversies the president and her family is facing saying, "these are the people from Manila who is telling.. not the ordinary people like us. Not in Zamboanga...not in Lanao... If they do not like anymore Malacañang to stay in Manila they should move Malacañang to Zamboanga and the mayor maybe is ready to welcome," he strongly said. (PIA)

Cebu business community backs PGMA
By Minerva BC Newman

Cebu City (1 July 2005) -- Amid a nationwide uproar and the varied reactions from all sectors on the President's public confession and apology, fourteen (14) business leaders in Cebu staunchly support President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's government and readily accepted her public confession and apology. This was contained in a joint press statement yesterday.

Calling themselves Cebu's multi-sectoral group, they strongly declared their unconditional support to the President and her administration. "What the President did is a mark of a true leader, a real stateswoman who takes full responsibility for her actions," the statement read.

Benson Dakay, president of the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines warned that the economy would crash if President Arroyo resigns. " There is no better leader at this point in time. The Philippines is facing an economic crisis and a change in leadership would make it worse," Dakay said in media interview.

The statement also called on the political leaders and the public to join hands in a show of unity, act in sobriety and vigilance, move forward and attend to the many problems confronting the nation.

The statement was signed by the following organizations: Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay & Leyte); Philippine Chamber of Commerce 7 Industry; Philippine Exporters Confederation-Cebu; FAME Foundation Philippines, Inc; Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation; Seaweed Industry association of the Philippines; Hotel, Resorts & Restaurants Association; Cebu GTH; Cebu Banker's Club; Cebu Association of Tour Operators and Barug! Pilipino. (PIA-Cebu)

RPAOP conducts assessment and planning workshop
by Robert E. Roperos

Butuan City (1 July 2005) -- To evaluate the accomplishments of its stakeholders for the first semester, and to plan the activities of the remaining semester of 2005, the Regional Plan of Action for Older Persons (RPAOP) spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Caraga Region, conducted an assessment and planning workshop here recently.

Angelita Amista, DSWD Technical Assistance Division Chief emphasized the importance of the assessment's result that will serve as input for the second semester's planning. According to Amista, the activity is aimed to support the national thrust of the Arroyo Administration particularly on good governance.

Among the areas of concerns reviewed and assessed were programs and projects on older persons and development, health and well being into old age, and enabling and supportive environments for RPAOP.

RPAOP's highlights of accomplishments include the conduct of a consultative forum by local social welfare offices on the implementation of RA 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act. It also organized federation of senior citizens associations in 70 municipalities, 3 cities, and 4 provinces, including the Regional Federation of Senior Citizens in Caraga.

RPAOP also lobbied and successfully helped in the passage of local ordinances for the provision of mortuary aid to older persons in the cities of Bislig, Butuan and Surigao and the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte. It also enjoined LGUs to adhere to the provision of the DBM-DSWD Joint Memorandum Circular, appropriating one percent of the total budget of the LGU for programs for older persons and PWDs.

It was also announced that the LGUs of Bislig City and Surigao del Norte had already released the once percent share for OPs and PWDs in 2004. Installation of 4 billboards containing the benefits/privileges of older persons in conspicuous areas of Surigao City has also been completed.

The DSWD Regional Office, working closely with RPAOP intensified advocacy on Republic Act 9257 otherwise known as the Expanded Seniors Citizens Act to all local social workers in 77 LGUs during the Social Welfare and Development Forum providing all LGUs a copy of the new law. It successfully conducted orientation on R.A. 9257 to all inter-agency members in the formulation of RPAOP and all Senior Citizens Federation Presidents during the RPAOP Mid-Year Review on June 11, 2004 and REFESCA meeting on November 17, 2004.

Furthermore, RPAOP conducted radio interview advocating R.A. 7432 and R.A. 9257, and of approved local resolutions granting monthly honorarium to the municipal federation presidents of Agusan del Norte.

On the other hand, some of the issues and concerns presented is the refusal of the drugstores to give mandatory discounts on medicines despite of the dialogues conducted. Another was the amount appropriated by LGUs for burial assistance/mortuary aid were already exhausted and the need to increase the budget for mortuary aid.

With the issues and concerns presented, RPAOP stakeholders agreed to enforce what was stipulated under R.A. 7432 and R.A. 9257, and ask LGUs to increase mortuary aid budget. (PIA-Caraga)

Higher crime rate in Butuan indicates growth
by Lovely Laudette Gamba

Butuan City (1 July 2005) -- "I can understand the sentiments of the Butuanons regarding the carnapping in the city but what is happening is all part of the pains of a growing city", says Gen. Rene Elumbaring referring to the series of carnapping cases in this city, during the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (RLECC) meeting at the Philippine National Police Regional Office this city recently.

Based on the report of City Police Director Ramon Espiritu the crime volume of the city for the period of January to June this year is higher compared to last year. Yet Caraga is still ranked second from the bottom in the total crime volume in the entire Philippines. Espiritu attributed the increased crime rate of the city to the growing economic crisis. He also pointed out in his report that although crime volume this year is higher, crime solution efficiency of the BCPO is also higher compared to last year.

Among other things discussed during the meeting are the significant accomplishments of the City Police Office. This includes the development of a workable plan to solve the problems of street children including scavengers and mentally ill individuals living in the streets.

Also discussed is the condition of the Wawa Bridge in Sibagat. According to reports the Wawa Bridge beam has been cut by loggers to accommodate trucks loaded with logs whose height is higher than that of the bridge.

Espiritu recommended for the inspection of loaded truck heights in checkpoint areas to control the problem. Meanwhile City Councilor Salvador Calo suggested passing an ordinance limiting the height of trucks loaded with lumbers.

Another topic taken up during the meeting is the presence of motorized trisicad in the national highway. According to Elumbaring these trisicads pose hazards to the motorists. He requested the Traffic Management Group (TMG) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to come up with solutions to the problems.

The council agreed that the TMG and the LTO would present the traffic condition and possible solutions to traffic problems especially pertaining to trisicad in the next RLECC meeting. (PIA-13)

BCCI gears for 4th MICT congress
by Robert E. Roperos

Butuan City (1 July 2005) -- In line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's priority program on electronic governance, the Butuan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) hosted here recently the regional pre-conference consultations and roadshow in preparation for the forthcoming Mindanao Information and Communications Technology (MICT) Congress come October 23-28, 2005 in General Santos City.

BCCI President Rene Cinco, thru Hospicio Suralta, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Regional Governor for Northeastern Mindanao emphasized the significance of the Congress to Mindanao in the ICT arena. He added that critical issues have been identified to initiate necessary actions that will bolster effort in accelerating an ICT economy in the region. The conference is part of the multi-sectoral endeavor to promote and uplift ICT in Mindanao.

"The aim of the Congress is to strategically position Mindanao as a hub for e-service in the BIMP-EAGA region," Cinco said.

The theme of the congress is "Enabling Mindanao for Digital Opportunities". "The theme concretizes the latest action that needs to be done to promote Mindanao as a hub for e-service in the region," said Cinco.

Now on its 4th year, the MICT aims to explore potentials for ICT collaboration in business. It also seeks to prioritize the integration of IT in basic education.

One of the topics that will be highlighted during the congress is the integration of ICT in basic services of the government making it more efficient and effective in delivering services to the people, which is a top priority of the Arroyo Administration.

Meanwhile, the Mindanao Business Council (MBC), one of the lead agencies in the conduct of MICT, gave an update on the resolutions passed during last year's Mindanao ICT Congress. These include Expansion of Digital Infrastructure in unserved areas; Providing incentives to private sector investments in the industry; Initiation of MICT Task Force for the establishment of a Comprehensive MICT databank; and the Utilization of BIMP-EAGA web site, through the Mindanao private sectors.

Aside from MBC, sponsors of the 4th MICT include the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, City Government of General Santos, Mindanao Economic and Development Council (MEDCo), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of Region 11. (PIA Caraga)

Leyte towns choose their OTOP

Tacloban City (1 July 2005) -- The local government executives in the 41 municipalities of Leyte, in their respective areas, have taken the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific project or service which has a competitive advantage. This will become the One Town One Product (OTOP) of their municipality. The OTOP varies from food delicacies, virgin coconut oil processing, milkfish processing, bahalina (coconut wine), seaweeds processing, cassava noodles, mango processing among others.

The One Town One Product-Philippines is a priority program of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs. OTOP Philippines supports micro, small and medium enterprises to manufacture, offer and market distinctive products or services through the use of indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents.

With the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry Leyte, the Leyte municipalities the OTOP of which are already ready, were given seminars on product design and development, appropriate technologies and marketing.

Governor Petilla and the respective local government units supported the OTOP producers to participate at the recently concluded International Food Exposition at the World Trade Center of the Philippines. This was a very good opportunity for the small producers to find markets for their products.

The OTOP which participated were Bato's dried mangoes, bangus, sardines of Inopacan, Manna Virgin Coconut Oil of Tanauan and salabat of Kananga. (PIA-8)

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate National Release

Bountiful Deals for a Prosperous Year!
Lazada Philippines' Chinese New Year Sale set from February 13 – 16

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Lazada.com.ph joins this year's Chinese New Year festivities with a big sale happening from February 13 to 16, 2018, with discounts up to 85% off. Here are top deals to fetch this year of the earth dog:

Style in Full Bloom
New Year means new you!  Now is the best time to buy your beauty and travel essentials online. Stay fresh and pretty by getting yourself a L'Oreal Paris Pure Clay Mask for only Php 319.20 and a Nyx Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick on flash sale at Php 230. Plan your future travels in style by getting a Jansport backpack at Php 1,450 which comes in various designs such as white leopard, vintage vacation, and sweet nectar.

