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mao ra seguro toy dalagita sa ilang purok mao gailog.

If You Were Bill Gates

How to Deal with Cellphone Txt Scam

Air Philippines International Flights Promo

comment forwarded by an australian:

The problem is simple, as most Philippinos look like monkeys no wonder they feel angry at the world. What a curse even the children of Philippino's look like chimps, poor things everytime I see one I feel like offering them a banana.

by pna

Some 10,000 new jobs are up for grabs following the opening of the SM Lanang Premier and the Radisson Hotel here on Friday.

SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy said "we have been very aggressive in Mindanao because we saw the potential in the island. What we are doing in China is also what we are doing here," he said.

Sy led the opening of SM Lanang Premier on Sept. 28 and had the new landmark inaugurated on Sept. 27 along with the first IMAX threatre, the first Forever 21 store in the region, an SMX Convention Center.

"It will also feature the Science Discovery Center. The Radisson Hotel will open in February 2013," he said.

The Park, an outdoor event venue was, simultaneously opened to the public. It has a breathtaking 122 meters musical fountain and a Skygarden with greens, water features, and restaurants.

Sy said the purchasing power in Mindanao is strong and this can be seen in the study they made per transaction basis.

"I'm giving them reason to spend by offering new market to make the economy rolling," he said.

Sy said next year they will have two projects in Mindanao where another mall will be built in Cagayan de Oro City and in Butuan City with a capital expense each at P2 billion.

"The Cagayan mall will be similar to that in Olongapo City with 1.7 hectares area of multi-level type while Butuan will have an area of 90,000 square meters," he said.

"What we are doing is to invest back the cash we generated in the 46 malls and not just borrow funding for reason of expansion," he said.

Sy also emphasized that all their projects come with sustainability even as he said that features of water collection and recycling is one major component in all the malls that they operate both here and abroad.

wa intawon pud magdahom nga mao toy iyang dangatan.

A Beach House in Australia

By Sinead Carew and Tarmo Virki
NEW YORK/HELSINKIA

Nokia shares plummeted 13 percent after its new Lumia smartphones failed to impress investors looking for transformational handsets to rescue the struggling Finnish company.

Nokia and its partner Microsoft Corp showcased the Lumia 920 phone on Wednesday in what may be their last major shot at reclaiming market share lost to Apple Inc, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Google Inc.

Microsoft and Nokia hope the device - sporting bright colors, a bigger screen and technology that reduces blur and shakiness in pictures and video - will become a potent weapon in an escalating global war to dominate the mobile industry. But investors said it lacked "wow" and gave it a quick thumbs-down. Some analysts said Nokia's reticence about dates, prices or carrier partners also did not help.

unsa man intawoy sala aning bataa?

hehehe literal imagination.

By Harro Ten Wolde and Jim Finkle

The German government urged the public on Tuesday to temporarily stop using Microsoft Corp's Internet Explorer following discovery of a yet-to-be repaired bug in the Web browser that the software maker said makes PCs vulnerable hacker attacks.

It issued the warning as a researcher said he found evidence that suggests the hackers who exploited the flaw were seeking to attack defense contractors.

Microsoft said on Monday that attackers can exploit the bug in its Internet Explorer, used on hundreds of millions of computers, to infect the PC of somebody who visits a malicious website and then take control of the victim's computer.

The German government's Federal Office for Information Security, or BSI, said it was aware of targeted attacks and that all that was needed was to lure Web surfers to a website where hackers had planted malicious software that exploited the bug.

Mistake of identity. No imprisonment.

Si Senator Sotto ray manipisyo aning balaora. Pait.

By Jerome Aning
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Human rights lawyer Harry Roque and columnist Ellen Tordesillas on Friday led the filing at the Supreme Court of the fifth petition against the controversial Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Roque, Tordesillas, Ma. Gisel Ordones-Cascola of the investigative outfit VERA files, lawyer and blogger Romel Bagares, radio broadcaster Alexander Adonis and lawyer Gilber Andres, legal officer of Media Defense Southeast Asia, called on the Court to declare Sections 4 (c) [4], 5, 6, 7 and 19 of the Act unconstitutional.

Named as respondents were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas III, National Bureau of Investigation director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas, Philippine National Police chief Nicanor Bartolome, and acting Director-General Denis Villorente of the Information and Communications Technology Office-Department of Science and Technology.

In their 41-page petition for certiorari, the petitioners sought for a writ of prohibitory injunction and/or temporary restraining order, against the respondents to stop them from implementing the five provisions, as well as Section 27, which appropriates P500,000 annually for the implementation of the law.

“The acts of respondents, if not immediately restrained or enjoined, will cause grave and irreparable injury to [us] as journalists, taxpayers, Filipino citizens, and/or members of the legal profession, and the entire Filipino people as RA 10175 tramples on the constitutional rights such as the right to freedom of speech, of expression, and of the press, the right against double jeopardy, and right to equal protection of the laws,” the petitioners said.

They said the laws’ provision on libel was a continuing violation of the Philippines’ obligations under the International Covenant of Civil Rights after the United Nations Human Rights Council stated that libel as penalized under the Revised Penal Code was incompatible with freedom of expression and should be decriminalized.

i can't see a picture in this thread.

makatunaw ug kandila ang tinutokan.

Squid Barbeque

A Brutal School Policy

by PNA

U.S. President Barack Obama has expanded his lead over Republican rival Mitt Romney in the race for the White House by as much as 12% in three critical “battleground” states, according to a new poll of likely voters released Wednesday.

"Gov. Mitt Romney had a bad week in the media and it shows in these key swing states," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. The survey was conducted September 18 to 24 by Quinnipiac University, CBS News and The New York Times.

The poll puts Obama ahead of Romney by 53-44% in Florida, 53-43% in Ohio, and 54-42% in Pennsylvania. Since 1960, no one has been elected to the White House without winning at least two of the three.

Around 1,200 likely voters in each of the three states were surveyed, and the poll has a margin of error up to 2.9%. Poll respondents in all three states found Obama better able to handle critical issues including the economy, health care and an international crisis. Romney, they found, was better able to handle the budget crisis.

By Ernesto V. Afable

The Aquino government has posted a US$9.691 billion total external trade in goods, or a 2.4 percent increase in July 2012, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported on Wednesday.

NSO administrator Carmelita N. Ericta reported that the increase can be attributed to the 6.0 percent growth of exports to US$ 4.727 billion from US$ 4.460 billion in the same month a year ago.

However, the NSO chief said, the total merchandise imports (TMI) for July 2012 marginally declined by 0.8 percent from US$ 5.001 billion to US$ 4.964 billion, thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines in July 2012 registered a deficit of US$ 236 million from US$ 541 million deficit in the same period last year.

Similarly, the TMI decreased by 2.5 percent compared to previous month’s level to US$ 5.089 billion. On the other hand, aggregate imports slightly went up by 0.2 percent to US$ 35.712 billion value in the first seven months of 2012 from US$ 35.655 billion for the same period in 2011.

Top 10 PH imports

Electronic Products: Payments for electronic products account for 24.6 percent of the aggregate import bill.

These imports (including consigned and direct importation using the expanded coverage of electronic products) increased by 4.8 percent to reported value of US$ 1.223 billion from US$ 1.167 billion in July 2011. Among the major groups of electronic products, components/devices (semiconductors) have the biggest share of 18.2 percent increased by 6.6 percent to US$ 902.66 million from US$ 846.49 million. However, compared to previous month, electronic products as well as the semiconductors went down by 16.2 percent and 20.7 percent from US$ 1.458 billion and US$ 1.139 billion recorded in June 2012 respectively.

Mineral fuels and related materials: Import bill payments for mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials ranked second among the top ten imports with 23.2 percent share to total imports. The annual growth rate went down by 12.3 percent from US$ 1.313 billion to US$ 1.152 billion. The contraction in value may be attributed to the 1.9 percent decrease in volume of inward shipments.

Industrial Machinery and Equipment: This is PH’s third top import for the month with 6.0 percent share to total imports valued at US$ 297.64 million. It posted a positive year on year change of 28.2 percent among the top ten imports from US$ 232.25 million from previous year’s value.

The expansion was brought about by 54.5 percent increase in the volume of inward shipment.

Transport Equipment: It contributed about 5.9 percent to the total import bill was the fourth top import for the month amounting to US$ 293.61 million. Compared to last year’s amount of US$ 290.42 million, it grew by 1.1 percent. Similarly, volume purchases also went up by 56.5 percent from the same period last year.

Cereals and cereal preparations: Fifth in rank and with 4.2 percent share to the total imports was Cereals and Cereal Preparations, recorded US$ 207.37 million worth of imports from its year ago level of US$ 171.73 million. An annual positive growth of 20.8 percent was shown because of the 42.9 percent increase in volume of imports compared to July 2011.

Rounding up the list of the top ten imports for July 2012 were Organic and Inorganic Chemicals: US$ 139.86 million; Plastics in Primary and Non-Primary Forms: US$ 132.57 million; Telecommunication Equipment and Electrical Machinery: US$ 107.23 million; Iron and Steel: US$ 99.30 million; and Chemical Materials and Products: valued at US$ 81.54 million with the highest growth of 34.3 percent among the top ten imports for July 2012.

Aggregate payment for the country’s top ten imports for July 2012 reached US$ 3.733 billion or 75.2 percent of the total import bill.

So far, of the total imports in July 2012, 30 percent of it comprised raw materials and intermediate goods, but in year-on-year change going down by 2.7 percent from US$ 1.685 billion to US$ 1.639 billion. The contraction was brought about by the decline in the value of unprocessed raw materials, semi-processed raw materials and materials and accessories for the manufacturer of electrical equipment.

Capital Goods accounts for 28.9 percent of the total imports in the amount of US$ 1.436 billion or 10.6 percent increment over last year's figure of US$ 1.298 billion. Compared to the previous month’s level, purchases went down by 18.5 percent from US$ 1.762 billion. Increase in the import bill can be accounted for by 42.8 percent increase in volume of purchases of capital goods.

Some US$ 685.16 million or a positive growth of 7.7 percent from US$ 635.89 million was incurred in purchases of Consumer Goods in July 2011. The increase was brought about by the 20.8 percent increase in purchases of passenger car and motorized cycle.

Imports of commodities under Special Transactions valued at US$ 52.29 million dropped by 25.2 percent from US$ 69.93 million recorded in July 2011. Similarly, total volume of inward manifest registered a 34.5 percent drop compared to its volume of importation a year ago.

PH top sources of imports

Japan, including Okinawa, was the country’s biggest source of imports in July 2012 with 11.6 percent share. Payments were recorded at US$ 573.57 million, an increase of 19.1 percent from US$ 481.44 million in July 2011.

Revenue from PH’s exports to Japan, on the other hand, reached US$ 770.08 million, generating a total trade value of US$ 1.344 billion and US$ 196.51 million trade surplus for the Philippines.

The increase in the inward purchases from Japan was based on imported commodities like wafers and discs, electrically circuit-programmed, whether or not coated on one side with gold or aluminum.

The People’s Republic of China (PROC) was the second top source of imports with 10.9 percent share to the total import bill amounting to US$ 538.81 million, lower by 6.7 percent from US$ 577.79 million in July 2011. Exports to PROC amounted to US$ 501.34 million, yielding a two-way trade value of US$ 1.040 billion and a trade deficit for PH of US$ 37.47 million.

United States of America (USA) including Alaska and Hawaii came third, accounting for 10.1 percent share of the total import bill in July 2012 with positive growth of 8.7 percent from US$ 461.01 million to US$ 501.28 million. Exports to USA amounted to US$ 668.69 million resulting to a total trade value of US$ 1.170 billion and a trade surplus of US$ 167.41 million.

Republic of Korea (ROK) ranked fourth among the top sources of imports for the country accounting for 8.4 percent share of the total import bill in July 2012. It increased by 26.2 percent to US$ 419.30 million from US$ 332.25 million. On the other hand, exports to ROK amounted to US$ 191.49 million resulting to a total trade value of US$ 610.79 million and a trade deficit of US$ 227.81 million.

Fifth in rank was Singapore, representing 7.3 percent of the total import bill in July 2012 or a decrease of 0.2 percent from US$ 361.93 million to US$ 361.32 million in the same month last year. Exports to that country amounted to US$ 834.01 million resulting to a total trade value of US$ 1.195 billion and a trade surplus of US$ 472.69 million.Other major sources of imports for the month of July 2012 were Taiwan, US$ 317.08 million (electronic products and other petroleum products); Saudi Arabia, US$ 297.05 million (petroleum products); Thailand, US$ 285.56 million (other petroleum products, electronic products and motor vehicles); United Arab Emirates, US$ 253.03 million (petroleum products); and Indonesia US$ 198.86 million (other petroleum products and motor vehicles).

Payments for imports from the top ten sources for July 2012 amounted to US$ 3.746 billion or 75.5 percent of the total.

