MikeLigalig.com

We are in need of a Tagalog/Filipino teacher who can teach a 6-year old girl who has a zero background of the Filipino language.

Teaching schedule: 2 hours a day, Monday to Saturday.
Must start May 12 or 13, 2011.

This job is good for 1 month.

Salary is negotiable.

If you are free and want to earn money this summer, please send text or call me at 0920-494-0649

Thank you,
Mike

hehehe. Nag-error gyud diay. Double jeopardy.

The week-long “Bigada Eskwela” of the Department of Education (DepEd) will start on May 23 with billions of pesos needed for the construction of more than 800 classrooms in Davao City for the next school year as the department starts implementing of the K+12 education program.

Assistant school division superintendent of DepEd Davao Antonia Diaz said the yearly activity for school maintenance is in preparation for the opening of classes next month. The DepEd will assign all supervisors to different schools to monitor the activities, adding that no fees are to be collected for the activity.

Diaz said though they will be accepting offers in kind, like paints, broomsticks and other materials needed for the clean-up. The education office will also accept help from other stakeholders, like the military who has been consistently helping them in the annual activity.

Meanwhile, Allen Sacamos, planning officer II of DepEd Davao, said only P88 million has so far been allotted this school year. However, it is not enough to fund the construction of needed classrooms in this city.

Sacamos said another P20 million is allotted for the repair of classrooms in all public schools in the city.

He said for school year 2010-2011, there are 399 classrooms needed for the elementary, while 473 classrooms are needed for high school. The DepEd-Davao Region has already identified which schools need more classrooms.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro aims to fast track the construction of additional classrooms and it could be a two-storey four-classroom building or a one-storey two-classroom building, he added. (PNA)

By PNA

Mayor Sara Duterte’s Food for Work program locally dubbed as “Bayanihan ni Inday sa Barangay” was launched on Monday at SM City Davao, to feed poor Davao townsfolk on condition that they will work.

City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) acting chief Roberto Alabado III said the program is mainly getting rid of the dole-out mentality where government provides and the beneficiaries just receive.

Alabado said the program also kicked off with the coastal clean-up and “Dirt Net Fence” project naming Barangay 23-C as pilot barangay.

He said the indigents who will be identified by the City Social Services Development Office (CSSDO) will have to work before they will be given food in the form of grocery items right after their work. The grocery items have yet to be specified but surely it will include rice, noodles, and sardines.

About 50 identified indigents will work for four hours in the morning and another 50 workers in the afternoon at the 10 puroks of Barangay 23-C. They will collect garbage in the coastal areas of their community and then install the net fence.

The Davao City Food for Work Program is in line with the Davao City’s Environment Enhancement Program that requires barangay participation particularly on drainage clean-up, road and island maintenance, coastal clean-up, urban greening, reforestation and the like. The program which will become a regular activity for the poor will cover 182 barangays including 31 coastal and riverbanks areas and 44 flood-prone barangays in the first phase of implementation.

Alabado said the program is a public private partnership. For the coastal clean-up for instance, a private company provided the nets.

City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief Joey Felizarta for his part assured there is sufficient supply of seedlings for the reforestation activity. He said the program is very useful since aside from providing food for the poor it will also augment the protection and preservation of the environment.

Chiefs of offices of key departments of the city government are directly involved in the program. The Office of the City Mayor is the lead agency of the program in coordination with the offices of CENRO, CPDO, CSSDO, City Engineer’s Office and Barangay Cultural Communities Affairs Division, Alabado added. (PNA)

Published By Bohol Chronicle
Written by Anthony Aniscal

Three big-time illegal recruiters were cornered by police and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) operatives during an entrapment operation conducted at their "base operation center" in the coastal town of Baclayon last Monday.

Large scale illegal recruitment charges were formally filed at the Provincial Prosecutors Office last Thursday against the suspects identified as Sally Sablada, married to an Arab national by the name of Almahim, whose real name is Ma. Socorro Salvacion Sablada of Matina, Davao City, Cerino Gonzaga, owner of the house where the raid was conducted and Gisela Caballero.

The entrapping team led by Police Inspector Pelagio Rosagaran from Camp Dagohoy and DOLE provincial representative German Guidaben bared there were already victims even before the entrapment was conducted.

Sally's group claimed to be employees and staff of AL-MUSTAQBAL agency and Babylon International Agency, which were accordingly Manila-based recruiting agencies.

The entrapment was conducted at the residence of a certain Cerino Gonzaga in barangay Sta. Cruz, Baclayon town, where the suspects gathered their potential victims of job placement abroad.

The victims were promised of job opportunities for domestic helpers, carpenters, bartenders, housekeepers and sales ladies.

Guidaben told the Chronicle that there were about 20 applicants who visited the local DOLE office and expressed apprehension on the authenticity of the recruitment agency.

According to the victims, they were already asked to pay no less than P3,500 each for the medical examination.

However, they wondered why Sally's group did not furnish them the copy of their duly accomplished medical examination and there was no single official receipt handed to them. Further, the passports of the recruits were in the custody of the illegal recruiters.

The recruits said that Sally's group started recruitment last March. However, there has been no job contract yet.

Guidaben who started to suspect the operation of the group advised the victims to immediately report to his office once the group will call them to a meeting at the "home base" in Baclayon town.

The local DOLE official received the information that the group will resume recruitment on May 1. This prompted Guidaben to arrange for the entrapment operation to be backed up by the Philippine National Police.

Sally's group was caught in "flagrante delicto" when the team arrived at their Baclayon headquarters last Monday where new applicants were present arranging for job placements promised by the group. The suspects were then invited by Guidaben to his office for interrogation.

During the interrogation, the group then failed to present documents to prove that their operations were legal.

Guidaben's further investigation revealed that AL-MUSTAQBAL Agency and Babylon International Agency are legal recruiting agency based in Manila and are in good standing under the POEA. However, Sally's group failed to present accreditation from the agencies they claimed to represent.

The DOLE official declared the recruitment as illegal as this requires a Special Recruitment Authority from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Further, representatives of the agency need accreditation from the agency they are representing and must be validated by the POEA before any activity of recruitment can be done in the provincial areas.

pwede na kaha ni?

By Christine O. Avendaño, Philip Tubeza, Cynthia Balana
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday the Sandiganbayan’s approval of the plea bargain between former Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia and former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was a “disappointing development.”

“It’s a disappointing development because there were many substantive points and arguments that were raised by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in asking for the revocation of the plea bargain agreement,” De Lima told reporters at the Villamor air base in Pasay City where she and other officials welcomed President Benigno Aquino III from Jakarta.

Saying the state cannot be bound by the “incompetence of its agents,” Sen. Franklin Drilon urged the Aquino administration to appeal the “totally erroneous” Sandiganbayan ruling.

Drilon said the OSG or the new Ombudsman could file a motion for reconsideration, or later elevate the case to the Supreme Court, by pointing out the “incompetence” of the prosecutors who handled the case.

By Leila B. Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Despite public uproar over the deal, the Sandiganbayan Second Division Monday approved the plea bargain between former military comptroller Carlos Garcia and government prosecutors over his P303-million plunder case.

The ruling was a blow to the anticorruption campaign of President Benigno Aquino III, said supporters of the administration who assailed it as “totally erroneous,” “a disappointing development” and “highly questionable.”

The Sandiganbayan said the weak evidence against Garcia would have led to his acquittal.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court said it approved the agreement because Garcia had complied with its conditionsâ€"pleading guilty to the lesser offenses of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering, and transferring P135.433 million of his and his family’s assets to the state.

“Inasmuch as the provisions of the plea bargaining agreement and the concerns of this court about the protection of the government have been fully addressed, there is no reason why this court should withhold approval of the plea bargaining agreement in these cases,” the Sandiganbayan said.

Because of the deal submitted to the anti-graft court for approval, Garcia was allowed to walk out of his Camp Crame detention cell on bail of P60,000 on Dec. 18 last year after six years in detention.

Ang mahitabo ani sunod kay "pay as you order" na.

Kulang kay wala si Batman nga nagbike pud.

by PNA

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said Sunday the additional P168.1 million that President Benigno S. Aquino III had added to the budget for the Special Program for the Employment of Students, or SPES, will mean an additional 52,000 students benefiting from the program.

