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Robredo won’t protest Marcos’ appointment
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2017-04-10 21:26:21+00:00
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Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo will not object to an appointment to the Cabinet of former Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her camp said on Monday.Georgina Hernandez, the spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President, noted that Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President.Robredo beat Marcos in the 2016 vice presidential race by 263,473 votes but Marcos is protesting his defeat before the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.“We accept the fact that appointing members of the Cabinet depends on the President’s decision, which will be respected by Vice President Robredo,” Hernandez said.Marcos can be appointed to a Cabinet post after May 9 or a year after the one-year ban on 2016 losing candidates.He has said he is willing to serve the Duterte administration in whatever capacity.“As far as we are concerned, we are just hoping that the credibility, competence and the vision of the person will be the ones considered [in naming appointees],” Hernandez said.Should Robredo change her mind, she can file a formal protest against Marcos’ appointment before the Commission on Appointments (CA), which confirms presidential appointees for Cabinet posts.A confirmation of an appointment can only happen if all 25 members of the commission composed of lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously vote for the confirmation of a presidential appointee.Without the CA members’ unanimous approval, a presidential appointment will be bypassed, meaning put on hold, or rejected.Once a presidential appointment is rejected by the commission, the President will have to replace his appointee.The CA already rejected the appointment of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay because Yasay lied about his acquisition of an American citizenship in the 1980s before the commission.If Marcos passed up on a Cabinet post, he could still return to a national elective post in the 2019 polls.Running for an elective post in 2019 before the resolution of his protest against Robredo, however, would be tantamount to Marcos dropping his protest.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/robredo-wont-protest-marcos-appointment-2/321988/
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Govt terms to prevail in resumed peace talks
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-04-08 20:10:02+00:00
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Resumption of peace talks between the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will depend on terms to be set by President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Sunday.“If [the group is] willing to talk under the conditions laid down by President Duterte, then the peace talks can resume,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said a news briefing in Tanauan, Leyte.In a statement published in the Philippine Revolution Webcentral website on Saturday, the CPP said it is willing to “maintain the policy of openness to negotiations to seek solutions to the roots of the armed conflict.”“The Filipino people await a Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-economic Reforms that would address the aspirations of the people to seek an end to their oppressive and exploitative conditions,” it added.The communist rebels also asked for the proclamation of a presidential amnesty to free all political prisoners, in line with agreements during the first round of peace talks in 2016.The CPP upholds the position of the NDF that there should be no preconditions in the resumption of the peace talks as stipulated in the The Hague Joint Declaration. “The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) must be reaffirmed and implemented” the statement said.“The things they are asking for, that can be agreed upon in the negotiations. That will not be a hindrance to the revival of the peace talks,” Roque said.Duterte terminated the peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels last November 23 after signing Proclamation 360.The same day, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza announced the cancelation in a statement.Almost two weeks later, Duterte signed Proclamation 374, which declared the NPA and the CPP as terrorist groups.CPP Chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison and Duterte then engaged in a word war, with Sison saying he could kill a soldier a day until the government revives the peace talks.In reply, Duterte said he will kill five NPA rebels for every soldier killed.During last week’s 24th Cabinet meeting, he changed his mind, saying he wants to give the communists “another last chance” for the peace talks.Duterte said on Thursday that he wants the peace talks to move forward within 60 days.“Let me. Let me deliver. But I’ll have a timeline of something, two months, 60 days,” Duterte said in his remarks during a dinner concert in Pasay City on Thursday night.According to the President, he would again allow all consultants of the CPP to participate in the peace negotiations but warned that they would be arrested again if the talks failed.“You can all go out, all of you. Nothing will happen. But if we fail, I’ll start collecting. That’s for sure,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-terms-to-prevail-in-resumed-peace-talks/391358/
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Jinggoy’s plunder trial deferred
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-07-17 21:40:49+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division on Monday canceled the scheduled trial of the plunder case filed against former senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and several other individuals in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.The cancellation came after Estrada’s camp filed a motion and reply on Friday afternoon (received by the court’s Fifth Division on Monday) regarding issues concerning the draft pre-trial order.Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, who leads the court’s Fifth Division, said during the hearing that “[i]t shows you’re just trying to [have] the initial trial not start,” adding that the defense should have filed the same at least two weeks before if they really believe that they have a point.One of Estrada’s lawyers, Paul Mar Arias, apologized for the delay.Earlier in the hearing, the prosecution and the defense argued over a number of issues.Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega later remarked, “Next time, we do not start Monday mornings with bickering.”Arias then said they were forced to, prompting Associate Justice Reynaldo Cruz to point out that “the prosecution has not even started speaking.”The court will set the trial date when the parties have signed the pre-trial order, which lists the number of hearing dates, the documentary evidence and witnesses to be presented and the issues to be resolved during trial.“Well, as far as we are concerned, we are not delaying the hearing because I am in detention for already more than three years… [I really want] the hearing [to start], for that will give me a chance to prove that I am innocent of all charges leveled against me but unfortunately, [the prosecution] has been submitting documents which are not originals. So we really have no fault there. It is all the prosecution’s fault,” Estrada said.In the motion and reply, Estrada’s camp sought the separation of the parties’ agreements and stipulations from the pre-trial order.The defense argued that there is no need to include proposals for stipulation in the pretrial order and that such proposals on which there is no agreement do not need to be reduced in writing.Estrada is one of three former senators namely, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile, who were charged in 2014 along with Janet Lim-Napoles and several others in connection with the PDAF scam.Estrada and Revilla are detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City, while Enrile is out on bail after the Supreme Court granted his bail petition on humanitarian grounds.Napoles is detained at a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.Also on Monday, Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division to let him undergo a medical examination in a hospital in San Juan City.In a motion, the defense asked the court “[t]o grant accused a medical pass of two [2] days to undergo videocolonoscopy at Cardinal Santos Medical Center as soon as possible” and that “the usual escort and security conditions will be at accused’s expense.”According to the motion, Estrada was examined by Dr. Regina Bagsic at his place of detention on July 12 and he underwent blood test.“Upon examination, accused was noted to have elevated levels of CEA [carcinoembryonic antigen] and was advised to undergo videocolonoscopy at the soonest possible time,” the defense said.“If allowed to undergo videocolonoscopy, the procedure itself may take 30 to 60 minutes. However, there is need for one-day preparation before the procedure is done. After the procedure, it may or may not require 24 hours’ observation depending on any diagnostic or therapeutic interventions needed to be done,” it added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/jinggoys-plunder-trial-deferred-2/338934/
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LP to fight for ‘truth and justice’ in 2018
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-12-31 17:39:14+00:00
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“So let’s brace ourselves this coming year. This may be the fight for our nation’s soul. And we will fight with the only weapons we have: truth and justice,” according to the Liberal Party (LP).For the LP, 2017 was not a good year for Filipinos because of killings that resulted from the government’s war on illegal drugs, the campaign against the opposition and the extension of martial law in Mindanao.In a statement, the party noted the three top events that defined the year coming to an end: the arrest and detention of its member Sen. Leila de Lima in February, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao in May and the killing of Kian delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, Reynaldo de Guzman and other teen-agers in August.De Lima voluntarily surrendered to authorities over her alleged involvement in illegal drug operations at the New Bilibid Prisons, the national penitentiary.The LP insisted that the charges against de Lima were fabricated in order to silence her.It opposed the one-year extension of martial law that was earlier granted by Congress, citing lack of sufficient basis partly because the Marawi City crisis had ended.According to the LP, the Constitution requires that there should be actual rebellion, which was absent in the Marawi case, before martial law can be imposed.What was disconcerting, it said, was that all three events allegedly were based on lies and concocted ideas of the Duterte administration like the manufactured evidence in de Lima’s cases, the invented bases for the declaration of martial law and the discredited idea that crime can be solved by deadly shortcuts.Worst, the LP added, the lies made in 2017 would be promoted in 2018 by circumventing, if not actually violating, the country’s fundamental law through Charter change or federalism or martial law.It said that this would be introduced so that some politicians could try to rule longer than allowed and that people would not be allowed to choose their leaders.President Rodrigo Duterte in November reiterated his call for a Charter change that would give him more teeth in fighting corruption.Leaders of Congress have expressed their openness to Charter change particularly the shift to federalism.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lp-fight-truth-justice-2018/371533/
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Court upholds graft rap vs ex-Tesda chief
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-09-16 00:19:22+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Special Seventh Division stood pat on its ruling denying the plea of former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Augusto Syjuco to junk the graft complaint filed against him and several others for allegedly awarding a contract to a firm in 2007 and approving the payment of P30 million despite “procurement irregularities.”The court denied Syjuco’s motion for reconsideration in a resolution dated August 29, 2018 saying there was no inordinate delay in the filing of the case.“After a careful perusal of the arguments raised by accused, the Court finds no valid reason to disturb its earlier findings. Notably, no new matters have been raised in the instant motion for reconsideration. It merely repleads the same arguments, which had been considered and passed upon in the Resolution sought to be reconsidered,” it said.Syjuco had argued that the counting of the supposed delay should start from the filing of a complaint-affidavit on February 2010.But the court maintained that its ruling stemmed from the filing of a complaint-affidavit by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO) in February 2015.The court said although it took five years for the Ombudsman to file the case “this period is not unreasonable, arbitrary or oppressive.”The court also found that Syjuco’s “claim of prejudice is without basis.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/court-upholds-graft-rap-vs-ex-tesda-chief/441958/
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No Cha-cha until July 2017 – Speaker
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
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2016-11-30 21:57:41+00:00
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Congress as a Constituent Assembly or Con-ass won’t start amending the 1987 Constitution until July 2017.The timetable came about after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte announced that the Constitutional Commission–a body composed of presidential appointees that will draft a new Constitution–will need at least half a year to finish its job and propose a new Charter to Congress.“I already submitted the draft of the executive order to the Office of the Executive Secretary for the creation of a Constitutional Commission [that] will review, revise and prepare the draft for the revised Constitution. This will be composed of about 25 members who are experts in various fields, and we will give them six months to finish the draft,” Alvarez said in an interview with CNN Philippines.“After six months, it will be submitted to the Constituent Assembly and it will be debated until we come up with a final draft, submit it to the people for ratification,” he added.The Duterte administration is pushing for a Con-ass to effect Charter change or Cha-cha toward a federal form of government wherein the country will be divided into 11 independent states under a federal government with each state having the authority to craft its laws, as well as manage its resources.The federal sates, however, would still have to split their income, with the national government getting 25 percent and 75 percent for the the concerned region since the national government will retain its full jurisdiction over foreign affairs, national defense, monetary policy and the police.Rep. LRay Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said the country’s shift to federalism would finally disperse genuine economic and political powers to the countryside.“Federalism will redistribute the national wealth outside Metro Manila where our natural resources abound. LGUs [local government units] would have more power to manage their funds and resources,” Villafuerte, the vice chairman of the House appropriations panel, said in a statement.“This set-up will also foster greater competition between and among the local governments and regions as they pursue their respective growth agendas,” he added.The House constitutional amendments committee agreed to convene Congress as a Constitutional Assembly in October.A similar initiative is yet to get going in the Senate.But a source, who is familiar with talks between the two chambers, has informed The Manila Times that the Senate is not keen on proceeding with the matter because the Duterte administration is keen on pushing for Cha-cha with the House and the Senate voting jointly–a scenario that renders the Senate irrelevant since there are only 24 senators as against at least 292 members of the House of Representatives.The 1987 Constitution does not explicitly state whether the House and the Senate should vote jointly or separately in amending the Constitution.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-cha-cha-july-2017-speaker/299230/
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DFA unveils passports with 10-year validity
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-01-12 21:27:02+00:00
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THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday started issuing passports that will be valid for 10 years and with no extra cost for applicants.In a simple ceremony held at the DFA Office of Consular Affairs in Pasay City, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the longer passport validity is expected to benefit overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly those who are assigned to areas far from an embassy or a consulate where they can apply for a new one.It is also one way to address decongestion among various consular offices all over the country, Cayetano added.The new passport with 10-year validity was in accordance with Republic Act 10928, which extends the validity of Philippine passports, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2017.Cayetano said there would be no changes in the passport processing fee but they are also considering coming up with an option wherein applicants would have to pay extra if they want to have more pages on their passport.But apart from the new passport validity, he added, the DFA would be coming up with several measures that would help the agency increase its capacity to process passports and provide more slots under the online appointment system.The DFA was criticized by Filipinos renewing their passports, including OFWs, because of difficulties getting a slot from its online appointment system.There were allegations that travel agencies were able to get slots from the online appointment system and selling them to applicants.Some even alleged that DFA insiders were conniving with syndicates offering applicants help with their appointment in exchange for cash.But Cayetano said the DFA already removed all opportunities that would enable travel agencies and “fixers” to abuse the online appointment system.He added that it is unlikely for a travel agency to sell appointment slots because the DFA already removed their allocation since last year.The DFA used to allot 1,200 slots for travel agencies per day that they could offer to their clients but Cayetano said they decided to remove the allocation and open it to all applicants.Meanwhile, the DFA, in its effort to decongest the consular office in Metro Manila and increase the daily capacity of passport applicants, will be opening nine new consular offices nationwide.The new offices will be located in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte; Santiago, Isabela; Malolos or Meycauayan, Bulacan; Calamba or San Pablo, Laguna; Dasmariñas City, Cavite; Antipolo City, Rizal; Oroquieta City or Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental; and Tagum, Davao del Norte.Cayetano said the locations were selected based on the number of OFWs and frequent travelers residing in the area.The DFA is also set to deploy starting next week four Passporting on Wheels (PoW) vehicles that are expected to help decongest the consular offices in Metro Manila.Each POW vehicle has the capacity to process over 500 applicants daily, creating a total of 2,000 additional daily slots.Cayetano said the POW is intended to bring the DFA’s passporting services closer to the public, especially those who do not have access to a consular office.With the opening of new consular offices and mobile passport service, the department is expecting to increase its daily capacity from 9,000 to 15,500.The DFA, Cayetano said, is also closely coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to catch unscrupulous individuals who are planning to victimize applicants by offering bogus appointments for cash.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dfa-unveils-passports-10-year-validity/373890/
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Suspend fuel tax — lawmakers
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-09-04 00:05:44+00:00
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Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo on Monday filed a bill that seeks to roll back excise taxes on fuel to alleviate theeffects of inflation because of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train).House Bill 8171 is a counterpart measure of Senate Bill 1798, also known as the “Bawas Presyo Bill” which was filed by Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th.“Christmas is near. And we know that during this season, the prices of goods are increasing. Come January, our pockets are empty. Then we will get hit by the increase of diesel and gasoline prices,” Aquino told reporters as he joined Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni Robredo, Quimbo and other Liberal Party stalwarts in a news briefing in Quezon City.Quimbo authored HB 8171 along with Representatives Jorge “Bolet” Banal and Jose Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Jocelyn Limkaichong and Josephine Ramirez-Sato.“We recorded an inflation of 5.7 percent in July, with August inflation expected to be at around the same level. Clearly steps have to be taken to bring relief to our people and shield them from future spikes in inflation,” Quimbo said.He added that the imposition of excise tax on kerosene and diesel was “anti-poor.”Quimbo said more than 60 percent of the poorest households depend on kerosene for lighting and cooking, while fishermen, public utility vehicles (PUVs), and small power utility groups in far-flung areas relyheavily on diesel.Quimbo led the interpellation on HB 8083, also known as the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities or the Trabaho Bill, under the package 2 of Train on August 29.He said the bill does not provide concrete data on the potential effects of Train 2, such as the number of new jobs as well as the projected revenues that may be gained.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/suspend-fuel-tax-lawmakers/437803/
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Balutan vows funding for health care program
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-08-21 00:02:51+00:00
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Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Alexander Balutan on Monday said the government’s proposed Universal Health Care (UHC) program would get maximum fund support from the charity agency’s lotto and sweepstakes operations.The UHC, the flagship program of President Rodrigo Duterte, is pending approval in Congress.Balutan said he has directed the agency’s gaming sector to intensify its operations to raise more funds from its various Lotto products, Sweepstakes and Small Town Lottery (STL) draws.The PCSO has been an active member of the President’s “Malasakit Centers” nationwide with the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).“With the UHC law in the works by both houses of Congress, the President is assured PCSO will work hard to provide more funds for the free hospitalization of patients specially indigents who can’t afford to buy their own medicines,” Balutan said.“Patients afflicted with life-threatening illnesses such as those who need chemotherapy, radiation and dialysis treatments, implant and transplant operations, and even those who need wheelchairs and hearing aids now have easier access to financial assistance through the UHC via the Malasakit Centers,” he added.After some initial confusion about the transfer of PCSO’s 30 percent charity fund under the Senate version, Balutan said the issue has been clarified and he agreed that the whole Individual Medical Assistance Program (IMAP) should be fully transferred to Philhealth.Under IMAP, beneficiaries are given financial assistance for their hospital bills, chemotherapy, radiation or dialysis treatments and other medical services.“I want to thank our senators for listening to our concerns and hopefully everything will be fine and the UHC would become a law soon,” Balutan said.He said PCSO services under its institutional partnership program, which comprise 60 percent of its charity fund, would be retained.These include ambulance donation, calamity assistance, capability building for regional health units, medicine procurement, the Integrated Health for Overall Productivity and Empowerment (I-HOPE), endowment fund, among others.Balutan said since the President has certified the UHC bill as urgent, the measure is expected to be signed into law before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy in October.Meanwhile, Balutan reported that for the first semester this year, the PCSO generated almost P31 billion in revenues, making the agency on track with its projected revenues of P55 billion to P60 billion this year.“I’m confident we can reach the target with the full support of the President and of course the gaming public. We have to intensify our campaign against jueteng and all forms of illegal numbers games by expanding further our STL operations in all cities and provinces,” Balutan said.“Our STL operations already earned P12.3 billion from January to June and the current 79 authorized STL agents deserve commendation for helping this government provide funds for health programs and free medical services to the people,” he added.Balutan also expressed gratitude to the President and Finance Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez 3rd for recognizing PCSO as the 5th best performing agency from the 125 government-owned-and-controlled-corporations (GOCCs).“PCSO is now in the list of the so-called ‘Billionaires’ Row’ and we’re very proud of that. Thank you Mr. President, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was also a witness to this award and DoF Sec. Dominguez. Most of all, to the gaming public and all the beneficiaries of PCSO,” Balutan said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/balutan-vows-funding-for-health-care-program/432833/
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Disaster readiness stressed
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['Inigo Montoya']
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6/11/2016 0:00
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For Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., one of the biggest lessons of super-typhoon “Yolanda” is to take disaster preparedness seriously.“If our local governments are better prepared, it is a big help in preventing damages,” Defensor said three years after Yolanda ravage the Visayas.Of the five provinces in Western Visayas region, Iloilo suffered the most from Yolanda.According to data from the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the typhoon killed 217 people in the province and left almost 950,000 homeless.Defensor said Iloilo has become better prepared for Yolanda-like disasters, but still lacks certain equipment and bigger evacuation centers.“We don’t have all the funds to put up evacuation centers. We have towns that really need evacuation centers,” he said.Defensor expressed appreciation to the aid that poured into the province after the typhoon.The governor said Yolanda-hit areas, particularly towns in northern Iloilo, have recovered through housing and socio-economic projects of foreign governments and foreign-funded organizations.Among the donors are South Korea, Japan, Italy, United Kingdom, Australia, United States as well as different Red Cross organizations.Funding from the national government and local organizations also helped a lot, Defensor said.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/06/disaster-readiness-stressed/
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Duterte promises to rid ‘cleaner’ Boracay Island of illegal drugs
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-11-10 00:03:27+00:00
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AFTER being cleansed of pollution, the world-famous Boracay island will be cleansed of illegal drugs as well, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.In a speech during the distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the island, Duterte said he would go after illegal drug peddlers in the island.“I said that drugs, you sons of bitches, you get out of Boracay. On top of Boracay, at the beach, there are a lot of drugs there. I will come after you,” Duterte said.“I cleaned that beach. You sons of bitches, I will clean you as well. I will go after you,” he added.Duterte, in a news conference after the event, cited this as another reason why he does not want casinos in the island.“In casinos, there is a problem with drugs there. I have known this for a long time. Then again, these casinos are dysfunctional,” Duterte said.“That is the reason why it is almost, when you enter… Philippine contemporary scene. A hotel with a casino is not good because there are a lot of things that will happen. It becomes dysfunctional actually. Kidnappings, drugs, and everything,” Duterte said.He mentioned an incident in Okada hotel where a foreign guest was held for kidnap-for-ransom by lawless elements.The President, however, said he does not see the need to sign an executive order (EO) to enforce a ban on casino operations in Boracay, contrary to an earlier position of the Department of Justice.Duterte said he could simply issue a verbal order restricting casinos in Boracay,During the reopening of Boracay on October 26, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Duterte’s EO would be “proper” to direct the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to revoke the existing licenses of casino operators and stop future casino projects in Boracay.Duterte said he wanted a total ban on casino operations because Boracay residents had called for a “no casino” policy.“Ang survey dito, ang mga tao ng Boracay, ayaw ng sugal (According to the survey conducted, residents of Boracay do not want gambling),” the President said.Duterte closed down Boracay for six months to make way for a rehabilitation, after he called it a “cesspool.”Upon opening, he distributed 623 CLOAs to Atis covering 274 hectares of land in Boracay and Aklan, a promise he fulfilled after he said in the past that he would give lands back to the natives.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-promises-to-rid-cleaner-boracay-island-of-illegal-drugs/465069/
