MikeLigalig.com

published by Sunday Post in 2006

Farming as a way of life is under threat.

This warning was issued by Bhutan agriculture minister Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup to farmers from five nations that converged in this agricultural town on Oct. 18-20 in observance of World Food Day. “Rapid industrialization is threatening farming as a way of life,” Ngedup said a gathering of about 500 people inside the Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology (CVSCAFT) main

campus gym Thursday.

He was the keynote speaker in the gathering was organized by the Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives from Community Empowerment (Searice) an NGO that promotes community-based initiatives that address foodsecurity. Aside from Bhutan and host Philippines , the other countries represented in the three-day gathering are the Thailand , Laos and Vietnam .

Speaking in fluent English, Ngedup noted that the younger generations are leaving the farms, leaving the older generations to man them. “We cannot allow this to happen,” he added. He urged governments to look deeper into the needs of farmers to find out what will encourage them to remain in the farms and to make rural life more attractive. Ngedup said governments should give importance to farmers, support them and provide them the necessaryenvironment and help them realize their aspirations. “Who doesn't have aspirations?” he asked.

For the farmer, the agriculture minister said the most important aspiration is self-sufficiency and food security. Going beyond that, he said farmers also aspire for a better life for their children. “When you look at the urban dwellers and see the better luxury that they enjoy, you aspire that also,” the minister noted. He paid tribute to Searice saying the congress allowed the participants to “draw inspiration from each other, to try to understand each other's inspirations”. While reminding farmers of the need to understand their responsibilities of not only feeding their communities but the world as a whole, Lyonpo said leaders should also understand the needs of the farmers. “A lot has been said about the importance of rice, about the importance of agriculture in our lives,” he noted.

But he pointed to the need to look deeper into sustainability and food security. “How much do we understand about sustainability? How much do we understand about food security?” he added. During Thursday's gathering, Ngedup presided over the launching of the Bilar grain, a native variety that local farmers are cultivating. He was assisted by Representatives Eladio Jala and Edgar Chatto and Bilar Mayor Fanuel Cadeliña. Jala agreed with Ngedup, noting that there are fewer agriculture students enrolled at the CVSCAFT. Chatto said that while Bohol is opening up as a tourism destination, tourism cannot substitute agriculture as an economic driver.

published by Sunday Post

Private drug testing centers became the object of criticisms last week after it was found out that a big majority of the driver-applicants were mostly found negative of drug use. In a check with the office of Land Transportation Office Registrar Macario Getaruelas, records show that since he assumed office, only seven applicants were found positive of drug use. Of the seven, three applicants have since been declared negative while the rest are yet to get a clean bill. The same records show that hundreds of applicants for drivers have been subjected to drug testing and in most cases they are found negative of drug abuse.

The drug testing issue exploded in public after former Panglao mayor Benedicto Alcala went on air over DYTR's Cuentas Claras Monday denouncing the way drug tests are being conducted at the local LTO. The former mayor told the morning radio program that he had it from a good authority that driverâ€"applicants are just allowed to urinate along the sides of the LTO offices and presto! they are found negative of drug use.

Informed of this observation, Geturuelas denied having allowed this arrangement saying the drug testing process is conducted in an honestâ€"to-- goodness manner. The radio program was swamped with calls and text messages attesting to the truth of Alcala's claims regarding drug testing activities at the LTO. Sought for his comment, lawyer Victor de la Serna's minced no words in attacking the procedure saying that it has been going on for years. He even went to the extent of saying that there is an unholy alliance between the LTO and the operators of the drug testing centers to come up with extortionate rate on hapless driver-applicants. He also took to task the men behind this scheme saying that it is being run by a nationwide mafia engaged in systematic extortion.

Alarmed about the massive negative response from the public, the program anchormen got in touch with Gov. Erico Aumentado if it was possible for government hospitals to come into the picture. Unknown to the program anchors, the governor was already appraised of the problem and he has already made representation with Dr. Nenita Moraga Po, chief of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital that its drug test results can be accommodated at the LTO. Geturuelas confirmed that drug test results taken from any government hospital are accepted at the local LTO.

Drug testing at the government hospital is pegged at P150.00 while that of the LTO premises is priced at P300.00. Asked if the LTO is getting a part of the action considering the disparity in prices of the two testing centers, Geturuelas denied getting a share of the transaction. At the LTO vicinity, at least five testing centers are doing business there. They are identified as Bohol Drug Testing,San Rpque Drug Testing, APL, Mahogany, Drug Check and 2 GO. In bringing into the open the alleged irregularity in the drug testing process at the LTO, Alcala expressed alarm over the high incidence of crimes against persons with drugs as one of the culprits.

why not? it's free to dream.

nganong nahinanok man si inday?

by pna

NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) and HCL Technologies Limited (HCLT) reached an agreement for NEC to obtain full control of NEC HCL Systems Technologies (NHST), a joint venture software company. Based on the agreement, NEC will acquire HCLT’s 49% share of NHST. As a result, NHST will become a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC. The subsidiary’s name is scheduled to become NEC Technologies India Limited in April 2013.

NHST was established in October 2005 in order to enhance software developing resources in India. Since then, the company has developed software products for the platform business in partnership with the experience and knowledge of HCLT. The new subsidiary will play a key role in the development and system integration of NEC’s solutions business throughout the emerging India and Asia Pacific markets, as well as Europe and the US.

“NEC Technologies India will lead a global deployment of product technology and development,” said Takaaki Shimizu, Senior Vice President of NEC. “The company will become an offshore software development base for systems in Asia Pacific, Europe, the US and Japan, in addition to its current software development for the platform business. Moreover, NEC will strengthen its global sales and support by leveraging the new company’s experience and know-how in development, technology and business channels.”

Going forward, NEC aims to continue strengthening the global competitiveness of its products, costs, business promotions and human resources. Furthermore, NEC will create new value for customers as an IT partner that provides competitive products and support throughout the world.

About NEC Corporation NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2013 NEC Corporation.

by pna

The lower overseas purchases of mineral fuels and lubricants, coupled with the drop in purchases of semi-processed raw materials, led to the decrease in imports by 8.0 percent in January 2013.

In its five-page Memorandum for President Benigno S. Aquino III, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that the country’s total merchandise imports declined by 8.0 percent from US$ 5.1 billion in January 2012 to US.7 billion in January 2013.

"The lower payments for mineral fuels and lubricants and raw materials and intermediate goods reduced total import bill in January 2013," the NEDA said.

The NEDA noted that higher imports of consumer and capital goods partially moderated the import drop during the period.

Petroleum crude payments also declined by 45.3 percent during the period on account of lower import volume and international price of Dubai crude. In particular, the volume of petroleum shipments fell by 45.5 percent while the price of Dubai crude registered a 2.0 percent year-on-year decrease in January 2013.

"These made the value of overseas purchases of mineral fuels and lubricants drop by 30.0 percent (US$ 924.9 million) for the period from US$ 1.3 billion in January 2012," the report said.

Likewise, the report pointed out that semi-processed raw inputs decreased by 10.3 percent that pushed down imports of raw materials and intermediate goods by 7.8 percent from US$ 1.9 billion in January 2012 to US$ 1.8 billion in January 2013. These inputs include materials/accessories for the manufacture of electrical equipment, which declined by 29.8 percent in January 2013.

The trade-in goods deficit narrowed to US$ 713.9 million from US$ 1.0 billion in January 2012.

Imports for consumer goods grew by 19.5 percent year-on-year to US$ 622.4 million while capital goods reached US$ 1.4 billion (3.0%) in January 2013.

Higher inward shipments of passenger cars and motorized cycle (21.1%), home appliances (99.6%) and miscellaneous manufactures (7.8%) supported the growth in payments for durable consumer goods (22.3%).

The increase in the payments for imported non-durable consumer products (16.8%) was mainly attributed to the increased inward shipments of beverages and tobacco manufactures (115.9%), articles of apparel (40.0%), fruits and vegetables (18.7%) and, fish and fish preparations (29.8%).

Furthermore, the increase in import payments for power generating and specialized machines (12.2%), aircraft, ships and boats (50.6%) and land transportation equipment excluding passenger cars and motorized cycle (11.6%) buoyed the growth of payments for imported capital goods in January 2013.

The NEDA stressed that the increase in payments for imported capital goods was supported by the continuously upbeat outlook on the macroeconomy, with the percentage of businesses with expansion plans increasing to 29.6% in the first quarter of 2013 from 28.8% in the same period in 2012.

By Perfecto T. Raymundo Jr.

The mother of missing activist Jonas Burgos on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reopen her son's abduction case.

In an urgent special motion filed by Editha Burgos, she asked the SC to direct the Court of Appeals to reopen the case and receive the new evidences they submitted in court.

Included in the new evidences, Mrs. Burgos said, is the picture of her son Jonas inside his detention cell which was taken a few days after he was abducted.

In the said picture, she said Jonas wore a white T-shirt and the clothing/fabric used in blindfolding him was seen already sagging in his neck.

Mrs. Burgos hopes her motion will be included in the agenda of the scheduled en banc session of the SC justices on Tuesday.

In the ruling of the CA on March 18, 2013, it said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were involved in the forced disappearance of Jonas in 2007.

The CA particularly identified Army Maj. Harry Baliaga as responsible for the disappearance of the activist.

by pna

The independent retailers of cooking gas known collectively as the LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA) will enforce a slightly smaller rollback of P1 per kilo.

The LPGMA bared that the price cut would take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and since a regular household cylinder of cooking gas weighs 11 kilos the price cut on the commodity would be equivalent to a P11-markdown per cylinder.

LPGMA brands include Island Gas, Regasco Gas, Pinnacle Gas, Cat Gas, M-Gas, Omni Gas and Nation Gas.

Cooking gas prices are typically adjusted once a month, unlike other petroleum products like gasoline and diesel which are tweaked weekly.

Meanwhile, other oil companies have not announced their own adjustment.

By Michaela del Callar

Amid lingering tensions in the Korean Peninsula, two possible evacuation sites have been identified for the estimated 40,000 Filipinos living and working in South Korea, the Dept. of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

Situation in South Korea remains “normal,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a press briefing but as a precaution, the Philippine embassy in Seoul has imposed a “state of heightened alertness” or Alert Level 1 for Filipinos there.

Hernandez said the embassy is looking into the Southeastern cities of Gimhae and Daegu as evacuation areas for the Filipinos.

The DFA is also confirming if there are still Filipinos in North Korea.

Between five and seven Filipinos were working for non-government agencies there in 2012, Hernandez said.

“We have not had the chance to verify if they have already left the area,” he said.

North Korea on Saturday said it was entering a “state of war” with South Korea for holding what it calls “hostile” joint military drills with the United States.

South Korea said it will retaliate if North Korea would launch an attack on its territory.

Amid provocations from North Korea, also known by its official name - Democratic People’s Republic of Korea -- the Philippine Embassy in Seoul said “it is business as usual and that life proceeds normally” in South Korea.

But Hernandez said the embassy is closely following developments in the Korean Peninsula and is “preparing for any eventuality.”

Philippine officials in Seoul are likewise in close coordination with the Filipino community leaders as part of efforts to refine its existing contingency plan.

As a policy, all Philippine embassies and consulates general have a contingency plan designed to ensure the safety of overseas Filipinos in case of emergency situations such as disaster, war or civil unrest.

The contingency plan, which is regularly reviewed and updated, considers several options should emergencies occur, may be used to guarantee the welfare of overseas Filipinos and ensure the timely delivery of services in foreign posts.

“The embassy continues to monitor the situation in coordination with South Korean authorities and with the US forces and the United Nations command in South Korea,” Hernandez said.

At this stage, Hernandez said Filipinos who wish to go home will have to shoulder their own airfare back to the Philippines because the government has not yet imposed mandatory repatriation or Alert Level 4, the highest security alert being enforced by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The government shoulders all travel expenses of Filipino evacuees once Alert Level 4 is in place.

In the meantime, Filipinos in South Korea are being urged to visit the embassy website for additional information on the contingency plan, watch TV, listen to radio and read newspapers on the ongoing developments in the Korean Peninsula.

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

MANILA, April 1 (PNA) -- The sky-gazing public can expect “stars to fall like rain” in the form of the Lyrid meteor shower this month, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday.

Vicente Malano, officer-in-charge of PAGASA, said that the Lyrid meteors will come in late April when the Earth plows through the dusty tail of the periodic Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1) and flakes of the comet's dust, most the size of grains of sand, strike the planet's atmosphere at a speed of 49 kilometers per hour and disintegrate in the air as streaks of light.

Malano, who prepared the Astronomical Diary for April, said the event will last from April 16 to 26. This year though, the Lyrid meteors will be most visible in the evening of April 22.

However, he said a "bright gibbous moon" on that night might obscure the light of fainter meteors before dawn.

The Lyrid meteor shower has been observed for more than 2,600 years.

Chinese records show that 'stars fell like rain' during the meteor shower of 687 BC. However, in recent times, the Lyrids have generally been weak, Malano said.

The Lyrids are so called because they appear to stream from a point in the constellation Lyra, according to a posting on the website of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Meanwhile, Malano added that a partial lunar eclipse, expected to be visible in the Philippines, will occur on April 26. He said the umbral eclipse magnitude will be at 1.47 percent.

The eclipse will also be visible in Australia, most of Asia, Africa, Europe and Antarctica.

The eclipse will begin at 2:03 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (PST) and will end at 6:11 a.m. (PST).

In Manila, the moon will rise at 5:43 P.M. on April 25 and will set at 5:40 A.M. on April 26.

By Lilybeth G. Ison

President Benigno Aquino III has vetoed a proposed measure that would repeal the height requirements for applicants to the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a press briefing Monday, said the President finds the Senate Bill 3217 and House Bill 6203, which propose for the repeal of the height requirement -- 5’4” for male and 5’2” for female -- as "unnecessary" since a waiver of the qualification already exists under certain conditions.

"Whereas height is among these qualifications, a waiver of this qualification is allowed under certain conditions; hence, the total repeal of the height requirement among these service bureaus is unnecessary," according to the veto message of the President.

Valte said the President also cited his apprehension of the concerns propounded by the PNP and the BJMP on the safety of their personnel in the performance of their duties as well as the public safety in general as raised by some quarters.

"Because of the nature of the work of these service bureaus, by way of guarding detainees or escorting criminals, our jail officers must possess the necessary physical attributes to perform their functions effectively. This also applies to our firefighters and to our law enforcers," she said.