Bountiful than Ever
Prepare for your Chinese New Year celebration at home. Enjoy listening to your new year playlist with the JBL Clip 2 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker at Php 2,199. Get yourself a Sony DSC-W800 Digital Camera at Php 3,999 to capture every moment of the celebration. Celebrations aren't also complete without the feast. The Demotech Wide Electric Grill Tray at Php 899 is a must-buy for all your grilling needs.

Creating good feng shui is now easier! Shop for items you usually get from Chinatown like incense, lucky charms, feng shui lucky cat, golden wealth pot, red money tree and banguas, and have them delivered straight at your doorstep. Customers also enjoy free delivery for all Metro Manila orders. 

This 2018, Lazada has also revamped both its website and mobile app to give customers a better shopping experience. So, what's new? Customers now get to see products, brands, categories, and bundles personalized according to their preferences and shopping interests. The new shopping platform also provides an unlimited scrolling experience allowing customers to enjoy browsing Lazada's top deals as if they were on social media.

More Discounts
Additional discounts are up for grabs thanks to RCBC and PayMaya. Customers who use their RCBC savings MyDebit Mastercard get a Php 200 discount during the Chinese New Year Sale for a minimum purchase of Php 1,500. PayMaya users get 15% off (maximum discount of Php 200) whenever they use the code PAYMAYAFEB for a minimum purchase of Php 1,000 until February 25.

It is just the start of a prosperous year with Lazada! More deals, brands and special offers are up for grabs this year of the dog. Visit www.lazada.com.ph or download the Lazada mobile app for free.

About Lazada Group
Launched in 2012, Lazada is the number one online shopping and selling destination in Southeast Asia – present in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As the pioneer of the eCommerce ecosystem in Southeast Asia, Lazada helps more than 135,000 local and international sellers as well as 3,000 brands serving the 560 million consumers in the region through its marketplace platform, supported by a wide range of tailored marketing, data, and service solutions.

With over 210 million SKUs available, Lazada offers the widest range of products in categories ranging from consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion, sports equipment, and groceries. Focused on delivering an excellent customer experience, it offers multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery, comprehensive customer care and hassle-free returns through its own first and last mile delivery arm supported by more than 100 logistics partners. Lazada Group is majority owned by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA).

Going to travel? Book your place to stay at www.booking.com

MADISON, Wis. (PRWEB) February 08, 2018

GrocerKey (http://www.grocerkey.com), an omni-commerce software and operations leader, today announced Twin Cities-based Kowalski's Markets will be expanding its existing eCommerce program with GrocerKey to now include Mobile Self-Checkout capabilities for shopper self-service. This new feature will let shoppers scan and pay from their personal devices in-store.

GrocerKey Mobile Self-Checkout expands the choices for shoppers using the successful Kowalski's "On-the-Go" program, which currently offers online ordering, curbside pickup, and home delivery. Mobile Self-Checkout will be announced on Kowalski's On-The-Go website when it is available.

Kowalski's has pioneered innovation in merchandising, having selected GrocerKey in 2017 to digitally-enable its brand and its offers, and provide a more enhanced shopping experience. Previously hampered by tools that lacked sophistication and operational efficiency, Kowalski's chose GrocerKey to provide a modern experience for shoppers online and in-store. GrocerKey's comprehensive platform includes online browsing, eCommerce, picking, click & collect, home delivery, mobile apps, and now Mobile Self-Checkout.

Beyond these innovations, Kowalski's also chose GrocerKey as an enablement partner, working side-by-side with GrocerKey to source and enable rich content, deepen CPG relationships to source offers, and efficiently and affordably implement its solution platform. "In choosing a partner for our online business, we wanted one that provided value beyond the technology," said Mike Oase, COO of Kowalski's Markets. "GrocerKey is a partner we trust to ensure shopper satisfaction through innovative technology and operational success."

GrocerKey launched Mobile Self-Checkout as an expansion of its popular mobile shopping application, enabling a frictionless checkout experience. "Kowalski's stays ahead of the competition by balancing a new, rich digital experience with a superb in-store atmosphere," stated Jeremy Neren, CEO of GrocerKey. "We're excited to expand the Kowalski's On-The-Go program and begin offering our new Mobile Self-Checkout application to bring more value to shoppers at any and all of their eleven stores throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro."

About GrocerKey Inc.
Founded in 2014 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, GrocerKey is a fast-growing software company that helps brick & mortar retailers adapt to the new digital and mobile world. The company offers a retailer-branded omni-commerce and mobile shopping solution for retailers of all sizes. Offered on a highly scalable software-as-a-service platform, GrocerKey's solution helps brick & mortar retailers become successful omni-commerce retailers. The GrocerKey solution includes an omni-commerce platform designed to integrate with a retailer's existing merchandising, loyalty, and point-of-sale technologies. It also includes online and mobile shopping, store-based picking, and delivery management capabilities. For more information, please visit http://www.grocerkey.com.

LOS GATOS, Calif. (PRWEB) February 08, 2018

MobileFrame, creators of the only code-free mobile application development platform, today announced that DY Martin (aka Wines Unlimited) has chosen MobileFrame to automate their sales order entry and inventory management.

DY Martin operates wholesale distribution and retail sales of fine wines throughout Louisiana. To better serve their customers, the company sought out a mobile solution that would allow for real-time order entry and inventory confirmation. Their goal is to have every customer-facing employee mobile-enabled to offer personalized service throughout their retail locations.   

This new deployment replaces an aging infrastructure that was ill-suited to the real-time requirements DY Martin has for their go-forward vision. Also, since wireless connectivity isn't always certain in retail stores and warehouses, DY Martin required a solution that would work seamlessly in offline environments that ensures no data loss.

MobileFrame has provided DY Martin with an enterprise mobility platform that allows them to execute their vision and will grow with them as they evolve their application needs.   

"Our code-free mobility platform provides a flexible path forward for DY Martin and their vision for better customer engagement," said Lonny Oswalt, CEO, MobileFrame. "We share their enthusiasm for customer satisfaction and look forward to working with them for many years to come."

To learn more about MobileFrame's mobile application development platform, please visit http://www.mobileframe.com/mobile-app-development-platform/.

ABOUT MOBILEFRAME
MobileFrame is the only code-free mobile application development platform that enables customers to deploy and manage sophisticated native, web or hybrid applications across iOS, Android and Windows-based operating systems. Powered by MobileFrame's code-free approach, enterprises can design, build, configure, test and manage custom apps across the enterprise from a single solution. Every feature required for a successful enterprise-class deployment is built-in, including rapid mobile application development, device management, military-grade security, project administration and GPS tracking. MobileFrame also provides a suite of ready-to-run apps for every industry that can be easily tailored to meet any requirement. For more info, please visit http://www.mobileframe.com. Or follow us on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn.

With the increased usage of mobile devices causing significant growth in wireless traffic, this expansion necessitates the addition of certified professionals to install, maintain, support and design communications systems. To meet this demand, ETA International will host the industry's most respected training providers to conduct hands-on training leading to accredited certification all in one convenient location. Register today to get unparalleled opportunities for professional development.

By partnering with IWCE, Education Forum attendees get access to hundreds of vendors and dealers in the communications technology field at the exhibit hall in the Job Training and Education Center, where the need for these certifications and skills are in demand.

"We bring training and certification together at one convenient location during Education Forum," said Teresa Maher, CSS, President, ETA International, adding, "Professionals will get plenty of one-on-one attention and won't need to coordinate with trainers to attend classes or arrange for a proctor to take an exam later."

Popular hands-on training workshops being hosted include: Certified Electronics Technician, Distributed Antenna Systems, Fiber to the Antenna, General Communications Technician, Levels 1 and 2, Information Technology Security (Cybersecurity), Line and Antenna Sweep, Microwave Radio Technician, Mobile Communications and Electronics Technician, Photovoltaic (Solar) Installation, R56 Communications Site Installer and RF Interference Mitigation.

Top-level industry trainers will come from such respected companies and schools as ATRG Technical Services, Bird Technologies, Blue Rock Station, Commdex Consulting, Dover Telecommunications Services, Heartland Community College, Ira Wiesenfeld & Associates Technical Services, Light Brigade and Radio Systems Analytics. Registration for the training classes includes access to the IWCE exhibit hall, keynote addresses, general session, Party in the Park and town hall meetings. Discover workshop dates, specific details, and register to attend these hands-on training workshops at http://iwceexpo.com.

Join a diverse group of industry professionals including government/military, public safety, utility, transportation, network infrastructure and business enterprise for career enhancing training and networking opportunities at EF18@IWCE. People passionate about wireless communications and the electronics industry will gather with over 7,000 peers to learn and network with colleagues and connect to information about a technology, product or policy that is crucial to success. The Exhibit Hall, with over 400 exhibitors, will showcase products from interoperability solutions to broadband devices and networks, to accessories and small cells.

View pictures of past events on ETA's website at http://www.eta-i.org/education_forum.html or on ETA's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ETAInternational.

