Resolution seeks to probe unused ports worth P1.06B
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:26 p.m.A HOUSE resolution seeks investigation on at least 18 port projects amounting to P1.06 billion that remain underutilized or unutilized.
Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo authored House Resolution No. 1473 seeking a congressional inquiry on facilities of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), which, he said, "failed to spur economic growth or attract investors."
Dengue cases may reach 100,000 this year
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:26 p.m.FILIPINOS afflicted with dengue may reach 100,000 this year, the Department of Health (DOH) warned, citing a trend of rising cases.
“Nasa 70,000 na tayo ngayon so maari po (umabot sa 100,000),” DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag told reporters on Monday.
Philippines may begin sending OFWs to Iraq, reopen embassy
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:25 p.m.THE Philippines may begin sending Filipino workers in Iraq after a five-person delegation was dispatched to the Middle Eastern country to talk with officials, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
Headed by by DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, a former Philippine ambassador to Iraq, the delegation is expected to arrive in Baghdad on Monday.
More anti-graft courts sought, including one in Cebu, CDO
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:25 p.m.TO SPEED up the resolution of graft and corruption cases, a House leader has proposed to increase the number of Sandiganbayan courts from its current five divisions to 15.
Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, authored House Bill No. 5212 that seeks to increase the number of divisions of the Sandiganbayan, and the composition of the anti-graft court to one presiding justice and 44 associate justices instead of one presiding justice and 14 associate justices.
Aquino orders salary release of more than 6,000 new policemen
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:23 p.m.PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has ordered the release of salaries for more than 6,000 newly-hired policemen.
Worth P1.03 billion, the fund release will cover salaries of 6,397 new personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), a move that will support the Aquino administration's efforts to improve the policemen to population ratio and to enhance their visibility in critical and risky areas.
DepEd studies starting school year in September
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:22 p.m.THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has been studying a proposal to move the first day of classes to September to lessen the number of school days lost to stormy weather.
At a budget hearing at the Senate, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said 54 percent of the country's school divisions have sent in data for the study. He said that initial information indicates schools lose more class days from June to September. He added classes are often disrupted because schools are used as evacuation centers when typhoons hit.
Senate passes bill to replace Geology Profession Law
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:22 p.m.THE Senate passed on third reading Monday a bill to replace the Geology Profession Law of 1965 with a new law that expands the coverage of the profession.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, author of the bill, said the 46-year-old law "has become completely outdated, if not obsolete, in the context of developing nation and globalizing world.”
House members enjoy high approval rating
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:22 p.m.THE House of Representatives and its leadership are both enjoying higher trust and approval ratings in a recent Pulse Asia survey, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said.
After the proposed national budget for 2012 hurdled second reading Friday night, Belmonte announced that a survey conducted by Pulse Asia from August 20 to September 20 – the results of which are due to be released publicly in the next few days – showed that the trust rating of the House of Representatives rose by +11 percent, from 36 percent last May to 47 percent in August.
Free rides offered amid transport strike
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 11:29 a.m.MANILA (Updated 11:15 a.m.) -- Authorities deployed vehicles to give free rides to passengers in the middle of transport strike over oil price hikes on Monday.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed more than 10 vehicles as early as 7 a.m. in Metro Manila.
Government braces for planned transport strike
Monday, September 19, 2011 - 12:38 a.m.MANILA -- The government has laid out measures to ensure order in a planned nationwide transport strike over oil price hikes on Monday.
Malacañang warned Sunday protesting groups not to harass passenger jeep drivers who may wish to proceed with their normal operation.
Palace rejects reduction of sentence for Garcia
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:35 p.m.MANILA -- There is no possibility that the two-year sentence for former military general Carlos Garcia will be reduced, a Malacañang official said Sunday.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III already confirmed the military court order and it is unlikely for him to diminish the penalty for the suspected plunderer.
Aquino off to US
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:31 p.m.PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is set to embark a five-day official visit to the United from September 19 to 23.
He will leave for the United States Sunday evening together with a lean delegation including Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang, and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman.
Senator: Past excesses prompt tighter budget control
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:30 p.m.SENATOR Franklin Drilon, senior member of the Liberal Party at the Senate, said Sunday that Malacañang's perceived "control" over the budget process was prompted by excessive spending by the past administration.
The Executive branch has been criticized for what some lawmakers see as an attempt to create a source of discretionary funds for Malacañang.
Senator to monitor representation of indigenous peoples in LGUs
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:29 p.m.SENATOR Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on cultural communities, has vowed to check on the implementation of a law that gives representatives of indigenous peoples (IP) a seat on local government boards.
The Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (Ipra), passed in 1997, upholds the right of IPs "to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making in matters which may affect their rights, lives and destinies."
Teachers press chalk allowance campaign with a dance
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:28 p.m.TEACHERS belonging to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) staged a “Chalk Dance” to dramatize their demand for a P2,000 yearly chalk allowance, even if the Education department is set to increase the present P700 allowance to P1,000 next year.
To the tune of “Achy Breaky Chalk” (a play of the Acky Breaky Heart), teachers from various public schools danced their protest at the Quezon Memorial Circle Sunday morning two days after they launched the National Chalk Holiday.
Armm polls may see return of Smartmatic
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:28 p.m.COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes is not discounting the possibility of getting the services of Smartmatic International anew for the next electoral exercises.
The poll chief said they may consider this in the event the Supreme Court (SC) ultimately decides to nullify the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
Illegal recruiters operate in Dubai, Luzon areas
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:27 p.m.A RECRUITMENT consultant warned the public anew against illegal recruiters that offer jobs inside the US bases in Afghanistan, saying these syndicates are even conducting illegal activities in Luzon.