“I am thankful for the President’s recognition of the SPES as an effective employment appreciation program for students. With the additional budget, many more students will have the opportunity to earn during school vacations,” she said.

In his Labor Day message to workers and workers' organizations during a breakfast meeting he hosted in Malacanang, the President announced that he had added P186.1 million to the SPES program to help industrious but poor students who cannot enroll through college.

“Ang tugon natin sa kanila ay ang SPES na magbibigay sa kanila ng trabaho kapag bakasyon. Ang una nating tinatarget para sa taong ito ay walumpung libong benepisyaryong estudyante. Pero ngayon, ang budget para sa SPES ay pinadagdagan na natin ng P168.1 million pesos sa sipag ng DBM at ng DOLE,” the President said in his message.

“Ang katumbas po nito, dagdag na limampu’t dalawang libong estudyante na hindi na kailangang mamrublema pa kung saan sila kukuha ng panustos sa kanilang pag-aaral. Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagdagdag ng budget para sa SPES sa 2012, tulad ng naaayon sa batas,” he added.

With the added financial heft for the SPES, Baldoz encouraged local government units, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), as well as employers and other stakeholders to intensify the promotion and monitoring of the SPES to sustain its viability.

She also encouraged employers engaged in small and medium enterprises to hire poor but deserving students under the SPES program, adding the law amending the SPES would provide more students opportunities to earn during school vacations.

Republic Act No. 7323 took effect on March 30, 1992, with a budget of only P42.9 million. Over a 16-year period, the SPES allocation amounted to P2.3 billion.

Baldoz said the number of Filipinos who benefited directly from the SPES has reached over 1.6 million poor but deserving students.

"The SPES has definitely made a difference in the lives of millions of Filipino students who have no means but have the ability to pursue college education," Baldoz said.

The SPES law provides poor but deserving students aged 15 years, but not more than 25 years employment opportunity during summer and/or Christmas vacations in business establishments.

SPES students get paid a minimum wage, 40 percent of which is in the form of a voucher applicable for the payment of tuition fees and books in any secondary, tertiary, vocational or technical educational institution. The 60 percent is paid for in cash by the employers. They are also entitled to other benefits and privileges under the Labor Code.

The SPES law has been amended to allow more poor, but deserving students to participate because it lowers the income requirements for families; lessens the coverage of employment size of establishments from 50 persons to at least 10 persons that could increase the number of establishment- participants; ensures non-diminution and automatic increase of the SPES annual budget by 20 percent; makes the SPES year-round for students enrolled in tertiary, vocational or technical education; and increases the period of employment from a minimum of 20 days to a maximum of 52 days, except during Christmas vacation where the employment period is from 10 to 15 days; and considers the SPES employment as part of the probationary period should the student apply for work in the same company after graduation.

President Benigno S. Aquino ordered the search for a new Ombudsman after Merceditas Gutierrez resigned Friday, barely two weeks before the start of an impeachment process aimed at removing her from office.

“I now urge the Judicial and Bar Council to begin the search for a new Ombudsman. With the support of the public, we can now proceed more decisively in making government officials more accountable to their bosses, the Filipino people,” the President said in a statement Friday.

President Aquino said he was glad with the resignation of Gutierrez, adding Congress can now focus on matters that concern national welfare rather than spend time deliberating in a lengthy impeachment process.

“Her action has spared the country from a long and divisive impeachment process that would have distracted our lawmakers from dealing with the many problems we face today,” the President said.

With the cancellation of the impeachment process, Congress can now focus on over 20 priority measures that his administration supports, bills that need urgent passage because of their benefits to the people, he said.

At the same time, the President thanked the House of Representatives that worked hard on debating and submitting the impeachment complaint to the Senate.

Asked by reporters whether Gutierrez will be off the hook after stepping down and whether he asked for concessions, the President said he didn’t ask for anything in return for the resignation of Gutierrez.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez tendered her resignation to President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday, 10 days before her impeachment trial at the Senate is to begin on May 9.

Angay gyud ta mag-amping aning motor ug dili gyud mag-inum kung mag-drive. No. 1 cause of death ning motor diri sa Asia.

Compassionate and smart dog. Maayo unta ug magdaghan ning mga klaseha sa iro.

Ting-pugong naman unta nang Semana Santa, ngano ga-tong-iyts pa gihapon.

Murag misulay to sila ug langoy-langoy sa nabaw, unya nahagbong sa kantilado nga bahin sa dagat.

By Judy G. Quiroz
Philippine News Agency

DAVAO CITY, April 18 (PNA) -- The Ayala-Floirendo owned Abreeza Mall here will start operating on May 12, this was announced on Monday by Antonio Aquino, CEO and president of the Ayala Land, Inc.

Aquino said Abreeza Mall could be described as an upscale establishment in the P5 billion Ayala mixed-use complexes and a replication of the Ayala Mall in Makati City.

He said it is an upscale mall and different from other existing malls in the city because of the 196 shops in 320 spaces leasing at the mall, 66 are the so-called first locators in Davao City. The mall is designed to provide more bonding areas where customers could while the time away after finishing with their basic concerns like shopping or doing the groceries.

He also said the mall which sits on a four-hectare lot formed part of the total 10 hectares Ayala mixed-use complex that will include BPO centers, hotel, and a high-end residential condominium. The BPO centers will open next year while the hotel and residential condominium to open in the next three years. The entire project costs P5 billion. He said the Ayala Land, Inc. and Anflo Management are confident on the cash flow side even on the mall’s first year of operation.

“We expect the mall operation to be very viable and confident on the cash flow even on the first year of operation. Abreeza Mall is branded as Ayala Malls like Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, TriNoma,” he said.

Ayala vice president Maria Corazon Dizon said about P3 billion was infused for the mall alone. She is confident the company’s budget is on track for the completion of the entire project.

Mall manager Clavel Tongco said some of the shops with international brands have invested from P5 million to P10 million to as much as P3.5 billion including smaller shops to be able to lease a space at the mall. Gokongwei-owned Robinsons will infuse an investment worth P800 million to open a separate four-storey commercial building including a department store inside the 10-hectare property.

Among the possible first time comers that will first open their branch in Abreeza Mall are Bread Talk, TGIF for food, XOXO, Café Laguna, New York 101, Lucerne, Lemon Grass, Starbucks, What a Girl Wants, Nine-West, and CK Jeans. The mall will have four theaters, one to show three-dimensional movies and a parking lot with over a thousand parking spaces. The company is expecting a zero impact on traffic since the project has a development traffic plan, Tongco said.

But Aquino clarified that the company still has to discuss with the local government to ensure a smooth traffic flow. Similar to the traffic problem, the company has also put in place drainage facilities even as the project lies in an elevated area. He also stressed that the local government has to do something also about the downstream areas to prevent flooding. He said the mall itself has generated about 6,000 employees mostly from Mindanao.

A messenger from the office of the Jalasig Planters Association in Barangay Poblacion Ilawod, Passi City, Iloilo lost P2.6 million cash to two armed men shortly after he withdrew the amount from a bank branch in that city on Friday.

Police said Reymundo Palomaria had just alighted from the Pajero service vehicle of the association in front of its office located along Sara Road in Passi City when the suspects suddenly appeared, poked guns at him and announced the holdup.

One of the suspects grabbed Palomaria’s knapsack containing the money which was intended for the salaries of the employees of the association.

When Palomaria refused to yield the bag, one the armed men pistol-whipped him in the head and left arm. This forced him to drop the knapsack on the ground.

The suspects immediately picked up the bag and escaped on board a waiting motorcycle towards the adjoining San Enrique town.

Police investigation showed that prior to the incident, Palomaria went to the nearby Land Bank of the Philippines branch on board the Pajero service vehicle driven by accounting clerk Myrna Palma to encash the check intended for the salaries of the employees of the association.

The holdup took place upon Palomaria's return from the bank to the office of the association at about 12:30 p.m.

The Jalasig Planters Association is composed of small sugar planters in Passi City. (PNA)

Basin dihay tabla ani nga gihimong bridge, unya gikawat kay gihimong sugnod.

By Mark C. Giongco
INQUIRER.net

Like a boxer who refused to throw in the towel, Air21 willed its way to victory, stunning the Alaska Aces, 97-94, Wednesday and moving to the semifinal round of the 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 found itself in a hellhole as it trailed by as much as 18, 44-26 in the second quarter and looked like the game was over at that point.