About the Education Forum - ETA International is proud to host hands-on training through outside vendors in popular technology areas related to ETA certification during Education Forum, co-located with the International Wireless Communications Expo, March 5-9, 2018, in Orlando, FL. ETA's partners, the industry's most respected trainers, will provide in-depth hands-on training in 12 key areas of expertise beginning on Monday, March 5th. Following each training class, ETA will provide opportunities to test for ETA certification.

About ETA - Since 1978, ETA has delivered over 200,000 certification examinations successfully. Widely recognized and frequently used in worker job selection, hiring processes, pay increases, and advancements, ETA certifications are often required as companies bid on contracts. ETA's certifications are personal and travel with the individual, regardless of employment or status change and measure competencies of persons, not products or vendors. All ETA certifications are accredited through the International Certification Accreditation Council (ICAC) and align with the ISO-17024 standard. http://www.eta-i.org

About International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) - Since 1977, the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) has been the authoritative annual event for communications technology professionals. IWCE features over 370 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and trends in the industry. Over 7,000 individuals attend from a diverse group of industry professionals including government/military, public safety, utility, transportation and business enterprise. IWCE 2018 will be held March 5-9, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando FL. For more information, visit http://www.iwceexpo.com.

Download this press release at – http://www.eta-i.org/pr/Register_Today_for_HandsOn_Training_at_EF18@IWCE.pdf

Seminar sa Pagtuturo ng Panitikang Gender-Based, itinakda sa iba't ibang bahagi ng bansa

Layunin ng seminar na mapataas ang kamalayang pangkasarian ng mga guro sa pagtuturo ng panitikang gender-based.  Magkakaroon ng panayam at talakayan hinggil sa iba't ibang paksang may kaugnayan sa panitikan, wika, at kasarian.  Magsasagawa rin ng pakitang-turo sa kuwentong bayan, tula, at maikling kuwento.

Bukás ito sa mga punong guro, tagapag-ugnay, mga guro sa Filipino at panitikan sa elementarya, sekundarya, at tersiyarya na nasa iba't ibang bahagi ng bansa.
Para sa pagpapatalâ at iba ipang detalye, makipag-ugnay sa sumusunod:

Mariano Marcos State University, Batac, Ilocos Norte
Dr. Eliza S. Lopez
Direktor, Sentro ng Wika at Kultura
lmeliza62@yahoo.com, 0933-8579872

Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet
Dr. Winston N. Ros
Direktor, Sentro ng Wika at Kultura
WN_ROS@yahoo.com, 0920-6830945

Naval State University, Naval, Biliran
Prop. Ayesna O Sabocohan
Direktor, Sentro ng Wika at Kultura
ayesnasabocohan727@gmail.com, 0947-8118658

West Visayas State University, Lungsod Iloilo
Prop. Romeo T. Espedion Jr.
Direktor, Sentro ng Wika at Kultura
r_espedion@wvsu.edu.ph, 0919-8654244

HON. MICHAEL "MIKEE" L. ROMERO, Ph. D.
1-PACMAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader
Vice Chair, Youth & Sports Development and 2 other Committees

BREAKING NEWS: FREE IRRIGATION SERVICE NOW A LAW

REP. MIKEE ROMERO URGES NIA TO IMMEDIATELY STOP COLLECTION OF IRRIGATION SERVICE FEES AND SWIFTLY EXECUTE ISF DEBT CONDONATION AND WRITE-OFFS

As one of the authors of House Bill 2150 that later became part of what is now the Free Irrigation Service Law (RA 10969), I express the fervent hope that the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration will be able to immediately implement the newly-signed law.

RA 10969 allows the NIA three months to issue the implementing rules and regulations. Probably, they need not use up all of those three months, since they have known for many months now that the signing of the law was for certain.

NIA should stop collecting irrigation service fees upon effectivity of RA 10969 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette and not a day later because this is the intent of the law, specifically Section 3.

One item they can quickly address is the condonation and write-off of irrigation service fee (ISF) loans, past due accounts, and penalties. This provision (Section 4 of RA 10969) will bring immediate relief to farmers nationwide. Just one implementing issuance from NIA will erase all pending ISF loans, past due accounts and penalties.

Section 3 and Section 4 of RA 10969 are the immediately doable. The other provisions—Section 5 to Section 9 will take more effort and can by the subject of a later NIA directive. (END)

Reference: http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_17/HB02150.pdf

The Love of God
February 08, 2o18
Thursday08

Genesis 3:1-6

Signs on the highway show us many different sorts of things. Speed limits. Animal crossings. How to find a rest stop or avoid a construction site. Similarly, all of creation is a sign communicating God's message to us. He speaks to us through a full moon, waves crashing against rocks or a vividly colored aspen tree. As we look upon the wonders of nature, something inside us resonates with the glory, power, love, and beauty of the Creator.

The Lord expresses His message in still another way that may initially be hard for us to comprehend as love: through the fall of man. You might wonder, If God loves us, then why would He let the first couple sin, spoiling the perfection they enjoyed in the garden and breaking the fellowship they had with Him?

The connection between God's love and man's sin is freedom. In giving Adam and Eve the option to obey or disobey, God demonstrated that He has not created us as robots, incapable of making choices. His love does not restrict our freedom to do right or wrong—even if that involves our saying "no" to the God who created us. However, having the freedom to choose means we will make mistakes and disobey the God who loves us.

But the wonderful news is that God expresses His love toward those who have rebelled against Him, through His gracious offer of salvation and forgiveness. Jesus Christ, who paid our sin debt on the cross, is the ultimate expression of divine love. Have you responded to His love by believing in Christ and receiving Him as your personal Savior?

February 7, 2018
Refer to: Honey Rose Mercado
(+63 917 840 1277)
NEWS and PHOTO RELEASES

ROBREDO WILL NOT WITHDRAW ANY PENDING MOTIONS – BBM CAMP

A day after former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. signed a JOINT MANIFESTATION "withdrawing all and any pending motions relative to his election protest", it has become evident that Maria Leonor "Leni Daang Matuwid" Robredo is not willing to withdraw her pending motions before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).

This was the statement made by Marcos' spokesperson, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, who said that the reason why Mrs. Robredo has no intention of withdrawing her pending motions was because she did not sign the JOINT MOTION that her lawyer presented to the media.  Rodriguez also pointed out noted that in his JOINT MOTION only the name of Robredo's counsel, Atty. Romulo Macalintal, appeared on the document.

"A JOINT MANIFESTATION is a major pleading and it cannot be done through counsel alone. It should also be signed by the client because it needs his or her conformity. Since Mrs. Robredo did not sign the pleading together with her lawyer, it is obvious that she has no intention to withdraw her motions," Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, the absence of Robredo's signature puts into question her sincerity to hasten the pace of the electoral process.  It likewise casts doubt on the authority of Macalintal who signed the motion.  Robredo could later on even disown the motion because it was made without her conformity.

"Without Mrs. Robredo's signature, the motion is a mere scrap of paper and may be later disowned by her as having been signed without her authority. Tila gustong makalinlang na naman," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also questioned the JOINT MOTION prepared by Macalintal saying the same only covered pending motions and not future motions that may delay the proceedings. He said Marcos' JOINT MANIFESTATION was more sincere because it covered both present and future motions in the election proceedings.

"Sinasabi ni Atty. Macalintal na umatras kami pero kung babasahin mo ang JOINT MOTION nila, puro pending motion lang ang gusto nila i-withdraw. Pero kami, lahat ng motion i-wiwithdraw namin pati future motions that may delay the proceedings. It shows lack of good faith.  Bakit sila umatras?" Rodriguez remarked.

Rodriguez also took exception to the assertion made by Macalintal in his JOINT MOTION that Marcos has a pending "Partial Motion for Reconsideration" dated December 4, 2017 asking the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to reconsider its earlier ruling allowing them to secure soft copies of the ballot images.

Rodriguez pointed out that the said Partial Motion for Reconsideration had already been resolved by the Tribunal in its Resolution dated January 10, 2018.

"Mukhang hindi masyado pinag-aaralan ni Atty. Macalintal ang kaso ng kanyang kliyente kasi dapat alam nya na naresolve na yan.  At dapat alam din nya na sila ang may mga pending motions sa PET[1]," Rodriguez stated.

Rodriguez also emphasized that if Macalintal was indeed serious about withdrawing all motions, he should have done it through the official route and not meet in a fast food restaurant for the signing. "Signing a major pleading in a pizza restaurant shows an utter lack of respect for the judicial process.  There is a proper way to do things and this involves going to the law office of your opposing counsel and handing over the proper documents to them," Rodriguez said.

This is the reason, he pointed out, why the Marcos camp went to the law office of Macalintal and his co-counsel Ma. Bernadette Sardillo located at Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City.  They went there first thing today (Wednesday) to give them the complete set of copies of the JOINT MANIFESTATION signed by Marcos and his counsel, George Garcia, together with the corresponding cover letter.

"The challenge to meet at a fast food restaurant is unbecoming of an officer of the Court.  It is unlawyerly and at most more of a publicity stunt.  We hope the other camp has the decency to act accordingly," Rodriguez said.

"It appears that Atty. Macalintal wants to pull fast one on the public with his publicity stunt.  As far as we are concerned, the JOINT MOTION he signed has no binding effect because it was not signed by his client.  For all Macalintal's protestations, our JOINT MANIFESTATION is ready for him and Mrs. Robredo to sign.  We are still waiting." Rodriguez said.

Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) is pleased to announce it has received funding to develop an 18-month pilot program to promote Vroom in Los Angeles County. Funding for the Vroom grant was provided by The LA Partnership for Early Childhood Investment, led by their mission to invest in and promote innovations that advance the lifelong health and well-being of Los Angeles County children age 0-5.

"We're excited to be working with CCRC to bring Vroom's family-engagement tools to LA County," said Steven Cahn, Program Manager at The Los Angeles Partnership. "Vroom helps reinforce a simple but powerful truth: parents and other family members already have what it takes to foster the development of young children and to help them thrive. CCRC's depth of experience and extensive network that spreads throughout the county make it a perfect organization to lead this effort as we try to reach as many parents and families as possible."

Vroom is an initiative of the Bezos Family Foundation, born out of early childhood research that shows the first five years of life are critically important to children's future learning and success. With Vroom, everyday interactions between children and parents can result in lasting brain building – capitalizing on the 1 million new neural connections per second that children can experience at this age. While genes make up the brain's blueprint, positive early experiences with adults create the foundation for lifelong learning.

"During the pilot, CCRC will engage LA families, child care providers, business leaders, non-profit partners and community leaders with Vroom tips and activities. The mission of CCRC's Vroom pilot program is to build and sustain a coalition of organizations to increase the number of families utilizing Vroom's approach," announced Dr. Michael Olenick, CCRC's President & CEO.

If you work with children 0-5, please contact us at 818-717-1036 to learn more about opportunities to promote positive brain building moments.

About The LA Partnership of Early Childhood Investment:
A public-private collaboration of the country's largest private foundations, family foundations, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, First 5 LA, and key government agencies.

About CCRC:
CCRC has been serving children and families since 1976. CCRC's mission is to cultivate child, family and community well-being. As one of the largest non-profits in the state of California with a service area of 22,500 square miles, we currently provide services to 50,000 children and families every month.

Today Validar Inc, a leading provider of lead management technology for event marketers, and in partnership with Meru Interactive, announces the release of EventScore for Event Marketers. EventScore provides event marketers with a means to influence attendee behavior by applying an adjustable score to implicit or explicit attendee activity at face to face events. Now with EventScore, you can provide incentive to attendees to participate and provide feedback at breakout sessions, product demos, and expo hall visits. EventScore is an event branded HTML5 application that can be presented on a large leaderboard or mobile app, depicting an individual attendees overall score based upon his or her actual activity whether tracked implicitly via BLE or explicitly by scanning.

This solution is perfect for event producers looking for ways to encourage and drive attendee traffic to breakout sessions, product demonstrations, sponsor visits and other event experiences.

"Event Sponsors are key to our customers event success. EventScore provides an ideal framework to drive attendees to the show floor. Also, by incorporating feedback and evaluation responses to the gamification, we can now drive a higher evaluation response rate and more "call to action" conversions for our customers," says Victor Kippes, CEO of Validar.

To learn more about Validar's EventScore application, please visit http://www.validar.com.

"Our partnership with Validar takes the growing trend of gamification to the next level by leveraging Meru Interactive's platform and expertise in incentivizing attendee engagement using new and innovative technologies," says Jay Raines President and Co-founder of Meru Interactive.

More about Validar
Validar Inc. is the leading provider of lead management, lead capture, registration, and feedback technology for event marketers. Validar's technology and services help customers close the loop between event marketing and sales by providing the ability to drive relevant activity to sales while measuring the performance of their event marketing campaigns.

More about Meru Interactive
Meru Interactive is a leading creator of engaging experiences in the live events industry, utilizing a mixture of custom programming, high end media servers and the latest invocative technologies to bring experiences to life.

Additional news and information about the company is available at http://www.validar.com/
OR contact: Victor Kippes, victork(at)validar(dot)com (206)577-1123

Additional news and information Meru Interactive is available at http://www.meruinteractive.com/ OR contact: Jay Raines Jay(at)meruinteractive(dot)com (630)877-0148

Keynote Address
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi
Delivered by Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas

Asia CEO Forum – Renewable Energy Conference
Marriott Hotel
February 7, 2018

FIT and Beyond: Pace of Change in Reshaping RE's Policy Future

Before delving into the DOE's policy measures to promote renewable energy, I would like to inform you that the DOE is leading the implementation of Executive Order No. 30. This EO creates an Energy Investment Coordinating Council to speed up the processing of Energy Projects of National Significance.

In essence, this EO directs government agencies to act on the application of qualified and completely documented energy projects within 30 days, otherwise, the application is deemed approved.

The EO will streamline the application process and strengthen inter-agency coordination.  The days when bureaucrats will take three years to act on an application hopefully become past.

I am also pleased to inform you that I signed last January 17, 2018 the Department Circular (DC 2018-01-0001) that will guide energy stakeholders in making the sector resilient to disasters. The Circular aims to climate-proof the energy industry, make all energy infrastructure adaptive and resilient to any form of adverse conditions and disruptive events.

Going back to the RE policy mechanisms, I signed last 22 December 2017 the Department Circular (DC 2017-12-0015) which paves the way for the implementation of the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in the main grid. Its significant provisions are mainly creation of the Composite Team to closely monitor compliance and its implementation; and annual review by the DOE, in coordination with the NREB and stakeholders.

This means that starting 2020, the distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and other mandated participants are required to get at least 1% of their supply from RE. The RPS gives RE developers another avenue to market their RE production. However, the contracting for the RPS to be entered into by the mandated participants will be through a competitive selection process (CSP) to ensure that there will be no undue hike in electricity prices that the consumers will ultimately bear.

The DOE will soon conduct an information campaign to help the concerned sectors gain a deeper understanding of the RPS and assist them in calculating the figures on electricity generation they need to comply with under the RPS.

As to the RPS for off-grid areas, the draft circular will be submitted to public consultations, I strongly urge you to provide your inputs. This policy aims to contribute to the growth of the RE industry and rationalize the efficient use of the universal charge for missionary electrification (UC-ME) and improve efficiency in power generation.

Likewise, the Green Energy Option (GEOP) is being presented in various public consultations so that the inputs of the stakeholders can be consolidated in the final version I will sign.

GEOP will give consumers up to the household level the option to choose RE to meet their electricity demand.  This is part of our goal to empower consumers to make an informed choice.

As to the status of the feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism, because of the drastic decrease in the price of both solar and wind technologies, the FIT implementation is under review.

However, the FIT for biomass and run of river hydropower may be given consideration for the extension of two years or upon subscription of the set installation target capacity, whichever comes first. The set target is 250 MW for biomass and 250 MW for hydropower. This is in recognition of the difficulties encountered by the RE developers in securing permits and licenses, which is one of the reasons why EO 30 was promulgated in the first place.

To date, the present Installed Capacity under FIT System for Biomass is 103.56 MW and for hydropower, its 26.6 MW only.

The DOE, with support from development partners, is currently reviewing the effectiveness and efficiency of the FIT implementation.  We really want to ascertain its actual impacts and to know if there was welfare gain as a support mechanism.

The Review focuses on the economic and environmental benefits, if any, of FIT system. The emerging recommendation, as a way forward and to ensure welfare gain from the deployment of variable renewable energy (vRe) such as solar and wind, is to ensure their economic and efficient allocation by properly zoning them. This involves the proper techno-economic analysis down to the sub-station (node) level to pinpoint the exact location where the vREs will be of benefit to the power system at large. We would then be able to direct the RE investors where they should put up their RE investments. The vRE would be able to provide operational benefits by making good use of the existing grid infrastructure and avoid causing congestion.

To conclude, let me point out that the economic incentive to RE developers can be provided either through nodal auction or a nodal FIT. In either case, the expectation is that the pricing mechanisms will be based on the maximum savings at the power system level and not just on the least-cost option for vRE power supply.

Thank you very much and salamat po. Mabuhay tayong lahat!

Going to travel? Book your place to stay at www.booking.com

Press Release: HON. MICHAEL "MIKEE" L. ROMERO, Ph. D.
1-PACMAN Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader
Vice Chair, Youth & Sports Development and 2 other Committees

REP. MIKEE ROMERO CALLS FOR HOUSE PROBE ON NFA RICE SUPPLY, RICE PRICES

I have just filed a Resolution asking the House of Representatives to urgently and immediately convene and conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation and in the exercise of congressional oversight functions, into the current lack of supply of NFA rice at the public markets, reportedly because of the suspension of the sale of NFA rice because of limited buffer stocks. I am a Member of the House Committee on Food Security.

The probe would be jointly conducted by the Committees on Agriculture and Food and Poverty Alleviation, and the Special Committee on Food Security, which will ascertain whether or not the suspension and the supposed cause or causes are the workings of any syndicate or syndicates within and outside of the NFA in an effort to artificially create a supply shortage and price surge involving rice ultimately sold at retail.

Incumbent NFA Administrator Jason Aquino has said, citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, "that the slight increase in rice prices at this time happens each year, during this same period, not because of external influences such as tax measures but as a natural consequence of the lack of harvest and the sale of newly-milled stocks bought at higher prices."

During the investigation, the committees can conduct a swift and initial audit of the NFA rice inventories, as well as of the NFA administrative and accounting controls and the importation procedures at the Bureau of Customs, involving those inventories;

It is my hope that the investigating committees will determine whether or not the recurring rice supply shortage and price hikes over the past five to ten years is the result of anti-consumer and anti-farmer manipulation of the country's rice supply and prices;

This investigation is consistent with the priority of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and of the 17th Congress on fighting and weeding out graft and corruption in government.

