MikeLigalig.com

by pna.gov.ph

U.S. crude oil price fell on Tuesday as investors continued to concern about the global economic growth, but the Brent crude rose on geographic tension.

U.S. crude continued the falling trend after Monday's decline caused by worries about global economic growth.

Worries over Spain's financing problems and over the euro zone' s debt crisis also grew as thousands of Spanish demonstrators protested in Madrid against the new round of austerity measures that the government was preparing for the 2013 budget. The austerity measures are scheduled to be announced later this week.

Besides, the market was waiting for the inventories report from the Energy Information Administration, the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. department of Energy.

But the Brent crude rose as the tension between the U.S. and Iran, the second largest oil exporter in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, tended to intensify and the dollar weakened.

After the U.S. Department of Treasury announced new sanctions against Iran's state-owned oil company on Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the United States will "do what we must" to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in a speech at the United Nations, adding fuel to tension between the two countries.

The dollar went down as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi defended the bank's bond-buying plan, pushing up the euro.

On the economic front, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index jumped to a 7-month high in September and U.S. home prices rose for the third straight month in a row in the same month.

The Supreme Court (SC) has stopped the screening and showing of the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims."

In Tuesday's en banc session, the SC justices decided to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) against the said movie.

The SC ordered MTRCB Chairperson Grace Poe-Llamanzares to indefinitely stop the movie to be shown in televisions and movie houses.

It also directed the MTRCB to file the necessary comment.

Likewise, the SC clarified that the Muslim petitioners who questioned the showing of the said movie should "implead" as respondents to the case the websites Google and Youtube.

This was because the petition said the movie trailer was also shown in the said websites, but failed to include them as respondents.

It can be recalled that Muslim groups on Monday rallied and filed a petition for certiorari with plea for a mandatory injunction against the said movie which they claimed as an upfront violation of their Islamic faith and biography of their prophet Muhammed.

The Muslims held the rally with a symbolic payment of 80 kilos of one-peso coins for docket fees.

They stressed that the coins were donations from Muslims in different areas in the Philippines.

In the petition led by Agakhan "Benladin" Sharief, Datu Drieza Lininding, Datu Haj Ansari Alonto and Datu Nasser Dimapinto, they argued that the movie should not be shown for it is offensive to their religion. - PNA

China formally entered its first aircraft carrier into service on Tuesday, underscoring its ambitions to be a leading Asian naval power, although the ship is not expected to carry a full complement of planes or be ready for combat for some time.

The defence ministry's announcement had been long expected and was not directly linked to current tensions with Japan over a disputed group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.

source: Hindu Times

source: press release

Screening remains the primary defense available to women against contracting breast cancer.

“Breast cancer screenings are very beneficial for women. These examinations should be periodically done by women even if they are not suspected of having breast cancer. There will be more lives saved if more women will take advantage of these screenings,” Ronald delos Reyes, program coordinator of Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), disclosed.

EJACC continues to advocate the prevention of breast cancer through screening, more strongly so during October, which is declared Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when the cancer center will hold the annual “Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness”.

This year, Moonwalk will gather hundreds of participants in pink costumes on Oct. 2 and walk together from Plaza Independencia to the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Cebuano women, based on EJACC’s Metro Cebu Population-based Cancer Registry. Delos Reyes added that men are not exempt from contracting the disease.

EJACC records women aged 50-54 years old are the ones most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2003-2007, there are 657 deaths out of the 1,349 breast cancer cases.

“Breast cancer screening means checking a woman's breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. This can help detect cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early on, it is easier to treat,” Delos Reyes explained.

There are three periodic examinations that are employed to screen the breast for cancer.

These are monthly breast self-examination (BSE), annual clinical breast examination (CBE), and annual mammography.

Beginning in their 20s, women should do breast self-exam. This examination enables women to be familiarized with their breasts for lumps, changes, or abnormalities in shape or size of the breast, in the armpit area and other areas of the breast.

“Breast self-exam can be easily performed while during bath time. One can discover breast lumps when their skin is moist. Do small circles in up and down pattern in the surrounding area of your breasts by applying light and firm pressure over each area,” he said, pointing out that changes in color and texture of the skin and nipple should also be checked.

Some other things that should be noted during BSE are swelling, nipple pulling inward, nipple discharge (not breast milk), and unusual pain in the breasts.
He said that BSE should be performed five to 10 days after the monthly menstruation period. To those women who no longer have monthly periods, they can do the examination any time of the month.

On the other hand, when women reach the age of 40, an annual CBE should be done by a trained and healthcare professional.

“The annual CBE is a good time for women to learn the proper technique to examine their breasts, ask questions regarding their health, and note any changes or abnormalities,” he said.

by pna

Civil society organizations and peace advocate networks in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) launched a signature campaign Monday endorsing acting ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman for the region's top elective position next year.

The group is asking President Benigno Aquino III to name Hataman as the administration official candidate for the 2013 gubernatorial elections in the region.

In a manifesto, the coalition of CSOs and peace advocates said: "Hataman has proven his worth so far as ARMM OIC-governor and we believe he can do more if given an elective mandate.”

Earlier, Senators Franklin Drilon and Tito Sotto challenged Hataman during Senate budget deliberations, to seek the elective post since has succeeded in busting "so many ghosts in the ARMM."

Calling themselves “Mindanao Peace Votes coalition,” the group said the administration’s efforts for peace and reforms in the south have been “gaining headway” and the trend can be “sustained by leaders who have the full confidence of the President.”

Asked about the endorsement campaign, Hataman said he was “not aware about it” and he serves “at the pleasure of the President who entrusted me to do a transition task.”

“As much as possible, I want to do away with things having to do with politics or the coming elections. I want to focus on efforts that could flesh out the President’s desired reforms in ARMM,” Hataman said.

But CSO leaders and peace advocates vowed to continue their endorsements saying Hataman has been enjoying President Aquino's trust and confidence. The President, in his state of the nation address, described Hataman as a “certified ghost-buster.”

“Hataman's leadership exudes of signs for success of President Aquino’s reform agenda in ARMM,” said Judge Abu Ali Cali of the Ulama League of the Philippines (ULP), one of the groups under the coalition.

Tom Villarin of the Mindanao Convergence for Asset Reform and Development said: "Hataman is in a position to help push forward the peace process and pursue reforms because he has strong support from non-Muslims inside and outside the ARMM and is well-known among civil society groups."

"Hataman has demonstrated high sense of transparency and accountability in his brief stint in ARMM,” Jolly Lais, secretary general of the Bangsamoro Solidarity Movement, said in a press statement.

According to the group said Hataman is more than qualified to seek the mandate of ARMM constituents because he meets the needed criteria in the 2013 elections: commitment for reforms; track records in reform initiatives; proven respect for human rights; support to the peace process and its transition mechanism towards the proposed new autonomous political entity that would replace ARMM; and clear peace agenda/platform.

Hataman, on several occasions told media gatherings that he would prefer to focus more on the reforms that make politics pre-occupy him.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has scheduled an 11 â€" hour brownout affecting all towns and city in the first district of Ilocos Sur on Tuesday, September 25.

According to NGCP Public Affairs Officer Lilibeth P. Gaydowen, the brownout will start at 7:00 a.m till 6:00 pm., so the agency can conduct its annual preventive maintenance and testing of 50-megavolt ampere (MVA) power transformer No. 1 and its associated equipment at Bantay (Ilocos Sur) substation with simultaneous line repair and maintenance along the affected 69kV transmission lines.

She said the annual preventive maintenance and testing will be conducted in the substations of Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO) in Vigan City and in Santo Domingo covering the towns and city of the first district of Ilocos Sur that include Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, Bantay, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Caoayan and Vigan City.

It was reported that the normal operation of power in the affected areas will automatically resume upon completion of the work. - by pna.gov.ph

by pna

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Bicol has allowed vessels bound to Visayas to sail from the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon where 2,000 passengers where stranded following the onset of typhoon Lawin during the weekend.

The Coast Guard lifted the “no sailing” at around 5 a.m. Monday when Public Storm Warning Signal one in the Samar provinces was lifted to normal, Bernardo Alejandro Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director said on Monday.

The Coast Guard also permitted the transport of 136 trucks, 64 cars, and 43 buses, all are bound for Samar.

The Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)said that as of 7a.m. Monday, typhoon Lawin (Jelewat) was located 420 Km East of Virac, Catanduanes.

PAGASA said Lawin has maintained its strength with a maximum winds of 175 KPH near the center and gustiness of up to 210kph as it moves north northwest at 7 kph.

Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

by pna

Technology made journalism history come alive inside the Cebu Journalism and Journalists (CJJ) Gallery in the Museo Sugbo, the former provincial jail-turned museum in Cebu City.

Through the use of quick response (QR) codes, visitors are able to have an interactive and multi-media experience inside the gallery by scanning with their phones and tablets special markers placed near exhibit items.

The installation of the codes is part of a tourism and heritage project undertaken by Telecommunications Inc. and journalism tech start up InnoPub Media.

”This is a pioneering example of how wireless technologies are being used for historical conservation and heritage tourism,” said Ramon Isberto, Smart public affairs group head.

The QR marker placed near the Royal typewriter, which was once used by Cebu Daily News publisher Eileen Mangubat, loads video clips of her talking about how it was to write news stories on a typewriter and the biggest stories she wrote on the unit that is on display in the gallery.

The QR marker on the Minerva Letterpress loads a video of a person running an actual unit.

The markers were placed in time for the Cebu Press Freedom Week, when journalism students visit the gallery as part of the media education activities held throughout the week last week.

”Advances in technology now allow us to put a layer of information on real life that is accessible through mobile devices. And this project with Smart highlights that,” said Marlen Limpag, InnoPub Media co-founder.

While the system uses QR codes, Limpag said the content is ready for use in other ways.

“We think QR codes are transitory and we look forward to delivering our content in new ways like near field communication (NFC) and augmented reality,” Limpag said.

Smart and InnoPub are also putting up special markers in tourism and heritage sites.

When scanned, the markers trigger the download of information about the location or structure.

Cebu is the pilot area for the system’s implementation but is set for expansion in other areas in the country.

by pna

Cloudy skies, rainshowers and thunderstorms are expected in Cebu as typhoon Lawin moves northwest toward Samar, a weather bureau official in Mactan said.

Boy Artiaga, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather observer, said the typhoon is moving northwest to Samar at seven kilometers per hour (kph).

He said typhoon signal number 1 was raised over Samar provinces Sunday afternoon.

The wind in Metro Cebu was moderate while coastal waters were also moderate and light vessels from Cebu are allowed to travel.

There will be moderate to strong winds coming from the north to northwest towards the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas and coming from the west to southwest over the rest of Visayas and Mindanao.

The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. There will be light to moderate winds coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of the Luzon.

The seas will be slight to moderate.

by pna

Some 750 Muslims from all over Pangasinan gathered at the Dagupan City plaza early Monday to voice out their condemnation against an alleged anti-Islam film entitled “Innocence of Muslims”.

The rally from 8 to 10:30 a.m., was peaceful and orderly as the city police, boosted by augmentations teams from the Pangasinan Police Office, cordoned the city plaza to make sure that no trouble-maker can enter.

The mass action was staged by Muslims from 22 municipalities and three cities of Pangasinan who began their protest with a march around downtown Dagupan City, holding placards that condemned the film which they described as anti-Islam. The film can be accessed online.

Most of their placards called for the removal of the movie from the social networking sites and a ban on the showing of the movie throughout the country, which they considered as blasphemous to their prophet Muhammad and their religion.

"The Innocence of Muslims" trailer, which was produced by Sam Bacile, posted on YouTube had already caused outrage among Muslims all over the world and even resulted in the death of the US Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens.

But the Pangasinan Integrated Muslim Assembly Inc. vowed they will never resort to violence and would rather register their protest against the film in a peaceful way.

Mangontawar “Millan” Sultan, secretary general of the Pangasinan Integrated Muslim Assembly Inc., said they organized the rally to make a call to non-Muslims not to believe in everything that was shown in the movie posted on YouTube.

He stressed that the information provided in the movie about Muhammad and the Islam were not true and were just fabricated.

“Hindi gawain ng propeta ang pagpatay ng tao. Sa katunayan, si Muhammad ang nagbigay liwanag sa mga Muslim. Ang pelikula ay pambabastos sa relihiyon ng Islam sa kabuuan (A prophet does not kill people. In fact, Muhammad shed light on Muslims. The movie is scurrility in Islamic religion as a whole)", Sultan added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ghafoor Ul Haque, an Afghan who is currently residing in Dagupan City, also joined the peace rally and expressed his sentiment along with his Muslim brothers upon seeing the movie.

by pna

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 has established a referral and data management system to strengthen the implementation of the government’s Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP).

Amina Dataya, social technology unit head of DSWD-Region 12, said the move was part of their ongoing efforts to properly address the needs of victims of human trafficking and other related cases.

She said they initially linked up with local government units (LGUs) in the region to facilitate the establishment of the referral system and installation of the data management system for victims of human trafficking in the area.