But taking matters into his own hands, cat-quick guard Josh Urbiztondo found his touch when he needed it most to sink four straight triples in a dazzling third quarter run by the Express that totally changed their fortune.

"Credit to my players, they really want to go on to the next round," said Air21 coach Bong Ramos.

Urbiztondo fired 14 of his 17 points to spark Air21's charge in that pivotal third quarter that saw the Express outscore Alaska, 46-20, and finally wrest the lead from the Aces, 84-71.

But likewise refusing to die, Alaska rallied and even had the chance to force an overtime except that LD Williams' long attempt barely grazed the rim as time expired.

Alpha Bangura came alive in the third period as well, after struggling the first half to finish with a game-high 28 points.

Williams paced Alaska with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Air21 will face number one seed Talk 'N Text in a best-of-five semifinals on Friday.

Ang testimonya sa 10 anyos nga bata lig-on nga ebidensya sa hukmanan. Masuta usab kini pinaagi sa medical examination.

Adto nalang mamasahero ang traysikad drayber sa Muntinlupa kay segurado nga dali ra ni kasoha madesisyonan.

Fight Camp 360° Pacquiao-Mosley Episode 1 (Part 2 of 2)
Pacquiao vs Mosley Camp 360 Part 2
This documentary is sort of HBO 24/7

Fight Camp 360° Pacquiao-Mosley Episode 1 (Part 1 of 2)
Pacquiao vs Mosley

If Pacquiao is not a boxer, he must be a basketball player?
Bantay bitaw na ug ma-hospital after their May 8 fight.

Riceless meal seguro, Manay.

Murag naay pagka-humorous ang family name, if read in Bisaya.

The administration of President Benigno Aquino III has opted to temporarily stop issuance of importation permit for onion to ensure local farmers of profits, Mayor Amelia Gamilla said on Sunday.

Gamilla, however, said onion farmers from this town were urged to be more progressive in their production as the nation runs short of yellow onion in the months of November, December and January as reported by Dante De Lima, outgoing director of the Department of Agriculture's high value crop development.

She noted that after five years of suffering from great losses, onion farmers here are "now very happy because of the good price."

The prevailing onion price is P35 to 40 per kilo.

Onion, the town's highly popularized product, was actually the main feature of the activities, particularly during the farmers' day and street dancing competition on March 7 and 8, respectively.

"Now you can see that everybody is happy," the mayor said of her constituents. "It is a fitting tribute to our farmers who serve as engine of our development."

Gamilla said at least 3,500 hectares farmland here are planted to onion, including yellow grannex.

De Lima said the country has produced enough supply of red creoles.

"But we have the problem with the yellow," he said, noting that the latter has shorter shelf life.

He said the country runs short of yellow grannex from November to January of every year.

"We have already decided not to issue an import permit for red onion. However, you have to work hard to produce the requirement for yellow onion," he told farmers.

De Lima handed over to local officials and farmers organizations P10.4 million fund for postharvest facilities. = PNA

Stakeholders of the Davao Ecocrafts are optimistic this initiative will boost the productivity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which is the pilot of the Tindahang Pinoy program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Davao Region.

DTI Regional Director Marizon S. Loreto said Davao Ecocrafts is a store that carries various quality, all Filipino-made products. It partners with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in this project. This will be located at Aldevinco Shopping Center along C.M. Recto and M. Roxas Avenue and the operation will start within the semester.

She explained that 70 percent of the total consigned products at the Davao Ecocrafts store will be from Davao Region while only 30 percent will be from other parts of the country.

During the Davao Ecocrafts store soft launching and logo unveiling recently, DOT Regional Director Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. said the Davao Ecocrafts store was geared towards changing the landscape of the region’s hospitality.

He noted that in developing the region as a tourism destination, a "pasalubong" center is important.

Meanwhile, Loreto said the Davao Ecocrafts store will carry authentic Davao products ranging from processed foods, gift items and stationery, fashion accessories, furnishings and home decors, furniture, to other items typically found in a souvenir shop.

“While there are many pasalubong centers in the region, we have to develop the standards. This will also help us ensure the promotion of One Town One Product (OTOP) program and the SMEs behind these products,” she said.

Loreto also said in this endeavor, the government acts as the enabler while the private sector is the implementer. Thus, the Davao Ecocrafts store will be managed by the Davao Ecocrafts, Inc., a private organization.

Davao Ecocrafts, Inc. president Mary Ann M. Montemayor revealed that the Davao Ecocrafts project was born out of a meeting of the Tourism Cluster of the Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP), an initiative spearheaded by DTI in cooperation with other government agencies and the private sector and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). = PNA

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office III has deployed three social workers at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) here in support to the national government’s efforts to prevent Filipinos from becoming victims of trafficking and syndicated crimes.

DSWD FO III director Adelina S. Apostol told the recent Regional Management and Development Conference that the social workers who are now part of the DMIA Task Force will assist and provide counseling to offloaded passengers, repatriates and deportees.

Apostol also said the DSWD FO III is now implementing the referral system for the recovery and reintegration of trafficked persons using the data-based system.

The reintegration of trafficked persons to their respective families is the best measure of the effectiveness of services provided to the trafficked persons, she said.

Based on the record, the DSWD FO III has assisted 108 deportees/repatriates from Malaysia and facilitated their return to their respective places of origin.

According to Fe Manarang, Social Welfare Officer II handling the cases, the most number of the cases were trafficking with 72 and deportation with 36.

Manarang said the number of human trafficking for 2010 has increased by 8.6 percent as compared to the 93 served in 2009. It was noted that Luzon has the biggest number with 69 cases followed by Mindanao with 30 and Visayas with nine cases.

With this, she said the DSWD has provided interventions like airport and transportation assistance and food subsistence amounting to P142,000. = PNA

The Cebu City Council has approved the release of the third land title of Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) for the waterfront lots it purchased at the 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP).

The land title to be released, however, is the title for Lot 4 instead of Lot 3, as requested by the FLI, where the investors plan to develop a seaside promenade.

FLI plans to do the groundwork and the construction of the seaside promenade within the second quarter of this year.

”Considering that Lot 3 and Lot 4 each has an area of 20,000 square meters, the city interposed no objections to FLI’s requests to deliver the title and possession of Lot 4 in Pond F instead of Lot 3,” said Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III, who chairs the council’s committee on budget and finance, in a resolution.

The release of FLI’s third title for the 10.6-hectare land it owned at Pond F followed after it paid the third of the six installments to the city government worth P255.5 million last month.

Six titles have been placed on escrow with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and will be turned over to FLI each time it pays the city.

FLI makes the installment payment every march for six years, as stated in the joint venture agreement signed by the City Hall and FLI officials.

In 2009, FLI paid the city at last P348 million as down payment for the Pond F lots that they want to develop.

Last year, FLI paid the city at least P269.5 million for the second installment of the waterfront lots while this year, they have paid P255.5 million each served as the third payment.

Aside from the seaside beach promenade, the FLI also plans to build commercial and retail complexes at Pond F as well as exhibition tents, a boardwalk with fine dining restaurants and fast food outlets, among others. (PNA)

By Leonardo V. Micua

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, April 11 (PNA) â€" The increased general revision of real property tax assessments in Pangasinan that drew the ire of farmers, property owners and traders was in compliance with the directive of the national government issued through the Department of Finance and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) last October 2010.

This was disclosed in a news conference called by Governor Amado Espino Jr. that clarified issues and negative comments surrounding the revised updated schedule of market values of real properties in Pangasinan as provided for in Provincial Ordinance No. 146-2010.

The news conference was attended by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim, some members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, municipal mayors and Provincial Assessor Nestor Quiambao who attested that the revision did not increase the real property tax from 300 percent to 900 percent as alleged by some critics.

Among those criticizing the alleged abrupt general tax revision, party-list ABONO and the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), have announced they are set to go to court to question the abrupt increase in real property tax assessment which they believed to be “excessive”, “capricious” and “confiscatory”.

On the contrary, Espino said, Section 219 of Republic Act 7160 requires the provincial assessors, and the city or municipal assessors to undertake a general revision of real property assessments within two years after the effectivity of the Local Government Code and every three years thereafter.