BACKGROUND:

The National Food Authority (NFA) is the government agency mandated to ensure national food security and stabilize supply and prices of staple cereals both in the farm and consumer levels, and in furtherance of this is tasked regulate the importation of rice, corn and other cereals, procure rice and maintain buffer stocks of rice to ensure the availability of affordable rice to the Filipino people, especially the poor.

According to the NFA its inventories of rice this January 2018 are now limited and there is the possibility that they would be able to supply consumers with NFA rice. https://goo.gl/pQdpGW

The NFA has said that, "between December 2017 and January 2018, the retail price of well-milled rice increased by only about P0.11/kg, from an average of P42.26 to P42.37/kg on the national level and P1/kg in Metro Manila, from P40 to P41/kg. For regular-milled rice, the price increase was about P0.19/kg, from P38.05 to P38.24/kg on the national average and higher by P0.50/kg for Metro Manila, from P37-P37.50/kg."

The NFA further disclosed this January 2018, that its "review of the monthly and annual trend in prices from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that prices of regular-milled and well-milled rice tend to increase by P1-P2/kilogram between December and February."

Going to travel? Book your place to stay at www.booking.com

The East-West Center
2018 Jefferson Fellowships for Journalists

Manila, February 7, 2018 — The Jefferson Fellowships is the East-West Center's most widely-recognized and established seminar program, with an illustrious alumni network of more than 600 Jefferson Fellows across the Asia Pacific region and the United States.  The broad goal of the program is to enhance public understanding through the news media of cultures, issues and trends in the Asia Pacific region. Participation in the Jefferson Fellowships provides journalists with an opportunity to report from cities across the Asia Pacific on key issues and developments taking place, sharing with audiences first-hand perspectives and new insights.  The program provides a unique combination of study-dialogue at the East-West Center with a reporting trip taken with colleagues from countries across the region.  This provides journalists with enhanced knowledge of the most important regional issues, reporting imbued with perspectives from journalists from 10 different countries, valuable professional contacts, and life-long friendships with their colleagues in the program.  They also gain access to the EWC's international network of more than 1,000 media professionals and 50,000 alumni.

Program Theme: Populism, Identity, and the State of Democracy in Southeast Asia

Destinations: Honolulu, HI; Singapore; Manila, Philippines; Kuala Lumpur/Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Dates: June 18 – July 10, 2018
Deadline: Tuesday, March 6, 2018

The 2018 Jefferson Fellowships program will explore "Populism, Identity, and the State of Democracy in Southeast Asia."  A three-week dialogue, study, and travel program to Honolulu, HI; Singapore; Manila, Philippines; and Kuala Lumpur/Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, will enable participating journalists to better understand how domestic, regional, and global forces are influencing democratic progress in Southeast Asia and producing a new generation of populist leaders and movements as well as identity-based conflict.  The 2018 Jefferson Fellowships program will begin at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii with U.S.-based experts regarding the spread of populism in the United States and the Asia Pacific region. Journalists will also share perspectives from their own countries on populism and identity politics through topic papers and presentations.  Travel to Manila will explore the rise of Rodrigo Duterte, including his populist economic policies, criticism of the Philippine-U.S. relationship and the Catholic Church, and extrajudicial drug war.  Journalists will explore how the President has portrayed himself as an authentic voice of the masses and how his language of crisis has delineated a criminal "other."  Travel to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu will similarly examine Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration, the nexus between ethnic and religious identity in Malaysia, and its impact on representative and electoral politics ahead of a competitive election that must be held by mid-2018.  The Jefferson Fellowships will also include participation in the East-West Center's 6th International Media Conference in Singapore where journalists will gather to discuss "What is News Now," and share on-the-ground information on news and media issues in the region.  Finally, efforts by political leaders to undermine media's legitimacy will be explored throughout the program.

Who Can Apply:

The Jefferson Fellowships are open to working print, broadcast, and online journalists in the United States, the Pacific Islands, and Asia. A minimum five years of professional experience is preferred.  Applicants must have the ability to communicate in English in a professional, multi-cultural environment.  Preference will be given to journalists who clearly articulate the relevance of the theme to their areas of coverage and how they intend to use the knowledge gained to enhance the perspectives of viewers, readers, and listeners.  Journalists are strongly encourage to generate media content during and after the program in the form of formal print and broadcast stories, blogs, tweets, Instagram and other social media communications.

Funding:

The 2018 Jefferson Fellowships are funded by the Freeman Foundation and the East-West Center.  These funds provide for 10-12 full or partial scholarships, including approximately 4-5 for qualified American journalists and 7-8 for Asia Pacific journalists.  All participants must pay an $800 program fee to cover costs not provided by the scholarship funds.  Participants are also responsible for all applicable visa fees, any additional visa-related expenses, health insurance, and baggage fees.  Given that there are very few full scholarships available, we strongly encourage media organizations to cost share program expenses and/or airfare.  Cost sharing is seen as an indication of the commitment of media organizations to the value of the program and their willingness to invest in the participating journalist.  It is an important consideration of the Selection Committee.

For application instructions please visit our website at https://www.eastwestcenter.org/professional-development/seminars-journalism-programs/jefferson-fellowships

For inquiries about the application process, please call: 808-944-7727.
Questions about the Jefferson Fellowships should be directed to: Liz A. Dorn, Program Coordinator, dorne@eastwestcenter.org; 808-944-7368.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 6, 2018

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Press Release

HON. BERNADETTE "BH" HERRERA-DY  
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Chair, Committee on Women and Gender Equality

Earn the respect & support of the LGBT community 

EXPAND COVERAGE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S DESKS TO INCLUDE CASES INVOLVING LGBT VICTIMS, PNP URGED

As the new Chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, I appeal to Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, to expand at the soonest possible time, the scope of the investigation jurisdiction of the PNP Women and Children Protection Desk to include the LGBT.

Although the Sexual Orientation or Gender identity or Expression (SOGIE) Equality bills of the House and Senate have not yet become law, I believe the country's laws against rape, sexual harassment, and human rights can be cited by the PNP as basis to include LGBT cases in the expanded scope of a Women, Children and LGBT Protection Desk. The PNP can also cite as basis its own Operations Manual, Criminal Investigation Manual and Human Rights Manual.

A Women, Children and LGBT Protection Desk in the PNP would also be considered a pro-active measure on the part of PNP chief Dela Rosa and the rest of the PNP leadership, particularly on the protection of human rights.

It would indeed be a positive step to let the Filipino people know that their PNP cares about LGBT victims of crime.

With a Women, Children and LGBT Protection Desk already in place, the Filipino people would be further assured that when the SOGIE Equality bills become law, its provisions would be immediately implemented by the PNP, and earn for the PNP the respect and support of the LGBT community.

Lastly, I am hoping the Senate will prioritize their SOGIE Equality version, SB 1271, so that the LGBT community will gain from its anti-discrimination protections at the soonest possible time. (END)

REFERENCES:
https://goo.gl/sfyjsy
https://goo.gl/wGDYsC
http://pcw.gov.ph/law/republic-act-9262  
http://pcw.gov.ph/law/republic-act-7877  
https://goo.gl/x2mKkC
https://goo.gl/6yp2u7

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Telephonic Press Briefing with Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Marc Knapper

Manila, February 6, 2018 — Please join us on Thursday, February 8, 2018 for a telephonic press briefing with Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Marc Knapper from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to discuss U.S. participation in the Olympic Games as well as the current state of U.S.-ROK relations.

DETAILS:
Speakers:        Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Marc Knapper
Date:            February 8, 2018
Time:            12:30 Manila | 13:30 Seoul

Language:       English
Ground rules: On the record
Dial-in Info:    To be provided once you RSVP

RSVP: RSVP to AsiaPacMedia@state.gov  and Mary Beth Polley (PolleyME@state.gov) by 5 pm Manila time February 7.  Please include your name and outlet and indicate if you will dial in or request that we dial out to you (provide the phone number to be used).

LOGISTICS:
• Journalists that RSVP will be notified of any changes to the schedule.
• Callers should dial-in to the conference call 10 minutes early.
• When an individual journalist dials in, the operator will collect the caller's name, press affiliation, and location.

• The moderator will facilitate the Q and A among the connected callers and Chargé d'Affaires Knapper. Journalists on the conference call will be instructed to press the "*" and "1" buttons on their phones in order to enter the question queue.  NOTE:  You can press "*1" at any time during the call to join the question queue, even before the moderator begins the Q and A portion.  We ask that journalists limit themselves to one question. Journalists can also submit questions in English to PolleyME@state.gov  prior to or during the call.

BIO: Mr. Marc Knapper, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, a member of the Senior Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State, began his tenure as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on January 20, 2017.  Prior to that, he was Deputy Chief of Mission in Seoul since April 2015.  Before his arrival in the Republic of Korea, he was the Director of the Department of State's Office of India Affairs, and before that he served as the Director of Japanese Affairs.  Earlier assignments include serving as Political Counselor in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; as Deputy Chief of the Political Section at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo; and as Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi.

Mr. Knapper brings an extensive knowledge of the Republic of Korea and the Asia-Pacific region to his current assignment, having served twice at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul – first between 1993 and 1995, and again between 1997 and 2001.  He has also completed assignments in the Department of State's Office for Chinese and Mongolian Affairs, and during an early assignment in Tokyo, he served as aide to Ambassador Walter Mondale.  Mr. Knapper has twice traveled to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for official purposes, once in 1997 as the State Department representative to the Spent Fuel Team at the Yongbyon nuclear facility, and again in 2000 as part of the advance team for then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit to Pyongyang.