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Lacson to bare BoC payoff list
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-08-20 21:04:58+00:00
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TO make sure that there will be no further delays in naming officials and personnel allegedly involved in the rampant payola (payoff) system at the Bureau of Customs (BoC), Sen. Panfilo Lacson has decided to make the disclosure in a privilege speech to be delivered on WednesdayLacson was supposed to reveal the information he obtained from a number of sources inside the BoC during the previous hearing of the blue ribbon committee on the P6.4-billion shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) shipment from China but he was not able to do it for lack of time.According to Lacson, he is fine-tuning his speech, which would focus on the names of Customs officials and personnel who have been regularly receiving payoffs from brokers and other Customs players.He said the names were provided by numerous sources including high-ranking and mid-level officials of the BOC.“With a little bit of exaggeration, mukhang si Nick Faeldon na lang ang di nagbibigay sa akin ng listahan [It seems Nick Faeldon is the only person left who has not given us a list],” Lacson added, referring to BoC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon.He said the information he has is massive that it would be better to disclose it in a privilege speech so that there will be no distraction.The senator declined to provide the names of those on the list but he confirmed that the name of Faeldon has been mentioned consistently.But Lacson said they are checking the information because they do not want to be used by individuals who are providing false information.The Senate blue ribbon committee is scheduled to resume its hearing on the shabu shipment on August 22.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lacson-bare-boc-payoff-list/345736/
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Immigration workers to get cash bonanza
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-07-17 00:05:57+00:00
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Regular personnel and contractual workers of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will soon receive their cash bonanza as President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the release of their augmentation pay, fulfilling his promise earlier this year to increase their salaries.The augmentation pay, as provided under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), would be sourced from the more than P1 billion express lane fund (ELF) of the BI.Express lane charges are additional cost paid by aliens who wanted to fast track the processing of their documents.“The office just received the memo so our Finance and Management Division is still computing [the total amount of ELF collected] based on the guidelines,” BI spokesperson Dina Mangote-Sandoval told The Manila Times on Monday.According to Sandoval, 64 percent of the ELF collection would be used for the salary augmentation of 1,871 organic personnel deployed in different offices nationwide, while 25 percent will be allotted for contractual personnel.BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the release of the money would boost the morale of BI employees whose take home pay was significantly cut last year when they were stopped from drawing their overtime pay from the bureau’s express lane collections.Presently, the average take home pay of an immigration officer is P16,000 a month.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/immigration-workers-to-get-cash-bonanza/420091/
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Strengthen OGCC, Senate urged
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-03-07 00:04:45+00:00
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THE Senate has been urged to strengthen, not abolish, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), the principal law office of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).Philippine Export Import Credit Agency General Counsel and Officer-in-Charge Isabelo Gumaru said the general consensus among GOCC lawyers is that abolishing the OGCC and transferring its functions to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) “is an untenable proposal given the clear conflict of interest issues that may arise from such a set up.”He said some senators and lawyers from the Department of Justice and the OGCC had pointed out that conflict of interest issues would be unavoidable if the OSG represented both the national government and the GOCCs.“The OSG cannot serve two masters. This would be like a private law firm representing opposite sides in the same case,” the lawyer pointed out.Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, expressed reservations on proposals to merge OGCC, the Presidential Commission on Good Government with the OSG after questions on conflict of interest were raised.Gordon’s committee is conducting a hearing on bills proposing to strengthen the OSG by abolishing the PCGG and the OGCC and transferring their respective powers and functions to the OSG.Gordon explained that the OGCC is focused on corporate matters thus it won’t serve any purpose to integrate it with the OSG. On the other hand, transferring the PCGG to the OSG would only impede the former’s operations.Solicitor General Jose Calida has been pushing for the merger, saying the move would save the government a lot of money.But Gumaru said the OSG proposal would make it the legal counsel of the Republic and the governmentcorporate entities that it regulates. This he added, would not be good since there were numerous instances wherein the national government and GOCCs were on opposing sides of a legal issue.“If the OGCC were to be abolished, we would have a scenario wherein lawyers from the same office represent both entities involved in a legal dispute. This would be unethical and improper; a clear violation of our Code of Professional Responsibility,” he added.Gumaru said there are about 400 pending cases between the OSG and the OGCC, with the OSG representing government instrumentalities like the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Commission on Audit on one hand, and the OGCC representing GOCCs.Gordon had admitted that he was “not yet convinced“ that there was a need to merge the functions of the OSG and OGCC.“We cannot see the Solicitor General adjudicating and judging on matters involving for example, GOCC and a line agency. Like, for example, the BIR versus Duty Free Corporation of the government,“ he said during the hearing.Sen. Franklin Drilon shared Gordon’s stand, saying that the “most bothersome issue” with the OSG proposal was conflict of interest.“Mr. Solgen, I cannot overcome that as of now, that internal problem, of how you will overcome the very clear conflict of interest situation that you will be confronted with if you have both the government line agencies where you are counsel by law and the OGCC, which is the lawyer of the government corporations,” he said.“For example, the BIR would impose or would assess a tax on a GOCC; you are counsel for the BIR; the OGCC is counsel for the government corporation by their own charter. Now, to me, as a lawyer, SolGen, this presents a real conflict of interest situation,” Drilon added.Justice Undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr. told committee members that the DoJ was in favor of retaining the OGCC “because their functions are different from the functions of the OSG, particularly with respect to the conflict of interest matter.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/strengthen-ogcc-senate-urged/384510/
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DILG backs bets’ resumé submission for May polls
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2018-03-04 21:40:48+00:00
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday backed a proposal of an election watchdog to require all candidates in this year’s barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or Youth Council) elections to submit a resumé indicating their aptness for the position they are eyeing.The polls will be held in May, after having been postponed last year by both chambers of Congress, as well as by President Rodrigo Duterte, reasoning out that funds are allegedly being corrupted by village officials for illegal drugs.The recommendation of the watchdog National Citizens Movement for Free Elections [Namfrel] for the submission of resumés will boost the credibilty of the elections, according to Jonathan Malaya, DILG spokesman.He said the Interior department is hoping for peaceful elections for village and Youth Council seats.“We are in favor of Namfrel’s proposal because elections are not just a game wherein everyone can participate. They should also be used in measuring capabilities of each candidate vying for a position,” Malaya added.In February, Namfrel urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to require all village and SK prospective candidates to submit at least a one-page resumé highlighting their suitability for the position they are running for.According to the poll watchdog, the resumé must bare the candidates’ skills and capacity to run for office.It pointed out that the resumé must also include the candidates’ motivation to participate in the May polls and the key challenges they see as they run for office.Malaya said the DILG is also hoping that the Comelec would work for installing “competent leaders” in the country’s barangay and improving governance there.“In the village level, it is important for a leader to maintain good governance, that is why it is also important for us to determine the skills and capabilities as well as the motivation of anyone vying for a village leadership post,” he said.Malaya noted that, acting DILG Secretary Eduardo Año last month launched a campaign called “Matino, Mahusay at Maaasahang Barangay and SK Officials” (Sensible, Good and Reliable Village and Youth Officials), which seeks to encourage the public to choose their local leaders wisely.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dilg-backs-bets-resume-submission-may-polls/384098/
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GSIS refinancing window offered to DepEd workers
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-05-13 00:06:06+00:00
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ELIGIBLE personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) may apply for the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Financial Assistance Loan (GFAL) Program beginning May 15 in all GSIS offices nationwide, except the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).This follows last month’s ceremonial signing of the GFAL memorandum of agreement between the two government agencies represented by Education Secretary Leonor Briones and GSIS President and General Manager Jesus Clint Aranas in the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang.GFAL is the result of more than a year of negotiations between DepEd, led by Undersecretary for Finance-Disbursements and Accounting Victoria Catibog, and GSIS, led by GSIS-NCR Operations Senior Vice President Nora Saludares. With hundreds of thousands of public school teachers and employees whose monthly loan payments have been affected by over-borrowing and who may run the risk of losing their retirement or separation benefits, the need to address this concern became urgent, officials said.The GFAL will allow eligible DepEd teaching and non-teaching personnel to refinance their outstanding loans with private lending institutions (PLIs) accredited under DepEd’s Automatic Payroll Deduction System (APDS). The program aims to: a) improve the financial capability of DepEd personnel; and b) provide an affordable loan package to enable DepEd personnel to take out or refinance their outstanding loans with the APDS accredited PLIs through the GSIS. It offers a competitive rate at 6 percent per annum on a longer loan term of up to six years.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/gsis-refinancing-window-offered-to-deped-workers/398433/
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Lawmakers set new rates on car tax, bonus exemptions
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-12-07 20:41:32+00:00
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MEMBERS of the bicameral conference committee on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) have been able to reconcile differences in provisions concerning automobile excise tax adjustments and tax exemptions on the 13th month pay and other bonuses of taxpayers.Senate and House of Representative contingents on Thursday agreed to set new excise tax rates on vehicles that would not have much impact on prices of lower-end automobiles compared to what were being proposed by the Senate.According to a source, lawmakers agreed on a four-tiered system based on net value of the automobiles but retained the exemption on electric vehicles.Under the rates approved by the committee, vehicles with net value of up to P600,000 will be taxed at 4 percent, while automobiles priced at P600,001 but not more than P1 million will be taxed at 10 percent and those that are valued above P1 million will be taxed at P20 percent.The members of the bicameral conference committee also agreed to impose 0.5 percent excise tax on hybrid vehicles depending on which of the four tiers they would fall under.The new version is different from what is being proposed in the Senate version–10 percent on vehicles not exceeding P600,000 and 20 percent on those valued at P1 million and above.It does away with the two-year implementation period in the version of the House of Representatives.The committee further agreed to raise the tax-exemption ceiling on the 13th month pay and other bonuses to P90,000.Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee, said the Senate and House of Representatives contingents were able to reconcile the differences in the two versions of the bill setting the tax-exempt ceiling for bonuses at P90,000 effective 2018.Under the current law or Republic Act 10653, the 13th month pay and other benefits, including productivity incentives and Christmas bonuses, are exempted from tax if they do not exceed P82,000.The Senate, in its approved Train bill, retained the tax-free ceiling but the House of Representatives in its version raised it to P100,000.During the bicameral conference committee hearing, the lawmakers who were tasked to reconcile the differences in the two versions reached a compromise and set the rate at P90,000.Angara said the new rate is 300 percent higher than the rate in 2015 wherein tax-exemption covered only bonuses and the 13th month pay not exceeding P30,000.He added that the newly approved tax-exemption ceiling on income tax and the13th month pay would mean that taxpayers could enjoy annual income of up to P340,000 tax- free.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/lawmakers-set-new-rates-car-tax-bonus-exemptions/367338/
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Davaoeño appointed Prosecutor General
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2016-12-09 23:05:59+00:00
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A fellow Davaeño was chosen by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice (DOJ).Davao Assistant City Prosecutor Victor Sepulvida will replace Claro Arellano as the new Prosecutor General.Arellano was appointed as Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) administrator.The Prosecutor General is the head of prosecutors nationwide and all preliminary investigation cases in the DOJ shall be filed in court only with his signature.According to DOJ Undersecretary Ericson Balmes, Sepulvida was acting chief prosecutor of Davao City from 2014 to early 2015.Duterte served as mayor of the city for 23 years before he was elected President in May this year.Sepulvida was the one who ordered the filing of criminal charges against Supt. Leonardo Felonia, former chief of the Philippine National Police Southern Mindanao Regional Intelligence Unit, and three others for the murder of Cebu businessman Richard King in 2014.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/davaoeno-appointed-prosecutor-general-2/300920/
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Tesda steps up training support for infra program
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['Neil Alcober']
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2018-07-08 00:05:19+00:00
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THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will expand the capacity of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to support the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build Build Build” infrastructure program, which will need some 200,000 construction workers nationwide.Tesda Director General Guiling Mamondiong said the agency will strengthen its partnerships with business and industry groups in the provision of skills training on construction-related programs.Accredited training institutions tied up with construction companies such as Aboitiz Construction, Golden Bay Philippines Corp., and Jorviv’s Construction, particularly in Region Vll, Vlll and X, to broaden job opportunities to qualified TVET graduates.Mamondiong said the agency will look for ways to increase the number of trainers, assessors and accredited assessment centers. The agency is also looking into possible partnerships with other government agencies and private organizations.The Tesda chief said more programs will be formulated to increase the number of skilled workers, especially in occupations that are hard to fill. He said there is a shortage of heavy equipment operators, masons and scaffolders.“It is significant to note that there are graduates of scaffold erection and masonry which are included among the identified as critical skills for the infrastructure development under the Build, Build, Build Program. However, training on heavy equipment operations is not included in the top qualifications with the most number of graduates, which was identified as critical and hard-to-fill skills,” Mamodiong said.In March this year, Mamondiong issued the guidelines on the implementation of Tesda’s “Train to Build Build Build Project” that aims to train and develop skilled workers in the construction sector, develop models that shall be used in the conduct of training and expand TVET delivery capacity in construction-related training programs.From 2017 to April 30, 2018, a total of 123,537 have enrolled in construction-related training programs. In the same period, 90,240 completed their training.Among the regions with the most number of enrollees are the Caraga, Region lV-B, Region lV A and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/tesda-steps-up-training-support-for-infra-program/417208/
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Red Cross, DoH sign Dengvaxia pact
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2018-04-13 00:02:25+00:00
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The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Department of Health (DoH) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to collaborate in government efforts to deliver medical services to dengue patients and Dengvaxia-inoculated children.The signing was made at the Philippine Red Cross 71st anniversary, which coincided with the 32nd PRC Biennial National Convention opening ceremonies.PRC Chairman Richard Gordon and Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd were in attendance to sign the agreement, which aims to develop and support cooperation on the delivery of health response activities during mass casualty incidents, emergencies or disasters.The agreement seeks to conduct further awareness campaigns on dengue in communities and schools; to give ready assistance to poor families through referrals and psychosocial support through counseling to mothers, affected families and communities; to utilize Red Cross ambulances to complement DoH ambulances to bring poor patients to referral hospitals; to ensure availability of blood supply especially to poor families needing assistance; and to establish close relationships with schools in coordination with local health units and engage teachers in elementary level in monitoring children vaccinated against dengue.Duque lauded the PRC for being a “long-time ally” of the DoH in responding to vulnerabilities of the people.He said the memorandum with the Red Cross is a “right step” and they would later extend the services to other mass casualty events.“The complementation and signature with the DoH and the Philippine Red Cross is a right step on a very strong partnership and we are pursuing this,” Duque added.“In fact, we are extending this to the mass casualty management with the DoH and the PRC. So it is very important that we solidify, we cement this collaboration and cooperation between the PRC and the DoH,” he said.Under the MoA, the PRC and the DoH will strengthen their cooperation in providing health responses, such as provision of emergency hospitals, potable water and welfare desks in times of mass casualty incidents, emergencies and disasters.The Philippine Red Cross is a humanitarian organization with 103 chapters and around two million volunteers nationwide.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/red-cross-doh-sign-dengvaxia-pact/392160/
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Court junks ABS-CBN plea on GMA 7 libel raps
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['Jomar Canlas']
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2018-03-31 00:01:13+00:00
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THE Court of Appeals (CA) has junked a petition of then broadcasters of ABS-CBN led by its chairman and CEO Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez, along with journalists Erwin Tulfo, Linda Jumilla and several others, questioning a ruling of the lower court in connection with a P100-million libel complaint filed by the GMA 7 against them.In its two-page resolution, penned by Associate Justice Renato Francisco and concurred in by Associate Justices Sesinando Villon and Manuel Barrios, the CA’s Former Ninth Division dismissed the motion for reconsideration from ABS-CBN and the other journalists.The CA said the issues raised by the motion for reconsideration were already discussed and a mere rehash of the petitioners’ previous arguments.“Accordingly, petitioner’s motion for reconsideration is hereby denied for lack of merit,” it ruled.“Petitioners still insist that this petition for certiorari under Rule 65 is the proper recourse to question the denial of their motion to quash the information against them; and that the assailed sets of information are not sufficient in form and substance. These, however, are mere rehashed arguments, which had already been exhaustively discussed and squarely passed upon by this court in the decision sought to be reconsidered,” it avers.Aside from Lopez, Tulfo and Jumilla, also impleaded in the case were ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. president and COO Luis Alejandro and nine other officers of the network who repeatedly accused GMA 7 of stealing footage on the arrival of Angelo de la Cruz in July 2004 in its news programs.De la Cruz, a Filipino truck driver working for a Saudi Arabian company, had been kidnapped and threatened with beheading until then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo acceded to demands of his captors that 51 Philippine soldiers and officers be withdrawn from Iraq.His abductors released him on July 20, 2004.The same case was filed by GMA Network chairman, president and CEO Felipe Gozon, executive vice president and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr., vice president for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, News Director Jessica Soho, News Operations head Grace Reyes and News Program Manager John Oliver Manalastas.Also sued were senior vice president for News and Current Affairs Jose Ramon Olivares, vice president for News Operations Jesus Maderazo, vice president for News Productions Luisita Cruz-Valdes, assistant vice president for News Operations Jose Magsaysay Jr., director for News Operations Alfonso Marquez, then INSIDER executive producer Beth Frondoso, Magandang Umaga Bayan supervising producer Maria Progena Estonilo Reyes, Magandang Umaga Bayan executive producer Annie Eugenio and News Patrol executive producer Dondi Garcia.Records of the case showed that Tulfo and Jumilla repeatedly made statements against GMA 7 in ABS-CBN’s news program Insider and morning current affairs program Magandang Umaga Bayan on July 23, 2004.Tulfo and Jumilla allegedly called GMA 7. a thief in their program.In its episode, INSIDER showed a live video with bold graphics that read, “Ang pagnanakaw ba’y serbisyong totoo?”It even showed the slug, “Exclusive video ng ABS-CBN ninakaw ng GMA-7.”This prompted Gozon, et al. to file a complaint, saying ABS-CBN’s malicious statements gave GMA 7 no other recourse but to go to court.The case reached the court for trial, prompting Tulfo et al. to file their motion to quash but to no avail.In its August 17, 2017 ruling that was released just recently, the appellate court dismissed the petition.“In sum, no grave abuse of discretion can be ascribed to the RTC [Regional Trial Court] , as its denial of petitioners’ motion to quash finds support under the rules and applicable jurisprudence.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/court-junks-abs-cbn-plea-on-gma-7-libel-raps/389521/
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Extend rice importation, NFA urged
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-03-03 20:26:15+00:00
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A group of rice importers on Friday strongly urged the National Food Authority (NFA) to extend the importation of rice until March 31.Edwin Paraluman, chairman of the Philippine Farmers Advisory Board (PFAB), told the media that it is unfair that NFA Administrator Jason Aquino allowed other importers to import rice from Pakistan and India until March 31, while his group that imports rice from Thailand and Vietnam were prevented to import before the end of February.Paraluman said Aquino’s decision was a clear proof of double standard.The PFAB and its allied organizations have already lost P6 billion as of March 3.It is seen to increase if the NFA will not reconsider its position on their group.According to Paraluman, the stoppage of his group’s importation has so many effects, apart from the P6-billion loss of income, such as possible increase in the unit price of rice.He said his group is a big help to the country, and Aquino should allow them to import rice until March 31.Paraluman pointed out that they already paid the necessary taxes to the government for the importation.NELSON S. BADILLA
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/extend-rice-importation-nfa-urged-2/315250/
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Binay calls for speedy probe of mosque bombing
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-04-25 20:14:18+00:00
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The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has urged authorities to resolve a bombing outside a mosque in Talayan, Maguindanao that injured eight persons, including the incumbent mayor and his father.Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA chairman, said the bombing was a deplorable act.“The concerned law enforcement agencies should act with dispatch to identify and arrest the perpetrators. The tense situation in Talayan should not be allowed to spiral out of control,” he noted.“Failure to decisively act on the incident could only reinforce the growing perception that the peace and order situation, particularly in Mindanao, has worsened,” Binay said.According to media reports, authorities still have no leads on identities of the suspects who hurled two grenades outside the Grand Mosque in Talayan town last Friday.Reported wounded in the explosion were Kagui Ali Midtimbang, 62; his son and mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang 33; and six security escorts.The Midtimbangs ran under UNA in the 2016 local elections.The victims had come from afternoon prayers at the mosque.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/binay-calls-speedy-probe-mosque-bombing/324051/
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Russia eyed as new destination FOR OFWS
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['William Depasupil']
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2017-05-12 21:02:34+00:00