Valte said the veto should not be seen as discrimination against those who fall short of the height requirement, believing that a certain height requirement is needed given the nature of the jobs concerned.

Coconut Leaf Model

Taronga ug hinimbang, Day

kung sa Thailand pa ni, seguradong peke pud ang armas sa babaye kay peke man kasagaran didto.

fake messenger of God's word.

nagkatawa tingali ang reporter sa Sun Star ani samtang naggama ning maong balita.

by Philippine Star

How do you live to be 112?

Don’t drink alcohol. Don’t womanize. Pray.

That is the advice of retired T/Sgt. Tranquilino Cabiling, the oldest living war veteran at 112 years.

Cabiling attributes his longevity to clean living and his faith in God.

“Do not forget to pray to God. He can give you a long life,” Cabiling told reporters in Visayan.

“Do not dance with women in the baile. Do not drink. Avoid vices,” he added.

Cabiling was honored during the Army’s 116th anniversary rites yesterday along with officers, reservists and civilians who helped the military in its mission.

President Aquino and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin left their seats to award a plaque of recognition to Cabiling.

Cabiling’s deep love for the military service can be seen in the way he received the mementos given to him by the Army.

When he was given an infantry soldier statue, Cabiling looked at it intently and did not let go of it.

He was also given an Army keychain, which he immediately placed on his belt loop.

The once strong artilleryman who witnessed the historic Leyte landing and survived the infamous Death March can no longer walk without assistance.

Cabiling, however, appears to be very healthy and even bragged to Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes about his complete set of teeth.

“I do not drink. I do not smoke. I do not have vices. I do not eat meat. I only eat fish and root crops,” he said.

Cabiling was born on July 6, 1900 in Barangay Damulaan in Albuera, Leyte. He joined the service on Aug. 3, 1922 and became part of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).

Cabiling narrated how he served as a gunner in the artillery division and how he helped shoot down a Japanese aircraft.

He was one of the recipients of a certificate of gratitude issued by then US President Harry Truman on Dec. 31, 1944.

biyudo naman diay unta si engineer, naminyo nalang siya ug usab aron matambawan ang iyang kauhaw sa lawasnong kahidlaw.

Public fear over PCOS fraud rising
THE BOHOL CHRONICLE, MARCH 10, 2013

A growing number of concerned citizens have expressed fears that the automated elections in May 2013 would be vulnerable to massive manipulation due to the insecure and untested machines used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In an online poll, the Chronicle has found that most Boholanos believe that the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines could be used to reverse the electoral decision of the people, a belief rooted in the events that led to the surprising results of the 2010 national elections.

Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado, a Boholano lawyer working at the FIRM, the country’s most influential and biggest law firm, in an exclusive interview, said that there were a lot of loopholes discovered in the 2010 elections which remain uncorrected to these days.

“It is undisputed that there were discrepancies between the uploaded/transmitted precinct results in the CCS of city/municipal BOCs and the printed election returns from PCOS Machines,” revealed Delgado, Bohol’s first district coordinator of the 2010 Elections Aquino-Roxas Bantay Balota.

“As admitted by the COMELEC, in COMELEC Resolution No. 8914, this was caused by erroneously saving the FTS or Final Testing and Sealing results instead of the actual precinct vote count in the back-up CF cards that were used in uploading/transmitting to the next canvassing level, to the COMELEC Central and Backup Severs and to the KBP Server,” he explained.

Delgado pointed out that in a letter etter dated May 27, 2010 to the Joint Congressional Committee by Executive Director Jose Tolentino Jr., a total of at least 285 clustered precincts covering at least 186,275 votes were affected by the erroneous transmission of FTS results.

Delgado disclosed that that during the 2010 elections there were two million null votes.

“Surprisingly or incidentally, most of these null votes were in the bailiwick of Senator Mar Roxas or in the Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.

“Even if it is an automated elections, it is susceptible to tampering and manipulation because there is human intervention,” Delgado disclosed.

Atty. Delgado, consenting to the Chronicle interview in his capacity as a private citizen and voter, said that the source code is the most important element of the automated elections because “this is the central program directing the PCOS machines how to read ballots.

“The parties, at least the majority or dominant and the minority, should be allowed to conduct a source code review,” Delgado said.

The Boholano lawyer said that safeguards to a credible and honest election were not followed in the 2010 elections like the Random Manual Audit wherein the Comelec was supposed to do random sampling in every municipality.

In a separate online interview, Atty. Nilo G. Ahat, an election expert and Boholano lawyer based in Cebu City, said that “while the integrity of the digital aspect of the automation election system is technically and legally defensible, the voting process does not seem to complement the concept of automation which presupposes faster result.”

Asked whether an automated elections in the Philippines would be free from fraud and the results honest, Ted Ramasola, a Boholano tech/digital genius based in the USA, replied: “My short answer is no. My long answer is: it takes more than automation to make an electoral exercise honest and fraud-free.”

Ramasola said the people should take “a long hard look at the institutions of the country that are involved in the whole electoral exercise. He posed the following questions: “Are they fair? Are they impartial? What is at stake for them for making sure the election turns out they way it should?”

Valerio “Rio” Makinano III, a Boholano based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), also told the Chronicle that election fraud can still happen despite automation.

“It is man who made these computers/machines, so it is man who also knows how to manipulate them. Regardless how secure the machine is, there are still hackers dedicating their lives to unlock (the source code) and sell their services to politicians,” Makinano said in a Facebook message to the Chronicle.

Complementing Makinano’s statement, Delgado, on the other hand, cited the American election experience in 2000 that saw George Bush and Al Gore contesting the Florida poll result.

“They used touchscreen system. But there were reports that buttons did not match the pictures of the candidates. If you push the button for Gore it counted to the adjacent candidate in the screen, Pat Buchanan of the Reform Party. Buchanan got many votes when we know only candidates from the Democrat and Republican parties get many votes,” recalled Delgado.

TRUST and PCOS MACHINE
Atty. Lahat said he still trusts in the PCOS Machine, “and the combination of software and hardware that comprise it, and I trust that it can really function as such.”

“Given its encryption level which is expressed in “undecillion”, hacking is next to impossible. In fact as a matter of comparison, the lotto machine which has a much lower encryption level has never been heard to be hacked. Legally, I also trust in the automation project, which was already reviewed and approved by no less than our Supreme Court setting en banc in ROQUE vs COMELEC, G.R. No. 188456, 10 Sept. 2009,” Ahat told the Chroncle.

COMELEC DELAY
Ahat narrated that he had the occasion to observe in the last election that the Comelec’s concept of “clustering of precinct” was the cause of delay “because the clustered precinct shared only one Board of Election Tellers (BET).”

“So in a clustered precinct of four, the BET will have to look at four voter’s list,” Atty. Ahat said.

He expounded: “This is where the process is snail paced. And most of the time the PCOS lays idle while a kilometric line of voters queue for their turn to vote. It would have been different if the individual precincts are allowed to vote separately with their own BET, and then they will only share one PCOS Machine. This is more logical than the Comelec’s concept because it takes lesser time to feed the ballot into the PCOS than to secure and accomplish the ballot.”

SMARTMATIC EXPERIENCE
Meanwhile, former Comelec Commissioner Gus Lagman said that “no mock election conducted by Smartmatic ever yielded accuracy of 99.995 percent or better.”

The Automation Law of 2008 and the Comelec-Smartmatic contract of 2009 required that rate, Lagman was quoted by Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc as saying.

In the said column, Bondoc, quoting words from Lagman, said that “compact-flash memory cards inside the PCOS contain computer commands for proper functioning. The CF cards found in the Cagayan de Oro city dump showed how easy it was to steal them.”

“The 60 PCOS units found in the house of a Smartmatic technician in Antipolo, Rizal, showed how easy it was to hijack the machine itself,” the columnist said.

“In 2010 the PCOS had an open port outside. Through that open port, a techie could connect a laptop and tamper with the software and CF cards inside,” Bondoc noted.

By PNA

Fourteen-year-old Ellenrose Jorolan Perez is dedicated to bring gold medal for Philippines in the upcoming Olympic Games but something is holding her to reach this dream.

The Olympic medal hopeful in the weightlifting is looking for her mother here and in the province of Negros Occidental so she could have her consent to play in the international sports tourney. Perez is a minor and her parent’s consent is strictly required.

Coach Samuel Alegada of Bohol, who discovered Ellenrose, went here recently to ask for help in locating her mother Rosalie Huyoa Jorolan.

Alegada said the child and her mother were separated when the latter left for Negros Occidental living her child under his father’s custody in Bohol.

The only key in searching for Perez’s mother was her old picture, he said. The coach also lamented that he was made to believe that the athlete’s parents were married but it turned out that they were not.

To intensify the search, Alegada has sought the help of Monico Puentevella, a former Philippine Sports Commissioner, Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman and Weightlifting Association of the Philippines (WAP) President.

Alegada had known the capability of Ellenrose whom he trained in Bohol and later in Metro Manila. He said that Ellenrose could lift about 75 kilograms for snatch and lower than that for jerk.

Aside from Olympic, Ellenrose is also set to participate in upcoming Asian Weightlifting Championship to be held in Myanmar but this problem is troubling her.

Alegada appealed to anyone who knows where Rosalie is to contact him at Weightlifting Association of the Philippines Office in Manila and/or WAP President Monico Puentevella.

By Iste S. Leopoldo
Sun Star Cebu

In 2010, Martin Slisans swam 22 kilometers from Libertad to Moalboal. This May, he wants to do one better by swimming 34 kilometers from Bohol to Argao.

Slisans, 36, who is from Latvia, moved to Moalboal three years ago after falling in love with the beautiful countryside town.

He owned a diving business in Latvia and is now working as a scuba instructor in one of the resorts in Moalboal. He considers his adopted town to have one of the best diving spots among the 50 countries that he has visited.

“I want to promote Cebu and the Philippines to the world with this attempt I will be making,” said Slisans, who is planning to seek the support of the Department of Tourism for this endeavor.

Slisans added that this time, he will be using a specialized suit because the last time he did it, the skin on his back peeled off and he developed hypothermia for being in the water for so long.

Slisan said that he will start by 4 a.m. and expects to finish the grueling swim in 17 hours provided the current won’t be that strong.

“I will be waiting for him in Argao,” said his doting wife Laura.

published by Sunday Post in 2006

Still unidentified robbers broke into one of the newest stores in Tagbilaran last week, successfully carting off more than P400,000 worth of cash and merchandise from the store. The latest victim of burglary was Unitop Variety Store which is located along CPG Avenue this city. According to the police, the burglary of the store was discovered in the morning of March 30.

The store manager identified as Allan Yao discovered the break-in about 7:53 am Thursday. Initial investigation conducted by the Tagbilaran PNP showed that the suspects gained entrance into the store after successfully removing the bolt screws that sealed the roof of the store. Once they were inside, the suspects entered the office where the safety vault was located.

The suspects then destroyed the vault with a crowbar and scooped away more than P400,000 in cash inside it. The suspects also took with them about 50 Sony and Ericsson cellular phones. According to SPO1 Edgar Chan, Tagbilaran PNP crime investigator, the burglary appears to be the handiwork of professionals. Chan noted that the break-in was well-planned and efficiently implemented. At the same time however, the police investigator noted lapse in the store's security measures.

Unitop opened its doors to the Boholano clientele last December. It is one of the country's fastest growing superstore chains with about 17 branches nationwide.

thank  you confused seuss. this is very enlightening and touching.

another version of twilight saga.

In light of the recent controversies surrounding the relationship between Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista, should the two split as demanded by the parents of Heart? To vote, please register or log in (it's free).

To answer our online survey, you must log in or register. It's free. The question is: Should Kris Aquino Quit Showbiz?

All of the following are associated with the distribution of CO2, in
the bloodstream EXCEPT
(A)  water
(B)  hemoglobin
(C)  plasma
(D)  red blood cells
(E)  platelets

Kaluoy ni Heart nailad intawon sa ambisyoso.

It is a public knowledge that Chiz is an alcoholic. This is the main reason why his wife left him.

During the impeachment trial of CJ Corona, Chiz was trying to project an image of being the "most super brilliant" among the senators.

favorite island ni chinky escudero?

by pna

The government, through the Office of the Solicitor General, has asked the Supreme Court to stop the impending merger of the Philippine National Bank and the Allied Bank as part of its bid to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth of tycoon Lucio Tan.

In a 20-page motion, solicitor general Francis Jardeleza urged the SC to put Allied Bank assets in custodial egis (custody of the law) until the rightful owner is determined.

"It bears stressing that Allied Bank and all its assets are alleged to be ill-gotten and subject of litigation," the OSG said.

In September 2012, the Sandiganbayan dismissed with finality civil case no. 0005 which is about the government's claim on Tan's 60 percent holdings in various companies.

In upholding its June 2012 ruling, the Sandiganbayan said the government failed to present enough evidence to prove that majority of Tan's assets were ill-gotten.

The case is now pending with the SC.

The government is seeking forfeiture of Tan's assets from Allied Bank, Fortune Tobacco Corporation, Asia Brewery Inc., Foremost Farms, Himmel Industries Inc., Grandspan Development Corporation, Silangan Holdings inc. and Dominium Realty and Construction Corporation.

The planned merger between PNB and Allied Bank was approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission early this year.

by pna

The United States launched on Tuesday a military satellite designed for infrared detection of ballistic missile launches, the US media reported.

GEO-2 is the second satellite in the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), a US Air Force program developed to provide the United States with advance warning of potential nuclear attacks.

An Atlas V rocket lifted off at 16:21 EST (21:21 GMT) from Cape Canaveral space center in Florida, according to nasaspaceflight.com internet portal.

The satellite will be placed into a classified position on a geostationary orbit about 22,300 miles (36,000 km) above the Earth.

The first SBIRS GEO series satellite was orbited in 2011. The US Air Force hopes to have a total of six SBIRS satellites in orbit by 2016, the Denver Post reported on Tuesday.

"Our ability to provide strategic missile warning is critical to the nation's survival," Gen. William Shelton, Commander of Air Force Space Command, earlier said.

US efforts to bolster homeland missile defenses follow recent threats by North Korea to launch a preemptive nuclear attack against Washington after the United Nations voted for new sanctions against Pyongyang in response to February’s nuclear test.