Dataya said they recently conducted three-day training for LGU implementers on the handling of database of trafficked persons as part of the RRPTP that were attended by social workers, local focal persons on trafficking program and members of the region’s Interagency Council Against Trafficking (ICAT).

“The training focused on the development of indicators on recovery and reintegration, the establishment of the referral system and the installation of the data management system,” she said.

Since January, Dataya said RRPTP has already served 165 victims of human trafficking in the region.

“We provided them basic economic assistance, skills training and offered some livelihood opportunities,” she said.

ICAT has been closely watching several areas in the region due to surge in human trafficking cases in the last several years.

Human traffickers operate in the form of illegal recruitment, illegal migration, mail order bride, foreign training or internship, religious pilgrimage and cultural exchange and promotion, she said.

Last May, the National Bureau of Investigation rescued 16 minors in Koronadal City who were recruited by an alleged human trafficker for supposed overseas jobs.

by pna

Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agents arrested three suspected notorious drug pushers in separate buy-bust operations in San Juan, La Union last weekend, police said Monday.

PDEA Region 1 Information Officer Bismark Bengwayan said the drug pushers were separately arrested in Barangay Urbiztondo in San Juan.

The first to fall was Bobby Pagnicel, of Barangay Sabsaba, Santol, La Union who yielded two bricks of dried marijuana leaves; P6, 000.00 worth of fake money; and the marked money of P1,000.

Arrested in another buyâ€"bust operation in Barangay Cabaroan, also in San Juan, were Arnold Ducusin of Barangay Nagyubuyuban, San Fernando City; and Albert Apilado of Barangay Calabugao of San Juan.

Lawmen seized from the two a big pack of dried marijuana leaves of still undetermined weight.

by pna

City mayor Mauricio G. Domogan Monday said it will adopt Korea's environmental program to turn Baguio like its sister city Taebec.

Domogan have just arrived from his foreign trip to Korea to attend a world environmental protection summit.

"There are many areas in Korea that are similar to Baguio, like its sister city Taebec, which was able to protect its pristine mountains and parks," Domogan enthused.

"Water conservation program and discipline of the people in Taebec were so impressive I wished Baguio City could do the same," he said.

Baguio became a member of the Hall of Fame for being selected several times in a yearly competition as the "cleanest and greenest" urban area in the Philippines.

Domogan said that the Koreans are now benefiting with government efforts to protect and preserve its environment along with the future generations with respect to their reserved supply of fresh water.

Domogan, meanwhile, expressed his apprehension that with limited funds Baguio could not pursue all the programs he desired to be implemented in the city to protect and preserve the environment.

by pna

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC)on Monday suspended classes in all levels in this southern port city due to inclement weather condition.

The declaration took effect 1 p.m. Monday as this city had been experiencing continuous heavy rains and strong winds for the past 48 hours.

The local office of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) said the continuous heavy rains is spawned by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Lawin.

Mayor Celso Lobregat, who chairs the CDRRMC, said a five-year-old boy died when a tree fell and smashed a house around 2 a.m. in Barangay Labuan, 36 kilometers west of this city.

Lobregat identified the boy as Mark Anthony Mallari, who was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Lobregat convened the CDRRMC and established an operation center at the conference room of the City Hall.

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Francisco Barredo reported during an emergency meeting of the CDRRMC that there were 876 families displaced by flood.

Barredo said of the 876 families affected, 559 are from this city’s east coast while the remaining 317 families are from the west coast.

Barredo said a total of 11 barangays were affected by flood.

Five of the 11 affected barangay are in this city’s east coast while six in the west coast, Barredo added.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said some 79 hectares of rice and vegetable crops were reportedly destroyed as of 2 p.m. Monday.

Palacat said they have yet to determine the value of rice and vegetable crops affected in the flood.

Lobregat said the Coast Guard has deployed two rubber boats in Barangay Vitali, east of this city, where the water reached chest-deep in some parts of the barangay.

by pna

The provincial government of Negros Oriental has acquired two more heavy equipment to bolster its capacity to undertake programs and projects throughout the province.

The brand new Shantui bulldozers from China is purchased at P17 million through a Provincial Development Council resolution, in addition to an acquisition of heavy equipment earlier this year as part of the envisioned engineering mobile teams for the province.

Gov. Roel Degamo disclosed the two bulldozers will form part of three engineering mobile teams, each of which will consist of one bulldozer, road roller, grader, backhoe, payloader and four dumptrucks.

He said two mobile engineering teams are almost complete and that he is hoping all the three teams will be completed as soon as possible for use in the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and construction of facilities for disaster preparedness, funding of which comes from 70 percent of the 2010 calamity fund and a portion of the 2011 calamity fund.

The governor said the provincial government is buying brand new heavy equipment to save on maintenance costs and for efficient work.

by pna

The Municipality of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, has been placed under the state of calamity as thousands have been displaced as almost the whole municipality has been inundated by flood.

Siocon Mayor Cesar Soriano said the declaration was issued at 1 p.m. Monday as almost all of the town’s barangays had been flooded since Sunday.

Siocon comprises of 26 barangays and is a second class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

The municipality has a population of 32,699 people in 5,942 households based on the census conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in 2000.

Soriano disclosed the flood hit the town when the Lituban River overflowed brought about by the continuous heavy downpour.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) said that the heavy downpour was spawned by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Tropical Storm Lawin.

“In some areas the water is up to chest deep while it is knee deep up to waist deep in other areas of the town,” Soriano said.

He disclosed that at least 4,000 families with some 20,000 dependents have been displaced by the flood.

He said that 800 families of the 4,000 families have evacuated to the town’s cultural center, churches and schools.

A total of 180 houses were damaged including 40 that were washed away near the river banks, he disclosed.

by pna

Department of Education Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera said Zamboanga City is one of the favored cities of the DepEd because its mayor, Celso Lobregat, has proven to be a dynamic and genuine leader who is truly supportive of education not just in words but also in action.

“And it’s not just through words, but action and not just action it is also by putting money, where his value lies,” Rivera said before the thousands of teachers, principals, supervisors and other DepEd officials and staff from the City Division of Schools participating in the Teachers’ Summit over the weekend at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum.

Rivera said every time concerns about classrooms, teachers and all other resources crop up, Zamboanga City, unlike other cities, is not much of a problem because of the unremitting assistance and support of the local government to education.

It is unfortunate though, the DepEd official lamented, that Lobregat is concluding his third term as mayor next year.

Rivera believed that through continuity of what Lobregat has started, young Zamboangueños are assured of better lives and better future.

“I do echo his wish, I do echo his prayers that the one who succeeds him is one who will continue support to education, who will also value the rights of everyone especially the women and children,” Rivera said.

He also cited two other reasons Zamboanga City is one of the most favorite cities of the education department.

“We love Zamboanga City because it is here in Zamboanga where we have NGO (non-government organization) partners like Anton Lim of Tzu Chi Foundation, who has been helping us a lot especially through the Layag-Layag community and the yellow boat project,” Rivera averred.

He said through the NGO’s support and assistance, far flung areas are able to avail of the formal education system.

Finally, he said Zamboanga is special, as it is here where the DepEd officialdom has witnessed the dedication, commitment and true heroism of the teachers.

He recounted the Talisayan Elementary School incident two years ago where an ex-convict ran berserk and stabbed teachers and students.

The incident killed a teacher, Lorna Pulalon and two students as well as the attacker.

Two other teachers were hurt in the incident.

The late Pulalon who made the sacrifice so that her students would not be harmed by the attacker, has become a symbol of heroism for all teachers in the country, Rivera stressed.

“That was also the time when we had, I think for the first time in the history of the Philippines that we had a secretary of education shedding tears on television,” he said.

It was also in that incident in Talisayan, according to Rivera where the DepEd saw the genuine concern for the youth of Lobregat and Deputy House Speaker and first district Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.

“In that incident we also saw Mayor Lobregat and also Congresswoman Salazar in action, trying to take care of the needs of our teachers and many of our students who were victims of that unfortunate incident,” he said.

“We love Zamboanga City because it is here that we see that every single people of the community, the LGU, our teachers, principals, Schools Division Superintendent, DepEd personnel as well as our NGO partners, it is here that we see you working hand in hand, together,” he added.

by pna

Bureau of Customs Davao district collector lawyer Martiniano Bangcoy said it would be the BOC's gain if Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would accept the offer of the President to be the Customs Commissioner.

“But it would also be Davao’s loss since Duterte has been known to be a leader with political will, making the city a peaceful and progressive one,” he added.

Duterte confirmed that he was recently offered by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III the top post at the Customs bureau, whose current commissioner, Rozzano Rufino Biazon, is part of the senatorial line-up of the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

However, Duterte reportedly asked President Aquino to allow him a few days to think it over.

Duterte has been offered Cabinet positions in the past but he turned down all of them.

Former President Joseph Estrada wanted him to be secretary of the Department of National Defense.

The Interior and Local Government secretary position was offered to him by three presidents - Fidel V. Ramos, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Aquino. But he was quick to turn down the offers.

“This is the truth. I thought of those positions for quite some time but I said I am not interested," he was quoted as saying.

Duterte said he was not keen on accepting any national position.

“I am not fit for them. Again, I never aspired for any national prominence position though I am a supporter of the President. I would love to serve the people but I never look beyond the boundaries of Davao City," he said.

by pna

At long last, salvaging operations for the grounded cargo ship M/V Ever Transport III off the coast of Dumaguete City have begun after about nine months of waiting since it was pushed ashore by tropical storm Sendong December last year.

Sr. Chief Petty Officer Nelson Simbahon, the newly designated commander of the Coast Guard Station in Dumaguete, on Monday confirmed that salvage operations began Saturday with the M/V Hamako II of the Steel Ray Salvaging Corporation starting to extract whatever items it could retrieve from the half-sunken ship.

The Steel Ray Salvaging Corporation had won the bidding to salvage the cargo ship but operations were stalled in the past months due to certain requirements that had to be complied with.

According to Simbahon, the salvaging company finally submitted the complete requirements this past weekend.

To recall, the M/V Ever Transport III keeled over on its side on the morning of December 17, 2011 as "Sendong" lashed out at Dumaguete and other parts of Negros Oriental, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rains that caused flooding and huge waves.

The Ever Transport III was docked at the Dumaguete port after the Coast Guard declared about two days before the storm hit on that day that all sea vessels were grounded. However, big waves rocked the Ever Transport back and forth against the pier, endangering it, thus the ship was forced to seek shelter somewhere else but stormy weather caused it to run aground close to shore in Canday-ong, Barangay Calindagan of this capital city.

Around 37 people, to include crew members and some passengers, were rescued and safely brought to shore.

The weeks that followed saw crew members and salvage operators working to retrieve empty cases and bottles of beer (the ship’s primary cargo when it was en route to Mindanao), and barrels of bunker fuel, oil and used oil.

Then Dumaguete Station chief, Lt. Commander Agapito Bibat assured that there was no oil spillage even as some barrels of used oil and bunker fuel were missing from an inventory of the grounded ship.

According to Sr. Chief Petty Officer Simbahon, this time, the salvage operations will consist of phases to include the cutting of the ship’s bridge and the retrieval of items inside the ship.

Also, salvage teams will be cutting through portions of the ship to allow access to areas where certain things have to be extracted to ease the weight load of the cargo vessel.

If possible and as originally agreed earlier, the salvage company will try to refloat the Ever Transport III and tow it to a shipyard in Cebu.

The Coast Dumaguete station has given the salvage company until October 5 to finish their operations otherwise they will have to obtain another request for extension of the salvage operations from the main headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard in Manila.

Simbahon has assured that Coast Guard personnel are on hand to supervise the salvaging operations to ensure that these will not pose a threat to the environment even though he said he believes there will be no oil spillage.

Also, the Coast Guard has required the salvage teams to lay down spill containment booms as a precautionary measure in the event of an oil leak.

by pna.gov.ph

A week before the start of candidates' filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2013 elections, the Commission on Elections installed a new Provincial Election Supervisor for Pangasinan.

Atty. Marino Salas, 39, assumed office Monday, replacing Atty. Jennifer Balarbar who served as officer-in-charge of the Provincial Elections Office since former Provincial Election Officer Tim Lambino was promoted as Comelec Regional Director in Central Visayas.

Salas had served as the election officer of the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union. He was also sent to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and once assigned in Tawi Tawi.

He is not a newcomer though in Pangasinan since he once served in Alaminos City when there was a plebiscite.

Salas acknowledged that Pangasinan is a big province but with his vast experience in the poll body "we can do our duties asked of us."

by pna

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) cluster on good governance and anti-corruption sub-cluster in digitization, in collaboration with four agencies in government¸ started Monday an electronic compilation of basic information on farmers, farm laborers and fishermen in Negros Oriental.

Dubbed as the registry system of the basic sectors of agriculture, which is conducted nationwide, it is aimed at acquiring a data base needed by the country’s economic development planners, policymakers and project implementors, says National Statistics Office (NSO) statistical coordination officer II Yathalida Generoso.