US$ 1.979-B imports from East Asia

The Philippines’ total imports in July 2012 from East Asia accounted for 39.9 percent of the county’s total imports with total payments of US$ 1.979 billion or a positive annual growth of 8.2 percent from July 2011 level of US$ 1.829 billion. So far, total exports to member-countries of East Asia were valued at US$ 1.982 billion, resulting to a total trade of US$ 3.961 billion and a balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) surplus of US$ 2.07 million.

Imports from ASEAN member-countries recorded at US$ 1.188 billion, contributed a 23.9 percent share to total imports. It grew by 4.3 percent compared to US$ 1.139 billion value in July 2011. On the other hand, exports to ASEAN member-countries worth US$ 1.298 billion resulted to a total trade of US$ 2.486 billion and a trade surplus of US$ 110.66 million.

The PH’s July 2012 imports from European Union (EU) were valued at US$ 315.14 million while exports to member-countries of EU were worth US$ 503.91 million. These aggregated to a total trade value of US$ 819.05 million and a trade surplus of US$ 188.77 million.

source: PNA

Seeing pictures of cute animals enhances performance in work requiring concentration, an experiment by a team led by a Hiroshima University professor showed Thursday.

The finding from an experiment involving about 130 college students was published in an article called "The Power of Kawaii" in the U.S. science journal Plos One in its online edition.

"Kawaii" is the Japanese word for "cute."

"Whether at home or work, we may be able to increase efficiency in what we do by putting cute objects around us," said Hiroshi Nittono, a professor of psychophysiology and engineering psychology.

Health authorities on Wednesday declared a syphilis outbreak in Houston and Harris County in the U.S. state of Texas.

The health department of Houston reported a nearly 100 percent increase in new infectious syphilis cases during the first seven months of 2012 compared to the same time period last year, according to the website of daily newspaper The Houston Chronicle.

News of the outbreak came after yearly decreases in new syphilis cases between 2008 and 2011.

There were 318 infectious syphilis cases in Harris County from January through August of this year, compared with 264 cases in 2011, Houston's health department said.

The cases in 2012 amount to 7.5 cases per 100,000 people, up from 4.2 through the same period in 2011. The recent high is 7.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2007, according to reports.

Local health authorities have urged immediate testing for syphilis for men who have sex with men, people who engage in anonymous sex, anyone who has had multiple sex partners, and people who test positive for other sexually transmitted disease.

BY PNA

In view of the novel coronavirus monitored recently in Saudi Arabia, the Department of Health (DOH) is advising Muslim Filipinos to have themselves immunized for the Hajj pilgrimage to be held in Mecca next month.

“Maraming Filipino ang nagpupunta sa Hajj at yon ang pinaka-challenge sa atin. Kaya ina-advise ang lahat na magpabakuna bago pumunta doon. Ang vaccination ay requirements din ng Saudi,” said Dr. Eric Tayag, DOH assistant secretary.

The WHO sounded the alarm as at least three individuals, two of whom have died, have contracted the virus which experts are still trying to fully identify. The victims have either lived or had history of travel to Saudi Arabia.

Experts believe the novel infection is caused by coronavirus, similar to the virus that caused the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) a decade ago.

But unlike SARS, the new virus can cause kidney failure.

“We have no data on this dahil nga bago and tatatlo pa ang kaso. Binabantayan ito ng WHO pero dahil bago ito, minabuti ng WHO na i-alert na ang mga bansa,” he said.

Tayag assured, however, that the measures implemented by the DOH during the SARS epidemic could be activated in case of an outbreak.

By Anthony S. Allada
PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG 11) arrested the regional legal officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in an entrapment operation Thursday noon at the Apo View Hotel along Legaspi Street here.

Sr. Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, CIDG regional director, identified the suspect as lawyer Roderick Orallo, 54, a resident of Topaz St., Marfori Heights, this city.

Ferro said Opallo was caught red-handed receiving P50,000 from Edgar Delibo, the owner of Dok Alternatibo Herbal Medicine Clinic and a former broadcast journalist.

He said Delibo appeared at their office at 10 a.m. Thursday to complain Orallo who demanded a big amount of money to settle amicably his pending case with the BIR.

With this, Ferro formed a team composed of Chief Insp. Jojie Tabios, Insp. Rodolfo Urbano, SPO4 Florante Fornolles, PO3 Al Faustino Openda and one PO3 Palma to conduct an entrapment operation.

Delibo agreed to meet Orallo at a restaurant inside the Apo View Hotel around 12:20 p.m. so that he can already give the money to him while operatives were sitting in a separate table.

Just as Delibo handed over the P50,000 cash to Orallo the CIDG men immediately declared the lawyer’s arrest.

Orallo was brought to the office of CIDG while an extortion case was already filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspect refused to issue a statement on the circumstances of his arrest.

By Perfecto T. Raymundo Jr.

The Supreme Court has affirmed with finality its Jan. 24, 2012 ruling declaring that the 24 percent block or 753,848,312 shares in San Miguel Corporation belong to the government.

In a nine-page unanimous resolution dated Sept. 4, 2012 and released to the media on Thursday, the SC, through Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., dismissed the appeal filed by the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (COCOFED), Manuel V. del Rosario, Domingo P. Espina, Salvador P. Ballares, Joselito A. Moraleda, Paz M. Yason, Vicente Cadiz, Cesaria de Luna Titular, and Raymundo C. De Villa for failure to raise new arguments that may warrant a reversal of the assailed Jan. 24, 2012 decision.

"The instant motion is but a mere reiteration or rehash of the arguments that have already been previously pleaded, discussed and resolved by this Court in its Jan. 24, 2012 Decision. And considering that the motion's arguments are unsubstantial to warrant a reconsideration or at least a modification, this Court finds no reason to modify or let alone reverse the challenged Decision," the SC said.

The 24 percent share with an estimated value of between P50 and P100 billion has been converted from "common shares" into "preferred shares" in an SC decision in 2009.

It forms part of the 47 percent share block of SMC shares sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in 1986 on suspicion that it was part of the ill-gotten wealth of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Originally, 27 percent was awarded but it was diluted to 24 percent with the investment of Japanese brewer Kirin in SMC.

The SC also ordered that an Entry of Judgment be made on the decision, and that no further pleadings on the case be entertained.

Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio inhibited from the case for being one of the petitioners in a related case.

by pna

Typhoon Lawin (international name Jelawat) continued to weaken Thursday but remained a threat to the Batanes Group of Island.

Weather forecaster Jun Galang said as of 4 p.m. Lawin was at 210 km east of Basco (20.5°N, 124.3°E) with wind strength 185 kph, 20 kph less than the 205 kph earlier in the day, its gusty 220 kph winds reduced to 240 kph.

Lawin is forecast to be at 270 km north of Basco by Friday afternoon and, by Saturday afternoon, will be at 560 km north northeast of Basco.

PAGASA said areas within Lawin's 750-km diameter are expected to experience rainfall of 10 to 25 mm per hour, classified as heavy to intense.

The weather agency said fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas due to big waves generated Lawin and the southwest monsoon.

Cagayan, Calayan, Babuyan and the Batanes islands will experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas, PAGASA said.

Abra, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, Apayao and Isabela will have rains and gusty winds.

Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) will experience cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and the Visayas will experience cloudy skies with occasional light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.

By PNA and Joann Villanueva

The government has set a P90 billion domestic borrowing program in the last quarter of 2012, half of the current quarter’s P180 billion program.

In a memorandum to all government securities eligible dealers, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said P45 billion worth of Treasury bills (T-bills) and the same amount of Treasury bond (T-bond) is scheduled to be auctioned off from October to December this year.

In particular, P7.5 billion worth of 91-day, 182-day and 364-day bills will be offered on October 1, 15 and 29; November 12 and 26; and December 10, 2012.

During each auction, offering for the three-month paper will be P1 billion, the six-month paper at P2.5 billion and P4 billion each for the one-year paper. These are the same levels as in the current quarter.

Similarly, P9 billion worth of five-year bond will be offered each on October 9 and November 6; P9 billion of seven-year bond will be auctioned off on October 23 and November 20; and P9 billion worth of 10-year bond will be offered on December 4.

Only three tenors of bonds will be offered in the last quarter this year, fewer than in the previous quarter.

The government’s bond offering set for the current quarter involves tenors of five, seven, 10, 20 and 25-year.

The government continues to rely on on-shore fund sources rather than foreign creditors to meet its funding requirements to take advantage of the current low-interest rate environment and lessen foreign exchange risks.

It has set a P279 billion deficit ceiling for this year, which accounts for 2.6 percent of gross domestic product, lower than the three percent share of GDP set for 2011.

As of last August, the government’s budget gap stood at P71.21 billon, 106.4 percent higher than year-ago’s P34.49 billion.

Revenues in the first eight months this year amounted to P 1.01 trillion, 11.1 percent higher than the P912.85 billion in end-August 2011.

Expenditures also continued its rise with the amount at P1.08 trillion as of last August, 14.5 percent higher than year-ago’s P947.24 billion.

For last August alone, the budget gap dropped by 72.6 percent to P2.52 billion from year-ago’s P9.22 billion.

Revenues for the month rose by 4.2 percent to P129.41 billion over year-ago’s P124.15 billion.

by PNA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said emerging and developing economies need to rebuild policy space to address shocks from the risk of another downturn in advanced economies.

Chapter 4 dubbed “Resilience in Emerging Market and Developing Economies: Will It Last?” of IMF’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) released October 27, 2012 said resilience of emerging and developing economies “has increased markedly”.

“The past decade was the first time that these economies spent more time in expansion, and had smaller downturns, than advanced economies,” he said.

It traced the longer period of expansion to a combination of “good policies”, which accounts to about three-fifth of the improvement, and lower domestic and external shocks, which accounts for the balance of 40 percent.

It cited as reasons for optimism the “improved policymaking and greater policy space.”

Emerging and developing economies are now less vulnerable to shocks after policy makers in these countries adopted inflation-targeting and flexible exchange rates as well as a more “countercyclical fiscal and monetary policies.

“They also have more room to maneuver, thanks to lower inflation and better fiscal and external positions than in the past,” the report said.

It, however, pointed out that there are “fickle” segments in the optimism such as strong capital inflows, rapid credit growth and high commodity prices.

The report, on the other hand, cited that the “relative calm” in the emerging and developing economies “could well be temporary.”

“There is a significant risk that advanced economies could experience another downturn, and in such an event emerging market and developing economies will likely end up ‘recoupling’ with advanced economies, much as they did during the global financial crisis,” it said.

On the domestic side, concerns on financial stability is up as strong domestic demand goes hand in hand with credit expansion.

“To guard against such risks, these economies will need to rebuild their policy space to respond to shocks,” it said.

“More policy room for maneuver has played a major role in buffering external shocks. To guard against new shocks, these economies will need to rebuild their buffers to ensure that they again have ample space to respond to them,” it said.

By Ernesto V. Afable

The Aquino administration has approved a total of P44.1-billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) on the second quarter (Q2) of 2012, or 9.4 percent higher than the recorded P40.3 billion in the same period last year, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reported on Thursday.

NSCB Assistant Secretary General Lina V. Castro, in a report, bared that the P44.1 billion FDI for the Q2 was granted by government’s seven investment promotion agencies (IPAs) namely: Board of Investments (BOI); Clark Development Corporation (CDC); Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA); Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA); Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB); BOI-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BOI-ARMM); and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

So far, she said, the FDI for the first six month of 2012 had reached P62.6 billion, up slightly by 0.4 percent from last year’s P62.3 billion.

Castro cited Japan, Netherlands, and the United States of America (USA) as the top three investing countries for the Q2 of 2012 in the Philippines.

Statistics presented by Castro showed that Japan bested other countries as it pledged P17.4 billion or 39.6 percent share. The Netherlands came in second with P9.8 billion or 22.3 percent, and the USA with P4.3 billion or 9.7 percent of the total FDI approved in the Q2 of 2012.

Data showed that Manufacturing remains as the industry to have received top share in total foreign commitments reaching 80.4 percent or P35.4 billion during the quarter.

Transportation and storage came in second with investment pledges valued at P2.5 billion, contributing 5.8 percent.

Real estate activities net the third spot at P1.9 billion or 4.4 percent share.

In sum, the total approved investments of foreign and Filipino nationals have reached P202.8 billion in the Q2 of 2012, increasing by 27.2 percent from last year’s P159.4 billion.

Filipino nationals continued to dominate investments approved during the quarter, sharing 74.6 percent or P151.2 billion worth of pledges.

Castro said, the bulk of the investments committed by Filipinos are intended to finance activities in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, contributing P95.1 billion and with a share of 46.9 percent, followed by manufacturing at P38.6 billion or 19.0 percent share, and real estate activities at P30.8 billion or 15.2 percent share.

She claimed that the total projects of foreign and Filipino investors approved by the seven IPAs for the Q2 of 2012 are expected to create 33,381 jobs, declining by 43.2 percent from last year’s projected employment of 58,819 jobs in the same period.