Thus, as mandated by the Local Government Code (RA 7160), and since the last general revision of property assessment in Pangasinan was conducted in 2003 (which is 8 years ago), a general revision in Pangasinan should have been undertaken in 2006, and another in 2009,” Espino said.

The governor said that as a result of the long-delayed conduct of such general revision, the property assessments are very low, obsolete and no longer realistic, adding that that for the last eight years, the people of Pangasinan have in fact been enjoying “a prolonged real property tax holiday". -PNA

Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani, Jr. has asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to allow the transfer of venue for the prosecution of kidnapping cases here.

Guiani told a news conference Monday that he personally asked de Lima to help him work out the transfer of venue for litigation to ensure efficient prosecution of kidnapping suspects.

Guiani said that a big number of high-profile kidnapping cases failed to prosper because of security problems faced by complainants, witnesses and prosecutors as they pursued legal action against the suspects.

There was no mention of specific place to hold the court hearing.

Guiani made the announcement hours after kidnap victim Jinky Lim Yap, 38, was freed by her captors in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

Yap, owner of a mini-grocery store, was seized around 6:50 p.m. on April 1 while she was manning her store along Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City.

The family paid an undetermined amount of ransom to secure her release. The suspects earlier demanded a P15-million ransom but lowered it to P500,000.

Another kidnap victim, Eulogio Adin Yu, owner of Yu Kian Gian Hardware, remains in captivity since January 8.

Guiani said the DOJ has assigned Fiscal Al Calica as special prosecutor for high-profile kidnapping cases but local officials still want the immediate transfer of the venue for the litigation of existing cases.

Preceding Yap's kidnapping was the ambush of Maguindanao’s provincial prosecutor Akil Balt by suspected guns-for-hire in an attack investigators said was work related.

Balt died in a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City days after the ambush due to serious gunshot wounds in his nape and body.

“We in the city government of Cotabato are hoping the DOJ and the judiciary can help us address this need,” Guiani said.

He said witnesses and survivors of kidnapping cases refuse to testify for the prosecution of cases if the litigation is held in the city. (PNA)

Soldiers from the Army's 104th Infantry Brigade were sent to a remote village in Maguindanao following the skirmishes involving two groups Saturday, the Army Monday said.

Colonel Prudencio Asto, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said two persons were wounded in the hour-long clash between relatives of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"The wounded were members of the Ampatuan clan," Asto said, adding that there was no casualty on the rebels side.

He said the conflict stemmed from previous misunderstanding involving the Ampatuan clan and MILF guerrillas who acted on their own.

"We have enough troops in the area to prevent future skirmishes and prevent evacuation of civilians," he said.

Asto identified the wounded as Sukarno Ampatuan and his 25-year-old son Rohula. The Ampatuans figured in a clash with MILF rebels in Barangay Sampao, Raja Buayan town.

Asto said the government ceasefire panel is contemplating on filing charges against the MILF, under Commander Flash of the 106th base command, for attacking civilian communities in Rajah Buayan.

The Army spokesperson said the village is now quiet and Army detachments were put up to back up the police in maintaining law and order in the village. (PNA)

Elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration (PDEA) in Negros Oriental insist they are and should be the lead agency in the anti-drug operation as far as the province is concerned, and the whole country for that matter.

PDEA provincial director Rayford Yap stressed the office is mandated by law to be in the forefront of the anti-drug campaign but also welcomed the creation of anti-drug task forces, such as Task Force Kasaligan, managed by the provincial government and Task Force SAGARR, under the auspices of the Dumaguete government, in addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs.

With only six personnel against the more than 1.3 million Negrenses, Yap said it would be impossible for them to cover the whole province without the support of local government units.

Since most of them are not residents of the province, Yap admits they need the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies like the police, the National Bureau of Investigation and the whole community, including the media whose presence during inventories of confiscated drugs is required by law.

The PDEA personnel paid a courtesy call at the office of Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria on Monday, where they immediately received a specific assignment in relation to their mandate, while the latter assured them of his full support in terms of logistics.

In fact, the mayor said the city’s 50 confidential agents are working closely with his office in reporting crimes and valuable information on peddling of illegal drugs. The same however, had to be assessed and evaluated to determine their truthfulness before any action is undertaken. (PNA)

The officers and men of the Dumaguete police station is scheduled to start a one-week back-to-basics training on Tuesday as part of the eight-point initiative of the Philippine National Police chief for effective and efficient law enforcement all over the country.

City PNP officer-in-charge Police Sr. Insp. Eduardo Oira said the more than 80 officers and men of the police in Dumaguete will be temporary relieved of their official functions and duties by a contingent from the PNP Negros Oriental provincial command to be headed by Supt. Roy Abella, the deputy provincial director for administration, while the back-to-basics training is going on.

They will retrain in basic intelligence work, investigation, and law enforcement, to refresh them of their duties and responsibilities and be upgraded on latest developments about law enforcement.

Oira believes the city police is doing well while city Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria today said he is not satisfied with the latest accomplishments of the police especially in the ongoing anti-drug and anti-gambling operations in Dumaguete.

He directed Oira to continue with the conduct of no let-up drives against all forms of criminality, and not to be complacent to keep the criminals on the run all the time. (PNA)

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s infrastructure projects have reached P4.428 billion as of January 31, more than six years since she was first elected to Capitol’s top post.

These locally-funded projects include roads, drainages, bridges, ports, buildings, water-works and heritage parks.

A summary of infrastructure projects 2005-2010 of the Cebu Provincial Engineers Office stated that P4.43 million was allocated for Capitol’s vertical and horizontal infrastructure projects.

Road projects, of which 763.3 kilometers in total were concreted and asphalted, had the biggest allocation of P2.62 billion.

This was followed by “other building improvements and construction,” involving nine units, with a total project cost of P849.36 million.

Hospital construction, rehabilitation and improvement had the third biggest project cost at P317.04 million.

School building construction and repair followed at P304.930 million, some P303.988 million of which was used for the construction of 429 units of two-classroom buildings.

Bridges and ports construction and reconstruction involving 769 sections amounted to P211.06 million.

Heritage and parks had a total project cost of P2.67 million. The projects were implemented in the towns of Oslob, Boljoon, Samboan, Alegria, Dumanjug and Borbon. (PNA)

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a sisterhood relationship between the two provinces.

Garcia said both provinces can learn from each other in areas like renewable energy, tourism design expertise and manufacturing.

Her chief-of-staff Elizabeth Francia said the MOU is the first step prior to the formal signing of the memorandum of agreement on the sisterhood ties, where specific areas of cooperation will be discussed and finalized.

The MOA will be signed on July 2 in Ilocos Norte.

Marcos, in a letter to Garcia dated Dec. 16, 2010, said they realized the importance of building a close relationship with Cebu. She attached a copy of a provincial resolution, endorsing and authorizing her to sign the agreement.

“The two provinces can join hands in the spirit of unity, friendship, amity, cooperation and embark on a momentum of accelerated development thru the establishment of a sisterhood relationship,” the resolution said.

The Cebu Provincial Board also passed a resolution, endorsing the establishment of a sisterhood relationship between Cebu and Ilocos Norte.

Garcia said Ilocos Norte is considered the home of renewable energy in the country because of its wind farm, mini-hydro and proposed solar facility.

Marcos said Ilocos Norte’s wind farm is the first of its kind in Asia.

She said they can assist the Capitol tap the help of the Danish International Development Agency (Danida), which helped them initiate the project.

Although it is not “employment-heavy,” she said wind energy breaks the cost of electricity down eventually.

She said more international funding has been made available for renewable energy, especially after the world saw the dangers posed by nuclear power in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last March 11. = PNA

SM Prime Holdings’ P4.5-billion SM Seaside City Cebu mall, soon to rise at its 30-hectare lot at the South Road Properties (SRP), is projected to become the “shopping capital” in the south, a top company official said.

SM Prime president Hans T. Sy told reporters that the new mall will have an “ultra-modern” design to bring in the young market.

A glass cube lit wit LED lights will be built in front to “add visual drama.”

Sy said that they aim to include something different in the mall such as a sky garden similar to the SM North Edsa and an “iconic” viewing tower that is 100 meters tall.