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THE Philippines is eyeing Russia as a new destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as bilateral relations between the two countries continue to get stronger since Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru last year.Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Friday disclosed that he and Russian Ambassador to Manila Igor Anatolyyevich Khovaev have agreed to establish “a solid legal basis for cooperation” for the benefit of Filipino migrant workers.“We are glad we had preliminary discussion on various labor issues and concerns of mutual interest to both countries,” Bello said.According to him, the Russian ambassador gave his assurance to give ample protection to the rights and legitimate interest of overseas Filipino workers in Russia.In response, Bello said he suggested forming a bilateral working group to craft the partnership where the rights and protection of both Filipino workers and Russian employers will be guaranteed.“We hope to meet with our counterparts in Russia for us to discuss the specifics of this agreement. A working group should define the terms and guidelines for this,” he added.According to Bello, opening of labor relations between Manila and Moscow will also be discussed by Duterte with Putin in his planned visit to Russia this year.“I already sent a memo to the President requesting him to include the possible deployment of skilled and professional workers to Russia,” he said.Bello added that there is a demand for construction and household service workers in Russia.In 2014, there were about 4,000 OFWs in Russia who were working in construction, hotels and households.According to a recent study, Middle East countries are still the top destinations for OFWs.The 2016 Overseas Land-Based Jobs and Salary Report showed that Saudi Arabia remains to be the top OFW destination for the past two years, with 39 percent contribution to the total OFW jobs.Other Middle East countries that dominated the list are Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman followed by the United States, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam and Australia.The study is based on overseas jobs posted by agencies licensed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration at WorkAbroad.ph from January to September 2016.Engineering is still the top specialization with most jobs for professional workers contributing 26 percent to the total OFW jobs.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/russia-eyed-new-destination-ofws/326894/
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Blogger Drew Olivar faces bomb raps
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['Roy Narra']
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2018-09-25 00:03:49+00:00
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Charges will be filed against blogger Andrew “Drew” Olivar for posting bomb rumors on his social media account, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.“I think Drew Olivar has learned his lesson and he will be charged with violation of PD 1727 or the [anti-bomb joke]. He cannot be arrested during the time [he posted the bomb joke] because it already happened but he will be formally charged in court,” Albayalde told reporters.Olivar posted on September 20 that it was scary to hold rallies along EDSA on the 46th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration because of rumors that “there will be a bombing like the one in Plaza Miranda.”He was referring to the bombing incident in Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on August 21, 1971 during a political campaign rally that resulted in the death of nine people.Olivar’s latest controversy comes just a few weeks after making fun of sign language and mocking the deaf, and the “Ipepe-idede” dance about federalism, both with Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/blogger-drew-bolivar-faces-bomb-raps/444858/
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Release of 105 containers above-board – port operator
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-04-02 00:03:13+00:00
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PORT operator Asian Terminals Inc. has maintained that its release of 105 “alerted” container vans was above-board and in accordance with existing Customs procedures, contrary to an earlier claim by Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Isidro Lapeña that it was illegally released in connivance with some ATI personnel.It explained that it released the containers after the BoC issued a release instruction through the On-Line Release System (OLRS), part of the bureau’s e2m Alert System, over which the ATI does not have any control.“Release through the OLRS means that all duties and taxes have been paid and that there are no holds on the container. Pursuant to CMO 35-2015, once an OLRS release has been issued, a shipment can only be held through Special Stop placed by the Commissioner, which was not issued,” the ATI said in a statement sent to The Manila Times.“The tagging and untagging of cargoes in the terminal’s system were pursuant to instructions from the BoC and are based on documentations issued by the bureau. In light of the BoC’s e2m Alert System and the Special Stop access of the Commissioner, this process only serves as an internal measure and is an assistance to the BoC in enforcing its control over cargoes,” it added.According to the ATI, the tagging/untagging process does not in any way subjugate the electronic alerts and special stop that must and should be put in place by the BoC.It denied that any of its employees was responsible for the lifting of any alert order on cargoes.Last week, Lapeña ordered the investigation of five Customs officials and the ATI for alleged connivance in the illegal release of 105 container vans despite a pending alert order.One of the Customs officials being investigated, Formal Entry Division (FED) chief Meliton Pascual, said he cannot overrule by a mere memorandum the alert order issued by Lapena, who has the sole authority to lift the alert order on the subject container vans.“Who am I to overrule the alert order of the Commissioner?” Pascual told The Times in a phone interview, saying “my signature in that memorandum which the ATI used as basis for the release of the container vans was forged.”“I am open to an investigation to protect my honor and integrity. I was in Japan for an official mission when the incident happened,” Pascual added even he called on Lapeña and the National Bureau of Investigation to focus on the forgery issue.Pursuant to Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 35-2015, Section 3.8, there are only four instances where a manual alert can be issued: 1. The e2m Customs system is “not” accessible; 2. For unmanifested cargoes/shipments; 3. For entries processed under Informal Entry; and 4. For export cargoes.In the instant case of the shipments illegally withdrawn, all 22 import entries with a total of 105 containers, the Office of the Commissioner issued 22 manual alert orders.A Customs source who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is but impossible that in all these instances, the e2m system is not accessible.“Worse, in the same CMO, it presupposes that the Commissioner has the power to issue a ‘Special Stop’ which could have at least prevented the illegal withdrawal, but to no avail. No Special Stops were triggered in all 22 manual alert orders issued by the Office of the Commissioner,” a source added.“In fact, had the alerting office at least checked or verified, which should have been done, whether the subject alerted shipments were already tagged in the OLRS a “special stop should have been issued,” he said.The source pointed out that the issuance of manual alerts is restricted, if not avoided, to prevent abuse and maintain the integrity of the alerting power of the BoC, thus CMO 35-2015 was crafted for that purpose along with some provisions in the Customs Modernization Tariff Act.Acording to the source, the FED-Port of Manila should instead be commended beause if it was not for their effort, the illegal release of the 105 container vans could not have been discovered.Lapeña earlier said he does not buy the alibi of the ATI that they gave clearance for the release of the controversial cargoes because they were “not flagged in its system,” adding that the port operator should have looked for the lift order from the office of the Customs commissioner.“What was done by the ATI in this particular case was a violation of procedure that is in place. A lifting order signed by me is a basic requirement before the release of container vans,” Lapeña said.“The BoC can recommend the suspension of accreditation of the ATI, just like what [President Rodrigo Duterte] did to Miascor, NAIA’s [Ninoy Aquino International Airport] aviation service provider,” he added.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/release-of-105-containers-above-board-port-operator/389971/
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DoH warns vs ‘WILD’ diseases
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2017-07-03 21:12:43+00:00
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The Department of Health (DoH) on Monday alerted the public to prepare against Water-borne Influenza, Leptospirosis and Dengue (WILD) diseases commonly acquired during the rainy season.DoH spokesman Eric Tayag said water-borne diseases in the form of diarrhea can affect people through contaminated sources of drinking water.“There is a possibility that drinking water sources may be contaminated by rainwater especially in those areas where there is poor sanitation,” Tayag explained.To purify water for drinking, the DoH recommends the use of hyposol or chlorine tablets to wash out impurities.Tayag said influenza is also one of the diseases that the public should be wary of during the rainy season as cough, cold fever and flu are usually being experienced by a number of people at this time.The DoH as a preventive measure provides flu and pneumonia vaccines to senior citizens.For leptospirosis, Tayag said, it is important to protect oneself from dirty floodwater contaminated by rat urine and which may enter open wounds.As a precaution, the DoH recommends the use of boots if one needs to walk in dirty flood water.To prevent dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, including zika and chikungunya, mosquito breeding breeding sites should be destroyed; and self-protection measures adopted such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and pajamas and using mosquito nets and mosquito-repellant lotions.KENNETH HERNANDEZ
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doh-warns-vs-wild-diseases-2/336388/
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'Ube' in glass jar banned on airplanes
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2017-01-24 21:43:00+00:00
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‘Ube’ in glass jar banned on airplaneshome/News/Nation/‘Ube’ in glass jar banned on airplanesUbe jam is a common dessert that Filipinos give as presents to friends and relations living abroad.Air travelers cannot carry the delicacy anymore, hand-carried or not, aboard airplanes, officials of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) have ruled.The MIAA officials explained that the glass jar containing the jam can be used as an improvised but dangerous weapon.When broken, the officials said, the glass jar-turned-blunt instrument can also be used to threaten and harm people on board the airplane.They noted that some passengers are still ignorant or are unaware that ube jam in a glass jar has long been prohibited by air carriers.Despite being familiar with the list of other banned items on airplanes, the MIAA officials said, passengers insist on or sneak them past airport checkers.Last week, an Office for Transportation Security (OTS) screener at the final security check stopped a Filipina over a glass jar of ube jam.As a result, the Filipina along with her foreigner friend missed their flight to Dubai.She later complained and accused the OTS screener of extortion, which accusation is being investigated.The MIAA said passengers can hand-carry ube jam or any dessert but it should be packed in plastic jar/container or vacuum-packed.It is requesting travel agencies to issue an advisory to their clients that glass jars are among the items banned on airplanes.The advisory, the MIAA said, can save passengers time, especially those rushing to the airport to catch their flights.Airports nationwide including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport display at departure gates a list of banned items on aircraft that include firearms and other devices that discharge projectiles; stunning devices such as acid sprays, insect and animal repellant sprays, pepper sprays and stun guns; objects with sharp points and edges; workers’ tools; blunt instruments; explosives and incendiary substances and devices; and liquid, aerosols and gels (LAGs).Manila is a member of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization and strictly follows ICAO’s Standard and Recommended Practices.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ube-glass-jar-banned-airplanes/308545/
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DOTr: Gov’t to reconstruct railway to Bicol with P150-B fund
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['Narciso Amigo Nombre']
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22/07/2017 0:00
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The railway from Manila to Bicol – the southern edge of Luzon – will undergo reconstruction, not rehabilitation, with an approved fund of P150 billion, a high-ranking official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said last Friday.DOTr Assistant Secretary Cesar Chavez said the national government, through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), approved the P150-billion allocations for the reconstruction of the Philippine National Railways (PNR’s) Bicol Express.Chavez said that out of the P150 billion budget, the DOTr will use P54 billion for land acquisition.The reengineering of the railway is among the 50 major economic projects of the Duterte Administration which are targeted to finish by the end of his term in 2021.The Duterte Administration is committed to bring back the old glory and prestige of the mass transport system in the country and make it even more efficient by cutting down to 5 hours the travel time between Manila and Matnog, Sorsogon in the Bicol Region.Chavez said brand-new train coaches will also be introduced to replace the old ones.The reconstruction of the railway is set to start in 2018 and by its completion will be able to transport 11,000 passengers daily, based on Asian Development Bank (ADB) studies.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/22/dotr-govt-to-reconstruct-railway-to-bicol-with-p150-b-fund/
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Abu Sayyaf feeling heat of military offensives
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['Rone Pervy', 'Lenra Nortap']
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26/03/2017 0:00
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Tug boat skipper Aurelio Agac-ac walked for two hours to his freedom at dawn on Saturday, following a harrowing 37-hour harrowing ordeal as captive of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Basilan province.“They (captors) were asleep, perhaps because they were too tired. I took the risk and escaped,” he told reporters at the headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).The visibly spent Agac-ac said he walked and ran until he was recovered by pursuing troops that have surrounded the mountainous area of Barangay Basakan in the coastal town of Hadji Mohammad Ajul at around 3:20 a.m. Saturday.“Even at night, we can hear the presence of military choppers in the mountain,” he said explaining the heavy presence of military forces in the area has forced his captors to lessen the grip on him.“I walked and ran. I was tired at same time hungry,” he said.On Thursday, the Abu Sayyaf bandits hijacked M/T Tug R9 and forcibly took Agac-ac, along with his chief engineer, Laurencio Tiro, in the vicinity of Sibago Island, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.“Although I was scared, but I gather my strength to escape. I always pray and don’t lose hope,” Agac-ac said.Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom commander, said it was the combined efforts of Navy, Air Force, and the local government of Basilan that pressured the Abu Sayyaf bandits and lose its focus.“It was the constant pressure that we deployed that he was able to escape,” Galvez said.Following receipt of distress call on Thursday, the Navy dispatched three gun boats to the vicinity of Sibago island, while Air Force helicopters tracked down the locations of the bandits.“We have increased our capabilities in terms of interdiction. We can react immediately,” Galvez said.With the enhance military, “this will deter future kidnapping incidents [and seajacking],” Galvez said.Galvez also gave the assurance that the government is exhausting all efforts to rescue the ASG’s remaining hostages.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/26/abu-sayyaf-feeling-heat-of-military-offensives/
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Pimentel lauds BSP check clearing system
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['Bernadette E. Tamayo']
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2017-10-29 00:55:24+00:00
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THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is doing the banking sector, the business sector and Filipino people “a great service” when it opted to continue operating its check clearing system from November 13 to 15.Senate President Aquilino Pimente 3rd made the remark who earlier urged the BSP to keep PHILPASS––the BSP’s check clearing system––up and running during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.“This is a positive developent because it does not make sense for banking and business operations nationwide to be essentially paralyzed just because there is a three-day holiday in the nation’s capital; the Philippines, after all, is not just Metro Manila,” he said.BSP Gov. Nestor Espenilla Jr. on Friday said BSP’s PHILPASS and cash servicing units would remain open “during the coming Asean holidays” from November 13 to 15.Pimentel said Espenilla’s directive, together with the decision of banks and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to remain open during the Asean holidays, would ensure that “the country will be open for business, not just open for Asean.”“Our hosting of the Asean summit is an honor and we should all work together to make it a success,” the Senate chief said.“That being said, if there are steps that can be taken to minimize the disruptions in the lives and the livelihoods of our countrymen, then by all means let’s do what has to be done,” Pimentel said.November 13 to 15 have been declared special non-working holidays in Metro Manila, Pampanga and Bulacan as these areas would be most affected by Asean events in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Clark Field, Pampanga.The Metro Manila Council also announced that classes at all levels would also be suspended on November 16 and 17.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pimentel-lauds-bsp-check-clearing-system/359393/
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Boracay rehabilitation off to ‘good start’
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-04-29 20:35:41+00:00
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Rehabilitation work in Boracay got off to a “good start” with the overwhelming support and cooperation from its residents and stakeholders, according to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.“We anticipated confusion and disturbance among the residents and stakeholders but thank God there was none. We’re very happy [because the people were happy with the closure that was enforced on April 26],” Cimatu over the weekend said in an interview with state-run radio station dzRB.He added that about 98 percent of Boracay residents and business owners have volunteered and agreed to demolish on their own structures they had built illegally.Cimatu said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will ask displaced Boracay workers to join a cash-for-work program administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help in the clean-up of wetlands.Boracay has nine wetlands but only four remain.Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco of the DSWD also on April 26 said they will assist some 19,000 registered and 17,000 informal workers.According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Boracay circumferential road is set to be completed within the six months’ closure of the world-famous island resort.The DPWH said the circumferential road will cost P490 million.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) has named the magistrate who will study a petition filed by residents and workers through the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) regarding the April 26 closure of Boracay.Via raffle of the SC en banc also last Thursday, the case went to Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo.Named respondents in the NUPL petition were President Rodrigo Duterte, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and acting Interior chief Eduardo Año.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/boracay-rehabilitation-off-to-good-start/395796/
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6 BIFF bandits arrested
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-07-05 21:28:20+00:00
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Six members of the terrorist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were arrested by authorities on Wednesday after they clashed with military and police troops in Mangadeg village, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao in southern Mindanao.The troops from the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police seized six firearms from the BIFF bandits, according to a report from Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, who heads the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion.Confiscated from the terrorists after the 5:30 gunbattle were two caliber 50 Barret sniper rifles, one M60 machine gun, one rocket-propelled grenade, one M14 rifle and one M16 rifle.The arrested suspects were identified as Bastun Baguil, Mulawan Lugala, Agila Yusop, Muslimen Luminda, Mukalam Salabu and Lumna Dilamex.No soldiers and policemen were injured in the fighting.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/6-biff-bandits-arrested/336670/
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Fiscal incentives bill pushed
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-07-27 00:01:24+00:00
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THE measure seeking to rationalize fiscal incentives granted to businesses has more chances of being passed by the Senate than the second part of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train 2) being pushed by Department of Finance (DoF) which senators refused to sponsor.Sen. Franklin Drilon threw his support behind the fiscal incentives bill that he believes could help prevent tax leakage and increase government revenues.Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri have confirmed that no senator was willing to sponsor the Train 2 currently pending at the House of Representatives.Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum on Thursday, Drilon said it is time for congress to pass the bill because the country continues to lag in foreign direct investments.He noted that in 2015, about P300 billion in revenues was lost because of income tax holidays and other incentives.Based on the 2015 data of the Finance department, income tax holidays and special rates account for P86.25 billion of the revenue losses, while customs duty exemptions account for P18.4 billion.Exemptions from paying the value-added tax (VAT) on imports led to P159.82 billion in foregone revenues, and local VAT, P36.96 billion.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/fiscal-incentives-bill-pushed/423700/
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OFWs warned against use of fake documents
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-01-21 18:35:21+00:00
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THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has warned workers against submitting falsified documents in applying for overseas jobs.In an advisory over the weekend, the POEA reiterated its concern over reports and complaints by foreign employers on fake or altered certificates of employment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) recruited and deployed to the Middle East and other countries.Aside from the fake employment certificates, also submitted were altered birth certificates, marriage contracts, medical certificates and school credentials, which, in some cases, had been perpetrated by some licensed recruitment agencies with the consent of the workers for compliance purposes.The POEA officer-in-charge, Labor Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, said submission of spurious documents is not acceptable and has dire consequences for the workers because it is illegal anywhere in the world.“The malpractice endangers the welfare of OFWs and exposes them to possible deportation, detention and blacklisting that could deny them future employment in other countries,” the POEA said.The use of fake employment certificates, among others, has been the subject of many complaints, including from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries and New Zealand, among others.The Philippine Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand, earlier reported to the POEA that it was discovered that some Filipino dairy farm workers submitted false employment certificates.It prompted New Zealand authorities to charge liable OFWs with NZ$15,000 and imposed stricter evaluation of Filipino applicants.The POEA reminded all licensed recruitment agencies of their duly notarized undertaking executed by their officers to select and deploy only medically fit and competent workers and to adhere to ethical standards in the recruitment and deployment of workers.It cautioned placement agencies to exercise due diligence in verifying the authenticity of documents submitted by job applicants.The POEA warned that both workers and recruitment agencies should be aware of possible administrative and criminal liabilities arising from violation of relevant laws and rules and regulations on overseas employment.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ofws-warned-use-fake-documents/375667/
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Malacañang ‘respects’ CHED official's ouster
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-01-06 20:12:28+00:00
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Malacañang ‘respects’ CHED official’s ousterhome/News/Nation/Malacañang ‘respects’ CHED official’s ousterMalacaÑang on Friday said it respects the Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Executive Director Julito Vitriolo after the latter was found guilty of grave misconduct and neglect of duty over a “diploma mill” operation.“We recognize and respect the independence of the Ombudsman. It has a constitutional duty to fulfill,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement.“We expect that Mr. Vitriolo and his legal representation would take the appropriate action to clear his name,” he added.Andanar issued the statement after Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales indicted Vitriolo for violation of Republic Act (RA) 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Sections 3(a) and 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.The charges filed against the CHED official were in connection with an agreement in 1996 between the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the National College of Physical Education (NCPE) to operate diploma programs using PLM’s facilities.Morales said the Ombudsman’s investigation revealed that Vitriolo is guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, incompetence and inefficiency.He was also found to have violated RA 6713 for failing to investigate and stop NCPE’s diploma programs, an operation that was later found to be irregular.“He acted with gross negligence for failing to heed the demand to investigate and stop the diploma mill, and for allowing the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to issue transcripts of records and diplomas based on a suspended education program,” the decision read.In 2008, then-PLM President Adel Tamano suspended a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the PLM and the NCPE in light of a Commission on Audit report that said the agreement can badly affect the interests of the university.Despite the suspension of the program, Vitriolo in 2010 maintained that transcripts of record could still be issued by the PLM under the MOA.CHED chief Patricia Licuana also on Friday said they will comply with the dismissal order issued against Vitriolo.Licuanan assured the public that the Ombudsman’s decision will not hamper the commission’s operations focusing on key tactical and transformative strategies for upgrading the accessibility and quality of Philippine higher education.On Thursday, the Ombudsman furnished CHED with its joint resolution imposing the penalty of dismissal from the service (with the corresponding accessory penalties) on Vitriolo after finding him guilty for “failing to heed the demand to investigate and stop the diploma mill, and for allowing the PLM to issue transcripts of record and diplomas based on a suspended education program.”The Ombudsman meted out the penalty of dismissal, noting that “this is not the first offense of the respondent that this Office [the Ombudsman] has penalized,” with reference to a previously imposed penalty of suspension for one month without pay for misconduct, after he signed a memorandum without having the authority to do so.CATHERINE S. VALENTE AND NEIL A. ALCOBER
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/malacanang-respects-ched-officials-ouster/305538/