Mr. Knapper is the recipient of a number of awards from the U.S. Department of State, including Linguist of the Year and three Superior Honor Awards.  He is a summa cum laude graduate from Princeton University, with a BA in Politics and a minor in East Asian Studies.  After graduation, he studied for two years at the University of Tokyo as a graduate research student.  He is also a graduate of Middlebury College's intensive Japanese program, the Army War College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Seminar XXI course.  Mr. Knapper speaks Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese.

A native of Los Angeles, Mr. Knapper is married to Suzuko Knapper and they have one son, Alex, who is 17.

February 6, 2018
Refer to: Honey Rose Mercado
(+63 917 840 1277)

Media Release

True to his word, former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. today signed a JOINT MOTION informing everyone that he and Maria Leonor "Leni Daang Matuwid" Robredo will be "withdrawing any and all motions and incidents that may unduly delay or hamper the election proceedings" currently pending before the Presidential Election Tribunal [PET].

"I've done everything possible to speed up this election protest. At this point, the only thing left is for Mrs. Robredo to sign the document. We are waiting," Senator Marcos said.

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OFFICE OF FERDINAND "BONGBONG" R. MARCOS, JR.
G/F Sunset View Towers
2230 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City
Philippines
Telephone:  +63 (02) 821-4591
Facsimile:  (+63.2) 821-4589

info@bongbongmarcos.com
http://www.bongbongmarcos.com

CONFIDENTIALITY & PRIVILEGE:
This email message and its attachments are intended solely for the review of the intended recipient(s).   Since it may contain confidential and privileged information, the unauthorized review, use, disclosure and/or distribution of the same is strictly prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please contact the sender and/or the office of Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. immediately.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH By Representative Salvador Belaro, Jr. 1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list
February 5, 2018
(Prepared speech. Please check against delivery)

It is one of life's ironies that the clearest of thinking happens in times of crisis. That is so as when we are down, it is also best time for hindsight and foresight, analysis and assessment, evaluation and prescription.

In the past few months, the education sector, and more specifically, the Commission on Higher Education or CHED, witnessed a crisis in leadership as shown by the resignation of former Chairman Patricia Licuanan, and then just last week of Director Mark Yee.

There are more to these developments than what appears. Much much more.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

My dear colleagues, I stand here before you today as a proud member of the  most responsive Congress in recent history, in enacting life-changing legislations. In the field of education, this Congress did that with two game-changers - the Free College Education Law and the Free Wifi in Public Places Law, thanks to our beloved Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who has the rightful mix of will and vision, our Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas who makes things happen, the entire House leadership,  our very pro-active Chairmen of Higher and Technical Education Ann Hofer, of Communications and Information Technology Victor Yap and of Appropriations, Karlo Nograles, my fellow co-authors of said bills and to all of you my dear colleagues for passing these legislations that will never be forgotten. In fact, they are revolutionary legislations.They are revolutionary because they will change the Philippine educational landscape. With free college education, the perennial problem of access to education will now shift to ensuring quality education, and as far as the state is concerned, that college education will be responsive to national developmental goals. They will change the way we teach because with free internet, a lot of traditional school tasks will be rendered obsolete – our books, our classrooms and our teaching methods have become borderless. They will change the way we teach because with internet, distance will no longer be a hindrance to access to education. Even the physical submission of reports from provincial to national offices is rendered unnecessary as they can now be made online. These developments should rightfully define the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as that which has revolutionized Philippine education and the 17th Congress as the legislature which made that possible.

This afternoon, I wish to discuss three educational concerns that require urgent attention if we are to consummate the revolution in education that we started.

The first is CHED's lacking a graduate tracer study. What is a tracer study? Simply put, it refers to the data on the accomplishments of CHED relating in particular to the employability of its graduates. It is an index of performance of any agency, which measures efficiency and accountability of the funds given to an agency vis-a-vis its goals. Such study would answer the questions that matter such as "What happened to our college graduates, say two years after graduation or after a defined time frame?, "Were they employed?", "If yes, were they employed in jobs related to their college courses"? During the last budget hearing, this representation called the attention of CHED on this and in fairness to them, I was assured that they will attend to the matter. How soon it will be attended to, I am not sure.

At this juncture of our national history where we just instituted various legislative reforms in education, the significance of such tracer study is paramount. For one, with respect to the Free College Education Law, the success of such law would be dependent on a proper diagnosis of how college education fared in the Philippines in the previous years, especially in providing employment to our citizens. We need evidence and hard facts to substantiate the policies that will be instituted by CHED. This representation most respectfully submits that the determination of courses that will be shouldered by the state under the Free College Education Law should prescind from real data and correct analysis of the data emanating from such tracer study. Otherwise, we will be witnessing the Free College Education Law metamorphosing into an avenue for massive wastage of public funds and inefficient allocation of government resources.

Such tracer study is also important as it should affect policies that will be formulated with respect to the other significant legislation in recent history - the law providing for K-12. There is no doubt of its good intentions – that it will make Philippine educational standards at par with the rest of the world in this era of globalization and ASEAN integration and that it will result to K-12 graduates who are already capable of being absorbed by the labor market. Two years after its full implementation, we as a nation still need to be fully apprised of where it is going.

Then, there is the curious case of TESDA, the agency tasked by law with, among others, the  development of technicians, middle level and para professionals in the country. While it appears to be effective in job-generation, it is most respectfully submitted that the programs of TESDA would be optimized, if it would be done in coordination with the policies of both the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. All the three agencies are tasked with a certain aspect of our educational system, and in view of the aforementioned developments, it is now more than ever, that they need to talk to each other to synchronize our country's policies on education. That way, the three of them could altogether achieve gains which will be more than the summation of all the achievements of each of the three agencies taken all together.

The second problem that I wish CHED would focus its attention is the equally urgent need to computerize and create an online portal for its records and to update its Management Information System. I will give you a specific example ladies and gentlemen. If you call CHED now to ask whether a certain school is fake or not. There is a chance you will not get a correct answer. This is so as the records of CHED in this regard are not updated, and not comprehensive, especially with respect to schools which are just undergoing the accreditation process. Now, let us imagine that all such basic data relating to schools, their students, graduates, faculty and course offerings could be made available online. It will be a whole new world. Fake diplomas. Fake schools. Fake credentials – these would be things of the past. The same will happen if we can transport online the status of scholarship and teaching applications.That would mean a lot of savings and would also prevent corruption. Now more than ever, CHED should urgently address this problem in view of the approval of the Free Wifi in Public Places Act. As the law is now about to be implemented,  CHED should already roll out the necessary preparations that would make its services in sync with the internet.

The third is the inordinate delay in the  release of scholarship funds. It is public knowledge that payment to the scholars of various grants takes at least a year, if you are lucky; more than that if not. In this regard, the latest victims are the more than 9,500 teachers-scholars who are affected by the onset  of our Senior High School program. When asked about this, then Chairman Licuanan told us that the Scholarship Division of CHED is lacking in personnel. To the mind of this representation, being a former recipient of government scholarship funds which enabled him to finish his college studies at the University of the Philippines, that is an answer which betrayed the former CHED Chairman's lack of a heart for the scholars. In fact, that was a very insensitive answer. Scholarship funds are given to those who need them and that there is a time frame for responding for their needs. Such answer smacks of callousness to such time-bound necessity. Scholarship funds cannot be late since if delay would be allowed, the scholars would go hungry and left at the mercy of forces beyond their control. The tragedy of Kristel Tejada, the UP student who committed suicide, for not getting a scholarship, is an example of such vulnerability to uncontrollable forces. In this regard, please allow this representation to mention that he is also the author of the House Resolution that seeks to investigate the P2Billion scholarship fund of CHED. While CHED explained later that the said fund was already downloaded to the regions, albeit very belatedly, it is my belief that such delay is unforgivable and should no longer be repeated. In view of this, it may be about time that this august body prevent the occurrence of such unforgivable delays by making it a criminal offense to delay without just cause the release of such scholarship funds or to at least impose penalties for such delay. In this regard, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act may appropriately be amended to include such delay as one of the punishable offenses under such Act.

While a crisis shows the worst, it also brings out the best in possibilities. This is exactly the message of the crisis in leadership at the CHED. It brought to the fore the pressing problems it confront and needs to confront, as well as their urgency and need for resolution.

My dear colleagues, these developments in the field of education also conveys to us a message for a call to action, to exercise our job of congressional oversight and to exercise our plenary duty to institute legislative reforms.

Indeed, it is high time for a congressional investigation in aid of legislation to inquire whether a reorganization of the existing Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) is in order, as to whether these agencies of the government be merged into a single entity akin to their monolithic predecessor – the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

Thus, immediately after this privilege speech, this representation is filing a resolution calling for an investigation in aid of legislation as to the propriety of merging the said three agencies into one and/or the amendment of the existing CHED Charter, R.A. 7722, so that said law could be made attuned to the need for synchronization of the country's educational policies in view of the implementation of the K to 12 program, the Free College Education Law, and the ASEAN Integration, among others. In this regard, special mention on the possible provisions of the law to be amended is Sec. 5 of RA 7722 which confers upon the Commissioners of the CHED a fixed term when all their counterparts at the DepEd and TESDA serve at the pleasure of the President.