He hopes the tower will be a structure that people will talk about, similar to the metallic globe that they built in front of the SM Mall of Asia (MOA).

Though it is about half the size of the SM Mall of Asia, Sy said it will be larger than the current SM City Cebu at the North Reclamation Area. He explained that the 30 hectares is also just half the size of the MOA property.

The mall will have a circular shape and four floors for over 800 retail and food shops. They plan to include a two-storey department store, an SM Hypermart branch, five 300-seat movie theaters, an IMAX theater with over 500 seating capacity, an 18-lane bowling center, food court and an ice skating rink.

They will have a separate theater for stage plays and concerts and a covered event area at the fourth level. The covered parking lot will hold over 2,000 slots.

To showcase Cebuano works, a furniture zone and fashion boulevard will also be included in the area.

The mall is slated to open by the second quarter of 2013.

Sy said they officially began last Friday, starting with a road project.

They will also be building a church in the property, which is described as a “sleek, modern, all-white structure.”

Sy told reporters Friday that they already secured approval from the Cebu Archbishop’s office for the construction of the church within the complex.

After the mall is completed, Sy said they will start working on a hotel and residences. He also hopes to build a hospital in the area, and possibly, a school.

He noted that if the complex becomes a prime residential area, a hospital and a school would fit well in the community. (PNA)

The Provincial Development Council (PDC) has approved P46-million worth of infrastructure projects for the different barangays in Negros Oriental.

Governor Roel Degamo said the projects are now endorsed to the Provincial Board to approve the budget allocation.

He said there is a total of 75 infrastructure projects that include farm-to-market roads, concreting and rehabilitation of roads, construction of multi-purpose buildings, drainage systems and spillways.

The governor said these projects were endorsed by the barangays captains as their priority projects in a meeting with them recently.

He is hoping the Provincial Board will approve the budget allocation of the said projects for immediate implementation. He is also anticipating that the barangay projects will start before the end of the second quarter of this year.

Governor Degamo said the drainage systems, spillways and road concreting projects should be implemented immediately once the budget is approved in order to take advantage of the good weather.

He is afraid that the rainy season will affect the construction of these projects, the budget of which is taken from the 20 percent of the surplus of the province. (PNA)

An 11-year-old boy drowned while swimming and playing with friends along the Calasiao River here in the afternoon last April 8, according to the police.

However, it was only in the morning the following day that the body of Edwin de Vera, a grade 5 pupil, was found floating along the river.

De Vera's father Edwin, 31, of Barangay Nalsian, reported to the police at 11:55 a.m. of April 8 that her son was missing.

It was gathered that the boy was playing with four other kids while swimming when strong current carried him to a deeper portion of the river and he vanished from the eyesight.

But the companions of the victim did not immediately report the incident to De Vera's parents, prompting the boy's father to report the matter to the police.

The victim was brought to the Funeraria Calasiao in Barangay San Miguel where his remains now lay in state.

The police are looking whether a foul play was committed. (PNA)

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama asked the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) to be vigilant, especially during Holy Week.

The mayor said he cannot allow the lack of security plan and lack of preparation of the police to result in any untoward incident in the city, particularly robbery.

He also appealed to business establishments such as banks, gas stations, foreign exchange shops, pawnshops, cellular phone shops, among others, to invest in security.

Six robbers recently held up eight employees of M. Lhuiller Pawnshop at gunpoint near the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and took jewelry they were transporting from Mindanao to their headquarters in Cebu City.

Laptop units, a cell phone and P10,000 cash were also taken from the employees, mostly managers of the pawnshop chain, who just arrived from the cities of Ozamis and Cagayan de Oro.

”Security is a very important matter that you must invest in. There’s a saying no one will steal if you don’t give them the opportunity,” Rama said.

The mayor also asked his staff to coordinate with the Parish Security Group to beef up security in churches during the Holy Week. (PNA)

Officials of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) have assured there will be a higher demand for power in the years to come, with the strong economic growth projected for the country.

SMC chief finance officer Ferdinand Constantino, in a recent company presentation in Cebu, told stockholders this bodes well for the conglomerate because it wants to expand its power business further.

Economic growth drives the demand for energy, and Constantino said the Philippines needs 16,600 megawatts for the next 20 years.

There is “a lot of room available” to serve that demand, he said.

In his presentation, he noted that their energy business took up 29-percent market share in Luzon and 21.7 percent in the whole country.

SMC’s power plants are located in Sual, Limay, San Roque and Ilijan.

They also own 33.2 percent of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), considered the biggest power distributor in the country.

Constantino credited this performance to their strategic locations.

He described 2011 as a “very good year” for SMC, which registered P246 billion in sales.

Constantino said this was up 49 percent from the previous year.

Their earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization reached P52.5 billion in 2010 from P30 billion in 2009.

Constantino placed their net income at P20 billion, although he admitted they earned more in 2009 at P50 billion due to the sale of their shares in Japanese brewery Kirin.

Aside from SMC’s core businesses in beverages, food and packaging, he said, their new businesses in energy, fuel, telecommunications, infrastructure, mining and banking also drove their income up.

He explained that since 2007, they have been diversifying their businesses from food and beverage to “new things” that they consider will help them grow further. - PNA

Antique Vice Governor Rosie A. Dimamay has proposed the creation of the Provincial Indigenous People’s Council which shall attend to the needs of the Aetas, Ita or Ati residents, specifically to protect and promote their interest and well-being with due regard to their beliefs, customs and traditions and institutions.

The proposed council when operational shall formulate and implement the policies, plans and programs geared towards the protection of the rights and well-being of the Indigenous People and the recognition of their ancestral domains as well as their rights.

According to the vice governor, there now lives a total of 40,567 natives in 918 households spread throughout 14 of the province’s 18 municipalities.

Majority of these aborigines are “illiterate, such that they are susceptible to abuses and other advances. They lack understanding of their own rights as provided for by laws and deprived of the services of government agencies and institutions,” Dimamay said.

The indigenous people in the province are among the most deprived groups primarily because of the absence of a body or council mandated by the provincial government to attend to the IPs needs.

“These Aetas easily get sick and they are seldom brought to the hospital for treatment while most of their children are not going to school. These are among the major concerns that I wish we could help them with,” Vice Gov. dimamay said.

Dimamay proposed that the Council be composed of a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer and members and shall involve the agencies which are directly responsible in carrying out the development concerns of the aborigines.

These agencies include the Office of the Governor, the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the National Commission on Indigenous People (Antique), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Education (DepEd), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the Local Government Units with IPs, NGOs accredited with the National Commission on Indigenous People working with IPs, People’s Organizations of IPs and Women Organizations of IPs. - PNA

Dili naman angay ikaguol ning TB karon kay naa may libreng tambal sa gobyerno. Kung tumaron lang, maayo man gyud ang TB.

Naa pud koy nailhan sa Bohol nga naghikog kay naguol sa iyang cataract.

Magsakit man sab atong dughan ani nga maghuna-huna sa mga gipanugon sa bata. Rest in Peace, Doy.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 will award next year local government units (LGUS) in the region that excel in the field of planning and budgeting.

Launched in line with a 2007 joint circular, the search aims to promote transparency and accountability in local governance and encouraged multi-stakeholder participation in planning and budgeting.

The DILG, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Finance issued the circular, which provided a guideline to LGUs on how to harmonize local planning and budgeting.

”Planning and budgeting is a function of good governance,” DILG 7 Assistant Director Elias Fernandez Jr. said.

DILG 7 Director Pedro Noval lamented that some LGUs at present prepare the budget ahead of planning.

The search, he said, will encourage LGUs to follow planning and Budgeting guidelines set by national government agencies.

To qualify for the search, and LGU must have a current Comprehensive Land Use Plan, approved Comprehensive Development Plan, Local Development and Investment Plan, among other requirements.

The search has four categories: highly urbanized cities, component cities, first to third class municipalities, and fourth to sixth class municipalities.

The grand regional winner for every category will receive P150,000 and plaque of recognition in October next year, which will coincide with the celebration of Local Government Month.

”It took us a year to come up with the guidelines of the search,” said DILG-Bohol Provincial Director Loisella Lucino.

Noval called on LGUs and other stakeholders in the region to help make the search successful, so it can be replicated in other regions.