Chiz Escudero and Heart Evangelista's Intimate Moments

for political purposes?

by Marinel Cruz
Inquirer.net

Cecile Ongpauco, mother of actress Heart Evangelista, is demanding an apology from Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero for being supposedly disrespectful and arrogant and for “manipulating” her daughter into “going against the family.”
Evangelista was a “victim,” she said, and appealed to Escudero again to “leave my daughter alone.”

In a phone interview with the Inquirer Wednesday afternoon, Ongpauco said Evangelista, the youngest of her six children, had moved out of her (the actress’) condominium unit in Makati City. The Ongpaucos have their own unit in the same building.
“We don’t know where she is,” the actress’ mother said, adding that before the misunderstanding, she had a “beautiful relationship” with her daughter.

“We were together almost every day. She would cook breakfast for me and her dad (Rey Ongpauco). We were OK,” she said. Mother and daughter were last seen together when the actress renewed her talent contract with GMA 7 early this month.


Read more: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/86315/heart-evangelistas-parents-break-down-escudero-is-an-opportunist#ixzz2O7kkuChB
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Love birds on Front page

our deepest condolence, lolla. God is good to your lolo Virgilio.

By Tetch Torres-Tupas
INQUIRER.net

The Supreme Court has ousted Lucy Torres-Gomez as the representative of the 4th District of Leyte.

Voting 7-4-4, the high court said Torres-Gomez could not have validly substituted for her husband Richard Gomez who cannot be considered as candidate for the congressional seat during the 2010 polls.

The seven justices are Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Antonio Carpio, Martin Villarama, Jose Perez, Bienvenido Reyes and Marvic Leonen.

The four justices are Teresita Leonardo De Castro, Mariano Del Castillo, Roberto Abad and Jose Mendoza. On the other hand, the other four justices â€" Presbitero Velasco, Arturo Brion, Lucas Bersamin and Diosdado Peralta â€" did not participate for being members of the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal.

The high court said Richard Gomez was ineligible to run for Congress for failure to comply with the residency requirement.
“Thus, absent valid substitution, Ms. Torres-Gomez could not have been considered a candidate,” the high court said.

by Rina Jimenez David
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Accusing her former husband James Yap of overstepping his boundaries and of attempting to seduce her while visiting her home, and of inflicting psychological harm on their son James, or “Bimby,” actress and TV host Kris Aquino has filed a temporary protection order (TPO) from a Makati City court.

The TPO will be good for 30 days from its issuance, although after a hearing, the petition also asks that the protection order be made permanent.

“Protection orders” are a provision of the law against violence against women and their children to protect victims of domestic violence from further harassment or harm by their spouses or partners.

In the petition, Kris asked the court to order Yap to stay away from her, her 5-year-old son Bimby and any household member, keep a distance of at least 100 meters, and to stay away from her residence, school, place of employment or any place frequented by her and her son.

As detailed in the petition, during a visit to Kris’ condominium unit last December to pick up his son as part of his twice-weekly visitations with Bimby, Yap entered his former wife’s bedroom and made “overt sexual advances,” which Kris vigorously resisted, provoking Yap to “utter mean and malicious statements” in the face of rejection.

The petition cited that James acted “as if he was still entitled to his matrimonial rights,” even if they are no longer married, forcing himself on her in full view of their son.

Horrified by the scene, which was followed by a heated argument, Bimby told his father to leave the room and to “stop hurting” his mom, the petition added.

The petition also mentioned that Bimby had even positioned himself between his parents, and begged his mother to “tell him to go away.” Since then, the petition said, the 5-year old has exhibited signs of being highly upset and agitated whenever he is in his father’s company or when he hears his voice on the phone.

“The physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and moral harm and injury foisted (on that day) was occasioned by the unfettered access of respondent Yap on the household and persons of the petitioners,” the petition noted.

Kris and James’ marriage was finally deemed annulled last year, with a settlement of several properties and a “hefty sum” going to Yap. The petition also states that despite the grant of twice-weekly visitation rights to the professional basketball player, Yap showed hardly any interest in seeing Bimby, getting together with the boy for a maximum of 10 times in a year.

SOURCE: http://entertainment.inquirer.net/86163/kris-aquino-files-protection-order-vs-ex-hubby-james-yap#ixzz2O0t74e8s

dili diay pareha sa mga monsenyor, archbishop ug cardinal sa pilipinas nga gitagsaan ug SUV ni Gloria aron motak-om sila sa rampant corruption ni GMA.

by pna

Senior Malaysian security officials on Monday expressed confidence to end the deadly standoff in Sabah of North Borneo by flushing out the Sulu gunmen, while the Sulu Sultan called upon a guerilla war against the security forces.

Sabah police chief Hamza Taib said the security forces believe that there are less than 50 gunmen remaining in the conflict zone.

He said the troops were undisturbed by Sultan Jamalul Kiram III 's call for a guerrilla war in Malaysia.

"Jamalul Kiram can say anything he wants. We are all out to flush them out," Hamza was quoted as saying by the state news agency, Bernama.

Some 200 of Kiram's followers landed in Sabah last month to stake a territorial claim on the land. Ten security forces and more than 60 gunmen were killed during the month-long standoff.

Malaysian security forces launched an all-out attack on March 5 after negotiations broke down.

Hamza said two clashes between the security forces and the terrorists occurred on Monday morning.

Malaysia and the Philippine governments were discussing on a request to claim the bodies of 28 gunmen who were killed in the mopping up operations by security forces, he added.

It is estimated that as many as 800,000 Filipinos, including a large Sulu community, are working or living in Sabah. However, they are not likely provide support for the Sulu gunmen, as many of them are already Malaysian citizens, said Danny Wong, director of global planning and strategy center at the University of Malaya.

by pna

An editor of the Philippines News Agency was victimized by a credit card scam syndicate who duped him in the total amount of P23,586.

Delfin Sd. Perez, PNA editor, said he had his vehicle filled up with gasoline last Saturday (March 16) in the amount of P1,314.81 at Bayview Petron Service Center along Roxas Blvd., Paranaque City, at about 11 a.m.

However, a transaction in the amount of P4,566.00 at Pizza Hut Bacoor in Cavite was charged to Perez's Dubai First credit card at about 11:21 a.m. Pizza Hut Bacoor on March 16 also.

The Dubai card is an extension of Perez's daughter's card in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The extension card was supposed to be for the use of Perez's medicines alone and for emergency use.

The first questionable transaction was followed by another transaction the same day (March 16) at Shell Coastal, Bacoor, Cavite charging the amount of P19,020.00 in Delfin’s credit card at 9:54 p.m. (Dubai time, March 17).

Manila is ahead by four hours of to Dubai.

Perez was at a loss on how those two questionable transactions were made, considering that he did not make them himself.

He said a third questionable transaction was declined.

Perez said he told the Dubai First credit card company to hold his extension card.

However, Perez was advised to wait for the formal billings of Shell and Pizza Hut on the two questionable transactions before it can be acted upon by the Dubai First credit card company.

The PNA editor is set to file a formal complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes and Anti-Fraud Division Tuesday.

CNSNews.com) â€" The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $1.5 million to study biological and social factors for why “three-quarters” of lesbians are obese and why gay males are not, calling it an issue of “high public-health significance."

Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass., has received two grants administered by NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to study the relationship between sexual orientation and obesity.

As Cardinals gather to select the next Pope, the Vatican has been found to have made a â,¬23 million investment in an apartment block that contains "Europe's biggest gay sauna," Europa Multiclub according to reports in Rome and the UK Independent newspaper.

The building also houses priests, an Archbishop and, occupying a 12 room apartment on the first floor, Cardinal Ivan Dias, the head of the Congregation for Evangelisation of Peoples.

Cardinal Dias will be in the conclave and is a believes that homosexuality can be cured of their "unnatural tendancies" through the Sacrement of Pennance. It is not known if the Cardinal has visited the sauna.

Pope Benedict XVI is believed to have resigned, the first Papal resignation since 1415, after receiving the report of an investigation into events surrounding the leaking of documents by the Pope's butler. The lengthy report is said to contain detailed evidence of factional infighting.

La Repubblica said "The cardinals were said to have uncovered an underground gay network, whose members organise sexual meetings in several venues in Rome and Vatican City, leaving them prone to blackmail. They included a villa outside the Italian capital, a sauna in a Rome suburb, a beauty parlour in the centre, and a former university residence that was in use by a provincial Italian archbishop."

source: http://www.neurope.eu/article/papal-conclave-begins-vatican-revealed-own-europes-biggest-gay-sauna

by complex.com

Baked goods are the way to many hearts, but beware of the jail guard offering homemade cookiesâ€"the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Snohomish County Jail guard Abner Canda has been accused of trading chocolate chip cookies for sex with a female inmate. In January, the 22-year-old woman told law enforcement officials that last May, she willingly exposed her breasts to Canda in exchange for food. She added that back in November, the 58-year-old Canda entered her room and "kissed me and touched my breasts and also put his hand down my pants and placed his finger inside of [my vagina.]"

She says that Canda performed oral sex on her in January, and gave her cookies as compensation for the services provided. An affidavit claims there is surveillance footage showing Canda and the woman entering a cell together on Nov. 19.

The woman, identified only as "C.D.," says she's speaking up now because she's "ashamed" of her actions. Two other female inmates have admitted to having sexual relations with Canda, with one even going as far as to say she was "dating" him.

Canda has been charged with custodial sexual misconduct for his interactions with C.D., not for those with the other inmates. He's been on paid administrative leave since January.

By LUCY CROSSLEY

Drugs that could combat ageing and help people to live to 150-years-old may be available within five years, following landmark research.

The new drugs are synthetic versions of resveratrol which is found in red wine and is believed to have an anti-ageing effect as it boosts activity of a protein called SIRT1.

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has been testing the medications on patients suffering with medical conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

The work proves that a single anti-ageing enzyme in the body can be targeted, with the potential to prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespans.

As each of the 117 drugs tested work on the single enzyme through a common mechanism is means that a whole new class of anti-ageing drugs is now viable, which could ultimately prevent cancer, Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes.
Genetics professor David Sinclair, based at Harvard University, said: 'Ultimately, these drugs would treat one disease, but unlike drugs of today, they would prevent 20 others.

'In effect, they would slow ageing.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2291254/New-drug-developed-using-compound-red-wine-help-humans-live-150.html#ixzz2Nt8ml9EN
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by pna

The Japanese yen's continued depreciation will likely hit South Korea's automobile, steel and textile industries hard by weakening their competitiveness against Japanese products in the global market, a report said Monday.

The Japanese currency traded at 95.25 yen per dollar on Friday, down 21.5 percent from 78.38 yen quoted on Sept. 19, with its value against the Korean won tumbling 23.5 percent as of end-February from early June last year.

"South Korea needs to step up efforts to diversify its key export items and also strengthen the competitiveness of products against Japanese competitors," the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) said in its report.

According to KIET, every drop of 1 percent in the yen-won exchange rate leads to a 0.18 percent fall in South Korea's total exports.

Apparently affected, at least partly, by the already weaker Japanese yen, South Korea's overall exports dipped 8.6 percent from a year earlier in February, Seoul's commerce ministry said earlier.

Unlike the automobile and steel industries that will be most affected by a weaker yen, the country's petrochemical, information-technology and shipbuilding industries will likely experience less pressure from their Japanese competitors, the report said.

future mafia.

The Chamber of the Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) announced its January and February sales exceeded its target with an astounding year-on-year growth of 42 percent.

The 12-member association reported that combined figures of CAMPI-Trucks Manufacturers Association of the Philippines’ reached 26,588 units compared to sales of 18,718 for the same period last year.

Industry data also highlighted an outstanding 69.6 percent growth for the passenger car segment from 5,153 units in 2012 to 8,740 units in 2013. The commercial vehicle sector, which accounted for a 72.47 percent market share, likewise posted a 31.6 percent increase from 13,565 units in 2012 to 17,848 units in 2013.

CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez attributed the robust sales on the increased purchasing power of consumers, and expressed optimism on sustained public spending.

“The steady growth in 2013 is the direct result of the (steady) inflow of private investments and the government’s (increased) spending on infrastructure,” Gutierrez said.

The booming real estate industry, numerous construction and infrastructure developments also boosted the sales of trucks and buses segment of categories IV and V where it recorded a year-to-date jump of 65.1 percent as compared to the same period in 2012.

Pilipinas Hino posted the highest sale of 109 units covering 39.7 of the market followed by Isuzu Philippines Corp. with 76 units equivalent to 27.24 percent of the market. MAN Automotive Concessionaire Corp. cornered 25.09 percent of the market with 70 units sold.

“The February sales performance alone was quite remarkable as total sales volume attained 14,332 units with a 35.3 percent increase from the January sales achievement,” Gutierrez enthused.

At the same time, Gutierrez added that the passenger cars segment increased by 50.1 percent with 4,574 units sold while commercial vehicle sector up by 29.4 percent with 9,758 units.

Toyota Motors Philippines Corporation led the pack in a year-to-date sales with a share of 39.9 percent, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines with 24.1 percent, Honda Cars Philippines with 9.9 percent, Isuzu Philippines Corporation with 6.6 percent, and Ford Philippines with 6.3 percent.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan inaugurated on Sunday the 100-megawatt solar plant Shams 1 in the desert of Abu Dhabi, the world's largest concentrated solar power plant in operation.

Covering an area of 2.5 square km, the 600-million-U.S. dollars project incorporates the latest in parabolic trough technology and features more than 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic trough collectors, capable of delivering green electricity to 20,000 homes.

The president applauded Shams 1 as a major milestone in the country's economic diversification and a step toward long-term energy security, saying that the plant demonstrated the UAE's commitment to maintaining its position as a major provider of energy.

The UAE, a major oil supplier, aims to reduce its dependence on oil and gas for domestic power needs to 75 percent until 2030 from the current 99 percent.

As the biggest step so far, Sharms 1 will contribute to Abu Dhabi's goal of getting seven percent of its energy from renewable source by 2020.

luoy mga babaye mag-antos sa kabaho sa ilok.

only in the philippines.

Funeral for the late Princess Lilian of Sweden was held in the Royal Chapel at the Swedish Royal Palace in the old town of Stockholm on Saturday.

The ceremony started at one o'clock in the afternoon inside the royal church where Princess Lilian's coffin was wrapped in the Swedish flag and decorated with flowers, reported the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter (DN).

After the ceremony Princess Lilian's coffin was taken in a procession of about 200 meters long to her final resting place, the royal cemetery in Haga Park, located north to the old town in Stockholm.