Indeed, one of the good things a crisis does is that it pushes all of us to critical thinking. In turn, critical thinking leads to purposive doing, a sure indicator that indeed, change is coming.

My dear colleagues, with the fervent hope that we shall continue to dispense of our role as agents of change, I wish to thank all of you again for lending me this afternoon, not only your ears but hopefully, your heart and brains. Long live Philippine education! Long live the 17th Congress. Long live the Philippines!

Relocation of Gallares Hospital in Cortes pushed
Published by Bohol Sunday Post, September 2013

Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) got a boost for its planned relocation in Cortes, Bohol with the assurance of funding its construction of a new medical facility.

Bohol Gov. Edgar M. Chatto said on Friday that the Department of Health (DOH) through its Secretary Enrique T. Ona assured the provincial government of funding the hospital's new found site and building soon.

The provincial government has committed to donate five hectares in Cortes town for the accommodation of the hospital's building facility and other facilities.

And the DOH will ascertain that budget for the construction of the hospital will be included every year until it is completed, said the governor during the "Kita ug Ang Gobernador" radio program aired over all radio stations in the province.

The total estimate of the project is P2.9 billion, said hospital chief Dr. Nenita M. Po during a recent gathering of doctors and health workers. She said that there's a need to transfer the facility as it is becoming crowded and as if there's no enough room for expansion as its clientele is growing every day.

GCGMH, the former Bohol Provincial Hospital, is a 225-bed capacity but in actual utilization it serves with 250-bed under the level 2 general license category. The bed capacity is apportioned to 200 beds authorized for PhilHealth; 50 actual and 175 beds for charity patients.

It has major departments, such as surgical, medical, OB-Gyne and Pediatrics while accredited departments are general surgery, internal medicine, OB-Gyne, General Pediatrics and Pathology with  major services include the medical, nursing. Administrative and finance, Dr. Po said. Other departments include Outpatient (OPD), radiology, laboratory (clinical, anatomic), anesthesia and dental.

The hospital is currently manned by a total of 748 personnel, including regular personnel (335); casual, one; contractual, 127;  job orders, 88; security guards, 21; RN Heals, 168; province-paid, 4; and medical pool, 4.

Its existing programs include, center for wellness, asthma clinic, diabetes program, family planning, dental health, mental health, drug and substance abuse clinic, cancer prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, rabies control program and reproductive health program.

The hospital then started with only two-room capacity is a government medical facility and a non-profit. It was constructed under Republic Act 3116 as amended by RA 3168 when it opened on October 19, 1929 with only 8-bed capacity.

Then Congressman Bartolome Cabangbang sponsored a bill in Congress renaming it to GCGMH on April 6, 1984 by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 640. The said law was amended by RA 7266 increasing the number of bed capacity to 225. (RVO)

New Bohol airport to help raise Philippine competitiveness (published by Bohol Sunday Post in September 2013)

There is a world of logic to build the new Bohol airport because its rise and the development of other airports in the country are foreseen to make the Philippines to the top one-third of the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI).

The modern international airport which will rise on Panglao island is among the major projects in the public-private partnership (PPP) program of the Aquino administration to address the country's infrastructure issue.

During the recent World Economic Forum (WEF), the infrastructure concern in the country floated as the most problematic among the so-called 12 pillars of economic development.

The WEF report cited the airport as one of the problematic infrastructures in the country and, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sec. Gregory Domingo, the implementation of priority airport projects is a key to global competitiveness.

The country placed 59th in the 2013-2014 Global Competitiveness Report of the WEF from 65th spot in 2012 and it has to elevate to the 49th rank to be in the top one-third of the competitiveness index.
The higher slot is attainable once the country's state of infrastructure, especially involving airports, is raised to higher level.

Bohol's effort was intensified when Gov. Edgar Chatto on Wednesday presided another meeting of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project (NBACSEPP) – Local Project Management Team (LPMT) at the People's Mansion.

The meeting was attended by Engr. Florencio de la Cruz, Jr. and Larry Holgado of the Department of Transportation and Communications – Project Management Office (DOTC-PMO) and consultant Yuki Todoroki of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The governor led the discussion on the progress of the various pre-construction phases of the airport project, which is set for concrete implementation next year until it is finished before the term of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III ends in 2016.

Updates were provided on the resettlement project, extent of land acquisition which includes the lot for water storage facility, monitoring system on the resettlement action plan which JICA would like to be further strengthened, and livelihood and restoration and employment plan, among other social components of the gigantic airport project.

The Bohol airport project is to be executed under a multi-year fund package involving releases from the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Philippine government counterpart.

First District Rep. Rene Relampagos said the donor entity which is the the Japanese government thru JICA finances the great bulk of the project, which costs P7.2 billion, while the Philippine government counterparts 10% of the total amount.

Of DOTC's P48.7 billion funding next year, almost P30 billion will go to the modernization of the country' transport system, including the development of airports like the new one for Bohol
Over P9 billion will fund the development of air facilities, including the start of the Bohol airport construction within the second quarter of 2014.

The DOTC budget for 2014 shows an increase of over 30% which, according to Chatto, could further prove the president's sincerity in assuring repeatedly the Boholanos of the realization of their dream airport after its conception over 20 years ago.

Relampagos said the tendering of the bid documents for airport works are set within the first quarter of 2014 en route to the start of project's concrete implementation between April and June.

The governor and congressman are coordinating in hastening the issuance from the DOTC to the winning bidder of the notice to proceed with the perimeter fencing of the airport site this year.

Relampagos, who succeeded Chatto in the chairmanship of the tourism committee in Congress, was bold and confident in saying yesterday of the airport project, "One thing is sure. It's there already." (Ven rebo Arigo)

Capitol sponsors lip mission by US group giving Africans smile (published by Bohol Sunday Post in September 2013)

The Bohol government led by Gov. Edgar Chatto sponsors a week-long lip surgical mission to be performed by a US-based group who gave many Africans a lifetime smile at the Borja Family Hospital (BCH) here starting today.

In consistent partnership with the Philippine Gift of Life (PGL), the province brings in the JP Clawson Medical Mission Foundation from Longview, Washington to perform free facial plastic reconstructive surgeries on cleft lip and palate patients who are poor and indigent.

The American humanitarian group helped world celebrated black prisoner and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela grant lasting smiles to his African people with lip deformities.

The Bohol mission, said to be the foundation's first in Asia, is led by no less than the group's founding president, Dr. Joseph Clawson, who is a diplomate of otolaryngology.

PGL President and Chief Executive Officer Francisca Baluyot thanked this early Clawson and his group while commending the administration of Chatto and Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim for sustaining the selfless partnership for the care and cure of the needy.

Herself a foremost humanitarian champion having also formerly administered the Bohol Red Cross for decades, Baluyot said two more major missions are set before yearend and early next year.

Both likewise sponsored by the province, these are the free heart operations by the Heart Foundation of the Philippines this coming November 19-20 and goiter, hernia, myoma and breast cyst surgeries by another US-based group, the Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois (AFPSI), on February 14-21, 2013.

February 21 is the birthday of the governor, who has been accustomed to providing surgical and medical missions on the special date as his birthday gift to Boholanos in dire health care needs.

The JP Clawson cures both major and minor lip defects regardless of the ages of the patients unlike the usual missions done here by different groups.

Chatto has a separate continuing year-round program for children with deformed lips, tapping the services of participating competent local hospitals, centers and doctors.

The Clawson group conducted free surgeries on children and adults with facial cleft defects not just in his homeland of Africa but Latin American areas as well.

The merciful foundation responded to the call of Mandela, the African leader who was formerly jailed for 27 long years for his diehard anti-apartheid crusade, to help his sick people.

Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, US Presidential Medal of Freedom, Soviet Order of Lenin and Time Magazine's Person of the Year.

One African beneficiary of JP Clawson was a 31-year-old man from Zimbabwe who, after the surgery on his serious lip and palate deformities, found a woman he could not think would want to marry him.

In deepest joy coupled with extreme disbelief that a woman could love him and be his wife, he offered his would-be mother-in-law six cows for wedding endowment.

In the past 24 years, the JP Clawson also performed free harelip, cleft lip and palate operations on thousands of patients belonging to the underprivileged class in Ecuador, South America.

"Boholanos are fortunate to benefit from the group's pioneering mission in Asia and Gov. Chatto deserves another pat on the back for the consistent mercy work in tie-up with the Gift of Life," Baluyot said.
The JP Clawson brings in its own specialists and volunteer surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologist, orthodontist and speech therapist.

Baluyot likewise thanked in advance for the support of the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran District 3860 led by its president, Angelina Hoffman, Department of Health (DOH) thru Sec. Enrique Ona and Asec. Elmer Punzalan, and the mission's host hospital thru its medical director and administrator, Dr. Belinda Borja and Dr. Pepe Borja, respectively.

She expressed equal gratitude to PGL chairman Dr. Ramie Cadag and his fellow officers, all participating local medical and health groups, and the private sector groups and individuals who have always been kind to the province's mission program.

Apart from its main mission curing for free the people suffering from lip defects, the JP Clawson has given ancillary training to doctors at the University of California Davis Medical Center and US Peace Corps medical ambassadors to various nations.

By sheer coincidence, US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas, Jr. visited Bohol on Thursday and Friday along with the country directors of the US Peace Corps and United States Assistance for International Development (USAID).