”Public service is about partnership and cooperation. It’s working together as a team,” he said. (PNA)

The Cebu Provincial Government has offered to construct a building for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia had made a similar offer to the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7.

NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula said that if Capitol has funds for a building, that might as well be diverted to buy forensic equipment.

Gatdula was accompanied by NBI 7 Director Edward Villarta and former NBI 7 director Medardo de Lemos, who now heads the NBI National Capital Region.

Gatdula said the agency serves the public and is apolitical.

Garcia said the property and the building will continue to be owned by the province.

There were no estimates yet on the cost of construction or how big a property the Capitol will allot for the building.

The province, though, will provide the NBI with an area inside its property in Lahug, Cebu City, where the headquarters of the CPPO and the Special Reaction Unit are located.

Gatdula said he will be back for the signing of the memorandum of agreement with Capitol. This will contain the roles and responsibilities of the province and NBI.

Gatdula said they will submit to the Department o Justice the list of investigative equipment they intend to purchase. - PNA

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has maintained Alert Level 2 over Taal Volcano as magma has been intruding towards the surface, as manifested by carbon dioxide (CO2) being released in the Main Crater Lake and increase in seismic activity following its abnormal activity on Saturday.

Phivolcs director Renato Solidum said gas measurements conducted at Taal Main Crater Lake last January, February and March 2011, yielded CO2 emission values of 2,250 tons per day (t/d), 1,875 t/d and 4,670 t/d, respectively. "The remarkable increase in C02 concentration indicates anomalous gas release from the magma at depth."

Adding to this is the seven volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours recorded by the seismic network around the volcano compared to the six recorded Sunday, he said.

Also, water temperature slightly increased from 30.0 degrees Centigrade to 30.5 degrees Centigrade.

According to Solidum, result of the ground deformation survey (precise leveling) conducted around the Volcano Island last April 5-11, 2011 showed that the volcano edifice is slightly inflated as compared with the February 2-9, 2011 survey.

With the alert level 2, Phivolcs advises the public that the Main Crater, Daang Kastila Trail and Mt. Tabaro (1965 -1977 Eruption Site) are strictly off-limits because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate. Breathing air with high concentration of gases can be lethal to human, animals and even cause damage to vegetation.

Authorities are already conducting voluntary evacuation from these areas to evacuation centers designated by the local government of Batangas.

In addition, Phivolcs has reminded that the entire Volcano Island is a Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ), and permanent settlement in the island is strictly not recommended.

By Faye P. Velasco

The six Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers currently trapped in strife-torn Ivory Coast are safe.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) made the statement on Monday amid earlier reports, saying that the Filipino soldiers’ situation there was “unstable" as clashes continue to rage between forces of strongman Laurent Gbagbo and internationally-recognized leader Alassane Ouattara.

The DFA said Lieutenant Colonel George Tagle, one of the six AFP officers stationed there as observers assigned with the UN Operation in Cote D'Ivoire (UNOCI), informed them that he had evacuated from their bunker to a safer area while three of his fellow UNOCI Filipino observers are in areas controlled by supporters of opposition presidential candidate Alassane Ouattara.

The other two officers, who are deployed outside the UN headquarters are likewise safe.

Aside from Tagle, the five other Filipino soldiers in Ivory Coast are Navy Lcdr. Jorge Vicente, military lawyer Lt. Col. Emilio Felicen, Army majors Marces Gayat and Arthur Romanillos, and Air Force Maj. Randy Bance.

Côte d'Ivoire has been plunged into turmoil following incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to concede defeat on the November 28, 2010 second round of elections to his opponent, former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara.

The international community has strongly backed the legitimacy of Ouattara's victory, with the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and others recognizing him as the duly elected leader of Côte d'Ivoire.

On March 30, 2011, the Security Council passed resolution 1975 (2011), repeating its calls for Gbagbo to step down and urging an immediate end to the violence against civilians.

President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the officers and members of the Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP) to continue helping his administration in the transformative process of nation building that he initiated since he assumed the presidency.

The President issued the appeal in his impromptu speech at the 10th SCAP National Leaders Conference and Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Student Catholic Association (SCA) on Monday at the Fleur-de-lis Theater of St. Paul University in Malate, Manila. The theme of this year’s conference is “Change: A Call to Every Juan!”

Being involved in the spiritual formation that produces the Christian leaders, the President cited the important role of the youth in society.

“Kayo talaga ang pagasa ng kinabukasan pero kayo rin ang puwedeng maging solusyon ng kasalukuyan. Kayo kasi ang makakaalam kung ano ang tama at ano ang mali. Kayo ang puwedeng gumising sa mga nagtutulog-tulugan at pilit pinaiiral ang lumang sistema. Bottomline nito, talagang nasa interes ninyo ang makialam, makilahok at makisama sa pagsasaayos ng ating lipunan,” the President said.

The President thanked the SCAP for supporting his good governance and reform measures campaign.

“In last year’s election you did support my candidacy and if I have an opportunity to do the actual changes it is because of your help. Then I am looking forward for the same help as we continue the transformative process in our country,” the President said.

The President informed the teachers and students that about the good things in the government for the past nine months, particularly when he implemented reform measures such as the intensive graft and corruption drive.

One of these good news is the decrease in the carnapping incident in the first quarter of 2011. The President noted that based on data from the Philippine National Police, 489 cases of combined 4-wheel and motorcycles carnapping were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 compared to 255 in the same quarter this year.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also reported to the President that the pollution index in Metro Manila has been improving.

On job employment, the President said that both the AG&P and the Convergys, one of the leading call center and business process outsourcing company, vowed to expand their operation in the country and help his administration create jobs for Filipinos.

President Benigno S. Aquino III reiterated his call for the 80 million Filipino cellular phone users to text vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and help push the country’s bid for a spot in the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature title.

The Chief Executive made the pitch for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) at the sidelight of his speech during the 10th Student Catholic Action of the Philippines (SCAP) National Leadership Conference Monday morning at the Fleurde-lis Theater of St. Paul University in Malate, Manila.

“I need your help. I need text votes so that the Palawan underground river will be proclaimed as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature,” the President said as he urged the teachers and students present during the SCAP conference to take part in the government’s campaign to promote Palawan’s Underground River.

He noted that the Philippines has 80 million cell phones and one text vote for every cell phone user is really essential for the PPSRNP to win in the wonders of nature title. “Just TEXT PPUR and send it to 2861,” he stressed.

Puerto Princesa’s Underground River is one of the finalists competing with 28 other sites for the New 7 Wonders of Nature title.

The PPSRNP, formerly St. Paul Subterranean National Park, is located at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, in the Midwest coast of Palawan and some 81 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City.

PPSRNP is reputed to be the longest navigable underground river in the world at a length of 8.2 kilometers that winds through spectacular limestone formations before emptying out into the South China Sea.

In 1999, the park was declared as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Natural World Heritage Site. It was also proclaimed “National Geological Monument” in the year 2003 by the National Committee on Geological Sciences. (PNA)

Former Armed Forces chief Roy Cimatu will remain special envoy to the Middle East only until June 30, 2011, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.

Ochoa told a radio interview that Cimatu’s appointment was for a “limited period of time,” and the creation of the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team (OPRT) under Executive Order No. 34 replaced the Presidential Middle East Preparedness Committee (PMEPC), which the former military general headed.

“It’s a case by case assessment. In fact, that is the process when it comes to the appointment of all special envoys,” Ochoa explained. “It’s up to the President to determine later, when the appointment expires, to say whether or not he will reappoint or not appoint a special envoy,” he added.

EO 34 expanded the composition of the crisis team and the scope of its responsibilities to allow the government to respond swiftly to the needs of overseas Filipino caught in political uncertainties and natural disasters in their host countries.

Cimatu will serve out his term until June 30 based on his reappointment by President Aquino III when the new administration took over.

Just like any other appointment, the renewal of Cimatu’s designation is subject to the assessment by the Office of the President. (PNA)

Malacanang is respecting the decision of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni to quit his job although the Office of the President has yet to receive his letter of resignation, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Monday.

“That’s his prerogative and we will respect his decision. We might as well accept his resignation, if indeed he has decided to resign,” Ochoa said in a radio interview.

“But I have not seen his letter of resignation. Perhaps, if that’s true, his letter might reach our office only (within this week),” he added.