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Pope appoints new Cotabato archbishop
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['Catherine A. Modesto']
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2018-11-08 00:05:19+00:00
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Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Angelito Lampon of Jolo in Mindanao as archbishop of Cotabato after the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Cardinal Orlando Quevedo.Quevedo submitted his resignation four years ago before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.“The Holy Father has chosen well. I thank almighty God most deeply for having given me the grace to work with Muslims and peoples of other faiths as partners working for peace,” Quevedo said.Quevedo said he and Lampon went to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) congregation.Lampon, 68, served Jolo for 41 years.He was ordained on March 26, 1977.He studied philosophy at the San Jose Major Seminary and finished theology at the Loyola School of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.In 2012, Pope Benedict 16th appointed Lampon to be part of the Vatican-based Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.Lampon currently chairs the CBCP-Commission on Ecumenical Affairs.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pope-appoints-new-cotabato-archbishop/464172/
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Chinese, Pinoy firms sign fruit contracts
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['Michael Joe T. Delizo']
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2016-11-16 22:11:54+00:00
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At least eight Chinese firms visited Manila and Davao City last week to sign contracts to import about 100,000 metric tons of Philippines fruits, including bananas, pineapples and mangoes.This was disclosed on Wednesday by Wu Zhengping, director general of Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Ministry of Commerce,He cited warming bilateral relations between the Philippines and China as having paved the way to improve cooperation on interests of mutual benefit such as trade between the two countries.“The Philippines enjoys a high speed of economic growth. This is an attraction for Chinese businessmen to invest here,” Wu said during a news briefing at the Chinese Embassy in Makati City (Metro Manila).Many Chinese firms, he added, have committed to invest in the Philippines, especially transportation, to take advantage of the country’s dynamic economic growth.Meanwhile, Wu also disclosed “successful” dialogues with representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation about priority projects that will showcase cooperation between Manila and Beijing.The dialogues agreed to revive the Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC) by early 2017 after almost six years of hiatus.Wu said the two sides also agreed to sign a six-year development plan covering trade, investment and economic cooperation in conjunction with next year’s 28th JTEC meeting.“We have been talking about infrastructure projects in the areas of railways, airports, bridges and expressways, and we also talked about construction of a Chinese industrial park in the Philippines,” he added.The meetings came on the heels of President Rodrigo Duterte’s state visit to Beijing last month where his delegation brought home an estimated $24-billion (about P1.2-trillion) worth of loans and investment pledges.Despite a dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) between China and the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said trade relations between the Philippines and China have remained strong through the years.In 2015, China retained its spot as the Philippines’ second top trading partner in terms of total trade.Most Chinese investments in the Philippines went to the manufacturing sector.“Last year, bilateral trade with China reached $17.23 billion, which indicates that Philippines-China economic relations remain strong. However, we also recognize that there is room for growth, and we are positive that the upward trend in economic relations will continue,” Charles Jose, DFA spokesman and assistant secretary, said in an email interview.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/chinese-pinoy-firms-sign-fruit-contracts/296877/
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Appoint temporary ERC commissioners, govt urged
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['Jordeene Sheex Lagare']
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2018-01-03 23:08:13+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has been urged to appoint temporary commissioners for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to avoid a power vacuum within its management and to ensure there will be no power interruptions throughout the Philippines, a Department of Energy (DoE) official said on Wednesday.Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi “wrote a letter to the Office of the President [OP] to look into the possibility of appointing temporary commissioners,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said in a chance interview after a DoE news briefing on the new excise tax on petroleum products.The Office of the Ombudsman suspended former ERC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jose Vicente Salazar and ERC commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit and Geronimo Santa Ana for one year without pay as they were found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.Its ruling stemmed from allegations that they had given undue favor to Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and its sister companies by exempting the entities from the competitive selection process (CSP) in 2016.When asked about the content of the letter, Fuentebella only said Cusi did not provide any recommendation but he presumed “it’s a general letter to address it immediately.”The letter was submitted after the suspension of the ERC commissioners in December last year.The DoE has a pending request with the Office of the President to put the ERC under its administrative supervision to ensure “what we are doing are aligned.”Cusi previously said he asked Duterte to subject the power regulator to administrative oversight but the President is yet to respond to his letter.Fuentebella said Cusi is ensuring that there will be no power interruptions across the country, despite pending cases and applications before the ERC, assuring everybody in the department is doing everything it can.Aside from looking at its legal implications, the DoE is shoring up the country’s power reserves through its Power Development Plan 2016-2040 and introducing various rules such as the Renewable Portfolio Standards, Net Metering and Green Energy Option Program “so that we can have additional supply and more efficiency in the utilization of energy.”Previously, Malacañang allayed fears that the suspension of the four ERC commissioners would paralyze the power regulator and result in blackouts.In a radio interview, its spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday that the government was studying how to avert disruption of operations in the ERC, which is responsible for ensuring reasonable electricity prices and cultivating competition within the nation’s power industry.Roque assured the public that the President would do something to avert a paralysis in the energy sector.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/appoint-temporary-erc-commissioners-govt-urged/372089/
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Diesel up by 25 centavos per liter
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['Aberon Voltaire Palaña']
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2017-01-30 21:46:30+00:00
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In separate advisories on Monday, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Eastern Petroleum, Seaoil and Flying V announced that they will raise the price of diesel by 25 centavos per liter effective January 31.Pilipinas Shell, Eastern Petroleum and Seaoil said they will implement the price changes at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, and Flying V earlier at 12 midnight.Department of Energy monitoring for Metro Manila as of January 24 showed that diesel prices ranged from P27.60 to P33.55 per liter with a common price of P30.65 per liter; gasoline from P38.80 to P48.90 with a common price of P47.08 per liter; and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in P11-kilogram cylinder from P471 to P690.Year-to-date adjustments are net increase of P1.04 per liter in gasoline and P0.60 centavos per liter in diesel.LPG increased this month by P4.15 per kilogram (kg).The latest price changes resulted from average price movements for the previous five trading days in the global market.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/diesel-25-centavos-per-liter/309727/
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Rebuilding Marawi: Four-lane highways, underground cables, promenade along river
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['Maynila Dyaryo']
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22/11/2017 0:00
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The government will flatten all buildings in the most affected areas in Marawi City to give way to the construction of new infrastructures such as two to four lane highways, underground electric cables and a promenade along the Agus River which will become a prime tourist attraction.Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr. laid down this plan during the conduct of the first “Bangon Marawi” press briefing in Marawi City.Roque also disclosed that President Duterte is set to visit Marawi again in the middle of December to lead in the distribution of 500 units of houses built by government for the evacuees.Roque said the government, through Bangon Marawi chair Eduardo Del Rosario, is currently in the process of conducting post conflict assessment to determine how much will it take to rebuild Marawi by January 2018. He expects the estimate or the final figure to be finished by March 2018.In terms of rebuilding Marawi, Roque said they have already identified about 200 to 250 hectares of land previously described as “ground zero” but will now be known as the most affected area which is home to 24 barangays.“The plan is we will flatten all buildings in most affected areas and we will build new infra from two lane highways to four-lane highways. We will have underground electric cables instead of the usual posts and we will make a promenade in the Agus River which will become a prime tourist attraction,” he said.Meanwhile, the government will build a total of 6,300 temporary housing units in an area about 3.5 kilometers away from the most affected area.On top of that, Roque also said some 2,700 permanent housing will also be built for those families who did not have homes prior to the siege.The government, he added, will provide the cost of the housing components for those who have land but whose houses were destroyed as a result of the conflict.During the meeting, Roque said there were very important points raised pertaining to the rebuilding plan. One of the points was the commitment of Bangon Marawi to hold consultations and consider the religious beliefs and convictions of the residents.“The government also committed that in the process of rebuilding Marawi, there will be regular and constant consultations with the stakeholders,” he stressed.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/22/rebuilding-marawi-four-lane-highways-underground-cables-promenade-along-river/
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Ombudsman summons Patricia in Bautista probe
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-09-18 20:47:12+00:00
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The Office of the Ombudsman has started its fact-finding investigation into allegations that Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista amassed ill-gotten wealth.The Ombudsman issued a subpoena to Bautista’s estranged wife Patricia, her lawyer Lorna Kapunan said.Patricia has claimed that Bautista amassed nearly P1 billion in ill-gotten wealth.“She was subpoenaed by the OMB (Ombudsman office) in line with its fact finding investigation and out of respect to the OMB, we brought our client,” Kapunan told reporters.“We informed them there is already an investigation being conducted by the NBI and therefore we don’t want to preempt whatever the results will be,” she added, referring to the National Bureau of Investigation.Last month, former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio filed an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives against Bautista.They accused the poll body chief of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.“Bautista culpably violated the Constitution and/or betrayed the public trust when he failed to truthfully, accurately, or completely disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth,” they said.The House committee on justice will determine on Wednesday whether or not the impeachment complaint is sufficient in form and substance.The Comelec chief had said that he will face the allegations “at the right time and in the right place.”In August, the Department of Justice admitted Patricia to the Witness Protection Program and granted her request for protection.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ombudsman-summons-patricia-bautista-probe/351384/
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Meat processors back lifting of suggested retail prices
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['Dempsey Reyes']
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2017-04-09 19:07:34+00:00
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A plan to lift the suggested retail price (SRP) scheme for basic necessities and prime commodities by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) has been backed by a group of food manufacturers.Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., in a recent statement, lauded the plan of DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez to “deregulate the SRP scheme in order to “reduce bureaucratic procedures.”“The ongoing practice now is that SRPs of basic necessities and prime commodities are currently set by manufacturers but are subject to evaluation and approval by the DTI,” Tiukinhoy said.Pampi, through Tiukhinoy, echoed DTI’s stance that setting the SRP “should be a business decision among manufacturers” that “should give consumer[s] the freedom to choose” what would be best for them.“People will patronize products with good value. On the other hand, they can boycott abusive manufacturers,” he said.Tiukinhoy added that his group, along with its 35-member companies, is campaigning for good manufacturing practices that would ensure “efficient production” and sound supply chain that would keep products “cost-competitive.”He expressed the group’s support to the Duterte administration’s campaign to protect every Filipino consumer’s well-being and one way of doing this is to keep prices at a minimum level “without denying legitimate business a fair return on investment.”“Our meat products, which are considered prime commodities, are price-sensitive and highly competitive,” Tiukinhoy said.Minor price adjustment among players would mean loss of market share and competitiveness, Tiukinhoy said.He added that they do not see the importance of a government-regulated SRP.“We fully agree with Secretary Lopez that manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities are hesitant to increase prices for fear of losing market share,” he said.Pampi is said to be a P300-billion industry that provides direct and indirect employment to over 200,000 people across the country.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/meat-processors-back-lifting-suggested-retail-prices/321842/
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Palace: Duterte will respect SC ruling
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-05-29 21:52:29+00:00
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Malacañang on Monday assured the public that President Rodrigo Duterte will respect any decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on his implementation of martial law in Mindanao.Speaking to reporters, Palace spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte will listen to the High Court and Congress but will have to rely on the military and the police to decide on extending or lifting martial law.“The President meant that those who really, are truly aware of the situation are the military and the police. This is not meant to bypass the Supreme Court or the legislative,” Abella said during Malacañang’s first “Mindanao Hour” news briefing.“Of course he will respect [the Supreme Court] but based on his own considerations being Commander-in-Chief,” he added.Under the 1987 Constitution, Congress has the power to revoke the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.Congress will also determine the period of extension of such proclamation, if necessary.The Supreme Court can also review the factual bases for the proclamation of martial law and make a decision within 30 days.But Duterte on Saturday told soldiers in Jolo, Sulu that it will be up to the military to say if the Philippines is safe or if martial law should continue.“I will not listen to others. The Supreme Court justices, the congressmen, they are not here,” the President said then.But Abella said Duterte was only pointing out “that the one with accurate information regarding activities on the ground are the ones he will trust.”“It simply means to say that those who have true and accurate report—and true and accurate report—in which he will depend on will be the military and the Philippine National Police,” he added.“The President will listen actually but then at the end of the day as Commander-in-Chief, he deserves the right to make decisions. Of course, he is listening. He is a listening President,” Abella said.The SC and Congress will also “be in dialogue” with the police and military and recommendations could be given.“They should be in dialogue… They should be in conversation and they can continue to make decisions and they can continue to make recommendations,” according to Abella.Pressed by reporters on the President’s statement, he said Solicitor General Jose Calida would also provide an explanation.Duterte last week declared martial law in the entire Mindanao after some 50 members of the local terror group Maute took over Marawi City in Lanao del Sur.In his report to Congress, Duterte said he declared martial law to address the Maute Group’s attempt to take over Mindanao as a caliphate of the international terrorist group IS.Abella said 61 terrorists, 19 civilians and 18 government security forces had been killed as of Sunday.Forty-two of the terrorists were killed in firefights, while the remaining 19 deaths were confirmed by eyewitnesses, he added.On the government side, he said, 15 soldiers and three policemen were killed in action, and 64 were wounded.To date, Abella added, a total of P1,172,725.00 worth of assistance has been provided to affected families in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its regional agencies.“As of today, there have been 12,509 families or 59,665 persons displaced in Regions X and ARMM, of which 1,018 families or 4,278 persons are still staying in 14 evacuation centers or staying outside the evacuation centers with their relative or friends,” he said.Abella added that the DSWD Field Office Region 10 immediately placed a Disaster Operation Center in Iligan City on May 23 to augment the operation of the DSWD ARMM.He reported that the Department of Trade and Industry on May 25 enforced a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities in Mindanao after martial law was declared by the President.“The price freeze covers Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and Caraga. The price freeze is implemented for a period of 60 days, as indicated in the declaration,” Abella said.Meanwhile, according to him, the NPC Mindanao Generation declared that operations of power plants in the Marawi City and Lanao del Sur area are normal.“As 10:20 a.m., May 28, 2017, the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative or Lasureco reported that: 1) The 1st District of Lanao del Sur comprising 15 municipalities is 100 percent energized; 2) The 2nd District of Lanao del Sur comprising 16 municipalities is 100 percent energized; and 3) Marawi City is 40 percent energized,” he said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-duterte-will-respect-sc-ruling/329954/
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Taipan turns over P23M to DILG for rehab center
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['Jing Villamente']
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2016-10-14 21:24:17+00:00
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One of the 13 taipans who recently promised to help the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the drug rehabilitation program has taken the initial step to fulfill his promise.Ronald Elepano Jr., first vice president of D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) recently handed over to DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno a check for P23.493 million as the company’s donation to the program.The amount was given during a meeting attended by Elepano, Sueno, DILG Undersecretary John Castriciones, DILG Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing and Assistant Secretary Aurora Ignacio of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President headed by Christopher “Bong” Go.“We have many lot donations for the drug rehab centers but the challenge for us is to put up the facility. So we are very much thankful to the DMCI for keeping their promise so we can provide facility for our drug surrenderers and make them ready to go back to mainstream society,” Sueno said.DMCI’s donation will be used to purchase materials to complete ongoing construction of a “mega” rehab center in Nueva Ecija.This facility, to be owned by the Department of Health, is expected to accommodate some 10,000 drug surrenderers when completed.It is expected to be inaugurated by November 15 this year.Sueno said there are already donated lots in Valencia City, Bukidnon; Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Nueva Vizcaya; and Agusan del Sur that are ready for construction of more drug rehab centers.The DMCI’s large donation is just the start of the company’s close collaboration with the government.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/taipan-turns-p23m-dilg-rehab-center/291296/
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Senator confirms ‘pork’ in budget
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2017-01-13 20:52:57+00:00
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SENATOR Panfilo Lacson is not alone in his fight against the supposedly continuous existence of “pork barrel” in the budget.Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd was one of the two senators who informed Lacson during deliberations on the proposed 2017 national budget that they were among those who did not submit a project proposal to be funded by the budget.Lacson earlier claimed that some members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were given up to P300 million and P5 billion respectively in projects, which he considered as “pork” or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC).Like Lacson, Sotto said he believes that there was “pork” in the budget and it is the reason why he decided to abstain from voting in favor of ratifying the 2017 budget in plenary last December 14.He added he did not submit any proposed project because he does not want the people misinterpreting it as “pork barrel.”“I don’t want my countrymen, especially the people who voted for me, to misinterpret anything. So I’d rather not submit than having to explain things in the future,” Sotto said in a phone interview with Senate reporters.Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier admitted that he submitted project he wants to be funded in the 2017 national budget but insisted that there is nothing illegal about it.Drilon explained that since the proposal was made before the passage of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), it is not against the ruling of the Supreme Court that prohibits post-enactment intervention by lawmakers.The Senate majority leader said he supports Lacson in his interpretation on what “pork barrel” really is and that lawmakers should not be involved in the identification of projects in the national budget before or after its enactment.“Now, whether it’s [interpretation] is correct or not, I rather avoid submitting proposals and I don’t want to support it either because our countrymen might misunderstand it,” he added.It was through the efforts of Lacson that the P8.3-billion allocation in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways was realigned to the Commission on Higher Education to provide free college education to students who will enrol in state universities and colleges or SUCs this school year.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/senator-confirms-pork-budget-2/306812/
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Nothing irregular in ePassport – DFA
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-03-27 22:23:49+00:00
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said there is “nothing irregular” in the bidding of the electronic passport, or ePassport, saying everything is “aboveboard.”DFA spokesman Charles Jose, however, declined to provide The Manila Times a copy of the ePassport contract with APO Production Unit Inc. or APO, saying “there’s confidentiality clause in the contract that prevents us from disclosing its contents.”APO is a government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) and printing office.It is one of three recognized government printers that may handle the printing of accountable forms and sensitive high quality/volume printing needs of government agencies and offices.The two others are the National Printing Office and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas security printing plant.Of the three, only APO joined the bidding for the ePassport.Printing of the ePassport is seen as a huge business.An e-passport costs at least P950.With 17,000 e-passport applications a day, APO nets about P2.8 billion or P28 billion for a 10-year contract.Reports said the actual cost of printing an ePassport will not exceed P500.But Jose said inflation and some other factors should be considered in printing expenses.“Of course, there are other costs, but let’s see from Congress how the hearing will go on,” said Jose, who will assume the post in Kuala Lumpur as ambassador effective mid-April.APO did not pass the bidding process and took the project via negotiated bidding.The APO labor union–Asian Productivity Employees Association — has filed plunder and graft complaints against former officials under the Aquino administration.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/nothing-irregular-epassport-dfa-2/319538/
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Taxi fare to be at par with Uber, Grab
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['Happy Folger', 'Allan Nist', 'Glicerio Acosta', 'Meow Pu']
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16/09/2017 0:00
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The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved a proposed fare structure to make taxis more competitive with transport network vehicles (TNVs), a move opposed by a party-list congressman.LTFRB member Atty. Aileen Lizada said the proposed taxi fare matrix is based from the structure of those with TNVS.Lizada said that in their proposed fare adjustment, the R40 flagdown rate will remain, but the running fare for every 300 meters and waiting time for every two minutes will increase to R5.50 from R3.50.The fare, Lizada added, will be on per kilometer basis.“So fare will be P40 plus the amount times kilometers plus the amount times number of minutes,” Lizada explained in a text message.AANGAT TAYO party-list Rep. Neil Abayon strongly opposed the LTFRB move, saying it will “essentially price the taxis out of the market and push more people to ride TNVs.”He branded as “wrong move” the LTFRB’ s decision to give in to pending petitions for taxi fare hikes.“LTFRB officials really do not understand how economics works. It is very clear now that many commuters prefer the Transport Network Companies’ (TNCs’) TNVs over the taxis,” Abayon said.He said that although the rates of the TNVs are higher than regular taxis, more commuters still prefer to book with TNCs because it is more convenient, has better security and safety measures for passengers, and the service quality is much better.“For as long as the quality of the service of taxis does not improve, the riding public will still prefer to ride the TNCs’ TNVs units,” he said.“So, if and when the LTFRB goes ahead with its plan to make taxi fares at par with the rates of TNCs, they will essentially price the taxis out of the market and push more people to ride the TNCs’ TNVS units instead of the taxis,” Abayon said.He said such plan will lead to even less income for taxis instead of more income.“By raising taxi fares, they give people who dislike taxis added reason not to ride taxis because TNCs are the better quality alternative,” he said.However, Lizada said that even if taxis will almost have the same rate as TNVs, there will be no price surge for taxi denomination.“All taxi units, their meters must be calibrated and only after calibration shall the fare structure takes effect,” she said.LTFRB will release its official decision on the taxi fare adjustment by the end of the month.Over the week, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III announced that they will come up with a decision to increase taxi fares making it equal to the rates of Uber and Grab.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/09/16/taxi-fare-to-be-at-par-with-uber-grab/