It was Thomas' first official visit to Bohol---and last to a province hosting USAID programs outside Manila---as he is leaving in weeks his diplomatic post in the Philippines for another assignment. (Ven rebo Arigo)     

Special court for drugs cases for Bohol okayed (published by Bohol Sunday Post, September 7, 2013)

TAGBILARAN CITY – A Special court for drugs cases for this city has been granted by the Supreme Court per request of Executive Judge Suceso A. Arcamo of Regional Trial Court (RTC) here.

The office of Judge Arcamo has issued this clarification following the receipt of high court's "Notice"even before any body could make a unified similar request for the establishment of a special drugs court.

The said "Notice" informed Judge Arcamo that the "court en banc issued a Resolution dated June 18, 2013, which reads as follows: "A. M. No. 13-6-92-RTC (RE: Request of Executive Judge Suceso A. Arcamo, RTC, Tagbilaran City, for the creation of a special court for drugs cases in Tagbilaran City, Bohol). The Court Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator."

The Court administrator is tasked to "note" the letter dated August 1, 2012 of Arcamo and to "designate"branch 4 of RTC of this city as the Special Court for Drugs cases, the "Notice"received by Judge Arcamo and signed by Clerk of Court Enriqueta E. Vidal, pointed out.

Along with the "Notice" was the guidelines that mandated RTC 4 which "shall continue trying and deciding the cases pending thereat." For such purpose, "trial has begun where the accused or any of the accused in a criminal case has been arraigned or where the pre-trial stage is not yet terminated in civil cases."

The guidelines also mandated the branch clerk of court to forward the records of the cases, other than drugs cases, where trial has not begun to the RTC, Office of the Clerk of Court, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, for raffle among the other RTC branches.

Other RTC branches 1, 2, 4, 47, 48, and 49 shall continue trying and deciding drugs cases already pending at their respective courts. The clerks of courts of these branches shall also forward the records of drugs cases where the trial has not begun to the RTC, office of the clerk of court here.
The guidelines also set forth in the Supreme Court Resolution dated August 1, 2000 (RE: Designation of certain branches of the RTCs as drug courts) shall be observed insofar as they are applicable, the high court said in its "Notice." The said "Notice" was furnished to the other RTCs for their information and action, the high court said.

ON LIBEL CASE SHE FILED: (published by The Bohol Sunday Post in 2013)
Che told: Public office is public trust; don't be onion-skinned

Defeated gubernatorial bet Carmen Mayor Che Ordonez Delos Reyes has been reminded that public office is a public trust, thus "she should not be too thin skinned with reference to comment upon (her) official acts," court documents show.

"The individual is less than the State, so must expected criticism be born for the common good," according to a counter-affidavit filed by Ven Arigo, one of the respondents of a libel complaint filed by Delos Reyes two weeks before the May 13 elections.

"Rising superior to any official, or set of officials, to the Chief Executive, to the Legislature, to the Judiciary – to any or all the agencies of Government – public opinion should be the constant course of liberty and democracy," the affidavit said, quoting the case of Flor vs People of the Philippines.

It stressed that "the interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public (officials) is a scalpel in the case of free speech."

Citing the case of Villanueva vs Philippine Daily Inquirer, respondent Arigo noted in his affidavit that "newspapers should be given such leeway and tolerance as to enable them to courageously and effectively perform their important role in our democracy."

Arigo, together with The Bohol Chronicle editors Peter Dejaresco and Bingo Dejaresco and Sunday Post publisher/editor Ciriaco "Boy" Guingguing, were made respondent in the libel complaint which stemmed from a news article that quoted a radio-broadcast testimony of the former aide of Mayor Delos Reyes, Richelyn Tecson, who alleged that the latter is a drug user and behind the illegal drug trade.

The libel complaint, backed by City Hall-paid lawyer and city councilor Doni Piquero, claimed that the news item was written falsely and maliciously, to the detriment of Delos Reyes' reputation.

According to the libel charge filed by Delos Reyes, the mayor was aggrieved when the news item published at the Sunday Post claimed that Delos Reyes "did not even use her own brand of soap," Beauche, which is a beauty product produced by a Cavite-based company in which Delos Reyes is an incorporator and consultant.

But the Supreme Court in the same decided case said: "We cannot punish journalists including publishers for an honest endeavor to serve the public when moved by a sense of civic duty and prodded by their sense of responsibility as news media to report what they perceived to be genuine report."

In another case, Borjal and Soliven vs CA et al, Arigo borrowed the words of the Supreme Court which said: "To reiterate, fair commentaries on matters of public interest are privileged and constitute a valid defense in an action for libel and slander."

"Personal hurt or embarrassment or offense, even if real, is not automatically equivalent to defamation, "words which are merely insulting are not actionable as libel or slander per se, and mere words of general abuse however opprobrious, ill-natured, or vexatious, whether written or spoken, do not constitute bases for an action for defamation in the absence of an allegation for special damages," the affidavit said.

For the sake of truth, freedom and democracy (Editorial of the Bohol Sunday Post)

The crowning glory of a newspaper's life is when it experiences suppression, opposition, prosecution or persecution for standing for truth and defending public interest.

Libel, as a form of suppression against the freedom of the press, is again, as what we already pointed out last week, a final confirmation that we are doing the right thing. And doing the right thing does not mean that all will be pleased.

Not all will be pleased when a newspaper is in search for truth. It has been said that if we know the truth, the truth will set us free. And such freedom has a price that the Sunday Post has to pay.
This paper, since its birth in 1986, has set many free as it always points out the path of truth for those who have wrongly chosen the world of darkness and ignorance.

The public cannot stay in ignorance forever. Boholanos cannot be shackled in darkness and ignorance forever. We have chosen the heroic decision of setting the captives free. That has been our mission. That has been our sole motivation.

Let it be known to everyone that the purity of our noble purpose, as one of Bohol's crusading newspapers, cannot be defeated by libel charges. We can never be shaken. We can never be threatened. But we will face politely all court summons and stand bravely in all trial proceedings, if it is necessary.
But we believe that the prosecutor's office is also aware of the right of the press and the right of the citizenry to be informed of the lives and conduct of their leaders, both public and private. We know for a fact that our courts must also uphold truth, justice, fairness, freedom in order for our democracy to survive.

The libel case filed by Carmen Mayor Che Delos Reyes, a gubernatorial bet, against this Paper, the Bohol Chronicle, and Ven Arigo, who was branded as Bohol's fire-eating journalist by no less than the founding father of Bohol journalism, the pillar of the Bohol Chronicle, may his soul rest in peace, is just a part of the hazard of the profession.

One who decides to join the military must have admitted the fact he is going to engage in warfare, sometimes against weapons of mass destruction. In our case, as mediamen and women, we are engage in daily warfare against ignorance, misinformation, corruption, and injustice.

And if, in our crusade to promote truth and freedom, we end up without scratches and bruises, there is something wrong in what we are doing. It can be understood as cowardice, or call it sleeping with the enemies of truth.

The libel charge stemmed from a testimony of Richelyn Tecson who has linked Delos Reyes to alleged illegal drug trade and drug addiction. The oral testimony was heard over the radio and saw print in all newspapers the following Sunday.

We are not going to defend or justify our position here. Let the city prosecutor's office do its task of separating fact and fiction, real and imaginary.

Now with feelings. That in a landmark case filed against the publisher and founder of this Paper which was decided by the Supreme Court in 2005, the highest court of the land, citing the New York Times, writes:

"Even assuming that the contents of the articles are false, mere error, inaccuracy or even falsity alone does not prove actual malice. Errors or misstatements are inevitable in any scheme of truly free expression and debate. Consistent with good faith and reasonable care, the press should not be held to account, to a point of suppression, for honest mistakes or imperfections in the choice of language. There must be some room for misstatement of fact as well as for misjudgment. Only by giving them much leeway and tolerance can they courageously and effectively function as critical agencies in our democracy."

February 5, 2018
PAL Seniors Interclub

Luisita gets familiar with Bacolod courses

Despite an intact lineup, Luisita Golf Club is not taking anything to chance as it guns for back-to-back titles in the 32nd Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team tournament in Bacolod City next month.

Except for former pro Eddie Bagtas, Luisita played three rounds in Bacolod two weeks ago, twice at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (formerly Marapara) and once at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club (Binitin).

The Tarlac-based squad ended the two-year reign of arch rival Canlubang last year in Davao, leading from start to finish for an 11-point victory.

Luisita captain Jeric Hechanova said three of his players have not played both courses, prompting him to bring the team for a quick familiarization tour.

"Hindi tayo nakakasiguro dahil mahirap ang mga courses," said Hechanova, noting that the team struggled during their practice rounds.

"Siguro, a five-over par round should be a good score to aim for," Hechanova said. "To score 50 points in these courses would be very good."

Under the Molave scoring system which awards 3 points for par, regulation score is worth 54 points.

Aside from Bagtas, the other returning Luisita players are Rodel Mangulabnan, Raffy Garcia, Edmund Yee, Allan Alegre, Jinky Tuason, Benjie Sumulong and Chito Laureta.

Luisita is the most successful seniors' team with 16 titles followed by Canlubang with nine.

The seniors event, which is played a week before the regular Interclub, is set March 1-4.

Close to a hundred teams, divided into four divisions, are expected to see action in the four-to-play, three-to-count tournament.
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