In Negros Oriental, a total of 901 field interviewers are dispatched in all the 557 barangays to conduct a house-to-house visit and listing of households, interview the farmers, farm laborers and fishermen and recording them in the prescribed registration form.

The data gathered will be inputted in an electronic compiling system, Generoso disclosed.

Specifically, field interviewers are mandated to gather the demographic and socio-economic profile of farmers, farm laborers, and fishermen, gather information on whether the farming and or fishing activity is for household consumption or for sale, among others.

The local NSO officer said barangay secretaries are identified as focal persons and serve as the immediate supervisors of the interviewers who were trained about their mandate.

Interviewers are paid on a daily basis with a standard output every day while the barangay secretaries are given honorariums.

Generoso said the target date of completion is on November 7, 2012, urging farmers and fishermen alike to cooperate for a successful undertaking.

by pna.gov.ph

The 5th Kialegnon Festival kicked off here Monday morning with a fun run participated in by more than 700 local officials,staff and residents.

Mayor Jess Lumanog led the event that started and ended at the public market square.This was the first time that a fun run was listed as part of the week-long festival that will culminate on Sept. 28.

Other activities during the week-long festivities are Lumba sa Karabao, Karabao Make-over, Lumba sa Kabayo, Pig Catching, Bamboo Pole Climbing, and Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan (street dancing.

The festival name came from the word Kialeg, a tribute to Datu Kialeg, a legendary B’laan leader who fought against bandits in his time to protect the community which named after him.

Lumanog said "it is but fitting to celebrate the very rich and distinct culture and tradition of our indigenous peoples."

Part of the weeklong celebration is the “Search for Byaning ng Kialegnon 2012”, the competition to recognize the beauty of lumad women in Magsaysay.

“(The event was also a thanksgiving celebration) for the bountiful harvest in our town. September is our harvest time,” he said.

by pna

The city government of Tagum was conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in a ceremony on Monday, September 24.

Louie Lapat of the City Information Office said the award was handed to Mayor Rey T. Uy by the DILG together with the P3 million cash prize and the 15-kilo official glass marker bearing the signature of the late Sec. Jesse M. Robredo who pioneered the program in line with the national government’s commitment to aggressively scale up interventions to elevate the practice of governance that values transparency, accountability, participation and performance into an institutionalized status.

This city’s sound fiscal management and its full compliance of the national government’s full disclosure policy fueled the city government’s image of being a champion of “excellent local governance”.

Mayor Uy said the award is not possible without the support of everybody who became the frontliners of genuine public service.

As a brainchild program of Secretary Robredo, the Seal of Good Housekeeping is awarded to local government units in the country with good performance in internal housekeeping focusing in four areas: Good Planning, Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency and Accountability and Valuing of Performance Information.

DILG Tagum City Director Liza Mendoza cited that all financial transactions of the local government unit (LGU) are posted in public places such as the city hall, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) session hall lobby and in the public market so that the public may know.

These essential financial documents can also be seen online through the city’s official website: www.tagumcity.gov.ph.

Aside from these financial transactions, the local government’s fiscal budget, bidding documents and bidding results are also made public.

Mendoza’s office is religiously monitoring and coordinating with all agencies concerned as to the posting of documents which should be updated monthly and must be in order.

This is the second major award garnered by LGU Tagum from DILG, following its historic win of the 2011 Gawad Pamana ng Lahi for Region XI, beating other local government units in the region including the highly-urbanized City of Davao.

by pna

The province of Pangasinan was chosen as one of the finalists in the Search for the 2012 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards for Province, Level-1 Category.

Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said the final judging of the winner will be held at the PCCI Boardroom, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Sept. 27.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) conducted the search in line with the holding of its 38th Philippine Business Conference in October.

PPCI president Miguel Varela said the award seeks to recognize and promote models of governance of municipalities, cities, and provinces that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in instituting reforms to promote trade and investment in their localities; ensure accountability, transparency and efficiency in the conduct of day-to-day operations, among others.

The LGU Award adopts the slogan “What’s Good for the Citizenry is Good for Business” which represents a framework for achieving continuous improvement of LGU services to their areas, benefiting both the community and citizenry.

by pna.gov.ph

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), maritime students of the University of Antique and other groups donated blood during the Maritime Week celebration here Monday.

A total of 30 bags at 450cc each were collected in the blood-letting activity held in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross, the Rotary Club headed by Mrs. Fe Osorio and some medical practitioners among them Dr. Melvin Dela Serna.

PCG Station Commander Lt. Glenn Daraug led his staff who joined the blood-letting activity.

The week-long event which which kicked off on Sept. 19, was held to increase people's awareness on the services rendered by the Coast Guard.

“We are celebrating the Maritime Week to increase awareness of the public on the services of the Philippine Coast Guard and we are glad many are joining us,” Lt. Daraug said.

During the celebration, an information drive on calamity awareness was conducted along coastal barangays of San Jose in Sept. 20.

The “Citizens of the Sea" program was launched at Siraan Hot Spring in Anini-y sponsored by Women in the Maritime Philippines on Sept. 21 and a Eucharistic Mass was held at the San Jose Cathedral on Monday.

A motorcade around the capital town proper and opening of photo exhibits will be held at Gaisano Grand Mall. There will also be Dressing of Ships and Maritime Schools as well as Blowing of Horns simultaneous with the PCG activities nationwide.

by pna

Maguindanao will soon become the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's "halal hub" that can supply food with Islamic approval in communities here and abroad.

"Halal" is an Arabic term to describe food that is underwent an Islamic ritual before preparation. Its opposite is "haraam," which literally means forbidden.

According to Mosib Guialel, Maguindanao’s provincial agriculturist, a series of fora were held to prepare people directly involved in food preparation on the importance of the process.

He said the forum is part of Maguindanao Gov. Toto Mangudadatu's efforts to promote halal industry in Maguindanao.

A Muslim cleric explained that halal does not only mean one is prohibited from eating pork but also on healthy means of processing permissible food for human consumption.

The forum dubbed as "Halal for Peace 2012 and Onwards" was attended by local officials, businessmen, government agriculturist and Muslim religious leaders.

Guialel explained that the forum aims to generate public awareness about and support to the halal industry in the province.

Dr. Norodin Kuit, a veterinarian and foreign trained expert on halal, stressed the need for sanitation in abattoirs and markets where halal foods are sold.

by pna

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) kicked off its two-day regional career advocacy congress Monday which was aimed to correct the mismatch in skills and labor market demand.

Managers of Public Employment Services Offices (PESOs) and guidance counselors from Western Visayas will attend the activity which was an offshoot to the national congress held in Manila several months ago.

"The congress aimed to update guidance counselors and PESO officers of the relevant labor market information trends that they can use in the conduct of their career guidance activities,"DOLE regional director Ponciano M. Ligutom said.

“The mismatch in our employment scenario is an indication that many students are taking up courses which are not within their aptitude or are not really the demand of the industries,” he explained.

“As early as elementary or high school children must be already exposed to labor market. We need to inform the teachers and the source of the information,” he stressed.

source: pna.gov.ph

The provincial government of South Cotabato has convened the province’s Local Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) to properly monitor and regulate the prices of commercial rice in the local markets.

Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato provincial agriculturist, said Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. pushed for the LPCC’s convening to address the rising prices of commercial rice in various parts of the province during the last several weeks.

“Our palay output is currently up by around 15 percent but the prices of rice have remained high since July, which was very unusual,” he said.

Legaste explained that as a standard, milled rice prices are computed by doubling the prevailing buying price per kilogram of wet palay.

Since July, he said the average buying price of palay hovered at P17 to P17.20 per kilo, making the average market price of rice at only P34 per kilo.

Last month, Legaste said their monitoring showed that palay buying prices dropped between P15.50 to P15.80 per kilo but the average rice prices in the markets remained at P34 per kilo instead of just P31 per kilo.

The same thing happened in the last three weeks, which saw palay buying prices dropping to as low as P14 per kilo, he said.

“Rice prices should average P28 to P29 per kilo by now but it surprisingly remained at P34 per kilo,” the official said.

In nearby Koronadal City, the market prices of rice, especially for the premium variety, went up to as high as P37 per kilo or P2 to P3 higher that the retail prices in various markets here.

“This (situation) is not fair for our farmers and consumers,” Legaste said.

Legaste said the LPCC should look into the situation and implement some remedial regulatory measures to stop retailers from making unfair price adjustments.

The LPCC, which is also called price monitoring council, is composed of officials and representatives of the departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Health and other concerned government line agencies.

by Colleen Taylor
Techcrunch.com

Some Facebook users were alarmed this morning when it appeared that private messages written in 2009 and earlier were showing up on viewable Timelines as messages “Posted by friends.”

The earliest version of this post included accounts of users who claimed to have had their private messages turned into Timeline posts.

Team Rama of Mayor Michael Rama and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) of Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, South District) -- have announced the completion of their respective slates for the 2013 elections as the day for the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COC) draws near.

For Team Rama, former Department of Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Aristotle Batuhan, a lawyer, completed the slate as candidate for the House seat in the South District, while the mayor’s cousin, Anabelle Rama, will be running in the North District House seat.

Batuhan had run for the same position twice before.

Their candidate for vice mayor is Councilor Edgardo Labella.

Team Rama’s slate for city councilor in the North District includes former Councilor and current City Traffic Operations Management Board Chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, former Councilor Edwin Jagmoc, Agsungot Barangay Captain Pastor Alcover II, Sambag 1 Barangay Captain Jerry Guardo, Busay Barangay Captain Eliodoro Sanchez, Ermita Barangay Councilor Felicisimo Rupinta, Lahug Barangay Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, and Bobby Vicente Kintanar, who is the son of former broadcast journalist Jun Kintanar.

The group’s slate for the South District councilors include former Councilor Procopio Fernandez, former South District Rep. Antonio Cuenco’s son James Cuenco, Basak Pardo Barangay Captain Dave Tumulak, Poblacion Pardo Barangay Councilor Althea Lim, Inayawan Barangay Councilor Lotlot Ignacio, lawyer Hans Abella, businessman Ronald Diola and radio personality Tisha “Inday Tikay” Ylaya.

BOPK announced it has not yet decided who to field for the House seat in the North District, as Rep. Rachel Del Mar and her father have not yet decided who will run between the two of them in the 2013 elections.

Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa will be the BOPK’s candidate for the South District congressional seat.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young will be seeking reelection under BOPK.

BOKP made changes in its slate for city councilors after Kasambagan Barangay Councilor Franklin Ong decided to no longer run. Rep. Osmeña said that Ong backed out because of “personal reasons.”

Osmeña said former Councilor Nestor Archival will replace Ong, completing the slate for city councilors in the North District.

He will be joining incumbent Councilors Lea Japson, Nida Cabrera, Alvin Arcilla, Michael Ralota, Noel Wenceslao, Sisinio Andales and Alvin Dizon.

source: pna.gov.ph

source: pna.gov.ph

Bracing for a “worst scenario” in case the Angat dam in Norzagaray burst during an earthquake, government disaster response teams Monday held a simultaneous earthquake drill from the dam site to the low lying villages in this town.

Provincial officials led by Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando made a first hand evaluation on the immediate response of government emergency teams from the sounding of alarm to the evacuation phase of the drill.

Alvarado said the earthquake drill was part of disaster officials third quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill for critical infrastructures, like Angat Dam.

The drill was supervised by NDRRMC officials led by Eduardo Batac, undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs of the Dept. of National Defense.

“It pays to be always alert and ready so that we will not be caught flatfooted when disaster of such magnitude struck,” the governor said.

The drill started with ground shaking or the recognition of a possible 7.2 magnitude earthquake in which Napocor officials would conduct inspection of the dam and its facilities then check the possible occurrence/identification of dam break/breach.

If such an incident occurs, dam officials will activate its emergency action plans and will immediately notify and disseminate information to local government units, concerned agencies and then activate the early warning system and monitor the situation.

At the same time, officials of Ipo and Bustos dams will also activate their own emergency action plans.

The earthquake drill showed the immediate response of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils of Norzagaray and Calumpit in the activation of their respective emergency action plans, in coordination with local and barangay officials which will conduct information dissemination to agencies and residents.

The PDRMMC will then facilitate the establishments of command posts that will oversee traffic, security, transport, rescue, fire fighting units and logistic teams.

The PDRMMC said that it is also important to prepare families for the evacuation phase which will be handled by village officials in coordination with the Bulacan Rescue, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Army.

The drill also simulated a scenario from the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study where the valley fault system causes a 7.2 magnitude earthquake causing piping failure in Angat dam.

Ramos said 20 towns in Bulacan, seven in Pampanga and three cities in Metro manila would be affected by inundations as high as 10 to 30 meters.

“This activity is part of the government’s continuing efforts in enhancing public awareness and strengthening the nation’s capability in disaster prevention, management and response,” Ramos said.

source: pna.gov.ph

A village complete with facilities is set to be built for some 1,000 provincial capitol employees here.

Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, together with Cecilia Alba, secretary general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Acmad Rizaldy Moti, deputy chief executive officer of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) led the recent groundbreaking ceremony in Barangay Reserva here.

Reserva is an emerging government and educational center housing various structures that include modern hospital, rice processing complex, the campus of the University of the Philippines and the office of the Department of Public Works and Highways. The provincial government owns a seven-hectare lot in the area.

Angara-Castillo said the subdivision-type housing project will give priority to employees who do not own houses or just rent their dwellings.

She said each of the beneficiaries will rent the house then later own it under a rent-to-own scheme.

“I want this housing project to be one of my biggest legacies to my official capitol family once I step down as governor in 2013,” she said.

Angara-Castillo said her administration conceived the housing project after learning that a number of capitol employees do not even have their own houses.

by pna.gov.ph

Around 200 senior citizens here are now considered “computer literates,” thanks to a free computer training program offered by the city government.

Percival Pasuelo, executive assistant for information technology of the city mayor’s office, said the senior citizens acquired various basic computer skills through the continuing enhanced computer literacy program (CLP) of the local government.

He said they specifically learned basic computer operations skills, word processing and even “Facebooking” through the CLP’s hands-on trainings and workshops.

The trainees will receive certificates of completion from the city government during the culmination program of the training program’s third phase on Oct. 3, he said.

Pasuelo said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman will keynote the culmination rites, which will be held in a shopping mall here.

Soliman’s office, through administrative assistant Richard Allen Silva, already confirmed her attendance to the gathering that will coincide with the nationwide celebration of the Senior Citizen’s Week.

The city government launched the free computer training program for senior citizen’s about a year ago as part of the priority initiatives of the SHEEP-CLP.

SHEEP stands for Social Transformation, Human Empowerment, Economic Diversification, Environment Security and Regeneration and Participatory Governance and Transparency, which are the city’s main development thrusts.

The city government earlier launched the CLP as a major component of the SHEEP program’s education initiatives.

Pasuelo said 40 trainees joined the initial phase of the training program, which was completed in December last year.

Last May, SHEEP-CLP completed the program’s second phase that was highlighted by the presence of “Lola Techie,” the likable grandmother who figured in Bayantel’s popular broadband Internet television commercial.

In support of the training program, Pasuelo said the local government released earlier this year 10 brand new personal computers to the city’s senior citizens and persons with disability associations.

by pna.gov.ph

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat has turned over to the Department of Education (DepEd) four infrastructure projects implemented by the city government in two different schools on Saturday.

Assistant Secretary Elena Ruiz and Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera were present during the ceremonial turn over ceremonies of the P18.6 million projects that were part of the city government continuing program to upgrade the education in the city.

“Our assistance and support to education is unceasing and unrelenting. The city government’s investment in education and other education-related projects will be intensified and further strengthened,” Lobregat declared.

The projects consisted, among others, a library building construction of which cost P1.6 million and a three-storey 12-classroom building with funding worth P13.7 million at the Talon-Talon Elementary School.

Included in the project was the rehabilitation and repair of the Home Economics Building worth P600,000 and the repair and rehabilitation of a two-storey 12-classroom building worth P2.9 million at the Zamboanga West Central School.

The new library building at the Talon-Talon Elementary School replaced the old and dilapidated facility while the three-storey 12-classroom building augmented the existing 21-classroom building. It has become a 33-classroom building.

The symbolic turn over ceremonies were among the activities during the Teacher's Summit held in the city during the weekend.

by pna.gov.ph

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office has launched the Child Labor-Free Barangay program in Barangay Pandacaqui, Mexico during the weekend.

DOLE regional director Raymundo Agravante said the activity was part of their continuing effort to raise awareness on the Philippine Child Labor Program in the grassroots level in Central Luzon.

A pledge of commitment of support was signed during the launching ceremonies among DOLE representative and other stakeholders to ensure that the programs and interventions to uphold the rights of children will be fully implemented

Based on the report of the DOLE Pampanga field office, Barangay Pandacaqui has the highest record of child labor where children,ages 17 and below, were compelled to work as vendors or tri-wheeler drivers to help their parents.

"We will continuously exert efforts and intensify our programs to curb the rising child labor in the barangay and the whole region," Agravante added.

The 2011 Survey on Children of the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that out of 29 million Filipino children aged 5 to 17, roughly 5.5 million are working children, of which almost three million were in hazardous jobs.

Of this number, more than 55.1 percent or 3.02 million were counted as child labor while 2.99 million are exposed to hazardous form of child labor.

Central Luzon has the highest incidence of hazardous child labor in the country with 10.6 percent, followed by Bicol (10.2 per cent), Western Visayas (8.5 per cent), Northern Mindanao (8.2 per cent) and Central Visayas (7.3 percent).

During the launching, the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) of Barangay Pandacaqui and the local government unit of Mexico pledged their support in preventing and eliminating child labor in their community.

“I am confident that your commitment in this endeavor will ensure that our efforts in making Pandacaqui a Child Labor-Free Barangay, would not be put to waste,” Agravante said.

Barangay chairman Carmelino D. Tayao, on behalf of the barangay officials, expressed his appreciation to the DOLE’s help in eliminating child labor in his community.

Marilou Esteban, a 38 year old widow and a mother of four children, expressed high hopes for the program, saying “the DOLE has a very good program, especially for the poor. I hope that through their programs, I can send my children back to school.”

by pna.gov.ph

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved on Sept. 18 the utilization of P3.93 billion in overseas development assistance (ODA) to finance a six-year education program in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Improvement of the state of education in ARMM was among the top priorities program of the Aquino government, acting regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said.

He said that of the P3.93 billion budget, AusAid would be provide P3.57 billion.

In a statement released by Beam AusAid, it said that "the assistance package aims to improve management and teaching capacities through training of education heads and teachers; enhance learning environment through the construction and repair of classrooms and other school facilities and improve school health conditions through the construction of toilets and hand-washing facilities, among others."

"Training of school health personnel and teachers; improve livelihood opportunities through technical-vocational training for out-of-school-children and youth; and improve access to pre-school and elementary education through construction of community learning centers for elementary and support for preschool (programs), are also part of the package.”

Earlier, Hataman formed an anti-graft monitoring body to prevent the repeat what has been unearthed that “millions of pesos” in public funds were wasted on alleged construction of schools that did not exist.

Assistant Secretary Darwin Rasul of the region's Office of Special Concerns(OSC) said this time,the Department of Education in the ARMM has proposed the new funding program under Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM).

by pna.gov.ph

Not even the looming morning drizzle could thwart the people of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from joining the National Family Week parade held within the compound of the regional government over the weekend.

Amid heavy to moderate downpour brought about by typhoon Lawin, the activity continued with acting ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman leading the ARMM officials and employees.

With the theme “Ensuring Work-Family Balance,” this year’s 25th commemoration was spearheaded by Hataman.

Pack of regional officials and employees braved the rain before proceeding to the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex Hall where the short yet heartwarming program sponsored by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was held.

Amihilda Sangcopan, governor’s chief-of-staff and Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Pombaen Kadir, both underscored family redeeming value to push forward reforms in Muslim region in parallel to the thrust of the national government for nation building.

Kadir, elated with the presence of Hataman heading the parade, noted that with her 16 years in the regional government, it was the first time a top executive of the region joined the procession.

Hataman, meanwhile, reiterated that government service does not have to come athwart personal family concerns, when one treats public service as an extended household.

“Ang buong sambayanan ang pamilya ko, dapat ganun din ang prinsipyo ng lahat. Ang pagseserbisyo ay kailangan at di lang dahil sa pangangailangan, ito ang bumubuhay sa ating lahat (My family is all of you and our people in ARMM, it should be out attitude. Services are necessary not only when our people need it but anytime, all the time),” Hataman said.

Hataman said the recently approved 2013 proposed budget for the region in both Houses of Congress was a good indication that his administration is on the right track.

The caretaker-governor cited the positive gestures of lawmakers during budget deliberations.

“Unti-unti nang nabuo ang tiwala ng buong bayan at ng pamahalaan, na sa kasaysayan ng ARMM ay di pa tuwirang nangyayari (Slowly, we have regained confidence of our people, a first in ARMM history),” he added.

by PNA

Some 1,000 unemployed and single mothers in Negros Occidental were recipients of the modular classes on entrepreneurship jointly sponsored by the Coco-cola Bottling Company.

Yolanda C. Porschwitz, Western Visayas Technical Education and Skills Development Authority(TESDA)regional director said the training is part of Coke’s social responsibility and commitment to support the government’s program on poverty alleviation.

The training, Porschwitz said will run for 12 weeks and training sessions will be held once a week.

“This project involving mothers will be the first of its kind in Negros,” said Porschwitz.

Also to be integrated in the training is the gender sensitivity concept which Porschwitz said "will help motivate mothers to join in advocating for the rest of the mothers in their respective home places."

“Being women, they still have the chance to be competitive and productive and help augment the income of their families,” Porschwitz said.

by PNA

Some parts of Davao city will be waterless in the next three days as the Davao City Water District (DCWD) is set to tap pipelines from its mainline on September 25, 28 and 29.

DCWD Community Relations and External Affairs Department manager Imelda T. Magsuci said on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or for eight hours, Dona Luisa Teachers Village and its immediate environs will be waterless for the tapping of newly installed 4-inch diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 6-inch diameter mainline.

On the same day at 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or four hours of water service interruptions will be implemented at four housing villages in the southern part of the city for the tapping of pipelines to the mainline.

The third schedule will be on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday, or a total of five hours at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) and its neighboring areas for the same reason of tapping of the newly installed 4-inch diameter PVC pipeline to the existing 6-inch mainline.

Magsuci said water supply may be restored earlier if work goes on smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

She said downtown residential areas may experience low pressure and appealing the consuming public to understand.

By PNA.gov.ph

As the Maritime Week celebration kicked off this morning here in Western Visayas, lessons from the “unsinkable” Titanic were refreshed to enhance the commitment of those in the maritime sector for the attainment of international safety.

Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Regional Director Mary Ann Z. Arcilla said that their theme for this year’s celebration “IMO 100 years after the Titanic” brings into consciousness the giving of importance by the members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) a safer, secured, cleaner and efficient maritime at all times.

She further said, “Maritime safety is a collective concern, a shared responsibility and accountability of the ship operators, owners, maritime schools, media and the government agencies,” Arcilla contended.

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Director Winfred G. Elizalde also said the sinking of the Titanic, which was touted as unsinkable then, became the greatest sea disaster ever on April 15, 1912 with about 1,502 passengers killed.

Elizalde further said that the Titanic disaster resulted it preclude the most important international maritime safety treaty, Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and other international laws.

“The sinking ushered a new era of safety,” the PPA director contended.

He said that as they celebrate Maritime Week, he is urging those in the maritime sector not to let the deaths of those people on board Titanic to be in vain by further improving the maritime safety measures.

He said that among the lessons he drew from the Titanic accident are the importance of pre-board, training of crew on disaster management, giving uttermost preference to safety of lives than the classification of passengers and not excluding those from the third class, provision of tender boats for evacuation and other life-saving equipment.

By Juancho Gallarde

The controversial concrete poles which were imported from China by an electric cooperative in Negros Oriental have finally arrived in Dumaguete Sunday, and are being offloaded at the DUCOMI port in San Miguel, Bacong town.

A total of 4,428 concrete poles were ordered by the Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative (NORECO 2) at P52 million basically for the rehabilitation of rotten electric poles in Dumaguete City and in other areas, according to acting general manager Dionefred Macahig.

The first shipment consists of more than 3,500 pieces while the balance of 870 will comprise the 2nd shipment.

The concrete poles were brought to the NORECO 2 acquired property in Maayong Tubig, Dauin, consisting of a six-hectare lot, more than two hectares of which is being planted to acacia and mangiums, now serving as a mini-forest.

Under the program of work, all electric poles that are obstructing the national highways within the city will be uprooted to prevent accidents.

Barring any untoward incident or outside interference, the concrete poles are designed to last longer than the wooden poles whose supply is diminishing. Thus, this will save the cooperative on maintenance costs, Macahig pointed out.

Meanwhile, NORECO 2 board chairman James Fontelo made it clear that they are not sleeping on their functions and responsibilities to extend efficient service to electric consumers and end users.

He reported that the board has just approved another resolution for the acquisition of equipment such as the digger in the amount of P12 million more or less to reduce the man hours in pole replacement and in other field works.

Fontelo also reported that within the week, they expect the election committee of the cooperative headed by Dr. Henry Sojor to submit their recommendations for the new general manager, after which the board will choose from two recommendees.

by pna.gov.ph

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Supplemental Feeding Program is now being implemented in various Day Care centers in Western Visayas.

Sally Gayoma, DSWD Regional Office 6 in-charge of the Supplemental Feeding Program, said the program, intended to mitigate hunger among 185,198 school children, is now on-going in 5,557 Day Care Centers in Western Visayas.