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Village official gunned down in Malabon
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-10-03 22:07:44+00:00
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A barangay kagawad (village councilman) was gunned down by an unidentified assailant Monday night in Malabon City.The victim, Alexander Quintos, 55, died while being treated at the Manila Central University (MCU) hospital. One of his drinking buddies, Edgar Angeles, was hit by a stray bullet.Senior Insp. Christopher Millares said the incident happened at around 10 p.m. in front of the house of Angeles. Quintos and his friends were drinking inside Angeles’ house but the councilman went out to relieve himself.Minutes later, a burst of gunfire was heard, prompting Angeles to rush out but he too was hit by the hail of bullets.cInvestigators have yet to determine the motive or the identity of the gunman.Police said the victim, who heads the barangay health committee, used to appeal to the police for the release of his constituents who were arrested for minor offenses or violation of city ordinance.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/village-official-gunned-malabon/354338/
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PhilHealth covers lepto treatment
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['The Manila Times']
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2018-07-11 00:06:59+00:00
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THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) gave assurances that it will cover the hospitalization of members or their dependents afflicted with leptospirosis.The agency made the announcement in support of the Department of Health’s campaign to raise public awareness amid the increasing cases of leptospirosis in the country.Leptospirosis is an infection caused by Leptospira interrogans bacteria that are transmitted through wounds that come in contact with flood waters contaminated by the urine of infected animals such as rats.The state health insurer’s coverage for leptospirosis is P11,000. The amount includes payment for doctor’s fees.To qualify for coverage, PhilHealth members must have paid at least three months premium contributions within the immediate six months prior to the first day of confinement at any accredited health care institution.In 2017, PhilHealth paid a total of P21.8 million in social health insurance benefits for leptospirosis cases, up by 46 percent compared to P15 million in 2016.For leptospirosis patients who will develop complications needing dialysis treatments, PhilHealth said it will continue to provide financial support through a different package for such procedure.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/philhealth-covers-lepto-treatment/418129/
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Duterte in ‘tip-top condition’ – Go
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['Catherine Rampell']
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2018-07-28 00:04:55+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte is in “tip-top condition” to lead the country in the next four years, his top aide assured the public, amid concerns about the Chief Executive’s health.In a radio interview, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said there was nothing to worry about Duterte’s health condition following a routine medical checkup at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Sunday, the night before his State of the Nation Address (SONA).“First, it is the right of every Filipino to know the health condition of the President. He is in tip-top condition to lead our country in the next four years. So there is nothing to worry about,” Go said in Filipino during an interview with dzRH radio.“It was reported that he went to the hospital last Sunday. It was just a routine checkup and we have seen in the last SONA [State of the Nation Address], the President was calm and is in a usual mood so do not worry, our President is very healthy),” he added.Go made the assurance a day after Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. denied talks on the internet that Duterte was rushed to the hospital.“There is no truth the rumors that the President was rushed to the hospital. It is tsismis (gossip). It is fake news.The President is fine. Although he went to have a regular checkup the night before the SONA he has not been toany medical facility since,” Roque told reporters during a press briefing in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.“It is in fact a crime to spread this kind of news. There is no truth to these rumors and he will in fact be here in Ipil to lead the celebration for Araw ng Ipil. So his appearance will belie all these false reports,” he added.The President’s health has been the subject of much speculation, but he and Malacañang have repeatedly downplayed such concerns.The 73-year-old Duterte has admitted to suffering from various ailments, including Barrett’s esophagus, which impacts his throat, and Buerger’s disease, caused by heavy smoking in younger days.Last month, Duterte said he threw up during his flight from Seoul, South Korea due to migraine.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-in-tip-top-condition-go/423989/
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The almost forgotten Yolanda houses
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['Piping Dilat', 'Will Ang', 'Roberto Gavina']
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14/11/2016 0:00
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As mainstream media feasted on comments on the vice president’s legs during the anniversary of typhoon Yolanda, public attention on these only brought renewed focus to what her predecessors from her party were unable to do: finish the job of housing the victims of the typhoon, billed as the worst to hit human beings.Getting the work moving would have been a decent task for her to undertake, given that she already has had more than 100 days to do something to speed up the process of delivering the homes for which substantial funds have already been allocated by the previous government that she hails from. That she comes with high expectations to perform is an understatement. After all, Robredo’s Naga is held up as a paragon of getting things done.Yet, what we have heard thus far are but the results of her own audit, which revealed that from a target of more than 205,000 shelters, only 20,893 houses had been built, or roughly 1% as of March, 2016. (http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/09/18/1624843/robredo-only-1-houses-yolanda-victims-completed)Why has it taken so long to house them? Was it for lack of funds?To answer this, it should be noted that the previous government’s Budget and Management Chief Butch Abad admitting that of the “P150 billion for rebuilding the communities hit by typhoon Yolanda, we have released a total of P93.87 billion as of October 23, 2015” (http://www.gov.ph/2015/11/04/data-funds-yolanda-projects-online/).What also raises questions about the fact that according to the full report of government’s Foreign Aid Transparency hub, 17.23 Billion pesos were received from various foreign sources including NGOs.Both amounts add up to a total of about 111 billion already deployed to serve some 1,473,251 million families, giving a provision of about Php77,000 thousand per family. These figures being estimates based on available data, the public is encouraged to verify them.Knowing this forces us even more to ask how only 1% of the shelter requirements have been provided after three years. Having the funds available, it is ripe to examine just how much attention we put in the lives and welfare of those who continue to languish as a result of a terrible natural calamity. In short, so much more could have probably been done.A divisive election passed and the Vice President supposedly in charge of all housing apparently was unable to create a dent in meeting the needs of the families embroiled in the already three year wait. All, these, in spite of the “build back better” battlecry of the past government ran by her own political party. Many expected her to immediately jumpstart the construction.Yet, did her own audit reveal that the government of her own party was largely unable to shelter many of the victims? She now faces the same constituency her running mate Mar Roxas proudly proclaimed to have served when he supposedly led preparation and relief efforts immediately before and after the calamity. Of course, the rest is history and lore. While he remained Secretary of the Interior for years after Yolanda, many of these house did even begin construction. Whose houses, if any were ”built back better?”All these said, must the public expect better performance? Of course. Can we move faster to build these houses? I sure hope so.All this is important for many of us from Mindanao who were the first to lend our support to millions who happen to be our relatives from the Visayas. We all expect that whatever held up the “build back better” of PNOY would be expedited soon, and completed within clear bounds of time. The victims have sufffered enough. They deserve no less.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/11/14/the-almost-forgotten-yolanda-houses/
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20% student fare cut starts Oct 28
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-10-23 22:12:56+00:00
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Students can avail of a 20-percent fare discount from Monday to Sunday, and also during holidays, starting October 28, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).“Students can avail of the twenty percent discount from Monday to Sunday including summer breaks, legal and special legal holidays,” LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular (MC) 2017-024 states.“Post-graduate students [those taking up medicine, law, masteral, doctoral degrees and the like] cannot avail of the said fare discount,” the LTFRB said.The new MC is an amendment to MC 2005-014 wherein a 20-percent discount is given to students, except during weekends and holidays and summer breaks.In 2014, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara called for passage of a bill that will extend the fare discount for students to weekends, semestral breaks, Christmas vacations and holidays.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/20-student-fare-cut-starts-oct-28-2/358254/
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Mining firm files case vs DENR
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['James Konstantin Galvez']
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2016-10-27 20:36:53+00:00
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Secretary Regina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) could be facing a series of court cases in relation to ongoing audit of mining operations in the country.On Thursday, Benguet Corp. said its wholly owned nickel subsidiary Benguetcorp. Nickel Mines Inc. (BNMI) has filed a case before the Pampanga Regional Trial Court, while another mining company is mulling a separate case.BNMI, according to its parent firm, is left with no other viable administrative remedy, and is constrained to elevate to the courts the matter of the unlawful suspension of its nickel mining operations in Santa Cruz, Zambales.“After careful consideration, BNMI is constrained to take this judicial recourse in order to protect itself, its workers and the affected communities, which depend on the corporation for their livelihood and support,” it said.The mining firm filed a petition for certiorari with injunction to assail the suspension order jointly issued last July 8, 2016 by concerned regional offices of the Mines Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau and DENR regional offices for grave abuse of discretion, in an arbitrary manner, without due process and ahead of the conduct of a nationwide mining audit.“BNMI availed of said legal remedy to prove that despite its full compliance with remediation conditions under the previous lifting order dated August 24, 2015, the said regional government agencies unjustifiably refused to reverse the suspension order,” it noted.BNMI said it earlier exerted earnest efforts to assure the DENR and the anti-mining groups of its continued undertaking to conduct responsible and sustainable mining activities and its willingness to be an active partner of the government in protecting the environment.“To this end, BNMI reached out to the DENR and the anti-mining groups to present a proposed arrangement that would have ensured that the environment in Santa Cruz would not only be protected, but would even be improved, through a partnership between the mining corporations, the people and the government,” it added.“These efforts, however, proved to be unsuccessful, as the anti-mining groups, and even the DENR representatives, rejected BNMI’s fair and reasonable proposal and continue to appear bent on endorsing an unjust arrangement which will deprive the mining companies of any recourse against the results of the audit and, worse, will require them to summarily acknowledge alleged liabilities for compensation and rehabilitation, without immediate prospect of resuming operations,” the company said.The unjustifiable suspension, according to BNMI, is taking its toll not only on the corporation but on its workers, contractors and suppliers, and its scholars and surrounding communities.BNMI said it was forced to temporarily lay off more than 1,000 workers since its unwarranted suspension.The mining firm “comes to court with the knowledge that its operations have been, and will continue to be, compliant with national regulatory and international certification standards. It is confident that its operations, once allowed to resume, will not pose any threat to the environment,”Benguet’s wholly owned subsidiary, along with two other nickel operators in the province, was suspended because of complaints about environmental degredation as a result of its nickel ore extraction.MGB Director Leo Jasareno clarified that the preventive suspension against BNMI was in view of the writ of kalikasan issued by the Supreme Court and a newly signed executive order by the local government unit of Zambales, suspending all mining operations in the province.Ronald Recidoro, vice president for Legal and Policy of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), said another mining company recently suspended by the DENR is mulling to file a case before the courts.The country’s big mining lobby earlier scored the DENR’s “reckless” public pronouncement on results of the mine audit.“The audit findings have serious impact not only on our present mining projects but also upcoming projects,” COMP vice president for policy Ronald Recidoro said.Among those recommended for suspension are: Libjo Mining Corp., AAM-Phil Natural Resources Exploration and Development Corp. – Parcel 1 and Parcel 2B, Krominco Inc., Carrascal Nickel Corp., Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., Filminera Resources Corp., Strongbuilt Mining Development Corp., Sinosteel Philippines HY Mining Corp., Oriental Synergy Mining Corp and Wellex Mining Corp.Also included in the recommendation for suspension are Century Peak Corp. – Rapid City Nickel Project and Casiguran Nickel Project, Oriental Vision Mining Philippines Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Agata Mining Ventures Inc., Hinatuan Mining Corp., Benguet Corp., Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co., OceanaGold Phils Inc., Adnama Mining Resources Inc. and SR Metals Inc.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/mining-firm-files-case-vs-denr/293434/
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NYC to ‘continuously monitor’ youth councils
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2018-05-13 00:07:42+00:00
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THE National Youth Commission (NYC) will monitor youth councils after the elections, according to its officer in charge (OIC).The country will hold barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK or youth council) elections on May 14.NYC OIC-Chairman Ronald Cardema, in a statement on Saturday, said the NYC would “continuously monitor the Sangguniang Kabataan, before and after elections.”“If there is a National Police Commission overseeing the police, there is a National Youth Commission now that will monitor youth council leaders. If they fail, we will recommend their dismissal,” Cardema said in a forum in Quezon City on Saturday.“We will no longer allow SK projects like basketball leagues, beauty contests, plate numbers. The Office of the President wants young people, the SK officials to lead in disaster response,” he added.Cardema also said President Rodrigo Duterte wanted incoming youth leaders to orient the youth on the harmful effects of illegal drugs, basic survival and first-aid training, and mobilization during disaster and in helping the elderly during health emergencies, among others.In an interview, Cardema said the NYC was coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which has local government operations officers.“They are partnering with NYC to monitor the SK,” he said.Cardema also said the NYC would tell SK officials, through a memo, that they must assist in the implementation of the government’s policies for the youth.|He said the NYC and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council would enter into a memorandum of agreement for SK officials to become deputies for disaster response.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/nyc-to-continuously-monitor-youth-councils/398435/
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Former PNP official convicted of perjury
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-09-27 21:35:53+00:00
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The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division convicted retired police chief superintendent Eduardo Matillano after he pleaded guilty to charges of perjury and breach of conduct in connection with his sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), Disclosure of Business Interest and Financial Connections and Identification of Relatives in the Government Service.The Office of the Ombudsman filed before the Sandiganbayan three counts of perjury and eight counts of breach of conduct against Matillano– a former chief of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)–in 2012.In a decision promulgated on September 5, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division sentenced him to a minimum of one to two months up to a maximum of one year in jail on each count of perjury.The court also fined him P1,000 on each count of breach of conduct.“When the cases were called today, accused Matillano, through counsel, Atty. Joseph F. Capistrano, moved that he be allowed to withdraw his earlier plea of not guilty to the charges, and that he be re-arraigned so that he can enter another plea,” the court said in the decision.The prosecution made no objection and the court granted the motion.“Upon being called for re-arraignment, accused Matillano through Atty. Capistrano informed the court… that he is ready to enter a plea of guilty to the charges. When asked by the court, accused Matillano confirmed the manifestation of his counsel. He informed the court that he fully understands the nature and cause of the accusations against him, the same having been explained to him by his counsel, and that he is entering a plea of guilty to all the charges,” the court said in the decision.“The court allows the accused to enjoy his provisional liberty under the same bond earlier posted by him pending finality of the decision,” it added.In the perjury cases, Matillano was accused of not declaring pieces of real property in Antipolo City and in Palawan City and several vehicles as his and/or his wife’s assets, and their supposed business interests and other financial connections in his SALN as of December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003.In the breach of conduct cases, he was accused of failure to file his SALN for 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/former-pnp-official-convicted-perjury/353171/
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Briones admits challenges to K-to-12
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-01-14 20:59:42+00:00
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Education Secretary Leonor Briones admitted that the department faces challenges in the full implementation of the senior high school program.The Department of Education will fully implement the Grade 12 program next school year. Having a senior high school is part of the K-to-12 [Kindergarten to Grade 12] basic education program.“Right now, we are facing the challenge of finishing of school buildings intended for Grade 12 [students], and also the furniture because these are the most basic needs,” Briones said over the weekend.She expressed confidence that these problems will be addressed before the start of classes in June.“We are getting ready for Grade 12 [implementation]. We expect higher level of enrolment,” Briones said as she expressed optimism that all Grade 11 students will proceed to Grade 12.“We are preparing for Grade 12, but at the same time, we have to consider the short course for the other grades, and the feared factor, which is very important is the impact also of a natural disaster,” she added.Briones recently visited some schools in the provinces that were devastated by typhoons to ensure the rehabilitation of damaged classrooms before the next school year.“I’ve had the opportunity to visit, for example, the cities of Tuguegarao and Isabela, particularly Isabela areas, and then the Bicol region with Catanduanes, Naga City, and Camarines Sur. We have a lot of catching up to do with some repairs, clean up, and we hope to do that in much time,” Briones said.The DepEd chief said her agency is also fasttracking the downloading of the budget for the repair of school buildings damaged by typhoons late last year.“We downloaded over P61 million to repair damaged school buildings,” she said.Briones added that the curriculum for Grade 12 is ready.Dina Ocampo, DepEd undersecretary for curriculum and instruction, said the curriculum for Grade 12 was finished in 2013.“What we’re doing for curriculum now is enhancement. The curriculum is the basis for choosing what programs to offer,” she said.“When we started working on the preparations for senior high school we already planned for both grades (Grades 11 and 12), so as a matter of fact the planning processes now are already for 2018. So we’ve already identified how many teachers, how many classrooms, and so on, and these are being implemented. Buildings are being constructed, learning materials are being procured, and so on,” the DepEd official added.Briones affirmed that the K-to-12 program is primarily geared to benefit Filipino students and the country.“I always insist that K-to-12 is not only for our regional friends or for our international neighbor or for the global community, we are doing this for ourselves,” she said during the 2nd National K-to-12 Conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center on Saturday.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/briones-admits-challenges-k-12-2/306915/
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PNPA officers to get promotion breaks
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['Roy Narra']
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2018-04-10 00:06:16+00:00
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Uniformed officers assigned to the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) will have more opportunities for promotion, according Local Government (DILG) Acting Secretary Eduardo Año.This is in response to the Bureau of Inquiry’s recommendation on the PNPA mauling case that uniformed personnel assigned to the academy should have more opportunities for promotion.Año said he found out uniformed personnel assigned to the field rather than training cadets were eithersidetracked or left behind in promotion opportunities.The Board of Inquiry, which was formed to probe the mauling incident, concluded that the PNPA had a lapse in providing sufficient uniformed officers in the academy.Romeo Magsalos, chairman of the board, previously said there were only four uniformed officers assigned at the PNPA Cadet Affairs Office for over 800 cadets, or one assigned to monitor 200 cadets.“We are in dire need of more role models and mentors who walk the talk to impart their experiences and learnings to the next generation of public safety officers. Our uniformed men and women who accept the challenge to mentor these aspiring cadets should not be left behind in terms of promotion,” Año said in a statement.He also said that he will go to PNPA this month to talk to Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) president retired Gen. Ricardo de Laon and PNPA Director Chief Supt Joseph Adnol to review the “rituals” happening inside the academy, and implement systematic reforms to prevent similar mauling incidents in the future. The PPSC is under the Department of Interior and Local Government.The PNPA, which is run by PPSC, was in hot water after six new police inspectors were beaten up by a group of underclass men after the former’s graduation rites on March 21.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pnpa-officers-to-get-promotion-breaks/391557/
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Binay hails Makati’s top students
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-04-01 23:55:00+00:00
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Makati Mayor Abby Binay recognized the Ten Outstanding Students of Makati (TOSM) for this year, awarding each of them a plaque of recognition, a medallion and a check worth P15,000.The mayor hailed the students and reassured them of the city’s commitment to promote their overall growth and development.“Your excellent performance in school is undoubtedly the best way to reciprocate all the support and encouragement you have received from your parents,” the mayor said.She thanked them for valuing the efforts of their mentors, school administrators and local leaders to provide them “the best education that will help secure a bright future.”“Rest assured that your city government will continue to provide the best programs and services we can afford to develop the youth of today into outstanding leaders of tomorrow,” she said.Now on its 41st year, TOSM aims to recognize students from public and private high schools in Makati who have shown exceptional performance in academics, leadership, athletics and the arts.From public schools, the awardees are Grade 10 students Louiejabe Nuniela and Joan Lyn Fadri, both from the Makati Science High School; John Maven Tavas, Pitogo High School; Melbris Sacro from Bangkal High School and Mhikaella Lhorainne Yu from San Antonio National High School.From private schools, the five awardees are Grade 10 students Mark Edward Gonzales of Saint Paul College; Stephanie Noelle Blanco, Assumption College; Princess Jelycha Mare Rana, Colegio de Sta. Rosa-Makati and grade 12 students Marcela Mercedes Rodolfo and Cristina Batalla, both from Colegio San Agustin-Makati.City Education Department head Norma Tumambing said 33 students were nominated by their respective schools for the award.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/binay-hails-makatis-top-students/320467/
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Law makes ‘milking cows’ of teachers
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-03-17 21:24:28+00:00
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The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Friday said the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016 or Republic Act (RA) 10912 will make “milking cows” of teachers and other professionals.Continuing development of professionals, according to the group, should come free as it is a right that is supported by the 1987 Philippine Constitution.Article XIV, Section 4, provides that teachers have the right to enhance their competencies as professionals and Section 5 of the same article provides that education must have the highest budgetary appropriation inclusive of trainings and seminars for teachers, Raymond Basilio, ACT secretary general, said.The ACT called for the CPD to be free as it is the government’s responsibility not just to elevate the competencies of the teachers but for the benefit of the students.The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10912 “puts in place privatization schemes in the delivery of the program,” Basilio said.He called on commissioners of the Professional Regulatory Commission to immediately recall the IRR even as he said teachers and other professionals need continuing professional development programs.Under RA 10912, Basilio said, all professionals will be forced to attend seminars and trainings conducted by different private entities, which will charge P5,000 to P10,000 per seminar or training that will only be credited three units.With 45 units needed for renewal of license to practice the profession every three years, a teacher will have to spend P50,000 for seminars or trainings.“It is a fact that teachers are still underpaid and overworked already. Just and decent pay with enough benefits are the needs of the teachers, not additional burdens. We need benefits and services. We are not milking cows,” Basilio said.NEIL A. ALCOBER
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/law-makes-milking-cows-teachers/317769/
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Longer maternity leave pushed
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2016-12-31 17:25:00+00:00