The members of the Swedish Royal family attended the funeral and also followed the procession to the Haga Park, which is also the resting place of Princess Lilian's late husband Prince Bertil.

Queen Margarethe of Denmark, Princess Astrid of Norway and the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt also attended the ceremony.

Princess Lilian died at her home in Stockholm last Sunday at the age of 97 and was known by people for her romantic love story with Prince Bertil of Sweden, who died in 1997.

Health awareness dissemination is not only prioritized by the government but also by a group of private school health officers who have lined up health-related activities next month.

The Private School Health Officers’ Association (PSHOA), Inc. will hold its 33rd Anniversary, 32nd Annual Convention and Fellowship on April 4 to 5 at the New Bayanihan Center, United Laboratories, Inc. in Mandaluyong City.

With the theme, "PSHOA: Committed Towards an Active, Responsive and Efficient School Health" (PSHOA C.A.R.E.S.), the Convention and Fellowship will provide the participants with relevant updates and information in the field of medicine, dentistry, nursing and allied health.

All these updates and info in various fields of health are beneficial in promoting efficient school health services. It will also enable participants to gain comprehensive knowledge on their challenging role in prompt and effective response to disasters.

The twin undertakings will also provide participants a venue for further scientific enrichment geared towards a more responsive school health delivery system.

Also, the proposed amendments to by-laws of the organization will be reviewed and ratified during the convention and fellowship.

Likewise, the annual convention and fellowship will furthermore strengthen unity among members and other participants by fostering the spirit of camaraderie.

excerpt from the Inquirer: a comment from Weder-weder Lang

Like a sick stray dog, Koko the cuckold will bite anyone who reminds him of the hurt he's been living with for some time now. Koko was born ugly with zero face value. Raised by a matapobre mother, Koko the cuckold grew up equally matapobre thinking that he can just buy a trophy wife when he comes of age. Sure enough, he found a beauty queen of humble background who was willing to learn to love him. She did learn and she did love him, but Koko the cuckold expected too much. He expected his wife to speak with perfect grammar in public and in private as if life is all about grammar. He wanted a wife with impeccable table manners and perfect mastery of fine dining cutlery. Above all, Koko the cuckold needed a wife who would just take every public humiliation, every emotional battering, every verbal abuse sitting down. Koko the cuckold soon realized how wrong he was when his wife eloped with a better man known as Mr. G.

In the age of all men and women are created equal, Koko the 1990 bar topnotcher should have known better. Lucky still for Koko the cuckold, his knowledge of the law worked for him. He was able to secure sole custody of their two children, who under the law, should have automatically been awarded to the mother for their young age. Today, the only leverage Koko the cuckold has on his former wife is custody and visitation rights. Without that leverage, the wife would have appeared on national TV to denounce her matapobre ex-husband more freely. Without that leverage, the wife would not have released a carefully-worded written statement denying that she ever mentioned anything about being a battered wife. If she were not a battered wife, she would not have fallen out of love with Koko the cuckold. If she were not so helpless, she would not have sought the help of Toby and Migz. There's no arguing with the natural maternal instinct of a former wife who's willing to suffer silently if only to secure and protect her children. But there's also no arguing that a matapobre senator will never make a good senator.

(CNN) -- Police are investigating the gang-rape of a tourist in central India, the latest black eye for the country over violence against women.

A Swiss couple was camping near a forest in India's Datia district when a group of men beat the husband and raped his wife, the district's deputy superintendent of police, R.S. Prajapati, told CNN. There were between five and seven attackers, he said.

The couple arrived in Mumbai on February 3 and were on a cycling tour across the country, said D.K. Arya, deputy inspector general of police.

The attackers stole a laptop, 10,000 rupees (US $185) and a mobile phone, he said. The victims went to police and the woman was hospitalized and later released.

Twenty people have been detained for questioning, Arya said.
The couple is staying at a guesthouse in the Datia district while the investigation unfolds, he said.

The attack comes at a time in India when there are calls for stricter laws on sexual assault and changes in cultural attitudes toward women.

In December a 23-year-old woman was gang-raped on a New Dehli bus, spurring protests in India, where most women have stories of sexual harassment and abuse on public transportation or on the streets, according to the Indian Council on Global Relations. That woman later died in a Singapore hospital.

by Philippine Daily Inquirer

Re-electionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is considering the filing of libel charges against former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who said in a forum that Pimentel’s former wife Jewel once told him and wife Audrey that she was a battered wife.
Pimentel said some matters were off-limits even in the course of a political campaign.

“My laywers are studying possible libel. We’d talk about the draft complaint,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said Zubiri’s charge was of a personal nature and was a lie.

“If you invented a personal attack, that’s like a double technical foul. You’re out of the game,” Pimentel said. “The allegations, the invented personal issue has been denied by the person concerned that’s why, as I said, that’s a double whammy on the part of the person making that baseless accusation.”

Jewel May Lobaton-Pimentel, in a statement, appealed to Zubiri to “keep my marital issues out of the campaign issues for a Senate seat in this 2013 election.”

“I categorically state that I have never claimed nor complained to Migz Zubiri that I was a battered wife. In the close to 12 years that we lived together, my husband Koko Pimentel never ever physically hurt me,” Lobaton-Pimentel said.

“My marital issues are not national issues. And my children have been greatly affected. Please spare my two sons, as they are mere children aged 8 and 3 years old respectively,” Lobaton-Pimentel added.

Two women in Pimentel’s senatorial ticket took up the cudgels for their fellow candidate.

“I commend Jewel’s  courage na harapin ang isyung ito para ipaglaban ang kanyang karapatan bilang isang babae at ang kapakanan ng kanyang mga menor de edad na anak,” former Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal said in a statement.

“I am very disappointed that Migz Zubiri had to resort to spreading falsehood about the Pimentels’ family life para sa kanyang kampanya. I am afraid na bukod sa impression na siya ay mandaraya ay magkaron din ng impression na siya ay sinungaling. Migz should issue an apology to Jewel,” she added.

by pna

Two high-ranking FIBA Asia officials on Friday congratulated the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for being chosen one of 2012's Best National Sports Associations by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.

FIBA Asia president Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al-Thani of Qatar and executive director Hagop Khajiran of Lebanon toasted SBP for the recognition it got from “an objective and important group like the media.”

In an email addressed to SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and executive director Sonny Barrios, Khajirian said:

“It is indeed heartening and exciting to note that a member National Federation has been recognized” as an overachieving NSA.

“More importantly, as a basketball fan, I am excited that a basketball organization has been accorded such a national honor,” said Khajirian, who played a key role in transferring hosting rights of the FIBA Asia Championship to the Philippines.

“Therefore, I not only congratulate you as a member of the FIBA Asia family, but also as a basketball fan,” he added.

Barrios, in response, expressed gratitude to the FIBA Asia executive for his “encouraging words.”

“Under your leadership at FIBA Asia and your show of trust and confidence for SBP under the presidency of Mr. Pangilinan, we are inspired even more to do well as a basketball federation and as a member of good standing of FIBA Asia,” Barrio said.

Sheikh Saud gave special mention to the Filipino’s love for the game.

“The passion for basketball in the Philippines is common knowledge,” he said.

“And this award comes as a recognition for the National Federation for its effort in consolidating and promoting the popularity of basketball.”

by pna

President Benigno S. Aquino III Friday gave assurances his administration continues to provide government funding for development projects to further develop the agriculture, fishing, commercial and tourism industries in Pangasinan.

In a meeting with local leaders and the community at the Don Leopoldo Sison Auditorium here, the Chief Executive said his administration continues investing in the necessary infrastructure projects to boost the province's agriculture.

The President said: "Sa Bani, bukod sa Poblacion-Quinaoayanan Farm-to-Market Road Project, naglaan din tayo ng tatlongdaan at animnapung milyong pisong pondo para sa Macidem Small Reservoir Irrigation Project na didilig sa animnaraang ektarya ng pananim.

"May kabuuang labimpitong irrigation projects din tayong nagkakahalaga ng mahigit 150 milyong piso para tuloy-tuloy ang produktibong ani ng mga taga-Anda, Infanta, Bugallon, Mangatarem, Sta. Barbara, San Fabian, Laoac, Pozorrubio, Rosales, San Nicolas, Umingan, Mapandan, Binalonan, Lingayen at San Carlos City."

Aquino expressed support for the fishing industry in the province, including Alaminos.

The Aquino administration is appropriating bigger budget for the fishing sector.

"At hindi naman po puwedeng makalimutan ang Alaminos City -- halos 32 million pesos ang inilagak natin para sa pagpapatayo ng Regional Mariculture Technology Development Center, na magsisilbing research and training center para sa pagpaparami ng siganid at iba pang isda," he stressed.

The President said various road projects are now in place to boost the tourism and business sectors.

"Oras naman na makumpleto ang Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, ang dating halos apat na oras na biyahe mula Tarlac papuntang La Union, magiging isang oras na lang. Tinatayang dalawampung libong motorista ang gagaan ang biyahe dahil dito, at ito rin ang magsisilbing lagusan upang hindi na abutin nang siyam-siyam ang biyahe ng mga turistang gustong mag-island hopping at dumalo sa inyong Galila Hundred Islands Festival," he said.

Various programs aimed at improving health services, upgrading the capacities of the schools, and other social services, are now in place.

He said the government is also implementing an infrastructure development program to improve access to power.

"Sa katunayan, kayong mga Pangasinense mismo ay natatanglawan ng ating pagpapailaw ---mahigit isandaan at tatlumpung sitio mula sa inyong probinsya ang hindi na muling mangangapa sa dilim, at doble-kayod tayo upang sa lalong madaling panahon, bawat isla sa bansa ay mapailawan na," he said.

Anchored on the principle of "Tuwid na Daan," the President stressed that his government was able to build on the gains of the anti-corruption campaign and reduce poverty.

"Tignan po natin ang Araneta-Quezon Avenue Underpass: ang proposal dati, 694 million pesos ang kakailanganing pondo. Subalit dahil sa tamang pamamahala at tapat na paggugol ng DPWH (Department of Public Works ang Highways,) naibaba na natin ang gastos sa 430 million pesos, 100 days ahead of schedule pa tayo," he said.

"Nang binigyang-lakas naman natin ang mahigit 3.85 milyong kabahayan gamit ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, iisa lang po ang tuon ng aming malasakit at serbisyo ---Kayo.

Dito sa Pangasinan, lampas 112,400 na pamilya ang kinakalinga ng Department of Social Welfare and Development sa pamamagitan ng programang ito," he said.

By Clarinda I. Catimpo

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, March 16 (PNA) -- The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines and Universal Harvester, Inc. (UHI) launched their second consecutive search for The Outstanding Filipino Farmers (TOFARM) Friday in a prestigious recognition program for the most noteworthy achievers in various categories of the farming sector.

Revived last year to acknowledge the increasingly important role that the farming sector has played in boosting the economy, and to inspire more young people to turn to agriculture as a livelihood, TOFARM 2013 wants to identify more unsung heroes in the fields, seas and urban areas from North Luzon to Southern Mindanao.

The nationwide awards program will cite best practices of public and private entities engaged in traditional or modern farming that includes fisherfolk, animal raisers, cooperatives, farm communities, organizations, scientists, the academe, LGUs and public employees, as well as business entities in rural and urban areas.

Last year, the Aloha Natural Farm in Sta. Monica Heights in Puerto Princesa was selected as one of the TOFARM awardees among 111 entries nationwide.

This year’s TOFARM has added a new category â€" the Woman Farmer â€" in the annual search.

“This is to recognize the growing number of women, who have carved names for themselves in various agricultural fronts and who have brought recognition to the country through their individual or collective endeavors,” said Rommel Cunanan, TOFARM Project chairman.

Another important goal of the program is to foster the steady increase of youth venturing into the agriculture sector.

“This is really rewarding and lucrative field, and if our youth are really the hope of the fatherland as Dr. Jose Rizal said, they should go into farming to ensure the steady flow of generations who will assure us of adequate and sustainable food supply,” Cunanan added.

The JCI has partnered with Universal Harvester to make sure that farmers continue to be motivated towards excellence and that they receive the recognition that they deserve.

“Universal Harvester through its Executive Vice President Milagros Ong How has been tireless in its effort to support farmers and educate them on ways to have better yields and results. We are both concerned about the improvement of conditions for the farmer and better urban-rural relations through a keener understanding of agricultural concerns,” said Ryan C. Ravanzo, JCI president.

For her part, Ong How said “TOFARM 2012 only scratched the surface in identifying farmers with best practices and extraordinary achievements. In TOFARM 2013 we want to explore new territories and discover other achievers that have not yet been recognized for their contributions to our country.

She said that this year, we want to widen the search to include outstanding women farmers. This is probably why we are launching TOFARM 2013 on International Woman’s Month.”

UHI, a progressive Filipino company established in 2003, is involved in the direct manufacturing, local distribution and exportation of a number of world-class quality fertilizers.

TOFARM will give out 12 awards this year: seven in the individual category and five in the group category. These are: Farmer, Fisherfolk, Livestock, Agri-Entrepreneur, Young Farmer, Agricultural Innovator, Urban/City Farmer and Woman Farmer in the individual category; and Agriculture Cooperative, Family Farmer, Local Government Unit, Agriculture Initiatives and People’s Choice in the group category.

The nomination period for the TOFARM candidates began March and will end on September 2013. Validation and judging of nominees will take place in, while the awarding takes place in December.

by pna

Mahmoud al-Zahar, a high-ranking official of Islamic Hamas movement in Gaza said Friday that the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama in the region next week " would bring only more divisions."

Zahar told prayers in a mosque in central Gaza Strip that "the ominous visit of Obama to the region would bring us only more divisions, more loss of lands, and more expel of our people."

The senior Hamas official also accused Obama of being involved in the two large-scale Israeli military operations against Gaza in early 2009 and in November last year.

Obama is scheduled to arrive in Israel Wednesday and visit the West Bank Thursday. During his three-day visit, Obama will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials separately.

He claimed that the Hamas movement "is ready to implement all the understandings and agreements reached to promote the reconciliation, but the other side is using reconciliation to destroy the struggle and resistance."

by pna

The United States announced Friday it will add additional ballistic-missile interceptors on the West Coast in response to what Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called “irresponsible and reckless provocations” from North Korea.