The program also aims to address the problem of malnutrition among children.

She further said that with the budget of P277 million for the region, the National Food Authority (NFA), which they have contracted to deliver rice, is now completing its delivery of the iron fortified rice that would be good for 120 days.

Aside from rice, the respective local government units (LGUs) where these Day Care centers are located, were also given budget for the preparation of the hot meals with viand.

by pna

The Office of the City Election Officer has established satellite voter registration centers here exclusive for detainees only.

The registration for detainees are set on Sept. 24 and 25 at the Iloilo City District Jail Male Dormitory in Brgy. Ungka, Jaro district, and Sept. 26 at the Iloilo City District Jail Female Dormitory located at the Iloilo City Police Office Station I.

“The satellite voter registration centers are pursuant to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 9371 which provides for the rules and regulations on detainee registration and voting,” explained election officer IV, lawyer Reinier Layson.

With this, voter registration at the Comelec-Iloilo City office located in the 2nd floor of Iloilo Terminal Market Building will be temporarily suspended on the said dates. It will resume Sept. 27 after the conduct of the detainee satellite voter registration.

Prior to this, Comelec-Iloilo City opened a satellite voter registration center for the public at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) auditorium on Sept. 21.

source: pna.gov.ph

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office will start the rehabilitation of the San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin tail dike on the second week of October, this year.

Engineer Loreta Malaluan, DPWH assistant regional director, said some P34-million has been allotted for the closure of the two breached portions of the tail dike.

The tail dike was breached during the height of torrential monsoon rains last month that resulted to massive flooding in the province, affecting some 227,400 families or 980,148 individuals.

"We will still arrange the documentations. If negotiated, we are going to choose at least three contractors who would bid so that we can start the rehabilitation project," Malaluan said.

For the meantine, Maluluan said the desilting and dredging operations for the rechanneling of water going to Manila Bay is still ongoing.

The rechanneling is the immediate action taken to minimize the entry of water in the breached portions of the tail dike in order to start the rehabilitation and closure of the scoured portion.

She said the DPWH, together with the provincial government and concerned local government units (LGUs) have so far dredged some 1.5 kilometers from Gugu river in Bacolor town going to downstream portion in Minalin town since the rechanneling works started a month ago.

Aside from rechanneling, she said, the DPWH is also planning to widen and deepen the rechanneled waterways in the area.

"We need to fast track the dredging activities in time for the start of the rehabilitation of the breached tail dike next month," she added.

by PNa.gov.ph

To strengthen the provincial inter-agency committee against trafficking in persons and violence against women and children (PCAT-VAWC), Governor David Suarez issued Executive Order 18, mandating it to institute policies and programs to protect women and children victims of trafficking by formulating local ordinances and resolutions.

Provincial Gender and Development (PGAD) chief Ofelia Palayan said that in line with the directive of the provincial governor, PCAT-VAWC will create and establish systems on surveillance, investigation and rescue to ensure effective and efficient coordination among local government units.

Palayan said that PCAT-VAWC will monitor and oversee the strict implementation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-trafficking in Persons Act, Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, and other related laws for the protection of women and children.

To achieve its goal, the PGAD council has created an "anti-trafficking referral network" composed of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the PGAD office to monitor and assist victims of human trafficking.

Meanwhile, Quezon’s Multi-Sectoral Provincial Nutrition Council (MPNC) will be implementing a complimentary feeding program in seven towns of the province starting October 1 to December 31, this year.

Provincial Health Officer Agripino Tullas said at the recent meeting of MPNC that the feeding program will be conducted in the towns of Jomalig, Buenavista, Patnanungan, San Narciso, Burdeos, Pililio and General Nakar.

Tullas said the program aims to uplift the nutritional status of children and further fight the prevalence rate of malnutrition in the province, specifically in the seven towns.

He said the P70,000 initial fund coming from the Department of Health (DOH) will be used for the purchase of "Joemix" products of the Atimonan municipal government to be used for the supplementary feeding program.

Joemix is a mixture of indigenous food such as rice, dried mongo and sesame seeds. Its nutrient composition are: fat-12.8 grams; iron-2.5 grams; calcium-147 milligrams; protein-13.2 grams and energy, Dr. Tullas said.

He said that MPNC has also sought the assistance of the provincial government to support the complementary feeding program by providing additional fund to cover or assist other municipalities in Quezon with cases on malnutrition.

source: PNA.gov.ph

State auditors revealed that about 90 employees of the Naga City Government in southern Cebu received a net take-home pay below the statutory net rate of P3,000.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in its annual report, noted that the City Government of Naga failed to comply with Section 43 of the General Provisions of Republic Act 10145, entitled the General Appropriations Act of 2011, when some of its employees received take home pays below the statutory net pay of P3,000 per month.

The law provides that deductions from salaries, emoluments or other benefits ensued to any government employee chargeable against the appropriation for personal services may be allowed, such as government-mandated deductions, deductions from banks and mutual benefit associations, and cooperatives and association organized by government employees.

The said provision also provides that deductions shall not reduce the employee’s monthly net take home pay to an amount lower than P3,000 after all authorized deductions.

However, with some city employees not able to take the prescribed take-home pay, it defeats the general intent of RA 10145 to boost employees’ morale and self-esteem in order to promote efficiency and effectiveness sin government service, the state auditors noted.

They revealed that for March to May 2011, there were employees who received below the P3,000 prescribed net pay.

The auditing team recommended that the city accountant should strictly enforce the provisions in the law pertaining to net take-home pay to promote an efficient and effective public service by ensuring that employee has enough to support for their daily needs until the next payday.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said the 90 employees who are not receiving the prescribed pay based on law are only receiving honorariums.

By Danny O. Calleja

"Bayong" (reed basket) took center stage during the recently concluded Market Week Philippines (MWP) held at the MegaTrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong from Sept. 19 to 23.

At the recently concluded Market Week Philippines (MWP) with the theme "Bayong Special Setting," Bicol’s bayong was a trailblazer. All the regions engaged in bayong-making showcased three of their best bayong designs.

DTI regional director Jocelyn Blanco said the exhibit illustrated how "bayong" has evolved from traditional market commodity to become a high-end users accessory.

“From bayong for marketing and schooling, it has also captured the liking of fashionists,” she said adding that “with the product developments, new markets, both domestic and international, are also reached,” Blanco noted.

According to Blanco, DTI conceptualized the BDP with two-fold benefits, to boost the economy and to help diminish ecological imbalance.

"It also conveys the green advocacy by making a shift from the use of the now getting unpopular non-biodegradable plastic materials to the use of eco-friendly indigenous raw materials like abaca, buri, karagumoy, bacbac, anahaw, sabutan, nito, rattan and romblon. Materials that abound in the countryside," she explained.

In a related development, the “bayong” industry in Bicol is regaining its glory which was lost when plastic and other environmentally-harmful packaging materials reigned.

Bayong has reclaimed its popularity in Albay following the provincial government's implementation of an ordinance banning the use of plastic bags and environmentally-offensive wrapping materials,

The ban which took effect last June pushed a dramatic shift by shoppers to the traditional bayong that are locally crafted mostly from buri, anahaw, abaca, karagumoy and rattan.

The shift was very impressive. It is a good development as we are doing all we can to make Albay an environmental champion, “acknowledged by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda

“Suddenly, our bayong and other native bags became in demand. It has been selling fast and more and more people are getting hooked on it,” the governor said.

The beauty of this plastic ban it that apart from its positive effects to the environment, it also provided additional income to bayong weavers.

“BDP is indeed contributing significantly to the local economy aside from its role in protecting and preserving the environment,” Blanco said.

The DTI started the program in Bicol in 2010 by featuring bayong as among Bicol’s best products in its “Orgullo Kan (OK) Bikol” trade fairs that are done yearly in Manila to promote the regions tourism and handicraft industries.

With bayong on special settings at the frontline, last year’s OK Bikol trade fair, according to Blanco generated sales of P10 million.

Blanco said through the BDP, DTI is helping the industry come up with more designs and settings while exploring the existing market to find out what it wants.

The agency also holds planning workshops to come up with a practical plan for industry advancement primarily initiated to evaluate the status of this centuries-old industry vis-a-vis issues and concerns on the different aspects of its development such as production, marketing, organizational management and finance.

source: pna.gov.ph

This mountain resort over the past five years have modernized most of its equipment and facilities in keeping with the needs as destination of international tourism.

This was learned from Romeo Concio, chief of the General Services Office (GSO) who said the latest to be acquired was a seven million peso fire truck with the latest technology and equipment in firefighting.

To date, more than a dozen firetrucks and related vehicles are strategically deployed all over the city as a measure of preparedness in fire incidents.

Two months ago, four additional modern garbage trucks were added to the fleet of 15 vehicles which have to collect and dispose off more than 200 tons of garbage generated daily.

Prior to that, police cars,motorcycles and mountain bicycles were given by the city to the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) for its day to day operations.

An intensified search and rescue operation for three fishermen who went missing during a fishing expedition in the West Philippine Sea last Sunday morning is now going on.

Ilocos Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Action Officer Sigfred Duquing identified the three missing fishermen as Norlie Liclican, 26; Nilo Etrata, 30; and Judel Escalona, 18; all of Barangay Gabao, Santiago, Ilocos Sur.

The three fishermen left their homes at 5:00 a.m. last Sunday on board a motorized boat marked "3K" but they failed to return home till today (Monday).

Upon learning the incident, Duquing immediately coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the conduct of search and rescue operation for the three fishermen.

The coast guard is now conducting intensified search and rescue operations in the coastal areas in Ilocos Sur on board a rubber boat while members of the Maritime Group of the police are also conducting boat patrol along the shoreline in Santiago town, Duquing said.

source: pna.gov.ph

By The Bohol Standard

Motorcycle owners in the province howled in protest against the proposal of the provincial board or the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to enact an ordinance requiring presentation of two motorcycle helmets with Import Commodity Certification (ICC) or Philippine Standard (PS) stickers as a pre-condition prior to registration with the Land Transportation Office.

“We have already suffered too much in the sticker fiasco of the new helmet law, now a proposal is again hatched to make the public suffer more. What kind of government we have,” a town resident who declined to be named lamented.

“Provincial board members should instead make legislations that will ease the burden of motorcycle users; like bringing down or regulating of fuel costs and the reduction of penalties of those not wearing helmets,” the howling public said.

Separate interviews on several motorcycle owners showed strong condemnation against the planned move. Motorists consider such requirement as another burden to the public now reeling under sky-rocketing costs of commodities, electricity, water and almost every basic daily need. None of them favoured it.

The Land Transportation law regarding registration of motorcycles does not require presentation of two helmets. Republic Act 10054, otherwise known as the Motorcycle Helmet Act also does not mention of a requirement for a motorcycle owner to have two helmets as registration requirement.

LTO Tagbilaran District head Joel Maloloy-on said his office will continue to implement the national law regarding registration of motor vehicles under existing guidelines and will not insist on such 2 helmets requirement, unless the law itself is amended.

ANTI-POOR?

Public sentiments cited motorcycles as “an ordinary man’s vehicle” and is the most common mode of transportation, not only for affordability but also for being fuel cost-effective, used by owners and families, most of them marginal earner.

LTO Tagbilaran head Maloloy-on said, no such requirement (of 2 helmets) for registration of motorcycle units is provided in the national law. He said, “maybe it can be done if that is what the provincial board wants here in Bohol but it must have some sort of Memorandum of Agreement between the province and the LTO. They cannot implement such ordinance, if ever it’s passed, without such agreement.”

Maloloy-on said that this is the first time he heard of this kind of requirement as far as motorcycle registration is concerned. He said, he will bring this concern to the regional office for proper guidance on the matter.

MORE CONFUSION

The proposed ordinance (requiring 2 helmets) was approved by the SP during its first “paper-less” session recently following the joint report of the committees of trade/industry and peace and order rendered by Board Member Atty. Venzencio Arcamo. “To enact an ordinance requiring presentation and registration of two proper motorcycle helmets with ICC stickers as condition for registration in the LTO,” said the joint committee report.

The joint committee report prior to its adoption by the SP considered the manifestation of BM Godofreda O. Tirol relative to the required helmet under RA. 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Act that recently also generated public protest.

Tirol earlier has brought to the attention of her colleagues the issue on helmet enforcement in an instant privilege speech.

The joint report found that “no systemic process is being published or disseminated to the public regarding the helmet law for the people to follow and that instructions regarding the implementation of the said law are difficult to understand.”

It can be recalled that mounting complaints and criticisms against the prescribed helmet law enforcement prompted DTI Bohol office to suspend the sale or dispersal of ICC sticker. The office sold the stickers at PhP 1.25 each and collected processing fee of PhP100 for inspection of standard helmets. Such fees are not present in the helmet law.