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WORKING mothers will have more time to nurse and care for their babies and recuperate from child birth once a measure seeking to expand the maternity leave period is passed.Senate Bill 1276 or the “Expanded Maternity Leave Act” was recently filed by Sen. Sonny Angara. If enacted into law, female workers will have 98 days maternity leave instead of the current 60 days.Angara said the main purpose of the bill is to provide mothers extra time to care for their babies and recover.“This measure, in enhancing the welfare of mothers, ultimately improves the well-being of all Filipinos,” Angara said.Under the proposed law, all covered female workers in government and private sector including those in the informal sector, regardless of civil status or the legitimacy of her child, shall be granted 98 days maternity leave with pay and an option to extend for an additional 30 days without pay.The law also provides security of tenure for those who will avail themselves of the ordinary maternity leave and the additional 30-day maternity leave, whether in the government service or private sector.Employers can’t use the maternity leave as basis for demotion in employment or termination although transfer to a parallel position or reassignment from one organizational unit to another in the same agency shall be allowed so long as it will not involve a reduction in rank, status or salary.Currently, the Philippines provides a compensable period of 60 to 78 days for maternity leave depending on the method of delivery.Angara noted that the current leave policy clearly falls short of the international standard set at no less than 14 weeks or 98 days under the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 183.He added that in the ASEAN region, the average length of maternity leave is at 93 days.The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2013 reported that Filipino mothers have a measly breastfeeding rate of 34 percent for infants younger than six months, which failed to meet the 50 percent target of the 2012 World Health Assembly.This may be one of the reasons why in 2013, 3.3 million or 30 percent of Filipino children aged five years old and younger were found to be stunted.”Some argue that our short maternity leave period exacerbates this problem,” Angara said.SB 1276 is the third bill that seeks the expansion of maternity leave. Senators Francis Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros also filed their respective proposals pushing for a longer leave period of 120 days.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/longer-maternity-leave-pushed-2/304570/
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Stop using plastic – DENR
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['Eireene Jairee Gomez']
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2018-06-05 00:10:37+00:00
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged Filipinos to stop using single-use plastic items that usually end up polluting the oceans and waterways.“It is high time we refrain from using disposable plastic products that are used for minutes, but persist in the environment forever,” Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said as the country joins the world in observing Environment Month.He made the appeal not only in consonance with this year’s theme “Beat Plastic Pollution” of World Environment Day to be celebrated on June 5, but also in preparation for the rainy season.Cimatu said the easiest and best way to reduce plastic waste is to use reusable alternatives such as eco-friendly tumblers and eco-bags.DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said the use of plastic can be devastating for marine biodiversity.“Small litters like candy wrappers end up in our oceans. It is eaten by marine species, clogging their stomach and causing their death,” Leones explained.Next to China and Indonesia, the Philippines is the third biggest ocean polluter, according to a 2015 study conducted by the University of Georgia and reported by Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment.Leones said this should serve as a “wake up call” for the Philippines to reduce its plastic consumption.At present, the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability is doing a pilot study on recycling flexible packaging or multi-material film packaging, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year.The DENR said it will continue to encourage industries to get involved in environmental efforts through programs that increase recovery of packaging materials, which end up in dumps and oceans.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/stop-using-plastic-denr/404516/
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San Beda law grad gets new PCGG post
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2017-02-27 22:10:00+00:00
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President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed John Agcaoili Agbayani as commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).“By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office,” the appointment letter read.Agbayani replaces Richard Roger Amurao, whose term expired on June 30, 2016.He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the San Beda College in 1978 and was ranked 18th in the Bar examinations in the same year.Agbayani joined the San Beda College of Law faculty from 1994 to 2005 handling Credit Transactions, Banking, Negotiable Instruments, Insurance and Transportations Laws.Prior to his appointment, he served as the chief of staff of Social Security System commissioner Gonzalo Duque, associate of Bausa Ampil Suarez law office, technical assistant of then-Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro, consultant to Congress and general counsel and consultant to various banks like BA Savings Bank, RCBC Savings Bank and Great Pacific Bank.The PCGG, a quasi-judicial agency created to recover ill-gotten wealth accumulated during the Marcos regime, is composed of a chairman and four commissioners.It was created by then-President Corazon Aquino by virtue of Executive Orders 1 and 2, making it the first official act of the new government that predates the current Constitution.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/san-beda-law-grad-gets-new-pcgg-post/314496/
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‘National ID system to improve security’
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-05-27 20:54:27+00:00
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SEN. Panfilo Lacson downplayed on Sunday the warning raised by some groups that the passage of the national identification system bill would pose threats to security and people’s privacy, saying only enemies of the government and those who use “aliases” will be affected by the measure.The measure seeks to establish the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) that can be used in all transactions requiring IDs.He said people are required to present several government-issued IDs when opening a bank account, applying for a loan, renewing their passport or driver’s license, among others.Lacson said he finds inconsistent the claim of those who are saying that a national ID system infringes on people’s right to privacy, noting personal information are already contained in passports, driver licenses, and other government-issued IDs.“To those criticizing the measure, don’t they have driver’s license, or voter’s ID because the information stated on those IDs including biometrics are the same information that will be included in the national ID. So why are they complaining when they already underwent the process?” he pointed out.The senator said only those who use aliases or enemies of the government would be negatively affected by PhilSys.“So this concern of the leftists, members Abu Sayyaf group, and other enemies of government [can be understood] because with the ID system, it would be easy to identity who is who,” added Lacson, the sponsor and one of the authors of the bill.The Bicameral Conference Committee last week approved the reconciled version of the bill, and both the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to ratify it today so President Rodrigo Dutere could sign it into law.“This [national ID] will be a landmark legislation because it is only under the Duterte administration that it would be enacted,” Lacson said.The national ID system was first introduced during the time of former president Fidel Ramos through Executive Order (EO) 308. However, it did not push though after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional citing the need for legislation.Another attempt was made during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through EO 420, harmonizing all government-issued IDs, calling it the Unified Multi-Purpose Identification System (UMID).The UMID is still being issued by select government agencies but does not serve as a national ID.Malacañang earlier said the President is ready to sign the proposed national ID system into law once it is ratified by Congress.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/national-id-system-to-improve-security/401566/
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Emergency power bill’s passage pushed
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['Reicelene Joy Ignacio']
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2017-07-26 22:19:10+00:00
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Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday remains hopeful that the emergency power bill in support of the Build, Build, Build program of the government would be passed, despite the proposal not being included in Monday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte .“I was hoping that the President would mention the need for emergency powers during his SONA,” Poe said in a radio interview, adding that she is backing Duterte’s goal to decongest traffic in Metro Manila and speed up implementation of road projects.Issuing temporary restraining orders over legal issues, according to the President, only delays project construction.“I am asking Congress, find me a law wherein if there was regular bidding, the court or somebody else should not be messing it up because it will delay the project which has been the case in the provinces,” Duterte said in his speech.Poe said apparent bureaucratic snags should be a reason for the government to push for the passage of the emergency power bill especially in the House of the Representatives.According to the senator, the bill has not yet been scheduled for interpellation.AANGAT TAYO Rep. Neil Abayon earlier said there is a need to revisit the emergency power bill.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/emergency-power-bills-passage-pushed/340773/
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Distribution of OFW ID cards starts
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['The Manila Times']
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2017-12-07 20:41:02+00:00
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THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has started the first phase of issuance of an integrated identification card for overseas Filipino workers or the iDOLE OFW ID for easy transactions with government and private agencies concerning their overseas employment.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd on Thursday said more than 100,000 OFW ID cards are ready for distribution for returning OFWs or Balik Manggagawa (BM) only for its initial implementation while further test is being done to secure features of the system.“This is only the first phase of implementation and will cater first to our Balik-Manggagawa until the system is ready for all OFWs. We are doing this to secure the database and for further improvements in the system,” Bello added.Director Raul Francia, chief, DOLE Information and Publication Service, pointed out that even at its initial phase of implementation, recipients of the OFW ID cards can already use them to transact business with the Labor department and its attached agencies Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration.“Soon it can also be used to access government records electronically, among other uses,” Francia said.President Rodrigo Duterte, he added, recently distributed some of the cards to returning OFWS who landed at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.Vacationing OFWs are required to log in their BM Online accounts to apply for the ID cards, which they can use to avail of travel tax and terminal fee exemptions.They can now log in and create an account with the iDOLE.ph or the iDOLE One-Stop Online Facility/Portal and apply for the OFW ID cards by putting their latest and valid OEC Number.The ID card is equipped with decrypted QR code for security.Bello reiterated that the iDOLE OFW ID card is free, with its production funded by the OWWA.“This is free for our OFWs. We do not want our OFWs to shoulder the cost because this is a gift from the President to recognize their sacrifices and immense contribution to our economy,” he said.With the use of the ID card, OFWs will no longer need to queue in transacting with agencies for their overseas employment as they can now access government services online during the further phases of the iDOLE eServices implementation.The iDOLE system will further interlink the databases of DoLE offices and agencies with other government agencies for a more reliable, updated and complete Labor Market Information System for employment facilitation purposes.Initial use of the OFW ID card coincides with today’s 84th founding celebration of the DoLE that will be held in Malolos City, Bulacan, with President Duterte as guest of honor.WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/distribution-ofw-id-cards-starts/367336/
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‘Bong:’ Drop plunder raps for insufficient evidence
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
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2017-11-30 21:05:49+00:00
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Former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is asking permission from the Sandiganbayan’s First Division to file a demurrer to evidence in the P224-million plunder case he is facing along with several other individuals in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.The trial started in June and the prosecution finished presenting its evidence in October.The prosecution filed its 406-page formal Offer of Evidence on October 23.“Since in the prosecution’s ‘Offer of Evidence,’ no particular evidence was offered, nor any testimony presented for the purpose of particularly showing the ‘overt criminal acts’ constituting a ‘combination or series’ through which the alleged ill-gotten wealth of accused Revilla in the amount of P224,512,500.00 was acquired, the dismissal of the case may peremptorily follow,” the defense argued in a motion filed on November 28.“It would be expected that, as stated by the court in its ‘resolution’ denying bail to accused Revilla that ‘the merits [of the case] are to be determined only after a full-blown trial’, that at the trial proper the prosecution would be presenting evidence which would overcome the ‘presumption of innocence’ by presenting evidence constituting proof beyond reasonable doubt, that accused Revilla has committed all the elements of the offense of plunder as provided in the law and charged in the information. That the evidence presented by the prosecution, both documentary and testimonial, glaringly fails to do this is what is beyond reasonable doubt,” it said.Information refers to charge sheet.A demurrer to evidence is a motion to dismiss in which a case is submitted for judgment based only on the prosecution’s evidence that the defense believes does not warrant conviction.If a demurrer to evidence is denied, the defense would have to take its turn to present its evidence.“No evidence has been presented by the prosecution of any amount allegedly received by Revilla by way of ‘kickbacks’ or ‘commissions’ allegedly ‘from Napoles or any of her representatives,’” the defense said, referring to businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged brains of the pork barrel scam.“What is clearly evident, even as the prosecution was presenting its evidence, rather than buttressing and filling up the inadequacies of the evidence presented at the bail hearing, understandably because such proceedings are summary in character, have instead confirmed the gross and patent inadequacy of the evidence that Revilla has committed all the elements of plunder as provided by [Republic Act] 7080 and alleged in the information, meriting the peremptory dismissal of the instant case,” it added in part.Republic Act (RA) 7080 is the law that defines and punishes plunder.The threshold amount for plunder is P50 million.In a ruling dated November 9, the Sandiganbayan admitted all the pieces of evidence offered by the prosecution “which will be considered in the evaluation of the evidence in the decision of the case on the merits.”Two of Revilla’s co-accused–his former aide Richard Cambe and Napoles–are also asking the court’s permission to file demurrers to evidence.In a motion filed on November 24, Napoles’s camp said in part that “it was accused Napoles, a private individual, who was alleged to have unjustly enriched herself in conspiracy and with the assistance of the [then-]public officers charged herein… In the case of plunder, it must be shown that the public officer was principally and ultimately benefited or enriched. Obviously, the information failed to specify who is the main plunderer in this case. Hence, on this point the plunder charge against accused Napoles should be dismissed.”In a motion also filed on November 24, Cambe said in part that “[w]ith the indulgence of this honorable court, the accused seeks leave of court to file a demurrer to evidence on the ground that the evidence presented by the prosecution is not sufficient to warrant a conviction of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”Cambe also said in part that he “has no hand in the implementation of PDAF projects that allegedly was the factor that made his co-accused [to] allegedly amass and accumulate ill-gotten wealth.”Revilla is one of three former senators–the other two are Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada–whom the Office of the Ombudsman charged along with Napoles and other individuals before the Sandiganbayan in 2014 in connection with the PDAF scam.The Ombudsman filed the P224-million plunder case and 16 counts of graft against Revilla; a P183-million plunder case and 11 counts of graft against Estrada; and a P172-million plunder case and 15 counts of graft against Enrile.Revilla is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City.On September 16, Estrada was released from detention after the Sandiganbayan’s Special Fifth Division, voting 3-2, allowed him to post bail over the plunder case.Enrile is out on bail after the Supreme Court granted his bail petition on humanitarian grounds in 2015.The cases filed against him are pending before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.Napoles is detained at a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/bong-drop-plunder-raps-insufficient-evidence/365947/
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Andanar pressed for NPO probe result
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['Francis Earl Cueto']
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2016-12-03 21:06:53+00:00
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TRANSPARENCY and accountability watchdog Filipino Alliance for Transparency and Empowerment (FATE) urged Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar to disclose the result of the investigation it ordered regarding the alleged anomalous transaction in National Printing Office (NPO).FATE asked Andanar to divulge the result of the probe of Communications Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Enrique Tandan, which he promised since Friday.“Nasaan na ung pinangakong resulta ng imbestigasyon ni Secretary Andanar? Nagjo-joke din ba siya tulad ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte? We hope that our appeal will not fall into deaf ears since nangako si Secretary Andanar na matatapos ang imbestigasyon in two weeks time [Where is the promise that Andanar will show the result of the investigation. Is he joking like President Duterte? We hope that our appeal will not fall into deaf ears because Andanar promised the investigation will be finished in two weeks],” said FATE.“Mas gusto pa yatang mag party ni Secretary Andanar sa Valykrie kaysa bigyan ng kasagutan at solusyon ang problema sa NPO [It looks like Andanar is more inclined to party with Valykrie than looking for answers to the problems at NPO],” said FATE referring to photos circulating on social media showing Andanar partying with a celebrity.Aside from the granting of work orders to three additional printers, FATE has urged Andanar to also look into allegations that there were individuals allegedly acting as “collectors” or “middlemen” for NPO printing contracts.Last November 21, Tandan, upon orders of Andanar, asked NPO Director Francisco Vales Jr. to furnish him the contracts, agreements or arrangements with Western Visayas Printing Corp. (WVPC) and the three other printing companies namely: Best Forms Security Printer; Tri-Print Work; and Metro Color.“Even if it seemed Andanar is disinterested in handling the NPO, he must have shown compassion among its workers instead. As a self-sustaining agency, printing jobs should be given primarily among its workers,” said FATE, a Security and Exchange Commission-registered organization. NPO is an attached agency under PCOO.FATE suggested that the probe ordered by Andanar should not only focus on redundant printing orders but should also ascertain who are liable for the alleged anomalous transaction.The group had also called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into the reported work orders entered into by NPO despite existing contracts with WVPC worth P74 million.Work orders were awarded to three printers, Best Forms Security Printer with envelope no. 08-2016-3877A worth P34 million; Tri-Print Work with work order 08-2016-3877B amounting to P17 million; and Metro Color with work order no. 08-2016-38777C for P15 million.In the wake of reported transactions, NPO Bids and Awards Committee Chair Sherwin Prose Castañeda quit his post, along with other ten BAC officials, citing too much pressure from Vales as their reason.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/andanar-pressed-npo-probe-result/299807/
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Cavite bettor bags P50.9M lotto pot
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-06-19 00:12:42+00:00
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A bettor from Cavite province is now a multi-millionaire after bagging the P50-million Superlotto jackpot on Sunday.Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan said the winner got the six-number combination 19-06-20-34-8-13. His total prize was P50,977,870.Balutan said the bettor bought the winning ticket at a lotto outlet at Premier Plaza Mall in Silang, Cavite.The PCSO said 32 bettors also won P29,310 each as consolation prize for correctly guessing five of the six winning numbers.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/cavite-bettor-bags-p50-9m-lotto-pot/410001/
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PH to have longest night, shortest day Wednesday
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['Philippines News Agency']
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2016-12-19 00:22:10+00:00
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The Northern Hemisphere, which includes the Philippines, will experience on December 21, Wednesday, its longest night and shortest day this year.“That is when the 2016 winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will happen,” Dario dela Cruz, astronomy chief of the state weather bureau, said.On Wednesday, the sun at 6:44 p.m. will be at its southernmost position as seen from Earth so the forthcoming longest night’s duration will vary among Northern Hemisphere areas.Such duration will span more time in areas that are farther from the equator, he said.“In the Philippines’ case, that means the duration of the longest night will be most lengthy in extreme Northern Luzon and shortest in Mindanao,” he noted.Extreme Northern Luzon and Mindanao are the country’s farthest and closest areas to the equator, respectively.Solstice is the astronomical event during which the sun is at its greatest northerly or southerly distance from the equator, the imaginary line dividing Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres.Parallel to the equator are imaginary lines of latitude circling Earth and running towards this planet’s north and south ends.Among those lines are special navigational references called the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere and Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere.Experts said every year, the sun shines over the Tropic of Cancer during the solstice occurring around June 21 and over the Tropic of Capricorn during the solstice happening around December 21.The annual June astronomical event is known as the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice when night thereis shortest and day is longest.It is also the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice when night there is longest and day is shortest.In contrast, the annual December astronomical event is the Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice when night there is longest and day is shortest.That event is likewise the Southern Hemisphere’s summer solstice when night there is shortest and day is longest.Dela Cruz said during this month’s solstice, night will be about 13 hours and five minutes long in Basco municipality, capital of Batanes province.Night in Metro Manila will last about 12 hours and 46 minutes.In Cebu City, night will be about 12 hours, 28 minutes long, and 12 hours and 14 minutes in General Santos City. The duration of night is measured beginning sunset.In contrast, day will be only about 10 hours, 55 minutes in Basco, 11 hours, 14 minutes in Metro Manila, 11 hours, 32 minutes in Cebu City and 11 hours, 46 minutes in General Santos City.The solstice in December signals the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.“Earth has completed another annual circuit around the sun,” the weather bureau
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-longest-night-shortest-day-wednesday/302494/
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DTI: No price increases for Noche Buena items
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['Anna Leah E. Gonzales']
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2017-10-31 22:19:03+00:00
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Amid reports of price adjustments of some brands of hams and cheese products, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday said it had been assured in a meeting by most producers that supply and prices of Noche Buena products such as pasta, sauce and bread remain stable.Noche Buena is the Filipino traditional Christmas Eve meal.DTI said it recently met with manufacturers to check the price and supply situation of Noche Buena products.It meets with makers of Noche Buena goods every year ahead of the Christmas season when demand for such items is at its peak.“Several manufacturers assured adequate supply and stability in prices for the coming season, mainly [because of] very tight competition among various brands fighting for market shares,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said.Lopez added that market competition has prompted the manufacturers to bundle their products.He said sauces were bundled with pastas and sold at more affordable prices.“This is competition at play. Even in the ham category, products are so competitive that discounts are being given and several variants that serve different market segments are being offered with affordable pricing,” he added.Price of a premium brand of bread went up by one peso per loaf but other brands had kept their prices as of October this year.Lopez encouraged consumers to use “e-Presyo,” an online price monitoring platform, for guidance on prices of Noche Buena products.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/dti-no-price-increases-noche-buena-items/359859/
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DOH reports 44 more firecracker injuries
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['Kenneth Hare Hernandez']
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2018-01-03 23:00:50+00:00
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~By KENNETH HARE HERNANDEZThe Department of Health (DoH) Epidemiology Bureau has recorded additional 44 firecracker-related injuries, bringing to 406 the total cases since the start of the surveillance period from December 21 to January 3. Of the 406 cases recorded in sentinel hospitals, 219 are from Metro Manila, of which 103 cases from Manila; Quezon City – 26; Valenzuela – 16; Pasig – 15; Marikina City – 14; Caloocan – 12; Mandaluyong – 11; Las Piñas – six and other towns with 16 incidents. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) has recorded 41 cases; Ilocos Region with 40; Western Visayas – 37; Central Luzon – 25; and Bicol Region – 15. The surveillance period’s cases of 210 are 34 percent lower than the same period last year and 53 percent lower than the five-year average from 2012 to 2016. As of Wednesday, there have been no recorded deaths and fireworks ingestion while one stray bullet case was recorded in Caloocan, according to the Philippine National Police. Majority or 79 percent of the cases were males, ages ranging from 11 months to 69 years old, while most involving 13-year-old boys, with 216 of them were active users. Illegal firecracker “Piccolo” remains the top cause of injuries with 136 case while others were caused by “Boga” and “5-Star.”