What we saw very quickly is the world of both medical research, but also developing drugs and treatments, is dominated by, as you would expect, large organizations, but in a new field, sometimes large organizations really have trouble getting out of their own way, and sometimes they can't ask the right questions, and there is an enormous gap that's just gotten larger between academic research on the one hand and pharmaceutical companies and biotechs that are responsible for delivering all of our drugs and many of our treatments, and so we knew that to really accelerate cures and therapies, we were going to have to address this with two things: new technologies and also a new research model. Because if you don't close that gap, you really are exactly where we are today. And that's what I want to focus on. We've spent the last couple of years pondering this, making a list of the different things that we had to do, and so we developed a new technology, It's software and hardware, that actually can generate thousands and thousands of genetically diverse stem cell lines to create a global array, essentially avatars of ourselves. And we did this because we think that it's actually going to allow us to realize the potential, the promise, of all of the sequencing of the human genome, but it's going to allow us, in doing that, to actually do clinical trials in a dish with human cells, not animal cells, to generate drugs and treatments that are much more effective, much safer, much faster, and at a much lower cost.

excerpt:

So, embryonic stem cells are really incredible cells. They are our body's own repair kits, and they're pluripotent, which means they can morph into all of the cells in our bodies. Soon, we actually will be able to use stem cells to replace cells that are damaged or diseased.

But that's not what I want to talk to you about, because right now there are some really extraordinary things that we are doing with stem cells that are completely changing the way we look and model disease, our ability to understand why we get sick, and even develop drugs. I truly believe that stem cell research is going to allow our children to look at Alzheimer's and diabetes and other major diseases the way we view polio today, which is as a preventable disease.

So here we have this incredible field, which has enormous hope for humanity, but much like IVF over 35 years ago, until the birth of a healthy baby, Louise, this field has been under siege politically and financially. Critical research is being challenged instead of supported, and we saw that it was really essential to have private safe haven laboratories where this work could be advanced without interference. And so, in 2005, we started the New York Stem Cell Foundation Laboratory so that we would have a small organization that could do this work and support it.

Future of Stem Cell Research
watch the video at: http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_solomon_the_promise_of_research_with_stem_cells.html

naa may daghang heroine sa Junquera nga nagpaambit sa ilang kahidlaw...

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source: press release

Casa Gorordo Museum opens exhibit on local heroes

The exhibit entitled “Mga Bayani sa Sugbo: Cebu’s Contributions to Nation-building” was
opened at Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.'s (RAFI) Casa Gorordo Museum last Aug. 30. It will
run until Oct. 15.

Mga Bayani sa Sugbo features historical figures in Cebu from the 1898 Revolution
against Spain to the 1930s. It celebrates their works in varied fields from freedom fighting to
politics to vernacular literature.

Leon Kilat, Juan Climaco, Arcadio Maxilom, Luis Flores, and Mauricia Gahuma are
some of the revolutionaries given tribute in the exhibit. Other prominent Cebuano historical
figures included are Sergio Osmeña, Vicente Rama, Vicente Sotto, Pedro Cui, and Gardeopatra
Quijano.

Dr. Jocelyn Gerra, executive director of RAFI Culture & Heritage, said that this is a relaunch of last year’s exhibit of the same title.

“We felt that its month-long run last 2011 was not enough and the feedback we received
was quite positive, so we decided to make it available to the public again,” she said.
“This is part of a larger advocacy of RAFI to make known local contributions to Filipino
cultural identity,” she added.

According to Florencio Moreño II, curator of Casa Gorordo Museum, the contributions of
other regions to Philippine history have gained more focus in recent years.

“Currently, there is a clamor to include local heroes in the history curriculum of our
schools, recalling the contributions of these historical figures to our nation through this exhibit is
therefore timely,” Moreño said.

“This year, we tried to make the exhibit more interesting for young people by including a
reconstruction of the events of that fateful day of Tres-de-Abril 1898, which many remember as
the start of the revolution here in Cebu,” he added.

Culture & Heritage, one of the focus areas of RAFI, aims to help communities
understand, value, and share their cultural identity with others. RAFI's other focus areas are
Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Citizenship, and
Education.

For more information about the Mga Bayani sa Sugbo exhibit and other exhibits of Casa
Gorordo Museum and other programs of RAFI Culture & Heritage, please call 418-7234 local
703 and look for Florencio Moreño II.

By Scott Stewart

It has been more than two weeks since the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, yet the attack remains front-page news. One reason is that it has become unusual for a U.S. ambassador to be killed. After the 1968 assassination of John Mein in Guatemala -- the first ever U.S. ambassador to be assassinated -- several others were killed in the 1970s: Cleo Noel Jr. in Sudan in 1973, Rodger Davies in Cyprus in 1974, Francis Meloy Jr. in Lebanon in 1976 and Adolph Dubs in Afghanistan in 1979. However, following improvements in diplomatic security during the 1980s, no U.S. ambassador has died as a result of a hostile action since Ambassador Arnold Raphel, who was killed in the plane crash used to assassinate Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in August 1988.

Another reason for the continued publicity is that it is an election year. Since foreign policy is an area where Republicans believe President Barack Obama is vulnerable, Stevens' death has become highly politicized. In any event, the Benghazi attack remains in the headlines. Unfortunately, as one goes beyond those headlines, there are many misunderstandings that have persisted in both the media coverage and the public discussions of the incident. There simply are not many people who understand how diplomatic facilities work and how they are protected.

With that in mind, and because other U.S. diplomatic facilities remain in harm's way due to the protests occurring throughout the Muslim world, it is an opportune time to again discuss diplomatic security.

By PNA

The Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef Natural Park Act from 2010 has won silver in the 2012 Future Policy Awards as one of the world’s most inspiring and innovative ocean protection policies.

The 2012 Future Policy Award highlights the challenges faced by the world’s oceans as well as exemplary solutions to protect them. It also provides the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and increase practical action.

The Philippine’s award-winning Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act ensures the effective management of the Tubbataha reefs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hotspot of coral reef biodiversity, by strengthening the legislative mandate of its managing bodies.

The management of the Natural Park by the municipal authorities and NGOs has been lauded because of the excellent condition of the reefs, particularly when compared with neighbouring sites.

In addition, Tubbataha has demonstrated that with carefully planned management, local communities need not bear the burden of closed protected areas, but can be their primary beneficiaries; as a nursery site for fish, the reef supports local artisanal fisheries.

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act has been hailed as a model of coral reef conservation and already similar legislation has been enacted in the neighbouring Apo Reef.

The three winning policies which most effectively contribute to the protection of oceans and coasts were announced by the World Future Council on September 26 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Micronesian Republic of Palau was proclaimed the winner in recognition of two outstanding marine policies while the Philippines and Namibia took home the two silver awards.

“With the Future Policy Award we want to cast a spotlight on policies that lead by example. The aim of the World Future Council is to raise awareness for exemplary policies and speed up policy action towards just, sustainable and peaceful societies,” said Alexandra Wandel, Director of the World Future Council, an international policy research organisation that provides decision-makers with effective policy solutions.

The winning policies will be celebrated during an awards ceremony on October 16 at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad, India.

The ceremony will be convened by the World Future Council, the UN Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with support from the Okeanos Foundation.

Jury member Pauline Tangiora, Maori elder and World Future Councillor, states: “National policies have to consider the needs of local communities and incorporate their traditional knowledge of the ecosystems and the natural resources these communities depend on â€" to ensure the sustainable use and management thereof.”

The Republic of Palau won the Future Policy Award for two outstanding policies, which are politically bold and tailored to the needs of local people and the environment.

Their effects are being felt globally and they have inspired regional legislation in neighbouring countries. Palau’s Shark Haven Act of 2009 was the first of its kind and will serve to protect over a hundred species of deep water and reef sharks in Palau’s waters.

Its effect has already been powerful. A number of other countries including Honduras, the Maldives and the Bahamas have since enacted similar laws and banned shark fishing in their national waters. Dr. Carl Safina, President and Cofounder of the Blue Ocean Institute, comments: “The ecological effects of the shark ban may not be visible yet, but the biological effects are immediate: the sharks are still alive.”

Palau’s second outstanding marine policy is the Protected Areas Network (PAN) Act that was initiated in 2003. It has all the elements of successful management for people and environment. Following the concern of the weakening traditional system of protection, the government implemented a countrywide system of connected protected areas including fringing reefs, lagoons, a sardine sanctuary and mangroves.

Local communities and states manage these in the traditional fashion, but with added financial, technical and institutional support from the government. To date, 35 protected areas have been designated, with a goal of protecting 30 percent of the near-shore marine environment and 20 percent of the terrestrial environment by 2020.

The second Silver Award went to Namibia’s Marine Resources Act (2000) for instituting an ecologically and economically viable fishing industry. While Namibia inherited heavily over-exploited, unregulated fisheries when it gained independence in 1990, access to the fisheries is now fully controlled and heavily monitored at sea and in the harbours.

Fishing companies are required to apply for a license and quotas for the eight main commercial species are set annually. Stocks are carefully monitored, and if they fall below a critical threshold, a moratorium is set and fishing is banned until it can be established that the fish stock has recovered.

Food security is ensured for the most vulnerable; the government actively supports fish consumption by making it available at reduced prices for disadvantaged groups.

Árni Mathiesen, Assistant Director-General of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, comments: “Humanity depends on the sustainable management of the world’s marine living resources and their environment to realise the Human Right to Food, especially for the 900 million chronically hungry people."

"Fish provides three billion people with at least 20 percent of their animal protein, with nearly 40 percent of those people in low-income food-deficit countries. Fisheries and aquaculture support the livelihoods of more than 10 percent of the world’s population. This is why it is so important to promote policies that successfully address the multiple threats to the oceans.”

An international jury composed of experts from academia, politics, international bodies, civil society and indigenous groups from all five continents assessed the nominations against the World Future Council’s Seven Principles for Future Just Lawmaking.

Honourable mentions were bestowed upon South Africa’s Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 and The State of California’s Ocean Protection Act, 2004. A total of 31 policies from 22 countries were nominated for the award.

by pna.gov.ph

The 63rd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific Region ended here Thursday with consensus reached on healthcare issues among 37 member states and regions.

This is the first time Vietnam hosted such kind of events. However, due to its experience in healthcare and prevention of epidemics, the meeting concluded satisfactorily with a goal to improve healthcare services for the region's 1.8 billion people.

Ten resolutions and plans of actions have been adopted during the meeting after more than 20 agenda items went through discussions, including the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases, violence and injury prevention, tobacco control, malaria resistance, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and so on.

Regional Committee Director Dr. Shin Young-soo, in his briefing evaluation, spoke highly of Vietnam's well-organized hosting of the meeting.

The meeting's success is attributed to hard work and excellent contributions, including sharp comments, from participants and representatives from international organizations, including the United Nations'Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNICEF, said Dr. Shin.

The Western Pacific Region comprises 37 member states and a population of 1.8 billion people. Its regional committee, headquartered in Manila, is WHO's governing body in the region.

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source: press release

How much do you spend? How much do you save?
             â€œPersonal budgeting is estimating your assumed income and expenses. By plotting
down total expenses, it guides us to only spend what is necessary,” Cyrille dela Cruz, Ramon
Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Micro-finance accountant, said.
            Dela Cruz added that budgeting can be classified into fixed, flexible, and discussionary.
Fixed budget are for stuff that you really need to buy because they are necessary. Flexible
budget are for stuff that are dependent on the number of people who will benefit from them, such
as purchasing grocery items. Discussionary budget are for expenses that satisfy one's wants
only.
           â€œIf we plan ahead for our expenses, we will not be tempted to buy things that are not
in the plan. Prioritize the things that are needed instead of buying immediate wants,” she said
during the Sept. 21 episode of “Pagtuki”, the official radio program of RAFI.
           Iris Echavez, audit head of RAFI, also shared budgeting tips, especially to impulsive
buyers.
          “Never spend what you don’t have. And never be dependent on credit cards. As much as
possible, do not spend more money than you can make,” Echavez said, pointing out that large
debts can make financial changes in the long run.
          Echavez said that the same rule applies to both above and minimum wage earners―live
within your means.
           â€œFirst, identify your income. Allocate expenses for electricity and water bills and other
needs in the house. The rest, you should save it,” she added.   
          “We should allocate expenses properly for us to save. Savings is very important for perils
that might happen along the way. Now is the right time to save,” she stressed out.
          Dela Cruz advised listeners to write down on a notebook one’s daily expenses. If it exceed
the expected expenses for the month, evaluate the things that contribute to it.
         â€œThe secret to personal budgeting is self-discipline. Identify how much you earn and only
buy things that are necessary,” she said.
           Pagtuki” is aired over dyLA every Saturday at 10-11 a.m. The program, which is one of
the Knowledge Sharing & Advocacy capabilities of RAFI, tackles timely and relevant issues
affecting the Cebuano community.
For more information about RAFI’s radio program, please contact Fatrick Tabada at 418-
7234 loc. 542, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.