“We will strengthen homeland missile defense by deploying 14 additional Ground-Based Interceptors (GBIs) at Fort Greely, Alaska,” Hagel said at a news briefing. “That will increase the number of deployed Ground Based Interceptors from 30 to 44, including the four GBIs at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.”

The new missile interceptors are designed to shoot down long-range missiles in flight before they reach US territory.

Hagel cited North Korea’s latest nuclear weapons test in February and its development of long-range missile technology, including a mobile missile.

Last week North Korea threatened to launch a preemptive nuclear attack against Washington when the United Nations voted for new sanctions against North Korea in response to February’s nuclear test.

Hagel said the US is planning to deploy an additional radar in Japan to provide early warning and tracking of any missile launched from North Korea at the United States or Japan.

He also said that plans to bolster US missile defenses in the Pacific would not impact plans to cover all of Europe with a NATO missile shield by 2018.

by Philippine National Agency

Twenty-two (22) fishermen, including a teenager, from the towns of Bien-Unido and President Carlos P. Garcia (Pitogo) were lured by sweet promise of bountiful earnings from fishing in faraway Sitangkay, Tawi-tawi province in southern Mindanao but it turned out to be a nightmare, said Diosdado A. Pera in an interview.

The promise was so tempting that the alleged recruiter, identified as one Policarpio Mantos of Cataban island-barangay off Talibon town who made the offer, generously provided them cash advance in the amount of PhP10,000 each for their families they left behind before heading to Mindanao, he said.

But the most shocking of their ordeal is the unfortunate death of one of their companions identified as one Mike Reymond Arreglado, 17, said the group’s leader Diosdado A. Pera.

The 22 fishermen, who were called by Gov. Edgar Chatto as victims of the trafficking in persons, welcomed the financial assistance extended to them by the provincial government, said Pera.

Each received PhP10,000 from Chatto during the meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council presided over by the governor held here in time for the launching of Heat caravan.

The governor said that the assistance is to enable them to start anew and the sum would be used as seed money to start a livelihood.

Mystery of death

The circumstances surrounding the boy’s death remains a mystery to her mother and the rest of Pera’s group.

Pera said they were told that the boy was drowned while fishing on a part-time on another fishing outfit, using the alleged illegal compressor. A compressor is a gadget mounted on a fishing boat, which supplies enough oxygen for fishermen doing the spear fishing underwater for hours, said Pera.

Rowena Arreglado, the mother of the young Arreglado, confirmed in an exclusive interview that her son passed away. She lamented the loss of her son and expressed anguish she was not able to see her son’s remains even for the last time because it was not brought in their home.

Asked why he let her boy to go with the rest of Pera’s group, Rowena Arreglado said it was due to poverty hoping that he could earn more income to help her family of eleven (13). Rowena Arreglado said she is on the family way for the 12th child. Her husband is just a fisherman also.

She said she and her husband will not let her other boys to venture into the unknown again, never, short of saying she’s sorry for what happened to him.

Pera said that while they’re still in Tausog’s territory in Tawi-tawi it would be difficult for them to bring his dead body in Bohol for they might be noticed of their plan to escape from their “boss” identified as Benjamin Jaybot, alyas “Agi,” a Tausog Muslim, whom they worked for and paid them of their catch. He said they had no option except to bury the dead body in Tawi-tawi.

Ordeal

Pera narrated their ordeal within eight months since they left Bohol early last year.

One was that their fish catch from spear fishing using compressor was bought only at very low price tag by Jaybit contrary to what their recruiter promised.

Even if they caught what they called enough catch to earn for their provisions in a given time still they must do more fishing routine to earn additional income. There were times they cannot almost buy rice supply because of shortage. There was always shortfall of their provisions.

Aside from a low earning of their catch, they also live in fear because of the presence of armed men that Jaybit maintains in his compound where they dwell for a moment while in Tawi-tawi.

They’re even warned not to take steps to run away from the place for they might be shot at if they do. How many times they tried to convince Jaybit to let them go home but only to be told that if they do how can they repay their (cash) advances, said another fisherman, Vicente Doblas, in an interview.

Pera said he convinced his fellow fishers and hatched a plan to escape. First they had saved some gasoline supply for the motorboat they’ll use en-route to escape sometime in December last year. And breakout they did.

They’re able to reached Zamboanga and reported what they’ve gone through in the hands of the Muslim.

Pera said he and his group are very grateful their lives saved and thankful to the Philippine Navy and other agencies, including the provincial government, who extended assistance that facilitates them to see their family again.

Victims

The fishermen-victims of illegal trafficking in persons were identified as Rolando Trocende, Ronel Torcende Vicente Doblas, Virgilio Oponda, Maredcadel E. Pera, Servando Bucio, Jr., Angelito Rosales, Marcelino Mabatuan, Jr. and Virgilio Omit, all of them are residents of island-barangay sa Maomawan, Bien-Unido. And Rogelio Lugod is a resident of San Jose, Getafe, aside from Diosdado A. Pera, also of Maomawan, Bien-Unido.

Others include Gary Hewe, Feliciano Doron, Tommy Doron, Ryan Doron, Leopoldo Gabas, Jomar Baculfo, Roel Boiser, Jiji Zapanta, Rico Gaylan, and Dennis Casio, all of island-barangay Gaus, President Carlos P. Garcia (Pitogo).

Meanwhile, Mantos is nowhere to be found in Cataban, said Pera, saying he (Mantos) might sense he is now the subject of charges to be filed by authorities concerned.

gwapa ug tulukibon ang mga mata.

Shame on you, UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agudo

by Agence France Presse

The courtship was over even before it began.

“If I don’t marry you, I’ll become a priest,” Pope Francis reportedly wrote a bespectacled, white-haired woman identified only as Amalia in a letter more than 60 years ago, when they were just 10 or 12 years old.

They didn’t get married. He became a priest. And on Wednesday, he became the Pope.

“In the little letter, he had drawn a little house with a red roof and white walls and he wrote, ‘this house is what I’ll buy when we get married,’” the woman remembered, standing on the sidewalk in the Flores neighborhood where they were both born.

But the seemingly innocent promise was taken very differently by Amalia’s conservative parents, who were scandalized that their little girl was receiving notes from a boy.

“I have nothing to hide, it was a thing of children,” Amalia said decades later as reporters and television cameras swarmed.

Nevertheless, her parents tore the letter up and did whatever was necessary to keep their daughter away from the young Jorge Bergoglio.

Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina, was elected Pope on Wednesday. He is the first man from the Americas to hold the post.

by pna

Vice President Jejomar Binay joined Thursday the Catholic faithful and the Filipino nation in welcoming the election of Pope Francis as the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic church.

”Just like his namesake, Pope Francis has shown affinity with the poor, both preaching and practicing compassion for our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” Binay said in a press statement.

”He reminds us that serving our fellowmen is a duty not only of the Church, but of all Catholics. As he begins his Papacy, we pray that he will lead the Church with wisdom, humility, compassion and grace,” Binay added.

Team PNoy re-electionist senator Loren Legarda joined fellow Catholics in rejoicing over the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as the new Pope early Thursday.

”We should all pray for Pope Francis that he may accomplish his mission as Vicar of Christ and heal the wounds of division in the world,” said Legarda.

“The world is faced with many divisive issues and we find hope that Pope Francis will lead us to the path of reconciliation, respect, and continuous dialogue not only with our fellow Catholics and Christians but also with the members of other faith and religion that we may find unity even among our differences,” she added.

United Nationalist Alliance senatorial bet Mitos Magsaysay urged the faithful to pray for the newly chosen pope so he may lead the Church with wisdom and grace as his predecessors have done before him.

While Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was among those who were considered for the position, Magsaysay said that Filipinos should not feel put off by the fact that he was not chosen by his peers to lead the Church at this time.

“It was already a great honor for the world to see that Filipinos are being led by someone who is intelligent, articulate, compassionate and humble. All of the contenders are surely more than qualified for the position and surely, the other cardinals took a lot into consideration,” she said.

Team PNoy senatorial candidate Francis Escudero also joined the nation in prayer of thanks for the election of Pope Francis.

”Like billions (sic) of Catholics around the world, I greet Pope Francis’ election with a great measure of hope and optimism because it signals a fresh start. For many Catholics, this beacon of hope and optimism could very well rekindle a faith scarred by scandals and controversies,” Escudero said.

”I call on Catholics and Christians, and citizens of the world for that matter, to pray for His Holiness Pope Francis, that he may find the strength, courage, and humility, to steer our Church through her most turbulent times,” Escudero added.

“Together with my family, we join the entire Roman Catholics accross the world in extending our heartfelt congratulations and prayers for God’s blessings to the new Holy Father, Pope Francis”, UNA bet Juan Miguel Zubiri, a Marian devotee, said.

by pna

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged the faithful to thank God for his gift, Pope Francis, elected to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church Thursday.

“Let us join the whole Church and the world in thanking God for His special gift in the extraordinary person of Pope Francis,” he said in a statement.

With this, he expressed gratitude to all those who prayed for the 115 cardinals that elected Pope Francis.

Tagle added that he was able to talk with the new Pontiff and assured the latter of the support of the Filipinos.

“When I approached Pope Francis to assure him of the closeness and collaboration of the Filipinos, he said, 'I have high hopes for the Philippines. May your faith prosper, as well as your devotion to Our Lady and mission to the poor,'” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Province Society of Jesus is celebrating the election of the new pope.

“The PPSJ rejoices with the rest of the Church that our cardinals have so quickly been able to name a new Holy Father. They have chosen a man with long experience leading God’s people in Argentina, with a heart very much concerned for the needs of the poor and disadvantaged, and whose manner of life is touched by great simplicity and faith,” said Jose C.J. Magdia, S.J. in a statement.

by pna

The Aquino government made an assurance Thursday it is doing everything to serve justice to the victims of the pyramid scam organized by Manuel Amalilio and his cohorts.

“We will continue to work for the successful prosecution of Amalilio et al. And as you know, there have been a series of complaints or cases filed in court because there have been determinations already of probable cause by the panel of prosecutors,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said in a press conference in Malacanang.

Palace reporters asked De Lima if there is an assurance that Amalilio’s case will not be put in the backburner particularly with the ongoing incident in Sabah that might affect his return to the Philippines to face charges here.

In assuring the victims, De Lima said there are arrest warrants issued by different courts such as in Cagayan de Oro City and Pagadian City. The Department of Justice is also waiting for the Iligan City court to issue similar warrants against Amalilio and his co-conspirators at Aman Futures.

“There are several complaints filed and several are still under preliminary investigation and some are already in court, and there have been warrants of arrest. We will continue to work for the successful prosecution of Amalilio et al,” she said.

Currently, the DOJ is working on how to repatriate Amalilio, De Lima said.

Amalilio is currently serving a two-year sentence in a Malaysian jail for using a fake Philippine passport.

Philippine justice officials discussed with their Malaysian counterparts ways to bring Amalilio to the Philippines even before the lapse of his two-year jail sentence in Malaysia, the justice official said.

“So if the right time comes, kung mag-die down na ‘yung heat or ‘yung situation sa Sabah, then we can already send our team to Kuala Lumpur,” she said, hoping the conflict in Sabah won’t affect the prosecution of Amalilio in the Philippines.

The DOJ cancelled the trip of its team who was supposed to leave last Tuesday for Kuala Lumpur to begin the initial talks for Amalilio’s repatriation.

De Lima said they do not believe the current situation in Sabah would yield a fruitful outcome if the DOJ proceeds with the talks. The cancellation is one of the “unintended consequences” of the acts of Kiram’s group in Sabah.

by pna

The Philippine government will continue to exert efforts to gain access to Filipinos detained by Malaysian authorities following the deadly offensive launched by Malaysia in Sabah, Malacanang said Thursday.

It was reported that Malaysia rejected the Philippines’ request to have full access to Filipino detainees in its custody.

“Our concern is for our Filipinos in custody. We will continue to pursue our desire to seek access to our Filipino brethren who are in Malaysian custody,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a press briefing in Malacanang.

Asked by reporters about the government’s option if ever Malaysia would not grant the Philippines’ request, Lacierda said that DFA has to work on it.

Malaysian authorities have reported 64 people have been killed during the Sabah offensive, mostly followers of the Sulu sultanate. Also 97 people have been arrested in Sabah. Malaysia said security operations are continuing in the area.

The Philippine Navy reported it had detained 35 suspected Filipino militants on Wednesday sailing home from Sabah.

The 35 people, fleeing Sabah, were seized by the navy on board two small boats from the Malaysian state.

by pna

The government is readying appropriate charges against 36 individuals intercepted by the Philippine Navy entering Philippine waters from Sabah, Malaysia in two boats March 13, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said.

In a briefing in Malacanang Thursday, De Lima confirmed earlier reports that the individuals, intercepted within the vicinities of Omapoy and Adulingan islands in Tawi-Tawi, were members of the Royal Security Forces of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

“We confirm the reports yesterday about the interception of two groups of armed men from Sabah, Malaysia. So the first group was intercepted yesterday at 6:35 in the morning by Philippine Navy vessel PS38. There were 18 of them, 17 males, and one female, and with assorted firearms, and one of them was even found wounded, and they identified themselves as Royal Security Force,” De Lima said.

“The second group came in at 7:37, also yesterday, so isang oras lang ang pagitan. The same Philippine vessel PS38 intercepted the second group, and again, there were 18 passengers who were identified to be RSF members, and again, with assorted firearms,” she added.

She pointed out that a composite force composed of members from the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are studying the appropriate charges to file against these individuals.

By Lilybeth G. Ison

The Philippines will import some 187,000 metric tons (MT) of rice this year for buffer stock during the lean months.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Thursday said the National Food Authority Council, following a meeting last week, has allowed the grains agency to import some 187,000 MT of rice to be purchased through a government-to-government deal.

Alcala, on the sidelines of the Mag-AGRI Tayo! Forum in Quezon City, said the NFA would start the bidding this month for the grain requirement.

"The latest date for the bidding would be April. The rice should be arriving before June 30, in time for the lean season," he said.

The lean season runs from June to August.

At present, only two countries -- Vietnam and Thailand -- have existing rice purchase agreements with Manila.

Alcala said the total volume of rice to be imported by the NFA already covers the omnibus minimum access volume (MAV) for rice under the World Trade Organization.

"The volume that we are now importing will be within the MAV, which in turn will limit the volume of rice arriving to the country. The remainder of the minimum access volume to be allowed to enter the country is only the in-quota volume," he said.