But DTI said in its advisory issued Friday that it “is waiving the collection” of the aforesaid charges but only up September 30, 2012. “Based on the DTI Consumer Welfare and Business Regulatory Group (CWBRG)-Regional Operations Development Group (RODG) joint memorandum, the DTI regional offices are given the authority to refund fees collected since it started implementing Clause 5.4 of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)-Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Joint Administrative Order No. 1:2011,” said the advisory. It then refunded to the motorists who already paid the sticker and processing fees.

Using protective head gear while driving a single motorcycle has been strictly enforced by the LTO. Helmets should have a prescribed ICC marker based on said law.

The helmet law, when fully implemented in January 2013 carries stiff penalties of a fine of P1,500 (first offense); PhP3,000 for 2nd offense; PhP5,000 for 3rd; and PhP10,000 plus confiscation of driver’s license in succeeding offenses. Motorcycle riders must wear helmets that has ICC of Philippine Standard label, the said law provides.

A fine of not less than PhP10,000 but not exceeding PhP20,000 is also imposed against the store or sellers of helmets that do not have ICC or PS marker. (With reports: RVO)

source: press release

The Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
(RAFI) will hold the 9th Moonwalk: A Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness on Oct. 2 in observance
of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Moonwalk is an advocacy that aims to promote a collective effort in fighting breast
cancer through a massive awareness campaign focused on the early screening and detection of
breast cancer, such as observing monthly breast self-examination for women aged 20 years old
and above.

This event is organized in collaboration with the Cebu City Government, through Task
Force Cancer of Cebu City, and other cancer support groups, such as KAHAYAG Network of
Cancer Support Group, I CAN SERVE Foundation Inc., Cebu Cancer Fight Inc., Cebu Breast
Association, and CAN with GOD.

Sponsors of the event are Goldilocks, She Matters, Destiny Medical Fund Inc., I Can
Serve, Rotary Club of Cebu-Fuente, and Department of Health Region 7.

The assembly area will be at Plaza Independencia  at 4 p.m. followed by a short
program. Participants will then walk towards Fuente Osmeña Circle at 5 p.m.

Half of the lane of the entire Osmeña Boulevard, from Plaza Independencia to Fuente
Osmeña Circle, will be closed from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to wear pink shirts or any
pink costume.

For more information on Moonwalk and EJACC and its services, please contact 254-
6351 and look for Gina Mariquit, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.oph.

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What Kind of Skin Disease Is This?

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf appealed for calm after violent protests erupted across the country on Friday against the U.S.-made anti-Islam movie allegedly mocking the Prophet Mohammed.

"Destroying property and resorting to violence negate the spirit of Islam and teachings of the Prophet,"Ashraf said in a statement issued by his media office.

The Prime Minister appealed to the people to stop violence and express anger peacefully.

He said that the love for the Prophet Mohammed is best expressed by following his teachings of peace and harmony.

Several religious leaders also appealed for calm but their appeals were ignored.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik blamed members of the banned extremist groups for instigating violence.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira also criticized the violent protests, saying that this was not the right way of expressing love for the Prophet.

At least nine people were killed and over 100 others injured in violent protests across Pakistan on Friday, officials said.

source: PNA

By Malu C. Manar

Lawyer Alexander Padilla, chair of the government panel talking peace with the communist guerillas, has decried the indemnification of the rebel group to victims of the recent grenade blast in Paquibato district, Davao City.

In a statement issued to media, Padilla said the payments of P5, 000 to each victim of the Paquibato circus blast was just a ‘stopgap’ and ‘diversionary.’

He stressed that the indemnification has also clouded the issue of violation of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and existing Philippine laws.

Padilla’s statement came after a group of alleged victims of NPA atrocities in Mindanao gathered on Thursday in front of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) church in Davao City to protest what they called was a ‘measly’ payment to each blast victim.

The Exodus for Justice and Peace (EJP) led by Bishop Modesto Villasanta of the UCCP is acting as broker in the settlement, according to reports from Col. Lyndon Paniza of the 10th Infantry Division.

On Wednesday, at least 50 victims of the Paquibato blast received an “initial indemnification” from the NDF, through help from religious institutions, lawyers, and journalists acting as third-party facilitators.

Aside from payments, the victims received counseling and medical assistance from a team of volunteers, reports said.

In a statement issued to media on September 12, the regional council of the NDF-Southern Mindanao through its spokesperson Rubi Del Mundo said the indemnification is a unilateral exercise of “revolutionary political authority” by a “government of the working class and peasantry” that has its own legal and judicial system and rules in accordance with its political principles and circumstances.

Del Mundo also stated that the indemnification is in accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

The rebel spokesperson said the CARHRIHL, signed by the GPH and the NDF on March 16, 1998 in The Hague, Netherlands, provides for the indemnification and compensation to parties affected in the armed conflict.

But Arthur Tariman, lead organizer of the group that held protest rally last Thursday said they want more than the payment.

Tariman said they demand that the NPA turns over to authorities those responsible for the blast.

Padilla, for his part, said the continued refusal of the rebel group to allow the perpetrators to be subjected to due process “adds insult to injury”.

Padilla has even derided the earlier statement of NPA spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez that those responsible for the Paquibato attack would be dealt with based on the CPP-NPA’s ‘revolutionary justice.’

This ‘revolutionary justice’, however, according to Padilla, has already been exposed as a “sham” by many because of its alleged disregard to the rule of law, including basic rights.

The GPH panel chair said that there have been countless civilians who became victims of the ‘collateral damage’ in over four decades of the communist insurgency, yet, the indemnification issue has been raised only now.

source: PNA

More Americans distrust the news media than ever before, the U.S. polling agency Gallup reported Friday.

According to the survey, 60 percent of Americans say they have “little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly.”

The decline in trust is driven largely by Americans who identify themselves as Republican or independent voters. The study finds that only 26 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of independents trust the news media.

Democrats are notably more trustful at 58 percent.

However, when comparing the results from the previous presidential election year in 2008, Gallup found the largest drop in trust (10 percent) was among independent voters.

“Independents are sharply more negative compared with 2008, suggesting the group that is most closely divided between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney is quite dissatisfied with its ability to get fair and accurate news coverage of this election,” according to Gallup’s Lymari Morales.

By Priam Nepomuceno

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said his department and the military establishment are working overtime to undo the ill effects of martial law.

The emergency was imposed on Sept. 21, 1972 by then President Marcos, who lifted it on Jan. 17, 1981, a few months before the summer elections that year.

Marcos, on national television on Sept. 23, 1972, said he imposed martial law to enable him to check what he said was a state of rebellion and enable him to institute national reforms.

Gazmin, erstwhile commander of the Presidential Security Guards during the Cory Aquino administration, said it was only fitting as both the DND and the Armed Forces were the two institutions deeply scarred by martial law.

"As enforcers of martial law, ostensibly in response to twin insurgencies, both the DND and AFP had to rehabilitate their value systems and to restore professionalism in their ranks following the end of the Marcos dictatorship in February 1986," Gazmin stressed.

In line with these efforts, Gazmin said it is only fitting that the defense establishment be the one to refurbish the Aquino-Diokno Memorial in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

"This modest museum pays tribute to two great patriots, Sen. Benigno Aguino, Jr. and Sen. Jose Diokno, and thereby depicts the triumph of the human spirit against the abuses spawned by absolute power -- a lesson which should never be lost on the defense establishment," he pointed out.

In their 30 days of detention in Fort Magsayay, Gazmin said Aquino and Diokno personified the indomitability of the human spirit and left a lesson in the limits of power.

"The huge injustice inflicted on these two great Filipinos can never be undone, but the memorial in their honor in Fort Magsaysay, first built by the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in 2003, has been a significant step toward healing the wounds that estranged the Armed Forces from freedom-loving Filipinos," he added.

Beyond rehabilitating the Aquino-Diokno Memorial, the DND has expanded the facility to include a new structure that houses the AFP Center for Human Rights Dialogue.

Gazmin said the facility is envisioned as a catalyst for deepening the appreciation of human rights among Armed Forces personnel -- from cadets in the Philippine Military Academy to commissioned officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP’s major branches -- by creating venues for regular interaction with other sectors.

"The Aquino-Diokno Memorial and the AFP Center for Human Rights Dialogue underscore the transformation of the AFP as one of the concrete gains from the EDSA revolution that ousted the dictatorship," he added.

Gazmin said the center is also a facility that human rights advocates and stakeholders can use for their multi-sector gatherings and events.

By Janice M. Cave

Marikina City's bitter experience from the wrath of tropical storm "Ondoy" in September 2009 is a memory rather forgotten, but it has inculcated among local officials and residents a positive trait worthy of emulation -- readiness at all times.

Jerome Pascual and his family, long-time residents of Provident Village -- one of the hardest-hit areas by rampaging floodwaters during Ondoy (international name "Ketsana) -- have learned to accept that flooding would be the "new normal" in times of heavy downpour.

"Tanggap na namin na bahain yung lugar namin kaya ang magagawa na lang talaga namin ay maging ready everytime na malakas yung ulan [We've accepted that our village is flood-prone so we always have to be alert at all times, especially during heavy downpour]," Pascual said.

There was no sign of panic among them when monsoon rains (Habagat) pummeled the metropolis and nearby provinces last month, Pascual said.

"Since meron na kaming experience noong Ondoy, alam na namin ang gagawin. May sistema na kami kung ano ang uunahing isalba sa mga gamit at siyempre kung paano kami magsu-survive [Since we've experienced how it was like during Ondoy, we now know what to do. We've come up with our own survival plan and which of our belongings get to be saved first]," he added.

For three straight days, Habagat dumped almost the same amount of rainfall as that of Ondoy three years ago.

Pascual recalled that during Ondoy, floodwaters reached the second floor of their two-story house. Habagat was "much gentle," he said, as floodwaters at that time entered the ground floor only.

They were prepared and had stocks of ready-to-eat food but Pascual said they did not anticipate the non-stop rain for three days.

"Naubusan kami ng pagkain kasi 'di naman namin expected na tatagal ng three days yung baha. Sumasabay yung Papa ko sa rescuers para pumunta sa bayan at bumili ng food namin," he said.

It was reminiscent of Ondoy at all front but this time, there was no casualty, Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman said.

"We attribute it to preparedness. We've learned our lessons from Ondoy and people are now aware of what to do in cases like typhoons," De Guzman said in an interview.

When Ondoy struck the metropolis on Sept. 26 three years ago, Marikina City suffered the hardest blow.

Hundreds of residents from low-lying areas of the city were killed due to flashfloods as high as a two-story building.

"In the blink of an eye, floodwaters started to flow from the upland areas down to the city. It was that fast and people had no time to prepare," the mayor said.

De Guzman said the city is taking a proactive stance in disaster preparedness and mitigation.

"In terms of preparedness, we are definitely much prepared now. In fact, we have adopted a policy of zero-rescue, meaning we have certain level or alert depending on the flood or water level of the Marikina River," he stressed.

The city government has installed an alarm system at the Marikina River that would alert residents living nearby that the water level is rising, especially during heavy downpour.

De Guzman said most of the residents are more cooperative now, but still some choose to stay, hoping that the floodwater will eventually subside.

"They are being directed to evacuation centers... voluntary yun. By that time nakaalis na lahat... kapag 17 meters na at may mga natira pa sa kani-kanilang bahay, they will be evacuated," he said.

Since Marikina City is nestled below the mountains of Montalban and San Mateo in Rizal, the Marikina River virtually becomes a catchbasin of floodwaters from the uplands during strong typhoons.

De Guzman noted that the river has been heavily silted due to the non-stop monsoon rains last August.

The river's normal water level used to be at 12-13 meters but now it has gone up to 14 meters as an effect of heavy siltation, he added.

"After the Habagat, halos pantay na yung enbankment at yung carriageway ng water sa ilog," he said.

Before the year ends and if there are sufficient funds, De Guzman said the city plans to buy a dredging machine to deepen the river.

The city has also started to plant trees at the Marikina watershed.

Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources turned over a more detailed geohazard map, tree seedlings and coffee beans as the city is being eyed as a coffee plantation.

"We've started massive tree planting at the Marikina watershed. Gusto nila hindi lang sila magtanim kung hindi maging livelihood na din ito," the mayor said.

After Habagat, De Guzman said he issued an order to strengthen and organize a disaster risk reduction and management council down to the barangay level.

"Everyone will be having a disaster management seminar, including barangay officials, schools, lahat," he said.

"Hindi na maiiwasan ang mga ganitong pangyayari kaya dapat parati tayong handa," he added.

The city government also makes sure that there is a stockpile of canned goods, water and other basic necessities inside the relief operations center housed at the Marikina Sports Park.

Malacanang hopes that both Houses of Congress would soon approve the P2-trillion budget for 2013 as well as the Freedom of Information Bill to boost the economy and give the public easier access to government information.

In a radio interview Saturday over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte thanked the lawmakers for prioritizing the budget deliberations.

"It seems that both Houses are making good time on deliberating on the budget, we thank our legislators for that. And mukha namang on track, katulad nung mga earlier pronouncements ni Speaker Belmonte at ni Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that they will be paying due attention to the budget. And so far, we are on track for the deliberation," Valte said.