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The US and Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX 13) will formally open on Oct. 8.

It is a regularly scheduled exercise hosted annually by the Republic of the Philippines.

PHIBLEX 13 is the 29th iteration in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security by ensuring interoperability and readiness of Philippine and US forces, the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

It will end on Oct. 18.

This year’s exercise will focus on improving interoperability for humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.

“Every year, this exercise allows us to strengthen and deepen the relationships not only between our militaries but also our communities. This year’s exercise provides an opportunity for our military service members and their Philippine counterparts to train side-by-side on many capabilities, particularly humanitarian assistance and disaster response, which are critical in the Ring of Fire,” US Ambassador to the Philippine Harry K. Thomas, Jr. said.

Military exercises will take place in Crow Valley, Tarlac, Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija, Subic Bay, Zambales, and Camp O'Donnell in Tarlac, and Ternate, Cavite.

Civic exercises, which include engineering, medical and dental works, are scheduled in Palawan and Zambales.

Activities in Subic Bay include off-loading and static displays of military equipment, small scale boat raiding and handling, jungle survival along Ternate, Cavite, and marksmanship training in Crow Valley, Tarlac.

Light tanks and armored fighting vehicles of the Philippine Army are expected to participate in the said event in Crow Valley.

While artillery firing and drills will be done at the target range of Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija.

Other trainings consist of a staff planning exercise, a static aircraft display, multiple field training exercises and humanitarian and civic assistance (HCA) projects to include medical, dental, and engineering projects. The majority of the activities this year will take place in Zambales.

A staff planning exercise focusing on humanitarian assistance and disaster response and two HCA projects will be conducted in Palawan. - source: PNA.gov.ph

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the suspension and administrative proceedings against Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit.

Sulit is facing an administrative complaint because of the controversial US$ 303-million plea bargaining agreement entered into between the Office of the Ombudsman and former Armed Forces comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia.

She was suspended in connection with her involvement in the agreement with Garcia.

Sulit filed her petition before the SC questioning the jurisdiction of the Office of the President to impose disciplinary action on her.

In her petition, Sulit maintained the OP has no jurisdiction to pursue administrative proceedings against her.

She argued that the grant to the President of the power to remove a Deputy or Special Prosecutor from office under Section 8 of the Ombudsman's Act of 1989 is "unconstitutional and void" because it negates the independence sought to be attained in the creation of the Ombudsman.

On March 24, 2011, the OP ordered Sulit to explain why no administrative proceedings should be conducted against her in connection with the controversial plea bargaining they have entered into with former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia.

The OP was prompted to start an administrative proceeding against Sulit upon the recommendation of Congress that she should be dismissed from the service due to gross inexcusable negligence, ignorance of the law, lack of professionalism and dereliction of duty.

The SC ordered the continuance of the proceedings against Sulit who was accused of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust because of the said controversial plea bargaining agreement with Garcia.

source: PNA.gov.ph

By Michaela Del Callar

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia expressed his full support on Tuesday to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario amid speculations that he may be considering to resign due to criticisms of his handling of the West Philippine Sea territorial issue.

"I firmly support the principled leadership exhibited by our Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario, and his stewardship as he orchestrated the Philippine government’s diplomatic efforts through the most challenging of circumstances,” Cuisia said in a statement.

Philippine embassy officers and personnel also associated themselves with the statement of Cuisia in declaring their full support to Del Rosario.

"We stand behind the Secretary's principled defense of the security of our country and his untiring efforts to promote a better life of Filipinos," they said in a signed statement.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has described as ineffective Del Rosario’s handling of the Philippine dispute with China over a shoal off the Philippines’ northwest coast, where Manila and Beijing had a two-month standoff.

Trillanes has been appointed as a special representative by President Benigno S. Aquino III for backroom talks with Chinese officials, which are separate from official negotiations being overseen by Del Rosario.

Cuisia called Del Rosario a “true patriot,” praising his handling of the territorial rift with China and his dangerous trips to several strife-torn Middle Eastern countries to rescue thousands of stranded Filipino workers.

“He has tirelessly led the Department of Foreign Affairs in making the honorable and oftentimes arduous stand to defend our national security and territorial sovereignty, based on the policy guidance provided by H.E. President Benigno S. Aquino III.”

"In his dealings with various governments, Secretary Del Rosario has demonstrated a single-minded determination to uphold the Philippine national interest at all costs. This includes taking great personal risk to go to the front lines in conflict areas abroad to lead our people to safety. He is a true patriot,” Cuisia said.

He said the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. continues to be inspired by Del Rosario’s “courage, integrity and fortitude.”

“We commit to rededicate our full efforts to support the Secretary, and continue to make our contribution to his efforts to protect and uphold our sovereignty, and ensure the safety and well-being of our people," Cuisia said.

Rumors circulated on Monday that Del Rosario was mulling resignation, but this was immediately denied by Malacanang.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said he is not aware of such plan by Del Rosario, who is currently in New York as Aquino’s representative to the United Nations General Assembly.

“He has not informed us of such plan and never mentioned anything about resigning,” Hernandez said.

Filipino-American community and business leader Loida Nicholas Lewis said she is “very alarmed” that Del Rosario would even think about quitting the DFA.

“President Aquino would be ill-advised if he would allow this rumor to continue. It means China has won this battle over Scarborough Shoal!,” said Lewis, chairperson of U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance.

Lewis said “it would be a blow to President Aquino's leadership because of the perception that he is backing the a neophyte Senator over the hardworking, experienced, versatile and well respected internationally Secretary del Rosario.” - by PNA.gov.ph

By Michaela Del Callar

Amid speculations that he may be considering to resign, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario broke his silence on Tuesday, strongly indicating that he would hold on to his post as the country’s top diplomat.

“As Secretary of Foreign Affairs I have sworn to faithfully serve the country. I remain true to my commitment,” Del Rosario said in a statement, which was read before the media by DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez.

Reports of Del Rosario’s resignation surfaced Monday night amid allegations by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that the DFA Chief mishandled negotiations on the territorial disputes with China over the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, which is located off the country’s northwestern coast in the West Philippine Sea.

The two nations figured in a tense standoff in April over the shoal, which Philippine officials say lies within the country’s territory.

The standoff eased when Manila withdrew its vessels in June, citing the onset of the stormy season, but Chinese ships have remained in the area.

Trillanes has been appointed as a special envoy by President Benigno S. Aquino III for backdoor talks with Chinese officials which are separate from official China-Philippine negotiations being overseen by Del Rosario.

The senator claimed his efforts led to the easing of tensions and prevented possible confrontation between China and the Philippines due to the territorial rifts.

Despite Trillanes’ criticisms, Hernandez belied rumors that Del Rosario was quitting his post.

“That report is not true,” Hernandez told a press briefing. “The Secretary has not mentioned any plans of resigning.”

Del Rosario, Hernandez added, has the full backing and support of the DFA.

“The department is fully behind the Secretary and we are guided by his leadership in promoting the national interest of the country,” Hernandez stressed.

Del Rosario is currently in Washington to attend a dialogue hosted by American think-tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Wednesday and will proceed to New York afterwards to represent President Aquino in the 67th United Nations General Assembly.

Hernandez said Del Rosario was “smiling and upbeat” when he was briefed by his staff for the U.S. trip.

There was not even a hint that the President was displeased with Del Rosario as the two were together in Brunei, where they attended the wedding of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s daughter.

by pna.gov.ph

A senior prelate urged those who are using ivory to create religious images to use wood instead.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Oscar Cruz said that ivory is a good material for religious images, but it is time for religious image-makers to shift to wood, which is a good substitute.

“A time came when ivory became so expensive and so rare that by and large there were images that were already made of wood. In fact, the (Black) Nazarene that came from Spain was not made of ivory but wood,” he said.

He said that in the past, ivory from elephant tusks is not yet prohibited.

“There was a time when ivory was freely marketed because the elephants were not yet endangered so marketing of ivory in those times were not an issue,” he said.

Cruz noted that Churches should not be blamed of having religious images made of ivory as they were made long time ago.

“These religious images made of ivory were made long time since. It’s very easy to know the new ivory images because they are very white just like chalk. If you see the older ivory of 500 years ago they are yellowish,” he said.

He explained that if the image is yellowish, the image has been made many years ago but if the color is white, it may be assumed as newly made.

Cruz said that there is no Church law that bans the use of ivory on religious images.

“I don’t know of any Church law coming from the CBCP or coming from abroad expressly banning the use of ivory for religious images. I think that reason itself dictates that we should get rid of ivory,” said the former Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president said.

He noted that there are materials such as kamagong, molave, iron wood.

Ivory trade was banned under a 1989 United Nations Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species to help in the recovery of the elephant population in some African countries.



The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Tuesday said it has filed 100 counts of hacking and anti-violence against women charges against a 23-year-old man.

It said the man hacked the Facebook account of his ex-girlfriend and afterwards threatened to post their intimate pictures at a motel on the Internet.

Director Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., CIDG chief, said operatives of the command's Anti-Transnational and Cyber Crimes Division earlier arrested suspect Joewell Santos Chan, 28, and a resident of 26 Milkyway Bricktown, Moonwalk, Paranaque City.

He is charged with violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and with 100 counts of hacking under the Electronic Commerce Act and Child Pornography.

The charge has been filed with the prosecutor's office which will determine if formal charges should be filed in court.

Pagdilao warned people similarly engaged in hacking and coercive activities via the Internet that the CIDG will decisively deal with them with the enactment of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

He also advised all cyber citizens to always secure their identities and passwords even with relatives to prevent falling prey to cyber criminals.

By Perfecto T. Raymundo Jr.

The Department of Justice has filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court the 58th murder case against former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., his son, former Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., and more than 100 other accused in the Maguindanao massacre case.

The massacre claimed the lives of 57 civilians, including 15 women and 30 media practitioners in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

The 58th complaint for murder was filed before the Quezon City RTC Branch 221, which has been handling the 57 counts of murder against the Ampatuans and the other accused.

In January this year, Ma. Reynafe Momay-Castillo filed before the DOJ the complaint for murder for the death of her father, Reynaldo Geneblaza Momay, a photojournalist for the Tacurong City-based Midland Review.

Momay's body has not yet been recovered to date but Castillo said that the dentures of her father were recovered.

Aside from the dentures, Atty. Gilbert Andres said the Philippine National Police confirmed they have another witness, Peruvian forensic expert Dr. Jose Pablo, who claimed that there was a 58th victim.

Only 57 counts for murder are being tried by Quezon City RTC Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.

An employer of Overseas Filipino workers who are housed in government-run shelters in Saudi Arabia is cooperating with the Philippine government in facilitating the issuance of the exit visas so the workers can return to Manila at the soonest possible time, a Malacanang official said on Tuesday

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz reported that the employer of the OFWs staying at government-run shelters has assured the Philippine government of full cooperation to fast-track the issuance of exit visas of the workers, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.

"We have good news, the employer has promised to coordinate with our labor attache in Jeddah to be able to process the exit visas of the OFWs," Valte said.

Valte noted that the process for the issuance of exit visas of 10 of the 82 OFWs who are currently in the government-run shelters have already begun.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the concerned embassies in Jeddah and Dubai have been attending to the needs of the OFWs who are staying at the shelters.

The Philippine government is fast-tracking the review and processing of cases involving OFWs so that they can secure the needed exit visas. Previously, the issuance of the exit visas of most of the OFWs was delayed because of the absence of certain documents to be issued by their employers. - pna.gov.ph

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

Typhoon “Lawin” (Jelawat) continues to intensify while moving north-northwest over the sea in the general direction of the Cagayan-Batanes area, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday afternoon.

Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said that based on its present direction and speed, the typhoon is expected to make landfall on Thursday in the area of extreme Northern Luzon.

Duran said that as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, typhoon Lawin was located at 485 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora (16.6°N, 127.4°E), moving north-northwest at 11 kilometers per hour. Its wind strength increased from 195 kph Tuesday morning to 205 kph Tuesday afternoon, while its gustiness rose from 230 kph to 240 kph.

The state weather agency said that public storm warning signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Isabela, Cagayan, Calayan group of islands and Babuyan group of islands which are expected to experience winds of 30 to 60 kph within the next 36 hours.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm warning signal are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Duran said that with its present speed, Lawin is expected to leave the Philippine territory either Friday or Saturday, heading toward Taiwan.

He said the areas within its 850-km diameter radius are expected to experience rainfall of 10 to 20 millimeters per hour, which is classified as “heavy to intense.”

He added the typhoon is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will continue to bring occasional moderate to heavy rains in Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

PAGASA said the typhoon is forecast to be at 380 km east of Aparri, Cagayan by Wednesday afternoon; at 160 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Thursday afternoon; and 120 km northwest of Basco, Batanes by Friday afternoon.

Weathermen advised owners of fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, the seaboards of the Visayas and northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao due to big waves generated by typhoon "Lawin" and the southwest monsoon.