Emmanuel Geslani said the illegal recruitment agencies have expanded their operation, particularly in Dubai in the Middle East and Batangas, Bataan and Cabanatuan in the Philippines, less than two weeks after the deployment ban to Afghanistan and Iraq was partially lifted by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Blood transfusion ‘poses biggest risk in acquiring HIV’
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:26 p.m.A HEALTH official said Sunday that while sexual contact remains the number one contributor to reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases, it is in exposure to contaminated blood where the risks are at most high.
Department of Health (DOH) consultant Dr. Willie Ong said studies have shown that there is more probability that an individual will acquire the disease if exposed to HIV-contaminated blood donation than engage in unsafe sexual activities.
Multimillion-peso chapel to rise at Trinity University
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 11:26 p.m.A MULTIMILLION-peso chapel is soon to be consecrated inside the Trinity University of Asia (TUA) in Quezon City in a bid to enable students and employees to be closer to God.
TUA president Dr. Josefina Sumaya said the 210-seater chapel will be consecrated on Tuesday, September 20, and will also be open not only to the university's students and employees but the public as well.
Mayweather drops Ortiz, takes WBC welter belt
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 02:19 p.m.LAS VEGAS (Updated 1:56 p.m.) -- In just one round, Floyd Mayweather Jr. got a head butt, a kiss and a hug from Victor Ortiz before responding with a contentious punch that knocked out his opponent and put the WBC's welterweight belt back around the American's waist.
Mayweather remained unbeaten and did it in emphatic fashion Saturday, stopping Ortiz at 2:59 of the fourth round.
Pacquiao's home in Los Angeles burglarized
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 12:59 p.m.LOS ANGELES (Updated 12:50 p.m.) -- Four people were arrested after detectives discovered a burglary in progress at the home of champion boxer Manny Pacquiao while he was in his native Philippines preparing for a fight, authorities said Saturday.
Nothing was taken and no one was home Friday during the midday break-in that detectives witnessed by chance in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, sheriff's Captain Mike Parker said.
‘Budget to help government serve citizens better’
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 12:45 a.m.MANILA — Malacañang was elated over the passage of the 2012 national budget by the House of Representatives Friday night, saying this will mean better services to the people, more especially the poor.
“We’re happy that the budget was passed on second reading,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during an interview over government-run dzRB Radio.
Palace ready vs strike’s impact
Sunday, September 18, 2011 - 12:37 a.m.MANILA -- Malacañang said Saturday that it is ready to counter the effects of a transport strike on Monday, citing contingency measures that will, among others, help ferry inconvenienced passengers to their respective destinations.
“We are ready for the strike. We just want to remind them that the franchises issued to the operators are merely privilege and they have an obligation to fulfill,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told state-run dzRB radio.
Malacañang downplays general's move to question arrest
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 10:36 p.m.PLUNDER suspect retired Major General Carlos Garcia is welcome to question his arrest before the courts as Malacañang expressed confidence that its case will hold water.
“The President merely affirmed the decision of the court martial (six years ago). We are confident that it will stand scrutiny,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told state-run dzRB radio on Saturday.
Aquino should curb rising number of underemployment
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 10:35 p.m.ALTHOUGH the government should address joblessness, two economists on Saturday said the Aquino administration should also look into the case of 7.1 million underemployed Filipinos in July.
The underemployment rate, or the proportion of those employed but are still seeking more work, went up to 19.1 percent from 17.9 percent in July last year, data from the National Statistics Office show.
More social welfare attachés sought
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 10:33 p.m.WITH at least 3,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) leaving the country everyday, legislators are proposing the establishment of additional social welfare attachés in foreign posts.
Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Representatives Sherwin Tugna and Cinchona Gonzales, authors of the proposed Social Welfare Attaché Act of 2011, said SWAs will serve as haven for OFWs particularly those who are victims of human trafficking.
Aquino urged to reject UN proposal to divide Israel
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 10:32 p.m.FILIPINO Christians on Saturday asked President Benigno Aquino III to oppose a United Nations resolution that would divide Israel and unilaterally declare a Palestinian State within the borders of the Middle Eastern nation.
Led by evangelist and losing presidential candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva, the group said the government should junk the resolution that goes against previous agreements which guaranteed Israel the right to attain "secure and recognized boundaries."
Fedex cargo plane makes emergency landing at Manila airport
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 10:13 p.m.MANILA -- A Federal Express (FedEx) cargo plane flying from Singapore to Taiwan was diverted to Manila on late Saturday afternoon and made an emergency landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after one of its engine conked out during its flight.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Airport Ground Operations & Safety Division officer in charge Joseph Agustin said pilots of FedEx’s McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft have requested clearance at 5:35 p.m. from the Manila Control Tower.
Arrested general may still face plunder case
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 01:37 a.m.MANILA -- Dismissed general Carlos Garcia may still face a plunder case as Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales asked the Sandiganbayan on Friday to void a plea bargain agreement that it approved in May.
Garcia was detained earlier Friday at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after having been convicted by a military court for conduct unbecoming of an officer and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline. He will serve a two-year prison term.
House okays proposed 2012 budget on 2nd reading
Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 12:39 a.m.MANILA -- After a two-week marathon debate, the House of Representatives passed on second reading late Friday evening the proposed P1.816-trillion budget for 2012.
The 2012 General Appropriations Bill or House Bill 5023 sponsored by Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya was approved around 11:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the target of the House leadership to approve the measure.