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/doh-reports-44-firecracker-injuries/372080/
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PCSO chief launches biography Mandirigma
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-06-15 23:22:27+00:00
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PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan has taken the opportunity to share not only his personal battles during his years in the military but also the story of all soldiers and their families in the country who risk their lives to ensure Filipino’s will have peaceful lives.During the launching of his book, Mandirigma: In Wartime and In Peace, Thursday afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Balutan, a former Marine general said he hopes that his story would serve as an inspiration to all.Authored by renowned screenplay writer and film director Mauro Gia Samonte and published by The Manila Times, the book chronicles Balutan’s 27 years in the military and his early life, family, and current post as PCSO head.Balutan said,“This book is a narration not just of my personal battles during my active service in the military but also of all the soldiers who are out there somewhere in this archipelago, risking their lives so that we Filipinos will savor our sovereignty and joy.”“A battle is won not by a single man alone; a battle is won by the concerted efforts of our well led marine warriors in the battleground,” added Balutan.Balutan also acknowledged the sacrifices made my families of soldiers.According to the PCSO general manager, it is his desire that the book would allow the people to have a glimpse of the silent suffering and sacrifices of soldiers’ families who were left behind, uncertain if they will see each other again alive.He thanked his spouse, Maria Angelina, “for her unfaltering patience, support and understanding” and “for raising wonderful creatures of God our children,”Balutan, who earned the moniker “Mandirigma” (warrior), is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1983 and holds a Masters Degree from Manuel L. Quezon University.He is best remembered as the marine colonel who defied former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order not to testify in a Senate probe without her approval.Then colonel Balutan testified on the alleged involvement the military in the electoral fraud during the 2004 presidential election.During the book launch, Balutan also thanked Samonte, Dr. Dante Ang, chairman emeritus of The Manila Times, and his “mistah” (batchmates) for their support.“This book it about you all. This is our book,” he said, addressing his mistahs who were present in the event.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/pcso-chief-launches-biography-mandirigma/408546/
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‘Budget for free college program increased’
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['Catherine S. Valente']
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2018-08-16 00:02:24+00:00
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Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Wednesday clarified that the budget of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) for 2019 was not “gutted” as some lawmakers claimed, saying the allocation for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) was increased to accommodate more students.At a breakfast forum, Diokno said the CHEd budget was “rationalized” to finance the P51 billion budget needed for free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs).“The budget was simply rationalized to give way for the implementation of the free tuition program. We decreased the budget for the student financial assistance program. This used to be an item in the budget and this is the favorite of congressmen and senators,” Diokno told reporters.“We reduced the budget of that and we increased the tertiary education subsidy, which is a component of a free tuition program,” he added.Under the proposed cash-based budget, the allocation for TES was increased to P27 billion from this year’s P16 billion.Students covered by TES can receive allowances for room and board, transportation, books, and school supplies.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/budget-for-free-college-program-increased/430858/
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Duterte urged to look into co-op sector issues
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
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2018-07-07 00:03:17+00:00
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The apex organization of cooperatives on Friday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to accredit a hundred cooperatives that have registered but remained unrecognized by government.The Philippine Cooperative Center (PCC) also urged the government to consider the burden brought by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law on the expenses of their members despite the exemption of taxes on cooperatives“We appeal to the President to consider the issues of the cooperative movement because its members are the masses,” said Daniel Ang, chief executive officer of the PCC.In an interview with The Manila Times, Ang said that of the 120 cooperatives that have been registered in the country so far, only 12 have been officially recognized by the government.Data from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) show a total of 1,033 registered cooperatives in 2017.Ang cited the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco), which was registered under CDA but is still not recognized by the government agency National Electrification Administration (NEA).He also said the Train Law adds to the difficulties of cooperative members: “Even if we have successfully convinced legislators not to include tax exemption out of the Repeals List, the effect of Train still clearly shows in the prices of basic commodities, so our members still feel that it is a burden,” the PCC chief said.When Duterte signed the Train Law on December 19, 2017, the tax exemption of cooperatives was considered as it was promulgated in the Articles 60 and 61 of the Cooperative Code of 2008.The PCC would be holding a protest activity this Saturday at the Mendiola peace arc to address these issues as they celebrate the International Cooperatives Day.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-urged-to-look-into-co-op-sector-issues/416645/
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Sotto asks TV anchor Failon to run for senator
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['Francis Earl Cueto']
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2018-05-26 00:05:54+00:00
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SENATE President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd on Friday revealed that he had asked ABS-CBN broadcaster Ted Failon to run for the Senate in 2019 under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).Sotto made the announcement during an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).However, he said he could not reveal the details of Failon’s possible run, as some things needed to be ironed out.“Yes, I talked to him already. I cannot discuss to you what we talked about because it involves ABS-CBN,” he said.Failon is one of the anchors of the main newscast of the network, “TV Patrol,” and hosts his own weekly public affairs show. Failon also broadcasts daily on ABS-CBN’s flagship AM radio station, dzMM.Failon, Mario Teodoro Failon Etong in real life, represented the first district of Leyte at the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004.Sotto also said former environment secretary Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez was being considered for the NPC Senate slate.“If she’s willing to join our coalition, why not? She would be a good asset also,” Sotto said.Sotto said Lopez could take up the “green” causes championed by Sen. Loren Legarda, who is not eligible for reelection.The Senate president earlier said the NPC would back the senatorial bid of Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, the special assistant to the President.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/sotto-asks-tv-anchor-failon-to-run-for-senator/401170/
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No budget compromise – Palace
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-08-24 00:04:36+00:00
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NO compromise has been reached by the Executive department and the House of Representatives to break the budget impasse, Malacañang said on Thursday.The Palace however lauded the House for its decision to resume budget deliberations next week.“There is no compromise. I heard that they will resume hearings, which is good,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a chance interview.“As far as I know, there are no changes in the budget. It is still the same budget that we submitted [to Congress],” he added.Speaker Gloria Arroyo and Majority Leader Rolando Andaya met with President Rodrigo Duterte last week to discuss the lawmakers’ rejection of the cash-based budget submitted to the House.Rep. Karlo Nograles, House Committee on Appropriations chairman, suspended deliberations on the proposed P3.7-trillion national budget because House members were against the cash-based budgeting system pushed by the Development Budget Coordination Committee.A cash-based budget means that the agencies are mandated to spend all their obligated funds within the year, or lose it.With the Executive department firm on its stand to adopt a cash-based budget, the House decided to resume budget deliberations on August 28.“We will resume on the 28th [of the month]. There is a new schedule,” Nograles said.To be discussed on August 28 are the proposed allocations of the Department of Trade of Industry andDepartment of Education. The proposed budget for the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will be tackled on August 29, while the budget for the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs will be discussed on August 30.The proposed 2019 budget reduced the allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways by P95 billion; Department of Health by P35 billion; and Department of Education, P77 billion.With reports from LLANESCA T. PANTI
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/no-budget-compromise-palace/433810/
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DENR forms task force for Metro Manila
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['Neil Alcober']
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2017-11-12 01:09:35+00:00
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THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has created a new task force that would ensure strict implementation of environmental laws and regulations, and go after environmental offenders in Metro Manila.Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said “Task Force DENR Metro Manila” is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the agency’s law enforcement muscle, which he described as the “weakest link” in the fulfillment of the agency’s mandate to preserve and protect the environment and natural resources of the country.“It is ironic that enforcement is still the weakest link to the DENR’s organizational effectiveness despite the sufficiency of existing laws that have been in operation for over a decade now,” Cimatu said during the recent launch of the newly-formed environmental task force.Soon after he assumed the DENR post in May, Cimatu said the strict enforcement of laws on clean air, clean water and solid waste management would be on top of his agenda.The task force is divided into four teams assigned to every three to seven cities in Metro Manila. Each team is composed of 12 members coming from different bureaus under the DENR, including the Environmental Management Bureau, the Forest Management Bureau, and the Biodiversity Management Bureau.Cimatu branded the members of each task force team as “The Dirty Dozen,” in reference to the 1967 American war film about 12 handpicked soldiers overcoming overwhelming obstacles to achieve a daunting task through teammanship and shared vision.“The movie teaches us the truism that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the inevitability of embracing the mission as an integral part of the bigger chain that links us all in the DENR,” Cimatu said.The task force is divided into four quadrants: Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Caloocan-North, Valenzuela and Mandaluyong; Makati, Pateros and Taguig; Pasay, Paranaque, Muntinlupa and Las Pinas; and Navotas, Malabon, Manila and Caloocan-South.Cimatu envisioned the task force as a pilot model that would later be replicated in other priority areas in the country that need augmentation of their enforcement capabilities.“Owing to being the country’s highest population density and concentration of economic activities, Metro Manila has the highest incidence of violations of environmental laws and that makes it an ideal pilot area for the effort,” Cimatu pointed out.With the new task force in place, Cimatu urged Metro Manila residents to use all available means of communication, including social media, to report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations.The DENR chief said he expected the task force to be swamped with reports involving garbage, air pollution, water pollution and even illegal logging since Metro Manila is a traditional transshipment point of undocumented wood products coming from the provinces.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/denr-forms-task-force-metro-manila/362235/
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Justice vowed for Pinoy killed in Slovakia
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['Jefferson Antiporda']
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2018-06-08 00:02:06+00:00
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THE prime minister of Slovakia assured the Philippine government that justice would be given to Henry John Acorda, a Filipino financial analyst who was mauled to death in Bratislava.Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayeteno, in a statement issued on Thursday, said Prime Minister Peter Pelligrini gave his assurance that the suspect, Hiraj Hossu, would face justice.“These are very bad signals for our society. Justice must be immediately delivered,” Pelligrini said.Acorda, 36, died on May 31 from injuries he sustained after he was beaten up by the suspect.“The Philippines expresses its appreciation to Prime Minister Peter Pelligrini for assuring us that justice will be served for the death of our kababayan (compatriot) Henry John Acorda,” Cayetano said.Ambassador Ma. Cleofe Natividad assured the family of the victim that the embassy would help in the repatriation of Acorda’s remains and in hiring lawyers to pursue the case against his assailant.Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva urged the foreign affairs department to work with its Slovakian counterpart to seek justice for Acorda.Villanueva, who heads the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources, also asked the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to provide assistance to the victim’s family.“Acorda’s death is very unfortunate. We hope that this crime will not go unpunished,” the senator said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/justice-vowed-for-pinoy-killed-in-slovakia/405685/
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Philippines, China vow maritime cooperation
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['Jaime Pilapil']
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2017-02-28 22:41:25+00:00
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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) will implement an agreement establishing the Joint Coast Guard Committee (JGCC) for maritime cooperation between them.The agreement was signed on October 20, 2016 and witnessed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.Felipe Judan, Department of Transportation undersecretary for the maritime sector, in his keynote address during the inaugural meeting between the PCG and the CCG last month, said mutual understanding, cooperation and friendship between the two coast guards would contribute to further strengthening of bilateral relations between Manila and Beijing.At the inaugural meeting, both sides recognized the significance of coast guard diplomacy.The JCGC adopted implementing guidelines of the agreement and the Terms of Reference of working groups put up to assist in the work of the committee.Both sides agreed to cooperate on preventing and combating drug trafficking and other transnational crimes and on search and rescue (SAR), environment protection and emergency response through, among other modalities, information exchange and pragmatic empowerment activities unique for the PCG and the CCG and enforcement agencies.They also established a hotline to facilitate communications in agreed areas of cooperation.Both sides agreed too to conduct bilateral exchange activities in 2017, including high-level visits, maritime operations and related exercises, vessel visits and capacity-building.The CCG invited PCG officials to visit China at an appropriate time this year.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/philippines-china-vow-maritime-cooperation/314654/
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Alvarez wants probe on BuCor, TADECO deals
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['Oliver Vicente', 'Charity Napalan', 'Mitch Ilano']
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26/03/2017 0:00
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In the spirit of public accountability and service, Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez has called for a House investigation on the allegedly grossly disadvantageous contracts entered into by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. (TADECO).Alvarez filed House Resolution 867, directing the House Committee on Good Government and Accountability to look into reported series of contracts between TADECO and BUCOR which could be grossly disadvantageous to the government.Alvarez also wanted the alleged ill-treatment of the workers in the Tadeco banana plantation investigated.“It is the duty of the State, in particular the legislative department, to investigate current practices, as shown by experience, which result into disadvantageous contracts, for the purpose of creating legislative remedies to curb such practices,” Alvarez said.TADECO is reportedly owned by the family of his close friend Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr., who was one of the top contributors to President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s campaign kitty in the 2016 May elections.The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier directed a review of the 25-year lease contract between BuCor and TADECO following complaints that the latter’s annual payments—both lease and profit sharing—were allegedly only a fraction of the prevailing market rate.TADECO and BuCor entered into a joint venture agreement on July 11, 1969, allowing TADECO to lease from BuCor land located in the Davao Penal Colony for the former’s banana plantation.“The existing contract, while guaranteeing BuCor a share of P26.54 million per year for 5, 308.36 hectares, actually prejudices the same since the prevailing price of lease contracts in that area is P25,000 per hectare per year,” Alvarez said.He expressed concern that the government “is prejudiced”, at the very least, by as much P106 million per year.“Further, the share of BuCor is only P1.35428 per box, in contrast to the price of bananas at USD 12 per box FOB to China, thr Middle East, Japan, as well as other markets; given the present exchange rate of P50 for every USD 1, the difference is P600 per box,” he said.According to Alvarez, TADECO and BuCor executed a consolidated joint venture agreement dated Sept. 26, 1979, in which the former leased 5, 212.46 hectares of land from the latter, and combines the provisions of said joint venture agreement and all its amendments and supplements into a single instrument that will serve as the sole repository of the terms and conditions thereof; and extended the lease period to 25 years, interestingly, instead of the reported prevailing practice of leasing with a term of just 10 years.In 1989, the consolidated joint venture agreement was amended to escalate rates in land rentals, royalties, and profit shares.On May 21, 2003, it was renewed and based on the new contract, the BuCor shall receive a guaranteed annual production share of P26.54 million, which will automatically increase by 10 percent every five years.The new contract also provides that the BuCor shall receive profit shares with respect to the leased land where bananas are planted, the amount of which shall also automatically increase by 10 percent every five years.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/26/alvarez-wants-probe-on-bucor-tadeco-deals/
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Prices of sardines, corned beef up
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['Ralph Villanueva']
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2018-08-01 00:03:38+00:00
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THE prices of sardines and corned beef will increase by 2 percent because of the weakening peso and high oil prices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Tuesday.DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said canned goods manufacturers would adjust their prices because of higher production cost.He however said that the price hike is “reasonable.”“This is reasonable. If we see the costing of the canned goods (companies) that implemented the price increase and the fishes, raw materials they are using… we computed it and it is only a slight increase,” Lopez said.“The price hikes will depend on the oil price. If the oil price lowers, the price should also stabilize,” he said. “I am not saying this will not affect [the consumers,] but this is a natural adjustment.”He warned that there might be more price increases in the future.|“[There is a price increase] because of the [rising] cost [of production.] Some would observe [the price increase]. The margin is very thin for those who would want to be in the mix for the market sale. Some brands may want to risk, but they can cover the high cost [of production],” Lopez said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/prices-of-sardines-corned-beef-up/425516/
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194 PROBATIONARY OFFICERS TO JOIN AFP
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2016-12-13 22:14:16+00:00
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AFTER a year of rigorous training in their respective Officer Candidate Courses (OCCs), a total of 194 new probationary 2nd Lieutenants and ensigns are set to join the regular force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Lt. Gen Salvador Melchor Mison Jr. (AFP deputy chief of staff), major service commanders and other officers welcomed the new officers after their graduation held at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday.Of the OCC graduates 68 are officer candidates from the Philippine Army, 63 from the Philippine Air Force and 63 from the Philippine Navy.Top defense and AFP officials also presented the awards to the top three students from each Major Service.Leading the Army’s OCC “Kadasig” Class 47-2016 were Probationary/2nd Lt. Phil Jun Ocumen who received the Presidential Saber, P/2nd Lt. Kimberly Jean Lappao, awarded the Secretary of National Defense (SND) Saber, and P/2nd Lt. Armie Macapinlac, recipient of the Chief of Staff AFP (CSAFP) Saber.For the Air Force’s “Siklabtala” Class 2016, P/2nd Lt. Iris Eugenio received the Presidential Saber followed by P/2nd Lt. Nathaniel Diaz with the SND Saber and P/2nd Lt. Argie Clarence Torralba with the CSAFP Saber.The Navy’s “Madangpanan” Class 28 was led by Marine P/2nd Lt. Mark Andrew Badilla, who was awarded the Presidential Saber, P/Ensign Ricky Degutierrez with the SND Saber and P/Ensign Jesus Hell Carballo with the CSAFP Saber.“The conclusion of your course is as important to you as it is to us in the AFP. We wholeheartedly receive you not only to the camp but also to the organization that only the brave and the patriotic enough dare join,” Mison told the probationary officers.Lorenzana advised the graduates to take responsibility in the new positions that they will be holding.He assured the graduates that the Department of National Defense will continue to support the modernization program of the AFP.“I thank you for volunteering to serve our country. You will be in the forefront; you will be putting your lives on the line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I wish you good luck in your new career and I hope that all of you will reach the pinnacle of your respective military careers,” Lorenzana said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/194-probationary-officers-join-afp/301571/
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Organized labor settles for ‘endo’ compromise
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['William Depasupil']
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2018-03-17 00:04:38+00:00
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ORGANIZED labor has abandoned its hardline stance calling for the abolition of work contracting and other forms of short-term employment in favor of a win-win formula that will benefit both labor and employers.A coalition of 49 labor centers, federations and workers’ organizations on Friday said they have recognized the need to allow some forms of contractualization that will assure workers the right to security of tenure.Michael Mendoza, president of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (ALU-TUCP-Nagkaisa), the largest labor group in the country, said they remain hopeful that President Rodrigo Duterte will do the right thing the moment he personally reads the proposed Executive Order (EO) drafted by labor groups addressing short-term contractualization, end of contract agreement or “endo” and “555” work schemes that prevail in the country.“We too, Mr. President recognize the need to balance the interest of labor and capital. The epidemic scale of contractuals laboring in precarious jobs without security of tenure calls for balance, Mr. President. We urge you to do the right thing,” Mendoza added.It was Duterte who asked the labor groups to draft an EO during their May May 1, 2017 Labor Day dialogue in Davao City.The draft EO was submitted to Malacañang on May 9, 2017.Under the draft EO, there will be exemptions to allow some forms of contractualization.The EO also restores the norm of direct hiring rather than the current practice of hiring workforce that does work directly related to the mission of the principal corporation through manpower agencies or labor-only contractors.Such practice is illegal because it circumvents the prohibition on the “cabo” system.The EO also grants the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) the authority, upon consultation with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, to exempt jobs, activities and functions from the prohibition on contractualization.The ALU-TUCP-Nagkaisa pointed out that management prerogative is not unfettered as it is bound by the Constitution, the laws of the land, public policy, morals and simple decency.“The Constitution is crystal-clear: Workers have the right to security of tenure,” it said.According to Mendoza, the President has obviously been misled or misinformed about the demands of workers even as he expressed confidence that Duterte will never renege on his promise to end contractualization.Started in 1989, contractualization or “endo” (end of contract) or “555” or contractualized work is a work scheme whereby workers are hired by principal employers through a contract forged with manpower service providers and contractors to meet added production demand.After five months or less, however, contractualized workers’ contracts are terminated and renewed for employers to avoid payment of mandated minimum wage, social and health insurance benefits, leave credits and other wages and benefits that regular employees receive.“Contractualization deprives workers to grow as the business and national economy grows. Contractualization flourished because of weak and very relaxed government labor law enforcement, [flexible] work arrangement and the poor compliance of employers with current regulation policy on contractualization schemes. Contractual hiring became the norm, not the exception,” Mendoza pointed out.Earlier, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said a total ban on contractualization is not possible as there are legal activities that require contractual relations.The law, according to Bello, allows outsourcing of workers if the company does not really employ them in its operations as in the case of security guards and seasonal and project-based employees.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/organized-labor-settles-for-endo-compromise/386600/
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Almost 3,000 local officials face dismissal
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['Nelson Badilla']
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2017-02-16 21:23:08+00:00
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A high ranking official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday claimed that the department is still in the process of carrying out the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to either dismiss or suspend close to 3,000 corrupt local government officials.Arthur Condes, executive assistant to DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno, however, admitted that the 2,799 officials facing graft and corruption charges were committed during the previous administration.Data provided by the Office of the Ombudsman showed that 1,700 of the 2,799 are city and municipal governments officials.About 892 officials belong to the barangay (village) level, while 204 came from the provincial governments.The 2,799 local government officials were slapped with criminal and administrative complaints.Condes said the DILG is expecting that the number of cases that will be lodged at the Office of the Ombudsman will increase as President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to clean up the entire bureaucracy of massive graft and corruption.Duterte’s marching orders against graft and corruption are limited only to the executive branch.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/almost-3000-local-officials-face-dismissal/312609/