The weather agency said that Isabela and Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands, will have rains and gusty winds.

Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), the Bicol region and the Visayas will experience cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

By Joann Santiago

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank)awaits copies of a complaint filed against the bank and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. for alleged anomalous sale of its share in Manila Electric Co (Meralco) in December 2008.

“LANDBANK officials are confident that the complaint filed can be easily explained, including the fair value price of P90 per share in December 2008 for the purported sale of LANDBANK Meralco shareholdings to Global 5000 (now SMC Global),” the bank said in a statement Tuesday.

The complaint against LandBank and SMC officials was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by one Emilio Aguinaldo Suntay III Monday.

Named as respondents are San Miguel Corp. president Ramon S. Ang, former trade minister Roberto Ongpin, and Land Bank of the Philippines president Gilda Pico.

The case stemmed from the sale on Dec. 2, 2008 by LandBank of its 46 million shares in Meralco for P4 billion at P90 apiece to Global 5000 Investment Corp, which was later renamed as San Miguel Global Power Holdings Inc.

Under the special purchase agreement, SMC Global will pay LandBank in three tranches until January this year.

Suntay claimed that the transaction “is grossly disadvantageous to the government and inimical to the interest of the state and public."

LandBank, however, said “it has practiced due diligence and transparency in this transaction.”

“Bank officials say that the shares are the Bank’s trading assets which can be traded in the regular course of its business.”

The statement said that “the shares, if sold at P90, in December 2008, when the prevailing market price was P57 per share, would have represented a hefty premium of 58 percent over market price, if it pushed through.”

“But the transaction did not materialize due to the unlawful cancellation by Adjudicator Miñas (Conchita) of LANDBANK’s share in Meralco. The Shares Purchase Agreement therefore was not at all implemented in 2008 and even now,” it said.

The statement denied allegations of conspiracy among Roberto Ongpin, Margarito Teves, Gilda Pico, Ramon Ang, Atty. Estelito Mendoza and Justice Lucas Bersamin “as the ruling in favor of LANDBANK was rendered by the First Division of the Supreme Court composed of five magistrates.”

“Moreover, the Bank claims that in any event, the decision sought to be discredited is completely meritorious and can withstand even the most intense legal scrutiny,” it said.

Landbank officials “feel” that the complaint is also related to the plunder and corruption charges the bank filed in March 18, 2009 before the Ombudsman against Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD) Conchita C. Miñas and other parties, including Josefina Lubrica, who is an assignee of the family patriarch Federico Suntay, grandfather of complainant Emilio Aguinaldo Suntay III.

The statement said the complaint was filed after the alleged “unlawful cancellation and transfer of Landbank’s 42,002,750 Meralco shares valued at around P2.5 billion in 2008 in favor of Lubrica.”

“The Meralco shares, which do not form part of the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF), were illegally levied upon to satisfy the vacated decision of Miñas valuing the property at more than P157 million as against Landbank’s valuation of P4 million only,” it said.

The bank questioned the case before the Supreme Court, which in December 14, 2011 ruled in favor of Landbank and ordered the cancelation of stock certificates issued to Josefina Lubrica citing that “the levy of Land Bank’s Meralco shares was void and ineffectual.”

SC, in the same ruling, also declared that “Land Bank is entitled to all dividends to the invalidly levied shares of Meralco.” (Land Bank of the Philippines v. Federico Suntay, as represented by his Assignee, Josefina Lubrica, G. R. No. 188376, December 14, 2011).

by pna.gov.ph

Fifty- one alleged undocumented Malaysian nationals were arrested early Monday morning aboard two foreign vessels off Buliluyan Island, Balabac in Southern Palawan, by joint elements of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group Special Boat Unit (MG-SBU) and the Naval Forces West (NFW).

Maritime authorities made the arrest at around 3:45 a.m. after intercepting their vessels, M/L Rancel, and another that has no bow name, near Buliluyan. Currently being detained are 33 females and 18 males -- all without passports and other documents that could help prove their identities and if their travels are legal.

Investigations made on the illegal entrants revealed they were from Kudat town in Sabah, East Malaysia, and were on their way to a pilgrimage in Mecca, a city in the Hejaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with the media, NFW Commander Rostum Peña said the crewmen of the Malaysian vessels said they merely used the Palawan route to go to the Mecca. When authorities looked for their passports, the Malaysians said they were with their organizer who is still in Manila.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will soon implement the Cash for Training Program (CTP) for youth as beneficiaries.

Social Welfare Officer III Eduardo Guevarra, DSWD Regional Office 6 focal person for youth, said the new program is an intensive training to provide the youth, who have not availed the Expanded Government Internship Program (EGIP), the opportunity to get scholarship for their choice technical-vocational course offered by TESDA.

Guevarra said under the program, which they are waiting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to start, entitles each youth a P20,000 worth of scholarship package that include enrollment fee, transportation allowance and toolkit.

He said qualified for the scholarship are those 18 to 30 years old and out-of-school or a graduate of a technical-vocational course but still unemployed. Preference will be given to those who previously applied for EGIP but was not included in the 17 percent cut off in the region. - by PNA

by pna.gov.ph

At least 132 youth from the 28 towns of Iloilo province received Monday afternoon their stipend under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Expanded Government Internship Program (EGIP).

Rebecca Geamala, who represented DSWD Regional Dir. Minda Brigoli in the distribution of the stipends, the EGIP scholars received P14,404 each for the 52 working days they rendered or a total amount of P1.9 million.

The EGIP is one of the components of the Kabataan 2000 program of the government that was expanded to include young people with disabilities (PWDs). It was developed to provide opportunity for out-of-school youth, in-school youth and PWDs hands-on experience of working in various government agencies.

“The EGIP gives a feeling to the youth on how it is to work in the government for we need people who will go into public service later on,” Geamala said.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., who also delivered his message during the distribution at the New Iloilo Capitol lobby, said that the government is really striving to give the young people through the program skills and the needed opportunity to improve their lives.

Doctors at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) here expressed fear that the number of leptospirosis cases in Pangasinan might rise as 22 cases were recorded from Sept. 1 to 24 with one death.

Dr. Michael Canto, R1MC spokesman said, however, that the number of cases registered for the first 24 days of September was much lower than the number of cases registered during the rainy month of August with 42 and nine deaths,six of them from Dagupan.

Canto said they are expecting more admissions for dengue in the coming days as it still be raining in Pangasinan up to October.

"And it is not only rains that could cause flood," Canto said pointing out that the almost daily rise of tidal water in many coastal areas of the province, particularly in Dagupan, cause floods. - pna.gov.ph

Some 200 Red Pacu (Colossoma bidens), a herbivorous fish propagated for commercial purposes by the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) in Dagupan, were dispersed at Binalbalolong Creek to temper the rapid growth of water hyacinth that clogged the passageway.

Mayor Armando Domantay Sr., together with Dr. Westly Rosario, chief of NIFTDC, led the dispersal of the six-month old Red Pacu. The fish fed on water hyacinth that abounds on the creek.

Malasiqui was the first town in Pangasinan to adopt biological initiative to prevent flood.

Dr. Rosario said Mayor Domantay requested for the fish after learning that the Red Pacu feeds on plants, such as water hyacinth.

Rosario related that the mayor has plan of putting up a floating restaurant along Binalbalolong Creek and turn the creek into a tourist spot.

"The Binalbalolong Creek has a historical value and they want to preserve it," Rosario said. It was an important passageway during the Spanish time.

"If this would work, we hope to disperse more Red Pacu in other creeks here", Domantay added.

Meanwhile,Malasiqui was associated to the old tale of three Spanish soldiers who passed by the creek during the early days of colonization. - pna.gov.ph

The Davao City government will give more incentives to new investors who will to put up businesses in remote areas in the third district of this city.

Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC) chief Jason Magnaye said investors who will set up business in Calinan, Baguio, Paquibato and Marilog areas can avail of the city’s tax exemptions for five years, including business sales tax and real property tax.

He said the city also amended the Davao City Investment and Incentive Code (DCIIC) to attract investors.

"We wanted to encourage business in these areas," Magnaye said.

He said possible investment for the four preferred areas are processing facilities and infrastructure for agri-business.

"This is of the priority areas for investments underscored in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the investment and incentive code of the city," he explained.

"Investors outside these areas can enjoy three years of business tax and two years of real property tax exemptions," he added. - by PNA

by pna.gov.ph

The Department of Energy (DOE) will distribute compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in Isabela province, particularly in the 4th congressional district, on Sept. 29, 2012.

The distribution of CFLs, which is part of the DOE initiatives under the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP), is a nationwide activity that is being held in various parts of the country through a memorandum of agreement with congressional district representatives.

The activity aims to lessen the electricity consumption through the use of CFLs instead of the incandescent bulbs.

Reynaldo Braceros, staff of 4th district Rep. Giorgidi B. Aggabao and coordinator in the CFL distribution, said residents of the fourth district who wanted to avail of the free CFLs are advised to visit the congressman’s district office at #8 Carreon Street, Centro East Santiago City. and be listed as beneficiary of the free CFL.

Braceros said during the CFLs distribution, residents are advised to bring with their electric bill to avail the free CFL.

The DOE distributed CFLs last Sept. 21 in Ilocos Sur, Benguet on Sept. 22 and Mountain Province on Sept. 23.

The distribution will be held in Nueva Ecija on Sept. 26 and Zambales on Sept. 27.

The DOE has allotted 10,000 CFLs to be distributed in each district.

DOE will continue to provide CFLs until it meets the targeted households in the country.

The Visayan Electric Co. Inc. (Veco), Metro Cebu’s lone power utility, has donated a two-story, four-classroom school building to the Paknaan Elementary School (PES) in Mandaue City.

PES is the 10th school that received Veco’s school building project under the power company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said the project is a testament to public-private partnership. Veco took care of 70 percent of the total cost, while the local government funded the remaining cost.

PES principal Clarissa Villaver said that the new building will be used by the school’s 550 Grade 4 pupils.

Villaver said there are a total of 3,848 pupils in the PES and that one of their problems is the classroom shortage.

”Veco has partly answered the 38 classrooms shortage but more is needed,” she said.

Villaver said PES’ 1,800 pupils from grades 1 to 3 are on two shifts.

The morning shift is in school from 6 a.m. until noon, while pupils in the afternoon shift should be in school at 1 p.m. Their classes last until 6 p.m.

Despite the pupils’ pressure to learn in an overcrowded institution and the teachers’ obligation to impose the daily classroom discipline, the school has maintained their National Achievement Tests (NAT) rating, with zero dropouts.

Veco senior office (COO) Sebastian Lacson posed the challenge for educators to maintain and improve their NAT rating. - pna.gov.ph

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office is targeting to help curb the increasing child labor in Central Luzon through its modified Cash Conditional Transfer (CCT).

Irene Crespo, chief of the DSWDs’ Technical Assistance Office, said the child laborers are among the target beneficiaries of their expanded CCT or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Crespo said the expanded program include child laborers not covered by 4Ps and not on the list of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

"There is an emerging and increasing concern of child labor in the region. Through the modified CCT, we would be able to ensure the safety, protection, and development of children in difficult circumstances," she said.

Aside from child laborers, she said the target beneficiaries of the expanded CCT program are those families who are displaced from their homes due to different situations such as victims of manmade and natural-made calamities, indigenous peoples migrant families, informal settlers, and families with children in need of social protections such as children with disabilities, street children, out-of-school, abandoned and abused, including those who were victims of other forms of exploitation.

She said the objectives of the modified CCT are: to bring back children from the streets to more suitable, decent and permanent homes and reunite with their families; bring back children to schools and facilitate their regular attendance; facilitate availment of health and nutrition services; enhance parenting roles through attendance to Family Development Sessions (FDS); to mainstream families with children in need of special protection for normal psycho-social functioning through 4Ps.

She said that similar to regular 4Ps, the beneficiaries of the modified CCT must also follow certain conditions.

Among the conditions include weekly attendance to FDS for the first two months; once a month attendance to FDS for the succeeding months and family counseling sessions; attendance to alternative mode of learning or formal schools; visit to health centers; and residing in a permanent home after six months of social preparation. - pna.gov.ph

An official of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7 said the integrated drainage master plan for the whole Metro Cebu envisioned by the Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 will cost P10 million to P15 million.

Neda 7 director Buenaventura Go-Soco said the amount covers the study that will be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the waterways in 13 cities and municipalities in Metro Cebu.

Go-Soco said the funds have yet to be allocated for the project but he hopes that the DPWH central office in Manila will set aside funding for it.

The RDC 7 last June decided to tap the services of DPWH central office, particularly its Project Management Office-Flood Control Center, to prepare the drainage master plan.

The council learned that the DPWH 7 does not have the capabilities to undertake the project.

The DPWH said it wants local government units (LGU) in Metro Cebu to come up with counterpart funds for the project, but it did not say how much.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who also heads the RDC 7, said the DPWH should set aside funds for the drainage master plan.