Under the WTO agreement, the Philippines has committed to a minimum access volume of about 350,000 MT for rice, with tariff rate of 50 percent.

MAV refers to the minimum volume of farm produce allowed to enter into the Philippines at reduced tariffs, while shipments outside MAV pay higher rates.

The country has reduced imports by more than half this year as lean months become shorter as a result of the early cropping scheme being implemented by the DA-National Rice Program.

"Because of our early cropping scheme, we were able to break tradition so we can now expect harvest by June. In other words, we have shortened our lean months. So we may no longer need to import that much this year," said Alcala.

By Gloria H. Grejalde

Economic managers are painting a rosy picture of the Philippines in 2013 with an investment status upgrade, a 7 percent GDP growth, low interest rates and stock exchange index at 11,000-point level.

“A Latin American country misplaced geographically in Asia, the Philippines stock market is also the best performing equity market in Asia,” according to Prasenjit Kumar Basu, Regional Head, Research and Economics of Maybank Kim Eng.

He also said the country deserves an investment grade status, this despite the trade balance deficit that was offset by the soaring foreign reserves and where foreign reserves are greater than its liabilities.

“It is just a matter of time before rating agencies wake up to this reality and when that happens, investment environment will dramatically change,” he said.

Basu who talked on the subject of “2013: Strengthening Global Recovery Amid Ample Liquidity” during the Maybank Economic Briefing at the Taps, Genting Club at Maxims Hotel in Resorts World Manila on Thursday also said that the “Philippines is set to become the new pole of emerging market.”

For his part, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Investment Director Philip Frederick S. Hagedorn who discussed "2013 Philippines Equities Outlook" said the country has the strongest market in the world.

“For just two months, the country recorded a total of US$ 812 million foreign inflows, equivalent to 30 percent of all of 2012, there is no way to stop the market from growing up with this type of flows,” Hagedorn explained.

He projected the market to end at 11,000 this year and advised investors not to sell their equity during this period as it will continue to sky rocket upwards.

“Forget the fundamentals, just buy, what is important is that earnings are growing and that the market is shooting,” he stressed.

by pna

The central bank revised upwards its inflation forecasts for this and next year given the faster rate of price increases last January as well as additional petitions for power hikes.

The outlook for the two-year period were increased to 3.3 percent from three percent and 3.2 percent for 2013 and 2014, respectively.

“The main driver for the higher 2013 forecast is because of the higher actual outturn for January inflation,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Assistant Governor Cyd Tuano-Amador said in a briefing Thursday.

Rate of price increases stood at three percent last January, higher than the previous month’s 2.9 percent and was at the higher end of the central bank’s 2.5-3.4 percent inflation forecast for the month.

Amador said they have incorporated in their earlier forecasts power rate hikes approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) but pointed out that there are new power rate increase petitions.

She also noted that inflation rate in the country is “driven by backward looking or inertial component” thus, the expectations of higher rate of price increase for the two-year period.

Amid the higher inflation forecasts for the two-year period, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said projections for both period remain at the lower half of the government’s three to five percent target.

He stressed that the “inflation environment over the policy horizon is likely to remain manageable.”

He pointed out that because inflation continue “to be firmly anchored” central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) was able to fine-tune the central bank’s policy tools by further reducing the interest rate of the special deposit account (SDA) facility instead of touching the BSP’s key rates.

On Thursday, the Board slashed the SDA interest rates by another 50 basis points to 2.5 percent, a decision made after the first cut in the previous policy-rate setting meet last January.

by pna

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) announced the conduct of the re-bidding for the rehabilitation of the closed Export and Industry Bank (EIB) on March 20, 2013.

The re-bidding will be held at the Penthouse, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

The Bidding Committee, tasked to oversee and conduct the bidding process, will receive bids from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM only. Bids will be opened immediately after.

The Terms and Condition for Re-bidding and Procedure for the Rehabilitation of the Closed Export and Industry Bank are posted in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph .

The subject of the bid shall be the rehabilitation of EIB via purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities of EIB.

The bidding will be limited to strategic third party investors (STPIs) which qualified for the bidding conducted by the PDIC last October 18, 2012.

The bids from the STPIs represent the amount the qualified bidders will pay for the uninsured deposits and other ordinary credits of EIB. STPIs who intend to participate in the re-bidding are required to submit a rehabilitation plan that complies with the requirements for capital strengthening, liquidity, sustainability and viability; and governance. The repayment terms proposed by the STPI must also be indicated. The PDIC Board will set the Reserve Price for the bidding.

The Bidding Committee will determine the Highest Bid among the complying bids. The highest bid is the amount which is either equal to or exceeds the Reserve Price and which will provide the highest recovery to EIB’s depositors and creditors. For purposes of determining the highest bid, the present value of the bid will be computed using a discount rate of 5%.

According to PDIC, 56% of uninsured depositors and creditors, accounting for 67% of total ordinary credits have given their consent to the rehabilitation of EIB. PDIC conducted a series of meetings with depositors and creditors nationwide to provide updates on the rehabilitation and to discuss the importance of the consents to the rehabilitation of EIB until February 2013.

by pna

A central bank official expects the domestic economy to remain strong in the first quarter of 2013.

”The economy, based on leading and co-incident indicators, is showing that it could still be on an expansion phase for the first quarter,” BSP Assistant Governor Cyd Tuano-Amador told reporters Thursday.

Amador declined to give figures but said the expansion is relative to the domestic economy’s trend growth of 4.5 to 4.7 percent in recent years.

“It’s on a comfortable range,” she said.

Last year, the economy expanded by 6.6 percent, higher than the five to six percent target of the government and year-ago’s 3.7 percent.

For the last quarter alone the growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), rose by 6.8 percent.

The expectation for the sustained growth of the domestic economy made Amador believe that even as the central bank continues to cut the rate of its special deposit (SDA) facility the economy “can still absorb” extra liquidity and will not cause inflationary pressures.

“We think that even if we flush funds out, the idle funds out the economy can still absorb it. With some lag but it can still absorb it,” she said.

On Thursday, central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) cut by another 50 basis points (bps) the interest rate of the SDA facility to 2.5 percent. This is the second consecutive 50 bps cut in the SDA rate after the same decision last January.

Amid the fresh cut in the SDA rate, the Board again kept the policy rates. To date, the overnight borrowing rate is at record-low of 3.5 percent and the overnight lending is at 5.5 percent.

This decision is expected to further make the domestic economy remain attractive to foreign investors due to the interest rate differentials.

Interest rates in advance economies remain at almost zero-level while those in emerging economies like the Philippines are higher.

The decision to maintain the BSP’s key rates is expected to boost foreign portfolio investments, otherwise known as hot money due to the speed it comes in and out of the country, because of interest rate differentials.

These investments are normally placed in the equities and bond market.

As of the week ending February 22, 2013, net hot money inflow reached US$ 1.43 billion, nearly three times the US$ 487.94 million net inflow on the week ending February 24 last year.

Total inflows to date reached US$ 4.48 billion, higher than the US$ 2.51 billion same period last year. Total outflows is also higher at US$ 3.05 billion against year-ago’s US$ 2.02 billion.

completely agree. filipinos need to learn how to appreciate more.

a cat from the kung fu panda.

by pna

Farm produce prices in 36 major Chinese cities have declined for a third week, new official data showed.

The Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday in an online statement that the average wholesale prices for 18 vegetables on the monitored list fell 2.2 percent week on week during the period of March 4 to 10.

The decrease brought the total price drop to 16.4 percent from that of three weeks before, the statement said.

It was attributed to abundant supply in the country's northern regions.

The wholesale price of pork, a staple meat, fell 1.5 percent week on week, while the price of beef and mutton saw declines of 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.

Food prices account for about one-third of the prices used to calculate the consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation.

by pna

U.S. space agency NASA launched a suborbital sounding rocket from its Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore on early Monday morning.

The Terrier-Lynx rocket was launched for the U.S. Department of Defense, according to NASA. The launch originally was scheduled for Friday morning but postponed because of the weather.

Sounding rocket, sometimes called research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its suborbital flight.

The rockets are used to carry instruments from 50 to 1,500 kilometers above the surface of the Earth, the altitude generally between weather balloons and satellites.

by pna

State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has launched a P5-billion facility that seeks to finance projects that will promote quality and excellent higher education in the country.

The Financing for Higher Education (FHE) credit facility will fund various initiatives that will ensure the relevance and responsiveness of education programs and promote good governance in accordance with the thrusts of the education sector as stated in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.

It is a component of the Financing Program for Philippine Education (FPPE), an umbrella program that covers basic education, tertiary education, technical and vocational education and alternative learning systems.

The FHE will be available for 10 years and will support higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. It is offered nationwide, especially in rural and poor provinces and regions.

The credit facility will fund projects such as lot acquisition and infrastructure; repair and renovation of classrooms and other school facilities; purchase of furniture and equipment; purchase of supplies and materials like school bags, books and notebooks; and working capital requirements. Maximum loanable amount is up to 90% of the total project cost.

by Phil News Agency

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes Monday said they will do their best to provide legal assistance to the 14 soldiers implicated by the Dept. of Justice in the Jan. 6 shootout in Atimonan, Quezon where 13 people, including a police colonel and an environmentalist, were killed.

He also said the decision to give legal aid to the 14 was borne out by the fact that the military men were merely responding to a call of assistance by the police.

"They were merely following procedure as stated about (sic) the Joint Security Coordinating Committee and they acted in good faith regarding that matter," Coballes stressed.

The PA chief also expressed willingness to bring the 14 to the courts providing that proper charges against them are filed.

"If charges are filed, we will bring them to the courts and should a warrant of arrest be issued, we will abide by that decision," he added.

Coballes also clarified that they will only dismiss the 14 from the service once the courts issued a guilty finding against the latter.

He also pointed out that the PA is conducting its own investigation on the incident to determine whether there are lapses on the part of the 14.

Coballes said this will allow them to correct this and avoid a repeat of a similar incident.

Military personnel to be charged with multiple murder, as per DOJ recommendations, are Lt. Col. Monico Abang, the battalion commander, Capt. Erwin Macalinao, 1st Lt. Rico Tagure, Technical Sgt. Melanio Balauitan, Cpl. Clark Magusara, Pfc. Michael Franco, Pfc. Kirby-Tam Coronel, Pfc. Alvin Roque Pabon, Pfc. Ricky Jay Borja, Pfc. Melvin Lumalang, Pfc. Gil Gallego, Pvt. Marc Zaldy Docdoc, Pvt. Emergin Barrete and Pvt. Michard Manago.

by pna

The Dept. of Justice Monday ordered the filing of syndicated estafa charges before the Iligan City Regional Trial Court against Pagadian City Mayor Samuel Co and 11 others.

The case was in connection with the P12-billion pyramiding scam allegedly committed by Aman Futures Group Philippines, Inc. owned by Manuel Amalilio.

Aside from Co, also ordered charged were Manuel Amalilio, Fernando Luna, Lelian Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilanie Fuentes, Naezelle Rodrigurz and Lurix Lopez.

The case arose from the P29-million syndicated estafa complaint filed by Julius Labunog against the respondents.

According to Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, the panel of prosecutors found that Co was an agent of Aman Futures contrary to his claim that he was merely an investor.

After the meticulous investigation conducted by the National Prosecution Service, it found probable cause to file in court syndicated estafa charges against Mayor Samuel Co and 11 other respondents.

Also ordered charged were Manuel and his wife, Abigail Pendulas-Amalilio as chairman of Aman Futures and the incorporators, directors and officials of Aman Futures namely Fernando Luna, Lelian Lim-Gan, Eduard Lim, Wialnie Fuentes, Narzelle Rodriquez, and Lurix Lopez and other John and Jane Does for collecting money from investors despite their knowledge their activity was illegal.

According to the panel of prosecutors, it was clear that Pagadian Mayor Sammuel Co was involved in the operation of Aman Futures based on the certification issued by Aman Futures on Aug. 25, 2012 certifying that Mayor Co is a legitimate agent.

This was corroborated by another respondent in the case Lilian Gan.

Mayor Co also offered the management of Aman Future their public building C3, where the operation of Aman Futures was conducted.

Meanwhile, the NPS cleared another respondent in the case, Jorino Ledesma for lack of sufficient evidence to be included in the charge sheet.

by pna

The Sabah Special Security Area announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is to be known as the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

He said the name was decided by the Sabah Security Committee at a meeting which he had chaired earlier Monday.

Najib had agreed to the name and would announce further details on ESSCOM soon, Musa told reporters after the meeting.

The prime minister announced the establishment of the Sabah Special Security Area on Thursday after a visit to Sabah to have a close look at the "Ops Daulat" offensive launched by the security forces against Sulu militants in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu.

The militants had holed up in the village since Feb 12 and had ignored government overtures to them lay down arms and surrender.

On March 1 and 2, the militants ambushed and killed eight policemen in Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Simunul, Semporna, prompting the government to launch the offensive.

Musa, in a video conference with Najib in Putrajaya Monday, said the people welcomed the prime minister's announcement of the Sabah Special Security Area which stretched from Kudat to Tawau on the east coast and had Lahad Datu as the central command.

"I am sure this measure has raised the confidence of the people, investors and tourists in terms of safety, especially in the Sabah east coast," he said.

by pna

A new study in the United States has found that women who take aspirin have a reduced risk of developing melanoma, and that the longer they take it, the lower the risk.

The findings suggest that aspirin's anti-inflammatory effects may help protect against this type of skin cancer. The study was published early online on Monday in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

In the Women's Health Initiative, researchers observed U.S. women aged 50 to 79 for an average of 12 years and noted which individuals developed cancer. At the beginning of the study, the women were asked which medications they took, what they ate, and what activities they performed.

When Jean Tang of Stanford University School of Medicine and her colleagues analyzed available data from 59,806 Caucasian women in the study, they found that women who took more aspirin were less likely to develop melanoma skin cancer during the 12 years of follow-up.

Overall, women who used aspirin had a 21-percent lower risk of melanoma relative to non-users. Each incremental increase in duration of aspirin use (less than one year of use, one to four years of use, and five or more years of use) was associated with an 11-percent lower risk of melanoma. Thus, women who used aspirin for five or more years had a 30-percent lower melanoma risk than women who did not use aspirin.

The researchers controlled for differences in pigmentation, tanning practices, sunscreen use, and other factors that may affect skin cancer risk.