According to news reports, Jalandoni forwarded his resignation letter to Malacanang via registered mail last Friday.

Jalandoni was appointed deputy ombudsman for Luzon in March 2010 and prior to that he headed the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office.

Before joining the Office of the Ombudsman, he was state prosecutor of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and program director of the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program under the DOJ, and once served as undersecretary of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.

Last week, three complaints, including usurpation of authority, had been filed against Jalandoni with the Office of the President. (PNA)

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo on Monday asked the Batangas Provincial Government and local officials of nearby towns to be ready in the evacuation and relocation of residents as the Taal Volcano in Talisay town continued to show heightened activity.

This developed as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) upgraded the alert level status of the volcano from 1 to 2 after at least 21 volcanic quakes were detected by the seismic network in the past 24 hours.

Phivolcs said Alert Level 2 indicates unrest probably of magmatic origin that could eventually lead to eruption.

The DILG Secretary said the local disaster risk reduction management council should identify possible relocation sites such as public schools and town plazas where affected residents may temporarily seek shelter should an eruption occurs.

The council should also constantly coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) who can help them during evacuation and relief efforts, he said.

Robredo also directed DILG regional and field officials to extend the necessary assistance and support to the affected towns in the formulation of a responsive and doable contingency plan, and to assist them for the possible use of their calamity funds.

He likewise urged the public to cooperate with local authorities by keeping away from the Main Crater and the Daang Kastila Trail at the northeastern slope and Mt. Tabaro, which are strictly off-limits.

The entire volcano island is a permanent danger zone, and permanent settlement is strictly not recommended, according to Phivolcs.

Malacañang said on Monday that the release of the “Smart cards”, which will be used for the fuel subsidy from the government for public transport owners under the “Pantawid Pasada” program will be released in May contrary to reports that it will be issued today.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the clarification during the regular press briefing at Malacanang to enlighten the public on the date of dissemination of the Smart cards for the P450-million fuel subsidy as instituted in Executive Order (EO) No. 32.

Lacierda noted that the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of the public transport assistance program was just issued last week. He added that at present the procurement and bidding process are still ongoing so the issuance of Smart cards will be by May 1 or 2.

“Clarification lang, hindi po lalabas yung Smart cards ng Department of Energy sa Pantawid Pasada as Energy Secretary Rene Almendras has already mentioned before the IRR was issued, drafted and finalized last week… the procurement and bidding out of the cards are being done right now. So by May 1 or 2 lalabas po ang Smart card”, Lacierda said.

“I think that information was very clear when they came up with that announcement, so again this is just a clarification…”, he added.

It will be recalled that President Aquino on April 1st signed EO No. 32 that institutes the Public Transport Assistance Program, aptly known as “Pantawid Pasada” to subsidize a portion of the average consumption of jeepney and tricycle drivers amid escalating fuel costs.

The Pantawid Pasada fund will be sourced out from the Special Account in the General Fund (SAGF) of the DOE under Fund 151.

Three government agencies, namely, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Energy (DOE), were jointly authorized, as per EO 32, to determine the monthly funding requirement of “Pantawid Pasada”.

The Smart cards will carry a load of P1,050 per card (P35 per day) and will be issued to some 268,245 public utility jeepney (PUJ) franchise holders nationwide, while almost one million tricycle drivers will get P150 fuel subsidy each (P5 per day). (PNA)

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Monday welcomed the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III’s aunt, Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, from the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), as an affirmation of support for his campaign promise not to appoint a relative to any government post.

“The President is very strict in enforcing his policy na walang kamag-anak sa kanyang stable ng mga opisyales sa paligid niya. And, I think, Madame Tingting Cojuangco realized that,” Ochoa said in a radio interview.

Contrary to earlier reports, Ochoa said Cojuangco resigned on her own initiative and was not fired from her job.

In fact, Ochoa added, Cojuangco herself recommended former Upi, Maguindanao Mayor Ruben Platon as her replacement at PPSC.

Before he ran for mayor, Platon, a lawyer, served as administrative officer and legal officer of PPSC.

Cojuangco was appointed PPSC head in 2004 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (PNA)

The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) on Monday started probing the cause of the crash of a light plane which took off from the Loakan Airport here Sunday afternoon.

Police Senior Inspector Ruben Porte, station chief of a precinct of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) within the area, said the CAA has initially inspected the wreckage of the plane at the crash site in a forested area of Camp John Hay.

"The BCPO will help in the investigation although we have limited information of the incident," he said.

The single engine plane, carrying six employees of the Techno Air Company based in Plaridel, Bulacan, was able to take off but was only airborne for a few minutes before it crashed.

Four of those aboard, including the pilot, survived but two others died.

Three of those who survived are now being treated at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) while one was transferred to another hospital upon request of relatives. (PNA)

The military assured the public that there will be no escalation of violence after last Saturday's bombing of a hostel in Lamitan City, Basilan province.

The Spasky's Lodging House, owned by businessman Jose Tejada along Flores Street, Barangay Maligaya, was in total wreck when a powerful bomb exploded in one of its rooms at the ground floor around 7:10 p.m. Saturday.

Lt. Col. Gamal Hayudini, chief of the 4th Civil Relations Group (CRG), said Monday that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is in control of the situation.

Hayudini said the AFP is exerting efforts to determine the motive of the incident and “sooner or later we can resolve and identify the perpetrators.”

“The residents from the nearby towns and city (of Isabela) in Basilan province can be assured that the AFP is doing everything to protect the civilians in the area from the lawless group,” Hayudini added.

Patrolling troops from the 15th Special Forces Company have detonated another improvised bomb which was found more than two hours after last Saturday's explosion.

The bomb placed inside a shoulder bag was left in front of an ice plant located 10 meters away from the Sofia Hotel and a gasoline station.

Another improvised bomb was recovered by the troops from the Army's 32nd Infantry Battalion in front of the Lamitan Central School along Quezon Boulevard, Lamitan City.

The bomb was safely defused by the Army's Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) personnel stationed in Basilan province.

Hayudini said extortion is most likely the motive of the bombing and the Abu Sayyaf militants are eyed as behind the incident targeting hotels and gasoline stations.

He said the bombing could be retaliation to the ongoing military operations against the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan and Sulu provinces.

Government forces are continuously tracking down the Abu Sayyaf bandits who are still holding captive Filipino-Chinese businessman Largio Tam delos Santos, who was kidnapped last December. - PNA

To ensure the success of the government's campaign against tax evaders, Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prioritize the cases already pending with the courts.

According to Escudero, 36 tax evasion cases have been filed before the DOJ since the Aquino administration launched its campaign to run after tax cheats last year, but indictments have yet to be handed down.

”The only way that tax evaders will see that the government is serious about this issue is when they see that cases are actually being filed in courts. What is taking the DOJ so long to act on these cases? The President and his administration are really serious about running after tax errants and the DOJ as the pit stop of this effort should also seriously participate in the process," Escudero explained.

Every week, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) jointly announce that they will file charges against suspected tax evaders and smugglers.

While the drive is most welcome to plug tax leaks and boost revenue collection, the senator said this must be done side by side with a serious partnership with the DOJ that has all the capability to see these cases move forward.

"This area in the drive against tax evaders should be connected, otherwise the program will just scratch the surface while those tax cheats will just continue laughing all their way to the banks," Escudero said.

Escudero urged the BIR, BOC and the DOJ to put their acts together towards one direction to effect real and actual tax collection which could translate into better social services for the people.

"The program is not enough unless it is compounded with institutional changes and steps that run parallel to the end goal collecting real and actual revenues for the state. This program must have something to show for to get the message out there that the government means serious business against tax evaders. It is time for the concerned agencies to perform and perform high at that," Escudero added. (PNA)

By Eddie O. Barrita

A burial site unearthed in the vicinity of the San Remegio Parish in the northern Cebu town of San Remegio serves as a window to the pre-Hispanic Cebuano lifestyle.

”We have our knowledge of the past further back by maybe even 2,000 to 3,000 years,” professor Jojo R. Bersales said.

”And we will be able to provide evidence that will help us understand how our Cebuano ancestors lived and died,” he said.

The team of archaeologists from the University of San Carlos (USC) and the National Museum dug up earthenware pottery whose designs resemble those found in the Philippine Metal Age, between 900 AD and 500 BC.