”They should have included the funding for that in the P400 million,” he said, referring National Government funds that Rep. Tomas Osmena (Cebu City, south district) diverted to the first district of Cebu Province.

The P400 million, which was part of DPWH’s budget, was originally set aside for infrastructure projects identified by Osmena, such as the proposed flyover between Gorordo Ave. and Dona Modesta Gaisano St. in Cebu City, which was blocked by Rama.

Osmena said the funds cannot be realigned and instead diverted the same amount to the first district of Cebu Province.

Rama also proposed that DPWH collate the master plans of Metro Cebu LGUs and use these as bases for the integrated drainage master plan to avoid huge costs. - by pna.gov.ph

Joint elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and police arrested a barangay councilor and three others during an anti-illegal drugs buy-bust operation in Barangay Camp 1, Rosario, La Union last Sunday.

A belated report of PDEA agent Bismark Bengwayan identified the four arrested drug pushers as Emilio dela Cruz, 30, incumbent barangay councilor of Barangay Lapalo, San Manuel, Pangasinan; Emmanuel Rivera, 50; and Dino Salting, 21; both from Barangay Lapalo, San Manuel, Pangasinan; and Jamal Pangadaman, 22, a resident from Barangay Camantiles, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

He said that lawmen seized from the suspects’ possession four heat-sealed plastic sachets of crystalline substance believed to be shabu with an estimated value of P30,000.

Lawmen also seized from the suspects a cellphone and a van which was allegedly used in their illegal drugs transactions.

He also disclosed that Rivera is included in the Order of Battle (OB) of PDEA and police in their campaign against illegal drugs. - by PNA.gov.ph

by pna.gov.ph

Except for authorized law enforcers, soldiers and police personnel, carrying firearms by civilians in Siargao Island is now banned in the entire duration of the 19th Siargao International Surfing Cup from September 23-30.

This developed after Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome approved the ban to carry firearms outside residence, including issuance of permits in all areas of Siargao Islands effective Sept. 23-30, 2012, to ensure the safety of public in time of the 19th Siargao International Surfing Cup 2012.

The PNP Chief ordered that only members of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies performing official duties are exempted from the ban.

On the other hand, the Chief PNP also ordered all PNP personnel in the surfing capital of the country to intensify the conduct of checkpoints, mobile/beat patrols and other police security operations in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies and the local government units.

Influx of Filipino and foreign tourists have started to arrive in Siargao island since last week either to witness or participate in the week-long surfing competition.

“The gun ban including suspension of issuance of permits to carry firearms outside residences were part of the initiatives to strengthen security measures for this year’s International Surfing Cup,” said Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Carmelo E Valmoria,

Valmoria added the entire PNP leadership encouraged communities to be more vigilant against criminal activities and to report any crimes committed or report unusual individuals to the nearest police station.

The Police Regional Office based in Butuan City hopes that no firearm-related incidents or other crimes will occur.

by pna.gov.ph

The provincial government of South Cotabato has created a special body that will spearhead various programs geared at improving the mental and physical health of its officials and employees.

South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. issued Executive Order No. 14 creating the Provincial Health and Safety Board to facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive health and wellness program for local government workers in the area.

He said the board was mainly tasked to study and formulate polices, programs and service that would promote healthy lifestyles and productive working environments in the province.

Pingoy said the order was based on Book V of Executive Order 292 and Omnibus Rules, which pointed out that “every official and employee is an asset or a resource to be valued, developed or utilized in the delivery of services to the public.”

Early this year, a health risk assessment conducted by the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) among provincial government employees revealed that majority of them suffer from lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cardio vascular diseases.

“There is a need for further action to address such health risks in order to improve the work performance of our employees,” Pingoy noted in his order.

The newly-created board comprises top officials of the provincial government and with the provincial health officer as chair and the provincial administrator and provincial accountant as vice chairpersons.

The designated members come from the provincial planning and development office, human resource and development division and the union of provincial government employees of South Cotabato.

Three fishermen from Ilocos Sur who went missing after they sailed in the west Philippine Sea last Sunday morning were rescued by a search and rescue team Monday afternoon while in mid-sea on board their crippled boat.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said the fishermen left their homes in Barangay Gabao, Santiago, Ilocos Sur to catch fish but had not returned home since then.

PDRRMC action officer Sigfred Duquing identified the three fishermen as Norlie Liclican, 26; Nilo Etrata, 30; and Judel Escalona, 18; all of Barangay Gabao, Santiago town.

They were rescued by fellow fishermen while they were heading east-ward on board their boat marked "K" which they were manually rowing.

“The three missing fishermen were safely returned to their respective homes,” Duquing said.

According to Duquing, the three were not able to return home last Sunday afternoon when the generator of their boat suffered mechanical trouble while in midâ€"sea. - by pna.gov.ph

by pna.gov.ph

Two Sorsogon journalists were harassed and assaulted in two separate incidents on Sunday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed on Tuesday.

The first incident occurred when Roberto Labalan, editor of Sorsogon Now weekly tabloid and national director and Sorsogon chapter chairman of the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP), was assaulted by Joseph Yap III, a brother of Prieto-Diaz town mayor Jocelyn Yap-Lelis on Sunday at a media forum in the Tia Tinay Coffee Shop in Sorsogon City.

Labalan, also former Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) correspondent in Sorsogon, said in an interview that he was mauled by Yap right in front of other mediamen and even Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee who was then the guest at the forum.

Labalan said he apparently got the ire of Yap over an article he wrote in his paper concerning an alleged irregularity in the implementation of a P3-million PAMANA road project in Prieto-Diaz town in which Yap was the contractor.

Labalan said the attack happened about 7:15 AM Sunday when he and other media colleagues and Gov. Lee where having a huddle at the coffee shop. He said Yap suddenly barged in and punched him in the face.

He said Yap physically assaulted him after uttering, “Nano kay tinira mo ako sa dyaryo? (Why did you hit me in your newspaper)."

The Sorsogon Press Association issued a manifesto on Monday condemning in the highest possible terms the act of Yap against their colleague viewing it as an assault on press freedom.

The manifesto also called on authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident especially since it had been observed that Yap was in possession of a gun of unknown caliber at the time.

They also asked authorities to ensure the safety of Labalan against possible further attacks by Yap who appeared deeply disturbed by the article written by Labalan.

In another incident, Ramil Marianito, station manager of Radio Natin in Sorsogon City and the WOW FM in Bulan town, complained to police authorities about being harassed and tailed on Sunday afternoon by six unidentified armed men riding tandem in three motorcycles at the Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) Salvacion, Irosin town in Sorsogon.

Marianito, in a phone interview, said he and his wife and three children including an office staff were then on board a Toyota Vios car he was driving as they were on their way home from Bulan town to Sorsogon City last Sunday.

He said as they were negotiating the highway in Irosin town at about 4:30 PM Sunday when he noticed that three motorcycles, with the six men riding in tandem, were tailing them.

He said one of the motorcycles overtook them and a suspect poked a .45 caliber handgun. Reaching the road junction of Irosin and Casiguran town boundaries, he found the motor riding armed men partially blocking the highway and one of them was holding a baby Armalite.

Marianito said he sped up that led to a chase wherein he entered the town of Casiguran. The armed men following them then suddenly disappeared.

The Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources (DENR) has cleared of any violation the Mahogany and Gmelina shipment from Basilan province that were seized two weeks ago by the Philippine Navy while being delivered to this city aboard a cargo vessel.

Elvira Lumayag, officer-in-charge of the DENR’s CommunityEnvironment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Glan, Sarangani, said Tuesday the results of their verification and inspection showed that the shipment did not include any premium or endangered wood species as earlier suspected by local Naval personnel.

She said they completed on Monday the inventory and scaling of the shipment, which were carried by cargo vessel M/V Somahi, and they so far turned out in proper order.

Lumayag said the shipment only comprised Mahogany flitches and poles as well as 18-foot Gmelina poles.

“These are all from trees that were planted in a private land. A certificate of verification was earlier issued by the CENRO in Zamboanga City attesting that the shipment was sourced from a titled property,” she said.

She said the certification, which was issued by CENRO-West chief Ben Acana, also included a copy of the land title under the name Hadji Mashur Ismael of Isabela City in Basilan, where the shipment wasverified to have been sourced.

Navy patrol gun boat 114 BRP Salvador Abcede intercepted the shipment aboard cargo vessel M/V Somahi last Sept. 12 while it was about to enter the Sarangani Bay.

Cmdr. Lued Lincuna, RP Salvador Abcede commander, said they stopped the shipment near Tampat point off the coasts of Maasim town in Sarangani province due to a tip that it supposedly included illegally-cut premium logs.

Lincuna said the vessel’s officers and crew presented documents indicating that the shipment was composed of 2,963 round poles and flitches of Mahogany and Gmelina but noted that they failed to show a log sales invoice, log supply contract, forest officer’s markings hatchet and that the tally sheet of the shipment were supposedly questionable.

The shipment was immediately re-routed to Glan town in Sarangani to undergo verification and inventory by the DENR.

Lumayag said unloading, inventory and scaling of the shipment at the Glan port were properly witnessed by Naval personnel.

She said a team from the National Bureau of Investigation-Sarangani District Office also made a verification of the shipment as they were reportedly tipped off by their counterparts in Basilan regarding its supposed inclusion of premium logs.

“They did not find anything Lawaan or Yakal logs inserted in the shipment as indicated by the intelligence information that they received,” Lumayag said.

The official said CENRO-Sarangani’s forestry division is set to conduct a review of the shipment’s scaling and inventory data to establish its total volume and value.

She said they will make a final report on the matter and submit it to the DENR Region 12 director for decision and proper action.

When eventually cleared by the DENR regional office, Lumayag said they will immediately inform the Philippine Navy about the matter to allow the shipment to proceed to this city, which was its indicated port of destination. - PNA

The prices of basic commodities and cost of services in Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region have remained stable despite posting slight increases during the first quarter of the year.

Arturo Valero, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 12 director, said their assessment showed that commodity prices within the region’s four provinces and five cities averaged at around 2.9 percent in the first three months of the year.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Tacurong.

“A moderate increase in the prices for all commodities in the region was noted during the period,” Valero said.

He said that among the commodity groups, alcoholic beverages and tobacco registered the highest inflation rate with 5.2 percent followed by transport with 5.1 percent, health with 4.3 percent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at four percent.

Clothing and footwear prices increased by 3.8 percent; recreation and culture by 3.1 percent; education by 3.1 percent; restaurants and miscellaneous goods and services by 2.8 percent; equipment and routine maintenance of the house by 2.4 percent; and, food and non-alcoholicbeverages by 2.2 percent, he said.

Valero said only communication registered a negative inflation rate with -1.2 percent during the period.

The inflation rate measures the rate of increase in the prices of basic commodities based on 2006 prices as rebased by the National Statistics Office, he said.

“The rebased inflation rate data are available for the periods starting July 2011 only, thus, the 2012 first quarter data could not be compared with the same period in the previous year,” Valero noted.

For the rest of the year, he said the prices of commodities are likely to be maintained at reasonable level but “price hikes for educational services might be expected as some educational institutions shall implement increase in tuition and other school fees for the school year 2012-2013.”

Meanwhile, the official said the region‘s employment was estimated at 96 percent or 0.8 percentage point lower than the 96.8 percent recorded in the same period the previous year.

He said the area’s employment rate is higher by 3.2 percent than the national average of 92.8 percent.

Valero said labor force participation in the region was estimated at 64.9 percent, registering a 0.6 percentage point increase over the 64.3 percent estimate in the previous year. - by PNA

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has declared the month of October as Press Freedom Month to show the province’s commitment to the media.

Assistant Provincial Administrator and Provincial Information Office officer-in-charge Romulo D. Tagalo said the declaration was also supported by local officials and members of the media in the province.

During the convocation held at the Bulwagan Hall of the province, a Davao City-based journalist was invited to talk on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.

With the theme “Confidentiality and the people’s right to know: The Right Balance”, the convocation aims to create an awareness about the Freedom of Information Bill which has been delayed for the past six years, Tagalo said.

“Transparency is the most effective deterrent to crime, corruption and abuse by the government,” he said.

In a speech read by vice governor Victorio Suaybaguio, Governor del Rosario said “Truthful, accurate and up-to-date information are very important to the mass media; the challenge is how to achieve balance between confidential information and public matters.”

“As of 2006, over 100 countries have passed the Freedom of Information Bill and some of these FOIs do not only cover government but also private entities as well,” Mindanao Times editor-in-chief Amalia M. Bandiola said.

She said the provisions of the FOI are no longer new as these are already embodied in the Constitution.

As embodied in the Bill of Rights, she said, the FOI will give access to “official records, documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions and government research data used as basis for policy development.”

The Constitution has also identified special classes of information that have to be divulged including: information on foreign loans, Statement of Assets and net worth, journal of proceedings of the legislature as well as the records and book of accounts of congress.