"Aspirin works by reducing inflammation and this may be why using aspirin may lower your risk of developing melanoma," said Tang. She noted that the findings support the design of a clinical trial to directly test whether aspirin can be taken to prevent melanoma.

Rey Anthony Chiu

Bohol â€" What is common among ube and its weird rituals, organic lubang rice farming, humay tapow, humay puwa, hungos, sustainable agriculture and the Sierra Bullones and Duero Rice Terraces?

They will soon be part of a rich agricultural heritage tour which Bohol could offer after these generated an unusual interest among tourists and environment advocates, according to non-government organization authorities here who have seen the potential for a niche tourism market for this.

NO TO GMO
Distinguishing itself among very few provinces which have churned out an official stand against genetically modified organism (GMO), Bohol looms as among the leaders.

Keeping Bohol environment unadulterated by “tinkered” food is a sublime responsibility of a people which looks forward to a healthy and safe future generation, admits former vice governor Julius Ceasar Herrera during the historic passing of the band on GMO ordinance.

With a sturdy group of sustainable agriculture advocates and armed with Bohol Initiators for Sustainable Agricultural Development (BISAD) master plan, tourists looking at replicating Bohol can pore at its legislation and pluck salient points they can possibly replicate, Herrera said.

UBI
Food given by the gods to feed a drought stricken people, the ube is so revered crop here that there are weird tales about how farmers go insane lengths to make the rootcrop grow lush and retain its sweet aroma.

Regarded as among the most important crops in Bohol, ubi kinampay and baligonhon (aromatic purple yam) are prized plants by locals who have sworn the crops trace back to a long line of generations in their family.

Early Spanish priest and chronicler Fr. Ignacio Alcina SJ has noted the crop upon the arrival of the Spanish missionaries here, and modern farmers believed the product could have been brought with the galleons to Acapulco where it would be later brought to Spain.

Ubi should not be dropped, people here believe. When a child carrying it trips, there is a huge chance that the child gets a spanking, while the ubi gets a kiss.

Modern farmers say, a dropped ubi develops bruises which rots the crop while in storage. This makes it not viable for travel to Spain, which also infuriates the traders who lose potential profits from this, they explain.

Tales abound here saying that the crop should be planted on moonless nights by bare women who are “well endowed,” this assures that the rootcrops grow as large as fat breasts and crack like “it is, down there.”

Before that, a male farmer would do the palihi, a ceremonial planting when he puts in a triad of holes prepared broken pots, sea shells, olive palm leaves as parts of the ritual which also includes paganist thanksgiving and supplication.

HUMAY LUBANG/HUMAY PILIT TAPOW
Another interest for tourists and environmentalists, including sustainable agriculture farmers is the traditional organic rice and the black glutinous rice.

Still a hit among Boholanos for it deals a different fill to those who consume them, the tapow varieties have remained unchanged and are grown on organic ricefields.

Bombarded already by a slew of commercial and mixed breeds of rice, lubang and tapow have survived the onslaught keeping their distinct characteristics and their low susceptibility to climatic changes, Dr. Marina Labonite of BISU research center shared.

These are varieties that have been proven to survive the heat, knowing them as traditionally bred upland rice varieties, a traditional organic farmer from Cansumbol Bilar confessed.

These too are best cooked when husked using the traditional wooden mortar and pestle.

Husking the lubang and tapow always evokes that painting of the a rice field bathed in golden light and the rustic feel, which a tourist would certainly remember for long, he said

He was referring to a Filipino painter Amorsolo.

GENE BANK
One of the potentially great contributions Bohol farmers can share to the country is its rare stock of rice accessions, shares Dr. Marina Labonite of the Bohol Island State University

The accessions are local breeds of rice from those varieties which were introduced for their noted high yielding characteristics, which farmers have interbred to test their survivability in the drastic changes of climate brought about by global warming.

Conceived to find the most cost efficient rice breed that could translate to profits, the project to seek out the traditional varieties and bank them became a hit as newer breeds demand so much inputs that often go to eat up the farmer’s profits.

Now stockpiled at a room in the sprawling BISU compound, the rice seeds are in both panicle and threshed form while some other 200 accessions are also in cold storage on refrigerators in the room.

The objective is to make sure that any farmer can get seeds for test planting and the produce, he can use for his production in the next cropping season, she explains.

From here, farmers can also get a choice of other accessions to vary the rice varieties in their farms for cropping, this breaks their susceptibility to pests and other diseases, she adds.

What is more stunning is that farmers here in Bilar have been planting their bred rice accessions without the use of inorganic fertilizers, which makes their harvests really organic.

But the accreditation and the authority to let them use the term rests in scientists who study rice breeding, she summed.

RICE TERRACES
Unknown to many, the urge to adapt to the environment in Bohol happened long before campaigns for climate change adaptation became vogue.

In Sierra Bullones for example, farmers from at least five barangays continue to till rice from age-old rice terraces, carved from sloping hills which were otherwise inhospitable to rice.

Now with the rice paddies carved and built on the hill slopes, the spectacle of green rice neatly arranged and sprouting from rice terraces could not just be claimed by provinces way up north.

These rice terraces have been here even before my grandfather who farmed some of them, admits a farmer in Malinao, Sierra Bullones.

There is this heartening contrast of carved hills and an unadulterated forest rising in the distance, one can note while standing on a highway cutting across the hectares of rice terraces.

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

Bohol - Valencia topped this year’s performers in real property (RP) tax collection when it posted some 162.50% efficiency rating, according to the office of the Provincial Treasurer.

During the weekly flag ceremony at the Acacia Garden of the Capitol Monday, March 4, Provincial treasurer Eustaquio Socorin and Governor Edgar Chatto handed to the visibly proud Valencia Treasurer Aquilina Ampit a certificate which highlighted the Provincial Government’s appreciation for the achievement.

Last year’s third top performer Pilar, settled for second place this year improving its records with 140.99% tax collection efficiency rating from 106.40 rating in 2011.

Pilar Municipal Treasurer Fortunato Corciega and his Mayor Wilson each received the certificates of recognition handed by Socorin and Governor Chatto.

Valencia easily beat last year’s top performer Clarin, which now earned Bohol’s third place in real property tax collection performance. Also with Clarin in the third spot is Catigbian, which earned 136.31% efficiency ratings.

Municipal treasurers Cresilda Rulida and Victorieta Loquere, from both towns also received citations accompanied by Catigbian Vice Mayor Rey Lacea and Clarin Mayor Allen Rey Piezas.

This year too, Inabanga, Sevilla, Getafe and Loon barged into the top performers list.

Inabanga occupied the fourth top performer slot with treasurer Columba Escamillan working it out to squeeze a 128.48% efficiency rating for the town.

Sevilla, another newcomer into the list managed to cap 117.75% rating making it to the fifth place, thanks to the efforts of the office under Belinda Cayoca.

Getafe’s Eduardo Social Jr. also snuggled his town’s real property tax collection performance to sixth place managing a 115.92% rating.

On the 7th place is Jagna, as treasurer Raymond Emmanuel Cuadra bagged for the town a collection rating efficiency of 112.80%, a better performance from its last year’s rating of 107.85. Jagna was 2nd to Clarin in 2011.

Efforts of Alicia’s Lourdes Unajan, which ranked 5th then in 2011 fell three notches lower to number 8, but still posted a better efficiency rating in 2012 with 109.34 over last year’s 99.52%.

Rene Guivencan of Panglao settled at ninth place this year by posting 108.16% efficiency rating, also higher than its last year’s 99.52%. Panglao also claimed the 5th rank in 2011, according to data from the Provincial Treasurer.

Loon Treasurer Teofista Marilla also proved her real property tax collection efficiency with a 101.94% to land her town in the 10th place for this year.

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

Two foreign-funded projects are now implemented in Bohol, both of them helping address Bohol’s environment and sustainable development in line with the provincial vision.

German Development Corporation GIZ) funds one project, the Promotion for Green Economic Development (ProGED) implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry and The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) funds Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (EcoFISH).

EcoFISH is a project implemented by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Local government Units, according to Anecita Gulayan, project site coordinator for Bohol.

While ProGED is piloted in Bohol and builds on the gains of an earlier project called Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (SMEDSEP), EcoFISH is in other areas across the country where there is a need for communities to promote growth and profitability of fisheries.

EcoFISH also builds on the platforms established by an earlier FISH project that ably showed that fish decline can be arrested and reversed and that effective governance are keys to the success and sustainability of fish management.

EcoFISH does this by conservation of the health of ecosystems and the sustainable and efficient management of the fisheries areas of Danajon Reef areas in Bohol, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, Verde Passage in Mindoro, Calamian Group of Islands in Palawan, Lagonoy Gulf in Bicol, South Negros Islands, surigao Sur and Norte as well as in Sulu Islands, Gulayan explains.

We have the most productive fishing grounds in Bohol but our demands are exceeding the supply so that even fishing communities are submerged deeper in poverty as more and more fishermen catch fewer fish, EcoFISH presentation showed.

“Fish stocks are dwindling and fish catch are declining due to overfishing and unsustainable/ illegal fishing practices…., Gulayan, who worked with FISH pointed out.

And just as ProGED uses its Green Value Chain Promotion, Green Local and Regional Economic Development Approach and Green Market System Development, EcoFISH on the other hand uses a tested Eco-systems approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM).

Despite tremendous gains in management, the country is losing about US$120 million in economic benefits per year, half of which due to unsustainable fishing practices. Clearly there is a need for more interventions designed to address unsustainable fishing through the ecosystem approach that builds on what the country has already been doing, she reasoned why EAFM.

Coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, estuaries, play a critical role in the life cycle of fishes. Maintenance of healthy ecosystems is imperative to fishes’ natural regeneration and recruitment. Fishes’ migratory nature calls for wider collaborative governance and institutional arrangements, Gulayan added.

Ecofish is an integrated approach to address the intertwined problems of marine ecosystem degradation, fish stock depletion and poverty and it integrates biological, socio-economic and governance perspectives in fisheries management, taking into account local contexts and needs, according to Gulayan.

by Bohol Chronicle

Tagbilaran's horrible roads, believed to be the worst in the Philippines today, took center stage as three mayoralty bets in a debate Friday have unanimously blasted the city's most pressing problem of this century.

The synchronized opinion of former City Councilor Augustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga, Dr. Abraham Lim, and the city's number one councilor, John Geesnell “Baba” Yap, all vying for City Hall's top seat in the May 2013 elections, reechoed First District Cong. Rene Relampagos' remark in a Feb. 15 debate with City Mayor Dan Lim that Tagbilaran is a victim of “9 years of waste and negligence” as seen on its offensive roads.

Of the three, A. Lim appeared to be reluctant in pointing out Tagbilaran's most-talked-about problem. “Kung akoy pangutan-on, ang numero uno nga suliran sa Tagbilaran mao ang panglawas, pero kung ang katawhan maoy pasultihon, ang kalsada,” he told a sometimes unruly crowd all competing for an inch at a small  University of Bohol (UB) Gym.

A Lim, whose handler is his own brother, the incumbent city mayor, clarified that he is not an “apologist” for Mayor Lim.
“Bisan kinsa ang inyong pilion pagka-mayor makasulbad sa suliran sa kalsada,” A Lim said. He added that if he gets elected mayor, 80 percent of city roads would have undergone concreting within three years of his administration.

The question stemmed from the debate moderator's opening-salvo question: “What do you consider as the number one problem of Tagbilaran City and what is your solution?”

“Bisan buta makahibalo dayon kung unsa ang suliran sa Tagbilaran,” Gonzada told a roaring crowd, alluding to one's feeling of certainty over bumpy roads even without seeing them.

“Gitawag kini ug TBTK or Tagbilaran Busluton Tanang Kalsada,” he said, unleashing a punch-line that drew loud approvals even from those belonging to the opposite political fence.

Gonzaga said that the city has a total of 87 kilometers of road network in which 70 percent are in their worst condition not ever seen in previous city administrations. He vowed not to rely on bank loans in repairing the city's disgusting roads.

Gonzaga's statement on loan was an offshoot to his earlier protest to City Hall's move to avail of a whooping P240-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), a plan that has stirred a boiling public anger owing to the numbered days of Mayor Lim at City Hall before the May 2013 elections.

In several news reports, people have condemned the P240-million loan, saying people's money would just “obviously” be used to finance  the current election campaign.

Councilor Yap, a nephew of the city mayor and Abe Lim, cited a research of the Holy Name University (HNU) which revealed that deteriorating roads had topped people's concerns.

“We will increase the budget for road repair and maintenance,” Councilor Yap told an animated debate audience whose t-shirt colors tagged their political affiliations. He hit City Hall for completing only 4 road projects between 2006 to 2009, out of the 34 identified projects.

Their views were articulated during the two-hour candidates forum dubbed as “Your Voice, My Choice, Our Future” held at University of Bohol gymnasium last Friday afternoon. Loy Palapos was the moderator.

The forum sponsored by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. was the second of three episodes, the last of which will be held this Thursday with gubernatorial bets, re-electionist Gov. Edgar Chatto and Carmen Mayor Cheche Toribio de los Reyes. The final episode to be held at the HNU gym will be also be covered live over dyRD.

PROPOSED HEALTH PROGRAMS

At the debate, often interrupted by cheers and jeers of a raucous crowd, the three candidates were asked of their proposed health programs.

Councilor Yap said he would augment the budget for the so-called Blue Card Program, a failed policy of his uncle mayor. Blue Card, it may be recalled, was dishonored by all hospitals after it was found out that City Hall had no funds for Blue Card despite several releases of budgetary funds for that purpose.

The young councilor said he would ensure that more families would qualify for a Blue Card Program sans a biased politics.
“Atong wad-on ang pagpili-pili kung kinsa ang mo-qualify sa Blue Card,” Yap stressed. He added that he would also strive to put up a city-government-managed hospital, a vision similarly affirmed and shared with Gonzaga.

Atty. Gonzaga said: “We will strengthen health centers because these are the frontliners in serving the public. We will hire more health workers, provide free medicine for common illnesses, and conduct free medical check-up.”

He said that the City could tap the proceeds of sin tax revenues that would give muscle to health programs here, underscoring the inclusion of senior citizens, children and women as priority beneficiaries.

A Lim, on the other hand, took a less traveled road on health issues, saying he would devote more efforts on prevention than on treatment.

“We need to educate people why they get sick,” he said.
“People need to understand the importance of regular exercise, right food, and clean lifestyle.”