”The absence of Chinese and other Asian trade ware ceramics also helped provide a date much older than those found in Boljoon, as well as Plaza Independencia. This may be the first time that a Metal Age site has been uncovered in Cebu,” the group said.

The first round of excavation, which fielded 15 USC archaeology students, was funded by a grant form the USC, with logistical support from the Cebu Provincial Government through its Provincial Tourism and Heritage Council. The dig also had the permission of the National Museum, the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Municipality of San Remigio.

Bersales and Dr. Ame Garong of the National Museum believed the site contains burials dating 1,000 to 2,000 years back. Experts, though, said only radiocarbon dating of some of the bone samples can provide a more accurate data on the age of the recovered items.

Another significant find is a large Philippine Melon Shell (Melo diadema) crafted into some kind of a scoop with red-slip pottery fragments.

Experts said the site appears to have been untouched by looters, so they are certain to uncover more information on the culture of Cebuanos before the coming of Asian and Arab Traders.

The excavation unit at the municipal beach right across the church has also recovered a midden, or a heap of trash full of broken pottery, shells and clay net sinkers. (PNA)

You're welcome, Ms Isle and Manay Tess!

ms isle, if you're using firefox, here's the solution: http://support.mozilla.com/ta-LK/questions/792012

what happened is that you are not using the normal viewing dimension of your browser.

By Satur Apoyon

Briccio “Bryck” Canda Apellanes, a bilingual writer in English and Cebuano, succumbed to a lingering illness at Kaiser Permanente in California, USA, last April 2, his daughter Florette said in her email sent Friday. He was 84.

The Apellaneses live in Sanderling Drive, Fairfield in the Vallejo District, CA.

Some of his pieces in English landed in several California newspapers, including one in Cebu. But for his vernacular output, he had sent some to the Bisaya Magazine based in Manila, the last of which was in 2006 about his biography in fictionized form entitled, “Ang Panimpalad sa Amerika” (A Job-hunting in America).

Back home, he used to work in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

In 1979, the family migrated to the USA. With his work experiences plus the strength of twin degrees in Business and Law, he landed an accounting job in the State of California.

In retirement, he also made some contacts with Bisaya literati, this writer among them that he befriended since 2004.

The patriarch Apellanes is survived by his wife Florencia Balili and children and grandchildren.

His remains lie at the Bryan-Braker Funeral Home. For more details, relatives and friends may login www.bryanbraker.com.

After a requiem mass at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, he will be buried at the Rockville Cemetery at noon on Monday, April 11. (PNA)

Quote from: islander on April 11, 2011, 09:00:22 AM
kanang mang-rape way salig sa ilang kaungalingong charms kay nganong mamugos man.  imagine, di maka-score kun di mamugos.  miserable.

OJT pa gani nanglugos na. Unsa na kaha kung kapitan na sa barko. Unta ang owner nga Palacio ila pong hashasan nang dawaton sa OJT nga dili mga rapist.

Tikarol had disappeared in our towns.

Well-behaved kay wala man tagai ug straw.

Naay daghang batik nga imitation sa China. Murag tinuod ug authentic. Pero synthetic diay. Made in China.

Basin pag-retire na nato ni masulayan. Pero mas nindot kung mag-cruise if batan-on pa ta.

Curious lang gyud kung unsay gisalipdan sa panty.

Mao gyud, Manay. Makahawoy pud sa tuhod. Gani, makabikog pa.

Maoy aho ug dili na maukang sa inodoro kay nindot ang salida.

Quote from: bol-anon quo nyur! on April 09, 2011, 12:53:03 AM
Ako siyang gibalikan, kai naa paman ko sa sulod sa bangko ug akong gipakita niya ang recivo nga dili mao ang last 4 digit sa akong acct...Maong, i double check gyud kong mag deposito mo, para sigurado nga tu-a kadong sa inyong acct...

Obligasyon gyud unta sa teller nga sila ang mo-double check kay sila man ang naay control sa account number. Gawas pa, kita nga mga depositor anaa atong pagsalig nga sakto ang ilang gibuhat. We always trust tellers. We don't entertain doubts nga sila danghag. Kung adunay sayop, sayop ra gyud na sa teller. They can see nga if ang ngalan ug account number dili mag-match, dili gyud na niya account.

daghan seguro ug atraso ning motora.

common interest. pero mas luoy tan-awon ang nawong sa iring.

Hahaha. Hotsilog ang linugdangan ani diay.

Basin cooking oil ang gasolina ani. Inig abot sa destination, luto na.

Ang mga palahubog pataka nalang ug handos, pakaon dretso sa Queen para makayarok sa sunod nga baso.

Ganahan man pud ta magtype-type ani bisag way klaro kon unsay sulatonon.

Awful smile.

Target of censorship if diri ni sa Pilipinas.

Syaro ug mabisita pa ug utro.

Kaluoy sa bata. Wa intawon magdahom sa iyang gidangatan.

Basin ma-introduce ni sa Winter Olympics pohon.

New form of torture?

Murag wala malipay ang dog. Murag gitugkan ug hubag-hubag kay gamay nga sipyat, pislat sija sa kalsada ug mahagbong.

Controversial pose but a beautiful expression of human love.

Looks like pure gold.

Just a myth.

Hehehe. Creative advertising.

Necessary gyud. Dili pwede maghinagbo ang babae ug lalaki kay magkabinag-iray.

Looks like Huk Hogan.

Pure road accident ra jud na Lolla. Pero naay mga bata sa amo sa una nga hiktan ang tiil sa baki ug ibutang sa tunga sa kalsada. Ang higot didto igaid sa saging. Pislat gyud tawon.

Cost of solar panels is a bit expensive in developing countries. I hope solar panels would become affordable to most people in the countryside.

Sa ato, paligsan lang ang baki.

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Dia ra ang among hulagway sa EB. Sa cellphone lang ni nako gikuha without flash mao dulom.
From left to right: Chongki, Mulligan, ug ako.


Didto mi nanihapon sa National Sports Grill sa Greenbelt 3, Makati City. Around 10 p.m. we proceeded to the ground area of Greenbelt where we had coffee at Starbucks. Ug didto among gipadayon ang paghisgot-hisgot sa daghang mga butang sa kinabuhi, sa Bohol, ug sa mga isyu nga may kalabotan ang mabuot nga lungsoranon.

Si Mulligan, molarga alast 4.30 sa kadlawon paingon sa Cagayan de Oro, busa pasado alas onse sa gabii, nahuman ang among tapok-tapok. Ug nagsabot mi nga magkita ug usab sa 2nd week sa May didto na pud sa Bohol sanglit mobakasyon man si Chongki ug Mulligan sa Bohol nianang panahona.

Si Chongki ug ako ang nag-uban pauli sa Quezon City. Misakay ko sa car ni Chongki ug maayo nalang wala nako mag-taxi pauli sa apartment nga akong gipuy-an sa E.Rodriguez. Duol ra pud gikan didto ang pinuy-anan ni Chongki. Si Mulligan midretso na sa Pasay ug nag-pack-up alang sa iyang byahe paingon sa Cagayan de Oro.

It was an evening of friendship, of remembering many things about life in Bohol, of sharing ideas, of beer, of pulotan, of great food.

I'm very happy to have met Mulligan and Chongki for the first time. They've been with us in TubagBohol for about 2 years. Kaming tulo managsama ang gipangandoy sa kinabuhi: mobakasyon o kaha didto na manimuyo sa gikamingawan ug pinalanggang Bohol.

Thanks to Mulligan and Chongki for their time and friendship. Lisud kaayo mag-EB sa Manila tungod sa travel distance, traffic and all that, but we made it.

You'd be more proud of being a Boholano meeting like-minded friends, intellectual heavyweights (mga Ateneo products) like Chongki and Mulligan.

I'm looking forward to our next simple tapok-tapok sa Bohol karong Mayo. I hope maka-join ang uban nga based sa Bohol.

God bless us all,
Mike

hehehe. Malipay pud ang mga embalmer ug matador molingkod ani.

Murag delikado igamit if ang previous user palaigit.

Ang hubog makaihi nalang sa door ug ahat, dili pa ni makatuod unsaon pag-solve sa amazing maze.