With regards to the Freedom of Information Bill, Valte said the Palace hopes that discussions go well when lawmakers meet this October to tackle the bill. She said it's a good development that the congressional committee will be hearing again the FOI Bill.

Rep. Erin Tanada, the author of the FOI Bill in the House, and Senate committee chair Sen. Gregorio Honasan have essentially adopted the draft coming from the Palace.

Valte said many provisions of the Malacanang draft were adopted by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House on Thursday night approved on second reading the proposed P2-trillion national budget for 2013 aimed at boosting the country’s economic growth.

The 2013 budget is similar to last year's with the biggest chunk of the funding going to the Department of Education with P292.7 billion, which is 22.6 percent more than this year’s P238.8 billion.

source: PNA

President Benigno S. Aquino III will leave for Brunei Darussalam on Sunday to attend the ceremonial wedding presentation of the daughter of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace.

“Given that it is important to continue to strengthen our relations with fellow ASEAN countries, the President will be engaging in some informal diplomacy,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a message on Friday.

The President’s Sunday trip to the sultanate is his second visit since he made an official visit to Brunei in June 2011.

While in Brunei, President Aquino will be assisted by Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nestor Ochoa, Philippine Minister and Consul General Raymond Balatbat and Philippine Minister and Consul Celeste Balatbat.

Princess Hajah Hafiza Sururul Bolkiah, 32, wed Haji Muhammad Ruzaini on Thursday. She is the fifth child of the Sultan and his wife Queen Saleha.

The President will be joined by leaders of Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand during the occasion. Other leaders and VIPs are also invited to grace the wedding ceremony.

source: PNA

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

Public Storm Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Eastern Samar as tropical storm "Lawin"(Jeluwat) slightly intensified, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)said Saturday afternoon.

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada said that as of 4 p.m. Saturday "Lawin" accelerated its speed from 95 kph to 105 kph while its gustiness rose from 120 kph to 135 kph.

Cada, however said, the tropical storm has small chance to make a landfall.

Lawin has small chance to make landfall but if ever to make a landfall, it will affect extreme Northern Luzon, particularly Batanes, and then traverse over the Philippine sea in moving out towards southern Japan, Cada said.

With its present speed, he said that Lawin moves at north northwest slowly and expected will linger in Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within a week due to its slow movement.

Cada added that "Lawin" would also affect eastern Visayas while localized thunderstorm brings rains in Luzon, including Metro Manila. Mindanao will experienced isolated rainshowers.

The weather agency said that Eastern Samar is expected to experience winds at 61 to 100 kilometers per hour within the next 24 hours.

Storm Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds) was hoisted over Sorsogon, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern and Western Samar.

PAGASA advised those residents where signal storm were hoisted to be wary of possible flashfloods and landslides. The weather bureau also alerted those living in coastal areas against big waves.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture into the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao due to big waves generated by Tropical Storm "Lawin".

Meanwhile, PAGASA also issued a thunderstorm advisory in Metro Manila at 5:55 p.m. Saturday, alerting residents to take precautionary measures against heavy rains, strong gusty winds, lightning and possible flash floods.

source: PNA

China on Saturday sought to mend ties with the Philippines, expressing hope that bilateral relations hurt by a territorial row would be back on the track.

China's Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to succeed President Hu Jintao in the leadership succession later this year, said, "China-Philippines relations have encountered some difficulties."

However, he said "through effective communications between the two sides, the tensions have been eased.

source: PNA

Media organizations observed a joint drill Saturday of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps on the western Pacific island of Guam, aimed at strengthening their ability to defend remote islands from foreign assault.

The drill was conducted amid mounting tensions between Japan and China over a Japanese-controlled islet group in the East China Sea claimed by China and Taiwan. The island group is known as the Senkakus in Japan, Diaoyu in China and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.

In the drill, aimed at regaining control of an island captured by foreign forces, the Japanese and U.S. troops were seen leaving small boats to land on the northern shore of Guam. After landing, the GSDF troops advanced with rifles to "retake" the island.

The GSDF said the two countries conducted the exercise without envisioning any specific island or foreign country.

The GSDF and the U.S. Marines previously conducted joint drills at training ranges on the U.S. West Coast and in mountainous areas of Japan. Saturday's drill was the first of its kind to be held between the two countries to enhance their capability to defend remote islands.

The U.S. troops who participated in the latest exercise belong to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force headquartered at Camp Courtney in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, while the Japanese troops are from the GSDF's Western Army, whose territory covers Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu and remote islands off Kyushu.

source: PNA

U.S. President Barack Obama asserted Saturday his rejection of the vindictive anti-Islam movie and stressed "violence against the innocent is not justified," official news agency MENA reported.

In a letter to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Obama expressed his appreciation for Egypt's efforts to secure the U.S. missions in Cairo, MENA quoted a press statement of presidency spokesperson Yasser Ali as saying.

Obama also expressed thanks for the statements issued by Morsi following the recent events targeting the U.S. embassy in Cairo, to condemn violence and assert protection for the diplomatic mission.

The U.S. president described Morsi's statements as part of the Egyptian values which boost the mutual partnership, saying he is looking forward to work with Morsi in the coming months to continue progress in the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States.

On Sept. 11, Several thousands of Egyptians surrounded the U.S. embassy in Cairo in protest of the movie that insults Muslim's Prophet Mohammed, the clashes between the angry protesters and security forces left one dead and more than 250 people injured. - source: PNA

By Priam F. Nepomuceno

Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed their gratitude to the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday for expediting the release of the P1.42-billion fund which will be used to upgrade the various military camps in the country.

Col. Arnulfo M. Burgos Jr., AFP spokesperson, said the money, released by the Department of Budget and Management, will be used to support various military camp improvement projects, including architectural and engineering upgrades amounting to P1.14 billion.

Included as well in the fund release is P282 million for the construction of a combined Arms Readiness Training Center, as well as P594,000 for training and doctrine command projects.

Burgos said that the AFP leadership deems the fund release advantageous in its efforts to expedite the implementation of the military camps and facilities improvement projects, which are included in its Bases and Support Systems Development (BSSD) programs.

The AFP spokesperson said the BSSD is one of the military's modernization and capability upgrade program’s five interlocking components which include force restructuring and organizational development, doctrines development, human resource development and capability, materiel and technology development.

As this develops, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Arnel Paciano Casanova vowed to intensify its continued support to the AFP modernization and capability upgrade program by outlining potential fund-generating projects to benefit the military.

He also said that there are still other areas for development that must be studied.

Casanova stressed that this will ensure the proper utilization of idle military lands and is aimed at maximizing the potential of the large tracts of land located within AFP bases and camps nationwide.

"As of June 2012, the AFP share in the BCDA's Asset Disposition Program amounts to P21.788 billion. The fund has been remitted to the National Treasury, which the AFP can tap for the modernization program. We will continue to contribute to the protection of our national security by supporting the AFP Modernization Program and providing assistance in base development planning," he said.

Burgos said the AFP believes that aside from procuring weapons systems and acquiring other military hardware and equipment, "the enhancement of our camp’s administrative and training facilities within our military bases is equally important."

Such upgrade will surely boost the military personnel’s readiness and morale, enabling a better prepared and much capable military organization.

By Lloyd T. Caliwan

Three areas in Visayas remain under public storm signal as tropical storm “Lawin” (Jelawat) maintained its strength and continued to move slowly over the Philippine sea, the state weather bureau said.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administrations (PAGASA) said that as of 4 a.m. Sunday, tropical storm Lawin was located at 485 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar (12.1°N, 129.5°E) packing maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

Storm Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Western Samar which is expected to experience winds 30-60 kph winds within the next 36 hours.

PAGASA advised residents living in low lying against possible flashfloods and those in mountainous areas under public storm warning signal 1 landslides.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture into the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao due to big waves generated by Tropical Storm "Lawin".

With its present speed, PAGASA said that Lawin moves North slowly and expected to be at 480 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar by Monday morning. By Tuesday morning, it will be at 460 km East of Virac, Catanduanes and at 595 km East of Baler, Aurora by Wednesday morning.

The weather bureau added the affected areas will experience "heavy to intense" rainfall estimated at 10 to 25 mm per hour within the 600-km diameter of the tropical storm.

PAGASA said that Samar province will experience rains and gusty winds. Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), the rest of Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with occasional moderate to heavy rains.Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with brief rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to Northwest will prevail over Bicol Region and coming from the west to southwest over Eastern Visayas, CARAGA and Davao Regions and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Light to moderate winds coming from the southwest to west will prevail over Palawan, rest of Visayas and rest of Mindanao and coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.

PAGASA also issued gale warning as strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

richard gomez will run as mayor. cesar montano might run as vice-mayor of manila.

Luoy pud. Aksidente gyud ni nga walay mabasol.

Leaving Cuba

Opprobrious is a heavy-duty word to describe something taunting or shameful. Opprobrious words criticize in a mean, hurtful way.

Opprobrious comes from the Latin opprobare which means "to reproach or taunt." If someone is being opprobrious, she's being abusive and mean. Insults are opprobrious, while constructive criticism is not. No one wants to be treated in an opprobrious way. We can also use this word for bad behavior that causes shame â€" someone cheating on a test is opprobrious. Opprobrious actions are disgraceful, ignominious, and inglorious.

source: vocabulary.com

source: BBC.co.uk

Coconut has always been treated with respect in traditional Ayurvedic healing since centuries in India. Coconut oil is used for skin care, hair care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, increase immunity, aid digestion, control diabetes and blood pressure etc. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial properties of the oil is no surprise. Now recent research on the antibacterial properties of coconut oil treated with digestion aiding enzymes conducted by the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland have revealed another dimension.

The enzyme modified oil reduced the growth of most strains of tooth decay causing Streptococcus bacteria found in the mouth. The antimicrobial properties could greatly benefit the oral health care market. This could prove to be a valuable alternative to chemical additives that are currently in use in dental care products. With increasing tooth related problems amongst children and teenagers, this natural healing alternative could prove to be invaluable to the oral hygiene industry.

angayan ning tawhana ibitay or ipapaig sa silya elektrika. unsa man intawoy buot anang 2 anyos nga batang babaye. y*&^% ning tawhana.

Quote from: hubag bohol on September 15, 2012, 10:32:01 PM

bundle of joys...

by Agence France Presse

Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. tested positive for marijuana after losing his World Boxing Council middleweight crown to Argentina’s Sergio Martinez, promoter Bob Arum told reporters on Thursday.

The Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported that the Nevada State Athletic Commission told Arum’s Top Rank firm of Chavez Jr.’s urine test results after the Mexican’s unanimous decision defeat last Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Mexican fighter faces up to a one-year suspension or possible revocation of his boxing license and a fine that could take all of his $3 million purse from the bout from the Nevada authorities.

A factor that will weigh into consideration of Chavez Jr.’s punishment is a prior positive doping test for the Mexican in Nevada.
In 2009, he tested positive for a diuretic and was hit with a seven-month ban as well as stripped of a victory and fined $10,000 â€" 10 percent of that fight’s paycheck.

Air Philippines Promo - Clark to Singapore 788 Pesos Only

wala gyud mangigo ilang 3 points. dili pa gyud pang-international nang dinuwaan sa pinoy.

press release

“Power is in the business that improves lives, including that of all the people in the Philippines, but success will not be acquired overnight but needs constant diligence,” Ma.

Theresa G. Catipay, executive director of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Microfinance, said in her message during the second general assembly of Bohol Area on August 18 at the Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

With the theme, “Kakugi, Binhi sa Kaugmaon”, the event drew 1,081 women microentrepreneurs from Tagbilaran, Talibon, Tubigon, and Ubay branch of operations.  The nanays actively participated in the various activities.

Top performing clients in various categories such as the Most Outstanding Client, Most Outstanding Chairwoman, Most Improved Group and Client, and Conscientious Saver were recognized and were given cash prizes. The group with the most artistic banner was also awarded.

The Most Outstanding Client award was given to Claudia C. Celis from Inabanga,
Bohol. 

The general assembly is conducted once every three years in the area to honor
RAFI Micro-finance clients who remained loyal to the program for five years or more and to acknowledge model women micro-entrepreneurs.

“No dreams will ever come true unless you wake up and realize them,” Most
Outstanding Client from Leyte Zenaida Nuñez, who was gave an inspirational message during the event, said.

Nuñez mentioned knowledge, skills, and attitude as keys to success. 

“If you are not skilled in hairstyling and rebonding, do not venture into opening a
beauty salon, but instead think of the skills you have and apply it to your business,” she advised fellow clients.

In partnership with Pilmico, the participants were given training on hog raising. The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bohol Experiment Station also shared their expertise in cassava food processing.

Nanays also showcased their talents, and some of their products were displayed in a trade fair.

Children who were around during the event were given art kits through RAFI's Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (DACF).

press release

Under the sponsorship of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and the University of San Carlos (USC) Cebuano Studies Center held a translation workshop dubbed "X ≠ Y: Training Workshop on Literary Translation" at the Cebu Cathedral Museum last August 20-21.