“But while these are already in the Constitution, there has to be a law that will implement it,” she said.

Bandiola said the FOI is not only a healthy pillar of democracy but it will also sustain the gains of the Aquino administration in the next years.

She said several versions of the Bill have been filed in Congress since 2010. Earlier versions of the bicameral report was presented in the 14th Congress headed by former Speaker and Davao 1st District representative Prospero Nograles. This included the amendments introduced by Nograles related to the non-retroactivity of the bill and by representative Darlene Antonino of General Santos City on the right of reply provision of the bill. The bill was however “killed” in the 14th Congress.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III formed in 2011 a study group to look into the Freedom of Information Bill and endorsed the group’s amendments to the Bill in January 2012. The Bill now includes the amendments introduced by Malacanang such as: the exclusion of National Security information from the FOI, exclusion of the Presidential Communication related to national security and according to the President’s Executive Privilege and the expansion of the classes of information for mandatory inclusion including the SALN or Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth.

After six years, the Freedom of Information Bill is now SB 3208 also known as POGI or the People’s Ownership over Government Information.

“It might have been resubmitted to Congress but it is scary to know that up to now, no plenary interpellation has been made and no hearings in the Senate yet even if the 15th Congress is about to end,” Bandiola said. - source: PNA.gov.ph

The government-owned Region 1 Medical Center is contemplating filing a case against a television station whose program branded the hospital as "dugyot", a reference to being in state of unkempt or dirty condition.

Calling a press conference on Monday, Dr. Roland Mejia, R1MC chief, said the word "dugyot" is very destructive to the image of the hospital "because it is not true".

R1MC is a tertiary level four hospital and also the only training and teaching hospital in Pangasinan.

Mejia said the term "dugyot" is very unacceptable because the video footage presented only one small plastic bag on top of a garbage can that may have been deliberately placed by the one who took the video to embarrass the hospital.

All else presented, like the sparkling floor, did not show any unkempt state that was why the use of word "dugyot" as a title of the report is improper and showed the mark of unprofessional conduct, said Mejia.

At the same time, he said, the video footage presented only one corner of the hospital which is just only about 10 per cent of the three-hectare hospital

Mejia said a staff member of the program "Bitag" indeed called up to get his comment just two hours before the airing of the show.

But he said his training dictates that he cannot make a comment on a video he has not seen yet.

He said many of those who saw the video, especially those who were confined at R1MC, were hurt because the reference to the word "dugyot" on the hospital is also not acceptable to them.

"The hospital attorney is now reviewing the video very well and we are contemplating on filing (a case) against (those responsible for the report) because sinisiraan nila ang pangalan ng Region 1 Medical Ceter," he said.

He said R1MC is the only hospital in Pangasinan which is where the poor people of Pangasinan are going when they get sick.

Tapos sinisiraan nila ng ganito. Hindi puede ito," he added.

Mejia said the program also reported that patients being operated on at the corridor is not true because R1MC has a lot of operating rooms.

Maybe, he said, the one who took the video had footage of nurses and doctors dressing the wounds of patients. - pna

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) clarified that the 5.6 magnitude quake that recently hit Valencia City and Maramag in Bukidnon and neighboring cities and provinces, was caused by the movement of the tectonic plate, said Phivolcs Northern Mindanao Director Marcial Labinay.

Appearing in a session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Tuesday, Labinay said the tectonic plate has its origin between the upland barangays of Guinoyoran and Lourdes of Valencia City.

The quake was not related to volcanic activity, said Labinay who added that the epicenter of the quake had a shallow depth.

Labinay said last year's intensity 5.5 quake that hit Valencia and nearby areas is believed to have been triggered by the same fault line, and not by the Central Mindanao fault, Cabanglasan fault or Tagoloan fault.

Mt. Kalayo known as Musuan peak of Maramag and Mt. Kalatungan of Bukidnon are active volcanoes but have no registered volcanic activity, he said.  - by PNA

by pna

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz on Tuesday commended the rank-and-file union and management of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) after both parties agreed to a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) borne out of their initiative to restore harmonious labor-management relations in Davao’s broadcast industry.

Baldoz also cited the combined efforts of the DOLE Regional Office No. 11 and the National Conciliation and Mediation Board in the successful conclusion of the CBA.

“I am pleased that our conciliation-mediation efforts have paid off after four months of negotiation. I commend the parties for coming to an amicable agreement in the interest of industrial harmony and peace,” Baldoz said after she was apprised of the development.

The RMN Davao Employees Union-National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN)-Davao Station have officially registered their CBA last Aug. 22, 2012, covering the period July 28, 2012 to July 28, 2016. The four-year CBA contained an economic package of P36 million which will benefit 20 union member-employees of the broadcast firm.

Baldoz said the salient features of the new CBA included a provision for a wage increase of P40/day for the second year and P20/day for the third year; provision for service incentive leaves, retirement, separation, and death benefits on top of what is mandated by the Labor Code; medical-dental benefits; free meals/meal allowances; hazard pay; and provision of union office.

She said the new CBA also contained the union’s recognition of the management’s prerogative to have full and exclusive direction and control of the company and its employees.

The CBA was arrived at after the joint efforts of DOLE Regional Director Joffrey Suyao, Mediator-Arbiter Jason Balais, and NCMB conciliator-mediator Paciano Murro Jr., resulted to breaking the deadlock in the negotiations through the conduct of a marathon conference between the disputing parties.

“The settlement of the dispute will restore harmonious work relations in the largest radio network in Mindanao and ensure that the workers will remain in their jobs, thus enable the network to continually serve its listeners and followers,” Baldoz said.

“Instead of clenching their fists against each other, they shook hands as a sign of their cooperation for the effective administration of the CBA and re-building of a better harmonious labor-management relationship,” she added.

The labor row at the radio company erupted on June 4, 2012 after the RMN Davao Employees Union, composed of 20 members, filed a Notice of Strike due to the management’s alleged refusal to bargain.

On July 10, 2012, the union members ceased reporting to work and declared an actual labor strike, the first in 2011. They picketed the station’s premises on the corner of Anda and Bonifacio Streets; its i-FM transmitter compound at the Shrine Hills; and its DXDC AM transmitter compound at Madapo Hills, both in Matina.

Consequently, the i-FM station went off air, while DXDC was only able to broadcast pre-taped programs and feeds from RMN-Manila.

Through the proactive conciliation and mediation efforts of the Regional Conciliation and Mediation Board No. XI, a settlement between the contending parties was arrived at on July 18, 2012, under which both the management and union finally entered into a compromise agreement and, hence, their first CBA.

The Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) will conduct a regional dissemination forum on the results of the “2011 Survey on the Updating of the Nutritional Status of Selected Filipinos” in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The forum will be conducted in collaboration with the DOST Regional Office No. IX in the Zamboanga Peninsula on Sept. 28 at the Grand Astoria Hotel, this city.

Jill Cindy Cruz-Cañete of DOST said the activity aims to update key stakeholders in the government and private sectors involved in food, nutrition and health programs on the survey results.

Cañete said the survey results could be used to recommend possible action agenda in the local policy-making and program planning.

Aside from the highlights of survey, FNRI will also present a report on the “High Impact Technology Solutions (HITS) relevant to the nutritional status of Filipino children.”

The forum will be attended by members of the Regional Development Council-IX (RDC-IX), Provincial Nutrition Action Officers (PNAO), representatives of non-government organizations (NGOs), and media and information officers. - pna.gov.ph

A dead sea turtle was found afloat in the shoreline off Station 1 in Boracay Island.

The Boracay Island authorities believed that the rotting sea turtle might have been drifted by turbulent seas and big waves toward the Philippine shore, particularly in the Visayan sea.

The dead turtle may have come from other places owing to its tag bearing the inscription “Turtle World of Malaysia.”

A boatman, identified as a certain Reynold Biya of Romblon, reportedly found the sea turtle already dead while drifting in the sea.

Belonging to the family of marine reptile, the sea turtle was estimated to be one meter wide.

It was already reeking with foul odor as its body gradually decomposed, prompting the island authorities to bury the dead marine creature to get rid of the unwanted smell in the area. - pna.gov.ph

by pna.gov.ph

Seven Luzon-based mountain climbers who scaled Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, were rescued on Monday after being trapped by rampaging river waters brought about by continuous rain in Kidapawan City.

A report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the climbers as Maripaz Llagas, 30, of Barangay Hugo Perez Trece Martirez, Cavite; Paulyn Mejia, 21, of Binondo, Manila; Jonalyn Vega, 28, and Mark Robben Garcia, 25, both of Imus, Cavite; Maria Jumilene Roxas, 25, of Makati City; and Arnel Aragon, 30, of Mt. Apo Village in Kidapawan City.

The climbers sought assistance from the Kidapawan City Investment Office after they ran out of food on Monday.

The rescuers from Kidapawan City Emergency Response Unit received the information around noon of Sept. 24 and immediately launched the rescue operations.

The climbers were on their way down from Lake Venado camp site passing through the Kidapawan City trail at Mt. Apo National Park in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato when they were stalled by the high water level and strong current at Marbel river.

The climbers decided to call for help after noting that they had no more food packs in their bags.

Members of the Kidapawan City Emergency Response Unit (KidCERU) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council were able to reach the climbers around 5:30 p.m. Monday.

by pna.gov.ph

Tagum City officials and employees and personnel of St. Peter Life Plans (SPLP) on Monday planted hundreds of tree seedlings at the city’s 30-hectare botanical garden in Barangay San Agustin.

Mayor Rey Uy and SPLP president York Vitangcol led the tree-planting activity around 9 a.m. to jumpstart the greening program between the city and the life insurance firm, said Edwin Lasquite of the city information office.

Lasquite said the event “was part of the three-year partnership” between Tagum City and SPLP in developing the upland San Agustin village into the city’s Botanical Garden.

“The company has pledged to plant a big portion of the 50-hectare Botanical Part with different tree species as part of its corporate social responsibility program,” Lasquite said.

by pna.gov.ph

The Commission on Audit (COA) wants the Mandaue City Government to demand P291,900 from a supplier that failed to deliver on time the four electric cars the city bought last year.

In its audit report, COA said the China Six Eleven International Sales was late by 105 days in delivering the 14-seater electric cars, which cost P2.7 million.

The purchase order sent to the firm on May 5, 2011 stipulated that the supplier shall pay a penalty of one-tenth of one percent of the electric cars’ total price for every day of the delay.

Mandaue City Legal Office Giovanni Tianero said the city has yet to ask the supplier to pay the penalty.

He said he still has to check some documents.

”I’m considering asking them to explain the delay,” Tianero said.

Unless the city collects P291,900 from the supplier, “the amount will be due from the approving officials of the transaction,” the COA report warned.

by pna

Brian Goldbeck, the new Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, is scheduled to visit Zamboanga City and Basilan province this week to learn about the U.S.-Philippine partnership and U.S. Government-supported projects in the two places.

The U.S. Embassy in a statement Tuesday disclosed that Goldbeck and Mayor Celso Lobregat will lead U.S. and local government officials to inaugurate a suspension footbridge project on Friday (Sept. 28) in Sitio Murok, Barangay Pasonanca, north of this city.

The footbridge project will benefit approximately 6,000 residents in Sitio Murok, Barangay Pasonanca and from nearby areas.

The construction of the footbridge was funded by the U.S. government and was completed last month.

The footbridge provides safe pedestrian passage and timely transport of people, products and services to all corners of Zamboanga City.

by pna.gov.ph

A still undetermined number of RP-US troops participating in this year’s Amphibious Landing Exercise of the Philippine Bilateral Exercises 13 will be in four barangays in this city to jointly train on Disaster Relief Response (DRR).

Lieutenant Colonel Neil Anthony Estrella, spokesperson of the Western Command, confirmed to the PNA that Filipino and American troops are set to arrive in Puerto Princesa on October 8 for the joint interdisciplinary field training on tactical and calculated organization responses from hazard risks that can initiate events, such as disasters and calamities to guarantee resiliency.

The DRR will be held in four barangays, namely Macarascas, Tagburos, Mangingisda, and Sta. Lourdes. He was unable to assure how many will participate in Puerto Princesa.

In Phiblex 13, RP-US will center their drills on stepping up interoperability proficiencies in humanitarian assistance and disaster response undertakings, said Estrella. After joint trainings in Zambales, the rest of the activities will be done in Palawan.

by pna.gov.ph

Senator Chiz Escudero said the choice of dividing the province of Camarines Sur should be left to the people through a plebiscite.

“The motives behind the move to divide or not to divide the province of Camarines Sur are political. Pareho lang naman silang namumulitika,ang pro and anti,” Escudero said.

“Let’s just leave the choice and decision to the people of Camarines Sur and let us all respect their choice,” he added.

In an emailed statement, the Bicolano lawmaker stressed that the will of the people of Camarines Sur should prevail once they have decided, through a plebiscite, when the decision to divide Camarines Sur will be put to a vote.