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NAIA operationsback to normal
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2017-06-02 23:57:52+00:00
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Operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) returned to normal on Friday after the lifting of a closure order that was prompted by an attack on Resorts World Manila (RWM) late Thursday evening.RWM is located across NAIA Terminal 3.No flights were canceled or diverted as a result of the two-hour closure.The airport closure, however, delayed departure of several domestic flights.Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air said their operations were back to normal after the lifting of the closure order.The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) also on Friday said it briefly shut down the NAIA’s four main gates shortly after the attack on Resorts World Manila.MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said the gates were closed from 1:45 a.m. to 3:45 a.m.“We wanted to make sure that the situation will not pose a threat to our operations,” Monreal added.He said the MIAA is on high-alert status and extra measures are being implemented, including longer screening of people, police deployment to parking areas and rigid vehicle inspection.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/naia-operationsback-normal/330633/
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AFP chief: Military vital in war vs terror groups
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['Fernan Marasigan']
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2017-01-23 20:49:38+00:00
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THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Año highlighted the participation of the battle-tested Marines, the Philippine Navy and the Air Force in the military’s quest to finish off the extremist Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups in southern Philippines.In his recent visit to the headquarters of the Navy and the Air Force, Año cited the two AFP branches’ accomplishments both in internal security and in territorial defense operations.“Sailors and Marines, you guard the many isolated and distant posts on the islands and features in the West Philippine Sea [South China Sea]. I would like you to know that I am inspired by your dedication, missing important occasions and happy moments you could have spent with your families. Once more, your AFP needs your support in this quest to end the Abu Sayyaf Group and other terrorist groups in Mindanao. Be prepared to render service, which requires your energy, time and personal sacrifices,” the AFP chief said uring his visit to the Navy headquarters in Naval Station Jose Andrada on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.He reiterated the same when he visited the Air Force headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City (Metro Manila) over the weekend.After meeting with top Air Force officials led by Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Año addressed the guardians of Philippine skies and civilian employees of the Air Force and dwelt on their accomplishments and many personal experiences and anecdotes he related to the PAF leadership.“I remember how the pilots conducted close air supports and medical evacuations above and beyond the call of duty, of selfless devotion to duty of the pilots and crew, and how they offered the ultimate sacrifice just to save other people’s lives. I now summon you to join the charge against the Abu Sayyaf Group and other terrorist groups that I, as your Chief of Staff, committed to significantly defeat in six months,” he noted.Año earlier ordered the decimation of the ASG, the Maute Group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other terrorist groups within six months as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.To achieve this difficult task, according to Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, necessary adjustments in tactics and strategy, and in the approaches to neutralize the ASG, including changes in the leadership and composition of the team that will execute Ano’s plans, will have to be made.“And this is part of the dynamism of the military profession,” Arevalo said.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had disclosed that the AFP would be employing fresh approaches in dealing with terrorists.One of them, according to him, is to designate new officers to make sure these new strategies would be carried out against terrorist and other lawless elements.The AFP recently designated Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. as the new commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/afp-chief-military-vital-war-vs-terror-groups/308405/
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Quarantine bureau braces for Ebola virus
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['Benjie Vergara']
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2017-05-15 21:22:03+00:00
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Distribution of health forms to arriving passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may be resumed over a reported outbreak again of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) personnel on Monday said they are only waiting for the instruction or ‘go-signal’ from the Department of Health (DoH) to resume the distribution, which was stopped in February this year after all kinds of virus were reportedly put under control.Although it stopped the distribution of the health forms, the bureau maintained its fever scanning system 24/7, according to physician Geraldine Yangson.Manila has no direct flights from Congo but Quarantine bureau personnel strictly monitor arriving passengers with connecting flights from Middle East countries and those from Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.“If given the go-signal, we will resume the distribution of the health forms to all passengers on these flights,” Yangson said.Three years ago, airport and health authorities tightened screening of arriving passengers at the NAIA amid fears of a worldwide spread of the Ebola virus.Passengers of all foreign flights arriving at the NAIA terminals were required to fill out health declaration checklists, which asked for travel histories, addresses and contact details.Also, passengers coming from all destinations had to walk past thermal scanners set up in quarantine desks.The World Health Organization confirmed that at least one person had died after contracting the Ebola virus, signaling another outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.General Manager Ed Monreal of the Manila International Airport Authority has instructed airport personnel to make sure that there are enough hand soaps and sanitizers in all toilets at the four terminals of NAIA.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/quarantine-bureau-braces-ebola-virus-2/327362/
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Alaska leads 2-1 in semis series vs Meralco
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['Josef T. Ramos']
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2018-11-15 23:00:33+00:00
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~MIKE Harris and Simon Enciso showed their big fighting heart at crunch time to help Alaska escape with a 104-102 win over Meralco in Game 4 of their best-of-three semifinals at the Philippine Basketball Association Season 43 Governors’ Cup on Thursday.Harris and Enciso proved to be a magical combination for the Aces in the crucial minutes as they scored the needed baskets to prevail over the Bolts and lead the series, 2-1.With the win, Alaska inched closer to clinching a spot in the Finals for the first time.“Mike (Harris) is awesome,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton of his import who tallied 31 points, 24 rebounds and seven assists. “He just plays great basketball. He is so strong because he works so hard on his body. He is an absolute animal about how he works on his body. He really works on it.”Enciso nailed 11 of his 17 points in the last quarter built on four crucial treys that kept Alaska in the fight.Meralco was ahead, 98-97, going into the last minute, when Harris scored a three-point play off Allen Durham’s foul to give the Aces the lead, 100-98, with 50 ticks left.Durham retaliated with a lay-up, tying the count at 100 but Harris countered with another three-point play off an offensive rebound to give the lead back to the Aces, 103-100, with 16 seconds left.Durham quickly scored on a lay-up to cut the deficit, 102-103.Harris was immediately fouled and sent to the free throw line in the ensuing play where he made one of two free throws for what would be the final count as Durham, Reynel Hugnatan and Anjo Caram missed their attempts for the Bolts.Chris Banchero added 17 points and Nonoy Baclao made 11 points also for the Aces.Durham led Meralco with 37 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.Game 4 is set on Saturday.ScoresAlaska 104 – Harris 31, Enciso 17, Banchero 17, Baclao 11, Manuel 8, Casio 7, Thoss 6, Cruz 4, Racal 3, Exciminiano 0, Potts 0.Meralco 102 – Durham 37, Hugnatan 19, Newsome 18, Amer 11, Caram 4, Faundo 4, Salva 3, Dillinger 3, Lanete 3, Canaleta 0, Tolomia 0. Quarters: 25-22, 47-53, 75-74, 104-102.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/alaska-leads-2-1-in-semis-series-vs-meralco/468534/
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Senate to pursue MRT-3 probe
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['Luzvisminda Filipinas', 'Cheap Tuesdays']
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3/5/2017 0:00
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The Senate will summon anew former Transportation officials after Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the public services committee, filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the unusable MRT-3 trains worth P3.8 billion which the government has ordered from a Chinese train manufacturer.Poe filed Senate Resolution No. 355 to look into the newly delivered twin-section light rail vehicles (LRVs) built by Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co.The said trains, which are intended for the capacity-burdened EDSA Metro Rail Transit (MRT), however, reportedly will remain unusable due to an incompatible signaling system used to keep safe distances between trains.Poe said her panel will invite former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, ex-MRT general manager Roman Buenafe and other officials involved in the purchase of the LRVs, as well as current Transport officials, including Sec. Arthur Tugade and Transport Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez.The senator said lingering questions remain as to why the previous administration failed to check the compatibility of the design of the trains, despite much hype about MRT’s capacity expansion and that more commuters would be accommodated.“There’s something that they [past Transport officials] didn’t do that’s why these things aren’t compatible… The parts that they ordered aren’t even compatible with each other,” said Poe, referring to the 49,000-kg weight of the Dalian trains, but the existing rails can only carry a maximum of 48,000 kgs.She said the Senate, in the exercise of its oversight functions, “should ensure a safe, decent and efficient public transportation system; thus, inept and corrupt government officials should not go unpunished for entering into anomalous and patently disadvantageous contracts in the public transportation sector.”Poe’s Resolution 355 also called for an inquiry to look into MRT’s existing maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), a Filipino-Korean joint venture that started maintenance and restoration works in January, 2016 on the ageing MRT, which has been operating since 2000.In her resolution, Poe cited several memoranda sent by Chavez to BURI over its supposed “non-performance.”Chavez specifically had asked BURI to explain why its P3.8 billion contract should not be rescinded for non-performance of the company since January, 2016. Under the contract, BURI was required to maintain all 73 coaches and overhaul 43.However, no coaches have been turned over, delivered or accepted despite the agreement that 17 of 43 should have been initially overhauled.
|
Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/05/03/senate-to-pursue-mrt-3-probe/
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NPA rebel falls in Benguet
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['Rudy Lagasca']
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8/2/2017 0:00
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A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who ambushed a police officer in Mountain Province was apprehended in his hideout at Parapad, Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet, yesterday, after evading pursuing lawmen for two years.Intelligence operatives of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera arrested Jacinto Faroden,alias Digbay, who is wanted for frustratred murder.A warrant for his arrest was also issued by Judge Joseph Patnaan, Presiding Judge, Branch 35, RTC, First Judicial Region, Bontoc, Mt. Province who recommended a bail bond of P200,00.00 for his temporary liberty.Records showed that the suspect, together with several others who are still at large, attacked Senior Police Officer 1 Wilfredo Degay along the provincial road in Barangay Poblacion, Sagada, Mountain Province on February 21, 2015.
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/02/08/npa-rebel-falls-in-benguet/
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6 busted in QC shabu session
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['Jing Villamente']
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2017-03-26 01:06:19+00:00
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~By THE serving of a search warrant led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer and six suspected drug users during a shabu session in Quezon City on Saturday morning. Quezon City Police District Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said the District Special Operations Unit under Supt. Rogarth Campo arrested Bienvenido Aquino Jr., an alleged notorious drug pusher in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Lucena and Quezon. Also arrested were Randy Roy Galapon, 44; Allan Jay Sison, 30; Enderson Luna, 39; Dominic Macandog, 22; Maryjane Legaspi, 30 and a minor who was turned over to the city’s Social Welfare and Development. Recovered from the suspects were 15 heat-sealed sachets of shabu valued at P50,000; sachet of dried marijuana leaves; 10 unsealed sachets with traces of shabu; one unlicensed caliber 38 revolver; a caliber 22 pistol; ammunition for various gun caliber, a hand grenade, three samurai swords, cellular phones, a replica firearm, assorted parts of firearms and drug paraphernalia. Cases were filed against Aquino and the five other suspects.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/6-busted-qc-shabu-session/319246/
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Human rights group warns ‘Bato’
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['Mary Gleefer F. Jalea']
|
2018-05-11 00:01:30+00:00
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The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday warned Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa that he may be investigated if he carries out his threat to have imprisoned drug lords executed at the New Bilibid Prison.The rights group reminded de la Rosa that the International Criminal Court has started its preliminary investigation on the drug war killings.“Any such killings will also likely add to growing momentum inside the United Nations for a separate inquiry,” HRW said in a statement.“These developments suggest that sooner or later, de la Rosa may be held to account for his ongoing role in the bloody campaign he continues to zealously endorse,” the rights group added.Upon assuming his new post, de la Rosa told jail guards not to hesitate in killing drug lords and convicts.“You’re afraid of drug lords? If they can kill you, you can also kill them because they’re in prison. You’re afraid of dying? I hate cowards,” he said during his first flag ceremony at the New Bilibid Prison.As head of the Philippine National Police (PNP), de la Rosa implemented the Duterte government’s war on drugs that has left thousands of drug suspects dead.Numerous rights groups claim that more than 12,000 people were killed in the bloody campaign, but the PNP lists more than 4,000 dead.
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Manila Times
|
https://www.manilatimes.net/human-rights-group-warns-bato/398066/
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DepEd undecided on condom distribution
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['Francis Earl Cueto']
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2016-12-19 00:25:02+00:00
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THE Department of Education has yet to decide if it will allow the distribution of condoms in schools but if the plan of the Department of Health is implemented, only those in junior and senior high school will be getting the free rubber, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.Briones has sought “top level” talks with the DOH to discuss the plan.“That is a very sensitive issue. Hindi sila tatayo diyan sa pinto at bawat pumasok ay bibigyan kagaya ng mga nagbibigay ng mga leaflets sa shopping center, hindi ganun. . . At hindi ka magdi-distribute kung walang counselling, kailangan may magpapaliwanag (You just don’t stand on school gates and hand out condoms to students who enter just like those who distribute leaflets in shopping centers. And you should not distribute without giving counselling first, there has to be an explanation). It’s not going to be a mass event,” Briones said.Should the DepEd give the green light to condom distribution, Briones said it will be done only in junior and senior high schools.She added that the distribution of condoms should not be an “instrument for the promotion of promiscuity and debasement of moral values.”Teachers will also have to be trained on how to properly explain to students why condoms are being distributed and “the many repercussions of pre-marital sex.”“What they really want is to increase awareness on AIDS, because the rate of teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS is high. Our next generation is really at risk,” Briones said.
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/deped-undecided-condom-distribution/302495/
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Palace firm: PH won’t accept conditional aid
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['Llanesca T. Panti']
|
2017-10-20 21:40:53+00:00
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The Philippines will not accept any foreign aid with conditionalities because it undermines the country’s sovereignty, Malacañang spokesman Ernesto Abella said on Friday.Abella, in a news conference, affirmed an earlier disclosure of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano that the country will not receive new grants from the 28-member European Union (EU).“We are always open to constructive advice, we are open to trade, but not so much to aid and grants with conditions. If it’s tied to certain conditionalities, we must respectfully decline as we do not wish to subject ourselves to monitoring or be dictated to,” he told reporters.“That is apparently the President’s position at this stage. Certainly, our country has a lot of need, there are challenges in many areas. But we are not to be mendicants and we won’t compromise the nation’s sovereignty,” Abella said.Included in the foreign aid with conditionalities is the GSP+ (Generalized Scheme of Preference) between the Philippines and the EU, which allows the Philippines and other developing countries to pay less or no duties on their exports to the EU, thus giving the Philippines crucial access to EU markets.The Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC), meanwhile, an anti-poverty aid agency funded by the US government, selects country beneficiaries based on policy performance and priorities for achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.“Our sovereignty is being compromised when we are being told [that there are strings attached to the aid or grants]. In the President’s words, when we are being dictated upon,” Abella said.Based on the latest available records of the National Economic and Development Authority, the combined assistance of the MCC and the United States Aid for International Development—$1.27 billion—accounts for the largest share of official development assistance to the Philippines.The Australia-Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade came in second with $567 million, followed by the United Nations System with $365 million and the 28-member EU at $227 million.The Japanese government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency ranked fifth with $139 million.
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Manila Times
|
https://www.manilatimes.net/palace-firm-ph-wont-accept-conditional-aid/357664/
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GMA’s husband seeks permit for Europe trip
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['Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino']
|
2017-06-23 20:51:12+00:00
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Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is asking the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division to let him travel to the United Kingdom, Portugal and Ireland from July 11 to August 1.The court is enforcing a hold departure order in connection with a graft case filed in 2012 against former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Jesus Verzosa and several others including Arroyo.The case is in connection with the PNP’s procurement of two supposedly second-hand helicopters that were allegedly passed off and paid for as brand-new.“This honorable court as well as other courts have graciously permitted him to travel before, and he has always returned here as it is here where his family and business interests are, hence, he has no reason not to return. He is, thus, clearly not a flight risk,” Arroyo’s camp said in a motion for leave to travel abroad, providing his intended itinerary and the hotels he intends to stay in.REINA TOLENTINO
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Manila Times
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https://www.manilatimes.net/gmas-husband-seeks-permit-europe-trip/334508/
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No fines yet for suspended mining firms – DENR chief
|
['Llanesca T. Panti']
|
2017-10-22 22:13:47+00:00
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Not a single mining company ordered suspended by then-Secretary Regina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been fined by the Duterte administration for damages to the environment.DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu was referring to at least 22 mining companies ordered suspended by Lopez for violations of the Mining Law.Not a single mining company, however, closed shop because all the owners of the 22 companies affected by the closure order appealed Lopez’s decision before the Office of the President.“We are yet to do that [impose fines] because the decision is yet to be reached on supposed penalties for those [ordered] suspended. Maybe by the end of the year, when the decision has been reached, they will be penalized. There are no [final] findings yet on these 22 [mining] companies,” Cimatu told reporters.During his second State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will hold the local government units “absolutely responsible for any misdeed or failure by the mining entities to comply with laws.”Based on Cimatu’s accounts, the violations committed by mining companies include spillage of mining operations on sea water, illegal logging and violation of the terms of the Environmental Compliance Certificate.“We are doing very rigid auditing on mining companies because we really want to improve mining practices,” Cimatu said.He, however, refused to comment on the merits of Lopez’s findings, which resulted in ordering the suspension of the mining companies.The order earned Lopez a lot of flak and eventually led to her appointment’s rejection by the Commission on Appointments.“I’m sorry I can’t answer that question because I don’t want to preempt the ongoing auditing process [reviewing Lopez’s order],” Cimatu said.Before she was ousted from her post, Lopez also pushed for the imposition of P2 million trust fund dues on mining companies for every hectare of land disturbed by mining operations.This P2 million per hectare trust fund is on top of what is provided under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which requires mining companies to set aside P10 percent of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programs costs or P 5 million (whichever is lower) to be used as a rehabilitation cash source.The fund is managed by a committee composed of the Mines and Geosciences Board regional director, DENR regional executive director and representatives of the local government unit, the non-government organizations and the contractors.Cimatu said the government is yet to lift the ban on open-pit mining—a policy instituted by Lopez—even if President Duterte said he approves of open-pit mining, provided that the mining firm extends assistance to communities that are affected.The Mining and Geosciences Board has called for the lifting of the ban on open-pit mining, saying open-pit mining in the country is “technically and financially feasible.”“Mining companies will be given elbow room. He said this in the Cabinet meeting. We will take our cue from the President’s statements. We have asked the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) to translate the President’s instruction into specific guidance,” Cimatu said.He added that he is also in favor of increasing the two percent excise tax rates for mining companies but deferred to the MICC to state a figure.
|
Manila Times
|
https://www.manilatimes.net/no-fines-yet-suspended-mining-firms-denr-chief/358106/
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5.6 quake rattles NSamar
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['Dempsey Reyes']
|
2017-04-10 21:27:08+00:00
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An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 shook Northern Samar on Monday morning.The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake took place at 8:43 a.m., 52 kilometers northeast of Cabodiongan, Northern Samar.The province in the country’s Eastern Visayas region was jolted at a depth of 8.2 kilometers, the USGS said.Meanwhile, in a recent earthquake bulletin released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), a 5.4 quake rattled Northern Samar around 8:43 a.m., same time from the USGS’ reported time of tremor in the same province.Phivolcs reported that the 5.4 quake’s location was 89 kilometers northeast of Mapanas, Northern Samar, with a depth of 27 kilometers.Its origin was tectonic, the state volcanology agency said.Intensity 2 was felt in Catarman, Northern Samar and Cabid-an and Juban in Sorsogon while Intensity 1 was reported in Tacloban City and Palo in Leyte.Instrumental intensities were traced in Legazpi City in Albay, Masbate City, Palo in Leyte, Borongan in Eastern Samar and Sorsogon City.Damages may not be expected, according to Phivolcs, but aftershocks are expected.
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Manila Times
|
https://www.manilatimes.net/5-6-quake-rattles-nsamar/321989/
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‘Huaning’ out, Super Typhoon ‘Noru’ in
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['Elshamae Robles']
|
2017-07-31 23:39:54+00:00
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As tropical storm Huaning (international name: Haitang) exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday, the state weather bureau monitored another typhoon called Noru that may affect the country.The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Noru was spotted 1,885 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes, which is still outside PAR.The agency said it had a maximum sustained winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour and moved near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph.Tropical storm Huaning made landfall in Taiwan on Monday and left the southwest monsoon, which affects the western section of Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, Pagasa said.The southwest monsoon will continue to bring rains over areas of Luzon on Tuesday, the agency added.A tropical depression is also affecting the country and was located at 890 km northwest of Basco, Batanes, and had a maximum sustained winds of up to 55 kph.Pagasa said it moved near the center and had gustiness of up to 65 kph.Meanwhile, according to the agency, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will be experienced over the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan.Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorm will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country, Pagasa said.Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Luzon and the western section of the Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.Pagasa said winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest to west with slight to moderate seas.
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Manila Times
|
https://www.manilatimes.net/huaning-out-super-typhoon-noru-in/341720/
|
Trolls and trolling in real life
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['Eric Tse', 'Dj Plaza']
|
27/02/2017 0:00
|
without the added burden of certain shady characters demanding a loyalty test as a prerequisite. Or without the obfuscation by hyperpartisans who have not moved on from the elections, be they winners or losers.Thanks to the BBM Youth and Paredes, it only became clearer that we cannot afford to allow ourselves to be misrepresented or be left with false choices. Or to be derailed and sidetracked from the big issues that badly need to be discussed like the extrajudicial killings, peace talks, Endo, land reform and public mass transportation.Now, we know. Now, we know better.Follow me on Twitter @tonyocruz and check out my blog tonyocruz.com
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Manila Bulletin
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https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/02/27/trolls-and-trolling-in-real-life/
|
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