Twenty fellowsâ€"ten from Cebu and ten from other parts of the Visayas―participated in the workshop. 

During the first day of the activity, Dr. Erlinda K. Alburo and Prof. Merlie M. Alunan presented a lecture on translation, which tackled the concept, politics, reason, expectations, and tradeoffs of translation.

“Translation can only be as good as the original,” Alunan emphasized in her presentation and all throughout the workshop.

Each of the submitted entries of the participants was critiqued by a panel composed of Alburo, Alunan, and John Iremil Teodoro. The entries came in the form of translated poems, essays, and short stories from Cebuano or Waray to English and vice-versa. There were also translations of translated works by Middle Eastern and Indian writers. For Alburo, translations from or to Cebuano, “affirm the value of Cebuano literature”.

Teodoro, on the other hand, believed that purpose is an integral part of undertaking a work on translation. One aspect is to identify gender issues that the translator want to answer in his translation.

On the second day, teacher participants from University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) and USC joined the session where Dr. Hope Sabanpan-Yu, workshop coordinator, delivered training modules on translation.

For more information, please contact USC Cebuano Studies Center at 253-1000 local 183 and look for Raphael Polinar, or e-mail ang.paglaum@yahoo.ca or
haideepalapar@yahoo.com.

press release

“We are what we eat” is a worn-out cliché. As simple as it may sound, but it has
become difficult for us to make wise decisions concerning our diet, especially when our days are packed.

One of the health diseases that our diet could be a contributing factor of is
cancer. Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the country. Often, we equate cancer with helplessness and death but the truth is, cancer can be prevented and the first step is to adopt a healthy diet.

Cancer development depends on family history (genetics), health, nutrition,
personal habits, and the environment. But among these causes, healthy diet tops the list in cancer prevention. What we take in for everyday nourishment is the major key to a healthy life.

Nowadays, we mostly eat  fatty food like pork and chicken skin, which can
increase risk of cancer. Our bodies require a certain amount of fat but an excess of it can be harmful to the body. A high-fat diet tends to be higher in calories and may increase the risk to become overweight or obese, and develop cancer.

We should eat food that are rich in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables,
for they lower the risk of developing cancer. Antioxidants act as protective agents of the cells in the body. Foods rich in Vitamin D and protein also aid in blocking cancer-causing chemicals. 

Cancers that are linked to certain habits are the easiest ways to prevent, such as
those caused by tobacco or cigarette smoking.

We all know that  cigarette smoking is the leading cause of cancer. A cigarette
contains 100 chemicals and most of them are carcinogenic or cancer-causing.

Also, we should be aware of "secondhand smoke" because there are more
carcinogenic chemicals present upon our inhalation. When our bodies are exposed to these carcinogens, our body cells are damaged to a certain extent and their normal function affected.

Alcohol beverages must be taken in moderation. Our alcohol consumption can
significantly expose us to acquiring several types of cancer―lung, throat, mouth, and liver cancer.

In preventing cancer, a healthy diet and lifestyle should be coupled with early
detection of the disease. Some of the symptoms of cancer do not appear in the early stage. Regular screenings and checkups enable us to be updated on any irregularities happening in our bodies. These can help us in detecting any health diseases at an early stage.

Women should do monthly breast self-examination (BSE) for early detection of
lumps surrounding the breasts.  Women 40 years old and up should undergo annual clinical breast examination, especially those who have a family history of such type of cancer.

Childhood cancer, however, cannot be prevented.

The reality is, as more and more children are diagnosed and will likely survive
with cancer, it is increasingly important to address ongoing and emerging needs of the child and their family to achieve complete and long-term healing. 

press release

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), in partnership with the University of
San Carlos (USC)-Department of Anthropology, Sociology and History and the Cebu City Government, will hold the 4th Kabataan, Kultura ug Kabilin (KKK) on Sept. 29 from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

During the activity, students from USC are going to tour museums and heritage sites.

Patterned after Gabii sa Kabilin, participants go to museums and heritage sites and avail of rides with one ticket.

Volunteers from USC and barangays and other stakeholders from the community will serve as the event's tour guides.

Museums and heritage sites that will open are Casa Gorordo Museum, Cathedral
Museum of Cebu, Cebu City Museum, Cebu Normal University Museum, Jose R. Gullas Halad Museum, Fort San Pedro, Museo Sugbo, Museo Parian sa Sugbo, Sacred Heart Churchâ€"Alternative Contemporary Arts Studio, University of Southern Philippines Foundationâ€"Rizaliana Museum, Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, Cebu Heritage Monument, Colon Obelisk, Magellan’s Cross, Plaza Hamabar, Plaza Independencia, Plaza Sugbo, and San Nicholas Church. Streets in the downtown area will be temporarily closed during the activity.

Between 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., the streets of Lopez Jaena, Ballesteros, and Mabini, stretching from corner Bonifacio Street. to Colon Street, will be closed. One lane will be closed in Mabini Street, between Colon and Urdaneta Streets.

The event is aimed to connect theoretical lectures on history, society, culture and
heritage through visiting museums and heritage sites, demonstrate the value of museum and heritage sites or institutions as tools for education, encourage a dynamic dialogue between heritage groups, host communities and young people in the promotion and protection of the sites, and develop a sense of pride.

Kabataan, Kultura ug Kabilin is supported by Cebu City Parks and Playgrounds
Commission, Cebu City Police Office, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management, Department of Tourismâ€"Region 7, and the Philippine Navyâ€"Naval Forces Central.

Kabataan, Kultura ug Kabilin is a program under Culture & Heritage, one of the focus areas of RAFI, which 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.

source: press release

Irish youth holds immersion with Bajaus

Youth volunteers of SERVE, a community service organization based in Ireland, came recently to Cebu and stayed for three weeks in the Bajau community under the care of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s (RAFI) Bajau Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) in Sitio Puntod, Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City.

During their immersion, SERVE’s three Irish adult leaders and 13 youth assisted in the fabrication of ICEB bricks for the housing quads and in holding classes for preschoolers and the feeding program.

They also shared part of their country’s  culture through sports and other interactive activities.

“I find the first day in the Bajau community the highlight of our entire five-week stay in the Philippines. The children warmly welcomed us with smiles. The short program that was organized in the school for us that day was incredible,” Majella, a SERVE volunteer, shared.

“We couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful, and we are so grateful. The heartfelt welcome given to us every day will be always treasured in our hearts,” she added.

SERVE focuses on programs and projects that help marginalized communities in
developing countries. It aims to empower children and the youth and recognizes that gender equality is essential to sustainable development. It has 15 partner countries around the world that receive support in terms of funding for  development projects or programs, placement of short-term and long-term  volunteers,  capacity building in the areas of management, finances and accounting, monitoring and evaluation, and child protection.

At present BIAD-P has already started building  33 more housing quads  for the Bajau community.

This project component intends to provide better settlements to poor Bajau families.

This is anchored to its vision towards making Bajau a self-sufficient, progressive and self-reliant community with sense of pride and belongingness.

This project component was made possible through close collaboration with the Cebu City Government, Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and University of San Carlos.

press release

“It takes a village to educate a child.”

With the promise of good quality education, the dream of an eleven-year-old girl of becoming a lawyer may be realized.

“We make our own dreams, but it takes a village to make it come true,” Mary Shane Angtud, Supreme Student Government president at Hubag Elementary School in Liloan, Cebu said.

Angtud, together with other students, shared their hearts’ desires during a recent education summit in Liloan that gathered stakeholders, including parents, for one purposeâ€"to mobilize the community to help students like Angtud achieve their dreams for a good quality education.

The summit featured best practices in good school governance among teachers, school administrators, purok leaders, government officials, private sector, and students.

“School governance is the active engagement of all values-driven stakeholders working together for a shared vision to achieve excellence in education. The community is the codesigner and co-owner of education. It is time to reclaim this ownership and get involved,” Anthony Dignadice, executive director of the Education Development Unit of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), said.

Dignadice added that as proactive members in the community, the community can draw out the flaws in the education system, thus, giving sustainable solutions to address these challenges.

School governance, he pointed out, establishes a relationship among stakeholders to be responsible in setting a new direction for investing resources and support in education. It develops a transition to effectively delivering the inputs and outputs of quality education.

“Learning will only be effective through community participation in systemic reforms of quality education. People who are involved in school operation are the best people to improve the quality of education,” Dignadice said.

Angtud said that the scarcity of physical resources like books and classrooms are highly important, but community engagement can do a lot more to address this.

“I believe that teachers and the students are not enough to run the school. Without the support from the community especially from our parents, students will not be able to get full good quality education they deserve,” she said.
The story of an 18-year-old teenager who left school with no definite reason inspired the purok leaders in Lataban, Liloan to take continuous actions to be involved in encouraging out of school youth to go back to school.

“We went to his house and asked him for the reason behind leaving the school. It took us how many tries to convince him to go back. In the end, he went back to school,” Virgilio Monterola, purok president of Sitio Tambis, Lataban, Liloan recalled in Cebuano.

by ABS-CBN.com

The House of Representatives on Thursday night approved on second reading President Aquino's proposed 2013 P2.006-trillion national budget contained in House Bill 6455.

“We strongly believe this spending bill will ensure sustained service to our people and maximize the developmental use of the people’s money by improving accountability in the budget process,” House Speaker Sonny Belmonte Jr. said in a press statement.

He said a reenacted budget is "a thing of the past" since the start of the 15th Congress. “We are now well on our way towards having a budget law by January, as promised.”

Belmonte said the spending measure is a “social contract” with the Filipino people that promotes transparency, accountability and participatory governance.

The proposed General Appropriations Act for 2013 is P190 billion or 10.5% higher than the P1.816-trillion 2012 GAA.

The Department of Education and Culture tops the list with an approved budget of P292.7 billion, followed by the DPWH with P165.5 billion, the Department of National Defense, which was allotted P121.6 billion, and the DILG with P121.1 billion.

The Department of Agriculture ranks 5th with a P74.1 billion budget; 6th is the DOH with P56.8 billion; 7th is DSWD at P56.2 billion; 8th is DOTC with P37.1 billion; 9th is DOF at P33.2 billion and the DENR with P23.7 billion.

The figures of the top ten agencies mentioned include the respective departments’ allocations under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF), Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF), Budgetary Support to Government Corporations (BSGC), Priority Social and Economic Projects Fund (PSEPF) and other Special Purpose Funds.

The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department said that to support the President's budget proposal is an estimated total revenue collection of P1.780-trillion or 14.9% of GDP. Total disbursement is targeted at P2.021-trillion (16% of GDP), and the resulting budget deficit is expected to go down to P241-billion (2.0% of GDP) in 2013 from the 2012 target of P279.1-billion (2.6% of GDP).

Talking about appropriations by region -- compared to the current regional budgetary allocation of P770.5-billion, next year’s regional spending level will be at P990.4-billion or a 28.5 percent increase equivalent to 49.4 percent of the total 2013 proposed budget.

The regional budgetary allocations under the proposed 2013 General Appropriations Act are the following: Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) â€" P31.7-B; Region-1 â€"P49.7-B; Region 2 â€" P44.8-B; Region 3 â€" P88.9-B; Region 4 â€" P130.2-B; NCR â€" P129.4-B; Region 5 â€" P63.2-B; Region 6 â€" P74.4-B; Region 7 â€" P63.0-B; Region 8 â€" P56.5-B; Region 9 â€" P42.0-B; Region 10 â€" P48.1-B; Region 11 â€" P46.3-B; Region 12 â€" P43.5-B; and ARMM â€" P43.8-B.

It was revealed during the budget debate that the LGU shares in the proposed GAA also rose by 9.7 percent to P318.1-billion due to improved revenue collections in 2010, the base year for computing the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of LGUs for 2013. 

By sector, the biggest slice of the budget is again focused on social services with 34.8 percent of the total national budget (P698.8-B) in order to pursue the government's determined campaign on poverty alleviation.  Economic services get the second highest sectoral funding with P511.1-B or 25.6 percent of the GAA in 2013.

Next to Economic services is the General Public Services sector with P346.1-B (17.3%), then Debt burden at the level of P333.9-B (16.6), and the Defense sector with P89.7-B of 4.5% of the national budget.

By expense class, to help boost the momentum currently driving the transport, tourism and agriculture industries, capital outlays (CO) will increase by 15.7 percent to P380-B from the current year's level of P328.3-B. Of this amount, as per DBM report to Congress, Infrastructure and other capital outlays will increase by 17.5 percent to P296.7-billion from the current year's P252.4-billion.

Margo Katherine Midwinter

Caught in the Act

jaga-jagaon jud ka balong. basin drone planes nang naglibot-libot sa imong balay diha.

ready to fish

Iring Sungkaban

Philippines versus Iran
QuarterFinals of FIBA Asia Championship 2012
Friday, September 21, 3:30 p.m. LIVE on IBC and AKTV Channel 5

Lolla, minor glitch lang ni. how often do you encounter this message?