House Bill 4820, a bill creating the province of Nueva Camarines out of Camarines Sur, is currently in the period of interpellation at the Senate.

According to the bill, no new district will be created if the division of the province pushes through.

Escudero, however, clarified that while an additional district may mean additional taxes, it will also mean bigger funds for public services.

“For every new district created, more funds will flow into that area. In Sorsogon, for instance, we have two districts only. A congressman’s CDF is P70 million, so the province enjoys P140 million for different projects. If we get three districts, the funds to be poured into Sorsogon becomes P210 million,” Escudero explained.

“Instead of a staff of six each congressman, we will have 18 for three congressmen. Additional costs, but additional services also,” he added.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese led students, lay leaders, civic and religious organizations in slamming the operation of online gambling business called eGames along Perez Boulevard here.

In his letter to Mayor Benjamin Lim dated September 17, 2012, Archbishop Villegas said he was saddened and disappointed to know that the city has allowed the operation of an online gambling business called Egames at Ragtime Building on Perez Boulevard.

In his letter to Mayor Lim, Archbishop Villegas wrote: “As a registered voter of Dagupan City and as representative of the Catholic faithful in Central Pangasinan, I want to make known to the city government our strongest objection to the opening of this online casino in our city”.

He said this will open the door to the degradation of morality, the destruction of family life, the corruption of our children and the promotion of a culture of chanced rather than honest toil in our community, pointing out that “Dagupan City will become the best city by change, not by chance.”

Issued with business permit by city hall to operate Egames was T2 RAF Electronic Gaming Station with one Rafael Tabora as registered proprietor.

Councilor Luis Samson Jr., chair of the committee on trade and industry in the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), said that T2 was operating since Sept. 14 after it was issued with a business permit by the mayor’s office even if the application for franchise of the company has yet to be approved by the SP.

He asked the SP to investigate on who issued the business permit to the company as Mayor Lim revealed it was not him who signed this.

Earlier, Barangay chairwoman Salvacion Bravo of Herrero-Perez where Ragtime Building is located revoked the business permit inadvertently issued by her secretary to the company, saying her barangay is against gambling in any form.

In last Monday’s session of the SP, Councilor Brian Lim, son of Mayor Lim, informed that per his talk with City Administrator Vladimir Mata, the mayor is revoking the business permit granted to T2 RAF firm. - pna.gov.ph

by pna

An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office urged her colleagues in the government service to work as one family in serving the countrymen.

During Monday’s kicked off ceremony of the Family Week at the Diosdado Macapagal Government Center here, DSWD regional director Adelina Apostol said that one of the keys to progressive nation is the strong and unified family relationships.

"Let us all work as one family. Unity is a strong foundation for our nation to attain progress and development," said Apostol, who is also the chairperson of the Regional Steering Committee for Family Week Celebration.

With the theme “Ensuring Work-Family Balance”, the event was highlighted by candle lighting ceremony which was participated by officials and employees of the regional government agencies.

Leticia Angara-Moises, a retired DSWD regional director and former undersecretary, was the guest of honor and speaker of the celebration.

by pna.gov.ph

Environmentalists based in Negros Oriental are hoping to obtain at least 5,000 signatures, mostly from students of the different universities and colleges here, petitioning a moratorium on the operation of coal-fired power plants.

The petition aims to promote the use of alternative sources of power, particularly renewable energy, and do away with coal that environmentalists believe is harmful to the environment.

Engr. Trelly Marigza, a consultant of the international group 350.Org, said a series of forums on the campaign against coal power will reel off Tuesday afternoon at the St. Paul University in this capital city.

Speakers in the opening forum include Marigza to discuss environmental issues, Dumaguete City Councilor Manuel Arbas on legal matters, City Health Officer Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla on health concerns and Belgian botanist Eric Hanquinet on renewable energy, more particularly, on the use of solar power.

The forum series dwells on the theme “Uling, Uling, Unsa Ka?” said Marigza. “Uling” is the Cebuano term for coal.

St. Paul University, which was the first to respond in the campaign, has asked for a second forum on Thursday to be able to accommodate its high school and college students, said Marigza.

Also, Silliman University, Foundation University and the Negros Oriental State University have already confirmed their participation in the call for action against coal power.

Each forum will be highlighted by the signing of a petition that will be submitted to national government agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), according to Marigza.

by pna

Three local government units in Negros Oriental have been identified as among the first recipients for the establishment of the Local Flood Early Warning System (LFEWS) provided by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

These are the municipalities of Valencia, Sibulan and Dumaguete City, the province’s capital.

GIZ senior adviser Allen Molen and Negros Oriental project adviser Antonio Balang Jr. facilitated the two-day round table discussion which reeled off Tuesday and ends Wednesday at the Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City.

Attending the meeting are representatives from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), the City DRRMC, planning officers and representatives from the local government units of Valencia, Sibulan and Dumaguete.

According to Molen, strategic planning is important for each LGU to lay-out the respective community based hazard maps, community asset assessment that includes political, financial, social, natural, physical and economic assets.

He also emphasized the need to identify the socio-political situation that might hinder or enhance the establishment of the Local Flood Early Warning Systems, especially after next week’s filing of certificates of candidacy by those seeking elective positions in the 2013 polls. He added that GIZ will provide the system to the local government unit but clarified that they stay away from being politicized.

Molen said an in-depth assessment should be considered to determine the assets of the community that can be utilized during the calamity.

The GIZ has allocated two LFEWS in Negros Oriental which will be strategically located in areas that will monitor the flow of water from the Okuy and Banica Rivers which flow from the mountains of the Valencia.

The LFEWS consists of one telemeter rain gauge, telemeter water pressure and date center. Molen said the transmission of data is done through radio frequency because it is proven to be easier, effective and reliable.

Part of the discussion will be on identifying the strategic area where the LFEWS will be installed but consideration should be given to the huge mountain terrain of Valencia.

by pna.gov.ph

Around 25 families living along the banks of the Siaton River and the Canaway River in Siaton, Negros Oriental were evacuated to safer grounds on Monday evening following flashfloods spurred by torrential rains that caused the rivers to overflow.

Angelo Tiongson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) confirmed that the families opted for a pre-emptive evacuation after the rivers overflowed and started seeping in to the doorways of their houses.

The families stayed overnight at the town gymnasium and returned early Tuesday to their homes after authorities declared it safe for them, said Tiongson.

Capitol, through the PDRRMC, sent Tuesday morning food packs for the evacuees, Tiongson added.

Heavy and continuous rains over the past days had triggered flooding in some areas in Negros Oriental in recent days as Typhoon “Lawin” entered the Philippine area of responsibility.

Tiongson said Governor Roel Degamo has given a standing order for deputized disaster risk reduction and management officers in the different towns and cities of Negros Oriental to be vigilant at all times.

He said local government units must actively participate in disaster response and undertake mitigating measures as well to prevent the loss of lives and damage to property.

Meanwhile, the body of 29-year old Reynaldo Saguban Adaya, a resident of the sub-village of Sto. Niño in Barangay San Pedro, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, was found along the shore of the town last Thursday after he drowned in floodwater when he crossed a bridge apparently while under the influence of liquor.

by pna.gov.ph

Iloilo City Hall has been literally taken over by young officials who are now at the helm of governance here, at least for a week.

The boy and girl city officials, led by girl city mayor Nizza Ann Regalado of Ateneo de Iloilo, were chosen by the Rotary Club of Iloilo City for their 38th Boys and Girls Week celebration.

“This kind of undertaking is a very good training ground for our youth so that they will know how it is to be in public service, know first-hand the problems of our society and how to best address them,” Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog said.

Each head of City hall departments and offices has a counterpart boy or girl official that they will mentor about their work and services.

The young leaders were also asked to join official functions and meetings so they will know the business of working in the government.

The second highest girl official is Vicah Villanueva, of the Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas, as city vice mayor.

The city councilors are David Lao of Central Philippine University; Isabelle Zerrudo of West Visayas State University; Kevinn Friedrich Chan of Iloilo Scholastic Academy; Michael Pedronio of Filipino-American School Town; Caryl Nonato of SPED-Integrated School for Exceptional Children; Blessed Plondaya of St. Joseph School Iloilo; Julie Suganob of Colegio de San Jose; Patrick Nafarrete of PAREF-Westbridge School; Kelly Binder of University of San Agustin; Zulein Gardose of Central Philippine University; Rachylle Querimit of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University; and Maria Antonette Pasquin of University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo.

Girl president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC-Iloilo City) is Christine Alvarez of Filipino-American School Town, while girl president of Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SK-Iloilo City) is Merry Cris Ferrer of Iloilo City National High School.

Valen Jambaro of Western Visayas College of Science and Technology is girl city administrator.

by pna.gov.ph

The provincial government has recently hosted a lay forum on nutrition and breast and cervical cancer at the SM City Marilao as part of the celebration of Medicine Week which kicked off on Sept. 23.

The activity was attended by some 400 barangay health workers (BHWs) in the province.

Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said the activity aims to mitigate the cases of breast and cervical cancer as well as malnutrition in the province.

Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Jocelyn Gomez has underscored the need to step-up efforts against malnutrition problem through enhancing public awareness.

Data from the National Nutrition Council in Region 3, showed that out of the total 280,230 weighed children in Bulacan, there are about 5,425 are underweight and 646 severely underweight among those 5 years old and below.

Gomez also said that there is a need to equip Bulakenyos more knowledge against breast and cervical cancers, which according to the Department of Health remains to be one of the leading malignancies among Filipino women.

Meanwhile, she cited the vital role of BHWs in improving the country’s health care system.

"They are the frontliners in the delivery of medical services within the grassroot level. That is why we decided to provide them, through this forum, more knowledge on health concerns," Gomez said.

The forum was divided into three parts-- the discussion on Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness lectured by Dr. Amabel C. Mendoza; the second part is Nutrition Counseling by Rubielyn Jimenez; and the last part was a cooking demo by Genoveva dela Cruz and high-load (HL) exercise led by Dr. Minerva Santos & staff.

by pna.gov.ph

Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival vies to be one of the 20 finalists in the prestigious Galing Pook Award with its promotion of social artistry as a tool in pushing for good governance.

City Tourism and Development Office (CTDO) head Benito Jimena said that members of the Galing Pook Foundation will arrive here on Friday for the validation.

“Dinagyang is something that is very innovative in its management. The foundation recognized that they can use it to benchmark for other festivals,” Jimena explained.

He added that in the past Galing Pook has not given awards for social artistry that is portrayed by festivals because the focus was more on delivery of social services in the community.

“They want Dinagyang the first to be given such recognition,” he added.

The Dinagyang Festival was part of the top 20 finalists last year but it did not make it to the top 10 after it failed to underscore the events economic impact. However, Jimena said that the amount of money that is being circulated in Iloilo during the celebration could very well impact in the city’s economy.

The festival was first presented by the city government as a good case of public private partnership (PPP) when it joined the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), a good governance endeavor.

Jimena stressed that the successful relationship was the result of how public and private capacities complement to fill whatever void there is.

“It’s not just putting the public and private together but putting the public with its capacity to complement the private capacity,” he said.

by pna.gov.ph

The builder of a 15 megawatt diesel and coal-fired power plants here expressed hope that it could operate the plant in December to help alleviate the power woes of residents in Palawan.

Lawyer Francis Rubio, David Mendoza Consunji, Inc. (DMCI) corporate secretary and legal counsel, said the diesel-fired power plant will be constructed in a “suitable” site in Barangay Irawan in Puerto Princesa, while the coal-fired is being proposed to be built in Barangay Panacan in Narra, Southern Palawan.

DMCI hopes to finish the diesel-fired project in December this year in Barangay Irawan and the 10MW coal in April 2013 to become operational in September of the same year.

Rubio said both projects have been endorsed by barangay officials of Irawan and the Sangguniang Panlungsod, but they are still waiting for the endorsement of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the municipality of Narra for the coal-fired.

Rubio also said that DMCI is yet to get its Certificate of Compliance (COC) from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)pending the issuance of provisional authority.

Rubio is optimistic that the DMCI will get the green light for the coal-fired power plant from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) for its application in Panacan, Narra.

Around 25 percent of the power plant will be diesel-powered while 75 percent will be powered using coal.

He explained that it would be too costly for the consumers and for PALECO and the National Power Corporation (NPC) if the 15MW power plant would be run by diesel only.

Coal-fired plants could offer lower rate at P9.38 kilowatt per hour as against P12.80/kwh if it will be fully diesel-powered.

Meanwhile, the construction of the coal-fired power plant has caused a stir among caretakers of the environment in Puerto Princesa.

Members of the Palawan NGO Network, Inc.(PNNI) said the plant is not environment-friendly. The PNNI through its representative Elizabeth Maclang deplored the plant's use of coal from Semirara Mining Corporation, the largest coal producer in the country.

"The quality of coals that Semirara is producing is substandard and may only endanger the health of the people in Panacan, Narra," she explained.

She said the place is highly-populated and home to the endangered cockatoos.