“We don't need money, but common sense,” A Lim said on health problems. “We need to change the mindset of people regarding health.”

TAGBILARAN AS A TOURISM HUB

Gonzaga lamented that Tagbilaran has often been snubbed by tourists coming to Bohol because the city has no tourism spots to showcase (except the Sandugo Shrine) in the first place, a fact he blamed on City Hall's refusal to cooperate with the Provincial Government of Bohol and Gov. Edgar M. Chatto, a known tourism champion.

“We will make Tagbilaran as a true city of friendship,” Gonzada said.

He said he would build a Convention Center in Tagbilaran that would attract organizers of big-time trade fairs, conferences, and seminars.

Gonzaga also outlined the need to put up a handicraft village that will show the ingenious talents of Tagbilaranons, as part of his comprehensive eco-tourism programs.

For his part, A Lim said he would educate tricycle drivers as competent tourist guides whom he considers the City's “moment of truth.”

“The attitude of tricycle drivers can affect the overall public image of Tagbilaran,” A Lim pointed out.

He said he would spread out the direction of city's developments to ease traffic problems, adding that he would fix and expand the existing old Tagbilaran Airport.

Yap, on the other hand, proposed that every barangay would have its own tourism attraction. He said that the dying Sandugo Festival should receive support from City Hall. He added that he would create a City Tour program that will showcase Tagbilaran's potentials.

The city councilor blasted the emptiness  and lack of aesthetics of  the City Hall, being the show-window to the City's image. City Hall gets an annual budget of P2 million for its nowhere-to-be-found landscaping.

SOLVING UNEMPLOYMENT
A Lim admitted that City Hall cannot singlehandedly solve the unemployment problem, but he said that “this is an area where private establishments should come in and cooperate with the government.”

Yap emphasized that “daghang negosyo, daghang trabaho.” He revealed that 44 percent of city residents are unemployed today. He batted for a Tagbilaran that is business-friendly, a mantra also pushed by Gonzaga, and Yap said he would invite call center investors whose presence in the city can generate jobs.

Gonzaga said he would first fix the broken infrastructures of Tagbilaran and enhance peace and order to lure investors to come in. “Tagbilaran must be known as an investment-business friendly city.”

He said he would put an end to the problem of massive delayed or denials of business permit and licensing applications at City Hall that have stalled economic progress here.

UNMANAGED CITY GARBAGE

All the candidates admitted that the city garbage problem is worsening due to misplaced priorities.

Yap said proper segregation of garbage at its source would be the first step in solving this headache. He disclosed that as of the moment only seven garbage trucks of City Hall are functional.

A Lim and Gonzaga agreed with Yap that city's garbage can be transported to Albur's proposed dumpsite, a project objected by Mayor Lim after he refused to join the dump-site cluster project.

Gonzaga offered a two-way approach to the garbage problem: a long-term and short-term solution. He said it is hazardous and impractical to create a dumpsite within Tagbilaran because it
will contaminate the city's underground water sources.

Gonzaga cited a specific example of enormous uncollected garbage at Gallares Hospital who for years continues to bury its toxic wastes underground at its own backyard without regard to human health being at risk.

Lim also pointed out of a hidden practice by Panglao hotels and resorts who bury their garbage underground right near the beach.

FIGHTING GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

“I know nothing of graft and corruption since I am not yet in government service,” A Lim told an intensely politically-divided crowd. “I don't fear of being assassinated but what I fear is of being corrupted once I am in government service.”
He said he would solicit people's feedback on how to combat graft and corruption.

Gonzaga minced no words in slamming City Hall's absence of transparency and accountability as a perfect example of existing graft and corrupt practices.

“Employees at City Hall cannot even answer media questions so that the people may know,” Gonzaga said.

Lawyer Gonzaga moved on to lambast the millions of unliquidated cash advances at City Hall now under deep scrutiny by the Commission on Audits but no formal court charges have been filed yet.

“Dinhi sa Tagbilaran, usa ray contractor sa tanang mga proyekto. Mao niy dakong pangutana nga angayan tubagon sa City Hall,” Gonzaga hit such monopolistic practice, reminding Tagbilarananons of City Hall's disappearing vouchers.

Gonzaga, a UP graduate, vowed to probe into massive unliquidated cash advances at City Hall.

Yap staved off speculations he would inherit a bankrupt City Hall and stressed that if there is good governance, corruption has no place in it.

The nephew of the City Mayor himself attacked City Hall for lack of transparency as evidence of its failure to publicize in newspapers and websites of government projects as mandated by national laws.

Concurring with Gonzaga, Yap said he would open to all city-based business establishments the bidding of City Hall projects.

WINNING WITHOUT VOTE-BUYING
“Ang makapadaog sa kandidato mag-agad kung pila ka tawo ang natabangan ug mahatagan sa ensaktong serbisyo,” Yap said as he promised not to buy votes as it would be an insult to the intelligence of voters.

A Lim said he doesn't have a budget of P50 million to fuel his election bid. Later, during the rebuttal, he changed the figure to P100 million.

However, he made a straightforward pronouncement: “Why won't we admit that vote-buying is a way of life?”

“Dili ko mopalit ug buto, manghatag lang ko ug kwarta,” A Lim said matter-of-factly.

A Lim warned that if a mayoralty candidate would spend P50 million for vote-buying, then “mapugos ta ug binuang,” a declaration that shocked a stunned crowd.

Gonzaga concluded that Tagbilarananons have been so desiring for change and that he objected money politics.

He said he doesn't have P50 million as campaign kitty, reminding the public that he is “a mere government employee and not a businessman.”

“I believe that people in Tagbilaran would vote for a candidate who has the experience, competence, talent, and capability to lead and manage Tagbilaran the right way,” Gonzaga said.

by Bohol Chronicle

City taxpayer Zenaido “Djingo” Rama called the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) that Tagbilaran City Hall's P240-million loan application is tainted with illegality, expressing fears that the loan money would just be used to bankroll political campaigns in the May 2013 elections.

“Obviously, the loan of P240 Million, to be frank and honest about it, is intended to be used for election purposes. The people of Tagbilaran are not insane and foolish that they cannot understand the motive of the city administration,” said Rama in a letter sent to DBP Chairman Pepo Nunez and DBP President Gil Buenaventura.


The letter was also sent to the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as the former city councilor reminded the said government agencies of the wasted P50 million loan secured by the city government of Tagbilaran prior the 2010 local elections.

The top DBP officials were informed of the public clamor in the best interest of “protecting the people's money,” Rama told the Chronicle yesterday.

The letter was also sent to lawyer Marissa P. Anino, senior manager of the DBP-Tagbilaran Branch.
Rama said he took up the cudgels of writing to the DBP because “if no one else will do, then who else?”

“In behalf of the taxpayers of Tagbilaran, I am therefore appealing with the Development Bank of the Philippines to exercise extreme caution in handling the loan application of City Hall. The DBP should not make the unforgivable mistake of partaking in what is rather deemed as a suspicious plan of the city in getting a P240 Million,” he said in the letter, copy of which was furnished to President Noynoy Aquino, the Ombudsman-Manila, and the Sandiganbayan.

Rama said the ordinance passed by City Mayor Dan Lim's allies at the City Council authorizing the mayor to get a P240-million loan is laced with illegality since one kagawad is not supposed to partake in the Sangguniang Panlungsod session.

Split in the middle with a 6 all tie vote, The Sangguiniang Panglungsod  approved the administration's request for a P240M loan after Vice Mayor and Presiding Officer Nuevas T. Montes broke the tie in favor for the approval of the loan.

“The ordinance is tainted with illegality because Cogon Barangay Captain Philipp Besas who voted in favor of the ordinance is not legally recognized by the ABC, The Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan  of Bohol as an ex-officio member of the City's Sangguniang Panlungsod. Taloto Barangay Captain Faro Cabalit is the legal ABC President who should have been part in the voting of the ordinance,” Rama said.

The current legal impasse in the SP stemmed from a vote of no confidence filed by eleven of the fifteen City Punong Barangays against the sitting Tagbilaran ABC, Taloto Punong Barangay Faroh Cabalit.

But the ABC declared the no confidence vote without legal basis. However, a petition for a temporary restraining order was filed but was denied by the RTC Branch in Manila.

Still, the SP refused to honor the TRO denial even as a motion for reconsideration is now awaiting final disposition.

“The DBP must remember that before the 2010 election, the City Government had availed of P50 Million loan which was all used to purchase limestone (anapog). The anapog was allegedly used to repair the worsening roads of Tagbilaran.

Unfortunately, the P50 Million cost of anapog was rendered totally worthless as it never served its purpose. It was all washed out by rains, and the P50 Million taxpayer funds were all gone forever,” Rama stressed.

The former city councilor also told the DBP that it is too late for City Hall to fix the “ugly roads” in Tagbilaran considering that the present administration has two months to wrap up its reign.

“If the city administration was not able to address the despicable road for the last 9 years, how can the city government fix this road problem in the remaining two months of its power?” Rama asked.

Rama called on the DBP not to approve the loan but instead hear the voices of the people of Tagbilaran who are opposing the “anomalous and scandalous” move of City Hall.

“The voice of the people opposing the loan is too loud and clear to be ignored. If the DBP would not pay attention to public outcry, the bank would not certainly be spared from legal and administrative consequences,” Rama said.

A similar attempt by the present City Hall administration for the release of a P50M loan from the DPB weeks before the 2010 Elections  was thwarted alter more than a thousand signatories from city residents expressing their vehement opposition to the release was sent to the DPB. (CMV)

by Bohol Chronicle

Civil works on the New Bohol Airport in Panglao is slated to commence this year with the wastewater treatment facility as the first package being the primary requirement of the project.

Governor Edgar Chatto confirmed during his weekly program, Kita ug ang Gobernador, last Friday that officials of the Department of Transportation of Communications have been holding successive meetings on the update of the preparations, together with the local task force in Bohol.

Part of the preparation is the recent soil drilling conducted by the Manila-based Universal Testing Laboratory and Inspection to assess the capacity of the foundation of the project site.

Mandy Victorio of the Universal Testing Laboratory and Inspection said they will submit samples of the rocks taken from the project site to laboratory tests for this purpose.
The samples were taken from the depth of up to five meters in the site.

The DOTC is giving the Victorio's team 15 days to finish the soil drilling.

This falls within the timeframe on the target to commence the construction of the New Bohol Airport within this year.
Boholanos have the assurance of President Benigno Aquino III as declared in his several Presidential visits here.

Another package to be accomplished in the first phase of the project is the wastewater treatment facility.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II also reported that the water treatment facility component of the New Bohol Airport was included in the discussion with Japanese officials during his recent visit to Japan.

Damalerio explained that the Japanese experts who designed the New Bohol Airport require the sewer treatment facility.
That's why, the wastewater treatment facility is integrated as the first package to be accomplished, in addition to stable water supply.

The provincial administrator, however, made it clear that he learned during the discussion in Japan that the site earlier proposed to host the wastewater treatment facility in Tagbilaran was only 1/8 of the ideal area of lot needed for it.

Chatto added that the implementation of a wastewater treatment facility is demand-driven and it is Panglao and Tagbilaran that are identified as the ones that need it most.

The governor also said that the Philippine delegation to Japan was composed of representatives from DPWH and other national agencies, saying that the national government is the one making representations for Bohol in dealing with Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Chatto also observed that the Japanese officials noticed during their visits to Bohol, the strong potentials of the province which is the reason that it is given a slot in the Philippine delegation to the meeting on opening partnership with Japan.

By Carla P. Gomez
Inquirer Visayas

This is a case of tit for tat.

A nasty text message titled “Team Tatay” started circulating in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, on Friday.

The Bacolod Diocese is getting its share of attacks after hanging its controversial “Team Patay/Team Buhay” tarpaulin at San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City to inform voters who among the senatorial candidates to support and reject due to their stance on the reproductive health (RH) law.

The text message, which allegedly came from Buklod ng Malayang Pilipino, identified five priests of the Bacolod Diocese who have allegedly sired children.

A poster titled “The Team Damaso ang Tunay Na Patay” was also being circulated in the popular social networking site Facebook. The poster contained the names and photos of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, an archbishop, three bishops, one retired bishop and one priest.

“Beware of these clowns,” read the statement at the bottom of the poster.

‘Unchristian’

Navarra described the poster and text messages as part of a smut campaign against the clergy because of their campaign against the RH law.

“These attacks are very unchristian,” he said.

“Some priests who have had indiscretions in the past have realized what they did, shown that they are repentant, reformed and have made amends,” he added.

The text message, which was written in Hiligaynon, started circulating in Bacolod on Friday.

Boycott father priests

The message started with “Team Tatay,”which identified five priests of the Bacolod Diocese who allegedly fathered some children even if they remained priests.

It said the faithful should not attend Masses celebrated by these priests or give donations, especially since they never owned up to having fathered children.

These priests, it added, were living on the goodness of the faithful.

“Ngaa wala ni sila napangdisiplina ni Bishop Navarra (How come these priests were never disciplined by Bishop Navarra)?” the text message said.

More names coming up

The text message said the list was only partial, and more names would be revealed soon.

Navarra said the Team Patay/Team Buhay tarpaulin was a collective expression of the truth that the RH law was a clear defiance and insult to God.

“Infringing on the right to life is an infringement on all other rights,” Navarra said.

Seven senatorial candidates were tagged by the diocese as members of Team Patay for voting in favor of RH law.

They are Juan Edgardo Angara, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros, Teddy Casiño and Jack Enrile.

Party-list groups Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Akbayan and Anak Pawis are also on the Team Patay list.

Six senatorial candidatesâ€"Joseph Victor Ejercito, Antonio Trillanes, Gregorio Honasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Koko Pimentel and Cynthia Villarâ€"were on the Team Buhay list for opposing the RH law.

No to tarpaulins

But two of the three Catholic dioceses in Negros Occidental will not put up Team Patay/Team Buhay tarpaulins in their churches.

While they support the cause of the Diocese of Bacolod against the RH law, Fr. Edwin Laude, Social Action Center director of the Diocese of San Carlos, said they had yet to get a consensus from the clergy in their diocese on the education campaign they would adopt.

But definitely, they will not use the Team Patay/Team Buhay title because it is divisive, Laude told the Inquirer.

He added that they would just list down the names of those who voted against and for the RH law to inform the faithful.

RIP, Royal Army of Sulu.

daghang mamilyonaryo sa muntinlupa ani if it is applicable in the philippines.

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